Current Affairs 4th December 2018

Current Affairs 4th December 2018 - Important Points

• Name of India’s fastest train which is also engine less - Train 18
• Government inks $85 Million Loan Agreement with ADB for - Odisha Skill Development Project
• National Commission for Females to support livelihood programmes for - Females in northeast
• International Day of Persons with Disabilities observed globally on – 3^rd December 2018
• Abhinav Bindra becomes first Indian to get highest shooting honour Blue Cross
• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to be chief guest at Republic Day celebrations 2019
• India, US Air Forces exercise Ex Cope India-2018 begins in West Bengal
• India to host G20 Summit in 2022

Current Affairs 4th December 2018 - Details

Name of India’s fastest train which is also engine less - Train 18

India’s 1st indigenously developed locomotive-less (engine less) train called Train 18, broken the 180 km/h velocity limit during test route in Kota-Sawai Madhopur section. When this train would be operational, it will become the nation’s fastest train. It is advertised as next generation Shatabdi Express and will join metros with other important cities.

Background

Train 18 cane out in October 2018 at Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory. Earlier in November 2018, Research Designs and Standards Organisation had declared its run trial successful. During this track trail in Moradabad division of Northern Railway, this train run at about 115 km/h speed. The tests proved that train has distinct track geometry parameters, curved alignments of specific radius and station yard areas. Major tests of this train are now finished with just few more remaining. As Train 18 is operational, it will commence its commercial run from January 2019.

Train 18

It is capable of attaining 200 km/h provided the rest of Indian Railways’ system. It will be replacing present 30 years old Shatabdi Express, as next generation Shatabdi Express. It will be 1st long-distance train without separate engine.

Train 18 took investment of about Rupees 100 crores to build this prototype and succeeding bulk production will decrease the cost. Thus, it will be inexpensive compared to imported engine-less trains.

It has aerodynamically planned driver cabins at both ends for faster turn-around at destinations. It backs advanced regenerative braking system- ARBS which saves power.

Train 18 is completely air-conditioned and proposes better passenger comfort and safety, as all apparatus are fixed under carriage, so that extra space is available on board. It also has soft lighting, automatic doors, footsteps and GPS-based Passenger Information System.

Government inks $85 Million Loan Agreement with ADB for - Odisha Skill Development Project

Union Government’s Ministry of Finance and Asian Development Bank has inked $85 million loan contract for Odisha Skill Development Project. It intends to improve the skill development ecosystem in Odisha and found World Skill Centre, an advanced skill training centre in Bhubaneswar.

Important Highlights

The skill development project will benefit more than 150,000 people learn skills in priority sectors, including production, construction and services for formal employment.

It would counterpart the efforts to mark the employment requirements of the emerging sectors in India and globally.

It would engage Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education Services to sustenance Odisha Skill Development Authority in forming and operationalising the World Skill Centre.

The World Skill Centre would offer internationally marked advanced training programmes for the working age population of Odisha.

It will issue training to 5,000 teachers, 1000 assessors and provide 8 training courses for 13,000 full-time students.

It will advance the overall eco-system of skill development in Odisha by delivering integrated services through an entrepreneurship incubation centre, a career counselling and placement centre, a curriculum design and development centre and education technology deployment centre.

National Commission for Females to support livelihood programmes for - Females in northeast

The National Commission for Women has finalised to support North-East livelihood programs for females, particularly for those under the younger age group, via skill development and specialised training.

The same was finalised during a meeting between the Minister of State for DoNER Ministry, Dr. Jitendra Singh and the freshly designated member of the 3-member National Commission for Women, Soso Shaiza in New Delhi on December 3rd, 2018.

The main focus behind the move is to empower the young females as individuals and enable them to earn a living for themselves.

Significance

Though the females in the North-East are quite unbound as far as their contribution in outdoor work is concerned, there is still possibility for raising the levels of education among them, especially among females living in remote and rural areas.

The income programs will impart skill training to these females in order to make them independent.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities observed globally on – 3^rd December 2018

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was celebrated worldwide on December 3rd, 2018 with the theme “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”.

The international day goals to promote the rights of individuals with disabilities in all spheres of society and development. It also goals to upsurge awareness of the situation of individuals with disabilities in every aspect of life, be it political, social, economic or cultural.

Important Points

The International Day of People with Disability is celebrated on December 3rd every year. 

The yearly celebration of the day was announced in 1992, by a resolution of the UN General Assembly. 

The day goals to upsurge public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and rejoice their achievements and contributions.

Each year the UN declares a theme to celebrate the International Day of People with Disability.

The annual theme delivers an overarching attention on how society can strive for inclusivity over the removal of physical, technological and attitudinal barriers for individuals with disability.

Abhinav Bindra becomes first Indian to get highest shooting honour Blue Cross

World-class Indian shooter and still India’s only solo Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra was bestowed coveted International Shooting Sport Federation “Blue Cross”. With this, Bindra became the 1st Indian to be presented the Blue Cross award. The prize is conferred for outstanding contribution to sport of shooting and honours distinguished associates of the international shooting fraternity. Blue Cross is the highest recognition given by parent body of International shooting Sports Federation.

Abhinav Bindra

Abhinav Bindra secured Olympic gold medal in 2008, World Championship gold in 2006, Seven Commonwealth Games medals and three Asian Games medals in shooting. He became 1st Indian to secure individual Olympic gold medal by winning the topmost prize in 10 meters Air Rifle event at 2008 Games organised in Beijing, China.

He was bestowed with Arjuna award in 2000, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2009. He narrowly had missed out on 2nd Olympic medal at 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, after which he declared to retire from sport at the age of 33 to pave path for coming generation of Indian shooters.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to be chief guest at Republic Day celebrations 2019

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will be chief guest at India’s 70th Republic Day celebrations on 26th January 2019. Cyril Ramaphosa was given invitation to be chief guest by Indian PM Narendra Modi during the meeting of leaders on side-lines of G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The statement comes month after United States President Donald Trump refudsed India’s invitation to be chief guest. The reason given was “scheduling constraints” of President.

Significance

It honours date on which Constitution of India came into effect on 26th January 1950 replacing Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India. Constitution was accepted by Indian Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949 and came into existence on 26th January 1950, completing the nation’s transition towards becoming an Independent nation.

26th January was selected as Republic day because it was on this day in 1930 when Purna Swaraj was announced by Indian National Congress at Lahore session 1929 as conflicted to Dominion status proposed by British Regime.

India, US Air Forces exercise Ex Cope India-2018 begins in West Bengal

Air Forces of India and United States started their 12 days combined exercise ‘Ex Cope India-2018’ in West Bengal. It is 4th edition in series of bilateral joint exercise organised by Air Forces of both countries conducted in India. This year for 1st time exercise will be organised at 2 Air Force bases in West Bengal’s Kalaikunda and Panagarh.

Important Points

This edition of exercise is focused at delivering operational exposure to air force personnel of both nations and undertake mutual exchange of best practices for upgrading operational capability. It will be aimed on developing United States-Indian mutual co-operation and developing on existing capabilities, aircrew tactics and force employment. It will present United States and India’s efforts and commitment to free and open Indo-Pacific region. United States Air Force is taking part with 12 F15 C/D, 3 C-130. Indian Air Force is participating with Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, Mirage 2000, C-130J and AWACS airplanes.

Background

Cope India is series of International Air Force exercises among Indian Air Force and US Air Force conducted on and over Indian land. The 1st such exercise was directed at Indian Air Force station in Gwalior from February 2004. The exercise was repeated in 2005, 2006, 2009 and was last organised in 2010.

India to host G20 Summit in 2022

India will arrange G20 Summit In 2022, when it will boserve its 75th year of Independence. It was declared by PM Narendra Modi during current G20 meet of international grouping in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This comes after Italy acknowledged India’s official request to organise this summit in 2021 as earlier it was going to arrange it in 2022. During the Buenos Aires G20 meet, India presented a 9-point schedule to the G20 nations calling for strong and active co-operation among them to comprehensively deal with fugitive economic offenders.

G20

G20 is premier forum for international economic co-operation and decision-making for governments and central bank governors from 20 mega economies to emphasis on economic issues and other crucial development challenges.

It consists of total 19 nations in addition with EU, representing 85 percent of global GDP, 80 percent of international trade, 65 percent of world’s population. Its members consist Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, India, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and European Union.

In 2008, the 1st G20 Leaders’ Summit was arranged in Washington DC, United States. Earlier to this, it was merely forum for meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. The G20 has played crucial role in responding to the global financial crisis.