Jaipur Literature Festival Begins in Houston

The Jaipur Literature Festival began in Houston at the Asia Society of Texas.  The festival, touted as the world’s largest free literary gathering, started with a soulful music performance by Indian Sufi singer Zila Khan. 
The inaugural session also saw Congress leader and writer Shashi Tharoor discuss his book “Why i am a Hindu” with writer Namita Gokhale. The annual festival, has now become synonymous with showcasing a range of voices from India and abroad, began in 2006 and is held annually in Jaipur. 

Source- The Tribune

ISRO Launched 2 British Earth Observation Satellites Onboard PSLV-C42


Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched PSLV C 42 with two British earth observation satellites NovaSAR and S1-4 in precision from the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The satellites were put into sun-synchronous orbit just over 17 minutes after liftoff from the first launch pad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO scientists for the successful launch of 2 UK satellites.

Source- News on Air

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

  • Chairman of ISRO: Dr. K Sivan.
  • Headquarters of ISRO- Bengaluru, Karnataka.
  • PSLV stands for Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. 

Indigenously Developed Weapon System ‘MPATGM’ Successfully Flight Tested

Indigenously developed weapon system Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM), was successfully flight tested for the second time from the Ahmednagar range, Maharashtra. All the mission objectives have been met. 
The two missions have been successfully flight tested for different ranges including the maximum range capability. 
Source- AIR World Service

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Nirmala Sitharaman is the present Defence Minister of India. 

Maldives Defeats India to Lift SAFF Cup

Maldives have lifted the 2018 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup. In the final at the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka, they defeated defending champions India 2-1. At half-time, the winners led One-nil. The win for Maldives comes 10 years after their first SAFF Cup title in 2008.
Seven-time champions India had started as favourites in the summit clash. The Indian team, comprising mostly under-23 players, was the only unbeaten side in the tournament. 
Source- Air World Service

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Maldives Capital: Male, Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa. 


MC Mary Kom Wins Gold at Silesian Open Boxing In Poland

Indian five-time world boxing champion M C Mary Kom clinched her third gold medal of the year in 48 kg category, while Jyoti Gulia picked up the country’s lone gold in 51 kg of the youth category of the Silesian Open boxing Tournament for women in Gliwice, Poland. 
In the youth competition, Jyoti, a former world champion and India’s only boxer to have qualified for Youth Olympic Games in Argentina, out-classed Poland’s Tatiana Pluta. Former world champion Sarita Devi, however, signed off with a bronze medal in the senior category. In the junior competition, the Indian team produced a terrific performance to sign off with 13 medals six gold, six silver and a bronze. 
Source- DD News

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer: 16 September

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was observed on 16th September throughout the world. The theme for International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2018 was ‘Keep Cool and Carry On: The Montreal Protocol’. This day aims to create awareness on issues related to climate change and ozone depletion.
Source- The United Nations

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NASA Launches Satellite To Track Decreasing Polar Ice

NASA launched its Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2, known as ICESat-2, which will use an extremely precise laser to collect measurement data to track the Earth’s shrinking polar ice from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. 
The laser, known as ATLAS (Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System), splits into six beams and fires 10,000 pulses per second to collect very precise measurements for scientists to analyze. The ATLAS will focus on two areas: changes to the earth’s ice sheet and sea ice thickness change. 
Source- DD News

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

  • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the executive branch of the Federal government of the United States responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. 
  • It was founded on 1958. 
  • Jim Bridenstine is the present Administrator of NASA. 

Vice President 3 Nation-Visit: India, Serbia Signed Agreements on Various Fields

India and Serbia signed agreements on cooperation in plant protection and plant quarantine and on-air services, following the talks between Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. 

The two sides also agreed to expand their bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of economic and cultural relations and join hands to fight terrorism. India and Serbia are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between them. 
Source- ANI News

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Serbia Capital: Belgrade, Currency: Serbian dinar. 

Wholesale inflation drops to four-month low of 4.53% in August

Inflation based on wholesale prices eased to a four-month low of 4.53% in August on softening of prices of food articles, especially vegetables. The Wholesale Price Index-based inflation stood at 5.09% in July and 3.24% in August last year.

Data released by the commerce and industry ministry on Friday showed a 4.04% decline inflation in food articles in August compared with a 2.16% fall in July. The wholesale price index is an index that measures and tracks the changes in the price of goods in the stages before the retail level.


Source: News on Air
Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • CPI: Consumer Price Index 
  • WPI: Wholesale Price Index 

PM Launches Swachhata Hi Seva Movement


The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, launched the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ Movement, to boost nationwide public participation in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and catalyse the fulfilment of Bapu’s dream of a Clean India. 
The Swachhata Hi Seva movement aims at generating greater public participation towards Swachhta. It is being organized in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, on October 2nd, 2018, which will also mark the commencement of the 150th year celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi.
Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)