MHA Signs MoU with ISRO To Set Up An Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Department of Space signed an MoU for setting up of an state-of-the-art Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response (ICR-ER) in Ministry of Home Affairs.

ISRO will render its technical expertise for setting up of proposed ICR-ER whereas the project will be executed under overall supervision of MHA. The proposed Control Room is expected to be established in next one-and-a-half year. 
Source-Press Information Bureau (PIB)


Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 

  • ISRO Chairman: Dr. K Sivan, Headquarters in– Bengaluru, Karnataka. 

MoU Signed for Establishing Mahatma Gandhi Convention Centre in Niger

India and Niger signed an MoU for the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi International Convention Centre (MGICC) in Niamey, Niger with the Indian government’s grant assistance. 
The agreement was signed by Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) T.S. Tirumurti and Ambassador of Republic of Niger in India Ali Illiassou, in the presence of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Minister and Special Adviser to the President of Republic of Niger, Saidil Moctar Mohamed. 

Source- ANI News

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RRB PO Mains Exam 2018- 
  • Niger Capital: Niamey, Currency: West African CFA franc. 

National Sports Awards 2018 Announced: Complete List of Winners

National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four year, Arjuna Award is given for consistency outstanding performance for four years, Dronacharya Award for coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious International sports events, Dhyan Chand Award for life time contribution to sports development and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar is given to the corporate entities (both in private and public sector) and individuals who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development. Overall top performing university in inter-university tournaments is given Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy. 
Here is the Complete List of Winners of National Sports Awards 2018: 

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2018
S. No. Name of the Sportsperson Discipline
1. Ms. S. Mirabai Chanu Weightlifting
2. Shri Virat Kohli Cricket
Dronacharya Awards 2018
S. No. Name of the Coach Discipline
1. Subedar Chenanda Achaiah Kuttappa Boxing
2. Shri Vijay Sharma Weightlifting
3. Shri A. Srinivasa Rao Table Tennis
4. Shri Sukhdev Singh Pannu Athletics
5. Shri Clarence Lobo Hockey (Life Time)
6. Shri Tarak Sinha Cricket (Life Time)
7. Shri Jiwan Kumar Sharma Judo (Life Time)
8. Shri V.R. Beedu Athletics (Life Time)
Arjuna Awards 2018
S. No. Name of the Sportsperson Discipline
1. Shri Neeraj Chopra Athletics
2. Naib Subedar Jinson Johnson Athletics
3. Ms. Hima Das Athletics
4. Ms. Nelakurthi Sikki Reddy Badminton
5. Subedar Satish Kumar Boxing
6. Ms. Smriti Mandhana Cricket
7. Shri Shubhankar Sharma Golf
8. Shri Manpreet Singh Hockey
9. Ms. Savita Hockey
10. Col. Ravi Rathore Polo
11. Ms. Rahi Sarnobat Shooting
12. Shri Ankur Mittal Shooting
13. Ms. Shreyasi Singh Shooting
14. Ms. Manika Batra Table Tennis
15. Shri G. Sathiyan Table Tennis
16. Shri Rohan Bopanna Tennis
17. Shri Sumit Wrestling
18. Ms. Pooja Kadian Wushu
19. Shri Ankur Dhama Para-Athletics
20. Shri Manoj Sarkar Para-Badminton
Dhyan Chand Award 2018
S. No. Name of the Sportsperson Discipline
1. Shri Satyadev Prasad Archery
2. Shri Bharat Kumar Chetri Hockey
3. Ms. Bobby Aloysius Athletics
4. Shri Chougale Dadu Dattatray Wrestling
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2018
S. No. Category Name of the entity
1. Identification and Nurturing of Budding & Young Talent Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited
2. Encouragement to Sports through Corporate Social Responsibility JSW Sports
3. Sports for Development Isha Outreach
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2017-18
1. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

Note: The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 25th September 2018.

Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

ISRO Technology Incubation Centre Inaugurated at NIT Agartala

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb inaugurated ISRO’s first Space Technology Incubation Centre(STIC) at the National Institute of Technology Agartala via remote from Bengaluru. The Centre was launched at the first edition of ‘Spacetronics’ organised by the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA).
Source-The Times of India


 Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 

  • Chairman of ISRO: Dr. K Sivan.
  • Headquarters of ISRO– Bengaluru, Karnataka.

India Post Payments Bank, Bajaj Allianz Join Hands ‘To Provide Insurance To All’

State-owned India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Private Life Insurer Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co Ltd (BALIC)  entered into a strategic partnership to provide life insurance solutions, especially at the doorstep of every household in the country.
This partnership will leverage IPPB’s last mile reach for building awareness about life insurance. Both the companies came together, to formally sign the Corporate Agency Agreement.
Source- The Hindu Business Line

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • IPPB has begun operations with 650 branches and 3,250 access points across the country.
  • IPPB CEO- Suresh Sethi

Top Scientist KN Vyas Appointed Atomic Energy Commission Chief

Renowned scientist Kamlesh Nilkanth Vyas has been appointed the secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Mr Vyas, who is at present Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), has been appointed in place of Shekhar Basu. 

Mr Basu was appointed to the post in October 2015 and his tenure was to end in September 2016. Mr Vyas is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from MS University, Vadodara. 
Source- NDTV News

India And Morocco Sign Air Services Agreement


India and Morocco signed the revised Air Services Agreement between the two countries enabling greater connectivity through a modernized agreement. The delegation of the two countries have met three times in the past years wherein they have worked towards liberalization of markets between the two countries and updating of the existing Air Services Agreement.

The two sides cleared the legal and technical difficulties and agreed to a modern new text for the Air Services Agreement. Thereafter, both sides took approval for the agreed text of the Air Services Agreement from the respective governments.

Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Morocco Capital: Rabat, Currency: Moroccan dirham. 

ESIC Approves Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna For Cash Relief To Unemployed Insured Persons

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has approved a new scheme- Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna for Insured Persons covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Act. This scheme is a relief payable in cash directly to their Bank Account in case of unemployment and while they search for new engagement. 
The decision was taken at the ESIC board meeting chaired by the Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar in New Delhi. The eligibility for availing Super Specialty treatment for dependents of Insured Person has now been relaxed to insurable employment of one year with 156 days of contributions. The ESIC also approved the proposal for increasing the funeral expenses from existing 10 thousand rupees to 15 thousand rupees being paid on the death of Insured Person. 
Source- AIR World Service

Interest Rates On PPF, NSC, Other Small Savings Schemes Raised

The government has raised interest rates on Small Savings Schemes (SSS), including National Savings Certificate (NSC) and Public Provident Fund (PPF) by up to 0.4% for the October-December quarter, in line with rising deposit rates in the banks. Interest rates for small savings schemes are notified on a quarterly basis.

The interest rate for the different deposits and schemes are as follows: 

Sl.
No.		 Instrument Rate of interest
(01.07.2018 to 30.09.2018)		 Rate of interest
(01.10.2018 to 31.12.2018)		 Compounding frequency
1. Savings Deposit 4.0 4.0 Annually
2. 1 Year Time Deposit 6.6 6.9 Quarterly
3. 2 Year Time Deposit 6.7 7.0 Quarterly
4. 3 Year Time Deposit 6.9 7.2 Quarterly
5. 5 Year Time Deposit 7.4 7.8 Quarterly
6. 5 Year Recurring Deposit 6.9 7.3 Quarterly
7. 5 Year Senior Citizen Savings Scheme 8.3 8.7 Quarterly and paid
8. 5 Year Monthly Income Account 7.3 7.7 Monthly and paid
9. 5 Year National Savings Certificate 7.6 8.0 Annually
10. Public Provident Fund Scheme 7.6 8.0 Annually
11. Kisan Vikas Patra 7.3 (will mature in 118 months) 7.7 (will mature in 112 months) Annually
12. Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme 8.1 8.5 Annually

Source- The Hindu Business Lines

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani Visits India: Important Highlights

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani was recently in India for visit. During a day-long visit, he reviewed and positively assessed the progress of the multi-faceted bilateral strategic partnership. 

Important Highlights of the Bilateral Meeting Held in New Delhi
1. Both leaders (Narendra Modi and Ashraf Ghani) expressed determination to strengthen connectivity, including through Chabahar port and Air-Freight Corridor. 
2. Expressed satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade that has crossed the one billion dollar mark. 
3. Mr Modi reiterated India’s support to an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process. 
4. Mr Modi also raised concern over abducted Indian nationals in Afghanistan with Mr Ghani during their meeting. 
5. The Afghan President has assured that efforts are being made to ensure the safe release of the Indian nationals. 
Source- AIR World Service

Static/Current Takeaways Important for IBPS PO Exam 2018- 
  • Afghanistan Capital: Kabul, Currency: Afghan afghani.