Introduction
Current Affairs is a type of broadcast journalism where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news stories that have recently occurred or ongoing at the time of broadcast. The article Current Affairs September 20th 2018 includes News summary on current events of International, National, Banking, Sports, Awards, Appointments, Books, Obituaries importance of September 20th 2018.
International
MoU signed between India and Niger for establishing Mahatma Gandhi Convention Centre in Niger
Key Highlights:
- On September 20, 2018, India and Niger singed an MOU for establishment of the Mahatma Gandhi International Convention Centre in Niamey, Niger.
- This was signed Mr. Saidil Mohamed’s visit in India.
- The Convention Centre is being established in the context of the African Union (AU) Summit that Niger is to host in 2019.
7th UNWTO Global Summit on Urban Tourism held in Seoul, Republic of Korea
Key Highlights:
- On September 16-19, 2018, the 7th UNWTO Global Summit on Urban Tourism took place in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- It was organized by The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
- The theme of the summit is: A 2030 Vision for Urban Tourism.
- It was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, the Korea Tourism Organization and the Seoul Tourism Organization.
- The main focus of the Summit was the future of urban tourism in the context of the 2030 Urban Agenda.
- The World Bank has 146 projects focusing on tourism representing approximately $2.5bn in lending and technical assistance in 6 priority regions.
- The venue of 8th UNWTO Global Summit on Urban Tourism 2019 will be Astana, Kazakhstan.
Exercise Aviaindra-18: Joint Air Force exercise of India and Russia commenced at Lipetsk
Key Highlights:
- On September 17, 2018, India and the Russian Federation commenced their joint Air Force level exercise called Exercise Aviaindra till September 28, 2018.
- It is being conducted at Lipetsk, Russia.
- It will be again conducted in Jodhpur, India from 10 Dec to 22 Dec 18.
- The Indian contingent comprises of 30 officers including four women officers of Flying, Admin and Medical Branch.
- The aircraft that would participate in the exercise include Su-30 SM, Mig-29, Su-25, Mi-8 and An-26.
Static GK:
- Russia Capital: Moscow
- Russia Currency: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- Prime Minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe
- President: Maithripala Sirisena
- Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
National
President Ram Nath Kovind signed ordinance banning Instant Triple Talaq practice: Law Ministry
Key Highlights:
- On September 19, 2018, the Law Ministry announced the signing of the ordinance banning the practice of instant triple talaq by the President.
- The name of the bill is: The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017.
- Under this ordinance, ‘triple talaq’ has been considered illegal and void, and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.
- A complaint can be filed only by the woman or her family and the offence remains non-bailable.
PM laid the foundation stone of world class convention centre in Dwarka
Key Highlights:
- On September 20, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stone of India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC) in Dwarka.
- The estimated cost of the project is: Rs 25,703 crore.
- It will have an area of 221.37 acre and will be constructed in 2 phases.
- Phase-I and II will be completed by December 2019 and December 2024, respectively.
- It will be used for offering setting for international and national events, meetings, conferences, exhibitions and trade shows.
- It will have facilities like exhibition halls, convention centre, open exhibition spaces, mixed use commercial spaces like star hotels (5, 4 and 3 star).
Static GK:
- Gujarat Capital: Gandhinagar
- Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani
- Governor: Om Prakash Kohli
‘Budget Dashboard’: Web portal for information on budget and expenditure introduced by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Key Highlights:
- On September 19, 2018, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a new web portal ‘Budget Dashboard’, incorporating features of Ministry of AYUSH and Department of Health Research.
- It will have information on budget, expenditure and Bill Payment position.
Pilot project of sputum sample transportation through Department of Post launched by Health Ministry
Key Highlights:
- On September 19, 2018, the Health Ministry launched a pilot service of transportation of sputum sample used for TB diagnosis through the Department of Posts in Karawal Nagar, Delhi.
- The transportation will be followed by testing the samples.
- This will enable appropriate management of the TB patients and reduced disease transmission.
- Along with this, the 2nd version of web-based application of RNTCP, Nikshay Version 2.0 was launched.
India and Morocco signed Air Services Agreement enabling greater connectivity
Key Highlights:
- On September 19, 2018, to enable greater connectivity, India and Morocco signed a revised Air Services Agreement.
- This will enable greater freedom and more direct flights and strengthen economic and cultural ties in the process.
Banking
Interest rates of small savings schemes hiked: PPF and NSC to give 8%, senior citizens to get 8.7%
Key Highlights:
- On September 20, 2018, the interest rates of the small savings scheme was increased or the third quarter (October 1 to December 31) by up to 40 bps.
- These changes will be effective from October 1, 2018.
- This is the first such change after keeping interest rates on small savings schemes unchanged for two consecutive quarters.
- Earlier, the government had reduced the interest rates on these schemes in January -March 2018, quarter.
Sports
National Sports Awards -2018 announced; Mirabai Chanu and Virat Kohli to get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
Key Highlights:
- National Sports Awards for 2018 has been announced. The awardees will receive their awards from the President at a special event at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi on 25th September 2018.
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of 4 years. It includes a cash prize of Rs. 7.5 lakh.
New Kabaddi Federation of India (NKFI) launches Indo International Premier Kabaddi League
Key Highlights:
- On 19th September 2018, the New Kabaddi Federation of India (NKFI) launched the first edition of Indo International Premier Kabaddi League which would start on 26 January 2019.
- Selection trial for the league will start from October 6, 2018. Winner will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 1.25 crore. Over 1000 players, both domestic and International, would participate.
- The league will have 8 teams: Bengaluru Rhinos, Chennai Cheetahs, Delhi Dumars, Telangana Bulls, Patna Panthers, Haryana Hurricanes, Mumbai Marathas and Kolkata Tigers.
- Each team will have 2 to 3 international players. Double round robin format will be followed. 62 matches will be played in one and a half months.
- Players from New Zealand, Poland, Argentina, Tanzania, Australia, Norway, United Kingdom, Canada and USA, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Mauritius, Kenya, Iraq, Denmark, will participate.
- NKFI will distribute 20 % of the annual profits from the league to the participating players. The games will be streamed on DSPORT TV channel.
Awards
All-women crew of INSV Tarini has won the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure award
Key Highlights:
- All-women crew of INSV Tarini has won the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure award for completing the challenging task of sailing across the world for 8 months.
- The INSV Tarini team was led by: Lt. Commander Vartika Joshi. Other crew members: Lieutenant P. Swathi, Lieutenant Pratibha Jamwal, Lieutenant Vijaya Devi, Sub Lieutenant Payal Gupta and Lieutenant B Aishwarya.
- Tenzing Norgay National Adventure award is the highest national recognition for remarkable achievements in adventure on land, sea and air.
- The INSV Tarini team spent 194 days at sea as part of a mission under the Navika Sagar Parikrama project.
- The team also received Nav Sena Medal on Independence Day. This is the first-ever all-women Indian crew to circumnavigate the world.
Para shuttler Raj Kumar conferred with Arjuna Award
Key Highlights:
- On 19th September 2018, para shuttler Raj Kumar was conferred the Arjuna award by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Rathore.
- Raj Kumar had filed a case against the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, citing that his name had not been considered for the Arjuna Award by the selection committee.
- Arjuna Award has been conferred on him after Delhi High court delivered a verdict in favour of Raj Kumar.
- Raj Kumar, who hails from Punjab, had won a gold medal in the 2015 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships that was held in England.
Appointments
Government appoints MD and CEOs in 10 state-run banks
Key Highlights:
- On 19th September 2018, the government appointed managing directors (MD) and chief executive officers (CEO) for 10 state-run banks.
- Out the 10 newly appointed MD and CEOs, five are serving deputy managing directors of State Bank of India (SBI).
- The appointments of these 10 MD and CEOs were approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Government appoints four members to local boards of RBI
Key Highlights:
- On 19th September 2018, Government appointed four members to the local boards of RBI (Reserve Bank of India).
- Rakesh Jain and Sachin Chaturvedi have been appointed as member in Southern local board and Eastern local board of RBI.
- Revathy Iyer and Raghvendra Narayan Dubey have been appointed as member in Northern local board of RBI.
- Revathy Iyer and Sachin Chaturvedi have also been nominated as Director on the central board of RBI.
Science
Prahar: indigenously developed surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile test fired by DRDO
Key Highlights:
- On 20th September 2018, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested the indigenously developed surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile ‘Prahar’, from Launch Complex-III, Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha.
- Prahar was developed by DRDO. It was launched from a mobile launcher.
- It is a contemporary weapon system. It can carry various types of warheads and neutralise a wide range of targets.
- It is a solid fuelled short-range missile. It is equipped with inertial navigation system.
- It is a quick reaction, all-weather, all-terrain, highly accurate battlefield support tactical weapon system.
Books
Sundeep Misra to write a book on sprinter Dutee Chand titled “Story So Far”
Key Highlights:
- On 18th September 2018, Westland Books announced that, journalist, author and filmmaker Sundeep Misra, would write a book on sprinter Dutee Chand, who won two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games.
- The book is named “Story so far”. It would be released in 2019. It would be published by Westland Books.
- The book will narrate the hardships and controversies Dutee Chand has come across and how she has emerged as a rising star.
Obituaries
Revolutionary leader Kondapalli Koteswaramma passes away
Key Highlights:
- On 19th September 2018, revolutionary leader, writer and feminist Kondapalli Koteswaramma passed away, following a brain hemorrhage, in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
- She was 100 years old. She was born in Pamarru area of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh.
- She had joined the Congress party when she was 10 years old. She was an active member of the United Communist Party in the 1940s and 50s.
- She had played an active role in the Telangana Rebellion (1946-1951). She had written her autobiography named ‘Nirjana Varadhi’ and three other books.