Current Affairs Update 19 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. 19 August 2018.
Sushma Swaraj inaugurate ‘Panini Language Laboratory’ in Mauritius
- External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurated ‘Panini Language Laboratory’ at Mahatma Gandhi Institute in Mauritius.
- The Lab has been gifted by the Government of India and it will help MGI in teaching of all Indian languages in Mauritius.
Punjab launches mobile app ‘i-Hariyali’ to supply free saplings
- Punjab, the first state in India to launch a mobile app ‘i-Hariyali’ to supply free saplings. The app has provided 13 lakh saplings to people.
- This is in addition to the Punjab Governments Ghar-Ghar Hariyali’ campaign.
Indian and Thai armed forces ‘Exercise Maitree 2018’ concludes in Thailand
- The Indian and Thai armed forces on August 19, 2018 concluded a two-week long platoon level military exercise called ‘Exercise Maitree 2018’ in Thailand
- The exercise was an annual event designed to strengthen the partnership between armies of the two countries. The exercise began in Thailand.
UIDAI announces Face Authentication roll out for Telcoms from Sept 15
- UIDAI announced the phased roll-out of face recognition feature as an additional mode of authentication, starting with telecom service providers from September 15.
- ‘Live face photo’ capture and its verification with the photo obtained in eKYC will be essential in those cases where Aadhaar is used for issuance of mobile SIMs.
- TSPs have been directed that with effect from September 15, 2018 at least 10 percent of their total monthly authentication transactions shall be performed using face authentication in this manner. Any shortfall in transactions using face authentication would be charged at Rs 0.20 per transaction.
- For authentication agencies other than telecom service providers specific instructions will be issued on implementation of face authentication on a later date.
PFRDA forms Standing Committee on ‘Information Systems and Technology and Cyber Security’
- PFRDA has set up a Standing Committee on ‘Information Systems and Technology and Cyber Security’. The Chairperson of PFRDA Hemant G. Contractor will be the ex-officio Chairperson of the commitee.
- The committee will suggest steps to deal with cyber security challenges with a view to protect the interest of subscribers.
Health Insurance To Now Cover Mental Illness: IRDAI
- Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has directed all the insurance companies to make a provision for covering mental illness also in insurance policies.
- The notice issued by IRDAI on August 16 mandates the insurer to comply with the provisions of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 with immediate effect.
- As per Sec 21(4) of the said Act (which came into effect on May 29, 2018), every insurer shall make provision for medical insurance for treatment of mental illness on the same basis as is available for treatment of physical illness.
- Non-compliance by insurance companies can result in penal action against directors and CEOs of insurance companies, according to Section 109 of the Act. Punishments include a prison sentence of anything between six months to two years.
DoT blacklists bank guarantees issued by Standard Chartered Bank
- Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has blacklisted bank guarantees issued by Standard Chartered after the bank failed to invoke one that was issued for Aircel Group.
- DoT (Department of Telecom) has directed entities that they should not accept bank guarantee (BG) from Standard Chartered Bank.
- Standard Chartered is second bank whose BG have been barred by DoT. The department has earlier barred BGs issued by Axis Bank for Aircel.
World Humanitarian Day : 19 August
- World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is held every year on 19 August to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world.
- 2018 WHD campaign: #NotATarget
World Photography Day: 19 August
- The World Photography Day is celebrated annually on August 19 to commemorate the beautiful captures from across the world.
- The aim of World Photography day is to share the ideas, encourage all to do their little towards this field, seek attention of people to spread the work of those who introduced their ideas of photography to the world.