Current Affairs September 2018 - National
1 - Prime Minister Mr. Modi Launched the India Post Payments Bank
Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has launched the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB). IPPB is the largest payments bank in the country in terms of its network size. IPPB operates on a small scale; though it carries out most of the banking operations, but it cannot give loan or issue credit cards directly.
However, this new bank will leverage the postal department's vast network throughout the country and will help people in previously unbanked rural locations to use banking services easily.
2 - MoU Signed for Indore- Manmad New Railway Line Project
A Major Step has been taken towards the development of backward areas of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for Indore-Manmad new railway line project.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Nitin Gadkari - Minister of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Piyush Goyal - Minister for Railways, Shri Subhash Bhamre - Minister of State for Defence, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan - Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh - and Shri Devendra Phadnavis - Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
For this rail line project, a Joint Venture Company will be formed among the Ministry of Shipping or its nominated PSUs/Entity including JNPT (which will be the main promoter) with an equity share of 55%, Government of Maharashtra or its nominated PSUs/Entity, Government of Madhya Pradesh or its nominated PSUs/Entity, and others with an equity share of 15% each.
3 - Union HRD Minister Releases the Curriculum on Gandhijis Nai Talim
Shri Prakash Javadekar, the Union HRD Minister, released a curriculum on ‘Experiential Learning’ i.e. ‘Gandhijis Nai Talim’ in New Delhi. This is released on ‘Teachers Day’ i.e. 5th of September. Along with the Work and Education curriculum for Schools, the book titled ‘Experiential Learning – Gandhiji’s Nai Talim contains fundamental principles of Gandhiji’s nai Talim.
Further, Shri javadekar said that Gandhiji’s Nai Talim or basic education was a holistic approach of developing body, mind and soul by making a productive art, craft or community engagement activity as the centre of learning.
This curriculum is simultaneously released in 13 languages namely English, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Telgu, Bengali, Assamese, Odiya, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Malayalam, and Kannada.
4 - Government launches national mission on GeM to promote MSMEs
The government of India launched the national Mission on Government eMarketplace (GeM) to promote all sections of entrepreneurs, including MSMEs and other start-ups. GeM is an online platform for the procurement of goods and services by the commerce ministry.
Launching the national mission of GeM, Suresh Prabhu, the Commerce and Industry Minister said that the aim of this mission is to promote inclusiveness by empowering various categories of sellers and service providers such as start-ups, MSEMEs, women entrepreneurs, domestic manufactures, and self-help groups.
5 - Supreme Court Decriminalises Section 377
The Five Judges constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and four judges namely Justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra decriminalised part of the rule under Section 377 of the IPC, which was criminalising consensual unnatural sex.
In its verdict, Supreme Court said that Section 377 is irrational, arbitrary, and incomprehensible as it fetters the right to equality for the LGBT community. Further, it says that our Constitution nurtures dissent as a safety valve of society and it does not impose conformity and hence, we cannot change history but pave the way for better future.
Punishment under Section 377 of Indian Penal Code made the LGBT a closeted community, destroyed the identity of members and reached their dignity. However, any sort of sexual activity with animals shall remain punishable offence under Section 377 of Indian Penal Code.
6 - India's First Railway Varsity Set to Start Operations in Vadodara
The National Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI), first of its kind university in the country on the transport sector started its operation in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The institute is funded by The Ministry of Railways and is in collboration with University of California, Berkeley and Cornell University (as its international partners). Primarily, this university has designed two undergraduate courses - BSc Transportation Technology and BBA Transportation Management. Each course has 50 seats. However, number of courses will be increased in coming years.
7 - SC Rules: Sabarimala Temple Open for Women of All Ages
The five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in its 4:1 verdict, allowed the entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple located at Sabarimala in Kerala. The Sabrimala Temple is devoted to Lord Ayyappa.
Supreme Court said that the banning the entry of women into the temple is gender discrimination and such practice violates the rights of Hindu women, as religion is a way of life basically to link life with divinity. In the five judges bench including the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justice RF Nariman, Justice DY Chandrachud, and Justice AM Khanwilkar spoke unanimously and gave judgment in the favour of women, but Justice Indu Malhotra dissented the verdict.
8 - Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan Releases India Cooling Action Plan
Mr. Harsh Vardhan, the Union Environment Minister, has released a draft titled as ‘India Cooling Action Plan’ (ICAP). It lists out actions, which can help to reduce the cooling demand, thus helping in reducing emissions.
India is the first country in the world to develop such a document – ICAP. It is designed to put thrust towards looking for synergies in actions for securing both environmental and socio-economic benefits.
India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) is designed to assess the cooling requirements and the associated refrigerant demand and energy use across the sectors in next 20 years. The plan also proposed to include developing a research and development innovation ecosystem as indigenous alternative technologies.
Besides, Mr. Vardhan also release a booklet on ‘Montreal Protocol – India’s Success Story’. A refurbished website on the Ozone Cell of the ministry and a Management Information System (MIS) for Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) were also launched.
