(International Relations)

Bilateral Maritime Exercise Between Japan and India (JIMEX 18) to Commence at Visakhapatnam

Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) Ships Kaga, an Izumo Class Helicopter Destroyer and Inazuma – a Guided Missile Destroyer arrived at Visakhapatnam on 07 October 2018.

The JMSDF Ships under the command of Rear Admiral Tatsuya Fukada, Commander, Escort Flotilla-4 (CCF-4), would be participating in the third edition of Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) with the ships of Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy (IN) from 07 to 15 October 18.

JIMEX-18 is aimed to enhance interoperability, improve understanding and imbibe the best practices of each other.

JIMEX 18, spread over eight days, will comprise a Harbour Phase and a Sea Phase of four days each.

The last edition of JIMEX was conducted in Dec 2013 off Chennai. The conduct of JIMEX-18 after five years is indicative of an upswing in the Indo-Japanese defence relations and the continued efforts of both Governments to work closely to enhance safety and security of the global commons in keeping with ‘rule based order’.

(National News)

4th India International Science Festival

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the 4th India International Science Festival in Lucknow

The first of the four-day festival saw scientists, students, experts in different fields of science from across the country in hundreds, along with members of India’s science policy team that inaugurated and introduced the day’s sessions.

The Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Harsh Vardhan, inaugurated a few of the key events himself, including the Young Scientists Conference and the Global Indian Science and Technology Stakeholder’s Meet.

Air Force Day Parade 2018

The Indian Air Force is celebrating its 86th Anniversary on 08 Oct 2018.

In the last eight decades, IAF has technologically evolved and grown in strength to thwart any threat to the nation. It is committed to safeguard the Indian skies and has played a key role in providing assistance to the people of the country during any natural calamity.

Professionalism displayed by air-warriors during various international exercises reaffirms IAF’s ability to be an effective net security provider.

On this day, all men and women of IAF pay rich tribute to the untiring efforts and supreme sacrifice made by veterans, who laid a strong foundation for the service.

Minister of Textiles, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani Inaugurates exhibition “Revisiting Gandhi: The Art of Shelly Jyoti” at IGNCA, New Delhi

Union Minister of Textiles, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani Inaugurated the exhibition “Revisiting Gandhi: The Art of Shelly Jyoti” at IGNCA, New Delhi, on 06th of October, 2018.

Smt. Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi and Trustee, Kasturba Gandhi National Museum Memorial, Dr. Sachidananda Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNA, Rajmata Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad, Chancellor, M.S. University, Vadodara were the guests of Honour at the Event.

The exhibition was organised as part of Gandhi Parv, 150 years birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi

IndiaSkills 2018, the Country’s biggest skill competition, concludes

IndiaSkills 2018, the Country’s biggest skill competition, concluded here today, with the winners being awarded by dignitaries.

Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship ShriAnantkumarHegde and ShriSubhashGhai, Chairman of Media and Entertainment Skills Council and India Film Director gave away the awards in 46 trades to participants from across the country.

IndiaSkills 2018 was the second edition of the nationwide competition organized by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India to identify, recognize, promote and reward the best talents in various skills.

23 states actively participated in organizing the competitions at the state and regional levels in which over 50 thousand participants took part. 450 participants took part in the 3-day national level competition organized in New Delhi. Besides 46 competition trades, there were 10 demonstration trades also.

Some of winners of the competition of various trades will be given more training, before they are sent to represent India at the 45th WorldSkills Competition at Kazan, Russia in 2019.

A number of Divayangs also participated in the competition and the winners will take part at the World level in Abilympics in China. A large number of Corporates (over 100) supported the Government’s efforts in organizing the IndiaSkills 2018.

(National News)

GI Tag for Alphonso from Konkan
Alphonso from Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Palghar, Thane and Raigad districts of  Maharashtra, is registered asGeographical Indication (GI). 
A Geographical Indication or a GI is an indication used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. Such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to its origin in that defined geographical locality. Darjeeling Tea, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Banarasi Sarees and TirupatiLaddus are some of the GIs.

Digi Yatra central platform will be operational by end of February, 2019
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation, Shri Suresh Prabhu released the policy on biometric based digital processing of passengers at airports called “Digi Yatra” at a press-conference. 

‘DigiYatra’ 

The ‘DigiYatra’ is an industry-led initiative co-ordinated by the Ministry in line with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Digital India’s vision to transform the nation into a digitally empowered society. This follows Air Sewa which brings together all the stakeholders on a common platform for handling customer grievances and disseminating real-time data.

Launch of Methanol Cooking Fuel Program of India

Northeast and Assam Petro-chemicals, a state-owned company for launching Asia's first cannisters based and India's first "Methanol Cooking Fuel Program".
 The program was inaugurated by Dr V K Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog and Chairman, Methanol Apex Committee at the Assam Petro-chemicals campus at Namrup.

Details:
500 households inside the Assam Petro Complex will be the first pilot project, scaling it to 40,000 households in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Goa and Karnataka. The project is a natural extension of our Prime Minister's vision of reducing import of crude and an effort to provide clean, import substitute, cost effective and pollution free cooking medium. Assam Petrochemicals Limited has been manufacturing methanol for the last 30 years and is in the process of upgrading their 100 TPD methanol plant to 600 TPD by Dec 2019.

(Appointment News)

RN Ravi becomes Deputy National Security Advisor
The government  redesignated RN Ravi as deputy national security advisor (internal affairs) from his earlier assignment as the chief of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC).

Ravi will be the third deputy to NSA Ajit Doval after former Research and Analysis Wing chief Rajinder Khanna and serving diplomat Pankaj Saran.

Ravi retired as the special director in the domestic intelligence agency, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the NDA government appointed him as the chief of the JIC which is a subsidiary body of the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) tasked with assessment of intelligence gathered by various intelligence agencies.

(International News)
Atal Innovation Mission & SIRIUS sign MoU forpromotion of innovative cooperation 

To promote innovative cooperation between students of India and Russia, a Memorandum of Understanding was exchanged between India’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and the Russian Federation’s SIRIUS Educational Foundation in the presence of the Prime Minister of India Shri. Narendra Modi and the President of Russia H.E. Vladimir Putin, in New Delhi on 5th October 2018.

About AIM-SIRIUS Innovation Festival 2018
To promote a spirit of collaborative innovation, young innovators of Atal Tinkering Labs and SIRIUS Educational Foundation came together at a four-day Indo-Russian ATL innovation boot-camp from October 1st to October 4th. 

About Atal Innovation Mission
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is NITI Aayog’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in India. AIM has been established to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship in a holistic manner through various initiatives at school, university and industry levels.

India, Vietnam hold joint drill in Bay of Bengal
The Indian Coast Guard conducted its maiden joint exercise with the Vietnam Coast Guard in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Chennnai.

The exercise — Sahyog HOP TAC-2018 — was aimed at enabling the Coast Guard units of the two countries to acquaint themselves with each other’s capabilities, strengthening the working-level relationship to rescue lives at sea and refining joint operation procedures.

The joint exercise simulated a scenario involving rescue of crew from a hijacked oil tanker, interdiction of a pirated vessel, joint boarding operation and external fire-fighting to salvage burning ships.

National News
Chanda Kochhar quits as ICICI Bank CEO, MD

The ICCI Bank CEO and MD, Chanda Kochhar quit her position with immediate effect on October 4, 2018. The announcement came after her plea for early retirement was accepted by the bank. 

Kochhar, who had headed ICICI Bank since May 2009, is also stepping down from the board of directors of its units. Her third term was set to end in March 2019. 
Sandeep Bakhshi, who was appointed as the bank's COO in June 2018, has been named to succeed Kochhar as the bank’s new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Bakhshi has been appointed for a period of five years until October 3, 2023, subject to various approvals.

21 IORA Countries adopt the Delhi Declaration on Renewable Energy

As many as 21 countries in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) today adopted the Delhi Declaration on Renewable Energy in the Indian Ocean Region, post the 2nd IORA Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting held at the 2nd Global Re-Invest India-ISA Partnership Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet & Expo in Greater Noida.
The Delhi Declaration on Renewable Energy in the Indian Ocean Region calls for collaboration among IORA member states in meeting the growing demand for renewable energy in the Indian Ocean littorals, development of a common renewable energy agenda for the Indian Ocean region and promote regional capacity building.

First Regional Conference on 'Women in Detention and Access to Justice' in Shimla 

The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), Ministry of Home Affairs is organising the First ever Regional Conference at Shimla on 'Women in Detention and Access to Justice' in collaboration with the Prison Department, Himachal Pradesh on October 4-5, 2018. The Conference will be inaugurated by Shri Acharya Devvrat, the  Governor of Himachal Pradesh.

The following themes have been identified for discussions and deliberations:

•    Reproductive Health Rights of Women Prisoners: National and International Legal Norms
•    Health Needs of Women Prisoners
•    Health, Skill, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Women Inmates and Their Children
•    Prison Reforms, Structural Managerial and Legal Issues with Focus on Women Inmates & Comparison to Global Norms
•    Neuro-Criminology Program for the Offender
•    Transforming Prisons

 Defence News

India and Kazakhstan agree to boost Defence and Military Technical Cooperation
 
Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman was on a three-day visit to Astana, Kazakhstan from October 02, 2018 at the invitation of Minister of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Nurlan Yermekbayev.
India and Kazakhstan Defence Cooperation includes military-technical cooperation, military education and training, joint military exercises, bilateral exchange of visits and cadet youth exchange programs.  Over 200 Kazakh Defence Forces Personnel have undergone military training in India till date.  Both countries successfully conducted a company level joint military exercise ‘KAZIND-2018’ in South Kazakhstan, last month. India and Kazakhstan are bound by historical and cultural ties and this has laid a strong foundation for the multifaceted cooperation.  Both countries are Strategic Partners since 2009.

 Awards News

Swachh Survekshan Grameen Awards 2018

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave awards to top Ranked State, District and State with maximum citizen participation based on the National Swachh SurvekshanGrameen 2018 commissioned by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. 
The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation had commissioned “Swachh Survekshan Grameen-2018” (SSG 2018) through an independent survey agency to develop ranking of all districts of India on the basis of quantitative and qualitative sanitation (Swachhata) parameters.
Overall Ranking:
•    Top 3 States-1) Haryana, 2) Gujarat 3) Maharashtra
•    Top 3 Districts 1) Satara, Maharashtra 2) Rewari, Haryana 3) Pedapalli, Telangana
•    States with maximum citizen participation 1) Uttar Pradesh 2) Gujarat 3) Maharashtra
•    Districts with maximum citizens’ participation 1) Nashik, Maharashtra 2) Solapur, Maharashtra 3) Chittorgarh, Rajasthan

International News

Four-day long India International Science Festival (IISF-2018) begins 
     
Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhanand Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath jointly addressed a curtain raiser in Luknow on the eve of 4thIndia International Science Festival-2018 (IISF-2018) to be held in Lucknow from 05th to 08th October.The mega science expo will be formally inauguratedby the President Shri Ram NathKovind.
The theme of this edition of Science Festival is “Science for Transformation”. IISF-2018 is expected to be represented by approximately 10000 delegates including 5000 students, 550 teachers, 200 students from North-East Region, 20 international delegates and approximately 200 startups.

National News

Establishment of National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation in Sehore District instead of Bhopal 
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved,in partial modification of the earlier decision taken on 16.05.2018, the establishment of National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation(NIMHR) in Sehore District (Bhopal-Sehore highway) instead of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.
Benefits:
NIMHR will be the first of its kind in the country in the area of mental health rehabilitation. It will serve as an institution of excellence for capacity building in human resource and research in the area of mental health  rehabilitation, and also recommending body suggesting models/protocols for effective rehabilitation of persons with mental illness.

840 institutes enrolled in "Unnat Bharat Abhiyan"
  

Under “Unnat Bharat Abhiyan” scheme, 688 institutes selected in the phase-1 are involved in various activities aimed to enrich rural India. This includes field visits, house to house survey, identifying the felt needs of the rural masses, developing technology or process to improve their lives.
 Now, in the next phase, on a challenge mode, 840 Institutions have been selected and will be part of UBA 2.0. Out of these 840 Institutes, 521 are Technical Institutions and 319 are Non-Technical Institutions.
“Unnat Bharat Abhiyan”
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is being coordinated and steered by IIT Delhi. The programme involve engaging with neighbouring communities and using technologies for their upliftment. Recently an article has been published outlining a roadmap for rural India.

International News

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Russiaon cooperation in the field of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
 
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC) - a Public Sector Undertaking of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) of the Republic of India and JSC-Russian Small & Medium Business Corporation (RSMB Corporation), Russia.The MoU will be signed during the upcoming visit of Russian President to India.
Objective:
The objective of the MoU is to promote cooperation between the Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of the two countries. It would provide a structured framework and enabling environment to the MSME sector of the two countries to understand each other's strengths, markets, technologies, policies etc. 
Aim:
It aims to enhance enterprise to enterprise cooperation and help initiate sustainable business alliances in terms of technology transfers, joint ventures and business partnerships in MSME sector between the two countries. 

Approval Second Protocol amending CECA between India and Singapore
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Second Protocol amending the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and Singapore. The CECA was signed on 24th August 2018.
Benefits:
Signing of the Second Protocol will enhance bilateral trade and will deepen the Economic Cooperation between India and Singapore. It will also improve utilization of CECA.

Bilateral Cooperation in the Road Transport and Road Industry between India and Russia 
 
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Russia on Bilateral Cooperation in the Road Transport and Road Industry. The MoU will be signed during the upcoming visit of Russian President to India.
 Background:
 India and Russia enjoy long-standing relationship and have maintained strong economic ties at a strategic partnership level. Russia has developed technological solutions for satellite based tolling solutions. Similarly, they have also adopted advanced intelligent traffic management systems including crash reporting/ monitoring systems. 

IBSAMAR VI: India, Brazil & SA Navies train to build interoperability
With the aim to build interoperability and mutual understanding as well as sharing of best practices, the 6th edition of IBSAMAR, a joint Multi – National Maritime Exercise between the Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies, is being held at Simons Town, South Africa from Oct 1-13.

The exercise includes both harbour and sea phases with various navigation and seamanship evolutions, surface weapons firing, force protection exercises, antipiracy exercise, anti-air and anti-submarine exercise as well as flying operations. Apart from professional activities, sports and social engagements are also planned.

(National news)

BSE to launch commodity derivatives trading next week 

BSE is set to launch trading in commodity derivatives from October 1 and has decided to waive off the transaction charges for the first year of commodities market operations, the exchange said Friday. 

The exchange will begin trading in commodity derivatives with non-agriculture commodities like metals initially, followed by agri commodities subsequently, BSE said in a statement. 

Bombay Stock Exchange 

The Bombay Stock Exchange is an Indian stock exchange located at Dalal Street, Mumbai. Established in 1875, the BSE is Asia’s first stock exchange.

Launch of SATAT initiative to promote Compressed Bio-Gas as an alternative, green transport fuel 

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will kick off an innovative initiative in New Delhi on 1st October, 2018, with PSU Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs ,i.e. IOC, BPCL and HPCL) inviting Expression of Interest (EoI) from potential entrepreneurs to set up Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) production plants and make available CBG in the market for use in automotive fuels. 
Significance
This significant move has the potential to boost availability of more affordable transport fuels, better use of agricultural residue, cattle dung and municipal solid waste, as well as to provide an additional revenue source to farmers.
Titled SATAT, the initiative is aimed at providing a Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) as a developmental effort that would benefit both vehicle-users as well as farmers and entrepreneurs.

India ranked 5th in pictorial warnings on cigarette packets

India ranks fifth, jointly with Hong Kong and Thailand, in terms of the largest pictorial warning on cigarette packs with 85 per cent of both sides of the packets covered, according to a Canadian Cancer Society report released.

The Cigarette Package Health Warnings: International Status Report 2018 highlighted that 118 countries worldwide have made pictorial warnings mandatory, representing a global public health achievement and 58 per cent of the world's population is covered by this regulat.

(International news)
India, Uzbekistan sign 17 agreements for cooperation in various sectors

India and Uzbekistan inked 17 agreements on Monday, including in the areas of defence, space, health and agriculture.

After holding delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev termed the signing of agreements "historic".

The two countries signed pacts for 

•    collaboration in the field of military education and for cooperation between the Office of the Security Council under the President of Uzbekistan and the National Security Council Secretariat of India.

•    Agreement on cooperation in combating illicit drug trafficking.
•    A pact for cooperation in outer space exploration for peaceful purposes was also signed.
•    Agreements were signed for visa-free travel of diplomatic passport holders for programme of cooperation between the ministries of foreign affairs of Uzbekistan and India in 2019-2020.
•    Two agreements in the sectors of innovation, and health and medical science were also signed.
•    Business relationships between the two countries will be promoted through the India-Uzbekistan Business Council, for which a pact was inked.

PM inaugurates first assembly of the International Solar Alliance
The Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the first Assembly of the International Solar Alliance at Vigyan Bhawan. The same event also marked the inauguration of the second IORA Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting, and the 2nd Global RE-Invest (Renewable Energy Investors’ Meet and Expo). 

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an alliance of more than 121 countries, most of them being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The primary objective of the alliance is to work for efficient exploitation of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. 

( Award News)

James P. Allison, Tasuku Honjo win Nobel Prize in Medicine for cancer research

The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been jointly awarded to James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo, by the Nobel committee of the Karolinska Institute.

The two immunologists — from the U.S. and Japan, respectively — were awarded the Prize “for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation.”

The discovery made by the two Medicine Laureates takes advantage of the immune system’s ability to attack cancer cells by releasing the brakes on immune cells.

(International News)

World Habitat Day

1st October was celebrated as World Habitat Day by United Nations.
Theme : Muncipal Solid Waste Management.
About World Habitat Day
World Habitat Day is observed every year on the first Monday of October throughout the world. It was officially designated by the United Nations and first celebrated in 1986. The purpose of the day is to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and the basic human right to adequate shelter.

Gita Gopinath : new Chief Economist of IMF

Indian-American Gita Gopinath has been appointed as new chief economist of International Monetary Fund (IMF). She is second Indian after Raghuram Rajan on this post.
IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., consisting of "189 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.

(National news)

Asian Bank approved  $150 Million loan to GoI.
    
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of lndia have signed a $150 Million Loan to finance continued improvements to road connectivity and efficiency of the International Trade Corridor in West Bengal and North-Eastern Region of lndia.
Asian Development Bank
It  is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966, which is headquartered in the Ortigas Center located in the city of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines.67 counteries are its member.

RUN-LLP (Reserve Unique Name – Limited Liability Partnership)

Ministry of Corporate Affairs has launched a process re-engineering by making incorporation of Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) through a complete online system- titled “RUN-LLP (Reserve Unique Name – Limited Liability Partnership)”. 
LLP
A limited liability partnership (LLP) is a partnership in which some or all partners (depending on the jurisdiction) have limited liabilities. It therefore can exhibit elements of partnerships and corporations. In an LLP, each partner is not responsible or liable for another partner's misconduct or negligence.

New District of MP

With effect from 1st October, Niwari is the 52nd 
District of Madhya Pradesh. According to the orders of the Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Rastogi told that Prithipura, Niwadi and Orchha tehsils of Tikamgarh district will now come to the Niwadi district.

National News

PM inaugurates Mahatma Gandhi Museum at Rajkot

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has inaugurated the Mahatma Gandhi Museum in Rajkot. The Museum has been set up at the Alfred High School, which was an important part of the formative years of Mahatma Gandhi. It will help spread awareness about Gandhian culture, values and philosophy. 
The Prime Minister also unveiled a plaque to mark the inauguration of a public housing project of 624 houses. He witnessed the e-Gruh Pravesh of 240 beneficiary families.

Government constitutes Competition Law Review Committee to review the Competition Act

 
In pursuance of its objective of ensuring that Legislation is in sync with the needs of strong economic fundamentals, the Government has constituted a Competition Law Review Committee to review the Competition Act.
The Competition Act was passed in the year 2002 and the Competition Commission of India was set up in pursuance of the same. The Commission started functioning in right earnest from 2009 and has contributed immensely towards the development of competition and fair play practices in the Indian market. During the past nine years the size of the Indian Economy has grown immensely and India is today amongst the top five Economies in the World and poised to forge ahead further. In this context, it is essential that Competition Law is strengthened, and re-calibrated to promote best practices which result in the citizens of this country achieving their aspirations and value for money.

PM Inaugurates modern food processing facilities in Anand
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, inaugurated modern food processing facilities, including Amul’s ultra-modern Chocolate Plant, at Anand today. He also visited the chocolate plant and was briefed on the various technologies used, and products being made there.
Speaking on the occasion, he thanked the people of Anand for turning out in such large numbers.
Referring to India's 75th anniversary of independence in 2022, the Prime Minister said India is doing well in milk processing but can do even better. He said the time has come to give importance to innovation and value addition. In this context he also spoke of the production of honey.

PM inaugurates LNG terminal and pipeline projects at Anjar

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Mundra LNG terminal, the Anjar-Mundra Pipeline Project and the Palanpur-Pali-Barmer pipeline project, at Anjar. 
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the affection he receives in Kutch is unparalleled. He appreciated the development work that has happened in the Kutch region over the last 20 years.

Defence News
Closing Ceremony: Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2018
Exercise Yudh Abhyas, a joint Indo-US Military exercise which witnessed participation of an Infantry Battalion of Indian Army and the 1st Battalion 23 Infantry Regiment of US Army concluded at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand on 29 Sep 2018.
The exercise was the 14th in the Yudh Abhyas series, which started in 2004 under US Army Pacific Partnership Programme. Exercise Yudh Abhyas strengthens and broadens interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and US armies. It is the fourth Indian US Army exercise at Chaubattia and complements number of other exchanges and exercise between the forces. 

86th Air Force Day: Air Display
The Indian Air Force proudly celebrates its 86TH anniversary on 08 Oct 2018.     A scintillating air display by various aircraft will be the hallmark of the Air Force Day Parade cum Investiture Ceremony at Air Force Station Hindan (Ghaziabad).  Rehearsals for the air display will commence from 01st October 2018 (Monday).  The general area over which aircraft will be flying at low levels are Wazirpur bridge – Karwalnagar – Afjalpur -  Hindan, Shamli – Jiwana – Chandinagar – Hindan, Hapur – Philkua – Ghaziabad – Hindan.

NATIONAL NEWS

Second Anniversary of Surgical Strike was celebrated as Parakram Parv(National)

Second Anniversary of Surgical Strike was celebrated as Parakram Parv or Surgical Strike Day on September 29 – 30, 2018 by Indian Army to showcase gallant action of brave Army in the conduct of Surgical Strikes on September 29, 2016. This day was also marked to remember sacrifice of soldiers during ‘Uri incident’.

 #LooReview Campaign: Government and Google launch campaign to review public toilets
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has partnered with Google to launch Loo Review campaign on Google Map. The joint campaign has been launched under aegis of Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM–U). It will run throughout October and November 2018 in an effort to increase awareness and ease of locating public toilets across India.

Loo Review campaign
This campaign aims to encourage all local guides in India to rate and review public toilets on Google Maps. It is part of feature which allows all citizens to locate public toilets in their cities on Google Maps, Search and t Assistant and also provide feedback on same.  500 plus cities in India with more than 30,000 toilets with name of “SBM Toilet” are currently live on Google Maps.

NITI Aayog inks SoI for with Oracle collaboration against counterfeit drugs in India.

 NITI Aayog has singed Statement of Intent (SoI) with Oracle to pilot real drug supply-chain using blockchain distributed ledger and Internet of Things (IoT) software to fight growing problem of counterfeit drugs in India. Strides Pharma Sciences and Apollo Hospitals will partner in this effort. Oracle is US multinational computer technology corporation that specializes primarily in developing and marketing database software and technology, cloud engineered systems, and enterprise software products.

Government launches Rail heritage digitisation project in collaboration with Google

 Union Railway Ministry has launched Rail Heritage Digitisation Project in collaboration with Google Arts and Culture Association. It can be accessed at “https://artsandculture.google.com/project/indian-railways”. It is first-of-its-kind project that aims to showcase India’s rail heritage to the national and international audience in an online story-telling platform. It is also largest cultural heritage digitisation project in India and possibly in entire Asia Pacific Region.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

US, Morocco launch GCTF Terrorist Travel Initiative to curb terrorist travel (International)

 United States and Morocco have launched GCTF Terrorist Travel Initiative under auspices of Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). The initiative brings together stakeholders to share expertise on developing and implementing effective counterterrorism watchlisting and screening tools. It was launched on sidelines of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York.
GCTF Terrorist Travel Initiative
The new initiative will strengthen UNSC Resolution 2396 aiming to stop terrorist travel altogether. It will improve capabilities for detecting and interdicting terrorist travel through enhanced terrorist screening and information sharing.

(National News)

Election Commission order places Telangana under model code of conduct
 
The model code of conduct came into force on Thursday in poll-bound Telangana following an Election Commission directive that henceforth the guidelines would be implemented immediately after early dissolution of a Legislative Assembly.
Earlier, the restrictions came into force only after the announcement of the election schedule by the Commission. The code will continue in effect till the completion of election for a new Assembly.

PM to inaugurate Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence on 29th September, 2018 in New Delhi
 
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi  will inaugurate the Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence on 29th September 2018 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi in which the Vice-Chancellors/Directors from more than 350 universities are participating. This event is being organized jointly by UGC, AICTE, ICSSR, IGNCA, IGNOU, JNU and SGT University.
 
The theme of the Conference is to deliberate on the challenges facing the Indian education system and to work out a plan for a paradigm shift both in terms of achieving academic outcomes and also in regulation of education.

Twenty Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT) centres are being established in the country
 
Twenty Embryo Transfer Technology Centres are being established in the country and a proposal of 19 centres has been approved so far.
This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh at the foundation laying ceremony of Embryo transfer Technology ceremony of Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT) centre in the Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation (BALF), Uruilikanchan, Pune. 
The Minister further stated that 3000 high genetic merit bulls of indigenous bovine breeds are being produced from these centres. Two of these centres are to be set up in Nagpur and Pune in Maharashtra.

20th livestock Census to be conducted from 1st October in all districts of the country 
 
The 20th Livestock Census will be conducted in all districts of the Indian Union in participation with all States and Union Territories. States/UTs have been requested to start the census operations from 1st October, 2018. 
The success of this novel initiative is dependent on full cooperation and commitment from all States/UTs Governments.
The enumeration will be done in all villages and urban wards. Various species of animals (Cattle, Buffalo, Mithun, Yak, Sheep, Goat, Pig, Horse, Pony, Mule, Donkey Camel, Dog, Rabbit and Elephant)/poultry birds (Fowl, Duck, Emu, Turkeys, Quail and other poultry birds) possessed by the households, household enterprises/non-household enterprises and institutions will be counted at their site.

High Level Advisory Group Constituted for Trade
 
The Minister of Commerce & Industry, Suresh Prabhu, has approved the constitution of a High Level Advisory Group (HLAG) to make recommendations for identifying and pursuing opportunities and for addressing challenges in order to find a way forward in the contemporary global trade scenario. 
The HLAG will consider ways for boosting India’s share and importance in global merchandise and services trade, managing pressing bilateral trade relations and mainstreaming new age policy making.

(International News)

Commerce Minister Addresses Indo-Uzbek Business Meet
 
The Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, said that India is committed for a strong economic partnership with Uzbekistan. 
Trade relations between India and Uzbekistan are governed by the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation signed in May 1993. 
This agreement provides for mutual MFN treatment, promotion of economic, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation, including active participation of small and medium sized enterprises in bilateral economic cooperation. 
India and Uzbekistan signed an Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation in 1993, and for Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection in May 1999. The Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation has met ten times, and the last Session was held in New Delhi on 04-05 March 2014.

India and Japan sign Loan Agreement for Construction with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
 
Two Loan Agreements were signed between Dr. C.S. Mohapatra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India and Mr. Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA, New Delhi on Japanese Official Development Assistance loan for Construction of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project (I) of Yen 89.457 billion (Rs.5591 crore approx.) and Kolkata East-West Metro Project (III) of Yen 25.903 billion (Rs.1619 crore approx.) [Exchange Rate: Yen 100 = Rs.62.50].
 

(National News)
Govt launches Agmark online system
 
The government Wednesday launched an online platform for processing applications related to quality certification mark ‘Agmark’ for agricultural products.
Agmark is certification mark that assures conformity to a set of standards approved by the government agency Directorate of Marketing and Inspection.
“The process of application will be simple, quick, transparent and 24x7,” Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh was quoted as said in an official statement.

Government constitutes Lokpal Search Committee headed by Justice Ranjana Desai
 
The Union Government on September 27, 2018 constituted the Lokpal Search Committee under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai for recommending names for Lokpal.

The notification was issued by the Department of Personnel and Training.
The members of the Search Committee are Justice Sakha Ram Singh Yadav; retired IAS officer Ranjit Kumar; SBI Chief Arundhati Bhattacharya; former Gujarat Police head Lalit K Panwar; former judge of Allahabad High Court Shabbirhusein S Khandwawala; Prasar Bharati chairperson A Surya Prakash; and ISRO Head AS Kiran Kumar.

Ayodhya land dispute: SC declines to revisit its 1994 judgment and refer it to larger bench
 
The Supreme Court on September 27, 2018 declined to refer the 1994 Ismail Farooqui judgment that mosques are not integral to Islam to a larger constitution bench.
The judgement was delivered by a three-judge bench with 2: 1 majority. The majority judgement was written by Justice Ashok Bhushan on behalf of himself and Chief Justice Deepak Misra. The third judge, Justice Abdul Nazeer presented a dissenting judgment.
The decision to not refer the issue of reconsideration of the 1994 observations on the Ayodhya-Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute case to a five-judge constitution bench paves the way for the apex court to hear the main Ayodhya land dispute.

Second Anniversary of Surgical Strike to be commemorated as Parakram Parv on 29 September
 
The second anniversary of the surgical strike will be commemorated by the Indian Army as the Parakram Parv or the Surgical Strike Day during September 29 - 30, 2018 to showcase the gallant action of brave Army in the conduct of Surgical Strikes on September 29, 2016.

The Day will also be marked to remember the sacrifice of soldiers during the 'Uri incident'.
Surgical strike
•    A surgical strike is a military attack which results in only damage to the intended legitimate military target, and no or minimal collateral damage to surrounding structures, vehicles, buildings, or the general public infrastructure and utilities.
•    A swift and targeted attack with the aim of minimum collateral damage to the nearby areas and civilians is a surgical strike.
•    Surgical strikes require not just detailed and exhaustive planning but also needs precision in execution undertaken by forces across the world.

(International News)

International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 
 
The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons was observed across the world on 26 September 2017 with an aim to educate the public and their leaders about the real benefits of eliminating nuclear weapons and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them.

Earlier on 7 July 2017, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted with an aim of a world without nuclear weapons. The Treaty was the result of a global campaign focused on the unacceptability of the use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances.

PM Modi, Cochin International Airport honoured with UN Champions of the Earth Award 2018
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on September 26, 2018 awarded with the prestigious UN Champions of the Earth Award 2018, the highest environmental honour of the United Nations. 

The UN Environment jointly awarded PM Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in the Policy Leadership category for their efforts regarding the creation of the International Solar Alliance. 

PM Modi was also acknowledged for his unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single use plastic in India by 2022.