Current Affairs – May 18, 2018 S.No Topic Page Number 1 Important Days 2 2 World News 3 3 National News 4 - 5 4 State News 6 – 7 5 Banking & Economy 8 – 9 6 Sports News 10 7 Awards & Honours 11 8 Appointments & Resignation 12 - 13 9 Books & Authors 14 10 Science & Techonology 15 1 Important Days International Museum Day On 18 May 2018, International Museum Day was celebrated all over the world. When: The International Museum Day is celebrated every year on 18 May since 1977. It is coordinated by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). Why: International Museum Day is celebrated every year to create awareness on the importance of museums for the development of society. The theme for International Museum Day 2018 is: “Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics”. World AIDS Vaccination day On 18 May 2018, World AIDS Vaccination day was observed all over the world. World AIDS Vaccine Day is also known as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. When: It is observed every year on 18 May 2018. This day commemorates the speech of former US President Bill Clinton on 18 May 1997, on the importance of HIV vaccine, at Morgan State University. The first World AIDS Vaccine Day was observed on 18 May 1998. This day stresses on the urgent need for a vaccine to prevent HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). 2 World News Visit of M J Akbar to Austria and the Slovak Republic Minister of State for External Affairs, M.J. Akbar was on an official visit to Austria and Slovak Republic from 15 to On May 15, 2018, Mr. Akbar had a meeting with Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria, Ms. Karin Kneissl, wherein entire gamut of India-Austria bilateral relations were discussed. In Austria, Mr. Akbar also had a meeting with President of STRATEG (Society for Political & Strategic Studies), Lt. General Christian Segur-Cabanac. STRATEG is a leading think tank of Austria. On 16 and 17th May, 2018, Mr. Akbar visited the Slovak Republic to participate at the GLOBSEC 2018 Bratislava Forum. This visit coincided with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of independent Slovak Republic and also marked the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between India and the Slovak Republic. During the course of this visit, Mr. Akbar also met top leaders of Slovak Republic including Mr. Miroslav Lajčák – Minister of Foreign and European Affairs. In Slovak Republic, Mr. Akbar also visited the 7th International Defence Exhibition Bratislava (IDEB) 2018, an important exhibition of defence and security technologies in Central Europe MoS external affairs general VK Singh visits North Korea Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh visits North Korea, the first high- level visit from India in 20 years. General VK Singh held talks with his North Korean counterpart and a host of other leaders. 3 National News With an objective to conserve water, the Bhusawal division of Indian Railways has fitted specially designed aerators in basin-taps of Tejas Express. The aerators have minute pores that break the stream of incoming water into fine water sub-streams. This phenomenon discharges an optimal amount of water to be utilised for cleanliness and thus reduces excess water flow. Tejas Express is a high speed (200 kmph) air-conditioned train equipped with several ultra modern facilities onboard. SC approves Centre’s draft Cauvery management scheme On May 18, 2018, Supreme Court approved Central Government’s draft Cauvery Management Scheme aimed at ensuring smooth distribution of water among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. Supreme Court in its verdict delivered on February 16, 2018 had asked the Centre to frame the Cauvery management scheme, which would deal with the issue of water share of the four states in different circumstances like normal and deficient water years in the Cauvery river basin. In the draft Cauvery management scheme submitted by the Central Government, there was a provision under which Central Government was to pass directions from time to time with regard to the distribution of water. Delhi cabinet gives in principle approval for procuring 1k buses under cluster scheme On 18 May, The Delhi cabinet gave their approval for procuring 1000 CNG run standard floor buses under cluster scheme. Each bus will have three internet protocol (IP) cameras, panic buttons, in-built GPS and anti skid features The Delhi government acquired 1000 buses for Rs. 276 crore. A total of 11000 buses will be acquired 5500 buses each for DTC and cluster scheme of the Delhi government. Class X certicates for ‘gurukul’ students Students who have studied at ‘gurukuls’ and ‘veda pathshalas’ will soon be eligible for Class 10 and Class 12 certificates, making them eligible to apply for jobs that have a Class 12 qualification. 4 The National Institute of Open Schooling, which is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), has set the ball rolling to open such opportunities for Sanskrit learners whose traditional learning did not enjoy certification. Air India could pay up $8.8 mn to passengers State-run carrier Air India may have to pay a penalty of $8.8 million to 323 passengers of its May 9 Delhi-Chicago flight, which was delayed as a fallout of withdrawal of relaxations given on flight duty time limitation (FDTL) of the crew. Flight AI-127 was bound for Chicago on May 9 with a flight time of 16 hours. Due to inclement weather, it was diverted to nearby Milwaukee, 19 minutes flight time from Chicago. Approves national policy on Biofuels, 2018 The Union Cabinet approved National Policy on Biofuels – 2018 in order to promote biofuels in the country. Biofuels in India are of strategic importance as it augers well with ongoing initiatives of Government such as Make in India, Skill Development and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Approves micro irrigation fund under NABARD The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved initial corpus of Rs.5,000 crore for setting up of dedicated Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) in NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). The allocation of MIF under PMKSY will be made in instalments of Rs 2,000 crore and Rs 3,000 crore in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Under it, NABARD will extend loans to state governments during this period. The lending rate under MIF has been proposed at 3% lower than cost of raising fund by NABARD. Approves enhancement of budget for network for spectrum Project The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its approval for enhancement of budget by Rs.11,330 crore for Network For Spectrum (NFS) project. This is over and above Rs.13,334 crore already approved by Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure in July, 2012. With this, total budget for the network for Defence services has now gone up to Rs. 24,664 crore. 5 State News Himachal govt sanctions Rs 25 cr for renovating Bantony Castle Himachal Pradesh State government will spend Rs 25 crore on renovating and developing the historic British era ‘Bantony Castle Estate’ in Shimla as a major tourist attraction. ‘Bantony Castle Estate’ is one of the historic and monumental buildings of Shimla town with a very rich history and is a fine example of the Anglo-Gothic architecture. Himachal Pradesh State Government believes that owing to its strategic location on Mall Road, it would be an added attraction for the tourists. Bantony Castle was acquired by Government, two years ago from a business family for Rs 27.84 crore. It currently houses state police headquarters. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur stated that organising ‘Gram Shilp Mela’ was a new beginning for the Bantony Castle as local artisans of the state got an opportunity to showcase their artefacts Gujarat government decided to bear medical expenses of road accident victims Gujarat government will be bearing medical expenses up to Rs 50,000 for each victim of road accident in A Government Resolution (GR) was issued on 17 May 2018 regarding this by Gujarat state Health and Family Welfare department. It stated that, even people from other states or countries will receive free treatment in Gujarat, irrespective of their income, if they are victim of a road accident and admitted to a government or a private hospital. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, had announced the launch of the free treatment scheme recently. This scheme aims to provide timely and better treatment and to minimise loss of life due to road accidents. The government will reimburse the amount to the concerned hospital once bills are submitted. The free treatment for the first 48 hours comprise dressing of wounds, X-ray, blood transfusion, treatment in ICU and MRI, and all other treatment available in a hospital. If a hospital refers a patient to another hospital within 48 hours, both the hospitals can avail reimbursement of their combined bill of Rs 50,000. Approves setting up of new AIIMS in Deoghar, Jharkhand The Union Cabinet approved setting up of a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Deoghar, Jharkhand under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). 6 It will serve dual purpose of providing super speciality health care to population and help to create large pool of doctors and other health workers in this region to be available for primary and secondary-level institutions and healthcare facilities being created under the National Health Mission (NHM). Under PMSSY, Government is planning to set up 20 AIIMS across the country. So far AIIMs have been established in Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Raipur (Chattisgarh), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Rishikesh (Uttarakhand) and Patna (Bihar).