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WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Germany has rolled out world's first hydrogen-powered passenger train . The Trains are officially called as 'Coradia iLint' This is the first time in the world that commercial trains being powered by hydrogen-based cells have gone into use for passengers. Germany has rolled out world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train.... ........ currentaffairs.gktoday.in/germany-rolls-worlds-hydrogen-powered-train-09201861071.html © GKToday The train was manufactured by Alstom , which is one of Europe’s largest railway manufacturers . Alstom plans to deliver a further 14 Coradia iLint trains to the network by 2021 . WHY THIS HYDROGEN FUEL TRAIN ?  WHY GERMANY LAUNCHED ? The idea with these Hydrogen based trains is to move away from diesel based systems, which cause more pollution emission. Air Pollution has become an increasing problem in Germany , with nitrous dioxide causing over 10,000 premature deaths in 2016. ...

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? The Union Cabinet recently approved an umbrella scheme for farmers called PM-AASHA launched on 12th September 2018 Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan ( PM-AASHA ) This is an umbrella scheme(i.e. a big scheme - under which there are many small schemes) In the Union Budget 2018 , The government has already increased the MSP (Minimum Support Price)  of Kharif Crops by following the principle of 1.5 times the cost of production . MSP System is not new it's from decades, But in Union Budget 2018 - There is change in MSP price. But these kind of schemes actually not work on ground level. In a Survey conducted by 'National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in the 70th round in 2013 , only 6% of farmers are able to sell their products at MSP. WHY ONLY 6% FARMERS ABLE TO AVAIL MSP FACILITY ? There are many reasons: Main reason is 'Government does not have any storage facility ', lack of personnel to maintain. [ Lack ...

BACKGROUND In OCT 1994 - ' Mariam Rasheeda ' (The Maldivian Women) arrested for allegedly obtaining secret drawings of ISRO rocket engines to sell to Pakistan . [In simple terms - many secret drawings of ISRO rocket engines found with Mariam Rasheeda and there was allegation on her that she wants to sell all this to Pakistan] In NOV 1994 - ' Nambi Narayanan ' , director of cryogenic project at ISRO arrested along with Deputy Director of ISRO and many others got arrested. and allegation was put on them that there was a link of all of these with 'Mariam Rasheeda'. The police accused him of passing on documents and drawings of ISRO to Pakistan. Narayana was arrested and was lodged in jail for 50 years. BUT, police did not found anything ordinary in Naraynan  house and did not show any signs of the corrupt gains . THE DIFFICULT TIMES FOR NARAYANAN JI   According to Naraynan ji, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and State Police officials inter...

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? India is preparing its FIRST MISSILE TRACKING SHIP. And It will be ready soon around Nov/Dec 2018. Built by "Hindustan Shipyard Ltd" on the Visakhapatnam port. It is being built under a confidential programme which is directly under the control of the Prime Minister Office and National Security Advisor. Due to confidential programme, Media don't know much about it. DESIGN AND DESCRIPTION Consider a " topmost secret project ", a lot of confidentiality is being maintained in executing the project costing about Rs 750 Crore. As of now, There is no such name given to this ship . For Now , It's simple referred as VC11184. It will have a crew complement of 300 personnel and will carry a single helicopter. The ship will also have a special team from 'National Technical Research Organization' board. NATIONAL TECHNICAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATION The NTRO( National Technical Research Organization ) is a tech...

BACKGROUND Former RBI governor " Raghuram Rajan's" wrote a 17-page note . He wrote this note in a response of government parliamentary committee. By this note, he's giving an answer of the government question . In this 17-page note, he wrote about the NPA(Non Performing Assets). WHAT EXACTLY ARE NON-PERFORMING ASSETS? Suppose bank give some loan to some person. Loan always given in such interest that Bank will earn some amount from that. If Interest not come (due to 'n' number of issues). So for Bank that assets (money) is not performing and hence called Non-Performing Assets. WHAT EX RBI GOVERNOR SAID Rajan Said..."a large number of the bad loans originated in the period of 2006-2008 . With these lines, he also added "that will likely by used as ammunition (a weapon) by the ruling BJP to target the opposition congress. He also mentioned that "What Previous government did that no doubt create this problem". But  what th...

WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY ? Recently, Prime minister 'Narendra Modi' along with his Bangladeshi counterpart 'Sheikh Hasina' , CM of Tripura 'Biplab Kumar Deb' and CM of West Bengal 'Mamta Banerjee'  inaugurated the commencement of work for the 'Agartala-Akhaura' railway project through video conferencing. Along with the 'Agartala-Akhaura' rail project. Other two projects also discussed. These include 500 MW additional power supply from India to Bangladesh .  Rehabilitation of the Kulaura-Shahbazpur section of Bangladesh Railways.  ABOUT AGARTALA - AKHAURA RAILWAY LINK The Agartala-Akhaura rail project was conceptualized in 2010. Later, India and Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) on a couple of issues including the rail project in 2013 . The rail link is expected to be operational in 2019 . The railway project consists of constructing 15.054 KM long railway line. It provide another lin...

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? In 2016 , Nepal and China signed the ' Transit Transport Agreement ' with this - China will give access to all it's roads, rail links and Ports to Nepal to do the Trade. Now In September 2018 - This agreement came into force (There was some timeline which not completed and agreement now in force) Thus, Now Nepal can now do the trade with other countries via China's Port, Rail Link and Roads. Nepal is a land-locked country. So, If Nepal wants to do Trade with other countries - Nepal can do only with Flights. [ There is no other option ] From last so many years, India is providing the facility to Nepal to use It's roads, ports to do the Trade with other countries. In 2015 - There came a ' Madhesis Issue ' which has severely affected Nepal and its economy.  Nepal has accused India of imposing an undeclared blockade. India has denied the allegations, stating the supply shortages have been imposed by Madheshi pro...