Daily GK Updates - 26th September, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurates air pollution mitigation devices in Delhi :The Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has inaugurated the air pollution control device WAYU (Wind Augmentation Purifying Unit) for traffic junctions at ITO intersection and Mukarba Chowk in Delhi.The air pollution control device 'WAYU' has been developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) and funded by the Department of Science and Technology.It consumes only half a unit of electricity for 10 hours of running and has a maintenance cost of only Rs. 1,500 per month, can purify the air in 500 square meters area.

2. Finance Ministry launched mobile app ‘Jan Dhan Darshak : The union finance Ministry has launched Mobile Application ‘Jan Dhan Darshak’ as a Part of Financial Inclusion (FI) initiative.This app will act as a guide for the common people in locating a financial service touch point at a given location in the country.Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance and National Informatics Centre (NIC) have jointly developed this app as a part of the financial inclusion initiative.

3. NITI Aayog to Organize Conference on Empowerment of Women SHGs : Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Jual Oram has inaugurated a Conference on Empowerment of Women SHGs & Organic Farmers Co-operatives from Dantewada, Bastar Region.NITI Aayog has Organized Conference in collaboration with the Tribal Affairs Ministry and Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED).

4.  SC constitutes committee over prison reforms : The Supreme Court (SC) has constituted a three-member committee headed by the apex court's Justice (retd.) Amitava Roy to look into the problems in prisons across the country and suggest measures to tackle them.The Government officials will also assist the committee and submit a report before the top court in a stipulated time period.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  India ranks 96th on Economic Freedom Index; HK, Singapore retain top spot : According to the Centre for Civil Society (CCS) in conjunction with Canada’s Fraser Institute, India’s rank was still placed 96th (last year 98th) among 162 countries in this year’s report on Economic Freedom in the World.Hong Kong and Singapore again topped the index, Russia (87^th) and South Africa (94^th) are ahead of India while China (108^th) and Brazil (144^th) are behind.India improved its score on parameters such as legal system and property rights, access to sound money, freedom to trade internationally and regulation of credit, labour, and business.

2. Nepalese celebrate Indra Jatra festival : The famous Indra Jatra festival (eight-day long) is being celebrated with gaiety and religious fervor in Kathmandu (Nepal).President Bidya Devi Bhandari and thousands of people attended the Indra Jatra celebrations.The annual festival Indra Jatra is observed to worship the god Devraj Indra, the lord of rain and good harvest.Indra Jatra is mainly celebrated by the Newar community of Kathmandu valley and some other parts of the country.

3. ‘India - Uzbekistan: Dialogue of Cultures’ exhibition inaugurated in New Delhi : Shri Arun Goel (Secretary, Ministry of Culture) has inaugurated the exhibition “India - Uzbekistan: Dialogue of Cultures” at National Museum in New Delhi (till 24^th October).The exhibit will showcase ancient Uzbek manuscripts for onlookers to delve into the historical legacy of the two great nations.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FIANANCE:

1. ADB approves USD 500 mn for Tamil Nadu water supply, sewerage, drainage infra : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved financing of up to USD 500 million for a multi-tranche financing facility (MFF).It will develop climate-resilient water supply, sewerage, and drainage infrastructure in at least 10 cities in Tamil Nadu.The country's first solar-powered sewage treatment plant on a pilot basis will also be part of the programme.

DEFENCE:

1.  Defense Acquisition Council approves procurement of one thousand engines for T-72 tanks : Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved procurement of 1,000 engines for fitment in T-72 tanks of the Army at an approximate cost of over 2,300 crore rupees.The engines will enhance mobility, agility, and acceleration of T-72 tanks making them more versatile and effective in the battlefield.The DAC has also approved several amendments to Defence Procurement Procedure 2016, the manual governing the defense procurements.

OBITUARIES:

1. Hindi commentator Jasdev Singh passes away : Renowned Hindi commentator Jasdev Singh(87-year) passed away after the prolonged illness.He started his career in All India Radio in 1955 at their Jaipur station.He also did commentary for the Republic Day celeb for 48 long years (from 1963).Mr. Singh covered 9 Olympics, 6 Asian Games & countless Independence Day & Republic Day broadcasts.Jasdev was conferred with the Padma Shri (in 1985) and the Padma Bhushan(in 2008).