Current Affairs 17 August 2018

1.  Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, 93 years old, passed away on 16th August due to his prolonged ill health. He was one of the greatest leaders of India.
2. After an incubation of 40 days, India’s first Humboldt penguin was born on 15th August at Mumbai’s Byculla zoo .As it was born on Independence Day, it was named as “The Freedom Baby”.
3. From the Independence Day on (August 15, 2018), “digital screens” has been made operational at 22 railway stations. Additionally, QR code based posters on Railway Heritage are also being displayed at these stations.
4. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched an upgraded version of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), UPI 2.0.
5. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Launches VOIP Based WINGS Service.
6. Akshay Kumar has been appointed as the Road Safety Brand Ambassador.
7. Senior diplomat D Bala Venkatesh Varma has been appointed as India’s next ambassador to Russia.
8. According to Kotak Economic Research, Retail inflation is expected to average 4.4 percent this financial year in India.
9. Airtel Payments Bank and Bharti AXA Life Insurance announced a pact to offer Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), leveraging the payments banks network in rural pockets.
10. Former cricket captain Ajit Wadekar, who led India to their first overseas wins in England and West Indies, passed away. He was 77.