Current Affairs 1st September 2018

NATIONAL

To promote a culture of innovation and research in higher education, the human resource development (HRD) ministry launched the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARRIA), Union minister Prakash Javadekar announced.
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) made public 13 standardised state-of-the-art ship designs suitable for large barge haulage on river Ganga (National Waterway-1)
NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr. Rajiv Kumar, and Chief Executive Officer Amitabh Kant, unveiled a series of events to take place in the ‘Mobility Week’ from 31 August to 6 September 2018, in the run-up to MOVE: The Global Mobility Summit 2018 on 7 and 8 September 2018 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $346 million loan to finance improvement of over 400 kilometres of state highways that will enhance connectivity and access to economic centers across 12 districts in Karnataka.
To replace Industrial gases like Dissolved Acetylene, LPG, BMCG and Furnace Oil / High Speed Diesel (HSD) oil with environment friendly Natural Gas, Indian Railways has signed a MoU with GAIL (India) Limited, to provide infrastructure facilities for supply of Natural Gas to Indian Railways Workshops, Production Units and Depots at Rail Bhavan.
In order to meet the challenge of providing sustainable livelihoods for a rapidly growing population and to motivate and attract youth in agriculture, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), inaugurated a two-day conference at NASC, New Delhi on Motivating and Attracting Youth in Agriculture (MAYA).

INTERNATIONAL

Union Minister of Commerce& Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, is leading the Indian delegation for the 6th RCEP Trade Ministers’ Meeting which has begun in Singapore.
INS Sahyadri entered the Port of Darwin, Australia to participate in Exercise KAKADU 2018.

APPOINTMENTS

Balesh Sharma takes over as Vodafone Idea’s first CEO. He was the Chief Operating Officer of Vodafone India.

ECONOMY

Idea Cellular Ltd has announced that it has completed its merger with Vodafone India Ltd (VIL) and Vodafone Mobile Services Ltd (VMSL) after getting approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

SPORTS

India’s Jinson Johnson claimed the gold medal in the men’s 1500m event in the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Manjit Singh, 800m champion, however, finished fourth.
Women’s 4x400m Relay Team Wins Gold