Current Affairs Update 10 October 2018
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Important Cabinet Approvals on October 10, 2018
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the following countries on October 10, 2018.
| Lebanon | Cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. |
| Romania | Bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector |
| Finland | Cooperation in the field of environment protection and management of natural resources |
The other approvals made by PM Modi include:
- Closure of National Jute Manufactures Corporation Ltd. (NJMC) and its subsidiary Birds Jute & Exports Ltd. (BJEL).
- Payment of Productivity Linked Bonus for Railway Employees
- The Union Cabinet has approved the payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for the financial year 2017-18 for all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel).
- The financial implication of payment of 78 days’ PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs.2044.31 crore.
- The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB to the eligible non-gazetted railway employees is Rs.7000/- p.m.
- The maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is Rs.17,951 for 78 days.
- Establishment and operationalistion of permanent campuses of the two new Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISERs) at Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) and Berhampur (Odisha).
- The total cost likely to be incurred is Rs. 3074.12 crore (Non-Recurring: Rs.2366.48 crore and Recurring: 707.64 crore)
- Merger of the existing regulatory institutions in the skills space – National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) into the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).
- Closure of the Biecco Lawrie Limited (BLL) including giving Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS)/ Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) to the employees of the Company.
- Closure of National Jute Manufactures Corporation Ltd. (NJMC) and its subsidiary Birds Jute & Exports Ltd. (BJEL).
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Launches Online Assurances Monitoring System
- The Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Statistics & Programme Implementation, Shri Vijay Goel, inaugurated the Online Assurances Monitoring System (OAMS).
- The system has been developed by the Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
- It will make the information regarding assurances given on the floor of the Houses of Parliament paper less and available in digital format.
Odisha Lays Foundation Stone for Second Generation (2G) Ethanol Bio-refinery in Bargarh
- The Governor of Odisha Professor Ganeshi Lal laid the foundation stone for Second Generation (2G) Ethanol Bio-refinery of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited at Baulasingha village, Bhatli Tehsil, Bargarh ditrict, Odisha
- The first of its kind Bio-refinery will have a capacity to produce three crore litres of fuel grade Ethanol annually using Rice straw as the feedstock.
- Ethanol produced from this plant will be blended with Petrol. The cost of the project is around Rs 100 Crore.
Tharoor’s Unveils New Book on ‘Paradoxical’ Modi
- Congress parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor announced his new book “The Paradoxical Prime Minister: Narendra Modi And His India”.
- Divided in five sections comprising 50 chapters, the book will arrive at the stands on October 26.
17th CHG meeting of SCO to be held Tajikistan
- The Union Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, will be participating in the 17th Council of Heads of Government, CHG, meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on October 11 and 12.
- This will be the second CHG meeting since India became a full member of SCO in June 2017. The first such CHG meeting was held in Sochi, Russia.
- The SCO CHG meeting is a forum that enables India to engage with SCO member countries and Observer states of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia. It is the first major meeting since Kyrgyzstan took over as chair of the Organisation.
India Among last 15 in Oxfam World Inequality Index
- India has been ranked among the bottom 15 countries in a new worldwide index released released by UK-based Oxfam International’s ‘Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index’ on the commitment of different nations to reduce inequalities in their populations.
- Index’ ranks India at 147th among 157 countries.
- The index is topped by Denmark followed by Germany (2nd), Finland (3rd), Austria (4th), Norway (5th).
Japanese Passport is World’s Most Powerful Passport, India at 81 Spot
- According to 2018 Henley Passport Index, the Japanese passport has been declared the most powerful passport across the world in 2018.
- With Japanese passport, a passenger can travel without a visa or can get an on-arrival visa across 190 countries.
- The World’s Top 3 ‘Most Powerful Passports’ are:
- Japan (190)
- Singapore (189)
- Germany, France, South Korea (188)
- The Indian passport has secured the 81st rank with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 60 destinations.
- The last on the list is Afghanistan at a 106th position offering visa-free/on-arrival access to just 30 countries.
Tushar Mehta Appointed as Solicitor General of India
- The Appointment Committee of the cabinet has approved the appointment of senior Advocate Tushar Mehta as Solicitor General of India.
- He will remain in office till 30th of June, 2020 or till further orders. Mr Mehta is currently serving as the Additional Solicitor General.
- Mr Mehta succeeds Ranjit Kumar who resigned in October 2017
World Mental Health Day: October 10
- World Mental Health Day is observed every year on 10 October for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.
- It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization.
- The theme for World Mental Health Day 2018 is Young people and mental health in a changing world
Film Trade Expert Santosh Singh Jain Passes Away
- Indian film trade expert Santosh Singh Jain died in Mumbai. He was 97.
- Santosh Singh Jain was a former Central Circuit Cine Association (CCCA) President, and former President of the Film Federation of India.