Current Affairs - Sep 10, 2018

India's Import Basket

With the fall in rupee value, the rise in Current Account Deficit is generally attributed to crude oil imports. Though crude oil import is the largest component of import basket but not be the only one disturbing the equilibrium.
While crude imports jumped $21.7 billion, the imports of coal and coke, metal and mineral, non-ferrous metal and iron and steel rose $15.9 billion, 73% of the jump in petroleum and crude imports.
Second largest import item, Electronic, accounted for 11.4% of the total, jumped 23.4% to $52.9 billion in FY18, from $42.8 billion last year.
India’s imports rose 21% in FY18 over those in the previous year, its exports grew by only 9.98%, thereby widening the trade deficit.
Gold, precious metals, gems, stones, machinery, transport equipment are having a similar growth trajectory.

Noted Odia poet Satrughna Pandav will receive the prestigious Sarala Puraskar for his poetry work ‘Misra Dhrupad.’
The 39th edition of Sarala Puraskar – instituted by eminent Odia industrialist Late Dr. Bansidhar Panda and Late Ila Panda in the year 1979 and continuously awarded by Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT) – will be presented to Pandav on October 26.
Pandav will receive a cash award of Rs 5 lakh along with a citation.

The 6th edition of the Bengaluru Space Expo inaugurated by ISRO Chairman Dr.K Sivan in Bengaluru.
The biennial space expo, which was started in 2008, is held jointly by the ISRO, Antrix and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Representatives and heads of space agencies from France, Russia, and Taiwan are also taking part in the event.

Indian Navy is very soon going to get Khannderi Submarine (by 2018 end). It will be second of six Kalvari-class submarines to be inducted into Indian Navy.
The Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) building this submarine as a part of the submarine building contract.
Its name 'Khanderi' is taken from the Island fort of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
According to Deal signed between Navy and MDL in 2005, the company is required to build six Scorpene class diesel-electric submarines in collaboration with 'Naval' group of France.

The mid-air refueling of ‘wet contact’ trial for LCA Tejas MK-1 was successfully carried out today from an Indian Air Force base.
Before this ‘wet contact’ trial, the ‘dry contact trials’ were successfully conducted on September 04 & 06, 2018 where the Drogue (basket) extended from the IAF tanker aircraft by a fuel hose, was tracked and plugged into using the aircraft refuelling probe without taking fuel.
The Air-to-Air refueling capability for LCA is a ‘force multiplier’ for the IAF, giving the aircraft the potential to stay airborne for much longer periods of time.

Men's Single: Novak Djokovic from Serbia won his 14th Grand Slam title.
Women's Single: Naomi Osaka of Japan won her first Grand Salm title after defeating 23 times Grand Slam winner Serena Williams in US Open.
Men's Doubles: Jack Sock & Mike Bryan of United States
Women's Double: Ashleigh Barty (Australia) & CoCo Vandeweghe (United States)
Mixed Doubles: Bethanie Mattek-Sands (United Kingdom) & Jamie Murray (United States)

The government made the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana an open-ended scheme. Earlier it was launched for four years in 2014.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) appointed R Madhavan as its Chairman and Managing Director for five years.
No permits would be required for vehicles running on alternative fuel, including CNG, ethanol and electric vehicles.
India and France to work together on Gaganyaan, they are going to announce a working group for Gaganyaan.