17 July 2018 - Daily Current Affairs


17 July 2018 - Daily Current Affairs

1. ISRO successfully conducted Vikas Engine Test in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu

  • ISRO successfully conducted a ground test of its high thrust version of the Vikas Engine which will improve the payload capability of the space agency's launch vehicles. The test was conducted by scientists at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. The Vikas Engine is the workhorse liquid rocket engine used to power the second stage of the ISRO's trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
  • The ground test has validated the performance adequacy of the Vikas Engine for its use in the upcoming second developmental flight of GSLV Mk-III.
  • ISRO is planning to launch GSLV-MkIII-D2 during the second half of 2018 carrying GSAT-29. It carries multi-beam and optical communication payloads for the first time. The mission is targeted for Village Resource Centres in rural areas to bridge the digital divide.
Source: DNA India

National Affairs

2. Haryana launched 'Paudhagiri' campaign

  • Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the 'Paudhagiri' campaign, aimed at increasing the green cover in the state.
  • Under this campaign, 22 lakh students from class 6 to 12 of all government and private schools in Haryana will plant a sapling each during three months of monsoon - July, August and September.
  • Khattar launched the 'Paudhagiri' campaign by planting a 'maulsari' sapling in the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex premises of Gurgaon.
  • Every student planting a sapling will have to take care of it for the next three years.
  • The student is required to upload his selfie with his or her plant on the app and will be given an incentive of Rs 50 in every six months from the government.
  • Today 3,100 students from various schools of the district participated in the launch of the plantation drive.
Source: India Today

3. State Bank of India to organise an outreach programme for farmers

  • State Bank of India will organise a nation-wide Kisan Mela as an outreach programme for farmers and to impart financial literacy.
  • SBI will expect to cover 10 lakh farmers through nearly 14,000 rural and semi-urban branches across the country in this Kisan Mela that is to be held on July 18.
  • As part of Kisan Mela, bank also offers farmers with Kisan Credit Card (KCC) an enhancement of 10 per cent to their credit limit on renewing the account.
  • The bank has taken this initiative to reach out to the farmers to educate about the benefits of renewing KCC account to get maximum benefits of interest subvention from government and coverage under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Source: Economics Times

4. LIC approves acquisition of up to 51% stake in IDBI Bank

  • Life Insurance Corporation of India approved the acquisition of up to 51% stake in debt-ridden IDBI Bank.
  • As stated by economic affairs secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, this deal would take place through preferential shares.
  • It has already received approval from insurance regulator IRDAI.
  • It will get about 2,000 branches through which it can sell its products, while the bank would get massive funds of LIC. The bank would also get accounts of about 22 crore policy holders and subsequent flow of funds.
Source: The Hindu

International Affairs

5. Trump-Putin will hold summit in Helsinki

  • S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will hold their first summit meeting in the Finnish capital Helsinki to discuss bilateral relations.
  • Trump will raise the subject of 12 Russians indicted for alleged hacking during the 2016 US election while Russia has denied the hacking allegations.
Source: DD News

6. Peru declares emergency on its border with Colombia

  • Peru declared a 60-day state of emergency on its Colombian border to ensure security from the menace of drug trafficking in the region.
  • The state of emergency has been declared in Peru's Amazonian province of Putumayo, which is separated from Colombia by the river of the same name.
Source: Business Standard

7. BBC launches its first Gujarati language television news bulletin

  • BBC's launches first Gujarati language news bulletin that will broadcast five days a week from Delhi.
  • The bulletin will bring insightful global and national stories to the Gujarati-speaking audience in India and around the world. The bulletin will aim to stir conversations and will be strongly rooted in the BBC's principles of fairness and impartiality.
  • The launch is part of the BBC World Service expansion, which has seen 12 new language services launched around the world over the last 12 months.
  • Four new language services launched online in India namely, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi & Telegu.
Source: BBC

Sports

8. Japan’s Okuhara won Thailand Open final by defeating PV Sindhu

  • Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu lost to Japan's Nozomi Okuhara in straight games in the Thailand Open final.
  • Second seed Sindhu lost the tie against the fourth-seeded Japanese 21-15 21-18 in 50 minutes.
Source: ESPN

9. Australian footballer Tim Cahill retires

  • Australia's leading goal scorer Tim Cahill has retired from international soccer after fourth World Cup tournament in Russia.
  • The 38-year-old Cahill, scored 50 international goals in 107 caps.
Source: The Hindu

Obituary

10. Actress Rita Bhaduri passes away at 62

  • Rita Bhaduri, 62, veteran Bollywood and TV actress, passed away. The actress featured in as many as 70 movies like Beta, Raja, Julie among others.
  • She was also a prominent face on television through her roles in Khichdi, Kumkum, Choti Bahu and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai etc.
Source: The Financial Express

Post a Comment

0 Comments

Top Post Ad

Below Post Ad