Current Affairs Update – 7 September, 2017

• Vistara and Japan Airlines today announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an extensive partnership that includes code share flights and frequent flyer partnership.
• "This mutual understanding between Japan Airlines and Vistara will help the two airlines pursue significant cooperation in the near future, such as codeshare, frequent flyer partnership as well as other operational arrangements, allowing them to leverage each other's network, expertise and assets, subject to necessary approvals from authorities," the airlines said in a release today.

• State-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) entered into an agreement with Coriant to chart a path for 5G and IoT in India. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between BSNL and Coriant for laying the foundation for innovation in Network Architectures and Services Leveraging 5G, IoT, SDN/NFV, and Mobile Edge Computing Technologies.
• Under the terms of the MoU, Coriant and BSNL will cooperate to accelerate network architecture and service innovation leveraging 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), SDN/NFV, and Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) technologies.
• Coriant is a leading supplier of packet optical, IP, and SDN solutions to Tier 1 global service providers and webscale Internet operators.

• Gujarat government has signed an MoU with Google India towards actualizing the 'Digital Gujarat' movement under 'Digital India'.
• The MoU was signed in presence of the chief minister, Gujarat's chief secretary J N Singh, and Google India Public Policy Director Chetan Krishnaswamy. Principal secretaries of tourism, science and technology, labour and employment, higher education and rural development departments were also present at the event.
• Under the MoU Google will train small and medium scale entrepreneurs the use of digital platform for business development under the 'Digital Unlocked' programme,and will provide 'cloud' facility up to $20,000 to recognized startups.
• Google will help to develop skills in the use of modern mobiles and web technology, train degree, diploma and science postgraduate students in 'Google Android Fundamentals' and 'Mobile Development'.

• With an aim to create new jobs by enhancing India’s export, the NITI Aayog on 5 September 2017 constituted an Expert Task Force. The task force will be chaired by the NITI Aayog Vice Chairman, Dr. Rajiv Kumar.
• The task force that also includes Secretary Department of Commerce; Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion among others have been asked to submit its report by November 2017.

• The Assam government on Thursday signed a MoU with Google India to take Internet connectivity to the remotest part of the north-eastern state.
• Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the government would work to provide Internet connections to 26,000 villages and 1,500 tea garden areas in Assam under the MoU and thus increase digital literacy.
• Information Technology Secretary Nitin Khare and Goodle India Country Head (Policy) Chetan Krishnaswami signed the Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of Sonowal.
• "Technology rules the roost in the 21st century and the state government has upped the ante to use technology to carry forward the fruits of development to the remotest parts of Assam," the Chief Minister said.
• He said the ties with Google was a way forward to strongly pitch Guwahati as a natural gateway to the South-East Asian countries.

• Indian Navy and Sri Lankan Navy on 7 September 2017 began the 2017 Sri Lanka-India Exercise (SLINEX) at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The exercise will conclude on till 14 September 2017.
• SLINEX 17 aims at reinforce strong neighbourly ties between both countries underscored by extensive maritime interaction and improved understanding.
• SLINEX 2017 focuses on fleet work, seamanship, communication, replenishment at sea, Visit Board Search and Seize (VBSS) operations as well as helicopter operations.
• The exercise will commence with a Harbour Phase, during which, the participants will engage in professional, cultural and social interactions.
• The Harbour Phase will be followed by the Sea Phase, which will include complex operations including anti-piracy exercises, gun firings, cross-deck helicopter operations and anti-surface exercises.

• The Union Ministry of Human Resource and Development (HRD) on 5 September 2017 launched DIKSHA Portal (diksha.gov.in) for providing digital platform to teachers for making their lifestyle more digital.
• DIKSHA will enable, accelerate and amplify solutions in the realm of teacher education.
• DIKSHA is built considering the whole life cycle of teacher beginning from the time when they enrol in Teacher Education Institutes (TEIs) to the time they retire as teachers.
• States, government bodies and even private organisations can integrate DIKSHA into their respective teacher initiatives based on their goals, needs and capabilities.
• DIKSHA platform can be used to create in-class resources, teacher training content, assessment aids, teacher profile, news and announcement and teacher community.
• These features have been added in the portal after consultations with multiple state governments, NGOs and more than 30 public and private organisations, who have contributed to DIKSHA.

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has enhanced the financial powers of the Chiefs of central armed police forces like CRPF and BSF and other central agencies, empowering them to spend up to Rs 15 Cr for executing major projects and Rs 1 Cr for minor works including repairing of residential buildings.
• The director generals of CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG, Assam Rifles and National Investigation Agency and the director of Intelligence Bureau will also be able to exercise the same enhanced financial powers. The amount sanctioned for major projects has gone up to Rs 15 Cr from Rs 10 Cr previously.
• The major projects include construction of buildings and purchase of vehicles among others.
• The fund for minor projects has also been increased to Rs 1 Cr from Rs 50 lakh previously. The minor works include petty repairs and administrative expenditure.
• The decision was taken by Union home secretary Rajiv Gauba. The main objective behind the order is to bring greater flexibility in operations, reduce delays and facilitate a quick decision on matters involving financial expenditure.

• The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani flagged off statewide ‘Narmada Mahotsav Yatra’ from Surendranagar district on 6 September 2017, as part of a two-week celebration to mark the completion of Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River.
• The main aim of the Yatra is to create awareness about the importance of increased water supply from Narmada canal-based projects in different parts of the state.
• While Rupani flagged off a chariot in Surendranagar, other vehicles carrying statues of `Maa Narmada' were flagged off from other parts of the state.
• According to an official statement, 84 `Narmada Raths' or `chariots' would travel across the state in these two weeks to spread awareness about the importance of the project and to depict the achievements of the state’s Agriculture and Veterinary Departments.
• The yatra would culminate in Dabhoi town of Vadodara district, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of his birthday, which happens to fall on the same day.
• The event comes just ahead of the state assembly polls, which are due in the end of this year.

• Saint Teresa, also known as Mother Teresa, was on 6 September 2017 declared the as the co-patron of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta, 131 years after St Francis Xavier was declared as first patron.
• The declaration was made by Vicar General, Archdiocese of Calcutta in the presence of the Vatican's ambassador to India Giambattista Diquattro, bishops from across the state and nuns of the Missionaries of Charity which was founded by Mother Teresa in 1950 within Archdiocese of Calcutta.
• The decision was taken to commemorate the first anniversary of St Teresa's canonisation which was held on 4 September 2016.
• A statue of St Teresa was also unveiled on the occasion.

• Ashish Kashyap on 6 September 2017 resigned as the President and Co-founder of MakeMyTrip with effect from 30 September 2017. As per the settlement agreement, Kashyap will be under non-solicitation and non-competition obligation for the next two years.
• Kashyap had assumed the role of President and Co-founder after MakeMyTrip acquired Ibibo Group in October 2016. Kashyap was earlier designated as the Chief Executive Officer of the Ibibo Group.
• While the deal was announced in October 2016, the Competition Commission of India approved the acquisition in February 2017.
• MakeMyTrip currently owns 100 per cent of Ibibo Group. Naspers and Tencent are the largest shareholders in MakeMyTrip, owning a 40 per cent stake. 

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