Current Affairs Update – 12 August 2018

Current Affairs Update 12 August 2018

Current Affairs is an important part for many exams. Be prepared for this section with ByScoop which brings all the important Current Affairs in one place. 12 August 2018.

Jammu, Agartala to get Space Research Technology Centres

  • Jammu will be the first city in North India to get a full-fledged Space Technology Research Centre, devoted to research, academics and post-graduation study. The Centre will function under the aegis of the Central University Jammu.
  • In addition to Jammu, the other town selected for opening a Space Technology Research Centre is in the Northeast in Tripura, where it would function under the aegis of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Agartala.
  • This was disclosed by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on the occasion of the beginning of year-long “Sarabhai Centenary” programmes of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), starting from August 12, 2018 that  marks the 99th birth anniversary of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the first Chairman of ISRO and the founding father of India’s Space Programme.

Delhi Police gets India’s first all-women SWAT Team

  • The Delhi Police have inducted India’s first all-woman Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team for anti-terrorist operations.
  • The 36 member team of women commandos from the northeastern states underwent rigorous training of around 15 months from specialists all across India.
  • While 13 members are from Assam, rest of them hail from Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Manipur.
  • The women commandos will be deployed at Red Fort and India Gate during Independence Day celebrations.
  • Armed with MP5 submachine guns and Glock 21 pistols, all the members of the force are also well-versed in Israeli Krav Maga, the military self-defense technique pioneered by Israel’s security forces.

Nepal-India Literature Festival 2018 begins in Birgunj

  • The two days Nepal-India Literature Festival 2018 began in Birgunj, Nepal on August 12, 2018.
  • The event inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Province 2 Mohammad Lalbabu Raut was organised by Nepal India Co-operation Forum for strengthening Indo-Nepal ties.
  • On this occasion eminent writers from both the countries were also felicitated and around 250 participants from India and Nepal attending the two day festival.

Defence Minister dedicates Hussainiwala bridge to the Nation

  • Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated a strategically important bridge at Hussainiwala in Punjab, which was was blown off during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war to stop advance of enemy force’s armoured units.
  • The 280-feet-long bridge will connect Ferozpur with Hussainiwala barrage on Sutlej river.
  • The bridge is the only lifeline for the residents of more than two dozen villages by connecting Hussainiwala enclave, near Pakistan Border, with the rest of the country.

No free travel insurance to railway passengers from September 1

  • The Indian Railways will no more provide free travel insurance to its passengers starting September 1.
  • The option of free insurance will be optional. Now, travellers will have to choose from two options, either to opt-in or opt-out of travel insurance during the time of ticket booking from the website.
  • The IRCTC has been giving free travel insurance to passengers from December 2017 in order to promote digital transactions.

Axis Bank becomes first bank to Introduce Iris Authentication Over Micro ATMs

  • Axis Bank has become the first bank in the country to introduce Iris Scan Authentication feature for Aadhaar-based transactions through its micro ATM tablets.
  • Micro ATMs completely eliminate the requirement of debit cards, passwords, PINs, user IDs, etc. and empower consumers to avail banking services using only their Aadhaar numbers and biometrics (iris scan/fingerprint scan).
  • The Bank has deployed highly secure iris powered micro ATM tablets which are STQC certified & UIDAI compliant registered devices with completely integrated iris sensors.

Ajay Jayaram wins silver medal at the Vietnam Open Badminton Finals

  • Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram won Silver Medal at the Vietnam Open 2018 (Badminton) after losing the final to Shesar Hiren Rhustavito of Indonesia.
  • It was second consecutive runner-up finish for Jayaram on the circuit as he had also reached the final at the White Nights International Challenge last month.

International Youth Day Observed on August 12

  • The International Youth Day is observed every year on August 12 to raise awareness about the challenges and problems facing the youth of the world.
  • IYD was designated by the United Nations in 1999 with the adoption of Resolution 54/120.
  • The theme 2018 International Youth Day is ‘Safe Spaces for Youth’.

World Elephant Day Observed Globally

  • World Elephant Day is an international annual event on August 12, dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world’s elephants.
  • On August 12, 2012, the inaugural World Elephant Day was launched to bring attention to the urgent plight of Asian and African elephants.
  • To mark the occassion, the Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu has inaugurated a four-day special event Gaj Mahotsav in New Delhi.

Nobel Prize-winning author VS Naipaul Passes Away

  • Nobel Prize-winning novelist V.S. Naipaul passed away in London. He was 85.
  • He was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 2001 for his 1987 work “The Enigma of Arrival.
  • The Trinidad-born Nobel laureate wrote more than 30 books including “A Bend in the River” and his masterpiece, “A House for Mr Biswas”.

Click Here For Daily Current Affairs

Click Here for Daily Current Affairs Quiz

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *