Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri Reaches Australia For Exercise KAKADU 2018


INS Sahyadri entered the Port of Darwin, Australia to participate in Exercise KAKADU 2018. Exercise KAKADU, which started in 1993, is the premier multilateral regional maritime engagement exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and supported by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The exercise is held biennially in Darwin and the Northern Australian Exercise Areas (NAXA). Exercise KAKADU derives its name from Kakadu National Park, which is a protected area in the northern territory of Australia. KAKADU 2018, the 14th edition of the exercise, would see participation from 23 warships, one submarine, 45 aircraft, 250 marines and approx 52 foreign staff from over 25 different countries.
Source- DD News

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Admiral Sunil Lanba is the present chief of Naval Staff of Indian Navy. 

India and ADB Sign $346 Million Loan to Improve State Highways in Karnataka

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of lndia signed a $346 million loan to finance improvement of over 400 kilometers of state highways that will enhance connectivity and access to economic centers across 12 districts in Karnataka. 
An ongoing road improvement project financed by ADB with a loan of $315 million is under implementation, which involves upgradation of about 615 kilometres of state roads. 
Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • The Asian Development Bank is a regional development Bank established in 1966.
  • Headquarters of ADB is in Manila, Philippines.
  • Takehiko Nakao is Present President of the Asian Development Bank. 

Indian Railways And GAIL Sign MoU For Use Of Natural Gas in Railway Workshops

In order to replace Industrial gases like Dissolved Acetylene, LPG, BMCG and Furnace Oil / High Speed Diesel (HSD) oil with environment friendly Natural Gas, Indian Railways has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s GAIL (India) Limited, to provide infrastructure facilities for supply of Natural Gas to Indian Railways Workshops, Production Units and Depots at Rail Bhavan.
This MoU is a broad-based, in principle agreement, between GAIL and Indian Railways for the creation of infrastructure and supply of CNG/LNG/PNG for both industrial and domestic purposes.

Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Ashwani Lohani is the present Chairman of Indian Railways. 
  • Piyush Goyal is the present Cabinet Minister of Indian Railways. 

6th RCEP Ministerial Meeting Begins In Singapore

Union Minister of Commerce& Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, is leading the Indian delegation for the 6th RCEP Trade Ministers’ Meeting which has begun in Singapore. 
The Minister will participate in the meeting consisting of 10 ASEAN countries and six ASEAN FTA partners namely, India, China, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand. 
Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • ASEAN stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
  • ASEAN is amongst the fastest growing markets in the world and presents substantial trade and investments opportunities for India. 
  • ASEAN has emerged as the second largest trade partner of India in 2017-18 with bilateral trade valued at US$ 81.33 billion, comprising 10.58% of India’s total trade with the world. 

Idea Cellular Completes Merger With Vodafone

Idea Cellular Ltd has announced that it has completed its merger with Vodafone India Ltd (VIL) and Vodafone Mobile Services Ltd (VMSL) after getting approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). 
Consequent to the merger of Vodafone Mobile Services with the company, the board has allotted 3,89,39,27,522 equity shares of Rs. 10 each to VIL (the shareholder of VMSL). 
Source- The Hindu Business Line

ICAR Organizes 2-Day Conference On Motivating & Attracting Youth in Agriculture

In order to meet the challenge of providing sustainable livelihoods for a rapidly growing population and to motivate and attract youth in agriculture, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), inaugurated a two-day conference at NASC, New Delhi on Motivating and Attracting Youth in Agriculture (MAYA). 
The two-day conference provides an opportunity to all stakeholders to interact and discuss various options and avenues for not only attracting youth to agriculture but even motivating them towards entrepreneurship in agriculture and allied fields. 
Who Organised the conference? 
The conference has been organized by: 
1. Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), 
2. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), 
3. MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), 
4. Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), 
5. Skill India, Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI), 
6. Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) and, 
7. National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD). 
Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Asian Games 2018: Women’s 4x400m Relay Team Wins Gold

India won gold in the women’s 4X400 metre event. The Indian quartet of Hima Das, Raju Poovamma, Saritaben Laxmanbhai Gayakwad and Vismaya Koroth registered a time of 3 minutes and 28.72 seconds to finish at the top of the podium. India clinched the silver medal in the men’s 4X400 metre event. 
Source- The Firstpost 

Asian Games 2018: Jinson Johnson Wins Gold in Men’s 1500m Event

India’s Jinson Johnson claimed the gold medal in the men’s 1500m event in the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Manjit Singh, 800m champion, however, finished fourth. 
Johnson clocked 3:44.72 sec to claim the top honours ahead of Iran’s Amir Moradi, who turned in a timing of 3:45.62sec, his season’s best effort. Johnson earlier won a silver in the 800m event. 
Source- Asian Games

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • The Host cities for Asian Games 2018 are Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia. 
  • Bhin Bhin, Kaka, and Atung are the mascots of the 2018 Asian Games. 

Google Unveils New Platform Named ‘Navlekha’ For Indian Publishers

Google announced Project Navlekha at its 4th edition of Google for India Event held in New Delhi. Project Navlekha has been launched to enable Indian publishers of regional languages to publish their content online, without facing the trouble of selling printed copies. 
The official website of Navlekha can be easily interpreted by users. Users can also obtain help from experts to set up their publication website. 

Source- The Indian Express

MoU Signed Between Department of Biotechnology and International Energy Agency

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) signed an MoU on Enhancing Innovation for Clean Energy Transition. 
The MoU seeks to deepen co-operation in support of clean energy innovations to accelerate the research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of clean energy technologies in India and will help support the generation of data for policymaking and improve knowledge of good policy practices for innovation in India and around the world. 
Source- DD News

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Dr. Harsh Vardhan is the Minister, for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Environment, Forest and Climate Change.