14-15 October 2018 - Daily Current Affairs

The International Day of Rural Women is observed across the world on 15th October to recognize the critical role and contribution of rural women.

The theme of 2018 is “Sustainable infrastructure, services and social protection for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”.

The theme places empowerment of rural women at the heart of fulfilling the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.

Note:

The new international day established by the General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007.

The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15th October 2008.

The small Himalayan state ‘Sikkim’ has won this year's UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's Future Policy for Gold Award for its achievement in becoming the world's first totally organic agriculture state.
Pawan Chamling (Chief Minister of Sikkim) will receive the award in a ceremony at FAO headquarters during the celebrations of the World Food Week in Rome.
Sikkim was considered for the award for its policies on Agroecology and Sustainable food systems.
Brazil, Denmark, and Equador won Silver for their policies.
Sikkim was declared a fully organic state in 2016 after phasing out chemical fertilizers and pesticides and substituting them with sustainable alternatives.

Mahila Kisan Diwas has been celebrated to increase the active participation of women in agriculture.
Women farmers, women entrepreneurs, farming organizations, agricultural scientists and researchers from different states are participating in the event.
In 2016, the Ministry had decided to observe 15th of October every year as Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas.
They are contributing in every field of agriculture - from sowing to planting, drainage, irrigation, fertilizer, plant protection, harvesting, weeding, and storage.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a unique Internet-based mobile app C-vigil in the upcoming assembly polls to help citizens upload or give information regarding electoral malpractices.
The ‘C-Vigil’ (stands for ‘citizens’ vigil’) will be operationalized for the first time as a pilot project.

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (Jammu & Kashmir) has approved the enhancement of free accident insurance cover for pilgrims visiting the shine to five lakh rupees at the 63rd board meeting in Srinagar.
The chairmanship of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is Satya Pal Malik (Jammu and Kashmir Governor).
The board has also approved additional life insurance cover of five lakh rupees to pilgrims who avail the service of the upcoming passenger ropeway between Bhawan and Bhairon Ghati.
The board also approved a medical support policy for the treatment of victims of public trauma under its social support initiative at the super speciality hospital.

Note:

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board was set up in August 1986 under the provisions of The Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act, 1988.
The main objective of the act was to provide for better management and governance of the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji and its endowments including the appurtenant lands and buildings.

The Union Minister of State for Textiles, Ajay Tamta has inaugurated the 46th edition of world’s largest IHGF-Delhi Fair at India Expo Centre & Mart at Greater Noida.
This Fair has played a vital role in increasing exports of handicrafts from the country and acquired a special importance for the handicrafts sector.
The fair is participated by 3200 exhibitors from over 110 countries, organized by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts.

NITI Aayog and Microsoft India have signed a partnership to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) based solutions across various sectors such as agriculture and healthcare.
Microsoft India will support NITI Aayog by combining the cloud, AI, research and its vertical expertise for new initiatives and solutions across several core areas including agriculture and healthcare and the environment.
Microsoft will also accelerate the use of AI for the development and adoption of local language computing.

India was elected to the United Nations' top human rights body for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019,
India got 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category.
The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections for new members to the UN Human Rights Council.
The 18 new members were elected by the absolute majority through a secret ballot.
Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council.

Note:

UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council) is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system.
UNHRC is made up of 47 UN member states which are elected by UN General Assembly (UNGA) with a specific number of seats allocated for every five regions of the globe.

Dr. Shekhar Mande has been appointed as the Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Research (DSIR).
He will succeed Girish Sahni.

Note:

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) is an autonomous body and India’s premier research & development (R&D) organisation, established in 1942.
It operates as an autonomous body registered under the Registration of Societies Act of 1860.
Prime Minister is the chairman of CSIR.

The union Government granted a year’s extension to Bank of Baroda’s MD (Managing Director) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PS Jayakumar (from 12th Oct).
This extension comes in the backdrop of the amalgamation between Bank of Baroda (BoB), Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank to form India’s second largest public sector bank being set in motion.

Indian Tennis legend Leander Paes has won the Santo Domingo Open trophy with partner Miguel Angel Reyyes-Varela (Mexican).
Indo- Mexican pair beat Ariel Behar and Roberto Quiroz 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 in the summit clash.
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic (31-year) beat Croatia's Borna Coric (21-years) in the final 6-3, 6-4 to claim his fourth Shanghai Masters Tennis title.
The Shanghai Masters (also known as Shanghai Rolex Masters) is a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in the Minhang District of Shanghai (China).

Britain edge Sultan of Johor Cup (2^nd time) after beating India 3-2 at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Malaysia finished fifth after a 6-3 win over New Zealand.
For the third and fourth placing, Australia defeated Japan 6-1.

Note:

The 2018 Sultan of Johor Cup (hockey tournament) held in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia (6 to 13 October 2018).
Participating nations: Australia, Great Britain, India, New Zealand, Malaysia (host nation) and Japan.