Daily GK Updates - 18th September, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India’s first woman IAS officer passes away : India’s first woman IAS officer (after Independence) Anna Rajam Malhotra (91-year) passed away in Mumbai.Anna Rajam Malhotra joined civil services in 1951 and opted for the Madras cadre under then Chief Minister C. Rajagopalachari.She later married R.N. Malhotra, who served as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (from 1985 to 1990).

2. first ever India tourism Mart 2018 : Union Minister for Railways and Coal, Piyush Goyal inaugurated the 'first ever' India Tourism Mart (ITM 2018) in New DelhiThe India Tourism Mart is being organized by the Ministry of Tourism from 16th to 18th September 2018, in partnership with the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) and with support of State /UT Governments.

3. PM launches development projects in Varanasi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched various development projects worth over Rs 500 crore in his Lok Sabha constituency. The projects include Integrated Power Development Scheme for Puraani Kashi and Atal Incubation Centre at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India & Malta sign three MoUs in the fields of Maritime Cooperation, Tourism and Training  : India and Malta have signed three MoUs in the fields of Maritime Cooperation, Tourism and Training after delegation-level talks between Venkaiah Naidu (Vice President) and Ms. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca (President of Malta).Mr. Naidu is in Malta in the second phase of his visit to three European countries

2. PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina jointly flag off construction of Indo-Bangla pipeline project : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina (Prime Minister of Bangladesh) has jointly flagged off the construction of India-Bangladesh Friendship Product Pipeline Project through video conferencing.The 130-kilometer pipeline will connect Siliguri (West Bengal- India) and Parbatipur (Dinajpur district of Bangladesh).The estimated project cost will be 346 crore rupees and it will be completed in 30-month time.The capacity of the pipeline will be 1 million metric tons per annum.

3. Japan conducts the first submarine drill in disputed South China Sea : Japan has carried out its first submarine drill in the disputed South China Sea, a move that could provoke Beijing which claims most of the disputed waters.The anti-submarine drill was conducted in the region to improve strategic techniques.

4. India & Sri Lanka sign MoU for construction temp-controlled warehouse in Dambulla : India and Sri Lanka have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for construction of a 5000-metric ton temperature-controlled warehouse (for fruits and vegetables) in Dambulla of Central Province.The warehouse will be constructed with an Indian grant assistance of 30 crore Sri Lankan rupees.

5. Moutaz Mousa Abdallah becomes Sudan’s new Prime Minister : Moutaz Mousa Abdallah (51-years) has become Sudan’s new Prime Minister.A 21-member cabinet was sworn in at the presidential palace in Khartoum.Earlier, he served as Minister of Irrigation and Electricity.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. PayU India gets RBI approval to operate its own NBFC : PayU India has received Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) approval to operate its own non-banking financial company (NBFC).It will help PayU promote inclusive growth in the country by catering to the diverse financial needs of various segments of the society.The approval from the central bank is subject to “certain pending RBI compliance

SPORTS:

1. China Open Badminton tournament kicks off at Changzhou today : The China Open Badminton tournament kicks off at Olympic Sports Center Xincheng Gymnasium in Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.Indian shuttlers will also figure in Men's, Women's and Mixed Doubles categories.Ace Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal will be seen in action in the Singles opening round.