Current Affairs Update – 13 July 2018

Current Affairs Update 13 July 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. 13 July 2018.

Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation Launches the Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018

  • The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation launches the Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018 (SSG 2018).
  • An independent survey agency will conduct the survey in all districts from 1st to 31st August 2018, and the results will be announced in the form of a ranking of all districts and states on the basis of quantitative and qualitative sanitation (Swachhata) parameters.
  • As part of Swachh Survekshan Grameen 6,980 villages in 698 districts across India will be covered.

ASI lifts ban on photography at protected monuments

  • Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has lifted the ban on photography within the premises of all centrally protected monuments/sites, except at three sites.
  • The three monuments/sites in which the photography would not be permitted are Ajanta Caves, Leh Palace and the mausoleum of Taj Mahal at Agra.
  • The ASI administers and manages 3,686 ancient monuments and archaeological sites.

Gujarat Approves Rs 39 Crore Seema Darshan Project

  • The Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has given in-principle approval for Phase II of ‘Seema Darshan’ or border tourism project worth Rs 39-crore at Nadabet near Suigam in Banaskantha district for developing more infrastructure facilities to promote border tourism.
  • The additional infrastructure facilities from T-Junction to Zero Point of the border region includes plans to build facilities like an exhibition centre and parking arrangement with an aim to attract around 10,000 vistors every day.
  • The phase I of the project worth Rs 22 crore was launched on December 24, 2016.

Mukesh Ambani overtakes Alibaba’s Jack Ma to become Asia’s richest person

  • Mukesh Ambani overtook Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma to become Asia’s richest person according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index. 
  • The chairman of India’s refining-to-telecoms conglomerate, Ambani was estimated to be worth $44.3 billion on Friday. Ma’s wealth stood at $44 billion at close of trade on Thursday in the U.S

Amandeep Singh Gill to head the panel on digital cooperation of UN

  • UN chief Antonio Guterres has established a first-of-its-kind panel on digital cooperation. The aim of forming this panel is to address the concerns of cybersecurity threats and rise in hate speech.
  • Indian diplomat Amandeep Singh Gill has been named as the executive director of the panel’s secretariat along with former diplomat Jovan Kurbalija.
  • The high-level panel on digital cooperation will be co-chaired by US philanthropist Melinda Gates and China-based Alibaba founder Jack Ma. It will have 20 members in total.

THE Young University Rankings 2018: Golden Age University

  • Times Higher Education released the Golden Age University Rankings 2018. The Golden Age ranking casts spotlight on the best universities established for more than 50 years, but less than 80 years. Thus the universities in the Times Higher Education “Golden Age” ranking were established between 1945 and 1967.
  • India has 5 Universities in top 100. IIT Bombay is ranked 57th while IIT Kharagpur is ranked 76th followed by IIT Delhi (79), IIT Kanpur (88) and IIT Madras (98). University of California, San Diego of US has topped this ranking.
  • IIT Kharagpur has also figured in the top 50 list of The Emerging Economies University Rankings 2018. IIT Kharagpur was ranked 45th This ranking includes institutions from countries classified as “advanced emerging”, “secondary emerging” or “frontier” economies. Peking University of China has topped this ranking.

HDFC Securities Launches MF Transactions through Facebook Messenger

  • HDFC securities, a subsidiary of HDFC Bank has launched Mutual Funds transactional capabilities on Facebook Messenger through their virtual assistant, Arya.
  • The HDFC securities has rolled out a theme called “The Pace of Innovation” which is structured to innovate and provide intuitive and relevant digital solutions to customers.
  • The Facebook messenger based service would, apart from MF facility, also facilitates a quick overview of total portfolio holding, getting the latest stock quotes and opening an account.
  • A customer simply needs to search hdfcsec.Arya on Facebook Messenger to avail the service.

From September 15, demand draft to bear name of purchaser

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made it mandatory to mention the name of the person on the front of the demand draft while purchasing it at a bank branch. At present, the DD form only asks for the name of the entity or person in whose favour it is to be prepared.
  • According to the RBI’s notification, “in order to address the concerns arising out of the anonymity provided by payments through demand drafts and its possible misuse for money laundering, RBI has decided that the name of the purchaser be incorporated on the face of the demand draft, pay order, banker’s cheques, etc., by the issuing bank. These instructions shall take effect for such instruments issued on or after September 15, 2018.”

Telecom Commission approves net neutrality, new telecom policy

  • The Telecom Commission has approved net neutrality rules which bar service providers from discriminating against Internet content and services by blocking, throttling or granting them higher speed access. Telecom Commission is the highest decision-making body in the Department of Telecom.
  • TC also approved the new telecom policy — National Digital Communications Policy 2018 — for seeking approval of the Union Cabinet.

Brazilian football star Marta named goodwill ambassador by UN Women

  • Brazilian woman football star Marta Vieira da Silva was named by UN Women as a goodwill ambassador to work for gender equality in sports and other areas.
  • It must be naoted that Indian actor Farhan Akhtar and tennis player Sania Mirza are regional ambassadors for UN Women in South Asia.
  • Headquarters of UN Women- New York, United States

India Finish 3rd at 2018 Asia Archery Cup

  • India bagged 4 medals comprising 3 silver medals and a bronze to finish joint third with Iran in the Asia Cup World Archery Ranking Tournament Stage 3
  • The third stage of the 2018 Asia Cup took place on 9 to 10 July in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei.
  • Korea topped the tournament with total 14 medals (8-3-3) followed by hosts Taipei winning 5 medals (2-1-2).
  • The tournament was due to finish on Thursday 12 July but had to be cut short to avoid incoming typhoon Maria.

Hima Das becomes first Indian woman to win gold in World U-20 Athletics Championships

  • Hima Das became the first Indian woman to win a gold at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships. She won the women’s 400m final race held in Tampere.
  • She now joins the illustrious company of star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who won a gold in Poland in the last edition in 2016.

Veteran journalist Kalpesh Yagnik passed away

  • Veteran journalist and Dainik Bhaskar Group Editor Kalpesh Yagnik passed away in Madhya Pradesh following a heart attack. He was 55.

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