Current Affairs 18 September 2019

1. ISRO has signed MoU with DRDO to procure critical technologies for Human Space Mission

• ISRO has signed an agreement with DRDO to develop human-centric systems for the Human Space Mission to demonstrate India’s human space flight capabilities. DRDO will be providing critical technologies to ISRO such as space crew health monitoring and emergency survival kit, space food and parachutes for the crew module’s safe recovery.

About ISRO:

About DRDO:

1. Headquarters location: New Delhi
2. Motto: बलस्य मूलं विज्ञानम्; "Strength's Origin is in Science" (Sanskrit)
3. Founded: 1958

• The Supreme Court has set the deadline for the conclusion of hearings in the Ram janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute as October 18.
• The constitution bench hearing the Ayodhya dispute is headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, who is set to retire on November 17, 2019 so the verdict has to be delivered before then or the case will be heard afresh with a new judge in place of Justice Gogoi.

About Supreme Court Of India :
Founded: 1950
Motto: यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः॥ (IAST: Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ); Where there is righteousness (dharma), there is victory (jayah)
Chief-Justice: Ranjan Gogoi, Dipak Misra

3. Indian documentary  Moti Bagh has been nominated for the Oscars

• Moti Bagh, a documentary based on the life of an Uttarakhand farmer Vidya dutt has been nominated for the Oscars.
• The documentary film has been directed by Nirmal Chander.
• The film shows how the 83-year-old struggles to keep his farm alive and till the uninhabited hilly lands.

About oscars awards:
1. Presented by: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
2. Country: United States
3. First awarded: May 16, 1929; 90 years ago

4. US lawmakers have urged President Trump to reinstate India's preferred trade status

• Forty US lawmakers have urged US President Donald Trump to reinstate India's preferential trade treatment under GSP programme.
• The lawmakers stated that the withdrawal of India's preferential trade status has resulted in retaliatory tariffs from India, which are hurting the US industry.

About USA:
1. Capital: Washington, D.C.
2. Largest city : New York City
3. President: Donal Trump

5. India’s first National Antimicrobial Resistance Hub inaugurated in Kolkata, West Bengal

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) inaugurated India’s first National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Hub in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• It was developed by ICMR in association with the United States (US) Department of Health and Human Services.
• ICMR director-general Balram Bhargava, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) director Shanta Dutta and US ambassador to India Kenneth I Juster were among the dignitaries present at the inaugural ceremony.

About ICMR:
1. Headquarters: New Delhi
2. Founded: 1911

6. Visa in partnership with BillDesk to launch interface for recurring payments , “Standing Instructions (SI) Hub”

• Visa Inc, the world’s leader in digital payments technology and BillDesk, an Indian online payment gateway company have partnered for the launch of SI(standing instructions )-Hub which is a smooth and secure way to make recurring payments using cards with a one-time enrollment.
• This comes after the introduction of guidelines for e-mandate on cards for recurring transactions by RBI(Reserve Bank of India).

About Visa Inc:
1. Founded : 1958
2. Headquarters: California, United States
3. CEO :Alfred F. Kelly
About BillDesk:
1. Founded: 2000
2. Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
3. Founder(s) :M.N. Srinivasu Ajay Kaushal Karthik Ganapathy

7. Airtel Payments Bank launched ‘Bharosa’ savings account
Airtel Payments Bank, a public limited company with its headquarters in New Delhi has launched “Bharosa” savings account services with the aim of deepening the financial inclusion in India.

About Airtel Payment Bank:
1. Headquarters : New Delhi
2. MD, CEO : Anubrata Biswas

8. EPFO to credit 8.65% interest in over 6 crore accounts for 2018-19

• Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Santosh Kumar Gangwar notified that over 6 crore members of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will get 8.65% interest on deposits, which will be credited to the accounts, for 2018-19 after the approval from the Ministry of Finance. The decision was made on February 21, 2019.

About EPFO:
1. Founded: 4 March 1952
2. Headquarters: New Delhi
3. Central Provident Fund Commissioner: Sunil Barthwal
4. Parent Organization: Ministry of Labour & Employment

9. Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg wins 2019 Amnesty’s ‘Ambassadors of Conscience’ award in Washington D.C

• Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg(16 years) and the ‘Fridays for Future youth movement’ won the Amnesty International’s ‘Ambassadors of Conscience’ award for the year 2019. The award ceremony which was held at the George Washington University, Washington D.C, America, is the highest human rights award constituted by the Amnesty International.

About Amnesty International:
1. It is a Britiish Non-Government Organisation(NGO) focused on human rights.
2. Headquarters- London, United Kingdom.
3. Founded- July 1961
4. Founder- Peter Benenson.
About Sweden:
1. Capital- Stockholm.
2. Currency- Swedish krona.

10. Hyderabad-Karnataka Region has been renamed as the ‘Kalyana Karnataka’ recently

• Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa recently announced that Hyderabad-Karnataka Region has been renamed as Kalyana Karnataka Region that comprises six districts of Karnataka: Koppal, Ballari, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Raichur.

About Hyderabad