NATIONAL UPDATES
1. Ahmedabad launches 6th edition of Heat
Action Plan: Ahmedabad
Municipal Corporation in partnership with civil society groups launched
6th edition of Heat Action Plan to protect city dwellers from scorching
temperatures. The plan has an early warning system used during heat waves and a
robust public education campaign about how to avoid harm from excessive heat. Ahmedabad
was the first city to prepare and implement heat action plan.
2. Dedicated defence, aerospace SME fund set up: Department of Defence Production
announced the creation of a dedicated defence and aerospace small and medium
enterprises (SME) fund. This fund would help channelise investments into the
two defence corridors announced by the Government in Tamil Nadu and Uttar
Pradesh. The fund is registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India
where a minority stake could be taken by investors.
3. Tribal development centre QUEST to be set up in Maharashtra: The Maharashtra government has
set up an institution known as Quality Evaluation for Sustainable
Transformation centre (QUEST). QUEST will evaluate and quantify special
development budget allocations and their impact on tribal development. The state has taken the
initiative to bring greater accountability in spending and management of
dedicated funds allocated for tribal welfare.
4. IIT-Delhi installs India’s first 5G Lab: IIT-Delhi has set up a radio
lab with an array of antennas for “standardisation, research and manufacturing”
of 5G equipment. A Massive MIMO radio laboratory has been set up at IIT Delhi.
This will be the first such lab in India.
5. India ranks 130 in Index of Economic Freedom: India has jumped 13 places in the
last one year to 130th spot in the latest annual Index of Economic Freedom
released by the Heritage Foundation, a top American think-tank. As per the
latest Index of Economic Freedom, China has jumped one spot and Pakistan is now
at 131st position. In 2017, India with a score of 52.6 points was ranked
at 143 among 180 countries.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES
1. UAE approves issuance of Law on Equal Wages: In an effort to narrow the
gender gap in the United Arab Emirates, the Cabinet has approved the issuance
of the Law on Equal Wages and Salaries for Men and Women. The new law will
provide women with equal opportunities as partners in the UAE’s development. In
2015, the UAE Council for Gender Balance was established and in September, the
UAE launched the world’s first Gender Balance Guide.
2. India, Myanmar and Thailand trilateral
highway: The
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) inked a pact for its maiden
international project, part of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway. NHAI
has signed an agreement for upgradation of Yagyi – Kalewa section in Myanmar to
Two-Lane with Earthen Shoulder. The project has been funded by Ministry of
External Affairs.
OTHER UPDATES
SPORTS:
1. Kidambi Srikanth Becomes World No.1: Indian badminton star Kidambi
Srikanth became world No. 1 in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings. Srikanth
has moved to the top of the men’s singles rankings with 76895 points.
2. Silver medal for Tejaswini Sawant in shooting: Tejaswini Sawant has won silver
medal in the finals of the women’s 50m rifle prone at the Gold Coast
Commonwealth Games. This is the sixth CWG medal for Tejaswini, following two
golds in 2006 and a pair of silvers and a bronze in 2010. Anjum Moudgil, the
other Indian to reach the women’s 50m rifle prone finals, finished 16th.
3. Kohli and Mithali voted world’s best: Indian captains Virat Kohli and
Mithali Raj were named as the leading men’s and women’s cricketers in the world
respectively by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. Kohli won his award for the 2nd
year in a row after again starring in all formats. Raj was acknowledged after a
year in which she became the leading run-scorer in women’s One-Day Internationals
during India’s run to the World Cup final.
BANKING / FINANCE:
1. RBI imposes Rs 3 crore fine on IDBI Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
has imposed a Rs 3 crore penalty on IDBI Bank for not following the central
bank’s rules on classification of loans. IDBI bank did not adhere to RBI’s
norms on Income Recognition and Asset Classification. RBI said that this action
is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance.
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