Daily Current Affairs, 26th October 2018

1) PM Modi Inaugurated Krishi Kumbha In Lucknow

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a farmers’ conclave ‘Krishi Kumbh 2018’ in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh via video conferencing. The three-day ‘Krishi Kumbh’ is being organized to promote modern technique and diversification in agriculture that could help in doubling farmers income. 

•The Kumbh witnessed two of the world’s top economies, Israel and Japan, as official partners while Haryana and Jharkhand as partner states. The Uttar Pradesh government will also sign a MoU with Japan for investment in the agricultural and allied sectors. 

2) 2nd International Conference On Primary Health Care Held In Kazakhstan

•J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare addressed the ‘Second Plenary Session of ‘2nd International Conference on Primary Health Care (PHC) towards UHC & SDGs’, at Astana, Kazakhstan. 

•The conference aims to renew the commitment to primary health care to achieve universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. Mr Nadda spoke on the theme “The Future of Primary Health Care”. 

3) India, Bangladesh Sign Agreements For Enhancing Inland And Coastal Waterways Connectivity

•India and Bangladesh signed several agreements for enhancing inland and coastal waterways connectivity between the two countries for trade and cruise movements. The two countries have signed an agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from India. 

•An addendum to ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade between the two countries' has also been signed for the inclusion of Dhubri in India and Pangaon in Bangladesh as the new Ports.  

4) India Becomes Second Largest Solar Market: Mercom

•India installed 4.9 GW of solar power, consolidating its position as the second largest solar market in the world, during the first half of the calendar year 2018, according to a report by Mercom Communications India. 

•According to the report, China topped the list. Adani remained the largest project developer in terms of total cumulative installations and top installer in terms of capacity installed through the end of the first half. 

5) India To Become World's 3rd Largest Aviation Market Around 2024: IATA

•India will become the world's third largest aviation market around 2024 surpassing the UK, according to global airlines' body International Air Transport Association (IATA). It projected total air passenger numbers to touch 8.2 billion in 2037. 

•Releasing the latest update to IATA's 20-year Air Passenger Forecast, the grouping also cautioned that growth prospects for air transport and the economic benefits driven by aviation could be curtailed if protectionist measures are implemented by governments. According to the IATA, China would displace the United States as the world's largest aviation market in the mid-2020s. 

6) Russia Successfully Launched 1st Soyuz Rocket Since Failed Space Launch

•Russia has successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1B rocket for the first time since the failure of a similar rocket aborted a manned take-off to the International Space Station (ISS). According to Russia’s space agency chief Dmitry Rogozin, this was the first launch of a rocket from the Soyuz family since the October 11 accident. 

7) NATO’s Biggest Military Maneuvers Begins In Norway

•North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) biggest military manoeuvres since the Cold War began in Norway. Russia, which shares a border with Norway, was briefed by NATO on the Trident Juncture 2018 drill and invited to monitor it, but Moscow is still angered by the exercise. 

•The wargames bring together around 50,000 personnel from all 29 NATO allies, plus partners Finland and Sweden. Around 65 vessels, 150 aircraft and 10,000 vehicles will also participate in the drill, which takes place in central and eastern Norway, the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. 

8) Ethiopia Appoints Sahle-Work Zewde As 1st Female President

•Ethiopia appointed diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde as its first-ever female President. The position of the President is largely ceremonial in the nation.

•Zewde was appointed by the Ethiopian lawmakers through a unanimous vote. She would be replacing Mulatu Teshome Wirtu. Prior to her appointment, she was serving as the UN's top official at the African Union. 

9) Prof Ashis Mukherjee Receives INSA Teachers Award-2018

•Prof Ashis Mukherjee, a senior faculty member of the prestigious Tezpur University was awarded the prestigious Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Teachers Award (2018).

•Mr Mukherjee is Dean, Research and Development, and Head and Coordinator of DBT Nodal Cell for Medical Colleges and Biomedical Research Institutes of NE India. He won the prestigious award for his consistent and high level of teaching and inspiring and mentoring students to take up careers in Science and Technology. 

10) Reliance-Built Coast Guard Training Ship ICGS Varuna Launched

•ICGS Varuna, an indigenously-designed training vessel built by Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited for the Indian Coast Guard, was launched in Pipavav. The vessel was formally launched at a function held in the presence of Coast Guard Director General Rajendra Singh at the Pipavav Shipyard.

•Currently, the ICGS has a fleet of 138 vessels. While another 71 vessels are under various phases of construction.  The vessel would be delivered to the Indian Coast Guard by end of May 2019 after extensive tests and trials.

11) IDFC Bank To Be Renamed As IDFC First Bank

•IDFC Bank proposed to change its name to 'IDFC First Bank Ltd' in the wake of its amalgamation with the non-banking financial company Capital First. The decision was taken during the meeting of the Board of Directors of IDFC Bank. 

•The proposal now needs the approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It would further require the approvals of statutory or regulatory authorities including the Registrar of Companies, Shareholders and other Stakeholders. 

12) India Wins CAPAM Award 2018

•India has won the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) Award, 2018. The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is an institutional member of CAPAM. The awards were announced at the Annual General Members Meet held at Georgetown, Guyana. 

•The initiative entitled "Unnayan Banka"- Reinventing Education Using Technology of Banka District, State of Bihar has been awarded under the Category “Innovation Incubation”. Another initiative entitled “Unified Agriculture Markets” of Co-operation Department of Government of Karnataka has also been selected under the Category ‘Innovation in Public Service Management’. This initiative has also been awarded the overall Gold Award for CAPAM Awards, 2018.