Daily Current Affairs, 19th September 2018

1) PM Inaugurates Key Development Projects In Varanasi

•The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the Foundation Stone for several important development projects, at a public gathering in Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Among the projects inaugurated are the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) for Puraani Kashi; and an Atal Incubation Centre at BHU. 

•Among the projects for which the Foundation Stone was laid is the Regional Ophthalmology Centre at BHU. The cumulative value of all projects which were inaugurated, or for which foundation stone was laid is over Rs. 550 crore. 

2) PM Modi, Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina Jointly Launched Indo-Bangla Pipeline Project

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina jointly launched the construction of India-Bangladesh Friendship Product Pipeline Project through video conferencing. The project will go a long way in strengthening the Indo-Bangla ties. 

India-Bangladesh Friendship Product Pipeline Project: 

•The 130-kilometre pipeline will connect Siliguri in West Bengal in India and Parbatipur in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. 
•The capacity of the pipeline will be 1 million metric tons per annum. 
•The estimated project cost will be Rs 346 crore and it will be completed in 30 months time. 
•This will be the first such pipeline through which refined diesel will be supplied to Parbatipur depot from Numaligarh of Assam in India. 

3) Provision Of Penalties Incorporated For States, Insurance Companies For Delay In Settlement Of Claims

•The government has incorporated provision of penalties for States and Insurance Companies for the delay in settlement of insurance claims under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). According to the new guidelines, the farmers will be paid 12% interest by insurance companies for the delay in settlement claims beyond two months of prescribed cut-off date. 

•State Governments will have to pay 12% interest for the delay in the release of the State share of subsidy beyond three months of prescribed cut-off date submission of requisition by insurance companies. The Government has also decided to include perennial horticultural crops under the ambit of PMFBY on a pilot basis.

4) Union Home Secretary Launches ‘E-Sahaj’ Portal For Grant Of Security Clearance

•The Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba launched an online ‘e-Sahaj’ portal for grant of Security Clearance. The portal will facilitate an applicant to submit application online and also to view the status of his application from time to time. 

•With the introduction of online portal, the process has become standardized, resulting in a process which will be faster, transparent and easy to monitor. Various functionaries can access the application and documents online and take timely decisions. 

5) Cabinet Approves Ordinance Making Triple Talaq A Punishable Offence

•The Union Cabinet has approved an ordinance making triple talaq a punishable offence. The Supreme Court had in a verdict in August last year declared it illegal and unconstitutional. 

•It was cleared by the Lok Sabha but was stuck in the Rajya Sabha. Though the ordinance has been cleared, for now, it must be placed before the Parliament and the bill would still need to be passed. The ordinance will have similar provisions as the Muslim Women Protection of Rights in Marriage Act.

6) Bangladesh Cabinet Clears Deal With India For Port Usage

•Bangladesh's Cabinet has approved a draft agreement with India to enable New Delhi to use the Chittagong and Mongla ports for the movement of goods to and from northeast India.  According to the cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam, the agreement will be effective for five years with a provision of automatic renewal for another five years. 

7) Germany Launches World's 1st Hydrogen-Powered Train

•Germany has rolled out the world’s first hydrogen-powered train, signalling the start of a push to challenge the might of polluting diesel trains with costlier but more eco-friendly technology. 

•The two Coradia iLint trains were built by French train-maker firm Alstom. It started operating on a 100 km (62-mile) route between Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude in northern Germany.

8) Dr. Raghupati Singhania Conferred With Civilian Honour Of Mexico

•Chairman and MD, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd., Dr. Raghupati Singhania has been conferred with 'Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle', the highest honour accorded to non-nationals by the Government of Mexico. 

•Melba Pria, Ambassador of Mexico to India presented the award to Dr. Singhania on behalf of the President of Mexico on the eve of 128th National Day of Mexico. The top honor is in recognition of Dr. Singhania's exemplary leadership, his noteworthy services towards humanity and his efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between India and Mexico. 

9) Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma Signed As Ambassadors Of Skill India Campaign

•Actors Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharma have been signed on to promote and endorse the Skill India Mission, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

•The actors through their film are saluting India’s entrepreneurs and skilled workforce, especially homegrown artisans, craftspeople and weavers. 

10) Independent India’s 1st Woman IAS Officer Passes Away

•India’s first woman IAS officer after Independence, Anna Rajam Malhotra, who served in the Madras State under then Chief Minister C. Rajagopalachari and at the Central government, died in Mumbai. She was 91.

•She later married R.N. Malhotra, who served as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1985 to 1990. Ms. Malhotra joined the civil services in 1951 and opted for the Madras cadre. 

11) Vodafone Idea Board Approves Merger With Aditya Birla Telecom

•The Board of Directors of Vodafone Idea Limited, India's largest telecom operator, approved merger of the Vodafone Idea Limited with the Aditya Birla Telecom Limited (ABTL), the parent company of Idea Cellular. The merger was approved under the relevant provisions of the Companies Act, 2013. 

•The merger is now subjected to approval of the National Company Law Tribunal. The Aditya Birla Telecom Ltd holds 11.15% stake in telecom infrastructure firm Indus Towers Ltd. With this amalgamation, Vodafone Idea will directly have shareholding in Indus Towers and can monetise the stake held by ABTL following simplification in the corporate structure. 

12) Lewis Hamilton Wins Singapore Grand Prix 2018

•Lewis Hamilton won the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit, in Singapore. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton won the 1st position. He was followed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the 2nd spot. 

•Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel finished in the 3rd place. With this victory, Lewis Hamilton has increased his chances of winning this year’s Formula One World Championship. 

13) Hangzhou To Host 2022 Asian Para Games

•The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC)  confirmed that Hangzhou in China will host the fourth edition of Asian Para Games in 2022. The confirmation came following a visit to Hangzhou in July by APC President Majid Rashed and CEO Tarek Souei.