Morning Current Affairs: 31 August 2017

ISRO all set to launch IRNSS-1H

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be launching its navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on 31 August 2017. According to reports, the satellite will lift off at 7 PM from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, on board the rocket PSLV C39.

The 29-hour countdown for the mission that began at 2 PM on 30 August 2017 is progressing smoothly.

The satellite IRNSS-1H is a part of the indigenous navigation system called ‘NavIC,’ that was initially planned to have a constellation of seven satellites. NavIC system helps user agencies to plan and monitor their vehicular movement on the road and on the sea.

Almost 99% of demonetised notes back in system: RBI report

The Reserve Bank of India in its annual report confirmed that almost 99 per cent of banned Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes that were demonetised in November 2016 have returned to the system.

In the report for 2016-17, the RBI said that out of 632.6 crore pieces of Rs 1000 currency notes in circulation, 8.9 crores have not been returned post the note ban last November.

The government replaced old Rs 500 notes with new ones, but no replacement for Rs 1000 notes have been made. Instead, a new Rs 2000 note was introduced post note ban.

India, UAE discuss environment, clean energy

India and UAE on 30 August 2017 held a discussion on possibilities of cooperation in sustainable clean energy and the issues relating to the environment and climate change.

Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Harsh Vardhan held talks with his UAE counterpart, Dr Thani Alzyoudi in New Delhi.

In a series of tweets, Harsh Vardhan said, UAE is expected to invest 163 billion US dollars in clean energy by 2050 which makes the country a great potential partner for India in days to come.