Exam Power : 11 July 2018 Today Current Affairs

Exam Power : 11 July 2018 Today Current Affairs

World Population Day celebrated on 11th July

Every year, July 11, is celebrated as World Population Day, to raise awareness about global population-related issues. The theme for 2018 World Population Day is 'Family Planning is a Human Right'.

This day was celebrated for the first time in the year 1989.

According to the United Nations World Population Day webpage, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1968 International Conference on Human Rights, where family planning was, for the first time, globally affirmed to be a human right.


Central government granted 'Institution of eminence' status to 6 institutes

IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IISc Bangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, BITS Pillani and Jio Institute have been granted 'Institution of eminence' tag by Human Resource Development Ministry.

Government institutions with this tag will get special funding of Rs 1,000 crore over the next five years.

The aim of the "Institutions of Eminence" scheme is to bring selected higher educational institutions in top 500 of world ranking in the next 10 years and in top 100 eventually overtime. 

The scheme has been launched with an objective to provide world class teaching and research facilitiesto Indian students within the country and enhance general level of education of the country.

First ever 'India Tourism Mart' to be hosted in New Delhi

Tourism Ministry in partnership with the FAITH (Federation of Associations in  Indian  Tourism and  Hospitality), will organize  the  ‘first ever’ India  Tourism  Mart (ITM)  from  16th  to  18th September, 2018  at  Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Aim:- To boost the tourism sector in the country and to double the foreign tourist arrival  in the next three years.

Government sets noise standards for airports across India

According to the rules, a civil airport with more than 50,000 aircraft movements per year should not exceed noise levels beyond 75 dB(A) Leq (decibels) during the daytime (6am to 10pm) and 65 dBAduring the night (10pm to 6am).

The limits, however, exclude defence aircrafts, and those that are landing and taking-off.

All other airports - an airport having more than 15,000 but less than 50,000 movements annually - should not exceed levels beyond 65 dBA during the day and 60 dBA during the night.

Infosys Foundation contribute Rs 200 crore to the Bengaluru Metro

For the construction of Konappana Agrahara Metro Station (Electronics City) as well as for laying railway tracks, Infosys Foundation would contribute Rs 200 crore to the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.

Both parties would sign an MoU on July 19.

The estimated cost of the elevated rail network project is Rs 1,794 crore and it is expected to be

ASI found an ancient water tank in Hampi

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has found a water tank within the precincts of the Virupaksha Temple at Hampiof the Vijayanagar empire. 

The tank measures around 20x10 feet and is 9 feet deep. It had a water supply connection through a channel going by the Basavanna sculpture, in the south side facing the north in the tank, with an opening in the mouth.

The top layer of stones around the tank has beautiful embossed carvings of the Vijayanagara period, depicting dancers, musicians, yogis, animals, birds, and a bullock.

In the second layer, there are carvings of aquatic life. It is also the first place and time in Hampi that a depiction of two swans and a long-necked crane has been found.

The telecommunication ministry approved merging of Idea and Vodafone

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) approved the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular which will create the country’s largest mobile services operator. 

The department has asked Idea Cellular to pay Rs. 3,926 crore in cash for Vodafone’s spectrum and furnish a bank guarantee of Rs. 3,342 crore.

The combined operations of Idea and Vodafone will create the country’s largest telecom operator worth more than over Rs. 1.5 lakh crore, with a 35% market share and a subscriber base of about 430 million.

Indian Railways introduced first Double Stack Dwarf Container Service from Rajkot Division

Due to this Double Stacked Dwarf Container Service, Indian Railways received increased revenue of Rs. 18.50 lakhs.

82 containers loaded with Polypropylene Granules, this train was booked from the Reliance Rail Siding at Kanalus to Rewari in the state of Haryana.

The Double Stacked Containers can hold a capacity of 30,500 kgs.

Presently, Reliance Industries plans to book 2-3 trains per month from Rajkot Division and is expected to increase in the near future.

Instamojo aims to double its digital payments in MSME platform

Instamojo, an online payment and e-commerce platform forMicro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) said that there has been a faster adoption of electronic payments in the sector even from tier 2 and tier 3 cities.

The company played an active role in digitizing payments for the MSME sector, which contributes 8% of the country’s GDP each year, through the online payment link.

It had earlier enrolled 5 lakh MSMEs on its platform and is now aiming to double enrolments by the end of this year.

Martin Schwenk appointed as new MD and CEO of Mercedes Benz India

Schwenk will take charge from November 1 by replacing Roland Folger, who will assume a new position for Mercedes-Benz's Thailand and Vietnam markets.

Schwenk is currently the CFO of Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co. in China.

David Davis resigns as Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab appointed as new Brexit Secretary

British Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Dominic Raab as the new Brexit Secretary after his predecessor "David Davis" quit in protest at the government’s plans for a close trading relationship with the European Union.

Boris Johnson resigned as UK's Foreign Secretary amid a growing political crisis over UK's Brexit strategy. His resignation came 30 minutes before UK PM Theresa May addressed the Parliament about her new Brexit plan.

The UK is due to leave the European Union on 29 March 2019, but the two sides have yet to agree how trade will work between the UK and the EU afterwards.

Jeremy Hunt appointed as new UK Foreign Secretary

British PM Theresa May appointed Jeremy Hunt as Foreign Secretary. This appointment has come after Boris Johnson resigned from the post in protest at the government’s Brexit plan.

The appointment of Hunt, the long-serving health minister, sees a close May ally replace the maverick Johnson, and could alter the Brexit balance of May’s top ministerial team.

Sources : The Hindu, ANI, TOI, Indian Express, HT,PIB, Economic Times

Post a Comment

0 Comments