Current Affair (24/10/2018)

(1.) PM Modi inaugurated the 36th Indian Carpets Expo in Varanasi
On October 21, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 36th Indian Carpets Expo at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

i. Since Varanasi, Bhadohi and Mirzapur–cities in Uttar Pradesh– were important centres of the carpet industry, it would augment the efforts of the handicrafts and small and medium industries.
ii. This is also a part of the ‘Made in India’ initiative.
iii. India is today the biggest producer of carpets, and has about 35 per cent of the global market share.
About the expo:
i. The Expo will be held for 5-days from October 21-24th 2018 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
ii.Manufacturers & Exporters from main carpet producing areas like Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Agra, Jaipur, Panipat and Srinagar etc. will be participating in the event showcasing their handmade carpets, rugs and other floor-coverings in the Expo.
iii. It was  started in the year 2000 and is a biannual fair.
Ministry of Textiles:
♦ Union Minister: Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani.
♦ Minister of State: Shri. Ajay Tamta.
♦ Secretary: Shri Raghvendra Singh.

(2.) “Harit Diwali-Swasth Diwali” campaign launched by Ministry of Environment
On October 23, 2018, Environment Ministry launched the 2nd edition of Harit Diwali, Swasth Diwali campaign.

i. It was initiated in 2017-18 and is aimed at pledging to minimize bursting of crackers.
ii. This edition has been merged with “Green Good Deed” movement for conservation and protection of environment.
iii. It has been extended Pan-India and will last till the 1st week of November.
iv. Earlier in this campaign, children were advised to celebrate Diwali in an environment-friendly manner:

• By gifting plant sapling to their relatives and friends along with sweets,
• Undertake cleaning of houses, neighbourhoods, schools,
• Collect old books and unused notebooks gift to needy children,
• Donate old warm clothing, blankets to night-shelters and other homeless people.
• The children were encouraged to light up their houses and their schools with candles and diyas.

Environment Ministry:
♦ Union Minister: Dr.Harsh Vardhan.
♦ Minister of State: Dr. Mahesh Sharma.

(3.) NABARD, Ayurvet Research Foundation (AFR) sign MoU for collaborative initiatives in Haryana
Haryana regional office of NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) has signed a MoU with Delhi-based Ayurvet Research Foundation (ARF) to facilitate several collaborative initiatives for integrated agricultural and rural development of Haryana.
Key Points:
i. Major initiatives covered under this MoU will be in the resource-poor districts of Haryana.
ii. This MoU will enable to find practical solutions to the problems and challenges faced in integrated development of some districts of Haryana.
iii. This MoU will be enable planning and implementation of programmes like natural resource management, village development, exploring and creating alternative employment generation opportunities, upscaling micro-finance activities and supporting farmer producer organisations, through joint efforts of NABARD and ARF.
About (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development):
♦ Chairman – Harsh Kumar Bhanwala
♦ Headquarters – Mumbai

(4.) India, Myanmar sign MoU towards Sittwe Port operationalization
On 22nd October 2018, India and Myanmar signed a MoU for the appointment of a private Port Operator for the Operation and Maintenance of Sittwe Port, Paletwa Inland Water Terminal and associated facilities included in the Kaladan Multi Model Transit Transport Project in implementation of India’s Act East Policy.
Key Points:
i. The MoU was signed by Vijay Gokhale, Foreign Secretary, India, and U Win Khant, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Myanmar.
ii. Once operations commence at this port, it will provide new infrastructure for trade between India and Myanmar.
iii. It will enhance job opportunities and development in the entire region, mainly in the Rakhine and Chin States of Myanmar.
iv. Vijay Gokhale also met Commander in Chief of the Myanmar Defence Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
v. They discussed issues related to border security, bilateral cooperation, Myanmar’s peace process and the situation in Northern Rakhine State.
About Myanmar:
♦ Capital – Naypyidaw
♦ Currency – Kyat
♦ Official language – Burmese
♦ President – Win Myint

(5.) Direct Tax Statistics released by CBDT
On October 22, 2018, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) released key statistics relating to direct tax collections and administration in public domain.
i. These consisted of time-series data as updated up to FY 2017-18 and income-distribution data for AY 2016-17 and AY 2017-18.
ii. The important points from this statistics are:

• Constant growth in direct tax-GDP ratio over last three years,
• The ratio of 5.98% in FY 2017-18 is the best DT-GDP ratio in last 10 years,
• Growth of more than 80% in the number of returns filed in the last 4 financial years from 3.79 crore in FY 2013-14 (base year) to 6.85 crore in FY 2017-18,
• Growth of number of persons filing return of income by about 65% in 4 years from 3.31 crore in FY 2013-14 to 5.44 crore in FY 2017-18.
• Growth in declaration of gross total income by 67% from Rs.26.92 lakh crore to Rs.44.88 lakh crore for AY 2017-18,
• 60%  growth in taxpayers (including corporates, firms, HUFs, etc.) showing income of above Rs. 1 crore,
• 68% growth of the number of individual taxpayers disclosing income above Rs. 1 crore,
• 26% increase in the average tax paid by individual taxpayers,
• 37%  increase in the number of salaried taxpayers,
• 19% increase in average income declared by the salaried taxpayers,
• Growth of 19%in the number of non-salaried individual taxpayers,
• Average non-salary income declared has increased by 27%

CBDT:
Chairperson: Shri. Sushil Chandra.

Finance Ministry:
♦ Union Minister: Shri Arun Jaitley.
♦ Minister of State: Shri Shiv Prasad Shukla, Shri P. Radhakrishnan.
♦ Secretart of Finance:Shri Rajiv Kumar(Finance).

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

(1.) Overview of Defence Minister’s participation in ASEAN Defence Ministers meeting in Singapore

• On October 19, 2018, Defence Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman attended the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) in Singapore.
• On October 19, 2018, Defence Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman attended the 2-day 5th ADMM Plus meet. The theme of this year’s dialogue was‘Strengthening Cooperation, Building Resilience’.
• India and Myanmar are the co-chairs for the Expert Working Group for Military Medicine for this cycle and a standalone Field Training Exercise on Military Medicine will be held in Lucknow in March 2019.
• On the side-lines of the ADMM Plus meeting, she also held constructive bilateral discussions with the Defence Minister of the USA, Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines…

(2.) “Iron Magic 19”: UAE, US kick off two-week joint military exercise
On 21st October 2018, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States (US) started a two-week military exercise named“Iron Magic 19” in the Arabian Gulf.
Key Points:
i. Iron Magic 19 will be held till November 1, 2018. It is part of a series of joint military exercises throughout the year between the UAE armed forces and the armed forces of other countries.
ii. This exercise aims to enhance cooperation, joint actions and exchange of expertise in military areas.
iii.  A major part of UAE military hardware, like F-16 fighter jets, Mirage jets and Apache Longbow attack helicopters, are manufactured by companies from the US, Britain and France.
About United Arab Emirates (UAE):
♦ Capital – Abu Dhabi
♦ Currency – UAE dirham
♦ Official language – Arabic
♦ President – Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
♦ Prime Minister – Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum