Important Current Affairs 19th July 2018 UPSC, SSC, IBPS, SBI, Railways, LIC

Important Current Affairs 19th July 2018 UPSC, SSC, IBPS, SBI, Railways, LIC

Important Current Affairs 19th July 2018 UPSC, SSC, IBPS, SBI, Railways, LIC

  • CM Raman Singh launches online pension system
    • Chhattisgarh CM Dr. Raman Singh launched an online portal and mobile app called ‘Aabhaar-Aapki Seva ka’ for the pensioners of the state.
    • Through this app and the website, 80,000 pensioners of the state will get all the information related to pension and payment online.
    • The beneficiaries will be provided updates via SMS regarding the status of their pension account.
  • Special Package for Irrigation Projects
    • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the implementation of Centrally Sponsored-Scheme for completion of 83 Minor Irrigation projects and 8 major/medium irrigation projects of Marathawada, Vidharbha and drought prone areas of the rest of Maharashtra.
    • Completion of these projects will ensure assured source of water to the farmers in the command area of these projects.
  • RTE amendment Bill passed in Lok Sabha
    • The Lok Sabha passed The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) Bill 2017 which allows detention of school students in class 5 and 8.
    • The original RTE Act stipulated that no child admitted in a school shall be held back in any class or expelled from school till the completion of elementary education.
    • The original RTE Act came into force on April 1, 2010.
  • Amazon hits $900 billion valuation
    • Amazon.com’s stock market value reached $900 billion for the first time in its 20 year history.
    • It has now become only the second company after Apple to achieve this milestone.
    • The Current market cap of Amazon.com stands at $902 billion as of 18th July 2018.
    • Apple is currently the world’s most valuable company with a market cap of $935 billion.
    • The CEO of Amazon is Jeff Bezos.
  • Continuation of scholarships for minorities
    • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal for Continuation of Pre-Matric, Post Matric and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Schemes for the students belonging to the six notified Minority Communities.
    • The 6 notified minority communities are Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi.
    • These Schemes shall be implemented through the National Scholarship Portal.
  • Cabinet relaxes NELP, pre-NELP pact rules
    • The Cabinet approved the policy to streamline production sharing contracts signed in the pre-New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) and NELP periods.
    • Based on recommendations in ‘Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for North East’, the govt has extended timelines for the exploration period by 2 yrs.
    • The Centre has also allowed marketing, including pricing freedom for natural gas from discoveries.
  • India fastest growing economy in Asia:ADB
    • Led by India, South Asia will continue to be the fastest growing economic area despite new trade tensions in Asia and Pacific region, Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a new report.
    • The report titled “Asian Development Outlook” is published by ADB.
    • The ADO published in April had said that India’s economic growth will rise to 7.3% this fiscal and further to 7.6% in the next financial year
  • Cabinet amends Section 376 of IPC
    • The Cabinet approved a Bill to enhance the punishment for rape, including awarding death penalty to convicts of raping girls under 12 yrs.
    • The Bill amends Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), 2012, and the Code of Criminal Procedure.
    • The Bill will increase the minimum punishment for rape from the existing 7 yrs to 10 yrs.
  • Turkey lifts state of emergency after 2 years
    • In Turkey, the state of emergency, which was imposed after the failed coup two years ago, came to an end on 19th July.
    • President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared emergency on 20th July 2016, five days after warplanes bombed Ankara and clashes broke out in Istanbul that claimed 249 lives.
    • Under Turkey’s constitution, emergency provision lasts three months which was extended seven times.
  • EU, Japan sign worlds biggest free trade deal
    • The European Union and Japan signed a huge free trade deal that cuts or eliminates tariffs on nearly all goods.
    • The agreement covers 600 million people and almost a third of the global economy.
    • It will remove tariffs on European exports such as cheese and wine.
    • Japanese automakers and electronics firms will face fewer barriers in the European Union.
  • Right to Services Act repealed in Punjab
    • The state govt of Punjab dissolved Right to Service Commission which was created by the former SAD-BJP govt under Punjab Right to Services Act of 2011.
    • The act has been replaced by Punjab Transparency and Accountability in Delivery of Public Services Act, 2018.
    • The Right to Service (RTS) Act was set up by former Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal to provide citizen services through Sewa Kendras.
  • Cabinet approves MoU between India and Cuba
    • The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval for the MoU between India and Cuba on cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy.
    • The MoU was signed on 22nd June 2018.
    • The MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy.
  • Cabinet approves MoU on aviation with BRICS
    • The Union Cabinet approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) amongst BRICS nations on Regional Aviation Partnership.
    • The government aims for the BRICS nations to benefit from the establishment of an institutional framework to corporate in the field of civil aviation.
    • The MoU has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism amongst the BRICS Nations.
  • Dwayne Johnson is highest paid actor
    • Dwayne Johnson, with earnings of Rs. 850 Crore has been named the highest-paid actor by Forbes.
    • It is also the highest-ever total for acting earnings in the 20-year history of Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list.
    • He ranked fifth on the overall list of Forbes highest entertainer list.
    • Dwayne earned double the earnings total of $65 million he posted in 2017’s list.
  • Govt announces capital infusion in 5 PSB’s
    • The government has announced an infusion of Rs 11,336 crore in five public sector banks as part of its Indradhanush scheme.
    • The five banks are Punjab National Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Andhra Bank, Corporation Bank & Allahabad Bank.
    • Indradhanush is a scheme for recapitalization of PSBs, with a view to make sure they remain solvent & comply with the global capital adequacy norms, Basel-III.
  • IOC adds 7 medal events to 2022 Winter Games
    • The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has added seven medal events to the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
    • The next Winter Olympics will now include: women’s monobob, Big Air freestyle skiing for men and women, plus mixed team events in short track speed skating, ski jumping, ski aerials and snowboardcross.
    • Women’s ice hockey will grow by two teams to become a 10-nation lineup.
  • 10th edition of Delhi Dialogue in New Delhi
    • The 10th edition of the Delhi Dialogue begins in New Delhi.
    • The theme of the event is ‘Strengthening India-ASEAN Maritime Co-operation’.
    • Political leadership, officials, diplomats, business leaders, think-tanks and academicians from India and the ASEAN Member States participated in Event.
    • Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a group of 10 nations with General Secretary Lim Jock Hoi.
  • 1st govt-sponsored transgender poets’ meet
    • India’s 1st government-sponsored poets’ meet was organized for the transgender community at the Sahitya Akademi in Kolkata.
    • The ‘Transgender Poets’ Meet’ was chaired by India’s first transgender college principal Manabi Bandopadhyay.
    • In the event, each of the poets was given nearly 15 minutes to recite their poetry.
    • Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) criminalizes homosexuality.
  • RBI to launch new 100 rupee note
    • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would soon issue new Rs 100 notes, with a base color of violet.
    • According to the new policy on theme-based currency notes, the new Rs 100 note will have the impression of Gujarat’s Rani-ki-Vav (Queen’s stepwell).
    • The new Rs 100 note will be slightly bigger than the Rs 10 note and weigh less than the old note & will be printed by Dewas-based Bank Note Press.
  • IAF Participates “Pitch Black” War Exercise
    • The Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in the multinational “Pitch Black” warfare exercise in Australia for the first time.
    • The IAF contingent for biennial exercise will consist of 4 Su-30MKI fighters, C-130 special operations aircraft and C-17 transporter.
    • Pitch Black is hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) & will see eight other nations participating with over 100 aircraft.

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