India And Morocco Signed MoU to Enhance Cooperation In MSME Sector

India and Morocco signed an MoU for deepening cooperation between MSME sectors of the two countries in Rabat, Morocco.  The MoU was signed by CMD, National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), Ravindra Nath and Director General, Maroc PME, Mr Rabri Barrazouka. Through this MOU, the NSIC and Maroc PME will work together to enhance cooperation opportunities for MSMEs of both countries. 
Ms. Alka Arora, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of MSME, held bilateral meetings with Mr. Othman El Ferdaous, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Trade and Digital Economy and with other related Departments for enhancing cooperation in MSME Sector. It will facilitate the transfer of Indian technologies and products to Morocco. 
Source-Press Information Bureau
Static/Current Takeaways Important for IBPS PO Exam 2018- 
  • Morocco Currency– Moroccan dirham, Capital– Rabat  PM- Saadeddine Othmani. 

Adultery No Longer A Criminal Offence, SC Strikes Down Section 497 of IPC

A five-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra scrapped the pre-Independence provision of adultery in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which treats a married woman as a commodity owned by her husband. Section 497 (adultery) gives a husband the exclusive right to prosecute his wife’s lover. If found guilty, the adulterer faces five years behind bars. 
A similar right is not conferred on a wife to prosecute the woman with whom her husband has committed adultery. Secondly, the provision does not confer any right on the wife to prosecute her husband for adultery. Further, Section 497 the law does not take into account cases where the husband has sexual relations with an unmarried woman. 
Source- The Hindu


Important Cabinet Approvals: 26th September 2018

Important Cabinet Approvals- 29th August 2018
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the following set of approvals. The important Cabinet Approvals are given as follows-

The Cabinet has approved- 
1. MoU between India and Uzbekistan on Mutual Cooperation in Combating Illicit Trafficking in Narcotics, Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors,
2. MoU between India and Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the Sphere of Law & Justice,
3. MoU between India and Uzbekistan for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism,
4. MoU between India and Uzbekistan on cooperation for establishment of Uzbek-Indian Free Pharmaceutical Zone in the Andijan region of Uzbekistan,
5. MoU between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK),
6. Agreement between India and Uzbekistan on cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied sectors,
7. MoU between India and Uzbekistan on cooperation in pharmaceutical sector,
8. MoU between NITI Aayog, and Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation (MEDRF) in the field of social, economic, industrial and regional development programs,
9. Apprised of the MoU between India and South Korea for enhancing cooperation in Applied Science and Industrial Technology,
10. Financial assistance worth Rs.825 Crore for relining of Sirhind Feeder Canal and relining of Rajasthan Feeder Canal,
11. Agreement between India and Uzbekistan on cooperation in health and medical science,
12. Increasing of Government ownership in Goods and Services Tax Network and change in the existing structure with transitional plan,
13. National Digital Communications Policy-2018. 

Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)



World Tourism Day: 27 September

World Tourism Day is observed every year globally on 27th September. It is a unique opportunity to raise awareness on the potential contribution of digital technologies to sustainable tourism development. 
“Tourism and the Digital Transformation” is the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD). Hungary is the host country for this year’s WTD. 
Source- unwto.org


IAF Successfully Test Fires Air-To-Air Astra Missile

The Indian Air Force successfully test fired the indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile Astra from a Su-30 aircraft. The missile, tested at the Kalaikunda Air Force Station, “successfully engaged a manoeuvring target with high precision.”
In the series of trials held till date, Astra has been launched in the complete Su-30 flight envelope. The flight test assumes significance as it was part of the series of final pre-induction trials. Astra, deemed to be the best in the class weapon system, has undergone more than 20 developmental trials.
Source- The Hindu 
Static/Current Takeaways Important for IBPS PO Exam 2018- 
  • Current Air Chief Marshal- Birender Singh Dhanoa


PM Modi Got UN’s Highest Environmental Honour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded with the UN’s highest environmental honour, also given to five other individuals and organisations, for his leadership of the International Solar Alliance and pledge to eliminate single use plastic by 2022. Cochin International Airport was given the award for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy.
Six of the world’s most outstanding environmental changemakers have been recognised with the Champions of the Earth Award. French President Emmanuel Macron and Mr. Modi have been jointly recognised in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action.
Source- The Hindu 

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • International Solar Alliance Headquarters– Gurugram, India. 
  • ISA Founded in– Paris, November 2015. 

Vice president M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated Smart City Expo India-2018

Vice president M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated Smart City Expo India-2018 in Jaipur.  He stressed the need for water harvesting. According to the Vice President, Smart Vision, Smart execution and smart Implementation are essential to develop smart cities and no city can become smart without the participation of the public. 

The object of this three days long expo is to have discussions among different experts and groups to utilize benefits of new technology, town planning, capacity management, challenges before socio-economic development and development of networking in the Smart City sector. Near about 6000 delegates from MNC’s of different countries, researchers, CEO’s of different Smart cities, Mayors and corporates are participating in the expo. 
Source- News on AIR


Mukesh Ambani Toped Barclays Hurun Rich List For 7th Time In A Row

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani, chairman of India’s second-most valued firm ‘Reliance Industries’, has topped the ‘Barclays Hurun India Rich List 2018’ for the seventh consecutive year, with the total net worth of INR 371,000 crore. Barclays Hurun India Rich List 2018, a compilation of the individuals in India having a net worth of INR 1,000 crore or more, featured 831 Indians compared to 617 last year.
Mr Ambani is followed by London-based S.P. Hinduja, with the net worth of INR 1,59,000 crore; and L.N. Mittal, with a net worth of INR 1,14,500 crore. Azim Premji, with the wealth of INR 96,100 crore, is fourth in the list. The cumulative wealth of the 831 individuals featured in the list stood at $719 billion, amounting to a quarter of India’s GDP of $2,848 billion.

Source-The Hindu


Cabinet approves National Digital Communications Policy

The cabinet has approved the new telecom policy, now named National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018, which aims to attract USD 100 billion investment and create 4 million jobs in the sector by 2022.  According to the draft of the policy, NDCP is focused on increasing high-speed broadband penetration, with use of modern technologies like 5G and optical fibres across the country at affordable rates.
The draft promised to rationalise levies such as spectrum charges to rejuvenate debt-ridden telecom sector, the proposed new telecom policy seeks to provide broadband access to all with 50 megabit per second speed, 5G services and create 40 lakh new jobs by 2022.
Source-The Hindu

Aadhaar Linking Must For PAN and Filing Income Tax Returns

The Supreme Court declared the Centre’s flagship Aadhaar scheme as Constitutionally valid. The Supreme Court ruled that linking the Aadhaar card to PAN card is mandatory and is needed for filing income tax returns. The apex court, however, said Aadhaar is not mandatory for opening bank accounts and linking with existing accounts. 

The Supreme Court also struck down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act that allowed private companies to avail Aadhaar data. Calling the section unconstitutional, the court asserted that private companies cannot insist on having Aadhaar number of customers. Aadhaar authentication records cannot be stored beyond six months, striking down the current rule of five years.

Source- News on AIR
Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Chairman, UIDAI- J. Satyanarayana 
  • CEO, UIDAI- Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey