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 26th 2018 includes News summary on current events of International, National, Banking, Sports, Awards, and Appointments, importance of September 26th 2018.
Days
World Contraception Day – September 26
Key Highlights:
- On 26th September 2018, World Contraception Day was observed throughout the world.
- The World Contraception Day is observed every year on September 26. This day was launched in 2007.
- To create awareness of all contraceptive methods available and help young people make informed decisions on their sexual and reproductive health.
International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons – 26 September
Key Highlights:
- On 26th September 2018, International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons was observed throughout the world.
- In 2013, United Nations General Assembly declared 26 September as International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. It has been observed every year since 2014.
- To create public awareness on nuclear disarmament matters, educate people on the potential threat by Nuclear weapons and the need for their total elimination.
- Member States of United Nations, non-governmental organizations, academicians, politicians, mass media and individuals are involved to create awareness on this issue.
International
Famous ‘Indra Jatra’ festival celebrations began in Kathmandu, Nepal
Key Highlights:
- On September 25, 2018, the famous Indra Jatra festival commenced in Kathmandu, Nepal.
- It is an eight day long annual festival is observed to worship Indra, the lord of rain and good harvest.
- It also marks end of monsoon and beginning of harvest season and festivity.
Vorombe titan named world’s largest ever bird
Key Highlights:
- On September 26, 2018, ZSL’s (Zoological Society of London) Institute of Zoology conferred the title of ‘world’s largest bird’ to Vorombe titan.
- Vorombe titan (meaning ‘big bird’ in Malagasy and Greek) is believed to have weighed up to 800 kg and was three metres tall.
- Elephant birds (belonging to the family Aepyornithidae) are an extinct group of colossal flightless birds that roamed Madagascar.
- This study has been published in Royal Society Open Science.
UN Declared Nelson Mandela Decade Of Peace 2019-2028
Key Highlights:
- Unanimously adopting a political declaration at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, nearly 100 Heads of State and Government, Ministers, Member States and representatives of civil society committed to redoubling efforts to build a just, peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and fair world, as they paid tribute to the late South African President’s (1994-99) celebrated qualities and service to humanity.
- Recognizing the period from 2019 to 2028 as the Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace, the Declaration saluted Mr Mandela for his humility, forgiveness and compassion, acknowledging as well his contribution to the struggle for democracy and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world.
National
Vice president M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated Smart City Expo India-2018
Key Highlights:
- Vice president M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated Smart City Expo India-2018 in Jaipur. He stressed the need for water harvesting. According to the Vice President, Smart Vision, Smart execution and smart Implementation are essential to develop smart cities and no city can become smart without the participation of the public.
- The object of this three days long expo is to have discussions among different experts and groups to utilize benefits of new technology, town planning, capacity management, challenges before socio-economic development and development of networking in the Smart City sector. Near about 6000 delegates from MNC's of different countries, researchers, CEO's of different Smart cities, Mayors and corporates are participating in the expo.
Cabinet approves National Digital Communications Policy
Key Highlights:
- The cabinet has approved the new telecom policy, now named National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018, which aims to attract USD 100 billion investment and create 4 million jobs in the sector by 2022.
- According to the draft of the policy, NDCP is focused on increasing high-speed broadband penetration, with use of modern technologies like 5G and optical fibres across the country at affordable rates.
- The draft promised to rationalise levies such as spectrum charges to rejuvenate debt-ridden telecom sector, the proposed new telecom policy seeks to provide broadband access to all with 50 megabit per second speed, 5G services and create 40 lakh new jobs by 2022.
Aadhaar Linking Must For PAN and Filing Income Tax Returns
Key Highlights:
- The Supreme Court declared the Centre's flagship Aadhaar scheme as Constitutionally valid. The Supreme Court ruled that linking the Aadhaar card to PAN card is mandatory and is needed for filing income tax returns. The apex court, however, said Aadhaar is not mandatory for opening bank accounts and linking with existing accounts.
- The Supreme Court also struck down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act that allowed private companies to avail Aadhaar data. Calling the section unconstitutional, the court asserted that private companies cannot insist on having Aadhaar number of customers. Aadhaar authentication records cannot be stored beyond six months, striking down the current rule of five years.
Supreme Court Allows Live Streaming Of Cases of Constitutional importance
Key Highlights:
- The Supreme Court agreed to live-streaming and video recording of court proceedings, saying “sunlight is the best disinfectant”. The Supreme Court allowed live streaming of cases of Constitutional importance that take place in the Court of the Chief Justice of India.
- The bench said that they want to implement the concept of 'open court' in a bid to decongest the court. As per the court the public had a "right to know" what happens inside the courtroom. The decision came on the back of a clutch of petitions filed by senior lawyer Indira Jaisingh, law student Snehil Tripathi and NGO Centre For Accountability and Systemic Change.
Financial Inclusion Index (FII) to measure financial services launched by Shri Arun Jaitley
Key Highlights:
- On September 25, 2018, the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley launched the Financial Inclusion Index in New Delhi.
- It will be released on January, 2019 and fulfills G20 Financial Inclusion Indicators requirements.
- An Annual Financial Inclusion Index (FII) would be released by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance to measure the access and usage of a basket of formal financial products and services.
- It would be used as a development indicator and help in to measure financial services for use of internal policy making.
- It will also facilitate researchers to study the impact of financial inclusion and other macro-economic variables.
Banking
India’s economy forecast remains unchanged at 7.3% for 2018: ADB
Key Highlights:
- On September 26, 2018, according to the Asia Development Bank’s (ADB) annual economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2018, India’s economy is in an upward trajectory.
- The GDP forecast remains unchanged at 7.3 per cent for 2018, and 7.6 per cent for 2019.
- The challenges faced by India are Rupee depreciation, volatile external financial markets, accelerating inflation and impact of rising oil prices.
Procurement of 1000 engines for T-72 tanks for Army approved by Defence Acquisition Council
Key Highlights:
- On September 26, 2018, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved procurement of 1,000 engines for fitment in T-72 tanks of the Army.
- This procurement project is worth Rs.2,300 crore.
- The engines are of 1,000 BHP (brake horse power) and have been built under ‘Buy and Make’ category by Ordanance Factories Board (OFB).
Sports
Indian women beat Sri Lanka by 51 runs to win T20 series 4-0
Key Highlights:
- On 25th September 2018, Indian women defeated Sri Lankan women by 51 runs in the fifth and final T20 International and won the series 4-0 at Katunayake, Sri Lanka.
- In the final T20 International match, Indian team batted first and scored 156 runs in 18.3 overs.
- Sri Lankan women were all out for 105 runs in 17.4 overs. India won the series 4-0
Awards
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure awards 2017 conferred
Key Highlights:
- On 25th September 2018, President Ram Nath Kovind conferred Tenzing Norgay National Adventure awards 2017 to 10 recipients at an event in Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.
- Tenzing Norgay National Adventure award is the highest national recognition for remarkable achievements in adventure on land, sea and air.
- Tenzing Norgay National Adventure award 2017 has been conferred to the all-women crew of INSV Tarini for circumnavigating the world in 8 months.
Olympian PV Sindhu only sportsperson in Forbes India’s first ‘tycoons of tomorrow’ list
Key Highlights:
- Badminton player and Olympian PV Sindhu is the only sportsperson to feature in the Forbes India’s first ‘tycoons of tomorrow’ list of 22 young achievers in the fields of business, acting and sports.
- ‘Tycoons of tomorrow’ is not a ranking. It is a qualitative selection prepared by Forbes India team and a six-member jury.
- Some of the other important persons in the list are: Karan Adani, chief executive of Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone; Anant Goenka, group executive director of Indian Express; Ashni Biyani, managing director of Future Consumer, etc.
Appointments
Anil Khosla to be appointed as new Vice Chief of Air Force
Key Highlights:
- Air Marshal Anil Khosla has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force.
- Air Marshal Anil Khosla is at present, the Eastern Air Force Commander. He will take charge as Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force on 30th September 2018, following the retirement of Marshal S B Deo.
Google appoints Keith Enright as its Chief Privacy Officer
Key Highlights:
- Keith Enright has been Google’s privacy lawyer for a longtime. Earlier, he worked as the Chief Privacy Officer at Macy’s and senior consultant at IBM.
- As Chief Privacy Officer, Keith Enright will be in charge of developing Google’s strategy on privacy issues.
Static GK:
- Russia Capital: Moscow
- Google CEO: Sundar Pichai
- Headquarters: California, U.S
Facebook appoints Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan as Vice-President and Managing Director of its India operations
Key Highlights:
- On 24th September 2018, Facebook appointed former Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan as Vice-President and Managing Director of its India operations.
- This is a newly created role. In this role, Ajit Mohan will be responsible for aligning teams and driving Facebook’s overall strategy in India.
- He will join Facebook India in early 2019. He will also be responsible for driving Facebook’s continued investment in India.