Important Current Affairs 31st October 2018 English

Day & Dates News

World Thrift day is observed as October 31

On October 31, 1924, World Savings Day or World Thrift day was established during the 1st International Savings Bank Congress (World Society of Savings Banks) in Milano, Italy. In India due to the death of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, this day is celebrated on 30th October.

International News
Malala Yousafzai to be honoured by Harvard University

Nobel Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai will be honoured by Harvard University for her work promoting girls' education.

Harvard's Kennedy School said Yousafzai will be conferred with the 2018 Gleitsman Award at a ceremony on 6th December.

Important:-

Yousafzai became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.

Malala Yousafzai is a student at Oxford University in England. The Gleitsman Award provides 125,000 US dollars for activism that has improved quality of life around the world.

Prime Minister addresses the India-Italy Technology Summit

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, addressed the India-Italy Technology Summit at New Delhi. The Prime Minister of Italy,Mr. Giuseppe Conte, was also present on the occasion.

During the address, Prime Minister announced the launch of the next phase of the India-Italy Industrial Research and Development Cooperation program. 

He added that the program will enable our industry and research institutes to develop new products.

Over 100000 missing people creates global crisis: Red Cross

•    The International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC has said over 100,000 people around the world are missing, which has created a global crisis.
•    Agnes Coutou, the organization's protection adviser, told the UN General Assembly's human rights committee that this is the highest number they have ever had.
•    The International Committee of the Red Cross works with the families of missing persons and authorities in over 40 countries affected by past and current conflicts.

VP Naidu embarks on seven-day visit to three South African countries

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu embarked on a seven-day visit to three South African countries this morning. He will visit Botswana followed by Zimbabwe and Malawi. 

Important:-

•    Mr Naidu will meet his Botswana counterpart Slumber Tsogwane and hold delegation-level talks on the first leg of his visit. 

•    He will also inaugurate the 13th Annual Global Expo Botswana 2018. 

•    During his visit to Zimbabwe, the Vice President will call on President Emerson Mnangagwa (मनंगाग्वा).

•    On his final leg of the visit to Malawi, Mr Naidu will call on its President Peter Arthur Mutharika. 

•    He will also inaugurate the Jaipur Foot Camp to mark the 150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi there.

National News

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is being celebrated on 31st October

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is being celebrated today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday unveiled the 182-metre high ‘Statue of Unity’ in honour of the country’s first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and dedicated it to the nation.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Vallabhbhai Patel born on 31 October 1875 – died on 15 December 1950, popularly known as Sardar Patel, was the first Deputy Prime Minister of India. He was an Indian barrister and statesman, a senior leader of the Indian National Congress and a founding father of the Republic of India who played a leading role in the country's struggle for independence and guided its integration into a united, independent nation.

Government vs RBI: All you need to know about Section 7 of the RBI Act
The Union Ministry of Finance on October 31, 2018 clarified that “the autonomy for the Central Bank, within the framework of the RBI Act, is an essential and accepted governance requirement”.

What does Section 7 of the RBI Act say?

According to it, the Central government may issue directions to the RBI as it may “consider necessary in public interest” after consultation with the RBI Governor. Section 7 deals with ‘management’ of RBI.

CSIR develops Less Polluting Firecrackers named – SWAS, SAFAL and STAR

“CSIR scientists have developed Less Polluting Firecrackers which are not only environment friendly but 15-20 % cheaper than the conventional ones”, said Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Environment, Forest & Climate Change at a press conference here, today.

These crackers have been named as safe water releaser (SWAS), safe minimal aluminium (SAFAL) and safe thermite cracker (STAR).