Important Cabinet Approvals: 12th 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.Transfer of land of M/s. Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers (RCF) to Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA)
2. MoU between India and Brunei Darussalam on Cooperation in the operation of Telemetry Tracking and Telecommand station for satellite and launch vehicles, and for cooperation in the field of Space Research, Science and Applications
3. MoU on Collaborative Research on Distributed Ledger and Block Chain Technology in the context of Development of digital economy by Exim Bank under BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism
4. MoU between India and South Africa on cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes
5. MoU between India and Egypt on cooperation in the field of Agriculture & allied sectors
6. Signing of MoU between India and Malta for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism
7. Policy Framework to Promote and Incentivize Enhanced Recovery Methods for Oil and Gas
8. New Umbrella Scheme “Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan” (PM-AASHA).
9. Amendment to National Institute of Design (NID) Act, 2014. 



Andhra Launches e-Rythu To Boost Cashless Farm Ecosystem

The government of Andhra Pradesh launched a mobile platform, e-Rythu (e-farmer in Telugu) which will enable small-scale farmers to market their produce at reasonable prices. The platform has been developed by global payments and technology company Mastercard and aims to digitize agriculture marketplaces, payments, workflows, and provide farmers an easy and secure way to buy, sell and receive payments for agricultural products via their feature phones. 
e-Rythu was launched by chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The platform has been developed by Mastercard Labs for Financial Inclusion in Nairobi, Kenya, and has been customized for India use by the Labs team based at Pune.
Source- The Livemint

HDFC Life Elevates Vibha Padalkar As MD and CEO

HDFC Life appointed Vibha Padalkar as its new managing director and CEO for a period of three years. The position had fallen vacant after Amitabh Chaudhry resigned to head Axis Bank. 
The terms of appointment are subject to approval by the shareholders and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). Prior to her elevation, Padalkar was the chief financial officer (CFO) and executive director at the insurer. 
Source- The Livemint

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018-
  • Padalkar was also conferred the ‘CFO-Woman of the year’ award b the ICAI in 2011 and another for “Excellence in Financial Control, Compliance and Corporate Governance” in 2013.
  • HDFC Bank MD- Aditya Puri, Headquarters in: Mumbai. 

2-Day Regional Conference On Good Governance Begins In Bhopal

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DAR & PG), Government of India in association with Government of Madhya Pradesh is organizing a Regional Conference on Good Governance with Focus on Aspirational Districts, in Bhopal. Delegates from 12 States and 2 UTs will participate in the Conference.

There will be 5 Technical sessions in the 2-day conference. The themes include: ICT Enabled Education, Agriculture, Public Service and Grievance Management and Good Governance initiatives. 

Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Madhya Pradesh CM: Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Governor: Anandiben Patel. 


Russia Launches Biggest War Games ‘Vostok-2018’ Since Cold War

Russia has launched its biggest military exercise since the Cold War named “Vostok-2018”, involving about 300,000 service personnel, in eastern Siberia. China is sending 3,200 troops to take part in “Vostok-2018”, with many Chinese armoured vehicles and aircraft. Mongolia is also sending some units.
PC: BBC
The last Russian exercise of similar scale was in 1981, during the Cold War, but Vostok-2018 involves more troops. The week-long manoeuvres come at a time of heightened Nato-Russia tensions. A key aim is to practise the rapid deployment of thousands of troops, as well as aircraft and vehicles, from western Russia to eastern regions, across thousands of miles. 
Source- BBC News

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Russia Capital: Moscow, Currency: Russian ruble, President: Vladimir Putin. 

Haryana Signs MoU With Indian Oil For Ethanol Plant

The Haryana government signed an MoU with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to set up an ethanol plant in Panipat with an outlay of over Rs 900 crore. The initiative with a proposed capacity of 100 kilolitres of ethanol per day will manage crop residue and prevent straw burning before the upcoming paddy season.
The MoU was signed by Director, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department of Haryana, Dusmanta K Behera and Chief General Manager, Alternate Energy and Sustainable Development, IOC Ltd Sanjay Kumar Srivastav. The pact will be valid for one year. 

Source- The Moneycontrol

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Haryana CM: Manohar Lal Khattar, Governor: Satyadeo Narain Arya. 

Indian Railways Launches Web Portal ‘Rail Sahyog’

The Minister of Railways and Coal, Piyush Goyal launched a web portal ‘www.railsahyog.in’. 
The web portal will provide a platform for the Corporates and PSUs to contribute to the creation of amenities at/near Railway Stations through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. 
Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Ashwani Lohani is the present Chairman of Railway Board. 

APSARA, Uranium Reactor Becomes Operational at BARC

‘Apsara’, the first research reactor in Asia became operational in Trombay campus of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in August 1956.  After providing more than five decades of dedicated service to the researchers, the reactor was shut down in 2009. 
Nearly sixty-two years after Apsara came into existence, a swimming pool type research reactor “Apsara-upgraded”, of higher capacity was born at Trombay. The reactor, made indigenously, uses plate type dispersion fuel elements made of Low Enriched Uranium (LEU).  
Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Mr Kamlesh Nilkanth Vyas is the present Director of BARC. 
  • BARC Headquarters in Mumbai. 

Indo-US Joint Exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas 2018’ To Start in Uttarakhand

As part of the ongoing Indo-US defence cooperation, a joint military training Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2018 is scheduled to be conducted in the foothills of Himalayas at Chaubattia in Uttarakhand from 16 September to 29 September 2018.  
This will be the 14th edition of the joint military exercise hosted alternately by both countries. The two-week exercise will witness participation of about 350 personnel of the US Army and similar strength of the Indian Army. 

Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

NITI Aayog, Intel And TIFR To Set Up Model International Center For ICTAI

NITI Aayog, Intel and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) are collaborating to set up a Model International Center for Transformative Artificial Intelligence (ICTAI). The collaboration aims to bring together fundamental and applied research, innovation and technology development to solve important problems. 
The ICTAI will work towards developing and deploying artificial intelligence based research projects in critical domains such as healthcare, agriculture, smart cities and mobility. The initiative is part of NITI Aayog’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence discussion paper that focuses on establishing ICTAI through private sector collaboration.
Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)
Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • NITI- National Institution for Transforming India.
  • NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman- Rajiv Kumar, CEO- Amitabh Kant.