Daily Current Affairs, 20th September 2018

1) Vice President 3-Nation Visit: India, Romania Agree To Intensify Cooperation At UN

•India and Romania have agreed to intensify cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral fora in order to address global challenges. 

•It was issued in a statement after one to one talks between Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and President of Romania, Mr. Klaus Werner Lohannis in Bucharest. Romania was appreciated for its support to India’s bid for permanent membership of United Nations Security Council. 

2) ISRO Technology Incubation Centre Inaugurated At NIT Agartala

•Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb inaugurated ISRO’s first Space Technology Incubation Centre(STIC) at the National Institute of Technology Agartala via remote from Bengaluru. The Centre was launched at the first edition of ‘Spacetronics’ organised by the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA).

3) ESIC Approves Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna For Cash Relief To Unemployed Insured Persons

•The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has approved a new scheme- Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna for Insured Persons covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Act. This scheme is a relief payable in cash directly to their Bank Account in case of unemployment and while they search for new engagement. 

•The decision was taken at the ESIC board meeting chaired by the Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar in New Delhi. The eligibility for availing Super Specialty treatment for dependents of Insured Person has now been relaxed to insurable employment of one year with 156 days of contributions. The ESIC also approved the proposal for increasing the funeral expenses from existing 10 thousand rupees to 15 thousand rupees being paid on the death of Insured Person. 

4) Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani Visits India: Important Highlights

•Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani was recently in India for visit. During a day-long visit, he reviewed and positively assessed the progress of the multi-faceted bilateral strategic partnership. 

•Important Highlights of the Bilateral Meeting Held in New Delhi

1.Both leaders (Narendra Modi and Ashraf Ghani) expressed determination to strengthen connectivity, including through Chabahar port and Air-Freight Corridor. 
2.Expressed satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade that has crossed the one billion dollar mark. 
3.Mr Modi reiterated India’s support to an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process. 
4.Mr Modi also raised concern over abducted Indian nationals in Afghanistan with Mr Ghani during their meeting. 
5.The Afghan President has assured that efforts are being made to ensure the safe release of the Indian nationals. 

5) India And Morocco Sign Air Services Agreement

•India and Morocco signed the revised Air Services Agreement between the two countries enabling greater connectivity through a modernized agreement. The delegation of the two countries have met three times in the past years wherein they have worked towards liberalization of markets between the two countries and updating of the existing Air Services Agreement.

•The two sides cleared the legal and technical difficulties and agreed to a modern new text for the Air Services Agreement. Thereafter, both sides took approval for the agreed text of the Air Services Agreement from the respective governments.

6) Top Scientist KN Vyas Appointed Atomic Energy Commission Chief

•Renowned scientist Kamlesh Nilkanth Vyas has been appointed the secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Mr Vyas, who is at present Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), has been appointed in place of Shekhar Basu. 

•Mr Basu was appointed to the post in October 2015 and his tenure was to end in September 2016. Mr Vyas is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from MS University, Vadodara. 

7) Interest Rates On PPF, NSC, Other Small Savings Schemes Raised

•The government has raised interest rates on Small Savings Schemes (SSS), including National Savings Certificate (NSC) and Public Provident Fund (PPF) by up to 0.4% for the October-December quarter, in line with rising deposit rates in the banks. Interest rates for small savings schemes are notified on a quarterly basis.

8) Government Appoints New MD & CEOs At 10 PSBs

•The government of India cleared the appointment of Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors (CEOs and MDs) at 10 Public Sector Banks (PSBs). They are part of the 15 names recommended by the Bank Boards Bureau for elevation. Of those named, five are currently the deputy managing directors of State Bank of India (SBI) while the other five are executive directors (EDs) at different government-owned banks.

•Here is the list of people appointed as MD and CEO at various PSBs:

1.Padmaja Chundru - Indian Bank. 

2.Mrutyunjay Mahapatra - Syndicate Bank. 

3.Pallav Mohapatra - Central Bank of India. 

4.Packirisamy - Andhra Bank. 

5.Karnam Sekar - Dena Bank. 

*All of the above people are currently deputy MDs at SBI.

6.SS Mallikarajuna Rao - Allahabad Bank - He is currently the ED of Syndicate Bank. 

7.AS Rajeev - Bank of Maharashtra - He is currently the ED of Indian Bank. 

8.Atul Kumar Goel - UCO Bank - He is currently the ED at Union Bank of India.

9.S Harisankar - Punjab & Sind Bank. He is currently the Executive Director of Allahabad Bank.

10.Ashok Kumar Pradhan - United Bank of India - He is currently the ED of United Bank of India.