Daily Current Affairs 12 July 2018 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
NATIONAL NEWS
India’s 1st Private UAV Factory To Come Up In Kota
India’s first private sector unit for manufacturing Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) and light bulletproof vehicles (LBPV) will be set up by DCM Shriram Industries Group on the campus of Shriram Rayons in Kota, Rajasthan.
- The new defence unit of Shriram Rayons in Kota is being set up under ‘Make in India’ initiative of the union government.
India climbs 3 spots to 57th in global innovation rankings
The Global Innovation Index (GII) has ranked India as the 57th most innovative nation in the world. The country has improved its ranking from 60th position in 2017.
- Switzerland retained its number-one spot in the GII ranking.
- The GII is being developed jointly by Cornell University, the Paris-based business school Insead and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva.
India’s genetically modified crop area fifth largest in world
India has the world’s fifth largest cultivated area under genetically modified (GM) crops, at 11.4 million hectares (mh) in 2017 according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA). But unlike other big growers, its entire GM crop area is under a single crop — cotton — incorporating genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt soil bacterium coding for resistance against heliothis bollworm insect pests.
- The country with the highest area under transgenic crops, at 75 mh, is the United States.
PM Modi Inaugurates New Headquarters Building of ASI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Headquarters building of the Archaeological Survey of India in New Delhi.
- The new Headquarters building is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including energy-efficient lighting and rainwater harvesting. It will also include a Central Archaeological Library with a collection of about one lakh 50 thousand books and journals.
Railways to export six DMU train sets to Sri Lanka
Indian Railways is all set to establish its footprint in Sri Lanka with the export of six DMU (diesel multiple units) train sets consisting of 78 modern coaches worth Rs 600 crore.
- The first DMU train set comprising 13 coaches will be shipped out to the island nation in September while the rest will follow by year-end, as per the delivery schedule finalised by the two countries.
- All train sets would be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai for which the order is a big boost in its export business.
1st Nepal-India broad gauge railway likely in Dec
Nepal plans to operate its first ever broad-gauge passenger railway service from Janakpur town to Indian border town Jayanagar in Bihar starting December.
- This is a section of 69 km Nepal-India cross border railway line from Jayanagar to Nepal’s southeastern region.
Delhi to get Signature Bridge in October
India’s first asymmetrical cable-stayed Signature Bridge connecting the Outer Ring Road with Wazirabad will open by October end.
- The signature bridge project was approved in 1997 after an accident on the narrow Wazirabad bridge wherein a school bus fell into the Yamuna, killing 22 children.
- The completion of the bridge has been delayed by several years due to inadequate funds.
Gujarat Approves Rs 39-crore ‘Seema Darshan’ Project
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has given in-principle approval for the 39-crore rupees ‘Seema Darshan’ project for developing more infrastructure facilities from T-Junction to Zero Point at Nadabet near Suigam in Banaskantha district to instil patriotism through a unique Gujarat initiative for border tourism.
Kolkata gets all-woman police squad
Kolkata Police has unleashed a new weapon against eve-teasers, stalkers and roadside Romeos: an all-woman motorbike squad, “The Winners”, a special all-women patrolling team to combat and prevent crimes like molestation, eve-teasing etc. to make public places safer for women.
Indian Army chooses SBI as its banker
The Indian Army has joined hands with the State bank of India (SBI) on the Defence Salary Package, which will include free personal accident death and total disability cover.
- This MoU will benefit a large number of serving and retired Army personnel who have their accounts with the SBI.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
UN Security Council Adopts Resolution to protect children in Armed Conflict
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution 2427, aimed at a framework for mainstreaming protection, rights, well-being and empowerment of children throughout the conflict cycle.
- Resolution 2427, which won unanimous approval of the 15 members of the council, strongly condemns the recruitment and use of children by parties to armed conflict as well as their re-recruitment, killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, abductions. The council was chaired by Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.
YouTube Announces $25 million Investment to Fight Fake News
Video sharing platform YouTube has announced the investment of $25 million to counter the spread of fake news on its platform.
- The investment is part of the $300 million Google News Initiative which was launched in March 2018.
INS Sumitra enters port of Sabang
Indian naval ship INS Sumitra became the first-ever warship to enter port of Sabang in Indonesia. The warship was deployed in Malacca Straits.
- Sabang port is located close to the northern entrance of the Malacca straits.
Not educating girls costs global economy USD 15-30 trillion: World Bank
Not educating girls or creating barriers in their school education globally costs between USD 15 trillion to USD 30 trillion, the World Bank said as the UN marks ‘Malala Day’ on July 12.
- Less than two thirds of girls in low-income countries complete primary school and only one in three girls completes lower secondary school, the World Bank said in a new report ‘Missed Opportunities: The High Cost of Not Educating Girls’.
- On an average, women who have a secondary education are more likely to work and they earn almost twice as much as those with no education, it said.
BUSINESS
Paytm launches forex services
Payments-wallet services provider Paytm has launched foreign exchange services in 20 international currencies. It would offer “multi-currency forex card and forex cash”.
- This offering allows to lock-in the current rates at the time of placing an order by making a two per cent partial payment with the flexibility to make the remaining payment at the time of delivery.
Airtel Payments Bank gets RBI nod to start enrolling new customers
After running into rough weather due to Aadhaar-related e-KYC issues, Airtel Payments Bank has received requisite approvals from the Reserve Bank of India and UIDAI to start acquiring new customers.
- Airtel Payments Bank has also been permitted by the UIDAI to resume the on-boarding of customers using Aaadhaar based e-KYC.
India becomes 69th Shareholder of European Bank For Reconstruction & Development
India has become the 69th shareholder of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This move paved the way for more joint investment with Indian companies across the bank’s regions of operation.
- The EBRD aims to promote the private and entrepreneurial initiative in emerging Europe and invests in 38 emerging economies.
SPORTS
Asia Cup Archery: Korea Topped, India Finished 3rd
India has bagged four medals in the Asia Cup World Archery Ranking Tournament Stage 3 in Taipei, Taiwan. The feat comprised 3 silver medals and a bronze. India also finished joint third with Iran in the championship.
- India ended their campaign behind toppers Korea and hosts Chinese Taipei. Korea topped the tally with 14 medals, 8 of them being gold. Taipei bagged 5 medals, two of them being gold.
OBITUARY
Spiritual leader J. P. Vaswani passes away
Dada J. P. Vaswani, the spiritual head of The Sadhu Vaswani Mission, has passed away at the age of 99. An acclaimed writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and educator, Vaswani excelled as a student and had obtained his Bachelor of Science degree at the age of 17.
World’s Ugliest Dog Zsa Zsa Passes Away
Zsa Zsa, the reigning World’s Ugliest Dog winner, passed away in her sleep, in the United States. Zsa Zsa was an English Bull Dog. She was 9 years old. She won the “World’s Ugliest Dog” title last month in the United States.
Click here to read daily Current Affairs