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Home , Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna

Daily CurrentTitle Affairs Capsule th Title 18 August 2019

1. PM Modi and Bhutanese PM jointly inaugurated 720 Megawatt Mangdechu hydroelectric plant in Thimphu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bhutanese counterpart Dr Lotay Tshering jointly inaugurated the 720 Megawatt Mangdechu hydroelectric plant in Thimphu.

• This is the fourth plant built by in Bhutan. • They also inaugurated the Ground Earth Station of South Asian Satellite, developed by Indian Space Research Organization. • The first phase of Rupay card was also launched. • India and Bhutan also signed 10 Memorandum of Understanding in science, technology, engineering and maths and judicial sectors.

2. Vice President embarks on a three-nation visit to Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has embarked on a three-nation visit to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

• He is accompanied by a high-level delegation. • Vice President's visit will be the first-ever high-level visit to the three Baltic countries. • The visit takes place in the context of increasing political engagement, as well as intensified trade and commercial ties.

Points to remember

• Lithuania Capital: Vilnius • Latvia Capital: Riga • Estonia Capital: Tallinn

3. Navy to host multi-lateral exercise ‘MILAN’ in Visakhapatnam

The would be hosting ‘MILAN’, a multilateral naval exercise in Visakhapatnam in March 2020.

• The MILAN series of biennial exercises, which commenced in 1995 and conducted at Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) until last year. • Last year’s edition was conducted for the first time on the mainland at the eastern naval command (ENC).

4. Vellore district to be trifurcated; Ranipet, Tirupattur to become new districts

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that Vellore district will be trifurcated and two new districts, Ranipet and Tirupattur, will be formed.

• Vellore will be the headquarters of these two new districts. • The Chief Minister also announced that a new taluk will be formed with K V Kuppam as its headquarters. • With the creation of two more districts, the total number of districts in Tamil Nadu mounts to 37.

5. Assam gets its first-ever CNG fuel station in Dibrugarh

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the first-ever CNG fuel station of the state in Dibrugarh.

• With the inauguration of this clean and green fuel station, it will reduce environmental pollution. • Mr. Sonowal has given much emphasis to make the state free from pollution.

6. ANZ slashes forecast for India's GDP growth in 2019-20 to 6.2%

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) slashed its forecast for India's economic growth to 6.2% in the financial year ending next March.

• The bank's estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) growth is now well below the expectations of other banks. • The forecasts all badly lag the government's longer-term target of getting the economy humming at rates above 8%. • India's quarterly GDP growth slowed to a five-year low of 5.8% in January-March as a result of sluggish domestic and global demand and little growth in private investment.

Points to remember

• The chief economist for Southeast Asia and India at ANZ: Sanjay Mathur

7. Bangladesh appoints Russell Domingo as head coach

Bangladesh Board (BCB) appointed South African Russell Domingo as national team head coach for a two-year term.

• Domingo had played junior cricket for Eastern Province before moving into coaching at an early age. • He became South Africa U19 coach for the 2004 ICC U19 World Cup in Bangladesh. • The 44-year-old is expected to arrive in Dhaka on August 21 to take charge of the team.

8. Five sportspersons to get Dhyanchand award

The Selection Committee for sports awards 2019 recommended names of five sportspersons for the Dhyanchand award this year.

• They are Manuel Fredricks (hockey), Arup Basak (table ), Manoj Kumar (), Nitten Kirrtane (tennis), and C Lalremsanga (archery). • Dhyanchand award is presented to sportspersons for their lifetime achievements and contribution to sport during both their active career and following retirement. • The committee also nominated 19 names for including cricketers Ravindra Jadeja and Poonam Yadav.

• and have been picked for Khel Ratna by the committee.

9. Doordarshan Anchor and Nari Shakti Award Winner Neelum Sharma passes away

Doordarshan news anchor, Neelum Sharma passed away.

• Neelum Sharma was known was her programmes like ‘Tejaswini’ and ‘Badi Charcha’. • She had been awarded the Nari Shakti Puruskar by President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018. • As part of her ‘Tejasvini’ programme, Sharma highlighted the achievements of woman achievers from the remotest parts of India who went on to become role models for the society.

10. awardee Damodar Ganesh Bapat passed away

Eminent social worker and Padma Shri awardee Damodar Ganesh Bapat passed away.

• He dedicated his life to the treatment and service of leprosy patients • Bapat was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, by President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018.