Important Current Affairs 9th August 2018

Current Affairs 9th August 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

MoU between TRIFED and National Medicinal Plant Board 
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs & National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH signed an MoU on 9th August.
Aim of this MoU
The aim is to promote Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) forest produce for livelihood development of tribal people by promoting primary level value addition to MAPs produce from forest area at grassroots level.
Important
•    Tribal Affairs Minister is Shri Jual Oram 
•    The Minister of State for AYUSH is Shri Shripad Yesso Naik 
•    Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH is Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha 

Rises of import duty on 328 textile products to curb imports 
 •    The government doubled import duty on as many as 328 textile products to 20 per cent. 
•    Minister of State for Finance Pon Radhakrishnan tabled a notification in the Lok Sabha which said that the govt seeks to "increase customs duty on 328 tariff lines of textile products from the existing rate of 10 per cent to 20 per cent under Section 159 of the Customs Act, 1962".
Objective:-
The government expects that the increase in duties would give an edge to domestic manufacturers as imported products are currently cheaper. And increase in manufacturing activity will help create jobs in the sector, which employs about 10.5 crore people.
Important
Last month, the government had doubled import duty on over 50 textile products - including jackets, suits and carpets - to 20 per cent, a move that was aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing. 

64th Foundation Day Celebrations of Lalit Kala Akademi 
 Dr. Mahesh Sharma Inaugurated 64th Foundation Day Celebrations of Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi.
About Lalit Kala Akademi 
•    The Lalit Kala Akademi or National Academy of Art is India's national academy of fine arts. It is an autonomous organisation, established in New Delhi in 1954 by Government of India to promote and propagate understanding of Indian art, in and outside the country.
•    It was established on 5th August in 1954 by the then Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
Important:
•    Chairman of LKA is Uttam Pacharne
•    Headquarters Rabindra Bhawan, Delhi
•    Official language is English
•    Parent organization is Ministry of Culture, Government of India

Launch of Mobile App Niryat Mitra
 Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Aviation Suresh Prabhu launched Niryat Mitra – mobile App in New Delhi. The app developed by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) is available both on Android and on IOS platforms.
About Mobile App Niryat Mitra
•    It provides wide range of information required to undertake international trade right from the policy provisions for export and import, applicable GST rate, available export incentives, tariff, preferential tariff, market access requirements – SPS and TBT measures. 
•    The most interesting part is that all the information is available at tariff line. 
•    The app works internally to map the ITC HS code of other countries with that of India and provides all the required data without the users bothering about the HS code of any country.
•    Presently the app comes with the data of 87 countries.

Launch of Swachh Survekshan 2019
 Shri Hardeep S Puri, Minister of State (I/C), Housing & Urban Affairs will launch the Swachh Survekshan 2019 on 10th August 2018 in New Delhi. 
Parallelly, a slew of new initiatives under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) as well as the Ease of Living Index will also be launched.
Background:
As a prelude to encouraging cities to improve urban sanitation, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) had conducted ‘Swachh Survekshan-2016’ survey for the rating of 73 cities in January 2016, followed by ‘Swachh Survekshan-2017’ conducted in January-February 2017 ranking 434 cities. The recently concluded Swachh Survekshan 2018 ranked 4,203 Cities.  

Schemes and Policy Initiatives for Development of Textiles and Handicrafts
•    Government has been implementing various policy initiatives and programmes for development of textiles and handicrafts, particularly for technology upgradation, infrastructure creation, and skill development.
•    These schemes are including Amended Technology Upgradation Funds Scheme (ATUFS), PowerTex India Scheme. 
•    Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks, SAMARTH- scheme for capacity building in Textile Sector, Silk Samagra- integrated silk development scheme, North Eastern Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), National Handicraft Development Programme (NHDP) and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) are also being implemented.

Important:
Minister of State for Textiles is Ajay Tamta 

Government E-Marketplace (Gem) Completes 2 Years 
Government e-Marketplace (GeM), the National Public Procurement Portal, has turned 2 years old today on 9th August. 
About GeM
It was launched on 9th August 2016, with the objective of creating an open, transparent and efficient procurement platform for government. Over its short journey, GeM has achieved many significant milestones. 
Some of these are:
•    GeM has grossed over Rs. 10,000 Crores in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) through more than 6.16 Lacs transactions on the platform.
•    GeM has made over 4.2 lakh products available on its platform through a network of over 1.3 lakh sellers and service providers.
•    These products and services are being bought by over 25,000 government organisations (Central, State Governments and PSUs) registered on the platform.
•    More than 40% of transactions by volume are done with MSMEs registered on the platform.
•    Buyers from across 36 States & Union Territories (UTs) are buying on the platform. 24 States & UTs have signed a formal MoU with GeM to adopt GeM as the core procurement portal in their respective territories.

GOC-in-C Southern Command Visits Indian Naval Academy
• Lt Gen Dewan Rabindranath Soni, GOC-in-C (Southern Command), accompanied by Mrs. Suman Soni,  President, Army Wives Welfare Association (Southern Region) visited Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala on 07 August 2018. The General is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
• The GOC-in-C was briefed on the training processes and facilities at INA. The General also interacted with Commandant, Deputy Commandant and officers of INA and visited the training facilities in the academy.
• Mrs. Suman Soni, President AWWA (SR) visited the Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) facilities at station Ezhimala.

Current Affairs 9th August 2018: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve included in the UNESCO 
•    The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve has become the 11th Biosphere Reserve from India that has been included in the UNESCO designated World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). 
•    The decision to include Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in WNBR was taken at the 30th Session of International Coordinating Council (ICC) of Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO held at Palembang, Indonesia, from July 23-27, 2018.  
•    India has 18 Biosphere Reserves and with the inclusion of Khangchendzonga, the number of internationally designated WNBR has become 11, with 7 Biosphere Reserves being domestic Biosphere Reserves.
Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve
•    Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim is one of the highest ecosystems in the world, reaching elevations of 1, 220 metres above sea-level.  
•    It includes a range of ecolines , varying from sub-tropic to Arctic, as well as natural forests in different biomes, that support an immensely rich diversity of forest types and habitats. 
•    The core zone – Khangchendzonga National Park was designated a World Heritage Site in 2016 under the ‘mixed’ category.  Many of the mountains, peaks, lakes, caves, rocks, Stupas (shrines) and hot springs function as pilgrimage sites. 

Important Current Affairs 8th August 2018

Current Affairs 8th August 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Launch of integration & availability of TRAI Mobile Apps on UMANG platform

•    TRAI has now integrated its Mobile Apps namely DND 2.0 & MyCall with UMANG Platform.
•    Chairperson, TRAI launched integration and availability of following TRAI apps in a function held at TRAI, New Delhi on 7th August 2018. Certain key features of these applications are:
(a) TRAI MyCall App
TRAI MyCall is an intuitive and user friendly application for Crowdsourced Voice Call Quality Monitoring. The Application helps Mobile phone users to rate their experience about voice call quality in real time and help TRAI gather consumer experience data along with Network data.
(b) DND 2.0 App
DND (Do Not Disturb) Services App enables smart phone users to register their mobile number under DND and report spam messages or calls to avoid Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC)/Telemarketing Calls/SMS.

UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance)
•    UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) is developed by National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
•    UMANG provides a single platform for all Indian Citizens to access pan India e-Gov services ranging from Central to Local Government bodies and other citizen centric services.

Implementation of scholarship to young artists (SYA) Scheme under the scheme of Scholarship & Fellowship for promotion of Art and Culture
 
•    Ministry of Culture is implementing a scheme component of scholarship to young artists (SYA) under the scheme of Scholarship & Fellowship for promotion of Art and Culture. 
•    This scheme is for young artists in the age group of 18 to 25 years for undergoing advanced training in different cultural fields. 
•    Under this scheme an amount of Rs. 5,000/- p.m. is given to the selected young artists for 02 years. The amount of scholarship under this Scheme is not released State-wise but directly into the bank account of beneficiaries.
 

 Implementation of a Scheme namely “Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes” (SPMAA)
 

•    Ministry of Culture is also implementing a Scheme namely “Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes” (SPMAA) under which maximum financial assistance of Rs.4000/- (Rupees Four Thousand Only) in the form of monthly pension is provided to old and poor artists including performing artists.
•    An amount of 50.7 Crores allocated and about 9,540 artists benefited under the Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes in the last 3 years.

Important:

Minister of State (independent charge) for Culture and Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate change is Dr. Mahesh Sharma.
 

Approval of Rs 11,698 cr additional expenditure by Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha has passed the Supplementary Demands for Grants - First Batch of 2018-19 in which Government had sought additional expenditure of 11,698 crore rupees. 

It involves net cash outgo of 5,951 crore rupees and additional expenditure of 5,745 crore rupees. 

Important Figures:

•    Of the cash spends of 5,951 crore, as much as 1,792 crore will go to the Agriculture Ministry, 

•    1,500 crore rupees to the Textiles Ministry for meeting additional expenditure,

•    Equity infusion of 980 crore in state-owned Air India and 600 crore rupees for meeting additional expenditure towards payment of arrears of revised Time Related Continuity Allowance to Gramin Dak Sewaks

•    Besides 1,058 crore rupees is being allocated to Defence Ministry towards salary and allowances in respect of employees of Border Roads Organisation.

•    The Petroleum Ministry has been allocated 1,708 crore rupees as grants for creation of capital assets under various schemes.

Maharashtra Government's special assistance for OBC community

•    Maharashtra Government has announced a special assistance of 500 crore rupees for OBC community to help them develop employment opportunities for the youth.

•    The state government has recommended to the Centre that the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, be conferred posthumously on 19th-century social reformer Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule, a pioneer of women’s education.

•    OBCs constitute 52 percent of the state’s population and they enjoy 17 percent reservation.

ACMA demands to bring auto component sector under uniform 18% GST slab

•    The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) demanded on 6th August demanded that the industry should be brought under a uniform 18 per cent GST rate.

•    According to the ACMA President Nirmal Minda "A benign rate of 18 per cent will not only ensure better compliance, but will also ensure a larger tax base,"

 Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA)
•    The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) is the apex body representing the interest of the Indian Auto Component Industry. 

•    Its membership of over 780 manufacturers contributes more than eighty five per cent of the auto component industry's turnovers in the organised sector. 

Kaziranga National Park not covered under the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme

No sites have been adopted by any private institute in Assam under the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme. Any monument/heritage site/natural site for whose inclusion, the concerned asset owner (ASI, State Government etc) agrees can be considered under the Adopt a Heritage Scheme. Kaziranga National Park is not covered under the scheme yet.

Adopt a Heritage – Salient Feature of Project Guidelines
•    ‘Adopt a Heritage’ project focusses on providing basic public conveniences and amenities which include cleanliness, drinking water, ease of access for differently abled and senior citizens, standardized signage, illumination and advanced amenities such as surveillance system, night viewing facilities, tourism facilitation centre etc.
•    It aims to involve public sector companies, private sector companies and corporate citizens/individuals to take up the responsibility for making our heritage and tourism more sustainable through development, operation and maintenance of world-class tourist infrastructure and amenities at ASI/State heritage sites and other important tourist sites in India.

Primary objectives of this Scheme:
 
•    To develop basic and advanced tourism infrastructure.
•    To promote cultural and heritage value of the country to generate livelihoods of local communities of respective heritage site/monument/tourist site.
•    To develop sustainable tourism infrastructure and ensuring proper Operations and Maintenance therein and thus increase the attractiveness of the tourist destinations.

Viability Gap Scheme for Revenue Generating Tourism Projects
 
•    The Ministry under the scheme of 'Viability Gap Scheme for Revenue Generating Tourism Projects' promotes Public Private Partnership (PPP) in tourism infrastructure development in case of Revenue Generating Tourism Projects which include Tourist Trains, Inter-Island/ Intra-Island/ Inland Waterway Ferries, Sea Cruise Vessels, Convention Centre’s, Rope-ways/Cable Cars/Funicular Rail, Theme Parks, Amusement Parks, Ski-Cable, Heli-Tourism, Spas. 
•    At present there is no project where PPP model is used to develop tourism under this Scheme.
Important Fact:
•    The scheme of Assistance to Large Revenue Generating Projects, now renamed as 'Viability Gap Scheme for Revenue Generating Tourism Projects.
•    The Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism is Shri. K. J. Alphons.

Revised MoA signed for Funding of Central Share of 99 Prioritized Irrigation Projects
 

A revised Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) has been signed amongst Govt. of India (through MoWR, RD & GR), NABARD and National Water Development Agency (NWDA) for funding of central share of 99 prioritized irrigation projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) through Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF).

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

During 2015-16 PMKSY was launched by the Central Government with an overarching vision to ensure access to some means of protective irrigation for all agricultural farms in the country, and to produce ‘per drop more crop’, thus bringing much desired rural prosperity.
 

SC and the ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act passed by Lok Sabha
 
The Lok Sabha unanimously passed a Bill to reverse the effects of a Supreme Court order concerning certain safeguards against arrests under the SC/ST law.
All you need to know about the SC and the ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
On March 20, the Supreme Court bench of Justices AK Goel and UU Lalit ruled that the arrest of an accused under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act should be made after preliminary enquiry. The bench found that the Act had been misused in a vast number of cases and had "diluted" IPC Section 498A (relating to domestic violence) citing gross misuse by complainants. 
                             
Key points related to SC/ST Act 1989:

•    The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is popularly known as POA. The SC/ST Act was enacted on September 9, 1989. 

•    The SC/ST Act lists 22 offences relating to various patterns or behaviors cause criminal offences and breaking the self-respect and esteem of the scheduled castes and tribes community. This includes denial of economic, democratic and social rights, discrimination, exploitation and abuse of the legal process.

•    According to the SC/ST Act, the protection is provided from social disabilities such as denial of access to certain places and to use customary passage, personal atrocities like forceful drinking or eating of inedible food, sexual exploitation, injury etc, and atrocities affecting properties, malicious prosecution, political disabilities and economic exploitation.

•    In each district, for speedy trial, this SC/ST Act provides a special court to try offences.

Current Affairs 8th August 2018: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

3rd India-Nepal Coordination meeting 
 
The 3rd India-Nepal Coordination meeting will be held in New Delhi on 8th August 2018.

Objective:
Several important matters like security scenario along the border, coordination meetings at field level, sharing of information about crimes and criminals, training of armed police personnel and mutual visits by officers of two countries will be discussed. 
Important:

•    Inspector General of Nepal Armed Police Force is Shailendra Khanal 
•    Home Secretary of India is Rajiv Gauba.
 

Andaman rule for Restricted Area Permit eased for tourism

•    The Union home ministry has excluded 29 inhabited islands in Andaman and Nicobar from Restricted Area Permit (RAP) with an aim to boost tourism.
•    Foreigners are not allowed to enter most of the hundreds of Andaman &Nicobar islands and they are required to obtain a RAP to visit the islands.

What is Restricted Area Permit (RAP)?

In addition, the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order 1968 states that a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is required for non-Indians to visit certain areas in India. As of 2009, RAP is required for all visits to the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of the state of Sikkim.

Trekking Expedition of Indian Army and Royal Bhutan Army 

A joint Cycling cum Trekking Expedition of Indian Army and Royal Bhutan Army was conducted to commemorate “Fifty years of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between India and Bhutan”. 

•    The expedition began on 31 July from Haa Dzong in Bhutan and was flagged-in at Thimpu on 07 August 2018. 

•    A total of seventeen personnel of both armies participated in the expedition which covered a total of 384 kms of distance across challenging mountainous terrain in both India and Bhutan.

Important point:

•    India and Bhutan celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations this year 2018.

•    Tshering Tobgay is the 7th and current Prime Minister of Bhutan.

Current Affairs 8th August 2018:  SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Earth heading towards the threat of irreversible 'hothouse' state

According to a study our planet is at the risk of entering an irreversible 'hothouse' condition - where the global temperatures will rise by four to five degrees and sea levels may surge by up to 60 metres higher than today - even if targets under the Paris climate deal are met.

Key points from the study:

•    According to the researchers, keeping global warming to within 1.5-2 degrees Celsius may be more difficult than previously assessed. 

•    Human emissions of greenhouse gas are not the sole determinant of temperature on Earth.

•    This study suggests that human-induced global warming of two degrees Celsius may trigger other Earth system processes, often called "feedbacks," that can drive further warming - even if we stop emitting greenhouse gases," .

Important Current Affairs 7th August 2018

Current Affairs 7th August 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

External Affairs Minister on 3-nation central Asian tour

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on 2nd of August 2018 left on her first trip to the central Asian Nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

Important Takeaways

• Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan and Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev.
• Bishkek is the capital city of Kyrgyzstan and Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev
• Tashkent is the capital city of Uzbekistan and Prime Minister is Abdulla Aripov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov.

Launch official Trailer Of Film “Halkaa” Under the Aegis Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)

Shri Hardeep S Puri, Minister of State (I/C) for Housing and Urban Affairs launched the official trailer, music and poster of Bollywood film “Halkaa” under the aegis of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), in partnership with the New Delhi Municipal Council, on 6th August 2018.

Awards to Movie

The film has already won numerous awards and accolades in the international arena including two prestigious Grand Prix – Best Feature Film awards at Montreal International Children’s Film Festival and KINOLUB Film Festival for Children and Youth in Poland.

About “Halkaa” Movie

“Halkaa” poignantly captures the journey of this simple and under privileged child’s dedication, struggle, and aspiration for achieving the goal of owning a personal toilet for his family despite resistance from his father.

Important:

Film director of this movie is Nila Madhab Panda who is a Padma Shri awardee.

Budget for DRDO for the Financial Year 2018-19

• The total Budget of Department of Defence Research & Development (R&D) for the Financial Year 2018-19 is Rs. 17861.19 crore with manpower of approximately 24224 (including 7354 scientists).
• A total of 13 research projects in Technology Development (TD) and Science & Technology (S&T) category have been taken up in the year 2018-19 in the broad areas of hybrid power system, advanced materials, CBW Defence technologies, laser diode technology, technologies for insensitive munition etc. and since these are in design phase, outcome of research projects will be seen in the subsequent years.

Defence Research and Development Organisation

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is an agency of the Republic of India, charged with the military's research and development, headquartered in New Delhi, India.
• Formed in 1958.

Agency executives:

• Sanjay Mitra : Secretary, Department of Defence R&D
• G. Satheesh: Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister

Important:

Nirmala Sitharaman, the current defence minister of India is the second woman since Indira Gandhi to hold this major post.

Launch of Bidder Information Management System and Bhoomi Rashi - PFMS Linkage Portals

Shri Nitin Gadkari launched Bidder Information Management System (BIMS) and Bhoomi Rashi and PFMS linkage - two IT initiatives of the Road Transport & Highways Ministry that are aimed at expediting pre construction processes relating to bidding and land acquisition respectively.

What is BIMS?

• Bidder Information Management System BIMS is aimed at streamlining the process of pre-qualification of bidders for EPC Mode of contracts for National Highway works with enhanced transparency and objectivity.
• The portal will work as a data base of information about bidders, covering basic details, civil works experience, cash accruals and network, annual turnover etc

What is Bhoomi Rashi?

• Bhoomi Rashi, the portal developed by MoRTH and NIC, comprises the entire revenue data of the country, right down to 6.4 lakh villages.
• Bhoomi Rashi portal has been instrumental in reducing the time taken for approval and publication of notifications pertaining to land acquisition.

Important:

• Integration of Public Financial Management System (PFMS) with Bhoomi Rashi is one of the key functionalities to facilitate payment related to compensation for land acquisition to all the beneficiaries directly through the Bhoomi Rashi system.

About PFMS:

• PFMS is a web-based online software application developed and implemented by the Office of Controller General of Accounts (CGA) to facilitate sound public financial management system for Government of India (GoI).
• It provides various stakeholders with a real time, reliable and meaningful management information system and an effective decision support system, as part of the Digital India initiative of GoI.

Annual Awards for Excellence in National Highways Projects

• Annual Awards for Excellence in National Highways Projects from this year onwards, for recognizing concessionaires and contractors who are performing exceptionally.
• The Annual Road Awards to be presented every year starting 2018 are designed across five categories as follows:

1. Excellence in Construction Management

2. Excellence in Operation & Maintenance

3. Best Toll Plaza 

4. Safe Highway 

5. Innovation in Design or Construction Technology 

India among one of the highest growing tourist economies of the world

The Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism Shri K. J. Alphons informed the Lok Sabha on 6th August that India is among one of the highest growing tourist economies in the world in 2017.

Important Figures:

• More than 14.0% growth in number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India in 2017 over 2016 along with a 19.2% increase (in US dollar terms) in the Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism for the same period.
• In 2017, Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism was Rs. 1, 77, 874 crores.
• India ranks 26th in the world in arrivals of global tourists.
• Ministry has sanctioned 69 projects worth for Rs.5711.79 Crore to 29 States/UTs under the PRASHD scheme.
•  Under PRASHAD Scheme, Ministry has identified 26 sites in 19 states for development and till date, 24 projects have been sanctioned for Rs.727.16 Crore under the scheme.
• PRASHAD Scheme full form is Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive.

National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill, 2017 Passed in Parliament

• National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill, 2017 is passed by Rajya Sabha on 6th August 2018.
• Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot  moved in Rajya Sabha the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Third Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the further Amendments made by the Lok Sabha.
• This Amendment Bill is to repeal the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 as passed by the Lok Sabha.

About Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017

• The Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Mr. Thaawarchand Gehlot on April 5, 2017. 
• It seeks to grant the National Commission on Backward Classes (NCBC) constitutional status, at par with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.

Functions:

• Under the Constitution Amendment Bill, the duties of the NCBC will include:
• Investigating and monitoring how safeguards provided to the backward classes under the Constitution and other laws are being implemented
• Inquiring into specific complaints regarding violation of rights, and
• Advising and making recommendations on socio-economic development of such classes.  The central and state governments will be required to consult with the NCBC on all major policy matters affecting the socially and educationally backward classes.

Parliament Passed Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2018

• The Parliament passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018 with the Rajya Sabha clearing it by a voice vote. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill last month of July.
• The bill replaces the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance promulgated on April 21 this year.
• The bill stipulates stringent punishment for perpetrators of rape, particularly of girls below 12 years and death sentence has been provided for rapists of girls under 12 years.

An MoU signed between FAGMIL and Government of Himachal Pradesh

• FCI Aravali Gypsum and Minerals India Limited (FAGMIL), a CPSU under the administrative control of the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India has received a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the Government of Himachal Pradesh for grant of mining lease for setting up of White Cement Plant to cater to the demand of white cement in North India.
• An MoU will be signed between FAGMIL and Government of Himachal Pradesh for the same.
• This will be the first PSU white cement plant in India.

About Plant:

• The installed capacity of the proposed Plant will be 1000 TPD.
• Direct and indirect employment generation would be around 200 and 3000 respectively.
• The plant would be installed using the latest available environment friendly technology. 
• The project shall be a land mark in the development of Nohra Dhar and nearby areas of Himachal Pradesh.

Important:

• The Ministry is headed by Minister of Chemicals and fertilisers. Ananth Kumar is the current minister for the department.
• Smt. Alka Tiwari, Joint Secretary of Department of Fertilizers and Chairperson & Managing Director of FAGMIL.

Current Affairs 7th August 2018: INTERNATIONAL NEWS. SPACE

China successfully tests waverider hypersonic aircraft called Called Xingkong-2

China has successfully tested its waverider hypersonic aircraft which is capable of flying independently and of carrying nuclear warheads.

About Xingkong-2

• The Xingkong-2 - also called Starry Sky-2 - was fired at a target range in north-west China and tested for 10 minutes.
•  Xingkong-2 - designed by China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics reached an altitude of 30 kilometres at Mach 5.5.
• Xingkong-2 is a flight vehicle which flies in the atmosphere and glides at high speeds using shockwaves generated by its own hypersonic flight with the air.
• It can reportedly carry nuclear warheads and break past anti-missile defence systems currently in use the world over.
• This is primarily because Xingkong-2 has an unpredictable trajectory and has a superior in-flight speed to cruise and ballistic missiles.

Current Affairs 7th August 2018: SCHEMES

Implementation of Central Sector Scheme of ‘Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse’

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment implements Central Sector Scheme of ‘Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse’ for identification, counseling, treatment and rehabilitation of addicts through voluntary and other eligible organizations.

About the Scheme

• Under this Scheme, financial assistance is provided to NGOs/Voluntary organizations and other eligible agencies for setting-up/running Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs).
• At present the Ministry is supporting 74 IRCAs in Maharashtra and Rs.10.10 crores grant in aid has been released to them during 2017-18.

Current Affairs 6th August 2018: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

Indo - Thailand Joint Exercise Maitree 2018 Opening Ceremony

• Exercise Maitree is a joint military exercise between Indian Army and Royal Thai Army which will be conducted from 06 to 19 August 2018 in Thailand.
• It is a platoon level exercise which comprises of infantry component.
• The opening ceremony started with familiarization of organisation and display of weapons & equipment of both armies.
• The exercise will emphasize to hone the tactical and technical skills in joint counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations in rural and urban scenario under UN mandate.

Important

Prime Minister of Thailand is Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Current Affairs 7th August 2018: OBITUARIES

DMK chief M. Karunanidhi passed away

DMK chief M. Karunanidhi passed away at 6:10 pm on Tuesday. Mr. Karunanidhi was admitted to the hospital following a drop in his blood pressure in the early hours of July 28. Since then the five-time Chief Minister's medical status has gone through ups and downs.

The Tamil Nadu government has declared holiday on August 8, 2018, and announced a seven-day mourning period for the former chief minister.The DMK patriarch's last journey will be on Wednesday and the National Flag will be flown at half-mast during the mourning period.Mr. Karunanidhi's mortal remains will be kept at Rajaji Hall for the public to pay their last respects, a statement released by State Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan read. The Tamil Nadu government has refused permission to bury DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi at the Marina citing "legal hurdles and several cases pending in courts." Instead, the government is ready to allot two acres of land near the Gandhi Mandapam on Sardar Vallabhai Patel road. 

About M. Karunanidhi

Muthuvel Karunanidhi (3 June 1924 – 7 August 2018), popularly known as Kalaignar (artist), was an Indian politician who served as the chief minister of the state of Tamil Nadu for five separate terms in the 1969–2011 period. Before entering politics he worked in the Tamil film industry as a screenwriter. He has also made contributions to Tamil literature, having written stories, plays, novels, and a multiple-volume memoir.

Important Current Affairs 6th August 2018

Current Affairs 6th August 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

India elected as President of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development

The Asia-Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD) on 3rd August elected Fayyaz Sheheryar, Director-General of All India Radio, as its new President. This is the first time India has been elected for the position of president of AIBD.

Asia-Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD)

Established in 1977 under the auspices of UNESCO, AIBD is a unique regional inter-governmental organisation servicing countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in the field of electronic media development. The elections were held at the 44th annual meeting of AIBD in Colombo.

Approval of 122 new research projects at a cost of Rs 112 crore under IMPRINT-2

•    For advancing research in the high education institutions, the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved 122 new research projects at a cost of Rs 112 crore under IMPRINT-2 covering Energy, Security, Healthcare, Advanced Materials, ICT and Security/Defence domains.

•    According to Union HRD Minister PrakashJavadekar said in a statement - “Out of 2145 proposals, 122 best proposals were selected for funding under IMPRINT-II, advancing cutting edge level technology,” 

IMPRINT-2

Impacting Research, Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT), a national initiative of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) designed to address all major engineering challenges relevant to India through an inclusive and sustainable mode of translational research has now reached its next phase, IMPRINT Round 2.

Startup Academia Alliance Programme of India

Startup India launched the Startup Academia Alliance programme, a unique mentorship opportunity between academic scholars and startups working in similar domains.

Startup Academia Alliance

•      The Startup Academia Alliance aims to reduce the gap between scientific research and its industrial applications in order to increase the efficacy of these technologies and to widen their impact.

•      By creating a bridge between academia and industry, the Alliance strives to create lasting connections between the stakeholders of the startup ecosystem and implement the third pillar on which the Startup India Action Plan is based - Industry Academia Partnerships and Incubation.

Approved and allocated an amount of Rs 60,039,297 for Project Mausam for F.Y 2018-19 and 2019-20

An amount of Rs 60,039,297 has been approved and allocated for Project Mausam. Expenditure for the project during 2017-18 and first three months of 2018-19 is Rs 16, 75,614.

Project ‘Mausam’

Project ‘Mausam’ is the initiative of Ministry of Culture to be implemented by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as the nodal agency with research support of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and National Museum as associate bodies.

Aim of this project:

•              This project aims to explore the multi-faceted Indian Ocean ‘world’ – collating archaeological and historical research in order to document the diversity of cultural, commercial and religious interactions in the Indian Ocean.

•      The main objective of the project is to inscribe places and sites identified under Project Mausam as trans-national nomination for inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

For the first time, the Supreme Court will have three sitting woman judges

•      With the elevation of Madras High Court Chief Justice Indira Banerjee as the Supreme Court judge, the apex court has created a new record in the Indian judicial history.

•      For the first time, the top court will have three sitting woman judges, that include Justices R Bhanumathi and Indu Malhotra the most woman judges the apex court has had.

•     Justice Banerjee would become the eighth woman judge in the history of the Supreme Court. She succeeds the likes of Fathima Beevi, Sujata V. Manohar, Ruma Pal and Gyan Sudha Misra and Ranjana Prakash Desai.

•     At present, the SC has 22 judges.

President inaugurates ‘Festival of Democracy’

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the ‘Festival of Democracy’ in Thiruvananthapuram (August 6, 2018 to mark the conclusion of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Kerala legislative assembly.

Objective:

“Festival of Democracy” will provide actionable and practicable inputs for the progress of legislative democracy in our country.

Important About Kerala Government:

•  Governor P. Sathasivam

•  Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

•  Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan

•  Cultural Affairs Minister A.K. Balan

Government e- Marketplace (GeM) Initiative:

As an initiative to improve transparency in procurement, Government has set up Government e- Marketplace as a 100% Government owned company registered under the Companies Act, 2013 for providing online platform for procurement of common use goods and services by government organizations.

Government e- Marketplace

Government e- Marketplace (GeM) is an online platform for government users which was launched on 9th August, 2016.

Salient Features:

•  It leverages technology to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement. It provides the tools of e-bidding, reverse e-auction and demand aggregation to facilitate the government users, achieve the best value of their money.

•  It is paperless, cashless and contactless platform giving end to end solution.

Important:

The Minister of State of Commerce & Industry is C R Chaudhary.

Inauguration of Sustainable Growth through Material Recycling: Policy Prescriptions

•    NITI Aayog’s International Conference on “Sustainable Growth through Material Recycling: Policy Prescriptions” was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri. Nitin Gadkari at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in the capital on 6th August 2018.

•   NITI Aayog Shri. Rajiv Kumar, CEO, NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant and renowned experts from all over the world in material recycling took part in the deliberations at the conference.

Objective:

“Recycling will increase growth, create wealth, and generate employment”,

Current Affairs 6th August 2018: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

IIT- Madras has developed the first of a family of six industry-standard microprocessors.

•    The computer scientists and a student team from the IIT- Madras have developed the first of a family of six industry-standard microprocessors.

•     The initial batches of 300 chips named RISECREEK, produced under Project Shakti, have been fabricated free at Intel’s facility at Oregon, U.S., to run the Linux operating system.

RISECREEK microprocessors

This microprocessors can be adapted by others, as the design is open source. They optimise power use and compete with international units such as the Cortex A5 from Advanced RISC Machines (ARM).

Shakti project

“The Shakti project is not aimed at only building processors. It also aims to build high speed interconnect for Servers and Supercomputers based on variants of the RapidiIO and GenZ standards. These are key to build large clusters of processors to get Petaflop and Exaflop level supercomputers,”

Current Affairs 6th August 2018: ECONOMY

Four-pronged strategy to help banking sector

•       The government is working on a four-pronged strategy to improve the health of the banking sector and help it get rid of non-performing assets.

Four-pronged strategy ("4Rs")

1. Recognition

2. Resolution

3. Recapitalisation

4. Reform

Important:

The Minister of State for Finance is Shiv Pratap Shukla.

Current Affairs 6th August 2018: SPORTS

India captain Virat Kohli topped the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen

•     India captain Virat Kohli on 5th of August 2018 topped the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen.

•     Kohli thus became the seventh India batsman, and first since Sachin Tendulkar (in June 2011) to be ranked the number one Test batsman in the latest ICC rankings released on 5th August.

•    Kohli has gone up by 31 points, which has helped him to end Steve Smith’s 32-month reign as the top-ranked batsman and reach the top of the summit for the first time in his 67-Test career.

Important Current Affairs 5th August 2018

Current Affairs 5th August 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

122 new research project proposals worth Rs 112 crores for financing under IMPREINT-2

●        In order to pursue research in higher education institutions, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has approved 122 new research projects under IMPREINT-II at a cost of Rs 112 crore including energy, safety, health, upgradation Contains material, ICT and security / defense

●        Selected new research project proposals: 35 (ICT); 18 (Advanced Materials), 17 (Health Technology), 12 (Energy Security); 11 (security and defense); 9 (Continuous housing); 7 (water resources and river system); 5 (environment and climate); 4 (manufacturing); And 4 (nanotechnology).

Adarsh road from airport to Rashtrapati Bhavan

●        The road from the airport to Rashtrapati Bhavan can be built in Delhi's ideal road.

●        This suggestion LG has placed in front of DDA.

●        He said that this time DDA is setting up 10 lakh trees.

●        From July 15 to September 30, this plant is to be planted, in which two lakh trees have been taken so far.

●        DDA currently has 783 parks and 6 biodiversity parks in Delhi, hence it is playing an important role in enhancing greenery.

Lockheed did not meet offset conditions, fined $5 lakh

●        The Defense Ministry has redeemed a part of the bank guarantee given by American Aerospace Manufacturer Lockheed Martin, not fulfilling the offset conditions for the Special Operations Aircraft Deal.

●        The deal worth 4,000 crores was signed in 2013.

●        Lockheed Martin has been fined less than $ 5 million.

Whatsapp will create local team

●        Whatsapp has informed the government that a local team is working with the company's India Head, which will monitor the circulation of fake news.

●        IT Ministry official said that WhatsApp has responded to the notice issued by the government.

●        The government said that the app has shown commitment to ending fake reports.

Ikea's first Indian store will open in Hyderabad on August 9

●        The first Indian store of Swedish furniture company IKEA will open on August 9 in Hyderabad.

●        Ikea Retail India had earlier said that it has extended the date of opening of the store from July 19 to 9th August.

●        Ikea thanked the Telangana government for her support.

Presidential approval for fugitive economic offender bill

●        President Ram Nath Kovind has approved the fugitive Economic Offenses Bill.

●        This bill will play an important role in preventing fugitive economic offenders from avoiding legal process in India and escaping from the country.

●        The fugitive financial offender is a person against whom an arrest warrant has been issued and he has gone out of the country to avoid criminal prosecution due to his involvement in a selective economic offense worth 100 crores or more.

Hearing on Article 35A in Supreme Court

●        The Supreme Court will hear the petition on the cancellation of Article 35A, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir .

●        In order to uphold Article 35A, the separatists have announced a shutdown in the valley.

●        Article 35A was added to the Constitution in 1954 by the order of the President.

●        This law prevents any person outside Jammu and Kashmir from buying property in the state.

●        Also, an outsider can not take advantage of the state government's plans and can not get government jobs there.

Current Affairs 4th August 2018: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

US to invest $ 300 Million in Hind-Pacific region to counter China

●        The US will invest $ 300 million to increase security and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

●        US Secretary of State Mike Pompey has announced this at a press conference in Singapore ahead of the Southeast Asian Nations Organization Summit.

●        The US wants to counter the Chinese domination in this area .

Saudi Arabia sent back Canadian High Commissioner

●        Saudi Arabia has said on Monday that he has sent the Canadian High Commissioner back to Riyadh to the country and has called his ambassador present in Toronto.

●        Saudi has also banned all new trade and investment with Canada.

●        Saudi has taken this step after the appeal of Canada in which demand for the release of civil rights activist arrested in Riyadh was sought.

●        Saudi Arabia had put many civil rights activists in jail under major action.

Dunkin 'donuts half store closed

●        Jubilant Foodworks , a listed partner of American Quick Service Donut Chain Dunkin Donuts, has closed more than half of the stores in the last two years.

●        She is leaving the store formats and focusing on donuts and beverages with smaller formats like Kiosk.

●        JFL is doing it to remove the pressure of losses on its profitability due to Dunkin.

Current Affairs 4th August 2018: OBITUARY

Head of Sant Nirankari Mission Savinder Mata passed away

●        Mother Savinder Hardev Maharaj, who was the head of Sant Nirankari Mission, passed away on Sunday evening.

●        She died in the nirankari colony of the weeds.

●        Savinder Hardev Maharaj lived as spiritual head of Sant Nirankari Mission from May 13, 2016 to July 16, 2018.

●        she was 61 years old.

Famous industrialist Rajan Nanda dies

●        Rajan Nanda , the famous industrialist and Chairman of Escorts Group, has died.

●        Nandha, the actor of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, breathed last night at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.

●        Nanda's company makes tractors and other agricultural equipment.

Current Affairs 4th August 2018:ECONOMY

₹ 15000 crores investment will not come in mobile manufacturing

●        The organization of companies making handsets have warned the government saying that if the incentives of States are not restarted in the Goods and Services Tax system, the loss of investments of Rs 10,000 to 15,000 crore in the coming days in mobile manufacturing Could.

●        Indian Cellular Association has written in a letter sent to Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha and Vice Chairman of the Commission, Rajiv Kumar that after the implementation of GST, the incentive available for local manufacturing has been completely stopped.

Under construction Solar projects will not be charged with safeguard duty on imported solar equipment

●        Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has requested the Finance Ministry to give under-construction solar projects exemption from safeguard duty on imported solar equipment.

●        The Finance Ministry has decided to impose 25% safeguard duty on imported solar equipment.

●        The Finance Ministry issued the security guard duty related notification last week.

Current Affairs 4th August 2018: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

India-China joined hands against agricultural subsidies for developed countries

●        Both India and China have jointly told the World Trade Organization that they want the developed countries to reduce their agricultural subsidy under the agreement .

●        Both countries have proposed that for the developed countries including the US, European Union and Canada, eliminate them that are subsidizing the $ 160 billion form for themselves.

●        The farm subsidies given on cotton, wool and tobacco are harming their international business.

Current Affairs 4th August 2018: PERSONS

Justice Joseph's seniority decreased

●        The central government has reduced the seniority of Justice Joseph , with whom many Supreme Court judges and even some members of the Kaliyim are angry.

●        A source associated with the Supreme Court has said that some judges and members of the Supreme Court will meet Chief Justice of India (CJI) Deepak Mishra on Monday.

●        During this time, these people will express their dissatisfaction with this decision before the CJI.

●        The Center has named Justice Joseph at number three in his notice.

Important Current Affairs 4th August 2018

Current Affairs 4th August 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Rare albino snake in Bhopal's Van Vihar

●        An albino white snake is being brought from Betul in Van Vihar, Bhopal.

●        Albino snakes can not survive because they are not able to escape the eye of the hunter due to their color and they become food.

●        Its eyes are red and it looks beautiful as compared to the other cobra snakes.

Decrease in number of HIV patients during last three years

●        During the last three years, the number of HIV patients has decreased.

●        Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said that the number of HIV patients in the year 2015-16 was 2,00,465, whereas in the year 2016-17 it has registered 1,93,195.

●        New hosiots of HIV have been seen emerging in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura states.

5000 crores approved for facilities like AIIMS in BHU hospital

●        In order to develop facilities like AIIMS in Sir Sunderlal Hospital of Kashi Hindu University, the Central Government will provide five thousand crore rupees.

●        The way to provide facilities and autonomy to BHU Hospital and Medical Science Institute is open from the agreement between the Union Ministry of Health, Ministry of Human Resource Development, AIIMS-Delhi and BHU in New Delhi.

●        According to the agreement, without the name of BHU IMS, the facilities and administrative arrangements will be replaced by AIIMS.

Demand for issuing red corner notice against the sons of Nawaz

●        The anti-corruption body of Pakistan has demanded to issue red corner notice to Interpol against Hassan and Hussein, sons of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif , who are in jail .

●        The court has declared the sons of Sharif as fugitive.

●        After a Supreme Court verdict on July 28, 2017, three cases against Sharif and his two sons were registered and both of them were not present in any court after which they were declared fugitive.

Supreme court approves deal between RCom-Jio

●        Supreme Court has given Reliance Communications permission to sell assets to Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio .

●        Along with this, supreme court has ordered Anil Ambani 's company to give Rs 550 crore to Ericsson till September 30.

●        After this Supreme Court order, Mukesh Ambani will get an opportunity to openly support his younger brother Anil Ambani through his company Reliance Jio.

Adani tops in getting gas distribution license

●        The group of billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani has been at the forefront of obtaining licenses for urban gas distribution .

●        Adani Group has got license to sell CNG in 11 cities including Allahabad.

●        Adani Group has obtained licenses for transporting of LPG to households in six cities through retail CNG and pipes at their own level.

●        At the same time, in five cities, it has got licenses under public sector Indian Oil Corporation joint venture.

Railway Minister approves new incentive policy for the  players working in the Railways

●        Central Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has approved a new policy for the promotion of the players working in the Railways.

●        As per the new promotion policy, all the players and coaches who have been awarded Padma Shri will be promoted in the form of officials besides winning medals in the Olympic Games.

60% of malaria parasites transmitted in the blood from  platelet are destroyed: Study

●        According to a new study, 60 percent of malaria parasites transmitted in the blood from platelets are destroyed.

●        The platelet found in the blood is helpful in increasing the human body's resistance and protects against malaria fever.

●        The study found that platelets located in the blood of patients suffering from malaria have the ability to destroy the parasite of malaria.

Lok Sabha passed National Sports University Bill 2018

●        The Lok Sabha passed the National Sports University Bill 2018 on August 3, 2018.

●        After the discussion in the House on the National Sports University Bill, passed by voice.

●        Sports Minister Col Rajyavardhan Rathore said during the discussion on the bill that the university will involve activities of research, administration, training and other sports.

Current Affairs 4th August 2018: APPOINTMENT

Supreme Court gets 8^th woman judge

●        Madras High Court Chief Justice Indira Banerjee has been appointed as the judge of the Supreme Court .

●        Justice Indira Banerjee is the 8th woman judge to go to the Supreme Court.

●        Earlier, Fatima Biwi, Sujata V Manohar, Ruma Pal, Gyan Sudha Mishra, Ranjana Prakash Desai, R. Bhanumati and Indu Malhotra became judges of the Supreme Court.

 Current Affairs 4th August 2018: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Woman fined for the first time for wearing hijab in Denmark

●        For the first time, a 28-year-old woman has been fined for violating this law after the ban on masks or hijab in Denmark in August.

●        1,000 crores (about Rs 10,000) were imposed on a woman wearing a mask.

The fashionable dress will be made from cow dung in the  startup of the Netherlands

●        A startup in the Netherlands has claimed to find a way to separate the cellulose from the cow dung to make fashionable dress.

●        This startup bioart lab runs Jalila Essaidi.

●        The fabric that is being made from cellulose is named as 'mastic'.

●        Shirt and top are being made from this.

●        Startup has also succeeded in making biodegradable plastic and paper from cellulose of cow dung.

Sushma Swaraj met PM of Uzbekistan

●        External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdullah Arifov and discussed bilateral relations.

●        Swaraj, who arrived on his first visit to Uzbekistan, was welcomed by his Uzbek counterpart Kamilov at the airport.

●        Under India's efforts to promote strategic partnership with resource-rich countries, Sushma Swaraj is on a tour of three Central Asian countries.

Ministry of Health is going to ban more than 300 medicines

●        Considering the recommendation of a sub-committee of the country's highest drug advisory body, the Health Ministry can soon ban more than 300 medicines.

●        These fixed dosages are combination medicines.

●        Apart from this move, many companies will be affected in addition to domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers like Piramal, McLeods, Cipla and Lupine, along with big multinational companies such as Abbott (MNCs).

Current Affairs 4th August 2018: ECONOMY

Pilot project of GST discount on rupay card and Bhim app will start

●        Some important decisions were taken at the GST Council meeting under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Piyush Goyal .

●        After the meeting, the Finance Minister informed that the state will soon start pilot project of GST discount on digital payment through Rupay card and Bhim App .

In 2017-18, Banks recovered Rs 5,000 crore as a fine

●        In 2017-2018, banks have imposed a fine of about Rs 5,000 crore in the bank account of those without minimum balance .

●        State Bank of India has imposed a maximum fine of about Rs 2,434 crore on its non-default balance.

●        Nearly 30 percent of the penalty has been recovered by India's 3 major private banks, Axis, HDFC and ICICI.

Current Affairs 4th August 2018: DEFENSE

India successfully tested supersonic interceptor missile

●        India successfully tested the inter-atmospheric advanced air defense interceptor missile on August 03, 2018.

●        Interceptor missile left from Abdul Kalam Island of Odisha coast

●        India had successfully tested supersonic cruise missile Brahmos on July 16, 2018.

Important Current Affairs 3rd August 2018

Current Affairs 3rd August 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

'Tourism Festival' will be organized all over the country from 16 September to 27th September.
 
●        The Tourism Ministry of the Government of India is organizing 'Tourism Festival' throughout the country from September 16 to 27, 2018, in collaboration with other Central Ministries, State Governments and all stakeholders.
●        The festival is being organized to focus on the benefits of tourism, to showcase the cultural diversity of the country and to strengthen the principle of "Tourism for Everyone".
 
45 new hostels sanctioned under working women hostel scheme
●        Dr. Virendra Kumar, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, told in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today that under the working women hostel scheme, 65 new proposals have been received during the last three years and during the current financial year and 45 new hostels sanctioned. has gone.
●        He said that the Women and Child Development Ministry is implementing the hostel scheme for working women from the year 1972-73.

 
Indian citizen won 19 crore in the lottery
 
●        V.V. Simon of Kerala has won around 19 crores in the big ticket lottery draw on Abu Dhabi International Airport on Friday.
●        Indians are dominating the Big Ticket draw.
●        One Syrian citizen and 10 others in the list of 10 winners

NBCC will complete Amrapali Group projects
 
●        Government company NBCC has told the Supreme Court that it is ready to take the projects of Amrapali Group entangled in the legal battle.
●        Amrapali Group has not been able to capture 42,000 home buyers flat.
●        Following this, the Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Justice UU Lalit directed NBCC to submit a proposal to complete the project within 30 days.
●        The Bench told NBCC that the money that the Amrapali Group has taken from home buyers will be delayed for completing the projects.
 
 

Policy to help the footwear industry
 
●        Government is considering to create an incentive policy for one of the most important sectors of the footwear industry in terms of participation of labor and small industries.
●        Under this, work on measures to enhance skill and employment in the sector has started, as well as increasing footwear manufacturing and export.
●        There is a work of constructing nearly half a dozen footwear clusters across the country.
 
 

Railways earned 13.94 billion rupees from canceled tickets
●        In the financial year 2017-2018, the money collected from the passengers instead of the ticket was canceled, the treasury of the railway stood at around 13.94 billion rupees.
●        Even after the charts were created during the last financial year, the Railways earned Rs 88.55 crore from the fee charged on the passenger ticket stays in the waiting list.

Bill passed to give constitutional status to OBC Commission in Lok Sabha
 
●        In the Lok Sabha, on August 02, 2018, the Bill to grant constitutional status to the Other Backward Classes Commission was passed unanimously.
●        Unanimous approval was granted in the Lok Sabha with a majority of more than two-thirds majority.

Supreme Court issues guidelines for improving judicial structure
 
●        The Supreme Court issued new guidelines on August 02, 2018 for effective administration of judicial functions and improving the infrastructure of the courts across the country.
●        These include appointment of management professionals as court masters.
●        The Supreme Court has directed that a commercially qualified court manager will be appointed to assist in court administration in judicial districts provided they have an MBA degree.

Current Affairs 3rd August 2018: AWARDS

More than 10,000 nominations were received for Padma Award-2019
●        The last date for online nomination for the Padma awards on Republic Day, 2019 is September 15, 2018.
●        After the nomination on May 1, 2018, there have been 11,475 registration on the website, in which 10,453 nominations have been completed.

Current Affairs 3rd August 2018: SCHEMES

Prime Minister Ujjwala plan touched 5 crores figure
●        Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, Lok Sabha Speaker, gave away five millionth LPG connections to Mrs. Takdiran of Delhi under the Prime Minister Ujjwala Scheme in Parliament House here today.
●        Speaker Sumitra Mahajan appreciated the collective efforts made by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to achieve the target of 5 crore for the senior officials and oil marketing companies of the Ministry.

Current Affairs 3rd August 2018: SPORTS

Steeplechase runner Naveen Dagar found positive in Dope Test
 
●        The Indian athletics team preparing for the forthcoming Asian Games today suffered a major setback when the steeplechase runner Naveen Dagar was found positive in the banned substance meldonium during the inter-state athletics competition in Guwahati .
●        Dagar 2014 is the bronze medalist of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and he got a qualifying mark of 8:41 sec during the Guwahati competition.
 

NCL will help to conserve young athletes
 
●        Northern Coalfields Limited has decided to help the young athletes in the country.
●        Based on the competition, the first session of the residential academy started with the admission of 18 talented young athletes elected from all over the country.
●        NCL has taken the initiative of caring for the talent of these young athletes in the age group of 12 to 14 years.

Current Affairs 3rd August 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

12 year old Divyang wrote the book
 
●        In Britain, a 12-year-old child wrote a book.
●        Jonathan Brian can not speak and neither can he be physically able to write.
●        With the help of e-train frame, Jonathan has written a book named " I Can write".

Emmerson Mnangagwa won Zimbabwe's presidential election
 
●        Emmerson Mnangagwa has won in Zimbabwe's presidential elections.
●        They will once again become President of Zimbabwe
●        Zimbabwe's Election Commission Chief Justice Priscilla Chigumba announced their victory.
●        After the resignation of 94-year-old President Robert Mugabe in November 2017, elections were held for the first time in Zimbabwe.

Current Affairs 3rd August 2018: ECONOMY

540.43 crores profit of SAIL
 
●        Steel Authority of India Limited has made a profit of Rs 540.43 crore in the first quarter (April-June) of FY 2018-19 by removing the liability of tax.
●        In the first quarter of the financial year 2018-19, SAIL has made a turnover of Rs 15,743.21 crore, which is 22.42% more than the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

Current Affairs 3rd August 2018: DEFENSE

Tejas fighter plane successfully completed 'deck landing' test
 
●        Naval prototype of the indigenously built fighter plane Tejas received a major feat by contacting the deck during the 'deck landing' test on aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya on 02 August 2018.
●        Along with this, India has joined a range of select countries such as America, Europe, Russia and China, which decks landing fighter aircraft.

Important Current Affairs 2nd August 2018

Current Affairs 2nd August 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Integrate to Innovate Programme for energy Startups
●        Invest India has entered into an agreement with energy companies to provide market opportunity directly from the laboratory for Indian startup through innovation program for integration for energy startup.
●        From the integration, there is a three-month corporate accelerated program for energy startups located in a newborn corporate campus.
 

Ministry of Environment and Skill Development signed an agreement to give training to one lakh RAC service technicians
●        Earlier, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
●        Both the joint secretaries of the ministries- the exchange of consent letters between Shri Gyanesh Bharti and Mr. Rajesh Agarwal.
●        Both the Ministry will provide training to 100,000 RAC service technicians.
 
 
Government enhances financing to improve the quality of higher education
●        Increasing the fund allocation for the Higher Education Department has been allocated Rs 35,010.29 crore in the year 2015-16 from Rs 26,855.26 crore in the year 2018-19.
●        Central institutions of higher education are now dependent on the government budget because these institutions provide education at a minimum fee.
●        The total authorized equity capital of HEFA has increased to Rs. 10,000 crores.
 
 
150 universities were included during the last three years in the UGC list
●        The University Grants Commission has informed that during the last three years, a total of 150 universities have been included in the UGC list.
●        The colleges were established by the State Governments / Trust / Registered Society and Private Management and included in the list of UGC under section 2 (f) and 12 (b) of the UGC Act, 1956.
 
 
Piyush Goyal approves new incentive policy for the players working in the Railways
●        Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Railways, Coal, Finance and Corporate Affairs has approved a new policy for the promotion of the players working in the Railways.
●        Under this, all the players and coaches who have been awarded Padmashree will be promoted as officers besides those who win medals in the Olympics.

Solid waste management projects in 97 cities along the river Ganges
●        There was a meeting to review the solid waste management projects in 97 Ganga cities of Central Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Conservation Minister and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and other concerned officials.
●        A total of 63 projects have been sanctioned for development of river banks and development of ghats and cremation grounds, which are estimated to cost Rs. 1197 crores.
●        Out of these 24 projects have been completed and other projects are at different levels of implementation.

Rajasthan becomes the first state to implement biofuel policy
 
●        Rajasthan has become the first state in India to implement the National Biofuel Policy of 2018.
●        This is said by Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Rajendra Rathod.
●        In the Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj Training Institute, the biofuel authority approved the implementation of the biofuel policy 2018 in the fourth meeting of the Empowered Committee.
 

Central Cabinet approves revision in SC / ST Act
 
●        The Union Cabinet approved the amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act on 01 August 2018.
●        In the beginning of 2018, the Supreme Court censored the misuse of some important provisions of the SC-ST Act and rejected them.
 

RBI announces interest rates in monetary policy review meeting
 
●        The Reserve Bank of India announced interest rate increase in the monetary policy review meeting on 1 st August 2018.
●        RBI has increased policy rates for the second consecutive time.
●        RBI has increased the repo rate and 25 basis points i.e. 0.25 percent to 6.5 percent.
 

TCS will take online exam for railway recruitment
 
●        Indian Railways is going to do one lakh recruits in the coming months.
●        It will also be the first such government job recruitment, which will be examined by a private company Tata Consultancy Services.
●        TCS already conducts prestigious entrance exams like CAT and GET for IITs for institution like IIM in India.
●        More than 200 million applications have been received by the Railways for 1 lakh recruits.

Uber launches new safety toolkit feature
 
●        Ober, who provided an app based taxi service , launched the 'Safety Toolkit' feature for Indian Riders on Thursday.
●        Earlier in May, Uber launched this feature in the US.
●        After good response there, it has also been launched in India.

Current Affairs 2nd August 2018: ECONOMY

NHAI will sign MoU with SBI for long-term unsecured loans of Rs 25,000 crore
●        National Highways Authority of India is getting unsecured loans of Rs 25,000 crore for 10 years from the State Bank of India, under which a repatriation of 3 years will be postponed.
●        This is the highest loan amount sanctioned for NHAI by an institute at one go.
●        It is also the longest non-vulnerable loan amount approved by SBI to any body by SBI.

Apple became company of 1 trillion
●        Apple has become the first listed company of a trillion dollar.
●        Apple's stock rose 2.8 percent, after which it increased by 9 percent from Tuesday.
●        Apple's share gained 6%.

Current Affairs 2nd August 2018: SCHEMES

Policy Commission launches Move Hack
●        The Policy Commission has launched the Global Mobility Hackathon-Move Hack for the purpose of the future of mobility in India.
●        It will be one of the largest hackathons globally.
●        Move Hack will focus on ten subjects and will be finalized in online, Singapore and New Delhi.

Current Affairs 2nd August 2018: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

China launches high-resolution satellite for Earth observation
 
●        China launched Optical Remote Sensing Satellite Gaofen-11 under the High-Resolution Satellite Project for Earth Observation on July 31, 2018.
●        This satellite will help in China's ambitious belt and road project.
●        This was the 282nd mission of the Long March Rocket Series.
 

Current Affairs 2nd August 2018: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIP

India and Germany signed an agreement to support sustainable urban development
 
●        India and Germany signed an agreement on 1 August 2018 for financial and technical cooperation.
●        In this agreement urban emphasis has been prominently emphasized.
●        On behalf of the German Government, the agreement was signed by Dr. Martin Neyi, Ambassador of the Government of India and Sameer Khare, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, in the Finance Ministry on behalf of the Government of India.

Important Current Affairs 1st August 2018

Current Affairs 1st August 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Cabinet approves agricultural scientist recruitment board (ASRB)
●        The Cabinet has approved the Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board (ASRB) under the chairmanship of Narendra Modi.
●        ASRB will now have four members in place of three members. There will be one president and three members in the board.
●        The ASRB will be for a period of three years or upto 65 years.
 
Approval of policy-framework for exploration and exploitation of non-conventional hydrocarbons
●        Under the chairmanship of Narendra Modi, the Cabinet has approved the policy framework for exploration and exploitation of non-conventional hydrocarbons, such as shell oil / gas, coal bed methane etc.
●        This policy will increase the capacity for the use of potential hydrocarbon stores in the current contract areas, which have not been explored so far and which were not exploited.
●        With the implementation of this policy, new investments in exploration and production activities and new domestic hydrocarbon discoveries are expected to increase.
 

Life Insurance Corporation will acquire IDBI Bank
●        Under the chairmanship of Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet has approved the government's holding in IDBI Bank below 50 per cent.
●        With this acquisition, consumers, LICs and banks will get extensive benefits of the solution.
 
 
13 new kendriya vidyalaya in seven states and acceptance of opening Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Madhya Pradesh
●        Under the chairmanship of Narendra Modi, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal to open 13 new Kendriya Vidyalayas in seven states and open the second Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh.
●        13 new schools will be opened in Banda, Washim, Chakpikarong, Parabham, Nawada, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Palamu, Siddipet, Kudamalakente, CISF Surajpur, Devkund and Bawli.
●        The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has also approved the setting up of additional Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Elott in Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh.
 
Hindustan Copper Limited approves 15% equity
●        Under the chairmanship of Narendra Modi, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has issued 13,87,82700 equity shares of five rupees per equity equity capital of 15 per cent from the qualified Institutional Placement Route as per SEBI and other valid instructions issued by Hindustan Copper Limited. has approved.
●        As a result, the share of Government of India in HCL will be reduced from 76.05 per cent to 66.13 per cent.
●        From this, the paid up share of HCL will increase from Rs 462.61 crore to Rs 532 crore.
 
 

Skill Development Training for Beedi makers
●        Ministry of Labor and Employment has initiated skills development program to the bidi workers and their coming Sriton revenue Whack them to increase obs at regular intervals.
●        Recently, the Ministry initiated skills development program for those making bidis and are still in Ini Mbhik stage.
 

Two coastal highway projects will start in Odisha
●        In Odisha, there is a plan to start 415 km long seaside highway projects at a cost of about Rs 7500 crore.
●        For the construction of highway, Rs. 6000 crore and land acquisition amounting to Rs. 1500 crores is fixed.
●        NHAI had cleared the maps of these projects last year.

National Child Rights Protection Commission will constitute 'arbitration cell' in NRI marriage dispute cases
●        The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Central Government has directed the NCPCR to set up an arbitration cell based on the rights granted in the Child Rights Protection Act, 2005.
●        This cell will take a decision keeping the child's best interests in mind and the parent will prepare the plan.
 

Policy commission will organize investors' conference for all-round development of peninsula
●        The Policy Commission will conduct an investor conference on August 10, 2018 at the Overseas Center for All-round Development of Peninsula.
●        The conference will be inaugurated by the Chairman of the Policy Commission Mr. Amitabh Kant.
●        This will increase investment in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep for sustainable development of eco-tourism projects.

Delhi government eliminated Aadhar compulsion in social welfare schemes
 
●        In the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the proposal for ending the mandatory requirement of Aadhar for getting pension and other services was approved.
●        Due to this decision, old age, divinities and widows will no longer have to face any obstacle in getting the pension given by the Social Welfare Department of Delhi Government due to the base.
 

Ministry of Health signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Power
 
●        Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Power for the purpose of Digital India program on July 31, 2018.
●        Under this, National Health Agency signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for providing Information and Intentional Validation services to the beneficiaries especially with the same service center under the Digital India program.
 

Bill of bankruptcy and bankruptcy passed in Lok Sabha
 
●        The Lok Sabha passed the Bankruptcy and Bankruptcy Code Bill, 2018 on July 31, 2018.
●        This bill was introduced in parliament on July 23, 2018.
●        It has been brought to the place of insolvency and amendment incompetence code amendment ordinance 2018, which was enforced by the President on June 6, 2018.

Current Affairs 1st August 2018: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIP 

Financial and technical agreement worth Rs 5253 crores was signed between India and Germany
●        Under the India-Germany bilateral development cooperation, a new agreement was signed between the two countries in New Delhi today.
●        Large agreements for financial cooperation between India and Germany signed for lesser interest loan of 610 million euros and financial grant of 5.5 million euros to formalize.

Current Affairs 1st August 2018:GLOBAL NEWS

Inland Waterway Authority launched new portal for cargo owners and shipping companies
●        Inland Waterway Authority started a dedicated portal linking the logistics operators and shipping business with real-time data on the availability of ships.
●        This portal will be the means of direct contact between shipping operators, shipers and cargo owners.
●        There was no system to know the availability of ships in the market so far.

Current Affairs 1st August 2018: AWARDS

Gopalkrishna Gandhi selected for Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavna Award
 
●        Gopalkrishna Gandhi has been selected for the year 2018 Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavna Award.
●        He is the former Governor of West Bengal, he has been selected for this award in the matter of promoting harmony and peace.
●        Gopalkrishna Gandhi will be given this award in a special program on August 20 in New Delhi.

Current Affairs 1st August 2018: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Scientists discovered new cells of human cells
 
●        American and Spanish scientists have discovered the new size of human cells during the study of aphethylic cells.
●        The new size that has been discovered by scientists has been named 'Scootoid'.
●        Scientists discover new cell sizes during the study of epithelial cells.

Important Current Affairs 31st July 2018

Current Affairs 31st July 2018: NATIONAL NEWS

Start-up India tour begins in Chhattisgarh
 
●        Startup India Tour was inaugurated on 30th June in Raipur.
●        A large number of students have registered themselves for the first boot camp to be organized in Raipur.
●        Today, on 31st July, the Government Engineering College will visit Bilaspur for the second boot camp.
 
 
The old Jaipur city of Rajasthan is the next place proposed for recognition for UNESCO World Heritage
●        The old Jaipur city of Rajasthan in India is the next place proposed for recognition as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
●        According to Operating Guidelines 2017, only one place name may be proposed by the states each year.
●        It benefits the local economy, which promotes domestic and international tourism, thereby increasing employment opportunities.
 

CSC will register the beneficiaries of Ayushman India
●        In the presence of Ravi Shankar Prasad and Jagat Prakash Nadda, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to implement the Ayushman Bharat Scheme through three lakh general service centers spread across the country.
●        Ayushman is a National Health Security Scheme, which will provide cover to more than 100 million poor poor families by providing coverage up to five lakh rupees for recruitment in secondary and tertiary hospitals.
 
 
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology signed MoU
 
●        Under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Health Agency has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for providing information and expertise services to the beneficiaries especially with the same service centers.
●        The signing of this MoU was signed by Dr Dinesh Tyagi, CEO of National Institute of Health (NHA), Dr. Indu Bhushan and CSC-SPV.

Amendment of the Bill for the merger of five associate banks with SBI passed in Parliament
 
●        The Parliament passed the State Bank Resolution and Amendment Bill on July 30, 2018, for the merger of its associate banks in State Bank of India.
●        After the approval of the Lok Sabha on the amendments suggested by the Rajya Sabha in the State Bank Resolution and Amendment Bill, 2017, the bill has now been passed in Parliament.
●        This bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 21, 2017 by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
 
Guidelines for implementing strategic partnership models were approved
 
●        The Government has approved the guidelines relating to the implementation of the strategic partnership model brought with the aim of promoting the private sector in the creation of state-of-the-art weapon systems.
●        A meeting of the Defense Purchase Council was held in the chairmanship of Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 30, 2018, in which these guidelines were approved.
●        With this, self-reliance in the defense sector will be increased and weapons can be supplied to the Armed Forces in a timely manner.

Coal India to buy 13,000 crore mining equipment in 3 years
 
●        Public sector company Coal India Limited will buy the mining equipment for around 130 billion rupees in the next 3 years through global tenders.
●        In view of increasing demand, the company is going to take this step to increase coal production.
 

Tech Mahindra profits down by 30%
 
●        Mid-sized IT company Tech Mahindra posted profits of $ 13.18 million in June quarter, down 29.9% from the previous quarter.
●        With the increase in cost of telecom segments and expenditure on salary-visas items, the increase in operation cost has put pressure on the company.
●        Tech Mahindra earnings dipped 1.6 percent to $ 1.2 billion on quarter-on-quarter basis.

Current Affairs 31st July 2018: SCHEMES

Prime minister crop insurance scheme
●        Due to its specialties, the Prime Minister's Crop Insurance Scheme became quite popular and 27 states and union territories of the country adopted it in one or more seasons.
●      This scheme was implemented in 2016-17, during which the monsoon rainfall was quite good, but despite that, the average of insurance claims under this scheme was 73 percent higher than that year.

Current Affairs 31st July 2018: RANKING

India is among top 100 countries in the United Nations e-Governance index
 
●        India has joined the top 100 countries in the United Nations e-Governance index.
●        In the United Nations e-Governance index, India has jumped 22 points during the last 4 years, of which 11-digit jump has been done in the last two years.
●        India was 118 points in this index in 2014, but she has now jumped to 96th rank.
 

ATP ranking: First place remains with Nadal
 
●        Spain's star player, Rafael Nadal , remains on top in professional tennis association ranking.
●        Nadal is in first place, while Roger Federer of Switzerland remains in second place.
●        Germany's top player Alexander Zverev is third, Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro fourth and South Africa's Kevin Anderson are at number 5.

Current Affairs 31st July 2018: GLOBAL NEWS

America, Pakistan pledged to restore bilateral relations
 
●        The US and Pakistan have agreed to restore bilateral relations.
●        In the meeting between US Defense Secretary James Matisse and Islamabad's Ambassador Ali Jahangir in Washington, a resolution was made in this regard.
●        In the meeting, both discussed the relations between their countries and the regional security of South Asia.

Indian-American Seema Nanda became Democratic Party CEO
 
●        Indian American seema Nanda has been appointed as the CEO of Democratic Party of opposition parties.
●        After assuming the office, Nanda vowed to work for the country and ensure the election of Democratic Party candidates in all corners of America.
●        Nanda is the first Indian American to hold the post of the Democratic and Republican CEO of the National Committee.
●        Nanda took charge of DNC CEO on July 23.

US enhances India's level of control in the export control system
 
●        On 30 July 2018, the US gave India the status of Tactical Trade Authority-1 and granted exemption in export control for the sale of high-tech products.
●        India is the only South Asian country, which has been included in this list.
●        In the year 2016, India has been granted STA-1 status after getting recognition as America's 'Chief Defense Associate'.

Current Affairs 31st July 2018: SPORTS

javelin Throwing Athlete Amit Kumar suspended
 
●        Amit Kumar, the talented athlete of the National Interstate Javelin throw, was found guilty of consuming banned substance during a visit to Finland last month.
●        The Indian Athletics Federation has kept quiet about this matter but closest sources of the athlete confirmed that he has been temporarily suspended.

Current Affairs 31st July 2018: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIP

America enhanced India’s strategic partner status
 
●        On Monday, the US gave India the status of Tactical Trade Authority-1, giving India a concession in export control for the sale of high-tech products.
●        India is the only South Asian country, which has been included in this list.
●        After getting recognized as India's 'Chief Defense Associate' in 2016, it has earned STA-1 status.