Today’s Current Affairs 9th – July- 2018 – MyProgressCard

National News

1. South Korean President Moon Jae-in visits India

• South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived on a four-day visit to Delhi.
• Key issues like the situation on the Korean peninsula and ways to boost trade and defence cooperation are discussed.

Image Credit: NDTV.com

• A financing arrangement of 10 billion dollars has been set by the Korean side for infrastructure development in India.

Static/Current Implications:

• Capital of South Korea – Seoul
• Currency – South Korean Won

Expected questions:

How much amount does South Korea set for the development of infrastructure in India?

A. 20 billion dollars

B. 20 million dollars

C. 10 million dollars

D. 10 billion dollars

2. India to hold annual Delhi dialogue with ASEAN leaders

• External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will chair the 10th Delhi Dialogue with ASEAN leaders on 19th and 20th July 2018.
• The dialogue is an important platform for engagement with ASEAN on political, security and economic issues.
• ASEAN is looking at India to conclude negotiations soon for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.

Image Credit: The Financial Express

• The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement aims at liberalizing norms for trade in goods and services and boost investment among 16-member countries.
• The Delhi Dialogue is a key element of India’s ‘Act East’ policy

Expected questions:

When is the 10th Delhi Dialogue with ASEAN leaders scheduled this year?

A. 18th & 19th July 2018

B. 17th & 18th July 2018

C. 19th & 20th July 2018

D. 20th & 21st July 2018

3. HRD Minister inaugurated 17th World Sanskrit Conference in Canada

• Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurated the 17th World Sanskrit Conference held at Vancouver, Canada, from July 9-13, 2018.
• There will be a special panel discussion on topics such as – History and Education of Women in Vedic Literature, Sanskrit Buddhist Manus, Mimamsa Beyond the Yagasala, the Yuktidipika forging a place for Sankhya, introducing Bhagavata Purana Commentaries and research on the Gargiyajyotisa.

Image Credit: English News

• The World Sanskrit Conference is being held in various countries across the globe once in every three years and so far it has been held thrice in India.

Expected questions:

Where is the 17th World Sanskrit Conference held?

A. New Delhi

B. Canada

C. Bangkok

D. Kyoto

4. Himachal Pradesh Government bans use of thermocol cutlery

• The Himachal Pradesh government issued an order banning the use of thermocol cutlery across the state.
• The notification reiterated that “no person including shopkeepers, vendors, wholesalers, retailers, hawkers, rehriwalas will use thermocol cutlery in any form manufactured from non-biodegradable material as listed in Schedule under Himachal Pradesh Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995”.

Static/Current Implications:

• Capital of Himachal Pradesh – Shimla

• Chief Minister – Jai Ram Thakur

• Governor – Acharya Dev Vrat

Expected questions:

Which state government has recently banned the usage of thermocol cutlery?

A. Madhya Pradesh

B. Himachal Pradesh

C. Maharashtra

D. Uttar Pradesh

5. Sun Pharma signs Akshay Kumar as brand ambassador for Revital H

• Drug firm Sun Pharma Consumer Healthcare has named actor Akshay Kumar as the brand ambassador of health supplement Revital H.
• Revital H is one of India’s leading and most trusted health supplement for over twenty years.

Image Credit: Adgully.com

• A marketing campaign featuring Akshay Kumar was released on 9th July 2018.

Static/Current implications:

• Sun Pharma CEO (India) – Kal Sundaram

Expected questions:

Who has been appointed the brand ambassador of Revital H of Sun Pharma?

A. M S Dhoni

B. Akshay Kumar

C. Sonali Bendre

D. Aamir Khan

6. PM Modi and Moon Jae-in inaugurated world’s largest mobile factory in Noida

• Narendra Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in inaugurated the world’s largest mobile manufacturing plant of Samsung at Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
• This plant is expected to bring a major push to “Make in India”.

Image Credit: The Indian Express

• Samsung company invested around Rs.5000 crores in this plant and aims at manufacturing 12 crore mobile handsets annually which will result in massive job creation.

Static/Current Implications:

• Capital of Uttar Pradesh – Lucknow

• Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath

• Governor – Ram Naik

Expected questions:

Where is world’s largest mobile manufacturing unit inaugurated recently?

A. Noida, India

B. Tokyo, Japan

C. Seoul, South Korea

D. New Delhi, India

7. 2-day plenary meeting of NEC begins in Shillong

• A 2-day plenary meeting of North Eastern Council is chaired by the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Shillong.

Image Credit: DD News

• He discussed the developmental projects water resources management, POSHAN Abhiyan, road connectivity, and more with the Governors and Chief Ministers of north-east states in presence of Union Minister for Development of North East region- Jitendra Singh.

Static/Current Implications:

• Capital of Meghalaya – Shillong
• Chief Minister – Conrad Sangma
• Governor – Ganga Prasad

Expected questions:

Where is the 67th plenary meeting of NEC organised recently?

A. Shillong, Meghalaya

B. Imphal, Manipur

C. Agartala, Tripura

D. Guwahati, Assam

8. Panasonic appointed Vivek Sharma as new MD for Indian Electricals Business

• Vivek Sharma has been appointed the new Managing Director to head its electricals business of Anchor Electricals Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation
• He will drive the electricals arm and supervise growth of all businesses like wiring devices, switchgears, wires, cables and tapes, conduit pipes, lighting, solar, housing, power tools and indoor air quality.

Static/Current Implications:

• Headquarters of Panasonic Corporation – Kadoma, Japan
• President of Panasonic Corporation – Kazuhiro Tsuga

Expected questions:

Who has been appointed the Managing Director for Panasonic’s Anchor Electricals Private Limited?

A. Manish Sharma

B. Vivek Sharma

C. Vivek Verma

D. Manish Verma

9. International Round Table Conference on “Data for New India’’

• Union Minister of Statistics & Programme Implementation, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, inaugurated the first ever 2-day International Round Table Conference is organized by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in New Delhi.
• The objective of this Conference is to identify innovative ideas to enhance the statistical system in India and to learn the best practices followed in advanced countries like Canada, UK and Australia.

Static/Current Implications:

• Constituency of D V Sadananda Gowda – North Bengaluru, Karnataka

Expected questions:

Where is the first ever International Round Table Conference on “Data for New India” organised?

A. Mumbai

B. Bengaluru

C. New Delhi

D. Bhubaneswar

10. India, South Korea inked agreement to boost bilateral trade

• Union Commerce and Industries Minister Suresh Prabhu and South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-Chong signed agreements on trade and commerce.

Image Credit: EENADU India

Static/Current Implications:

• Constituency of Suresh Prabhu – Andhra Pradesh (Rajya sabha)

Expected questions:

In order to boost bilateral trade, India has recently signed agreements on trade and commerce with which country?

A. South Korea

B. Indonesia

C. China

D. Latin America

11. 6 public and private institutes granted the title of ‘Institutions of Eminence’ status

• As per the announcement of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the HRD Ministry has granted “Institutions of Eminence” status to three public and three private institutes.
• The institutions are: IIT-Delhi, IIT-Bombay and IISc-Bengaluru in the public sector, and Manipal Academy of Higher Education, BITS Pillani and Jio Institute by Reliance Foundation in the private sector.
• Former chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami was appointed the chairperson of the empowered expert committee (EEC) to select the institutes.
• Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry will grant Rs.1000 crore funds to the three public institutions in the next five years.

Static/Current Implications:

• Minister for Human Resources & Development – Prakash Javadekar
• Constituency – Madhya Pradesh (Rajya Sabha)

Expected questions:

Which of the following institute has not been granted the “Institutions of Eminence” status?

A. IIT Bombay
B. IIT Delhi
C. IISc Bengaluru
D. IIT Madras

12. Government set noise standards for airports

• The Union Environment Ministry has set noise standards for airports across the country, excluding defence aircraft, and those that are landing and taking off.

Image Credit: hindustantimes

• A civil airport with more than 50,000 aircraft movements per year should not exceed noise levels beyond 75 dBA Leq (decibels) during the daytime (6AM to 10PM) and 65 dBA during the night time (10AM to 6PM).

Static/Current Implications:

• Minister for environment and climate change – Dr. Harsh Vardhan
• Constituency – Chandni Chowk, Delhi

Expected questions:

What is the maximum noise level allowed during night time in the civil airports?

A. 75 dBA
B. 65 dBA
C. 55 dBA
D. 85 dBA

What is the maximum noise level allowed during day time in the civil airports?

A. 75 dBA
B. 65 dBA
C. 55 dBA
D. 85 dBA

Sports News

13. Indian goalkeeper, Sreejesh is to lead Indian Hockey Team at Asian games 2018

• Indian goalkeeper P R Sreejesh is selected as the captain for the 18 member Indian men’s hockey squad and Chinglensana Singh Kangujam will serve as his deputy in the 18th Asian Games.

Image Credit: NDTV Sports

• Asian games 2018 will begin in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia in August 2018.

Static/Current Implications:

• Capital of Indonesia – Jakarta, Currency – Indonesian rupiah

Expected questions:

Who is the captain of India Hockey team at Asian games 2018?

A. Chinglensana Singh Kangujam
B. P R Sreejesh
C. Akashdeep Singh
D. Rupinder Pal Singh

Who is the coach of Indian men’s hockey team?

A. Harendra Singh
B. Rani Rampal
C. Bharat Chetri
D. Dilip Tirkey

14. T20 rankings: India moves up to second place, Rahul rises to career-high third spot

• Indian batsman Lokesh Rahul has improved 9 places and reached a career-high 3rd position in the latest ICC T20 rankings. He is currently the highest-ranked Indian batsman.
• He is followed by Rohit Sharma in 11th rank who has improved by 2 positions and Virat Kohli in 12th rank who has moved down by 4 places.
• His team has obtained the 2nd spot in the team standings after the series win against England.

Image Credit: The Hindu

• Australia’s Aaron Finch has become the first player in the history of T20 Internationals to break the 900-point mark.

Static/Current Implications:

• ICC – International Cricket Council
• Headquarters – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• President – Shashank Manohar

Expected questions:

Who is the highest ranked Indian batsman in the latest ICC T20 rankings?

A. Rohit Sharma
B. Virat Kohli
C. Lokesh Rahul
D. Shikhar Dhawan

Awards & Honours

15. ‘The English Patient’ voted best-ever Man Booker Prize winner in 50 years

• Michael Ondaatje’s ‘The English Patient’ was named the greatest-ever winner of the Man Booker Prize at an event celebrating five decades of the prestigious literary award.

Image Credit: CTV News

• ‘The English Patient’ won the Booker in 1992 and was made into a 1996 movie starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche that won nine Academy Awards.

Expected questions:

Who is the author of the book The English Patient which is voted as the best-ever Man Booker Prize winner in 50 years?

A. Virginie Despentes (France)
B. Han Kang (South Korea)
C. Laszlo Krasznahorkai (Hungary)
D. Michael Ondaatje (Canadian hailed from Sri Lanka)

International News

16. Brexit Secretary David Davis resigns

• David Davis resigned as Brexit secretary, David Davis declared that he could not support British Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal to unite her divided cabinet.

• He said that, it involved a very close relationship with the European Union and only provided an illusion of control being returned to the UK after Brexit.

Image Credit: ndtv

• Dominic Raab, a junior minister for housing policy, has been named Brexit Secretary, to replace David Davis.

Expected questions:

Brexit secretary Davd Davis has resigned from his position. Who succeeded him?

A. Dominic Raab
B. David Lidington
C. Philip Hammond
D. Boris Johnson

17. 2 satellites PRSS-1 and PAK-TES-1A were launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China

• Pakistan launched 2 indigenously built satellites named PRSS-1 and PAK-TES-1A into the orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China, through a Chinese-made launch vehicle.
• Pakistan has finally become one of the few countries to establish their own remote sensing satellite into orbit.
• The satellites were launched onboard a Chinese Long March (LM-2C) rocket. The first satellite sent into space was PRSS1, a remote sensing satellite.

Image Credit: DNA India

• PAK-TES-1A has been developed by Pakistan’s space agency, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).

Static/Current Implications:

• Capital of China – Beijing

• Currency of China – Renminbi

• Capital of Pakistan – Islamabad

• Currency of Pakistan – Pakistani rupee

Expected questions:

What is the name of Pakistan’s space agency?

A. SUPARCO
B. NASA
C. JAXA
D. CNSA

What is the name of the recently launched Pakistan’s indigenously built remote sensing satellite?

A. Badr-1
B. Pakat-1R
C. PAK-TES-1A
D. icube-1