Todays Current Affairs (14.08.2019)

Sri Lanka flags off Pulathisi Express, a 'Make In India' train

The strong ties between India and its southern neighbor Sri Lanka received a boost when a newly 'Make In India' train rake was flagged of from Colombo Fort Railway station.

• The rake of Pulathisi Express was manufactured in the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.
• Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Transport Minister Arjuna Ranathunga and Indian envoy to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu flagged off a new train to Polonnaruwa from Colombo Fort Railway station.

India hosts the first conference on military medicine for SCO member nations

India is hosting the first conference on military medicine for member nations of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation in New Delhi.

• The two-day conference is being held with an aim to share best practices in the field of military medicine.
• Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the conference.
• This is the first military co-operation event to be organised in the country under the SCO after it joined the organisation in 2017.

PM Modi launches Kisan Man Dhan Yojana for small, marginal farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana’ at Ranchi in Jharkhand.

• The Scheme will secure the lives of Small and Marginal Farmers by providing a pension of  3,000 rupees per month to those who attain 60 years of age.
• According to an estimate, five crore farmers across the country including 10 lakh in Jharkhand will be benefited from this scheme.
• The Prime Minister also launched the National Pension Scheme for the Traders and The Self-Employed.
• The scheme aims at providing a minimum assured pension of 3,000 rupees to small traders and self-employed after attaining the age of 60 Years.

Free rail travel insurance of Rs 25 lakh each for passengers on board Delhi-Lucknow Tejas

Passengers of IRCTC's Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express to get free Rs 25 lakh rail travel insurance.

• The passengers of this train will also be given the facility of using retiring rooms at Lucknow junction station and executive lounge at New Delhi Railway station and lounge for meetings on-demand.
• No concessions, privileges or duty passes will be allowed on these trains.
• Just like in flights, meals will be served by onboard service staff by trolleys.
• The inaugural run of Tejas Express was on 24 May 2017 from Mumbai to Goa.

White Water Rafting Expedition 'Rudrashila' Flagged off at Jaisalmer

The white water Rafting Expedition christened 'RUDRASHILA' being undertaken by Kalidhar Battalion was at Jaisalmer Military station.

• The expedition christened 'Rudrashila' has been organised to commemorate the 75th Raising day of the Kalidhar Battalion.
• 'Rudrashila' takes its name from the famed Rudraprayag tributary of the Ganges River in the Mountains of Uttarakhand.
• 'Kalidhar Battalion' was raised on 01 November 1943 and has participated in all major operations of the Indian Army including two overseas assignments in Korea in 1953 and UN peacekeeping mission in Congo in 2005-06.

Indo-Thailand Joint Military Exercise Maitree – 2019

Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-2019 between India and Thailand will be conducted at Foreign Training Node, Umroi (Meghalaya) from 16-29 Sep 2019.

• Indian and Royal Thailand Army (RTA) comprising 50 soldiers each will participate in the exercise with an aim to share experience gained during various counter-terrorism operations in their respective countries.
• Exercise MAITREE is an annual training event which is being conducted alternatively in Thailand and India since 2006. 
• The joint military exercise will enhance the level of defence co-operation between Indian Army (IA) and Royal Thailand Army (RTA) which in turn will further foster defence cooperation and bilateral relations between the two nations.

Haryana CM launches two insurance schemes for traders

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched two insurance schemes for traders.

• An insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh would be provided under the 'Mukhyamantri VyapariSamuhikNiji DurghatnaBeemaYojana', while an insurance cover ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh would be provided under the 'Mukhyamantri VyapariKshatipurti Beema Yojana'.
• Traders registered under the Haryana Goods and Service Tax (HGST) Act, 2017 would be covered under these schemes.
• He said the premium of Rs 38 crore for both the insurance schemes would be paid by the state government.

Karnataka Bank MD inducted in IBA managing committee

Karnataka Bank managing director and chief executive officer M S Mahabaleshwara have been inducted to the Managing Committee of Indian Banks Association (IBA).

• He has been elected unopposed from the private sector member banks.
• Indian Banks Association (IBA) is a parent association of the bankers wherein public sector, private sector, foreign banks operating in India are the members.
• The membership of the association stood at 253 comprising 144 ordinary members and 109 associate members last month.

UAE President bestows First Class Order of Zayed II award to Navdeep Singh Suri

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has bestowed the First Class Order of Zayed II award to the Ambassador, Navdeep Singh Suri.

• The award is given in recognition of his contribution to the development and strengthening of friendly relations and co-operation between the two countries.
• It is a rare honour given to any diplomat.
• UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented the Order to the Ambassador in Abu Dhabi.

Amit Shah inaugurates the renamed Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium

The iconic Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in the national capital is renamed after former Union Minister late Arun Jaitley.

• In a function at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Home Minister Amit Shah digitally inaugurated the renamed Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in presence of late finance minister's family.
• DDCA also unveiled a new pavilion stand at the Feroz Shah Kotla after skipper Virat Kohli, who recently became the most successful India captain in Test cricket.
• Arun Jaitley, who was at the helm of the DDCA from 1999 to 2013, was credited for bringing better facilities, including a world-class stadium, to Delhi cricket.