Important Current Affairs 19th January 2018

Important Current Affairs 19th January 2018

Download Daily Gk and Current Affairs PDF (English)

Download Daily Gk and Current Affairs PDF (HINDI)

Current Affairs 19th January 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Union Home Minister inaugurated IWDRI 2018
●    Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh today inaugurated an international workshop organized on the subject of the Disaster Resistant Infrastructure (IWDRI) here.
●    This two-day workshop was organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNIDR).
●    Underlining the importance of disaster-resistant opportunities, Shri Rajnath Singh said that it creates opportunities for economic development and plays a major role in sustainable development.

Prakash Javadekar chaired the 65th meeting of Central Education Advisory Board (CABE)

●    Today, 65th meeting of the Central Education Advisory Board (CABE) was organized under the chairmanship of Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar.
●    Keeping in mind the concerns expressed by the State Governments along with the agenda, several decisions were taken in the meeting.
●    In this meeting, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Thawarchand Gehlot, Union Minority Affairs Minister, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Minister of State (Independent Charge) Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Union Human Minister of State for Development, Shri Satyapal Singh was also present.

Saksham -2018

●    The mass-centered mega campaign 'Saksham -2018' of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, was launched on January 16 in an inaugural function held in New Delhi, which will continue throughout the month.
●    PCRA-enabled national essay and painting competition-2013 has been very popular among schoolchildren.
●    Approximately 4 million children from all schools of the country participated in it.

Organizing 'Mega Conclave' to ensure the implementation of the Rail Infrastructure Development Projects of the Ministry of Railways.

●    As a major initiative to ensure speedy implementation of the ambitious 'Rail Infrastructure Development Projects', the Railway Ministry is organizing a 'Mega Conclave' with all the stakeholders, including the leading construction industry on January 17, 2018.
●    During this Conclave, members of the Railway Board and Senior Zonal Railway Officers will interact with the leading companies of the construction sector, but Minister of Railways and Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal will also interact and communicate with the participants personally.
●    The name of this Conclave has been named 'Construction Dialogue', which is being organized by Railway PSU Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), which is a dedicated subsidiary of the Ministry of Railways for the speedy implementation of railway projects.

Arrestor Gohela Boro for financial assistance of Rs. 2 lakhs from 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund Scheme' for the players.

●    Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (Independent Charge) Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore provided a grant of Rs 2 lakh to the National level archer, Ms. Gohela Boro, under 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund Scheme' for his medical treatment. Has approved.
●    Under the 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Welfare Fund Scheme' for players, lump sum financial assistance is provided to those excellent players for medical treatment, which is currently facing severe poverty.

Former CM of Gujarat Anandiben Patel will be the governor of Madhya Pradesh

●    Former CM Anandiben Patel of Gujarat will be the Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
●    She resigned from the post of Chief Minister of Gujarat and her name was being discussed for a long time.
●    Now the Governor of Gujarat, Om Prakash Kohli, is looking after additional charge of the governor of Madhya Pradesh.

Membership of 20 AAP MLAs canceled

●    The Election Commission has declared 20 MLAs of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party disqualified in Delhi in the case of profit.
●    The Commission will send its report to President Ramnath Kovind.
●    If he issues an order to declare these MLAs disqualified on the recommendation of the commission, then the elections in Delhi can be re-elected.

Honda launches Vintage Style Scooter 'Super Cub'
●    Japanese company Honda recently launched its vintage-style scooter 'Super Cub' in Thailand.
●    This is Honda's so successful scooter that by October 2017 more than 100 million units have been sold globally.
●    This new scooter has been inspired by Honda inspired in the model created in 1958.
●    This scooter was first made in 1958.
●    By 2005, it sold 5 million units worldwide.
●    In the next 12 years the sale doubled and the figure crossed 10 million.

Government finishes subsidy for Haj pilgrims

●    People who visit Haj pilgrimage will not get any concession from this year.
●    Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi announced on Tuesday that the concession given on Haj pilgrimage has ended this year.
●    It has been said by the government that this decision is a part of the agenda of empowering minorities without appealing.
●    The Government's decision will affect 1.75 lakh Haj pilgrims.
●    In 2012, the Supreme Court had asked the Haj subsidy to be endured gradually by 2022 in a decision.

Current Affairs 19th January 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

India's strong stronghold in NSG, India becomes member of Australia Group

●    India has now become a member of Australia Group.
●    It ensures through its control of the export of group chemical and biological agents that it can not become chemical or biological weapon.
●    This achievement will increase the status of non-proliferation of India in the world.
●    Along with this, India's claim for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group will also be strengthened, in which China is closing.

Whatsapp App Business App Launch

●    Whatsapp App Business App Has Been Launched
●    It is only available in some countries.
●    This new app will make the process of interaction between shoppers and customers easier.
●    The Business App has been launched to bring shoppers-customers closer.
●    The Business App of WhatsApp has been launched in 5 countries- Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the UK and the US, currently it is not available in India.

The largest submerged cave found in Mexico

●    Archaeologists have discovered the world's largest cave underwater in Mexico.
●    The team of 'The Great Maya Aquarer' (GAM) project has spent many years researching the secrets of Sack Eightan and Dos Ojos and studying the mysterious waters in Tulum of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.
●    This discovery identifies the identity of an incredible archaeological site, which exposes the stories and rituals of the disappeared Maya civilization.

Pakistani organization demanded Pakistan's highest gallantry medal for Bhagat Singh

●    An organization of Pakistan has demanded that Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh should be given the title of 'Sir-e-Haider', the country's highest gallantry medal and his statue should be installed at Shadman Chowk, Lahore, where he was hanged 86 years ago. 
●    The demanding organization is working to prove the freedom fighters in the court innocent.
●    Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation gave a fresh petition to the Government of Punjab province of Punjab that Bhagat Singh had sacrificed his life for the independence of the subcontinent.

Mobile-Internet in flight

●    Now people will be able to enjoy mobile phones and internet in air travel.
●    TRAI has given a suggestion on Friday about this, as per the availability of ground mobile network, the mobile service will be valid for a minimum of three kilometers in the Indian Air Services.
●    However, the mobile operators who want to call or internet in the aircraft will have to get a separate license for this.

Current Affairs 19th January 2018: ECONOMY

In December, 2017, arrival of foreign tourists increased by 15.2 percent compared to December 2016

●    The Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of the arrival of foreign tourists (FTAs) along with the arrival of foreign tourists on the e-tourist visa as well as on the basis of Nationality-wise and port-wise data obtained from the Immigration Bureau (BOI).
●    Compared to December, 2016, the growth rate of FTA was 15.2 percent during December 2017, compared to December, 2015, when the growth rate was December 11, 2015, at 11.9 percent.
●    The highest number of FTAs in Bangladesh (19.04%) in India during December, 2017 in the top 15 source countries.
●    After this, the United States (16.90%), Britain (10.41%), Australia (5.31%), Canada (3.85%), Russian Federation (3.79%), Malaysia (3.11%), Germany (2.08%), China (2.06%) , Sri Lanka (2.01%), Singapore (1.85%), France (1.81%), Japan (1.64%), Thailand (1.60%) and Italy (1.44%).

Approval of purchase of Assault Rifles and Carbine equal to 3547 crores

●    A meeting of the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) was held today under the chairmanship of Defense Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.
●    In it, 'Make II' process was simplified.
●    It determines the guidelines followed in the development and manufacturing of defense equipment through the Indian industry.
●    DAC approved the purchase of 72,400 Assault Rifles and 93,895 Carbines on an accelerated basis in order to enable the defense forces to fulfill the urgent need of the troops deployed on the borders.