sign in sign up
<<
Home , Godawari Dutta, Northern Railway zone, Toi music, Uday Express

www.gradeup.co

1 www.gradeup.co

Yearly Current Affairs 2019

Dear Aspirants,

This Yearly Current Affairs Compilation is a complete docket of important National & International Affairs that occurred in Year 2019 (Jan- Sept 2019). This file is important and relevant for all competitive exams like State PCS, UPSC and other government exams.

Government Schemes

Scheme Announced in Budget 2019-20

1. FAME II scheme – aims to encourage faster adoption of Welfare and the Ministry of Human Resource electric vehicles by right incentives and charging infra. Development. Key points • The budget of Rs 280 crore allocated to BBBP • The Union cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister scheme in the current financial year. Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal 3. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) – In for implementation of scheme titled 'Faster the Union Budget 2019-20, the allocation for the Pradhan Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), a maternity in Phase II (FAME India Phase II)' for benefit programme, was Rs 2,500 crore. promotion of Electric Mobility in the country. Key points • Only advanced-battery-operated and registered • Andhra Pradesh, , and Madhya e-vehicles to be incentivized under FAME Pradesh were the top three performing states Scheme. under the maternity benefit programme Financial Implications: 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' • Total fund requirement for this scheme is Rs. (PMMVY). 10,000 crores over three years from 2019-20 to 4. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana: A new 2021-22. scheme to promote processing in the fishery sector. Note: • While presenting Union Budget 2019-20, Finance • This scheme is the expanded version of the present Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new scheme titled 'FAME India1 which was launched on scheme to promote processing in the fishery 1st April 2015, with total outlay of Rs. 895 crores. sector. 2. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao – The Economic Survey 2019 • The new scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matsya has proposed a change in the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), will be established (BBBP) scheme. under the Department of Fisheries for a robust • The campaign, to be labelled BADLAV (Beti Aapki fisheries management framework. Dhan Lakshmi Aur Vijay Lakshmi), will be used to • She also announced the creation of a new represent the change towards gender equality. ministry for fisheries sector Ministry of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme: Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. • BBBP scheme was launched on 22 January 2015 by • The new ministry was formed in order to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. promote the allied farm sector that has huge • It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and potential to help achieve the government's target Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family of doubling farmers' income by 2022.

2 www.gradeup.co

• The budget allocated for the newly carved out • The objective was to provide non-corporate and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and non-agricultural small businesses with loans up Dairying is Rs 3,737 crore. to Rs 10 lakh, which are called Mudra loans. 5. Pradhan Mantri Karam Yogi Maandhan Scheme – • Mudra loans are divided into three categories: Monthly Pension Scheme for Traders Shishu (loans up to Rs 50,000), Kishor (loans • The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister between Rs. 50,001 and Rs. 5 lakh), and Tarun Shri Narendra Modi has approved Rs.3000 (loans between Rs. 5,00,001 and Rs. 10 lakh). monthly pension scheme for small retail • Maximum loan amount under MUDRA scheme is traders and shopkeepers after they attain the age – Rs 10 lakh and the minimum loan amount is Rs. of 60 years. 50,000. Key points of Scheme • MUDRA stands for - Micro Units Development & • Under the scheme all small shopkeepers, retail Refinance Agency Ltd. traders and self-employed persons are assured a 9. Jal Jeevan Mission – Jal Shakti Mantralaya will work minimum of Rs.3,000 monthly pension after with states to ensure Har Ghar Jal for all rural houses by attaining 60 years of 60 years. 2024, under JalJeevan Mission. • The new pension scheme that offers pension • To all rural households by 2024, water will be coverage to the trading community will cover 3 supplied. crore small retail traders and shop keepers. 10. Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan - • Eligibility: All small shopkeepers, self-employed Over 2 crore Indian made digitally literate under persons and retail traders aged between 18-40 PMGDISHA (Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta years and with Goods and Service Tax (GST) Abhiyan). turnover below Rs.1.5 crore can enrol for • Under Digital India Programme would cover 6 pension scheme. crore households in rural areas to make them 6. National Common Mobility Card – India’s first digitally literate. indigenously developed payment ecosystem for • The Scheme is applicable only for rural areas of transport, based on National Common Mobility Card the country. (NCMC) standards, launched in March 2019. Entry criteria • This will enable people to pay multiple transport • The beneficiary should be Digitally Illiterate charges across India. • Only one person per eligible household would be • This card runs on RuPay card and allows users to considered for training pay bus charges, parking charges, etc. • Age Group: 14 - 60 years Note: 11. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana – Under phase • National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) three of PM Gram Sadak Yojana, 1.25 lakh kms of road developed One Nation One Card. to be built in the next five years. Project cost estimated • Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ministry cost of nearly Rs 80,200 crore. formulates the concept of One Nation One Card. 12. ASPIRE scheme - Under ASPIRE to develop, 80 7. One Nation, One Grid – for power availability to states Livelihood business incubators and 20 technology at affordable rates. business incubators to be set up in 2019-20 8. MUDRA scheme – According to the Union Budget 2019- ASPIRE Scheme - 20, the overdraft of Rs. 5,000 to be allowed for every • The ASPIRE-A scheme runs under the Ministry of verified women SHG member having a Jan Dhan Bank Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and aims Account. to promote innovation, rural industry and • One woman per SHG to be eligible for a loan up entrepreneurship in India. to Rs. 1 lakh under MUDRA Scheme. • This scheme was launched in March 2015. Note: • Objective - To set up a network of technology • Prime Minister Modi had launched Pradhan centres, incubation centres to accelerate Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) in April 2015.

3 www.gradeup.co

entrepreneurship and also to promote start-ups Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood for innovation and entrepreneurship in rural and Mission (DAY-NRLM) in 2015. agriculture based industry with a fund of Rs. 200 15. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) - Under PMAY crores. Garmin, in the 2nd phase 1.95 crore houses are proposed 13. MNREGA – According to the budget document, for the to be provide to eligible beneficiary with facilities like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee toilet and LPG connection. Programme (MNREGA) the budget was allocated to Rs • Urban, over 80 lakh houses have been sanctioned 60,000 crore for 2019-20. under PMAY. 14. National Rural Livelihood Mission – In the Union • The completion of houses that required 314 days Budget 2019-20, this year, the allocation has been in 2015-16, it has now come down to 114 days increased to Rs 9,024 crore. since 2017. Note: Originally called as Aajeevika – National Rural • The budget allocated for PMAY for 2019-20 fiscal Livelihoods Mission, the programme was renamed as is Rs 19,000 crore.

Other Schemes

September

1. PM to launch pension scheme for traders – Prime • It provides 15% subsidy for additional Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Pradhan Mantri investment up to Rrs.1cr. for technology Laghu Vyapari Maan•dhan Yojana, the Centre’s upgradation by MSMEs in the specified 51 sub- pension scheme for traders. sectors. • A few of the first subscribers from across the • Now in relaunched scheme there is an additional country will be given pension cards by the PM. 10% subsidy to SC-ST entrepreneurs while • The scheme, which is an extension of the PM special provisions have been made for 117 Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana, will make all ‘aspirational’ districts, northeastern region and beneficiaries eligible for a monthly pension of Rs hill states. 3000 after the age of 60 at a miniscule monthly 3. SATHI: IIT Kharagpur to assist academic institutes in contribution. neighbouring region – Indian Institutes of Technology 2. Govt. launches updated Credit linked Capital Subsidy (IIT) Kharagpur has been selected for setting up a Scheme – Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institute Enterprises Nitin Gadkari launched the updated Credit (SATHI), a Department of Science and Technology (DST) linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) to allow micro, initiative of Centre. small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) access to capital. • Centre has allotted an amount of Rs.125 crore • Union Minister re-Launched the Credit Linked over a period of financial years (starting from Capital Subsidy (CLCS) web portal during the 2- 2019-20) for the purpose. day workshop on ‘Credit Linked Capital Subsidy • SATHI is a state-of-the-art, professionally and Delayed Payment of MSMEs’ held at New managed science and technology infrastructure . facility. Its primary objective will be to extend • During the course of workshop Memorandum of help to academic institutes in neighbouring Understandings (MoUs) was also signed by office regions. of Development Commissioner (MSME), Ministry of MSME with 11 Nodal Banks.

August

4 www.gradeup.co

1. Punjab govt. launches ‘Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Sehat will be provided financial assistance of Rs5,000- Bima Yojana’ health insurance scheme – State 25,000. The launching ceremony was held in 23 government of Punjab launched a mega health insurance districts apart from Ranchi. scheme title ‘Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana’ • This scheme would benefit approximately 35 (MGSSBY) for poor by clubbing Centre’s Pradhan Mantri lakh farmers and by september/october this Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) plan with its own. year. The outlay is Rs 3000 crore. • The PMJAY was unveiled in September 2018 by • This scheme is apart from the benefits that the the Centre and kept on hold so far by Punjab farmers are getting under Pratan Mantri Kisan government. yojana. • The scheme was launched by Punjab’s Chief 4. SAMARTH Scheme: 16 states ink MoU with Textiles Minister Amarinder Singh to mark 75th birth Ministry – 16 states out of 18 selected states have signed anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Union Gandhi. Ministry of Textiles for skilling about 4 lakh workers as • With launch of this scheme, Punjab has become part of Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector 1st state to offer medical insurance for such a (SAMARTH). large proportion of its population. • 16 states that have signed MoUs include About Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Mizoram, Tamil • It incorporates Ayushman Bharat or Pradhan Mantri Nadu, Telangana, , Andhra Pradesh, Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), Centre’s health Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, insurance scheme for poor. Karnataka,Manipur, , Meghalaya, • By clubbing Centre’s Ayushman Bharat plan with its and . Jammu & Kashmir MGSSBY, it is expected to benefit 46 lakh families and earlier had agreed to be on board, covering 76% of state’s population. but did not sign MoU. Insurance Coverage: Like PMJAY, this Punjab government’s Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector scheme will also provide cashless health insurance cover of (SAMARTH) Rs.5 lakh/year. • It is skill development scheme of Union Ministry of Textiles, covering the entire value chain of the 2. PM announces Jal Jeevan Mission Scheme for textile sector excluding Spinning & Weaving in households – Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced organized Sector. It was approved by Cabinet that the government will launch a Jal Jeevan Mission to Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in bring piped water to households. December 2017. • The announcement was made during his 6th 5. Flipkart launches initiative to bring indigenous Independence Day (August 15) address from Red artisans products on its platform – E-commerce Fort. company Flipkart launched ‘Samarth’, an initiative to Concerned Authority: Under Department of Drinking Water bring weavers, artisans and makers of handicrafts to its platform. and Sanitation. • Flipkart Samarth will support such artisans, Objective: It seeks to converge with other Central and State weavers, etc, by on-boarding them and helping Government Schemes to achieve its objectives of sustainable them in the process of selling on the internet. water supply management across India. 6. Government of Odisha launched Small Savings 3. Mukhyamantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana – Vice Incentive Scheme – Odisha government unveiled the President launches Jharkhand government’s financial ‘Odisha Small Savings Incentive Scheme‘ for the calendar assistance program for its farmers year 2019 under the notation “AQ” series. The aim of the • Under the Jharkhand state’s scheme, scheme is to stop people from transacting with Mukhyamantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana launched ‘suspicious’ non-banking private financial institutions. by Shri Venkaiah Naidu, farmers/ beneficiaries 7. Union HRD Minister to launch ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal having farmlands of less than 1 acre to 5 acres Suraksha’ drive – Union HRD Minister will launch

5 www.gradeup.co

‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ to create awareness Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) about Water Conservation among all school students in India scheme. the country. • The buses are sanctioned to 64 cities in 22 states • So that they can become competent, and union territories for intracity and intercity conscientious and committed water citizens of operations in order to push for clean mobility in our nation. public transportation. Five Major Objectives of the scheme - 9. One Nation, One Ration Card’ to be rolled out in India by June 1, 2020 – “One Nation One Ration Card” scheme • To educate students learn about conservation of to be rolled out in India from June 1, 2020. water. • To implement the scheme successfully, the • To sensitize students about the impact of scarcity centre has kick started inter state portability of of water. ration card pairing two states each. • To empower students to learn to protect the • The pairs are made between Telangana-Andhra natural sources of water. Pradesh as well as Maharashtra-Gujarat. • To help every Student to save at least one litre of • This means that beneficiaries living in Telangana water per day. and Andhra Pradesh can buy their quota of • To encourage Students towards judicious use ration from the Public Distribution System (PDS), and minimum wastage of water at home and also called ration shops, in either of the states. school level. 10. KVIC launches “Leather Mission” on World Tribal Target under the drive - Day – The Khadi and Village Industry Commission has • 1 Student – 1 Day – Save One Litre Water launched “Leather Mission” on World Tribal Day. • 1 Student – 1 Year – Save 365 Litres Water • Under this mission, the commission will give • 1 Student – 10 Years – Save 3650 Litres Water leather kits to the leather artisans across the nation. 8. 5595 electric buses sanctioned under FAME scheme – • World Tribal Day observed on 9th August every The Department of Heavy Industry has sanctioned 5,595 year. electric buses under the phase II of Faster Adoption and • The 2019 theme is ‘Indigenous Languages’.

July

• Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi 1. Over 30 lakh persons enrolled under “PM Shram Yogi Yojana (PMKSNY), more than 7 crores 32 lakh Maandhan Scheme” - Under “Pradhan Mantri Shram farmer families across India received the first Yogi Maandhan Scheme”, total 30,85,205 persons have and second installments of Rs 2000 each been enrolled. amounting to 14 thousand 646 crore rupees. • This voluntary and contributory pension scheme • The list was topped by Uttar Pradesh with over is benefited for unorganized workers. Under this two crores twenty lakh farmer families followed scheme assures the minimum monthly pension by Andhra Pradesh with 72 lakh and Maharastra of 3000 rupees to the beneficiaries after 50 lakh farmers. attaining the age of 60 years. 3. HRD Ministry launches new UGC Scheme 2. Under PMKSNY, more than 7 crore 32 lakh farmer “Paramarsh” For Higher Education - On July 19, 2019, families received first two instalments of Rs 2000 Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Union Minister for Human each Resource Development (HRD) launched a Scheme called

6 www.gradeup.co

“Paramarsh” of University Grants Commission (UGC) in rural India named “Internet Saathi”. This initiative will be . expanded to villages in Punjab and Odisha. • This scheme aims at mentoring National • This programme has now reached 2.6 lakh Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC) villages in 20 states. In Punjab, the programme accreditation aspirant institutions to develop will cover around 5,000 villages. In Odisha, it will quality assurance in Higher Education. cover over 16,000 villages. • Under the scheme, the prime Mentoring 8. Bangla Abas Yojana - The Government has institutions will provide regular mentoring to decided to construct 8 lakh 30 thousand houses under colleges to help achieve high-quality standards. Bangla Abas Yojana for the people belonging to For mentoring they will get the financial Economically Weaker Section. assistance & also the option of appointing an • Under the scheme, the Rural Development expert, who can be paid a fellowship amount of Department has constructed more than 14 lakh Rs 31,000 per month. houses. 4. India to give scholarships to heirs of Muktijodhas – 9. Health Ministry launches Jan Jagrukta Abhiyaan in New Government of India will provide 10,000 scholarships for Delhi – Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare heirs of the liberation war fighters of Bangladesh called (MoHFW) have launched a 3 day special campaign called ‘Muktijodhas’ over the next five years under the Jan Jagrukta Abhiyaan in New Delhi. India-Bangladesh Maitree Muktijodha Sontan 10. UDAN Scheme: 8 more air routes added – Civil Scholarship Scheme. Aviation Ministry announced addition of 8 more air 5. UKIERI Mobility Programme: Study in India – India routes under UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik), the and UK have joined hands together for UKIERI Mobility regional air connectivity scheme. These air routes have Programme: Study in India which will allow UK students become functional and started operations. to visit India for higher studies. • With the addition of 8 new routes the total UDAN • The British Council of India and Universities UK routes that are now operational in country has International have joined hands together for the increased to 194. launch of UKIERI Mobility Programme. About UDAN • It aims to generate up to 200 opportunities for • UDAN or Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik is a regional undergraduate students at UK universities to connectivity scheme (RCS). It was scheme on 21 visit India by March 2021. October 2016 to stimulate regional air • The programme will be funded by the UK and connectivity and make air travel affordable to Indian governments as part of Phase 3 of the UK- masses. India Education Research Initiative (UKEIRI). • It aims to make flying affordable besides 6. Union HRD Minister lauches “Deeksharambh” – Union connecting underserved and unserved airports Minister of Human Resource Development released UGC across India. Guide to Student Induction Programme “Deeksharambh” 11. PENCIL Portal – Union Minister for Labour & in New Delhi. Employment informed Lok Sabha that 361 Complaints of • The guide to Student Induction Programme is to Child Labour have been resolved via PENCIL (Platform help new students adjust and feel comfortable in for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) Portal the new environment, inculcate in them the (pencil.gov.in). ethos and culture of the institution, help them About PENCIL Portal build bonds with other students and faculty • It is a separate online portal Platform for members, and expose them to a sense of larger Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour purpose and self-exploration. (PENCIL) launched on 26 September 2017 to 7. Internet Saathi’ programme to be expanded to ensure effective enforcement of provisions of Punjab, Odisha – Google India and Tata Trusts initiative Child Labour Act and smooth implementation of is aimed at facilitating digital literacy among women in National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme.

7 www.gradeup.co

12. YouTube Introduces ‘Learning Playlists’ for • It aimed at creating an open dialogue with youth Educational Videos – YouTube is bringing a new across all skill training centres to hear their education feature “Learning Playlists” with dedicated views, ideas, opportunities, and landing pages for educational videos on topics like math, recommendations help the Ministry of Skill science, music and language. Development scaling up existing programs and • YouTube was investing $20 million to fund improve the overall efficiency of the on-going resources for educational creators and projects. organisations through a Learning Fund initiative. 16. WCD implements a Scheme for Women in Difficult 13. PM-LVMY Yojana launched by Labour ministry Circumstances called “Swadhar Greh” • Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-Dhan • The Ministry of Women and Child Yojana (PM-LVMY) was launched by the Union Development(WCD), Government of India is labour and Employment ministry for retailers implementing the Swadhar Greh Scheme for the and small traders. rehabilitation of women in difficult • This scheme provides a minimum monthly circumstances so that they could lead their life pension of Rs 3000/month to small shopkeepers, with dignity. retail traders, and the self-employed people after 17. Govt signs MoU with NATHEALTH to streamline they attain 60years of age. delivery of services under PMJAY – National Health • It is an extension of Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Authority (NHA) implementing agency of Ayushman Maan-dhan (PM-SYM). Bharat, Centre’s flagship healthcare scheme has signed Eligibility Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Healthcare • Self-employed people, small shopkeepers and Federation of India (NATHEALTH) to streamline delivery retail traders aged between 18-40 years and of services under Ayushman Bharat. with Goods and Service Tax (GST) turnover About Ayushman Bharat below Rs 1.5 crore can avail the scheme. • Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection 14. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – On July 23,2019, Union Scheme (AB-NHPS) launched by PM Shri Minister for Rural Development, Narendra Singh Tomar Narendra Modi on Independence Day 2018. stated that the ministry is implementing Deendayal • The scheme is renamed as PM Jan Arogya Yojana Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission • The aim of the scheme is to provide cashless (DAY-NRLM) across the country. hospitalisation for 1,354 procedures to 10 crore • The aim of the schme is to organized the rural poor families for Rs 5 lakh per family per year. poor women into Self Help Groups (SHGs), and • It covers both preventive and promotive health. continuously supporting them to take economic 18. Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ portal for farmers launched activities till they come out of poverty and reach by Haryana – The Chief Minister of Haryana an good-level of increase in income to improve Government Manohar Lal Khattar has launched online their quality of life. portal named “Meri Fasal Mera Byora” for farmers to Rashtriya Aajeevika Mission directly avail crop related benefits of state government • It is a poverty alleviation scheme launched in schemes after self -reporting their land and crop-related 2011 as National Rural Livelihood Mission details. (NRLM) and was succeeded by Deen Dayal 19. Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme – Government of India Antyodaya Yojana in 2016. has fixed the price at Rs.3,443 per gram for the new series of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) opening July 8. 15. Kaushal Yuva Samwaad” – To commemorate World • Union Finance Ministry recently announced that Youth Skills Day (July 15) and celebrate the 4th Centre in consultation with Reserve Bank of Anniversary of the Skill India Mission, the Union Ministry India (RBI) has decided to allow a discount of Rs. of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE) 50 per gram from issue price to those investors launched ‘Kaushal Yuva Samwaad’ (A Youth Dialogue) in who apply online and payment which is made via New Delhi. digital mode.

8 www.gradeup.co

Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme country as long as their ration cards are linked to • It was launched by Government of India in Aadhaar. November 2015 with the goal of reducing the 22. Jal Shakti Abhiyan – Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri demand for physical gold and shifting a part of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat recently launched Jal Shakti domestic savings, used for purchase of gold, into Abhiyan- a campaign for water conservation and water financial savings. security in 1592 stressed blocks in 256 districts. • Under the SGB scheme, bonds are denominated • It is a collaborative effort of various Union in units of 1 gram of gold and multiples thereof. Ministries and State Governments, being • Minimum Investment: in bonds is 1 gram and a coordinated by Department of Drinking Water maximum limit of subscription of 500 and Sanitation (DDWS). gram/person/fiscal year (April-March). 23. UP launches Dastak Campaign to eradicate AES & JE – • Maximum Limit: of subscription is 4 kg for an Uttar Pradesh government has launched a massive individual and Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) campaign called ‘Dastak’ to eradicate deadly Acute and 20 kg maximum subscription limit for trusts Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephalitis and similar entities per fiscal (April-March). (JE) disease. 20. UGC approves a scheme “STRIDE” to boost research 24. West Bengal introduces free crop insurance scheme culture in India – University Grants Commission has Bangla Shashya Bima for farmers approved a ‘Scheme for Trans-disciplinary Research for • On June 28, 2019, West Bengal Government India’s Developing Economy’ to boost research culture in launched a crop insurance scheme, Bangla India. Shashya Bima (BSB) for the 2019 ‘Kharif’ season • STRIDE stands for Scheme for Trans- to protect farmers from losses due to natural disciplinary Research for India’s Developing disasters and provide a steady income in case of Economy. unstable market prices. • 25. ‘Go Tribal’ campaign launched – Go Tribal campaign, Key points was launched by Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs and • It will provide support to research projects that TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development are socially relevant, locally need-based, Federation of India) in association with Amazon Global. nationally important and globally significant. • Amazon, an e-commerce giant company will • An advisory Bhushan Patwardhan committee market ‘Tribes India‘ collections under sections set up by UGC under chairmanship of Prof of ‘Tribes of India Heritage Collection. Bhushan Patwardhan, Vice Chairman, UGC will • Objective is to create awareness and promote oversee entire scheme. tribal arts and crafts as well as help in socio- 21. ‘One nation one ration card’ scheme from July 1, economic welfare of more than 700 Indian tribes. 2020 – ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ scheme will be TRIFED available across the country from July 1, 2020. • TRIFED is an organization that functions under the • The scheme will allow portability of food aegis of Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs and is security benefits according to which the poor engaged in marketing development of tribal products migrant workers will be able to buy subsidised including tribal art and craft under the brand name rice and wheat from any ration shop in the of TRIBES INDIA. June

1. Union Cabinet approves extension of PM-KISAN • PM-KISAN scheme was launched in Uttar scheme – The government has extended the extension of Pradesh’s Gorakhpur on 24th February 2019. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) to all Key points of the scheme the farmers in the country. • Aim - to provide to provide income support • Earlier the benefit of the scheme was applicable to all small and Marginal landholding farmer. to farmers having two hectares of land.

9 www.gradeup.co

• Objective - The main objective of the • The portal provide single common platform to government to launch this scheme is the states to upload data related to beneficiaries, development of farmers by the provision of raise queries and give feedback. financial assistance which can utilize by the 4. E-Governance Initiatives for ST Welfare Schemes - farmer to increase the crop production every Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs launched year. the “e-governance initiatives for ST Welfare schemes” at Benefits of the Scheme a function organized by Ministry of Tribal Affairs. • As per government norms, the farmers will get the • These e-governance initiatives will serve their benefit of Direct Income support of Rs. 6,000 per purpose of the betterment of tribal communities year (500 Rs per month) across the nation. • This fund will be transferred directly into the bank 5. Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income accounts of beneficiary farmers through 3 equal Augmentation (Kalia) scheme - Odisha government instalments of Rs. 2000 every four months into the has allocated an additional Rs 3,234 crore for covering Aadhar ceded bank accounts of eligible landholding more farmers under the Kalia scheme during 2019-20. SMFs families. • Under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and • 2 per cent interest subvention to farmers pursuing Income Augmentation (Kalia) scheme, farmers animal husbandry and fisheries. get Rs 5,000 financial assistance per crop. • All farmers severely affected by severe natural • A farm household is entitled to get Rs 10,000 per calamities will get 2% interest subvention who avail year for two crops (Kharif and Rabi), loan through Kisan Credit Card and additional 3% 6. PM Modi hikes National Defence Fund scholarship interest subvention upon timely repayment of crop assistance – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has loans. approved changes to the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Fund allocation Scheme for wards of deceased defence personnel under • The government has allocated Rs 75,000 crore the National Defence Fund. towards the scheme for financial year 2020. Key points: 2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana - The Union • Scholarship Rate: The rates of scholarship have Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been increased from Rs.2000pm (per month) to approved Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana, a new Rs.2500pm for boys and from Rs. 2250pm to Central Sector Scheme (CSS), to provide pension cover to Rs.3000pm for girls. farmers. • Scholarship Extended: The ambit of Prime Key Features of Scheme Minister’s Scholarship Scheme is now extended • It is voluntary and contributory pension scheme to include the wards of State Police officials who for all Small and Marginal Farmers (SMF) across are or were martyred during terror or naxal the country. attacks. The new scholarships quota for wards of • Eligibility: Entry age of 18 to 40 years with state police officials will be 500 in one year. provision of minimum fixed pension of Rs.3,000 • Nodal ministry - For the implementation of it on attaining the age of 60 years. the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be the • Contribution: Beneficiary farmer of this scheme nodal Ministry. is required to contribute Rs 100 per month at About National Defence Fund median entry age of 29 years. • NDF was set up in 1962. 3. Government launches DBT Tribal web portal - Union • It was meant to take charge of voluntary Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched DBT Tribal web portal donations (in cash and kind) received for to streamline and expedite the process of releasing promotion of national defence effort, and also to scholarship grants directly into bank accounts of decide on their utilisation. beneficiary students. • National Defence Fund also accepts online voluntary contributions.

10 www.gradeup.co

• NDF is used for welfare of members of Armed to 8 and for the girls in class 9 to 12, the financial Forces, Para Military forces and Railway aid has been increased to Rs 2,500 from Rs Protection Force, and their dependents. 1,500. • Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme’ (PMSS) is • Similarly, the government has also increased ex- implemented under NDF. gratia payment to the next of kin of an official • The National Defence Fund is administered by an killed on election duty to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 15 executive committee that has the Prime Minister lakh. as the chairperson and the Defence, Finance and 9. Telangana enhances Rythu Bandhu scheme to Rs Home Ministers as members. 5000 per acre per season - The Telangana Government 7. Cabinet approved new initiative to control FMD and has issued a notification to extend the Rythu Bandhu Brucellosis - Union Cabinet has approved new initiative scheme for 2019-20, while enhancing the amount from (scheme) to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Rs 4000 to Rs 5000. Brucellosis to support the livestock rearing farmers and About Scheme improve the health of animals. • The scheme aimed at providing income support • This initiative aims to fully control these diseases to the agriculturists directly to back their crops. amongst livestock in the country in next five • Now the scheme provides Initial Investment years and subsequently eradicate these diseases. support to agriculture and horticulture crops • Cabinet has cleared a total outlay of Rs. 13,343 through a grant of Rs 5000 per acre per farmer crores for this scheme and entire cost will be each season towards purchase of inputs like now borne by Central Government. seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, labour and other 8. ‘Aapki Beti’ scheme – Rajasthan government has filed operation. increased the financial assistance given to school girls • The amount would be paid through electronic under the ‘Aapki Beti’ scheme. transfer to all the pattadars and title holders • Under the Aapki Beti scheme, girls living under through e-Kuber, the RBI payment platform. the Below Poverty Line (BPL) and whose mother • In 2018, scheme was launched by Telangana CM or father or both have died to get annual K Chandrasekar Rao. financial assistance in the state. • The amount has been increased to Rs 2,100 from Rs 1,100 for the girls studying in class 1

11 www.gradeup.co

May

1. ‘Honey Mission’ - The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) distributed more than one lakh bee-boxes among farmers and unemployed youths across India in less than two years under its ‘Honey Mission’ initiative. About Honey Mission • It was launched in August 2017 in line with PM Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Sweet Revolution’ (revolution in production of honey to increase its production) in 2016 while introducing Banas Honey project at Deesa in Gujarat.

April 2019

1. Utkarsh Bangla and Sabooj Sathi Schemes of West • Sabooj Sathi is a scheme of West Bengal Bengal gets Global Recognition – government for distribution of bicycles to the • The schemes of the West Bengal government students of class IX to XII studying in Govt. run ‘Utkarsh Bangla’ (skill training of youth) and and Govt. aided Schools and Madrashas.The ‘Sabooj Sathi’ (cycles for students) won the scheme was launched in September 2015. World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) – The Union awards of UN. Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Note: Pradhan handed over the Seven Croreth LPG connection • Utkarsh Bangla got the topmost award and under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). emerged as a winner in the Capacity Building Key points category and the Sabooj Sathi was ranked in the • The PMUY was launched by the Prime Minister first five as a champion project under ICT Narendra Modi on 1st May 2016. application: E-Government category. • Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to Utkarsh Bangla safeguard the health of women & children by • Utkarsh Bangla Scheme is aimed at providing providing them with a clean cooking fuel – LPG. vocational training to school dropouts. The • Under this scheme, LPG connections will be beneficiaries of the scheme will be trained in provided to BPL families with a support of driving, tailoring, repairing television and other Rs.1600 per connection. electronic equipment’s, beautician courses etc. • The connection is provided in the name of the Sabooj Sathi adult women of the family.

March 2019 1. Government brings transport scheme to boost • The scheme covers freight and marketing agriculture exports assistance for export by air as well as by sea • The government has introduced a scheme for (both normal and refrigerated cargo). providing financial assistance for transport and • The scheme would be applicable for a period as marketing of agriculture products with a view to specified from time to time. Presently, it would boosting export of farm commodities to certain be available for exports effected from March 1 countries in Europe and North America. this year to March 2020. • Under the Transport and Marketing 2. Gram Samridhi Yojana – Gram Samridhi Yojana, a Rs Assistance (TMA) scheme, the government 3,000 crore scheme funded by the World Bank and the would reimburse a certain portion of freight Government of India, is being worked upon by the charges and provide assistance for marketing of Ministry of Food Processing Industries in order to agricultural produce. strengthen the unorganised food processing sector concentrated in rural areas. Key points

12 www.gradeup.co

• World Bank will be giving Rs 1,500 crore, Rs • The FAME scheme is aimed at encouraging faster 1,000 crore will be borne by the Centre while adoption of Electric and hybrid vehicle by way of state governments will put in Rs 500 crore. offering an upfront incentive on the purchase of • The scheme will be run in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Electric vehicles and also by way of establishing Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab for a 5-year a necessary charging Infrastructure for electric period in the initial phase and thereafter in other vehicles. states of the country. • FAME II emphasizes on electrification of the 3. Textiles Minister launches scheme for development public transportation that includes shared of Knitwear Sector – Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti transport. Zubin Irani launched a comprehensive scheme for the • The Scheme would provide incentives on development of knitting and knitwear sector under operational expenditure model for electric buses PowerTex India in New Delhi. Apart from financial which will be delivered through State/city incentives, the two key elements are Yarn Bank and transport corporation (STUs). financial assistance for the solar energy scheme. 7. Mukhyamantri Anchal Amrit Yojana – The 4. Notun Disha’ initiated by Tripura Government – The government of Uttarakhand has launched the government of Tripura announced ‘Notun Disha’ (New Mukhyamantri Anchal Amrit Yojana to provide milk at Direction) for assessing the academic level of students in the Anganwadi Centres. classes III-VIII and then improving their current level. It Note: Under the Mukhyamantri Anchal Amrit Yojana, the was launched by state Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath. government would provide 100 ml milk twice a week for 5. CCEA approves Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana – The 2.5 lakh children at 20,000 Anganwadi Centres in the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved state. the “Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran 8. Jalamrutha Scheme of Karnataka – The government of Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana” under the Karnataka has launched the water conservation scheme Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. Jalamrutha. Objective – Note: • To create 2G Ethanol capacity in the country and • The scheme focuses on drought-proofing attract investments in this new sector. measures, including protection and rejuvenation • To provide financial support to Integrated of water bodies. Bioethanol Projects using lignocellulosic biomass 9. Yuvashree Arpan Scheme of West Bengal – The Chief and other renewable feedstock. Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee has unveiled a 6. CCEA Approves Phase 2 of FAME Scheme – The new scheme Yuvashree Plan II or Yuvashree Arpan to Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has encourage entrepreneurship among youth. approved Rs 10,000 crore package over three years till Note: Under the Yuvashree Arpan Scheme around fifty 2022 for the second phase of Faster Adoption & thousand Youths who have passed out of ITI or other Manufacturing of Electric (and hybrid) vehicles polytechnic institutes will be eligible to get financial (FAME) scheme. support of Rs One Lakh from the state MSME department Note: to set up their own business initiatives.

February 2019

1. HRD Ministry launches SHREYAS Programme – The • SHREYAS stands for - Scheme for Higher Union Minister of Human Resources and Development Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills. Prakash Javadekar launched the SHREYAS programme to • It is a programme basket comprising of three provide industry-specific apprenticeship opportunities initiatives of the HRD, Ministry of Skill to fresh graduates. Development and Entrepreneurship, and the Note: Ministry of Labour and Employment.

13 www.gradeup.co

2. Odisha launched ‘Khushi’ scheme - The Odisha Cabinet 7. MP launched the Mukhyamantri Yuva Swabhiman approved the ‘Khushi‘ scheme to provide free sanitary Yojana - The government of Madhya Pradesh has napkins to school girls across the state. launched the Mukhyamantri Yuva Swabhiman Yojana to • The scheme will benefit nearly 17.25 lakh school provide employment for youth. girls from Class VI to XII studying in government Key points and government-aided schools. • The scheme guarantees 100 days of employment • The state government will spend INR 466 crore every year to urban youths from economically over a period of 5 years to implement the weaker sections (EWS). scheme. • The youth would get Rs 4,000 stipend per month 3. CCEA approves launch of KUSUM scheme - The and total Rs 13,500 for the 100 days period Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has would be provided. approved the launch of KUSUM, Kisan Urja Suraksha • During this period, they would be given skill evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan scheme. development training, so that they become • The scheme aims to provide financial and water independent. security to farmers through harnessing solar 8. Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan – The energy capacities of 25.75 gigawatts (GW) by government of Gujarat has launched the second edition 2022. of the water conservation scheme Sujalam Sufalam Jal 4. Minister of Textiles inaugurates two Silk Projects in Sanchay Abhiyan. Assam – The Minister of Textiles, Smriti Irani • The scheme aims to deepen water bodies in the inaugurated two silk projects Soil to Silk Project and Eri state before monsoon to increase storage of Spun Silk Mill in Assam. rainwater to be used during times of scarcity. Note: 9. Odisha government launches KALIA Chhatra Bruti • The Eri Silk Development Project aims to utilize scholarship for Farmers Children – tapioca plantation for dual purpose i.e. the tuber • The government of Odisha has launched the for food and the leaves for Eri silkworm. KALIA Chhatra Bruti scholarship for the children 5. UNICEF Head lauds Poshan Abhiyaan – POSHAN of farmers. Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) is a flagship • The Scholarship is under the KALIA, Krushak programme of the Ministry of Women and Child Assistance for Livelihood and Income Development. Augmentation, a scheme for financing farmers in • Poshan Abhiyaan has got global recognition for Odisha. its effort to eradicate malnutrition. Key points • The Mission is aimed at improving the • Under the Scheme, Odisha would spend Rs 10,180 nutritional status of Children from 0-6 years, crore over three years until 2020-21 in providing Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating financial assistance to cultivators and landless Mothers in a time bound manner during the next agricultural labourers. three years. • The government would provide Rs 10,000 per family 6. Assam launches PRANAM Commission to protect as assistance for cultivation, Rs 5,000 each in the parents of govt employees – The Chief Minister of Kharif and Rabi seasons, for five cropping seasons Assam Sarbananda Sonowal has announced a PRANAM between 2018-19 and 2021-22. Commission to look after the issues related to the 10. UP CM launches Scheme for Adolescent Girls – In Parents Responsibility and Norms for Accountability and Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched Monitoring (PRANAM) Bill. Scheme for Adolescent girls (SAG). The scheme focuses Note: The bill proposes that if any complaints related to on girls aged between 11 to 14 years who have left ignorance towards parents or unmarried differently studies and will take steps for proper nutrition and abled siblings, then 10 or 15 per cent of the employee’s special care for them. salary will be deducted by the government and paid to the parents or differently abled siblings.

14 www.gradeup.co

11. Mega Pension Yojana - Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Income support of Rs. 6,000 per year (500 Rs per Mandhan – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 05, month) 2019 launched the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan • This fund will be transferred directly into the bank (PM-SYM) Yojana at Vastral in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. accounts of beneficiary farmers through 3 equal Key points of the scheme instalments of Rs. 2000 every four months into the • Aim – to provide an assured monthly Aadhar ceded bank accounts of eligible landholding pension provided to workers in the SMFs families. unorganised sector. • 2 per cent interest subvention to farmers pursuing Benefits of the Scheme animal husbandry and fisheries. • Under the scheme, an assured monthly • All farmers severely affected by severe natural pension of Rs 3,000 per month will be calamities will get 2% interest subvention who avail provided to workers in the unorganised loan through Kisan Credit Card and additional 3% sector after 60 years of age. interest subvention upon timely repayment of crop Age limitation: Minimum age to invest in the scheme is 18 loans. years and maximum age is 40 years. Fund allocation Fund allocation • The government has allocated Rs 75,000 crore • A sum of Rs. 500 crores have been allocated towards the scheme for financial year 2020. for the Scheme. First Installment to be paid by 31 March 2019 Monthly contribution • The first instalment to eligible beneficiaries during • To avail of the scheme, workers will have to this financial year 2018-19 shall be for the period contribute a minimal Rs 100 month per from 01 December 2018 to 31 March 2019 month. 13. Mukhyamantri Vridhajan Pension Yojna launched in • This new pension scheme will run alongside - Bihar government has announced a universal old the existing Atal Pension Yojana, which age pension scheme - Mukhyamantri Vridhajan Pension guarantees returns post-retirement. Yojna for all people above 60 years of age (except retired • The scheme is touted as to become the senior citizens of govt. service). world’s biggest pension scheme for the • All eligible person will get RS. 400 monthly unorganised sector in five years. Pension irrespective of caste, religion or 12. Pradhan Mantri kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana community. (PMKSNY) - Finance Minister Piyush Goyal announced • The Scheme will come into force from the 1st this scheme while presenting the Interim Budget 2019- of April 2019. 20 on February 01, 2019. • The Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also Key points of the scheme announced a pension of Rs. 6,000 for • Aim - to provide to provide income support journalists above 60 years of age. to all small and Marginal landholding farmer. 14. Arundhati Scheme launched in Assam - The • The scheme is particularly focused to those government of Assam has announced a new scheme group of farmers (low and marginal income) called Arundhati to provide gold at free of cost to the who hold very less substantial area for brides. cultivation of their crops. Note: Objective - The main objective of the government to launch • Under the scheme, the government of Assam this scheme is the development of farmers by the provision aims to provide 1 Tola Gold, at about Rs 38K of financial assistance which can utilize by the farmer to as on today, to brides belonging to all such increase the crop production every year. communities of Assam where it is customary to provide gold at the time of the wedding. Benefits of the Scheme • The government has set aside Rs 300 cr has • As per government norms, the farmers who hold been for the implementation of the land up-to 2 hectares will get the benefit of Direct Arundhati Scheme.

15 www.gradeup.co

January 2019

1. Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, • For MIG-II, an interest subsidy of 3% has been Saubhagya scheme – 100% Houses in 25 States provided for loan amount up to Rs.12 lakh. Electrified Under Saubhagya Yojana. • Housing loans beyond Rs. 9 lakh and Rs. 12 lakhs will • The country achieved yet another milestone be at non-subsidized rates. in the power sector with the completion of 4. Yarn Bank Scheme: The Ministry of Textiles, electrification in 100% households in 25 Government of India had launched a Yarn Bank Scheme states at year end. as one of the components of PowerTex India scheme • Now, only about 10.48 lakh households are with an aim to avoid fluctuation in yarn price. left to be electrified in 4 states – Assam, The objectives of the Yarn Bank Scheme are: Rajasthan, Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh. • To provide interest-free corpus fund to • The central government launched ‘Pradhan Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) or Consortium Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana’ to enable them to purchase yarn at a (Saubhagya) in September 2017 to achieve wholesale rate and give the yarn at a the goal of universal household reasonable price to the small weavers. electrification in the country by 31 March, • To avoid middleman and local supplier’s 2019. brokerage charge on sales of yarn. 2. Samwad with Students - Indian Space Research • Under the scheme, an interest-free corpus Organisation (Isro) has launched an outreach fund up to Rs.2.00 crore would be provided programme called Samwad with Students (SwS) in to the Special Purpose Vehicle Bengaluru. (SPV)/Consortium formed by power loom • Through the SwS initiative, ISRO aims to weavers. constantly engage youngsters across India to 5. Madya Pradesh launched Employment Scheme “Yuva capture their scientific temperament. Swabhiman Yojana” for Urban Youth - Madhya 3. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, (PMAY) - The Minister Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath announced the for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri launch of the ‘Yuva Swabhiman Yojana’ for youths from announced that the loan subsidy for the middle-income the economically weaker sections in urban areas. group under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, (PMAY) has • Under this scheme, 100 days of employment been extended till 31st March 2020. will be provided to youths from economically Note: weaker sections in urban areas. They will • The Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) is a also be given skill training. component under the PMAY-Urban. 6. Kerala to launch ‘Pravasi Dividend Pension Scheme’ - • Under the scheme, the central government provides The Kerala government has floated a ‘Pravasi Dividend interest subsidy or Pension Scheme’ to provide regular pension to Non- purchase/construction/extension/improvement of a Resident Keralites on a one-time payment of Rs 5 lakh. house to cater Economical Weaker Section 7. Odisha Announces Jiban Sampark Project – Odisha (EWS)/Lower Income Group (LIG)/Middle Income Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced “Jiban Groups (MIG). Sampark” project in partnership with UNICEF India to • The CLSS is being implemented by two central nodal generate awareness about the development and welfare agencies in India, namely Housing Urban initiatives of state government among the Particularly Development Corp and National Housing Bank. Vulnerable Tribal Groups of the state. • For MIG-I, an interest subsidy of 4% has been 8. Atal Solar Krishi Pump Yojana of Maharashtra – provided for loan amounts up to Rs.9 lakh. Aim - to reduce losses due to non-payment of electricity bills and also promote solar energy.

16 www.gradeup.co

Key points • Under the scheme, a group of Indian • The government of Maharashtra has decided diaspora will be taken on a government- to give two LED bulbs, a DC fan and a mobile sponsored tour of religious places in India charging socket as freebies to farmers twice a year. enrolling under the Atal Solar Krishi Pump • The Scheme accords first preference to Yojana. people from Girmitiya countries such as • The government would provide solar pumps Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad at subsidised rates for the farmers. and Tobago, and Jamaica. • Under the Scheme, farmers with less than 13. AMRUT Scheme: Only 20% of Projects completed - The five acres will have to pay 5 per cent of the data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has cost of a 3 HP solar pump while farmers with revealed that - more than five acres will get a 5 HP solar • With only a year to the deadline, only 20 per pump for Rs 30000. cent of the total projects were completed 9. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) - utilising 3 per cent of the total funds • Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) approved. is the government-sponsored crop insurance • States like Bihar and Assam were not able to scheme that integrates multiple stakeholders complete even a single project. on a single platform. • Tamil Nadu topped the list by completing • Under the scheme, there is a uniform 378 projects. premium of 2% to be paid by farmers for all Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Kharif crops, 1.5% for all Rabi crops and 5% Transformation (AMRUT) in case of annual commercial and • Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban horticultural crops. Transformation (AMRUT) launched in 2015 10. Rashtriya Gokul Mission: The Ministry of Agriculture & aims to establish an infrastructure that could Farmers Welfare is implementing the scheme of ensure adequate robust sewage networks Rashtriya Gokul Mission to conserve and develop and water supply for urban transformation. indigenous breeds in a focused and scientific manner. • The mission period is up to March 2020. Key points 14. Sikkim CM launched ‘one family, one job’ scheme - • The scheme comprises of two components Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling launched namely National Programme for Bovine the ‘One Family One Job’ scheme in Gangtok. Breeding (NPBB) and National Mission on • Now, Sikkim has become the first state in the Bovine Productivity (NMBP). country to carry out such a programme for 11. PM launches Gangajal Project - The Prime Minister the people entitling them to state Narendra Modi inaugurated the Gangajal Project. The government employee benefits. Prime Minister launched civic projects worth Rs 2,980 • Under this Scheme, every family one crore in . government job has been allotted. Key points 15. Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) – The Odisha • The Gangajal project aims to provide a better Government has announced a hike of Rs 200 per month supply of drinking water which will benefit in the social security pension under Madhu Babu Pension the residents as well as tourists. Yojana (MBPY). • The Gangajal project aims to bring 140 • The Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) is a cusecs of Ganga water to Agra to help in pension scheme under the Department of meeting the drinking water demands in the Social Security and Empowerment of city. Persons with Disabilities for the disabled, old 12. Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana – Prime Minister age persons in the state of Odisha. Narendra Modi launched the Pravasi Teerth Darshan 16. Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana Yojana. (PMKKKY) -

17 www.gradeup.co

• Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Dharmendra Pradhan has launched the Ujjwala Sanitary Yojana (PMKKKY) is aimed at the welfare of Napkin initiative in Bhubaneswar (Odisha). areas and people affected by mining-related 19. West Bengal Govt. announced two Initiatives for operations, using the funds generated by farmers – District Mineral Foundations (DMFs). • The West Bengal government has announced 17. MP launched 'Jai Kisan Rin Mukti Yojana' - Madhya two welfare initiatives for farmers, part of Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has launched the Rs the ‘Krishi Krishak Bondhu’ scheme. 50,000-crore farm debt-waiver scheme named 'Jai Kisan • The first of the two initiatives will provide Rs Rin Mukti Yojana'. It would benefit 55 lakh small and 2 lakh to the family of a deceased farmer. marginal farmers. • Under the second initiative, farmers would 18. Dharmendra Pradhan launches Ujjwala sanitary get Rs 2,500 twice a year for growing a single napkin initiative - The Union Petroleum Minister crop on one acre of land.

Summits & Conference

September

1. Fourth Indian Ocean Conference 2019 held in Male – • The three-day Dialogue was held from 7-9 Fourth Indian Ocean Conference 2019 was recently held September 2019. in Male, capital of Maldives. • It was chaired by Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog • The two-day conference was held from 3-4 Rajiv Kumar and Chinese side will led by September 2019. chairman, National Development and Reforms • Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was Commission (NDRC). one of the speakers at Indian Ocean Conference 6. 20th India-Russia Summit talks conclude in 2019 event. Vladivostok 2. India’s first-ever helicopter summit held in • The 20th India-Russia annual summit held in – Union Ministry of Civil Aviation organised Vladivostok, Russia. country’s first ever helicopter summit at Sahastradhara • During the summit, India and Russia have signed helidrome in Dehradun, capital of Uttarakhand. The 15 agreements in several areas in the presence of summit was based on theme of expanding connectivity Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President through helicopters. Putin. 3. Union Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh co-chaired the 7. For the first time, India is hosting COP14 of UNCCD Japan–India Defence Ministerial Meeting with Defence • For the first time, India is hosting the Conference Minister of Japan Takeshi lwaya in Tokyo, Japan. of Parties (COP14) to the United Nations 4. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh addresses 8th Seoul Convention to combat desertification (UNCCD). Defense Defence Dialogue 2019 – Defence Minister • The 14th session of the Conference of Parties Rajnath Singh delivered a keynote address at ‘Seoul (COP) of UNCCD began at the India Mart and Defence Dialogue 2019’ during his visit to South Korea. Expo, in Greater Noida. • The theme of Defence Dialogue was- ‘Building • The conference began on September 2 and will Peace Together: Challenges and Vision’. Defence end on September 13, 2019. Minister is on a 3-day visit to Seoul. Note: 5. India hosts 6th India-China Strategic Economic • The current Union Minister of Environment, Forest Dialogue – India is hosting 6th India-China Strategic and Climate Change is Prakash Javadekar. Economic Dialogue (SED) in New Delhi. 8. 4th General Assembly of A-WEB held at Bengaluru

18 www.gradeup.co

• The Election Commission of India hosted the 4th • It was organized by Indian Council of World General Assembly of Association of World Affairs (ICWA). Election Bodies (A-WEB) at Bengaluru on 3rd 11. India-New Development Bank Workshop held in New September 2019. Delhi – A joint India- New Development Bank workshop • India will take over as A-WEB’s Chair for the was held in New Delhi. The workshop was organized to 2019-21 term. enhance the NDB’s engagement with the India’s private 9. 72nd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for and public sector. South-East held in New Delhi - Union Minister of Note: Health and Family Welfare inaugurated the 72nd Session • The NDB is the first Multilateral Development Bank of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia held established by developing countries and emerging in New Delhi. economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South • The committee is the highest decision making Africa. and governing body of WHO in the region. 12. Japan–India Defence Ministerial Meeting held in • Dr Harsh Vardhan was unanimously elected as Tokyo, Japan – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh co- Chair of the 72nd Session of the WHO Regional chaired the Japan–India Defence Ministerial Meeting held Committee for South-East Asia. in Tokyo, Japan. 10. National Conference on ‘India-Africa Partnership in a • Japan’s delegation was represented by Defence Changing Global Order: Priorities, Prospects and Minister of Japan Mr Takeshi lwaya. Challenges’ held in New Delhi.

August

1. 45th G7 Summit held in Biarritz, France – The 45th • The theme for the conference is “Collaboration edition of the G7 Summit was held in Biarritz, France in a free and Open Indo – Pacific”. from 24-26th August 2019. 4. 7th ‘Community Radio Sammelan’ held in New Delhi • It is an informal meeting between France, the • The theme of this year’s Sammelan is United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, ‘Community Radio for SDGs’. Japan, Italy and Canada as well as the European 5. First World Youth Conference held in New Delhi. Union. • President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the • India has been invited as a special guest in the first-ever World Youth Conference. Which was summit. PM Narendra Modi will address sessions organised by the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi on environment, climate, oceans and digital Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable transformation at the G7 Summit. Development (MGIEP) at Vigyan Bhavan, Delhi. Note: • The theme of the conference was ‘Vasudhaiva • The 46th G7 summit will be held in 2020 in the Kutumbakam: Gandhi for the Contemporary United States. World: Celebrating the 150th birth anniversary 2. 4th edition of Internet of Things (IoT) India Congress of Mahatma Gandhi. 2019 6. CoP18 of CITES held in Geneva - The 18th Conference • The 4th edition of India’s largest confluence of digital of the Parties (CoP18) of Convention on International technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) India Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Congress 2019 held in Bengaluru, Karnataka. (CITES) was recently held in Geneva, Switzerland. • Theme is - ‘Mainstreaming the Internet of Things’. 7. 12th India Security Summit held in New Delhi 3. 2019 Indo Pacific Chiefs of Defence (CHOD) • The 12th India Security Summit was held in New Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand Delhi. • The theme of the summit was “Towards New National Cyber Security Strategy”.

19 www.gradeup.co

8. 28th BASIC Ministerial meeting on Climate Change Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) in Thailand’s held in Brazil – BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, Bangkok. India and China) held their 28th Ministerial meeting on 13. HRD Minister inaugurates Technology Expo at IIT Climate Change recently in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Delhi – Human Resources Development Minister • In this meeting, India was represented by Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank inaugurated Technology Expo Union Environment Minister Prakash at IIT Delhi to showcase the latest innovation in the field Javadekar. of science and technology. 9. 5th BRICS Minister of Environment Meeting held in Sao 14. Global Investors Summit 2019 will be held in Paulo, Brazil , J&K • The Indian delegation was led by Union • A 3-day Global Investors Summit 2019 Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate starting from October 12, 2019, will be held Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar. in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) which 10. Udaipur to host India’s Largest Education Brainstorm will provide the state an opportunity to – The 3rd edition of India’s largest education showcase its strengths, strategies, and brainstorming event, the ScooNews Global Educators potential. Fest (SGEF) will held in the city of lakes, Udaipur. 15. Foreign Ministers from South East Asia attend 52nd • The theme for fest is Education for ASEAN summit – Foreign Ministers from South East Asia Sustainability: Moving on from Conformity to are attending the 52nd ASEAN summit in Bangkok. Creativity’. • The annual meeting opened with a call from 11. 3rd International Electric Vehicle (EV) Conclave held the host Thailand for deeper integration to in Manesar – The 3rd International Electric Vehicle expand trade and bolster prosperity in the Conclave was inaugurated at the International Centre for region amid rising global challenges. Automotive Technology (ICAT) in Manesar, Haryana. 16. 22nd National Conference on e-Governance - Shillong, 12. 10th Mekong-Ganga Cooperation in Bangkok – Meghalaya External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended 10th • The theme of the conference is ‘Digital India: Success to Excellence’.

July

1. Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial meeting was 3. 44th session of the World Heritage Committee in held in Caracas, Venezuela 2020 • India’s Permanent Representative to the UN • The city of Fuzhou (China) will host the 44th Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin represented India session of the World Heritage Committee in 2020 in the meeting. • In the event of 43rd session of the World • The movement had 125 members and 25 Heritage Committee meeting 2019 in Baku, observer countries. Azerbaijan( June 30 to July 10,2019), the • The headquarters of NAM is in Central Jakarta, UNESCO(United Nations Educational, Scientific Indonesia and Cultural Organization) announced that the 2. BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting 2019 held in Rio De Chinese city of Fuzhou will host the 44th session Janeiro, Brazil of the World Heritage Committee in 2020. • India was represented by Gen. (retd) VK Singh 4. to host DefExpo 2020 who is the Union Minister of State for Road • Lucknow will host the 11th biennial edition of Transport and Highways. DefExpo from February 5 to 8, 2020. • BRICS member countries - Brazil, Russia, India, • The focus of the Expo will be on “Digital China and South Africa transformation of defence”.

20 www.gradeup.co

• The main theme of DefExpo India-2020 will be • PM Modi outlined 5 I vision in G-20 meet at “India: the emerging defence manufacturing hub” Osaka to maximize digital technology for social 5. The International Police Expo 2019 was held at Pragati benefit. Maidan in New Delhi. • The 5 ‘I’s (5I Vision) are — Inclusiveness, • Theme ‘Challenges to strengthen peace and Indigenisation, Innovation, Investment in security’ infrastructure & International cooperation. 6. The 19th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers • Over the next five years, India aims to become a meeting was held in London, UK. 5 trillion dollar economy and setting up of • India External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar 50,000 start-ups in 5 years was the goal. attended the meeting. • India is also planning to run its first bullet train 7. 14th conference of Parties to be hosted by India - between Mumbai and Ahmedabad with Japan’s India will host the 14th conference of the parties from help. September 02 to 13, 2019 in Greater Noida, Uttar Participants Pradesh. • Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, • Three crucial issues in this conference are Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, desertification, land degradation and drought. Republic of Korea, Republic of South Africa, Russia, 8. First Global Conference for Media Freedom was held in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States London. of America and European Union. • The conference was co-hosted by the UK and 12. Women Startup Summit - Kerala Startup Mission to Canada. host Women Startup Summit in Kochi on August 1 9. The US India Strategic and Partnership Forum 2nd 13. The 3rd edition of International Sunflower Seed and annual leadership summit held in Washington, US. Oil Conference (ISSOC) 2019 will be held in Mumbai 10. India-Nepal Logistics Summit organised in • India will be hosting the 3rd edition of Kathmandu – India-Nepal Logistics Summit was International Sunflower Seed and Oil Conference organised in Kathmandu, Nepal on 28 July 2019. It was (ISSOC) 2019 in Maharashtra, Mumbai (on July inaugurated by Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli. 19-20). Theme for Summit was: Transforming Logistics 14. G-7 Summit to be held in France in August 2019. Landscape. • India has received an invitation from France to 11. G20 Summit 2019 – was held in Osaka, Japan from 28 – attend the outreach Session at the G-7 Summit to 29 June 2019. be held in France in August 2019. Prime Minister Highlights Narendra Modi has accepted an invitation from French President to attend the outreach session • Prime Minister’s sherpa for the G20 summit of the G7 Summit in Biarritz as a special invitee. Suresh Prabhu attended G20 Sherpa meeting at 15. First ever IICTF to be held in India – The first ever Osaka in Japan. India International Cooperatives Trade Fair (IICTF) to be • Sister City Partnership: LoI shared between held in New Delhi, India. Ahmedabad and Kobe – A Letter of Intent (LoI) • It is a unique initiative for taking farmers, was exchanged between Ahmedabad and artisans & other members of cooperatives Japanese city of Kobe for a sister city directly to the global trade arena which will be partnership. held from 11th till 13th October 2019 at Pragati • Osaka Track” - India, South Africa, and Indonesia Maidan, New Delhi. boycotted the “Osaka Track” on the “digital economy”.

21 www.gradeup.co

June

1. G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting – Fukuoka, Japan • Conflict Diamonds means rough diamonds used • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will attend by rebel movements or their allies to finance the two-day meeting of G-20 Finance Ministers conflict aimed at undermining legitimate and central bank governors in Japan. governments. 2. G20 Ministerial meeting on Trade and Digital • It is also described in United Nations Security Economy – Tsukuba, Japan. Council (UNSC) Resolutions. • Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal 5. G-7 Summit 2019 will be held in France in August 2019. represented the Indian delegation. Note: Note: • The 45th G7 summit will be held on August 25– Japan will host the G20 summit for the first time in 27, 2019, in Biarritz, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. 2019 • G7 member countries – China, France, Germany, • Japan is going to host this year G20 Summit in Italy, Japan, UK, US. the city of Osaka. • The President of the European Commission has • The G20 Osaka Summit will be held from June 28 been a permanently welcome participant at all to 29, 2019 in Japan. meetings and decision-making since 1981. • The summit under Japanese presidency is • The 44th G7 summit was held on 8–9 June 2018, cantered around the theme "Human centered in La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada. future society". 6. 2nd Global Disability Summit - Buenos Aires, Argentina 3. Saudi Arabia to host G20 Summit in 2020 was held from 6th June to 8th June 2019. Note: • India a delegation headed by Union Minister for • Saudi Arabia (first G20 meeting in the Arab Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand world) will host the G20 summit on 21-22 Gehlot. November 2020 in its capital Riyadh. • ‘1st Global Disability Summit’ held at London, UK • Italy will host the G20 Summit in 2021. in July 2018. • India will host the G20 Summit in 2022 when the 7. 14th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Summit country celebrates its 75th year of was held in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. 8. Fifth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog Independence. held in New Delhi. 4. The Intersessional meeting of Kimberley Process • The fifth meeting of the Governing Council of (KP) was held in Mumbai. NITI Aayog was held under the chairmanship of Note: the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in New • India is one of the founder members of Delhi. Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. 9. World Food India to be held in New Delhi • At present, KPCS has 55 members representing • The second edition of World Food India to be 82 countries including EU with 28 members. held from 1st to 4th November 2019 in New • The Kimberley Process is a joint initiative Delhi, which will position India as Food involving Government, international diamond Processing Destination of the World. industry and civil society to stem the flow of • The tagline of the event will be “Forging Conflict Diamonds. Partnerships for Growth”.

22 www.gradeup.co

May

1. UN to host 2020 Ocean Conference in Lisbon – United • On 24 April 2008, , India and Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided to hold its Afghanistan signed a framework agreement to 2020 high-level conference in Portugal's Lisbon to buy natural gas from Turkmenistan. support the Implementation of the Sustainable 5. SCO Meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers held in Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the Bishkek, . oceans, seas and marine resources. • Sushma Swaraj represented India in the meeting. 2. 72nd World Health Assembly - Geneva, Switzerland 6. 17th Investiture Ceremony of Border Security Force, BSF Note: The World Health Assembly is the decision-making held in New Delhi. body of the World Health Organization (WHO). • National Security Advisor Ajit Doval addresses • The theme of 2019 World Health Assembly (72nd the event. session) was “Universal Health Coverage” focusing 7. WTO Ministerial meeting of developing countries strongly on primary health care. meeting held in – New Delhi, India 3. The 11th Joint Consular Committee Meeting between 8. Regional heads of Customs Administration of Asia Pacific India and Iran took place in New Delhi. Region of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) held in 4. TAPI Pipeline meeting held in Turkmenistan - The Kochi Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas 9. 15th Finance Commission’s meeting with RBI held in - pipeline meeting was held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Mumbai, Maharashtra • The ground-breaking of the TAPI gas pipeline 10. The 16th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Cooperation will be held in Pakistan in October 2019. Dialogue (ACD) was held in - Doha, Qatar. About TAPI Gas Pipeline - Note: The theme of the meeting was “Partners in • The Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Progress”. Pipeline, also known as Trans-Afghanistan 11. The G7’s (Group of Seven) Environment Ministers meet Pipeline, is a natural gas pipeline being developed by the Asian Development Bank to discuss Climate crisis held in - Metz, France (ADB). Note: The G-7 groups together the US, Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Japan, and Germany.

April 2019

1. Saudi Arabia to host G20 Summit in 2020 governors from 19 countries and the European Note: Union. • Saudi Arabia (first G20 meeting in the Arab • It was founded in 1999 with the aim to discuss world) will host the G20 summit on 21-22 policy pertaining to the promotion of November 2020 in its capital Riyadh. international financial stability. • First-ever ‘Japan’ will host this year's G20 2. Global Water Summit 2019 – London, United Kingdom summit in Osaka (28-29 June 2019). 3. The second edition of Belt and Road Forum (BRF) was • Italy will host the G20 Summit in 2021. held in Beijing, China • India will host the G20 Summit in 2022 when the Note: The theme of this event was “Belt and Road country celebrates its 75th year of Cooperation: Shaping a Brighter Shared Future”. Independence. 4. 5th Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Media Summit About G-20 on Climate Action and Disaster Preparedness held in • The G20 (Group of Twenty) is an international Kathmandu, Nepal forum for the governments and central bank Note:

23 www.gradeup.co

• The theme of the two-day summit was “Media Note: The aim of the inaugural ‘AI Everything (AIE)’ is to Solutions for Sustainable Future: Saving Lives, empower global dialogue on the future of government, Building Resilient Communities”. business and society. 5. World’s foremost Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit – 6. The Resilient Cities Asia-Pacific (RCAP) 2019 Congress Dubai, UAE held in – New Delhi 7. 17th Middle East and North Africa (MENA) World Economic Forum held in – Jordan

March 2019 1. FinTech Conclave held in - New Delhi 3. 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Note: Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) – Abu Dhabi, • NITI Aayog has organized FinTech Conclave at UAE Dr. Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi. Note: • The Conclave was inaugurated by RBI Governor • The External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had Shaktikanta Das. been invited by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al 2. The first BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Nahyan, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Africa) Sherpa meeting held in – Curitiba, Brazil Emirates as the “Guest of Honour” to address the Note: Inaugural Plenary. • 11th BRICS Summit 2019 will be held in Brazil 4. 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project the capital city Brasilia. Partnerships held in – New Delhi • In 2020, Russia will host the 12th BRICS Summit. 5. International Digital Health Symposium held in – New • BRICS member countries include - Brazil, Russia, Delhi India, China and South Africa. Note: Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, inaugurated the event.

February 2019

1. The 16th edition of BioAsia 2019 Asia’s largest • The theme of the summit was, ‘Beyond Politics: biotechnology and life-sciences forum was conducted in- Defining National Priorities’. Hyderabad, Telangana. 4. 4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit held in – Note: New Delhi • The theme of the conference was ‘Life Sciences Note: 4.0 – Disrupt the Disruption’. • The summit was hosted by the Ministry of Health • It was inaugurated by the Governor of Telangana and Family Welfare in collaboration with the E.S.L Narasimhan. World Health Organization (WHO) and the 2. ‘Aviation Conclave 2019’ – New Delhi Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP). Note: 5. Conference on Future of Indian Banking – New Delhi • The Ministry of Civil Aviation organized the Note: conclave. • Niti Ayog had hosted the conference in • Theme -''flying for all''. association with the Foundation for Economic 3. Rising India Summit 2019 – New Delhi Growth and Welfare (EGROW Foundation). Note: 6. International Vision Zero Conference - Mumbai, • Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Maharashtra Network-18 Rising India Summit, held in New 7. 8th World CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Delhi and laid out his vision for a ‘New India ‘. Congress 2019 – Mumbai, Maharashtra

24 www.gradeup.co

Note: The theme of the year 2019 is ‘Sustainable Association of India, hosted its 1st LAWASIA Human Development Goals (SDGs)’ to focus on corporate Rights Conference in New Delhi. strategies, innovation, and strategic alliances. Dr. • The theme of the conference was “State Soumitro Chakraborty won ‘CEO of the year’ award. Power, Business and Human Rights: 8. 4th India-ASEAN Expo and Summit – New Delhi Contemporary Challenges”. 9. 4th Agri Leadership Summit 2019 - Sonipat, Haryana 15. 2019 Asia LPG Summit was held in New Delhi - Mr. Note: Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for petroleum and • Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer’s natural gas, inaugurated the 2019 Asia LPG summit in Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh, inaugurated the New Delhi. Summit Note: India is the 2nd largest consumer of liquified • The theme of the summit was “Entrepreneurship natural gas (LPG) in the world after China. & Agri-Business; Agri Allied – A Promising Sector 16. India to host 13th Conference of Parties of and Agri Service- Direct Marketing”. Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species – 10. World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2019 The conference will be held from 15th to 22nd February held in - New Delhi 2020 at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Note: Note: • The theme of WSDS 2019 was ‘Attaining the • Union Environment Minister, Dr. Harsh 2030 Agenda: delivering on our promise’. Vardhan, announced the Great Indian • Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji was Bustard (GIB) as the mascot for the 13th honoured with the Sustainable Development Conference of Parties (COP) of the UN Leadership Award 2019 for his outstanding Convention on the Conservation of Migratory contributions towards sustainable development Species (CMS) to be held in Gujarat in 2020. in Fiji. • He also revealed that the bird has been • The Energy and Resources Institute’ (TERI) fondly named by the ministry as ‘Gibi‘. organized the summit. 17. The 5th International Dam Safety Conference held in • Summit was inaugurated by Vice President Shri Bhubaneswar, Odisha. M. Venkaiah Naidu. Note: Globally India ranks third after China and 11. Early Ed Asia 2019, the two-day event, which is Asia’s the USA in terms of the number of large dams with largest conference on Early Childhood, was held in 5264 large dams in operation and 437 large dams , Rajasthan. The motto of the event was ‘Our under construction. Children. Our Future’. 18. CREDAI’s Event ‘YouthCon-19’ held in New Delhi - 12. India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue and India-U.S. CEO Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the CREDAI Forum held in - New Delhi YouthCon -19 in New Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium. Note: Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Civil • The event is organized by the Confederation Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, chaired the meeting. of Real Estate Developers’ Association of 13. 7th World Government Summit held in Dubai - The India, CREDAI. seventh session of the World Government Summit held • The theme for this YouthCon is ‘Next in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Generation’. 14. 1st LAWASIA Human Rights Conference 2019 held in New Delhi – LAWASIA, in association with the Bar

January 2019

1. 2nd World Integrated Medicine Forum 2019 held • Union Minister of State (Independent in Goa Charge) for AYUSH Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, inaugurated the event.

25 www.gradeup.co

• The theme for the forum is ‘Regulation of • The theme of the Conference is ‘Paints Pe Homeopathic Medical Products; Advancing Charcha – Naye Aayaam’. global collaboration’. 10. First ‘National Consultation on Child Protection’ for 2. BRICS Summit 2019 - Brazil 2019 was held in New Delhi. 3. Global Investors Meet 2019 held in Chennai. 11. First Global Aviation Summit held in Mumbai 4. International Conference on ‘Making our Elections • The theme of the summit is “Flying for all”. Inclusive and Accessible’ held in New Delhi • It was organized by the Ministry of Civil • The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Aviation (MoCA) in collaboration with FICCI. Shri Sunil Arora and Election Commissioner 12. 4th edition of Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi Shri Ashok Lavasa inaugurated the event. • The Theme of the Dialogue was “A World • The event was held on the occasion of 9th Reorder: New Geometries; Fluid National Voters Day which is observed on Partnerships; Uncertain Outcomes”. 25th January every year. • It was organized by Ministry of External 5. 10th edition of the India Rubber Expo - 2019 (Asia's Affairs in partnership with Observer largest rubber expo) was held in Mumbai. Research Foundation. 6. World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meet held in 13. 106th Session of Indian Science Congress Davos, Switzerland. Concludes in • The theme of the event is ‘Globalization 4.0: • It was concluded in Lovely Professional Shaping a Global Architecture in the Age of University, Jalandhar on 07 January 2019. the Fourth Industrial Revolution’. • It was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime 7. 9th International Micro Irrigation conference held in Minister Shri Narendra Modi and attended Aurangabad, Maharashtra. by Union Science & Technology Minister Dr. • The conference focused on the theme of Harsh Vardhanon. “Micro Irrigation and Modern • As a part of the Indian Science Congress, Agriculture”. Women’s Science Congress was held which 8. 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas held in , was inaugurated by Union Minister for Uttar Pradesh Textiles & Industry Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani. • The theme of PBD convention 2019 is “Role • The Children’s Science Congress was of Diaspora in Building New India”. inaugurated by the Nobel Laureates Avram 9. 29th Indian Paint Conference 2019 held in Agra, Hershko from Israel and F. Duncan M. Uttar Pradesh Haldane from USA.

26 www.gradeup.co

Important Committees

1. Tapan Ray committee – The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up a working group to review the regulatory and supervisory framework for core investment companies (CICs). 2. Ramesh Chand (Member, NITI Aayog) committee – Central Government has constituted Working Group for the revision of the current series of Wholesale Price Index (Base 2011-12). 3. Devendra Fadnavis (CM of Maharashtra) - PM Narendra Modi has constituted a high-powered Committee of Chief Ministers (CMs) for ‘Transformation of Indian Agriculture’. 1. Aruna Sundararajan Committee - – Union Telecom Minister Shankar Prasad had constituted a committee chaired by Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan to spell out revival plans for Telecom sector. 4. P K Sinha (Cabinet Secretary) panel - Central Government has formed a committee for coordination among the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the state governments after a tug of war between the two ministries. The panel formation will help in speeding up hydrocarbon exploration-related clearances. 5. Nandan Nilekani committee – To encourage digital payments, the committee has suggested a host of measures, including elimination of charges, round-the-clock RTGS and NEFT facility, and duty-free import of point-of-sales machines. 6. V G Kannan committee - The Reserve Bank of India constituted a six-member committee to review the ATM interchange fee structure with a “view to increase the ATM deployment in the unbanked areas”. • The committee will be led by V G Kannan, Chief Executive, Indian Banks Association. 7. Anil Kakodkar & Sidharth Pradhan committee - to discuss research-related synergies and tax issues for state-run oil companies. The committee has recommended strategies to reduce import dependency. 8. TN Manoharan committee (Chairman Canara Bank)- on the Development of Secondary Market for Corporate Loans to come up with recommendations to increase the efficiencies of the debt market and aid in the resolution of stressed assets. 9. Kasturirangan committee - Former ISRO chief Dr. Kasturirangan led Committee submitted the draft National Educational Policy (NEP) to HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in New Delhi. 10. Amitabh Kant (Niti Aayog CEO) committee - National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, which is being set up to promote clean and sustainable mobility initiatives in the country. 11. Suresh Mathur committee – to review the regulatory framework on microinsurance and recommend measures to increase the demand for such products. 12. Bimal Jalan Panel - to suggest how the central bank should handle its reserves and whether it can transfer its surplus to the government. 13. Anoop Satpathy Committee - Recommends Rs 9,750 Monthly National Minimum Wage Note: • submitted its report on “Determining the Methodology for Fixation of the National Minimum Wage” to the Government. • It recommended the fixation of need-based National Minimum Wage (NMW) for India at Rs 375 per day or Rs 9,750 per month irrespective of sectors, skills, occupations and rural-urban locations for a family comprising of 3.6 consumption units. • The Present NMW is Rs. 4,576. 14. Sanjeev Sharma (income tax commissioner) Committee - to look into the matter of taxation related pain points and submit its final report and recommendations by mid-March.

27

www.gradeup.co 15. CPWD Constitutes 8-member Committee to Chart Out Design Policy - The Central Works Public Department (CPWD) has constituted an expert committee to formulate a design policy for building construction and infrastructure development. • The committee has been set up under the chairmanship of CPWD’s Additional Director General M K Sharma. 16. Environment Ministry Constitutes Committee to Implement National Clean Air Programme - The Union Environment Ministry has constituted a committee to implement the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which aims to reduce particulate matter (PM) pollution by 20%-30% in at least 102 cities by 2024. • The committee will be chaired by the Secretary, Union Environment Ministry. It would be headquartered in New Delhi. 17. B V R Mohan Reddy committee - not to allow setting up of new Engineering colleges from 2020. Note: The Panel headed by IIT-Hyderabad chairman B V R Mohan Reddy has suggested All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) not to allow

18. BP Sharma (retired GOI secretary) - The Union Government has constituted an expert committee to “revisit the criteria” for determining the “creamy layer” for OBCs which was laid down in 1993. Note: The committee will “revisit the criteria evolved by the Prasad committee” and give recommendations for “redefining, simplifying and streamlining the concept of creamy layer” while keeping in view the SC’s observations in Indira Sawhney case. 19. Nandan Nilekani committee - to boost digital payments and enhance financial inclusion. 20. U.K. Sinha committee - to suggest long-term solutions for the economic and financial sustainability of the MSME sector. 21. Committee headed by NITI Aayog member (health) - The Union government has constituted a high-power committee headed by NITI Aayog member (health) to monitor the pricing of medicines and healthcare products. 22. Government sets up Committee to Explore Prepaid Payments by Discoms to Generator Companies - On the recommendation of Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, the government constituted a committee under the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to explore prepaid payments by state electricity distribution companies to power plants. 23. Praveen Kutumbe committee - Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has set up a panel headed by Praveen Kutumbe, to identify domestically systematically important insurers (SIIs) and an augmented regulatory framework is logically established in this regard. 24. Cherukuri Raghavendra Babu committee - The Madras High Court has set up an expert committee to find a solution to root out invasive species of plants from the Western Ghats. 25. Sushil Modi Committee - Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi will head the 7-member committee to look into revenue shortfall being faced by the states after the GST roll-out and suggest steps for augmenting collections. 26. Nitin Patel committee - The government has constituted a seven-member Group of Ministers (GoM) to boost the real estate sector under the GST regime. Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Nitin Patel is the convener of the GoM. 27. Sankar De committee - SEBI constituted a “Research Advisory” committee which will assist in formulating policy to undertake research relevant for development and regulation of capital markets. The committee is headed by Sankar De. 28. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai committee – The Lokpal Search Committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai held its first meeting and discussed modalities related to the appointments of the chief and members of Lokpal. 29. SC sets up panel for to suggest reforms for holding competitive exams - The Supreme Court favoured setting up of a three-member high-powered committee comprising Nandan Nilekani, a co-founder of tech giant Infosys, and renowned computer scientist Vijay P Bhatkar to suggest reforms for conducting of competitive examinations fairly by government bodies. 30. Sudhir Mungantiwar committee (Maharashtra Finance Minister) – to examine uniformity of taxation on lottery under GST or other issues arising out of it. Note: Under GST, state-organized lottery falls under the 12% tax slab while state-authorized lottery attracts 28% tax. 31. MS Swaminathan committee - The Delhi government has decided to introduce the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers based on the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers (NCF) headed by MS Swaminathan.

28 www.gradeup.co • The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) was constituted on November 18, 2004 under the chairmanship of Professor M.S. Swaminathan. 32. Umesh Sinha committee - The Committee headed Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha has submitted the report on revisiting the section 126 of the Representation of the People Act. • The committee had nine officers from the Election Commission and one nominated member each from I&B Ministry, Law Ministry, IT Ministry, National Broadcasters Association and Press Council of India. 33. Dr Jitendra Nagpal committee - The Union Human Resource Development Ministry has constituted a task force to look into the issues of suicides of the students in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNV) residential schools. • The task force has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Psychiatrist, Dr Jitendra Nagpal. 34. Akhilesh Ranjan Committee – for drafting New Direct Tax Legislation (Law) 35. Dr. Bibek Debroy (The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister) Committee - to assess key challenges and suggest reforms in logistics development and associated commerce. 36. Rajiv Kumar (NITI Aayog Vice Chairman) Committee – to look at selling of 149 small and marginal oil and gas fields of state-owned the Oil and Natural Gas Corporatio (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL) to private and foreign companies to boost domestic output. 37. Namrita Mahindro committee - to promote Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) technology to drive economic growth, job creation, and skill development in the country. Note: • The committee is formed by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). • IAMAI headquartered is in Mumbai.

India's Ranking in Different Indexes/Report 2019

1. India ranked at 34th position on world travel and tourism competitiveness index • According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) report, India has jumped 6 places to claim 34th spot on world Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2019. • The WEF report shows, over 1.5 crore international tourists arrived in India while the share of travel and tourism industry was 3.6 per cent and that of industry employment was 5.1 per cent. • Spain tops the ranking index followed by France and Germany. • Other countries in the top 10 include Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Canada, and Switzerland.

2. India among top 10 nations in gold reserves • India has surpassed the Netherlands to move into the list of top10 countries in terms of total gold reserves. • According to the World Gold Council, India has gold reserves totalling 618.2 tonnes, which is marginally higher than the Netherlands’ reserves of 612.5 tonnes. • According to the World Gold Council, the U.S. leads the country list with total gold reserves of 8,133.5 tonnes followed by Germany with 3,366.8 tonnes. • In terms of individual countries, India actually ranks 9th since the International Monetary Fund (IMF) occupies the third position after the U.S. and Germany.

3. ‘Statue of Unity’, Mumbai’s Soho House among Time’s 100 greatest places in the world • The 597-ft tall ‘Statue of Unity’ in Gujarat and Mumbai’s Soho House have been featured by the Time magazine in its second annual list of the 2019 World’s greatest places, in a compilation of 100 new and newly “noteworthy destinations.

29 www.gradeup.co • The ‘Statue of Unity’, the world’s tallest statue, is a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, independent India’s first home minister as well as deputy prime minister. • Soho House Mumbai is Asia’s first Soho House that puts a local spin on the “formula that has allowed Nick Jones’ members-­only clubs to blossom across the US and Europe”.

4. India ranks 9th on “Global Happiness Survey” by Ipsos • According to a “Global Happiness Survey” by Ipsos, Indian has been ranked 9th on the happiness index among 28 global markets. • For India, there has been a six per cent drop (from 83 per cent in 2018 to 77 per cent in 2019). • Australia and Canada at the top spot (at 86 per cent) have emerged as the happiest nations of the world, While Russia (47 per cent) emerged at the bottom of the heap, among the 28 markets.

5. Delhi, Mumbai fall in EIU’s Global Liveability Index 2019 • Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index for 2019, released with both Delhi and Mumbai sliding down ranks. • New Delhi dropped 6 places to 118, from 112 last year and Mumbai also fell in this year’s index, by two places to 119, from 117 last year. • Vienna in Austria, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia make the top three cities. • The survey ranks countries across indicators including stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure, culture and environment.

6. Mumbai at 45th spot and Delhi at 52nd in World Safe Cities Index 2019 • According to a report of Economist Intelligence Unit, Mumbai has been ranked as the 45th safest city on the Safe Cities Index (SCI) 2019, while Delhi stood at the 52nd position. • Tokyo taking the top spot, while Singapore and Osaka came 2nd and 3rd in the list.

7. Karnataka tops the State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index – • The State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index-SARAL was launched during the Review Planning and Monitoring (RPM) Meeting with States and State Power Utilities. • Karnataka has topped the index which evaluates Indian states based on their attractiveness for rooftop development. • SARAL has been designed collaboratively by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Ernst & Young (EY).

8. India slips to 7th largest economy in 2018 • According to the World Bank, India has been pushed to the 7th place in the global GDP rankings in 2018. • In 2017, India had emerged as the 6th largest economy. • The US remains the top economy with a GDP of $20.5 trillion in 2018. • China was the 2nd largest economy with $13.6 trillion, while Japan took the 3rd place with $5 trillion. • India’s GDP was at $2.7 trillion in 2018, while UK and France were at $2.8 trillion. • India still remains the fastest-growing major economy in the world.

9. India is the 46th highest risk country in the world: Water Stress Index 2019 • According to the Water Stress Index 2019, formulated by London-based risk analytics firm Verisk Maplecroft, India is the 46th highest risk country in the world. • 11 out of India’s 20 largest cities face an ‘extreme risk’ of water stress and 7 are in the ‘high risk’ category. Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nashik, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Indore are among the cities facing ‘extreme risk’. • Chennai is the “tip of the iceberg” for India’s water-stressed cities.

30 www.gradeup.co

10. Global Innovation Index 2019 – On July 24, 2019, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal launched the 12th Edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII) for the year 2019 in New Delhi. • The theme of the 2019 GII is “Creating Healthy Lives – The Future of Medical Innovation”. • Global Index is published annually by Cornell University, INSEAD (Institute Européen d’Administration des Affaires) and the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and GII Knowledge Partners. • It ranked 129 economies based on 80 indicators, ranging from intellectual property filing rates to mobile- application creation, education spending and scientific and technical publications. • The headquarters of World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is in Geneva, Switzerland. Ranking • India was ranked 52nd in 2019 with the score 36.58 out of 100 from 57th position in 2018. • Top 3 countries – Switzerland, Sweden and United States of America.

11. Global Multidimensional Poverty Index - • The MPI provides a comprehensive and in-depth picture of global poverty – in all its dimensions – and monitors progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 – to end poverty in all its forms. • The global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is published by United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) Key findings • Across 101 countries, 1.3 billion people—23.1 percent—are multidimensionally poor. • Two-thirds of multidimensionally poor people live in middle-income countries. • One in every three children (under the age of 10) and every second child below the age of 18 years is multidimensionally poor in the world. • About 34% of the world’s children and 17.5% adults covered under MPI survey are multidimensionally poor. • One adult in six is multidimensionally poor compared with one child in three, hence children are more prone to multidimensional poverty than adults. Indian Scenario • India’s MPI value reduced from 0.283 in 2005-06 to 0.123 in 2015-16. • India has lifted 271 million people out of poverty between 2006 and 2016, recording the fastest reductions in the multidimensional poverty index. • India and Cambodia has reduced their MPI values the fastest among the 10 selected countries for which changes over time were analysed. • Jharkhand has reduced the incidence of poverty at a faster pace than other regions (reduced the incidence of multidimensional poverty from 74.9% in 2005-06 to 46.5% in 2015-16). • India (along with Ethiopia and Peru) significantly reduced deprivations in all 10 indicators, namely nutrition, sanitation, child mortality, drinking water, years of schooling, electricity, school attendance, housing, cooking fuel and assets. • MPI reduced from 640 million people (55.1%) in 2005-2006 to 369 million people (27.9%) in 2015-16.

12. best performing state in the field of education in the Performance Grading Index 2017-18 • Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) informed that in the Performance Grading Index 2017-18, Chandigarh was ranked best among States and Union territories (UTs) in the field of education. • The Index ranked the states on the basis of 5 parameters including learning outcomes and quality, access, infrastructure and facilities, equity and governance process. 36 States/ UTs were ranked in the Index. • Other Rankings: Kerala was ranked second followed by Gujarat (3), Haryana (4), Tamil Nadu (5), Punjab (7), Rajasthan (8), Delhi (9). • Least Rankings: Arunachal Pradesh (36), Nagaland (35) and Meghalaya (34) were the least performing states. • Literacy: Kerala had the highest literacy rate followed by Lakshadweep and Mizoram.

31 www.gradeup.co 13. Public Affairs Index 2018: Kerala Best Governed State, Bihar Worst • Kerala is the best governed state in the country, according to a survey released by a Bengaluru think-tank, Public Affairs Centre. • As per the report, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and Gujarat are among the top five states delivering good governance. • Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha ranked the lowest on the index, indicating higher social and economic inequalities. • Among smaller states – with the population less than two crore – Himachal Pradesh topped the list of states with good governance, followed by Goa, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura. • Meghalaya performed the worst in this list. Manipur, Nagaland, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir were the other poor performers. • This year’s index also measured how child-friendly each state is. Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram topped this index.

14. India ranked 86th in the Henley Passport Index 2019 • The Henley Passport Index 2019 have ranked the Indian passport on the 86th position with a mobility score of 58. • Japan and Singapore hold the top spot with a score of 189. • The index includes 199 passports and 227 travel destinations including micro-states and territories.

15. Global Peace Index 2019: India Ranks 141 • India’s ranked141 among 163 countries on the Global Peace Index 2019. • Iceland remains the most peaceful country and Afghanistan the least peaceful nation. • New Zealand has been ranked the second most peaceful country. • Portugal was ranked third, and Austria fourth and Denmark was fifth most peaceful country in the world. • The report is prepared by Australian think tank Institute for Economics & Peace.

16. Money in Swiss banks: India ranked 74 – India has ranked at 74th place in terms of money parked by its citizens with Swiss banks by the end of 2018. • While with maximum holdings, UK (United Kingdom) has remained top in the list. • The report is compiled by the Swiss National Bank (SNB). • India was ranked 73rd in 2018. • The US remains on the second with CHF 144 billion accounts 10.3% of foreign funds. About Swiss National Bank: • It is the central bank of Switzerland, and is therefore responsible for the monetary policy of the nation of Switzerland and also for the issuing of Swiss franc banknotes • Headquarters: Bern and Zurich • Chairman: Thomas Jordan

17. Maharashtra ranks first in NITI Aayog’s AMFFR Index – Maharashtra achieves first rank in NITI Aayog launched “Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index (AMFFRI)”. • Gujarat secured the second rank with a score of 71.5 out of 100, followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. • The index ranks states based on the degree of reforms they have undertaken in agricultural marketing. • AMFFRI has a score that can have minimum value “0” implying no reforms and maximum value “100” implying complete reforms in the selected areas.

18. NITI Aayog’s Health Index 2019 - Kerala took the top spot among larger states for overall performance on health indicators in a NITI Aayog report, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. • Uttar Pradesh is the worst state in the index.

32 www.gradeup.co Key points • Gujarat, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh stood at fourth, fifth and sixth spots. • The ranking was done under three categories -- larger states, smaller states and Union territories (UTs) -- to ensure comparison among similar entities. • In terms of annual incremental performance among the larger states, Haryana, Rajasthan and Jharkhand are the top-three states. • Among the smaller states, Mizoram ranked first in overall performance, while Tripura and Manipur were the top- two states in terms of incremental performance. • Among the UTs, Chandigarh ranked first in overall performance, while Dadra and Nagar Haveli improved the most. • Niti Aayog member Vinod Kumar Paul said the Union government should spend 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product on health. • Kerala and Tamil Nadu have already reached the 2030 SDG target for neonatal mortality rate (NMR), which is 12 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births. • The report has been prepared in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with technical assistance from the World Bank. • The second round of the Health Index took into account the period 2015-16 (base year) to 2017-18 (reference year).

19. Global Gender Equality Index Released: India Ranks 95 • India ranked 95th out of 129 countries in a new index that measures global gender equality looking at aspects such as poverty, health, education, literacy, political representation and equality at the workplace. • The list was topped by Denmark followed by Finland and Sweden. • Chad was placed at bottom most position (129th). • The Index is developed by Equal Measures 2030, a partnership effort of regional and global organisations. • Indicators: It includes 51 indicators across 14 of 17 official Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

20. End of Childhood Index 2019 – • India was ranked 113 in 176 countries on the wellbeing of children. • The Index was released by ‘Save the Children’, a United Kingdom (UK) based non-profit organisation which works for child rights. • The Index was topped by Singapore.

21. IIT Bombay has emerged the country’s best university: QS Rankings • IIT Bombay has emerged the country’s best university for the second consecutive year in the 2019 QS World University Ranking. • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was named the world’s best for a record eighth consecutive year. • Twenty-three Indian institutes feature in the sixteenth edition of the QS World University Ranking in which IIT Bombay (152), IIT Delhi (182) and Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (184) are ranked in the global top 200. • The ranking is produced by global higher education consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds, QS ranks the world’s top 1,000 universities.

22. IMD World Competitiveness Rankings 2019 • India ranked at 43rd position in the most competitive economy in the world. • In 2018 India was ranked at 44th place.

33 www.gradeup.co • Singapore has grabbed the top position. • Hong Kong SAR is in second position and US has slipped to the third place in 2019. • The ranking is compiled by International Institute for Management Development (IMD).

23. Global Startup Ecosystem – India was ranked 17th position among 100 countries. • It was released by Startup Blink. • The report ranks countries based on the strength of its startup ecosystem. • China was ranked 27th. • Bangalore, New Delhi, and Mumbai were the top cities in the Indian startup ecosystem. • Top three countries are: United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

24. India Ranks 140th In World Press Freedom Index – • India ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index 2019. • Index is released by Reporters Without Borders. • The index is topped by Norway followed by Finland and Sweden.

25. WEF Global Energy Transition Index – India rank 76th on a global energy transition index. • The report stated that India is amongst the countries with high pollution levels and has a relatively high CO2 intensity in its energy system. • Sweden remains on the top and is followed by Switzerland and Norway in the top three. • The index is compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF).

26. Inclusive Internet Index 2019 – India has been ranked 47th. • Sweden has topped the rankings followed by Singapore and the US. • The Inclusive Internet Index 2019 was prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for Facebook. • The ‘Inclusive Internet’ score was based on the scores of availability, affordability, relevance & readiness categories.

27. International IP index 2019 • India has jumped eight places to 36th position on the International Intellectual Property (IP) Index. • The US, the UK, Sweden, France and Germany remained the top five economies on the intellectual property index in 2019 • In 2018, India was ranked at 44th position.

28. Corruption Perception Index 2018 • India has improved its ranking by 3 points by moving onto 78th position in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2018 published by Transparency International. • China and Pakistan, in a list of 180 countries, lagged far behind than India at 87th and 117th position respectively.

29. India ranks 54th in 'Bloomberg Innovation Index’ of 60 economies • India has grabbed the 54th spot among 60 countries in the Bloomberg Innovation Index with a score of 47.93 out of 100. • South Korea has topped the Bloomberg Innovation Index for the sixth time in a row with a total score of 87.38. • Germany ranked second, Finland stood on the third spot.

30. Global Talent Competitive Index 2019: • India ranked at 80th positions on the Global Talent Competitive Index (GTCI) 2019. • The index is released by INSEAD business school in partnership with Tata Communications and Adecco Group. • Switzerland topped the index which is followed by Singapore and the US. • Last year in 2018, India was ranked at 81st position.

34 www.gradeup.co

31. Democracy Index 2019: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released the Democracy Index which ranks 167 countries by 60 indicators across five broad categories. • Top 3 countries in the list are – Norway, Iceland and Sweden. • Australia and New Zealand are the only “full democracies” in the entire Asia-Pacific region • India was at the 41st place with a score of 7.23/10 and was placed in the flawed democracies category.

32. Cancer Preparedness Index 2019 - India Ranks 19th • India was ranked 19th out of 28 countries in the Index. • Index is released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). • Top 3 countries are Australia (1st), Netherlands (2nd) and Germany (3rd). • Bottom three are Saudi Arabia (28th), Romania (27th) and Egypt (26th).

33. Global Startup Ecosystem – India was ranked 17th position among 100 countries. • It was released by StartupBlink. • The report ranks countries based on the strength of its startup ecosystem. • China was ranked 27th. • Bangalore, New Delhi, and Mumbai were the top cities in the Indian startup ecosystem. • Top three countries are: United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

34. India Ranks 140th In World Press Freedom Index – • India ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index 2019. • Index is released by Reporters Without Borders. • The index is topped by Norway followed by Finland and Sweden.

35. WEF Global Energy Transition Index – India rank 76th on a global energy transition index. • The report stated that India is amongst the countries with high pollution levels and has a relatively high CO2 intensity in its energy system. • Sweden remains on the top and is followed by Switzerland and Norway in the top three. • The index is compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF).

36. World Happiness Report 2019 – India is ranked 140th out of 156 nations. • The World Happiness Report was released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations. • For the second consecutive year, Finland topped the list. • Denmark ranked second followed by Norway. • Pakistan ranked 67th, Bhutan 95th, China 93rd, Bangladesh 125th, and Sri Lanka 130th while South Sudan ranked last in the World Happiness Report.

37. India ranks 16th in terms of Highest Number of impacted Species in Hotspots – A recent study published in PLOS Biology found that human impacts on species occur across 84% of the earth’s surface and India ranks 16th in such impacts, with 35 species impacted on an average. • Malaysia ranks 1st among the countries with the highest number of impacted species (125). • Southeast Asian tropical forests, including those in India’s Western Ghats, Himalaya, and north-east, are among the ‘hotspots’ of threatened species. • However, these very areas are also ‘cool-spots’ (the world’s last refuges where high numbers of threatened species still persist).

35 www.gradeup.co 38. Inclusive Internet Index 2019 – India has been ranked 47th. • Sweden has topped the rankings followed by Singapore and the US. • The Inclusive Internet Index 2019 was prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for Facebook. • The ‘Inclusive Internet’ score was based on the scores of availability, affordability, relevance and readiness categories.

39. International IP index 2019 • India has jumped eight places to 36th position on the International Intellectual Property (IP) Index. • The US, the UK, Sweden, France and Germany remained the top five economies on the intellectual property index in 2019 • In 2018, India was ranked at 44th position.

40. Corruption Perception Index 2018 • India has improved its ranking by 3 points by moving onto 78th position in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2018 published by Transparency International. • China and Pakistan, in a list of 180 countries, lagged far behind than India at 87th and 117th position respectively. • Somalia has been ranked last with a score of 10 behind South Sudan and Syria.

41. India ranks 54th in 'Bloomberg Innovation Index’ of 60 economies • For the first time ever, India has been ranked in Bloomberg’s 2019 list of most innovative countries in the world. • India has grabbed the 54th spot among 60 countries in the Bloomberg Innovation Index with a score of 47.93 out of 100. • South Korea has topped the Bloomberg Innovation Index for the sixth time in a row with a total score of 87.38. • Germany ranked second, Finland stood on the third spot.

42. Global Talent Competitive Index 2019: • India ranked at 80th positions on the Global Talent Competitive Index (GTCI) 2019. • The index is released by INSEAD business school in partnership with Tata Communications and Adecco Group. • Switzerland topped the index which is followed by Singapore and the US. • Last year in 2018, India was ranked at 81st position.

43. Democracy Index 2019: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released the Democracy Index which ranks 167 countries by 60 indicators across five broad categories. • Top 3 countries in the list are – Norway, Iceland and Sweden. • Australia and New Zealand are the only “full democracies” in the entire Asia-Pacific region • India was at the 41st place with a score of 7.23/10 and was placed in the flawed democracies category.

44. World Bank's ease-of-doing-business 2019: India ranked at 77 • India’s jumped 23 places to 77 among 190 countries in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business 2019 index. • The World Bank on October 31, 2018 released the Doing Business Report 2019 titled as ‘Doing Business 2019: Training for Reform’, assessing and ranking countries on the basis of ease of doing business in the year 2018. • In its annual 'Doing Business' 2019 report, the World Bank said India has improved on six of the 10 parameters on starting and doing business in a country. • The biggest improvements have been in the indicators related "construction permits" and "trading across borders. • Last year, India ranked at 100th position. • The top 3 economies in the ease of doing business rankings are New Zealand, Singapore, and Denmark.

36 www.gradeup.co 45. Climate Change Performance Index 2019: • India ranked at 11th position. • As per the Index, Sweden has topped the list while India was on 11th position. • Saudi Arabia came last, in 60th place, partly due to its obstructive role during international climate negotiations.

46. WEF Gender Gap Index 2018: • India has been ranked 108th in World Economic Forum (WEF) gender gap index 2018. • As per the WEF’s Global Gender Gap Report 2018, Iceland topped the list having closed more than 85.8% of its overall gender gap. • The Report was published for total 149 countries. • Norway and Sweden were on 2nd and 3rd position respectively.

National Affairs

September

1. First greenfield industrial smart city opened in • Delhi University Aurangabad • Banaras Hindu University • On 7th September, Prime Minister Narendra • University of Hyderabad Modi inaugurated the Aurangabad Industrial City 3. GoI to spend 3.5 lakh crore rupees on Jal Jeevan (Aurik) in Aurangabad. Mission – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced • It is the first new smart industrial city in the that the central government will spend 3.5 lakh crore country and is spread over 10 thousand acres. It rupees in the next five years on ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ to is part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial corridor. deliver potable water at every household across the • PM Modi also inaugurated the Auric Hall, a six- country. storey building which will be both monitoring • Jal Jeevan Mission involves saving water and and administrative nerve centre for a smart city. delivering water at one’s doorstep. • He also launched the Auric chatbot that will help 4. Tourism Minister inaugurates first-ever anyone get their problems addressed by the city architectural LED illumination at Qutub Minar – administration. Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Prahalad Singh • Developed in the backward Marathwada region Patel inaugurated first-ever architectural LED of Maharashtra, this city is being described as the illumination at the Qutub Minar. country's first greenfield industrial smart city. • With the illumination, the architectural beauty of 2. HRD Ministry awarded Institute of Eminence status the 12th-century monument will display its to 5 public institutions – The Human Resource historic majesty after sunset. Qutb Minar is a Development Ministry has awarded the Institute of UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of most Eminence status to 5 public institutions. visited historical site in Delhi. • Each of the above university has to sign a MoU 5. Delhi’s IGI Airport Gets India’s Tallest ATC Tower – with the HRD Ministry and will lay out its plan to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport gets achieve the objective of becoming a world-class India’s tallest ATC tower to enhance the safety and boost institution. The public institutions on the list will the efficiency of air transport management services. then be eligible for a government grant of RS • The Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri 1,000 crore. inaugurated the Delhi Air Traffic Service The status was awarded to the following institutions: Complex, which is the tallest Air Traffic Control • IIT Madras tower in India with a height of 102 metres. • IIT Kharagpur

37 www.gradeup.co • The tower aims to reduce the pressure on Delhi) for setting up 'SATHI' centre in the controllers and provide relief to flyers from country. delays. The tower has over 45 workstations with • The main objective of the centre would be is to better operational area visibility. The tower has provide professionally managed services under multilayered security. one roof to meet the demands of industry, start- 6. INX Media case: P Chidambaram sent to Tihar jail till ups and academia. September 19 - P Chidambaram has been sent to Tihar 10. Income tax dept creates a world record with the jail till September 19, 2019. filing of 49 lakh ITRs in one day – According to the • The order was given by Rouse Avenue Court in Income Tax department, it has created a sort of world Delhi where the CBI's case against the former record by achieving a record Income Tax Return filing in Finance Minister in relation to INX Media a single day. corruption case was being heard. • While releasing the data on e-filing of ITRs, The 7. Ministry of culture rolls out 25 new mobile science Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said that museums buses – Union Minister of State for Culture the IT department made history with an all-time and Tourism (Independent Charge), flagged off the first- high record of 49 lakh 29 thousand ITRs filed in a ever Mobile Science Exhibition buses for the entire single day on August 31. Ladakh Region in Leh. 11. September month to be celebrated as 'Rashtriya • The Minister simultaneously launched 25 new Poshan Maah' – Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mobile Science Exhibition buses for Aspirational latest Mann Ki Baat programme announced to celebrate Districts of India. September 2019 as a month of nutrition. The month of 8. First metro coach manufactured by Bharat Earth September will be celebrated as ‘Poshan Abhiyaan’ or Movers inaugurated by PM Modi 'Rashtriya Poshan Maah' across India. • On 07th September, Prime Minister Narendra • This year the theme is 'Complementary Feeding'. Modi inaugurated the first metro coach About POSHAN Abhiyaan manufactured by Bharat Earth Movers in • The POSHAN Abhiyaan, an overarching scheme Mumbai. for holistic nourishment, was launched by Prime • Bharat Earth Movers (BEML) has built it in just Minister Narendra Modi in March 2018 at 75 days. Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. • Prime Minister laid the foundation stones for • POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) three Metro corridors worth over 19,000 crore is a scheme of Ministry of Women and Child rupees. Development. • The three corridors, namely Gaimukh-Shivaji • POSHAN stands for - Prime Minister’s Chowk; Wadala-CST and Kalyan-Taloja are Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition. together expected to carry more than 40 lakh • The Abhiyaan targets to reduce stunting, under- commuters daily. nutrition, anaemia (among young children, Note: women and adolescent girls) and reduce low • BEML (formerly known as Bharat Earth Movers birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum Limited) is an Indian Public Sector Undertaking. respectively. Its headquarters is located in Bengaluru. • The target of the mission is to bring down 9. IIT Delhi to establish shared research infrastructure stunting among children in the age group 0-6 'SATHI' – Indian Institute of Delhi (IIT Delhi) will set up a years from 38.4% to 25% by 2022. science and technology infrastructure facility centre 12. Govt. to set up 12,500 AYUSH Health and Wellness named Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Centres across country – Prime Minister Narendra Institute (SATHI). Modi announced government’s target of setting up • The centre will be set up in the Sonepat campus 12,500 AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, (Haryana) of IIT Delhi. Siddha and Homoeopathy) Centres across India. • The Department of Science and Technology • Out of which government is trying to set up 4000 (DST) has selected Indian Institute of Delhi (IIT such centres in 2019 itself. The announcement was made by PM Modi during giving away Yoga

38 www.gradeup.co Awards to winners for Outstanding Contribution • It is situated between Cherlopalli and Rapuru for Promotion and Development of Yoga in New Railway stations in Nellore district, Andhra Delhi. Pradesh. 13. Country's longest electrified rail tunnel inaugurated • The height of the tunnel (rail level to roof) is 6.5 in Andhra Pradesh – Vice-President of India meters and the minimum height of the contact inaugurated the country's longest electrified rail tunnel wire is maintained at 5.2 meters. between Cherlopalli and Rapuru and the electrified 14. Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra railway line between Venkatachalam and Obulavaripalli Modi has approved establishment of International in Andhra Pradesh. The length of the rail tunnel is 6.6 Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) kilometre. along with its supporting Secretariat Office in New Delhi. • The South-Central Railway (SCR) zone of the • CDRI is proposed to be launched at United has commissioned India’s Nations (UN) Climate Action Summit scheduled longest electrified railway tunnel in Andhra to be held in New York, US on 23rd September Pradesh. 2019.

August

1. Union HRD Minister launches Integrated Online 3. The Union Environment Ministry releases Rs 47,436 junction ‘Shagun’ – Union Human Resource cr for green activities – The Union Environment Development Minister launched one of the world’s Ministry has transferred Rs 47,436 crore to 27 States for largest Integrated Online Junction for School Education afforestation. The amount has been released from the ‘Shagun’ in New Delhi. Compensatory Afforestation Fund. • Shagun is coined from two different words- • The corpus will be utilised for compensatory ‘Shala’ meaning Schools and ‘Gunvatta’ meaning afforestation, wildlife management, forest fire Quality. prevention, work related to soil and moisture Note: conservation in forests, voluntary relocation of • School Education Shagun is an over-arching villages from protected areas etc. initiative to improve the school education system by creating a junction for all online portals and 4. UGC constitutes 5-member committee to inquire into websites relating to various activities of the sale of fake degrees by universities – The UGC has set Department of School Education and Literacy in up a five-member committee to look into the allegations the Government of India and all States and Union of sale of fake degrees by certain universities. Territories. • The committee was set up after the Union HRD 2. Prime Minister launches Fit India Movement – On the Ministry directed UGC to immediately constitute occasion of National Sports Day (29th August), Prime a high-level committee to inquire into the matter. Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Fit India • The special committee will be headed by Movement at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex in New Chairman DP Singh and assisted by UGC Joint Delhi. Secretary (Private Universities) Surender Singh. • During the event, PM appealed to the nation to The HRD Ministry has directed the committee to join this fitness movement and make a ‘Fitter & complete its enquiry within three weeks. Better India’. 5. Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) has set up a waste • The nation-wide Fit India Movement aims to plastic to diesel plant in Dehradun (capital of motivate every Indian to incorporate simple, Uttarakhand) as a step towards ensuring freedom from easy ways of staying fit in their everyday life. plastic. • The National Sports Day in India is celebrated on 6. India Launches World’s First Ever Facial BSID – India 29 August, on the birth anniversary of hockey has become the first country in the world to issue legend Major Dhyan Chand. Biometric Seafarer Identity Document (BSID), capturing the facial biometric data of seafarers.

39 www.gradeup.co • The new facial biometric technology is a marked such as tidal, wave and ocean thermal energy improvement over the two-finger or iris-based conversion (OTEC) will be considered as bio-metric data, with modern security features. Renewable Energy. • It will make the identification of the SID holder • The decision will give boost to ocean energy in more reliable and efficient while protecting their the country. It will make ocean energy eligible dignity and privacy. for meeting the non-solar Renewable Purchase • BSID project has been taken up in collaboration Obligations (RPO). with the Centre for Development of Advanced 12. Indian Railways to prohibit single-use plastic from Computing (CDAC). October 2 – In a move to curb use of plastics, Union 7. Govt Launched mobile app “Janaushadhi Sugam” – Ministry of Railways has directed all regional offices to Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers launched a ensure complete removal of single-use plastics from all mobile application “Janaushadhi Sugam”. railways stations effective from 2 October 2019. • This app will enable people to search for 13. Minority Affairs Ministry Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to Janaushadhi generic medicines and the stores at inaugurate “Hunar Haat” – Union Minority Affairs the tip of their fingers. Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Chief Minister of 8. Project SURE - Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Zubin Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot will inaugurate this “Hunar Irani launched Project SURE, a move towards Haat” at Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur. sustainable fashion at Lakmé Fashion Winter/Festive • “Hunar Haat” has proved to be an effective 2019 held in Mumbai, Maharashtra. programme to provide employment and • The project aims to move towards sustainable employment opportunities to master artisans. fashion that contributes to a clean environment. 14. Harsh Vardhan inaugurates FSSAI’s National Food About SURE project Laboratory – Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan • SURE stands for ‘Sustainable Resolution’. It is inaugurated FSSAI’s National Food Laboratory (NFL) in first holistic effort by the apparel industry on the occasion of 13th anniversary of the towards gradually introducing a broader Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. This national lab is framework for establishing critical sustainability a result of a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), the first- goals for the industry. of-its-kind in the food laboratory sector. 9. National Digital Library of India launched by HRD 15. “Op-Blue Freedom” flag off in Delhi – Sports Minister Ministry – Human Resource Development Ministry has Kiren Rijiju and former India football captain Baichung launched the National Digital Library of India project to Bhutia flagged off Op-Blue Freedom in Delhi. develop a framework of virtual repository of learning • This is an initiative in which a group of armed resources with a single-window search facility. forces veterans train sports enthusiasts in • It has been launched under the National Mission survival training and self-defence. on Education through Information and Note: Communication Technology, NMEICT. • Op-Blue Freedom is a nation-wide adaptive 10. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurates scuba diving programme for people with National Centre for Avian Ecotoxicology – Union disabilities as well as the able-bodied. It comes Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister under the parent project “Special Forces Prakash Javadekar has inaugurated the National Centre Adventures”. for Avian Ecotoxicology at Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural Sciences (SACON) in 16. Union HRD Minister launches NISHTHA – Union HRD Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Minister launched the training programme NISHTHA, (National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers 11. Ocean Energy gets renewable energy Status – Union Holistic Advancement) to improve Learning Outcomes at Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has the Elementary level across the country. This is the approved proposal to declare ocean energy as largest teachers’ training programme of its kind in the Renewable Energy. world. • It has clarified to all stakeholders that energy • NISHTHA to build capacities of 42 Lakh produced using various forms of ocean energy government teachers across the country.

40 www.gradeup.co • The basic objective of this massive training • 1.5 lakh wellness centers will be created at programme ‘NISHTHA’ is to motivate and equip villages. teachers to encourage and foster critical thinking 20. Hardeep Puri launches Swachh Survekshan 2020 – in students. The Minister of State (Independent charge) for housing 17. Amazon’s largest campus in the world inaugurated in and urban affairs Shri Hardeep SinghPuri launched the Hyderabad – Amazon has opened its largest campus in fifth edition of annual cleanliness survey, Swachh the world in Hyderabad. Survekshan 2020 (SS 2020) which is to be conducted • The campus covers 1.8 million square feet and from January 2020. can accommodate 15,000 workers. 21. Jal Shakti Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat • This is Amazon’s first owned-building outside of launched the 2nd Edition of Swaccha Survakshan the US and is also its largest tech base outside the Grameen, India’s largest sanitation survey, for 2019 in Seattle headquarters, which has about 155,000 New Delhi. contract employees. 22. Govt. to launch new app ‘Uber for tractors’ to aid 18. India to launch e-commerce portal “Bharatcraft” for farmers – The agricultural Ministry and the centre MSME’s – Union Government is planning to launch an e- decided to launch a farm equipment rental app to aid commerce portal named “Bharatcraft” for MSME’s. farmers in accessing cutting- edge technology at • The portal is based on other e-commerce portals affordable prices. like ‘Alibaba’ and ‘Amazon’. • Farmers can book and hire agricultural • The portal will provide a platform for MSMEs to equipment and use them on rent basis. Through market and sell their products and in turn boost this initiative, small farmers will be able to make the sector. As per the MSME Union Minister, the use of tools equipped with technology that are Bharatcraft portal has a huge potential to expensive to own. generate revenue worth ₹10 lakh crore in next 2- • The name ‘Uber for tractors’ was kept by the 3 years. govt. keeping in mind the popular app ‘Uber’. Just 19. India Celebrates 73rd Independence Day on August like uber connects to cabs, this ‘uber for tractors’ 15, 2019 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute at will reach the grassroot level people and farmers. Raj Ghat and addressed the following points in his 23. CORAS (Commandos For Railway Security), a special speech: railway unit for the Indian railways and a new • One nation, one constitution spirit has become a establishment manual for the Railway Protection reality after scrapping of provisions of Article Force(RPF) was launched by union Railway Minister Shri 370. Piyush Goyal at a function in New station. • There is a ‘huge’ scope for improvement in the 24. Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) will be set up in tourism sector and everyone should visit at least Mumbai in association with the Tata Trust – Dr. 15 tourist destinations within India by 2022. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister for Skill Development • India can become a 5 trillion dollar economy in and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) stated that world-class the next 5 years. Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) will be set up in Mumbai, • Government to invest Rs 100 lakh cr in Maharashtra in association with Tata Educational and infrastructure building. Development Trust (TEDT). • Jal Jeevan Mission to ensure safe drinking water 25. Defence Minister of India, Shri Rajnath Singh has to all households was announced. Government approved the formation of 12-member high-level will spend Rs 3.5 lakh crore for it. committee, headed by the Director-General • Implementation of GST achieved One Nation, One (Acquisitions), Apurva Chandra, to revise and align the Tax. India achieved One Nation, One Grid in the procedure of Defence procurement with the aim of energy sector. PM gave a motto to boost digital strengthening the ‘Make in India’ initiative. payment- ‘Yes to digital payment, No to cash’. 26. Prasar Bharati will introduce 2 awards namely • A transfer of about Rs. 90,000 crores to farmers’ ‘Neelum Sharma Tejaswini award’ & ‘Achyutananda bank accounts is in progress to those who are Sahoo Award’ in honor of Neelum Sharma beneficiaries of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. • On August 20, 2019, India’s largest public broadcasting agency, Prasar Bharti’s Chairman A

41 www.gradeup.co Suryapakash stated that the agency will using wireless sensor system. It has been introduce 2 awards namely ‘Neelum Sharma installed at traffic crossing near the Airport Road Tejaswini award’ & ‘Achyutananda Sahoo Award’ in Mohali on a pilot project basis. in memory of Doordarshan(DD) News Former • 3-D Smart Traffic Signal ‘Intelights’ designed by anchor, Neelum Sharma who passed away due to the students of Chitkara University. cancer on August 17, 2019. 31. 2nd to run between Visakhapatnam, 27. Lucknow’s iconic Hazratganj Chauraha renamed as Vijayawada – Indian Railways’ 2nd UDAY (Utkrisht Atal Chowk Double Decker Air Conditioned Yatri) Express will run • Famous ‘Hazratganj Chauraha’ of Lucknow, Uttar between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada to cater to busy Pradesh has been renamed as ‘Atal Chowk’ in route in (ECoR), one of 18 memory of former Prime Minister of India, Late railway zones of Indian Railways. Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the occasion of his first • The 1st double-decker UDAY Express started death anniversary on August 16, 2019. service between Coimbatore and Bangalore in • He was a five-time Member of Parliament (MP) June 2018. Another Uday Express is proposed from Lucknow. between Bangalore City and Chennai Central. • A memorial named “Atal Smriti Upvan” will also 32. GI Tag accorded to three new products – Geographical be built on his name. Indications Registry under Department for Promotion of 28. Punjab CM dedicates 3rd phase of ‘Jung-E-Azadi’ Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has accorded memorial to victims of Jallianwala Bagh massacre Geographical Indication (GI) tag to – • On the occasion of 73rd Independence Day, Chief • Tirur betel leaf from Kerala, Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh dedicated • Tawlhlohpuan fabric and Mizo Puanchei 3rd phase of ‘Jung-E-Azadi’ memorial to people shawl/textile from Mizoram. who were killed in Jallianwala Bagh massacre 33. All CAPF personnel will now retire at a uniform age and unsung heroes who were incarcerated in of 60 years: Govt – As per a recent order issued by Andaman Cellular jail during freedom struggle. Union Home Ministry, all Central Armed Police Forces About ‘Jung-E-Azadi’ Memorial (CAPFs) personnel will now retire at a uniform age of 60 • It is a memorial and museum being built in years instead of 57 years for certain rank of officials. Kartarpur, near Jalandhar city of Punjab. It is • All these forces come under ambit of Union built in memory of sacrifices and contribution Home Ministry. made by community of Punjabi’s in Indian 34. 100th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai independence movement. celebrated on 12th August, 2019 across the country. 29. Sadbhavna Diwas: Birth anniversary of late Rajiv • He is known as the father of India’s Space Gandhi celebrated – Every year 20 August is celebrated Programme. as Sadbhavana Diwas or Communal Harmony Day to • He is also founder of Indian Space Research commemorate birth anniversary of late Rajiv Gandhi, Organization (ISRO). former Prime Minister of India. • Keeping in mind the contribution of him in • On this observance, close family members and India’s space programme the lander of senior Congress party members pay homage to Chandrayaan-2, the ambitious second lunar his memory and legacy by laying down wreaths mission of India is named 'Vikram'. and garlands on Veer Bhoomi, where he was • Vikram Sarabhai was born in Ahmedabad, cremated. Gujarat on 12th August, 1919. • 20 August 2019 marks 75th birth anniversary of 35. PM to be the chairman of the Inter-State Council – Rajiv Gandhi. The Inter-State Council has been reconstituted with 30. INTELIGHTS: India’s 1st 3-D Smart Traffic Signal Prime Minister as its chairman and 6 Union ministers launched in Mohali – Mohali traffic police in Punjab and all chief ministers as its members. have launched India’s first wireless 3-D Smart Traffic • Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the standing Signal System called Intelights. committee of the Inter-State Council. • It proposes a Intelligent Traffic Timer Control to • The Inter-State Council is mandated to regulate traffic signals with smart bird’s eye view investigate and advise on disputes between

42 www.gradeup.co states. It is also tasked with giving 39. Headgear becomes mandatory for children above 4 recommendations on any such dispute and years – Central government has made “Headgear” recommendations for the better coordination of mandatory for children above 4 years while travelling on policy and action. a motorcycle. The safety measures for the children • The Union ministers who will be members of the travelling on motorcycles have been included in the reconstituted council are Amit Shah (Home), Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019. Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance), Rajnath Singh • Making the protective headgear mandatory (Defence), Narendra Singh Tomar (Minister of for children, Central government has Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Rural replaced Section 129 of the principal Act. Development and Panchayati Raj). 40. President approves Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 36. Prime Minister has announced the creation of the 2019 – President has approved the Motor Vehicles post of Chief of Defence Staff (Amendment) Act, 2019. The bill amends the Motor • The Chief of Defence Staff will be above the Vehicles Act, 1988. three Service Chiefs. • The act aims to make Indian roads safer, • The CDS is meant to be a single-point reduce corruption and use technology to military advisor to the government who will overhaul the country’s transportation coordinate long-term planning, system. procurements, training and logistics of the Some main features of the act are: three services. • The Bill proposes a scheme to allow cashless • The CDS will also act as the military advisor treatment of victims in a road accident to the Prime Minister on nuclear issues. during the golden hour. • The need for a CDS was first recommended • The golden hour is defined as the time by the Kargil Review Committee after the period of up to one hour following a 1999 conflict with Pakistan, but it was not traumatic injury, during which the likelihood implemented. of preventing death through prompt medical • CDS could replace the system of the care is the highest. Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee • The Bill proposes to increase the minimum (COSC), who takes all central decisions of the compensation for hit and run cases. In case services and presents it to the government. of the death, the compensation has been • The senior-most service chief is the raised from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 2,00,000, and chairman COSC. Currently, it is the IAF chief, in case of grievous injury it will be from Rs. Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, who is retiring 12500 to Rs. 50,000. in end-September. • Under the law, Rs 10,000 fine would be 37. India contributes $1 million to UN fund – India has levied for not giving way to emergency contributed $1 million to the UN Special Purpose Trust vehicles such as ambulances. Fund for the Resident Coordinator System. The Special • Driving without license- will now charge Rs Purpose Trust Fund (SPTF) is a specific fund housed 5000 in place of Rs. 500. within the UN Secretariat. • Driving without insurance will be 38. PM inaugurates Dynamic Facade Lighting in punishable with Rs 2,000 fine. Parliament House – Prime Minister Narendra Modi • While driving without helmets will attract inaugurated Dynamic Facade Lighting of Parliament Rs 1,000 penalty and three-month House Estate in presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, suspension of licence. and Union Ministers including Hardeep Puri and Jitendra • Traffic violations would now attract a Singh. penalty of Rs 500 in place of Rs 100 earlier. • Work of dynamic facade lighting was • Over speeding – Rs. 1000 for LMV (Light initiated on 20 July 2019 by Central Public Motor Vehicle) and 2000 for Medium Works Department (CPWD) and completed Passenger Vehicle in just 22 days. • Drunken Driving – Rs. 10,000

43 www.gradeup.co • Seat Belt violation – Rs. 1000 in place of Rs. • An app that will allow users to have waste — 100. solid, wet or construction and demolition • Also, the guardian/owner will be deemed (C&D) — collected by their urban local guilty in case of road offence by juveniles, bodies along with a new protocol on while registration of the vehicle will be wastewater treatment that would become a cancelled - As per the new provisions, part of cleanliness rankings of cities. "guardian/owner shall be deemed to be 47. BIS to set up Pashmina testing centre in Leh – Bureau guilty and there will be a penalty of Rs of Indian Standards (BIS) in collaboration with Ladakh 25,000 with three years imprisonment and Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) will cancellation of registration of the Motor work together to promote the pashmina products at the Vehicle". high-level market for the proper value of this fine 41. Doordarshan produced a patriotic song “Watan” – product of pashmina (Lena-Ladakhi). Union Information and Broadcasting Minister has • Ladakh region and parts of Himachal and released a patriotic song “Watan” to mark the occasion of Kashmir have world-class Pashmina Independence Day, 2019. production. • The song is sung by singer Javed Ali, penned 48. 1st Central Institute of Chemical Engineering & by lyricist Alok Shrivastav and musically Technology to be set up in Gujarat – India’s first composed by Dushyant. The patriotic song is Central Institute of Chemical Engineering and produced by Doordarshan. Technology (CICET) will be set up in Gujarat to give 42. The Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting boost to the chemical industry. has launched the e-version of Rozgar Samachar. • It will come up either at Ahmedabad or • It has been launched with a view to make Surat. aspirants aware of job opportunities in • It was announced by Union Minister of State government sector including public sector (MoS) for Chemical and Fertilizers enterprises. Sadananda Gowda. • It will also provide information and guidance 49. KABIL set up to ensure supply of critical Minerals to about admission and career opportunities in Indian market – A joint venture company Khanij Bidesh various streams through career-oriented India limited has been set up with the participation of 3 articles by experts. Central Public Sector Enterprises. These CPSEs are 43. A two-day International Conference titled ‘Journey of National Aluminium Company Limited, Hindustan Teacher Education: Local to Global’ was inaugurated by Copper Limited and Mineral Exploration Company Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Union Minister of Human limited. Resource Development (HRD) in New Delhi. • The two-day event is organized by National 50. Art – 370 and Art -35-A revoked from J&K by GOI – Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) as part of The Union government has revoked Article 370 of the silver jubilee (25 years) celebration of its Indian Constitution, which grants special status to the establishment in 1995. state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) in the Union of India. 44. “Operation Number Plate” Launched by RPF – Railway Key points – Protection Force (RPF) of Indian Railways launched a • It has decided that Jammu and Kashmir Special Drive with a Code Name “Operation Number would be turned into a Union Territory with Plate” to identify and verify all vehicles parked in a legislature, and the Ladakh division would Railway premises, circulating area, parking and even in be made a separate Union Territory (without the ‘No Parking’ areas for a longer duration. legislature). 45. Air India became the 1st Indian airline to fly over the What is Article 370 & 35A? North Pole while connecting New Delhi and North • Article 370 of the Constitution grants special America status to Jammu and Kashmir, while Article 46. Centre launches Swachh Nagar app – Swachh Nagar 35A empowers the state legislature to define app was launched by the Union Housing and Urban the state’s “permanent residents” and their Affairs Ministry. special rights and privileges.

44 www.gradeup.co • Article 35A, which was incorporated in the 53. Environment minister Prakash Javadekar launches Constitution by a 1954 Presidential Order, website for COP14 – Union Environment minister gives special rights and privileges to the launched a website ‘unccdcop14india.gov.in, which citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. contains all the information related to COP14 . How does this change the current situation in Jammu and • The 14th Session of the Conference of the Kashmir? Parties to the United Nations Convention to • Any citizen of the country will be able to buy Combat Desertification (COP14), will take property in Jammu and Kashmir. place on 2-13 September 2019 at Greater • J&K will no longer have a separate flag. Noida, India. • J&K will no longer have dual citizenship. 54. President Kovind inaugurates exhibitions on M. • J&K will no longer be a separate state but a union Gandhi and Khadi in Gambia – President Ram Nath territory with assembly. Kovind inaugurated exhibitions on Mahatma Gandhi and • Ladakh is declared a separate union territory (UT). Khadi at the “Ebunjan Theatre” in the Gambia to • The term of the Legislative Assembly will be 5 years commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of the instead of 6 years. Mahatma Gandhi. 55. Lalit Kala Akademi celebrates 65th Foundation Day – • The special status of Jammu and Kashmir is scrapped Lalit Kala Akademi celebrated its 65th Foundation Day • Laws like RTI and CAG will also apply here. on August 5th, 2019. • Now, any citizen of the country can get a job in • The event was inaugurated by Culture and Jammu and Kashmir. Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel. • After the removal of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir • Uttam Pacharne is the Chairman of Lalit Kala do not get any exclusive rights. Akademi.

56. 30th Interaction through PRAGATI Platform Chaired 51. India contributed 5 million USD to the UN Palestine By Prime Minister Narendra Modi – The 30th Pro- refugee agency and called for ensuring sustained Active Governance and Timely Implementation financial support for the organisation’s work. (PRAGATI) platform was chaired by Prime Minister • The amount was hand over to the United Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) • The scheme has been launched by the for Palestinian Refugees. government to monitor the grievances in • The headquarter of UNRWA is in Amman, government schemes and projects. Jordan. • It is an innovative project in e-governance 52. NITI Aayog to launch the 4th Edition of WTI Awards – initiative and good governance. The NITI Aayog will launch the 4th Edition of Women • It uniquely bundles 3 latest technologies– (1) Transforming India (WTI) Awards. The WTI Awards is Digital data management, (2) Video-conferencing being organized in collaboration with the United Nations and (3) Geo-spatial technology. to recognize women entrepreneurs from across India. • 3-Tier System: Platform offers unique • This year’s theme is ‘Women and combination in Cooperative Federalism as it Entrepreneurship’, in continuation of the brings Prime Minister Office (PMO), Union theme for WTI Awards 2018. WhatsApp has Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of collaborated with NITI Aayog for WTI States all on one stage. Awards 2019 and will be providing support amounting to US$100,000 to the award winners.

July

1. Gujarat tops in solar rooftop installations – Gujarat • According to data tabled in Rajya Sabha, Gujarat has emerged as the state with the most rooftop solar has an installed rooftop solar power capacity of panels installed. 261.97MW, against 1,700.54MW for all of India.

45 www.gradeup.co • Gujarat is followed by Maharashtra (198.52MW) • States that saw Decline in Tiger Population: and Tamil Nadu (151.62MW) in terms of Chhattisgarh and Mizoram. While all other States installed rooftop capacity. saw a Positive increase. 2. Govt to Install Solar projects of 40,000 MW by 2022 – • Highest Number of Tigers: found in Pench Tiger The government has set a target for the installation of Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Rooftop Solar projects of 40,000 MegaWatt by 2022 in • Maximum Improvement in Tiger Population the country. since 2014: recoded in Sathyamangalam Tiger • The projects include installation of solar panels Reserve in Tamil Nadu. on the rooftop of houses. It is estimated that 1.5 6. India is home to 1,256 species of orchid: survey – million units per MegaWatt per year are According to the first comprehensive census of orchids of generated from solar rooftop plants. India titled ‘Orchids of India: A Pictorial Guide’, India is 3. Reliance become highest-ranked Indian firm on home to 1,256 species of orchid. Fortune Global 500 list – Reliance Industries has • The census containing photographs of 775 jumped 42 places to become the highest-ranking Indian species is published recently by the Botanical firm on the Fortune Global 500 list. Survey of India (BSI) was unveiled in early July • Reliance Industries (RIL) ranked at 106 spots. 2019 Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and • IOC ranked at (117). Climate Change (MoEFCC). • ONGC has moved up 37 places to 160th rank on • In the light of importance of orchids in the global list, while SBI lost 20 places to 236th floriculture, this publication by BSI, which has rank. Tata Motors slipped 33 places to 265th photographs of 60% of all species, is 1st position. BPCL rose 39 places to rank 275th spot, authentic inventory and thus will be useful for while Rajesh Exports slipped 90 places to rank researchers, growers, nature lovers and people 495th. with different backgrounds. • Top 3 companies - Walmart of US, Chinese 7. Amit Shah to chair panel on sexual harassment at state-owned oil and gas company Sinopec Group, workplace – On July 24, 2019, the Union Government Dutch company Royal Dutch Shell was ranked has reconstituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to examine third followed by China National Petroleum and frameworks for dealing with matters of sexual State Grid. harassment of women at the workplace with Home 4. completes trial run from New Minister Amit Shah. Delhi to Katra – The of Indian • The other members of the new panel include Railway successfully conducted trial run of Vande Bharat Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Express, known to be India’s fastest train. Irani and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman • The trial run was conducted from New Delhi to and Human Resource Development Minister, Katra small town in Jammu and Kashmir. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’. • It is also known as Train 18. It can run at a speed 8. E-postal ballot registered 60.14% turnout in 2019 of 160 -180 km per hour. Lok Sabha elections - Using the Electronically • It is designed and developed by Chennai-based Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS), out of the Railways Production unit . 18,02,646 service electors, 10,84,266 e-postal ballots 5. All India Tiger Estimation Report 2018 released – As were received indicating 60.14% turnout in Lok Sabha per the All India Tiger Estimation Report 2018 India has elections 2019. Only 4% was registered in 2014. 2,967 tigers, a third more than in 2014. 9. IEA praised PMUY for providing free cooking gas • The Tiger census made public on occasion of connection to poor - The International Energy Agency Global Tiger Day (29 July) by Prime Minister (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Biro praised Pradhan Narendra Modi. Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for providing free cooking • Top 5 Performing States: Madhya Pradesh saw gas connection to poor. highest number at 526, followed by Karnataka Note: (524), Uttarakhand (442), Maharashtra (312) • The International Energy Agency (IAE) is a and Tamil Nadu (264). Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization.

46 www.gradeup.co PMUY: telecommunications in India and reach the • It was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra campaign goal of Digital India. Modi on May 1, 2016, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. 14. ‘Pink coaches’ introduced by the Northest frontier • It aims to safeguard the health of women and railway – Indian Railways ‘Northeast Frontier Railway children by providing free cooking gas- Liquefied zone’ has started a unique initiative to earmark a special Petroleum Gas (LPG) connection to poor families. portion of the SLR coach with pink colour. This is done to specially help the women passengers with better safety 10. Amit Shah will head ministerial panel on Air India and security. sale - On July 18, 2019, Union Government reconstituted • Headquarter of Northeast Frontier Railway zone: the Group of Ministers (GoM) called the Air India Specific Maligaon, Guwahati. Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) on Air India 15. Cabinet approves to 2,880MW hydel project in disinvestment. The group is headed by Home minister Dibang – The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affair Amit Shah. gave the approval to the 2,880 megawatts Dibang 11. Central Govt approves Rs 206.8 crore for hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh, approving a Implementation of Agriculture Export Policy Scheme Rs 1,600 crore pre-investment and clearance - On July 18, 2019, the central government has approved expenditure for the Rs 28,080.35 crore strategic project. a sum of Rs 206.8 crore for a Central Sector Scheme • The Dibang river is a tributary river of the called ‘Implementation of Agriculture Export Policy’, Brahmaputra that originated and flows through which aims at double farmers’ income by the year 2022. the Mishmi Hills & from the state 12. India’s first ‘Garbage Cafe’ for Ragpickers – The of Arunachal Pradesh. municipal officials of Chhattisgarh have launched a 16. Infosys launches Cyber Defence Center in Romania – unique garbage cafe scheme in Ambikapur of Surguja Infosys announced the launch of its state-of-the-art district which has become India’s first ‘Garbage Cafe’ for Cyber Defence Center in Bucharest, Romania. Ragpickers. • The Defence Center is an expansion of services • The ragpickers and the homeless will collect delivered through the Infosys Digital Innovation plastic waste, and in return, the municipal Center. corporation will offer them food. The fund • The Romanian leu is the currency of Romania. allocated for this scheme is Rs. 5.5 lakh. • Bucharest is the capital of Romania. 17. Panel to prevent extinction of Great Indian Bustard 13. Under Bharat Net, more than 1.28 Lakh Gram and the Lesser Florican – The Supreme Court of India Panchayats linked with optical fibre has constituted a high powered committee to urgently • Union Panchayat Raj Minister Narendra Singh frame and implement an emergency response plan for Tomar informed that under Bharat Net the protection of two Indian birds- Great Indian Bustard programme, more than 1.28 Lakh Gram and the Lesser Florican. Panchayats were linked with optical fibre. • The 3 member panel constitutes Dr Deepak Apte, • The programme has uploaded the photographic Dr Asad R Rahmani and Dr Dhananjai Mohan. evidence of the works taken up by them and 18. All lanes at toll plazas to be ‘FASTag lanes’ from 1st assistance given to beneficiaries. Dec – Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways About Bharat Net Programme: (MoRTH) has decided to declare all lanes in all toll fee • It is also known as Bharat Broadband Network plazas on National Highways across country as dedicated Limited. ‘FASTag lanes‘ from 1 December 2019. • It is a telecom infrastructure provider, set up by FASTag the Government of India under the Department • It is an electronic toll connection device which is of Telecommunications for the establishment, installed in vehicle (mostly attached to management, and operation of the National Optic windscreen) to help drivers to drive through toll Fibre Network to provide a minimum of 100 plazas without having to stop. Mbit/s broadband connectivity to all 250,000 • FASTag uses radio frequency identification Gram Panchayats in the country, to improve (RFID) technology to enable direct toll payments while vehicle is moving. The toll fare is deducted

47 www.gradeup.co directly from prepaid of saving bank account Gowda has launched the Phase-II of the Direct Benefit linked to FASTag. Transfer of Fertilizer Subsidy. 19. Iwai Ship Carrying Bhutanese Cargo flagged off from • DBT in fertilizer subsidy is a step in the direction Assam to Bangladesh - In a first ever movement of its of bringing ease of living in the lives of farmers kind, IWAI (Inland Waterways Authority of India) ship through use of modern technology and plugging carrying Bhutanese cargo was flagged off from Dhubri in leakages, pilferages and black marketing. Assam to Narayanganj in Bangladesh over Brahmaputra 24. Agri-Business Incubation Centre set up in River and the Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route. Chhattisgarh – Union Agriculture Ministry has set up an • This is for the 1st time ever, an Indian waterway Agri Business Incubation Centre in Chhattisgarh. is being used for transport of cargo between two • The centre has been set up by Agriculture countries, using India for transit. Ministry in Indira Gandhi Agriculture University of Raipur, Chhattisgarh. 20. National Data Quality Forum: launched by ICMR – Note: Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR’s) National • Agri Business Incubation Centre is set up under Institute for Medical Statistics have launched National National Agriculture Development Scheme- Data Quality Forum (NDQF) to improve quality of health RAFTAAR (Remunerative Approaches for and demographic data in India. Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation). 21. Atal Community Innovation Centre launched in New • It is established to focus on innovations, skill Delhi – Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas building and entrepreneurs development in Dharmendra Pradhan launched Atal Community agriculture and allied sectors. Innovation Centre in New Delhi. It aims to encourage 25. Defence minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to spirit of innovation at community level. Mozambique – Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh Note: visited Mozambique from july 28-30 2019.This is the • The Atal Community Innovation Centre initiative first official visit of Rajnath Singh as a Defence Minister has been launched under Atal Innovation Mission to the African country as well as it is the first time ever a (AIM), a flagship initiative of NITI Aayog. defence minister of India has visited Mozambique. • NITI Aayog is tasked upon to open innovation • Mozambique Capital- Maputo Centres in all Gram Panchayats of country to • Mozambique Currency- Metical promote local innovation. 26. DD News received “Champions of Empathy Award” 22. 5,645 electric buses sanctioned for 65 cities: NITI for spreading awareness about hepatitis – DD News Aayog (Doordarshan), has been awarded with “Champions of • According to NITI (National Institution for Empathy Award” for spreading awareness about Transforming India) Aayog an Inter-Ministerial hepatitis. Panel has sanctioned 5645 electric buses for • Mayank Agrawal, Director General of DD News operations in 65 cities and for inter-city has received the Award from Lok Sabha Speaker operations to 8 state transport undertakings. Om Birla. • The announcement in this regard was made by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant. 27. World Tiger Day 2019 observed on July 29 – Prime • The move will give huge impetus to automobile Minister Narendra Modi released the results of the 4th sector, clean up cities & drive Make in India cycle of All India Tiger Estimation 2018, at Lok Kalyan intiative. Marg in New Delhi. • Niti Aayog has also proposed that all two- • According to the Survey, the count of tigers in wheelers below capacity of 150cc sold in country India rose to 2967 in 2018. India has achieved after March 31, 2025, should be electric only its 2022 target of doubling tiger population four while three-wheelers sold in country after March years before the deadline. 31, 2023 should be electric ones. 28. India becomes second- growing gas market fastest– 23. Phase-II DBT in fertilizer subsidy launched – Union India has become the second-fastest growing natural gas Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers D.V. Sadananda market globally with $30 billion for production, import and distribution infrastructure.

48 www.gradeup.co • China is the fastest growing natural gas market. • The Sixth edition of Economic Census was 29. “Operation Thirst” launched by RPF – RPF launched conducted in 2013. “Operation Thirst” to crack down selling of unauthorised 33. Cabinet approves merger of NIMH with ICMR-NIOH – Packaged Drinking Water in the railway premises. Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi 30. 12 Indian beaches in the race to crest the ‘Blue Flag’ has approved to dissolve National Institute of Miners’ challenge – The Union Environment Ministry has Health (NIMH), an autonomous Institute under Union selected 12 beaches in India to vie for a ‘Blue Flag’ Ministry of Mines (MoM) and merge it with ICMR-NIOH certification, an international recognition conferred on (Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of beaches that meet certain criteria of cleanliness and Occupational Health), Ahmedabad, under Union Ministry environmental propriety. of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) with all assets • These beaches are at Shivrajpur (Gujarat), and liabilities. Bhogave (Maharashtra), Ghoghla (Diu), Miramar 34. Government waives duty on products imported for (Goa), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), nuclear plants – The government has waived off basic Kappad (Kerala), Eden (Puducherry), customs duty (BCD) on products imported for nuclear Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Rushikonda plants. (Andhra Pradesh), Golden (Odisha), and • “All goods for use in generation of nuclear Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands). power” and “all forms of uranium ores and • The Blue Flag Programme for beaches and concentrates for generation of nuclear power” marinas is run by the international, non- will now have to pay no basic customs duty. governmental, non-profit organisation FEE (the 35. Scientists from IIT Hyderabad developed an eco- Foundation for Environmental Education). friendly solar cell using kumkum dye- DSSC – 31. Kaiga Atomic Energy station sets a World record – Scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kaiga Atomic Energy station (Karnataka) sets a World Hyderabad developed low-cost, environment-friendly Record in continuous operation of 962 days by Unit-1 of solar cells named Dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) by Kaiga Generating Station (KGS-1) among nuclear power employing an off-the-shelf dye used to make kumkum or plants of all technologies. vermilion. • KGS-1 (220 MW) in an indigenous Pressurised 36. Govt sets 100% Digitization target of all Waqf Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) fuelled by properties in 100 days – On July 29,2019, Union domestic fuel which started commercial Minister of Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi stated operation on November 16, 2000. that the Centre government has set a target to achieve 32. 7th Economic Census begins from Tripura –The “100% Digitization of Waqf properties across country in Government of India begins the 7th Economic Census its 1st 100 days” at the National Conference of State and from Tripura. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Union Territories Waqf Boards organized by the Central Implementation (MoSPI) will conduct the census. It will Waqf Council, held in New Delhi. be conducted after a gap of 5 years. • GIS/GPS: Geographic Information System (GIS)/ • The fieldwork is expected to be completed by Global Positioning System(GPS) mapping are December and the results at the national level is being used on a war footing with the help of IIT expected to be available by March 2020 Roorkee and the Aligarh Muslim University to Previous Economic Censuses achieve the target. • Six Economic Censuses, (EC) have been • This is the 1st time the Government providing conducted by the Union Ministry of Statistics and 100 % funding to develop various educational Program Implementation. till date. and developmental programs on waqf land • The first Economic Census was undertaken in under Pradhanmantri Jan Vikas Karykram 1977. (PMJVK). • The Second EC was carried out in 1980 followed 37. Under Khelo India Scheme Over 2000 sporting by the Third EC in 1990. talents identified – A total number of 2437 sporting • The fourth edition took place in 1998 while the talents have been identified under the Khelo India fifth EC was held in 2005. Scheme. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju informed.

49 www.gradeup.co • Under the scheme, the government provides • It is India’s first planned city founded by Sawai financial assistance of about Rs 5,00,000 per Jai Singh II in 1727, and is only the second Indian annum for a period of 8 years. city to feature on the prestigious list. 38. Govt to increase coal production to one billion tone • With this, India now has overall 38 World by 2022-23 – The government has plan to increase the Heritage sites. total production of coal in the country to 1 billion tone by Note: 2022-23. • In 2017, old Ahmedabad was India’s first city to • Coal minister said that the gap between demand win the ‘heritage city’ tag. and supply of coal cannot be bridged completely • In 2018, sites in Mumbai the Victorian and Art as there is insufficient domestic availability of Deco Ensembles straddling two heritage coking coal. precincts of Fort and Marine Drive, were chosen 39. Cabinet approves setting up of NMC – The Union as world heritage sites. Cabinet has approved National Medical Commission Bill, 44. Unmanned Level Crossings in all Broad-Gauge 2019. The bill provides for setting up of a National Network removed – Union Minister of Railways Piyush Medical Commission in place of Medical Council of India Goyal informed that all Unmanned Level Crossings and repeal the Indian Medical Council Act 1956. (ULCs) in all Broad-Gauge (BG) Network were removed • The features of the bill include, the Common final on January 31, 2019. year MBBS Exams will be know as National Exit 45. Six Indian metros are hotspots of air pollutant Test (NEXT) which would serve as Licentiate nitrogen oxide: Greenpeace Exam, for entrance to Post Graduate medical • An analysis by environmental NGO Greenpeace course and as screening test of foreign medical India said that as per satellite data, transport and graduates. industrial clusters are giving rise to the country's 40. Culture Minister inaugurates architectural worst Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) hotspots like Delhi, illumination of Safdarjung Tomb – Culture Minister Bengaluru, Mumbai, , Chennai and has inaugurated the architectural illumination of the Hyderabad which have high vehicular historic Safdarjung Tomb in New Delhi. population and diesel consumption. • A total of 213 technologically advanced LED • Coal consumption and industrial clusters like lights have been used to highlight the 17th Sonbhadra-Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh and century monument. The consumption of LED Uttar Pradesh, Korba in Chattisgarh, Talcher in lights is approximately 62 percent less than Odisha, Chandrapur in Maharashtra, Mundra in conventional light fixtures. Gujarat and Durgapur in West Bengal were 41. First printing press heritage gallery opened by equally polluting when it comes to NOx emissions. Railway’s – The Western Railway General Stores Depot • The data was collected between February 2018 (GSD) has become the first in Indian Railways to opened and May 2019. a heritage gallery of the printing and allied machines 46. Coffee Table Book launched to commemorate 50 used in the Western Railway Printing Press since (1948) years of partnership with UNWFP – ‘The Coffee Table at Mahalaxmi in Mumbai. Book – 50 years of Partnership for Change’ was launched 42. Uttarakhand was named among best performing by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, states in ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme – Shri Narendra Singh Tomar. Uttarakhand has been adjudged as one of the country’s • The book was launched to commemorate five five best performing states under the National decades (50 years) of partnership between Programme Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme Union Ministry and agency towards addressing aimed at addressing declining child sex ratio and issues food and nutritional security in India. of women empowerment. UN World Food Programme 43. Jaipur walled city now a world heritage site – The • It was founded in 1961. walled city of Jaipur, known globally as Pink City, has • It was formally established by Food and finally become a Unesco world heritage site. Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1963. It is headquartered in Rome, Italy.

50 www.gradeup.co 47. Operation Milap: 333 missing children rescued in 7 • Dr Mukherjee was born on the 6th of July, 1901 months – Under Operation Milap of Delhi Police, Delhi in Kolkata. Police Crime Branch has rescued 333 missing children 54. India to get the first e-Vehicle Charging Highway by from the city and handed them over to their families in March 2020 – different parts of country. • India's first highway corridors with charging 48. UIDAI operationalizes 1st Aadhaar Seva Kendra in stations for electric vehicles are expected to Delhi and Vijayawada – The Unique Identification come up along the Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Agra Authority of India (UIDAI) has operationalized 1st highways by 2020. ‘Aadhaar Seva Kendra’ (ASKs) in Delhi and Vijayawada. 55. Longest electrified railway tunnel in India • The new centres are functioning on a pilot basis commissioned – The South Central Railway has and have set in motion UIDAI’s ambitious plan to commissioned the longest electrified tunnel of India. set up 114 such centers by the end of 2019. • The tunnel which is between Cherlopalli and 49. Delhi-Lucknow to be first train Rapuru stations is 6.6 km long, is built at a total operated by private players – Delhi-Lucknow Tejas cost of ₹460 crore. Express, one of the most-awaited trains on the route • It is situated between Cherlopalli and Rapuru announced in 2016, is set to be the first train to be Railway stations in Nellore district, Andhra operated by private players. At present, it is parked at Pradesh. the Anandnagar Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh About South Central Railway • It is one of the 18 zones of Indian Railways. 50. PM Narendra Modi unveils statue of Lal Bahadur • The jurisdiction of the zone is spread over the states Shastri – Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled statue of Maharashtra, Telangana, and some portions of of former PM of India Lal Bahadur Shastri at Varanasi Madhya Pradesh. th airport on 06 July 2019. • It has three divisions under its administration, which 51. India’s first Design Development Centre launched in include Nanded, Secunderabad, Hyderabad. Gujarat – India’s first Design Development Center 56. Indian Railways to install CCTV cameras in over ‘Fashionova’ was launched in the Textile city Surat. 7,000 train coaches – According to the GoI, the Indian • The centre will promote the city in the field of Railways has set a target to install CCTV cameras in more the fashion design sector. than 7,000 coaches of mainline passenger trains by 52. Tata Steel Kalinganagar has been included in World March 2021. Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network. 57. Army Chief releases Kargil Tribute Song – Army Chief • TSK in Odisha’s Jajpur district is the first and the General Bipin Rawat has released a Kargil Tribute Song only Indian manufacturing plant to be included to honour, salute and pay homage to the Kargil martyrs in the WEF’s Lighthouse Network. and war veterans. 53. PM Modi pays tribute to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee • The song has been composed by eminent Hindi on his birth anniversary – Prime Minister Narendra lyricist Sammer Anjaan and sung by Shatadru Modi today paid tributes to BJP icon and the founder of Kabir. Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on • The song was released as part of the celebration his birth anniversary. of the 20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas to be celebrated on 26th of July. June

1. All panchayats to have Broadband Connectivity by • Phase II of project is under implementation, and March 2020: Govt – Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union a total of 2 lakh GPs (gram panchayats) are Minister Electronics and Information Technology in a targeted to be completed by March 2020. written reply in Lok Sabha informed Parliament that all BharatNet gram panchayats will be provided high speed broadband • The project seeks to provide affordable last mile connections under BharatNet project by March 2020. high speed broadband connectivity to 2.5 lakh gram panchayats across the country.

51 www.gradeup.co • Nodal Ministry: for implementation of project is • Chairperson– Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ministry of Communication. • Vice-Chairperson– Dr. Rajiv Kumar 2. India to train 1,000 civil servants of Maldives over • Amitabh Kant gets two-year extension as Niti next 5 years – India’s leading civil services training Aayog CEO. institution, National Center for Good Governance (NCGG) Note: signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with • It was established on 1 January 2015 by Maldives Civil Services Commission for capacity building replacing 65 years legacy of Planning (training) of 1,000 civil servants of Maldives over next Commission (PC). five years. 9. India’s Forest cover up by 1%- Environment Minister • This agreement was signed during Prime – Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Environment Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Male informed the Lok Sabha that India’s forest cover has (Maldives capital). increased by 1% in last one year period and over 24.39% 3. Five-year vision plan EQUIP finalised and released by of India’s geographical area now constitutes of green HRD Ministry – The Department of Higher Education of cover. HRD Ministry has finalized and released a five year vision 10. Mumbai Metro Railway Corporation to dig 170m long plan named Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion tunnel under Mumbai's Mithi river – Programme. • Mumbai Metro Railway Corporation plans to dig 4. Japan gifts Manipur a peace museum – Japan gifts a 170m long tunnel under Mumbai's Mithi river Manipur a “Peace Museum” which is built on the as a part of Mumbai's Metro Line 3. This will be memories of one of the fiercest battles of the Second India's second largest underwater project. World War. • The first tunnel was built for the . • The inauguration of the Imphal Peace Museum at 11. India’s first Blockchain District to come up in Red Hill, about 20 km southwest of Manipur’s Hyderabad, Telangana – The Telangana government is capital Imphal, marked the 75th anniversary of going to set up the country’s first ‘Blockchain district’ to the Battle of Imphal. create an ecosystem for all the start-ups and institutes 5. 35000 km of highways to be built by 2022 under working in the space. Bharatmala – • The State signed an agreement with Tech • Under the 'Bharatmala Project', construction or Mahindra last year to set up the Blockchain upgradation of about 35,000 kilometres of district. national highways is to be undertaken by 2022. • It proposed 25 per cent subsidy on lease rentals 6. Statue of Unity enters prestigious 2019 World up to ₹5 lakh per annum for the first 3 years of Architecture News Awards – World’s tallest idol Statue operations. of Unity has entered prestigious World Architecture 12. National Film Heritage Mission Project reviewed by News Awards 2019 in the mixed-use category. Prakash Javadekar - Minister of Information and • The statue is surrounded by Narmada river. Broadcasting (I&B) Forest and Climate Change, Prakash • The Statue of Unity is built in dedication to Iron Javadekar reviewed the National Film Heritage Mission Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who served as the (NFHM) during a visit to the National Film Archive of first home minister of independent India. India (NFAI), Pune, Maharashtra. • The height of Statue of Unity is 182 metre. 13. The United States (US) Secretary of State, Michael R. • The Statue of Unity was built by Padma Bhushan Pompeo visited India on 25-27 June 2019. recipient sculptor Ram V Sutar. 14. Aparna Kumar becomes the first civil servant & IPS 7. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) Officer to conquer the ‘Seven Summits’ challenge - chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer and DIG (Deputy service of Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha for a Inspector General of Police) in Indo-Tibetan Border further period of three months. Police (ITBP), Aparna Kumar has scaled Mount Denali 8. PM Modi reconstitutes NITI Aayog – Prime Minister (the highest peak in Northern America stands at 20,310 Narendra Modi approved the reconstitution of feet) in Alaska, USA (United States of America). government of India’s policy think tank NITI Aayog (or National Institution for Transforming India).

52 www.gradeup.co • She is the first civil servant and IPS (Indian Police 18. Government schools to introduce Self Defence Service) officer to achieve the feat of completing Training for girls under Samagra Shiksha - Integrated ‘7 Summits’ challenge. Scheme for School Education ‘Samagra Shiksha’ was 15. GST day - July 1 celebrated as Goods and Services Tax launched by the Department of School Education and day. Literacy which comes under the Ministry of Human • New GST return system: Sahaj and Sugam Resource Development, effective from the academic year returns for small taxpayers are proposed by the 2018-19. The activity of Self Defence training for girls Finance ministry. comes under Samagra Shiksha. • The Central or State Government which 19. National Freight Index (NFI) - In order to bring sanctions refund disburses all four major heads transparency in the road-freight marketplace, an Indian of refunds namely CGST, SGST, IGST, and Cess. technology company based in , Rivigo which • Threshold limit for goods: Threshold Limit of Rs owns 3,000 trucks 5,000 drivers launched the National 40 Lacs is offered of suppliers of goods as per the Freight Index (NFI) which will provide unrestricted choice of States. access of live freight rates for different lanes and vehicles • Composition Scheme for Services: Composition across the country. Logistics account for nearly 14% of Scheme for small service providers up to annual India’s GDP. turnover of Rs 50 lacs with a tax rate of 6%. 20. Govt. reduces the rate of ESI Contribution from 6.5% • E-invoicing system: Electronic invoicing system to 4% - The government has reduced the total rate of in a phase-wise manner for B2B (Business to contribution made by workers and employers towards Business) transactions is proposed to be the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme from 6.5% introduced. to 4% for the first time in over two decades. • GSTAT: GST Appellate Tribunals are being • At present, nearly 4.75% of a worker’s monthly established at various State Headquarters and salary goes towards ESI as the employer’s area benches also. contribution and 1.75% of the income is the 16. Nirmala Sitharaman, Union finance & Corporate employee’s share at present. Affairs minister, among ‘100 Most Influential in UK- 21. becomes India’s 1st Project to receive India Relations: Celebrating Women’ list - On June 24, power from waste-to-energy – The Delhi Metro Rail 2019, To mark ‘India Day’ in the Houses of Parliament in Corporation (DMRC) has become the first ever project in London, United Kingdom (UK), Sajid Javid, Home the country to receive power generated from a waste-to- Secretary of UK, released the ‘100 most Influential in UK- energy plant. India Relations: Celebrating Women’ list. • It has started receiving 2 MW power from a 12 • Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister of India, MW capacity waste-to-energy plant set up in Nirmala Sitharaman, was one among the 100 Ghazipur. most influential women driving the UK-India 22. Centre sets target to provide Clean Drinking Water to relationship forward. all by 2024 – Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh 17. Central Government move to set up Krishi Vigyan Shekhawat said that the Central government has set a Kendras to double farmers’ income by 2022 – The target of providing clean drinking water to all by 2024. Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra • It includes increasing coverage of piped water to Singh Tomar announced that central Government has households from current 18 to 100% by 2024. decided to use digital technology in rural India to double • In states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, farmers’ income by the year 2022. Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha, the • For this, the Government has set up 713 Krishi coverage of clean drinking water is less than five Vigyan Kendras (KVK) and 684 Agricultural percent. Technology Management Agencies (ATMA) at the • It is only in Sikkim that 99% of households get district level in the country for dissemination of tapped water. technologies among the farming community.

53 www.gradeup.co May

1. New Jal Ministry formed – The government has • The previous highest voter turnout of 66.44% formed the new 'Jal Shakti' Ministry by merging the was recorded in 2014. ministries of Water Resources and Drinking Water and • Himachal Pradesh poll: 143% voter turn-out in Sanitation. world's highest polling booth - The world's • Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the Union highest polling station at 15,256 feet in Minister of 'Jal Shakti' Ministry. Tashigang village of Himachal Pradesh • Rattan Lal Kataria is the minister of state in the recorded an unbelievable 142.85 per cent newly formed ministry. voter turn out. 2. Bhawana Kanth, 1st Woman to qualify to go to Day At 14%, 17th Lok Sabha has highest number of women Missions on Fighter Jet – Flight Lieutenant Bhawana MPs Kanth became the first woman pilot of the Indian Air • There are 78 women members of parliament, Force to qualify to undertake missions by day on a the highest since independence. fighter aircraft. • According to PRS legislative research, Parliament • She completed the Day Operational syllabus on this time has 300 first-time MPs and 197 MPs MiG-21 Bison. Bhawana joined the fighter who have been re-elected for a second consecutive squadron in 2017 and flew the first solo on term. MiG-21 Bison in 2018. • Out of the 716 women candidates who contested 3. India is unanimously chosen as co-chair of the elections, 78 have been elected, which is 14% of Consultative Group (CG) of Global Facility for Disaster the house. This is higher than 2014 where there Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) for the fiscal year were 62 women MPs in the house. 2020. • The decision was taken during the CG meeting Performance of BJP in Lok Sabha Election 2109 of GFDRR held in Geneva, Switzerland, on the • The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as margins of the 6th Session of the GPDRR 2019. the single-largest party after winning 303 seats 4. The nation pays homage to first Prime Minister Pandit in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Jawaharlal Nehru on his 55th death anniversary on • BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 353 27th May 2019. Shantivan is the Samadhi of India’s seats. first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. • The Congress won 52 seats and the Congress- 5. 2019 Lok Sabha Election – Highlights led United Progressive Alliance won 91. th • The 17 Lok Sabha elections was held across • Indian National Congress again failed to secure the 7 phases between 11 April and 19 May. the requisite 10% of the seats (54 seats) in the • Results were declared on 23 May. Lok Sabha and hence India remains without an • Election in one parliamentary constituency — official opposition party. Vellore in Tamil Nadu — was postponed. • Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) emerged • Sunil Arora is the Chief Election Commissioner as the third-largest party with 23 seats. of India. • The BJP swept all votes in eight states and one • Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra are 2 Union Territory - Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Election Commissioner of India. Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, • Modi is the first non-Congress prime minister Tripura, Uttarakhand, Delhi and over 50 per to come back to power with a majority for the cent votes in Chandigarh, Karnataka, second time after Indira Gandhi in 1971. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Highest ever voter turnout Pradesh. • As per Election Commission of India, the 2019 Youngest MP in India’s history Lok Sabha elections witnessed a voter turnout • Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate Chandrani Murmu of 67.10% (interim), which is the highest (25-year-old) engineering graduate from Odisha ever voter turnout in the history of general elections.

54 www.gradeup.co has become the youngest Member of Parliament to New CM of Andhra Pradesh the 17th Lok Sabha. • Y S Jaganmohan Reddy sworn in as chief • She was elected to the Lok Sabha, from Keonjhar, minister of Andhra Pradesh Odisha. • He became the second chief minister of Andhra • Odisha has a total of seven women MPs, making it Pradesh. the first state ever to have 33 percent or the largest share of women MPs of its total of 21 seats. • The YSR Congress bagged 151 of the 175 seats in • Until now, the record has been held by Dushyant the state Assembly. Chautala, founder of the Jannayak Janta Party • N Chandrababu Naidu, was the first chief minister representing Hisar Lok Sabha constituency in of the state after it was bifurcated to carve out Haryana in the 16th Lok Sabha. He is the grandson Telangana five years ago. of well-known Haryana politician Om Prakash • E S L Narasimhan is the Governor of Andhra Chautala. Pradesh. 6. Legislative assembly elections held in 4 states - Legislative assembly in the states of Andhra Pradesh, New CM of Arunachal Pradesh – Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim were held • Pema Khandu was sworn- in as the Chief Minister simultaneously with the general election. of Arunachal Pradesh for a second term. New CM of Odisha • He became the 10th Chief Minister of Arunachal • Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Naveen Patnaik Pradesh. became the Chief Minister of Odisha for a • In the recent State Legislative Assembly polls, BJP record 5th consecutive term. led by Mr Khandu won 41 of the total 60 seats. • He is the son of Biju Patnaik (former Chief While the opposition Congress could win only four Minister of Odisha). seats. • He is only the third Indian chief Minister after • Brigadier (Retd.) B.D. Mishra is the present Pawan Chamling and Jyoti Basu to win five Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. consecutive terms as Chief Minister of an 7. Iraq remains India’s top supplier of Crude Oil in Indian state. 2019 – According to data released by Directorate • In the recent State Legislative Assembly polls, General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics BJD won 112 of the total 146 seats. (DGCI&S), Iraq remains India’s top crude oil supplier for second year in a row followed by Saudi Arabia & New CM of Sikkim Iran. • Prem Singh Tamang, popularly known as P S Note: Golay, sworn in as the new Chief Minister of • India is world’s third largest importer of crude oil Sikkim on 28th May 2019. He is the president (7% of total crude oil imports) after China (world’s of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM). largest importer with 20.2% of total crude oil • In the recent State Legislative Assembly imports) and USA (13.8%). polls, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha party won • India’s crude oil imports meets 80 % its oil needs. 8. Konkan Railways signs agreement with Nepal 17 of the total 32 seats. Its opposition party Railways – India and Nepal have inked a deal on Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) bagged 15 procurement of demo train that operates on diesel. seats. • The contract agreement was signed between • Mr. P. S. Tamang succeeds Pawan Kumar India’s Konkan Railways Corporation Ltd and Chamling who holds the record for being the Nepal’s Department of Railways to supply two Chief Minister of a state in India for the 1600 HP Diesel (DEMU) longest time. train sets. • Pawan Kumar Chamling served as the chief • The trains will be manufactured by Integrated minister of Sikkim from 1994 to 2019. Coach Factory (owned and operated by Indian • Mr. Ganga Prasad is the current Governor of Railways) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Sikkim.

55 www.gradeup.co 9. Vice president issued Postage Stamp to • It was established in 1950 and is headquartered in commemorate 750th Birth Anniversary of Sri Mysore, Karnataka. Vedanta Desika – On 2 May 2019, Vice President Shri 11. India and Bangladesh to co-produce movie on M. Venkaiah Naidu released postage stamp in New Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – India and Bangladesh will Delhi to commemorate 750th birth anniversary of Sri jointly produce a feature movie on life and works of Vedanta Desikan and his great philosopher’s life and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (founding highly valued work. father of People’s Republic of Bangladesh) and also a 10. Cyclone FANI: 1.2 mn Evacuated as Powerful Storm documentary on Bangladesh Liberation War (1971). hits Odisha India’s state broadcaster Prasar Bharati will co- • The severe cyclonic storm named Cyclone Fani produce the film. had recently made a landfall impact on May 3, 12. India Re-Elected as Observer to ‘Arctic Council’ – 2019 in Puri on Odisha coast. India was re-elected as Observer to the Arctic Council, • Cyclone Fani, with wind speed of about 175 an intergovernmental forum. kilometres per hour, was the second-most • The decision was taken during the 11th Arctic powerful cyclone to have hit Odisha after 1999. Council ministerial meeting at Rovaniemi, • The government, however, earned Finland. international praise for its efforts to reduce • The Council also appointed the International casualty by shifting away more than 11 lakh Maritime Organisation (IMO) as a new people. Observer. • Central Food Technological Research Institute • India successfully got the Observer status in (CFTRI), has prepared nearly one lakh meals 2013 during the Kiruna Ministerial meeting for distribution in cyclone Fani hit areas of held in Sweden. Odisha. • India has its Arctic research station ‘Himadri’ Note: in Svalbard, Norway since 2008. • Central Food Technological Research Institute • The Arctic Council is formed of eight (CFTRI) is a premier food research laboratory circumploar countries- Norway, Sweden, under Ministry of Science and Technology Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Canada, US and (MoS&T), Government of India. Russia.

April 2019

1. National Institutional Ranking Framework 2019 – • Engineering institutions - IIT-Madras topped the The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking followed by IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay. rankings have been released by the Ministry of Human • Management schools - IIM Bangalore topped the Resource Development. The rankings list the best ranking followed by IIM Ahmedabad and IIM institutions and universities of India. Calcutta Ranking is as follows • Jamia Hamdard has been announced as the top • Overall rankings - The Indian Institute of varsity for Pharmacy. Technology (IIT), Madras has topped the • All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) overall rankings of higher education institutions has been adjudged as the best medical college. and is followed by IISc Bangalore and IIT-Delhi • National Law School of India University, ranked second and third in the overall rankings. Bengaluru, have been adjudged as the best • Best University - In the University Category, IISc medical college law school. Bangalore has been ranked one followed by 2. RailTel turns 1600 railway stations into RailWire Wi- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the Fi zone Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

56 www.gradeup.co • RailWire Wi-Fi by RailTel is now live at 1600 companies—Indian Oil Corp. (IOCL), Hindustan railway stations across the country. Petroleum Corp. (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corp. • The Santacruz railway station in Mumbai became (BPCL). the 1600th station to become a RailWire Wi-Fi • Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. zone. (Adnoc) will jointly own 50% of the Ratnagiri Note: refinery, with the remaining 50% owned by the • RailWire is a retail Broadband initiative of the Indian oil companies. RailTel. 6. Guwahati railway station 1st to Get ISO Certification • RailTel is working to establish bringing fast and free in India – The Guwahati Railway Station in Assam has Wi-Fi at all stations (except the halt stations) within become the first ever railway station in the Indian a year. Railways to get an ISO certification from the National 3. India’s first foreign interactive bird park launched in Green Tribunal (NGT) for “providing passenger Mumbai – India’s first rain forest-themed foreign amenities in a clean and green environment.” interactive bird park was launched in Gorai, Mumbai, Note: Maharashtra. • Many types of ISO certification exist and the one • It is home to over 500 exotic birds from more received by Guwahati Railway Station is ISO- than 60 species. 14001, which is for Environment Management • It was launched by EsselWorld Leisure Pvt. Ltd, System as per international norms which were the entertainment arm of $6-billion Essel Group. upgraded in 2015. Thus, the station’s certificate 4. Gagandeep Kang becomes First Indian Female FRS – reads ISO 14001: 2015. Professor Gagandeep Kang has become the first Indian 7. Centre allocates Rs 59 crore for Asiatic Lion female scientist to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal conservation in Gujarat’s Gir - In a bid to protect and Society (FRS) in the UK fellowship’s 358-year-history. conserve lions, identified as one of the endangered • The 56-year-old is the Executive Director of species by the government, the Ministry of Environment Translational Health Science and Technology launched a three-year Asiatic Lion Conservation Project Institute at . in collaboration with the state of Gujarat, which is the 5. Ratnagiri refinery may now come up in last habitat of the big cat. Maharashtra's Raigad - The proposed $44 billion • The Rs 98-crore project, for which the Ministry refinery and petrochemicals project at Ratnagiri in of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Maharashtra may be shifted to neighbouring Raigad (MoEFCC) has allocated Rs 59 crores, spans three district. years -- 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 -- will Note: focus on better management of the lion habitat, • Raigad is located in the Konkan region of the disease control and veterinary care for them. state. 8. ICMR launches Malaria Elimination research alliance • Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis – The Indian Council of Medical Research has launched said that the state government has decided to the ‘Malaria Elimination Research Alliance (MERA) India relocate the proposed Ratnagiri refinery which is a conglomeration of partners working on following the protests by farmers and local malaria control in order to eliminate the disease from landowners, who feared the project may damage India by 2030. flora and fauna in the region, and affect Alphonso • The National Vector Borne Diseases Control mango and cashew plantations. Program (NVBDCP) of India has also developed a • The Ratnagiri refinery project, which was comprehensive framework to achieve the target announced in December 2015, was to be of “Malaria free India by 2030”. commissioned by 2022, but delays in land • The Indian Council of Medical Research, the apex acquisition have pushed the deadline to 2025. body in India for the formulation, coordination Note: and promotion of biomedical research, is one of • The Ratnagiri Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd the oldest and largest medical research bodies in (RRPCL), which is implementing the project is a joint the world venture between three state-run oil marketing • ICMR headquarters is in New Delhi.

57 www.gradeup.co

March 2019

1. Adani becomes first Indian port operator to record Integral Coach Factory (ICF) 200 MMT cargo movement – Adani Ports and Special • ICF is rail coach’s manufacturer located in Chennai, Economic Zone (APSEZ) announced that it has recorded Tamil Nadu. cargo movement of more than 200 million metric tonnes • It was inaugurated by first Prime Minister of India Pt. (MMT) at nine ports along the east and west coasts, Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955. becoming the first Indian port operator to achieve the • It is owned and operated by Central Government milestone. (Union Ministry of Railways) through Indian 2. WhatsApp to Work with Nasscom to Impart Digital Railways. Literacy – WhatsApp and National Association of • It primarily manufactures rolling stock for Indian Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) have Railways. decided to work together to impart digital literacy for • It manufactures range of coaches, including Linke- curbing the menace of fake news before the general Hofmann-Busch (LHB), self-propelled train sets elections. (SPTs) such as electrical multiple units (EMU). • WhatsApp and NASSCOM Foundation will train • It also exports railway coaches to other countries nearly 1,00,000 Indians to spot false information including Zambia, Philippines, Tanzania, Uganda, and provide tips and tricks to stay safe on Nigeria, Thailand, Myanmar, Taiwan, Vietnam, WhatsApp. Mozambique, Bangladesh, Angola and Sri Lanka. 3. India becomes Elite Space Power –PM Modi announced • It is one of three coach manufacturing facilities of that India has entered its name as an elite space power. Indian Railways with the other two being Rail Coach • An Anti-Satellite Weapon (A-SAT) successfully Factory, Kapurthala and Modern Coach Factory, targeted a live satellite on a low earth orbit. . • The name of this mission was ‘Mission Shakti’. 5. Prime Minister of Guinea Dr. Ibrahima Kassory Fofana • After the US, Russia, and China, India is the visited India. fourth country to acquire this space capability. • Guinea Capital: Conakry, Currency: Guinean • Defence Research and Development Organisation franc. (DRDO), on 27th March 2019 successfully 6. India extends USD 250 million to Nepal for conducted an Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) missile test, Reconstruction of Infrastructures – India has extended under Mission Shakti from Dr A P J Abdul Kalam a grant assistance of up to USD 250 million to Nepal for Island in Odisha. the reconstruction of infrastructures in the areas of • A DRDO-developed Ballistic Missile, Defence housing, education, health and cultural heritage. Interceptor Missile successfully engaged an 7. CISF Creates New Guinness World Record – The Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) created a new (LEO) in a Hit to Kill mode. Guinness World Record for the longest single moving line 4. Integral Coach Factory becomes World’s Largest Rail bicycle parade at the Expressway. Coach Manufacturer - Indian Railways’ Chennai based Note: Integral Coach Factory (ICF) became world’s largest rail • The world record was attempted to coach manufacturer after surpassing top Chinese commemorate the 50 years of the manufacturers. paramilitary force CISF. Note: For creating the World Record the • ICF had manufactured 2,919 coaches from April • 2018 to February 2019 as compared to 2,600 personnel of the central force rode 1,327 coaches by Chinese manufacturers. bicycles non-stop with a uniform distance • The number of coaches manufactured were 40% between bicycles in a single line. higher than those manufactured previous year in 8. Government announces new Rs 20 coin - The Centre same time period. has announced a new Rs 20 coin which will come in 12-

58 www.gradeup.co edged polygon (dodecagon) shape. The government is 11. India launches third IT corridor in China – India has also planning to release new coins of Re 1, Rs 2, Rs 5 and launched its third IT corridor in China. The corridor will Rs 10. facilitate partnerships between Indian and Chinese Note: companies. • The Finance Ministry stated that the new Rs 20 • National Association of Software and Services coin will be made in copper, zinc and nickel. It Companies (NASSCOM) entered into a will be 27mm (millimeters) and weigh 8.54 partnership with China’s Xuzhou city from grams. Jiangsu Province in China to help develop the • The Lion Capitol symbol of Ashoka Pillar with the IT corridor. legend “Satyamev Jayate” below it will be • The earlier two corridors launched at Dalian and inscribed on its front side. Guiyang cities. • The words “Bharat” in Hindi and “INDIA” in 12. United States to set up six Nuclear Power Plants in English will be there on the right and left-hand India – The United States and India agreed to strengthen side of the symbol respectively. security and civil nuclear cooperation, including building 9. One Nation One Card – On 4th March 2019, Prime six U.S. nuclear power plants in India. Minister Narendra Modi launched the indigenously 13. PM Modi lays Foundation stone of AK-203 Assault developed National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Rifle Manufacturing Unit in Amethi – Prime Minister while inaugurating the first phase of the Ahmedabad Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of a metro train service. manufacturing unit for AK-203 assault rifles at the Objective – Ordnance Factory Board factory in Amethi, Uttar • To enable people to seamless payment for Pradesh. multiple transport system charges. Note: Key points • Amethi is the parliamentary constituency of • The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Congress President Rahul Gandhi. program was envisaged by Ministry of Housing & • The manufacturing unit is a joint venture Urban Affairs (MoHUA). between India and Russia to produce a • The Gate & Reader prototype for this card has modernised version of AK-47 rifles. been made by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) • One of the most advanced rifles in world, AK- under Make in India initiative. 203 will be made in Amethi. AK-203 is the latest • The technology for this system is supported by derivative of the legendary AK-47 rifle. indigenously developed payment ecosystem 14. Department of Empowerment of Persons with Automatic Fare Collection Gate (AFCG) namely Disabilities sets World Record – The Department of Swagat and an Open Loop Automatic Fare Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Collection (OLAFC) system called Sweekar. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has set a • Single card can be used across the country - new world record. You can use one single card i.e. One Nation • The department had undertaken the Modern One Card for payments across all segments Artificial Limbs (Legs) implantation in Gujarat’s like - bus travel, metro, toll, parking, retail Bharuch. shopping and even withdraw money. • The implantation was carried out for 260 people • This card runs as on RuPay card, which has been in record eight hours. This was the seventh merged with the mobility card. So, people can world record set by the Department of also withdraw money apart from using this Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Common Mobility Card for paying bills and fare. 15. Hardeep S Puri launches e-Dharti App – Housing and 10. New Visa Agreement between India, Maldives Comes Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri has launched e- into Effect – The new visa agreement between India and Dharti app where all the three modules- Conversion, Maldives came into force. The new policy provides a Substitution and Mutation related to properties have liberal visa policy for Maldivian citizens seeking medical been made online. treatment as well as education and business • This enables the public to submit their opportunities in India. applications online by visiting the L&DO website.

59 www.gradeup.co This absolves the need to visit the office for • The ‘AzaadikeDiwane’ museum talks about the submission of them and for follow up of their sacrifices of great freedom fighters. It pays applications. tribute to the selfless sacrifices of the 16. Azaadi Ke Diwane’ museum inaugurated at revolutionaries, brave female freedom fighters – Union Minister Mahesh Sharma has inaugurated and valiant children. ‘Azaadi Ke Diwane’ museum, dedicated to the unsung • It is built by the Archaeological Survey of India heroes of the country’s freedom struggle, on the Red Fort (ASI). premises in New Delhi. Note:

February 2019

1. e-Aushadhi Portal – Minister of State for AYUSH, Shri Least Available Depth to aid in ensuring of optimum use Shripad Yesso Naik launched the e-Aushadhi portal for of National Waterways. online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and • LADIS will better facilitate the day to day Homoeopathy drugs. operations of inland vessels plying on National • The new e-portal, e-Aushadhi is an acronym for Waterways and avoids any hindrance in service Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy and operation. Automated Drug Help Initiative. 6. Virtual Experiential Museum inaugurated in 2. Dera Baba Nanak Land Post Designated as Varanasi by PM Modi – Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Immigration Centre for visiting Kartarpur Sahib – Modi inaugurated the Virtual Experiential Museum The notification issued by the Union Home ministry has (VEM) in Varanasi, established by the National Council of designated Dera Baba Nanak land post located in Science Museum (NCSM). Punjab’s Gurdaspur district as an authorised • The museum is set up inside the centrally immigration checkpoint to exit and enter for visiting protected monument observatory of Man Mahal Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan. situated on the bank of the Ganges near holy Note: Dashashwamedh Ghat at Varanasi. • The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor connects 7. PM Modi Flagged Off 1st ever diesel to Electric Kartarpur Gurdwara in Pakistan with Dera Baba Conversion Locomotive – Under ‘Make in India’ Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district. initiative, Indian Railways has created history by • The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located on the converting a diesel locomotive into electric locomotive banks of the Ravi River, about three-four km for the first time in the world. This all new converted from the border in Pakistan. energy-efficient electric locomotive has been flagged off 3. Union Textiles Minister Inaugurates Titanwala by PM Narendra Modi in Varanasi. Museum in Rajasthan – Union Minister for Textiles 8. Operation Digital Board launched by HRD Ministry – Smriti Irani inaugurated the ‘Titanwala Museum’ in The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry Bagru that showcases the Chhipa community’s Bagru launched Operation Digital Board on the lines of hand-block printing. Operation Blackboard to provide better digital education Note: Bagru printing is one of the traditional techniques in school. of printing with natural colour followed by the chippas of • Operation Digital Board has been launched on Rajasthan. The Bagru hand-block printing has a history the lines of Operation Blackboard to provide of over 1000 years. better digital education in schools. 4. PM Modi inaugurates National War Memorial in New • Under Operation Digital Board seven lakh Delhi - Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated a new classrooms of 9th, 10th and 11th standards and National War Memorial, situated in the two lakh classrooms of colleges and Universities complex in New Delhi, to the nation. will be equipped with digital boards in the next 5. LADIS Portal Launched – The Inland Waterways three years. Authority of India (IWAI) launched a new portal LADIS –

60 www.gradeup.co • The initiative is aimed at improving the quality of Mega Aqua Food Park at Tundurru Village in education and offer new opportunities and new Bhimavaram Mandal, West Godavari District, ways of teaching and learning. Andhra Pradesh. 9. Rajnath Singh launches Pan-India Number 112 for • It will be the first Mega Aqua Food Park Women Safety – operationalised exclusively for fish and marine • Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister for products processing in the state of Andhra Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi Pradesh. launched a range of citizen safety initiatives in 13. Kareena Kapoor Khan appointed ambassador of New Delhi. Swasth Immunised India campaign – Actress Kareena • Persons in distress can dial a pan-India number: Kapoor Khan has been appointed as an ambassador of 112. Swasth Immunised India campaign. The Swasth Note: Immunised India campaign has been launched by Serum • The 112 helpline which was earlier launched in Institute of India (SII) and Network 18. Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland was launched in 16 14. Deloitte launches WorldClass Initiative in India - states and UTs by Union Home Minister Rajnath Deloitte has announced the launch of its global initiative Singh under the Emergency Response Support ‘WorldClass’ in India for the empowerment of women. System (ERSS). The initiative was launched by Deloitte’s Global CEO, 10. Saudi Becomes 73rd Nation to Sign International Punit Renjen in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Solar Alliance – Saudi Arabia became the 73rd nation to Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill sign the International Solar Alliance. Development and Entrepreneurship. • ISA was unveiled by PM Narendra Modi and Note: former French President Francois Hollande in • WorldClass programme in India will focus on 2015. improving girls retention rate in school, higher • Headquarters is in Gwal Pahari, Gurugram, educational outcomes, and skills development India. for women to access employment. 11. India Withdraws Most Favoured Nation Status to • In India, the initiative aims to support 10 million Pakistan – girls and women by 2030 through education and • Following the attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s skills development. Pulwama that left 44 CRPF personnel dead, India 15. Railway Minister launches Rail Drishti Dashboard – has withdrawn the MFN (Most Favoured Nation) The Union Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal has status that it had granted to Pakistan. launched Rail Drishti dashboard. • India granted MFN status to Pakistan in 1996, • It encompasses all the digitisation efforts in just a year after the formation of the WTO. Indian Railways and promotes transparency and Note: accountability. • Most Favoured Nation status is given to an • The dashboard brings information from various international trade partner to ensure non- sources on a single platform and gives access to discriminatory trade between all partner key statistics and parameters to every citizen of countries of the World Trade Organisation the country. (WTO). 16. Sanskrit becomes second official language of • A country which provides MFN status to another Himachal Pradesh – Himachal Pradesh Assembly country has to provide concessions, privileges, passed Official Language Amendment Bill 2019 to make and immunity in trade agreements. Sanskrit as second official of the state without discussion. • It is the first clause in the General Agreement on • With clearance of bill Himachal Pradesh became Tariffs and Trade (GATT). second state in the in the country after 12. India’s 1st Aqua Mega Food Park commissioned in Uttrakhand to adopt such bill. Andhra Pradesh 17. President unveils a life-size portrait of Atal Bihari • Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Vajpayee at Central Hall of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal commissioned Godavari

61 www.gradeup.co • President Ram Nath Kovind unveiled the life-size 25. After China, India is world’s 2nd largest LPG portrait of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari consumer & importer Vajpayee at the Central Hall of Parliament. • After achieving the target of distributing 8 crore 18. 12th February: National Productivity Day cooking gas connections under its flagship 19. PM Narendra Modi inaugurates PETROTECH-2019 Pradhan India became the second largest • Narendra Modi inaugurated the three-day consumer of LPG in the world. International Oil and Gas Conference • According to the Petroleum Minister ‘PETROTECH-2019’ (13th) at India Expo Mart in Dharmendra Pradhan, imports of LPG grew 12.5 Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. percent over the past five years to 12 million • The ‘PETROTECH-2019’ is being organised under metric tons (13 million tons) in 2018-19, the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural surpassing Japan and putting India in second Gas, Government of India. place behind China. • India is the 3rd largest consumer of crude oil and • India imports LPG mainly from Saudi Arabia, petroleum products. Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and 20. Dera Baba Nanak land check post designated as an Iran. immigration centre – The Union Government 26. India's tourism sector registers 19% growth in 2018 designated Dera Baba Nanak land Check post in - According to Union Minister K J Alphons, the country's Gurdaspur district of Punjab as an authorised tourism sector fetched 234 billion US Dollar revenue last immigration checkpoint to exit and entry for visiting year, registering a growth of over 19%. Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan. 27. The Textile Minister Smriti Irani has launched the India 21. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Size project (first-of-its-kind project in the history of the CREDAI YouthCon -19 at Talkatora Stadium in New country) in Mumbai. Delhi. • The objective of the India Size to arrive at a • The theme for this YouthCon is Next Generation. standard Indian Size for the ready-to-wear 22. AYUSH Minister launches e-AUSHADHI portal - clothing industry. Shripad Yesso Naik (Minister of State (IC) for AYUSH) has 28. Cabinet approves the establishment of Rashtriya launched the e-AUSHADHI portal, for online licensing of Kamdhenu Aayog - The Union Cabinet has approved the Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and proposal for the establishment of Rashtriya Kamdhenu related matters at New Delhi. Aayog for conservation, protection and development of 23. India and Norway launched an initiative to Combat cows and their progeny. Marine Pollution - The Ministry of Environment, Note: Forests and Climate Change signed a Letter of Intent • The Aayog will work in collaboration with establishing the India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative Veterinary, Animal Sciences or Agriculture together with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. University or departments or organizations of 24. The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for the Central or State Government engaged in the Extension of tenure of the National Commission for Safai task of research in the field of breeding and Karmacharis (NCSK) beyond 31st of March 2019 for rearing of the cow, organic manure, biogas etc. three years. • Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog was announced in the interim budget on the 1st Feb 2019.

January 2019

14. Cabinet Approves 10% Job Quota for ‘Economically provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and Weaker’ Upper Castes - The Union Cabinet approved educational institutions to economically backward a 10% reservation for ‘economically backward’ upper section in the general category. castes in government jobs. • Under the new amendment to the constitution, Note: people with an annual income below Rs. 8 lakh and • On January 10, 2019 Parliament passed the owning ‘ fewer than five acres of land would be Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill 2019 to eligible for the reservation.

62 www.gradeup.co Note • The Drishyakala-Museum on Indian Art 15. Gujarat became first state to implement 10% quota showcases Indian art works from 16th century for economically weak in general category. till India’s independence. 16. President Ramnath Kovind has given the assent to the • The Museum on 1857- India’s first war of 124th constitutional Amendment Bill (which is Independence portrays the historical narrative now Constitution 103rd amendment Act) providing of 1857 war of independence, showcasing the 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker valor and sacrifices made by Indians during sections.The Important components of the 103rd the period. constitutional Amendment are: 21. The word Nari Shakti is chosen as the word of the • The amendment changed two fundamental Year 2018 by the Oxford dictionaries. The rights, Article 15 and 16. The amendments announcement regarding this was made in the Jaipur provide for the advancement of the Literature Festival (JLF). “economically weaker sections” of the society. 22. Vande Bharat Express - India’s fastest indigenous • The amendment aims to fulfil the train, Train 18 named as Vande Bharat Express will commitments of the directive principles of run between Delhi and Varanasi. state policy under Article 46, to promote the • Train 18 is an indigenously developed world- educational and economic interests of the class train under Make in India. weaker sections of the society. • The 16-coach train has been built completely 17. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in India by Indian engineers in a span of 18 (DIPP) has been renamed as the Department for months at the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. It will 23. Sanrakshan Kshmata Mahotsav (SAKSHAM) was work under the Union Ministry of Commerce. flagged off by Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural 18. Coins to commemorate MGR’s 102nd birth Gas Dharmendra Pradhan to promote and create anniversary - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K awareness among people on the need of oil and gas Palaniswami released two commemorative coins in the conservation for the future and the methods to do it. denominations of Rs 100 and Rs 5 to mark the 102nd • Sanrakshan Kshmata Mahotsav (SAKSHAM) is birth anniversary of DR M G Ramachandran. an annual flagship event of Petroleum Note: Conservation Research Association (PCRA) • DR M G Ramachandran popularly known as M. under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum & G. R is an actor, filmmaker and politician who Natural Gas, Govt. of India. served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for 24. National Salt Satyagraha Memorial inaugurated at ten years between 1977 and 1987. Dandi - In commemoration of the 150th Birth 19. National Museum of Indian Cinema Inaugurated - Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Narendra Modi on January 30, 2019 dedicated the the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) at Films National Salt Satyagraha Memorial at Dandi in Navsari Division of India premises in Mumbai. district, Gujarat to the nation. 20. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum - Prime • The memorial encapsulates the ideals of Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Subhash Mahatma Gandhi- Agrah for Swadeshi, Chandra Bose museum at Red Fort in New Delhi to Swatchagrah and Satyagraha. mark the Netaji’s 122nd birth anniversary. 25. IIT Hyderabad launches B. Tech course in Artificial • The museum in the Red Fort complex is also Intelligence important for the fact that INA trails were held • IIT Hyderabad has announced the launch of a within the Red Fort complex. full-fledged bachelor’s programme in Artificial Another Museum inaugurated at Red Fort in New Delhi Intelligence (AI) technology. is as follows • IIT Hyderabad has become the first institute in • The Yaad-e-Jallian Museum provides an the country to launch full-fledged bachelor’s authentic account of Jallianwala Bagh massacre programme in AI technology. happened on April 13, 1919. • IIT Hyderabad will be the third institute to globally to offer the B. Tech course in AI.

63 www.gradeup.co 26. Republic Day 26th January – India celebrates 70th candidates, while it is used the least when- Republic Day boarding (49 per cent), candidates. • President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa was 29. Shehri Samridhi Utsav - The Union Ministry of the chief guest for this year's Republic Day Housing and Urban Affairs is organising a fortnight of parade. events named Shehri Samridhi Utsav all over the • The theme of the 70th Republic Day parade is country with an aim to extend the outreach of 'life of Gandhi' which is a tribute to the father Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban of the nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) to the poorest of birth anniversary. poor and the most vulnerable. • Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani of Jammu and 30. TRAI releases Tele-density data of India: Kashmir was posthumously conferred with the Key facts are listed below: Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime • The total number of mobile phone subscribers gallantry award by President of India. in India by the end of November was 117.18 • The all-women Assam Rifles contingent crore with a net addition of 17.39 lakh created history this year by participating for customers during the month. the first time in a Republic Day (26th January) • The private access service providers held parade. 89.99 per cent market share of the wireless • The ICAR tableau in the Republic Day Parade subscribers whereas BSNL and MTNL, the two has won the first prize for its Kisan Gandhi PSU access service providers, had a market theme. share of only 10.01 per cent as on November • The Indian Council of Agricultural Research 2018. tableau with the theme "Mishrit Kheti, • Reliance Jio led the subscription race in Khushiyon Ki Kheti" portrayed Gandhi with November 2018 adding around 88.01 lakh goats and a cow and Kasturba engaged with subscribers across the country. charkha and caring animals. • State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) 27. JNPT becomes only Indian port to be listed added around 3.78 lakh subscribers in amongst world’s top 30 Container Ports - The November, taking its total tally to 11.38 crore. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), India’s premier • Airtel added around 1.02 lakh new customers container port got listed amongst the top 30 container in November, taking its total tally to 34.18 ports globally, as per the latest Lloyds Report. crores. • JNPT notched up five spots, to be 28th on the • On the other hand, Vodafone Idea lost around list, compared to its previous ranking. 65.26 lakh subscribers. • Jawaharlal Nehru Port also known as Nhava 31. Centre launches 5-yr Plan to Combat pollution in Sheva, is the largest container port in India. 102 cities - The Environment Ministry launched the • It is located at east of Mumbai in Navi Mumbai, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aimed at Maharashtra. reducing toxic particulate matter in 102 Indian cities 28. State of Talent Acquisition 2019 Report: The report is by 2024. released by the Mercer-Mettl’s Note: Key points • The NCAP will be a mid-term, five-year plan • India Companies are expected to raise their with 2019 as the first year, while 2017 will be hiring budgets by 34 per cent and volumes by the base year for comparison of 31 per cent in 2019. concentration. • Due to this increase in hiring the companies • An amount of INR300 crore has been are expected to raise their hiring budgets by at sanctioned for this purpose. least 34 per cent compared to 20 per cent of 32. Election Commission wants ban on all party E-ads companies in 2018. 48 hrs before polls • The report notes that technology is employed • The Election Commission has sought an extensively in sourcing (88 per cent) amendment to the law to prevent social media and other digital platforms from

64 www.gradeup.co carrying political advertisements in the Monuments and Archaeological Sites and final 48 hours before elections. Remains Act, 1958, in 2018. • While Section 126 of the Representation of People Act prevents electronic media from These sites are: airing political advertisements in the • 125-year-old Old High Court Building in ‘silent period’ before elections. , Maharashtra, 33. ECI renew MoU with Election Commission of • The Group of Temples in Ranipur Jharail in Bhutan Bolangir district of Odisha, • On the sidelines of the international • 2 Mughal era monuments in Agra- Haveli conference, the Election Commission of of Agha Khan and Hathi Khana, India renew Memorandum of • The Neemrana Baori in Alwar district of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation in Rajasthan, the field of election management with the • The Vishnu Temple in Kotali, Pithoragarh Election Commission of Bhutan. district in Uttarakhand. 34. Ministry of Textiles and Government of India launched 38. GST on Haj reduced from 18% To 5% - Union Artisan Speak at Elephanta Caves (UNESCO heritage Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi site) to strengthen the handlooms and textiles sector of stated that GST on Haj has been reduced from 18% to India. 5%. 35. Union Cabinet approves setting up of 3 New AIIMS - 39. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg visited India. The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra • The fourth edition of the Raisina Dialogue Modi has approved the setting up of three new AIIMS was held in New Delhi. institutions. • Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg • The three new institutions would come up delivered an inaugural address in presence at Vijaynagar at Samba of Jammu of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Region, Awantipora in Pulwama of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Kashmir Region and Rajkot in Gujarat 40. The Southern Railway has bagged the number one under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya position for cleanliness in all the 17 railway zones in Suraksha yojana. the country. 36. UGC to set up ‘CARE’ to Strengthen Research • This achievement was under the category of Publication - The University Grants Commission other than Premium Category trains in the (UGC) has decided to establish a Consortium for recent Trains Cleanliness Survey conducted by Academic and Research Ethics (CARE). IRCTC on all India level. • The Consortium for Academic and 41. The Union Civil Aviation minister Suresh Prabhu has Research Ethics (CARE) is tasked to inaugurated country’s first Geographical Indication scrutinise and then compile a list of (GI) Store at International Airport at Dabolim, Goa. journals for social sciences, humanities, 42. Sakhi Centres - Sakhi centre or One Stop Centre (OSC) language, arts, culture, Indian Knowledge is a fully sponsored scheme of Central Government. system etc. • These centres are set up through the Nirbhaya • UGC has constituted a Committee under Fund under the National Mission for the Chairmanship of Prof. P. Balram, to Empowerment of women by the Ministry of review its quality mandate relating to Women and Child Development. promotion of Research and to review the 43. President gives assent to Right of Children to Free existing M.Phil/ Ph.D Regulations. and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2019 37. Six monuments declared as National Importance in - The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory 2018 by ASI - Education (Amendment) Act, 2019 which was passed • The Ministry of Culture announced that by the Parliament on January 3, 2019 received the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) assent of the President of India on January 10, 2019. declared 6 monuments as ‘protected and of Key points: national importance’ under the Ancient

65 www.gradeup.co • The Bill seeks to amend the Right to • Ekana International Stadium in Lucknow Education (RTE) Act to abolish the “no- renamed as 'Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari detention” policy in schools. Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium'. • Under the current provisions of the Act, no • Jolly Grant (Dehradun) airport renamed student can be detained up to class VIII after former prime minister Atal Bihari (8th). Vajpayee • As per the amendment, it would be left to • Agartala Airport renamed as Maharaja Bir the states to decide whether to continue Bikram Manikya Kishore Airport. the no-detention policy. • British-era railway station Robertsgang • Now, states can choose to hold a regular renamed as Sonbhadra. examination either at the end of Classes 5 • Mughalsarai junction renamed after Deen and 8, or both. Dayal Upadhyay. • If a student fails, the amendment bill • Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in grants a provision to give her or him Mumbai renamed as Chhatrapati Shivaji additional opportunity to take a re- ‘Maharaj’ International Airport. examination within two months. 47. Government sets up Export Promotion Cell for MSMEs • If the students still do not pass the exam, - the state government may decide to detain • The MSME ministry has established an them. export promotion cell to create a • sustainable ecosystem for micro, small and Right to Education (RTE) Act medium enterprises (MSMEs). • The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory 48. Go Green Initiatives in Indian Railways: Railways Education Act, 2009 (the Act) provides for free and have undertaken some major initiatives to Go Green. compulsory education to all children of the age of • Ministry of Railways has planned to set up six to fourteen years. 1000 Mega Watt (MW) solar power by • The Section 16 of the Act provides that no child 2020-21 which would help Railways to admitted in a school shall be held back in any class source about 10% of its electrical energy or expelled from school till the completion of from renewable source. elementary education. 49. Indian Forest Service to be renamed as Indian 44. India’s Satyarup becomes world’s youngest Forest and Tribal Service - The Ministry of Personnel, mountaineer to climb 7 peaks, 7 volcano summits – Public Grievances and Pensions has initiated an inter- Mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta conquered ministerial consultation note to rename the Indian Antartica's highest point, Mount Sidley. Forest Service as Indian Forest and Tribal Service. • With this feat, he became the first Indian and 50. Times Higher Education Emerging Economies youngest man (35 years and 262 days) to University Rankings 2019 climb the seven highest peaks and volcanic • The London-based Times Higher Education summits across all continents. (THE), a global organisation that produces 45. Arunima Sinha has become the World's 1st woman data, analysis and expertise on higher amputee to climb Mount Vinson, the highest peak in education has released the Emerging Antarctica. Economies University Rankings 2019. Note: • The 2019 ranking comprises of 450 • Arunima Sinha (born 20 July 1988) is the first universities from 43 countries, across four female amputee to climb Mount Everest. continents. 46. Centre Approves renaming of as • India has increased its representation in the Prayagraj - The Union Home Ministry has approved latest Times Higher Education (THE) Emerging the Uttar Pradesh government’s proposal to rename Economies University Rankings 2019, with 49 Allahabad as Prayagraj. institutes making it to the list as compared to Note: 42 last year. The standings of Indian universities are as follows

66 www.gradeup.co • The Indian Institute of Science - Bangalore Jitendra Singh has inaugurated the UNNATI- (Unispace (IISc) has topped the rankings among Nanosatellite Assembly & Training) programme Indian institutes with 14th rank organized by ISRO in Bengaluru. • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) • ISRO will train 90 officials from 45 countries in Bombay ranked at 27th position. three batches. • IIT Roorkee ranked at 35th position 55. National Health Authority gets Cabinet nod • IIT ranked at 46th position and IIT • The Union Cabinet has cleared the constitution Kharagpur at 55th rank. of a National Health Authority (NHA) through Note: an executive order, thus taking the Pradhan • China remained the most represented nation in the Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) out of the annual listing, with 72 institutions in total. The ambit of the Ministry of Health. nation claimed four of the table’s top-five • Now, the ministry’s role will be limited to positions. acting as the nodal ministry for NHA in • Tsinghua University surpassed Peking University parliamentary matters, like the presentation of as this year’s top institution overall. annual reports. 51. IRDAI Raises Minimum Driver Insurance Cover to • The NHA’s governing board will be chaired by Rs 15 Lakh – The regulator directed all general the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, insurers to provide a minimum CSl of Rs 15 lakh under while its members will include NITI Aayog CEO Compulsory Personal Accident (CPA) cover for owner- and NHA CEO. driver under Liability Only to all classes of vehicles at 56. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine the premium rate of Rs 750 per annum for annual of 100 crore rupees on Meghalaya government for its policy. failure to curb illegal coal mining in the state. • Currently, the capital sum insured (CSI) under 57. The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister this section for motorised two-wheelers and Hardeep Singh Puri has launched the ‘Swachh private cars/commercial vehicles is Rs 1 lakh Survekshan 2019. and Rs 2 lakh, respectively. • The Swachh Survekshan 2019 aims to evaluate 52. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a 350-rupee the achievements in the cleanliness level in commemorative coin as part of the 352nd birth urban areas of the country. anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh in New 58. Govt approves additional assistance of over Rs Delhi. The 1,146 cr to Tamil Nadu 53. The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated to • The Union Government has approved the the Nation Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP), at additional assistance of over 1146 crore Jharsugudaand in Odisha. The Multi-Modal Logistics rupees to Tamil Nadu (affected by the cyclone - Park (MMLP) at Jharsuguda is built at a cost of Rs 100 Gaja) from National Disaster Response Fund. Crores. • The approval was given by a High-Level 54. Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates ISRO's UNNATI Committee chaired by Home Minister Rajnath programme in Bengaluru - The Union Minister Dr. Singh in New Delhi. •

International Affairs

September 1. WHO South-East Asia Region to eliminate measles and rubella” was taken at the 72nd session of & rubella by 2023 – World Health Organisation the WHO Regional Committee for South-East South-East Asia Region have resolved to eliminate Asia in Delhi. measles and rubella by 2023. 2. US Federal Trade Commission fines YouTube with • The resolution to eliminate the highly $170 million – The US’s Federal Trade Commission infectious childhood killer diseases “measles has fined Google’s YouTube with $170 million.

67 www.gradeup.co YouTube will have to pay $170 million to settle Replenishment Cycle (for year 2020-22). This is an allegations of collecting personal information about increase of 10% over the amount contributed by India children. in 5th cycle. • YouTube has been accused of tracking viewers • India stands firm to its long-standing of children’s channels using cookies without partnership with Global Fund and its parental consent. commitment to eliminate AIDS, Tuberculosis • YouTube also used those cookies to deliver and Malaria. million of dollars in targeted advertisements to 4. Indonesia to move capital from Jakarta to East those viewers. Kalimantan – Indonesia’s president announced that 3. India to contribute $22 mn to GFTAM for 2020-22 – the country’s capital will move from overcrowded, India has announced contribution of $22 million to sinking and polluted Jakarta to a site in sparsely Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFTAM) for 6th populated East Kalimantan province on Borneo island.

August

1. Narendra Modi launches RuPay card in UAE – Prime which aimed at building healthy habitats for Minister of India Narendra Modi has launched the Tigers. RuPay card, making the UAE the first country in the 4. FATF Asia-Pacific Group blacklists Pakistan – Middle East to initiate the Indian indigenous system of Pakistan has been placed on the blacklist of the electronic payment. Financial Action Task Force’s Asia Pacific Group. Note: • Pakistan has been blacklisted for non- • RuPay card scheme was launched in 2012 to compliance and non-enforcement of fulfill the Reserve Bank of India’s vision to safeguards against terror financing and money have a domestic, open and multilateral system laundering. of payments. About Asia Pacific Group (APG) • RuPay facilitates electronic payment at all • It is Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-style Indian banks and financial institutions. India regional body for Asia-Pacific region to has already launched the RuPay card in develop policies to combat money laundering Singapore and Bhutan. and terror financing. It is inter-governmental 2. Johnson & Johnson asked to pay $572 mn for organisation founded in 1997 in Bangkok, Opioid addiction crisis – Johnson & Johnson has been Thailand. ordered to pay $572 million for Opioid addiction crisis 5. Saudi Arabia: Travel abroad restriction on women in US. Oklahoma court has accused J&J for its role in lifted – In a landmark reform, Saudi Arabia has fostering the state’s opioid addiction crisis. allowed women above 21 years of age to receive • The money will be used to provide care for passports (issue or renew) and travel abroad without addicts, families and communities ravaged by permission from a male guardian. the crisis. 6. Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to 3. Discovery, WWF tie up to preserve Sundarbans – Bhutan Discovery India and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India • Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a two- have partnered with the Forest Directorate, the day visit to neighbouring country Bhutan. government of West Bengal and local communities to • Prime Minister of Bhutan - Lotay Tshering preserve Sundarbans. Key points – • This move is to protect the Sundarbans, the Sapling planted at Bhutan’s historic Simtoka Dzong mangrove forest, the habitat of Bengal tigers, • PM Modi planted a Cypress tree sapling at historic to reduce the tiger-human conflict. Simtoka Dzong in Thimpu in presence of his • The move is also a part of a global movement Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering. “Project CAT -Conserving Acres for Tigers”

68 www.gradeup.co • Simtoka Dzong is one of the oldest fortresses in 9. Microsoft’s Bill Gates regains the spot of the second Himalayan nation. richest person in the world in Bloomberg • Simtoka Dzong functions as a monastic and Billionaire Index administrative centre. • The co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates with 720 MW Mangdechhu hydroelectric power plant $106 Billion, became the second richest person inaugurated in the world again, by surpassing Europe’s • This hydroelectric plant is touted as a Bhutan- richest person Bernard Arnault, French luxury India friendship project. good (Louis Vuitton Moét Hennessy) tycoon, as • It is a 720MW run-of-river power plant built on per Bloomberg Billionaire Index. Mangdechhu River in Trongsa Dzongkhag district • Jeff Bezos of Amazon still holds his no.1 spot as of central Bhutan. It was developed by the world’s richest person. Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project Authority 10. U.S. labels China a ‘currency manipulator’ – The (MHPA). United States has officially labeled China a “currency • MHPA was jointly constituted by Indian and manipulator”. The US has accused China of using yuan Bhutanese governments. to gain “unfair competitive advantage” in trade. RuPay Card launched • The US took the action as Beijing has allowed • PM Modi launched RuPay Card in Bhutan by its yuan to fall below the politically sensitive making a purchase at Simtokha Dzong, one of the level of “seven” to the U.S. dollar for the first oldest dzongs in Bhutan. time in 11 years. • India announced that an additional $100 million 11. Iceland commemorates 1st glacier “Okjokull” lost will be available to Bhutan under SAARC currency to climate change – Iceland commemorated the loss swap framework to meet foreign exchange of 1st glacier “Okjokull”, lost due to climate change. A requirement. bronze plaque was unveiled by Iceland in a ceremony Key agreements signed between India & Bhutan which was attended by scientists and locals at the glacier in west-central Iceland. • MoU between Bhutan’s Department of Information • The plaque bears the inscription “A letter to Technology and Telecom (DITT) and Indian Space the future”. Research Organisation (ISRO) on establishment of 12. Chinese telecom giant Huawei launched its own SATCOM Networkfor utilization of South Asia operating system called HarmonyOS or HongMeng in Satellite (also known as GSAT-9). Chinese. Note: 13. Hiroshima Day 2019 observed on August 6 - • Capital of Bhutan is Thimphu Hiroshima Day was observed on August 6, 2019. It • Currency of Bhutan is Ngultrum. marks the anniversary of the atomic bombing of 7. India suspends Thar Link Express – India suspended Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan by the United States weekly -Munabao Thar Link Express amid the (US) in 1945. ongoing tension with Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. • During World War II, an American B-29 • This move comes days after India cancelled bomber had dropped the first atomic bomb from its side after Pakistan nicknamed ‘Little Boy’ on Hiroshima on August had announced suspension of all train services 6, 1945. to India. • Three days later i.e on August 9, 1945, a 8. Kajin Sara Lake set to be world’s highest lake – second atomic bomb “Fat Man” was dropped Newly discovered Kajin Sara lake in Nepal is likely to on the city of Nagasaki. set a new record of being the world’s highest lake. • 2019 marks the 74th anniversary of the • It is located at Singarkharka area of Chame disastrous event. rural municipality in Manang district of Nepal. 14. Papua New Guinea has the highest number of • Current world’s highest lake: It is Tilicho Lake, ‘living’ languages in the world, India ranks 4th situated at an altitude of 4,919 metres in • According to Ethnologue, a directory of Nepal. languages which lists 7,111 living languages

(languages that are still being used and spoken

69 www.gradeup.co by people) worldwide, Pacific island nation of • The other nations in the top 5 positions Papua New Guinea, Country in Oceania tops include Indonesia (2nd ) with 710 living the list with 840 living languages, while India languages and Nigeria(3rd with 524) and US ranks 4th position with 453. (United States) came 5th with 335.

July

1. Boris Johnson announced as Britain’s next prime • It is headquartered at campus of National minister - Boris Johnson replaces Theresa May as Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gurugram, Britain’s next Prime Minister. India. 2. International arbitration court imposes $5 billion 8. WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DRC as a Global penalty Pakistan – International Arbitration Court Health Emergency – World Health Organization has imposed over $5 billion penalty on Pakistan for (WHO) has declared deadly Ebola outbreak in unlawful denial of a mining lease to a company called Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as ‘Public Health Tethyan Copper Company for Reko Diq project in Emergency of International Concern’. This 2011. This penalty on cash-strapped Pakistan is one of announcement comes after Ebola virus spread to a city the biggest in its history. of 2 million people. 3. Australia-India finalize a new veterinary health • Kinshasa is the capital of Democratic Republic protocol - Australia and India recently finalized a new of Congo. veterinary health protocol for the export of Australian • Congolese franc is the currency of Democratic breeder sheep to India Republic of Congo.. 4. World Hindu Economic Forum launches its Nepal 9. Jordan has unveiled its 1st Underwater Military Chapter in Kathmandu – World Hindu Economic Museum on the bed of Red Sea off the coast of Aqaba. Forum (WHEF) has launched its Nepal Chapter which Red Sea - It is a narrow strip of water inlet of Indian was inaugurated by Nepal’s Minister of State for Health Ocean. It extends southeastward from Suez in Egypt, to and Population Dr. Surendra Kumar Yadav in Nepal’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait (it connects Red Sea to Gulf of Capital of Kathmandu. Aden). • It has been founded by Swami Vigyananand. 10. Ukraine inaugurates world’s largest Metal Dome – 5. France to impose green tax on plane tickets from Ukraine has inaugurated the world’s largest movable 2020 – France will impose green tax up to €18 on metal dome encasing the destroyed reactor at the plane tickets from 2020. The move aims to fund less- infamous Chernobyl plant. It is a 108-meter high dome polluting transportation projects. which weighs 36,000 tonnes. 6. Gafa Tax: France to levy 3% tax on Internet giants – 11. Motihari-Amlekhgunj Oil Pipeline ready for The French parliament approved a law dubbed as Gafa commercial operation – The landmark Motihari- Tax (an acronym for Google, Apple, Facebook and Amlekhgunj Petroleum Products Pipeline between Amazon), the legislation will impose a 3% levy on sales India and Nepal is now completed and is ready for generated in the country by non-tax paying online commercial operation. giants. • The testing transfer of the pipeline was 7. Palau becomes 76th nation to join International successfully completed by Indian Oil Solar Alliance – Palau, an archipelago of more than Corporation (IOC) and Nepal Oil Corporation 500 islands in Oceania, has become 76th signatory (NOC). As part of trial, diesel was released country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA). from Motihari which reached Amlekhgunj. About International Solar Alliance • The prestigious project is the 1st oil pipeline in • ISA is a group of 121 solar resource-rich Nepal, 1st transnational petroleum pipeline nations. It was jointly launched by India and from India as well as 1st South Asian oil France on November 2015 on side lines of pipeline corridor. COP21 UN Climate Change Conference held at Paris.

70 www.gradeup.co 12. Sri Lanka eliminates measles – Sri Lanka has become 19. European Union fines chipmaker Qualcomm $271 fifth country in the World Health Organisation (WHO) million – European Union has fined US based Southeast Asia region to eliminate measles. chipmaker Qualcomm $271 million, accusing it of • The other countries in the region which have “predatory pricing” to drive a competitor out of the achieved this feat are Bhutan, Maldives, DPR market. Korea and Timor-Leste. 20. 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee – 13. Tropical Storm Barry hits Louisiana in US. - In the The 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee was United States, Tropical Storm Barry has devastated held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 30 June to 10 July 2019. Louisiana. President Donald Trump has declared a 21. Italy’s Prosecco hills enters UNESCO World state of emergency in Louisiana. Heritage list – Italy’s hills of Conegliano and 14. U.S. sets $5 bn fine for Facebook – U.S.’s Federal Valdobbiadene, which is home to world-famous Trade Commission have approved a $5 billion penalty sparkling wine Prosecco, were added by UNESCO to be levied on Facebook. The penalty have been (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural approved to settle a probe into the social network’s Organization) to World Heritage list. privacy and data protection lapses. • It has now become Italy’s 55th World Heritage 15. Plastic-like Jute material developed in Bangladesh site. – Scientists in Bangladesh have developed a method to 22. Australia’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape included convert Jute fibre into low cost bio-degradable in UNESCO’s WHS – Australian Aboriginal site ‘Budj cellulose sheets named “Sonali”. Bim Cultural Landscape’ in south-west Victoria has • The Eco-friendly jute poly bags made up of been added to UNESCOS’s World Heritage List. Sonali can be used in garments and food • It is the 20th site in Australia to make it to packaging work and they are not harmful for WHS list. human health. 23. Iraq’s Babylon listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage 16. The UK’s new £50 pound note features Site – UNESCO's World Heritage Committee has voted codebreaker Alan Turing - According to the Bank of to list the sprawling Mesopotamian metropolis of England, Alan Turing, a crack code-breaker and Babylon as a World Heritage Site after three decades of visionary mathematician who set the foundations for lobbying efforts by Iraq. artificial intelligence (AI) will feature on Britain’s new • Since 1983 Iraq had been trying to have £50 banknote. Babylon site recognised by UNESCO. • The new note is expected to enter circulation 24. Sharjah issues its first Golden card visa to an by the end of 2021. Indian Lalu Samuel, Chairman of Kingston Holdings 17. Padma Shri awardee Raghu Ram receives FRCS of – The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Thailand Affairs of Sharjah has granted the first golden card visa • Popular breast surgeon and Padma Shri to an Indian expat businessman, Lalu Samuel, awardee P.Raghu Ram has been conferred the Chairman and Managing Director of Kingston Holdings Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of and Chairman of Sharjah Industry Business Group. Surgeons (FRCS) of Thailand at the 44th 25. World’s largest burn and plastic surgery institute annual congress of the Royal College in Pattaya inaugurated in Dhaka, Bangladesh – The world’s themed “ASEAN collaboration in value-based largest burn and plastic surgery institute named surgery”. Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery 18. Ukraine inaugurates gigantic dome worth $1.7 Institute started its functioning in Dhaka, Bangladesh. billion over destroyed Chernobyl reactor 26. Sri Lanka inaugurates first model village built with • Ukraine and its European partners have Indian assistance – The first model village built with inaugurated the world’s largest new metal Indian assistance under the Model Villages Program dome encasing the destroyed reactor at the was inaugurated at Ranidugama in Gampaha in Sri infamous Chernobyl nuclear power station. Lanka. Note: 27. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) • Ukraine: Capital: Kyiv or Kiev confirmed that Iran had exceeded a limit of 300 • Currency: Ukrainian hryvnia

71 www.gradeup.co kilograms on its enriched uranium reserves set by a 2015 nuclear deal/Iran deal. International Whaling Commission About Iran Deal • It is an international body set up under • It is also known as the Joint Comprehensive International Convention for Regulation of Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Iran Nuclear deal. Whaling (ICRW), which was signed in 1946 in • It was signed on July 14, 2015 in Vienna, Washington, D.C., United States (US). Austria between - Iran, P5+1 namely- France, • ICRW governs scientific, commercial, and United Kingdom, China, Russia, and the US aboriginal subsistence whaling practices of 59 (P5) plus Germany. member nations. • International Atomic Energy Agency • IWC Headquarters: Impington, England. headquarters is in - Vienna, Austria. 29. New Zealand bans Single-Use Plastic shopping bags 28. Japan resumes commercial whaling – Japan has – New Zealand has officially banned single-use plastic resumed commercial whaling after a period of 31 shopping bags with effect from 1 July 2019. years, but will stay within country’s exclusive economic waters.

June

1. ‘goAML’ launched by UAE - The United Arab Emirates 4. The world’s smallest baby ever to survive, weighing a (UAE) has become 1st country in Gulf to launch new mere 245 grams was born in San Diego, California. anti-money laundering platform called ‘goAML’ (Anti- 5. Indonesia's Mount Sinabung spews huge column of Money Laundering). ash during latest eruption – Mount Sinabung in • It is the new anti-money laundering platform North Sumatra, Indonesia, sent a huge plume of thick was launched by UAE’s Financial Intelligence ash 7km high into the sky during an eruption on 9 Jun Unit (FIU) and is developed by United Nations 6. UAE launches 'Golden Card' scheme to woo wealthy Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to curb investors, exceptional talents – The United Arab organised crimes. Emirates launched a permanent residency scheme to 2. Saudi Arabia becomes 1st Arab country to get full woo wealthy individuals and exceptional talents, a FATF membership – Saudi Arabia has become 1st move that could attract more Indian professionals and Arab country to be granted full membership of businessmen to the Gulf nation. Financial Action Task Force (FATF) following FATF’s • The "Golden Card" programme unveiled by Annual General Meeting held in Orlando, Florida in UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin United States (US). Rashid Al-Maktoum is open to investors and About FATF – "exceptional talents" such as doctors, • The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an engineers, scientists, students and artists. intergovernmental organization that designs 7. IMF approves $6 billion loan for cash-strapped and promotes policies and standards to Pakistan – The IMF has approved a USD 6 billion loan combat financial crime. over a period of 3 years for cash strapped Pakistan. • The FATF was created in 1989 on the initiative 8. Pakistan secures $3 billion bailout from Qatar – of the G7 to develop policies to combat money Cash-strapped Pakistan has secured a financial • FATF headquartered in Paris, France. assistance in form of a bailout package of $3 billion 3. India-assisted IT- Biotechnology Park inaugurated from oil-rich Qatar. in Cote d’Ivoire – Mahatma Gandhi Information 9. Mauritania holds election for 1st time in 60yrs – Technology and Biotechnology Park (MGIT-BP) built Mauritania, a country in Northwest Africa went to polls with India’s assistance was recently inaugurated at for the first time since the African nation gained Grand-Bassam in Cote d’Ivoire. independence from France nearly 60 years ago. • Côte d'Ivoire is a West African country • Mohamed Ould Ghazouani elected as the • Yamoussoukro is the capital of Côte d'Ivoire. president of Mauritania • Currency - franc

72 www.gradeup.co • Mauritania, officially the Islamic Republic of March 2019 after imposition of 200% customs duties Mauritania, is a country in Northwest Africa. on all products. • Capital of Mauritania is Nouakchott. 14. UAE Cabinet adopts ‘National Strategy for 10. U.S. Senate passes provision to give India NATO Wellbeing 2031’ – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ally-like status – The U.S. Senate has passed a Cabinet adopted a National Strategy for Wellbeing legislative provision National Defense Authorisation 2031 during its meeting at Presidential Palace in Abu Act for India. Dhabi (UAE Capital). About NATO 15. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev elected president • The North Atlantic Treaty Organization 16. SriLankan Airlines: World’s Most Punctual Airline – (NATO) Formed in 1949 with the signing of the SriLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of island Washington Treaty, NATO is a security alliance nation has been named the ‘World’s Most Punctual of 29 countries from North America and Airline’ for second consecutive time. Europe. 17. Russia launches 1st Arctic train service – Russia has • NATO headquarters is in Brussels, Belgium. launched first Arctic train service running from St. 11. BIMSTEC Day- 2019 celebrated in Dhaka, Bangladesh Petersburg station headed to Norway • The BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for 18. Italy’s Volcano Mount Etna erupts on Island of Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Sicily – Europe’s Highest Volcano Mount Etna, in Cooperation) member countries consisting of southern Italy erupted with burst into life, spews ash, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, fire, and spitting molten lava high into sky. Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan celebrated the 19. 16th Asia Media Summit held in Siem Reap BIMSTEC Day- 2019 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. province in Cambodia. • BIMSTEC: Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh • The 15th Asia Media Summit (AMS-2018) was 12. Russia extends ban on EU Food Imports until end of hosted by India. 2020 – Russian President Vladimir Putin recently 20. China launches Space Rocket from Yellow Sea for signed a decree for extending Moscow’s embargo on 1st time - China launched a space rocket named “Long food products being imported from the European March 11” from a mobile launch platform in Yellow Sea Union (EU) to the end of 2020. off Shandong province (China) for the first time. 13. Imports from Pakistan to India decline by 92% in • With this China became 3rd nation following March 2019 - Imports from Pakistan to India have the U.S. and Russia to successfully demonstrate declined by 92% amounting to USD 2.84 Million in ability to launch satellites into orbit from a floating platform.

May

1. India elected to Executive Board of 1st UN-Habitat Algeria and Argentina as ‘Malaria-Free’ countries after Assembly – India has been elected to the Executive no cases of indigenous transmission of disease were Board of first United Nations Human Settlements recorded. Program (UN-Habitat) Assembly. Note: Algeria became second country in Africa to be Note: declared malaria-free, after Mauritius, which was • It is the United Nations agency for human certified in 1973. settlements and sustainable urban • Argentina became second country in South development. It was established in 1978 and is America to be certified malaria free after headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Paraguay, which was certified in June 2018. 2. Russia recently launched nuclear-powered Arctic 4. India delivers First Pair of Mi-24 helicopters to icebreaker named ‘Ural’ at Baltic Shipyard in St. Afghanistan – India recently handed over two Mi-24 Petersburg. The move is to tap commercial potential of attack helicopters to Afghanistan. Arctic Ocean. 5. Taiwan: First Asian country to Legalise Same-Sex 3. WHO: Algeria and Argentina declared Malaria-Free Marriage – Taiwan became the first country in Asia to – The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared

73 www.gradeup.co legalise same-sex marriage thus giving gay couples the Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) ‘Right to Marry’. for fiscal year 2020. This decision was taken during 6. World Bank, CommBank Team Up For ‘World 1st’ Consultative Group meeting of GFDRR 2019 held from Blockchain Bond Transaction - The World Bank and 13 May- 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland. the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank) 12. Iran announces Partial Withdrawal from JCPOA - have teamed up to enable recording of secondary Iran announced it will pull out of some commitments market bond trading using blockchain tech. under 2015 international nuclear agreement signed 7. British PM Theresa May announces resignation with world powers, called Joint Comprehensive Plan Of 8. Trump becomes first foreign leader to meet new Action (JCPOA). Japanese emperor Naruhito – US President Donald 13. UK Parliament 1st in World to Declare Climate Trump got the red carpet treatment at Japan’s Imperial Emergency – The UK parliament became the first Palace where he made history, becoming the first national legislative body in the world to declare a world leader to meet with the new emperor of Japan climate change emergency. Naruhito. • It also calls for the government to work 9. Japan has started testing its fastest-ever bullet train towards carbon neutrality before 2050 and for capable of reaching 400 kilometers per hour (249 ministers to draft proposals within the next 6 mph) as it continues to develop the revolutionary months to restore the country’s environment mode of travel. and create a “zero waste economy.” 10. Nepal celebrates its 12th Republic Day - Nepal is 14. Ireland becomes 2nd country to declare Climate celebrating its 12th Republic Day on 29th May 2019. Emergency - Ireland has declared a climate emergency 11. India to co-chair Consultative Group of GFDRR - in their country, to be the second country after Britain India was unanimously chosen by member countries as to do so. next co-chair of Consultative Group (CG) of Global

April 2019

1. Vienna named the world's most liveable city – Skytrax, a consultancy firm which runs an airline and Vienna tops the Mercer’s index of most liveable cities airport review and ranking site. for the 10th year in a row. Key points • Vienna was closely followed by Zurich in • Singapore’s Changi Airport has been Switzerland. Auckland, Munich, and Vancouver crowned the world’s best aviation hub for the came in joint third. seventh time in a row. Singapore Changi • The Quality of Living Index 2019 was released Airport is well known for its rooftop swimming by the Consulting Agency Mercer. pool, two 24-hour movie theatres and Indian Cities in the List shopping spots. • Hyderabad and Pune topped the list among the • Tokyo International Airport (Haneda), up one Indian cities with a rank of 143. place from 2018 stood at the second place. • Bengaluru was the second best with the • Incheon International Airport, ranked at ranking of 149. number three spot. • Mumbai with the ranking of 154 stood third • Indira Gandhi International Airport of New among Indian cities. Delhi stood at rank 59. • The capital of India, New Delhi ranked at 162 • Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Mercer’s Quality Of Living Index. International Airport stood at 64 2. Skytrax World Airport Awards 2019 – Skytrax • Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport World Airport Awards which lists the Best 100 stood at 66 Airports of the World was released by the UK-based • Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport at 69

74 www.gradeup.co 3. India to set up agriculture institute in Malawi – The that Qatar will officially abolish its Exit Visa system for Ministry of External Affairs has signed an MoU with all foreign workers by the end of 2019. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development • Amnesty International (human rights group) Consultancy Service (NABCONS) for setting up India- report accused that Qatar, which will be Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development hosting 2022 World Cup was failing to (IAIARD) in Malawi. implement reforms and stop widespread 4. Global Cooling Coalition – The Global Cooling labour abuse. Coalition was launched at the first Global Conference • As a result Qatar revived its pledge to reform on Synergies between the 2030 Agenda and Paris labour section, and introduced a minimum Agreement held at Copenhagen, Denmark. monthly minimum of 750 riyals ($206) and • The Global Cooling Coalition is supported by also agreed to work closely with ILO. the UN, Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the 10. Sri Lankan President bans On Face-Covering in Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program and Public – Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). used his emergency powers to issue an order to ban 5. World Immunization Week 2019 - World burqa, veil or covering of face in public places in any Immunization Week 2019 is being observed from 24- manner which prevents anyone from being identified. 30 April with the theme Protected Together: Vaccines • It is placed to ensure national security, Work. World Immunisation Week 2019 celebrates establish peaceful and cohesive society and not Vaccine Heroes from around the world from parents aimed at inconvenience to any community and community members to health workers and people. innovators who help ensure we are all protected, at all 11. Beirut, Lebanon sets a New Guinness World Record ages, through the power of vaccines. – Lebanon’s capital Beirut has set a new Guinness 6. Indonesia releases Special Stamp on Theme of World Record for most number of national flags Ramayana – Indonesia has released a special displayed in one city for 24 hours. commemorative stamp on the theme of Ramayana to 12. Lose to Win Programme – The government of UAE mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of its has launched the Lose to Win Programme to assist the diplomatic ties with India. overweight employees in shedding extra kilos and adopt a healthy lifestyle. 7. US declares Iran Force as Foreign Terrorist Organisation – The US designated Iran’s 13. Pakistan Approves Plan to Open Sharda Peeth Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a foreign terrorist Corridor – Pakistan government has approved a organisation. proposal to establish a corridor which would allow • It is the first time that the US has designated an Hindu pilgrims from India to visit Sharda Peeth in the entity of another government as a terrorist region of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). organization, placing a group with vast • Sharda Peeth Corridor will be the second economic resources that answer only to Iran’s corridor to be established after the Kartarpur supreme leader in the same category as al- Corridor which provides access to Gurudwara Qaida and the Islamic State. Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Pakistan. 8. US Withdraws from UN Arms Trade Treaty – US 14. Iran, Pakistan to Set up Border ‘Reaction Force’ – President Donald Trump stated that his administration Iran and Pakistan have agreed to set up a joint border is withdrawing the U.S. signature from the U.N. Arms “reaction force” to combat the attacks by militant Trade Treaty, in response to concerns from gun rights groups on both sides their frontier. Both the nations activists that it could impinge on Americans’ right to have decided to collaborate to form the joint quick bear arms. reaction force by increasing cooperation between • Former US President Barack Obama signed the border forces and intelligence agencies. treaty in 2013 and sent the treaty to the Senate 15. World’s 1st Malaria Vaccine launched in Africa – for ratification. The world’s first-ever malaria vaccine was launched in 9. Qatar to abolish Exit Visa system by 2019 – UN’s a pilot project in Africa’s Malawi. The country is the International Labour Organization (ILO) announced first of three in Africa in which the vaccine, known as

75 www.gradeup.co RTS,S, will be made available to children up to 2 years 18. Google’s Wing launches its 1st drone delivery of age. Service in Australia – Wing, the drone delivery • Ghana and Kenya will introduce the vaccine company owned by Google’s parent company soon. About 93% of the world’s malaria- Alphabet, is launch its first public drone delivery related deaths in 2017 occurred in Africa. service in Canberra, Australia 16. Russia Successfully Tests World’s First Floating • Alphabet made its first delivery in Canberra Nuclear Power Plant – Russia has successfully tested after getting approval from the country’s civil the world’s first floating nuclear power plant (NPP), aviation authority. Akademik Lomonosov, a subsidiary of Rosatom 19. London becomes 1st city to use pollution charge nuclear corporation stated. Zone - London is the first city in the world to • Reactors of the floating atomic block were implement a 24-hour, seven day a week Ultra Low launched in November 2018. Emission Zone (ULEZ), inside which vehicles will have 17. Google company has announced to shut down its to meet tough emissions standards or face a charge. Google + service – Google is to shut down, its Google • Introduction of the ULEZ aims to reduce toxic Plus platform, which had originally conceived as air pollution and protect public health. asocial networking option different from Facebook and 20. India is Guest of Honour country at ADIBF 2019 – Twitter. The UAE has announced that India is the Guest of • Google has revealed that the consumer version Honour country at the Abu Dhabi International Book of the service will shut down on April 2, 2019. Fair, ADIBF 2019. • The company decided to shut down the service after the discovery of a privacy bug which impacted 52.5 million users.

March 2019 1. Saudi Arabia replaces India as world’s largest arms • The Black Hole coin is a tribute to Hawking’s importer - According to the premier Stockholm research into black holes and his ability to International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Saudi make science accessible for all. Arabia has replaced India to become the largest 3. Oman signs agreement allowing United States importer of arms in the world. Military to Use its Ports – Oman has signed an • In its report on ‘Trends in International Arms agreement with the United States of America that allow Transfers 2018’ released, the institute American ships and warplanes to take advantage of his identified Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Australia ports and airports. and Algeria as the five top arms importing • The framework agreement is aimed at countries. bolstering Omani-American military relations. • Five top arms exporting nations - United 4. President Kovind visit Croatia, Bolivia & Chile – States, Russia, France, Germany and China. President Ram Nath Kovind embarked on a state visit • The US, Russia, France, Germany and China to Croatia, Bolivia and Chile to hold talks with the together accounted for 75 per cent of the total leaders of these countries and strengthen ties in trade, volume of arms exports in 2014–18. investment and renewable energy. 2. UK Issues New Black Hole Coin in Honour of • Croatia Capital: Zagreb, Currency: kuna. Stephen Hawking – The United Kingdom has • Bolivia Capital: Sucre, Currency: boliviano. commemorated professor Stephen Hawking in a new • Chile Capital: Santiago, Currency: peso. 50p coin. The coin has references to the late physicist’s 5. World’s first Wireless Electric Car charging station pioneering work on black holes. introduced by Norway – Oslo, the capital city of • The coin was designed by British engraver and Norway will become the world’s first city to install printmaker Edwina Ellis. wireless, induction-based charging stations for its fleet of electric taxis with an aim to have a zero-emission

76 www.gradeup.co cab system by the year 2023 according to a report by • She reached the milestone earlier than Reuters. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg who • Norway wants all new cars to be zero emission became a billionaire aged 23. by 2025 whereas other nations, like Britain 11. Malaysia joins International Criminal Court – and France, have similar goals for 2040. Malaysia has become a member of the International 6. New Zealand bans Assault Weapons – Prime Criminal Court. Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern has imposed • The ICC is the world’s only permanent war an immediate ban on assault weapons following the crimes court and aims to prosecute the worst Christchurch massacre that claimed the lives of 50 abuses when national courts are unable or mosque-goers. unwilling. 7. World’s Largest e-waste R=recycling hub opened at • Malaysia becomes the 124th member of the the Dubai Industrial Park – The world’s largest e- court since its establishment in 2002. waste recycling plant has been opened in Dubai 12. Cyclone Idai Hits Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe Industrial Park, Dubai by ‘Enviroserve’ company with a – Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi have been hit by total cost of $5 million. a vicious cyclone ‘IDAI’ that has killed nearly 150 • It will recycle Waste Electrical and Electronic people. Equipment (WEEE), IT asset disposition • Cyclone Idai has affected more than 1.5 million (ITAD), refrigerant gas and specialized waste. people in the three southern African countries, 8. In a 1st, UN Council passes resolution to Combat according to the UN and government officials. terrorist financing – The UN Security Council has 13. Vice President’s visit to Paraguay & Costa Rica – unanimously passed the first-ever resolution ordering The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu visited members to enforce laws against terror financing. the Republic of Paraguay and the Republic of Costa • UNSC resolution demands all states “ensure Rica. that their domestic laws and regulations • This was the first high-level visit from India to establish serious criminal offenses” to collect both these countries. funds or financial resources to terrorist groups • The Vice President was also conferred an or individual criminals. Honorary Doctorate by the University for 9. Japan unveils name of its new Imperial Era ‘Reiwa’ Peace founded by the United Nations. – Japan has announced that the name of its new • Paraguay Capital: Asunción, Currency: guaraní. imperial era, set to begin on 1 May, will be ‘Reiwa’, • Costa Rica Capital: San José, Currency: colón. signifying order and harmony. The country’s current 14. Kazakhstan renames its Capital Astana to era, Heisei, will end in April. Nursultan – Kazakhstan has renamed its capital 10. Kylie Jenner becomes world’s youngest self-made Astana to Nursultan to honor outgoing leader billionaire – According to Forbes billionaires' list, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Kylie Jenner has become the world's youngest self- • Mr. Nazarbayev, 78, served nearly 30 years as made billionaire. president of the nation. • The 21-year-old founded and owns Kylie • The change was announced after Kassym- Cosmetics, the three-year-old beauty business Jomart Tokayev was sworn in as president, that generated an estimated $360m in sales promising to seek his predecessor’s opinion on last year. key decisions.

February 2019

1. Kelly Knight Craft is the new US ambassador to the 2. Afghanistan launches New Export Route to India UN – US President Donald Trump has announced the through Chabahar Port – Afghanistan has launched a nomination of Kelly Knight Craft as the new US new export route to India through the through the ambassador to the UN. Chabahar Port of Iran. • The post of the US ambassador to the UN was vacant due to the resignation of Nikki Haley.

77 www.gradeup.co • Chabahar port is seen as a testimony of healthy 7. J P Morgan became first US Bank with cooperation between India, Iran and Cryptocurrency – JP Morgan rolled out the first US Afghanistan this will ensure economic growth. bank cryptocurrency. 3. IOC Suspends India from Hosting Global Sporting • The currency is designed to be decentralized Events – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) so that no one has control over transactions has suspended all discussions with India regarding being sent over the network. hosting of global sporting events in the backdrop of • Cryptocurrencies are used successfully to denial of visas to the two Pakistani Shooters. move money between the bank and a client • The Pakistani shooters were supposed to which usually runs on a blockchain technology. participate in the 25m rapid fire pistol event in • The cryptocurrency, called “JPM Coin”. the ISSF World Cup. 8. The first-ever World Pulses Day was celebrated on 4. FATF keeps Pakistan in Grey List for Failing to Stop 10th February 2019. Terror Financing – The Financial Action Task Force 9. Abu Dhabi declared Hindi as an official language in (FATF) condemning the Pulwama Terror Attack has courts – Abu Dhabi (capital of the United Arab decided to continue the ‘Grey’ listing of Pakistan for its Emirates) declared Hindi as the third official language failure to stop funding of terrorist groups such as Jaish- (Arabic and English) in its courts to make the justice e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamat-ud-Dawa. delivery system simple. • Grey list will endanger Pakistan’s handful of 10. Dubai Airport retains the top position as World’s remaining banking links to the outside world. busiest airport in 2018 – This would cause real financial pain to the • Dubai International Airport (DXB) retained its fragile economy of Pakistan. position as the world’s busiest airport for About FATF - international customer numbers for the fifth • The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an consecutive year. inter-governmental body established in 1989 11. The International Year of the Periodic Table – The by the Member of G7. United Nations has announced, 2019 as the • The FATF has developed a series of International Year of the Periodic Table of the Recommendations that are recognised as the Chemical Elements to highlight its first publication in international standard for combating of money 1869. laundering and the financing of terrorism and 12. Women with four children to get life tax exemption proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. in Hungary - According to Hungarian Prime Minister • Group of 7 (G7) is a group consisting of Viktor Orban, women in the country with four children Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the or more will be exempted for life from paying income United Kingdom, and the United States. tax. 5. State of Emergency declared in Sudan – Sudanese 13. The government of Thailand has approved the President Omar al-Bashir has declared a year-long proposal to name Siamese fighting fish as the state of emergency, dissolving his cabinet and local National Aquatic Animal. governments throughout the country. 14. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim (58-years) step 6. Zimbabwe starts trading New Currency RTGS down from his position on 1st February 2019, much dollar – Zimbabwe started to trade its new currency, before the end of his term in 2022. the RTGS dollar. • Kristalina Georgieva (World Bank CEO) • The bank unveiled a foreign exchange trading assume the role of interim President (from 1st system that effectively devalued its quasi- of Feb 2019). currency, the bond note, which was officially 15. Macedonia signs accord to join NATO - Macedonia pegged at parity with the US dollar. signed an accord to join NATO to become the 30th • The new currency replaces electronic bank member of the US-led alliance. savings called digital dollars and the bond Note: notes and was named after the real-time gross • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is settlement system that banks use to transfer an international alliance that consists of 29- money between each other.

78 www.gradeup.co member states from North America and • NATO headquarter is in Brussels, Belgium. Europe. • It was established at the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949.

January 2019 1. Qatar withdraw its membership from OPEC 5. Macedonia renamed as ‘The Republic of Northern • Qatar had decided to withdraw its membership Macedonia’ - The Parliament of Macedonia has passed from Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting the resolution to amend the constitution of the country Countries (OPEC) effective from January 2019. to rename as the ‘Republic of Northern Macedonia’. • Qatar left OPEC on 1 January 2019, after • North Macedonia Capital: Skopje, Currency: joining the organization in 1961, to focus on Denar natural gas production, of which it is the 6. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa took oath as the 26th Chief world's largest exporter in the form of liquified Justice of Pakistan. natural gas (LNG). 7. Rio de Janeiro will be World Capital of Architecture Note: for 2020: UNESCO • As of January 2019, now OPEC has 14- • According to UNESCO (United Nations member countries: Algeria, Angola, Congo, Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Organization), the Brazilian city of Rio de Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Janeiro will be the World Capital of UAE and Venezuela. Architecture for 2020. • The headquarter of OPEC is in Vienna, • The city will host the World Congress of UIA, in Austria. July 2020, an event that occurs every three 2. US and Israel quit UNESCO citing bias years. • The United States (US) and Israel officially quit 8. Venezuela breaks all diplomatic ties with the US - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the close the country has cut off diplomatic relations with the of 2018. United States. Note: • The capital of Venezuela is Caracas and the • UNESCO headquarter is in Paris, France. currency is Venezuelan bolívar. 3. Five nations assume charge as Non-Permanent 9. Sugarcane juice declared as ‘national drink’ of Members of UN Security Council Pakistan. • Five nations (Belgium, Dominican Republic, 10. France introduced GAFA Tax on Global Internet, Germany, Indonesia and South Africa) Technology Firm - The finance minister of France assumed the charge as the Non-Permanent Bruno Le Maire announced that France will introduce Members of the United Nations Security its own tax on large internet and technology Council (UNSC). companies from January 1. Note: • France has been pushing hard for a new so- • The U.N. Security Council has 15 members five called “GAFA tax” — named after Google, of which (China, France, Russia, Britain, and Apple, Facebook and Amazon — to ensure the the United States) hold permanent global giants pay a fair share of taxes on their membership and veto power. massive business operations in Europe. 4. Turkmenistan has launched its first messaging app 11. Palestine takes over chairmanship of G77 - ‘BizBarde’ Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has pledged to • BizBarde app will allow the exchange of protect the interests of all 134 countries in the UN’s messages, files, photos and videos. Group of 77, as Palestine took the chairmanship of the group from Egypt for 2019.

79 www.gradeup.co 12. Italy, UN, launch Africa Centre for Climate and • It will help in implementing the goals of the Sustainable Development - Italian Prime Minister UN’s 2030 Agenda and the landmark 2015 Giuseppe Conte along with UN representative has Paris Climate Agreement to stop depending on launched Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable fossil fuel and cap global warming. development. 13. China is the largest producer of crude steel - World • The new centre is located near the Food and Steel Association Report Agriculture Organization headquarters in • China is the largest producer of crude steel and it Rome. accounts for more than 51 per cent of global. • The major objective is boosting the agricultural sectors and promoting rural development in Africa.

State Affairs September

1. Garvi Gujarat: 2nd state bhawan of Gujarat • This cafe offers a full-fledged meal to a person inaugurated by PM Modi who collects 1 kg of plastic waste and a • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated substantial breakfast to those who collect 500 ‘Garvi Gujarat’, the second state bhawan of the grams. Gujarat government in the national capital • This initiative was to ensure that the homeless New Delhi. rag pickers, who collect plastic waste to earn • This is the ‘first eco-friendly’ state Bhawan in some money, had a hearty meal. national capital. • The municipal corporation will provide food to 2. Gorewada International Zoo opened in Nagpur – the poor and homeless in exchange for plastic Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has announced the waste. approval of the new ‘Gorewada International Zoo’ in 4. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) Nagpur district of Maharashtra. launched first ever ‘Terracotta Grinder’ at Sewapuri • The Zoo will have attractions like Bio Park, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. This machine will grind the Indian Safari, African Safari, Night Safari, wasted and broken pottery items for re-using in Research, Education and Training, facilities for pottery-making. tourists, etc. 5. Haryana govt waives off interest & penalty of Rs • The task of construction of Indian Safari and 4,750 cr on crop loans – Haryana government has ancillary activities, Water Reservoir and announced Rs 4,750 crore interest and penalty waiver Gorewada Reserve has been given to FDCM on crop loans. Ltd. with Government Grants. • The waive off is for farmers who had borrowed • The Government of Maharashtra has accorded from Primary Agriculture Cooperative permission for establishing the International Societies, District Cooperative Central Banks Zoo, through Forest Development Corporation and Land Mortgage Bank. The step will benefit of Maharashtra Limited (FDCM. Ltd.), Nagpur. around 10 lakh farmers in the state. Note: 6. UDAN regional connectivity scheme launched in The Gorewada International Zoo is likely to be one of Haryana from Hisar – Hisar, Haryana has entered into the largest captive Zoo Safari in India with over 1914 the civil aviation map after the launch of the air shuttle Hectares of land adjoining the Gorewada Lake. service between Hisar and Chandigarh. 3. India’s first 'Garbage Cafe' will be opened in • SpiceJet has started the air shuttle service Chhattisgarh - The Ambikapur municipal corporation between Hisar and Chandigarh under the Ude of Chhattisgarh will open India’s first 'Garbage Cafe'. Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) Regional Connectivity Service scheme.

80 www.gradeup.co

August

1. Most awaited “Assam’s National Register of 4. Tamil Nadu govt announces trifucation of Vellore Citizens List” released – State coordinator of the district – Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K National Register of Citizens, Prateek Hajela has Palaniswami announced that Vellore district of state released the most awaited Assam’s final National would be trifurcated into Vellore, Ranipet and Register of Citizens list. The list has been made Tirupattur districts. accessible online and at all NRC seva kendras in the • Vellore will be headquarters of these 2 new state. The process of NRC Update was started in the districts. With creation of two more districts state of Assam as per order of the Supreme Court of the total number of districts in state would India in 2013. The NRC took five years and Rs 1,220 become 37. crore before getting published. 5. Maharashtra: 1st state to adopt digital fingerprint Important findings of the NRC: and iris scanning system – Maharashtra became first • From the 3.29 crore applicants, a total of 3.11 state in the country to adopt an Automated Multi- crore people have been found eligible for modal Biometric Identification System (AMBIS) i.e. inclusion in final NRC list. digital fingerprint and iris scanning system to help • 19.06 lakh people have been excluded from the police investigations. final NRC list. • This system will soon be replicated by police • Those excluded from the final NRC list will forces of other states in the country. have 120 days to approach the Foreigners’ 6. Odisha police station in top 10 in India – Tarava Tribunals. If a person is dissatisfied with the police station in the Subarnapur district of Odisha has tribunal’s decision, he/she can appeal against been adjudged as one of the 10 best police stations in it. India in the annual ranking for the year 2018. • Foreigners tribunals is a place where bona fide • The certificate of excellence and a trophy citizens, whose names do not figure in the final awarded by the Union Home Ministry were NRC, can approach to challenge their exclusion. handed over to Tarava police inspector • To accommodate excluded people, detention Dulamani Bhoi by Odisha DGP R.P. Sharma. camps have been set up across the state of Assam. 7. Tamil Nadu’s Panchamirtham prasadam granted GI • The NRC list is the biggest exercise India has tag – The famous Palani panchamirtham, given as undertaken to expel illegal immigrants ‘prasadam’ at Murugan temple in Palani, Tamil Nadu residing illegally in India. The updation has been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tag. process of NRC was carried out under The • This is first temple ‘prasadam’ from Tamil Citizenship Act, 1955, and according to the Nadu that has been bestowed with coveted GI rules framed in the Assam Accord. tag. 2. Special Tiger Force” for Corbett Reserve to be set • It takes total number of such indigenous up by Uttarakhand – The Uttarakhand government products from Tamil Nadu that have been has decided to form a Special Tiger Force for Corbett accorded GI tag to 29. Tiger Reserve. The STPF will serve as a second layer of protection for tigers at the Corbett Tiger Reserve. 8. Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel announces 3. Meghalaya launches ‘Walk to Work’ campaign – formation of Lemru Elephant Reserve Chief Minister of Meghalaya launched the ‘Walk to • On August 15, 2019, Chief Minister of Work’ campaign in the state. The campaign is a part of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel announced the Fit India Movement which has been launched in the formation of ‘Lemru Elephant Reserve’ (LER) country by the Prime Minister. in the state, over an area of 450 square kilometres.

81 www.gradeup.co • It will minimize human-elephant conflict and has approved implementation of an integrated destruction of property, with the provision of a management plan of lakes “Chilika and Ansupa”. permanent habitat for the wild tuskers. • The Chilika lake is India’s largest brackish 9. Manipur Govt launches “School Fagadaba” scheme water lagoon and Ansupa is the Odisha’s to improve infrastructure of government schools largest freshwater lake. • Chief Minister (CM) of Manipur, N Biren Singh 16. Kerala Govt to Set up Country's First-ever Elephant has launched “School Fagadaba” (Make Rehabilitation Centre – The Kerala government education better) scheme with the aim to would set up a first-of-its-kind elephant rehabilitation improve the infrastructure, quality education centre here at an outlay of Rs 105 crore, to take care of and overall improvement of government jumbos, which were either orphaned or abandoned. schools. • Kottoor, an ecotourism village situated nearly 10. RACE: Rajasthan’s New Higher Education Model – 35 km from here, would soon host the State government of Rajasthan has launched a new country's first-ever elephant rehabilitation higher education model titled- Resource Assistance for centre. Colleges with Excellence or RACE, for distribution of 17. Manipur tops the rank in breastfeeding report faculties and movable assets among government released by health minister – Dr. Harsh Vardhan, colleges at district level so as to rationalise availability Minister of Health and Family welfare released a of resources. report on Breastfeeding in New Delhi where states 11. AP launches ‘Village Volunteers System’ - Chief were ranked based on Breastfeeding and Infant and Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy Young Child Feeding Practices in the country. launched his government’s flagship programme called • The ranking was topped by Manipur. ‘Village Volunteers System’ aimed at providing • The worst performing states were Uttar government services at doorsteps of people. Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. 12. West Bengal launches awareness campaign ‘Save • The national capital Delhi is also one among Green, Stay Clean’ – The West Bengal Government has the worst-performing states. launched an awareness campaign ‘Save Green, Stay 18. UP govt creates world record by planting over 22 Clean’ for preserving the greenery and keeping the cr saplings in one day on 77th anniversary of the environment clean. Quit India Movement - To mark the 77th anniversary 13. One Nation One Ration Card scheme launched on of Quit India movement, Uttar Pradesh(UP) chief pilot basis in 4 States – One Nation-One Ration Card minister(CM) Yogi Adityanath has launched the mega scheme launched on a pilot basis in Telangana, Andhra greenery plantation drive called “Vriksharopan Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Mahakumbh”, which now sets a world record by • Families who have food security cards can buy planting over 22 crore saplings in a day. subsidized rice and wheat from any ration 19. India’s first underwater train will be launched in shop in these states. Their ration cards should Kolkata – Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal be linked with Aadhar Number to avail this announced that India’s first underwater train project is service. set to launch in Kolkata, West Bengal under the 14. Centre has approved the project to link Kosi & Hooghly river. It is a 16-kilometer long Kolkata Metro Mechi rivers – The Centre has approved a Kosi-Mechi project. river interlining project in Bihar. 20. 9 year old Manipuri girl, Valentina Devi made • Estimated cost of the project is Rs 4,900 crore. Manipur’s green ambassador - Elangbam Valentina • The project will provide irrigation for over Devi, a 9-year-old girl from Manipur was made the 2.14 lakh hectares of command areas spread ambassador of ‘Chief Minister’s Green Manipur across the districts of Araria, Kishanganj, Mission’, after a video of her crying over felled trees Purnia and Katihar in north Bihar. went viral on social media. • This is India’s 2nd major river linking project 21. Rajasthan becomes the first state in the country to after Ken-Betwa of Madhya Pradesh. implement biofuel policy – Deputy Chief Minister of 15. Odisha approves conservation plan of lakes Rajasthan state Government, Sachin Pilot stated that “Chilika and Ansupa” – The Odisha Wetland Authority Rajasthan is the 1st state in the country that released

82 www.gradeup.co biofuel rules-2019 (after the notification of the Centre 23. A rare tea variety of eastern Assam’s Dikom Tea on April 30, 2019) with the vision to promote the use Estate named “Golden Butterfly tea” created a of biofuels. record of being sold at Rs.75,000 per kg at the 22. Gogabeel, an ox-bow lake in Bihar declared as the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC), Assam. state’s first ‘Community Reserve’ – Gogabeel, an ox- 24. Karnataka categorises Nicotine as “class A poison” bow lake (measures 88 hectares ) in Katihar district of – The Karnataka government has amended the Bihar has been declared as state’s 1st ‘Community Karnataka Poisons (Possession and Sale) Rules 2015 Reserve’. and notified Nictoine as “Class A poison”. • Gogabeel, which is the 15th Protected Area • The step has been taken to strengthen (PA) in Bihar, is formed from the flow of the enforcement of the ban on production and sale rivers Mahananda and Kankhar in the north of electronic cigarettes. and the Ganga in the south and east.

July

1. Uttarakhand holds 1st Himalayan conclave – Nadu the first state in India to manufacture Conclave of Himalayan States was held on at Mussoorie electric cars. in Uttarakhand to discuss priorities of Indian 5. Uttar Pradesh becomes No.1 in implementation of Himalayan Region (IHR) in 15th Finance Commission Pradhanamntri Suraksha Beema Yojna in the (XV FC). country -The State Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) • The conclave was initiated by government of has become number one in implementation of Uttarakhand with Integrated Mountain ambitious central government scheme Pradhanamntri Initiative (IMI) as its knowledge partner. The Suraksha Beema Yojna. chief guest of conclave was Union Finance • Totally 1.95 crores people have been given Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. insurance cover under the scheme till 31 2. Odisha renews effort to revive Gharial population – march 2019 in the state. Odisha has renewed its effort to revive population of About Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana: gharials in their natural habitat by releasing 5 reptiles, • It is a government-backed Life insurance fitted with radio transmitters, into Satkosia gorge of scheme launched on 9 May 2015. Mahanadi which is the southernmost limit of gharials’ • It is available to people between 18 and 50 home range in India. years of age with bank accounts get an • Satkosia Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve accidental insurance cover of rupees 2 lakh by located in the Angul district of Odisha. paying an annual premium of 330 rupees. 3. Western Railways first printing press heritage 6. Haryana cabinet permitted to set up Sports gallery opened at Mahalaxmi, Mumbai University at Rai –, The Cabinet of Haryana under the • Western Railways (WR) opened its first chairmanship of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar printing press heritage gallery named Western approved the setting up of Haryana Sports University Railway Mahalaxmi General Stores Depot at Rai, Sonepat. (GSD) at Mahalaxmi in Mumbai, Maharashtra. 7. Meghalaya becomes 1st state to ensure water It was inaugurated by V P Pathak, Member conservation – Meghalaya became the first state in (Materials Management) of the Railway Board. India to ensure the conservation of water and have 4. Tamil Nadu to be the first state to manufacture own water policy following a nod given by the State electric cars: Minister Cabinet. • M C Sampath, minister for industries stated • The draft policy was approved by the State that South Korean multinational automotive Cabinet in a meeting chaired by Meghalaya manufacturer Hyundai plans to launch its Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. electric car for India and the global market • It is historic for Meghalaya as the state has from Chennai facility will help make Tamil become the first state in the country to have a State Water Policy.

83 www.gradeup.co 8. India’s first dragon blood-oozing tree – Researchers Chengalpet district from Kancheepuram district will discover Dracaena cambodiana, a dragon tree species become the 34th and 35th districts of Tamil Nadu. in the Dongka Sarpo area of West Karbi Anglong 15. Rajghat coal plant to be turned into solar park – district in Assam. The Delhi government has announced that the Rajghat • This is for the first time that a dragon tree thermal power plant will be officially shut and turned species has been reported from India. Dragon into a solar park. A 5,000 KW of solar power will be tree species whose sap turns bright red after produced at the 45 acre plant site. coming in contact with air. • The coal-based plant, whose current units 9. Odisha gets GI tag for its sweet version of Rasagola were commissioned in 1989, has been lying in – The Registrar of Geographical Indications(GI), a shutdown mode from 2014. Chennai has awarded a GI certificate registering the 16. TN celebrates ‘Hospital Day’ on July 30, 2019 - On sweetmeat as ”Odisha Rasagola” to the state of Odisha July 30, 2019, Government hospitals in Tamil Nadu which will be valid till Feb 22, 2028. (TN) celebrated its first ‘Hospital Day’ on the • In 2017, West Bengal had secured the GI tag commemoration of the birth anniversary for ”Banglar Rosogolla” after a tug of war with Muthulakshmi Reddy. Odisha since 2015 over the origin of the sweet. • She was one of India’s prominent successful 10. B S Yeddyurappa sworn in as Chief Minister of woman doctors in the early 20th century and Karnataka - State BJP President B.S. Yediyurappa (76) TN’s first woman legislator. took oath as 31st Chief Minister of Karnataka by 17. Maharashtra Govt. raises Financial Aid for Martyrs’ Governor Vajubhai Vala. Kin to Rs.1 crore – The Maharashtra government has 11. MP gets its 1st international flight with Air India’s approved an increase in financial assistance given to Indore-Dubai service – Indore, the commercial families of martyred and disabled soldiers hailing from capital of Madhya Pradesh recently made it to state who lay down their life in the line of duty. international aviation map with national carrier Air • The approved four-time increase in India launching its flight service to Dubai from MP compensation from Rs 25 lakh to Rs.1 crore for Airport. Kin of martyred soldiers will be implemented • Air India Flight AI903 took wings from from January 1, 2019. Indore’s Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar 18. J&K District Administration launched International Airport with 150 passengers helpline “Jeene Do” – Under the Centrally sponsored on. This was the 1st international commercial Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme, Jammu and Kashmir flight from Madhya Pradesh. (J&K) District Administration Udhampur launched a 12. Andhra Pradesh first state to reserve 75% private helpline, “Jeene Do” with an objective to improve sex jobs for locals – Andhra Pradesh has become the first ratio and deal with defaulters of Pre-Conception and state in the country to reserve jobs for locals. The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act 1994. Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed the Andhra Pradesh 19. Telangana Government and WEF to launch Drone Employment of Local Candidates in Delivery Project – Industries/Factories Act, 2019. • The State Government of Telangana and World 13. Nepal invited as a partner country for Gita Jayanti Economic Forum’s (WEF) Centre for Fourth Mahotsav 2019 – Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Industrial Revolution (C4IR) Network Khattar has invited Nepal to be the partner country for announced the launch of drone-delivery this year’s ‘Gita Jayanti Mahotsav 2019’ scheduled to project called ‘Medicine from the Sky’. be held at Kurukshetra. • The Telangana government, World Economic • He extended the invitation to Ambassador of Forum and Health Net Global signed an Nepal to India Nilamber Acharya. agreement for project to be supervised and 14. Chengalpet, Tenkasi to be new districts in Tamil managed by leaders in field of medicine, Nadu – The number of districts in Tamil Nadu will go technology and research. up to 35 as the government announced its decision to 20. Six Sigma Institute of Mountain Medicines and carve out Tenkasi district from Tirunelveli district and High-Altitude Rescue to be set up at Uttarakhand - Asia’s 1st Six Sigma Institute of Mountain Medicines

84 www.gradeup.co and High-Altitude Rescue to be established at on it by the NGT for failing to curb illegal coal mining Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand. with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). 21. Tamil yeoman: now Tamil Nadu’s State Butterfly – • The National Green Tribunal had fined the Butterfly species Tamil yeoman (Cirrochroa thais) has Meghalaya government on January 4. been officially declared as state butterfly of Tamil 24. Damanganga-Pinjal project to meet water needs of Nadu. Mumbai till 2060 – On June 28, 2019, The Chief • Scientific Name: Cirrochroa thais Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis • It is also known as Tamizh Maravan announced that Damanganga-Pinjal project will meet 22. Kaziranga National Park: Special Rhino Protection the water needs of Mumbai till 2060. Force deployed – An 82-member Special Rhino 25. The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel Protection Force which is trained to combat poachers has inaugurated the ‘Jan Choupal’ program in Raipur, and understand animal behaviour was recently Chhattisgarh for holding public meetings once every deployed in Kaziranga National Park (KNP). week to discuss the issues of the people. • About Kaziranga National park is located in 26. Operation Khumaar launched in J&K - In a major Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam. step aimed towards making ‘drugs-free panchayats’, • In 1968 it was given National Park status and district administration Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir in 1985 it was declared UNESCO World (J&k) launched an anti Drug Campaign called Heritage Site (WHS) for its unique natural “Operation Khumaar” in all 312 Panchayats of the environment. district. 23. Meghalaya fined Rs 100 cr for illegal coal mining – 27. Twenty-three persons are feared dead as the Tiware The Supreme Court directed the Meghalaya dam in Ratnagiri in Maharashtra’s Konkan region government to deposit the Rs 100 crore fine imposed breached following incessant rains.

June

6. The state government of Goa recently approved an 1. Yogi Adityanath unveils 7-feet statue of Lord Rama amendment to Factories Act 1948 which will allow in Ayodhya deployment of women in night shifts (from 7pm to 6 • Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath am) in industries. unveiled a 7 -feet wooden statue of Lord Rama 7. Telangana hosts 32nd ISTA Congress – Telangana is in Ayodhya. hosting the triennial International Seed Testing 2. India gets its first dinosaur museum and fossil park Association (ISTA) Congress in Hyderabad. ISTA in Gujarat – Gujarat is now home to India’s first congress is being held for the first time in Asia. dinosaur museum and Fossil Park at Raiyoli village, 8. Unique Flood Hazard Atlas: Odisha – Odisha has which is located near Balasinor town of Mahisagar come out with a unique flood hazard atlas aided by district. satellite imagery, which is expected to help the coastal • Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani recently state manage floods more efficiently. The atlas was inaugurated the park. released by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at 3. India’s first solar-powered cruise boat launched in the State-level Natural Calamity Meeting. Kerala state - Aditya, India's first solar ferry, is a • Base Period: Atlas is compiled on basis of solar-powered ferry operating between Vaikkom and historic flood inundation captured via satellite Thavanakkadavu in the Indian state of Kerala. imagery over 18 years period from year 2001 4. Gujarat police to use laser guns to crack down on to 2018. over-speeding - The Gujarat government has decided 9. Bihar Government bans Tree-Felling – The Bihar to equip the traffic police with 'laser guns' for Government recently announced ban on felling of trees detection of over-speeding by vehicles. in different cities of Bihar, citing increasing pollution 5. Nandankanan National Park is situated in Odisha. as well as a fatal heatwave in the state as reason for the ban.

85 www.gradeup.co 10. Namma Kolhapuri chappal gets GI boost 12. Assam govt to set up Skill University at Darrang • Maharashtra's extremely popular footwear district – Assam government will set up a Skill industry, renowned for its handcrafted University at the cost of 850 crore rupees at Darrang leather Kolhapuri chappal has been given district. the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which is • This will be perhaps the first skill university of likely to further boost its sale in other parts the country with a capacity of 10 thousand of the country and abroad. seats. • The Controller General of Patents, Designs 13. Assam govt hikes parental income limit under fee waiver scheme - Assam government has waived and Trade Marks has granted the GI tag for admission fees for students taking admission up to Kolhapuris to four districts of Maharashtra Post Graduate level whose parental income is less than — Kolhapur, Solapur, Sangli and Satara — 2 lakh rupees per year. along with four in Karnataka — Dharwad, • All provincialized government colleges and 5 Belgaum, Bagalkot and Bijapur. universities are incorporated under the 11. Himachal Pradesh makes GPS device mandatory scheme. for trekkers 14. Unemployed Graduates to get up to Rs 3,500 in • The Himachal Pradesh (HP) government has Rajasthan – Unemployed youth having graduation or made it compulsory for trekkers to carry a GPS equivalent degree will be given unemployment (Global Positioning System) device to tackle allowance by Rajasthan government. any exigency. • Male applicants will get Rs 3,000/month, while About Himanchal Pradesh the women and differently-abled will get Rs • Himachal Pradesh state formed on 25 January 3,500/month under Chief Minister Yuva 1971 and became 18th state of the Indian Sambal Yojana from February this year. Union. • The applicants must be natives of Rajasthan • It is bounded by Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and the amount will be given for two years or state to the north, China’s Tibet Autonomous until they get employed. Region (TAR) to east, Uttarakhand to southeast, Haryana to its south, and Punjab to west. May

1. Punjab bans Online Food Delivery without Hygiene • The bond issue builds on the Kerala Rating - The Punjab government has decided to make government’s focus to get multinational it mandatory for all online food aggregators to ensure corporations to invest in the state. that food supplied by them should compulsorily have 4. e-Vidhan: Kerala Assembly to Digitize all its hygiene rating as per Food Safety and Standards records - The Kerala Legislative Assembly recently Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines. announced an initiative to digitize all its records and 2. The Rajasthan government announced its decision to proceedings under its ambitious project called E- ban production, distribution, advertisement and sale of Vidhan which enables state legislature to go fully e-cigarette in the state. digital and completely paperless. 3. Kerala first Indian state to tap into masala bond 5. Sikkim Statehood Day observed on 16th May – On market – Kerala became the first state to tap into 16th May 2019, Sikkim celebrated its 44th statehood masala bond market by listing the Kerala day. Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB)’s • It was on this day in 1975 that Sikkim had masala bond worth of USD 312 million (Rs 2,150 officially become a state under the Union of crore) in London Stock Exchange (LSE)’s International India and Kazi Lhendup Dorjee became its first Securities Market (ISM). chief minister. • It has a fixed interest rate of 9.723% per • Sikkim officially merged with the Indian union annum. and became the 22nd state of the country.

86 www.gradeup.co 6. Goa celebrates its statehood day on 30th May - Goa 9. Purple Frog to be crowned Kerala’s state celebrates its statehood day on 30th May. amphibian – Purple frog could be soon designated as • It was on this day in 1987 Goa became the 25th Kerala’s state amphibian. state of the Indian Union. • The proposal for this is being mooted by • Pramod Sawant is the 13th and current Chief Kerela’s leading Herpetologists (a specialist in Minister of Goa. study of reptiles and amphibians). 7. Meghalaya govt approves setting up of Farmers' • The odd-looking species is endemic to Western Commission – The Meghalaya government approved Ghats. The title would help in protecting setting up of a commission to look into the problem species fragile habitat. faced by farmers. • Scientific Name: Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis • The cabinet approved the proposal made by (N. sahyadrensis). the Agriculture Department to set up the • It is also known as Maveli frog or Pignose Frog. Farmers' Commission in line with the 10. Gujarat Assembly Passes Act to Allow Shops & resolution passed at the 'farmers' parliament'. Businesses Remain Open 24X7 – ‘Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and 8. Zero Pendency Courts Project – Zero Pendency Conditions of Service) Act, 2019’ passed by Gujarat Courts Project is the pilot project of the Delhi High Assembly which came into force from May 1, 2019. The Court. The pilot project was undertaken in certain Act will allow the shops and other businesses in the subordinate courts of Delhi to identify benchmarks for state to operate 24×7. different types of cases timelines, number of judges 11. Chhattisgarh Deploys 1st Anti-Naxal Women required, case flow management rules and a host of Commando Unit – The Chhattisgarh police for the first other relevant factors. time has inducted women commandos in the District Reserve Guard (DRG), its frontline anti-Naxal force.

April 2019

1. Himachal Pradesh Celebrates 72nd State Day – Note: In Assam, three Bihu festivals are celebrated in a Himachal Pradesh celebrated 72nd Himachal Day on year called as Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu, Bhugali 15th April with gaiety and fervour. Himachal Day is (Magh Bihu) and Kangali (Kati Bihu). celebrated to commemorate its creation. 4. Kandhamal Haldi Gets Geographical Indications 2. Nagaland observes 75th anniversary of Battle of Tag – ‘Kandhamal Haldi’, a variety of turmeric Kohima – Nagaland observed the 75th Anniversary of indigenous to southern Odisha, has earned the the Battle of Kohima. Geographical indication (GI) tag from Intellectual • The event was attended by the representatives Property India, an organization functioning under the from the UK and Japan who spoke on the auspices of the Union ministry of commerce & theme of ‘Remembrance, Reconciliation and industry. Rebirth’. Note: Kandhamal in Odisha’s southern hinterland is • The Battle of Kohima was fought in three famous for its turmeric cultivation, a spice that enjoys stages from 3 April to 22 June 1944 around the its pride of place in an array of cuisines. town of Kohima in Nagaland in northeast India. 5. Decolourisation of River Periyar – The River Periyar 3. Rongali Bihu Festival celebrated in Assam – in Kerala is again witnessing the decolourisation. Assam’s most awaited festival – the Rongali Bihu, also Note: known as ‘Bohaag Bihu’ which marks the beginning of • Periyar River of Kerala has turned black near the new Assamese calendar year started. Assam the Pathalam Regulator cum Bridge. celebrates major agricultural events as the festival of • Discolouration of Periyar and killing of fishes Bihu. have been a serious issue for the last couple of years. About hundred Indian anchovies (Kozhuva) fishes were found dead along the

87 www.gradeup.co banks of the Muttar river, a tributary of the the 262 lakes in Bengaluru, has spilt toxic foam many Periyar. times in the recent past. • According to the Pollution Control Board • Taking cognizance of it, the National Green (PCB), the discolouration was due to the poor Tribunal took the matter suo motu. Earlier in quality of water as a result of eutrophication. April, it had directed immediate and complete • Periyar river is the longest river and with the shutdown of 76 polluting industries around largest discharge potential in the Indian state the lake. The directive came after a mound of of Kerala. garbage was set on fire in February causing 6. Telangana tops in eLearning training for Field Staff massive pollution in the area. – For the second year in succession, Telangana ranks 8. Karnataka Government has decided to declare 2019 as number 1 in the e-Learning training program of the the ‘Year of Water’ to emphasise the importance of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), water becoming a scarce commodity and the need to Government India. conserve it. 7. Bengaluru's Bellandur Lake begins to froth once 9. The state of Odisha celebrates Odisha Divas or Utkala again – Bellandur Lake, which is one of the largest of Divas every year on April 1st to commemorate the state formation day.

March 2019

1. Rajasthan Day is celebrated every year on March 30 to education curriculum of the state’s tribal- commemorate the day on which the state of Rajasthan dominated districts. came into existence. 5. New Railway Zone Announced for Andhra Pradesh 2. Vastradan Campaign sets Guinness World record - – Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced a Vastradan Campaign initiated by the erstwhile royal new railway zone for Andhra Pradesh, that is the family of Udaipur has set the Guinness World Record Southern Coast Railway. for the largest collection of clothes for donation. The Note: campaign had collected more than 3 lakh items of • It will be headquartered in Visakhapatnam. It clothing. will be the 18th zone in the country. 3. Madhya Pradesh Government increases 6. Bihar Diwas was celebrated on March 22nd across the reservation Quota of OBCs to 27% - The Madhya state to commemorate the day when Bihar was carved Pradesh government issued an ordinance increasing out of the Bengal Presidency in the year 1912. March reservation quota for the Other Backward Classes 22nd 2019 was the 107th foundation day of the state. (OBC) to 27% from the current 14%. 7. ‘Rice Knowledge Bank- Assam’ - Rice Knowledge 4. Ancient tribal language Gondi to be taught in tribal Bank-Assam, is an agriculture web portal. It was districts of MP – In Madhya Pradesh, ancient tribal launched under the World Bank funded project – Agri- language Gondi will be taught in tribal districts. business and Rural Transformation (APART). • Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath Note: It is dedicated to magnifying knowledge on rice has decided to include Gondi in the primary production technologies and techniques.

February 2019

1. 100 years of jallianwala bagh massacre – On April gathered for a peaceful protest, killing hundreds of 13, 2019 nation commemorates the 100th anniversary men, women and children trapped inside the garden of the massacre of hundreds of innocent Indians by 2. Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram celebrate British forces at the Jallianwala Bagh. Statehood Day – The North-Eastern States of Note: On April 13, 1919, at Jallianwala Bagh, the Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram celebrate Statehood British armed forces under the command of General Day celebrated statehood day on February 20. Dyer opened 1,650 rounds of fire at the people

88 www.gradeup.co Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the 32nd 11. Meghalaya Govt. to rename Dikkibandi stadium and 47th Statehood Day respectively. after P A Sangma - The Meghalaya state Cabinet 3. Tamil Nadu became the first state in the country to get presided over by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has a second Coast Guard district headquarters – decided to rename the Dikkibandi Stadium in Tura Thoothukudi. The first district headquarters is town after P. A. Sangma (former Lok Sabha Speaker & Chennai. CM Meghalaya). 4. Bihar has become the first state to deploy specially- • The Dikkibandi Stadium was formerly known trained dogs to check smuggling of liquor which as MP stadium. continues to take place inspite of the total ban imposed 12. Rajasthan passes 5% quota bill for Gujjars, four in the state for the last 3 years. other communities – Rajasthan government has 5. First Mega Food Park of Tripura inaugurated in passed a Backward Classes, Amendment Bill, 2019 to Agartala – Tripura’s first mega food park named provide 5% quota in jobs and educational institutions Sikaria Mega Food Park Pvt Ltd at Village Tulakona in to ‘Gurjars’ and four other communities. Agartala. • The state government has also decided to 6. India’s first district Cooling System to be built in increase the ceiling of creamy layer from Rs. Amravati – India’s First District cooling system will 2.5 lacks to Rs. 8 lacks. come up in Amravati, capital of the Andhra Pradesh. 13. The Telangana government has declared 2nd February • The government of Andhra Pradesh has as 'appointing day' for the newly elected Sarpanches of entered into a 30-year concession with UAE- the Gram Panchayats in the state. based international cooling provider, The 14. Kerala has become the first Indian State to set up a agreement between the National Central Price Monitoring and Research Unit (PMRU) to track Cooling Company (Tabreed) for the District violation of prices of essential drugs and medical Cooling System at Amaravati. devices under the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO). 7. India’s first Agromet Forecast Centre inaugurated 15. Himalayan Cloud Observatory has been set up in in Karnataka – Union Minister for Science & Tehri district, Uttarakhand – The Observatory has Technology, Earth Sciences, Environment, Forest and been established in the SRT campus Badshahithaul and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, inaugurated the is currently in the testing period. North Karnataka Agromet Forecasting and Research 16. The 33rd edition of the Surajkund International Centre (NKAFC), India’s first agromet forecast centre, Crafts Mela (33rd) inaugurated at Faridabad at University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in (Haryana). Dharwad, Karnataka. • This year Maharashtra is the theme state and 8. Indus River dolphin declared as state aquatic animal Thailand is the Partner Nation. of Punjab. • Note: 17. Bharat Rang Mahotsav’ held in New Delhi. It is the • In Punjab, the Indus River Dolphins are found international theatre festival of India, Organized by mainly in the Sutlej and Beas rivers. National School of Drama (NSD). • Already, Punjab has Black Buck as its state 18. India’s largest multi-cultural street festival ‘Kala Ghoda animal, and Baaj, also known as northern Arts Festival’(KGAF) was held in South Mumbai, goshawk (accipiter gentilis), as the official Maharashtra. state bird • The theme of KGAF 2019 is retrospection. 9. Shehri Samridhi Utsav launched across the country. It 19. Arunachal Pradesh tribes celebrated Boori Boot Yollo is an initiative of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs festival - The Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh is (MoHUA). celebrated its Boori Boot Yollo festival (52nd) to 10. Himachal’s first mega food park inaugurated in welcome spring and a successful harvest. Una - The Union Minister of Food Processing • Boori Boot Yollo is observed every year in the Harsimrat Kaur Badal has inaugurated the mega food month of February. park at Village Singha in Una District, Himachal 20. Krishi Kumbh was organised in Motihari, Bihar. This is Pradesh. the largest Krishi Kumbh of Eastern India.

89 www.gradeup.co 21. Kerala has become the first State to set up a Price 25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a dedicated Monitoring and Research Unit (PMRU) to track 24×7 Satellite channel, ‘DD Arunprabha’ for violation of prices of essential drugs and medical Arunachal Pradesh. devices under the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO). 26. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Film and 22. The 22nd AIIMS will set up in Haryana. During the Television Institute in Jote, for Arunachal Pradesh - Interim Budget 2019, Piyush Goyal made the The permanent campus of Film and Television announcement to set up AIIMS in Haryana. The AIIMS Institute would be established at Jollang-Rakap (Jote), would be established at Manethi village in Haryana’s Papum Pare, Arunachal Pradesh. district. • It would be the third Film and Television 23. J&K Govt. grants divisional status to Ladakh Region Institute of Ministry of I&B (the other two are: – The Jammu and Kashmir government ordered the FTII Pune and SRFTI Kolkata) and first in the creation of a separate administrative division for North-East. Ladakh region. 27. PM Narendra Modi lays the foundation for Sela Note: Tunnel – • The State of Jammu and Kashmir had two • Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the administrative divisions of Jammu and foundation stone for the strategically Kashmir earlier. Ladakh would be the third important Sela Tunnel Project (costing - Rs administrative division 687 crore) in Arunachal Pradesh. 24. Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation 28. Sarthi Sandesh Vahini flagged off by Uttar Pradesh the 1.33 million metric ton capacity Visakhapatnam Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath - The Uttar Pradesh Strategic Petroleum Reserve facility at Guntur in state family welfare department has initiated the Andhra Pradesh. Sarthi Sandesh Vahini mission to spread awareness regarding family planning in urban and rural areas.

January 2019

1. Andaman to be First Island to operate Seaplanes Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana- Under UDAN-3 – According to the Ministry of Civil Saubhagya Scheme. Aviation, islands in Andaman will soon be connected 4. Diffo Bridge in Arunachal Pradesh dedicated to the by seaplanes that can land on or take-off from the nation - Union Minister of Defence Nirmala water under the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) Sitharaman inaugurated the 426 mtr long pre-stressed scheme. concrete box girder type bridge over Diffo river on 2. India’s longest single lane Steel Cable bridge Roing-Koron-Paya road in Arunachal Pradesh. opened in Arunachal Pradesh - The Chief Minister of • The bridge which has been constructed by the Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu inaugurated India’s Border Roads Organisation (BRO) longest single-lane steel cable suspension bridge over 5. Arunachal Government declares Pakke Hornbill Siang River in Upper Siang district of Arunachal fest as ‘State Festival’ Pradesh. The bridge is 300-metre-long and is also • The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh ‘Pema known as byorung bridge. Khandu’ has declared Pakke Paga Hornbill About river Siang Festival (PPHF) as the ‘State Festival’ at Seijosa • The Siang River is considered as lifeline of in East Kameng district at Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh. The river is also called as • Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) is only Dihang in the plain regions. conservation festival of Arunachal Pradesh. 3. Arunachal Pradesh’s East Siang District achieves 6. Telangana to set up ‘Save Tiger Protection Force’ - 100% electrification The Telangana government has decided to form a • East Siang District (in Arunachal Pradesh) has ‘State Tiger Protection Force’ to save the Big Cat achieved 100% electrification under the population in the State. The 112-member-armed STPF will be headed by an Assistant Conservator of Forests

90 www.gradeup.co to protect the tiger population in Amarabad and Kawal 14. National Health Agency to be restructured as Tiger Reserves. National Health Authority - The Union Cabinet 7. India’s largest Startup Ecosystem Inaugurated in headed by Prime Minister Modi has approved the Kerala - India got its largest startup ecosystem when restructuring of existing National Health Agency as Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated a National Health Authority. 1.8-lakh-square-feet facility housing incubation set-ups • The existing society, “National Health Agency” across a string of segments in modern technology. has been dissolved and it is now restructured 8. PM Dedicates Kollam Bypass in Kerala to Nation - as an Authority to effectively the implement PM Narendra Modi has dedicated the Kollam Bypass on Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). the National Highway-66 to the nation. 15. J&K: Nitin Gadkari dedicates to nation Kerrian • It reduces travel time between Alappuzha and Gandyal bridge in Kathua - Union Minister for Road Thiruvananthapuram. Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on January 22, • This is the first National Highway project in the 2019 dedicated to the nation Kerrian Gandyal bridge in country taken up on a 50:50 Centre-State Kathua district of Jammu. partnership. • The bridge has been constructed over river Ravi in 9. Union Cabinet approves expansion of Numaligarh Kathua district in a record time of over three years. refinery in Assam • This will reduce the distance between the two • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cities from 45 kms to 8.6 kms, which will save on has given its approval for the capacity both time and fuel cost. expansion project of Numaligarh Refinery from 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation 3 MMTPA (Million Metric Tonne Per Annum) stone for the Mandal Dam Project on the North Koel to 9 MMTPA. River. The Mandal Dam Project would be boon for the • Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) was set up states of Jharkhand and Bihar. at Numaligarh in the district of Golaghat 17. India’s second Tulip garden to come up in (Assam) in accordance with the provisions Uttarakhand - Uttarakhand Government has obtained made in the historic Assam Accord. the permission to develop the Tulip garden in • The promoters of the NRL are Bharat Pithoragarh district. Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Oil India Ltd & • It will be the second Tulip garden (first in Government of Assam (GoA). Srinagar, J&K) in the country. Note: 18. Sikkim to Introduce Universal Basic Income - The • Numaligarh Refineries receives 'Best Miniratna ruling party of Sikkim, Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) PSU' award - Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) has assured the implementation of the universal basic has been awarded the best Strategic Performance income in Sikkim by 2022. If things go as per plan, (Financial Category) at the sixth edition of Sikkim would become the first state in the country to Governance Now PSU Awards. implement the Universal Basic Income (UBI). 10. The Union Minister for Tourism K J Alphons Universal Basic Income (UBI) inaugurated the First Swadesh Darshan “Development • Universal Basic Income (UBI) refers to a of North East Circuit” in Gangtok. programme wherein the people are provided 11. World Book Fair held in New Delhi. The theme of this with a fixed amount of money irrespective of year is ‘Readers with Special Needs’. their income, resources or employment status. • The UAE’s third largest emirate Sharjah is the guest 19. Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has of honour for the New Delhi World Book Fair. announced to ban the production, sale and use of 12. Women’s wall for Gender Equality in Kerala - single-use plastic products in the Union Territory from Around 30 lakh women stood shoulder to shoulder to 1st March 2019. form Vanitha Mathil, “women’s wall” that ran across 20. The states of Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya the length of Kerala. The event was organised by the celebrated their 47th Statehood Day on 21st January. Government of Kerala with the support of several The states of Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya became political, religious and social groups. full-fledged states on January 21, 1972. 13. Indian Panorama Film Festival was held in New Delhi.

91 www.gradeup.co 21. Cyclone Pabuk - The India Meteorological Department 25. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation (IMD) has issued an Orange alert for the Andaman stones of 6 Namami Gange projects in Agra and Islands as cyclonic Pabuk moves towards the island. Mathura. 22. Agreement for Renukaji dam multipurpose project • The projects in Agra include comprehensive Signed - The Agreement for the construction of Sewerage Scheme for the city with ‘One-City- Renukaji Dam Multi-Purpose Project was signed by six One-Operator’ approach on Hybrid Annuity states, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Mode. Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in the presence of 26. Uttar Pradesh celebrates its 69th foundation day Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari. on 24th January The important features of the project are: 27. Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair • Renukaji Dam Multi-Purpose Project is a declared as an authorized Immigration Check post storage project on the Giri river which is • Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port tributary of the Yamuna at Sirmour district of Blair has been declared as an authorized Himachal. Immigration Check post for entry into/exit • A 148 m-high rock-filled dam would be from India with valid travel documents for all constructed across the river Giri. classes of passengers. Note: • This decision of the Union Government will • Along with the Renukaji dam multipurpose open up the Port Blair Airport for direct project other two projects are planned in the international flight and immigration facilities. Yamuna river basin, Lakhwar Project on the 28. Himachal Pradesh celebrates 49th Statehood Day on River Yamuna in Uttarakhand, Kisau Project on 25th January. the River Tons in Uttarakhand and Himachal 29. Union Minister Gadkari inaugurates Atal Setu in for the effective utilisation of the water Goa resource. • Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated 23. For the first time, Antonov-32 AN-32 transport aircraft four-lane ‘Atal Setu’ (5.1-kilometer long) the of the Indian Air Force carried out a successful landing third Cable bridge across river Mandovi in at Sikkim’s Pakyong, one of the highest airfields in the Panaji, Goa. This is the third bridge across country. Mandovi River. Note: Pakyong Airport is a Greenfield airport near 30. Andhra Pradesh No 1 in Ease of Doing Business Gangtok, the capital of the state of Sikkim. It is the first 2018 - The Asia competitiveness institute (ACI) has greenfield airport to be constructed in the released the Ease of Doing Business Rankings for Northeastern Region of India. Indian states. 24. RPF Women Squad ‘JOYMATI BAHINI’ launched in Key points Guwahati - In Assam, (RPF) • In the latest ranking of Asia Competitiveness of Lumding Division has formally launched ‘JOYMATI Institute's (ACI) EDB index, Andhra Pradesh BAHINI’, comprising women sub-inspector and bagged the top rank in 2018. constables of the RPF at Kamkhaya Railway Station in • Maharashtra and Delhi came in second and Guwahati. third place respectively

Sports

September

1. US Open men's singles title 2019 • Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has clinched • Winner - Rafael Nadal (Spain) his fourth US Open title at the Arthur Ash • Runner-up - DomDaniil Medvedev (Russia) Stadium in New York. Note:

92 www.gradeup.co • With this win, Nadal won the second Grand in the consecutive Ashes series in England. Slam this year. He also won the men's singles Smith scored 508 runs in the Ashes series in French Open title 2019 England which was held in 2015. 19th Grand Slam singles title - • Allan Border is the first Australian batsman • In the men's US Open 2019 final which lasted who scored 500 plus runs consecutively in the nearly five hours, Nadal defeated Medvedev 7-5, 6- Ashes in England. 3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 to win his 19th Grand Slam singles • Border scored more than 500 runs in 1981 and title. 1985. • With this, Nadal is now just a step away from 6. Italian Grand Prix - Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has won Switzerland's Roger Federer record of winning the the Italian Grand Prix. most Grand Slam title. 7. Bianca Andreescu of Canada becomes 1st teen US • Federer, who was out of the quarterfinals of the US Open semi-finalist Open 2019, has recorded 20 Grand Slams title in • The 19-year-old Canadian, Bianca Andreescu his name. became the first teen to enter in the semi-finals 2. Bianca Andreescu wins U.S. Open women’s singles of US Open tournament. title 2019 • Bianca Andreescu becomes the first teenager • Bianca Andreescu becomes the first Canadian to reach the US Open semi-finals since Caroline singles player to win a Grand Slam event. Wozniacki in 2009. • She defeated Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 in her 8. becomes the youngest Test Captain first Grand Slam title. • Afghanistan leg spinner Rashid Khan created • With the victory, Andreescu also jumps into another record in his name. He has become the the top 10 in the WTA rankings. youngest Test Captain in the world at the age • The 19-year-old teen is also the first woman to 20 years 350 days. win the trophy in her tournament debut in the • Rashid Khan achieved this feat when the US Open era. Afghanistan team started playing against 3. India Red clinch Duleep Trophy title Bangladesh. • India Red defeated India Green by an innings • Rashid Khan won his first toss as a Test and 38 runs to clinch the Duleep Trophy title. captain and decided to bat first. 4. Malinga creates history by taking 4 wickets in 4 • Before Rashid Khan, the record of captaining balls for the second time in Int'l cricket the Test team at the youngest was the name of • Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga has Tatenda Taibu of Zimbabwe. taken four wickets in 4 balls for the second • He first captained against Sri Lanka in 2004. time in his international career. His age at that time was 20 years 358 days. • The 36-year-old took his second double hat- 9. Mithali Raj retires from T20Is trick by dismissing New Zealand’s Colin • Indian women cricketer Mithali Raj announced Munro, Hamish Rutherford, Colin de her retirement from the T20 International Grandhomme and Ross Taylor in the third Cricket. T20I. Note: • Earlier, he took four wickets in 4 consecutive • She leads team India in 32 T20 International balls against South Africa in the 2007 World matches. Cup. • Three times she has also captained team India 5. Steve Smith becomes 2nd Australian to score 500 in the ICC Women's World Twenty20. in Ashes series • She was the first captain of the Indian women's • On 5th September in the current Ashes series, Twenty20 team in 2006, played a total of 89 Steve Smith scored his third double century International Twenty20 matches and scored against England. 2364 runs. • With this, he became the second Australian • She is the highest run-scorer in this format. after Allan Border to score 500 and more runs

93 www.gradeup.co • She is also the first Indian woman to reach the world with 53 Test wins, followed by ex- landmark of 2000 T20I runs. Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who recorded • She hails from Jodhpur, Rajasthan. 48 Test wins in his captaincy tenure. 10. Rishabh Pant became fastest Indian wicket-keeper 15. India beat Nepal 7-0 to lift SAFF Under-15 title to claim 50 dismissals in Test cricket • India defeated Nepal with 7-0 to lift the SAFF • Rishabh Pant became fastest Indian wicket- Under-15 title at Kalyanai, West Bengal, keeper to claim 50 dismissals in Test cricket. • With this win, India wins the title for a record • He broke previous record held by MS Dhoni for third time after previous wins in 2013 and India. 2017. • Pant claimed his 50th test wicket in his 11th • India is now the most successful team in the test during India vs West Indies. tournament's history. • MS Dhoni had taken 15 tests to get to 50 Test 16. Yashaswini Deswal wins gold at ISSF World Cup dismissals. • Indian shooter Yashaswini Singh Deswal won 11. Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. gold in the women’s 10meter Air Pistol event • Qatar will be the first Arab country to host the at the ISSF World Cup at Rio de Janeiro in World Cup. Brazil. 12. Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza has 17. Jasprit Bumrah becomes 3rd Indian to register hat announced to retire from international cricket. trick in Test cricket 13. Anupama Swain wins bronze in World Martial Arts • Indian pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has become Mastership – Indian woman athlete Anupama Swain the third Indian to register a hat-trick in Test won a bronze medal in the recently concluded World cricket. He took 3 wickets in 3 successive balls Martial Arts Mastership Jiu-Jitsu 2019. in the 2nd test against West Indies, held in • The event was held in Chungju, South Korea. Kingston, Jamaica. He dismissed Darren Bravo, Now she qualified for 2022 Asian Games. she Shamarh Brooks and Roston Chase to claim the was the only Indian to participate in the hat trick. championship. • This was the third test hat-trick by an Indian • Jiu-Jitsu is a form of martial art and combat bowler after Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan. sport and it puts the entire focus on grappling 18. Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei completed the fastest half- with particular emphasis on ground fighting. marathon ever ran by a woman. 14. Virat Kohli becomes India's most successful Test 19. Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary won the gold skipper medal in mixed 10m air pistol at the ISSF World Cup in • Virat Kohli surpassed Mahendra Singh Dhoni Rio de Janeiro. to become India's most successful Test captain. 20. Shot putter Tejinderpal Singh Toor won a silver medal • Virat achieved this feat by winning 28 matches during an athletic meet at Decin in the Czech Republic. for India from 48 games. 21. Belgian Grand Prix – Charles Leclerc of Ferrari won • It came after the Indian team recorded its 28th the Belgian Grand Prix after defeating Lewis Hamilton win under Kohli's leadership in the second and by less than a second. final test against the West Indies at Kingston. 22. New head coach appointed of Pakistan Cricket • MS Dhoni in his captaincy won a total of 27 team - Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq has been matches from 60 Test matches. appointed as head coach and chief selector of • Sourav Ganguly with 21 wins and Mohammad Pakistan’s cricket team. Azharuddin with 14 wins are third and fourth Note: Waqar Younis appointed as the team’s new in the list of successful Indian Test skippers. bowling coach. • Former South African captain Graeme Smith remains the most successful skipper in the

94 www.gradeup.co August

1. Goa to host 36th National Games 7. British Grand Prix – Spain motorcycle racer, Alex Rins • The 36th National Games to be held in Goa of the Team SUZUKI ECSTAR has won the British from October 20 to November 4, 2020. Grand Prix. • Goa was earlier supposed to host the 36th 8. Vikram Rathour appointed as Team India’s batting edition of the National Games in November last coach – Former Indian opener Vikram Rathour year. appointed as team India’s new batting coach. He will 2. Virgil van Dijk, Lucy Bronze win UEFA Award – replace Sanjay Bangar. Liverpool Football player Virgil van Dijk has won • While Bharath Arun and R. Sridhar were UEFA’s Player of the Year award. retained as bowling and fielding coaches. 3. Abhishek Verma and Elavenil Valarivan won the 9. Durand Cup - Gokulam Kerala FC won the 129th gold medal in shooting Worldcup – Abhishek Verma Durand Cup, defeating Mohun Bagan 2-1 at the Salt won the gold medal and Saurabh Chaudhary won the Lake Stadium in Kolkata. bronze medal, in a dominant display by Indian 10. PV Sindhu becomes first Indian to win World shooters in the men’s 10m air pistol event. Championships gold – Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu • While Elavenil Valarivan opened India’s has won the World Championships title defeating account with a gold in the women’s 10m air Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the final at Basel, rifle event of the World Cup at Rio de Janeiro. Switzerland. 4. West Indies fast bowler Cecil Wright retires at 85 – • Sindhu defeated her Japanese opponent West Indies pacer Cecil Wright has announced his Nozomi Okuhara to 21-7, 21-7. retirement from all forms of cricket at the ripe old age • This was Sindhu’s third straight World of 85. Championships final. • Wright made his first-class debut for Jamaica • With this victory, the 24-year-old shuttler has against a Barbados side which had legends become the first Indian to book a gold medal at Wes Hall and Sir Garfield Sobers. the World Championships. • The 85-year-old claims to have played over 11. Paytm retains title sponsorship of Indian cricket two million games taking over 7,000 wickets in for 5 years – The Board of Control for Cricket in India professional cricket. has announced that mobile payments and e-commerce 5. Ajantha Mendis announces retirement from company “Paytm” has retained the title sponsorship Cricket – Ajantha Mendis, the mystery spinner from rights. Paytm has retained the title sponsorship rights Sri Lanka, has announced his retirement from all forms for all cricket matches, domestic and international, of cricket. played in India for 5 years. • Mendis played 19 Tests, 87 One-Day 12. B.N.S. Reddy beats Bruce Barrios of the U.S. in the Internationals and 39 T20Is for Sri Lanka, men’s singles final to win the gold medal at the World taking 70 Test wickets, 152 ODI wickets and Police and Fire Games. 66 T20I wickets. 13. Para swimmer Satendra Singh Lohia crosses 6. Worldskills Kazan competition in Russia – Indian America’s Catalina Channel team created history by winning one gold, one silver • Indian Para Swimmer Satendra Singh Lohia and two bronze medals at the world’s biggest has become the first Asian swimmer to cross international vocational skill competition, 45th the Catalina Channel of America. WorldSkills Kazan 2019, Russia. • Satendra holds the Asian record of crossing • S Aswatha Narayana won the gold medal in both the English and Catalina channels. water technology, Pranav Nutalapati won a 14. Komalika Bari becomes recurve cadet at the World silver medal in web technologies, Sanjoy Archery Youth Championships – India’s Komalika Pramanik and Shweta Ratanpura won one Bari became recurve cadet world champion at the bronze medal each in Jewellery and graphic World Archery Youth Championships in Madrid, Spain. design technology.

95 www.gradeup.co She defeated higher-ranked Sonoda Waka of Japan 7-3 • A Concussion Replacement is a player who in the final. takes the place of a player who has been 15. India won Bronze in World Archery Youth replaced for the remainder of the match. Championships – The Indian team of Sukhbeer Singh, • The player will be selected from the list of Sangampreet Singh Bisla and Tushar Phadtare clinched nominated players provided by that team a bronze medal in the junior compound men’s team whose player was injured and will take a event in the World Archery Youth Championships in full part in the match. Madrid, Spain. Note: 16. Maharashtra launches Mission Shakti sports • In Ashes Series 2019, Steve Smith was ruled out of initiative – the last day of the 2nd Ashes Test match at Lord’s • Film Actor launched Mission due to concussion. Marnus Labuschagne replaced Shakti, a Maharashtra government’s Smith on the last day of the Lord’s Test. initiative to train athletes from tribal areas 20. Hima Das, Mohammad Anas win gold in Athleticky for international sports events such as Mitink Reiter event - Indian sprinters Hima Das and Olympics. Mohammad Anas have won a gold medal and Nirmal • It will help Maharashtra government to Tom clinched a bronze medal in 300m races at the hunt for talented athletes in remote areas Athleticky Mitink Reiter event. of Chandrapur and Gadchiroli. • The event was held in Czech Republic. • At the launch event Aamir Khan felicitated While Hima won the gold in women’s a team of tribal mountaineers who had category and Mohammad Anas and Nirmal recently scaled Mount Everest as part of Tom claimed the yellow and bronze medal ‘Mission Shaurya’. in men’s category. Mission Shakti 21. India wins U-12 Asian Tennis Team championship – India have won the gold medal at the Under 12 Asian • It aims to groom tribal student for an Olympic Tennis Team championship held in Kazakhstan. India medal by 2024. defeated Chinese Taipei in the summit clash to win the • The mission is directed towards 6 sporting title. disciplines namely- archery, shooting, volleyball, 22. India wins T20 Physical Disability World Cricket swimming, weightlifting and gymnastics. Series – India has won the inaugural T20 Physical 17. Former Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole announces Disability World Cricket Series 2019 held in England. retirement – Former Chelsea, Arsenal and England • India defeated England by 36 runs in the football player Ashley Cole aged 38, announced his finals to win the title. retirement from football. • The 6-nation tournament was organized 18. Mitchell Johnson becomes MCC Honourary Life by the England and Wales Cricket Board. member – Former Australian pace bowler Mitchell 23. Indian cyclists win gold at World Junior Track Johnson has been elected as an Honorary Life Member Cycling Championships – Indian cyclists team have of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). won the gold medal in the Team Sprint event at World 19. Labuschagne becomes 1st Concussion Substitute Junior Track Cycling Championships held in Frankfurt, cricket player – Australian player Marnus Germany. Labuschagne has become the 1st Concussion • Indian team comprised of Esow Alben, Substitute player in the history of International cricket. Ronaldo Singh and Rojit Singh. • A Concussion Replacement Request is the • This is India’s first ever gold medal in a notification made to the ICC Match Referee global cycling competition. in accordance with the process set out by • The Indian team defeated Australian team ICC. in the finals to win the gold medal. • The Team Medical Representative is the 24. In the 300m races held at the Athleticky Mitink Reiter individual designated for the assessment Event 2019 in the Czech Republic, Indian sprinters of any head or neck injury sustained by a Hima Das and Mohammad Anas won gold in the player. women’s and men’s category respectively.

96 www.gradeup.co • It was the sixth gold in European races by 32. Simone Biles makes history with a “triple-double” Hima Das since July 2, 2019. twist – Simone Biles makes history with a never- 25. Russell Domingo appointed as the head coach of before-seen “triple-double” floor exercise landing. Bangladesh, replacing Steve Rhodes (English cricket • She performed the landing featuring “two coach and former cricketer) by the Bangladesh Cricket flips and three twists” in U.S. Gymnastics Board (BCB). Championships held in Kansas City. 26. NZ’s Tim Southee equals India’s Sachin Tendulkar’s 33. Wesley Sneijder announces retirement from record Football – The Netherlands’ most-capped player • New Zealand’s fast bowler Tim Southee Wesley Sneijder announced his retirement from now equaled former Indian cricketer football. Sachin Tendulkar’s record tally of sixes in 34. Aishwarya Pissay wins FIM Bajas World Cup – Test cricket, on the first day of the Test Aishwarya Pissay made history by becoming the first match between Srilanka and New-Zealand Indian to win a world title in motorsports as she won that was held at Galle, Srilanka. the FIM World Cup in women’s category after the final • Both Tendulkar and Southee have made 69 round of the championship in Varpalota, Hungary. sixes in the Test cricket. • The event was conducted by the 27. Mumbai to host 2019 World Youth chess meet - The International Motorcycling Federation, the 2019 World Youth chess championship is to be held in governing body for motorcycle racing in Mumbai from October 1-13, at the Renaissance Hotel the world. in Powai, Mumbai • The headquarters of International 28. Ravi Shastri appointed as Head Coach of Indian Motorcycling Federation is in Mies, Cricket Team – Former all-rounder Ravi Shastri has Switzerland. been appointed as the head coach of Indian cricket 35. Women’s Cricket at Birmingham CWG – Cricket will team for another two years. come back to the Commonwealth Games (CWG) roster 29. Deepak Punia wins Junior World Championship for the 1st time since 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, with the title – Deepak Punia won the gold medal at the Junior inclusion of women’s T20 for the 2022 edition in World Championships held in Talinn, Estonia. Birmingham. • He defeated Russia’s Alik Shebzukov to • It will take place from July 27 to August 7, win the 86 kg junior freestyle title. 2022, with 8 international teams playing 30. Serena Williams tops Forbes list of best-paid cricket. This decision was taken by female athletes – Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) • Serena Williams topped the List of Highest- and the International Cricket Council (ICC). Paid Female Athletes 2019 published by 36. Dutch Hero Wesley Sneijder announces retirement Forbes. from Football. • She has topped the annual list for a 4th 37. Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu wins Rogers consecutive year with estimated total earnings Cup 2019 – Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu wins of $29.2 million. Rogers Cup tennis tournament 2019 held in Toronto, • Japan’s Naomi Osaka was 2nd on the list with Canada. earnings of ($24.3 million). • She was the first Canadian to win the event • Indian badminton player P.V. Sindhu came in in 50 years. Serena Williams was the tied for 13th ($5.5 million), with Thai golfer runner-up in the final. Ariya Jutanugarn ($5.3 million) rounding out 38. Sourabh Verma wins Hyderabad Open – Indian the top 15 of Forbes list of best-paid female Badminton star Sourabh Verma clinched the Men’s athletes. Singles title in the Hyderabad Open. 31. Liverpool beats Chelsea to win UEFA Super Cup – • He beat Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew in a 52- Liverpool defeated Chelsea in the finals to win UEFA minute final clash. Sourabh Verma belongs Super Cup held in Istanbul. The match ended in draw to Madhya Pradesh. with score 2-2 following the extra time. 39. Chennai Lions beat Dabang Delhi to win UTT – Chennai Lions wins the Ultimate Table Tennis league.

97 www.gradeup.co They defeated Dabang Delhi in the finals by 8-1. 44. World Archery suspends AAI for violating Chennai Lions collected the winner’s share of Rs. 75 guidelines – The World Archery (WA) has suspended lakh while Delhi settled for Rs. 50 lakh. the Archery Association of India for violating its guidelines. 40. Rafael Nadal wins Montreal Masters title – Rafael • The AAI violated the WA’s guidelines by Nadal wins in Montreal to win 35th Masters crown. He electing two parallel bodies. defeated Russian Daniil Medvedev by 6-3, 6-0. • As per the suspension order, the last event • With the win, he also extended his record in which the Indian archers can participate haul of Masters 1000 titles. under the Indian flag is the World Archery 41. Bajrang Punia wins gold at Tbilisi Grand Prix – Youth Championships to be held in Madrid. Bajrang Punia wins gold at Tbilisi Grand Prix held in 45. Diego forlan announces retirement from Tbilisi, Georgia. professional football – Legendary Uruguay striker • He defeated Iran’s Peiman Bibyani by 2-0 Diego Forlan has announced his retirement from in the 65 kg final of the men’s freestyle professional football. competition. • He had won the Golden Ball award after • It was the 4th gold of the season for the being adjudged the best player of the 2010 Asian Games champion. FIFA World Cup. 42. BCCI has agreed to come under NADA ambit – The 46. Amla retires from international cricket – South Board of Control For Cricket In India has agreed to African batsman Hashim Amla has retired from all come under the ambit of the National Anti-Doping formats of international cricket. Agency. • Amla played 124 Tests, 181 ODIs and 44 T20Is • This decision makes Indian Cricket’s between his 15-year-long cricketing career. governing body a sports federation as per • Scoring more than 18,000 runs, including 55 government norms. As a result, all centuries and 88 other scores in excess of 50 cricketers will now be tested by NADA. 47. 1st woman to win 4,000km cycling race – German About NADA cancer researcher Fiona Kolbinger won the mixed • The National Anti-Doping Agency is the annual 4,000km(2,485 miles) cycling Transcontinental national organisation responsible for Race from Burgas in Bulgaria to Brest in France. promoting, coordinating, and monitoring • Kolbinger becomes the 1st woman to win one of the doping control program in sports in all the world’s toughest cycling races in her first ultra- its forms in India. distance event. • It was established as registered society 48. Sally Pearson announces retirement from Track under Societies Registration Act of 1890 in and field – Australia’s reigning world-champion 2005 with mandate for dope free sports in hurdler Sally Pearson announced her surprise India. retirement due to injury. 43. Cricket Australia unveils new transgender 49. Nick Kyrgios beats Daniil Medvedev to win 6th ATP inclusive policy – The Cricket Australia has title – Australia’s Nick Kyrgios kept his composure and announced new transgender inclusive policy. This captured the ATP Washington Open title, defeating policy will enable transgender players to play the game Russia’s 10th-ranked Daniil Medvedev. of cricket at the highest levels. 50. Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, aged • The decision aligns in accordance with the 37, has announced retirement from all forms of cricket. International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) 51. Ravichandran Ashwin named “PCA Player of the gender recognition policy and gender Month – Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has diversity guidelines. been named as Professional Cricketers Association’s • The policy sets out a testosterone limit for Player of the month of July 2019. transgender and gender-diverse players • He has been named for his consistent who want to play for state and national performances in the county championships as he women’s teams. hit 197 runs and picked up 23 wickets from just 3 matches for Nottinghamshire.

98 www.gradeup.co 52. South African bowler Dale Steyn retires from Test swimming enthusiasts an opportunity to witness the cricket. aquatic event. 53. Vinesh wins gold in 53kg at Poland Open Wrestling 58. Steve Smith becomes second fastest to score 25 test Tournament. centuries overtaking Virat Kohli – Former Australian 54. 1st Indian doubles pair to win Super 500 title – captain Steve Smith has overthrown Indian Skipper India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty Virat Kohli to become the second-fastest batsman to scripted a history to win the men’s doubles final of the score 25 test centuries during the second innings of the Thailand Open badminton championship in Bangkok. first Ashes test match against England. • This is the first-ever Indian men’s • The chart is topped by Australian combination to win a BWF Super 500 title. cricketer, Sir Don Bradman. 55. Hungarian Grand Prix – Formula One Mercedes • Smith recorded this feat in his 119th driver Lewis Hamilton winner. innings whereas Sir Don Bradman 56. Birmingham Commonwealth Games: Organisers achieved this feat in just 68 innings. firm on shooting exclusion - Commonwealth Games 59. Lionel Messi suspended from Argentina for 3 chief Louise Martin said shooting will not be part of the months – Soccer body CONMEBOL suspended Lionel 2022 edition in Birmingham. Messi from international matches for three months • Commonwealth Game 2022 scheduled to because of accusations of corruption he made at the be held in Birmingham, England. latest Copa America. 57. Bangalore will host the 10th AASF Asian Age Group • The South American body also fined the Championships 2019 for the 1st time – For the first superstar in USD 50,000 for his comments time, Bangalore(Karnataka) will host the 10th AASF after Argentina’s 2-1 win against Chile in (Asia Swimming Federation) Asian Age Group the third-place playoff of the tournament. Championships 2019 starting from September 24, 2019, to October 2, 2019, will give the country’s

July

1. ICC World Cup title 2019 – • Novak Djokovic (Serbian) won his fifth • England lifted the ICC Cricket World Cup Wimbledon title after defeating Swiss tennis Trophy 2019 at the Lord’s cricket stadium in ace Roger Federer. London. • This is Djokovic’s 16th Grand Slam and 5th • England defeated New Zealand with more Wimbledon title. He is now level with Bjorn number of boundaries in the Super Over Borg as a five-time Wimbledon winner. thriller in the grand finale of ICC Cricket World • Mixed Doubles – Cup Trophy 2019. Winner - Dodig (Croatia) and L. Chan (Taiwan) Note: Runner up - R. Lindstedt (Sweden) and J. • Player of the tournament: Kane Williamson (New Ostapenko (Latvia) Zealand). • Women’s Doubles • Player of the Match Award: Ben Stokes (England). Winner - S W. Hsieh (Taiwan) and B. Strycova • Highest run scorer of the tournament: Rohit (Czech Republic) Sharma (India). Runner up - G. Dabrowski (Canada) and Y. Xu • Highest wicket taker of the tournament: Mitchell (China) Starc (Australia). • Men’s Doubles Note: Winner - Juan Sebastian Cabal (Colombia) and • The 13th edition of ICC Cricket World Cup will be Robert Farah (Colombia) held in India from February 9 to March 26, 2023. Runner up - Nicolas Mahut (France) and 2. Wimbledon 2019 – Edouard Roger Vasselin (France) • Simona Halep (Romanian) beats Serena 3. Ellyse Perry becomes first cricketer to reach 1000 Williams to win first Wimbledon title. runs, 100 wickets in T20Is – Australia all-rounder

99 www.gradeup.co Ellyse Perry became the first cricketer of either gender 9. India will host ISSF World Cup 2020 – International to reach the rare milestone of scoring 1000 runs and Shooting Sport Federation approved India’s taking 100 wickets in the T20 format. application to host the ISSF World Cup stages. 4. ‘Robot umpires’ debut in U.S. baseball league – The • World Cup will be held in New Delhi from Independent Atlantic League became the first March 15 to 26 ,2020. American professional baseball league to let a • The last edition of ISSF World Cup was held in computer call balls and strikes. Munich, Germany. • The umpires have the ability to override the 10. Khelo India Youth Games 2020 to be held in computer, which considers a pitch a strike Guwahati – The 3rd edition of Khelo India Youth when the ball bounces and then crosses the Games 2020 will be held in Guwahati. zone. • Khelo India programme’s inaugural edition 5. Indian weightlifter Ajay Singh created a new was held in New Delhi in 2018. Commonwealth record in the clean and jerk category • The 2nd edition of ‘Khelo India Youth Games’ en route to a gold medal at the Commonwealth was held in 2019 in Pune, Maharashtra. Championships held in Apia, Samoa. • In the second edition of Khelo India Youth 6. Sunil Chhetri named AIFF Player of the Year for a Games (2nd edition), Maharashtra topped with record 6th time 228 medals (85 gold, 62 silver and 81 bronze). • Sunil Chhetri was named as the AIFF Men's • Haryana was second with total 178 medals (62 Footballer of the Year for a record-extending gold, 56 silver and 60 bronze) while Delhi was sixth time. third with total 136 medals (48 gold, 37 silver • Sunil Chhetri has already won Player of the Year and 51 bronze) for a total of 136 medals. award in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2017 11. Mary Kom wins gold in President’s Cup – Six times • India midfielder Abdul Samad was named the World Champion MC Mary Kom (36) claimed gold AIFF Emerging Men's Player of the Year. medal at 23rd President’s Cup held in Labuan Bajo, Note: Indonesia. She defeated April Franks of Australia with • Ashalata Devi (Maipur) was named the AIFF 5-0 Women's Footballer of the Year 2018-19 – 12. German Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen • Manipur's Dangmei Grace was announced as the 13. Chandigarh gets BCCI affiliation – Chandigarh emerging player of the year in the women's received affiliation from the Board of Control for category. Cricket in India(BCCI) after nearly four decades. Note: • After getting BCCI affiliation, Chandigarh • AIFF Player of Year has been awarded by Cricket Association-Punjab had recently All India Football Federation since 1992. decided to merge with Union Territory Cricket • It is an annual association football award Association, thus paving way for the Union presented to best footballer in India. Territory to be recognised as a separate entity. 7. FIFA rankings: India drops two places to 103 – On 14. ICC launched the World Test Championship – The 25th July 2019, Federation Internationale de Football WTC will see the top nine Test teams in the world – Association(FIFA) has released its ranking for the year Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, 2019. Belgium leads the overall FIFA rankings, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. followed by Brazil, France, England, and Uruguay. • Compete in 71 Test matches across 27 series, • Indian football team slipped two places to played over two years. 103rd in the recent FIFA rankings with 1214 • The top 2 teams at the end will compete in the ranking points. ICC World Test Championship Final in the UK 8. Nuwan Kulasekara, Sri Lanka pacer retires from in June 2021. international cricket - Sri Lanka pacer, Kulasekara 15. ICC suspends Zimbabwe Cricket - International Mudiyanselage Dinesh Nuwan Kulasekara aged 37 Cricket Council has suspended Zimbabwe for failing to announced retirement from international cricket. He ensure there is no government interference in its hails from Nittambuwa, Sri Lanka. running of the sport.

100 www.gradeup.co • ICC funding has been withdrawn and the • Junior: Gulam Navi has won gold medal in country will be barred from participating at 67kg event. ICC events. Zimbabwe’s Test status was • Junior and youth: L. Sadananda Singh has won suspended by the ICC in June 2004. Bronze & Gold medals in 73kg event. 16. North Korea wins Intercontinental Cup title – North • Women (Elite): Manpreet Kaur has won silver Korea wins the 2nd edition of Intercontinental Cup medal in 76kg event. football tournament. North Korea beats Tajikistan in • Junior: R. Arockiya Alish has won silver medal the finals held in Ahmedabad. in 76kg event. 17. British Grand Prix - Lewis Hamilton 25. Tamil Nadu girl wins gold medal in World Deaf title 18. Mexico wins CONCACAF Gold Cup final - Mexico – Tamil Nadu girl Jerlin Anika has won the gold medal defeated USA to claim their eighth CONCACAF Gold in the World Deaf Youth Badminton Championships Cup title. Jonathan Dos Santos scored the winning goal held in Taipei. 15-year-old Anika bagged four medals in 73rd min for Mexico in the thrilling final. in the championship, including the gold, two silver and 19. Vinesh Phogat wins gold at Yasar Dogu one bronze. International in Istanbul. 26. In Table Tennis, Indian pair G. Sathiyan and Anthony • Phogat beat her Russian opponent Ekaterina Amalraj won the bronze at the World Tour Platinum Poleshchuk in the final match to bag the gold Australian Open. They defeat Korean pair of Jeoung medal. Youngsik and Lee Sangsu. 20. 2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour title - Magnus Carlsen 27. Boxer Vijender Singh wins 11th consecutive pro won the 2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour title. bout – He defeated Mike Snider on his debut in the US 21. 21st Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship held professional circuit at Newark in the US. in Cuttack, Odisha. 28. M. Sreeshankar has won the long jump gold at the • India women defeated Singapore to clinch Tatyana Kolpakova International athletics. The their first-ever Commonwealth Table Tennis tournament was held in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). title 29. Amir Khan (British professional) wins WBC • India men pipped England 3-2 in the final in international welterweight title. He defeated Cuttack Australian Billy Dib in the fourth round of his bout in 22. Hima Das wins gold in “Tabor Athletics” - Star the inaugural Super Boxing League held in Jeddah, Indian sprinter Hima Das clinched gold in a 200m race Saudi Arabia. in 23.25 seconds creditable timing in the Tabor 30. Vijayveer wins his 3rd gold at ISSF Junior Shooting Athletics Meet in Czech Republic. World Cup – Vijayveer Sidhu picked up his third gold 23. Commonwealth Senior Weightlifting medal of the ongoing ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Championships – 4 gold medals for India Germany, combining with Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu • Mirabai Chanu wins gold in the senior and Adarsh Singh to clinch the men’s 25m pistol. women’s 49 kg event. 31. Anish Bhanwala claims gold medal in ISSF Junior • Jhilli Dalabehra wins gold in the senior World Cup - Shooter Anish Bhanwala claimed gold in women’s 45 kg event. 25m rapid fire pistol competition to continue India’s • Soroikhaibam Bindyarani Devi wins gold while dominance in the tournament in Suhl, Germany. Matsa Santoshi wins the silver medal in the 32. Sarabjot Singh wins gold medal in ISSF Junior World senior women’s 55kg event. Cup tournament in Suhl, Germany. • Rishikanta Singh grabbed the gold in the 33. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched the All India senior men’s 55kg event. Football Federation’s Golden Baby Leagues handbook 24. Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships – 2019-20. India have won 4 gold medals in Commonwealth 34. Collin Morikawa wins the US PGA title – American Weightlifting Championships held in Apia, Samoa. The Collin Morikawa has won the US PGA title at the Indian medallists are: Barracuda Championship. This was his 1st win in the • Men (Elite and junior): Achinta Sheuli has won US PGA title. 2 gold medals in 73kg event. 35. Former France and Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has announced his retirement.

101 www.gradeup.co 36. Hima Das returns to 400m run, grabs 5th gold - • Earlier under-15 category witnessed a thrilling Indian sprinter Hima Das extended her sensational run battle between fifth seeded Tamil Nadu girl by claiming her fifth gold of the month as she returned Shameena Riaz upsetting top seed Soniya Bajaj to her pet 400m competition with a season-best time from Maharashtra. of 52.09 seconds in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic. She is 46. Kristof Milak breaks the Phelps record in 200m fondly called the ‘Dhing Express’. butterfly stroke – Kristof Milak shattered Michael 37. BCCI approves Indian Cricketers Association - The Phelps’ long-standing world record in the 200 metres BCCI has approved the Indian Cricketers Association butterfly at the World Aquatics Championships in (ICA). The ICA is not affiliated to Federation of Gwangju. International Cricketers’ Association (FICA) and is only • Hungarian teenager Milak won the final in open to former men and women cricketers. 1:50.73, breaking the previous record of • Former India cricketers Kapil Dev, Ajit Agarkar 1:51.51, set by Phelps in 2009. and Shantha Rangaswamy are the directors at 47. Nikoloz Basilashvili wins the German Tennis ICA. Championships. He defeated Andrey Rublev to 38. First Indian boxer to win gold at President’s Cup - successfully defend his title at the German Tennis Shiva Thapa became India’s first gold-medallist at the Championships. President’s Cup boxing tournament after getting a • With the win, he has become first player to win walkover in the finals in Astana, Kazakhstan. the event in successive years since Roger 39. Ravinder Malik clinches Mr South Asia title - Indian Federer in 2004-2005. bodybuilder Ravinder Kumar Malik has clinched Mr. 48. Dressel breaks the Phelps record in 100m butterfly South Asia title. He has crowned the overall champion stroke – American star Caeleb Dressel destroyed at 12th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Michael Phelps’s World record in the 100 metres Championship in Kathmandu. butterfly at the World Aquatics Championships 2019 in 40. Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi wins Indonesia Open - Gwangju (South Korea). Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi wins Indonesia Open BWF • Caeleb Dressel take 49.50 seconds in the semi- Tour Super 1000 tournament held in Jakarta, final event and breaking the old record of Indonesia. She defeated India’s P.V. Sindhu. 49.82 seconds set by Michael Phelps. 41. WBA welterweight title - Filipino legend Manny 49. Egan Bernal claims Colombia’s 1st Tour de France Pacquiao claimed the WBA welterweight title – Egan Bernal became the 1st Colombian to win championship after scoring a split-decision win the Tour de France which finished in Paris, France. He against Keith Thurman. beat the defending champion Geraint Thomas of 42. Shane Lowry wins British Open - Irishman Shane Britain by 1 minute 11 seconds. Lowry wins British Open to claim his first major 50. Dalilah Muhammad shatters 400m hurdles World golfing title at Royal Portrush. record – Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad 43. John Isner wins Hall of Fame Tennis shattered one of the longest standing records in Championships - American tennis player John Isner women’s athletics with a superb display to clinch wins Hall of Fame Tennis Championships title in victory in the 400m hurdles at US Championships. Newport, Rhode Island. 51. Sniper Frontier Competition: 2019 – A 9 member 44. Adam Peaty breaks 57 seconds barrier & 100m Indian Army team has left for Belarus to compete in breaststroke world record – The Britain swimmer the Sniper Frontier Competition as part of the Adam Peaty has break the world record in the men’s International Army Games scheduled on 03 Aug to 17 100 metre breaststroke at the World Championships in Aug 2019. Gwangju, South Korea. He smashed the previous 52. 2020 Tokyo Olympics will feature Table Tennis record of 57.10 seconds. Mixed Doubles event - For the first time in the 45. Abhay, Tanvi win Bengal Open squash titles – Olympic Games’ history, Table Tennis Mixed Doubles Abhay Singh of Tamil Nadu and Tanvi Khanna clinched event added in a new Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games. the men’s and women’s titles respectively in the sixth 53. Prithvi Shaw suspended by BCCI for doping Bengal Open squash tournament. violation – Prithvi Shaw has been suspended by Board of Control for Cricket in India for 8 months for a doping

102 www.gradeup.co violation. Shaw was charged with the commission of an medal in the women’s 100 metre sprint at the 30th Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under the BCCI Summer University Games in Naples, Italy. Anti-Doping Rules. 62. Magnus Carlsen won the 2019 Croatia Grand Chess 54. FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 – The U.S. women's Tour title national soccer team defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in 63. Arjen Robben announces retirement from football the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup final. – Arjen Robben has announced his retirement from • Host country - France football at the age of 35 after a 10-year spell with • USA secured its fourth Women’s World Cup German giants Bayern Munich. title (1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019), now 64. Austrian Grand Prix 2019 - Max Verstappen (Red winning twice as many Women’s World Cup Bull’s) tournaments as any other nation. 65. Toran Yadav, a para-athlete wins 3 medals at 4th • USA's Jill Ellis became the first coach to win World Wealth Yoga Championship 2019 - Toran two FIFA Women's World Cup titles. Yadav(19), a specially-abled boy from Khatti village in 55. Brazil beats Peru in the final to lift the Copa America Chhattisgarh clinched 3 medals for India at 4th World 2019 title Yoga Festival and Championship 2019, held at 56. Rahul Dravid appointed as Head of Cricket at NCA Bulgaria, Sofia. by BCCI – The Board of Control for Cricket in India 66. Hima Das (Indian athletes) have won 4 gold medals in (BCCI) appointed the former Indian captain Rahul the Kutno Athletics Meet held in Poland. Dravid as Head of Cricket at the National Cricket 67. Vinesh Phogat & Divya Kakran won gold; Pooja Academy (NCA). Dhanda won silver at the Wrestling Grand Prix 2019 57. IOA President Narinder Batra elected to IOC – of Spain. Narinder Batra, President of Indian Olympic 68. Elavenil Valarivan clinched silver medal in shooting Association (IOA) was elected as a member of in women’s 10m Air Rifle event at the 30th Summer International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Universiade Games 2019 held in Napoli, Italy. Switzerland. 69. World Youth Cup 2019 was held in Umag, Croatia – 58. Indian Pro Boxer Wins WBC Asia Title - Indian pro A 10-year old Karate girl, Arinjeeta Dey (Barasat, West boxer Vaibhav Yadav has become the WBC Asia Silver Bengal) has won a silver medal in the under 12 age Welterweight Champion. He defeated Thailand’s category in the World Youth Cup 2019 which was held Fahpetch Singmanassak in the title bout held in in Umag, Croatia. Pattaya, Thailand. 70. 34th Sailing Championship inaugurated in 59. India loses to Pakistan in the IBSF Snooker World Telangana - The 34th edition of Hyderabad Sailing Cup finals – The Indian team lost to Pakistan in the Week National Ranking Multi-Class Championship final of the IBSF Snooker World Cup in Doha. India lost 2019 was inaugurated by Governor of Telangana and the summit clash by 1-3. Pankaj Advani and Laxman Andhra Pradesh, ESL Narasimhan in Hyderabad, Rawat represented the Indian team in the world cup. Telangana. 60. Ambati Rayudu retires from international cricket - 71. Veer Chotrani won Asian U-19 champion in Squash Indian batsman Ambati Rayudu has announced his - Veer Chotrani became third Indian after he won 26th retirement from international cricket. Asian junior Individual squash championship 2019 in 61. Dutee Chand wins gold in Summer University the U-19 category at Macau, China. It was organized by Games - Dutee Chand from Odisha has won the gold Macau Squash Association.

June

1. ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 – • Winner of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 – • The 12th edition was hosted by England and Australia Wales from 30 May to 14 July 2019. • It is the fifth time that the Cricket World Cup is • Total number of Matches played – 48 being held in England and Wales, following the 1975, 1979, 1983 and 1999 World Cups.

103 www.gradeup.co 2. Rohit Sharma sets world record of maximum has formally opened new headquarters in Switzerland hundreds in single World Cup exactly 125 years after the Olympic Games were • Indian batsman Rohit Sharma became the first revived. batsman in the world to score five hundred in 7. IOC lifts sanctions imposed on India to host a single World Cup. international sporting events • Rohit scored his fifth century of the World Cup • The International Olympic Committee (IOC) against Sri Lanka. lifted the sanctions imposed on India to host • He scored rest four centuries against South international sporting events. Africa, Pakistan, England and Bangladesh. • The sanctions were imposed on India when • Rohit Sharma broke the record of former Sri Pakistani shooters were not issued visas for Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara who scored the ISSF World Cup held in Delhi in February four centuries in the 2015 World Cup in 2019. Australia. 8. Summer Olympics 2020 Venue – Tokyo, Japan - • Rohit also equalled Sachin Tendulkar in the Japan will be the host nation of the 2020 Summer total number of World Cup hundreds. Both the Olympics in Tokyo from 24 July to 9 August 2020. Indians have six hundred to their names. 9. Bronze for India in the 58th Ostrava Golden Spike 3. Afghanistan batsman Ikram Ali Khil breaks Sachin Athletics meet - Annu Rani won the women’s javelin Tendulkar's long-Standing World Cup record – bronze in the 58th Ostrava Golden Spike athletics • Afghanistan batsman Ikram Ali Khil broke meet, an IAAF World Challenge event. Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record to • Annu Rani is a Javelin thrower from Uttar Pradesh. become the youngest player to register a 80+ 10. Shooting game has been excluded from 2022 score in the World Cup history. Commonwealth Games. • Ikram Ali Khil, at the age of 18 years and 278 • The 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held in days scored 86 runs in Afghanistan's last Birmingham, England from 27 July to 7 August 2022. league match against West Indies. 11. Men’s Asian Snooker Championship - Pankaj Advani • Tendulkar's had scored 81 runs at the age of has clinched the 35th men’s Asian Snooker 18 years and 318 days in a World Cup match Championship held in Doha. against Zimbabwe in 1992. 12. Bronze medal for India at Asian Artistic Gymnastic 4. Rashid Khan becomes most expensive bowler in Championship - India’s gymnast Pranati Nayak has World Cup history won a bronze medal in the vault event at the Senior • Afghanistan leg spinner Rashid Khan recorded Asian Artistic Championships. The championship was the worst bowling figures in an ICC World Cup held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Match after conceding 110 runs in 9 overs 13. Fernando Torres retires from football - The spanish against England. footballer Fernando Torres who was a part of 2010 • Previous record of conceding 105 runs in 12 World Cup Winning Team of Spain has announced his overs was held by New Zealand’s Martin retirement from football. Snedden. 14. Indian women’s hockey team defeats Japan in FIH 5. Virat Kohli becomes the fastest cricketer to score Series Finals – The Indian women’s hockey team have 20,000 international runs won the FIH Series Finals after defeating Japan. The • Virat Kohli becomes the fastest cricketer to team rose to a victory with a score of 3-1. The series score 20,000 international runs. was held in Japan. • He took just 417 innings to reach the milestone • The best player title was clinched by Rani Rampal. and advanced the time taken by legends such 15. France Grand Prix 2019 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes as Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. Driver) • The India captain reached the milestone when 16. Marcus Trescothick to retire from professional he reached the score of 37 in India’s 6th match cricket - Former England batsman Marcus Trescothick in World Cup tournament against West Indies. is to retire from professional cricket. Trescothick, 43, 6. IOC opens new headquarters in Lausanne, played 76 Tests for England between 2000 and 2006 Switzerland - The International Olympic Committee and scored 5,825 runs at an average of 43.79.

104 www.gradeup.co 17. Hima bags gold in Poznan Athletics Grand Prix – • She won the1st Women’s Singles title at Hima Das, the under-20 World champion has won the French Open tennis 2019. gold medal in women’s 200m in the Poznan Athletics • Women’s Doubles title - Hungary’s Tímea Grand Prix. Poznan Athletics Grand Prix is taking place Babos & France’s Kristina Mladenovic defeated in Poznan, Poland. Zheng Saisai & Duan Yingying of China in final. 18. India proposes to host 2023 IOC session – India has • Mixed Doubles title - Chinese Taipei’s Latisha proposed to host 2023 International Olympic Chan & Ivan Dodi goof Croatia defeated Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai, which is expected Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada & Mate Pavić of to choose host city for 2030 Winter Olympics. Croatia in final. • Earlier, India has hosted the 86th IOC Session 27. Joshna Chinappa wins record 17th National Title in in 1983 in New Delhi. Squash – Joshna Chinappa made a record for the most 19. Italy to host 2026 Winter Olympics number of national titles after beating her Tamil Nadu • The Italian city Milan was named as host of state-mate Sunayna Kuruvilla. 2026 Winter Olympics. 28. FIH Men’s Series Finals, India defeated South Africa by 20. Coca-Cola and Chinese Dairy firm sign Olympic 5 goals. Sponsorship – Coca-Cola and Chinese dairy firm 29. Gary Woodland won the 119th US Open Golf title after Mengniu have signed a multi-year global Olympic deal defeating two-time defending champion Brook Koepka. to become joint sponsors (beverages and dairy) of 30. FIFA latest Rankings: India remains static at 101 - Olympic Games starting from 2021 to 2032. The Indian football team remained static at 101st place 21. India women’s Rugby team record 1st-ever in the FIFA rankings. International win – Indian Women’s Rugby team • Belgium continued to top overall world claimed their 1st ever international women’s 15s rankings, followed by France, Brazil, England, victory after beating Singapore in the Asian Women and Portugal. Rugby Championship Division 1 in Manila, Philippines. 31. Peter Gilchrist wins Pacific International Billiards 22. 10th Halle Open 2019 title - Roger Federer (37) of Championship - Peter Gilchrist defeated India’s Switzerland defeated David Goffin (Belgium) to win Sourav Kothari in final. the 27th edition of the Halle Open 2019. 32. Yuvraj Singh announces retirement from 23. Odisha to host the 21st Commonwealth Table Tennis International Cricket - Yuvraj Singh announced Championship 2019. retirement from international cricket. 24. Girish Koushik of Karnataka became India’s 63rd • The 37-year-old cricketer announced his Grandmaster. decision in Mumbai. 25. Indian women’s Rugby team scripted history in • Yuvraj played 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is Manila - The 26-member squad of Indian women’s for India. Rugby team created a historic first international 15s • He put together 1900 runs in the longest rugby match win at Southern Plains Sports Field in format, and 8701 in the one-dayers, the format Manila, Philippines. in which he enjoyed the most success. 26. French Open Tennis 2019 – The 2019 French Open 33. Kohli is the sole Indian in the list of top-paid was the 123rd edition of a Grand Slam tennis athletes – Virat Kohli, ranked 100th, remains the sole tournament. It was held from 26 May to 9 June 2019, at Indian in the Forbes list of world’s highest-paid Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. athletes with estimated annual earnings of $25 million. List of Winners • The list is topped by Barcelona and Argentina • Men’s single title - Spain’s Rafael Nadal football superstar Lionel Messi. defeated Dominic Thiem of Austria. • Top 5 athletes in the list are - Lionel Messi, Note: With this win Rafael Nadal won the Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Canelo Alvarez French Open title for 12th time and 18th overall (Mexican professional boxer) and Roger Grand Slam title. Federer. • Women’s Singles title – Ashleigh Barty of 34. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes won Formula One Australia defeated Marketa Vondrousova of Canadian Grand Prix 2019. Czech Republic in final.

105 www.gradeup.co 35. Sunil Chhetri became the most capped India player by 37. Facebook launched its first interactive Game Show surpassing Bhaichung Bhutia’s 107 international in India - The Social networking giant Facebook matches. launched its first interactive game show, titled 36. IAAF to rebrand as World Athletics - World athletics’ “Confetti” in India on 4 June 2019. The launch governing body, the International Association of announcement was made on sidelines of Facebook’s Athletics Federations (IAAF) will re-brand itself as Social Entertainment Summit held in Mumbai, World Athletics. The rebranding would be operational Maharashtra. from October 2019.

May

1. Sudirman Cup 2019: China beats Japan - China beats most successful women’s ODI spinner in history after Japan in men’s doubles, women’s singles and men’s she took her 147th wicket, highest ever by any singles to lift the Sudirman Cup Badminton title 2019. spinner in One-day International (ODI) cricket. 2. 2020 Asia Cup - Pakistan will host the 2020 Asia Cup • Currently, Mir is placed on the third position in cricket tournament (15th edition) in September 2020. the ICC’s ODI bowling ranking, which is topped 3. Lewis Hamilton won the Monaco Grand Prix 2019. by Indian pacer Jhulan Goswami. 4. Cricket World Cup: The Indian Challenge’ book 13. Igor Stimac appointed Indian football team coach - authored by Ashis Ray. Igor Stimac of Croatia has been appointed head coach • The new book he has Ray penned down the of the Indian football team for a two-year term. journey of Indian cricket at the World Cups Note: As a player, he was part the of the Croatia team since the inaugural edition of WCs in 1975. that finished third in the 1998 World Cup, and a 5. ICC launches Criiio Campaign on eve of Men’s member of the national squad which qualified for the World Cup – It is a celebration of all brilliant and quarterfinals of the UEFA European Championship unique ways people play cricket game which can be 1996 (Euro) in England. played by anyone, anywhere and at any time. 14. Former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder • Venue of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 – Yaya Toure has officially announced his retirement England & Wales from football. 6. India’s GS Lakshmi becomes 1st ever Female ICC Note: He captured the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Match Referee - Former India women cricketer GS playing for the Ivory Coast. Lakshmi became the first female to be appointed to the • He was named the African Footballer of the ICC International Panel of Match Referees. Year in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Note: In April 2019, Claire Polosak of Australia became 15. Madrid Open 2019: The 2019 Madrid Open is a the 1st ever woman umpire to stand in a men's ODI professional tennis tournament played on outdoor clay 7. Liverpool beats Tottenham Hotspur with 2-0 to win courts at the Park Manzanares in Madrid, Spain. UEFA Champions League football trophy final at List of Winners Madrid, Spain. • Men’s singles - Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 8. In ISSF shooting World Cup, in Munich Germany, defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece) in the India’s Saurabh Chaudhary has won 10m Air Pistol final. Gold beating his own World Record. • Women’s singles - Kiki Bertens (Netherlands) 9. 2nd India Open International Boxing Tournament was defeated Simona Halep (Romania) in the final. held in Guwahati, Assam. 16. Italian Open 2019: List of Winners 10. China to host 2023 Asian Cup Football Tournament. • Men’s singles - Rafael Nadal (Spain) defeated 11. Spanish Grand Prix - Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton Wins Novak Djokovic (Serbia) in the final. Spanish Grand Prix. • Women’s singles - Karolina Pliskova (Czech • Lewis Hamilton also won Bahrain and Chinese Republic) defeated Johanna Konta (United Grand Prix of 2019. Kingdom) in the final. 12. Sana Mir becomes highest wicket-taking spinner in ODIs - Pakistan off-spinner Sana Mir has become the

106 www.gradeup.co 17. Badminton World Federation (BWF) has launched two • Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Playing in right new formats of badminton game namely, spirit award AirBadminton and Triples. • Hardik Pandya (MI): Fastest fifty of the season • Airbadminton is an outdoor game - It has new (50 runs in 17 balls) dimensions of court and an innovative outdoor • Andre Russell (KKR): Super striker of the shuttlecock called AirShuttle. season • In Triples format, badminton match will be • KL Rahul (KXIP) : Stylish player of the season played between a team of total three players. • Rahul Chahar (MI): Gamechanger of the season Each team will mandatory have at least one 20. Amul to sponsor Afghanistan in 2019 World Cup - female athlete. Also, players are not allowed to Amul has been announced as the principal sponsor of hit returns successively. the Afghanistan cricket team for the upcoming World 18. The Manchester City won the English Premier League Cup, slated to be held in England and Wales from May football title for second successive year. Liverpool 30. gained the second place in league. 21. Indian shooting ace Apurvi Chandela has been ranked 19. 12th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 – the world number one in the women’s 10 metres air Mumbai beat Chennai by 1 run to win the 4th IPL title rifle event. • Mumbai Indian Captain – Rohit Sharma 22. Asian Youth Women Handball Championship - • Man of the Match - Jasprit Bumrah Jaipur will host the 8th Asian Youth Women Handball • Earlier, Mumbai won the IPL title in 2013, Championship in August 2019. 2015, 2017 Note: The previous edition in 2017 was held at Jakarta Cap holders in Indonesia. • Orange Cap: David Warner (SRH) - 692 runs 23. Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez has • Purple Cap: Imran Tahir (CSK) - 26 wickets announced that he will retire from professional • MVP: Andre Russell (KKR) - 510 runs and 11 football at the end of the current season. wickets 24. Sri Lanka’s former captain Kumar Sangakkara will Other awards become first Non-British president of Marylebone • Subhman Gill (KKR): Emerging player of the Cricket Club (MCC). year

April 2019

1. Azlan Shah Hockey Cup 2019 - South Korea defeated • Women’s Singles - Ashleigh Barty (Australia) India in the final of Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2019. defeated Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) • The final match was held at Azlan Shah 1. First Indian to be elected as a member of FIFA Stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia. Executive Council - Praful Patel, president of All India 2. Santosh Trophy 2019 - Services' has won the 73rd Football Federation (AIFF), has become the first Indian edition of premier domestic football tournament to be elected as a member of FIFA Executive Council. ‘Santosh Trophy’ by defeating Punjab 1-0 in the final at 2. First Female Umpire in Men’s ODI - Australia’s Ludhiana, Punjab. Claire Polosak will become the first female umpire to Note: The trophy is named after the late Maharaja Sir officiate in a men’s one-day international at the ICC Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhary of Santosh (now in World Cricket League Division Bangladesh). 3. Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 - Mercedes’ driver 3. Barcelona Open 2019 - Dominic Thiem (Austria) won Valtteri Bottas beat his English teammate Lewis the Barcelona Open 2019 after defeating Daniil Hamilton Medvedev (Russia). 4. Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 - Lewis Hamilton 4. Miami Open 2019 – 5. Sam Curran Claims First Hat-Trick Of IPL 2019 – • Men’s Singles – Roger Federer (Switzerland) Sam Curran bagged the first hat-trick of Indian Premier defeated John Isner (United States) League (IPL) 2019 during Kings XI Punjab's clash against Delhi Capitals.

107 www.gradeup.co • The English all-rounder bagged the wickets of spot in the men’s 65-kilogram freestyle category Harshal Patel in the final delivery of the 18th rankings. over which was followed by two unplayable 17. Fabio Fognini became the first Italian to win an ATP yorkers to get rid of Kagiso Rabada and Masters 1000 title at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. Sandeep Lamichhane respectively. He defeated Dusan Lajovic (Serbia) 6. Saurav Ghosal became the first Indian male squash 18. Asian Athletics Championships 2019 held at Doha player to enter the top 10 in latest Professional Squash in Qatar - India ended at the fourth spot in the medals Association (PSA) world rankings. tally with 3 Gold, 7 Silver and 7 Bronze. 7. Chief Coach of India Men’s Hockey Team - Graham • Bahrain topped the table with 11 Gold, 7 Silver Reid (Australian) and 4 Bronze. 8. India Open 2019 (Badminton) • China was second with 9 Gold, 13 Silver, and 7 • Men’s Singles - Viktor Bronze. Axelsen(Denmark)defeated Srikanth Kidambi • Japan was third with 5 Gold, 4 Silver, and 9 (India) Bronze. • Women’s Singles - Ratchanok 19. Pankaj Advani wins Asian Snooker Tour title Intanon(Thailand) defeated He Bingjiao 20. Stuttgart’s Porsche Grand Prix 2019 - Tennis player (China) Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Anett Kontaveit 9. Boxing World Cup 2019 - India bagged a Gold and (Estonia) to win Stuttgart’s Porsche Grand Prix for her two Silver medals at the Boxing World Cup at Cologne second title of the year. in Germany. 21. Asian Wrestling Championship 2019 – Iran topped • Meena Kumari Maisnam (from Manipur) the medal tally claimed the Gold medal in the 54 kg category. Note: 10. Shuttler Harsheel Dani clinched dutch • Iran topped the medal tally with – 11 Gold, International Badminton title - Former junior 0 Sliver, 6 Bronze national champion Harsheel Dani defeated Mads • China on second spot – 5 Gold, 5 Silver, 6 Christophersen of Denmark to clinch the Dutch Bronze International badminton title in The Hague, • Japan on third spot – 4 Gold, 7 Silver, 6 Netherlands. Bronze 11. Lewis Hamilton wins Formula One’s 1,000th Race • India on 8th spot – 1 Gold, 6 Silver, 9 Bronze 12. Chinese Grand Prix - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) won 22. All India Football Federation (AIFF) recommended the Chinese Grand Prix for a record sixth time. names of National team footballers Gurpreet Singh 13. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has signed an Sandhu and Jeje Lalpekhlua for the prestigious Arjuna MoU with Serbian Tennis Federation (STF) to train Award 2019. Indian junior players under world-renowned Serbian 23. Cricketer Mithali Raj has been named as the goodwill coaches. ambassador of the Indian team for the Street Child 14. Paris Marathon - Ethiopian athletes Gelete Burka Cricket World Cup. (women’s race) and Abrha Milaw (men’s race) won the 24. Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year for 2018 – 43rd edition of the Paris Marathon. • The Wisden has named Virat Kohli as the 15. Tiger Woods wins 2019 Masters to claim 15th Leading Cricketer of the Year for 2018. Major in Golf - Famous Golfer Tiger Woods completed • Indian player Smriti Mandhana bagged the one of the sport’s great all-time comebacks to end an Women’s Leading Cricketer of the Year. 11-year major title drought at the Masters by claiming • Rashid Khan of Afghanistan bagged the a fifth Green Jacket. Leading T20 Cricketer of the Year. 16. Bajrang regains top Spot in World Wrestling rankings - Bajrang Punia has regained the world number one

108 www.gradeup.co March 2019

1. Suresh Raina 1st Cricketer to score 5,000 Runs in • England won the U-17 World Cup for the first IPL – Chennai Super Kings’ Suresh Raina has become time after beating Spain 5–2 in the final. the first ever cricketer to reach 5,000 runs in Indian 7. Special Olympics World Games 2019 – UAE Premier League. Note: • The 32-year-old left-handed batsman achieved • Special Olympics World Games 2019 which the feat after scoring 15 runs in the IPL 2019 was held from March 14 to March 21 in the opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore. UAE has made history by welcoming a record- 2. SAFF Women’s Championship – India defeated Nepal breaking 200 nations ahead of the Games. in the final by 3-1 in Biratnagar, Nepal. • The next Special Olympic Games are set to take • India has lifted South Asian Football place in Sweden in 2021. Federation SAFF Women’s Championship fifth • India won total 368 medals (85 gold, 154 time in a row. Silver, and 129 Bronze) at the Special Olympics • India has clinched all five editions of SAFF World Summer Games, held at Abu Dhabi, UAE. championship. 8. South African all-rounder JP Duminy announced that 3. Asian Youth Championship 2019 held in Hong Kong - he would retire from ODIs after the ICC World Cup in India finishes 2nd, China Tops England. Note: 9. Chris Gayle becomes first player to smash 500 • Indian youth team finish second in the overall Sixes in International Cricket - West Indies opener medals tally with a total of 26 medals including Chris Gayle has become the first batsman ever to 8 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze medals. smash 500 or more sixes in international cricket. • China topped the overall medals tally with 31 10. Makran Cup - National Boxing champion Deepak medals that included 12 gold, 11 silver and Singh (49kg) was the only Indian boxer to notch up the eight bronze medals and gold medal in the Makran Cup held in Chabahar, Iran. Japan finished third with 20 medals that 11. Roger Federer claims 100th ATP title of his career - included 6 Gold, 8 Silver and 6 bronze. Roger Federer has claimed the 100th ATP title of his 4. Indian Super League (football) title - Bengaluru FC career after beating 20-year-old Greek Stefanos clinched their maiden title after beating FC Goa, in the Tsitsipas in the final of the Dubai Tennis final. Championships. 5. Australian F1 Grand Prix 2019 - Mercedes’ Valtteri 12. The Supreme Court appointed senior advocate PS Bottas Narasimha as a mediator for resolving various disputes 6. U-17 Women’s Football World Cup in 2020 - India related to cricket administration within the cricket will host the Under-17 Women’s Football World Cup in body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 2020. 13. Cricket to be re-introduced in Asian Games - The Note: Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has decided to • This will be the second FIFA tournament India reintroduce Cricket in the 2022 Asian Games to be held will be hosting, after the U-17 Men’s World at Hangzhou, China. Cup in 2017.

February 2019

1. Afghanistan scores highest ever T20 International Note: They toppled Australia’s record score of 263/3 score - Afghanistan scored 278 for the loss of three which they achieved back in 2016 against Sri Lanka. wickets from their allotted 20 overs, to register the 2. Irani Cup title 2018-19 - Vidarbha beat Rest of India highest-ever total in T20s at the Rajiv Gandhi to retain 2018–19 Irani Cup title in Nagpur. International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun, Uttarakhand against Ireland.

109 www.gradeup.co Note: Vidarbha has now become the third team after 10. India's Rohit Sharma becomes highest run-scorer Mumbai and Karnataka to clinch two Irani Cup titles in in T20 cricket – India's Rohit Sharma (31-year) has a row. become the highest run scorer in the Twenty20 3. West Indian batsman Chris Gayle has announced that International history while playing against New he will retire from One-day Internationals after the Zealand in Auckland. forthcoming World Cup. • Rohit Sharma (India) scored 2288 runs in 4. ‘Clouded Leopard’ to be Mascot for National Games 92 matches. 2022 - The Sports and Youth Ministry in the meeting • He also became first Indian and the third of Executive Committee of the National Games 2022 overall player to smash 100 sixes in T20 has chosen the Smiling Clouded Leopard to be the cricket. Mascot for the National Games 2022. 11. Smriti Mandhana becomes World No.1 Women’s Note: Meghalaya will host the 2022 National Games, ODI batter - Indian women’s cricket team opener which is coinciding with its 50 years of statehood. Smriti Mandhana has become the top-ranked batter in 5. Qatar Open title - Elise Merten, world number 21 women’s ODI cricket, as per the latest rankings from Belgium beat world number 3, Simona Halep to released by the ICC. win the Qatar Open held in Doha, Qatar. 12. Smriti Mandhana Scores India’s fastest-ever T20I 6. Malaysia’s Nicol David most successful squash Fifty - Indian opener Smriti Mandhana hammered the players of all time announced the retirement fastest fifty for India in Women’s T20Is in just 24 balls 7. Cannes International Open Trophy - Indian against New Zealand. Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta lifted the Cannes 13. Mithali Raj became First Woman to play 200 ODIs - International Open trophy. India captain Mithali Raj has become the first woman 8. Sri Lanka cricket team became the first Asian side to cricketer to play 200 ODIs. win a Test series in South Africa after winning the • She is also the highest run-scorer in ODIs series by 2-0. with 6622 runs at an average of 51.33, Note: including 7 hundred. • Before Sri Lanka, only Australia and England 14. Ricky Ponting appointed as Assistant Coach of have defeated South Africa in a Test series at Australia for 2019 World Cup. The main coach for the home. Australian Cricket team is Justin Langer. 9. Ranji Trophy – Vidarbha defeated Saurashtra by 78 15. The 83rd edition of Senior National Badminton runs in the final. Championships has begun in Guwahati. Note: 16. Jamie Chadwick from England made history by • The defending champions Vidarbha won becoming the first female driver to win the MRF the 85th Ranji Trophy title. challenge title after scoring a triple win in the final • Aditya Sarwate of was Vidarbha was round in Chennai. declared man of the match. 17. France’s Corentin Moutet has clinched the Chennai • Vidarbha became the sixth team to Open ATP Challenger tournament title after beating successfully defend their title. Andrew Harris of Australia in the singles final. • Mumbai (Bombay) have won the 18. Golfer Vani Kapoor has become the first Indian to grab tournament the most number of times Australian Ladies PGA Tour (LPGA). with 41 wins. 19. South Korean Footballer Ki Sung-yueng Announces • Ranji Trophy is named after Ranjitsinhji retirement. Vibhaji Jadeja, who was famously referred 20. The INS Dronacharya team won the Regatta trophy in to as ‘Ranji’. the Kochi Area Pulling Regatta 2019 of the Southern Naval Command (SNC) held in the Ernakulam Channel.

110 www.gradeup.co January 2019

1. Australian Open 2019: List of Winners Note: • Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in the final to win the Australian Open 2019 title. • With this he won a record seventh Australian Open title and a third successive Grand Slam. • Novak Djokovic won the 15th Grand Slam title of his career. • Naomi Osaka was the winner of the Women's Singles in 2019. It was her 2nd Grand Slam singles title.

Event Winner Runner-Up Men’s Singles Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Rafael Nadal (Spain) Women’s Singles Naomi Osaka (Japan) Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) Men’s Doubles Pierre-Hugues Herbert Henri Kontinen (France) and Nicolas Mahut (Finland) and John (France) Peers (Australia) Women’s Doubles Samantha Stosur (Australia) Tímea Babos and Zhang Shuai (China) (Hungary) and Kristina Mladenovic (France) Mix Doubles Barbora Krejčíková (Czech Astra Sharma Republic) and Rajeev Ram (Australia) and John- (United States) Patrick Smith (Australia)

2. Indonesia Masters Badminton Title 2019: List of Winners

Event Winner Runner-Up Men’s Singles Anders Antonsen Kento Momota (Denmark) (Japan) Women’s Singles Saina Nehwal Carolina Marin (India) (Spain)

111 www.gradeup.co 3. Former South Africa all-rounder Johan Botha has announced his immediate retirement from all forms of Cricket. 4. Mohammed Shami became Fastest Indian bowler to reach 100 ODI Wickets - Mohammed Shami became the fastest Indian bowler to claim 100 ODI wickets, during the first one-dayer against New Zealand at Napier. Shami reached the milestone in his 56th match. Note: • The Indian record was previously held by Irfan Pathan, who got there in his 59th match, against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2006. • The world record is currently held by Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who needed only 44 games to reach the mark. 5. Virat Kohli becomes first Asian captain to win Tests in Australia, England and South Africa. Note: Kohli became the 1st Indian captain to win the opening Test of a series against Australia in Australia 6. India become first team to win bilateral series across formats versus Australia - Virat Kohli-led Indian cricket team became the first visiting team to win bilateral series across the three formats against Australia. 7. Rishabh Pant named ICC Emerging Player of The Year - Rishabh Pant was named the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Emerging Player of The Year. Note: With an unbeaten 159-run knock in the 4th Test in Sydney, Rishabh Pant became the first Indian wicket- keeper to score a Test century in Australia. 8. Rohit Paudel of Nepal became the youngest batsman to hit International Half-Century 9. West Indies captain Jason Holder has become the first player from the country in 45 years to top the list of all-rounders in the International Cricket Council Test Player Rankings after slamming an unbeaten double-century that helped script a memorable 381-run win over England in the first Test in Bridgetown. 10. Ankita Raina wins ITF’s Tournament in Singapore – India’s Ankita Raina has won the International Tennis Federation’s 25,000-dollar Women’s tournament in Singapore. 11. Kartik Sharma wins New South wales Men’s Amateur Golf Championship in Australia. 12. Qatar defeated Japan to win First-ever Asian Cup title in Football 13. Chennai’s Gukesh Crowned India’s Youngest Grandmaster - D Gukesh became the 2nd youngest Grand Master in the world and the youngest Indian to achieve the feat at 12 years, 7 months and 17 days. 14. Stephen Constantine resigns as Coach of Indian Football Team - Indian football team head coach Stephen Constantine has stepped down after the team’s shock 0-1 defeat to Bahrain which led to its exit from the Asian Cup. 15. Shakil Ahmed sets world record in Indoor Rowing - Asian Cup gold medallist Shakil Ahmed has set up a world record in indoor rowing by completing 1 lakh meters in above-40 years category in Kolkata. 16. Bengaluru Raptors won 1st ever PBL Title – Bengaluru Raptors have won their first ever Premier Badminton League, PBL title. • In the title clash played at Bengaluru, Bengaluru edged out Mumbai Rockets, with a 4-3 win. 17. Kartik Singh becomes Youngest Indian to win Junior World title - Gurgaon’s 8-year-old Kartik Singh has won the under-8 category at the Kids’ Golf World Championship. 18. Albie Morkel retires from all forms of Cricket - South African all-rounder, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. 19. Harendra Singh removed as Indian Men’s Hockey Team Coach. 20. Mary Kom Attains No. 1 position in AIBA Rankings – M C Mary Kom has attained number one position in the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) latest world rankings. 21. Egypt to host 2019 African Cup of Nations – Seven-time champions Egypt have won the hosting rights for the 2019 edition of the African Cup of Nations. 22. Sydney & Brisbane to host $15 million ATP Cup in 2020 - Australian cities Sydney and Brisbane have been announced as the first two host locations for the newest team event in men’s tennis for the multi-million dollar ATP Cup from 2020. 23. Khelo India Youth Games 2019 – The second edition of the Khelo India Youth Games was held from 09 Jan – 20 Jan 2019 in Pune, Maharashtra. Note: • Maharashtra tops medal tally with 228 medals.

112 www.gradeup.co • Haryana stood on the second spot and Delhi is on the third spot. • The first edition of the Khelo India Youth Games 2018 was held at New Delhi.

State Gold Silver Bronze Total

1.Maharashtra 85 62 81 228

2. Haryana 62 56 60 178

3. Delhi 48 37 51 136

24. Hopman Cup: Roger Federer & Belinda Bencic retain title for Switzerland • Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic secured victory over Germany’s Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev to win the Hopman Cup for the second year in a row. 25. The 80th National Table Tennis Championship was held at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack. 26. Jasprit Bumrah becomes Highest International Wicket-Taker in 2018 • Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah became the highest international wicket-taker across formats in 2018. • He took a total of 78 wickets in the calendar year. 27. Smriti Mandhana named ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year • India’s opener Smriti Mandhana has been named as the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Cricketer of the Year. • She also named as the ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Year. 28. ICC Awards 2018 – The list of Awards is as follows: • Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year: Virat Kohli • ICC Men’s Test Player of the Year: Virat Kohli • ICC ODI Player of the Year: Virat Kohli • ICC Emerging Player of the Year: Rishabh Pant • ICC Associate Player of the Year: Calum MacLeod • T20I Performance of the Year: Aaron Finch • ICC Spirit of Cricket award: Williamson • Umpire of the Year: Kumar Dharmasena

Note: • Virat Kohli became the first player in history to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year, the ICC Men’s Test Player of the Year and the ICC ODI Player of the Year awards. • He was also named the captain of the ICC Test and ODI teams of the year for 2018.

113 www.gradeup.co Economy News

Key Highlights of Economic Survey 2018-19

The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey 2018-19 in the Parliament on 04th July 2019. • From ‘Swachh Bharat’ to ‘Sundar Bharat’. The Key Highlights of Economic Survey 2018-19 are • From ‘Give it up” for the LPG subsidy to ‘Think about as follows: the Subsidy’. • This is the first survey by the new chief economic • From ‘Tax evasion’ to ‘Tax compliance’. advisor Krishnamurthy V Subramanian. • The theme of Economic Survey, 2018-19 is Nudge Theory "Shifting Gears towards a $5 trillion Indian • American economist Richard Thaler has won the economy by 2024-25”. 2017 Nobel Prize in economics for his contributions • Sustained real GDP growth rate of 8% needed for to behavioural economics. a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25. • According to Nudge theory, people, rather than being • “Virtuous Cycle” of savings, investment and forced, can be encouraged and influenced to pursue exports catalyzed and supported by a favorable or desist from certain actions through nudges. demographic phase required for sustainable • It does not talk about penalizing people if they do not growth. behave in a particular manner, rather it encourages Key ingredients for a self-sustaining virtuous cycle: them to make desirable decisions. • It believes that Humans are not-so-rational and often • Presenting data as a public good. need encouragement or intervention — a nudge — • Emphasizing legal reforms. to get going and do what’s best for the country or • Ensuring policy consistency. society at large. • Encouraging behavior change using principles of Policies for MSME Growth behavioral economics. • The survey highlights the importance of • Nourishing MSMEs to create more jobs and intervention in the case of “Dwarfs”. become more productive. • Dwarfs are the firms with less than 100 • Reducing the cost of capital. workers despite being more than 10 years old. • Rationalizing the risk-return trade-off for • They account for more than 50% of all organized investments. firms in manufacturing by number. Behavioural Economics for Social Change • Contribution of dwarfs to employment is only • The survey has drawn on Nobel Laureate 14% and to the productivity is a mere 8%. Richard Thaler’s Behavioural Economics Theory • Large firms (more than 100 employees) account to lay out an “ambitious agenda" for behavior for 75% employment and close to 90% of change that will bring in social change, which in productivity despite accounting for about 15% turn, will help India transit to a $5 trillion by number. economy by 2024-25. Minimum Wage System & Inclusive Growth • Decisions by real people deviate from impractical • Survey proposes a well-designed minimum wage robots theorized in classical economics. system as a potent tool for protecting workers and Behavioral economics provides insights to alleviating poverty. ‘nudge’ people towards desirable behavior. • The survey supports rationalization of minimum Using insights from behavioral economics to create an wages as proposed under the Code on Wages Bill. aspirational agenda for social change: Minimum wages to all employments/workers. • From ‘Beti Baco Beti Padhao’ to ‘BADLAV’ (Beti Current Scenario: Aapki Dhan Lakshmi Aur Vijay Lakshmi).

114 www.gradeup.co • Present minimum wage system in India has 1,915 • FY 2018-19 ended with fiscal deficit at 3.4 per cent of minimum wages for various scheduled job categories GDP and debt to GDP ratio of 44.5 per cent across states. (Provisional). • 1 in every 3 wage worker in India is not protected by Sustainable Development and Climate Change the minimum wage law. • India’s SDG Index Score ranges between 42 and 69 Setting a National Floor Level Minimum Wage:. for States and between 57 and 68 for UTs: • The Survey now suggests that the Central • Kerala and Himachal Pradesh are the front runners Government should notify a national floor with a score of 69 amongst states. minimum wage that can vary across five • Chandigarh and Puducherry are the front runners geographical regions. with a score of 68 and 65 respectively among the Criteria for setting minimum wage: UTs. • The Survey suggests that the Code on Wages Bill • Namami Gange Mission launched as a key policy should consider fixing minimum wages based on priority towards achieving the SDG 6, with a budget either of two factors: (a) the skill category i.e. outlay of INR. 20,000 crore for the period 2015- unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled; 2020. and (b) the geographical region, or else both. External Sector • For instance, Madhya Pradesh has notified • As per WTO, World trade growth slowed down to 3 minimum wages based on just four skill levels of per cent in 2018 from 4.6 per cent in 2017. unskilled, semiskilled, skilled and highly skilled • Top export items continue to be Petroleum products, across occupations and regions. The state has precious stones, drug formulations, gold and other just four basic minimum wages for the four skill precious metals. categories." • Top import items continue to be Crude petroleum, Enabling Inclusive Growth through Affordable, Reliable pearl, precious, semi-precious stones and gold. and Sustainable Energy • India’s main trading partners continue to be the US, • India now stands at 4th in wind power, 5th in solar China, Hong Kong, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. power and 5th in renewable power installed Agriculture and Food Management capacity. • Dairying as India is the largest producer of milk. • Market share of electric cars only 0.06% in India • Fisheries sector, as India is the second largest while it is 2% in China and 39% in Norway. producer. • Thermal power still plays a dominant role at 60% • 89% of groundwater extracted is used for irrigation. share. • Organic and natural farming techniques including Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) can improve State of the Economy in 2018-19: both water use efficiency and soil fertility. • India still the fastest growing major economy in About Zero Budget Natural Farming 2018-19. • Zero Budget Natural Farming, as the name • Growth of GDP moderated to 6.8 per cent in 2018-19 implies, is a method of farming where the cost of from 7.2 per cent in 2017-18. growing and harvesting plants is zero. • Inflation contained at 3.4 per cent in 2018-19. • This means that farmers need not purchase • Non-Performing Assets as percentage of Gross fertilizers and pesticides in order to ensure the Advances reduced to 10.1 per cent at end December healthy growth of crops. 2018 from 11.5 per cent at end March 2018. • It is, basically, a natural farming technique that • Current account deficit manageable at 2.1 percent of uses biological pesticides instead of chemical- GDP. based fertilizers. Farmers use earthworms, cow • Fiscal deficit of Central Government declined from dung, urine, plants, human excreta and such 3.5 percent of GDP in 2017-18 to 3.4 percent in biological fertilizers for crop protection. It 2018-19. reduces farmers’ investment. It also protects the Fiscal Developments soil from degradation.

115 www.gradeup.co • Zero budget natural farming requires only 10 per • Services sector (excluding construction) has a share cent water and 10 per cent electricity than what of 54.3 per cent in India’s GVA and contributed more is required under chemical and organic farming. than half of GVA growth in 2018-19. Industry and Infrastructure • Services share in employment is 34 per cent in 2017. • Overall Index of Eight Core Industries registered a growth rate of 4.3 percent in 2018-19. Social Infrastructure, Employment and Human • India’s ranking improved by 23 to 77th position Development in 2018 among 190 countries assessed by the Government expenditure (Centre plus States) as a World Bank Doing Business (DB) Report, 2019. percentage of GDP on • Total telephone connections in India touched • Health: increased to 1.5 per cent in 2018-19 from 1.2 118.34 crore in 2018-19 per cent in 2014-15. • Education: increased from 2.8 per cent to 3 per cent Services Sector during this period.

September

1. India among top 10 nations in gold reserves – • The report also recommends setting up of an According to the World Gold Council, India ranked at the online loan sales platform to conduct 10th positions in terms of total gold reserves. auctions/sale process of secondary market loans. • India has surpassed the Netherlands to move 3. Modi launches Act Far East Policy for Russia; into the list of top ten countries in terms of total announces $1 bn support – Prime Minister Narendra gold reserves. Modi launched 'Act Far East' policy and asserted that • India with total gold reserves of 618.2 tonnes is India will walk shoulder-to-shoulder with Russia in its marginally higher than the Netherlands’ reserves development of the Far East. of 612.5 tonnes. • Narendra Modi announced a $ one billion line • The U.S. topped the list with total gold reserves of credit for the development of the resource- of 8,133.5 tonnes followed by Germany with rich region. 3,366.8 tonnes. 4. ‘Ashok Leyland’s heavy-duty trucks becomes 1st to • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is get BS-VI certification – Commercial vehicle major ranked third with a holding of 2,451.8 tonnes. Ashok Leyland announced that its entire range of heavy • The other countries in the list are - Italy (4th), duty trucks has been upgraded to meet BS-VI emission France (5th), Russia (6th), China (7th), norms, which come into force from 1 April 2020. Switzerland (8th) and Japan (9th) before India at 5. FM sets up a task force to implement Rs 100 lakh the 10th spot. crore infrastructure projects – 2. TN Manoharan committee recommends for creating a • Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had loan contract registry – The six-member task force announced the setting up of 6 member task force headed by Canara Bank chairman TN Manoharan to implement Rs 100 lakh crore over the next submitted its report to Governor of RBI Shaktikanta Das five years in the infrastructure projects in the on September 3. country. • The Reserve Bank of India constituted the task • The task force would be headed by the force. department of economic affairs (DEA) • It has recommended for creating a loan contract secretary and will have the CEO of a government registry to remove information asymmetries think tank or his nominee as one of the members. between buyers and sellers.

116 www.gradeup.co August

1. The Central Board of Direct Taxes has announced the • CRAR & CAR ratio: The guidelines stipulate that creation of a five-member special cell “Startup Cell” the CRAR (capital to risk-weighted assets ratio)of for startups. NBFCs/ CAR (Capital Adequacy Ratio) of HFCs • The “Startup Cell” will address the grievances of should not be below the regulatory minimum of the startups with relation to angel tax and other 15 % & 12 % respectively and net Non- tax-related issues. Startup entities can approach Performing Asset(NPA) should not be more than the cell for speedy resolution of their grievances. 6 %. • The ‘startup cell’ will be headed by the member • The banks can consider an asset a default if there (Income Tax and Computerisation) of the board. interest and/or installment of principal remains Start-up Cell has been constituted by CBDT with the overdue for 90 days. following ex-officio members: • Background: Finance minister Nirmala • Member (Income Tax and Computerisation): Sitharaman announced this scheme in her Chairman FY20(Fiscal year) budget. • Joint Secretary (tax policy and legislation-II): 3. Sebi to relax norms to allow smart cities issue funds Member through 'Muni Bonds' – Capital market regulator Sebi is • Commissioner of I-T (ITA): Member planning to ease its norms for 'Muni Bonds' to help smart • Director (ITA-I): Member Secretary cities and other registered entities working in areas of • Under Secretary (ITA-I): Member city planning and urban development work, like 2. Centre Issues Guidelines for Granting Rs 1 Trillion municipalities, raise funds through issuance and listing of Credit Guarantee for NBFCs – In a bid to help the their debt securities. Financially sound NBFCs (Non- Banking Financial • The Securities and Exchange Board of India Companies), including Housing Finance Companies (Sebi) had issued its Issue and Listing of Debt (HFCs), which are facing stress following stocks of Securities by Municipalites (ILDM) Regulations defaults. nearly five years ago and since then seven • The Central Government has issued guidelines of municipalities have raised nearly ₹1,400 crore partial guarantee scheme covering a maximum by issuing their debt securities, which are standard asset value of Rs 1 trillion under which commonly known as 'Muni Bonds'. state-run public-sector banks(PSBs) can 4. Akhilesh Ranjan committee - On August 19,2019 a purchase high-rated pooled assets originated up group of experts panel headed by Central Board of Direct to March 31, 2019, from NBFCs. Taxes (CBDT) legislative member Akhilesh Ranjan who • Guarantee: Central government will provide a was appointed as the convener of the task force in one-time 6 months’ partial credit guarantee to November 2018 by the finance ministry, submitted a PSBs for first loss of up to 10 % (valid for 24 report to Nirmala Sitharaman(Finance Minister), to months from the date of purchase). replace the Income Tax Act with a new Direct Tax • Criteria: The credit rating of the pool of assets Code(DTC).

should be at least ‘AA’ or equivalent at fair value. 5. Union government has constituted a 12-member high- Assets below that rating will not qualify under level committee to revise and align the procedure of this guarantee. Defence procurement with the aim of strengthening the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The panel will be headed by the • Ticket value: NBFCs registered with RBI /HFCs Director-General (Acquisitions). registered with National Housing Bank 6. Injeti Srinivas Committee - A high level steering (NHB)will be only eligible & they should at best committee on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) liquidate 20% of their standard assets as on headed by Injeti Srinivas, Corporate Affairs Secretary has March 31, 2019, which otherwise qualify as recommended to make CSR expenditure tax-deductible above subject to a maximum cap value of Rs and that non-compliance of CSR norms be treated as a 5,000 crore. civil offence.

117 www.gradeup.co • The committee also recommends companies may the 5th largest public sector bank with business be exempted from constituting a CSR committee, of Rs 14.6 lakh crore. if its CSR prescribed amount below Rs 50 lakh. • Indian Bank will be merged with Allahabad Bank to become the 7th largest public sector bank with 7. Government announces Mega Merger of Public business of Rs 8.08 lakh crore. Sector Banks – • The government has also announced capital • Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has infusion of over Rs 55,000 crore into public announced a big consolidation of public sector sector banks: PNB (Rs 16,000 crore), Union Bank banks. of India (Rs 11,700 crore), Bank of Baroda (Rs • Under the scheme of amalgamation, 10 public 7000 crore), Indian Bank (Rs 2500 crore), Indian sector banks are to be merged into four Overseas Bank (Rs 3800 crore), Central Bank (Rs banks. 3300 crore), UCO Bank (Rs 2100 crore), United • After the amalgamation, the total number of Bank (Rs 1600 crore) and Punjab and Sind Bank Public Sector Banks in the country will come (Rs 750 crore). down to 12 from 27 banks in 2017 The amalgamation of banks will be in the following 8. CVC sets up 4-member Advisory Board for Banking manner: Frauds – The Central Vigilance Commission has • Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of constituted a 4-member Advisory Board for Banking Commerce and United Bank of India to be Frauds (ABBF). The ABBF will be headed by former merged into one single bank, with business of Rs Vigilance Commissioner T.M. Bhasin. 17.95 lakh crore to make India’s 2nd largest • The panel will function as the 1st level of bank. examination of all large fraud cases. • Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank are to be • Lenders will refer all large fraud cases above Rs merged to become the 4th largest public sector 50 crore to the board and on receipt of its bank with business of Rs 15.2 lakh crore. recommendation or advice, the bank concerned • Union Bank of India, Andhra Bank and would take further action in such matters. Corporation Bank are to be merged to become

July and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 1. Parliament passed Aadhaar and Other Laws 2002. (Amendment) Bill, 2019 2. India will be the first recipient of AIIB local currency • On July 8, 2019, Parliament passed Aadhaar and funding – India will be the first recipient of local Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which currency financing by the Asian Infrastructure and allows voluntary use of Aadhaar as proof of Investment Bank (AIIB). The objective of local currency identity for users to open bank accounts and get financing is to provide more options to borrowers. a mobile phone connection. • India is the second-largest shareholder of AIIB • Aadhaar is a 12 digit individual identification with a 7.5% stake. It has received about $2- number issued by the Unique Identification billion funding for various projects so far. Authority of India on behalf of the Government of • China holds 20.06% and Russia holds 5.92%. India. This number will serve as a proof of • Headquarters: Beijing, China identity and address, anywhere in India. 3. SIDBI introduced web-based application system for Key Points: contribution from FFS • If private entities violate provisions on Aadhaar • The Small Industries Development Bank of India data, they will be imposed Rs 1 crore penalty and (SIDBI) introduced a web-based application system a jail term. for contribution from the Fund of Funds for Startups • The Bill provides the use of Aadhaar number for (FFS). The objective of the new web-based KYC (Know Your Customer) authentication on application system is to improve the turnaround voluntary basis under the Telegraph Act, 1885, time and increase transparency.

118 www.gradeup.co 4. Reliance Jio is India’s largest telecom company – Note: Reliance Jio becomes the largest telecom company of • All private cryptocurrencies, except any India with 331.3 million subscribers overtaking cryptocurrency issued by the state, be banned in Vodafone Idea whose customer base stood at 320 million India. in the quarter ended June 30, 2019. • It has also drafted a law, the ‘Banning of • Airtel moved to the third position and the state- Cryptocurrency & Regulation of Official Digital owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Currency Bill, 2019’, which mandates a fine and stood at the fourth position. imprisonment of up to 10 years for offences. 5. LIC offers Rs 1.25 trillion by 2024 for highway • Report submitted by group highlights positive projects – Life Insurance Corporation of India has aspect of distributed-ledger technology (DLT). agreed to offer Rs 1.25 trillion Line of Credit by 2024, to • It suggested various applications for use of DLT fund highway projects. in India, especially in financial services. • LIC has offered Rs 25,000 crore in a year and Rs • DLT-based systems for instance can be used by 1.25 trilion in five years. The borrowings will be banks or other financial firms for processes like in the form of bonds to be issued by the National tracking of loan-issuance, fraud detection, claims Highways Authority of India. management in insurance, collateral • The Line of Credit will be used to fund the management as well as reconciliation systems in ambitious Bharatmala project. securities market. 6. Average Monthly Income per Agricultural Household has estimated Rs. 6426: Agriculture ministry – On 9. India’s first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) July 26, 2019, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers dashboard launched - Union Ministry of Statistics and Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar stated that the average Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched India’s monthly income per agricultural household from all first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) dashboard in a sources is Rs. 6,426 in the country based on the Situation bid to effectively track country’s progress on Agenda Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households 2030 adopted by UN. conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) • It was launched on occasion of National Statistics during its 70th round (January 2013-December 2013). Day (on June 29) which marks birth anniversary 7. Health Ministry bans Colistin in Animal Food of Prof. P C Mahalanobis. Industry – Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare • It is a unique, searchable platform, which has banned manufacture, sale and distribution of provides data and insights on how India is antibiotic, Colistin as well as its formulations for food progressing on SDGs. producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal • SDG Dashboard is developed in partnership with feed supplements. United Nation in India, Department for • The ban is announced in a bid to preserve drug’s International Development (DFID) India and efficacy in humans. data intelligence firm Social Cops. • Colistin is a valuable, last-resort antibiotic that 10. Govt sets a target to raise health services saves lives in critical care units. It is effective expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025 – Minister of against most Gram-negative bacilli. It is also Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan stated that known as polymyxin E. the Government sets target is to raise health services 8. Subhash Chandra Garg panel submitted its report on expenditure to 2.5 percent of the country’s GDP (Gross Virtual Currencies– Inter-Ministerial Committee on domestic product) by 2025 due to the increment of Virtual Currencies headed by finance secretary Subhash expenditure over the last 10 years. Chandra Garg has submitted its report to the 11. Budget 2019: Rs 3.18 lakh crore allocated to the government. defence budget – An allocation of Rs 3.18 lakh crore • The committee set up by Centre has also was made in the Union Budget to the defence sector for proposed a draft bill ‘Banning of Cryptocurrency 2019-20 as against last year's Rs 2.98 lakh crore. & Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2019’.

119 www.gradeup.co June

1. Government to constitute working group for revision • The council is headed by the finance minister. of Wholesale Price Index – Central Government has • Members – RBI Governor and SEBI Chairman, constituted Working Group for the revision of the current IRDAI Chairman, PFRDA Chairman as other series of Wholesale Price Index (Base 2011-12). members along with finance ministry officials. • It will be chaired by Prof. Ramesh Chand, 6. Electoral bond scheme – Member, NITI Aayog. Office of Economic Adviser, • The central government had on January 29, Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal 2018, notified the electoral bond scheme. Trade will be nodal office for Working Group. • An Indian citizen or body incorporated in India • It will process report / recommendation of this will be eligible to purchase the bond. Working Group for further necessary action. • Electoral bonds can be used for making a 2. EAC-PM releases a detailed analysis on robustness of donation only to the political parties registered India’s GDP estimation methodology – The Economic under section 29A of the Representation of the Advisory Council to the Prime Minister released a detailed People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which note titled ‘GDP estimation in India- Perspectives and secured not less than one per cent of the votes Facts’. • The new methodology that uses 2011-12 as the polled in the last general election to the House base year includes two major improvements, of the People or a Legislative Assembly. • a) Incorporation of MCA21 database, and • These bonds will not carry the name of the • b) Incorporation of the Recommendations of payee. System of National Accounts (SNA), 2008. • Authorised centre - It can be purchased only 3. World Investment Report 2019: UNCTAD from specified branches of State Bank of India. • According to the World Investment Report 2019, • Denomination - Electoral bonds can be bought Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows to India for any value, in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs grew by 6% to USD 42 billion in 2018. India was 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh or Rs 1 crore. ranked among the top 20 host economies for FDI • Validity - Electoral bonds will be valid for 15 inflows in 2017-18. days from the date of purchase. • The report is published by United Nation 7. Bangladesh's first iron ore mine discovered Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD). • For the first time in Bangladesh, iron ore mine has 4. India accounts for 6.3% of global fish production: been discovered at Isabpur village in Dinajpur. Fisheries department • The announcement was made by the Geological • According to the Fisheries Department, India is the Survey of Bangladesh following extensive drilling second largest fish producing country in the over two months in the area. world as it accounts for 6.3 per cent of the global 8. CEA Krishnamurthy Subramanian appointed part- fish production. time member in IBBI – Krishnamurthy Subramanian, • China is the largest producer of fish in the world. Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) and B. Sriram, former 5. FM chairs the 20th meeting on FSDC managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) • The 20th meeting on Financial Stability and of Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI Bank) were Development Council (FSDC) was held under the appointed part-time members of Insolvency and chairmanship of Finance Minister Nirmala Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI). Sitharaman in New Delhi. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India About FSDC • IBBI, an insolvency regulatory agency was • The FSDC was constituted in December 2010. It is established on 1 October 2016. apex body of sectoral regulators and not a • The IBC 2016 established Insolvency and statutory body. Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), to oversee • It was set up by on the recommendation given by insolvency proceedings in India and to regulate Raghuram Rajan Committee. entities registered under it.

120 www.gradeup.co May

1. US removes India, Switzerland from its currency 4. Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and Sustainable monitoring list – The Trump administration removed Blue Economies’ - The Asian Development Bank India from its currency monitoring list of major trading (ADB) launched an ‘Action Plan for Healthy Oceans partners. and Sustainable Blue Economies’ for Asia and the • Switzerland is the other nation that has been Pacific alongside an ADB Oceans Financing Initiative. removed from the list. However, the list • Through the Initiative, ADB commits to includes China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, expand its investments and technical Italy, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam assistance in these areas to USD 5 billion among others. between 2019 and 2024. 2. Unemployment rate, highest in 45 years, touches • The Plan and Initiative aim to support the 6.1% protection and restoration of marine • India’s unemployment rate has touched a 45-year- ecosystems while promoting inclusive high of 6.1 per cent. livelihoods, in line with SDG 14 (life below • The report is released by the National Sample Survey Office's (NSSO's) periodic labour force water). survey (PLFS) of the Ministry of Statistics and 5. Govt to merge CSO with NSSO to create new stats Programme Implementation. body - The government announced that the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) will be merged with the • The last time India saw such high unemployment Central Statistics Office to form the National Statistical rate was in 1972-73. Office (NSO). • The assessment period for the data was between • The NSO will be headed by the secretary of the July 2017 and June 2018. Ministry of Statistics and Programme • The report showed that 7.8% of all employable Implementation (MOSPI). youth in urban areas was unemployed while the • Both the wings are currently part of the rural figure was 5.3%. Ministry of Statistics and Programme • The unemployment rate among men across the Implementation (MoSPI). country was 6.2%, while for women, it stood at 5.7%. • • The joblessness among male on all India basis was While the NSSO comes out with various sample surveys such as on consumption expenditure, 6.2 per cent, while it was 5.7 per cent in case of employment and unemployment, the CSO females. releases various data such as GDP and IIP. • Top and Bottom: Nagaland has the highest • unemployment rate among the states with 21.4% Chief Statistician of India is Pravin Srivastava. followed by Goa (13.9%)and Manipur(11.6%), while Meghalaya has the lowest rate at 6. Vice President calls for protecting Ongole Cattle 1.5%.Chhattisgarh and Sikkim also have the lowest Breed – The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu rates. called for protecting and promoting the indigenous 3. 'Elephant Bond'- A government-appointed high-level Ongole cattle breed. panel has suggested for issuance of 'Elephant Bonds' for • He also released a Compendium on Ongole infrastructure projects and people who are declaring breed of cattle at the Swarna Bharat Trust in undisclosed income will have to mandatorily invest half Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. of that amount in these securities. Note: • The duration of 'Elephant Bond' will be 25- • The breed derives its name from the name of a years. place called ‘Ongole’, which occupies a small • The 12-member panel headed by economist area between Gundlakamma and Musi rivers in Surjit Bhalla was set up by Ministry of Andhra Pradesh. It is also nicknamed as ‘Nelore Commerce and Industries last year. cattle’ as Ongole was once part of the Nellore • The panel has also recommended a road map area. for doubling India's exports of good and service • Ongole cattle are indigenous to Prakasam to over USD 1,000 billion by 2025. District, Andhra Pradesh in India.

121 www.gradeup.co • National Kamadhenu Breeding Centre will be • It provides disaggregated information on set up in Chintaladevi in Nellore District, various operational and structural variables of Andhra Pradesh. all establishments of the country. 7. 7th Economic Census 2019 - 8. Chief Economic Advisor appointed as Advisory • The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Council Member in 15th Finance Commission - The Implementation (MoSPI) partnered with CSC e- Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) to Central government, Governance services India Ltd (CSC SPV) to Dr. Krishnamurthy Subramanian is appointed as twelfth conduct the census. (12) member of Advisory Council of Fifteenth (15th) • The first Economic Census was undertaken in Finance Commission (FCc). 1977. The 2nd edition was carried out in 1980 Fifteenth Finance Commission followed by 3rd EC in 1990. The 4th EC took • It was constituted in November 2017, to give place in 1998 while 5th EC was held in 2005. recommendations for tax devolution and other The Sixth edition of Economic Census was fiscal matter for five fiscal years, 1 April 2020- 31 conducted in 2013. March 2025. Economic Census • It is chaired by N. K. Singh. • Economic Census is the complete count of all 9. Indian Overseas Bank launches ‘Bank on Wheels’ establishment located within the geographical facility – Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has announced boundary of India. that it has launched ‘Bank on Wheels’ facility in 14 of its lead districts in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, besides Vijayawada.

News related to RBI

September

1. Harsh Vardhan committee submitted its report to RBI • The Reserve Bank of India had constituted a Governor - A panel set up by the central bank to suggest Committee on the Development of Housing Finance measures to make the housing finance securitization Securitisation Market, on May 29, 2019, with Dr. market more attractive has recommended that the Harsh Vardhan, Senior Advisor, Bain & Co. as the National Housing Bank (NHB) set up an intermediary with Chairperson. 51% government ownership. 2. T.N. Manoharan committee submitted its report – A The key recommendations of the Committee are – task force set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) • developing standards for loan origination, loan submitted its report on the development of a secondary servicing, loan documentation, and loans to be market for corporate loans. eligible for securitisation, including standardised • The task force headed by Canara Bank chairman formats for data collection and aggregation; T.N. Manoharan recommended setting up of a self- • separation of regulatory guidelines for direct regulatory body (SRB), which will oversee the assignment transactions and transactions involving proposed secondary market. pass through certificates as well as for mortgage Other recommendations of the Task Force include – backed securities (MBS) and asset backed securities • linking the pricing of all loans to an external (ABS); benchmark as the current Marginal Cost of Funds • relaxation of regulatory norms for minimum Based Lending Rate (MCLR) may not be comparable holding period (MHP) and minimum retention across banks. requirement (MRR) for MBS; • recommended setting up of an online loan sales platform to Note: conduct auctions of secondary market loans.

122 www.gradeup.co August

1. RBI board accepts Jalan panel report, approves surplus transfer of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to govt – Central board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accepted Bimal Jalan committee's recommendations and approved a surplus transfer of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the government. • The surplus comprises Rs 1,23,414 crore for 2018-19 and Rs 52,637 crore of excess provisions identified as per the revised Economic Capital Framework (ECF). • The surplus transfer is 1.25 per cent of the GDP (2018-19). Note: • The central bank, in consultation with the government, had constituted a committee chaired by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan to review the extant economic capital framework of the RBI.

2. NEFT to be available 24x7 from December 2019: RBI • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 07th August announced that the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) systems would be available on a 24x7 basis from December 2019. • At present, the NEFT payment system operated by the Reserve Bank as a retail payment system is available to customers from 8am to 7pm on all working days of the week (except 2nd and 4th Saturdays, and all Sundays of the month). 3. RBI to set up “Central Payment Fraud Registry” • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 07th August proposed to set up a central payment fraud registry (CPFR), which will monitor digital payment frauds in real-time. • The move is expected to boost customer confidence in the payments systems. • At present, banks report all frauds in the system to the central fraud monitoring cell of the RBI. • According to an RBI report, instant payment systems such as immediate payment service (IMPS) and unified payments interface (UPI) are expected to have annual growth of over 100%, while national electronic funds transfer (NEFT) will witness 40% growth by 2021. • Besides, the number of digital transactions is expected to increase fourfold to ₹8,707 crore by December 2021. • The central fraud registry was proposed earlier both in the Nandan Nilekani committee report and RBI’s payments vision document 2019 to 2021. 4. RBI releases the final Regulatory Sandbox Framework for Fintech Companies – On August 13, 2019, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the final draft ‘enabling framework for regulatory sandbox (RS)’, for the startups, banks and financial institutions aims at enabling innovations in the financial technology space. • Criteria: RBI will launch the sandbox for companies/banks that meet the criteria of the minimum net worth of Rs.25 lakh and the promoter/director of the entity should meet fit and proper framework. • Regulatory Sandbox (RS): It refers to live testing of new products/services in a secure &controlled regulatory environment, where the regulators can allow certain regulatory relaxations for the limited purpose of the testing. • Background: The concept of Regulatory Sandbox was proposed by a committee headed by Sudarshan Sen, former executive director of RBI. 5. RBI’s Task Force on Offshore Rupee Markets headed by Usha Thorat recommends extension of onshore market hours – The Task Force formed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Offshore Rupee Markets headed by Usha Thorat has recommended the extension of onshore market hours to 9 am to 9 pm, from 9 am to 5 pm, to improve access of overseas users and allow Indian banks to freely offer prices to global clients around the clock. 6. HFCs will be treated as one category under NBFCs: RBI • On August 13, 2019, India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stated that, for regulatory purposes, Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) will be treated as one of the categories of NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Companies) & it will come under RBI’s supervision.

123 www.gradeup.co

July

1. RBI panel for hike in collateral free lending, MUDRA customer complaints against certain deficiency in loan limit to Rs 20 lakh – A committee constituted by banking services. the RBI has recommended increase in the collateral free • All Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural lending limit to Rs 20 lakh for MSMEs and self-help Banks and Scheduled Primary Co-operative Banks groups. are covered under the Banking Ombudsman • The committee has also recommended revision Scheme, 2006. of loan limit sanctioned under MUDRA (Micro • One can file a complaint before the Banking Units Development and Refinance Agency) to Ombudsman if the reply is not received from the Rs 20 lakh from Rs 10 lakh, Nitin Gadkari, Union bank within a period of one month after the bank Minister for MSMEs, said in a written reply to concerned has received one's representation, or the the Lok Sabha. bank rejects the complaint, or if the complainant is • In an another reply to the Lower House, he said, not satisfied with the reply given by the bank. 22.83 lakh Micro, Small and Medium • The Banking Ombudsman does not charge any fee Enterprises (MSMEs) were registered on Udyog for filing and resolving customers’ complaints. Aadhaar Portal in the country during March, • The appellate authority for the Banking 2018 to March 2019. Ombudsman Scheme is the Deputy Governor of • The MSME ministry facilitates access to finance Reserve Bank of India. through its schemes / programmes namely 3. No charges on NEFT, RTGS money transfers from 1 Prime Minister's Employment Generation July – As per Second Bi-monthly Monetary Policy programme (PMEGP), Credit Guarantee Statement for 2019-20, the Reserve Bank of India will Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises and stop imposing additional charges on Fund transfer Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme. through RTGS and NEFT systems from 1st July, 2019. 2. RBI opens third office of Banking Ombudsman in • National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) – New Delhi – The Reserve Bank said it has opened third There is no limit – either minimum or maximum office of the Banking Ombudsman and Ombudsman for limit. Digital Transactions (ODT) at its New Delhi office. • However, maximum amount per transaction is • RBI said the third office has been opened with a limited to ₹ 50,000/- for cash-based view to meet the growing demand for remittances within India and also for resolution under the two schemes. remittances to Nepal under the Indo-Nepal • With this, now there are 22 functional banking Remittance Facility Scheme. ombudsman offices in the country. • RTGS - Real Time Gross Settlement System • These offices were established under Banking (RTGS) Ombudsman Scheme, 2006 • Maximum limit – No upper limit Note: • Minimum limit – Rs. 2 lakhs • The Banking Ombudsman scheme is an 4. Utkarsh 2022: finalized by RBI board – The Reserve expeditious and inexpensive forum for bank Bank of India (RBI) board has finalised Three Year customers for resolution of complaints relating Roadmap to improve supervision and regulation, to certain services rendered by banks. among other functions of central bank. This medium • The scheme is introduced under Section 35 A of term strategy is named as Utkarsh 2022. the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 by RBI with Note: effect from 1995. • An internal committee to identify issues that Banking Ombudsman scheme needed to be addressed over next 3 years was • Banking Ombudsman is a person to whom the formed, which was anchored by Viral Acharya customer can approach for redressal of their outgoing Deputy Governor of RBI. grievances. He is appointed by RBI to redress

124 www.gradeup.co June

1. UK Sinha panel on MSMEs suggests Rs 20 lakh • Moratorium for the incubation period if the collateral-free loan under Mudra – A Reserve Bank student wants to take up a start-up venture of India (RBI) expert committee on micro, small and after graduation. medium enterprises (MSMEs) has recommended 3. RBI launches Complaint Management System – The doubling the cap on collateral-free loans to Rs 20 lakh Complaint Management System (CMS) is a software from the current Rs 10 lakh. This will be extended to application launched by Reserve Bank of India on its borrowers falling under the Mudra scheme, self-help website. groups, and MSME. • It will be used for lodging complaints against Note: banks and NBFCs with a view to improve • Distressed asset fund: It also recommends the customer experience in timely redressal of creation of a distressed asset fund of Rs 5,000 grievances. crore for small enterprises. • Customers can lodge complaints against any • It stated the Small Industries Development Bank of regulated entity on the platform. These India (SIDBI), which is responsible for the complaints will be directed to the appropriate development of the MSME sector. office of the Ombudsman/Regional Office of • The government has notified a procurement policy the RBI. wherein PSUs (Public Sector Units)& government 4. CAD increased to $57.2 billion or 2.1% of the GDP departments have to make 25 percent of their in FY19 - On June 28, 2019, The Reserve Bank of India procurement from MSMEs through government e- (RBI) stated that India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD) marketplace (GeM) portal. increased to $57.2 billion or 2.1% of the Gross • The proposal is part of a report prepared by the Domestic Product (GDP) in FY19 as against 1.8% of eight-member RBI committee tasked with 2018 which stood at $48.7 billion. reviewing the current framework for the MSME • It was the highest in 6 years on due to higher sector. trade deficit caused by high crude oil imports. • The panel, headed by former Securities and • The Centre has pegged fiscal deficit—the Exchange Board of India chairman U K Sinha, difference between the government’s revenue submitted its report to the RBI. and expenditure—at 3.4% of the GDP for this 2. RBI advises commercial banks to adopt Education fiscal year, the same as in 2018-19. Loan Scheme – The Reserve Bank of India has advised Note: all Scheduled Commercial Banks to adopt Education • Current account deficit (CAD) is one of the key Loan Scheme, formulated by Indian Banks Association. indicators of an economy’s health and Salient features of the Scheme includes: measures the difference between the value of • Loan upto Rs 10 lakh for study in India and the goods and services a country imports and upto Rs 20 lakh for study abroad. the value of its exports. • Collateral free loans upto Rs 7.5 Lakh under 5. RBI relaxes leverage ratio for banks – The Reserve the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Bank relaxed the leverage ratio (LR) to 4% for Education Loans (CGFSEL). Domestic Systemically Important Banks (DSIBs) and • No Margin for loan up to Rs 7.50 Lakh. 3.5% for other banks. This has been done to help them • Repayment period of 15 years. boost their lending activities. • One Year Moratorium for repayment after • The reduced leverage ratio will be effective completion of studies in all cases. from the quarter commencing October 1, 2019. • Moratorium taking into account spells of • The leverage ratio, as defined under Basel-III unemployment/under employment, say two or norms, is Tier-I capital as a percentage of the three times during the life cycle of the loan. bank’s exposures.

125 www.gradeup.co May

1. Harsh Vardhan Committee: The Reserve Bank of India 3. RBI releases ‘Vision 2021’ For Payment Systems For (RBI) constituted a committee under Harsh Vardhan, to ‘Cash-Lite’ Society – Reserve Bank of India has released a review existing state of mortgage securitisation in India vision document ‘Payment and Settlement Systems in and suggest measures to develop market further. India: Vision 2019 – 2021’, with its core theme of 2. RBI sets up committee on corporate loans – RBI has ‘Empowering Exceptional E-payment Experience’ for constituted a six-member committee on the Development ensuring a safe, secure, convenient, quick and affordable of Secondary Market for Corporate Loans to come up with e-payment system. recommendations to increase the efficiencies of the debt • The number of digital transactions is market and aid in the resolution of stressed assets. expected to increase more than four times • The committee, headed by TN Manoharan, from 2,069 crore in December 2018 to 8,707 Chairman, Canara Bank crore in December 2021. • Agreement & Deals

September

1. MeitY and Google signed a SoI to roll out “Build for technology-based solutions that address key Digital India” – Google and the Ministry of Electronics social problems. and Information Technology have signed a statement • Under this program, the applicants will of intent to roll-out ‘Build for Digital India‘. participate in online and offline learning • It is a programme which will provide engineering opportunities on key technologies like machine students a platform to develop market-ready, learning, cloud and android.

August

1. ADB to provide $200 Million loan for improving road (UNGA) adopted The United Nations Convention on infrastructure in Maharashtra – Asian Development International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Bank (ADB) has approved US $200 million loan for Road Mediation. Infrastructure Improving project in Maharashtra’s 34 3. UP Govt extends bilateral agreements with districts for better connecting rural areas with markets Netherlands till 2024 – The Uttar Pradesh government and services. has extended bilateral agreements with Netherlands till 2. India signs UN Convention on International 2024. Settlement Agreements – India signed United Nations • The previously inked MoUs sought cooperation and Convention on International Settlement Agreements exchange of the knowledge and techniques in the (UNISA) also known as Singapore Convention on fields of solid waste management, spatial planning, Mediation. water management including restoration of water • It was signed by India’s High Commissioner to bodies and mobility planning. Singapore Jawed Ashraf, representing 4. UNIDO and NISE to partner for skill development Government of India (GoI). program – The National Institute of Solar Energy and the • So far 46 countries have signed this international United Nations Industrial Development Organization treaty on settlement agreements. have signed an agreement to initiate a skill development About UN Convention on International Settlement programme for different levels of beneficiaries in the Agreement (UNISA) solar thermal energy sector. • It is also known as Singapore Convention on Mediation. In December 2018 UN General Assembly

126

www.gradeup.co • NISE and UNIDO will engage national and • Under this deal, Russia will supply the nuclear international experts to bring the best practices by fuel needed for the plant during its entire life developing specialized training material. cycle. 5. Bangladesh signs uranium supply deal with Russia - 6. IIT Madras partners with NIOT to harness electricity Bangladesh signed a deal with Russia for the supply of from ocean waves – The Indian Institute of Technology uranium for its 2400 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Madras partnered with National Institute of Ocean (RNPP). Technology to harness electricity from ocean waves. • The deal was signed in Dhaka between the Both institutions will together develop turbines that can Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and harness the power of ocean waves to generate electricity. Russian Nuclear Fuel Supply Company (TVEL). • The research is being headed at IIT Madras.

July

1. India, UK launch Innovating for Clean Air initiative in an MoU for promoting trade and investments between Bengaluru – India and United Kingdom launched two- the BRICS countries and the eastern part of India. year joint initiative- Innovating for Clean Air (IfCA) n Note: Bengaluru, capital of Karnataka. • BRICS Headquarters: Shanghai, China; President of • It is aimed at providing unique air quality BRICS: K V Kamath. measurement system by integrating satellite and • Members of the BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China sensor data and support India’s transition to and South Africa. Electric Vehicles (EVs). 5. Byju's replaces Oppo as Team India's official sponsor: BCCI 2. AIIB provides $100 million to L&T Finance arm for • The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wind and solar infrastructure projects has announced that Bengaluru-based education • The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and learning app Byju’s, which is owned by will provide $100-million loan to L&T (Larsen & Think and Learn Private Limited, has replaced Toubro) Infrastructure Finance Company (LTIF) Oppo India as the official Team India sponsor. for wind and solar infrastructure projects. This is • The deal period will begin from 5 September, the first time AIIB is extending loan to a non- 2019 until 31 March, 2022. banking finance company (NBFC). • Byju Raveendran, founder and chief executive of 3. India extends $500,000 assistance to Gambia – Byju’s. During the President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Gambia, 6. Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti – The aim of Raksha Gyan India has promised to extend an assistance of USD Shakti is to inculcate Intellectual Property culture in 500,000 to Gambia. Indian defence manufacturing ecosystem. • The assistance will contribute in supporting the • Defence Ministry has signed an MOU with the skill development and cottage industry projects Intellectual Property Facilitation Cell and in the West African country. National Research Development Corporation in • The two countries has also signed a MoU on connection to the mission Raksha Gyan Shakti. Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of • The MoU will bridge the capacity shortfall and Medicine and Homeopathy. provide a major fillip to the ongoing efforts of the Note: Defence Ministry towards promoting a culture of • President of: Adama Barrow Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights in • Capital: Banjul. the Defence industry. • The dalasi is the currency of the Gambia. 7. Broadband Readiness Index for Indian States and 4. BCC signs MoU with BRICS chamber to promote trade Union Territories – The Department of Telecom (DoT) – The Bharat Chamber of Commerce and the BRICS and the Indian Council for Research on International Chamber of Commerce and Industry, New Delhi, signed Economic Relations (ICRIER) signed a MoU to develop a

127

www.gradeup.co Broadband Readiness Index (BRI) for Indian States and • ISRO has planned to send two unmanned Union Territories (UT). missions before the mission ‘Gaganyaan-1’. • The first estimate will be made in 2019 and 10. India sign Rs.200 crore deal with Russia to acquire subsequently every year until 2022. Strum Ataka – India has signed Rs.200 crore deal with 8. Reliance Jio ties up with Facebook for ‘Digital Udaan’ Russia for acquiring Strum Ataka anti-tank missile for its – Reliance Jio ties up with Facebook for digital literacy fleet of Mi-35 attack choppers of Indian Air Force (IAF). initiative ‘Digital Udaan’. The initiative will have audio- 11. NASSCOM & NSDC launches “World Skills India”- visual training in 10 regional languages. International Cloud Computing Challenge 2019 – 9. ISRO ties up with Russian agency to select, train NASSCOM( National Association of Software and Services Indian astronauts – Indian Space Research Organisation Companies) and NSDC (National Skill Development has signed a contract with Russia’s Glavkosmos for Corporation) has organized “World Skills India”- selection support, medical examination and space International Cloud Computing Challenge 2019. training of Indian astronauts.

June 1. First Resilient Kerala Program – The Government of • Jharkhand will invest the amount to provide Kerala and the World Bank have signed the Loan urban services such as water supply, sewerage, Agreement of USD 250 million for the First Resilient drainage and urban road. Kerala Program. 8. India & Portugal to set up National Maritime • The New Program is part of ‘Rebuild Kerala Heritage Museum - India and Portugal will cooperate in Development Programme’ aimed at building a setting up of a national maritime heritage museum at green and resilient Kerala. ancient Indian site of Lothal in Gujarat. 2. India signs USD 400M loan agreement with World • Lothal (literally means the mound of dead) was Bank to eliminate TB by 2025– India has signed a loan one of port cities of Indus Valley Civilization agreement worth 400 million dollar with the World Bank (Harappan Civilization). to help treat and eliminate Tuberculosis from the • The proposed maritime museum in Indian is country. likely to come up on lines of similar museum at • The World Bank supported program will cover Lisbon, which is administered by Portuguese nine States and it will support the government's Navy. National Strategic Plan to end TB in India by 9. India extends $15 Million assistance to Niger for 2025. holding AU summit – India has for the first time 3. India signs $250 million World Bank loan to develop extended $15 Million financial support to Niger as a Rajasthan’s Roads and Highways. support for organising African Union (AU) summit 4. India & World Bank signed a loan agreement worth scheduled to be held in 7-8 July 2019 in Niamey (Capital of $328 million for improving health services of Andhra of Niger). Pradesh. • This will be the 1st time that Niger will be 5. World Bank commits $31.58 mn loan for Uttarakhand hosting an AU summit. Public Financial Management Strengthening Project • India is also establishing the Mahatma Gandhi 6. India scraped $500 mn arms deal with Israel - India International Convention Centre (MGICC) in scraped $500 million arms deal with Israel for the Niamey under grant assistance. purchase of Spike anti-tank missiles from defence • African Union (AU), international organization contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. established in 2002 by the nations of the former 7. World Bank approves $147 Million Loan to the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Government of Jharkhand – The Government of India, • There are 54-member nations; the only African the Government of Jharkhand and the World Bank signed country that is not a member is Morocco. a $147 Million Loan Agreement. • The AU's headquarters are at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

128

www.gradeup.co 10. Tamil Nadu gets $287 million World Bank Loan for million loan agreement for the Tamil Nadu Health System Healthcare Reform – The Centre, the Tamil Nadu Reform Programme (TNHSRP). Government and the World Bank have signed a $287- May

1. IIT Guwahati signs MoU with ISRO to set up space technology – Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati has signed an MoU with The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to set up an IITG-ISRO Space Technology Cell (STC) at the institute. 2. Sri Lanka signs tripartite agreement with India and Japan – Sri Lanka has signed a tripartite agreement with India and Japan for development of eastern terminal of Colombo port. • As per the agreement, Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) will hold 51 percent majority stake in the port development while Japan and India will have combined stake of 49 percent. 3. ADB to provide USD750 Million Loan to India for Railway Track Electrification – Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced that it has signed an agreement to provide USD 750 million equivalent in Indian rupee long-term financing to electrify railway tracks in India.

Books & Author

1. Book titled ‘Fortune Turners: The Quartet That Spun India To Glory’ written by - Aditya Bhushan and Sachin Bajaj. Note: The book on India’s 4 spin legends: Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrashekhar and S. Venkataraghavan. 2. Book titled ‘A Short History of Indian Railways’ written by Rajendra B Aklekar 3. Book titled ‘Big Billion Startup’: The Untold Flipkart Story - written by Mihir Dalal 4. The Book titled ‘Kashmir’s untold story: Declassification’- author of the book is Delhi- based filmmaker Iqbal Chand Malhotra and defense analyst Maroof Raza. 5. Book ‘Resurgent India’ – Book authored by former Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Bimal Jalan 6. The book, titled ‘: Girl Woman Superstar’ authored by screenwriter Satyarth Nayak. 7. Vice President’s book titled “Listening, Learning & Leading” released – Home Minister Amit Shah released a Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu’s book titled “Listening, Learning & Leading”. 8. PM Modi releases book on former PM Chandra Shekhar – PM Narendra Modi releases book “Chandra Shekhar – The Last Icon of Ideological Politics” is written by Deputy Chairman in the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh and Ravi Dutt Bajpai in New Delhi. 9. Book ‘Who Stole My Job’ authored by Sunil Mishra 10. The coffee table book titled ‘Fire and Fury Corps – Saga of Valour, Fortitude and Sacrifice’, was released by Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh. Note: This book showcases the courage and bravery of the Fire and Fury Warriors and portrays the rich heritage and ethos of the Indian Army. 11. Book titled ‘Vivekadeepini’ – authored by Adi Shankaracharya 12. Book titled “A Prime Minister to Remember,” – authored by former Navy Chief Admiral Sushil Kumar 13. Book titled ‘The New Delhi Conspiracy’ – authored by 5. BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi 14. Book titled ‘War over Words: Censorship in India, 1930-1960” authored by Devika Sethi 15. Book titled ‘Whispers of Time’ authored by Dr. Krishna Saksena 16. Autobiography titled 'Lessons Life Taught Me, Unknowingly' - autobiography of veteran Bollywood actor 17. Autobiography titled- ‘My Life, My Mission’ – authobiography of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev • The book is co-authored with senior journalist Uday Mahurkar.

129

www.gradeup.co 18. Book titled ‘Function of Data Sovereignty: The Pursuit of Supremacy’ authored by - Vinit Goenka 19. Book titled ‘Cricket World Cup: The Indian Challenge” – authored by - Ashis Ray 20. Book titled - Politics of Jugaad: The Coalition Handbook - Journalist Saba Naqvi 21. Book titled 'Darkness to light' - Former American professional basketball player, Lamar Odom. 22. Book titled "No Presents Please’ is authored by - Jayant Kaikini 23. Book titled “Game Changer” autobiography of - Shahid Afridi (Pakistan’s former Cricket team captain). The book is co- authored by Afridi and journalist Wajahat S Khan. 24. Book titled “Indian Fiscal Federalism” authored by - Dr. Y. V. Reddy, former Governor of RBI and Chairman of the 14th Finance Commission of India (The Chairman of 15th Finance Commission of India, N.K. Singh launched the book) 25. Book titled ‘Saffron Swords’ authored by - Manoshi Sinha Rawal 26. Book titled “The Third Pillar - How Markets and the State leave the Community Behind” authored by –Raghuram Rajan (Former Governor of RBI) 27. Book titled ‘Every Vote Counts: The Story of India's Elections’ authored by - former Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla. Former Vice-President Hamid Ansari launched the book. 28. Book titled “India Positive” authored by - Chetan Bhagat 29. Book titled ‘Simplicity & Wisdom’ authored by - Mr. Dinesh Shahra 30. Book titled ‘ Khooni Vaisakhi’ authored by -- Nanak Singh (Jallianwala Bagh survivor) Note: A poem on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, ‘Khooni Vaisakhi’, by Punjabi writer Nanak Singh has now been translated into English. • It was banned by the British in 1920. Singh was present at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919, and was 22 years old at the time. • A book containing English translation of the 100-year-old classic Punjabi poem about Jallianwala Bagh massacre, ‘Khooni Vaisakhi’ has been released in Abu Dhabi. • India’s Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri commended the launch of the book. • It will be published by Harper Collins India in March to mark the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh. 31. Book titled “Quality, Accreditation & Ranking” authored by - Dr. H Chaturvedi 32. Book titled ‘Mann Ki Baat – A Social Revolution on Radio’ 33. Arun Jaitley releases book titled ‘Mann Ki Baat – A Social Revolution on Radio’ authored by - BlueKraft Digital Foundation 34. Book titled ‘Moving On, Moving Forward: A year in Office’ - Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu 35. Book titled “Undaunted: Saving the Idea of India” authored by - P Chidambaram (former Finance Minister) 36. Book titled 'We are Displaced' authored by - Malala Yousafzai 37. A book titled ‘Changing India’ written by – Former PM Manmohan Singh 38. A book titled ‘Early Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From’ written by Tony Joseph 39. A book titled ‘Blue Water Ahoy!’ written by – Vice Admiral Anup Singh 40. A book ‘Radio Kashmir in Times of Peace & War’ written by Dr Rajesh Bhat. 41. A book ‘Yoga And Mindfulness’ - Mansi Gulati 42. Book titled 'The Rule Breakers' - Preeti Shenoy 43. Book titled ‘Atal Ji Ne Kaha’ - Brijendra Rehi 44. Book titled '281 and Beyond' - VVS Laxman (veteran cricketer) autobiography 45. Book titled ‘No Spin’ - Shane Warne (veteran cricketer) autobiography 46. Book titled "Gandhi: The years that changed the world (1914-1948)" - Ramachandra Guha. 47. Novel ''Warlight'' - Michael Ondaatje (named in Man Booker Prize list) 48. Novel 'The English Patient' - Michael Ondaatje (winner of Golden Man Booker International prize 2018) 49. Book titled 'Winning Like Sourav: Think & Succeed Like Ganguly' - Abhirup Bhattacharya 50. The book ‘Straight Talk’ authored by___ Abhishek Manu Singhvi 51. Book ‘Calling Sehmat’ authored by - Harinder S. Sikka 52. Author of 'Smart Cities Unbundle' book - Dr. Samir Sharma 53. Book titled “A Century is Not Enough “autobiography of – Sourav Ganguly.

130

www.gradeup.co 54. Book titled ‘Imperfect’ autobiography of – Sanjay Manjrekar (cricketer-turned-commentator)

National Appointments

LIST OF CABINET MINISTERS & CONSTITUENCY 2019

Portfolio (Department) Minister Name Constituency Prime Minister and Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy; Department of Space; and Narendra Modi Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh All-important policy issues; and All other portfolios not allocated to any Minister. Ministry of Home Affairs Amit Shah Gandhinagar, Gujarat Ministry of Defence Rajnath Singh Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Subrahmanyam Minister of External Affairs - Jaishankar Minister of Finance; and Minister of Nirmala Sitharaman Karnataka, Rajya Sabha Corporate Affairs Minister of Road Transport and Highways; and Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Nitin Jairam Gadkari Nagpur, Maharashtra Enterprises. Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers D.V. Sadananda Gowda Bangalore North, Karnataka Minister of Health and Family Welfare; Minister of Science and Technology; and Dr. Harsh Vardhan Chandni Chowk, Delhi Minister of Earth Sciences Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Ramvilas Paswan -- Distribution Minister of Law and Justice; Minister of Communications; and Minister of Electronics Ravi Shankar Prasad Patna Sahib, Bihar and Information Technology Ministry of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Jharkhand, Rajya Sabha Minister of Parliamentary Affairs; Minister of Prahlad Joshi Dharwad, Karnataka Coal; and Minister of Mines Minister of Skill Development and Mahendra Nath Pandey Chandauli. Uttar Pradesh Entrepreneurship Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Arvind Sawant Mumbai South, Maharashtra Enterprises Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal Bathinda, Punjab Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Minister of Rural Development; and Minister Narendra Singh Tomar Morena, Madhya Pradesh of Panchayati Raj. Ministry of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda Khunti, Jharkhand

131

www.gradeup.co Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Giriraj Singh Begusarai, Bihar Fisheries Minister of Women and Child Development; Smriti Zubin Irani Amethi, Uttar Pradesh and Minister of Textiles Ramesh Minister of Human Resource Development , Uttarakhand Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot Madhya Pradesh, Rajya Sabha Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and Minister of Information and Prakash Javadekar Maharashtra, Rajya Sabha Broadcasting Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas; and Dharmendra Pradhan Madhya Pradesh, Rajya Sabha Minister of Steel Minister of Railways; and Minister of Piyush Goyal Maharashtra, Rajya Sabha Commerce and Industry Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Shekhawat Jodhpur, Rajasthan

September

1. New Director General (DG) of BSF - Kumar Johri 2. Vice Chief of Army Staff - Lt. Gen. Mukund Naravane 3. New Chairman of Association of World Election Bodies (AWEB) - Sunil Arora

New Governors Appointed in 5 Indian States

• New Governor of Maharashtra - Bhagat Singh Koshyari (Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister). He replaced Vidyasagar Rao. • New Governor of Kerala - Arif Mohammed Khan (Former Union Minister). He replaced P. Sathasivam. • New Governor of Himachal Pradesh - Bandaru Dattatraya (Former Union Minister and BJP leader). He replaced Kalraj Mishra. • New Governor of Rajasthan - Kalraj Mishra (former Governor of Himachal Pradesh). He replaced Kalyan Singh. New Governor of Telangana - Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief). He replaced ESL

August

1. New Home Secretary - Ajay Kumar Bhalla (He replaces 6. India’s 1st female flight commander - Wing Commander Rajiv Gauba) Shalija Dhami 2. New Defence Secretary - Ajay Kumar (He replaces Sanjay 7. Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes - Pramod Mitra) Chandra Mody 3. New Cabinet Secretary - Rajiv Gauba (He replaces P.K. 8. First woman president of INSA – Chandrima Shaha Sinha) became the 1st woman president of the Indian National 4. New Chairman of Coal India - Pramod Agarwal (He will Science Academy. replace present chairman A K Jha who retires in January 9. New MD-CEO of Vodafone Idea – Ravinder Takkar 2020) 10. Director of National Institute of Health and Family 5. P.K. Sinha appointed as “Officer on Special Duty” in the Welfare - Harshad Pandurang Thakur has been office of the Prime Minister.

132

www.gradeup.co appointed as the director of National Institute of Health 17. IFSG appoints Justice A.K. Sikri as ombudsman – The and Family Welfare. Indian Federation of Sports Gaming (IFSG), country’s 11. P.T. Usha has been appointed as a member of the self-regulatory industry body for the online fantasy Asian Athletics Association’s (AAA) Athletes sports gaming sector, announced the appointment of Commission. This is the 2nd time P.T. Usha has been Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri as its ombudsman and ethics appointed a member of the Asian Athletics Association’s officer. Athletes Commission • Justice A.K. Sikri will be responsible for 12. New President of Paytm - Madhur Deora investigating queries/complaints raised by the 13. New MD and CEO of Mindtree – Debashis Chatterjee users of the online fantasy sports gaming 14. Harshad Pandurang Thakur has been appointed as the platforms. director of National Institute of Health and Family 18. Rakesh Asthana given additional charge of NCB – The Welfare. Appointments Committee on Cabinet has given the 15. New CMD of Power Grid Corporation – State-owned additional charge of the post of Director General Power Grid Corporation Director (Finance) Kandikuppa Narcotics Control Bureau to Rakesh Asthana. Sreekant assumed the charge of the chairman and • He is presently serving as the Director General of managing director of Power Grid Corporation of India. Civil Aviation Security. 16. Giriraj Prasad Gupta appointed as new CGA – Giriraj 19. New DPIIT secretary – Guruprasad Mohapatra assumed Prasad Gupta, Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) charge as the secretary of the Department for Promotion officer, took over as the Controller General of Accounts of Industry and Internal Trade. (CGA). 20. Secretary, Ministry of Textiles – Ravi Capoor, an Indian • He succeeds Anthony Lianzuala as the new Administrative Service (IAS) officer, assumed charge of Controller General of Accounts (CGA) under the the office of Secretary, Ministry of Textiles in New Delhi. Finance Ministry.

July

1. New Finance Secretary - Rajiv Kumar. He replaces 11. Vivek Kumar appointed as private secretary to Prime Subhash Chandra Garg. Minister Narendra Modi. 2. New Home Secretary - Ajay Kumar Bhalla 12. Joint Secretary to the President - Ajay Bhadoo 3. New PAC Chairman - The leader of the Congress party in 13. Next Vice-Chief of Army Staff - M.M. Naravane Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was appointed as 14. New India’s table tennis coach - Dejan Papic (Canadian) the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). 15. New Director of of Institute of Banking Personnel 4. New BSF Director General - V.K. Johri Selection (IBPS) - B Harideesh Kumar 5. New chairman of the “Estimates Committee” - Girish 16. N S Vishwanathan gets extension by one year as RBI Bapat deputy governor 6. New Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of 17. New Chairman of Microfinance Institutions Network - the Indian Army - Lt Gen Paramjit Singh Nambiar 7. New MTNL Chief - Sunil Kumar 18. New CMD of BSNL - P.K. Purwar Note: He is currently Director (Human Resources and 19. LinkedIn chooses Ashutosh Gupta as country manager Enterprise Business) at MTNL and takes over from P K for India Purwar who was recently appointed chairman and 20. Additional director on Board of Directors (BOD) of managing Director of BSNL. Jammu and Kashmir Bank - AK Misra 8. Vikas Swarup appointed as Secretary of Overseas Indian 21. New Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) – Affairs K. Natarajan 9. New Deputy Chief Minister of Goa - Chandrakant • He has become the 23rd chief of India’s coastal Kavlekar security force. 10. Kiran More (former India wicket keeper-batsman) 22. New CMD of BHEL - Nalin Shinghal appointed USA cricket team’s interim coach 23. He will replace Atul Sobti.

133

www.gradeup.co

New Governor Appointed

24. New Governor of West Bengal - Jagdeep Dhankar 25. New Governor of Himachal Pradesh - Kalraj Mishra 26. New Governor of Gujarat - Acharya Devvrat 27. New Governor of Chhattisgarh - Anusuiya Uikey 28. New Governor of Andhra Pradesh - Biswa Bhusan Harichandan 29. New Governor of Madhya Pradesh: Lalji Tandon 30. New Governor of Uttar Pradesh: Anandiben Patel 31. New Governor of Bihar - Phagu Chuhan 32. New Governor of Nagaland: R.N. Ravi 33. New Governor of Tripura: Ramesh Bais

June

1. New Governor of Manipur – Padmanabha Balakrishna 9. Speaker of 17th Lok Sabha - Om Birla (MP from Kota, Acharya sworn in as Governor of Manipur. Rajasthan) 2. Amitabh Kant gets two-year extension as NITI Aayog CEO 10. New executive director at RBI - Rabi N. Mishra - The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has 11. New Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court - Justice approved the extension of Amitabh Kant’s tenure as the Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel CEO of NITI Aayog beyond June 30, 2019 to June 30, 12. New interim Chief of J&K Bank - RK Chibber 2021. 13. New acting Central Vigilance Commissioner - Sharad 3. New Chief of RAW - Samant Goel Kumar 4. New Chief of Intelligence Bureau - Arvind Kumar 14. New Chief of India Meteorological Department (IMD) - 5. New director general of Indian Coast Guard – Mrutyunjay Mohapatra (Renowned scientist and cyclone Krishnaswamy Natarajan warning specialist) 6. New President of FIEO – Exporters body Federation of 15. Principal Secretary to PM Modi - Nripendra Mishra Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has elected Sharad 16. New Chairman of Axis Bank - Rakesh Makhija Kumar Saraf as its new president. 17. New independent director of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank 7. New MD of National Housing Bank - Sarada Kumar Hota - Sachin Bansal 8. Justice Prasanta Kumar Saikia (Retired) was sworn in as 18. New National Security Adviser (NSA) - Ajit Doval the Chairperson of the Lokayukta in Arunachal Pradesh. 19. New Advocate General of Chhattisgarh - Satish Chandra Verma

May 2019

1. New Prime Minister of India – Narendra Modi (for 9. Coach of Indian men’s national Volleyball Team - Dragan second term) Mihailovic (Serbia) 2. New Navy Chief - Karambir Singh 10. BSE appoints First Independent Woman Director 3. New CM of Andhra Pradesh - Jagan Mohan Reddy Jayshree Vyas to board 4. New Chairman of ITC - Sanjiv Puri 11. Senior IAS officer Dilip Kumar was appointed as the 5. New MD & CEO of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank - Nitin Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the office of Lokpal. Chugh 12. Flipkart-owned fashion e-commerce platform Myntra 6. New CEO of LIC Mutual Fund - Dinesh Pangtey announced that it had appointed celebrity couple Virat 7. RBI appoints R Gandhi on YES Bank Board Kohli and Anushka Sharma as its first brand 8. New Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Walmart – Suresh ambassadors. Kumar

134

www.gradeup.co April 2019

1. First woman vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia - 8. Twitter India MD - Manish Maheshwari Professor Najma Akhtar 9. New Google India head - Mayuri Kango 2. Secretary of Defence Finance - Gargi Kaul 10. New Chief Justice of Bombay High Court - Justice Pradeep 3. First Chief Justice of newly constituted Andhra Pradesh Nandrajog High Court - Justice Vikram Nath 11. One of the power brands of Emami Limited ‘Navratna’ 4. New MD & CEO of Indian Overseas Bank - Karnam Sekar has appointed Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan as Brand 5. New president of International Chamber of Commerce Ambassador (ICC) – India - Vikramjit Singh Sahney 12. New Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) of National 6. Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) - Shiv Das (LIC) - Vipin Anand Meena 7. Deutsche Bank India CEO - Kaushik Shaparia (He succeed 13. Uday Kumar Varma resigned from the post of The Ravneet Gill) Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry Note: Deutsche Bank AG is a German multinational (Assocham) Secretary-General. investment bank and financial services company headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany.

March 2019

1. New MD & CEO of ICICI Securities - Vijay Chandok 12. First Chairman of the newly constituted Lokayukta in 2. New Chief of Naval Staff - Admiral Karambir Singh (He Mizoram - C Lalsawta replaced Admiral Sunil Lanba) 13. Kummanam Rajasekharan resigns as Mizoram Governor 3. First Lokpal or anti-corruption ombudsman of India - Note: Jagdish Mukhi, the Governor of Assam has been Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose (former Supreme Court given additional charge of the post of Governor of judge) Mizoram. 4. New Chief Minister of Goa - Pramod Sawant (He became 14. India’s 1st Transgender Election Ambassador - The the 11th Chief Minister of Goa) Election Commission of India has appointed transgender 5. New Chairman of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) - MR social activist Gauri Sawant, as one of the 12 election Kumar ambassadors from Maharashtra. She is the first 6. Non-Executive Chairman of Axis Bank - Rakesh Makhija transgender election ambassadors. 7. New Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) 15. PhonePe (UPI based payment app company) has - Scientist Ajit Kumar Mohanty appointed Bollywood actor Aamir Khan as its Brand 8. New Finance Secretary - Subhash Chandra Garg (He Ambassador. replaces Ajay Narayan Jha) 16. New Chancellor of Central University of Gujarat - 9. New Chairman of the National Commission for Backward Hasmukh Adhia Classes - Bhagwan Lal Sahni 17. Supreme Court (SC) has appointed senior advocate as a 10. 15th Finance Commission Member - Ajay Narayan Jha mediator for resolving various disputes related to cricket (He replaces Shaktikanta Das). administration in the country -- P S Narasimha 11. Non-executive chairman of Bank of Baroda - Hasmukh 18. Naresh Goyal steps down from Jet Airways Board Adhia (Former Finance Secretary)

February 2019

1. First BCCI Ombudsman – Justice D.K. Jain (former 3. New Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) - Supreme Court Judge) Pramod Chandra Mody 2. Non-Executive Chairman of IDBI - Hemant Bhargava 4. New Election Commissioner - Sushil Chandra Note: Chief Election Commissioner – Sunil Arora

135

www.gradeup.co 5. New chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) - 6. New Civil Aviation Secretary - Pradeep Singh Kharola Rishi Kumar Shukla

January 2019

1. New Director General of NCC - Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra 12. New Chairman of LIC - Hemant Bhargava. He replaced 2. New Chairman of Federal Bank - Dilip Sadarangani VK Sharma. 3. New CEO & MD of IDFC First Bank - V Vaidyanathan 13. New MD & CEO of Axis Bank - Amitabh Chaudhry 4. New MD & CEO of Yes Bank - Ravneet Gill 14. New Chief Information Commissioner - Sudhir 5. New Interim Finance Minister - Piyush Goyal Bhargava 6. New MD, CEO of IDFC First Bank - V Vaidyanathan 15. Additional Solicitor Generals of India - Sanjay Jain and 7. New Director General (Investigation) of National K M Nataraj Human Rights Commission - Prabhat Singh 16. New Railway Board Chairman - V K Yadav. He replaced 8. New chief coach Boxing Women’s Team Coach - Ashwani Lohani Mohammed Ali Qamar 17. Ashok Chawla resigned as chairman of the National Stock 9. New Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) - Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) Rajesh Chandra 18. New CEO of IndiGo - Ronojoy Dutta 10. New Chairman of Ordnance Factory Board - Saurabh 19. New Executive Chairman of National Legal Services Kumar Authority (NALSA) - Justice AK Sikri 11. 1st Chief Justice of Telangana High Court - Justice TBN Radhakrishnan

International Appointment September 1. Next Indian Ambassador to Norway - B Bala Bhaskar 2. Next High Commissioner of India to Lesotho - Jaideep Sarkar 3. Youngest-ever Prime Minister of Ukraine - Oleksiy Honcharuk 4. President Donald Trump has nominated Indian American Shireen Mathews as a judge of the US District Court for the Southern District of California.

August

1. New India’s Ambassador to UAE - Pavan Kapoor 6. New CEO of HSBC – Noel Quinn has been appointed as 2. New Prime Minister of Sudan - Abdalla Hamdok the interim CEO of HSBC’s Global Commercial Banking 3. New President of Nauru - Lionel Aingimea (Capital of unit. Nauru: Yaren; Currency of Nauru: Australian dollar) 7. India’s next Ambassador to Republic of Congo – Ghotu 4. Guatemala’s new president – Alejandro Giammattei Ram Meena has been appointed as the next Ambassador 5. New director of ICTP – Atish Dabholkar, a theoretical of India to the Republic of Congo. physicist from India, has been appointed as the new 8. Former SC judge Madan Lokur sworn in as Fiji’s SC director of Abdus Salam International Centre for judge - On August 12, 2019, the President of Fiji Major. Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy. General(Retd) Jioji Konrote has appointed Justice Madan • He will succeed Fernando Quevedo, who has led Lokur from India as the new Supreme Court (SC) judge of the centre since 2009. Fiji.

136

www.gradeup.co July

1. New Britain’s Home Secretary - Priti Patel has been 6. India’s next Ambassador to Panama - Upender Singh appointed as Britain’s Home Secretary in the newly- Rawat unveiled Boris Johnson Cabinet. 7. New chief of ICC committee - Ehsan Mani (Pakistan • She has become the Britain’s first Indian-origin Cricket Board’s chairman) Home Secretary. 8. New Prime Minister of Greece - Kyriakos Mitsotakis 2. New US Secretary of Defence - Mark Esper 9. New head of European Central bank (ECB) – Christine 3. Anshula Kant appointed World Bank Group Managing Lagarde (MD of IMF) Director and Chief Financial Officer 10. Economist David Lipton appointed as IMF interim • She is currently a Managing Director of the State leader – International Monetary Fund (IMF) appointed Bank of India (SBI). American economist David Lipton as its interim leader. • She will be the first woman CFO of the Bank. He replaces Christine Lagarde who was nominated to 4. Supreme Court judge, Justice AK Sikri, has been head the European Central Bank. appointed as an international judge of the Singapore 11. New President of European Commission – Ursula von International Commercial court (SICC). der Leyen (German politician) 5. New India’s Ambassador to Israel - Sanjeev Kumar • She will replace Jean Claude Juncker. Singla • She has become the first woman to be elected to lead the EU’s executive arm.

June

1. Shefali Juneja appointed India’s representative to 3. Qu Dongyu becomes first Chinese to head FAO - Qu ICAO – Senior bureaucrat Shefali Juneja is appointed as Dongyu becomes the first Chinese national to head the India’s representative in the council of International Civil UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a United Nations body. • He will replace Brazil’s Jose Graziano da Silva. • She will replace the senior IAS officer Alok 4. External Auditor for WHO - CAG Rajiv Mehrishi chosen Shekhar. External Auditor for WHO • Presently, Shefali Juneja is serving as the Joint 5. New PM of Thailand - Prayuth Chan-ocha Secretary in Ministry of Civil Aviation. 6. New Pakistan ISI Chief - Lt General Faiz Hameed 2. First female CEO of Warner Bros – WarnerMedia, part 7. UN Deputy Executive Director - Anita Bhatia of AT&T Inc, has appointed Ann Sarnoff as the chief • Indian-origin Anita Bhatia has been appointed as executive officer of Warner Bros. the Deputy Executive Director of the United • Ann Sarnoff has become the first female CEO of Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Warner Bros. She will be replacing Kevin Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) for Tsujihara. Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships.

May 2019

1. New President of Indonesia - Joko Widodo (for 2nd 5. Next Ambassador of India to State of Eritrea - term) Subhash Chand 2. New President of Ukraine - Volodymyr Zelenskiy 6. Anil Kumble re elected as ICC Cricket Committee 3. New Deputy Attorney General of United States - chairman for a second term. Jeffrey Rosen 7. UN Secretary, General Antonio Guterres, has appointed 4. New President of the United Nations General Indian Army officer, Lieutenant General Shailesh Assembly - Professor Tijjani Mohammad Bande Tinaikar, as the new Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan

137

www.gradeup.co 8. Next President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) - Social Council to a five-year term on International Kumar Sangakkara (Former Sri Lankan Cricket team Narcotics Control Board (INCB), while China’s captain) candidate Hao Wei lost. 9. India’s Jagjit Pavadia has been re-elected with the highest number of votes by the UN Economic and

April 2019

1. India’s Ambassador to Seychelles - General (Retd.) Dalbir 8. Chicago has created history by electing Lori Lightfoot an Singh Suhag African American woman as its mayor for the first time. Note: General Suhag was the 26th Army Chief of the 9. AIIFF President Praful Patel has become the first Indian Indian Army from July 2014 to December 2016. to be elected as member of FIFA Executive Council. 2. New President of Ukraine - Volodymyr Zelensky 10. First Indian to be appointed Chair of the International 3. New Prime Minister of Palestine - Mohammed Ishtayeh Hockey Federation (FIH) Health and Safety Committee by (He succeed Rami Hamdallah) the world governing body -- Col (Dr.) Bibhu Kalyan 4. New Prime Minister of Haiti - Jean Michel Lapin Nayak. 5. New Prime Minister of Israel - Benjamin Netanyahu re- 11. India’s Ambassador to South Africa - Jaideep Sarkar elected for the fifth term in office 12. India’s Ambassador to Lebanon - Suhel Ajaz Khan 6. New President of Algeria - Abdelkader Bensalah 7. New President of World Bank - David Malpass (appointed as 13th President of World Bank) (He replaced Jim Yong Kim)

March 2019

1. First female President of Slovakia - Zuzana Caputova 6. Chief Scientist at WHO - Soumya Swaminathan, a Deputy 2. New Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of International Director-General of the World Health Organisation has Cricket Council (ICC) - Manu Sawhney been named Chief Scientist of the WHO. 3. Nursultan Nazarbayev President of Kazakhstan resigned 7. India’s Ambassador to Vietnam - Pranay Kumar Verma after nearly 30 years in power. 8. India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia - Dr. Ausaf Sayeed 4. New Prime Minister of Palestinian - Mohammad 9. UNDP appoints Padma Lakshmi as Goodwill Shtayyeh Ambassador 5. India’s Ambassador to The Republic of - Note: Padma Lakshmi is an Indian American television Santosh Jha personality and food expert

February 2019

1. New Chairman of African Union - Egypt’s President 3. New Nepal Ambassador to India - Nilambar Acharya Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi 4. New Ambassador of India to The Republic of 2. New Ambassador of India to The Republic of Argentina - Dinesh Bhatia Colombia - Sanjiv Ranjan 5. New Ambassador of India to Bhutan - Ruchira Kamboj

138

www.gradeup.co January 2019

1. First Ever Female Hindu Civil Judge in Pakistan - Suman 4. New Prime Minister of Taiwan - Su Tseng-chang Kumari has become the first Hindu woman to have been 5. New President of Venezuela - Nicolás Maduro appointed as a civil judge in Pakistan. 6. New President of Brazil - Jair Bolsonaro 2. Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia - Poonam 7. New CEO of International Cricket Council (ICC) - Manu Khetrapal Singh (re-appointed) Sawhney 3. New Malaysian King - Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah

Honors & Awards

September 1. “Oscars of science” awarded to Event Horizon 4. Indian Railways wins Best Ministry for Telescope Team – Implementation of Swachhata Action Plan for 2018- • On 5th September the team from the Event 19 –On occasion of Swachh Mahotsav 2019 held at Horizon Telescope Collaboration project won the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi (on 6 September 2019). ‘Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics’ an • President of India Ram Nath Kovind presented award considered the ‘Oscars of Science’. an award to Indian Railways as Best Ministries • The team won a prize of $3 million for their for Implementation of Swachhata Action Plan for work. 2018-19. • On April 10, 2019, the team had published the • Best Swachh iconic Place award to Chhatrapati image of black hole circled by a flame-orange Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Mumbai halo of white-hot plasma on the Messier 87 under Swachh Bharat Mission initiative. (M87) galaxy. • The 3 best stations as per Cleanliness Ranking 2. Odisha bags award for using IT in disaster Survey for 2018 i.e. Jaipur, Jodhpur and Tirupati management - Odisha State Disaster Management were also awarded. Authority (OSDMA) has won the IT Excellence Award, Note: 2019. Swachhata Action Plan (SAP)? • The award was presented to the Odisha state for • It is one of flagship initiatives of Prime Minister its innovative conception by using information Naredra Modi towards making Swachh Bharat technology in the field of disaster management. everyone’s business. • The "SATARK" (System for Assessing, Tracking • SAP was formally launched on 1 April 2017, with and Alerting Disaster Risk Information based on active participation of 72 Ministries and Dynamic Risk Knowledge) has been chosen for Departments. the award, • It has brought all Ministries and Departments under 3. ‘Lamp of Peace of Saint Francis’ Award conferred on one umbrella and contributed towards achieving Muhammad Yunus – The Vatican has honoured Nobel Swachh Bharat by 2019. Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus with the ‘Lamp of Peace • Nodal agency: for SAP is Union Ministry of Drinking of Saint Francis’ award. Water and Sanitation. • The award aims to honour those who work 5. Global Goalkeeper Awards – Prime Minister Narendra towards promoting peace and harmony. Modi will be honoured with the prestigious ‘Global • Dr. Muhammad Yunus is known as the father of Goalkeeper Award’. the microcredit concept. Note: • He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 • He will be given this honour for his commitment for founding the Grameen Bank and pioneering and leadership towards Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. the concepts of microcredit and microfinance.

139

www.gradeup.co • The award will be presented by the Bill and • As per the reports, till now 90 million toilets have Melinda Gates Foundation which is owned by been built to eliminate open defecation by October 2, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda 2019, and currently, 98 per cent of India's villages Gates. have rural sanitation coverage instead of 38 per cent • According to this foundation, this award is to a four years ago. leader to show commitment towards working 6. CSIR Young Scientist Award 2019 – Scientist John effectively for the global goal in his country or Mondal receives the CSIR Young Scientist Award 2019 in globally. the field of Chemical Sciences. About Global Goalkeeper Awards Note • The Global Goalkeeper Awards are presented to • Currently, he is working as a scientist at the leaders and individuals for their efforts in achieving CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in five Hyderabad. categories. • The CSIR Young Scientist Award given to those • The categories are Progress, Changemaker, people who are under 35 years old. The award Campaign, Goalkeepers Voice and the Global carries a cash prize of ₹50,000 and a plaque. Goalkeeper. 7. Best Swachh Iconic Place - Vaishno Devi shrine About Swachh Bharat Abhiyan • Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu and • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is one of the ambitious Kashmir tops the list of the Best Swachh Iconic projects that was introduced by PM Modi on place in the country in the ‘Swachh Iconic Places’. Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary 2nd October • The Shrine has been adjudged based on the 2014. overall improvement in sanitation. • The ambitious mission aims at accelerating the • The list is list released by the Ministry of Jal efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage in Shakti, Department of Drinking Water and the country by this year as a tribute to Mahatma Sanitation on September 3. Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary.

August

National Sports Awards 2019 - National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 29th August 2019 • Para-athlete Deepa Malik and wrestler Bajrang Punia will be conferred with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. • Khel Ratna is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four year. • Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for four years. • Dronacharya Award for coaches is given for producing medal winners at prestigious International sports events. • Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime contribution to sports development.

List of all winners Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna • Bajrang Punia – Wrestling • Deepa Malik - Para Athletics

Dronacharya Award (regular category for coaches) • Vimal Kumar – Badminton • Sandeep Gupta - Table tennis • Mohinder Singh Dhillon – Athletics

140 www.gradeup.co Dronacharya Award (lifetime category) • Sanjay Bhardwaj - cricket • Rambir Singh Khokar - kabaddi • Mezban Patel – hockey

Dhyan Chand Award • Manoj Kumar (wrestling), • C Lalremsanga (archery), • Arup Basak (table tennis), • Nitten Kirrtane (tennis) and • Manuel Fredricks (hockey).

Arjuna Awards

Arjuna Award Sh. Tajinderpal Singh Toor Athletics Arjuna Award Mohammed Anas Yahiya Athletics Arjuna Award Sh. S. Bhaskaran Body Building Arjuna Award Ms. Sonia Lather Boxing Arjuna Award Sh. Ravindra Jadeja Cricket Arjuna Award Sh. Chinglensana Singh Kangujam Hockey Arjuna Award Sh. Ajay Thakur Kabaddi Arjuna Award Sh. Gaurav Singh Gill Motor Sports Arjuna Award Sh. Pramod Bhagat Para Sports (Badminton) Arjuna Award Ms. Anjum Moudgil Shooting Arjuna Award Sh. Harmeet Rajul Desai Table Tennis Arjuna Award Ms. Pooja Dhanda Wrestling Arjuna Award Sh. Fouaad Mirza Equestrian Arjuna Award Sh. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Football Arjuna Award Ms. Poonam Yadav Cricket Arjuna Award Ms. Swapna Barman Athletics Arjuna Award Sh. Sundar Singh Gurjar Para Sports (Athletics) Arjuna Award Sh. Bhamidipati Sai Praneeth Badminton Arjuna Award Sh. Simran Singh Shergill Polo

66th National Film Awards

• Ayushmann Khurrana and Vicky Kaushal shared the Best Actor national film award and Uri Director Aditya Dhar won the Best Director award. • The 66th National Film awards were announced by Rahul Rawail, head of the Jury for feature films. List of winners –

• Best Director: Aditya Dhar for Uri : The Surgical Strike • Best Feature Film: Hellaro a Gujarati film directed by Abhishek Shah • Best Actor: Ayushmann Khuranna for Andhadhun and Vicky Kaushal for Uri : The Surgical Strike

141 www.gradeup.co • Best Actress: Keerthy Suresh for Mahanati • Best Supporting Actor - Swanand Kirkire for Chumbhak • Best supporting actress - Surekha Sikri for Badhaai Ho • Best Action Direction: KGF Chapter I • Best Choreography: Padmaavat for Goomar • Best Film for National Integration - Ondalla Eradalla (Kannada) • Best Popular Film: Badhaai Ho • Best film on Environment issues - Paani • Best Debut Film of a Director: Naal (Marathi) • Best film on Social Issues: Padman • Best Children's Film: Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shaale Kasaragod • Special Jury Award: Award shared by Sruthi Hariharan, Joju George for Joseph, Savithri for Sudani From Nigeria, Chandrachood Rai

Other Awards

1. King Hamad Order of the Renaissance – Prime flagship mission under the Ministry of Housing Minister of India Narendra Modi has been conferred King and Urban Affairs. Hamad Order of the Renaissance by Bahrain’s King 6. Indian documentary film I’m Jeeja” has won the award Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa in Manama, at the 14th edition of the ‘We Care Film Festival on capital of Bahrain. Disability Issues’. • He was conferred this prestigious honour in 7. Pushkin Medal 2019 - JNU Professor Meeta Narain was recognition of his efforts to strengthen bilateral conferred the ‘Pushkin Medal – 2019’. This award is the relations with Bahrain. highest honour given to an Indian scholar by the Russian • PM Modi is the 1st Indian prime minister to visit government. Bahrain. Note: Pushkin Medal is given to a scholar of Russian 2. Order of Zayed - Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi language and literature for outstanding contribution to was honoured with prestigious ‘Order of Zayed’, United Russian studies abroad. Arab Emirates’ (UAE) highest civilian award. 8. South Asian Spelling Bee competition 2019 – Navneeth Note: The award in name of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Murali, an Indian-American teenager from New Jersey, Nahyan, founding father of UAE. has won the 2019 South Asian Spelling Bee contest. 3. Eminent Engineer Award 2019 - Prabhakar Singh, 9. Bharat Ratna Award 2019 Director General, Central Public Works Department has • President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, presented been chosen for the ‘Eminent Engineer Award for the Bharat Ratna Awards to Nanaji Deshmukh Year 2019’. (posthumously), Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika Note: This award will be given by the Institution of (posthumously) and Pranab Mukherjee at Engineers (India) for his distinguished and exemplary Rashtrapati Bhavan. service in the field of Engineering and Technology. • Nanaji Deshmukh, were 4. UEFA President’s Award – Former Manchester United conferred the award posthumously. forward player Eric Cantona honoured with the award. • The Bharat Ratna has been conferred after a gap 5. SKOCH Governance Gold Award – Deendayal of four years. Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods • Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mission (DAY-NULM), has been conferred the founder of Banaras Hindu University Madan prestigious SKOCH Governance Gold Award. Mohan Malviya were given the award by the • It has been conferred the award for its initiative government in 2015. “Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest About Nanaji Deshmukh Subvention Access (PAiSA)”. DAY-NULM is a • Nanaji Deshmukh was born in 1916 in a Marathi family in Parbhani, Maharashtra. As a child, he

142 www.gradeup.co was inspired by freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) was awarded JC Tilak. Bose Fellowship. • Nanaji established India's first Saraswati Sishu • He was given this fellowship for his outstanding Mandir at Gorakhpur in 1950. contributions in the field of population and • Nanaji Deshmukh had won in the 1977 Lok medical genomics. Sabha election from Balrampur. • The JC Bose Fellowship is awarded to scientists About Bhupen Hazarika in recognition for their outstanding performance • Bhupen Hazarika was born on September 8, by the Science and Engineering Research Board, 1926 in Sadiya, Assam. Department of Science and Technology. • He was also one of the leading author-poets 13. Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman honoured with Vir of Assam with more than 1,000 lyrics and Chakra – Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, has several short stories, essays and travelogues been honoured with the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest to his credit. war time gallantry medal. • Bhupen Hazarika, popularly known as the Note: 'Bard of Brahmaputra',. • From the Army, Sapper Prakash Jadhav of the • In May 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Rashtriya Rifles posthumously awarded Kirti inaugurated India’s longest bridge (9.15 Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry kms), which runs over the Lohit river in award. Assam. Modi named the Dhola-Sadia bridge • Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal, who played a key after Bhupen Hazarika. role as flight controller during the aerial combat About Pranab Mukherjee between India and Pakistan on February 27, has • Pranab Mukherjee was born in Mirati in Birbhum been awarded Yudh Seva medal. District of West Bengal on December 11, 1935 to 14. Arun Lal awarded CAB’s Lifetime Achievement freedom fighters. Award – Former India cricketer Arun Lal conferred with • He served as the 13th President of India from 2012 Karthik Bose Lifetime Achievement award of the Cricket until 2017. Association of Bengal’s (CAB’s) in Kolkata. About Bharat Ratna • Former Bengal captain Raju Mukherjee was also • It is highest civilian award of Republic of India. It was considered for 2019 Lifetime Achievement but instituted in 2 January 1954. CAB eventually picked Lal. • First recipients of Bharat Ratna award (1954)- C. 15. Longest documentary “100 Years of Chrysostum” will Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and C. V. receive Guinness Award – A biographical documentary Raman. “100 Years of Chrysostum” will receive Guinness Award • Limits: Maximum of 3 nominees can be awarded per in the category of longest documentary. year. • The “100 Years of Chrysostum” is based on the 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be honoured with life of Philipose Mar Chrysostum, scripted and “Order of Zayed” – The United Arab Emirates will directed by filmmaker Blessy. honour the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with • The 48-hour and 8 minutes documentary has the “Order of Zayed“, the highest civilian award of the broken the record of the 21-hour Saudi Arabian country. documentary “World of Snakes”. 11. ISRO Chairman K. Sivan honoured with A.P.J. Abdul 16. Rajasthan bags award at World Education Summit Kalam Award – Tamil Nadu government has awarded K. 2019 – Rajasthan wins the “best innovation and Sivan with its Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award. initiative leadership award” for its achievements in • K. Sivan is currently serving as the chairman of higher education in the World Education Summit-2019 Indian Space Research Organisation. held in New Delhi. 12. CCMB scientist K Thangaraj awarded JC Bose 17. Priyam Chatterjee becomes 1st Indian chef to win Fellowship – Dr K Thangaraj, Chief Scientist at Council of French honour – Priyam Chatterjee became the 1st Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)– Centre for Indian chef to be awarded the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricoleto’ by the government of France to

143 www.gradeup.co recognise his contribution towards reinventing the • Ko Swe Win (Myanmar): He is a human rights gastronomic scene in India. defender and the chief editor of Myanmar Now news • Chatterjee is best known for revisiting the agency. traditional dishes from his native state of West • Angkhana Neelapajit (Thailand) is human rights Bengal and giving it a French twist. activist and a leading human rights defender in 18. Lionel Messi Wins UEFA Goal of the Season Award Southern Thailand. 2018-19 – Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has been awarded • Raymundo Pujante Cayabyab (Philippines) is a UEFA’s Goal of the Season award 2018-19 for his free- musician who has served in the music faculty of the kick against Liverpool. University of the Philippines and has conducted free 19. ISRO announces Vikram Sarabhai Journalism Award workshops for thousands of students all across the 2019 - As part of centenary year celebrations of Dr. country. Vikram Sarabhai, father of Indian space programme, • Kim Jong-Ki (South Korea) is an activist working with ISRO institutes two categories of awards in journalism. violence and mental health issues in youth and a • ISRO has announced its “Vikram Sarabhai South Korean agrarian movement leader who Journalism Award in Space Science, pioneered wasteland cultivation, and strove to Technology and Research” to recognize and demonstrate through his work that life as a farmer reward journalists who have actively contributed can be fulfilling and productive. towards the field of space science, applications, Note: and research. • The Magsaysay award was started in 1957 20. BAFTA LA to honour Steve Coogan with Charlie and celebrates the memory and leadership Chaplin Award - Actor Steve Coogan will be felicitated example of the former Philippine president with the Charlie Chaplin Award by the British Academy’s Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay. Los Angeles branch. He will receive the honour during • Ramon Magsaysay Award is regarded as the the 2019 Britannia Awards. Asian version of the Nobel Prize. 21. President Kovind honoured with the highest award 25. Kapil Dev honoured with Bharat Gaurav Award – East of Republic of Guinea – President Ram Nath Kovind has Bengal club awarded former Indian Cricket captain Kapil been awarded the National Order of Merit by the Dev with its highest honour, Bharat Gaurav. President of Guinea. 26. 2019 Prem Bhatia Award – Veteran journalist and • The award is bestowed for his exceptional consulting editor at India Today TV (television), Mr. contribution to the advancement of overall Rajdeep Sardesai was awarded the 2019 Prem Bhatia relations and development of mutual Award for his Outstanding Political Reporting with a cooperation between India and Guinea. career spanning over three decades. Note: 27. Ruhan Rajput honoured with ‘Entrepreneur of the • President of Guinea: Alpha Conde Year Award, 2019’ – • Capital of Guinea: Conakry • Ruhan Rajput, a renowned entrepreneur, co- • Currency of Guinea: Guinean franc founder and Director of Einfolge 22. India’s transsexual woman Naaz Joshi was crowned Miss Technologies Pvt Ltd was awarded the World Diversity 2019. This event was held in Port Louis, prestigious Entrepreneur Award 2019 at Mauritius. New Delhi. 23. Miss England 2019 - Bhasha Mukherjee, a 23-year-old • Ruhan was acknowledged for his Indian origin doctor was crowned Miss England 2019. contributions and achievements in the 24. Ramon Magsaysay award 2019 – Ravish Kumar has business industry. been awarded the 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award for • His company, is one of the leading players in “harnessing journalism to give voice to the voiceless”. the knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) The other winners of the award are: industry.

144 www.gradeup.co July 1. Sachin Tendulkar 6th Indian to be inducted into ICC 7. Pata Gold Award 2019 – Union Tourism Ministry’s Hall of Fame – International Cricket Council has Incredible India ‘Find the Incredible You’ campaign has inducted India’s batting icon Sachin Tendulkar, South won PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Gold Award African pace legend Allan Donald and two-times World 2019. Cup-winning Australian woman cricketer Cathryn • It won the award in ‘Marketing – Primary Fitzpatrick into the ICC’s Hall of Fame. Government Destination’ category. • Other Indians on the list are Bishan Singh Bedi, 8. Indian Woman of Influence’ award – Eminent Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Rahul fashionista, social entrepreneur and philanthropist Priya Dravid. Priyadarshini Jain has been felicitated with the 2. wins People’s Choice Award in U.S. prestigious ‘Indian Woman of Influence’ award at the – Renowned Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has House of Lords, the United Kingdom Parliament, London. won People’s Choice Award at a prestigious sand • Priyadarshini Jain for it also marked the grand sculpting festival in United States (US). launch of coffee table book on ’50 most • 2019 Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting influential Indian women worldwide’ featuring Festival was held in Boston. her as one of the most prominent personalities 3. Mohun Bagan Ratna Award - Keshav Dutt, Prasun from India. Banerjee to be honoured with Mohun Bagan Ratna 9. 2019 Sangita Kalanidhi award – Noted Carnatic 4. P T Usha nominated for IAAF Veteran Pin – Former vocalist S. Sowmya won the 2019 Sangita Kalanidhi Olympic track and field athlete P T Usha has been award of Music Academy. nominated for the International Association of Athletics 10. Tribute Actor award – Veteran actor Meryl Streep Federations Veteran Pin for her ‘long and meritorious (American) will be honoured with Tribute Actor award service to the cause of World Athletics’. at 2019 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). 5. CSR Journal Excellence Awards – The 3rd Edition of the 11. Nagarkirtan’ wins Best Feature Film’ at SAARC film CSR Journal Excellence Awards honoured 6 firms for the fest –Bengali film ‘Nagarkirtan’, has won 4 awards in best practices in Corporate Social Responsibility. The SAARC film festival. theme of the event was ‘India First’. • The movie was honoured with ‘Best Feature The winners of the awards are: Film’, ‘Best Director’, ‘Best Actor’ and ‘Best • YES Bank Ltd. won in the category “Health & Original Score’ awards. Sanitation”. • The movie was directed by Kaushik Ganguly. • Aditya Birla Capital Ltd. won in the category • Best Short Film’ award– Na Bole Wo Haram, a “Sports”. 20-minute film by debutant director Nitish Patan • Tata Power won in the category “Education & • Special Jury Award for Direction and Story– Skill Training”. Walking With the Wind, by Praveen Morchhale • ReNew Power won in the category “Women About SAARC Film Festival Empowerment & Child Welfare”. • The 9th edition of SAARC film fest took place in • Mahindra & Mahindra won in the category Colombo, Sri Lanka. “Environment”. 12. Isha Kanth bags ICJ internship programme – Indian • Hindustan Zinc won in the category “Agriculture girl, Isha Kanth is one of the two persons in the world to & Rural Development”. have bagged an internship programme at the 6. Miss Deaf World 2019 title – Vidisha Baliyan, a 21- International Court of Justice. year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar city, • She has earlier worked in rural Bihar spreading was crowned the Miss Deaf World 2019 title. awareness on the right to education and women • The international beauty pageant was held in empowerment among children belonging to the Mbombela, South Africa. marginalised sections. • She is a former international tennis player who 13. to be conferred with an Honorary represented India in the Deaflympics and also Doctorate by Melbourne’s La Trobe University won a silver medal. • Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood actor, will be felicitated with an Honorary Degree, Doctor of

145 www.gradeup.co Letters (honoris causa) from Melbourne-based La 16. Gully Boy’ wins NETPAC award in Bucheon film Trobe University at the 10th edition of Indian Film festival – Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar’s directorial ‘Gully Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) at Bundoora, Australia. Boy’ has won the Network for the Promotion of Asian 14. IOC Sportsperson of the Year – Sharath Kamal was Cinema (NETPAC) Award at the 23rd Bucheon voted the Sportsperson of the Year in the annual Indian International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) in South Oil Sports Conclave. Korea. • Sharath Kamal is a professional table tennis player 17. 2019 Global Excellence Awards - The US-India from Tamil Nadu, India. Strategic Partnership Forum has announced that 15. Best Innovation Award’ - Northeast Frontier Railway Mastercard CEO and President Ajay Banga and Wipro has won the‘Best Innovation Award’ for unique strategy Chairman Azim Premji will receive the 2019 Global adopted to keep wild elephants away from train tracks. Excellence Awards. • The Plan Bee initiative of the Northeast Frontier 18. NALCO to get President’s award for excellent CSR – Railway (NFR) has won the Best Innovation National Aluminium Company Limited has been selected Award in Indian Railways for the 2018-19 fiscal. for President’s award for utilisation of Corporate Social • The initiative helps in preventing trains from Responsibility fund in social development. hitting elephants crossing tracks. • NALCO started a scheme “Aliali Jhia” in 2015 to promote the education of Girls of BPL families. NALCO is an Odisha based Navaratna Company.

June

1. UK-India Awards 2019: Mark Tully gets Lifetime received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Achievement Award – Veteran British journalist Sir this year. Mark Tully was conferred with ‘Lifetime Achievement • The RedInk Awards for Excellence in Journalism Award’ at UK-India Awards in London for his are conferred to encourage good quality contributions to UK-India relationship. reporting and analysis, fair play and high ethical Other awards – standards in Indian journalism. • Start-up of the Year Award- Maanch, a new 4. Indian engineer wins Innovation Award in UK – platform that matches up funders and receivers Nitesh Kumar Jangir, an Indian engineer has won the to accelerate global sustainable development 2019 Commonwealth Secretary General’s Innovation for • Global Indian Icon of the Year– Kunal Nayyar, Sustainable Development Award in the “People” category best known for his role as Rajesh Koothrappali in London. on US sitcom The Big Bang Theory • Nitesh Kumar Jangir created Saans, a breathing • Market Entrant of the Year category– Oyo, Indian support device to tackle avoidable deaths of hospitality start-up premature babies from respiratory distress • Social Impact category– British Telecom (BT) syndrome. 2. IIT Kanpur honours Gopichand with honorary 5. Award for Malayalam film at 22nd Shanghai doctorate – IIT Kanpur honours India’s chief national International Film Festival – Veyil Marangal (Trees badminton coach Pullela Gopichand with honorary Under the Sun) have become the first Indian film to won doctorate on the occasion of their 52nd convocation. ‘Outstanding Artistic Achievement’ award at the 3. RedInk Award – The Tribune’s reporter wins the Shanghai International Film Festival. The film is directed ‘Journalist of the Year’ RedInk Award. by Bijukumar Damodaran. • Rachna Khaira of The Tribune has bagged the 6. Indian woman crowned Miss Universe Australia – prestigious RedInk Award for ‘Journalist of the India born Priya Serrao has won the Miss Universe Year’. She won it for exposing the functioning of Australia title for 2019. the UIDAI and its Aadhaar data cache. 7. Kapil Sharma is the most viewed Stand-up Comedian • Two retired senior journalists Dinu Ranadive in India and Abroad – Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma from the Maharashtra Times, and Sebastian has been acknowledged as the most viewed stand-up D’Souza, from the Mumbai Mirror, have jointly

146 www.gradeup.co comedian in India and abroad by the World book of government’s Medical & Health Department for its award Records London. this year in recognition of its achievements in the field of 8. Maldives to confer its highest award ‘Nishan tobacco control. Izzuddin’ on PM Modi - Maldives will confer ‘Nishan • The department’s Additional Chief Secretary, Izzuddin’ award on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is Rohit Kumar Singh has received the award at a the highest award to honour foreign nationals. function to mark World No Tobacco Day in New 9. Miss India 2019 - Suman Rao from Rajasthan has won Delhi. the Femina Miss India World 2019 beauty pageant • The Health Department of the State is the only during a star-studded ceremony at Sardar Vallabhbhai government body in the country which will be Patel Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. awarded for its tobacco-free initiatives. • Shivani Jadhav from Chhattisgarh clinched 17. J.C. Daniel Award - Malayalam Actor Sheela J.C. has won Femina Miss Grand India 2019 title and Shreya the J.C. Daniel Award, the highest honour in Malayalam Shanker from Bihar won Miss India United cinema. She is only the second woman to get it, after Continents 2019 title during the grand finale of Aranmula Ponnamma in 2005. the beauty pageant. 18. Akshaya Patra wins BBC award - Akshaya Patra, a non- 10. Ex-President Pratibha Patil awarded with Mexico’s profit organisation, has been awarded the BBC World Highest Civilian Award - Former President Pratibha Service Global Champion Award. It runs one of the Patil was bestowed on the highest civilian award of world’s largest school meals project in India. Mexico for foreigners. 19. 2019 Global Leadership Award - Google’s India-born 11. Chinese President Xi Jinping was conferred with highest CEO Sundar Pichai and Nasdaq president Adena national award of Kyrgyzstan titled Manas Order of the Friedman have been chosen for the prestigious Global First Degree in Bishkek (capital of Kyrgyzstan). Leadership Awards 2019. Note: Kyrgyzstan hosted19th Shanghai Cooperation 20. Automobile major Mahindra won the Gold Award in Organisation (SCO) summit. South Africa for fairing on various indicators, including 12. Indian engineer wins Innovation for Sustainable level of satisfaction among its network of dealers and the Development Award - An Indian engineer named Nitesh manner of allocation of vehicles to them. Kumar Jangir won 2019 Commonwealth Secretary- 21. UN Sasakawa Award 2019: The United Nations Office General’s Innovation for Sustainable Development Award for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) conferred in London, United Kingdom (UK). He won the award in ‘Sasakawa Award 2019’ for Disaster Risk Reduction People category, for creating a low-cost breathing (DRR) to Pramod Kumar Mishra, Additional Principal support device called ‘Saans’ for premature babies. Secretary to Prime Minister of India. 13. Amitav Ghosh becomes first English writer to get 54th 22. Former US President Jimmy Carter receives Jnanpith award - Renowned author Amitav Ghosh was Statesmanship Award - Jimmy Carter, Ex-President of awarded the 54th Jnanpith Award for his contribution to United States of America (USA) won the inaugural George the enrichment of Indian Literature in English. He was H. W. Bush Award for Statesmanship in recognition of his conferred the award by former governor of West Bengal contributions to relations between U.S. and China. Gopalkrishna Gandhi. 23. Teen Climate activist Greta Thunberg wins Amnesty 14. Man Booker International Prize - An author from prize - The 16-year old climate activist, Greta Thunberg Oman, Jokha Alharthi has won the prestigious Man of Sweden won Amnesty International’s ‘Ambassador of Booker International Prize for “Celestial Bodies”, the Conscience’ Award 2019 for mobilising world public story of three sisters of a desert country confronting its opinion global warming. slave-owning past and a complex modern world. 24. I&B Ministry institutes Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas 15. Priyanka Chopra to be honoured with humanitarian Media Samman - The Ministry of Information and award by UNICEF - Priyanka Chopra, a global UNICEF Broadcasting (I&B) has instituted a new award called Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights is going to be Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman (AYDMS) from honoured with Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award by year 2019 to recognise contribution made by media in UNICEF at the UNICEF SNOWFLAKE BALL. spreading awareness about Yoga and for promotion and 16. WHO award for Rajasthan Health Department - The commemoration of International Yoga Day, held every World Health Organization has selected the Rajasthan year on 21 June.

147 www.gradeup.co

May 2019

1. McCain Institute Award - IPS officer Chhaya Sharma, 6. Bharti AXA claims Excellence Award - Bharti AXA Life who led the investigation team of the infamous Nirbhaya Insurance, a private life insurer, has been conferred with gang-rape and murder case, has been awarded the 2019 the FICCI Claims Excellence Award. McCain Institute Award for Courage and Leadership. 7. Nepal’s 18-year-old girl sets Guinness World Records 2. CEAT Cricket Rating Awards 2019 Announced: for Longest Dancing - An 18-year old girl from Nepal • International Cricketer and Batsman of the Year named Bandana set a Guinness World Records on – Virat Kohli ‘Longest Dancing Marathon by an Individual’. • International Bowler of the Year - Jasprit Bumrah • She danced exclusively to Nepalese music • International ODI Cricketer of the Year - Rohit continuously for 126 hours (over five days). Sharma • She broke record set by India’s Kalamandalam • International T20 Bowler of the Year – Rashid Hemlatha, who danced continuously for 123 Khan hours and 15 minutes in 2011. • International Woman Cricketer of the Year - • He performed classical dance form Mohiniyattam Smriti Mandhana and set record at age of 37. • International T20 Player of the Year - Aaron 8. CBSE was honoured with the Digital India Award 2019 Finch under 'Exemplary Online Service' category on February 3. Kapil Sharma acknowledged as most viewed Stand- 22, 2019. up Comedian in India & Abroad - Comedian-actor Kapil 9. Professor Balram Bhargava, Director General of Indian Sharma has been acknowledged as the most viewed Council of Medical Research (ICMR), won the 2019 Dr stand-up comedian in India and abroad by the World Lee Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health. Book of Records London. Note: 4. Shyam Saran to be Conferred with Japan’s ‘Order of • He won the award for his achievements as an the Rising Sun’ Award - Former foreign secretary innovator, clinician, researcher and trainer. Shyam Saran will be conferred with Japan’s second • The award was presented at the 72nd World highest national award, ‘Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. and Silver Star’. About ICMR Note: • ICMR was founded in 1911. It is one of the oldest and • He will be conferred with this award for his largest medical research bodies in the world. contributions to strengthen the strategic ties and • It is the apex body in India which formulates, enhancing mutual understanding between India coordinates and promotes biomedical research. and Japan. • ICMR headquartered in New Delhi. • Saran, who was India’s Foreign Secretary during 10. Indian contemporary artist Nalini Malani has won the 2004-2006, has played an important role to prestigious Joan Miro Prize for 2019. Joan Miro Prize is elevate Japan-India relationship to the strategic named after Spanish painter and sculptor Joan Miró, one partnership. of the most influential artists of the 20th century. 5. Horticulture award for TNAU V-C - N Kumar, Vice- 11. Global Book Prize ‘Nine Dots’ – Indian writer Annie Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has Zaidi was announced as the 2019 winner of the USD been conferred the lifetime recognition award by the 100,000 Nine Dots Prize, a prestigious book prize created Confederation of Horticulture Association of India. to award innovative thinking that addresses • The award has been conferred for his contemporary issues around the world. outstanding contribution in the field of • She won for her entry ‘Bread, Cement, Cactus’- horticulture and academic leadership focussed combining memoir and reportage to explore on human resource development in agriculture. concepts of home and belonging rooted in her experience of contemporary life in India.

148 www.gradeup.co 12. France’s Highest Civilian Honour - Former ISRO 13. V K Krishna Menon Award - GD ‘Robert’ Govender, an chairman A S Kiran Kumar was conferred with France’s Indian-origin journalist in South Africa, has been highest civilian honour, Chevalier de l’Ordre national de honoured in the UK with 2019 V K Krishna Menon award la Legion d’Honneur, for his contribution to India-France for his outstanding contribution as a pioneer of space cooperation. decolonised journalism.

April 2019

1. Pulitzer Prize 2019 – Note: • For Fiction - “The Overstory” by Richard Powers • The “Utkarsh Bangla” project aims at creating a • For Drama - “Fairview” by Jackie Sibblies Drury pool of skilled candidates who are industry • For Poetry - “Be With” by Forrest Gander ready, • For Music - Prism, by Ellen Reid • While under the “Sabooj Sathi” scheme, bicycles About Pulitzer Prize are distributed to students between class IX and • The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in XII studying in government run and government newspaper, magazine and online journalism, aided schools and madrashas of the state. literature, and musical composition in the United 5. Indian Oil Bags AIMA Managing India Award for States. outstanding PSU – Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has • It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of bagged the prestigious ‘AIMA Managing India Award American (Hungarian-born) Joseph Pulitzer who had 2019 for outstanding PSU of the year.’ The award was made his fortune as a newspaper publisher and is presented by former President Pranab Mukherjee to administered by Columbia University in New York Sanjiv Singh, Chairman, Indian Oil. City. 6. PM Modi awarded Russia’s highest state honour - 2. World Press Photo Award 2019 - John Moore Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded with Order Note: of St Andrew the Apostle – the highest state decoration of • An image of a little girl crying, as she and her Russia, for exceptional services in promoting special and mother have been taken into custody by US privileged strategic partnership between the two border officials in Texas won the prestigious countries. World Press Photo of the Year. • This is the seventh international award that PM • Veteran Getty photographer John Moore took the Modi has been honoured with. picture in the Rio Grande Valley in June 2018. 7. Namami Gange Gets Global recognition at World • Dutch-Swedish photographer Pieter Ten Hoopen Summit – The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) won the “World Press Photo Story of the Year was awarded the distinction of “Public Water Agency of Award” for the image of 2018 mass-migrant the Year” by Global Water Intelligence at the Global caravan to the US border. Water Summit in London. 3. Saraswati Samman 2018 - Telugu poet K Siva Reddy • The Global Water Awards are presented at the has been selected for the prestigious Saraswati Samman, Global Water Summit, the major business 2018 for his collection of poetry titled Pakkaki conference for the water industry worldwide. Ottigilite. 8. Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2019 – The prestigious Note: The award, instituted by the KK Birla Foundation Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2019 was in 1991. awarded to National Award-winning filmmaker Madhur 4. Two West Bengal Government schemes win UN Bhandarkar, popular scriptwriter Salim Khan and Awards - Two schemes of the West Bengal government dancing diva . for skill development- “Utkarsh Bangla” and distribution • Lifetime Award – Salim Khan. of bicycles to students “Sabooj Sathi” have won the • Special Award for the contribution to Indian prestigious World Summit on the Information Society cinema – . (WSIS) awards of the United Nations. • Special Award – Helen. 9. 2019 Tagore Literary Prize - Rana Dasgupta

149 www.gradeup.co Note: The second edition of Rabindranath Tagore 19. Global Tech Prize - India’s education technology startup Literary Prize was awarded to author Rana Dasgupta ‘Dost Education’ won a $25,000 tech prize along with for his 2010 novel “Solo“, a tale of estrangement and the two other winners from Tanzania and Egypt. ultimate failure of material existence. Note: 10. Freedom of the City of London - Alice G. Vaidyan, • The Next Billion Edtech Prize 2019, run by UK- Chairman and Managing Director of the General based Varkey Foundation, recognizes the most Insurance Corporation (GIC) of India, India’s reinsurance innovative technology destined to have a radical major, has been awarded the Freedom of the City of impact on education in low income and emerging London in recognition of her work to promote insurance world countries. ties between India and the UK. 20. Celent Model Bank 2019 Award - Fincare Small 11. Ikhamanga Award 2019 - Ex-South Africa all-rounder Finance Bank (SFB) has been awarded the prestigious Jacques Kallis has been honoured with the Order of Celent Model Bank 2019 Award in the category of Ikhamanga in the Silver Division. Financial Inclusion, for ‘Redesigning Lending to Reach Note: The national honour is bestowed by the President Small Businesses’. of South Africa on citizens who have made significant 21. World Press Freedom Prize 2019- Reuters journalists, contributions to arts, literature, music, journalism, Kyaw Soe Oo, and Wa Lone selected for the award culture, and sports. Note: 12. National Intellectual Property Award, 2019 – Dr. • The World Press Freedom Prize also known as Benny Antony has been honoured with the National UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Intellectual Property Award, 2019 in the category of Top Prize Individual for Patents and Commercialization. • Currently, they are serving 7-year prison 13. Cleveland International Hall of Fame - Indian sentences in Myanmar. American scientist and social activist Sree Sreenath has 22. Best Athletic Coach in Asia 2019 - Indonesian Eni been inducted into the prestigious Cleveland Nuraeni was named by Asian Athletic Association (AAA) International Hall of fame for his contribution in as the best athletic coach in Asia for the short-haul run applications in systems biology, global issues, and category in 2019. sustainable development. 23. Virat Kohli Named Wisden’s Leading Cricketer - Team 14. National IP Award 2019 - The Intellectual Property India captain Virat Kohli has been named as the Wisden Rights Cell (IPR Cell) of Kerala Agricultural University Almanack’s ‘Leading Cricketer of the Year’ for the third (KAU) has been selected for the National Intellectual straight time. Property Award 2019. 24. Smriti Mandhana named Wisden’s Leading Women’s 15. World Press Freedom Hero - Dawn editor and Cricketer of The Year - Team India opener Smriti Columnist Cyril Almeida from Pakistan has won the IPI’s Mandhana has been named as the Wisden Almanack’s (International Press Institute) World Press Freedom ‘Leading Women’s Cricketer of the Year’. Hero award in 2019. 25. Global Slag Company of The Year Award - Tata Steel Note: He won this award for his “critical” and “tenacious has been named as the ‘Global Slag Company of the Year’ coverage” of the civil-military relations in Pakistan. 26. UAE honours PM Modi with highest Civilian award 16. UN Medal of Honour - A total of 150 Indian Zayed Medal - PM Narendra Modi peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in South Note: Sudan (UNMISS) have received medals of honour for • The UAE honoured PM Narendra Modi with their dedicated service and sacrifice. the prestigious Zayed Medal for giving a “big 17. UK Royal Society Honour - Cipla Chairman Yusuf boost’ to bilateral strategic ties. Hamied • President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al 18. Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant Award - Sunil Kumar Nahyan conferred PM Modi with the award, the Gautam, Special Commissioner of Police (Operations) highest decoration awarded to kings, presidents, was honoured with ‘Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant Award‘ and heads of states. for his book titled ‘Samvidhan Kavya‘ 27. Global Health Award - Vikram Patel

150 www.gradeup.co • Prof Patel has been awarded 2019, John Dirks, 28. Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, the world’s Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for his largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, was world-leading research in global mental health. felicitated by the Asian Tour with a Special Achievement Award for his contributions to Asian Golf.

March 2019

1. Pravasi Bhartiya Samman - Swiss-based NRI scientist • The award carries an amount of Rs. 4 lakhs and it Dr Rajendra Joshi has been conferred with the Pravasi was started by K K Birla foundation in 1991. Bhartiya Samman Award by the President of India Ram • Born in Dhangal village in Tehri Garhwal, Nath Kovind. Uttarakhand, Mr. Jagudi was awarded the Padma 2. Oxford University’s Bodley Award - Nobel Prize- Shri in 2004 winning economist Amartya Sen awarded with the 7. Abel Prize 2019 - University of Texas professor Karen prestigious Bodley Medal, the highest honor granted by Uhlenbeck has become the first woman to win the Abel the University of Oxford’s world-famous Bodleian Prize Libraries. Note: 3. Croatia’s Highest Award - President Ram Nath • It is a Norwegian prize awarded annually by the Kovind has been awarded the Grand Order of King King of Norway to one or more outstanding Tomislav with Sash and Grand Star by the President of mathematicians. Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic for his exceptional • The prize is named after the 19th century contribution to the advancement of overall relations and Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel. development of mutual cooperation between India and 8. Swachh Survekhshan-2019 Awards - President Ram Croatia. Nath Kovind has presented Swachh Survekhshan-2019 Note: Croatia Capital: Zagreb, Currency: Croatian kuna. Awards in New Delhi. 4. Global Teacher Prize For 2019 - Peter Tabichi, a List of awards – member of the Franciscan religious order has been • India’s cleanest city– Indore (MP) bagged conferred with the prestigious Global Teacher Prize for award for the for third straight year 2019 at a ceremony in Dubai. Note: The second and third positions were Note: clinched by Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh and • Peter Tabichi gives away 80% of his monthly Mysore in Karnataka. income to the poor. • Cleanest big city - Ahmedabad has been named • The award recognises ‘exceptional’ teacher’s the cleanest big city with a population of more commitment to pupils in a remote part of than ten lakh. Kenya’s Rift Valley. • Cleanest medium city - Ujjain has been 5. 64th Filmfare Awards - Winners of the 64th Filmfare awarded cleanest medium city having a Awards were announced at Jio Garden, BKC, Mumbai. population between 3 lakh to 10 lakh. List of winners is as follows: • Cleanest Small city - New Delhi Municipal • Best Film – Raazi directed by Meghna Gulzar Council area was given the “Cleanest Small City” • Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) - Alia Bhatt award. for film ‘Raazi’ • Best Ganga Town - Uttarakhand’s Gauchar was • Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) - Ranbir adjudged the “Best Ganga Town”. Kapoor for film ‘Sanju’ • Cleanest capital - Bhopal has been named the • Best Director - Meghna Gulzar for film Raazi cleanest capital. • Critics' Award for Best Film: AndhaDhun • Fastest Moving big city - Raipur won the • Best Short Film (Fiction): Rogan Josh ‘Fastest Moving Big City’. • Best Short Film (Non-Fiction): The Soccer City • Fastest Moving medium city - Mathura- 6. Vyas Samman 2018 - Hindi writer Leeladhar Jagudi Vrindavan won the tag of Fastest Moving honoured with Vyas Samman 2018 for his collection of Medium City. poems “Jitne Log Utne Prem” published in 2013.

151 www.gradeup.co • Chhattisgarh has bagged the top spot in the 15. Templeton Prize 2019 - Brazilian physicist and category of best performing states. astronomer Marcelo Gleiser has been awarded the 2019 • Jharkhand is at the second spot while Templeton Prize Maharashtra is at the third. 16. Windham-Campbell Prize - An Indian journalist, author Note: and chief of The Wire, ‘Raghu Karnad’ received the • Swachh Survekshan Awards are given by the Union prestigious Windham-Campbell prize Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs based on the 17. Golden Peacock Award 2019 for innovative product - survey which covered all urban local bodies in the ACKO General Insurance a new-age digital insurance country company was awarded the coveted Golden Peacock 9. Yashwantrao Chavan National Award - Raghuram Innovative Product Award – 2019, for their contextual Rajan, former governor of RBI has been chosen for the micro insurance product –“Ola Ride Insurance” ‘Yashwantrao Chavan National Award 2018’ by 18. India bags 1st prize at International ‘Golden City Gate Yashwantrao Chavan Prathisthan for his contribution to Tourism Awards 2019’ in Berlin economic development. 19. Young Global Leaders 2019 – The Forum of Young 10. University for Peace Confers Honorary Doctorate on Global Leaders, the World Economic Forum’s foundation Vice President Venkaiah Naidu - Vice President for remarkable leaders under 40 has released the list of Venkaiah Naidu was conferred Honorary Doctorate from Individuals with grit, foresight and potential to improve the UN established University of Peace. The university the state of the world for the year 2019. has stated that the degree of “Doctor Honoris Causa”( • Andhra Pradesh IT minister Nara Lokesh, BJP Doctor of Philosophy) was conferred on the Indian Vice MP Poonam Mahajan, Xiaomi India head Manu President recognising his contribution to the Rule of Law, Kumar Jain, Telangana government’s Chief democracy and sustainable development in India. Innovation Officer Phanindra Sama, SaveLife 11. New Zealand PM’s Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship - Foundation’s Piyush Tewari and Kaleidofin’s co- Rio Paralympics silver medallist Deepa Malik was named Founder Sucharita Mukherjee are the Indians as the recipient of the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Sir featuring in the list of Young Global Leaders Edmund Hillary Fellowship for 2019 in recognition of her 2019. inspiring achievements. 20. Commonwealth Youth Award for the Asian Region - A 12. Shri. Venkaiah Naidu is the first Indian to receive an social entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu, Padmanaban honorary doctorate from the University of Peace. Gopalan (founder of No Food Waste) 13. Chameli Devi Jain Award – The bilingual correspondent 21. International Sustainability ‘Green Era’ Award - TVS with the BBC Priyanka Dubey has been named for the Motor Company Chameli Devi Jain Award for an Outstanding Woman 22. Best Bank Award from the State Government of Journalist for the year 2018. Tamil Nadu – Indian Bank a Public Sector Bank (PSB), Note: The Chameli Devi Jain Award awards women headquartered at Chennai, Tamil Nadu has been awarded journalists for their exceptional contribution to the the Best Bank Award by the Tamil Nadu government. cause of journalism upholding standards of excellence 23. 2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies - Tata Steel through a sustained body of work. 24. ‘Non-Life Insurer of the Year Award 2019’ - Bharti AXA 14. Pritzker Prize 2019 - Japanese Architect Arata Isozaki General Insurance has received the Pritzker Prize 2019. 25. Missile Systems Award - Satheesh Reddy, the Secretary Note: of India’s Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of • He is the 46th laureate and eighth architect from the Defence Research and Development Organisation Japan to win the Pritzker Prize. (DRDO) has been chosen by the American Institute of • Pritzker Prize is an annual award to honour a living Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) as the co-winner of architect or architects whose built work the 2019 Missile Systems Award. demonstrates a combination of those qualities. 26. Best Domestic Water Purifier 2019 - Kent RO Systems • The award constituted by Pritzker family of Chicago Pvt. Ltd. has received the Best Domestic Water Purifier through their Hyatt Foundation in 1979. Award 2018-19 27. SKOCH Award, 2018 - The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has bagged the SKOCH

152 www.gradeup.co Award, 2018 for its remarkable achievements in the field 28. Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar - Indian Air Force of disaster management. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been Note: The award was presented at the 56th SKOTCH chosen for the first Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar Summit held at New Delhi. constituted by the Akhil Bharatiya Digambar Jain Mahasamiti.

February 2019

1. Oscar Awards 2019 announced: The 91st Academy Rural Empowerment, Gender, and Social Awards (Oscars) has been announced at the Dolby Equality. Theatre in Hollywood, the USA. • For 2018: Japan’s Yohei Sasakawa for his Complete list of winners contribution in Leprosy Eradication in India and • Best Picture - Green Book, directed by - Peter across the world. Farrelly 3. META Lifetime Achievement Award - Eminent Indian • Best Actress in a Leading Role - Olivia Colman for playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar has been chosen for this film - The Favourite year’s META Lifetime Achievement Award. • Best Actor in a Leading Role - Rami Malek for 4. AHF’s Player of The Year - Asian Hockey Federation has film - Bohemian Rhapsody honored Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh with the • Best Director - Alfonso Cuarón for Roma 2018 Player of the Year award. • Best Foreign Language – Roma (Alfonso Cuaron's • Women team’s striker Lalremsiami has bagged Roma from Mexico has won Best Foreign the Rising Player of The Year prize. language) 5. National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 awards - • Best Documentary Short film - Period. End of The National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 awards Sentence Rayka Zehtabchi and Melissa Berton were given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Vigyan Note: Bhawan, New Delhi. • India-based Period End of Sentence has won The winners from the national level competition are: Documentary Short at 91stOscars Academy • 1st position– Shweta Umre from Maharashtra. Awards. • 2nd position– Anjanakshi M.S from Karnataka. • The film talks about the stigma of menstruation • 3rd position– Mamta Kumari from Bihar. in India. Note: • It is directed by Rakya Zehtabchi. • The “Khelo India” app, which has been developed by 2. Gandhi Peace Prize - President Ram Nath Kovind Sports Authority of India was also launched at the conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2015, 16, 17 and 18 event. at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. 6. Future for Nature Award - Divya Karnad became the List of awards – First Indian Woman to be honoured with the ‘Future for • For 2015: Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari Nature Award’ for her work on marine conservation. was given the award for its contribution in Rural • She is the second Indian to receive this award Development, Education and Development of after Dr. Charudutt Mishra. natural resources. • It is a prestigious international award that • For 2016: Jointly to Akshaya Patra Foundation celebrates achievements in protecting wild for its contribution in providing mid-day meals animals and plant species. to millions of children across India and Sulabh 7. National Water Awards 2018 – Maharashtra topped International for its contribution in improving the chart among the states for efforts in water the condition of sanitation in India and conservation. emancipation of manual scavengers. • Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory • For 2017: Ekal Abhiyan Trust for its Authority (MWRRA), Pune, was adjudged the contribution in providing Education for Rural best water regulatory body in India. and Tribal Children in remote areas pan India,

153 www.gradeup.co • Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were given second • NGO Yuwa was founded in 2009 when American and third National Water Awards respectively in Franz Gastler moved to Jharkhand from Delhi. best state category. 12. Seoul Peace Prize 2019 - Prime Minister Narendra • The awards were presented by Nitin Gadkari, Modi has been honoured with the Seoul Peace Prize. Union Minister for Road Transport and Water Note: Resources, River Development and Ganga • The South Korean government has awarded the Rejuvenation in New Delhi. Seoul Peace Prize for PM Modi in recognition of 8. Maharashtra State Government’s Shiv Chhatrapati his service to international cooperation, global Award - Mallakhamb coach, Uday Deshpande, and growth and human development. batswoman, Smriti Mandhana • PM Modi is the 14th recipient of the award. 9. International Human Rights Prize - Abdul Aziz 13. Swachhata Excellence Awards 2019 - The Raigarh Muhamat (Sudanese refugee) Municipal Corporation of Chhattisgarh has won the 10. Football Ratna Award - Sunil Chhetri, the all-time “Swachhata Excellence awards 2019”. leading scorer for India in international football, has Note: Swachhata Excellence Awards were instituted by been conferred the first ever Football Ratna honour by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in 2017. Football Delhi, the association governing the sport in 14. EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 – India - The CEO and Delhi. Managing director of Eicher Motors, Siddhartha Lal has 11. Laureus World Sports Awards 2019 – The Laureus been named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year for 2018 Sport for Good Award honours the achievements of those 15. ‘Freedom of the City of London’ - The State Bank of who have demonstrated a tremendous contribution to India’s UK head Sanjiv Chadha has been honoured with the sport or to society through sport. the ‘Freedom of the City of London’ award in recognition List of awards is as follows: of his contribution to promoting the bilateral relations. • Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic, (Serbia) 16. Ernst & Young Lifetime Achievement Award - Azim Tennis. Premji Chairman of Wipro Ltd will be felicitated with the • Sportswoman of the Year: Simone Biles (USA) Ernst & Young Lifetime Achievement Award. Gymnastics. Note: Ernst & Young, famously known as EY is a • Comeback of the Year: Tiger Woods (USA) Golf. multinational professional services firm and is one of the • Breakthrough of the Year: Naomi Osaka (Japan) “Big Four” accounting firms. Tennis. 17. Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta will be given the • Team of the Year: France World Cup Team Lifetime Achievement Award by the Academy of (France) Football Canadian Cinema and Television. • Lifetime Achievement Award: Arsène Wenger, 18. Indian Historian Sanjay Subrahmanyam wins Israel’s France. Dan David Prize 2019 - Noted Indian historian Sanjay • Sport for Good Award: NGO Yuwa (India). Subrahmanyam has won Israel's prestigious Dan David NGO Yuwa Prize 2019 for his work on inter-cultural encounters • The NGO Yuwa has been awarded the Laureus between Asians, Europeans and people of North and Sport for Good Award for the year 2019. South America during the early modern era. • NGO Yuwa works specifically with girls from 19. National Film Development Corporation of India has impoverished families in rural Jharkhand. been declared winner under the Miniratna Category • The NGO uses team sports and education to build (Category II) by Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium character, confidence, and courage. Enterprises (MSME).

January 2019

1. Bharat Ratna Award 2019 • The Bharat Ratna has been conferred after a gap • Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen of four years. Hazarika awarded Bharat Ratna. • Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and • Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika were founder of Banaras Hindu University Madan conferred the award posthumously.

154 www.gradeup.co Mohan Malviya were given the award by the several short stories, essays and travelogues government in 2015. to his credit. About Nanaji Deshmukh • Bhupen Hazarika, popularly known as the • Nanaji Deshmukh was born in 1916 in a Marathi 'Bard of Brahmaputra',. family in Parbhani, Maharashtra. As a child, he • In May 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was inspired by freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar inaugurated India’s longest bridge (9.15 Tilak. kms), which runs over the Lohit river in • Nanaji established India's first Saraswati Sishu Assam. Modi named the Dhola-Sadia bridge Mandir at Gorakhpur in 1950. after Bhupen Hazarika. • Nanaji Deshmukh had won in the 1977 Lok About Pranab Mukherjee Sabha election from Balrampur. • Pranab Mukherjee was born in Mirati in Birbhum About Bhupen Hazarika District of West Bengal on December 11, 1935 to • Bhupen Hazarika was born on September 8, freedom fighters. 1926 in Sadiya, Assam. • He served as the 13th President of India from 2012 • He was also one of the leading author-poets until 2017. of Assam with more than 1,000 lyrics and 2. Padma Awards 2019 • The government on 25th January 2019 announced names of the Padma awardees 2019 on the eve of the 70th Republic Day. • This year 112 recipients have been selected for the prestigious awards. This includes 4 Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri awards. • The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.

Here's the complete list of Padma awardees 2019:

Padma Vibhushan:

Name Field & State Art-Vocals-Folk (Chhattisgarh) Ismail Omar Guelleh (Foreigner) Public Affairs (Djibouti) Anilkumar Manibhai Naik Trade & Industry-Infrastructure (Maharashtra) Balwant Moreshwar Purandare Art-Acting-Theatre (Maharashtra)

• About Teejan Bai- She is an exponent of a traditional performing art form, , from Chhattisgarh. She was born in Ganiyari village, Chhattisgarh. She has been awarded. • About Ismail Omar Guelleh (Foreigner) - He is the President of Djibouti since 1999. He was re-elected in 2005, 2011 and again in 2016. • Anilkumar Manibhai Naik- He is the Group Executive Chairman of Larsen & Toubro Limited. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan award on 25 January 2019. • About Balwant Moreshwar Purandare – Balwant Moreshwar Purandare popularly known as Babasaheb Purandare was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan Award 2019.

155 www.gradeup.co Padma Bhushan:

NAME FIELD STATE/COUNTRY 1. John Chambers (Foreigner) Trade & Industry Technology USA 2. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa Public affairs Punjab 3. Pravin Gordhan (Foreigner) Public affairs South Africa 4. Mahashay Dharam Pal Gulati Trade & Industry- Food Processing Delhi 5. Darshan Lal Jain Social Work Haryana 6. Ashok LaxmanraoKukade Medicine- Affordable Healthcare Maharashtra 7. Kariya Munda Public Affair Jharkhand 8. Budhaditya Mukherjee Art-Music-Sitar West Bengal

9. Viswanathan Nair Art-Acting-Film Kerala

10. S Nambi Narayan Science & Engineering-Space Kerala

11. Kuldip Nayar (Posthumous) Literature & Education (Journalism) Delhi 12. Bachendri Pal Sports (Mountaineering) Uttarakhand 13. V K Shunglu Civil Service Delhi 14. Hukumdev Narayan Yadav Public Affairs Bihar

Padma Shri:

NAME FIELD STATE/COUNTRY Art-Vocal-Hindustani Uttar Pradesh BangaruAdigalar Spiritualism Tamil Nadu Illias Ali Medicine-Surgery Assam Art-Acting-Films Maharashtra Uddhab Kumar Bharali Science & Engineering- Assam Grassroots Innovation Omesh Kumar Bharti Medicine (Rabies) Himachal Pradesh Pritam Bhartwan Art-Vocals-Folk Uttarakhand Art-Painting Gujarat Dilip Chakravarty Archaeology Delhi Mammen Chandy Medicine (Hematology) West Bengal Art-Music-Tabla West Bengal Kanwal Singh Chauhan Agriculture Haryana Sunil Chhetri Sports (Football) Telangana Art-Acting-Theatre Maharashtra Muktaben Pankaj Kumar Dagli Social Work (Divyang Welfare) Gujarat Babulal Dahiya Agriculture Madhya Pradesh ThangaDarlong Art-Music-Flute Tripura Art-Dance Karnataka Rajkumari Devi Agriculture Bihar Bhagirathi Devi Public Affairs Bihar Baldev Singh Dhillon Science and Engineering Punjab (Agriculture) Harika Dronavalli Sports (Chess) Andhra Pradesh Godawari Dutta Art-Painting Bihar Gautam Gambhir Sports (Cricket) Delhi

156 www.gradeup.co

3. Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskaar • The award was conferred by Dr Jagdish Sheth of • The government has instituted an annual award EMORY University on behalf of Kotler, who is titled Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan currently unwell. Puraskar. 5. D N Chakraborty Gets Assam Republic Day • It will be announced every year on 23rd January, Journalism Award the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra • Assam government has conferred the Republic Bose. Day Journalism Award 2019 to veteran journalist • The Award carries a certificate and a cash prize and former editor Dhirendra Nath Chakraborty. of 51 lakh rupees. • Chakraborty has been honored for his lifelong • This year, 8th Battalion of National Disaster contribution to journalism in the state. Response Force located at Ghaziabad has been 6. India Bags The Award of Excellence for ‘Best in Show’ selected for the Award for its commendable At NYTTS 2019 work in disaster management. • India received the Award of Excellence for ‘Best • The award has been instituted to acknowledge in Show’ at the New York Times Travel Show the contribution and selfless service of 2019, the largest travel show in North America. organisations and individuals to humanity in the India was honoured during the Closing Bell aftermath of any disaster. Ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange. • The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India Note: participated as the ‘Presenting Partner’ in the New York Times Travel Show (NYTTS 2019) • This year, 8th Battalion of National Disaster organised at Jacob K Javits Centre, New York. Response Force located at Ghaziabad has been 7. Namita Gokhale wins Sushila Devi Literature Award selected for the Award for its commendable • Writer Namita Gokhale has won the Sushila Devi work in disaster management. Literature Award for her novel “Things to Leave 4. PM Narendra Modi honoured with first-ever Philip Behind”. Kotler Presidential award • She was awarded in the ‘Best Book of Fiction • Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Written by a Woman Author’ category at the recipient of the prestigious Philip Kotler inaugural edition of Bhopal Literature and Art Presidential award. Festival (BLF). • According to the citation of the award, Modi was 8. Nritya Shiromani award selected for his “outstanding leadership for the • Kathak exponent Anindita Neogy Anaam has nation”. been honoured with the prestigious National • The citation mentions initiatives such as Make in Nritya Shiromani award for her contribution India, Startup India, Digital India, and Swachh towards preserving and promoting the dance Bharat have positioned India as one of the most form across the world. lucrative manufacturing and business 9. Dr. Rattan Lal Honoured with 2019 Japan Prize destinations in the world. • India born, Dr. Rattan Lal, honoured with the • “The award focuses on the triple bottom-line of 2019 Japan Prize for his contributions in the field ‘People, Profit and Planet’ which will be offered of “Biological Production, Ecology”. annually to the leader of a nation. • He is a Distinguished University Professor of Soil Note: Science at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A. • The Philip Kotler Awards are bestowed in the 10. Sheikh Saud International Prize for Materials name of world renowned Professor of Marketing Research awarded to C N R Rao at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of • The first Sheikh Saud International Prize for Management, Professor Philip Kotler. Materials Research has been awarded to C N R Rao.

157 www.gradeup.co • The award will be presented to Rao by Sheikh in Test cricket and 39 in One Day Internationals Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (ODI)—as of January 2019. emirate during the International Workshop on 15. President confers Ashoka Chakra on Lance Naik Advanced Materials at Ras Al Khaimah on Nazir Wani February 25. • India’s highest peacetime gallantry honour, 11. MP Anurag Thakur Honoured with Sansad Ratna Ashoka Chakra was awarded to Lance Naik Award Nazir Wani posthumously. • Anurag Thakur, member of Parliament (MP) • Lance Naik Nazir Wani also holds the distinction from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh has been of being the first Kashmiri to be conferred the bestowed with Sansad Ratna Award for his Ashoka Chakra. distinguished performance as a parliamentarian 16. Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2019 under Jury Committee Special Award category. • President Ram Nath Kovind conferred Pravasi • He became the first BJP MP to receive the Jury Bharatiya Samman Awards 2019 to 30 awardees. Committee award. • The awards were conferred during the Pravasi • The Sansad Ratna Award was set up & launched Bharatiya Divas being held at Varanasi. in 2010 by Former President Dr. APJ Abdul The winner of this prestigious award includes: Kalam. 12. Woman’s Voice Award • Gita Gopinath chief economist of IMF • US-based Indian poet Ranjani Murali received • Nihal Singh Agar, founding president of VHP the ‘Woman’s Voice Award’ at the Apeejay in Australia and Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF). The award • Ramesh Chotai, former president of Hindu carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh apart from a Mandir and Cultural Centre in Canada. citation. • Girish Pant, a social worker has been 13. ‘No Presents Please’ novel wins DSC Prize for South instrumental in rescuing several Indian Asian Literature 2018 sailors stranded in UAE waters. • ‘No Presents Please’ is an English Novel • Surender Singh Kandhari, chairman of the translated from Kannada Work of Jayant Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Temple, Kaikini. is a philanthropist, businessman and a long- • The novel was translated to English by Tejaswini term Dubai resident. Niranjana. • Dr Zulekha, founder and chairperson of • The award was presented by eminent writer Zulekha Healthcare Group, who came to the Ruskin Bond to Jayant Kaikini and translator UAE in 1964, is believed to be the first female Tejaswini Niranjana. practicing doctor in the country. • For the first time the award was being given to a 17. Saraswati Samman 2017 translated work and the jury wanted to recognise • Noted Gujarati poet Sitanshu Yashashchandra the outstanding contribution of Tejaswini has been awarded Saraswati Samman, 2017, for Niranjana, the translator. his poetry collection in Gujarati named “Vakhar”. 14. 2018 ICC Awards: Virat Kohli Takes 3 Major Honours • This is the 27th edition of the prestigious award • Virat Kohli has become the first player in history instituted by K.K.Birla foundation. to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC • The award is given every year to an outstanding Cricketer of the Year, the ICC Men’s Test work of an Indian citizen published during the Player of the Year and the ICC ODI Player of last 10 years in any of the languages mentioned the Year awards. in Schedule 8 of the constitution. • India captain becomes the first player to win all 18. Indian-American Gurinder Singh Khalsa Presented three of top awards after being named captain of with Rosa Parks Trailblazer Award the Test and ODI teams. • The Indian-American Sikh Gurinder Singh • A right-handed top order batsman, Kohli has Khalsa, who lives in Fishers of Indiana, US was made 64 centuries in international cricket—25 presented with the prestigious 2019 Rosa Park

158 www.gradeup.co Trailblazer award after being selected for 22. The Hindu Literary Prize 2018 champions of the diversity by the Indiana • The Hindu Prize 2018 for Fiction - English Minority Business Magazine. writer Neelum Saran Gour, author of Requiem 19. Adi Godrej Conferred ICSI Lifetime Award in Raga Janki. • Industrialist and Godrej Group Chairman Adi • The Hindu Prize 2018 for non-fiction - Activist Godrej was conferred the ICSIs Lifetime Manoranjan Byapari, author of Interrogating Achievement Award for ‘Translating Excellence my Chandal Life: An Autobiography of a Dalit. in Corporate Governance into Reality’. Other awards: • The awards were instituted by The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). • The Hindu Young World-Goodbooks Award for Best 20. Andhra Pradesh bags CBIP award for Polavaram Book Fiction to Venita Coelho for Boy No: 32. project • A Brush with Indian Art of Mamta Nainy received • Andhra Pradesh was conferred with CBIP’s “Best The Hindu Young World-Goodbooks Award for Best Implementation of Water Resources Project” for Book Non-Fiction. better planning, implementation, monitoring and • Vinayak Varma’s Angry Akku received The Hindu speedy execution of Polavaram multipurpose Young World-Goodbooks Award for Best Picture project on the Godavari River. Book: Story. Polavaram Multipurpose project • Rajiv Eipe’s Ammachi’s Amazing Machines received • Under the Polavaram Multipurpose project, a The Hindu Young World-Goodbooks Award for Best dam is constructed across the Godavari River in Picture Book: Illustration. West Godavari District and East Godavari District 23. Mohamed Salah Named African Footballer of The of Andhra Pradesh. Year • The reservoir of the dam also spreads to parts of • Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been named as Chhattisgarh and Orissa States. the 2018 Confederation of African Football 21. Gandhi Peace Prize Conferred for Last 4 Years: The Player of the Year. Gandhi Peace Prize for the years 2015, 2016, 2017 and • For the second consecutive year he has won the 2018 has been conferred on the following: award. • For 2015: Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari • Houston Dash and South Africa forward Thembi for their contribution in Rural Development, Kgatlana was named Women’s Player of the Year. Education , Development of natural resources. • Mohamed Salah is an Egyptian professional • For 2016: Jointly to Akshaya Patra footballer who plays as a forward for Premier Foundation for its contribution in providing League club Liverpool and the Egypt national mid-day meals to millions of children across team. India and Sulabh International for its 24. Vinesh Phogat becomes First Indian Athlete to contribution in improving the condition of nominated in Laureus World Comeback of Year sanitation in India and emancipation of manual Award scavengers. • Indian female wrestler Vinesh Phogat became • For 2017: Ekal Abhiyan Trust for their the first Indian to be nominated for the contribution in providing Education for Rural prestigious Laureus World Sports Award. and Tribal Children in remote areas pan India, • She has been nominated in “Laureus World Rural Empowerment, Gender and Social Equality. Sporting Comeback” category for the year 2019 • For 2018: Shri Yohei Sasakawa for his

contribution in Leprosy Eradication in India and across the world.

159 www.gradeup.co Nobel Prize Winners 2018

1. Physiology or Medicine – James P. Allison (USA), Tasuku • Field - For their efforts to end the use of sexual Honjo (Japan) violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. • Field - For their discovery of cancer therapy by 5. Economic Sciences – William Nordhaus (US), Paul Romer inhibition of negative immune regulation (US) 2. Physics - Gérard Mourou (France), Arthur Ashkin (USA), • Field - For work on climate change, and the Donna Strickland (Canada) endogenous growth theory. • Field - For their method of generating high- 6. Alternative Nobel Literature Prize - Maryse Conde intensity, ultra-short optical pulses in the field of Note: laser physics. • Maryse Conde, one of the Caribbean's most 3. Chemistry - George Smith (USA), Frances Arnold (USA), renowned authors, has won an award created to Greg Winter (UK) replace this year's Nobel Prize for Literature. • Field - For control of evolution and used it for • The Nobel Prize for Literature was suspended purposes that bring the greatest benefit to after a crisis over its handling of allegations humankind. against Frenchman Jean-Claude Arnault, the 4. Peace - Denis Mukwege (Democratic Republic of the husband of one of the academy's members. Congo), Nadia Murad (Germany)

160 www.gradeup.co Arts & Culture

September

1. Nuakhai Juhar: Odisha’s harvest festival celebrated saree from Tamil Nadu. This takes total number of – Nuakhai Juhar, a harvest festival welcoming the such indigenous products that have been accorded GI newly harvest crop of the season was celebrated in tag from Tamil Nadu to 31. Odisha. 3. ‘Namaste Pacific’ Cultural Event held in New Delhi – • It is one of the most ancient festivals A cultural event called ‘Namaste Pacific’ to showcase in celebrated in Odisha to welcome new crop of India the culture of Pacific countries such as Australia, the season. It is an important social festival of New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji was held in Western Odisha and is an agricultural festival. New Delhi. 2. Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul lock and Kandangi saree • The event was jointly organized by High gets GI tag – The Geographical Indications Registry Commissions of Australia, New Zealand, Papua (GIR) in Chennai has accorded coveted Geographical New Guinea, and Fiji. Indication (GI) tag to Dindigul lock and Kandangi

August

1. President inaugurates underground Bunker celebrated for health, wealth, prosperity and Museum at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai productivity. • President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated 3. National Tribal Festival ‘Aadi Mahotsav’ organised underground ‘Bunker Museum‘ at the Raj at Leh-Ladakh – In a bid to give a fillip to tribal Bhavan (official residence of the Governor of economy in Ladakh, Aadi Mahotsav or National Tribal Maharashtra) in state capital Mumbai. Festival will be organised at Polo Ground, Leh-Ladakh. • The bunker was discovered by Maharashtra • It is a 9 day festival that will start from 17 Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao last year, along August till 25 August 2019. with two identical cannons, atop foothills of Raj 4. Virasat-e-Khalsa set to enter Asia Book of Records – Bhavan, which is situated at the tip of south Virasat-e-Khalsa museum located in Anandpur Sahib Mumbai. town in Punjab is set to find a place in Asia Book of 2. 17 August: Parsi New Year Navroz celebrated – Parsi Records for becoming most visited museum in Asian New Year, also known as Navroz or Jamshedi Navroz, is sub-continent on a single day. Museum witnessed a celebrated every year on August 17 to mark the record footfall of 20,569 visitors on a single day on 20 beginning of the new Iranian calendar. March 2019. • In Persian, Nav means new and Roz means day and together translating to ‘new day’. It is

161 www.gradeup.co

July

1. Pakistan opens historic Hindu temple in Punjab – Pakistan has opened a 1,000 year old Hindu temple in eastern city Sialkot for worship for the first time since partition on the demand of the local Hindu community. • The Shawala Teja Singh temple, located in city’s congested Dhaarowal locality, some 100 km from Lahore, is more than 1,000 years old, according to the book ‘History of Sialkot’ by the late Rashid Niaz. 2. Prakash Javadekar inaugurates 10th Jagran Film Festival – Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting inaugurated the 10th Jagran Film Festival in an event held at Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi. 3. IFFI’s Golden Jubilee Edition to be celebrated in Goa – The Golden Jubilee Edition of International Film Festival of India, will be held from 20th Nov till 28th November 2019 in Panaji, Goa. • President of Oscar Academy John Bailey and other eminent cinematographers and producers have been invited for the event. Russia will be IFFI partner in this edition. 4. Baba Guru Nanak University Foundation stone laid in Pakistan – Pakistan Punjab’s chief minister laid the foundation stone of Baba Guru Nanak University at Nanakana Sahib. • The University was dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev at his birth place. This university would be spread over 10 acres. 5. Nishagandhi Monsoon Ragas Music Fest • Kerala Tourism organized a 5-day annual Nishagandhi Monsoon Ragas Music Fest 2019 in Kanakakkunnu, Thiruvananthapuram. It was held from July 20-24, 2019. It was inaugurated by the Governor of Kerala, P Sathasivam at Nishagandhi Auditorium in Kanakakkunnu 6. SAARC Film Festival 2019 held at the National Film Corporation Cinema Hall, Colombo, Sri Lanka • The 9th Edition of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Film Festival for the year 2019 was held at the National Film Corporation Cinema Hall, Colombo, Sri Lanka from July 2-7, 2019. 7. Saudi Arabia adopts Digital India, equality of women in Haj 2019 women in Haj 2019 – Indian Haj mission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has adopted digital technology to reach out to a large number of pilgrims as part of Digital India initiative of Government of India. 8. Jagannath Rath Yatra - Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra held in Puri, Odisha. • The Rath Yatra marks the journey of Lord Jagannath along with his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple. This journey covers a distance of around 17 km in Puri. 9. Chamliyal mela 2019 was held in Jammu and Kashmir. 10. Sindhu Darshan Utsav 2019 - The 23rd edition of Sindhu Darshan Utsav 2019 was held at Sindhu Ghat Shey in Leh Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. 11. Bonalu festival was held in Telangana - The annual Bonalu festival kicked off at the Jagadamba temple in historic Golconda Fort, Telangana. Bonalu is the “state festival” of Telangana. 12. Mela Kheer Bhawani celebrated in J&K • The annual festival of Kheer Bhawani Mela celebrated by Kashmiri Pandit devotees at famous Ragnya Devi temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Ganderbal district. 13. ASI declares Chaukhandi Stupa as Monument of National importance – According to a notification issued by Union Ministry of Culture, Chaukhandi Stupa, an ancient Buddhist site located in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has been declared as ‘protected area of national importance’ by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Note: • The Stupa is known as ‘Chaukhandi’ because of its four-armed plan. 14. Elephanta Festival of Art and Culture– The Elephanta Festival of art and culture commenced at the iconic Gateway of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra. • Elephanta Caves is currently maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site 15. Tripura to host 10th National Science Film Festival of India in 2020 • The 10th National Science Film Festival of India (NSFFI) will be organised in Tripura on January and February 2020.

162 www.gradeup.co • The film festival is being held with the objective of highlighting science, technology, innovation, energy, environment, agriculture and traditional knowledge in a simple way. 16. People celebrate Bhandara festival, the great turmeric festival of Maharashtra – The Bhandara festival takes place on Somvati Amavasya- a new moon day at Khandoba Temple in Maharashtra. • During the festival, devotees use the golden powder to worship the deity Lord Khandoba, widely known as a descendant of the sun, and to celebrate his victory over the demons Mani and Malla. 17. Culture Minister Prahalad Singh Patel has inaugurated the exhibition titled ‘Unknown’ Masterpieces of Himachal Folk Art’ at National Museum in New Delhi. 18. Namaste Thailand Film Festival held in Delhi. Namaste Thailand Film Festival is an annual festival organised to bridge the gap between Indian and Thai cultures. 19. Baikho Festival - Rabha tribal Hindu women participate in a tug of war during Baikho festival at Pantan village, Guwahati, Assam. 20. Amasebailu in Kundapura Taluk of Udupi district has become Karnataka’s first solar-powered Gram Panchayat. 21. Meghalaya CM launches Aroma Mission – Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched the Aroma Mission and also inaugurated the Processing Unit of Essential Oil at Byrwa village in Ri Bhoi District. 22. Maharashtra has become the first Indian state to provide digitally-signed land record receipts (also known as 7/12 receipts). • The 7/12 receipt is the most important document which establishes the ownership of the land, and is primarily used by farmers while applying for loans 23. Nearly after four decades, Bamboo rice has shown up in Odisha. The state of Odisha had last witnessed Bamboo rice in 1979. The Forest Authorities of Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary in Cuttack district have opened up the gates for the forest dwellers to collect the Bamboo rice. 24. New Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology Inaugurated – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the new Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. 25. Ugadi/Yugadi - Ugadi festival celebrated in Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh 26. Gudi Padwa - Gudi Padwa is celebrated in the state of Maharashtra. 27. Baisakhi - Baisakhi is the Punjabi New Year celebrated in the month of April by performing their folk dance, Bhangra and Gidda and feasting. 28. Puthandu - Puthandu is the Tamil New Year celebrated in the month of April by preparing Manga Pachadi a traditional food to ring in their new year. 29. Bohag Bihu - Bohag Bihu is the Assamese New year celebrated by performing the folk dance Bihu and a grand buffet. 30. Pohela Boishakh - Pohela Boishakh is the Bengali New Year celebrated with making many sweetmeats. 31. Bestu Varas - Bestu Varas is celebrated in Gujarat on the day after Deepavali. Marwaris in Rajasthan also celebrate their new year during Deepavali. 32. Vishu - Vishu is the Malayali New Year celebrated in the state of Kerala in the month of April. 33. Losoong - Losoong is the Sikkimese New Year and falls in December at the end of harvesting. It is celebrated by performing Chham dance. 34. Navreh - Navreh is the Kashmiri New Year celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaitra. 35. Prayagraj Kumbha Mela 2019 makes it to the Guinness World Records – The Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019 has made into Guinness World Records in the following three sectors: • Largest traffic and crowd management plan. • Biggest painting exercise of public sites under paint my city scheme. • Biggest sanitation and waste disposal mechanism. 36. Ghumot to be declared Goa’s heritage musical instrument – The Art and Culture Minister of Goa, Govind Gaude has announced that Ghumot, an indigenous earthen drum will soon be notified as a heritage instrument of Goa. . 37. ‘Festival of India’ Begins in Kathmandu - A month-long ‘Festival of India’ began in Kathmandu, Nepal, to familiarise the new generation of the country about the similarities between the two countries.

163 www.gradeup.co 38. Foundation stone laid for Hastshilp complex in New Delhi – The Union Minister for Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani laid the foundation stone of a Hastshilp Complex in New Delhi. The complex would be named after Deendayal Upadhyaya as Deen Dayal Antarashtriya Hastshilp Bhawan.

January- May 2019

1. Kashi Vishwanath Corridor – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone for the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. • The project envisions a massive makeover of the holy shrine and its surrounding areas. • This massive makeover is the first after the 1780 AD when the Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore renovated the temple and the area surrounding it. • The proposed 50-feet corridor will directly connect Ganga’s Manikarnika and Lalita Ghat to the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Temple. • The total cost of the project is pegged at Rs 600 crore. • The Kashi Vishwanath temple located on the left bank of the holy river Ganga. 2. Parsis Celebrate Navroz – Navroz is the Iranian New Year celebrated by several ethnolinguistic communities around the world irrespective of their religious background. • In India Parsis who follow Zoroastrianism celebrate Navroz. Navroz was celebrated on March 21st. 3. New Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology Inaugurated – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the new Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. • On the occasion, he also unveiled the statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya at the campus and visited the Deendayal Museum in the Institute campus. 4. Ugadi/Yugadi - Ugadi festival celebrated in Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh 5. Gudi Padwa - Gudi Padwa is celebrated in the state of Maharashtra. 6. Baisakhi - Baisakhi is the Punjabi New Year celebrated in the month of April by performing their folk dance, Bhangra and Gidda and feasting. 7. Puthandu - Puthandu is the Tamil New Year celebrated in the month of April by preparing Manga Pachadi a traditional food to ring in their new year. 8. Bohag Bihu - Bohag Bihu is the Assamese New year celebrated by performing the folk dance Bihu and a grand buffet. 9. Pohela Boishakh - Pohela Boishakh is the Bengali New Year celebrated with making many sweetmeats. 10. Bestu Varas - Bestu Varas is celebrated in Gujarat on the day after Deepavali. Marwaris in Rajasthan also celebrate their new year during Deepavali. 11. Vishu - Vishu is the Malayali New Year celebrated in the state of Kerala in the month of April. 12. Losoong - Losoong is the Sikkimese New Year and falls in December at the end of harvesting. It is celebrated by performing Chham dance. 13. Navreh - Navreh is the Kashmiri New Year celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaitra. 14. Prayagraj Kumbha Mela 2019 makes it to the Guinness World Records – The Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019 has made into Guinness World Records in the following three sectors: • Largest traffic and crowd management plan. • Biggest painting exercise of public sites under paint my city scheme. • Biggest sanitation and waste disposal mechanism. Note: • Kumbh Mela, the festival of the sacred pitcher is the largest public gathering and collective act of faith, anywhere in the world. • This Hindu pilgrimage Kumbh Mela is celebrated four times over a course of 12 years over four locations in India. The site of Kumbh Mela keeps rotating between one of the four pilgrimages on four sacred rivers as listed below: • Haridwar on the Ganges in Uttarakhand

164 www.gradeup.co • Ujjain on the Shipra in Madhya Pradesh • Nashik on the Godavari in Maharashtra • Prayagraj at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati in Uttar Pradesh. • The Kumbh Mela has been inscribed on the list of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO in 2017. 15. Ghumot to be declared Goa’s heritage musical instrument – The Art and Culture Minister of Goa, Govind Gaude has announced that Ghumot, an indigenous earthen drum will soon be notified as a heritage instrument of Goa. • Ghumot is an indigenous earthen drum fashioned as a designed clay pot, with the skin of the monitor lizard stretched taut across the pot’s mouth, forming a drumhead. • Ghumot is a percussion instrument widely played during Ganesh Chaturthi Aarties. 16. ‘Festival of India’ Begins in Kathmandu - A month-long ‘Festival of India’ began in Kathmandu, Nepal, to familiarise the new generation of the country about the similarities between the two countries. 17. Foundation stone laid for Hastshilp complex in New Delhi – The Union Minister for Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani laid the foundation stone of a Hastshilp Complex in New Delhi. The complex would be named after Deendayal Upadhyaya as Deen Dayal Antarashtriya Hastshilp Bhawan.

Science & Defense

Military Exercise

September

1. ‘SLINEX 2019’ - the bilateral maritime exercise between India and Sri Lanka held at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). 2. EX TSENTR 2019: India, Pakistan forces to be part of military exercise in Russia • Armies of India, Pakistan will take part in this year’s military exercise TSENTR 2019 that will be conducted by Russia from September 9 to 23, 2019. Note: • Russia holds major military exercise every year at one of its four military Commands i.e Vostok (East), Zapad (West), TSENTR (Centre) and Kavkas (South). 3. AUMX: 1st ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise • The first ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise (AUMX) between regional bloc- Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and United States kicked off at the Sattahip Naval Base in Thailand. 4. Exercise “Yudh Abhyas 2019” - joint military exercise between India & US. • This exercise is being conducted at Joint Base Lewis Mc Chord, Washington, USA from 05-18 September 2019.

July

1. Garuda-VI: Joint Air Exercise between Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air Force at Mont de Marsan in France. 2. ISALEX19 - The first edition of the joint security exercise of International Security Alliance (ISA), ISALEX19 held in Abu Dhabi, UAE (United Arab Emirates).

June & May 2019

1. Kharga Prahar - The “Kharga Prahar”, a major training exercise conducted by the Indian Army in Punjab from 27 May 2019 concluded on 4 June 2019.

165 www.gradeup.co • The Indian Army’s II Corps, based in is known as Kharga Corps. It has been stationed at Ambala since 1985. 2. SIMBEX-19 Naval Exercise – Naval exercise between India & Singapore. • The 26th Edition of Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX)-19 has commenced in the South China Sea. • In addition to IN Ships Kolkata and Shakti, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I participated in the exercise. 3. Exercise Pacific Vanguard 2019 - US, Japan, South Korea, Australia hold 1st Naval Drills in Western Pacific in Guam.

April

1. Varuna 19.1 - naval exercise between India & France. • The first part of the Indo-French joint naval exercise, Varuna 19.1 conducted in Off Goa Coast. • The second part, Varuna 19.2, is scheduled to be held at the end of May in Djibouti. 2. ‘Bold Kurukshetra–2019 - joint military exercise between India & Singapore held in Babina Cantonment in Jhansi. 3. African Lion 2019 - joint military exercise between Morocco and the US held in southern Morocco. 4. IN – VPN BILAT EX - bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and Vietnam Peoples’ Navy conducted at/ off Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.

March 2019

1. AUSINDEX - bilateral joint exercise between India and Australia held in held in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. 2. Mitra shakti-VI - bilateral joint exercise between India and Sri Lanka. The exercise is conducted annually as part of military diplomacy in Sri Lanka. 3. AFINDEX-19 – Africa-India Field Training Exercise-2019 for India and African nations held at Aundh Military Station, Pune. 4. Al Nagah 2019 – bilateral joint exercise between India and Oman held at at Jabel Al Akhdar Mountains in Oman. 5. ‘Mainamati Maitree Exercise 2019’ – b/w India & Bangladesh • Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) took part in the ‘Mainamati Maitree Exercise 2019 which was held in held in Agartala, Tripura.

February 2019

1. ‘Sampriti 2019’ – (8th edition) joint military exercise between India & Bangladesh held in at Tangail, Bangladesh. 2. Vayu Shakti’ Exercise - Indian Air Force conducted mega exercise ‘Vayu Shakti’ in Pokhran, Rajasthan. 3. Cobra Gold Military Exercises – Thailand and the United States hosted the annual Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand. 1. Apart from the 2 countries, 7 countries who participated in the exercise were India, Singapore, Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea.

January 2019

1. `Exercise Rahat´ - Joint Humanitarian Assistance and 3. ‘Aman 19’ - The 5-day multinational maritime exercise Disaster Relief Exercise `Exercise Rahat´ concluded in ‘AMAN-19’ in which 46 nations participated from all Jaipur, Rajasthan. over the world was formally commenced at Pakistan 2. ‘Exercise Topchi’ - Indian Army carried out the annual Navy Dockyard in Karachi. exercise named ‘Exercise Topchi’ which was held at Deolali Camp near Nashik.

166 www.gradeup.co 4. ‘Cutclass Express 2019’ - INS Trikand, the frontline • The ICGS Shaunkak is a 105-metre class warship of the Indian Navy, participated in a multi- Offshore Patrol Vessel and is one of the national training exercise ‘CUTCLASS EXPRESS 2019’. largest ships in the Indian Coast Guard. • The annual Exercise Cutlass Express is 6. IAFTX 2019: Indian Africa Field Training Exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (IAFTX) will be held at Aundh Military Station and (USAFRICOM) and conducted by Naval College of Military Engineering, Pune, Maharashtra. Forces Africa (NAVAF). The joint training exercise is being conducted with 5. Disaster Control Exercise: The coast guards of India more than a dozen African countries & India. and Japan undertook disaster control, search and 7. IMBEX 2018-19: bilateral army exercise between rescue exercises off the coast of Yokohama in Japan. India & Myanmar was held in Chandimandir Military Note: Station in Haryana. • Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Shaunak is 8. ‘Sea Vigil’: Indian Navy commenced the largest coastal the main Indian ship took part in the drills. defence exercise off the Indian coast.

Science & Technology

September 1. National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) will launch ‘Samudrayaan project by 2021-22 to explore the deep sea region. • It is pilot project of Union Ministry of Earth Sciences as part the Rs 6000 crore ‘Deep Ocean’ mission for deep ocean mining of rare minerals.

August

5. Intel launches first artificial intelligence chip • The program will be open for technocrats and Springhill IT professionals across the government, • Intel Corp launched its latest processor, it’s including employees of Public Sector first using artificial intelligence (AI), designed Undertakings (PSUs). for large computing centres. 7. NASA honours Rolling Stones by naming rock on • The chip developed at its development facility Mars – NASA announced that it has named rock on in Haifa, Israel. Mars in honour of the iconic English band, The Rolling • The name of the chip is Nervana NNP-I or Stones. Springhill and it is based on a 10 nanometre • The space agency revealing that the “Rolling Ice Lake processor that will allow it to cope Stones Rock” was a stone that was sent rolling with high workloads using minimal amounts of after NASA’s InSight lander touched down on energy. the Mars’ surface. 6. Microsoft to train 5000 govt employees on AI, 8. Russia sends its first humanoid robot Fedor into cloud – Microsoft India launched a program under space – Russia launched an unmanned rocket carrying which it will train 5000 government employees over a life-size humanoid robot named Fedor, (Final the next year on AI (artificial intelligence) and cloud Experimental Demonstration Object Research). computing skills. • Fedor will spend 10 days learning to assist • This program was inaugurated by Amitabh astronauts on the International Space Station. Kant, chief executive of NITI Aayog. 9. Cerebras Systems reveals “world’s largest • The program, called ‘Digital Governance computer chip” – Artificial intelligence(AI) company Tech Tour’, will comprise of physical and Cerebras Systems has unveiled the world’s largest virtual workshops.

167 www.gradeup.co single silicon-based processor named Cerebras Wafer 16. PRETOMANID: US FDA approves new drug for Scale Engine(WSE). drug-resistant TB – United States (US) Food and Drug 10. IIT-Delhi start-up wins NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Administration (FDA) has approved new drug- Design Award 2019 – IIT-Delhi, Ankita Gulati was Pretomanid for treating drug-resistant strain of awarded the NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Tuberculosis (TB). Award 2019 for developing a multisensory kit named • Pretomanid is novel compound developed by TouchVision. New York-based non-profit organisation TB 11. Akademik Lomonosov: Russia launches world’s Alliance. It is used alongside two other first floating nuclear reactor – Russia launched antibiotics (bedaquiline and linezolid) to treat world’s first floating nuclear reactor called Akademik extremely drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis. Lomonosov, sending it on epic journey across the 17. ROTAVAC Vaccine to be expand to entire country – Arctic. Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has 12. IIT-Madras researchers develop industrial and decided to expand Rotavirus vaccine to the entire field robot ‘GraspMan’ – IIT Madras researchers have country from September 2019. It will provide develop a multi-modal robot with Industrial and field Rotavirus vaccine to every child across all 36 applications called ‘GraspMan’ . states/UTs by September, 2019. • GraspMan consists a pair of graspers, which 18. A team of researchers at Indian Institute of provide morphological adaptation, enabling it Technology, Guwahati (IIT-G) has developed portable to conform to the geometry of the object being diagnostic device to detect bacteria without cell grasped. culture or microbiological assays. • This allows the grasper to hold objects 19. China successfully launched a new rocket for securely and manipulate it much like the commercial use named Smart Dragon-1. human hand. 20. NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite 13. Meghdoot app launched to assist farmers – The (TESS) mission has discovered GJ 357 d, a super-Earth Ministries of Earth Sciences and Agriculture have planet located 31 light years away from our own solar launched a mobile application that will provide system. location, and crop and livestock-specific weather- • About GJ 357 d based agro advisories to farmers in local languages. • It is super-Earth planet discovered in early • The app has been named Meghdoot and can 2019 by NASA’s TESS. It is located GJ 357 be downloaded from Google Play Store and planetary system which has diminutive M-type App Store. dwarf sun, about one-third the size of our own 14. ICMR launches India Hypertension Control sun and harbour in three planets including GJ Initiative – In India, one in four adults has high blood 357 d. pressure. 21. NASA PUNCH Mission - NASA's ‘Polarimeter to Unify • To deal with the problem, Indian Council of the Corona and Heliosphere’ (PUNCH) mission is Medical Research (ICMR), in collaboration with focused on understanding the transition of particles World Health Organization and Ministry of from the outer corona of the Sun to the solar wind that Health and Family Welfare, has decided to fills the interplanetary space. expand its India Hypertension Control • NASA has selected Texas-based Southwest Initiative (IHCI) across the country. Research Institute to lead its PUNCH mission 15. ICMR finalizes India’s first National Essential which will image the Sun. Diagnostics List – Indian Council of Medical Research • Dipankar Banerjee, solar physicist from Indian (ICMR) has finalized India’s first National Essential Institute of Astrophysics is also a Co- Diagnostics List (NEDL). Investigator of the PUNCH mission. • With this, India has become the first country to 22. ISRO sets up Space Situational Awareness Control compile such list that will provide guidance to Centre in Bengaluru – Indian Space Research government for deciding kind of diagnostic Organisation (ISRO) laid foundation stone for Space tests that different healthcare facilities in Situational Awareness Control Centre in Bengaluru, villages and remote areas require.

168 www.gradeup.co Karnataka to protect Indian satellites from space representation of gold is Au) which is one debris. million times thinner than fingernail of human. • It will facilitate intensified activities foreseen As it appears to be green in the water, for Space Situational Awareness & researchers named it gold “nanoseaweed”. Management (SSAM), in view of the increasing 25. First Ever Space Museum of India Inaugurated at debris population and operational space Hyderabad – The first space museum of India opening assets. new attraction to space enthusiasts, was set up at 23. IMMUVAC , VPM1002: India’s 1st large-scale trial of Hyderabad in Telangana in association with Indian two new TB vaccines launched – Indian Council of Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Medical Research (ICMR) launched India’s first large- 26. IIT-KGP develops Hydro-Thermal Carbonization scale trial for two new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines technology for Waste Management – IIT-KGP named IMMUVAC and VPM1002 (Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur) 24. World’s thinnest gold created by British Scientists researchers develop new technology- Hydro Thermal • Scientists from the University of Leeds, United Carbonization (HTC) for solid waste management. Kingdom (UK), claim to have created the • This Hydro Thermal Carbonization Technology world’s thinnest gold (periodic table can convert municipal solid waste to biofuel, soil amendment and absorbents.

July

1. Chandrayaan 2 mission –India’s second moon • Chandrayaan-2 is led by Muthayya Vanitha and mission launched Ritu Karidhal, the project director and mission • On July 22, 2019, India’s 2nd moon mission director, respectively. (after Chandrayaan-1, 2008) was successfully • ‘Bahubali’ is the nicknamed of Geosynchronous launched by Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk-III. Vehicle - GSLV-MkIII-M1 from Second Launch • Chandrayaan-2 will be the first spacecraft to land Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, near the South Pole of the moon and the landing Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. will be attempted on September 7, 2019. • India became the fourth country after Russia, • It is an Rs 978-crore project. the US and China to pull off a soft landing on • The first spacecraft, Chandrayaan-1, launched in the moon. 2008 and orbited the moon without landing on it. • It is the world’s first mission to Moon’s South The new mission will attempt to do what the first Pole. could not. • ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan. 2. Cabinet approves ISRO Technical Liaison Unit at Key points Moscow – Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister • Chandrayaan-2 is India's second mission to the Narendra Modi has approved setting up of Indian moon. Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Technical Liaison • It comprises a fully indigenous Orbiter, Lander Unit (ITLU) at Moscow, Russia. (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan). • It is mandated to collaborate with Space • The Rover Pragyan is housed inside Vikram lander. agencies and industries in Russia and • The mission objective of Chandrayaan-2 is to neighbouring countries for mutually develop and demonstrate the key technologies for synergetic outcomes. end-to-end lunar mission capability, including soft- 3. NASA’s discover TOI 270 - NASA’s Transiting landing and roving on the lunar surface. Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) recently • Besides being India’s 2nd mission to the moon it is discovered new dwarf star and planetary system 1st-ever mission to be spearheaded by two named as TOI 270. It is located about 73 light years women. away from Earth, and in the constellation Pictor. 4. Centre plans to combat vehicle theft with Microdot Patches – Union Ministry of Road Transport &

169 www.gradeup.co Highways (MoRTH) has issued a Draft Notification GSR 10. First-ever image of quantum entanglement “Bell 521(E) that seeks to amend Central Motor Vehicle entanglement” unveiled by the physicists of Rules and allows motor vehicles and their parts, Glasgow University components, assemblies, sub-assemblies to be affixed • A team of physicists from the University of with Microdot Patches. Glasgow has taken a photo of a strong form of • Application: Use of this technology will help quantum entanglement called Bell check theft of vehicles and also use of fake entanglement. It has captured visual evidence spare parts. of an elusive phenomenon which a baffled 5. NASA to send “first woman and next man” on Moon Albert Einstein once called “spooky action at a in 2024 – U.S. space agency NASA prepares to send distance”. “first woman and next man” on Moon as part of its 11. JATAN: special software for Digitization of ambitious Artemis programme in 2024. Archaeological Museum – The Minister of State (I/c) • NASA has marked the 50th anniversary of the of Culture and Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel historic first Moon landing. informed Lok Sabha about JATAN: Virtual Museum 6. U.S. celebrates 50 years of the Apollo 11 mission – software. JATAN has been developed by Human U.S. celebrates the Apollo 11 mission’s 50th year Centres Design and Computing Group, C-DAC, Pune, anniversary. July 20, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary Maharashtra. of Apollo 11 mission. About JATAN Note: • JATAN is used for creating digital collections in • On July 20, 1969, 600 million people watched various museums and digital archival tools with anxious excitement as Neil A. Armstrong that are used in background for managing and Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. and and Michael National Portal and Digital Repository for Collins took their first steps on the moon's Indian Museums. surface. 12. NASA’s Dragonfly to look for Origins, Signs of Life • The mission, dubbed Apollo 11, was the climax in Titan – National Aeronautics and Space of the Apollo program, which pushed human Administration (NASA) recently announced its plan to spaceflight forward faster than ever before. launch Dragonfly drone helicopter to Saturn’s largest 7. CARE4U app: for elderly people developed by IIT moon Titan in search of building blocks of life. Kharagpur team – To help geriatric care, students of • Titan. Dragonfly will launch be launched in IIT Kharagpur have developed an application called 2026 and will arrive at its destination in 2034. CARE4U that connect the caregiver to the elderly 13. NASA successfully tests launch-abort system for person. It will inform the caregiver when elderly moon-mission capsule – The National Aeronautics person falls down with exact location. and Space Administration (NASA) successfully 8. ISRO to launch India’s 1st solar mission Aditya-L1 conducted the test of a launch-abort system for the in the first half of 2020 - On July 23, 2019, The Indian Orion capsule designed to take United States (US) Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced astronauts to the Moon. that it will launch its first solar mission Aditya-L1 in • It took place at the Cape Canaveral Air Force the first half of 2020. It will be the first dedicated Station in Florida, US. It was launched by a scientific mission to study Sun’s corona. mini-rocket, a repurposed first stage of an 9. India’s first space tech park to come up in intercontinental ballistic missile. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala June

1. Indian Railways conducting trials of Tri-Netra Optical & Radar Assisted) technology for detecting technology – Union Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal obstructions on tracks. during Question Hour informed Rajya Sabha members 2. NASA’s Mars Rover detects High Levels of Methane that Indian Railways is conducting TRI-NETRA – The Curiosity Rover of National Aeronautics and (Terrain Imaging for Drivers Infrared, Enhanced, Space Administration (NASA), an independent federal agency of United States has found the largest amount

170 www.gradeup.co of methane ever measured during its mission on Red • It captures infrared light, which is often Planet (Mars). emitted by “warm” objects that aren’t quite hot 3. India gets new C-ATFM System – India now has a enough to radiate visible light. state-of-the-art Central Command Centre for Air Traffic 7. ISRO opens its laboratories for Indian school Flow Management (C-ATFM) in New Delhi, which will students - The Indian Space Research Organization optimise utilisation of resources such as airspace and (ISRO) has, for the first time, opened its laboratories aircraft at the capacity-constrained Indian airports. for Indian school students to undergo two-week 4. LESA: ESA tests device to rescue injured astronauts training from this year. – European Space Agency (ESA) recently tested a • The training module has been devised as part device called Evacuation System Assembly (or LESA), of its new Young Scientists Programme, or which is designed to assist in astronaut rescue Yuva Vigyanik Karyakram, YUVIKA. missions on the surface of Moon. 8. HCL to roll out “Tech Bee” programme - HCL • As per ESA, it is world’s 1st device aimed to Technologies is all set to roll out “Tech Bee” help future incapacitated astronauts. programme, a company initiative under which it trains 5. Facebook’s Cryptocurrency ‘Libra’ - Facebook has and hires students who have completed XII standard, officially announced the details of its new global across several states. cryptocurrency called Libra. This Facebook owned • Tech Bee is a HCL’s early career programme in cryptocurrency Libra will be launched by social media which company provides students an giant in 2020. opportunity to start early and become 6. NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope to Retire in 2020 – financially independent and trendsetters. After nearly 16 years of exploring the cosmos in • Enrolled students are paid stipend of Rs infrared light, NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope will be 10,000 per month. switched off permanently on Jan. 30, 2020. • Spitzer is a small but transformational observatory. May

1. NewSpace India Limited: ISRO’s new Commercial • The Centre has officially sanctioned Rs.10,000 Arm – The Indian Space Research Organisation’s crore in December 2018. On 30 January 2019, (ISRO) new commercial arm called NewSpace India ISRO has set up Human Spaceflight Centre at Limited (NSIL) was officially inaugurated in Bengaluru. its headquarters in Bengaluru. • NSIL is provided an authorised share capital 3. WHO partners with IFBA to eliminate Trans Fat - worth Rs.100 crore and initial paid up capital The World Health Organization (WHO) has partnered of Rs.10 crore. with International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) • NSIL’s main objective is to scale up industry to achieve its target under ‘REPLACE Strategy’ of participation in Indian space programmes. eliminating Trans-fat from industrially produced • The first commercial venture of DoS was global food supply by 2023. Antrix Corporation Limited, which was set up 4. ISRO announces Seven Mega Missions – The Indian in September 1992 to market products and Space Research Organisation (ISRO), recently services of Indian Space Research Organisation announced its planned seven mega missions, including (ISRO). Chandrayaan-2 (India’s second lunar exploration 2. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has signed a Memorandum mission) which will be conducted over a period of next of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Space Research 10 years. The ISRO has also prepared a roadmap for Organisation (ISRO) for astronaut selection and next 30 years. training for ambitious Gaganyaan Programme, 5. ISRO inaugurates ‘Yuvika 2019’: The Young scheduled for 2022. Scientist Programme – ISRO Chairman Dr K. Sivan • Gaganyaan Mission is India’s maiden human inaugurated ISRO’s Young Scientist Programme called spaceflight programme, scheduled for 2022. ‘Yuvika 2019’ at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

171 www.gradeup.co Key points 8. ISRO successfully launched earth observation • The YUVIKA (or ‘YUva VIgyani KAryakram’) satellite ‘RISAT-2B’ – Indian Space Research 2019, is a two week (14 days) summer Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched the vacation residential training programme, ‘RISAT-2B’ Satellite from the Sriharikota’s, Satish which will be conducted by ISRO from 13 May Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR. to 26 May 2019. • The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C46) • It was launched by ISRO in tune with the lifted-off from the First Launch Pad and Centre governments vision of “Jai Vigyan, Jai injected RISAT-2B into an orbit of 556 km. Anusandhan”. This is the first time it is being • The RISAT-2B is a radar imaging earth held. observation satellite, weighing about 615 kg. 6. MoU: signed between IIT Guwahati and ISRO – The • The satellite is intended to provide services in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati has the field of agriculture, forestry and disaster signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoU with the management. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to set up an 9. Scientists carry out first ever Genetic Study on IITG-ISRO Space Technology Cell (STC). Lakshadweep Island’s Natives – For the very first • The Space Technology Cell (STC) would be a time scientists carried out genetic study on people of first of its kind in the North-East region that Lakshadweep Islands. would augment research and capacity building • It was conducted by a team of researchers at processes in field of space-technology. CSIR’s (Council of Scientific & Industrial 7. NASA unveils schedule for ‘Artemis’ 2024 Moon Research) Centre for Cellular and Molecular mission – NASA unveiled the calendar for the Biology (CCMB). “Artemis” program that will return astronauts to the • The authors studied major islands of Kadmat, Moon for the first time in half a century, including eight Andorth, Chetlat, Agatti, Kalpeni, Bitra, Kiltan scheduled launches and a mini-station in lunar orbit by and Minicoy of Lakshadweep. 2024.

April

1. China Launches Its 2nd Generational Data Relay 4. Tesla Builds its ‘largest Energy Storage System in Satellite, Tianlian II-01 Asia’ – Tesla has developed its ‘largest power storage 2. Astronomers Capture first-ever image of a Black system in Asia’ at Osaka train station in Japan to Hole – Astronomers have taken the first-ever image of reduce energy demand and provide emergency backup a black hole, which is located in a distant galaxy known power to trains in Japan. as ‘Messier 87’ (M87) around 55 million light-years 5. Google launches new cloud platform Anthos – away from Earth. Google launched Anthos, a new open platform from • It was captured by the Event Horizon Google Cloud, that lets users run applications from Telescope (EHT), a network of eight linked anywhere. telescopes. It measures 40 billion km space 6. Google has opened its first African artificial across and has been described by scientists as intelligence (AI) centre in Ghana – Google has “a monster”. opened its first African artificial intelligence (AI) 3. ISRO launches PSLV C-45 carrying EMISAT & 28 centre in Accra, Ghana. Nano Satellites – The Indian Space Research • The research laboratory will host software Organisation (ISRO) has launched a Defence engineers and research scientists to work on Intelligence Satellite, EMISAT in its 47th Polar Satellite projects dedicated to next-generation Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission, along with 28 other technology. customer satellites, onboard the advanced PSLV-C45 • Note: Accra is the capital and Cedi is the Rocket. currency of Ghana. • The PSLV C45 was launched from ISRO’s Satish 7. South Korea launches World’s First National 5G Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Networks – South Korea launches the world’s first

172 www.gradeup.co fully-fledged 5G mobile networks. The system will launched into space from NASA’s Flight Facility on bring smartphones near-instantaneous connectivity 20 Virginia’s east shore. times faster than the existing 4G allowing users to • Raavana 1 weights around 1.05 kg and is 1000 download entire movies in less than a second. cubic centimetres in size. 8. Nepal launches Its first Satellite from USA - Nepal’s • The minimum lifespan of the satellite is around first satellite NepaliSat-1 was launched into space one and a half years and it is expected to be from the Virginia-based station of the National active for five years. Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the • Raavana 1 satellite was designed and built at US. the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan by • NepaliSat-1 will start rotating around the two Sri Lankan research engineers. Earths orbit to collect information about the • Raavana 1 satellite’s camera mission is to country’s topography and Earths magnetic capture images of Sri Lanka and its field. neighbouring countries. • The satellite also bears the Nepal flag and logo 10. First privately funded mission to the Moon of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology ‘Beresheet’ spacecraft crashed into the moon’s surface (NAST). - Beresheet is an Israeli mission. It is the first privately • The satellite is equipped with a 5MP camera to funded lunar mission. capture Nepal’s topography and a • Beresheet crashed during landing on lunar magnetometer to collect data related to the surface. Earth’s magnetic field. • It was launched with a partnership between 9. Sri Lanka’s 1st Satellite ‘Raavana-1’ launched into non-profit Spacell_ and government owned Space – Sri Lanka’s first satellite Raavana-1 was aerospace company of Israel • .

March

1. ISRO launches ‘Yuva Vigyani Karyakram’ for School of manual scavenging at the cost of Rs 18 lakh in Children – Indian Space Research Organisation has Chennai, Tamil Nadu. launched ‘Yuva VIgyani Karyakram’, a ‘Young Scientist 5. First Humanoid Police Robot KP-BOT launched in Programme’ for the School Children to be studying in Kerala – Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, the 9th standard. inaugurated India’s first Humanoid Police Robot 2. NASA to launch SPHEREx Mission to Investigate named KP-BOT, ranked as Sub-Inspector (SI), at the Universe – NASA has announced a new space Police Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. telescope mission dedicated to understanding the • The robot’s gender is declared female keeping origins of life and the universe. in mind women empowerment and gender • It’s called the Spectro-Photometer for the equality. History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer or SPHEREx, for short. The space agency is aiming for a 2023 launch. 3. China’s Xinhua unveils World’s First Female AI News Anchor – Chinese news agency Xinhua unveiled the world’s first female AI news anchor Xin Xiaomeng. She has been developed in collaboration with Sogou Inc, a search engine company. 4. Bandicoot- a drainage cleaning Robot Introduced in Chennai – Bandicoot, a drainage-cleaning robot, has been introduced for the first time in India at the Kumbakonam city corporation as part of efforts to rid

173 www.gradeup.co

January & February 2019

BSNL to Offer Data Connectivity Services via SMS in India

• BSNL has signed a partnership agreement with the French company Be-Bound to offer data connectivity through SMS in areas where there is no Internet connectivity or signal breaks. • The SMS based data connectivity will work with the help of a technology embedded in a mobile App. • The connectivity is based on SMS sent to and fro between the app and the Be-Bound server. • This technology was first introduced in France and it is also being tested in some of the African countries. In India, BSNL is in talks with some apps to implement the technology. 1. ISRO launches GSAT31 from French Guiana • India’s communication satellite GSAT-31 launched successfully from Kourou Launch Base, French Guiana (at Indian time- 2:31 am). Note: • GSAT-31 (India’s 40th communication satellite) will provide transponder capacity for DTH television and connectivity to services like VSATs for ATMs, stock-exchanges, Digital Satellite News Gathering DSNG and e- governance applications. • GSAT-31 had a lift-off mass of 2536 kg and operational life of over fifteen years. 2. Isro to set up Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru Gaganyaan mission - The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is setting up a ‘Human Space Flight Centre’ in Bengaluru, which will support its quest of making country’s maiden manned space mission a success. Note: • The total fund for the Gaganyaan programme is Rs 10,000 crore. 3. ISRO Successfully launched PSLV C44 Carrying Kalamsat & Microsat R satellite • The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launched the PSLV C 44 carrying Kalamsat and imaging satellite Microsat R. • The satellite was launched from the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. About Kalamsat • Kalamsat is a payload developed by students and Chennai based Space Kidz India for the first time. • Kalamsat, a 10-CM size cube and weighing 1.2 kg said to be the lightest satellite of India. About Microsat-R (military satellite) • Microsat-R is an earth observing satellite manufactured by DRDO and launched by Indian Space Research Organisation. • Microsat-R is primarily a dedicated military satellite for the Indian Armed Forces's Integrated Space Cell. 4. Facebook to set up an Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence • Facebook grants $7.5 million to set up an Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany. • The Institute will help to advance the growing field of ethical research on new technology and will explore fundamental issues affecting the use and impact of AI. • The Institute will explore the ethical issues of AI and develop ethical guidelines for the responsible use of technology in society and the economy. • TUM was ranked 6th in the world for AI research by the Times Higher Education magazine in 2018. 5. Young Scientist Programme • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced Young Scientist Programme to inculcate and nurture space research fervour in young minds. Young Scientist programme is part of Isro’s efforts to reach out to the student community. 6. Samwad with Students • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched an outreach programme called Samwad with Students.

174 www.gradeup.co • Isro’s outreach programme was aimed at motivating young India and tapping their scientific potential. 7. Pune to soon be first city in country to see a traffic robot • The traffic police authorities of Pune are planning to introduce a robot named ‘Roadeo’ which would move around city roads, functioning as a quasi-traffic policeman and cautioning commuters about traffic rules and offences. • Roadeo consists of 16-inch LED display to showcase traffic rules and other important messages such as ‘Wear a helmet’, ‘Do not jump the signal’ and others. • It is a first of its kind initiative in the entire country. • The Robot “Roadeo” is developed by SP Robotics Maker Lab, a Pune based laboratory that trains people to learn about robotics and build tech themselves. 8. First manned mission to space by December 2021: ISRO chief • ISRO Chairman Dr. K Sivan has announced that the organization is well prepared to meet the targets of launching Gaganyaan manned mission to outer space by December 2021. • Under Gaganyaan project, India is planning to send three astronauts to outer space for seven days and bring them back. • The initial training for Gaganyaan will be done in India and advanced training might happen in Russia. • Women astronauts will be there on the team. The salient features of the Gaganyaan Mission are: • The Mission aims to carry three human beings for a maximum period of seven days in space with the support of academia, the scientific community, industry, IAF and Isro (Indian Space Research Organisation). • India will launch two unmanned missions before the final mission. • The first unmanned test-flight will be launched in December 2020. • The second unmanned test will be conducted in July 2021 and the human space flight will be launched in December 2021. • A human-rated GSLV Mk-lll will be used to carry the orbital module. Union Cabinet approves budget for Gaganyaan project • The Union Cabinet has approved a budget of Rs 10,000 crore for India’s Gaganyaan project. 9. Govt allocates Rs 10,900 Cr For Development of 40 Satellite Launch Vehicles • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr. K Sivan stated that the Union Government has allocated 10,900 crore rupees for the development of 40 satellite launch vehicles in the next 4 years. 10. Paper Sensor to detect freshness of Milk • Scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, have developed a paper kit to test the freshness of milk and determine how well the milk has been pasteurized. 11. Chandrayaan-2 mission launch most likely in Feb: ISRO • Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will most likely launch Chandrayaan-2, the country’s second mission to the Moon in the month of February. The features of the Chandrayaan-2 mission are: • Chandrayaan-2 mission is a totally indigenous venture comprising of an orbiter, a lander and a rover. • The rover will observe the lunar surface and send back the data. This data will be useful for analysis of the lunar soil. • The payloads will collect scientific information on lunar topography, mineralogy, elemental abundance, lunar exosphere and signatures of hydroxyl and water-ice. • The 3,290-kg Chandrayaan-2 will orbit the Moon and perform the objectives of remote sensing the moon. Note: • India’s first lunar probe Chandrayaan-1 was launched by the ISRO in October 2008 and operated till August 2009. 12. China’s Chang’e 4 probe makes historic touchdown • China’s Chang’e 4 probe spacecraft has become the first spacecraft to land on the far side of the moon. • Chang’e 4 is a Chinese lunar exploration mission that aims to achieve soft-landing on the far side of the Moo • The mission aims to deliver samples of Moon rock and soil to Earth.

175 www.gradeup.co 13. Japan Launches Satellite for World’s 1st Artificial Meteor Shower • Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has launched Tokyo-based startup Star-ALE’s mini-satellite aimed to deliver the world’s first artificial meteor shower. 14. IIT-M recreates Space Fuel • The researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) have recreated space fuel by simulating interstellar conditions in the laboratory. • It is a big breakthrough for India in the exploration of cleaner and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel. 15. NASA Discovers new planet ‘HD 21749b’ • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of USA has discovered a new planet. • It is the third new planet discovered by the NASA mission, Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). • The new planet HD 21749b is outside our solar system and orbits a dwarf star 53 light years away. • HD 21749b orbits a bright star in the constellation Reticulum. • It has the longest orbital period of all the three discoveries made by TESS. • HD 21749b orbits its star in a relatively leisurely 36 days. • The other two discoveries made by the TESS probe are Pi Mensae b and LHS 3844b. • Pi Mensae b has an orbit of 6.3 days and LHS 3844b has an orbit of just 11 hours. 16. IIT-H Launches full-fledged B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence • Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H) has announced the launch of a full-fledged bachelor’s programme in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology from the new academic session, a first for the country and only the third globally. • The new course will have 20 seats and the eligibility is clearing the JEE-Advanced test.

176 www.gradeup.co Reports/Survey • The report named, ‘The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World’, 1. Mumbai most preferred city for co-living in India: produced by the UN Food and Agriculture Knight Frank Organization and other UN agencies, including • According to the report of property consultant WHO, was released. Knight Frank Mumbai ranks 5th among 20 cities in • The report is part of tracking progress towards the Asia Pacific that can emerge as a co-living Sustainable Development Goal to Zero Hunger, destination. which aims to end hunger, promote food • Whereas, India capital city New Delhi ranked at security and end all forms of malnutrition by 11th and Bengaluru at 19th rank in the list, 2030. according to Knight Frank's report 'Insights on Co- Number of hungry people in the world in 2018: 821.6 living: An Asia-Pacific Perspective.' million (or 1 in 9 people) • Beijing, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong are the • Asia: 513.9 million. top four cities in the list. • Africa: 256.1million. 2. India Is the top Emitter of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) in • Latin America and the Caribbean: 42.5 million. the World: Greenpeace 4. India stays lower-middle-income nation while Sri • According to a data released by a non- Lanka gets richer: World Bank Report governmental environmental organization, • According to the World Bank’s classification of Greenpeace, India is the world’s top emitter of countries by income levels, released on July 1, anthropogenic sulphur dioxide (SO2) in the 2019, India continues to be a lower-middle- world with more than 15% of all the SO2 income country along with 46 others, while Sri hotspots, tracked by NASA’s (National Lanka has climbed to the upper-middle- Aeronautics and Space Administration) OMI income group for the fiscal year (FY) 2020. (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) satellite. • India became a lower-middle-income nation • The name of the report is “Global SO2 emission from low-income in FY 2009. hotspot database: Ranking the world’s worst • Sri Lanka entered the lower-middle-income sources of SO2 pollution”. It is written by Sunil group in FY 1999, from the low-income Dahiya and Lauri Myllyvirta. category and continued for over two decades, • SO2 hotspots in India: The reports finds that before moving to the upper-middle-income Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh, Neyveli, and group this year. Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Talcher and • The World Bank classifies economies based on Jharsuguda in Odisha, Korba in Chhattisgarh, gross national income (GNI) per capita Kutch in Gujarat, Ramagundam in Telangana (current US$) calculated using what is called and Chandrapur and Koradi in Maharashtra the Atlas method. are the major SO2 hotspots in India. • Argentina is the only country that slipped from • SO2 Hotspots in the World: Norilsk smelter the high-income to upper-middle-income complex in Russia is the largest SO2 emission group. hotspot in the world, followed by China, Classifications are determined: Mexico, Zagroz (Iran) and Kriel in • A country’s GNI per capita, which can change Mpumalanga province (South Africa). with economic growth, inflation, exchange • About SO2: It is produced from burning of coal rates, and population. Revisions to national in power plants and other industries and it is accounts methods and data can also influence known to largely contribute to air pollution. GNI per capita. 3. UN Report: Over 820 million people suffering from 5. WHO - E-2020 initiative: 2019 progress report – hunger – According to the World Health Organzation (WHO) - • A UN report has said, more than 821 million four countries from Asia — China, Iran, Malaysia and people suffered from hunger worldwide last Timor-Leste — and one from Central America — El year. It is the third year in a row that the Salvador — reported no indigenous cases of malaria number has risen. in 2018.

177 www.gradeup.co Note: • The number of persons aged 80 years or over is • Earlier in May 2019, the WHO declared Algeria projected to triple, from 143 million in 2019 to and Argentina as malaria-free. The last case of 426 million in 2050. indigenous malaria was reported from Algeria Average life expectancy in 2013 and Argentina in 2010. • The report also projected people would survive • Algeria became the second E-2020 country to longer in the future, with global average life achieve certification, after Paraguay was expectancy expected to reach 77.1 years in 2050 certified malaria-free by WHO last year. against 72.6 years currently. 6. Mercer’s 25th Annual Cost of Living Survey – • In 1990, the average life expectancy worldwide • Mumbai was considered as India’s most was 64.2 years. expensive city. 8. India accounts for 12% of world’s internet users • Costliest city in the world was Hong Kong for • According to annual report on internet trends the second consecutive year. by venture capitalist Mary Meeker, India • It was followed by Tokyo, Singapore and Seoul. accounts for 12% world’s internet users. • iLeast Expensive Cities: The world’s least • China has the largest base, accounting for 21% expensive cities for expatriates were Tunis of all internet users globally, and the US comes (209), Tashkent (208), and Karachi (207). third at 8%. • Indian Cities: Mumbai fell 12 spots and was 9. Arunachal has highest 35% of India’s Graphite ranked 67th position. Deposits: GSI Report • New Delhi stood at 118th place, Chennai was • The Geological Survey of India (GSI) in its ranked 154th position, Bengaluru at 179th report revealed that about 35 % of India’s total position and Kolkata at 189th place. Graphite reserves are found in Arunachal 7. India to cross China's population by 2027: United Pradesh. This is the highest found in the Nations country. • As per a United Nations report, India is projected 10. 2019 Global Report on Food Crises – to surpass China as the world's most populous • The report is released by the Food and country in 2027 and will have almost 1.64 billion Agriculture Organization (FAO). inhabitants by 2050. Key points – Key highlights of the report • More than 113 million people across 53 • India is expected to add nearly 273 million countries experienced “acute hunger” last year people between 2019 and 2050 and remain the because of wars and climate disasters, with most populated country through the end of the Africa the worst-hit region. current century. • Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, • China, with 1.43 billion people in 2019, and India, Afghanistan and Syria were among the eight with 1.37 billion, have long been the two most nations accounting for two-thirds of the total populous countries of the world, number of people worldwide exposed to the World Population risk of famine. • The UN report 'The World Population Prospects • African Nations were “disproportionally” 2019' added that the world's population is affected as close to 72 million people on the expected to increase by two billion people in the continent suffered acute hunger. next 30 years -- from 7.7 billion currently to 9.7 About FAO – billion in 2050. • The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a Population Growing Older specialized agency of the United Nations that leads • By 2050, one in six people in the world will be international efforts to defeat hunger. over age 65 (16 per cent), up from one in 11 in • Headquarters: Rome, Italy 2019 (9 per cent). • Founded: 16 October 1945

178 www.gradeup.co

Important Days

September

1. September 05 - International Day of Charity 7. September 22: Rose Day (Welfare of cancer patients) 2. September 08 - International Literacy Day (Theme - 8. September 23: International Day of Sign Languages Literacy and Multilingualism) 9. September 26: Day of the Deaf; World Contraception 3. September 14: Hindi Diwas Day 4. September 15: Engineers’ Day; International Day of 10. September 27: World Tourism Day; World Maritime Democracy Day 5. September 16: World Ozone Day; International Day for 11. September 29: World Heart Day Preservation 12. September 30: International Translation Day 6. September 21: Alzheimer’s Day; Day for Peace & Non- violence (UN) August

1. 1 August - Yorkshire Day 14. 15 August - Day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary 2. 6 August - Hiroshima Day 15. 16 August- Bennington Battle Day 3. 7th August – National Handloom Day 16. 17 August - Indonesian Independence Day 4. 9 August - Quit India Movement Day (The 77th 17. 19 August - World Photography Day anniversary of the August Kranti Din or Quit India 18. 19 August – World Humanitarian Day Movement was observed on 9th August 2019) 19. 20 August - World Mosquito Day 5. 9 August - Nagasaki Day 20. 20 August- Sadbhavna Divas 6. 9 August – Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 21. 20 August - Indian Akshay Urja Day 7. 10 August - World Biofuel Day (Theme for year 2019: 22. 22 August - International Day Commemorating the Production of Biodiesel from Used Cooking Oil) Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 8. 12 August - International Youth Day (theme 23. 23 August - International Day for the Remembrance of “Transforming education) the Slave Trade and its Abolition 9. 13 August - International Lefthanders Day 24. 23 August - European Day of Remembrance for Victims 10. 14 August- Youm-e-Azadi (Pakistan Independence of Stalinism and Nazism Day) 25. 26 August - Women's Equality Day 11. 15 August- National Day of mourning (Bangladesh) 26. 29 August - National Sports Day 12. 15 August - Independence Day (India) 27. 30 August - Small Industry Day 13. 15 August (UK) - Victory over Japan Day 28. 31 August - Hari Merdeka (Malaysia National Day)

July

• 1 July - Doctor's Day • 23 July - National Broadcasting day • 1 July – GST Day (Goods & Services Tax DAY) • 24 July – Aaykar Diwas (The Central Board of Direct • 1 July - National Gingersnap Day Taxes (CBDT) celebrating the 159th Income Tax Day • 2 July - World UFO Day (AaykarDiwas) on 24th July) • 2 July - National Anisette Day • 26 July - Kargil Vijay Diwas (Kargil Victory Day) – (This • 6 July - World Zoonoses Day year 20th anniversary of Kargil Diwas is celebrated). • 11 July - World Population Day • 28 July - National Parent's Day • 15 July - World Youth Skills Day • 28 July - World Nature Conservation Day • 17 July - World Day for International Justice • 28 July - World Hepatitis Day (The theme for 2019 is • 18 July - International Nelson Mandela Day “Invest in eliminating hepatitis”)

179 www.gradeup.co • 29 July - International Tiger Day • 30 July - World Day Against Trafficking

June • 1 June: World Milk Day (2019 theme - “Drink Milk: • 18 June: Autistic Pride Day Today & Everyday) • 18 June: International Picnic Day • 1 June: Global Day of Parents • 19 June: World Sickle Cell Awareness Day • 2 June: International Sex Workers Day • 19 June: World Sauntering Day • 2 June: Telangana Formation Day • 20 June: World Refugee Day (Theme for 2019: Step • 3 June: World Bicycle Day With Refugees — Take A Step on World Refugee Day) • 4 June: International Day of Innocent Children Victims • 21 June: Day of Aggression • 21 June: World Hydrography Day • 5 June: World Environment Day (2019 Theme - Beat • 21 June: International Yoga Day (Theme 2019 - Yoga Air Pollution) for Climate Action) • 7 June: World Food Safety Day • 23 June: International Olympic Day • 8 June: World Brain Tumour Day • 23 June: United Nations Public Service Day • 8 June: World Oceans Day • 23 June: International Widow's Day • 12 June: World Day Against Child Labour • 26 June: International Day against Drug Abuse and • 14 June: World Blood Donor Day (Theme 2019 - "Blood Illicit Trafficking donation and universal access to safe blood • 26 June: International Day in Support of Victims of transfusion") Torture • 15 June: World Wind Day • 27 June – (Theme for 2019 is - Micro, Small and • 15 June: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Medium sized Enterprises Day) • 3rd Sunday of June: World Father’s Day • 29 June - Statistics Day (Theme for year 2019: • 16 June: Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sustainable Development Goals) • 17 June: World Day to Combat Desertification and • 30 June: Asteroid Day Drought (International)

180 www.gradeup.co May • 1 May: International Labour Day (Theme for 2019 is - “Sustainable Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners”) • 1 May: Maharashtra Day • 3 May: Press Freedom Day (Theme for 2019 is - Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation”) • 4 May: Coal Miners Day • 4 May: International Firefighter’s Day • 5 May: World Laughter Day (first Sunday of May) • 7 May: World Asthma Day (First Tuesday of May) (Theme for 2019 is - STOP for Asthma) • 7 May: World Athletics Day • 7 May: Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti • 8 May: World Red Cross Day • 8 May: World Thalassaemia Day • 11 May: National Technology Day • 12 May: Mother's Day (Second Sunday of May) • 12 May: International Nurses Day (Theme for 2019 is - Nurses – A Voice to Lead – Health for All) • 15 May: International Day of Families • 16 May: International Day Light • 17 May: World Telecommunication & Information Society Day (Them for 2019 is - is ‘Bridging the Standardization Gap’) • 17 May: World Hypertension Day • 17 May: National Endangered Species Day (Third Friday in May) • 18 May: World AIDS Vaccine Day • 18 May: International Museum Day • 18 May: Armed Forces Day (Third Saturday of the May) • 20 May: World Bee Day • 20 May: World Metrology Day (Theme for 2019 is - The International System of Units – Fundamentally better) • 21 May: National Anti-Terrorism Day • 22 May: International Day for Biological Diversity (Theme for 2019 is - Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health’) • 29 May – International Everest Day • 31 May: Anti-Tobacco Day (Theme for 2019 is “tobacco and lung health”)

181 www.gradeup.co

182