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1 www.gradeup.co GK Capsule for AIIMS- 2019 Exam

Dear readers,

This GK Capsule is a complete docket of important Current Affairs news and events that occurred in last 4.5 months (1st January 2018 – 12th May 2019). This file is important and relevant for AIIMS competitive exams.

Economy News (May 2019)

1. SEBI bars NSE from securities market for 6 months: 2. Chief Economic Advisor appointed as Advisory Co-Location Case - The Market regulator Securities and Council Member in 15th Finance Commission - The Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has barred National Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) to Central government, Dr. Stock Exchange (NSE) from accessing the securities Krishnamurthy Subramanian is appointed as twelfth (12) market for six months and also imposed a fine of ₹1,000 member of Advisory Council of Fifteenth (15th) Finance crore on NSE in co-location case. Commission (FCc). Co-Location Case Fifteenth Finance Commission • Co-location refers to system wherein a broker’s • It was constituted in November 2017, to give server is kept in the exchange premises to reduce recommendations for tax devolution and latency (as it directly influences the amount of time other fiscal matter for five fiscal years, 1 trader takes to interact with market), or delay in April 2020- 31 March 2025. computing terms, while executing trades. • It is chaired by N. K. Singh.

April 2019

1. Government hikes customs duty on wheat to 40% • The minimum value of a single lot should be ₹1 • The government has hiked the customs duty on lakh in the case of InvITs. wheat to 40 percent from 30 percent to curb imports • Markets regulator Sebi came out with guidelines and protect the domestic industry. for determination of allotment and trading lot • The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs size for REITs and InvITs. (CBIC), through a notification, has hiked the basic Note: customs duty (BCD) on wheat to 40 percent. • Currently, in the case of an REIT issue, the minimum • The government has fixed wheat's minimum support subscription from any investor in an initial offer and price (MSP) or the price at which it buys from follow-on public offer is not less than ₹2 lakh, while farmers, at Rs 1,840 per quintal, up from Rs 1,735 a the same is ₹10 lakh in case of InvIT. year earlier, as part of its decision to fix the support 3. Microsoft becomes world’s third company to be price at a minimum of 1.5 times the production cost. worth $1 Trillion 2. SEBI reduces minimum subscription requirement for • Microsoft is now the third U.S. company to surpass a REITs, InvITs market value of $1 trillion, after Apple and Amazon. • Markets regulator Sebi has reduced the 4. Wipro acquires Philippines largest personal care minimum subscription requirement as well as company Splash Corporation defined trading lots for Real Estate Investment • Wipro Consumer Care announced that it has signed a Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment definitive agreement to acquire Splash Corporation, a Trusts (InvITs). personal care company based in the Philippines. • REITs have to offer their units in lots worth at • Splash is the largest Filipino personal care player and least ₹50,000 in initial and follow on public amongst the top five in that market with revenue of offers. $80 million.

2 www.gradeup.co • The company has built iconic brands namely 2018-19, 89% more than the previous year’s Rs SkinWhite, body lotions; Maxi-peelexfoliants and 69,198 crore. Vitress, a leave-on hair conditioner. 9. ADB committed highest-ever $3 bn in sovereign 5. Business sentiments down by 7.7% in second loans to India in 2018 quarter compared to last year: D&B report • According to the annual report, the Asian • As per a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) report, Development (ADB) agreed to provide a business sentiments continue to decline for the total of USD 3 billion in sovereign loans to India country's financial and macro-economic in 2018, which is the highest ever loan amount conditions in the second quarter of the year since sovereign operations began in the country compared to the same period a year before. in 1986. • D&B Composite Business Optimism Index • ADB committed several projects in India, conclude 78.4 scores during Q2 2019 as including in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya compared to 85.0 during Q2 2018, a decline of Pradesh, Karnataka, , Assam and 7.7%. Odisha. • According to D&B report, the business 10. India becomes net steel importer in 2018-19 sentiments were improved by 6.3% compared to • Preliminary government data given to Reuters the first quarter of 2019. showed that India was a net importer of steel • D&B Composite Business Optimism Index stands during the 2018-19 FY, the first time in three at 78.4 during Q2 2019, an increase of 6.3% as years. compared to Q1 2019. • India's finished steel exports fell by 34% to 6.36 6. IMF & World Bank launch Quasi-Cryptocurrency in million tonnes while finished steel imports rose Exploration of Blockchain Tech 4.7% to 7.84 million tonnes. • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the • India's steel imports increased by 1.9% to 7.29 World Bank have jointly launched a private million tonnes in April-February, the first 11 blockchain and quasi-crypto currency called as months of the current fiscal year, while exports “Learning Coin”. fell by 35.3% to 5.77 million tonnes. • The new 'quasi-cryptocurrency' is intended to be 11. Ministry of External Affairs sets up Indo-Pacific Wing used as a tool to explore how blockchain and • The Ministry of External Affairs has set up an cryptocurrencies work. Indo-Pacific division in the foreign office. • It will only be available for use within the IMF • The Indo-pacific division is intended to give a and the World Bank. coherent architecture to the Indo-Pacific policy • It has no monetary value, means it is not a true articulated by PM Narendra Modi at the Shangri- cryptocurrency. La Dialogue in 2018. • After the testing period, the IMF and the World • This division is the brainchild of current foreign Bank may use blockchain technology to create secretary Vijay Gokhale. smart contracts, fight money laundering, and • The Indo-Pacific Wing is currently headed by improve transparency. joint secretary Vikram Doraiswami. 7. Election Commission launches Voter Turnout app 12. Asian Tea Alliance launched in China • The Election Commission of India (ECI) has • The Asian Tea Alliance (ATA), a union of five tea- launched a Voter Turnout app for the voters growing and consuming countries, was launched across the country to see the realtime availability in Guizhou in China. of voter turnout during the election season in the • The members of the alliance are the Indian Tea country. Association, China Tea Marketing Association, 8. Reliance retail become the first Indian retail Indonesian Tea Marketing Association, Sri Lanka company to cross more than Rs 1 lakh crore in Tea Board and Japan Tea Association. annual revenues • The Alliance will work towards enhancing global • On 19th April 2019, Reliance retail has become consumption of tea, while creating a the first Indian retail company to clock more sustainability agenda for the future of Asian tea. than Rs 1 lakh crore in annual revenues. • The Alliance was formed based on the • The retail venture of Reliance Industries Memorandum of Understanding signed between reported an income of Rs 1,30,556 crore for Indian tea Association and China tea Marketing

3 www.gradeup.co Association in December 2018 to promote tea problems due to huge amount of construction in consumption in India, China, U.S., Russia, Europe, the city. and West Asia. • Delhi is ranked sixth on the list. 13. Government meets fiscal deficit of 3.4% in 2018-19 • Fourteen of the 15 cities, including four in Uttar • The Finance Ministry is believed to have met Pradesh, on the World Health Organisation the revised fiscal deficit target of 3.4 per cent (WHO) list of most polluted cities in the world in the last fiscal 2018-19. are in India, it said. • The direct taxe collections fell short by Rs • Gaya and Patna in Bihar are fourth and fifth on 50,000 crore. the list, while Delhi is sixth and Uttar Pradesh • The GST collections, however, touched Rs capital Lucknow is seventh. 1.06 lakh crore in March and the gross GST 17. Election Commission invokes Article 324 to defer PM revenues overshot the target of Rs 11.47 lakh Modi biopic crore, which also partly helped adjust for the • India’s Electoral Commission has issued an order shortfall on the direct taxes front. to ban display of any biopic or publicity material 14. Unemployment in 11 states exceeds national during Manual Code of Conduct, which could sub average, shows NSSO report serve the purposes of any political entity or any • According to the National Sample Survey Office’s individual entity connected to it. (NSSO’s) annual survey, as many as 11 states had • The ban was concerned with the biopic film on an unemployment rate higher than the pan- Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Indian average in 2017-18. • Election Commission has invoked powers under • As per the report, Haryana, Assam, Jharkhand, Article 324 that prohibits display/exhibit any Kerala, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Punjab, Tamil biopic/publicity material when Model Code of Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh face higher Conduct is in force. unemployment rates than the national average. 18. Airtel, FICCI Ladies Organisation launch women’s • While nine states, including Kerala have been safety app, My Circle part of the list even back in 2011-12, states such • Telecom operator Bharti Airtel and the FICCI as Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Ladies Organisation (FLO) launched a safety app Pradesh have also become part of the list. – My Circle - aimed at aiding women in event of • The survey was conducted during the 2017-18 distress or an emergency situation, by sending an period. SOS alert. 15. launches gold buying, partners MMTC- • My Circle app enables women to send SOS alerts PAMP India to any five of their family or friends in 13 • Google has partnered with bullion refiner MMTC- languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, PAMP India to allow Google Pay users to buy and Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, sell gold through the app. Bangla, Urdu, Assamese, Oriya, and Gujarati. • Through this partnership with India's only LBMA 19. NGT imposes Rs 100-crore penalty on Andhra accredited gold refinery, Google Pay users will be Pradesh govt over illegal sand mining able to buy 99.99 per cent 24-karat gold, Google • A bench headed by National Green Tribunal said in a statement. (NGT) Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel 16. Kanpur ranked 1st as the most polluted city has slapped an interim penalty of Rs 100 crore • According to the Air Quality in India 2014-2019' on the Andhra Pradesh government for inaction report, Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh is the most to prevent illegal sand mining in the state. polluted city in the world and is ranked one on • The green panel said it is the duty of the the list. government to provide complete protection to • Faridabad in Haryana has been ranked second the natural resources as a trustee of the public at and Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's large. Lok Sabha constituency, is ranked third on the 20. Govt retains general provident fund interest rate at WHO's list of 15 most polluted cities. 8% for Apr-Jun quarter • WHO’s report states that Varanasi in Uttar • The government has retained the interest Pradesh is witnessing a rise in the number of rate for General Provident Fund (GPF) and people suffering from allergies and respiratory

4 www.gradeup.co other related schemes at 8 per cent for the • Digital payments facilitator PayU has acquired April-June quarter. US-based financial technology firm Wibmo for • The rate is in line with that of Public USD 70 million (about Rs 484 crore), that will Provident Fund. help the company scale-up its business. • The interest rate on GPF was at 8 per cent in • Wibmo, a digital payment security and mobile the January-March quarter of 2018-19. payment technologies firm, will continue to Note: operate and serve all of its clients as a wholly- • GPF is a provident fund account where only central owned subsidiary of PayU. government employees are entitled to be a member 24. Hong Kong's stock market overtakes Japan to be and those specific government employees are world's third largest allowed to contribute a part of their salary and are • Hong Kong's stock market has overtaken Japan entitled to the lump sum fund at the time of to become the world's third most valuable, retirement behind only the US and China.’ 21. India’s population grew at 1.2 % average annual rate • According to Bloomberg data, the market value between 2010 and 2019: UN report of the companies listed in Hong Kong stood at • According to a report by the United Nations $5.78 trillion, overtaking Japan's $5.76 trillion Population Fund, India’s population grew at an tally for the first time since 2015. average annual rate of 1.2 per cent between 25. India's steel demand to grow by over 7% in FY19, 2010 and 2019 to 1.36 billion, more than double FY20 the annual growth rate of China. • As per the Indian Steel Association India's steel • India’s population in 2019 stood at 1.36 billion, demand is likely to grow by over 7 percent in growing from 942.2 million in 1994 and 541.5 2019 and 2020, driven by sectors like million in 1969. construction, capital goods and railways. • India’s population grew at average annual rate of • "The Indian Steel Association has forecast India's 1.2 per cent between 2010 and 2019, the UN steel demand to grow by 7.1 percent in the sexual and reproductive health agency said in the calendar year 2019 and by 7.2 percent in the State of World Population 2019 report. calendar year 2020. • According to the report, in India, total fertility • The World Steel Association had recently rate per woman was 5.6 in 1969, dropping to 3.7 estimated steel demand in India to touch 103 in 1994 and 2.3 in 2019. million tonnes in 2019, against 96 million tonnes • India’s population composition in 2019, the logged in 2018 and 110 million tonnes in 2020. report said 27 % of the country’s population was 26. Fitch keeps India rating at 'BBB-' with stable outlook in the age bracket of 0-14 years and 10-24 years • Global rating agency Fitch Ratings kept India’s each, while 67 % of the country’s population was sovereign rating unchanged at the lowest in the 15-64 age bracket. investment grade of ‘BBB-’ with a stable outlook. • Six per cent of the country’s population was of • This is the 13th year in a row that Fitch has rated the age 65 and above. India at 'BBB-'. Fitch had last upgraded the rating 22. Airtel confirms it has received conditional nod for from 'BB+' to 'BBB-' with a stable outlook on merger with TTSL August 1, 2006. • Bharti Airtel has confirmed that it has received 27. NIIF-Roadis to set up platform to invest in Road in-principal approval from the telecom Projects department for merger with Tata Teleservices • The National Investment and Infrastructure (TTSL). Fund (NIIF) and global transport infrastructure • For Airtel, the merger will bring in an additional operator Roadis will jointly set up a platform to 178.5 MHz of spectrum in three bands that are invest up to $2 billion of equity in road projects widely used for 4G, an area in which the Mittal- in India. led company is expanding to keep pace with • The platform would target toll-operate-transfer Reliance Jio Infocomm. models and acquisitions of existing road 23. PayU acquires digital financial security firm Wibmo concessions. for USD 70 mn Note:

5 www.gradeup.co • Roadis is a fully owned subsidiary of the Public based Haptik -- one of the world's largest Sector Pension Investment Board which is one of conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) Canada’s largest pension funds. platforms -- for about Rs 700 crore. 28. GST revenue touches record high of 1.06-lakh crore • Reliance will hold about 87 per cent of the in March: FinMin business, with the rest being held by Haptik's • GST collections for March have hit a record high of founders and employees via stock options. over ₹1.06 lakh-crore. 33. BSNL gets licence for WiFi on flights • GST revenue in March 2019 grew 15.6 per cent year- • Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has on-year. The revenue for the March 2019 quarter received licence from the Department of was 14.3 per cent higher YoY. Telecommunications to provide Internet and • The monthly average of GST revenue during FY19 mobile services on flights. was ₹98,114 crore, 9.2 per cent higher than FY18. • BSNL and its satellite partner, Inmarsat, will be 29. Money receives Sebi approval to start stock able to offer in-flight connectivity to airlines broking services “later this year, once the ground infrastructure • Paytm Money, the investment and wealth and associated approvals are in place. management arm of mobile payment platform • According to the rules, passengers can make Paytm, has received approval from securities and phone calls or use Internet when a flight is at a capital markets regulator Sebi (Securities & minimum height of 3,000 m in Indian airspace to Exchange Board of India) to start stock broking avoid interference with terrestrial mobile services. networks. 30. CCI approves L&T's proposal to acquire up to 66.15% 34. Manipur’s Phayeng Village Receives India’s First stake in Mindtree Carbon Positive Tag • The Competition Commi•ssion of India (CCI) on • A small village, Phayeng, in the North Eastern April 05, approved engineering and construction state of Manipur, has been tagged as India’s first major Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T’s) proposal to carbon-positive settlement. acquire up to 66.15 per cent stake in Mindtree. • It is a first of its kind project in the South Asian 31. Reliance Mutual Fund customers can now carry out country. voice-based transactions • The transformation was done using funds under • The Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (RNAM) has partnered with internet major- (NAFCC), a central scheme to support adaptation Google, enabling the customers of Reliance to climate change impact in various states. Mutual Fund to carry out voice-based financial • A village is given the tag of carbon-positive transactions. settlement if it cuts off more carbon than it emits • This is a first of its type endeavour in India. to reduce formation of greenhouse gases and 32. Reliance Jio acquires Haptik for Rs 700 crore mitigate the effects of climate change. • Reliance Industries Ltd announced that its subsidiary Reliance Jio has acquired Mumbai-

March 2019

1. India's April-February fiscal deficit at 134% of FY 2. PFC is now the second largest Govt-Owned Financial target: Govt data firm after SBI • According to the government data, India's April- • State-owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC) February fiscal deficit touched Rs 8.51 trillion has completed the acquisition of majority stake ($123.07 billion), or 134.2 per cent of the in REC Ltd by transferring Rs 14,500 crore to the budgeted target for the current fiscal year. government. • The fiscal deficit for April-February 2018-19 • The merger of both the entities is expected to be stood at Rs 8.51 lakh crore against the revised completed in the next fiscal year in consultation estimate (RE) of Rs 6.34 trillion for the entire with the government. year. • This acquisition and merger will make PFC second-largest government-owned financial

6 www.gradeup.co player in the country based on the current reviewed before the end of every quarter, and market capital after State (SBI) and accordingly, new rates are announced for the next also PFC will be the third-highest profit-making quarter. financial player in India. 5. Govt notifies new accounting standard on leases; • PFC taking over REC makes it a dominant player effective from April 1 not only in the power sector but also in the entire • According to the government sources; the financial market space. government has notified a new accounting standard 3. India to be among top-10 media markets by 2021: Ind AS 116 that will bring in more transparency in Study recognition and disclosures about leases in • According to a joint study by ASSOCHAM-PwC, companies’ balance sheets. India is expected to be among the top-10 • The Indian Accounting Standard (Ind AS) 116 is entertainment and media markets globally by expected to have a significant impact on various 2021 in terms of absolute numbers. industries, including aviation where airlines mostly • The country's per capita media and operate planes on lease. entertainment spending is likely to be capped at • Ind AS 116 — to be effective from April 1 — sets out $32 or Rs 2,080 by 2021. the principles for recognition, presentation and • The market size is expected to reach $52.68 disclosure of leases. It has been notified by the billion in 2022 from $30.36 billion in 2017, it Corporate Affairs Ministry. claimed. "It (India) is set to be in the top 10 • Ind AS 116 is the equivalent of IFRS (International entertainment and media markets globally by Financial Reporting Standards) 116. 2021 in terms of absolute numbers," the study 6. Govt exceeds disinvestment target this fiscal, said. proceeds touch Rs 85,000 crore • During the same period in India, the segment is • The Government said it has exceeded its expected to grow from $297 million to $823 disinvestment target for the current fiscal by Rs million in 2022 at a CAGR of 22.6 percent. 5,000 crore and the proceeds have touched Rs • With increasing smartphone penetration and 85,000 crore. lower data tariffs, VoD is showing promising • According to the Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, growth," the report said. as against a target of Rs 80,000 crore for 4. Small savings schemes' interest rates to remain disinvestment for the current year, the unchanged for Apr-Jun quarter divestment receipts have touched Rs 85,000 • According to a government notification, interest crores on 22 March 2019. rates on small saving schemes such as National • The government has set a target of Rs 90000 Savings Certificate and Public Provident Fund crore for fiscal 2019-20. will remain unchanged for the April-June Note: quarter. • Disinvestment refers to the process of public asset • Interest rates on small savings schemes is reset sales by the government of India. before each quarter and depends on government 7. India has highest number of poor despite 27 crores bond yields in the previous quarter. moving out of poverty in 10 years: MPI report Interest rate on Small savings scheme is as follows– • The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index • Public Provident Fund and the National Savings (MPI) 2018 Report was recently published by the Certificate – 8%. United Nations Development Programme • Kisan Vikas Patra - 7.7% (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human • The interest rate for the five-year Senior Citizens Development Initiative. Savings Scheme - 8.7% • The MPI provides data about “who is poor” and • Saving deposit – 4% “how they are poor”. • Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana – 8.5% India’s progress • Term deposits of 1-5 years will yield an interest rate in the range of 7-7.8%. • According to the report; India has reduced its Note: poverty rate drastically from 55% to 28% in 10 • Based on the recommendations of the Shyamala years, with 271 million people moving out of Gopinath panel, interest rates on these schemes are poverty between 2005-06 and 2015-16.

7 www.gradeup.co • However, India still had 364 million poor in • It is a subsidiary of Metropolitan Stock Exchange of 2015-16, the largest for any country, although it India Ltd. (MSE) recognised by SEBI as clearing is down from 635 million in 2005-06. corporation and started its operations on 16th • The report, covering 105 countries, dedicates a February 2009. chapter to India because of this remarkable 10. 4th Round of FTA talks between India and Peru held progress. in Lima • Of the 364 million people who were MPI poor in • 4th Round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks 2015-16, 156 million (34.6%) were children. between India and Peru concluded in Lima on 15th • In India, poverty reduction among children, the March. poorest states, Scheduled Tribes, and Muslims • The FTA agreement is aimed to enhance the two-way was fastest, the report says. commerce between India and Peru. State-wise Report • The Bilateral trade between India and Peru has been increased from 1.77 billion dollars in 2016-17 to 3.13 • Bihar was the poorest state in 2015-16, with more billion dollars in 2017-18 and Lima ranked third than half its population in poverty. among export destination for India in Latin America • The four poorest states —Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar and Caribbean region. Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh — were still home to 11. India sets ‘aspirational’ target for engineering 196 million MPI poor people, which was over half of exports at $200 billion by 2025 all the MPI poor people in India. • Raising the bar, India has set an aspirational • Jharkhand had the greatest improvement, followed target of $200 billion by 2025 for engineering by Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and exports, following a road map suggested by an Nagaland. EEPC India-Deloitte strategy paper, based on • At the other end, Kerala, one of the least poor regions inputs from the Commerce Ministry and the in 2006, reduced its MPI by around 92%. industry. 8. 34th GST Council meeting held in New Delhi • Engineering exports, which contribute 25% of • On 19th March 2019, Union Finance Minister Arun India's total export basket are projected at $80- Jaitley chaired 34th meeting of the Goods and 82 billion in the current financial year ending Services Tax Council in New Delhi. March 31, according to EEPC India Chairman • It discussed the operational details for Ravi Sehgal. implementation of the recommendations made by 12. India Energy Modelling Forum the 33rd meeting of the council. • Niti Ayog in association with the United States • The tax rate for under construction flats slashed to Agency for International Development (USAID) 5% and affordable homes to 1% without input tax organized the first workshop on the development of credit (ITC) by the GST Council. the India Energy Modelling Forum (IEMF). • Currently 12% GST is levied with input tax credit on • The workshop was organized under the Sustainable payments made for under construction properties. It Growth Pillar of the India-U.S. Strategic Energy will be effective from April 1st. Partnership. 9. Bank of England recognized Metropolitan Clearing • Under the Strategic Partnership, the United Corporation of India Ltd (MCCIL) as a Third-Country States and India will pursue four primary pillars Central Counterparty (TC-CCP) of cooperation: • Metropolitan Clearing Corporation of India Ltd • Oil and Gas (MCCIL) has become the first clearing • Power and Energy Efficiency corporation in India to receive recognition as a • Renewable Energy and Sustainable Growth Third-Country Central Counterparty (TC-CCP) by • Coal Bank of England for offering various clearing 13. SpiceJet becomes first Indian low-cost airline to join services to UK-based entities. IATA • The recognition has been granted under United • SpiceJet has joined global airlines’ grouping Kingdom’s Temporary Recognition Regime International Air Transport Association (IATA) (TRR). as a member, becoming the first Indian low-cost Metropolitan Clearing Corporation of India Ltd carrier to get the membership.

8 www.gradeup.co • The IATA represents more than 290 airlines, • The Payment of Gratuity Act 1972 makes it including Air India, Jet Airways and Vistara. mandatory for the employers to pay their 14. Wholesale inflation increases to 2.93% in February employees gratuity at the time of quitting, • According to the data released by commerce and provided certain conditions were met. industry ministry, India’s wholesale inflation rate 18. NHPC to acquire Lanco Teesta Hydro Power Ltd inched up to 2.93 percent in February, compared (LTHPL) to 2.6 percent in January. • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs • Latest price data released on March 14 showed (CCEA) has approved the acquisition of debt- that wholesale vegetable prices grew 6.82 laden Lanco’s 500 MW Teesta hydro-electric percent in February compared to a fall of (-) 4.21 power project in Sikkim by state-owned NHPC. percent in January and the 15.26 percent in • NHPC will take over debt-laden Lanco’s 500 MW February 2018. Teesta hydro-electric power project for Rs 907 • Overall wholesale inflation rate was 2.74 percent crore in Sikkim. in February 2018. Note: 15. Industrial production growth slows to 1.7% in • Teesta Stage-Vl Hydro Electric Project is a Run of January 2019 River (RoR) project in Sirwani Village of Sikkim to • The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has released utilize the power potential of Teesta River Basin in a the data for the Index of Industrial Production cascade manner. (IIP) for the month of January. About NHPC • The IIP data shows that: - Industrial output • NHPC Limited, formerly known as National growth stood at 1.7 per cent in January against Hydroelectric Power Corp. was incorporated as the 2.6% growth recorded in December 2018. Central Govt. Enterprise for development of Hydro • The CSO has revised the industrial production Power in Central Sector on 7th November 1975. growth for December 2018 has been revised • Over the years NHPC has evolved as the largest upwards from 2.4% to 2.6%. central utility for hydropower development in India. Note: 19. MSME sector created most jobs in last four years: • Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is a composite Survey indicator that measures the changes in the volume of • According to a survey by the Confederation of production of a basket of industrial products during Indian Industry (CII), among all the sectors, a given period with respect to the volume of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) production in a chosen base period. was the largest job creator in the last four years – • The base year for the IIP is 2011-12. with growth of 13.9 per cent. 16. Infosys to open innovation hub in Romania • The report titled ‘Survey on Jobs Creation and • Infosys will be opening a new digital innovation Outlook in MSME Sector’ said hospitality and centre in Bucharest, Romania, that would focus tourism, followed by textiles and apparel, and on developing offerings for clients based on metal products were the other top job-creating cutting-edge digital technologies including cloud, sectors in this period. big data, artificial intelligence and machine • Top States - Maharashtra, Gujarat and Telangana learning. were the largest job generators. 17. Income tax exemption limit on gratuity doubled to Rs • The survey focussed on jobs creation, ease of 20 lakh filling up vacancies, and impact of government • According to the labour ministry the income tax initiatives on jobs creation in the report. exemption limit on gratuity has been doubled to 20. Life insurers register 33% growth in new premium Rs 20 lakh from the existing Rs 10 lakh, a move income at Rs 18,209 cr in February, IRDAI data that will benefit employees who are not covered shows by the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. • According to Insurance Regulatory and • "Ministry of Finance has enhanced the income Development Authority of India (IRDAI) data, tax exemption for gratuity under Section 10 India's life insurance industry witnessed a rise of (10) (iii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to Rs 20 32.7 percent in its collective new premium lakhs. income at Rs 18,209.50 crore during February 2019.

9 www.gradeup.co • The life insurers had collected first-time • The CSO revised downward its GDP growth premium worth Rs 13,724.96 crore in same forecast for 2018-19 to 7% from 7.2% projected month a year ago. earlier. • LIC, which has the largest market share of 66.26 24. PSBloansin59minutes.com emerges largest Fintech percent, registered a growth of 42.2 percent in lending platform its new year premium at Rs 12,055.81 crore • According to a report by global financial firm, during the month. , web portal 21. OECD reduced the world economic growth forecasts PSBloansin59minutes.com, launched has for the year 2019 emerged as the country’s largest online lending • The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and platform, with loan sanctions exceeding over Rs Development (OECD) has reduced its 2019 35,000 crore. forecast for global economic growth to 3.3% for • The portal was launched by PM Narendra Modi the current year, down from 3.5% it predicted in November 2018 in a bid to make banking earlier. transparent and hassle-free. 22. US withdrawal of GSP benefit from India Key points • The US decision to withdraw duty benefits on • The portal provides credit up to Rs 1 crore to Indian products under the Generalized System of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Preferences (GSP) programme will not have a just 59 minutes or less than an hour. significant impact on exports to America, a top • Upon approval, the loan is disbursed in 7-8 government official said. working days. • India exports goods worth USD 5.6 billion 25. NGT slaps Rs 500 crore fine on Volkswagen under the GSP, and the duty benefit is only USD • The National Green Tribunal on 07 March 2019, 190 million annually, Commerce Secretary Anup slapped a fine of Rs 500 crore on German auto Wadhawan said. major Volkswagen for damaging the • The withdrawal will become applicable after 60 environment through the use of "cheat device" in days of the issue of a notification on the same its diesel cars in India. and would affect India-US trade. • A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice What is GSP? Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the carmaker to • Normally, developed countries offer import duty deposit the amount within two months. sops to underdeveloped and developing ones for 26. PM inaugurates IOC's Ennore LNG terminal import of goods. These incentives are not • Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 06 March available to other developed countries from 2019, inaugurated Indian Oil Corp's Rs 5,150 whom the goods are being sourced. crore LNG import terminal at the Kamarajar port • Such a system of preferential treatment to in Ennore, Tamil Nadu. developing countries is known as generalized • The Ennore terminal is the first LNG terminal on system of preferences (GSP) in trade parlance. the east coast in South India that will serve Background customers in the southern and eastern region. • GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) was 27. Enhanced Access and Service Excellence (EASE) introduced in 1976 as a US trade preference Index Report programme to promote economic development by • The Indian Association (IBA) organized its allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products conference on ‘Reforms Journey for EASE in from designated beneficiary countries — both Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in New Delhi. developing and developed. • EASE index is prepared by the Indian Banking 23. India Q3 GDP growth moderates to 6.6%, slowest in 5 Association (IBA) and Boston Consulting Group. quarters • It is commissioned by the Finance Ministry. • According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) • The report shows visible progress made on each of 4 data, India's economic growth slowed to a 5- elements of Government’s 4R’s strategy including quarter low of 6.6 per cent in October-December recognition, recovery, recapitalisation and period of this fiscal. reforms. Award

10 www.gradeup.co • has been ranked first • PNB is followed by BoB (77.8), SBI (74.6), among public sector banks in the Oriental Bank of Commerce (69), implementation of ‘reforms agenda’, followed by (67.5) and (67.1). and . • Sunil Mehta, the Managing Director and CEO, of • Punjab National Bank with a score of 78.4 out of PNB, received the award. 100 has been ranked first under the theme of EASE (Enhanced Access & Service Excellence).

Banking & Financial Awareness

May 2019

1. India Ratings downgrades with Negative Outlook – India Ratings has downgraded the YES bank’s long-term rating to ‘IND AA-’ with a negative outlook, while reaffirming short-term rating. ICRA has also downgraded the long-term ratings of the lender. 2. Bharti AXA Ties Up with Wishfin to offer policies via WhatsApp – Bharti AXA General Insurance, a private non-life insurer, has tied up with financial marketplace Wishfin’s insurance arm Wishpolicy, to offer two-wheeler insurance to customers via WhatsApp. 3. LIC HFL launches Udyam Centre in Bengaluru – LIC Housing Finance (LIC HFL) has launched ‘Udyam’, a skilling center in Bengaluru. It was launched in association with Lok Bharti Education Society, the implementing partner.

April 2019

1. Government raises authorised capital of Allahabad • e-NACH: Electronic National Automated Clearing Bank to ₹8,000 crore House; OTP: One Time Password. • The central government after consultation with 3. SBI launches Green Car Loan the has increased the • State Bank of India launched the country’s first authorised capital of the from ‘Green Car Loan’ (Electric Vehicle) to encourage ₹3,000 crore to ₹8,000 crore. customers to buy electric vehicles. • The government has increased the authorised • The new scheme will offer loan at 20 basis points capital of the Allahabad Bank by ₹5,000 crore to lesser than the interest rate on the existing car ₹8,000 crore. loan schemes. Note: • The scheme comes with the longest repayment • The headquarters of Allahabad Bank is in Kolkata. period of up to 8 years. • SS Mallikarjuna Rao is the current MD & CEO of • The loan is offered with zero processing fee for Allahabad Bank. the first 6 months of the launch. 2. Kotak Bank launches debit card-based e-mandate on Note: NPCI’s API platform • (Kotak) has launched the • SBI along with Wipro joined the Climate Group's first debit card-based authentication solution on EV100 initiative for enhancing the launch of electric NPCI’s (National Payments Corporation of India) vehicles worldwide. e-Mandate (electronic mandate) API (Application • SBI has already notified 100% migration to EVs Program Interface) platform. (Electric Vehicles) by 2030 in order to decrease • With this, it has become the first ever Destination carbon footprints, thus being in line with the Bank to go live with both Net Banking and Debit government’s pledge of ensuring 30% EVs on road Card-based e-mandate authentication. by 2030. Note: 4. SBI General launches cyber defence insurance for • Uday Kotak is current MD & CEO of Kotak Mahindra businesses Bank. • SBI General Insurance has launched a product – • Its headquarters is in Mumbai. cyber defence insurance to protect businesses from financial and reputational losses due to

11 www.gradeup.co cyber attacks. This offers protection against the • Canara HSBC OBC Life is jointly owned by two growing threat of cyber breaches. public sector banks - Canara Bank (51 per cent) and • It is designed to protect against major insurable Oriental Bank of Commerce (23 per cent) and HSBC cyber exposures like hacking attacks, identity Insurance Holdings (26 per cent), the Asian theft, disclosure of sensitive information and insurance arm of banking and business interruption. groups HSBC. 5. IndusInd Bank receives NCLT approval for Merger 9. Bajaj Finserv launches industry first proposition to with Bharat Financial Inclusion – National Company pay electricity bill on EMIs Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the merger of private • Bajaj Finserv through its lending arm Bajaj sector lender IndusInd Bank with Bharat Financial Finance Ltd. has launched a unique proposition Inclusion (BFIL), a microfinance company. through its campaign #BijliOnEMI wherein 6. NCLT nod for IndusInd Bank, Bharat financial customers buying air-conditioners on EMI can inclusion merger avail an Insta Credit loan in their Bajaj Finserv • National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved Wallet which they can use to pay their electricity the merger of private sector lender IndusInd Bank bills on EMI. with Bharat Financial Inclusion (BFIL), a • The campaign is aimed to help their customers microfinance company. finance the high electricity bills that may arise • Earlier, IndusInd Bank had received ‘No Objection’ due to extensive usage of conditioners during from Reserve Bank of India, National Stock Exchange summer. and . 10. Airtel partners with Bharti AXA • Now Bharat Financial will become a subsidiary of General Insurance for two-wheeler insurance IndusInd Bank. • announced it has Note: partnered with Bharti AXA General Insurance for • IndusInd Bank Headquarter: Mumbai, CEO: Romesh a two-wheeler insurance product offering. Sobti. 11. Canara Bank becomes the first public sector bank in NCLT Headquarter: New Delhi. India to meet RBI’s EMV mandate 7. Bajaj Allianz launches Total Health Secure Goal plan • The Reserve Bank of India had mandated all • Bajaj Allianz General Insurance in collaboration banks to migrate the magnetic strip based with Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance launched their ATM/Debit cards to EMV chip-and-PIN payment first product 'Total Health Secure Goal'. cards by December 31, 2018. • The new insurance product is a combination of • In this direction, Canara Bank in association with two existing plans - Health Guard policy by Bajaj ACI Worldwide has announced that Canara Bank Allianz General Insurance, and iSecure from Bajaj has successfully rolled out major new Allianz Life Insurance. functionality for this, to support EMV card across • Under Health Guard policy, a customer can its ATM network. choose the option between a Silver or a Gold Plan • With this Canara Bank has become the first with an insured sum ranging from Rs 1.5 lakh to Public Sector bank to meet RBI’s EMV mandate. Rs 50 Lakh. Note: 8. Canara Bank, life insurance arm launch • Canara Bank has around 6,300 branches and more 'Webassurance' than 10,000 ATMs. • Canara Bank and its life insurance partner • The headquarters of Canara Bank is in Bengaluru, Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Karnataka. Insurance Saturday announced the launch of 12. IDRBT Sets Up 5G Lab for Banking, Financial Sector 'Webassurance'. • The Institute for Development and Research in • Four life insurance products of Canara HSBC OBC Banking Technology (IDRBT), has launched a 5G Life would be made available to customers of Use Cases Lab for banking and financial sector. Canara Bank, covering the key needs of child • The 5G lab will develop and domesticate 5G use future, savings and investments, retirement cases and set up a research and development planning and protection. experience platform for banking and financial Note: services. Note:

12 www.gradeup.co • IDRBT is established by the Reserve Bank of received preliminary approval from regulator India in 1996, the institution works at the Irdai to foray into non-life business. intersection of banking and technology. 17. HDFC best bank in India: Forbes • IDRBT headquarters is in Hyderabad. • HDFC Bank emerged as the country’s top bank as 13. IDBI Bank launches ‘NRI-Insta-Online’ Paperless per the Forbes magazines' 'World's Best Bank' Account Facility survey. • IDBI Bank has launched 'NRI-Insta-Online' • After HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank took the second account opening process for Non-Resident spot, while DBS was at the third rank in Forbes Indians (NRIs) residing in Financial Action Task list of Indian banks. Force (FATF) member countries. • Forbes has compiled a first-ever list of the Note: World's Best Bank 2019 in terms of customer • The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was services and technological advancements. established in July 1989 by a Group of Seven (G-7) • India's largest public sector bank, the State Bank Summit in Paris. of India (SBI), did not even make it to top 10 of • FATF is an inter-governmental body which devices the list and was ranked 11th by the customers. policy and sets standards to promote effective • Interestingly, Kotak Mahindra Bank and IDFC implementation of legal, regulatory and operational Bank had managed to gain the fourth and fifth measures to combat money laundering, terrorist spot respectively. financing and other related threats to the integrity of • Syndicate Bank, PNB, Allahabad Bank, Vijaya the international financial system. Bank and were ranked from sixth to • The body has 38 member countries, including the US, tenth respectively. UK, India, Japan, China and France, among others. • On the other hand, the country's second largest • FATF headquarters is in Paris, France. public sector bank, Bank of Baroda (BoB) was 14. gets CCI nod for merger with Gruh ranked 16th and was followed by Paytm Finance Payments Bank. • Bandhan Bank has received approval from the • Canara Bank was placed at the 30th position by Competition Commission of India (CCI) for the customers. proposed scheme of amalgamation of Gruh • Forbes had partnered with Statista, a market Finance with the bank. research company, to measure the best banks in • Gruh Finance, the affordable housing finance arm 23 countries. of HDFC Ltd, was taken over in January by • The banks were rated on the basis of 5 key Bandhan Bank in a share-swap deal. attributes - trust, digital services, financial advice About Bandhan Bank and fees. • Bandhan Bank started as a micro-finance company in 18. LIC gets 12 years from RBI to cut stake in IDBI Bank, 2001. says report • Bank received banking licence by Reserve Bank of • According to the report, the Reserve Bank of India in 2014. India (RBI) has given Life Insurance Corporation • The headquarters is in Kolkata, West Bengal. of India (LIC) 12 years to reduce its stake by 10 • Chandra Shekhar Ghosh is the Founder and MD & percent in IDBI Bank. CEO of Bandhan Bank. • RBI has stipulated that after 12 years LIC has to • Tagline – Aapka Bhala, Sabki Bhalai. reduce stake in IDBI Bank by 10 percent to 40 15. Non-life insurers witness 13% rise in premium: percent. IRDAI report • LIC has 51 percent controlling stake in the bank, • According to the IRDAI data, Non-life insurance making the insurer the lender's majority firms registered a rise of 13 per cent in their shareholder. collective premium income to Rs 1.70 lakh crore • The government is the other major investor in in the financial year ended March. IDBI Bank owning 46.46 per cent while the rest 16. Indiabulls General Insurance gets preliminary nod is with the public. from IRDAI 19. Emirates Islamic becomes world's first Islamic bank • Indiabulls General Insurance, a subsidiary of to launch banking via WhatsApp Indiabulls Integrated Services said it has

13 www.gradeup.co • Emirates Islamic has announced the launch card and mobile banking apps," the lender of Chat Banking services for customers via said. WhatsApp. • According to data released by the Association of • With this Emirates Islamic became the first Mutual Funds in India (Amfi), bank in the Islamic banking sector to provide 22. HDFC MF surpasses ICICI Prudential to become such service. India's top asset manager • The bank’s customers will now able to • According to data released by the Association of conduct daily banking activities via Mutual Funds in India (Amfi), HDFC Mutual Fund WhatsApp in a seamless and hassle-free has piped ICICI Prudential MF to become the manner. country's largest asset management company. Note: • As of December-end, HDFC MF manages assets to • Emirates Islamic formerly known as Emirates Islamic the tune of Rs 3.35 trillion, while those of ICICI Bank was launched in 2004. Prudential MF stood at Rs 3.08 trillion. • The headquarters is located in Dubai, United Arab • SBI Asset Management Co. Ltd climbed two Emirates. places from the fifth to the third spot with an • The bank was established to deliver banking services AUM of ₹2.83 trillion. in line with Shari'a principles Top 5 asset management company in India: 20. SBI inks co-origination loan pact with Paisalo Digital • HDFC Asset Management, ICICI Prudential Asset Ltd Management, SBI Asset Management, Aditya Birla • With a vision to empower Micro Small and Sun Life Asset Management, Reliance Nippon Asset Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and small Management. businesses, PAISALO Digital Limited signed the 23. Bank of Baroda becomes second largest PSU bank first co-origination loan agreement with State after SBI Bank of India (SBI). • On April 1, 2019 Bank of Baroda (BoB) became • Introducing a platform for the last mile customer, the second largest state-owned lender after the loan ticket is designed at Rs 10,000 to 2 lakh. merging and into itself as • The company expects to disburse 200,000 loan part of the first three-way amalgamation. applications in FY20. • Government has also infused Rs 5,042 crore into • PAISALO Digital Limited operates business in Bank of Baroda by way of preferential allotment various states including Uttar Pradesh, of equity shares. Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, • Centre’s shareholding in the merged entity is Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand 65.7%. and Bihar. • BoB now has over 9,500 branches, 13,400 ATMs, • The company serves customers with 118 85,000 employees to serve 12 crore customers. branches in rural areas, serviced by a team of • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had said that persons over 1500. branches of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank would Note: function as BoB outlets from April following the • PAISALO Digital Limited is a systemically amalgamation. important non-deposit taking NBFC registered • The bank will have a business mix of Rs 15 lakh with the Reserve Bank of India and has been in crore of balance sheet, with deposits and operations since 1992. advances of Rs 8.75 lakh crore and Rs 6.25 lakh 21. RBL Bank ties up with CreditVidya for improving crore, respectively. customer experience 24. Kotak Mahindra Bank first lender to charge for UPI • RBL Bank has partnered with credit profiler use CreditVidya to improve and boost the bank’s • Kotak Mahindra Bank (Kotak) stated that it will customer experience. charge customers for UPI transactions starting • This in turn will allow it to improve user 1st of May 2019 experience and build customised offerings • For each Kotak Bank account, the first 30 UPI for over 15 lakh customers, the bank said. fund transfers will be free, after which a charge • "RBL Bank will leverage CreditVidya's big will be levied on all fund transfers from the bank data underwriting platform across its credit account.

14 www.gradeup.co • This will be applicable across all platforms, adoption among banks and payment service including Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay or providers (PSPs). Truecaller Pay among others. • For UPI transactions up to ₹1,000, the charge has • The bank will charge Rs 2.50 per transaction for been cut to 10 paise from 25 paise. an amount value below or equal to Rs 1,000, and • The charge for transactions above ₹1,000 has Rs 5 per transaction will be levied for a payment been retained at 50 paise. value above Rs 1,000. Note: 25. board approves merger with • The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) Indiabulls Housing Finance is an umbrella organisation for operating retail • The board of The Lakshmi Vilas Bank Ltd. has payments and settlement systems in India. approved a scheme of amalgamation with • The NPCI (Founded in 2008) is a not-for-profit Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd. organisation registered under section 8 of the • Under the scheme of amalgamation, Companies Act 2013. shareholders of Lakshmi Vilas Bank will receive 27. In a first, SEBI gives nod to Rs 10,000 crore ‘Airport 0.14 equity share worth Rs 2 each of Indiabulls Fund’ Housing Finance for every one share of Rs 10 • For the first time SEBI (Securities and Exchange each they hold. This means for every 100 shares Board of India) has approved an “airport’ specific of LVB, shareholders will get 14 shares of fund“. Indiabulls Housing Finance. • The name of the fund is “Taking Off To the Future • The merged entity will be "amongst the top eight Airport Fund“. It can raise a capital amounting to private banks in India by size and profitability", 1.5$bn (Rs. 10,000 crore). with a net worth of Rs 19,472 crore, a loan book • The fund has been approved by SEBI under of Rs 1.23 lakh crore, and a combined workforce “Category II Alternate Investment Fund”. of 14,302 employees. • A minimum capital contribution of Rs. 3500 26. NPCI cuts UPI usage fees to promote wider adoption crore and a maximum of Rs. 7000 crore is • The National Payments Corporation of India targeted by the fund. (NPCI), which runs the Unified Payments • India is presently the third largest aviation Interface (UPI) network, has slashed usage fees market in the world. for small transactions to expand the system’s

March 2019

1. Govt to infuse Rs 5,042 cr into Bank of Baroda • The platform intends to make a holistic approach • The government has finalised the decision to towards solving agricultural plights by means of infuse Rs 5,042 crore into public sector lender providing reliable and customised information, Bank of Baroda (BoB) ahead of its amalgamation inputs for use, convenience of renting farm of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with itself. equipment, and market linkage for sale of • The proposed merger will be affected from April agriculture produce. 1, 2019. 3. PNB inks pacts to sell 13% in housing arm for ₹1,852 2. BoB set to develop digital agri platform ‘Baroda crore Kisan’ for farmers • Punjab National Bank (PNB) has sold 13.01 per • Bank of Baroda has signed a memorandum of cent stake in PNB Housing Ltd (PNBHF) to understanding with agriculture services General Atlantic Group and VardePartners for companies to develop an agriculture digital ₹1851.60 crore at ₹850 per share. platform, Baroda Kisan, which will provide • After the transaction, Punjab National Bank will solutions for agricultural requirements. continue to hold a strategic stake of 19.78% in • The initiative is being executed by ITCoE of the housing finance company and will remain the Bank of Baroda, in partnership with IBM promoter and strategic shareholder of the India.

15 www.gradeup.co company, the lender informed the stock Bank (sponsored by ) and Pandyan exchanges. Grama Bank (sponsored by Indian Overseas 4. IDBI Bank receives nod to handle import, exports Bank) in Tamil Nadu into a single Regional Rural transactions with Iran: Sources Bank. • The IDBI Bank has received government • The new bank will be called Tamil Nadu Grama approval to handle import and export Bank, with its head office at Salem, under the transactions with Iran. sponsorship of Indian Bank. • This move would help in promoting two-way 8. Moody’s assigns stable outlook to IndusInd Bank trade amid US sanctions on the Persian Gulf • Global rating agency Moody’s has assigned a nation. Baa3 rating to private sector lender IndusInd • IDBI Bank has been identified to route the Bank and has kept the outlook stable, citing payments. strong profitability and healthy asset quality. • Iran is India's third-largest oil supplier after Iraq • The agency has assigned a long-term local and and Saudi Arabia. foreign currency bank deposit and issuer rating • IDBI Bank has been identified to route the of Baa3 to the lender. payments. UCO Bank had in the previous round 9. ICICI Bank launches two instantaneous home loan of sanctions handled rupee payments. facilities 5. ICICI Pru Mutual Fund launches Bharat Consumption • Private sector lender ICICI Bank announced the Scheme launch of two instantaneous home loan facilities, • On 26th March 2019, ICICI Prudential Mutual one of which would enable instant and paperless Fund launched ICICI Prudential Bharat home loan approval of up to ₹1 crore. Consumption Scheme to get advantage from the • The ‘Instant Home Loan’ service enables pre- Indian consumption market, which is considered approved salaried customers of the bank to avail as one of the fastest growing consumption final sanction letter digitally and instantly for markets globally. loans up to ₹1 crore for a tenure of up to 30 • Nifty India Consumption Index is the benchmark years (based on the age of the customer) using for the Scheme. internet banking facility. • It will be managed by Rajat Chandak, Dharmesh • The ‘Insta Top Up Loan’initiative would enable Kakkad and Priyanka Khandelwal will manage existing home loan customers of the bank to avail the overseas investments. the facility of topping up their loan immediately • The offer will open on 26th March and close on up to ₹20 lakh for a tenure up to 10 years, in a 9th April 2019. completely digital and paperless manner. Features of this scheme are: 10. India posts highest growth in patent applications in • Minimum investment of this scheme is Rs 5,000 WIPO during 2018 and in multiples of one rupee thereafter. • On 19th March 2019, India registered the highest • Penalty for leaving the scheme is 1 percent if growth of 27% among countries in patent investments are redeemed within 12 months applications in 2018 with the World Intellectual from the date of allotment. Property Organization (WIPO). 6. PolicyX.com has named cricketer Virender Sehwag as • India filed 2013 international patent applications its Brand Ambassador during the year. • PolicyX.com - an online insurance web • In the volume of patent filings, India fall below aggregator has roped in legendary cricketer China and the US. China is expected to overtake Virender Sehwag as it's Brand Ambassador. the US as the leading hub for global innovation as • He will be the face of its biggest marketing per WIPO. campaign of insurance products covering term World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) insurance, health insurance, life insurance, car • WIPO was created in 1967 "to encourage creative insurance and others. activity, to promote the protection of intellectual 7. Tamil Nadu banks to amalgamate property throughout the world". • Indian Bank, said the Department of Financial • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland Services, Ministry of Finance, has issued a 11. J&K Bank to sell a stake in PNB Metlife for ₹ 185 cr notification for amalgamation of Pallavan Grama

16 www.gradeup.co • Jammu and Kashmir Bank said it proposes to sell • On 3 December 2018, SBI appointed Swapna as its stake in PNB Metlife India to private equity the brand ambassador for its digital app 'YONO' player Oman India Joint Investment Fund II for ₹ (You only need one). 185 crore. • YONO’ is the first digital banking platform which • According to the J&K Bank, bank has executed offers customized products to customers. share purchase agreement with Oman India Joint 15. Fresh NPAs to moderate in FY'20: ICRA Investment Fund II for sale of 4.1 crore shares of • According to the ratings firm Icra; fresh NPAs in PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Ltd. the banking sector are expected to moderate to • Jammu and Kashmir Bank holds 5 per cent stake 1.9 to 2.4 perc ent in FY'20. in the insurance venture. • Icra expects gross NPAs of the banking sector to Note: 8.3 lakh crore or 7.9 per cent for March 2020, as • PNB MetLife India Insurance is a joint venture compared to estimated 9.2 per cent as of March between MetLife International Holdings Inc, 2019. Punjab National Bank, Jammu and Kashmir Bank, 16. Bandhan Bank acquire Gruh Finance M Pallonji and Company Pvt Ltd and other • Reserve Bank of India provided no objection to private investors. Bandhan Bank for the proposed acquisition of 12. Avenue India joins as new sponsor shareholder of Gruh Finance. Arcil • Gruh Finance Limited is an Ahmedabad • Asset Reconstruction Company (India) (Arcil) headquartered Subsidiary of HDFC Limited. announced Avenue India Resurgence Pte Ltd as • It is a Housing Finance Company (HFC) its new sponsor shareholder following recognized by the (NHB) completion of the secondary purchase from a few and it was taken over in January by Bandhan existing shareholders. Bank in a share-swap deal. • Avenue India is an arm of the New York- 17. HDFC Bank becomes 3rd company to cross Rs 6 lakh headquartered global investment firm, Avenue crore m-cap Capital Group. • HDFC Bank has become the third listed entity to • In November 2018, Avenue reportedly acquired achieve a market cap of Rs 6 lakh crore after a 27 per cent stake in Arcil. Reliance Industries and TCS. 13. Aviva Life Insurance launches Wings to empower • On 13th March 2019, shares of the country’s women at the workplace largest private bank gained 2.6% to hit an all- • Aviva Life Insurance has announced the launch time high of Rs 2,226. of ‘Wings’, a specially designed mentorship • This resulted in the market capitalisation of the program to empower the female workforce. bank reaching nearly Rs 6.1 lakh crore for the Note: first time, which makes it more valuable than all • Aviva Life Insurance is a joint venture between the listed public sector banks put together. Dabur Invest and Aviva International Holdings, a UK-based insurance group, whose association Note: with India goes back to 1834. • Reliance Industries, the most valuable company, has 14. SBI Yono App to allow cardless withdrawals a market cap of Rs 8.5 lakh crore while TCS is slightly • The State Bank of India has launched the YONO behind at Rs 7.5 lakh crore. Cash service for its customers which will allow 18. India ranks 11th in gold holding: World Gold Council them to withdraw cash from ATMs without their • India, which is the world’s largest consumer of debit cards. gold, has the 11th largest gold reserve, with the • Such SBI ATMs will be called YONO Cash Point. current holding pegged at 607 tonnes, as per the • SBI customers can use the YONO app on their latest report by the World Gold Council (WGC). smartphones to withdraw cash from SBI ATMs, • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is or YONO Cash Points, without using their debit included and is third on the list with total gold and credit cards. reserves of 2,814 tonnes. Note: • The list is topped by the U.S., which claims of gold reserves of 8,133.5 tonnes, followed by Germany with 3,369.7 tonnes.

17 www.gradeup.co • Italy and France complete the top five list with 21. SBI first bank to link savings bank interest to RBI reserves of a little over 2,400 tonnes each. repo rate • Meanwhile, among Asian countries, China and • In a first, State Bank of India has decided to link Japan have more reserves of the precious metal interest rates on savings bank account to an when compared to India. China – WGC takes into external benchmark from May 1, 2019. account only ‘Mainland China’ – has reserves of • With this SBI becomes the first Indian bank to 1,864.3 tonnes, while Japan has gold reserves of link both deposit rate and lending rate to an 765.2 tonnes external benchmark. 19. SBI launches doorstep banking service for senior Key points: citizens over 70 & differently-abled • SBI said for savings bank account having an average • State Bank of India (SBI) has launched doorstep balance of more than Rs 1 lakh, the effective interest banking service for senior citizens over 70 years rate will be 2.75% less than the repo rate (which is of age and differently-abled customers. 6.25% currently) from May 1. • Eligible customers can avail this service at a • Assuming that RBI keeps the repo rate unchanged in nominal fee of ₹100 per transaction for financial its next credit policy in April, the interest rate on transactions and ₹60 for non-financial savings accounts from May 1 will be 3.5% (6.25- transactions. 2.75%). • According to a statement, doorstep banking • However, if RBI reduces report rate by another 25 services are available to KYC- compliant account basis points in its next meeting, then SBI savings holders, with a valid mobile number registered bank interest rate will come down to 3.25% from with the bank and residing within 5 kilometres May 1. radius from their home branch. • For all cash credit accounts and overdraft accounts • This service will not be available for accounts above Rs 1 lakh, floor rate will be 2.25% above the operated jointly, minor accounts, and accounts of repo rate, SBI said. On this floor rate, SBI will charge non-personal nature. a risk premium based on the risk profile of the • Cash pickup and deliver, check pickup, check- borrower. So from May 1, the base rate for these book slip, life certificate and form 15 pickup are accounts will be 8.5%. some of the services that will be provided. • For savings account holders with balances up to Rs 1 20. PNB sanctions debt worth Rs 689 cr to 1,600 MSMEs lakh and borrowers with cash credit and overdraft via 59minute loan portal limits up to Rs 1 lakh, interest rates will remain fixed. • The Punjab National Bank (PNB) has sanctioned 22. Bank of Baroda launches child daycare facility at HQ loans worth Rs 689 crore to over 1,600 Micro, • Bank of Baroda has launched Crèche – Child Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through Daycare facility within its Mumbai Corporate the portal psbloansin59minutes.com as part of Office premises. its effort to promote such industries. • The public sector bank said it will bear 60% of • Under the Mudra Yojana, the bank has offered costs for each child, the rest to be borne by loan to over 2.69 lakh small entrepreneurs this parent. fiscal (till February 14, 2019). 23. PM releases new series of coins for Divyang kids Note: • The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 07, • psbloansin59minutes.com portal was launched by 2019 released the new series of visually PM Narendra Modi in November 2018 to provide impaired friendly circulation coins, in New Delhi. easy access to credit for MSMEs. • Rs.1, Rs.2, Rs.5, Rs.10 and Rs.20 are the various • MSMEs through this portal can avail loans of up to Rs denominations of coins released as part of the 1 crore in 59 minutes or less than an hour. new series. • It is a strategic initiative of Small Industries • The coins were released at a function at 7, Lok Development Bank of India (SIDBI) led PSB Kalyan Marg, where visually impaired children consortium incubated under the Department of were specially invited. Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance. • The Prime Minister thanked the National • Other partner banks are the State Bank of India (SBI), Institute of Design for the design, Security Bank of Baroda, PNB, Vijaya and Indian Bank. Printing and Minting Corporation of India

18 www.gradeup.co Limited and the Ministry of Finance for the payments landscape in India via its digital introduction of new coins. payments platform. 24. Bad assets and bankruptcy code: Lenders recover 28. United Bank, HDFC Life sign bancassurance deal almost half of Rs 1.43-lakh crore defaulting advances • has signed a bancassurance • Lenders have recovered about half the defaulting deal with private life insurer HDFC Life advances of Rs 1.43 lakh crore stuck in 82 cases Insurance Company. that have been resolved so far in the past two • Through this partnership, United Bank’s years, signalling that the Insolvency and customers will be able to take advantage of HDFC Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has become increasingly Life’s expertise in life insurance products, effective in extricating funds from bad assets. distribution and customer service. • The law came into effect in December 2016. 29. Resolution of complaints within 30 days: 25. NBFCs with Rs 1,000 crore assets want public deposit • According to insurance ombudsman regulations, access it is mandatory for insurers to comply with the • Non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) with awards passed by the ombudsman within a assets exceeding Rs 1,000 crore want the central period of 30 days from the receipt of the award. bank to allow them to accept public deposits. 30. DBS Bank announces launch of wholly-owned • Industry leaders have been making this demand subsidiary for India with the regulator to allow the access of public • Singapore’s DBS Bank announced the launch of deposit for large NBFCs that have been in its locally incorporated wholly-owned operation for a long time and have proven track subsidiary, DBS Bank India Ltd (DBIL), and its records,” said Raman Agarwal, chairman, Finance plan to establish over 100 customer touch points Industry Development Council (FIDC). — a combination of branches and kiosks — • There are more than 10,000 NBFCs and around across 25 cities in the next 12-18 months. 100 are allowed to accept public deposits. NBFCs Note: with assets of at least Rs 500 crore are • considered systemically important. • DBS set up a representative office in India in 26. IRDAI, NHA form working group to curb fraud in 1994 and opened its first bank branch in 1995. Ayushman Bharat scheme • It currently operates in 12 cities: Delhi, Mumbai, • The Insurance Regulatory and Development Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Nashik, Surat, Authority of India (IRDAI) and the National Kolhapur, Salem, Cuddalore and Moradabad. Health Authority (NHA) have formed a working • Earlier DBS was known as The Development group on the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Bank of Singapore Limited. Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). • DBS Bank headquarter is in Singapore. • The joint working group, to be chaired by 31. Reliance AIF to launch its first commodity-focused Dinesh Arora, Deputy CEO of NHA, will have 10 fund members from both the organisations. • Anil Ambani-led Reliance Alternative Investment • In six months, it will submit a report on how to Fund, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance detect and deter fraud through a common Nippon Life Asset Management, plans to mop-up repository and capacity-building. ₹ 700 crore soon with the launch of its first 27. SBI, Hitachi arm to roll out digital payment’s commodity fund Reliance Commodity AIF. platform • The minimum investment per investor in the • State Bank of India (SBI) and Hitachi Payment fund has been fixed at ₹ one crore. Initially, the Services Pvt Ltd launched their merchant- fund will be open for 45 days and can be acquiring joint venture, SBI Payment Services Pvt extended depending on the demand, sources Ltd (SBIPSPL), in Mumbai, for establishing a said. digital payments platform for India and other Note: countries in the region. • Reliance AIF will be the first Indian asset • The joint venture (SBI has a 74 per cent stake, management company to foray into commodity and the balance is with Hitachi Payment derivatives market after it was allowed by the Services) will facilitate expansion of the digital market regulator SEBI last year.

19 www.gradeup.co 32. IFFCO Tokio launches India’s first policy to protect • Its headquarters is in Gurugram, Haryana. bank locker 33. Google launches 'Bolo' app to tutor children to read • IFFCO Tokio General Insurance Company Hindi, English announced the launch of Bank Locker • Google launches a new app 'Bolo' that aims to Protector Policy, which is the first policy in the help primary school students learn to read in industry to protect the contents of a bank locker Hindi and English. such as jewellery and other valuables. • The app features an animated character 'Diya', Key points who encourages children to read stories aloud • The policy offers a cover against various risks and helps if the child is unable to pronounce a including fire, earthquake, burglary, holdup, word. infidelity by a bank staff or any act of terrorism. • The app currently offers 50 Hindi and 40 English • Apart from jewellery and valuables, one can also stories from Storyweaver, the open source digital insure important documents kept in a locker as platform for multilingual children's stories from an add-on cover. The policy can be sold both as a Bengaluru-based NGO Pratham Books. retail and a group policy for banks. 34. IRCTC launches payment aggregator IRCTC iPay • The policy offers seven options of sum insured • Indian Railway Catering and Tourism ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 40 lakh and Corporation (IRCTC) has launched its own above. payment aggregator system, IRCTC iPay. This a • The premium rate is affordable with a cover of step towards promoting the government’s Digital Rs 3 lakh available at just Rs 300, which is less India initiative. than Rs 1 per day. • IRCTC iPay is a prepaid card cum wallet. • IFFCO Tokio is a joint venture between the • With IRCTC iPay passengers will not need any Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-operative (IFFCO) third-party platforms as the IRCTC iPay provides and its associates and Tokio Marine and Nichido payment options like credit card, debit card, UPI Fire Group which is also the largest listed – Unified Payment Interface, International Card. insurance group in Japan. • K. Srinivasa Gowda is the Chairman of IFFCO Tokio Chairman. February 2019

1. LIC launches Micro Bachat plan with assured sum of Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (HDFC) Rs 2 lakh – LIC’s Micro Bachat is a regular premium, and ERGO International AG. non-linked, participating micro-insurance plan which 3. EPFO Hikes Interest Rates on EPF by 0.1% - offers a combination of protection and savings. Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation has hiked • Minimum Basic Sum Assured: Rs. 50,000 interest rate on employees’ provident fund to 8.65% • Maximum Basic Sum Assured: Rs. 2 lakh from 8.55% for the 2018-19 fiscal year. The • The Basic Sum Assured is available in multiples announcement was made by Labour Minister Santosh of Rs.5,000 Gangwar. • Minimum Age at entry: 18 years (completed) 4. GST Council Reduces GST Rate on Real Estate • Maximum Age at entry: 55 years (nearer Projects – The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council birthday) met for its 33rd meeting and slashed GST rate on under- • Policy Term: 10 to 15 years.. construction residential properties and the affordable 2. HDFC ERGO Launched 1st-of-its-kind Trip Protector’ housing projects. Policy • In case of non-affordable houses, the GST rate for • HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company, India’s under-construction flats and houses has been third-largest non-life insurance provider in the brought to 5% without Input Tax Credit (ITC), private sector, announced the launch of ‘Trip down from the present 12%. Protector’ insurance policy, a pioneering policy • In case of affordable houses, the GST rate has in the non-life insurance segment in India. been reduced to 1% without ITC from 8%. • HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company is a 5. Soon 90% of GST payers to file quarterly return: FM 51:49 joint venture between the Housing

20 www.gradeup.co • The GST Council allowed the filing of GST returns • The head office of is in Bengaluru. with an annual turnover of up to Rs 5 crore at 12. IRDAI constitute Randip Singh Jagpal (IRDAI chief quarterly. general manager) committee - A committee of the 6. Yes Bank wins The Aegis Graham Bell Award 2018 – Indian insurance regulator, IRDAI, has recommended Aegis Graham Bell Award 2018 announced Yes Bank as that a facilitating environment to support deployment of the winner in ‘Innovation in Data Science’ category for technical innovation, similar to that for FinTech their industry-first project ‘Yes EEE (Engage Enrich products, should be created for the insurance industry as Excel)’ at Panaji, Goa. well. 7. Fino Payments Bank (FPB) has announced the launch Note: of a sweep account facility in association with Suryoday • The committee on the regulatory sandbox (SSFB). This partnership will help approach in insurance sector in India was FPB address the issue of deposit limits that all the constituted by IRDAI last September. payment banks face at the moment. • The committee set up under the chairmanship of 8. NTPC signs pact with SBI for Rs 5000 crore Term Randip Singh Jagpal has now submitted its Loan - NTPC has announced that it has signed a term recommendations. loan agreement for Rs 5,000 crore with State Bank of 13. Two RRBs to be merged to form Tamil Nadu Grama India. Bank - Two regional rural banks (RRBs) – Pallavan 9. NPA under Mudra Yojana stands at Rs 7,277 cr - The Grama Bank and Pandyan Grama Bank – will be merged Government informed Parliament that loans worth Rs to form the Tamil Nadu Grama Bank as per the Finance 7,277.31 crore of public sector banks under Pradhan Ministry notification. Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) have turned bad at the end • The integration will be effective from April 1, of March 2018. 2019. Note: • The new Tamil Nadu Grama Bank will be under • Loans under PMMY can be covered under Credit the sponsorship of Indian Bank. Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU). 14. ADB buys 14% stake in Annapurna Finance - The • CGFMU has been formed with the purpose of Asian Development Bank (ADB) has bought a 14% stake guaranteeing payment against default in micro in micro-financier Annapurna Finance for Rs 137 crore, loans up to Rs 10 lakh extended to eligible reinforcing the belief that India’s microfinance sector is borrowers by the member lending institutions on course to attract long-term funds from global lenders (MLIs). and investors. 10. SBI UK Chief honoured ‘Freedom of the City of 15. GST collection increases in January - The data from the London’ Ministry of Finance shows that goods and services tax • Mr. Sanjiv Chadha (State Bank of India’s UK collections stood at Rs. 1,02,503 crore in the month of chief) has been honoured with the ‘Freedom of January. the City Of London’ in recognition of his 16. India is the most digitally mature country in the contribution to promoting the bilateral relations. world: Research • Mr. Chadha was nominated for the honour by • According to the latest Dell Technologies Digital Lord Mayor of London Peter Estlin and Sheriff Transformation Index, India is the most digitally Vincent Keaveny. mature country in the world. 11. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank launches Kisan Suvidha • The study revealed that emerging markets are Loan - ‘Kisan Suvidha loan’ for small and marginal the most digitally mature, with India, Brazil and farmers has been launched by Ujjivan Small Finance Thailand topping the global ranking. Bank. • In contrast, developed markets are slipping Note: behind: Japan, Denmark and France received the • It provides loans to individuals with an amount lowest digital maturity scores. ranging from Rs. 60000 to Rs. 2 Lakh to fulfil the customized needs of the mass market segment.

January 2019

21 www.gradeup.co 1. Cabinet approves the merger of Vijaya Bank & Dena 4. UAE & Saudi central banks launch common digital Bank with Bank of Baroda currency called 'Aber’ • The Union cabinet has approved the merger of • The central banks of the UAE and Saudi Arabia Vijaya Bank & Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda. have launched a common digital currency called • The merger will be effective from April 2019. "Aber". • After the merger, Bank of Baroda will become • It will be used in financial settlements between third-largest bank after State Bank of India and the two countries through Blockchains and ICICI Bank. Distributed Ledgers technologies. • In terms of assets - Bank of Baroda will become • It will establish an additional means for the third biggest public sector bank, behind State central financial transfer systems of the two Bank of India and HDFC Bank. countries and enable banks to directly deal with Note: each other in conducting financial remittances. • The amalgamation will be the first-ever three-way 5. Cabinet approves recapitalisation of Exim Bank to consolidation of banks in the country. the tune of Rs. 6,000 crores • The Alternative Mechanism (AM) headed by Finance • On 16th January 2019, the Cabinet approved a Minister, Arun Jaitley, gave its in-principal approval capital infusion of Rs 6,000 crore in Export- for the structure of the amalgamation. Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank). 2. GST exemption limit doubled for small businesses • The Cabinet also approved an increase in the • The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has authorized capital of Exim Bank from Rs. 10,000 doubled the GST exemption limit to Rs 20 lakh crores to Rs. 20,000 crores. for northeastern states and Rs 40 lakh for the Note: rest of the country. • Exim Bank of India (Exim Bank) was established in • The increased (exemption) limit (of Rs 40 lakh) 1982 under an Act of Parliament as the apex financial is applicable for those businesses who deal in institution for financing, facilitating and promoting goods and also do intra-state trade and not for India's international trade. those who do inter-state transactions. • It is regulated by RBI. The bank headquarters is in Note: Mumbai. • The taxpayers with an aggregate turnover of Rs 6. India to surpass UK in World’s largest Economy 40 lakh would now be exempted from the GST. Rankings in 2019: PwC - India is likely to surpass the • For the north eastern states, the exemption United Kingdom in the world’s largest economy rankings would now be Rs 20 lakh. in 2019, to become the world’s fifth largest economy, • Currently, businesses with a turnover of up to Rs according to a report by global consultancy firm PwC. 20 lakh is exempt from GST registration, while 7. WEF Report: India to become world's third largest the limit for hilly and north eastern states is Rs consumer market by 2030 10 lakh. • According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) • The GST Composition Scheme, under which small report, India is set to become the world's third traders and businesses pay a 1 per cent tax based largest consumer market behind only USA and on turnover, can be availed by businesses with a China by 2030. turnover of Rs 1.5 crore, against the earlier Rs 1 • Currently, India is the world's sixth largest crore, with effect from April 1. economy, with the annual GDP growth rate of 3. India allows Iran’s Bank Pasargad to open a branch 7.5%. in Mumbai - On January 09, 2019, India permitted an 8. Nepal’s announces the ban of Indian Iranian private bank ‘Bank Pasargad’ to open its branch Notes above Rs100 in Mumbai. The bank is expected to begin its operations • According to Nepal’s central bank circular, Indian by March 2019. currency of Rs. 200, Rs.500 and Rs. 2,000 About Bank Pasargad denominations cannot be carried and used for • Bank Pasargad is an Iranian private bank which trading. offers retail, commercial and investment banking • Under the new regulation, Nepali citizens cannot services. carry these denominations to countries other • It’s headquartered is in Tehran, Iran. than India. • The bank was established in year 2005.

22 www.gradeup.co • Indian notes of Rs 100 or below, are allowed for districts such as Palghar, Thane, Pune, Kolhapur, trading and conversion. Latur. 9. PSU banks to bring down govt equity to 52% - The 15. Direct Tax Collections for F.Y. 2018-19 up to Finance Ministry has asked the public sector banks to December 2018 gradually reduce the government’s equity to 52 per cent. • According to the provisional figures of Direct Tax Currently, some of the public sector banks have collections 2018, the gross collections are at Rs. government’s holding beyond 75 per cent. 8.74 lakh crore which is 14.1% higher than the Note: gross collections for the corresponding period of • Dilution of the government’s stake will help last year. banks to meet 25 per cent public float norms set 16. MoU between the Indian Army and Punjab National by the SEBI. Bank 10. The Union Cabinet approved a proposal for a USD 75- • Indian Army and Punjab National Bank (PNB) billion bilateral swap arrangement between India and have signed a Memorandum of Understanding Japan, a move aimed at enhancing the RBI's ability to (MoU) on the Defence Salary Package. manage exchange rate volatility. 17. HDFC Standard Life Insurance renamed to HDFC Life 11. Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal - The Insurance – HDFC Standard Life Insurance has changed Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi its name to HDFC Life Insurance following the receipt of has approved the setting up of National Bench of Goods relevant approvals from regulatory authorities. and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal. 18. The Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics • The National Bench of the Goods and Services and Programme Implementation on January 7, 2019 Tax Appellate Tribunal will be situated in New released the First Advance Estimates of National Income Delhi. at Constant (2011-12) and Current Prices, for the 12. Bihar top state in terms of GDP growth in FY18: Crisil financial year 2018-19. report Key points: • Bihar has been ranked the top state in terms of (i) Per capita income grew 45% under Narendra GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) growth in Modi regime, says CSO - The income earned by an financial year 2017-18, according to a report by average Indian doubled in seven years, from Rs 63,642 Crisil. per year in 2011-12 to Rs 1.25 lakh in 2018-19, the first • The state has topped the list by clocking 11.3 advance estimates of national income released by the percent GSDP growth in fiscal 2018. It was Central Statistics Office (CSO) show. ranked at eighth spot in fiscal 2017 with 9.9 • Under the current National Democratic Alliance percent GSDP growth. (NDA) government, per capita income has grown • The second spot has been secured by Andhra 45 per cent, from 2014-15 to 2018-19. Pradesh, whose GSDP growth in FY18 jumped to • The Per Capita Net National Income during 2018- 11.2 percent. Gujarat listed third with growth of 19 is estimated to be ₹1,25,397 showing a rise of 11.1 percent. 11.1 per cent as compared to ₹1,12,835 during 13. Allahabad Bank & SBI Life join hand for 2017-18 with the growth rate of 8.6 percent. bancassurance partnership – (ii) National Income – • Allahabad Bank and SBI Life Insurance came • In terms of growth rates, the National together and signed a bancassurance pact to sell Income registered a growth rate of 12.5 per the policies of the insurer from over 3,200 cent in 2018-19 as against the previous branches of Allahabad Bank across the country. year’s growth rate of 10.1 per cent. 14. YES Bank ties up with Maharashtra to onboard fair (iii) Agriculture has a share of nearly 14 per cent, price shops as BCs while industry has a little over 30 per cent and the • The Maharashtra government has partnered remaining 56 per cent belongs to services. with private sector lender YES Bank, under its e- (iv) Gross Domestic Product: The growth in GDP PDS State programme, to onboard fair price during 2018-19 is estimated at 7.2percent as shops (FPS) as Business Correspondent Agents. compared to the growth rate of 6.7per cent in 2017- • “YES Bank will onboard close to 40 percent of all 18. fair price shops in Maharashtra, spanning 12

23 www.gradeup.co 19. China’s Economy Grew At 6.6% in 2018 - China’s 24. Syndicate Bank and SBI Life Insurance signed a economy grew at 6.6% in 2018, its slowest rate in almost bancassurance pact aiming to offer a comprehensive 3 decades. financial planning solution to its customers. 20. Govt forms GoM for GST issues in real estate - The 25. ICICI Bank, in a first-of-its-kind programme, signed a Union Government has constituted a seven-member Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Small Group of Ministers (GoM) to boost the real estate sector Business FinCredit India Pvt. Ltd. (SBFC), a systemically under the GST regime. Nitin Patel (Deputy Chief Minister important Non-Banking Finance Company for of Gujarat) will be the convener of the GoM. entrepreneurs, to jointly provide credit worth up to Rs 1 21. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar has crore to MSMEs for a tenure of 15 years. Under this developed an Android app ‘Roshni’ that would help the arrangement, ICICI Bank will co-originate loan against Visually Impaired to recognise currency notes in property with SBFC at a mutually agreed ratio. Chandigarh. 26. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has Note: established an Export Promotion Cell. The cell aims to • The Roshni app can recognise both old and new create to create a sustainable ecosystem for micro, small notes and gives audio information as to which and medium enterprises (MSMEs). note you are holding in your hands. 27. Government merges three regional rural banks into • The Roshni is the first Android App that works single RRB with effect from January 1 successfully with new INR currency notes. • The government has amalgamated three 22. Cabinet approves amendments to Currency Swap Regional Rural Banks -- Punjab Gramin Bank, arrangement for SAARC nations - The Union Cabinet Malwa Gramin Bank and Sutlej Gramin Bank -- headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved into a single RRB with effect from January 1, the amendments to the framework on currency swap 2019. arrangement for SAARC member countries. The • The sponsor banks of the RRBs are National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development amendments incorporate a standby facility of USD 400 (NABARD), the Government of Punjab and million. Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India and 23. HDFC Mutual Fund has pipped ICICI Prudential MF to Punjab and Sind Bank, it added. become the country’s largest asset management company after a gap of over two years.

Important Committees

1. BP Sharma (retired GOI secretary) - The Union 5. Anoop Satpathy Committee - Recommends Rs 9,750 Government has constituted an expert committee to Monthly National Minimum Wage “revisit the criteria” for determining the “creamy layer” Note: for OBCs which was laid down in 1993. • submitted its report on “Determining the Note: The committee will “revisit the criteria evolved by Methodology for Fixation of the National the Prasad committee” and give recommendations for Minimum Wage” to the Government. “redefining, simplifying and streamlining the concept of • It recommended the fixation of need-based creamy layer” while keeping in view the SC’s National Minimum Wage (NMW) for India at Rs observations in Indira Sawhney case. 375 per day or Rs 9,750 per month irrespective 2. Amitabh Kant (Niti Aayog CEO) committee - National of sectors, skills, occupations and rural-urban Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, locations for a family comprising of 3.6 which is being set up to promote clean and sustainable consumption units. mobility initiatives in the country. • The Present NMW is Rs. 4,576. 3. Suresh Mathur committee – to review the regulatory 6. Sanjeev Sharma (income tax commissioner) framework on microinsurance and recommend Committee - to look into the matter of taxation related measures to increase the demand for such products. pain points and submit its final report and 4. Bimal Jalan Panel - to suggest how the central bank recommendations by mid-March. should handle its reserves and whether it can transfer its 7. Jasmine Shah Committee – The Delhi government surplus to the government. constituted a committee to “reform higher education” in

24 www.gradeup.co the capital. The committee will be chaired by DDC vice- 16. Cherukuri Raghavendra Babu committee - The chairperson Jasmine Shah. Madras High Court has set up an expert committee to 8. CPWD Constitutes 8-member Committee to Chart Out find a solution to root out invasive species of plants from Design Policy - The Central Works Public Department the Western Ghats. (CPWD) has constituted an expert committee to 17. Sushil Modi Committee - Bihar Deputy Chief Minister formulate a design policy for building construction and Sushil Modi will head the 7-member committee to look infrastructure development. into revenue shortfall being faced by the states after the • The committee has been set up under the GST roll-out and suggest steps for augmenting chairmanship of CPWD’s Additional Director collections. General M K Sharma. 18. Nitin Patel committee - The government has 9. Environment Ministry Constitutes Committee to constituted a seven-member Group of Ministers (GoM) to Implement National Clean Air Programme - The boost the real estate sector under the GST regime. Union Environment Ministry has constituted a Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Nitin Patel is the committee to implement the National Clean Air convener of the GoM. Programme (NCAP), which aims to reduce particulate 19. Sankar De committee - SEBI constituted a “Research matter (PM) pollution by 20%-30% in at least 102 cities Advisory” committee which will assist in formulating by 2024. policy to undertake research relevant for development • The committee will be chaired by the Secretary, and regulation of capital markets. The committee is Union Environment Ministry. It would be headed by Sankar De. headquartered in New Delhi. 20. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai committee – The 10. B V R Mohan Reddy committee - not to allow setting up Lokpal Search Committee headed by former Supreme of new Engineering colleges from 2020. Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai held its first Note: meeting and discussed modalities related to the • The Panel headed by IIT-Hyderabad chairman B appointments of the chief and members of Lokpal. V R Mohan Reddy has suggested All India Council 21. SC sets up panel for to suggest reforms for holding for Technical Education (AICTE) not to allow competitive exams - The Supreme Court favoured setting up of new Engineering colleges from setting up of a three-member high-powered committee 2020. comprising Nandan Nilekani, a co-founder of tech giant 11. Nandan Nilekani committee - to boost digital payments Infosys, and renowned computer scientist Vijay P and enhance financial inclusion. Bhatkar to suggest reforms for conducting of competitive 12. U.K. Sinha committee - to suggest long-term solutions examinations fairly by government bodies. for the economic and financial sustainability of the MSME 22. Sudhir Mungantiwar committee (Maharashtra Finance sector. Minister) – to examine uniformity of taxation on lottery 13. Committee headed by NITI Aayog member (health) - under GST or other issues arising out of it. The Union government has constituted a high-power Note: Under GST, state-organized lottery falls under the committee headed by NITI Aayog member (health) to 12% tax slab while state-authorized lottery attracts 28% monitor the pricing of medicines and healthcare tax. products. 23. MS Swaminathan committee - The Delhi government 14. Government sets up Committee to Explore Prepaid has decided to introduce the Minimum Support Price Payments by Discoms to Generator Companies - On (MSP) for farmers based on the recommendations of the the recommendation of Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, the National Commission on Farmers (NCF) headed by MS government constituted a committee under the Central Swaminathan. Electricity Authority (CEA) to explore prepaid payments • The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) was by state electricity distribution companies to power constituted on November 18, 2004 under the plants. chairmanship of Professor M.S. Swaminathan. 15. Praveen Kutumbe committee - Insurance Regulatory 24. Umesh Sinha committee - The Committee headed Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has set up a Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha has panel headed by Praveen Kutumbe, to identify submitted the report on revisiting the section 126 of the domestically systematically important insurers (SIIs) and Representation of the People Act. an augmented regulatory framework is logically • The committee had nine officers from the established in this regard. Election Commission and one nominated member each from I&B Ministry, Law Ministry,

25 www.gradeup.co IT Ministry, National Broadcasters Association 28. Rajiv Kumar (NITI Aayog Vice Chairman) Committee and Press Council of India. – to look at selling of 149 small and marginal oil and gas 25. Dr Jitendra Nagpal committee - The Union Human fields of state-owned the Oil and Natural Gas Corporatio Resource Development Ministry has constituted a task (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL) to private and foreign force to look into the issues of suicides of the students in companies to boost domestic output. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNV) residential schools. 29. Namrita Mahindro committee - to promote Augmented • The task force has been constituted under the and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) technology to drive Chairmanship of Psychiatrist, Dr Jitendra Nagpal. economic growth, job creation, and skill development in 26. Akhilesh Ranjan Committee – for drafting New Direct the country. Tax Legislation (Law) Note: 27. Dr. Bibek Debroy (The Economic Advisory Council to • The committee is formed by the Internet and the Prime Minister) Committee - to assess key Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). challenges and suggest reforms in logistics development • IAMAI headquartered is in Mumbai. and associated commerce. Agreement & Deals

April 2019

1. Exim Bank funds projects worth USD 267 mn in • India will set up an information and Rawanda communications technology (ICT) centre in • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said Exim Bank Ethiopia in collaboration with UAE. has provided soft loans of USD 266.60 million to 4. SEFL partnered with Bank of Baroda to offer joint Rawanda for various projects. loans for infrastructure equipment • The funding, done in three separate tranches to • Srei Equipment Finance (SEFL) has entered into Rawanda, is to support agricultural projects, an alliance with Bank of Baroda to offer joint development of special economic zones (SEZs) loans for infrastructure equipment under a co- and for financing road project in the African lending arrangement. nation. 5. India, Sweden ink pact to collaborate on solutions for 2. BoM joins M1Xchange TReDS platform for MSME bill smart cities, clean tech discounting • India and Sweden launched a joint programme that • (BoM) has partnered with will work towards addressing a range of challenges M1Xchange Trade Receivables Discounting around smart cities and clean technologies among System (TReDS) platform for MSME bill others. discounting. • The programme was co-funded by Indian Note: Department of Science and Technology (DST) and • Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) Swedish agency Vinnova. is a digital platform to support micro, small and 6. IIT Madras collaborates with GE to establish India’s medium enterprises (MSMEs) to get their bills first ‘Cold Spray’ SMART lab financed at a competitive rate through an auction • Indian Institute of Technology Madras has where multiple registered financiers can established a ‘Cold Spray’ SMART (Surface participate. Modification and Additive Research Technologies) 3. India to partner with Japan and UAE to set up two Laboratory in collaboration with General Electric projects in Africa (GE). • India is joining hands with Japan and the United • This is the first of its kind High-Pressure Cold Spray Arab Emirates (UAE) to implement two projects (HPCS) facility being installed in any academic in Africa as it seeks to extend its footprint on the institute in India. continent. 7. TCS, Google partner to build industry-specific cloud • India will build a cancer hospital in Kenya in solutions collaboration with Japan. • Tata Consultancy Services has partnered with Google Cloud to build industry-specific cloud solutions.

26 www.gradeup.co 8. Microsoft, Tata Trusts tie up to help develop Company to distribute the latter’s life insurance handloom clusters products. • Microsoft India and Tata Trusts have signed an 15. BSE, India INX become first Indian exchanges to sign agreement to jointly work for the development of MoU with Moscow Exchange handloom clusters in the Eastern and North- • BSE (earlier known as Bombay Stock Exchange) Eastern parts of the country. and India International Exchange (India INX) • The two entities will provide business and have signed a memorandum of understanding communication skills, design education and with Moscow Exchange (MOEX) to connect digital literacy to handloom weavers in order to investor community and companies in both improve their business prospects. countries besides allowing a capital formation 9. Indian Government clears procurement of 464 platform. Russian tanks under the T-90 Project • BSE and India INX are the first Indian exchanges • The Cabinet Committee of Security has cleared to enter into the MoU with Moscow exchange. the procurement of 464 Russian tanks from Note: Russia under T-90 project in a deal worth over • The Bombay Stock Exchange is an Indian stock Rs 13,500 crore. exchange located at Dalal Street, Mumbai. 10. CMFRI signs agreement with ISRO to save coastal Established in 1875, the BSE is Asia's first stock wetlands exchange. • The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute • The India International Exchange is India's first (CMFRI) and the Indian Space Research international stock exchange, opened in 2017. It is Organisation (ISRO) have joined hands to map, located at the International Financial Services Centre, validate and protect smaller wetlands in coastal GIFT City in Gujarat. regions. • It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bombay Stock • The programme is aimed at restoring them Exchange through coastal livelihood programmes. 16. Tata Power, Indraprastha Gas ink pact for rooftop Note: solar projects • The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute is • Tata Power has signed a pact with Indraprastha one of the largest marine fishery research institutes Gas Limited (IGL) for setting up rooftop solar in India located in Kochi, Kerala India. projects in the country. 11. BSE, HDFC Bank tie up to strengthen startup platform Note: • The BSE has signed a memorandum of • Tata Power is India's largest integrated power utility, understanding (MoU) with HDFC Bank with an IGL is country's largest CNG distribution company. objective to strengthen the BSE Startups 17. India and Chile exchange three MoUs for cooperation platform. • India and Chile signed three MoUs in the fields of 12. India, Sri Lanka agree to increase cooperation in mining, culture and empowerment of persons with security and defence spheres disabilities. • India and Sri Lanka have agreed to increase • Chile announces it will allow visa-free entry to cooperation in security and defence spheres in Indians holding valid US Visa. several areas, including regional security, Note: curbing drug smuggling and human trafficking. • The capital of Chile is – Santiago 13. NTPC signs Rs 2,000 cr term loan pact with Canara • The currency of Chile is - Peso Bank 18. Bureau of Indian Standards inks an MoU with IIT, • National Thermal Power Corporation (NPTC) has Delhi inked a term-loan agreement with Canara Bank • The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has inked a to raise Rs 2,000 crore, which would be used to Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the part finance its capital expenditure. Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi to • "A term loan agreement for Rs 2,000 crore was collaborate in the field of standardisation and signed with Canara Bank on April 5, 2019. conformity assessment. 14. in pact with Bharti AXA • BIS and IIT Delhi have also agreed to set up a • Karnataka Bank has entered into a memorandum Centre of Excellence in the field of of understanding with Bharti AXA Life Insurance

27 www.gradeup.co standardization, testing and conformity • The helicopters are designed to operate from assessment. frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft 19. US approves sale of 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters carriers. to India for USD 2.6 billion • The US has approved the sale of 24 multi-role MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters to India at an estimated cost of USD 2.6 billion.

March 2019

1. India extends Rs. 35.5 million financial grant to • The agreement aims to ensure that all tax Nepal authorities have access to same information • India has extended a financial grant of 35.5 about MNC’s value chain and resulting tax million Nepalese rupees for the construction of consequences. an educational campus in Nepal under the 6. India-African Union sign MoU on strengthening Development Partnership Programme. cooperation in healthcare sector: MEA • The educational campus was jointly inaugurated • According to the Ministry of External Affairs by District Coordination Committee and Campus (MEA), an agreement has been signed between management committee on 22nd March 2019. India and the African Union to initiate and 2. India & Bolivia sign 8 MoUs in various fields strengthen the cooperation in health sector. including culture, mining, space 7. ICICI Lombard partnered with MobiKwik to provide • India and Bolivia signed eight MoUs in the fields cyber-insurance of culture, Visa waiver arrangement for • ICICI Lombard and digital financial services diplomats, exchange between diplomatic company MobiKwik entered into a partnership academies, mining, space, traditional medicine, to provide cyber insurance cover of Rs. 50000. establishment of Centre of Excellence in IT and • The service will be available through an app at Bi-Oceanic Railway project. Rs. 99 per month along with an insured sum of Note: Rs. 50000. • President Ram Nath Kovind has been conferred with 8. WhatsApp and NASSCOM Foundation collaborated to the highest State honor of Bolivia, “Condor de Los tackle misinformation Andes en el Grado de Gran Collar” during his visit to • WhatsApp has joined hands with NASSCOM Bolivia. Foundation, to tackle the challenge of 3. IIT Kharagpur, Wipro partner for research in 5G & AI misinformation. • Wipro and Indian Institute of Technology • The aim of the partnership is to train 100,000 Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) signed a Indians to spot false information and provide Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to tips and tricks to stay safe on WhatsApp. collaborate on high-impact, industry-focused 9. India, US to Sign Pact for Exchange of Country-By- applied research in the areas of 5G and AI. Country Reports 4. Infosys & French Open Team up for Digital • Both India and the US will sign an agreement to Innovation facilitate the exchange of country-by-country (CbC) • Infosys and Roland-Garros Grand Slam tennis reports filed by the ultimate parent corporations tournament, also called the French Open, based in either of the countries. announced a three-year strategic technology 10. ADB to invest $50 million in Solar Power Project partnership. Developer Avaada • The partnership aims to re-imagine the tennis • Asian Development Bank (ADB) has inked an experience for the fans and the players globally. agreement to invest USD 50 million in solar energy 5. India, US ink pact to check tax evasion by MNCs project developer Avaada Energy Pvt Ltd to help the • India and United States (US) signed an company scale up rapidly. agreement for Exchange of Country-by-Country • LEAP is a funding arrangement provided by Japan (CbC) Reports (local filing) to check tax evasion International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which is by Multi National Cooperation’s (MNCs). administered by ADB.

28 www.gradeup.co 11. IBBI and SEBI sign pact for Effective Implementation 17. Korea Exim Bank Extends Rs 4,100 crore Loan for of IBC Vizag Metro • Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) • Korea Exim Bank has come forward to extend a and Securities and Exchange Board of India Rs 4,100 crore loan for Visakhapatnam Metro (SEBI) have signed a Memorandum of Rail project. Understanding (MoU) to assist and co-operate • The Export–Import Bank of Korea, also with each other for the effective implementation commonly known as the Korea Exim bank, is the of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. official export credit agency of South Korea. 12. Maldives sign agreement with Exim Bank to Finance • The bank headquarters is located in Seoul, South Infrastructure Projects Korea. • Maldives finance ministry has signed an agreement 18. India Extends USD 250 million To Nepal for with India’s Export-Import Bank (EXIM) for line of Reconstruction of Infrastructures credit (LOC) of 800 million US dollars to finance the • India has extended a grant assistance of up to new government’s infrastructure projects. USD 250 million to Nepal for the reconstruction 13. SBI signed MoU with Bank of China for Business of infrastructures in the areas of housing, Opportunities education, health and cultural heritage that was • State Bank of India has signed a pact with the Bank of destroyed during the devastating April 2015 China to boost business opportunities. earthquake which saw the death of over 9,000 • SBI has signed an MoU to enhance business synergies people. between both the banks. • Earlier this month, India said that it will • SBI has a branch in Shanghai and BOC is opening its reconstruct 72 education facilities in Nepal that branch in Mumbai. were damaged during the earthquake. 14. India & Afghanistan signed an MoU on digital 19. India, World Bank and Representatives of 5 States education initiatives signed loan agreement for DRIP • The Ministry of Human Resource Development • The Government of India, the World Bank and (HRD) has signed a memorandum of understanding the representatives of Five States sign the Loan (MoU) with the Afghanistan government at Indian Agreement for Additional Financing of $137 Institutes of Technology (IIT) Madras to work on a Million for the Dam Rehabilitation and digital education initiative Improvement Project (DRIP). • This collaboration hopes to contribute to bilateral • This agreement will help rehabilitate and relations and beget mutual benefits for the two modernize over 220 selected large dams in the countries. States of Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, 15. India and ADB sign $26 Million Loan Agreement for Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. Additional Financing to Assam Urban Project • The $137 Million Loan from the International • The Government of India and the Asian Bank for Reconstruction and Development Development Bank (ADB) signed a $26 Million (IBRD), has a 3-year grace period, and a final Loan Agreement to provide additional financing maturity of 16 years. for improving drainage infrastructure in 20. World Bank to provide $250 mn to boost rural Dibrugarh town of Assam under the ongoing income Assam Urban Infrastructure Investment • World Bank to provide 250 Million dollars for Program. the National Rural Economic Transformation 16. IBBI Signs Cooperation Agreement with IFC Project (NRETP) to boost Rural Incomes across • The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India 13 States in India. (IBBI) has signed a Cooperation Agreement with • An agreement in this regard was signed between the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a the World Bank and the Government of India. member of the World Bank Group (WBG). • Wold Bank said in a statement that the loan will • The agreement will enable IFC to assist IBBI to help women in rural households develop viable further build the capacity of insolvency enterprises for farm and non-farm products. professionals, and insolvency professional 21. India signs loan agreement with World Bank for agencies for the purposes of the Code. Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project

29 www.gradeup.co • India signed a loan agreement with the World • The Centre and the Asian Development Bank Bank for 96 Million US dollars for additional (ADB) have signed a 926 million dollar loan financing of Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery agreement to operationalize two lines of the Project. Mumbai Metro Rail System. • World Bank has been supporting the State • It is the single largest infrastructure project loan Government since 2014 to restore housing and in ADB history approved by the ADB Board. rural connectivity and to build the resilience of 25. India signs legal agreements with the World Bank – communities. The Government of India, Government of Himachal 22. India signs loan Agreement with the World Bank for Pradesh (GoHP) and the World Bank signed a $40 Million USD 25.2 Million for Chhattisgarh Public Financial Loan Agreement to help bring clean and reliable drinking Management and Accountability Program water to the citizens of the Greater Shimla area, who • The World Bank and the Government of India have been facing severe water shortages and water- has signed a USD 25.2 Million Loan Agreement borne epidemics over the last few years. on March 5, 2019 to support Chhattisgarh Public 26. India & Brunei sign pact to exchange information on Financial Management and Accountability tax, banking matters Program. • India and Brunei signed an agreement for 23. AIIB to provide USD 455 mn for Andhra rural roads exchange of information in tax matters which project will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance. • The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Note: will provide a loan of USD 455 million to finance • The capital of Brunei is - Bandar Seri Begawan the Andhra Pradesh Rural Roads Project. • The currency of Brunei is – dollar 24. Centre, ADB sign 926 million loan agreement to • Brunei is a country located in Southeast Asia on the operationalize two lines of Mumbai Metro island of Borneo.

January & February 2019

1. World Bank, UN Women and SIDBI plan ‘women’s 5. IRCTC Partners with Bharti AXA General Insurance livelihood bond’ to raise ₹300 cr – The World Bank, UN • Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Women (a United Nations entity dedicated to gender Corporation (IRCTC), the Railways’ subsidiary, equality and empowerment of women), and Small will offer insurance of up to INR50 lakh for free Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) have come for air passengers who book their tickets together to launch a five-year tenor ‘women’s livelihood through its portal. IRCTC has tied up with Bharti- bond’ to raise ₹300 crore. Axa for the offer. • The bonds, which will be raised by SIDBI with 6. India has signed a long-term contract with Uzbekistan the support of World Bank and UN Women. for supply of uranium ore concentrates to widen its • The coupon rate on these bonds will be 3 per source base for the nuclear fuel. cent per annum. Note: • SIDBI chairman - Mohammad Mustafa. • Uzbekistan is the seventh largest exporter of • SIDBI Hq – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. uranium in the world. 2. Ministry of Coal signs an MoU with Ministry of • The Exim Bank signed an agreement with Energy, Poland - The objective of this MoU is to foster Uzbekistan to extend a 200-million US dollar line relations in the field of coal mining and clean coal of credit for financing housing and social technologies through the already established Joint Coal infrastructure projects. Working Group as well as research institutes and 7. India and Sri Lanka signed an MoU to provide modern academia between the two countries. infrastructural facilities to Swami Vipulananda Institute 3. India and Bangladesh have signed an MOU for training of Aesthetic Studies of Eastern University in Batticaloa 1800 Bangladesh Civil Servants at the National Centre for district of Sri Lanka. Good Governance (NCGG) 8. India and China have signed the protocol for exports of 4. India & Germany join hands on Water and Waste Indian tobacco leaves to China. Management - India and Germany have joined hands for 9. Israel Aerospace industries announces agreement cooperation on Water and Waste Management. with Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard – Israel

30 www.gradeup.co Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced entering into 10. India and Japan-India Cooperative Actions (JICA) signed agreements worth $93 million this for providing Naval the loan agreements under the Japanese Official Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) systems Development Assistance Loan Program. to India.

Schemes launched by Union/State Govt.

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 2. Gram Samridhi Yojana – Gram Samridhi Yojana, a Rs agriculture exports 3,000 crore scheme funded by the World Bank and the • The government has introduced a scheme for Government of India, is being worked upon by the providing financial assistance for transport and Ministry of Food Processing Industries in order to marketing of agriculture products with a view to strengthen the unorganised food processing sector boosting export of farm commodities to certain concentrated in rural areas. countries in Europe and North America. Key points • Under the Transport and Marketing • World Bank will be giving Rs 1,500 crore, Rs Assistance (TMA) scheme, the government 1,000 crore will be borne by the Centre while would reimburse a certain portion of freight state governments will put in Rs 500 crore. charges and provide assistance for marketing of • The scheme will be run in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra agricultural produce. Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab for a 5-year • The scheme covers freight and marketing period in the initial phase and thereafter in other assistance for export by air as well as by sea states of the country. (both normal and refrigerated cargo). 3. Textiles Minister launches scheme for development • The scheme would be applicable for a period as of Knitwear Sector – Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti specified from time to time. Presently, it would Zubin Irani launched a comprehensive scheme for the be available for exports effected from March 1 development of knitting and knitwear sector under this year to March 2020. PowerTex India in New Delhi. Apart from financial

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

February 2019

1. HRD Ministry launches SHREYAS Programme – The • The scheme will benefit nearly 17.25 lakh school Union Minister of Human Resources and Development girls from Class VI to XII studying in government Prakash Javadekar launched the SHREYAS programme to and government-aided schools. provide industry-specific apprenticeship opportunities • The state government will spend INR 466 crore to fresh graduates. over a period of 5 years to implement the Note: scheme. • SHREYAS stands for - Scheme for Higher 3. CCEA approves launch of KUSUM scheme - The Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has • It is a programme basket comprising of three approved the launch of KUSUM, Kisan Urja Suraksha initiatives of the HRD, Ministry of Skill evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan scheme. Development and Entrepreneurship, and the • The scheme aims to provide financial and water Ministry of Labour and Employment. security to farmers through harnessing solar 2. Odisha launched ‘Khushi’ scheme - The Odisha Cabinet energy capacities of 25.75 gigawatts (GW) by approved the ‘Khushi‘ scheme to provide free sanitary 2022. napkins to school girls across the state. 4. Minister of Textiles inaugurates two Silk Projects in Assam – The Minister of Textiles, Smriti Irani

32 www.gradeup.co inaugurated two silk projects Soil to Silk Project and Eri • The government of Odisha has launched the Spun Silk Mill in Assam. KALIA Chhatra Bruti scholarship for the children Note: of farmers. • The Eri Silk Development Project aims to utilize • The Scholarship is under the KALIA, Krushak tapioca plantation for dual purpose i.e. the tuber Assistance for Livelihood and Income for food and the leaves for Eri silkworm. Augmentation, a scheme for financing farmers in 5. UNICEF Head lauds Poshan Abhiyaan – POSHAN Odisha. Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) is a flagship Key points programme of the Ministry of Women and Child • Under the Scheme, Odisha would spend Rs 10,180 Development. crore over three years until 2020-21 in providing • Poshan Abhiyaan has got global recognition for financial assistance to cultivators and landless its effort to eradicate malnutrition. agricultural labourers. • The Mission is aimed at improving the • The government would provide Rs 10,000 per family nutritional status of Children from 0-6 years, as assistance for cultivation, Rs 5,000 each in the Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Kharif and Rabi seasons, for five cropping seasons Mothers in a time bound manner during the next between 2018-19 and 2021-22. three years. 10. UP CM launches Scheme for Adolescent Girls – In 6. Assam launches PRANAM Commission to protect Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched parents of govt employees – The Chief Minister of Scheme for Adolescent girls (SAG). The scheme focuses Assam Sarbananda Sonowal has announced a PRANAM on girls aged between 11 to 14 years who have left Commission to look after the issues related to the studies and will take steps for proper nutrition and Parents Responsibility and Norms for Accountability and special care for them. Monitoring (PRANAM) Bill. 11. Mega Pension Yojana - Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Note: The bill proposes that if any complaints related to Mandhan – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 05, ignorance towards parents or unmarried differently 2019 launched the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan abled siblings, then 10 or 15 per cent of the employee’s (PM-SYM) Yojana at Vastral in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. salary will be deducted by the government and paid to Key points of the scheme the parents or differently abled siblings. • Aim – to provide an assured monthly 7. MP launched the Mukhyamantri Yuva Swabhiman pension provided to workers in the Yojana - The government of Madhya Pradesh has unorganised sector. launched the Mukhyamantri Yuva Swabhiman Yojana to Benefits of the Scheme provide employment for youth. • Under the scheme, an assured monthly Key points pension of Rs 3,000 per month will be • The scheme guarantees 100 days of employment provided to workers in the unorganised every year to urban youths from economically sector after 60 years of age. weaker sections (EWS). Age limitation: Minimum age to invest in the scheme is 18 • The youth would get Rs 4,000 stipend per month years and maximum age is 40 years. and total Rs 13,500 for the 100 days period Fund allocation would be provided. • A sum of Rs. 500 crores have been allocated • During this period, they would be given skill for the Scheme. development training, so that they become Monthly contribution independent. • To avail of the scheme, workers will have to 8. Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan – The contribute a minimal Rs 100 month per government of Gujarat has launched the second edition month. of the water conservation scheme Sujalam Sufalam Jal • This new pension scheme will run alongside Sanchay Abhiyan. the existing Atal Pension Yojana, which • The scheme aims to deepen water bodies in the guarantees returns post-retirement. state before monsoon to increase storage of • The scheme is touted as to become the rainwater to be used during times of scarcity. world’s biggest pension scheme for the 9. Odisha government launches KALIA Chhatra Bruti unorganised sector in five years. scholarship for Farmers Children –

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

1. Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, 2. Samwad with Students - Indian Space Research Saubhagya scheme – 100% Houses in 25 States Organisation (Isro) has launched an outreach Electrified Under Saubhagya Yojana. programme called Samwad with Students (SwS) in • The country achieved yet another milestone Bengaluru. in the power sector with the completion of • Through the SwS initiative, ISRO aims to electrification in 100% households in 25 constantly engage youngsters across India to states at year end. capture their scientific temperament. • Now, only about 10.48 lakh households are 3. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, (PMAY) - The Minister left to be electrified in 4 states – Assam, for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri Rajasthan, Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh. announced that the loan subsidy for the middle-income • The central government launched ‘Pradhan group under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, (PMAY) has Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana’ been extended till 31st March 2020. (Saubhagya) in September 2017 to achieve Note: the goal of universal household • The Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) is a electrification in the country by 31 March, component under the PMAY-Urban. 2019.

34 www.gradeup.co • Under the scheme, the central government provides 8. Atal Solar Krishi Pump Yojana of Maharashtra – interest subsidy or Aim - to reduce losses due to non-payment of purchase/construction/extension/improvement of a electricity bills and also promote solar energy. house to cater Economical Weaker Section Key points (EWS)/Lower Income Group (LIG)/Middle Income • The government of Maharashtra has decided Groups (MIG). to give two LED bulbs, a DC fan and a mobile • The CLSS is being implemented by two central nodal charging socket as freebies to farmers agencies in India, namely Housing Urban enrolling under the Atal Solar Krishi Pump Development Corp and National Housing Bank. Yojana. • For MIG-I, an interest subsidy of 4% has been • The government would provide solar pumps provided for loan amounts up to Rs.9 lakh. at subsidised rates for the farmers. • For MIG-II, an interest subsidy of 3% has been • Under the Scheme, farmers with less than provided for loan amount up to Rs.12 lakh. five acres will have to pay 5 per cent of the • Housing loans beyond Rs. 9 lakh and Rs. 12 lakhs will cost of a 3 HP solar pump while farmers with be at non-subsidized rates. more than five acres will get a 5 HP solar 4. Yarn Bank Scheme: The Ministry of Textiles, pump for Rs 30000. Government of India had launched a Yarn Bank Scheme 9. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) - as one of the components of PowerTex India scheme • Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) with an aim to avoid fluctuation in yarn price. is the government-sponsored crop insurance The objectives of the Yarn Bank Scheme are: scheme that integrates multiple stakeholders • To provide interest-free corpus fund to on a single platform. Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) or Consortium • Under the scheme, there is a uniform to enable them to purchase yarn at a premium of 2% to be paid by farmers for all wholesale rate and give the yarn at a Kharif crops, 1.5% for all Rabi crops and 5% reasonable price to the small weavers. in case of annual commercial and • To avoid middleman and local supplier’s horticultural crops. brokerage charge on sales of yarn. 10. Rashtriya Gokul Mission: The Ministry of Agriculture & • Under the scheme, an interest-free corpus Farmers Welfare is implementing the scheme of fund up to Rs.2.00 crore would be provided Rashtriya Gokul Mission to conserve and develop to the Special Purpose Vehicle indigenous breeds in a focused and scientific manner. (SPV)/Consortium formed by power loom Key points weavers. • The scheme comprises of two components 5. Madya Pradesh launched Employment Scheme “Yuva namely National Programme for Bovine Swabhiman Yojana” for Urban Youth - Madhya Breeding (NPBB) and National Mission on Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath announced the Bovine Productivity (NMBP). launch of the ‘Yuva Swabhiman Yojana’ for youths from 11. PM launches Gangajal Project - The Prime Minister the economically weaker sections in urban areas. Narendra Modi inaugurated the Gangajal Project. The • Under this scheme, 100 days of employment Prime Minister launched civic projects worth Rs 2,980 will be provided to youths from economically crore in Agra. weaker sections in urban areas. They will Key points also be given skill training. • The Gangajal project aims to provide a better 6. Kerala to launch ‘Pravasi Dividend Pension Scheme’ - supply of drinking water which will benefit The Kerala government has floated a ‘Pravasi Dividend the residents as well as tourists. Pension Scheme’ to provide regular pension to Non- • The Gangajal project aims to bring 140 Resident Keralites on a one-time payment of Rs 5 lakh. cusecs of Ganga water to Agra to help in 7. Odisha Announces Jiban Sampark Project – Odisha meeting the drinking water demands in the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced “Jiban city. Sampark” project in partnership with UNICEF India to 12. Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana – Prime Minister generate awareness about the development and welfare Narendra Modi launched the Pravasi Teerth Darshan initiatives of state government among the Particularly Yojana. Vulnerable Tribal Groups of the state.

35 www.gradeup.co • Under the scheme, a group of Indian 15. Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) – The Odisha diaspora will be taken on a government- Government has announced a hike of Rs 200 per month sponsored tour of religious places in India in the social security pension under Madhu Babu Pension twice a year. Yojana (MBPY). • The Scheme accords first preference to • The Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) is a people from Girmitiya countries such as pension scheme under the Department of Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad Social Security and Empowerment of and Tobago, and Jamaica. Persons with Disabilities for the disabled, old 13. AMRUT Scheme: Only 20% of Projects completed - The age persons in the state of Odisha. data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has 16. Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana revealed that - (PMKKKY) - • With only a year to the deadline, only 20 per • Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan cent of the total projects were completed Yojana (PMKKKY) is aimed at the welfare of utilising 3 per cent of the total funds areas and people affected by mining-related approved. operations, using the funds generated by • States like Bihar and Assam were not able to District Mineral Foundations (DMFs). complete even a single project. 17. MP launched 'Jai Kisan Rin Mukti Yojana' - Madhya • Tamil Nadu topped the list by completing Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has launched the Rs 378 projects. 50,000-crore farm debt-waiver scheme named 'Jai Kisan Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Rin Mukti Yojana'. It would benefit 55 lakh small and Transformation (AMRUT) marginal farmers. • Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban 18. Dharmendra Pradhan launches Ujjwala sanitary Transformation (AMRUT) launched in 2015 napkin initiative - The Union Petroleum Minister aims to establish an infrastructure that could Dharmendra Pradhan has launched the Ujjwala Sanitary ensure adequate robust sewage networks Napkin initiative in Bhubaneswar (Odisha). and water supply for urban transformation. 19. West Bengal Govt. announced two Initiatives for • The mission period is up to March 2020. farmers – 14. Sikkim CM launched ‘one family, one job’ scheme - • The West Bengal government has announced Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling launched two welfare initiatives for farmers, part of the ‘One Family One Job’ scheme in Gangtok. the ‘Krishi Krishak Bondhu’ scheme. • Now, Sikkim has become the first state in the • The first of the two initiatives will provide Rs country to carry out such a programme for 2 lakh to the family of a deceased farmer. the people entitling them to state • Under the second initiative, farmers would government employee benefits. get Rs 2,500 twice a year for growing a single • Under this Scheme, every family one crop on one acre of land. government job has been allotted.

September

1. Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna: The Employees’ State now been relaxed to insurable employment of Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has approved a new one year with 156 days of contributions. scheme- Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna for Insured • The ESIC also approved the proposal for Persons covered under the Employees’ State Insurance increasing the funeral expenses from existing 10 Act. thousand rupees to 15 thousand rupees being Key points: paid on the death of Insured Person. • This scheme is a relief payable in cash directly to 2. Swayangsiddha scheme - In an attempt to combat their Bank Account in case of unemployment and human trafficking, the West Bengal government rolled while they search for new engagement. out a scheme, Swayangsiddha, in different districts of the • The eligibility for availing Super Specialty State. As the per the NCRB data, West Bengal has highest treatment for dependents of Insured Person has recorded case of trafficking among the States. Aim of the scheme –

36 www.gradeup.co • The scheme aims to empower young boys and Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a new girls to make informed choices so that they are Umbrella Scheme “Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay less vulnerable to trafficking and child marriage. SanraksHan Abhiyan’ (PM-AASHA). The Scheme is aimed • Swayangsiddha means self-reliance and it will be at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their executed by the West Bengal Police. produce as announced in the Union Budget for 2018. 3. Petroleum Minister to launch ‘SATAT’ initiative - • Aim – The scheme aimed at ensuring • Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of remunerative prices to the farmers for their Petroleum and Natural Gas & Skill Development produce. and Entrepreneurship launched SATAT initiative • Objective – To empower farmers and strengthen to promote Compressed Bio-Gas as an the Agriculture sector. alternative, green transport fuel. • Allocation - The Cabinet has sanctioned Rs • Titled SATAT, the initiative is aimed at providing 15,053 crore to implement the PM-AASHA in a Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable the next two financial years, of which Rs 6,250 Transportation (SATAT) as a developmental crore will be spent this year. effort that would benefit both vehicle-users as Components of PM-AASHA: Under the PM-AASHA, states well as farmers and entrepreneurs. would be allowed to choose from three schemes – 4. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana: • Price Support Scheme (PSS), • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched • Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) ambitious Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana • Pilot of Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PMJAY), under Ayushman Bharat umbrella at (PPPS). Ranchi, Jharkhand. 7. Govt. revised Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana • The scheme aims to provide annual health (PMJDY) – The government has revised the PMJDY insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to 10.74 crore scheme, to further incentivize people’s participation in beneficiary families i.e. over 50 crore the scheme. beneficiaries across India. Key points • It is touted as world’s largest healthcare scheme • Overdraft facility doubled - The Finance that will serve beneficiary population that equals Minister Arun Jaitley stated that the overdraft 27-28 European countries and almost equal to facility has been doubled from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. population of Canada, Mexico and US put 10,000 under the Yojana. together. • Age limit increased - The age limit for availing • The scheme will become operational from overdraft facility under it has also been revised September 25, 2018 i.e. on birth anniversary of to 18 to 65 years from the earlier 18 to 60 years. Deendayal Upadhyay. • Accidental insurance cover raised - The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) accidental insurance cover for new RuPay • PMJAY is government-sponsored health insurance Cardholders has been raised from Rs. one lakh to scheme, that will provide free coverage of up to Rs 5 Rs. two lakh. lakh per family per year in any government or 8. Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Tourism Ministry sanctions empanelled private hospitals all over India. Rs. 80.37 crore for developing cruise tourism in Kerala. • It will cover beneficiaries families identified on the Note: basis of Socio Economic Caste Survey (SECC) 2011 in • The scheme was launched by Union Tourism 444 districts of 30 states/Union Territories. Ministry with an objective to develop theme- 5. Delhi Government launches India’s first scheme for based tourist circuits in the country. doorstep delivery of essential government services • The first project under Swadesh Darshan Scheme • Delhi Government has launched scheme for ‘North East Circuit: Imphal and Khongjom’ was doorstep delivery of 40 essential government inaugurated in Manipur. services like caste and marriage certificates, • The project covers two sites i.e. Kangla Fort and driving license and new water connections. Khongjom in Manipur. 6. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) - The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime

37 www.gradeup.co Summits & Conference

May 2019

1. WTO Ministerial meeting of developing countries 4. The 16th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Cooperation meeting held in – New Delhi, India Dialogue (ACD) was held in - Doha, Qatar. 2. Regional heads of Customs Administration of Asia Pacific Note: The theme of the meeting was “Partners in Region of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) held in Progress”. Kochi 5. The G7’s (Group of Seven) Environment Ministers meet 3. 15th Finance Commission’s meeting with RBI held in - to discuss Climate crisis held in - Metz, France Mumbai, Maharashtra 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 3. The second edition of Belt and Road Forum (BRF) was Note: held in Beijing, China • Saudi Arabia (first G20 meeting in the Arab Note: The theme of this event was “Belt and Road world) will host the G20 summit on 21-22 Cooperation: Shaping a Brighter Shared Future”. November 2020 in its capital Riyadh. 4. 5th Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Media Summit • First-ever ‘Japan’ will host this year's G20 on Climate Action and Disaster Preparedness held in summit in Osaka (28-29 June 2019). Kathmandu, Nepal • Italy will host the G20 Summit in 2021. Note: • India will host the G20 Summit in 2022 when the • The theme of the two-day summit was “Media country celebrates its 75th year of Solutions for Sustainable Future: Saving Lives, Independence. Building Resilient Communities”. About G-20 5. World’s foremost Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit – • The G20 (Group of Twenty) is an international Dubai, UAE forum for the governments and central bank Note: The aim of the inaugural ‘AI Everything (AIE)’ is to governors from 19 countries and the European empower global dialogue on the future of government, business and society. Union. 6. The Resilient Cities Asia-Pacific (RCAP) 2019 Congress • It was founded in 1999 with the aim to discuss held in – New Delhi policy pertaining to the promotion of 7. 17th Middle East and North Africa (MENA) World international financial stability. Economic Forum held in – Jordan 2. Global Water Summit 2019 – London, United Kingdom

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

38 www.gradeup.co 4. 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project 5. International Digital Health Symposium held in – New Partnerships held in – New Delhi Delhi 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 • Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer’s biotechnology and life-sciences forum was conducted in- Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh, inaugurated the Hyderabad, Telangana. Summit Note: • The theme of the summit was “Entrepreneurship • The theme of the conference was ‘Life Sciences & Agri-Business; Agri Allied – A Promising Sector 4.0 – Disrupt the Disruption’. and Agri Service- Direct Marketing”. • It was inaugurated by the Governor of Telangana 10. World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2019 E.S.L Narasimhan. held in - New Delhi 2. ‘Aviation Conclave 2019’ – New Delhi Note: Note: • The theme of WSDS 2019 was ‘Attaining the • The Ministry of Civil Aviation organized the 2030 Agenda: delivering on our promise’. conclave. • Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji was • Theme -''flying for all''. honoured with the Sustainable Development 3. Rising India Summit 2019 – New Delhi Leadership Award 2019 for his outstanding Note: contributions towards sustainable development • Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed in Fiji. Network-18 Rising India Summit, held in New • The Energy and Resources Institute’ (TERI) Delhi and laid out his vision for a ‘New India ‘. organized the summit. • The theme of the summit was, ‘Beyond Politics: • Summit was inaugurated by Vice President Shri Defining National Priorities’. M. Venkaiah Naidu. 4. 4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit held in – 11. Early Ed Asia 2019, the two-day event, which is Asia’s New Delhi largest conference on Early Childhood, was held in Note: Jaipur, Rajasthan. The motto of the event was ‘Our • The summit was hosted by the Ministry of Health Children. Our Future’. and Family Welfare in collaboration with the 12. India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue and India-U.S. CEO World Health Organization (WHO) and the Forum held in - New Delhi Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP). Note: Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Civil 5. Conference on Future of Indian Banking – New Delhi Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, chaired the meeting. Note: 13. 7th World Government Summit held in Dubai - The • Niti Ayog had hosted the conference in seventh session of the World Government Summit held association with the Foundation for Economic in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Growth and Welfare (EGROW Foundation). 14. 1st LAWASIA Human Rights Conference 2019 held in 6. International Vision Zero Conference - Mumbai, New Delhi – LAWASIA, in association with the Bar Maharashtra Association of India, hosted its 1st LAWASIA Human 7. 8th World CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Rights Conference in New Delhi. Congress 2019 – Mumbai, Maharashtra • The theme of the conference was “State Note: The theme of the year 2019 is ‘Sustainable Power, Business and Human Rights: Development Goals (SDGs)’ to focus on corporate Contemporary Challenges”. strategies, innovation, and strategic alliances. Dr. 15. 2019 Asia LPG Summit was held in New Delhi - Mr. Soumitro Chakraborty won ‘CEO of the year’ award. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for petroleum and 8. 4th India-ASEAN Expo and Summit – New Delhi natural gas, inaugurated the 2019 Asia LPG summit in 9. 4th Agri Leadership Summit 2019 - Sonipat, Haryana New Delhi. Note: Note: India is the 2nd largest consumer of liquified natural gas (LPG) in the world after China.

39 www.gradeup.co 16. India to host 13th Conference of Parties of 17. The 5th International Dam Safety Conference held in Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species – Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The conference will be held from 15th to 22nd February Note: Globally India ranks third after China and 2020 at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. the USA in terms of the number of large dams with Note: 5264 large dams in operation and 437 large dams • Union Environment Minister, Dr. Harsh under construction. Vardhan, announced the Great Indian 18. CREDAI’s Event ‘YouthCon-19’ held in New Delhi - Bustard (GIB) as the mascot for the 13th Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the CREDAI Conference of Parties (COP) of the UN YouthCon -19 in New Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory • The event is organized by the Confederation Species (CMS) to be held in Gujarat in 2020. of Real Estate Developers’ Association of • He also revealed that the bird has been India, CREDAI. fondly named by the ministry as ‘Gibi‘. • The theme for this YouthCon is ‘Next Generation’.

January 2019

1. 2nd World Integrated Medicine Forum 2019 held 9. 29th Indian Paint Conference 2019 held in Agra, in Goa Uttar Pradesh • Union Minister of State (Independent • The theme of the Conference is ‘Paints Pe Charge) for AYUSH Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Charcha – Naye Aayaam’. inaugurated the event. 10. First ‘National Consultation on Child Protection’ for • The theme for the forum is ‘Regulation of 2019 was held in New Delhi. Homeopathic Medical Products; Advancing 11. First Global Aviation Summit held in Mumbai global collaboration’. • The theme of the summit is “Flying for all”. 2. BRICS Summit 2019 - Brazil • It was organized by the Ministry of Civil 3. Global Investors Meet 2019 held in Chennai. Aviation (MoCA) in collaboration with FICCI. 4. International Conference on ‘Making our Elections 12. 4th edition of Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi Inclusive and Accessible’ held in New Delhi • The Theme of the Dialogue was “A World • The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Reorder: New Geometries; Fluid Shri Sunil Arora and Election Commissioner Partnerships; Uncertain Outcomes”. Shri Ashok Lavasa inaugurated the event. • It was organized by Ministry of External • The event was held on the occasion of 9th Affairs in partnership with Observer National Voters Day which is observed on Research Foundation. 25th January every year. 13. 106th Session of Indian Science Congress 5. 10th edition of the India Rubber Expo - 2019 (Asia's Concludes in Jalandhar largest rubber expo) was held in Mumbai. • It was concluded in Lovely Professional 6. World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meet held in University, Jalandhar on 07 January 2019. Davos, Switzerland. • It was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime • The theme of the event is ‘Globalization 4.0: Minister Shri Narendra Modi and attended Shaping a Global Architecture in the Age of by Union Science & Technology Minister Dr. the Fourth Industrial Revolution’. Harsh Vardhanon. 7. 9th International Micro Irrigation conference held in • As a part of the Indian Science Congress, Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Women’s Science Congress was held which • The conference focused on the theme of was inaugurated by Union Minister for “Micro Irrigation and Modern Textiles & Industry Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani. Agriculture”. • The Children’s Science Congress was 8. 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas held in Varanasi, inaugurated by the Nobel Laureates Avram Uttar Pradesh Hershko from Israel and F. Duncan M. • The theme of PBD convention 2019 is “Role Haldane from USA. of Diaspora in Building New India”.

40 www.gradeup.co

Books & Author

1. Book titled “Game Changer” autobiography of - Shahid 12. Book titled ‘Moving On, Moving Forward: A year in Afridi (Pakistan’s former Cricket team captain). The book Office’ - Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu is co-authored by Afridi and journalist Wajahat S Khan. 13. Book titled “Undaunted: Saving the Idea of India” 2. Book titled “Indian Fiscal Federalism” authored by - Dr. authored by - P Chidambaram (former Finance Y. V. Reddy, former Governor of RBI and Chairman of the Minister) 14th Finance Commission of India (The Chairman of 15th 14. Book titled 'We are Displaced' authored by - Malala Finance Commission of India, N.K. Singh launched the Yousafzai book) 15. A book titled ‘Changing India’ written by – Former PM 3. Book titled ‘Saffron Swords’ authored by - Manoshi Sinha Manmohan Singh Rawal 16. A book titled ‘Early Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors 4. Book titled “The Third Pillar - How Markets and the State and Where We Came From’ written by Tony Joseph leave the Community Behind” authored by –Raghuram 17. A book titled ‘Blue Water Ahoy!’ written by – Vice Rajan (Former Governor of RBI) Admiral Anup Singh 5. Book titled ‘Every Vote Counts: The Story of India's 18. A book ‘Radio Kashmir in Times of Peace & War’ Elections’ authored by - former Chief Election written by Dr Rajesh Bhat. Commissioner Navin Chawla. Former Vice-President Hamid Ansari launched the book. 19. A book ‘Yoga And Mindfulness’ - Mansi Gulati 6. Book titled “India Positive” authored by - Chetan Bhagat 20. Book titled 'The Rule Breakers' - Preeti Shenoy 7. Book titled ‘Simplicity & Wisdom’ authored by - Mr. 21. Book titled ‘Atal Ji Ne Kaha’ - Brijendra Rehi Dinesh Shahra 22. Book titled '281 and Beyond' - VVS Laxman (veteran 8. Book titled ‘ Khooni Vaisakhi’ authored by -- Nanak Singh cricketer) autobiography (Jallianwala Bagh survivor) 23. Book titled ‘No Spin’ - Shane Warne (veteran Note: A poem on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, ‘Khooni cricketer) autobiography Vaisakhi’, by Punjabi writer Nanak Singh has now been 24. Book titled "Gandhi: The years that changed the world translated into English. (1914-1948)" - Ramachandra Guha.

• It was banned by the British in 1920. Singh was 25. Novel ''Warlight'' - Michael Ondaatje (named in Man present at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919, Booker Prize list)

and was 22 years old at the time. 26. Novel 'The English Patient' - Michael Ondaatje (winner of Golden Man Booker International prize 2018) • A book containing English translation of the 100- 27. Book titled 'Winning Like Sourav: Think & Succeed Like year-old classic Punjabi poem about Jallianwala Ganguly' - Abhirup Bhattacharya Bagh massacre, ‘Khooni Vaisakhi’ has been 28. The book ‘Straight Talk’ authored by___ Abhishek Manu released in Abu Dhabi. Singhvi • India’s Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri commended the launch of the book. 29. Book ‘Calling Sehmat’ authored by - Harinder S. Sikka • It will be published by Harper Collins India in 30. Author of 'Smart Cities Unbundle' book - Dr. Samir Sharma March to mark the centenary of the Jallianwala 31. Book titled “A Century is Not Enough “autobiography Bagh. of – Sourav Ganguly. 9. Book titled “Quality, Accreditation & Ranking” authored by - Dr. H Chaturvedi 32. Book titled ‘Imperfect’ autobiography of – Sanjay 10. Book titled ‘Mann Ki Baat – A Social Revolution on Radio’ Manjrekar (cricketer-turned-commentator) 11. Arun Jaitley releases book titled ‘Mann Ki Baat – A Social Revolution on Radio’ authored by - BlueKraft Digital Foundation Obituaries

May 2019

41 www.gradeup.co 1. NR Madhava Menon - an educationist, scholar, the 4. Derek Sippy - Former Billiards Player pioneering spirit behind modern legal education in India 5. Maramraju Satyanarayana Rao - Prominent writer and 2. Prof. Kirpal Singh - the first chronicler of Partition, who academician started building an archive in 1954 6. Baidyanath Mishra - Renowned economist 3. Master Hirannaiah - Noted Kannada theatre personality, satirist and TV actor

April 2019

1. J. Mahendran - Noted Tamil Director 9. Rama Sengupta - Veteran lady mountaineer 2. Kartik Chandra Rath - veteran dramatist, theatre 10. Pungam Kannan - Former India footballer organiser, and Economics teacher 11. Negasso Gidada - former Ethiopian president 3. Sydney Brenner - Biologist Sydney Brenner who helped 12. K M Mani - Former Kerala Finance Minister and Kerala decipher the genetic code and jointly won the 2002 Congress veteran (He is credited with the record of Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. (He was an presenting the State Budget 13 times as Finance alumnus of Oxford University and was born in South Minister) Africa) 13. Bhima Mandavi - BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi killed in a 4. Pradeep Choubey - Renowned Hindi poet massive Maoist attack at Dantewada district in 5. SK Shivakumar - Renowned Space Scientist and Former Chhattisgarh. Director of Indian Space Research Organisation Satellite 14. V G Patel (Viharidas Gopaldas Patel) - Noted Centre (ISAC). economist (He was the founder director of the 6. Jerrie Cobb - America’s first female astronaut candidate, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India) pilot 15. Navtej Hundal - Bollywood actor (The actor was last 7. Amar Paul - Eminent Bengali folk singer seen in Vicky Kaushal starrer ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ 8. S Muthiah - Chennai’s famed chronicler, cartographer, which released in January this year. He played the role of and journalist the Home Minister in the movie)

March 2019

1. Manohar Parrikar - Goa Chief Minister and former 7. Alan Krueger – Former White House economist and defence minister. He was an IIT Mumbai graduate in Princeton University professor (He served as chief metallurgical engineering and among the first members economist at the Department of Labor under President of BJP in Goa. Bill Clinton and chair of the Council of Economic Advisers 2. Darryl D’Monte - Senior journalist and environmental from 2011 to 2013 under former President Barack activist Obama.) 3. Anasuya Devi - Folk Artiste and Radio Commentator 8. Chinmoy Roy - Veteran Bengali actor 4. Ashita Passes - Malayalam Writer & Poet 9. Bharat Mohan Adhikari - Former Deputy Prime 5. Prafulla Rajguru - Veteran journalist and academician Minister of Nepal 6. Vinod Kashyap - Veteran Hindi Newsreader

January & February 2019

1. Hiten Bhaya - Former Planning Commission member 5. George Fernandes - Former Defence Minister and ex-director of Indian Institute of Mass 6. Krishna Sobti - Eminent Hindi author. She was a Communication (IIMC) recipient of many coveted awards like Sahitya Akademi, 2. Mahesh Anand - Noted actor Mahesh Anand, best Jnanpith awards. known for playing the villain in several Bollywood films 7. Russell Baker - the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and in the late 1980s and 1990s has passed away Columnist for The New York Times 3. Ramesh Bhatkar - Veteran Marathi actor 8. Atin Bandyopadhyay - Sahitya Akademi award winning 4. John Dingell - John Dingell, the longest-serving Bengali writer congressman in US history 9. Raghbir Bhola - Former Indian hockey player

42 www.gradeup.co 10. Masazo Nonaka - The world’s oldest man, Masazo 13. Sir Michael Atiyah - a British mathematician who Nonaka of Japan, has died at the age of 113. received the 1966 Fields Medal, also known as the ‘Nobel • Nonaka, who was officially recognized as the for Mathematics,’ passed away at the age of 89 oldest male in the world by Guinness World 14. Dibyendu Palit - Renowned Bengali writer and Sahitya Records in April 2018. Akademi awardee 11. Mary Oliver - the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet 15. CH Loknath - Veteran Kannada actor 12. Lenin Rajendran - Malayalam director and screenwriter 16. Ramakant Achrekar - Veteran cricket coach Ramakant Achrekar, who trained Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli, among others, passed away.

National Appointments

May 2019

1. Coach of Indian men’s national Volleyball Team - Dragan 4. Flipkart-owned fashion e-commerce platform Myntra Mihailovic (Serbia) announced that it had appointed celebrity couple Virat 2. BSE appoints First Independent Woman Director Kohli and Anushka Sharma as its first brand Jayshree Vyas to board ambassadors. 3. Senior IAS officer Dilip Kumar was appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the office of Lokpal. 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 - 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. 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 7. New Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) 2. New Chief of Naval Staff - Admiral Karambir Singh (He - Scientist Ajit Kumar Mohanty replaced Admiral Sunil Lanba) 8. New Finance Secretary - Subhash Chandra Garg (He 3. First Lokpal or anti-corruption ombudsman of India - replaces Ajay Narayan Jha) Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose (former Supreme Court 9. New Chairman of the National Commission for Backward judge) Classes - Bhagwan Lal Sahni 4. New Chief Minister of Goa - Pramod Sawant (He became 10. 15th Finance Commission Member - Ajay Narayan Jha the 11th Chief Minister of Goa) (He replaces Shaktikanta Das). 5. New Chairman of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) - MR 11. Non-executive chairman of Bank of Baroda - Hasmukh Kumar Adhia (Former Finance Secretary) 6. Non-Executive Chairman of Axis Bank - Rakesh Makhija 12. First Chairman of the newly constituted Lokayukta in Mizoram - C Lalsawta

43 www.gradeup.co 13. Kummanam Rajasekharan resigns as Mizoram Governor 15. PhonePe (UPI based payment app company) has Note: Jagdish Mukhi, the Governor of Assam has been appointed Bollywood actor Aamir Khan as its Brand given additional charge of the post of Governor of Ambassador. Mizoram. 16. New Chancellor of Central University of Gujarat - 14. India’s 1st Transgender Election Ambassador - The Hasmukh Adhia Election Commission of India has appointed transgender 17. Supreme Court (SC) has appointed senior advocate as a social activist Gauri Sawant, as one of the 12 election mediator for resolving various disputes related to cricket ambassadors from Maharashtra. She is the first administration in the country -- P S Narasimha transgender election ambassadors. 18. Naresh Goyal steps down from Jet Airways Board

February 2019

1. First BCCI Ombudsman – Justice D.K. Jain (former 4. New Election Commissioner - Sushil Chandra Supreme Court Judge) Note: Chief Election Commissioner – Sunil Arora 2. Non-Executive Chairman of IDBI - Hemant Bhargava 5. New chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) - 3. New Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) - Rishi Kumar Shukla Pramod Chandra Mody 6. New Civil Aviation Secretary - Pradeep Singh Kharola

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 - 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

May 2019

1. Next President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) - Kumar Sangakkara (Former Sri Lankan Cricket team captain) 2. India’s Jagjit Pavadia has been re-elected with the highest number of votes by the UN Economic and Social Council to a five-year term on International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), while China’s candidate Hao Wei lost.

April 2019

1. India’s Ambassador to Seychelles - General (Retd.) Dalbir 2. New President of Ukraine - Volodymyr Zelensky Singh Suhag 3. New Prime Minister of Palestine - Mohammed Ishtayeh Note: General Suhag was the 26th Army Chief of the (He succeed Rami Hamdallah) Indian Army from July 2014 to December 2016. 4. New Prime Minister of Haiti - Jean Michel Lapin

44 www.gradeup.co 5. New Prime Minister of Israel - Benjamin Netanyahu re- 9. AIIFF President Praful Patel has become the first Indian elected for the fifth term in office to be elected as member of FIFA Executive Council. 6. New President of Algeria - Abdelkader Bensalah 10. First Indian to be appointed Chair of the International 7. New President of World Bank - David Malpass Hockey Federation (FIH) Health and Safety Committee by (appointed as 13th President of World Bank) (He the world governing body -- Col (Dr.) Bibhu Kalyan replaced Jim Yong Kim) Nayak. 8. Chicago has created history by electing Lori Lightfoot an 11. India’s Ambassador to South Africa - Jaideep Sarkar African American woman as its mayor for the first time. 12. India’s Ambassador to Lebanon - Suhel Ajaz Khan

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 Uzbekistan - 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

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 Honours & Awards

May 2019

1. France’s Highest Civilian Honour - Former ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar was conferred with France’s highest civilian honour, Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Legion d’Honneur, for his contribution to India-France space cooperation. 2. V K Krishna Menon Award - GD ‘Robert’ Govender, an Indian-origin journalist in South Africa, has been honoured in the UK with 2019 V K Krishna Menon award for his outstanding contribution as a pioneer of decolonised journalism.

April 2019

1. Pulitzer Prize 2019 – • For Drama - “Fairview” by Jackie Sibblies Drury • For Fiction - “The Overstory” by Richard Powers • For Poetry - “Be With” by Forrest Gander

45 www.gradeup.co • For Music - Prism, by Ellen Reid of St Andrew the Apostle – the highest state decoration of About Pulitzer Prize Russia, for exceptional services in promoting special and • The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in privileged strategic partnership between the two newspaper, magazine and online journalism, countries. literature, and musical composition in the United • This is the seventh international award that PM States. Modi has been honoured with. • It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of 7. Namami Gange Gets Global recognition at World American (Hungarian-born) Joseph Pulitzer who had Summit – The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) made his fortune as a newspaper publisher and is was awarded the distinction of “Public Water Agency of administered by Columbia University in New York the Year” by Global Water Intelligence at the Global City. Water Summit in London. 2. World Press Photo Award 2019 - John Moore • The Global Water Awards are presented at the Note: Global Water Summit, the major business • An image of a little girl crying, as she and her conference for the water industry worldwide. mother have been taken into custody by US 8. Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2019 – The prestigious border officials in Texas won the prestigious Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2019 was World Press Photo of the Year. awarded to National Award-winning filmmaker Madhur • Veteran Getty photographer John Moore took the Bhandarkar, popular scriptwriter Salim Khan and picture in the Rio Grande Valley in June 2018. dancing diva Helen. • Dutch-Swedish photographer Pieter Ten Hoopen • Lifetime Award – Salim Khan. won the “World Press Photo Story of the Year • Special Award for the contribution to Indian Award” for the image of 2018 mass-migrant cinema – Madhur Bhandarkar. caravan to the US border. • Special Award – Helen. 3. Saraswati Samman 2018 - Telugu poet K Siva Reddy 9. 2019 Tagore Literary Prize - Rana Dasgupta has been selected for the prestigious Saraswati Samman, Note: The second edition of Rabindranath Tagore 2018 for his collection of poetry titled Pakkaki Literary Prize was awarded to author Rana Dasgupta Ottigilite. for his 2010 novel “Solo“, a tale of estrangement and the Note: The award, instituted by the KK Birla Foundation ultimate failure of material existence. in 1991. 10. Freedom of the City of London - Alice G. Vaidyan, 4. Two West Bengal Government schemes win UN Chairman and Managing Director of the General Awards - Two schemes of the West Bengal government Insurance Corporation (GIC) of India, India’s reinsurance for skill development- “Utkarsh Bangla” and distribution major, has been awarded the Freedom of the City of of bicycles to students “Sabooj Sathi” have won the London in recognition of her work to promote insurance prestigious World Summit on the Information Society ties between India and the UK. (WSIS) awards of the United Nations. 11. Ikhamanga Award 2019 - Ex-South Africa all-rounder Note: Jacques Kallis has been honoured with the Order of • The “Utkarsh Bangla” project aims at creating a Ikhamanga in the Silver Division. pool of skilled candidates who are industry Note: The national honour is bestowed by the President ready, of South Africa on citizens who have made significant • While under the “Sabooj Sathi” scheme, bicycles contributions to arts, literature, music, journalism, are distributed to students between class IX and culture, and sports. XII studying in government run and government 12. National Intellectual Property Award, 2019 – Dr. aided schools and madrashas of the state. Benny Antony has been honoured with the National 5. Indian Oil Bags AIMA Managing India Award for Intellectual Property Award, 2019 in the category of Top outstanding PSU – Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has Individual for Patents and Commercialization. bagged the prestigious ‘AIMA Managing India Award 13. Cleveland International Hall of Fame - Indian 2019 for outstanding PSU of the year.’ The award was American scientist and social activist Sree Sreenath has presented by former President Pranab Mukherjee to been inducted into the prestigious Cleveland Sanjiv Singh, Chairman, Indian Oil. International Hall of fame for his contribution in 6. PM Modi awarded Russia’s highest state honour - applications in systems biology, global issues, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded with Order sustainable development.

46 www.gradeup.co 14. National IP Award 2019 - The Intellectual Property • The World Press Freedom Prize also known as Rights Cell (IPR Cell) of Kerala Agricultural University UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom (KAU) has been selected for the National Intellectual Prize Property Award 2019. • Currently, they are serving 7-year prison 15. World Press Freedom Hero - Dawn editor and sentences in Myanmar. Columnist Cyril Almeida from Pakistan has won the IPI’s 22. Best Athletic Coach in Asia 2019 - Indonesian Eni (International Press Institute) World Press Freedom Nuraeni was named by Asian Athletic Association (AAA) Hero award in 2019. as the best athletic coach in Asia for the short-haul run Note: He won this award for his “critical” and “tenacious category in 2019. coverage” of the civil-military relations in Pakistan. 23. Virat Kohli Named Wisden’s Leading Cricketer - Team 16. UN Medal of Honour - A total of 150 Indian India captain Virat Kohli has been named as the Wisden peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in South Almanack’s ‘Leading Cricketer of the Year’ for the third Sudan (UNMISS) have received medals of honour for straight time. their dedicated service and sacrifice. 24. Smriti Mandhana named Wisden’s Leading Women’s 17. UK Royal Society Honour - Cipla Chairman Yusuf Cricketer of The Year - Team India opener Smriti Hamied Mandhana has been named as the Wisden Almanack’s 18. Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant Award - Sunil Kumar ‘Leading Women’s Cricketer of the Year’. Gautam, Special Commissioner of Police (Operations) 25. Global Slag Company of The Year Award - Tata Steel was honoured with ‘Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant Award‘ has been named as the ‘Global Slag Company of the Year’ for his book titled ‘Samvidhan Kavya‘ 26. UAE honours PM Modi with highest Civilian award 19. Global Tech Prize - India’s education technology startup Zayed Medal - PM Narendra Modi ‘Dost Education’ won a $25,000 tech prize along with Note: two other winners from Tanzania and Egypt. • The UAE honoured PM Narendra Modi with Note: the prestigious Zayed Medal for giving a “big • The Next Billion Edtech Prize 2019, run by UK- boost’ to bilateral strategic ties. based Varkey Foundation, recognizes the most • President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al innovative technology destined to have a radical Nahyan conferred PM Modi with the award, the impact on education in low income and emerging highest decoration awarded to kings, presidents, world countries. and heads of states. 20. Celent Model Bank 2019 Award - Fincare Small 27. Global Health Award - Vikram Patel Finance Bank (SFB) has been awarded the prestigious • Prof Patel has been awarded 2019, John Dirks, Celent Model Bank 2019 Award in the category of Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for his Financial Inclusion, for ‘Redesigning Lending to Reach world-leading research in global mental health. Small Businesses’. 28. Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, the world’s 21. World Press Freedom Prize 2019- Reuters journalists, largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, was Kyaw Soe Oo, and Wa Lone selected for the award felicitated by the Asian Tour with a Special Achievement Note: Award for his contributions to Asian Golf.

March 2019

1. Pravasi Bhartiya Samman - Swiss-based NRI scientist Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic for his exceptional Dr Rajendra Joshi has been conferred with the Pravasi contribution to the advancement of overall relations and Bhartiya Samman Award by the President of India Ram development of mutual cooperation between India and Nath Kovind. Croatia. 2. Oxford University’s Bodley Award - Nobel Prize- Note: Croatia Capital: Zagreb, Currency: Croatian kuna. winning economist Amartya Sen awarded with the 4. Global Teacher Prize For 2019 - Peter Tabichi, a prestigious Bodley Medal, the highest honor granted by member of the Franciscan religious order has been the University of Oxford’s world-famous Bodleian conferred with the prestigious Global Teacher Prize for Libraries. 2019 at a ceremony in Dubai. 3. Croatia’s Highest Award - President Ram Nath Note: Kovind has been awarded the Grand Order of King • Peter Tabichi gives away 80% of his monthly Tomislav with Sash and Grand Star by the President of income to the poor.

47 www.gradeup.co • The award recognises ‘exceptional’ teacher’s • Best Ganga Town - Uttarakhand’s Gauchar was commitment to pupils in a remote part of adjudged the “Best Ganga Town”. Kenya’s Rift Valley. • Cleanest capital - Bhopal has been named the 5. 64th Filmfare Awards - Winners of the 64th Filmfare cleanest capital. Awards were announced at Jio Garden, BKC, Mumbai. • Fastest Moving big city - Raipur won the List of winners is as follows: ‘Fastest Moving Big City’. • Best Film – Raazi directed by Meghna Gulzar • Fastest Moving medium city - Mathura- • Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) - Alia Bhatt Vrindavan won the tag of Fastest Moving for film ‘Raazi’ Medium City. • Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) - Ranbir • Chhattisgarh has bagged the top spot in the Kapoor for film ‘Sanju’ category of best performing states. • Best Director - Meghna Gulzar for film Raazi • Jharkhand is at the second spot while • Critics' Award for Best Film: AndhaDhun Maharashtra is at the third. • Best Short Film (Fiction): Rogan Josh Note: • Best Short Film (Non-Fiction): The Soccer City • Swachh Survekshan Awards are given by the Union 6. Vyas Samman 2018 - Hindi writer Leeladhar Jagudi Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs based on the honoured with Vyas Samman 2018 for his collection of survey which covered all urban local bodies in the poems “Jitne Log Utne Prem” published in 2013. country • The award carries an amount of Rs. 4 lakhs and it 9. Yashwantrao Chavan National Award - Raghuram was started by K K Birla foundation in 1991. Rajan, former governor of RBI has been chosen for the • Born in Dhangal village in Tehri Garhwal, ‘Yashwantrao Chavan National Award 2018’ by Uttarakhand, Mr. Jagudi was awarded the Padma Yashwantrao Chavan Prathisthan for his contribution to Shri in 2004 economic development. 7. Abel Prize 2019 - University of Texas professor Karen 10. University for Peace Confers Honorary Doctorate on Uhlenbeck has become the first woman to win the Abel Vice President Venkaiah Naidu - Vice President Prize Venkaiah Naidu was conferred Honorary Doctorate from Note: the UN established University of Peace. The university • It is a Norwegian prize awarded annually by the has stated that the degree of “Doctor Honoris Causa”( King of Norway to one or more outstanding Doctor of Philosophy) was conferred on the Indian Vice mathematicians. President recognising his contribution to the Rule of Law, • The prize is named after the 19th century democracy and sustainable development in India. Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel. 11. New Zealand PM’s Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship - 8. Swachh Survekhshan-2019 Awards - President Ram Rio Paralympics silver medallist Deepa Malik was named Nath Kovind has presented Swachh Survekhshan-2019 as the recipient of the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Sir Awards in New Delhi. Edmund Hillary Fellowship for 2019 in recognition of her List of awards – inspiring achievements. • India’s cleanest city– Indore (MP) bagged 12. Shri. Venkaiah Naidu is the first Indian to receive an award for the for third straight year honorary doctorate from the University of Peace. Note: The second and third positions were 13. Chameli Devi Jain Award – The bilingual correspondent clinched by Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh and with the BBC Priyanka Dubey has been named for the Mysore in Karnataka. Chameli Devi Jain Award for an Outstanding Woman • Cleanest big city - Ahmedabad has been named Journalist for the year 2018. the cleanest big city with a population of more Note: The Chameli Devi Jain Award awards women than ten lakh. journalists for their exceptional contribution to the • Cleanest medium city - Ujjain has been cause of journalism upholding standards of excellence awarded cleanest medium city having a through a sustained body of work. population between 3 lakh to 10 lakh. 14. Pritzker Prize 2019 - Japanese Architect Arata Isozaki • Cleanest Small city - New Delhi Municipal has received the Pritzker Prize 2019. Council area was given the “Cleanest Small City” Note: award. • He is the 46th laureate and eighth architect from Japan to win the Pritzker Prize.

48 www.gradeup.co • Pritzker Prize is an annual award to honour a living 20. Commonwealth Youth Award for the Asian Region - A architect or architects whose built work social entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu, Padmanaban demonstrates a combination of those qualities. Gopalan (founder of No Food Waste) • The award constituted by Pritzker family of Chicago 21. International Sustainability ‘Green Era’ Award - TVS through their Hyatt Foundation in 1979. Motor Company 15. Templeton Prize 2019 - Brazilian physicist and 22. Best Bank Award from the State Government of astronomer Marcelo Gleiser has been awarded the 2019 Tamil Nadu – Indian Bank a Public Sector Bank (PSB), Templeton Prize headquartered at Chennai, Tamil Nadu has been awarded 16. Windham-Campbell Prize - An Indian journalist, author the Best Bank Award by the Tamil Nadu government. and chief of The Wire, ‘Raghu Karnad’ received the 23. 2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies - Tata Steel prestigious Windham-Campbell prize 24. ‘Non-Life Insurer of the Year Award 2019’ - Bharti AXA 17. Golden Peacock Award 2019 for innovative product - General Insurance ACKO General Insurance a new-age digital insurance 25. Missile Systems Award - Satheesh Reddy, the Secretary company was awarded the coveted Golden Peacock of India’s Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of Innovative Product Award – 2019, for their contextual the Defence Research and Development Organisation micro insurance product –“Ola Ride Insurance” (DRDO) has been chosen by the American Institute of 18. India bags 1st prize at International ‘Golden City Gate Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) as the co-winner of Tourism Awards 2019’ in Berlin the 2019 Missile Systems Award. 19. Young Global Leaders 2019 – The Forum of Young 26. Best Domestic Water Purifier 2019 - Kent RO Systems Global Leaders, the World Economic Forum’s foundation Pvt. Ltd. has received the Best Domestic Water Purifier for remarkable leaders under 40 has released the list of Award 2018-19 Individuals with grit, foresight and potential to improve 27. SKOCH Award, 2018 - The Odisha State Disaster the state of the world for the year 2019. Management Authority (OSDMA) has bagged the SKOCH • Andhra Pradesh IT minister Nara Lokesh, BJP Award, 2018 for its remarkable achievements in the field MP Poonam Mahajan, Xiaomi India head Manu of disaster management. Kumar Jain, Telangana government’s Chief Note: The award was presented at the 56th SKOTCH Innovation Officer Phanindra Sama, SaveLife Summit held at New Delhi. Foundation’s Piyush Tewari and Kaleidofin’s co- 28. Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar - Indian Air Force Founder Sucharita Mukherjee are the Indians Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been featuring in the list of Young Global Leaders chosen for the first Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar 2019. constituted by the Akhil Bharatiya Digambar Jain Mahasamiti.

February 2019

1. Oscar Awards 2019 announced: The 91st Academy • India-based Period End of Sentence has won Awards (Oscars) has been announced at the Dolby Documentary Short at 91stOscars Academy Theatre in Hollywood, the USA. Awards. Complete list of winners • The film talks about the stigma of menstruation • Best Picture - Green Book, directed by - Peter in India. Farrelly • It is directed by Rakya Zehtabchi. • Best Actress in a Leading Role - Olivia Colman for 2. Gandhi Peace Prize - President Ram Nath Kovind film - The Favourite conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2015, 16, 17 and 18 • Best Actor in a Leading Role - Rami Malek for at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. film - Bohemian Rhapsody List of awards – • Best Director - Alfonso Cuarón for Roma • For 2015: Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari • Best Foreign Language – Roma (Alfonso Cuaron's was given the award for its contribution in Rural Roma from Mexico has won Best Foreign Development, Education and Development of language) natural resources. • Best Documentary Short film - Period. End of • For 2016: Jointly to Akshaya Patra Foundation Sentence Rayka Zehtabchi and Melissa Berton for its contribution in providing mid-day meals Note: to millions of children across India and Sulabh

49 www.gradeup.co International for its contribution in improving Resources, River Development and Ganga the condition of sanitation in India and Rejuvenation in New Delhi. emancipation of manual scavengers. 8. Maharashtra State Government’s Shiv Chhatrapati • For 2017: Ekal Abhiyan Trust for its Award - Mallakhamb coach, Uday Deshpande, and contribution in providing Education for Rural batswoman, Smriti Mandhana and Tribal Children in remote areas pan India, 9. International Human Rights Prize - Abdul Aziz Rural Empowerment, Gender, and Social Muhamat (Sudanese refugee) Equality. 10. Football Ratna Award - Sunil Chhetri, the all-time • For 2018: Japan’s Yohei Sasakawa for his leading scorer for India in international football, has contribution in Leprosy Eradication in India and been conferred the first ever Football Ratna honour by across the world. Football Delhi, the association governing the sport in 3. META Lifetime Achievement Award - Eminent Indian Delhi. playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar has been chosen for this 11. Laureus World Sports Awards 2019 – The Laureus year’s META Lifetime Achievement Award. Sport for Good Award honours the achievements of those 4. AHF’s Player of The Year - Asian Hockey Federation has who have demonstrated a tremendous contribution to honored Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh with the the sport or to society through sport. 2018 Player of the Year award. List of awards is as follows: • Women team’s striker Lalremsiami has bagged • Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic, (Serbia) the Rising Player of The Year prize. Tennis. 5. National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 awards - • Sportswoman of the Year: Simone Biles (USA) The National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 awards Gymnastics. were given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Vigyan • Comeback of the Year: Tiger Woods (USA) Golf. Bhawan, New Delhi. • Breakthrough of the Year: Naomi Osaka (Japan) The winners from the national level competition are: Tennis. • 1st position– Shweta Umre from Maharashtra. • Team of the Year: France World Cup Team • 2nd position– Anjanakshi M.S from Karnataka. (France) Football • 3rd position– Mamta Kumari from Bihar. • Lifetime Achievement Award: Arsène Wenger, Note: France. • The “Khelo India” app, which has been developed by • Sport for Good Award: NGO Yuwa (India). Sports Authority of India was also launched at the NGO Yuwa event. • The NGO Yuwa has been awarded the Laureus 6. Future for Nature Award - Divya Karnad became the Sport for Good Award for the year 2019. First Indian Woman to be honoured with the ‘Future for • NGO Yuwa works specifically with girls from Nature Award’ for her work on marine conservation. impoverished families in rural Jharkhand. • She is the second Indian to receive this award • The NGO uses team sports and education to build after Dr. Charudutt Mishra. character, confidence, and courage. • It is a prestigious international award that • NGO Yuwa was founded in 2009 when American celebrates achievements in protecting wild Franz Gastler moved to Jharkhand from Delhi. animals and plant species. 12. Seoul Peace Prize 2019 - Prime Minister Narendra 7. National Water Awards 2018 – Maharashtra topped Modi has been honoured with the Seoul Peace Prize. the chart among the states for efforts in water Note: conservation. • The South Korean government has awarded the • Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Seoul Peace Prize for PM Modi in recognition of Authority (MWRRA), Pune, was adjudged the his service to international cooperation, global best water regulatory body in India. growth and human development. • Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were given second • PM Modi is the 14th recipient of the award. and third National Water Awards respectively in 13. Swachhata Excellence Awards 2019 - The Raigarh best state category. Municipal Corporation of Chhattisgarh has won the • The awards were presented by Nitin Gadkari, “Swachhata Excellence awards 2019”. Union Minister for Road Transport and Water Note: Swachhata Excellence Awards were instituted by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in 2017.

50 www.gradeup.co 14. EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 – India - The CEO and 17. Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta will be given the Managing director of Eicher Motors, Siddhartha Lal has Lifetime Achievement Award by the Academy of been named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year for 2018 Canadian Cinema and Television. 15. ‘Freedom of the City of London’ - The State Bank of 18. Indian Historian Sanjay Subrahmanyam wins Israel’s India’s UK head Sanjiv Chadha has been honoured with Dan David Prize 2019 - Noted Indian historian Sanjay the ‘Freedom of the City of London’ award in recognition Subrahmanyam has won Israel's prestigious Dan David of his contribution to promoting the bilateral relations. Prize 2019 for his work on inter-cultural encounters 16. Ernst & Young Lifetime Achievement Award - Azim between Asians, Europeans and people of North and Premji Chairman of Wipro Ltd will be felicitated with the South America during the early modern era. Ernst & Young Lifetime Achievement Award. 19. National Film Development Corporation of India has Note: Ernst & Young, famously known as EY is a been declared winner under the Miniratna Category multinational professional services firm and is one of the (Category II) by Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium “Big Four” accounting firms. Enterprises (MSME).

January 2019

1. Bharat Ratna Award 2019 About Bhupen Hazarika • Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen • Bhupen Hazarika was born on September 8, Hazarika awarded Bharat Ratna. 1926 in Sadiya, Assam. • Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika were • He was also one of the leading author-poets conferred the award posthumously. of Assam with more than 1,000 lyrics and • The Bharat Ratna has been conferred after a gap several short stories, essays and travelogues of four years. to his credit. • Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and • Bhupen Hazarika, popularly known as the founder of Banaras Hindu University Madan 'Bard of Brahmaputra',. Mohan Malviya were given the award by the • In May 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi government in 2015. inaugurated India’s longest bridge (9.15 About Nanaji Deshmukh kms), which runs over the Lohit river in • Nanaji Deshmukh was born in 1916 in a Marathi Assam. Modi named the Dhola-Sadia bridge family in Parbhani, Maharashtra. As a child, he after Bhupen Hazarika. was inspired by freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar About Pranab Mukherjee Tilak. • Pranab Mukherjee was born in Mirati in Birbhum • Nanaji established India's first Saraswati Sishu District of West Bengal on December 11, 1935 to Mandir at Gorakhpur in 1950. freedom fighters. • Nanaji Deshmukh had won in the 1977 Lok • He served as the 13th President of India from 2012 Sabha election from Balrampur. until 2017. 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 Teejan Bai 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)

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• About Teejan Bai- She is an exponent of a traditional performing art form, Pandavani, 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.

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. Mohanlal 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 Rajeshwar Acharya Art-Vocal-Hindustani Uttar Pradesh BangaruAdigalar Spiritualism Tamil Nadu Illias Ali Medicine-Surgery Assam Manoj Bajpayee 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 Jyoti Bhatt Art-Painting Gujarat Dilip Chakravarty Archaeology Delhi Mammen Chandy Medicine (Hematology) West Bengal Swapan Chaudhuri Art-Music-Tabla West Bengal Kanwal Singh Chauhan Agriculture Haryana Sunil Chhetri Sports (Football) Telangana Dinyar Contractor Art-Acting-Theatre Maharashtra Muktaben Pankaj Kumar Dagli Social Work (Divyang Welfare) Gujarat

52 www.gradeup.co Babulal Dahiya Agriculture Madhya Pradesh ThangaDarlong Art-Music-Flute Tripura Prabhu Deva 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

3. Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskaar Note: • The government has instituted an annual award titled Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan • The Philip Kotler Awards are bestowed in the Puraskar. name of world renowned Professor of Marketing • It will be announced every year on 23rd January, at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Management, Professor Philip Kotler. Bose. • The award was conferred by Dr Jagdish Sheth of • The Award carries a certificate and a cash prize EMORY University on behalf of Kotler, who is of 51 lakh rupees. currently unwell. • This year, 8th Battalion of National Disaster 5. D N Chakraborty Gets Assam Republic Day Response Force located at Ghaziabad has been Journalism Award selected for the Award for its commendable • Assam government has conferred the Republic work in disaster management. Day Journalism Award 2019 to veteran journalist • The award has been instituted to acknowledge and former editor Dhirendra Nath Chakraborty. the contribution and selfless service of • Chakraborty has been honored for his lifelong organisations and individuals to humanity in the contribution to journalism in the state. aftermath of any disaster. 6. India Bags The Award of Excellence for ‘Best in Show’ At NYTTS 2019 Note: • India received the Award of Excellence for ‘Best in Show’ at the New York Times Travel Show • This year, 8th Battalion of National Disaster 2019, the largest travel show in North America. Response Force located at Ghaziabad has been India was honoured during the Closing Bell selected for the Award for its commendable Ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange. work in disaster management. • The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

4. PM Narendra Modi honoured with first-ever Philip participated as the ‘Presenting Partner’ in the Kotler Presidential award New York Times Travel Show (NYTTS 2019) • Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first organised at Jacob K Javits Centre, New York. recipient of the prestigious Philip Kotler 7. Namita Gokhale wins Sushila Devi Literature Award Presidential award. • Writer Namita Gokhale has won the Sushila Devi • According to the citation of the award, Modi was Literature Award for her novel “Things to Leave selected for his “outstanding leadership for the Behind”. nation”. • She was awarded in the ‘Best Book of Fiction • The citation mentions initiatives such as Make in Written by a Woman Author’ category at the India, Startup India, Digital India, and Swachh inaugural edition of Bhopal Literature and Art Bharat have positioned India as one of the most Festival (BLF). lucrative manufacturing and business 8. Nritya Shiromani award destinations in the world. • Kathak exponent Anindita Neogy Anaam has • “The award focuses on the triple bottom-line of been honoured with the prestigious National ‘People, Profit and Planet’ which will be offered Nritya Shiromani award for her contribution annually to the leader of a nation.

53 www.gradeup.co towards preserving and promoting the dance the outstanding contribution of Tejaswini form across the world. Niranjana, the translator. 9. Dr. Rattan Lal Honoured with 2019 Japan Prize 14. 2018 ICC Awards: Virat Kohli Takes 3 Major Honours • India born, Dr. Rattan Lal, honoured with the • Virat Kohli has become the first player in history 2019 Japan Prize for his contributions in the field to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC of “Biological Production, Ecology”. Cricketer of the Year, the ICC Men’s Test • He is a Distinguished University Professor of Soil Player of the Year and the ICC ODI Player of Science at The Ohio State University in the Year awards. Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A. • India captain becomes the first player to win all 10. Sheikh Saud International Prize for Materials three of top awards after being named captain of Research awarded to C N R Rao the Test and ODI teams. • The first Sheikh Saud International Prize for • A right-handed top order batsman, Kohli has Materials Research has been awarded to C N R made 64 centuries in international cricket—25 Rao. in Test cricket and 39 in One Day Internationals • The award will be presented to Rao by Sheikh (ODI)—as of January 2019. Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi ruler of Ras Al Khaimah 15. President confers Ashoka Chakra on Lance Naik emirate during the International Workshop on Nazir Wani Advanced Materials at Ras Al Khaimah on • India’s highest peacetime gallantry honour, February 25. Ashoka Chakra was awarded to Lance Naik 11. MP Anurag Thakur Honoured with Sansad Ratna Nazir Wani posthumously. Award • Lance Naik Nazir Wani also holds the distinction • Anurag Thakur, member of Parliament (MP) of being the first Kashmiri to be conferred the from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh has been Ashoka Chakra. bestowed with Sansad Ratna Award for his 16. Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2019 distinguished performance as a parliamentarian • President Ram Nath Kovind conferred Pravasi under Jury Committee Special Award category. Bharatiya Samman Awards 2019 to 30 awardees. • He became the first BJP MP to receive the Jury • The awards were conferred during the Pravasi Committee award. Bharatiya Divas being held at Varanasi. • The Sansad Ratna Award was set up & launched The winner of this prestigious award includes: in 2010 by Former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. • Gita Gopinath chief economist of IMF

• Nihal Singh Agar, founding president of VHP 12. Woman’s Voice Award in Australia and • US-based Indian poet Ranjani Murali received • Ramesh Chotai, former president of Hindu the ‘Woman’s Voice Award’ at the Apeejay Mandir and Cultural Centre in Canada. Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF). The award • Girish Pant, a social worker has been carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh apart from a instrumental in rescuing several Indian citation. sailors stranded in UAE waters. 13. ‘No Presents Please’ novel wins DSC Prize for South • Surender Singh Kandhari, chairman of the Asian Literature 2018 Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Temple, • ‘No Presents Please’ is an English Novel is a philanthropist, businessman and a long- translated from Kannada Work of Jayant term Dubai resident. Kaikini. • Dr Zulekha, founder and chairperson of • The novel was translated to English by Tejaswini Zulekha Healthcare Group, who came to the Niranjana. UAE in 1964, is believed to be the first female • The award was presented by eminent writer practicing doctor in the country. Ruskin Bond to Jayant Kaikini and translator 17. Saraswati Samman 2017 Tejaswini Niranjana. • Noted Gujarati poet Sitanshu Yashashchandra • For the first time the award was being given to a has been awarded Saraswati Samman, 2017, for translated work and the jury wanted to recognise his poetry collection in Gujarati named “Vakhar”.

54 www.gradeup.co • This is the 27th edition of the prestigious award • For 2017: Ekal Abhiyan Trust for their instituted by K.K.Birla foundation. contribution in providing Education for Rural • The award is given every year to an outstanding and Tribal Children in remote areas pan India, work of an Indian citizen published during the Rural Empowerment, Gender and Social Equality. last 10 years in any of the languages mentioned • For 2018: Shri Yohei Sasakawa for his in Schedule 8 of the constitution. contribution in Leprosy Eradication in India and 18. Indian-American Gurinder Singh Khalsa Presented across the world. with Rosa Parks Trailblazer Award 22. The Hindu Literary Prize 2018 • The Indian-American Sikh Gurinder Singh • The Hindu Prize 2018 for Fiction - English Khalsa, who lives in Fishers of Indiana, US was writer Neelum Saran Gour, author of Requiem presented with the prestigious 2019 Rosa Park in Raga Janki. Trailblazer award after being selected for • The Hindu Prize 2018 for non-fiction - Activist champions of the diversity by the Indiana Manoranjan Byapari, author of Interrogating Minority Business Magazine. my Chandal Life: An Autobiography of a Dalit.

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

scavengers.

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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)

National Affairs

May 2019

1. Iraq remains India’s top supplier of Crude Oil in 2019 Desikan and his great philosopher’s life and highly – According to data released by Directorate General of valued work. Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), Iraq 4. Cyclone FANI: 1.2 mn Evacuated as Powerful Storm remains India’s top crude oil supplier for second year in hits Odisha a row followed by Saudi Arabia & Iran. • The severe cyclonic storm named Cyclone Fani Note: had recently made a landfall impact on May 3, • India is world’s third largest importer of crude oil 2019 in Puri on Odisha coast. (7% of total crude oil imports) after China (world’s • Cyclone Fani, with wind speed of about 175 largest importer with 20.2% of total crude oil kilometres per hour, was the second-most imports) and USA (13.8%). powerful cyclone to have hit Odisha after 1999. • India’s crude oil imports meets 80 % its oil needs. • The government, however, earned international 2. Konkan Railways signs agreement with Nepal praise for its efforts to reduce casualty by Railways – India and Nepal have inked a deal on shifting away more than 11 lakh people. procurement of demo train that operates on diesel. • Central Food Technological Research Institute • The contract agreement was signed between (CFTRI), has prepared nearly one lakh meals for India’s Konkan Railways Corporation Ltd and distribution in cyclone Fani hit areas of Odisha. Nepal’s Department of Railways to supply two Note: 1600 HP Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) • Central Food Technological Research Institute train sets. (CFTRI) is a premier food research laboratory under • The trains will be manufactured by Integrated Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T), Coach Factory (owned and operated by Indian Government of India. Railways) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. • It was established in 1950 and is headquartered in 3. Vice president issued Postage Stamp to Mysore, Karnataka. commemorate 750th Birth Anniversary of Sri 5. India and Bangladesh to co-produce movie on Sheikh Vedanta Desika – On 2 May 2019, Vice President Shri M. Mujibur Rahman – India and Bangladesh will jointly Venkaiah Naidu released postage stamp in New Delhi to produce a feature movie on life and works of commemorate 750th birth anniversary of Sri Vedanta Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (founding father

56 www.gradeup.co of People’s Republic of Bangladesh) and also a • The Council also appointed the International documentary on Bangladesh Liberation War (1971). Maritime Organisation (IMO) as a new Observer. India’s state broadcaster Prasar Bharati will co-produce • India successfully got the Observer status in the film. 2013 during the Kiruna Ministerial meeting held 6. India Re-Elected as Observer to ‘Arctic Council’ – in Sweden. India was re-elected as Observer to the Arctic Council, an • India has its Arctic research station ‘Himadri’ in intergovernmental forum. Svalbard, Norway since 2008. • The decision was taken during the 11th Arctic • The Arctic Council is formed of eight circumploar Council ministerial meeting at Rovaniemi, countries- Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Finland. Denmark, Canada, US and Russia.

April 2019

1. National Institutional Ranking Framework 2019 – • RailTel is working to establish bringing fast and free The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Wi-Fi at all stations (except the halt stations) within rankings have been released by the Ministry of Human a year. Resource Development. The rankings list the best 3. India’s first foreign interactive bird park launched in institutions and universities of India. Mumbai – India’s first rain forest-themed foreign Ranking is as follows interactive bird park was launched in Gorai, Mumbai, • Overall rankings - The Indian Institute of Maharashtra. Technology (IIT), Madras has topped the • It is home to over 500 exotic birds from more overall rankings of higher education institutions than 60 species. and is followed by IISc Bangalore and IIT-Delhi • It was launched by EsselWorld Leisure Pvt. Ltd, ranked second and third in the overall rankings. the entertainment arm of $6-billion Essel Group. • Best University - In the University Category, IISc 4. Gagandeep Kang becomes First Indian Female FRS – Bangalore has been ranked one followed by Professor Gagandeep Kang has become the first Indian Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the female scientist to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Society (FRS) in the UK fellowship’s 358-year-history. • Engineering institutions - IIT-Madras topped the • The 56-year-old is the Executive Director of ranking followed by IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay. Translational Health Science and Technology • Management schools - IIM Bangalore topped the Institute at Faridabad. ranking followed by IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta 5. Ratnagiri refinery may now come up in • Jamia Hamdard has been announced as the top Maharashtra's Raigad - The proposed $44 billion varsity for Pharmacy. refinery and petrochemicals project at Ratnagiri in • All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Maharashtra may be shifted to neighbouring Raigad has been adjudged as the best medical college. district. • National Law School of India University, Note: Bengaluru, have been adjudged as the best • Raigad is located in the Konkan region of the medical college law school. state. 2. RailTel turns 1600 railway stations into RailWire Wi- • Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis Fi zone said that the state government has decided to • RailWire Wi-Fi by RailTel is now live at 1600 relocate the proposed Ratnagiri refinery railway stations across the country. following the protests by farmers and local • The Santacruz railway station in Mumbai became landowners, who feared the project may damage the 1600th station to become a RailWire Wi-Fi flora and fauna in the region, and affect Alphonso zone. mango and cashew plantations. Note: • The Ratnagiri refinery project, which was • RailWire is a retail Broadband initiative of the announced in December 2015, was to be RailTel. commissioned by 2022, but delays in land acquisition have pushed the deadline to 2025.

57 www.gradeup.co Note: species by the government, the Ministry of Environment • The Ratnagiri Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd launched a three-year Asiatic Lion Conservation Project (RRPCL), which is implementing the project is a joint in collaboration with the state of Gujarat, which is the venture between three state-run oil marketing last habitat of the big cat. companies—Indian Oil Corp. (IOCL), Hindustan • The Rs 98-crore project, for which the Ministry Petroleum Corp. (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corp. of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (BPCL). (MoEFCC) has allocated Rs 59 crores, spans three • Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. years -- 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 -- will (Adnoc) will jointly own 50% of the Ratnagiri focus on better management of the lion habitat, refinery, with the remaining 50% owned by the disease control and veterinary care for them. Indian oil companies. 8. ICMR launches Malaria Elimination research alliance 6. Guwahati railway station 1st to Get ISO Certification – The Indian Council of Medical Research has launched in India – The Guwahati Railway Station in Assam has the ‘Malaria Elimination Research Alliance (MERA) India become the first ever railway station in the Indian which is a conglomeration of partners working on Railways to get an ISO certification from the National malaria control in order to eliminate the disease from Green Tribunal (NGT) for “providing passenger India by 2030. amenities in a clean and green environment.” • The National Vector Borne Diseases Control Note: Program (NVBDCP) of India has also developed a • Many types of ISO certification exist and the one comprehensive framework to achieve the target received by Guwahati Railway Station is ISO- of “Malaria free India by 2030”. 14001, which is for Environment Management • The Indian Council of Medical Research, the apex System as per international norms which were body in India for the formulation, coordination upgraded in 2015. Thus, the station’s certificate and promotion of biomedical research, is one of reads ISO 14001: 2015. the oldest and largest medical research bodies in 7. Centre allocates Rs 59 crore for Asiatic Lion the world conservation in Gujarat’s Gir - In a bid to protect and • ICMR headquarters is in New Delhi. conserve lions, identified as one of the endangered March 2019

1. Adani becomes first Indian port operator to record • After the US, Russia, and China, India is the 200 MMT cargo movement – Adani Ports and Special fourth country to acquire this space capability. Economic Zone (APSEZ) announced that it has recorded • Defence Research and Development Organisation cargo movement of more than 200 million metric tonnes (DRDO), on 27th March 2019 successfully (MMT) at nine ports along the east and west coasts, conducted an Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) missile test, becoming the first Indian port operator to achieve the under Mission Shakti from Dr A P J Abdul Kalam milestone. Island in Odisha. 2. WhatsApp to Work with Nasscom to Impart Digital • A DRDO-developed Ballistic Missile, Defence Literacy – WhatsApp and National Association of Interceptor Missile successfully engaged an Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) have Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit decided to work together to impart digital literacy for (LEO) in a Hit to Kill mode. curbing the menace of fake news before the general 4. Integral Coach Factory becomes World’s Largest Rail elections. Coach Manufacturer - Indian Railways’ Chennai based • WhatsApp and NASSCOM Foundation will train Integral Coach Factory (ICF) became world’s largest rail nearly 1,00,000 Indians to spot false information coach manufacturer after surpassing top Chinese and provide tips and tricks to stay safe on manufacturers. WhatsApp. Note: 3. India becomes Elite Space Power –PM Modi announced • ICF had manufactured 2,919 coaches from April that India has entered its name as an elite space power. 2018 to February 2019 as compared to 2,600 • An Anti-Satellite Weapon (A-SAT) successfully coaches by Chinese manufacturers. targeted a live satellite on a low earth orbit. • The name of this mission was ‘Mission Shakti’.

58 www.gradeup.co • The number of coaches manufactured were 40% Note: higher than those manufactured previous year in • The Finance Ministry stated that the new Rs 20 same time period. coin will be made in copper, zinc and nickel. It Integral Coach Factory (ICF) will be 27mm (millimeters) and weigh 8.54 • ICF is rail coach’s manufacturer located in Chennai, grams. Tamil Nadu. • The Lion Capitol symbol of Ashoka Pillar with the • It was inaugurated by first Prime Minister of India Pt. legend “Satyamev Jayate” below it will be Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955. inscribed on its front side. • It is owned and operated by Central Government • The words “Bharat” in Hindi and “INDIA” in (Union Ministry of Railways) through Indian English will be there on the right and left-hand Railways. side of the symbol respectively. • It primarily manufactures rolling stock for Indian 9. One Nation One Card – On 4th March 2019, Prime Railways. Minister Narendra Modi launched the indigenously • It manufactures range of coaches, including Linke- developed National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Hofmann-Busch (LHB), self-propelled train sets while inaugurating the first phase of the Ahmedabad (SPTs) such as electrical multiple units (EMU). metro train service. • It also exports railway coaches to other countries Objective – including Zambia, Philippines, Tanzania, Uganda, • To enable people to seamless payment for Nigeria, Thailand, Myanmar, Taiwan, Vietnam, multiple transport system charges. Mozambique, Bangladesh, Angola and Sri Lanka. Key points • It is one of three coach manufacturing facilities of • The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Indian Railways with the other two being Rail Coach program was envisaged by Ministry of Housing & Factory, Kapurthala and Modern Coach Factory, Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Raebareli. • The Gate & Reader prototype for this card has 5. Prime Minister of Guinea Dr. Ibrahima Kassory Fofana been made by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) visited India. under Make in India initiative. • Guinea Capital: Conakry, Currency: Guinean • The technology for this system is supported by franc. indigenously developed payment ecosystem 6. India extends USD 250 million to Nepal for Automatic Fare Collection Gate (AFCG) namely Reconstruction of Infrastructures – India has extended Swagat and an Open Loop Automatic Fare a grant assistance of up to USD 250 million to Nepal for Collection (OLAFC) system called Sweekar. the reconstruction of infrastructures in the areas of • Single card can be used across the country - housing, education, health and cultural heritage. You can use one single card i.e. One Nation 7. CISF Creates New Guinness World Record – The One Card for payments across all segments Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) created a new like - bus travel, metro, toll, parking, retail Guinness World Record for the longest single moving line shopping and even withdraw money. bicycle parade at the Yamuna Expressway. • This card runs as on RuPay card, which has been Note: merged with the mobility card. So, people can • The world record was attempted to also withdraw money apart from using this commemorate the 50 years of the Common Mobility Card for paying bills and fare. 10. New Visa Agreement between India, Maldives Comes paramilitary force CISF. into Effect – The new visa agreement between India and • For creating the World Record the Maldives came into force. The new policy provides a personnel of the central force rode 1,327 liberal visa policy for Maldivian citizens seeking medical bicycles non-stop with a uniform distance treatment as well as education and business opportunities in India. between bicycles in a single line. 11. India launches third IT corridor in China – India has 8. Government announces new Rs 20 coin - The Centre launched its third IT corridor in China. The corridor will has announced a new Rs 20 coin which will come in 12- facilitate partnerships between Indian and Chinese edged polygon (dodecagon) shape. The government is companies. also planning to release new coins of Re 1, Rs 2, Rs 5 and Rs 10.

59 www.gradeup.co • National Association of Software and Services • The department had undertaken the Modern Companies (NASSCOM) entered into a Artificial Limbs (Legs) implantation in Gujarat’s partnership with China’s Xuzhou city from Bharuch. Jiangsu Province in China to help develop the • The implantation was carried out for 260 people IT corridor. in record eight hours. This was the seventh • The earlier two corridors launched at Dalian and world record set by the Department of Guiyang cities. Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. 12. United States to set up six Nuclear Power Plants in 15. Hardeep S Puri launches e-Dharti App – Housing and India – The United States and India agreed to strengthen Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri has launched e- security and civil nuclear cooperation, including building Dharti app where all the three modules- Conversion, six U.S. nuclear power plants in India. Substitution and Mutation related to properties have 13. PM Modi lays Foundation stone of AK-203 Assault been made online. Rifle Manufacturing Unit in Amethi – Prime Minister • This enables the public to submit their Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of a applications online by visiting the L&DO website. manufacturing unit for AK-203 assault rifles at the This absolves the need to visit the office for Ordnance Factory Board factory in Amethi, Uttar submission of them and for follow up of their Pradesh. applications. Note: 16. Azaadi Ke Diwane’ museum inaugurated at Red Fort • Amethi is the parliamentary constituency of – Union Minister Mahesh Sharma has inaugurated Congress President Rahul Gandhi. ‘Azaadi Ke Diwane’ museum, dedicated to the unsung • The manufacturing unit is a joint venture heroes of the country’s freedom struggle, on the Red Fort between India and Russia to produce a premises in New Delhi. modernised version of AK-47 rifles. Note: • One of the most advanced rifles in world, AK- • The ‘AzaadikeDiwane’ museum talks about the 203 will be made in Amethi. AK-203 is the latest sacrifices of great freedom fighters. It pays derivative of the legendary AK-47 rifle. tribute to the selfless sacrifices of the 14. Department of Empowerment of Persons with revolutionaries, brave female freedom fighters Disabilities sets World Record – The Department of and valiant children. Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the • It is built by the Archaeological Survey of India Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has set a (ASI). new world record. February 2019

1. e-Aushadhi Portal – Minister of State for AYUSH, Shri • The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located on the Shripad Yesso Naik launched the e-Aushadhi portal for banks of the Ravi River, about three-four km online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and from the border in Pakistan. Homoeopathy drugs. 3. Union Textiles Minister Inaugurates Titanwala • The new e-portal, e-Aushadhi is an acronym for Museum in Rajasthan – Union Minister for Textiles Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy Smriti Irani inaugurated the ‘Titanwala Museum’ in Automated Drug Help Initiative. Bagru that showcases the Chhipa community’s Bagru 2. Dera Baba Nanak Land Post Designated as hand-block printing. Immigration Centre for visiting Kartarpur Sahib – Note: Bagru printing is one of the traditional techniques The notification issued by the Union Home ministry has of printing with natural colour followed by the chippas of designated Dera Baba Nanak land post located in Rajasthan. The Bagru hand-block printing has a history Punjab’s Gurdaspur district as an authorised of over 1000 years. immigration checkpoint to exit and enter for visiting 4. PM Modi inaugurates National War Memorial in New Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan. Delhi - Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated a new Note: National War Memorial, situated in the India Gate • The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor connects complex in New Delhi, to the nation. Kartarpur Gurdwara in Pakistan with Dera Baba 5. LADIS Portal Launched – The Inland Waterways Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district. Authority of India (IWAI) launched a new portal LADIS –

60 www.gradeup.co Least Available Depth to aid in ensuring of optimum use Singh under the Emergency Response Support of National Waterways. System (ERSS). • LADIS will better facilitate the day to day 10. Saudi Becomes 73rd Nation to Sign International operations of inland vessels plying on National Solar Alliance – Saudi Arabia became the 73rd nation to Waterways and avoids any hindrance in service sign the International Solar Alliance. and operation. • ISA was unveiled by PM Narendra Modi and 6. Virtual Experiential Museum inaugurated in former French President Francois Hollande in Varanasi by PM Modi – Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra 2015. Modi inaugurated the Virtual Experiential Museum • Headquarters is in Gwal Pahari, Gurugram, (VEM) in Varanasi, established by the National Council of India. Science Museum (NCSM). 11. India Withdraws Most Favoured Nation Status to • The museum is set up inside the centrally Pakistan – protected monument observatory of Man Mahal • Following the attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s situated on the bank of the Ganges near holy Pulwama that left 44 CRPF personnel dead, India Dashashwamedh Ghat at Varanasi. has withdrawn the MFN (Most Favoured Nation) 7. PM Modi Flagged Off 1st ever diesel to Electric status that it had granted to Pakistan. Conversion Locomotive – Under ‘Make in India’ • India granted MFN status to Pakistan in 1996, initiative, Indian Railways has created history by just a year after the formation of the WTO. converting a diesel locomotive into electric locomotive Note: for the first time in the world. This all new converted • Most Favoured Nation status is given to an energy-efficient electric locomotive has been flagged off international trade partner to ensure non- by PM Narendra Modi in Varanasi. discriminatory trade between all partner 8. Operation Digital Board launched by HRD Ministry – countries of the World Trade Organisation The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry (WTO). launched Operation Digital Board on the lines of • A country which provides MFN status to another Operation Blackboard to provide better digital education country has to provide concessions, privileges, in school. and immunity in trade agreements. • Operation Digital Board has been launched on • It is the first clause in the General Agreement on the lines of Operation Blackboard to provide Tariffs and Trade (GATT). better digital education in schools. 12. India’s 1st Aqua Mega Food Park commissioned in • Under Operation Digital Board seven lakh Andhra Pradesh classrooms of 9th, 10th and 11th standards and • Union Minister of Food Processing Industries two lakh classrooms of colleges and Universities Harsimrat Kaur Badal commissioned Godavari will be equipped with digital boards in the next Mega Aqua Food Park at Tundurru Village in three years. Bhimavaram Mandal, West Godavari District, • The initiative is aimed at improving the quality of Andhra Pradesh. education and offer new opportunities and new • It will be the first Mega Aqua Food Park ways of teaching and learning. operationalised exclusively for fish and marine 9. Rajnath Singh launches Pan-India Number 112 for products processing in the state of Andhra Women Safety – Pradesh. • Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister for 13. Kareena Kapoor Khan appointed ambassador of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi Swasth Immunised India campaign – Actress Kareena launched a range of citizen safety initiatives in Kapoor Khan has been appointed as an ambassador of New Delhi. Swasth Immunised India campaign. The Swasth • Persons in distress can dial a pan-India number: Immunised India campaign has been launched by Serum 112. Institute of India (SII) and Network 18. Note: 14. Deloitte launches WorldClass Initiative in India - • The 112 helpline which was earlier launched in Deloitte has announced the launch of its global initiative Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland was launched in 16 ‘WorldClass’ in India for the empowerment of women. states and UTs by Union Home Minister Rajnath The initiative was launched by Deloitte’s Global CEO, Punit Renjen in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan,

61 www.gradeup.co Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill 21. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Development and Entrepreneurship. CREDAI YouthCon -19 at Talkatora Stadium in New Note: Delhi. • WorldClass programme in India will focus on • The theme for this YouthCon is Next Generation. improving girls retention rate in school, higher 22. AYUSH Minister launches e-AUSHADHI portal - educational outcomes, and skills development Shripad Yesso Naik (Minister of State (IC) for AYUSH) has for women to access employment. launched the e-AUSHADHI portal, for online licensing of • In India, the initiative aims to support 10 million Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and girls and women by 2030 through education and related matters at New Delhi. skills development. 23. India and Norway launched an initiative to Combat 15. Railway Minister launches Rail Drishti Dashboard – Marine Pollution - The Ministry of Environment, The Union Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal has Forests and Climate Change signed a Letter of Intent launched Rail Drishti dashboard. establishing the India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative • It encompasses all the digitisation efforts in together with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Indian Railways and promotes transparency and 24. The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for accountability. Extension of tenure of the National Commission for Safai • The dashboard brings information from various Karmacharis (NCSK) beyond 31st of March 2019 for sources on a single platform and gives access to three years. key statistics and parameters to every citizen of 25. After China, India is world’s 2nd largest LPG the country. consumer & importer 16. Sanskrit becomes second official language of • After achieving the target of distributing 8 crore Himachal Pradesh – Himachal Pradesh Assembly cooking gas connections under its flagship passed Official Language Amendment Bill 2019 to make Pradhan India became the second largest Sanskrit as second official of the state without discussion. consumer of LPG in the world. • With clearance of bill Himachal Pradesh became • According to the Petroleum Minister second state in the in the country after Dharmendra Pradhan, imports of LPG grew 12.5 Uttrakhand to adopt such bill. percent over the past five years to 12 million 17. President unveils a life-size portrait of Atal Bihari metric tons (13 million tons) in 2018-19, Vajpayee at Central Hall of Parliament surpassing Japan and putting India in second • President Ram Nath Kovind unveiled the life-size place behind China. portrait of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari • India imports LPG mainly from Saudi Arabia, Vajpayee at the Central Hall of Parliament. Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and 18. 12th February: National Productivity Day Iran. 19. PM Narendra Modi inaugurates PETROTECH-2019 26. India's tourism sector registers 19% growth in 2018 • Narendra Modi inaugurated the three-day - According to Union Minister K J Alphons, the country's International Oil and Gas Conference tourism sector fetched 234 billion US Dollar revenue last ‘PETROTECH-2019’ (13th) at India Expo Mart in year, registering a growth of over 19%. Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. 27. The Textile Minister Smriti Irani has launched the India • The ‘PETROTECH-2019’ is being organised under Size project (first-of-its-kind project in the history of the the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural country) in Mumbai. Gas, Government of India. • The objective of the India Size to arrive at a • India is the 3rd largest consumer of crude oil and standard Indian Size for the ready-to-wear petroleum products. clothing industry. 20. Dera Baba Nanak land check post designated as an 28. Cabinet approves the establishment of Rashtriya immigration centre – The Union Government Kamdhenu Aayog - The Union Cabinet has approved the designated Dera Baba Nanak land Check post in proposal for the establishment of Rashtriya Kamdhenu Gurdaspur district of Punjab as an authorised Aayog for conservation, protection and development of immigration checkpoint to exit and entry for visiting cows and their progeny. Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan. Note: • The Aayog will work in collaboration with Veterinary, Animal Sciences or Agriculture University or departments or organizations of

62 www.gradeup.co the Central or State Government engaged in the • Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog was announced in task of research in the field of breeding and the interim budget on the 1st Feb 2019. rearing of the cow, organic manure, biogas etc.

January 2019

14. Cabinet Approves 10% Job Quota for ‘Economically served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for Weaker’ Upper Castes - The Union Cabinet approved a ten years between 1977 and 1987. 10% reservation for ‘economically backward’ upper 19. National Museum of Indian Cinema Inaugurated - The castes in government jobs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Note: National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) at Films • On January 10, 2019 Parliament passed the Division of India premises in Mumbai. Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill 2019 to 20. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Museum - Prime provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Subhash educational institutions to economically backward Chandra Bose museum at Red Fort in New Delhi to mark section in the general category. the Netaji’s 122nd birth anniversary. • Under the new amendment to the constitution, • The museum in the Red Fort complex is also people with an annual income below Rs. 8 lakh and important for the fact that INA trails were held owning ‘ fewer than five acres of land would be within the Red Fort complex. eligible for the reservation. Another Museum inaugurated at Red Fort in New Delhi is Note as follows 15. Gujarat became first state to implement 10% quota for • The Yaad-e-Jallian Museum provides an economically weak in general category. authentic account of Jallianwala Bagh massacre 16. President Ramnath Kovind has given the assent to the happened on April 13, 1919. 124th constitutional Amendment Bill (which is now • The Drishyakala-Museum on Indian Art Constitution 103rd amendment Act) providing 10 per showcases Indian art works from 16th century cent reservation for economically weaker sections.The till India’s independence. Important components of the 103rd constitutional • The Museum on 1857- India’s first war of Amendment are: Independence portrays the historical narrative of • The amendment changed two fundamental 1857 war of independence, showcasing the valor rights, Article 15 and 16. The amendments and sacrifices made by Indians during the period. provide for the advancement of the 21. The word Nari Shakti is chosen as the word of the “economically weaker sections” of the society. Year 2018 by the Oxford dictionaries. The • The amendment aims to fulfil the commitments announcement regarding this was made in the Jaipur of the directive principles of state policy under Literature Festival (JLF). Article 46, to promote the educational and 22. Vande Bharat Express - India’s fastest indigenous train, economic interests of the weaker sections of the Train 18 named as Vande Bharat Express will run society. between Delhi and Varanasi. 17. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion • Train 18 is an indigenously developed world- (DIPP) has been renamed as the Department for class train under Make in India. Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. It will • The 16-coach train has been built completely in work under the Union Ministry of Commerce. India by Indian engineers in a span of 18 months 18. Coins to commemorate MGR’s 102nd birth at the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. anniversary - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K 23. Sanrakshan Kshmata Mahotsav (SAKSHAM) was Palaniswami released two commemorative coins in the flagged off by Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural denominations of Rs 100 and Rs 5 to mark the 102nd Gas Dharmendra Pradhan to promote and create birth anniversary of DR M G Ramachandran. awareness among people on the need of oil and gas Note: conservation for the future and the methods to do it. • DR M G Ramachandran popularly known as M. G. • Sanrakshan Kshmata Mahotsav (SAKSHAM) is an R is an actor, filmmaker and politician who annual flagship event of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the aegis of

63 www.gradeup.co Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Govt. of • Jawaharlal Nehru Port also known as Nhava India. Sheva, is the largest container port in India. 24. National Salt Satyagraha Memorial inaugurated at • It is located at east of Mumbai in Navi Mumbai, Dandi - In commemoration of the 150th Birth Maharashtra. Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister 28. State of Talent Acquisition 2019 Report: The report is Narendra Modi on January 30, 2019 dedicated the released by the Mercer-Mettl’s National Salt Satyagraha Memorial at Dandi in Navsari Key points district, Gujarat to the nation. • India Companies are expected to raise their • The memorial encapsulates the ideals of hiring budgets by 34 per cent and volumes by 31 Mahatma Gandhi- Agrah for Swadeshi, per cent in 2019. Swatchagrah and Satyagraha. • Due to this increase in hiring the companies are 25. IIT Hyderabad launches B.Tech course in Artificial expected to raise their hiring budgets by at least Intelligence 34 per cent compared to 20 per cent of • IIT Hyderabad has announced the launch of a companies in 2018. full-fledged bachelor’s programme in Artificial • The report notes that technology is employed Intelligence (AI) technology. extensively in sourcing (88 per cent) candidates, • IIT Hyderabad has become the first institute in while it is used the least when-boarding (49 per the country to launch full-fledged Bachelor’s cent), candidates. programme in AI technology. 29. Shehri Samridhi Utsav - The Union Ministry of Housing • IIT Hyderabad will be the third institute to and Urban Affairs is organising a fortnight of events globally to offer the B.Tech course in AI. named Shehri Samridhi Utsav all over the country with 26. Republic Day 26th January – India celebrates 70th an aim to extend the outreach of Deendayal Antyodaya Republic Day Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY- • President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa was NULM) to the poorest of poor and the most vulnerable. the chief guest for this year's Republic Day 30. TRAI releases Tele-density data of India: parade. Key facts are listed below: • The theme of the 70th Republic Day parade is • The total number of mobile phone subscribers in 'life of Gandhi' which is a tribute to the father of India by the end of November was 117.18 crore the nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth with a net addition of 17.39 lakh customers anniversary. during the month. • Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani of Jammu and • The private access service providers held 89.99 Kashmir was posthumously conferred with the per cent market share of the wireless subscribers Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime whereas BSNL and MTNL, the two PSU access gallantry award by President of India. service providers, had a market share of only • The all-women Assam Rifles contingent created 10.01 per cent as on November 2018. history this year by participating for the first • Reliance Jio led the subscription race in time in a Republic Day (26th January) parade. November 2018 adding around 88.01 lakh • The ICAR tableau in the Republic Day Parade has subscribers across the country. won the first prize for its Kisan Gandhi theme. • State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) • The Indian Council of Agricultural Research added around 3.78 lakh subscribers in tableau with the theme "Mishrit Kheti, November, taking its total tally to 11.38 crore. Khushiyon Ki Kheti" portrayed Gandhi with goats • Airtel added around 1.02 lakh new customers in and a cow and Kasturba engaged with charkha November, taking its total tally to 34.18 crores. and caring animals. • On the other hand, Vodafone Idea lost around 27. JNPT becomes only Indian port to be listed amongst 65.26 lakh subscribers. world’s top 30 Container Ports - The Jawaharlal Nehru 31. Centre launches 5-yr Plan to Combat pollution in 102 Port Trust (JNPT), India’s premier container port got cities - The Environment Ministry launched the National listed amongst the top 30 container ports globally, as per Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aimed at reducing toxic the latest Lloyds Report. particulate matter in 102 Indian cities by 2024. • JNPT notched up five spots, to be 28th on the list, Note: compared to its previous ranking.

64 www.gradeup.co • The NCAP will be a mid-term, five-year plan with • The Ministry of Culture announced that 2019 as the first year, while 2017 will be the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) declared base year for comparison of concentration. 6 monuments as ‘protected and of national • An amount of INR300 crore has been sanctioned importance’ under the Ancient Monuments for this purpose. and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 32. Election Commission wants ban on all party E-ads 48 1958, in 2018. hrs before polls These sites are: • The Election Commission has sought an • 125-year-old Old High Court Building in amendment to the law to prevent social Nagpur, Maharashtra, media and other digital platforms from • The Group of Temples in Ranipur Jharail in carrying political advertisements in the final Bolangir district of Odisha, 48 hours before elections. • 2 Mughal era monuments in Agra- Haveli of • While Section 126 of the Representation of Agha Khan and Hathi Khana, People Act prevents electronic media from • The Neemrana Baori in Alwar district of airing political advertisements in the ‘silent Rajasthan, period’ before elections. • The Vishnu Temple in Kotali, Pithoragarh 33. ECI renew MoU with Election Commission of Bhutan district in Uttarakhand. • On the sidelines of the international 38. GST on Haj reduced from 18% To 5% - Union Minister conference, the Election Commission of India for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi stated that GST renew Memorandum of Understanding on Haj has been reduced from 18% to 5%. (MOU) for cooperation in the field of election 39. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg visited India. management with the Election Commission • The fourth edition of the Raisina Dialogue of Bhutan. was held in New Delhi. 34. Ministry of Textiles and Government of India launched • Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg Artisan Speak at Elephanta Caves (UNESCO heritage site) delivered an inaugural address in presence to strengthen the handlooms and textiles sector of India. of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 35. Union Cabinet approves setting up of 3 New AIIMS - The External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi 40. The Southern Railway has bagged the number one has approved the setting up of three new AIIMS position for cleanliness in all the 17 railway zones in the institutions. country. • The three new institutions would come up at • This achievement was under the category of Vijaynagar at Samba of Jammu Region, other than Premium Category trains in the recent Awantipora in Pulwama of Kashmir Trains Cleanliness Survey conducted by IRCTC Region and Rajkot in Gujarat under the on all India level. Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha yojana. 41. The Union Civil Aviation minister Suresh Prabhu has 36. UGC to set up ‘CARE’ to Strengthen Research inaugurated country’s first Geographical Indication (GI) Publication - The University Grants Commission (UGC) Store at International Airport at Dabolim, Goa. has decided to establish a Consortium for Academic and 42. Sakhi Centres - Sakhi centre or One Stop Centre (OSC) is Research Ethics (CARE). a fully sponsored scheme of Central Government. • The Consortium for Academic and Research • These centres are set up through the Nirbhaya Ethics (CARE) is tasked to scrutinise and Fund under the National Mission for then compile a list of journals for social Empowerment of women by the Ministry of sciences, humanities, language, arts, culture, Women and Child Development. Indian Knowledge system etc. 43. President gives assent to Right of Children to Free and • UGC has constituted a Committee under the Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2019 - The Chairmanship of Prof. P. Balram, to review Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education its quality mandate relating to promotion of (Amendment) Act, 2019 which was passed by the Research and to review the existing M.Phil/ Parliament on January 3, 2019 received the assent of the Ph.D Regulations. President of India on January 10, 2019. 37. Six monuments declared as National Importance in 2018 Key points: by ASI -

65 www.gradeup.co • The Bill seeks to amend the Right to • Jolly Grant (Dehradun) airport renamed after Education (RTE) Act to abolish the “no- former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee detention” policy in schools. • Agartala Airport renamed as Maharaja Bir • Under the current provisions of the Act, no Bikram Manikya Kishore Airport. student can be detained up to class VIII • British-era railway station Robertsgang (8th). renamed as Sonbhadra. • As per the amendment, it would be left to the • Mughalsarai junction renamed after Deen states to decide whether to continue the no- Dayal Upadhyay. detention policy. • Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in • Now, states can choose to hold a regular Mumbai renamed as Chhatrapati Shivaji examination either at the end of Classes 5 ‘Maharaj’ International Airport. and 8, or both. 47. Government sets up Export Promotion Cell for MSMEs - • If a student fails, the amendment bill grants a • The MSME ministry has established an provision to give her or him additional export promotion cell to create a sustainable opportunity to take a re-examination within ecosystem for micro, small and medium two months. enterprises (MSMEs). • If the students still do not pass the exam, the 48. Go Green Initiatives in Indian Railways: Railways have state government may decide to detain them. undertaken some major initiatives to Go Green. • • Ministry of Railways has planned to set up Right to Education (RTE) Act 1000 Mega Watt (MW) solar power by 2020- • The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory 21 which would help Railways to source Education Act, 2009 (the Act) provides for free and about 10% of its electrical energy from compulsory education to all children of the age of six renewable source. to fourteen years. 49. Indian Forest Service to be renamed as Indian Forest • The Section 16 of the Act provides that no child and Tribal Service - The Ministry of Personnel, Public admitted in a school shall be held back in any class or Grievances and Pensions has initiated an inter- expelled from school till the completion of ministerial consultation note to rename the Indian Forest elementary education. Service as Indian Forest and Tribal Service. 44. India’s Satyarup becomes world’s youngest 50. Times Higher Education Emerging Economies mountaineer to climb 7 peaks, 7 volcano summits – University Rankings 2019 Mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta conquered Antartica's • The London-based Times Higher Education highest point, Mount Sidley. (THE), a global organisation that produces data, • With this feat, he became the first Indian and analysis and expertise on higher education has youngest man (35 years and 262 days) to climb released the Emerging Economies University the seven highest peaks and volcanic summits Rankings 2019. across all continents. • The 2019 ranking comprises of 450 universities 45. Arunima Sinha has become the World's 1st woman from 43 countries, across four continents. amputee to climb Mount Vinson, the highest peak in • India has increased its representation in the Antarctica. latest Times Higher Education (THE) Emerging Note: Economies University Rankings 2019, with 49 • Arunima Sinha (born 20 July 1988) is the first female institutes making it to the list as compared to 42 amputee to climb Mount Everest. last year. 46. Centre Approves renaming of Allahabad as Prayagraj The standings of Indian universities are as follows - The Union Home Ministry has approved the Uttar • The Indian Institute of Science - Bangalore Pradesh government’s proposal to rename Allahabad as (IISc) has topped the rankings among Prayagraj. Indian institutes with 14th rank Note: • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay • Ekana International Stadium in Lucknow ranked at 27th position. renamed as 'Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari • IIT Roorkee ranked at 35th position Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium'. • IIT Kanpur ranked at 46th position and IIT Kharagpur at 55th rank.

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

May 2019

1. Zero Pendency Courts Project – Zero Pendency • Scientific Name: Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis Courts Project is the pilot project of the Delhi High (N. sahyadrensis). Court. The pilot project was undertaken in certain • It is also known as Maveli frog or Pignose Frog. subordinate courts of Delhi to identify benchmarks for 3. Gujarat Assembly Passes Act to Allow Shops & different types of cases timelines, number of judges Businesses Remain Open 24X7 – ‘Gujarat Shops and required, case flow management rules and a host of Establishments (Regulation of Employment and other relevant factors. Conditions of Service) Act, 2019’ passed by Gujarat 2. Purple Frog to be crowned Kerala’s state Assembly which came into force from May 1, 2019. The amphibian – Purple frog could be soon designated as Act will allow the shops and other businesses in the Kerala’s state amphibian. state to operate 24×7. • The proposal for this is being mooted by 4. Chhattisgarh Deploys 1st Anti-Naxal Women Kerela’s leading Herpetologists (a specialist in Commando Unit – The Chhattisgarh police for the first study of reptiles and amphibians). time has inducted women commandos in the District • The odd-looking species is endemic to Western Reserve Guard (DRG), its frontline anti-Naxal force. Ghats. The title would help in protecting species fragile habitat.

67 www.gradeup.co April 2019

1. Himachal Pradesh Celebrates 72nd State Day – • Discolouration of Periyar and killing of fishes Himachal Pradesh celebrated 72nd Himachal Day on have been a serious issue for the last couple of 15th April with gaiety and fervour. Himachal Day is years. About hundred Indian anchovies celebrated to commemorate its creation. (Kozhuva) fishes were found dead along the 2. Nagaland observes 75th anniversary of Battle of banks of the Muttar river, a tributary of the Kohima – Nagaland observed the 75th Anniversary of Periyar. the Battle of Kohima. • According to the Pollution Control Board • The event was attended by the representatives (PCB), the discolouration was due to the poor from the UK and Japan who spoke on the quality of water as a result of eutrophication. theme of ‘Remembrance, Reconciliation and • Periyar river is the longest river and with the Rebirth’. largest discharge potential in the Indian state • The Battle of Kohima was fought in three of Kerala. stages from 3 April to 22 June 1944 around the 6. Telangana tops in eLearning training for Field Staff town of Kohima in Nagaland in northeast India. – For the second year in succession, Telangana ranks 3. Rongali Bihu Festival celebrated in Assam – number 1 in the e-Learning training program of the Assam’s most awaited festival – the Rongali Bihu, also Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), known as ‘Bohaag Bihu’ which marks the beginning of Government India. the new Assamese calendar year started. Assam 7. Bengaluru's Bellandur Lake begins to froth once celebrates major agricultural events as the festival of again – Bellandur Lake, which is one of the largest of Bihu. the 262 lakes in Bengaluru, has spilt toxic foam many Note: In Assam, three Bihu festivals are celebrated in a times in the recent past. year called as Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu, Bhugali • Taking cognizance of it, the National Green (Magh Bihu) and Kangali (Kati Bihu). Tribunal took the matter suo motu. Earlier in 4. Kandhamal Haldi Gets Geographical Indications April, it had directed immediate and complete Tag – ‘Kandhamal Haldi’, a variety of turmeric shutdown of 76 polluting industries around indigenous to southern Odisha, has earned the the lake. The directive came after a mound of Geographical indication (GI) tag from Intellectual garbage was set on fire in February causing Property India, an organization functioning under the massive pollution in the area. auspices of the Union ministry of commerce & 8. Karnataka Government has decided to declare 2019 as industry. the ‘Year of Water’ to emphasise the importance of Note: Kandhamal in Odisha’s southern hinterland is water becoming a scarce commodity and the need to famous for its turmeric cultivation, a spice that enjoys conserve it. its pride of place in an array of cuisines. 9. The state of Odisha celebrates Odisha Divas or Utkala 5. Decolourisation of River Periyar – The River Periyar Divas every year on April 1st to commemorate the in Kerala is again witnessing the decolourisation. state formation day. Note: • Periyar River of Kerala has turned black near the Pathalam Regulator cum Bridge.

March 2019

1. Rajasthan Day is celebrated every year on March 30 to 3. Madhya Pradesh Government increases commemorate the day on which the state of Rajasthan reservation Quota of OBCs to 27% - The Madhya came into existence. Pradesh government issued an ordinance increasing 2. Vastradan Campaign sets Guinness World record - reservation quota for the Other Backward Classes Vastradan Campaign initiated by the erstwhile royal (OBC) to 27% from the current 14%. family of Udaipur has set the Guinness World Record 4. Ancient tribal language Gondi to be taught in tribal for the largest collection of clothes for donation. The districts of MP – In Madhya Pradesh, ancient tribal campaign had collected more than 3 lakh items of language Gondi will be taught in tribal districts. clothing.

68 www.gradeup.co • Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath 6. Bihar Diwas was celebrated on March 22nd across the has decided to include Gondi in the primary state to commemorate the day when Bihar was carved education curriculum of the state’s tribal- out of the Bengal Presidency in the year 1912. March dominated districts. 22nd 2019 was the 107th foundation day of the state. 5. New Railway Zone Announced for Andhra Pradesh 7. ‘Rice Knowledge Bank- Assam’ - Rice Knowledge – Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced a Bank-Assam, is an agriculture web portal. It was new railway zone for Andhra Pradesh, that is the launched under the World Bank funded project – Agri- Southern Coast Railway. business and Rural Transformation (APART). Note: Note: It is dedicated to magnifying knowledge on rice • It will be headquartered in Visakhapatnam. It production technologies and techniques. will be the 18th zone in the country. February 2019

1. 100 years of jallianwala bagh massacre – On April Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, inaugurated the 13, 2019 nation commemorates the 100th anniversary North Karnataka Agromet Forecasting and Research of the massacre of hundreds of innocent Indians by Centre (NKAFC), India’s first agromet forecast centre, British forces at the Jallianwala Bagh. at University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Note: On April 13, 1919, at Jallianwala Bagh, the Dharwad, Karnataka. British armed forces under the command of General 8. Indus River dolphin declared as state aquatic animal Dyer opened 1,650 rounds of fire at the people of Punjab. gathered for a peaceful protest, killing hundreds of Note: men, women and children trapped inside the garden • In Punjab, the Indus River Dolphins are found 2. Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram celebrate mainly in the Sutlej and Beas rivers. Statehood Day – The North-Eastern States of • Already, Punjab has Black Buck as its state Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram celebrate Statehood animal, and Baaj, also known as northern Day celebrated statehood day on February 20. goshawk (accipiter gentilis), as the official Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the 32nd state bird and 47th Statehood Day respectively. 9. Shehri Samridhi Utsav launched across the country. It 3. Tamil Nadu became the first state in the country to get is an initiative of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs a second Coast Guard district headquarters – (MoHUA). Thoothukudi. The first district headquarters is 10. Himachal’s first mega food park inaugurated in Chennai. Una - The Union Minister of Food Processing 4. Bihar has become the first state to deploy specially- Harsimrat Kaur Badal has inaugurated the mega food trained dogs to check smuggling of liquor which park at Village Singha in Una District, Himachal continues to take place inspite of the total ban imposed Pradesh. in the state for the last 3 years. 11. Meghalaya Govt. to rename Dikkibandi stadium 5. First Mega Food Park of Tripura inaugurated in after P A Sangma - The Meghalaya state Cabinet Agartala – Tripura’s first mega food park named presided over by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has Sikaria Mega Food Park Pvt Ltd at Village Tulakona in decided to rename the Dikkibandi Stadium in Tura Agartala. town after P. A. Sangma (former Lok Sabha Speaker & 6. India’s first district Cooling System to be built in CM Meghalaya). Amravati – India’s First District cooling system will • The Dikkibandi Stadium was formerly known come up in Amravati, capital of the Andhra Pradesh. as MP stadium. • The government of Andhra Pradesh has 12. Rajasthan passes 5% quota bill for Gujjars, four entered into a 30-year concession with UAE- other communities – Rajasthan government has based international cooling provider, The passed a Backward Classes, Amendment Bill, 2019 to agreement between the National Central provide 5% quota in jobs and educational institutions Cooling Company (Tabreed) for the District to ‘Gurjars’ and four other communities. Cooling System at Amaravati. • The state government has also decided to 7. India’s first Agromet Forecast Centre inaugurated increase the ceiling of creamy layer from Rs. in Karnataka – Union Minister for Science & 2.5 lacks to Rs. 8 lacks. Technology, Earth Sciences, Environment, Forest and

69 www.gradeup.co 13. The Telangana government has declared 2nd February would be established at Manethi village in Haryana’s as 'appointing day' for the newly elected Sarpanches of Rewari district. the Gram Panchayats in the state. 23. J&K Govt. grants divisional status to Ladakh Region 14. Kerala has become the first Indian State to set up a – The Jammu and Kashmir government ordered the Price Monitoring and Research Unit (PMRU) to track creation of a separate administrative division for violation of prices of essential drugs and medical Ladakh region. devices under the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO). Note: 15. Himalayan Cloud Observatory has been set up in • The State of Jammu and Kashmir had two Tehri district, Uttarakhand – The Observatory has administrative divisions of Jammu and been established in the SRT campus Badshahithaul and Kashmir earlier. Ladakh would be the third is currently in the testing period. administrative division 16. The 33rd edition of the Surajkund International 24. Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation Crafts Mela (33rd) inaugurated at Faridabad the 1.33 million metric ton capacity Visakhapatnam (Haryana). Strategic Petroleum Reserve facility at Guntur in • This year Maharashtra is the theme state and Andhra Pradesh. Thailand is the Partner Nation. 25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a dedicated • 24×7 Satellite channel, ‘DD Arunprabha’ for 17. Bharat Rang Mahotsav’ held in New Delhi. It is the Arunachal Pradesh. international theatre festival of India, Organized by 26. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Film and National School of Drama (NSD). Television Institute in Jote, for Arunachal Pradesh - 18. India’s largest multi-cultural street festival ‘Kala Ghoda The permanent campus of Film and Television Arts Festival’(KGAF) was held in South Mumbai, Institute would be established at Jollang-Rakap (Jote), Maharashtra. Papum Pare, Arunachal Pradesh. • The theme of KGAF 2019 is retrospection. • It would be the third Film and Television 19. Arunachal Pradesh tribes celebrated Boori Boot Yollo Institute of Ministry of I&B (the other two are: festival - The Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh is FTII Pune and SRFTI Kolkata) and first in the celebrated its Boori Boot Yollo festival (52nd) to North-East. welcome spring and a successful harvest. 27. PM Narendra Modi lays the foundation for Sela • Boori Boot Yollo is observed every year in the Tunnel – month of February. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the 20. Krishi Kumbh was organised in Motihari, Bihar. This is foundation stone for the strategically the largest Krishi Kumbh of Eastern India. important Sela Tunnel Project (costing - Rs 21. Kerala has become the first State to set up a Price 687 crore) in Arunachal Pradesh. Monitoring and Research Unit (PMRU) to track 28. Sarthi Sandesh Vahini flagged off by Uttar Pradesh violation of prices of essential drugs and medical Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath - The Uttar Pradesh devices under the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO). state family welfare department has initiated the 22. The 22nd AIIMS will set up in Haryana. During the Sarthi Sandesh Vahini mission to spread awareness Interim Budget 2019, Piyush Goyal made the regarding family planning in urban and rural areas. announcement to set up AIIMS in Haryana. The AIIMS

January 2019

1. Andaman to be First Island to operate Seaplanes longest single-lane steel cable suspension bridge over Under UDAN-3 – According to the Ministry of Civil Siang River in Upper Siang district of Arunachal Aviation, islands in Andaman will soon be connected Pradesh. The bridge is 300-metre-long and is also by seaplanes that can land on or take-off from the known as byorung bridge. water under the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) About river Siang scheme. • The Siang River is considered as lifeline of 2. India’s longest single lane Steel Cable bridge Arunachal Pradesh. The river is also called as opened in Arunachal Pradesh - The Chief Minister of Dihang in the plain regions. Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu inaugurated India’s

70 www.gradeup.co 3. Arunachal Pradesh’s East Siang District achieves • The promoters of the NRL are Bharat 100% electrification Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Oil India Ltd & • East Siang District (in Arunachal Pradesh) has Government of Assam (GoA). achieved 100% electrification under the Note: Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana- • Numaligarh Refineries receives 'Best Miniratna Saubhagya Scheme. PSU' award - Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) 4. Diffo Bridge in Arunachal Pradesh dedicated to the has been awarded the best Strategic nation - Union Minister of Defence Nirmala Performance (Financial Category) at the sixth Sitharaman inaugurated the 426 mtr long pre-stressed edition of Governance Now PSU Awards. concrete box girder type bridge over Diffo river on 10. The Union Minister for Tourism K J Alphons Roing-Koron-Paya road in Arunachal Pradesh. inaugurated the First Swadesh Darshan “Development • The bridge which has been constructed by the of North East Circuit” in Gangtok. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) 11. World Book Fair held in New Delhi. The theme of this 5. Arunachal Government declares Pakke Hornbill year is ‘Readers with Special Needs’. fest as ‘State Festival’ • The UAE’s third largest emirate Sharjah is the • The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh ‘Pema guest of honour for the New Delhi World Book Khandu’ has declared Pakke Paga Hornbill Fair. Festival (PPHF) as the ‘State Festival’ at Seijosa 12. Women’s wall for Gender Equality in Kerala - in East Kameng district at Arunachal Pradesh. Around 30 lakh women stood shoulder to shoulder to • Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) is only form Vanitha Mathil, “women’s wall” that ran across conservation festival of Arunachal Pradesh. the length of Kerala. The event was organised by the 6. Telangana to set up ‘Save Tiger Protection Force’ - Government of Kerala with the support of several The Telangana government has decided to form a political, religious and social groups. ‘State Tiger Protection Force’ to save the Big Cat 13. Indian Panorama Film Festival was held in New Delhi. population in the State. The 112-member-armed STPF 14. National Health Agency to be restructured as will be headed by an Assistant Conservator of Forests National Health Authority - The Union Cabinet to protect the tiger population in Amarabad and Kawal headed by Prime Minister Modi has approved the Tiger Reserves. restructuring of existing National Health Agency as 7. India’s largest Startup Ecosystem Inaugurated in National Health Authority. Kerala - India got its largest startup ecosystem when • The existing society, “National Health Agency” Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated a has been dissolved and it is now restructured 1.8-lakh-square-feet facility housing incubation set-ups as an Authority to effectively the implement across a string of segments in modern technology. Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). 8. PM Dedicates Kollam Bypass in Kerala to Nation - 15. J&K: Nitin Gadkari dedicates to nation Kerrian PM Narendra Modi has dedicated the Kollam Bypass Gandyal bridge in Kathua - Union Minister for Road on the National Highway-66 to the nation. Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on January 22, • It reduces travel time between Alappuzha and 2019 dedicated to the nation Kerrian Gandyal bridge in Thiruvananthapuram. Kathua district of Jammu. • This is the first National Highway project in the • The bridge has been constructed over river country taken up on a 50:50 Centre-State Ravi in Kathua district in a record time of over partnership. three years. 9. Union Cabinet approves expansion of Numaligarh • This will reduce the distance between the two refinery in Assam cities from 45 kms to 8.6 kms, which will save • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on both time and fuel cost. has given its approval for the capacity 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation expansion project of Numaligarh Refinery from stone for the Mandal Dam Project on the North Koel 3 MMTPA (Million Metric Tonne Per Annum) River. The Mandal Dam Project would be boon for the to 9 MMTPA. states of Jharkhand and Bihar. • Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) was set up 17. India’s second Tulip garden to come up in at Numaligarh in the district of Golaghat Uttarakhand - Uttarakhand Government has obtained (Assam) in accordance with the provisions the permission to develop the Tulip garden in made in the historic Assam Accord. Pithoragarh district.

71 www.gradeup.co • It will be the second Tulip garden (first in Note: Pakyong Airport is a Greenfield airport near Srinagar, J&K) in the country. Gangtok, the capital of the state of Sikkim. It is the first 18. Sikkim to Introduce Universal Basic Income - The greenfield airport to be constructed in the ruling party of Sikkim, Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) Northeastern Region of India. has assured the implementation of the universal basic 24. RPF Women Squad ‘JOYMATI BAHINI’ launched in income in Sikkim by 2022. If things go as per plan, Guwahati - In Assam, Railway Protection Force (RPF) Sikkim would become the first state in the country to of Lumding Division has formally launched ‘JOYMATI implement the Universal Basic Income (UBI). BAHINI’, comprising women sub-inspector and Universal Basic Income (UBI) constables of the RPF at Kamkhaya Railway Station in • Universal Basic Income (UBI) refers to a Guwahati. programme wherein the people are provided 25. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation with a fixed amount of money irrespective of stones of 6 Namami Gange projects in Agra and their income, resources or employment status. Mathura. 19. Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has • The projects in Agra include comprehensive announced to ban the production, sale and use of Sewerage Scheme for the city with ‘One-City- single-use plastic products in the Union Territory from One-Operator’ approach on Hybrid Annuity 1st March 2019. Mode. 20. The states of Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya 26. Uttar Pradesh celebrates its 69th foundation day celebrated their 47th Statehood Day on 21st January. on 24th January The states of Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya became 27. Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair full-fledged states on January 21, 1972. declared as an authorized Immigration Check post 21. Cyclone Pabuk - The India Meteorological Department • Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port (IMD) has issued an Orange alert for the Andaman Blair has been declared as an authorized Islands as cyclonic Pabuk moves towards the island. Immigration Check post for entry into/exit 22. Agreement for Renukaji dam multipurpose project from India with valid travel documents for all Signed - The Agreement for the construction of classes of passengers. Renukaji Dam Multi-Purpose Project was signed by six • This decision of the Union Government will states, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, open up the Port Blair Airport for direct Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in the presence of international flight and immigration facilities. Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari. 28. Himachal Pradesh celebrates 49th Statehood Day on The important features of the project are: 25th January. • Renukaji Dam Multi-Purpose Project is a 29. Union Minister Gadkari inaugurates Atal Setu in storage project on the Giri river which is Goa tributary of the Yamuna at Sirmour district of • Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated Himachal. four-lane ‘Atal Setu’ (5.1-kilometer long) the • A 148 m-high rock-filled dam would be third Cable bridge across river Mandovi in constructed across the river Giri. Panaji, Goa. This is the third bridge across Note: Mandovi River. • Along with the Renukaji dam multipurpose 30. Andhra Pradesh No 1 in Ease of Doing Business project other two projects are planned in the 2018 - The Asia competitiveness institute (ACI) has Yamuna river basin, Lakhwar Project on the released the Ease of Doing Business Rankings for River Yamuna in Uttarakhand, Kisau Project on Indian states. the River Tons in Uttarakhand and Himachal Key points for the effective utilisation of the water • In the latest ranking of Asia Competitiveness resource. Institute's (ACI) EDB index, Andhra Pradesh 23. For the first time, Antonov-32 AN-32 transport aircraft bagged the top rank in 2018. of the Indian Air Force carried out a successful landing • Maharashtra and Delhi came in second and at Sikkim’s Pakyong, one of the highest airfields in the third place respectively. country.

72 www.gradeup.co Arts & Culture

1. Kashi Vishwanath Corridor – Prime Minister 10. Bestu Varas - Bestu Varas is celebrated in Gujarat on Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone for the the day after Deepavali. Marwaris in Rajasthan also Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. celebrate their new year during Deepavali. • The project envisions a massive makeover of 11. Vishu - Vishu is the Malayali New Year celebrated in the holy shrine and its surrounding areas. the state of Kerala in the month of April. • This massive makeover is the first after the 12. Losoong - Losoong is the Sikkimese New Year and falls 1780 AD when the Maratha queen Ahilyabai in December at the end of harvesting. It is celebrated Holkar of Indore renovated the temple and the by performing Chham dance. area surrounding it. 13. Navreh - Navreh is the Kashmiri New Year celebrated • The proposed 50-feet corridor will directly in the Hindu month of Chaitra. connect Ganga’s Manikarnika and Lalita Ghat 14. Prayagraj Kumbha Mela 2019 makes it to the to the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga Temple. Guinness World Records – The Prayagraj Kumbh • The total cost of the project is pegged at Rs 600 Mela 2019 has made into Guinness World Records in crore. the following three sectors: • The Kashi Vishwanath temple located on the • Largest traffic and crowd management plan. left bank of the holy river Ganga. • Biggest painting exercise of public sites under 2. Parsis Celebrate Navroz – Navroz is the Iranian New paint my city scheme. Year celebrated by several ethnolinguistic • Biggest sanitation and waste disposal communities around the world irrespective of their mechanism. religious background. Note: • In India Parsis who follow Zoroastrianism • Kumbh Mela, the festival of the sacred pitcher celebrate Navroz. Navroz was celebrated on is the largest public gathering and collective March 21st. act of faith, anywhere in the world. 3. New Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of • This Hindu pilgrimage Kumbh Mela is Archaeology Inaugurated – Prime Minister Narendra celebrated four times over a course of 12 years Modi has inaugurated the new Pandit Deendayal over four locations in India. The site of Kumbh Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology at Greater Noida Mela keeps rotating between one of the four in Uttar Pradesh. pilgrimages on four sacred rivers as listed • On the occasion, he also unveiled the statue of below: Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya at the campus • Haridwar on the Ganges in Uttarakhand and visited the Deendayal Museum in the • Ujjain on the Shipra in Madhya Pradesh Institute campus. • Nashik on the Godavari in Maharashtra 4. Ugadi/Yugadi - Ugadi festival celebrated in Karnataka, • Prayagraj at the confluence of the Ganges, the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati in Uttar 5. Gudi Padwa - Gudi Padwa is celebrated in the state of Pradesh. Maharashtra. • The Kumbh Mela has been inscribed on the list 6. Baisakhi - Baisakhi is the Punjabi New Year celebrated of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” in the month of April by performing their folk dance, by UNESCO in 2017. Bhangra and Gidda and feasting. 15. Ghumot to be declared Goa’s heritage musical 7. Puthandu - Puthandu is the Tamil New Year celebrated instrument – The Art and Culture Minister of Goa, in the month of April by preparing Manga Pachadi a Govind Gaude has announced that Ghumot, an traditional food to ring in their new year. indigenous earthen drum will soon be notified as a 8. Bohag Bihu - Bohag Bihu is the Assamese New year heritage instrument of Goa. celebrated by performing the folk dance Bihu and a • Ghumot is an indigenous earthen drum grand buffet. fashioned as a designed clay pot, with the skin 9. Pohela Boishakh - Pohela Boishakh is the Bengali New of the monitor lizard stretched taut across the Year celebrated with making many sweetmeats. pot’s mouth, forming a drumhead. • Ghumot is a percussion instrument widely played during Ganesh Chaturthi Aarties.

73 www.gradeup.co 16. ‘Festival of India’ Begins in Kathmandu - A month- Zubin Irani laid the foundation stone of a Hastshilp long ‘Festival of India’ began in Kathmandu, Nepal, to Complex in New Delhi. The complex would be named familiarise the new generation of the country about the after Deendayal Upadhyaya as Deen Dayal similarities between the two countries. Antarashtriya Hastshilp Bhawan. 17. Foundation stone laid for Hastshilp complex in New Delhi – The Union Minister for Textiles, Smriti International Affairs

May 2019 1. Iran announces Partial Withdrawal from JCPOA - • It also calls for the government to work Iran announced it will pull out of some commitments towards carbon neutrality before 2050 and for under 2015 international nuclear agreement signed ministers to draft proposals within the next 6 with world powers, called Joint Comprehensive Plan Of months to restore the country’s environment Action (JCPOA). and create a “zero waste economy.” 2. UK Parliament 1st in World to Declare Climate 3. Ireland becomes 2nd country to declare Climate Emergency – The UK parliament became the first Emergency - Ireland has declared a climate national legislative body in the world to declare a emergency in their country, to be the second country climate change emergency. after Britain to do so.

April 2019

1. Vienna named the world's most liveable city – • Tokyo International Airport (Haneda), up one Vienna tops the Mercer’s index of most liveable cities place from 2018 stood at the second place. for the 10th year in a row. • Incheon International Airport, ranked at • Vienna was closely followed by Zurich in number three spot. Switzerland. Auckland, Munich, and Vancouver • Indira Gandhi International Airport of New came in joint third. Delhi stood at rank 59. • The Quality of Living Index 2019 was released • Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by the Consulting Agency Mercer. International Airport stood at 64 Indian Cities in the List • Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport • Hyderabad and Pune topped the list among the stood at 66 Indian cities with a rank of 143. • Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International • Bengaluru was the second best with the Airport at 69 ranking of 149. 3. India to set up agriculture institute in Malawi – The • Mumbai with the ranking of 154 stood third Ministry of External Affairs has signed an MoU with among Indian cities. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development • The capital of India, New Delhi ranked at 162 Consultancy Service (NABCONS) for setting up India- in Mercer’s Quality Of Living Index. Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development 2. Skytrax World Airport Awards 2019 – Skytrax (IAIARD) in Malawi. World Airport Awards which lists the Best 100 4. Global Cooling Coalition – The Global Cooling Airports of the World was released by the UK-based Coalition was launched at the first Global Conference Skytrax, a consultancy firm which runs an airline and on Synergies between the 2030 Agenda and Paris airport review and ranking site. Agreement held at Copenhagen, Denmark. Key points • The Global Cooling Coalition is supported by • Singapore’s Changi Airport has been the UN, Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the crowned the world’s best aviation hub for the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program and seventh time in a row. Singapore Changi Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). Airport is well known for its rooftop swimming 5. World Immunization Week 2019 - World pool, two 24-hour movie theatres and Immunization Week 2019 is being observed from 24- shopping spots. 30 April with the theme Protected Together: Vaccines

74 www.gradeup.co Work. World Immunisation Week 2019 celebrates 11. Beirut, Lebanon sets a New Guinness World Record Vaccine Heroes from around the world from parents – Lebanon’s capital Beirut has set a new Guinness and community members to health workers and World Record for most number of national flags innovators who help ensure we are all protected, at all displayed in one city for 24 hours. ages, through the power of vaccines. 12. Lose to Win Programme – The government of UAE 6. Indonesia releases Special Stamp on Theme of has launched the Lose to Win Programme to assist the Ramayana – Indonesia has released a special overweight employees in shedding extra kilos and commemorative stamp on the theme of Ramayana to adopt a healthy lifestyle. mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of its diplomatic ties with India. 13. Pakistan Approves Plan to Open Sharda Peeth Corridor – Pakistan government has approved a 7. US declares Iran Force as Foreign Terrorist proposal to establish a corridor which would allow Organisation – The US designated Iran’s Hindu pilgrims from India to visit Sharda Peeth in the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a foreign terrorist region of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). organisation. • Sharda Peeth Corridor will be the second • It is the first time that the US has designated an corridor to be established after the Kartarpur entity of another government as a terrorist Corridor which provides access to Gurudwara organization, placing a group with vast Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Pakistan. economic resources that answer only to Iran’s 14. Iran, Pakistan to Set up Border ‘Reaction Force’ – supreme leader in the same category as al- Iran and Pakistan have agreed to set up a joint border Qaida and the Islamic State. “reaction force” to combat the attacks by militant 8. US Withdraws from UN Arms Trade Treaty – US groups on both sides their frontier. Both the nations President Donald Trump stated that his administration have decided to collaborate to form the joint quick is withdrawing the U.S. signature from the U.N. Arms reaction force by increasing cooperation between Trade Treaty, in response to concerns from gun rights border forces and intelligence agencies. activists that it could impinge on Americans’ right to 15. World’s 1st Malaria Vaccine launched in Africa – bear arms. The world’s first-ever malaria vaccine was launched in • Former US President Barack Obama signed the a pilot project in Africa’s Malawi. The country is the treaty in 2013 and sent the treaty to the Senate first of three in Africa in which the vaccine, known as for ratification. RTS,S, will be made available to children up to 2 years 9. Qatar to abolish Exit Visa system by 2019 – UN’s of age. International Labour Organization (ILO) announced • Ghana and Kenya will introduce the vaccine that Qatar will officially abolish its Exit Visa system for soon. About 93% of the world’s malaria- all foreign workers by the end of 2019. related deaths in 2017 occurred in Africa. • Amnesty International (human rights group) 16. Russia Successfully Tests World’s First Floating report accused that Qatar, which will be Nuclear Power Plant – Russia has successfully tested hosting 2022 World Cup was failing to the world’s first floating nuclear power plant (NPP), implement reforms and stop widespread Akademik Lomonosov, a subsidiary of Rosatom labour abuse. nuclear corporation stated. • As a result Qatar revived its pledge to reform • Reactors of the floating atomic block were labour section, and introduced a minimum launched in November 2018. monthly minimum of 750 riyals ($206) and 17. Google company has announced to shut down its also agreed to work closely with ILO. Google + service – Google is to shut down, its Google 10. Sri Lankan President bans On Face-Covering in Plus platform, which had originally conceived as Public – Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena asocial networking option different from Facebook and used his emergency powers to issue an order to ban Twitter. burqa, veil or covering of face in public places in any • Google has revealed that the consumer version manner which prevents anyone from being identified. of the service will shut down on April 2, 2019. • It is placed to ensure national security, • The company decided to shut down the service establish peaceful and cohesive society and not after the discovery of a privacy bug which aimed at inconvenience to any community impacted 52.5 million users. people.

75 www.gradeup.co 18. Google’s Wing launches its 1st drone delivery implement a 24-hour, seven day a week Ultra Low Service in Australia – Wing, the drone delivery Emission Zone (ULEZ), inside which vehicles will have company owned by Google’s parent company to meet tough emissions standards or face a charge. Alphabet, is launch its first public drone delivery • Introduction of the ULEZ aims to reduce toxic service in Canberra, Australia air pollution and protect public health. • Alphabet made its first delivery in Canberra 20. India is Guest of Honour country at ADIBF 2019 – after getting approval from the country’s civil The UAE has announced that India is the Guest of aviation authority. Honour country at the Abu Dhabi International Book 19. London becomes 1st city to use pollution charge Fair, ADIBF 2019. Zone - London is the first city in the world to

March 2019 1. Saudi Arabia replaces India as world’s largest arms • Bolivia Capital: Sucre, Currency: boliviano. importer - According to the premier Stockholm • Chile Capital: Santiago, Currency: peso. International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Saudi 5. World’s first Wireless Electric Car charging station Arabia has replaced India to become the largest introduced by Norway – Oslo, the capital city of importer of arms in the world. Norway will become the world’s first city to install • In its report on ‘Trends in International Arms wireless, induction-based charging stations for its fleet Transfers 2018’ released, the institute of electric taxis with an aim to have a zero-emission identified Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Australia cab system by the year 2023 according to a report by and Algeria as the five top arms importing Reuters. countries. • Norway wants all new cars to be zero emission • Five top arms exporting nations - United by 2025 whereas other nations, like Britain States, Russia, France, Germany and China. and France, have similar goals for 2040. • The US, Russia, France, Germany and China 6. New Zealand bans Assault Weapons – Prime together accounted for 75 per cent of the total Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern has imposed volume of arms exports in 2014–18. an immediate ban on assault weapons following the 2. UK Issues New Black Hole Coin in Honour of Christchurch massacre that claimed the lives of 50 Stephen Hawking – The United Kingdom has mosque-goers. commemorated professor Stephen Hawking in a new 7. World’s Largest e-waste R=recycling hub opened at 50p coin. The coin has references to the late physicist’s the Dubai Industrial Park – The world’s largest e- pioneering work on black holes. waste recycling plant has been opened in Dubai • The coin was designed by British engraver and Industrial Park, Dubai by ‘Enviroserve’ company with a printmaker Edwina Ellis. total cost of $5 million. • The Black Hole coin is a tribute to Hawking’s • It will recycle Waste Electrical and Electronic research into black holes and his ability to Equipment (WEEE), IT asset disposition make science accessible for all. (ITAD), refrigerant gas and specialized waste. 3. Oman signs agreement allowing United States 8. In a 1st, UN Council passes resolution to Combat Military to Use its Ports – Oman has signed an terrorist financing – The UN Security Council has agreement with the United States of America that allow unanimously passed the first-ever resolution ordering American ships and warplanes to take advantage of his members to enforce laws against terror financing. ports and airports. • UNSC resolution demands all states “ensure • The framework agreement is aimed at that their domestic laws and regulations bolstering Omani-American military relations. establish serious criminal offenses” to collect 4. President Kovind visit Croatia, Bolivia & Chile – funds or financial resources to terrorist groups President Ram Nath Kovind embarked on a state visit or individual criminals. to Croatia, Bolivia and Chile to hold talks with the 9. Japan unveils name of its new Imperial Era ‘Reiwa’ leaders of these countries and strengthen ties in trade, – Japan has announced that the name of its new investment and renewable energy. imperial era, set to begin on 1 May, will be ‘Reiwa’, • Croatia Capital: Zagreb, Currency: kuna. signifying order and harmony. The country’s current era, Heisei, will end in April.

76 www.gradeup.co 10. Kylie Jenner becomes world’s youngest self-made • Cyclone Idai has affected more than 1.5 million billionaire – According to Forbes billionaires' list, people in the three southern African countries, Kylie Jenner has become the world's youngest self- according to the UN and government officials. made billionaire. 13. Vice President’s visit to Paraguay & Costa Rica – • The 21-year-old founded and owns Kylie The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu visited Cosmetics, the three-year-old beauty business the Republic of Paraguay and the Republic of Costa that generated an estimated $360m in sales Rica. last year. • This was the first high-level visit from India to • She reached the milestone earlier than both these countries. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg who • The Vice President was also conferred an became a billionaire aged 23. Honorary Doctorate by the University for 11. Malaysia joins International Criminal Court – Peace founded by the United Nations. Malaysia has become a member of the International • Paraguay Capital: Asunción, Currency: guaraní. Criminal Court. • Costa Rica Capital: San José, Currency: colón. • The ICC is the world’s only permanent war 14. Kazakhstan renames its Capital Astana to crimes court and aims to prosecute the worst Nursultan – Kazakhstan has renamed its capital abuses when national courts are unable or Astana to Nursultan to honor outgoing leader unwilling. Nursultan Nazarbayev. • Malaysia becomes the 124th member of the • Mr. Nazarbayev, 78, served nearly 30 years as court since its establishment in 2002. president of the nation. 12. Cyclone Idai Hits Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe • The change was announced after Kassym- – Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi have been hit by Jomart Tokayev was sworn in as president, a vicious cyclone ‘IDAI’ that has killed nearly 150 promising to seek his predecessor’s opinion on people. key decisions.

February 2019

1. Kelly Knight Craft is the new US ambassador to the decided to continue the ‘Grey’ listing of Pakistan for its UN – US President Donald Trump has announced the failure to stop funding of terrorist groups such as Jaish- nomination of Kelly Knight Craft as the new US e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamat-ud-Dawa. ambassador to the UN. • Grey list will endanger Pakistan’s handful of • The post of the US ambassador to the UN was remaining banking links to the outside world. vacant due to the resignation of Nikki Haley. This would cause real financial pain to the 2. Afghanistan launches New Export Route to India fragile economy of Pakistan. through Chabahar Port – Afghanistan has launched a About FATF - new export route to India through the through the • The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an Chabahar Port of Iran. inter-governmental body established in 1989 • Chabahar port is seen as a testimony of healthy by the Member of G7. cooperation between India, Iran and • The FATF has developed a series of Afghanistan this will ensure economic growth. Recommendations that are recognised as the 3. IOC Suspends India from Hosting Global Sporting international standard for combating of money Events – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) laundering and the financing of terrorism and has suspended all discussions with India regarding proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. hosting of global sporting events in the backdrop of • Group of 7 (G7) is a group consisting of denial of visas to the two Pakistani Shooters. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the • The Pakistani shooters were supposed to United Kingdom, and the United States. participate in the 25m rapid fire pistol event in 5. State of Emergency declared in Sudan – Sudanese the ISSF World Cup. President Omar al-Bashir has declared a year-long 4. FATF keeps Pakistan in Grey List for Failing to Stop state of emergency, dissolving his cabinet and local Terror Financing – The Financial Action Task Force governments throughout the country. (FATF) condemning the Pulwama Terror Attack has

77 www.gradeup.co 6. Zimbabwe starts trading New Currency RTGS international customer numbers for the fifth dollar – Zimbabwe started to trade its new currency, consecutive year. the RTGS dollar. 11. The International Year of the Periodic Table – The • The bank unveiled a foreign exchange trading United Nations has announced, 2019 as the system that effectively devalued its quasi- International Year of the Periodic Table of the currency, the bond note, which was officially Chemical Elements to highlight its first publication in pegged at parity with the US dollar. 1869. • The new currency replaces electronic bank 12. Women with four children to get life tax exemption savings called digital dollars and the bond in Hungary - According to Hungarian Prime Minister notes and was named after the real-time gross Viktor Orban, women in the country with four children settlement system that banks use to transfer or more will be exempted for life from paying income money between each other. tax. 7. J P Morgan became first US Bank with 13. The government of Thailand has approved the Cryptocurrency – JP Morgan rolled out the first US proposal to name Siamese fighting fish as the bank cryptocurrency. National Aquatic Animal. • The currency is designed to be decentralized 14. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim (58-years) step so that no one has control over transactions down from his position on 1st February 2019, much being sent over the network. before the end of his term in 2022. • Cryptocurrencies are used successfully to • Kristalina Georgieva (World Bank CEO) move money between the bank and a client assume the role of interim President (from 1st which usually runs on a blockchain technology. of Feb 2019). • The cryptocurrency, called “JPM Coin”. 15. Macedonia signs accord to join NATO - Macedonia 8. The first-ever World Pulses Day was celebrated on signed an accord to join NATO to become the 30th 10th February 2019. member of the US-led alliance. 9. Abu Dhabi declared Hindi as an official language in Note: courts – Abu Dhabi (capital of the United Arab • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is Emirates) declared Hindi as the third official language an international alliance that consists of 29- (Arabic and English) in its courts to make the justice member states from North America and delivery system simple. Europe. 10. Dubai Airport retains the top position as World’s • It was established at the signing of the North busiest airport in 2018 – Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949. • Dubai International Airport (DXB) retained its • NATO headquarter is in Brussels, Belgium. position as the world’s busiest airport for

January 2019 1. Qatar withdraw its membership from OPEC • The headquarter of OPEC is in Vienna, • Qatar had decided to withdraw its Austria. membership from Organisation of the 2. US and Israel quit UNESCO citing bias Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) • The United States (US) and Israel officially quit effective from January 2019. the United Nations Educational, Scientific and • Qatar left OPEC on 1 January 2019, after Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the close joining the organization in 1961, to focus on of 2018. natural gas production, of which it is the Note: world's largest exporter in the form of liquified • UNESCO headquarter is in Paris, France. natural gas (LNG). 3. Five nations assume charge as Non-Permanent Note: Members of UN Security Council • As of January 2019, now OPEC has 14- • Five nations (Belgium, Dominican Republic, member countries: Algeria, Angola, Congo, Germany, Indonesia and South Africa) Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, assumed the charge as the Non-Permanent Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Members of the United Nations Security UAE and Venezuela. Council (UNSC).

78 www.gradeup.co 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 5. Macedonia renamed as ‘The Republic of Northern group from Egypt for 2019. Macedonia’ - The Parliament of Macedonia has passed 12. Italy, UN, launch Africa Centre for Climate and the resolution to amend the constitution of the country Sustainable Development - Italian Prime Minister to rename as the ‘Republic of Northern Macedonia’. Giuseppe Conte along with UN representative has • North Macedonia Capital: Skopje, Currency: launched Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Denar development. 6. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa took oath as the 26th Chief • The new centre is located near the Food and Justice of Pakistan. Agriculture Organization headquarters in 7. Rio de Janeiro will be World Capital of Architecture Rome. for 2020: UNESCO • The major objective is boosting the • According to UNESCO (United Nations agricultural sectors and promoting rural Educational, Scientific, and Cultural development in Africa. Organization), the Brazilian city of Rio de • It will help in implementing the goals of the Janeiro will be the World Capital of UN’s 2030 Agenda and the landmark 2015 Architecture for 2020. Paris Climate Agreement to stop depending on • The city will host the World Congress of UIA, in fossil fuel and cap global warming. July 2020, an event that occurs every three 13. China is the largest producer of crude steel - World years. Steel Association Report 8. Venezuela breaks all diplomatic ties with the US - • China is the largest producer of crude steel and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that it accounts for more than 51 per cent of global the country has cut off diplomatic relations with the production. United States. • India has replaced Japan as the world’s second- • The capital of Venezuela is Caracas and the largest steel producing country. currency is Venezuelan bolívar. • United States, at the 4th position, South Korea 9. Sugarcane juice declared as ‘national drink’ of is at 5th place), Russia is a 6th place. Pakistan. 14. The United Nations observed the first official World 10. France introduced GAFA Tax on Global Internet, Braille Day on 4th January to create awareness about Technology Firm - The finance minister of France the importance of Braille for approximately 1.3 billion Bruno Le Maire announced that France will introduce people living with some form of distance or near vision its own tax on large internet and technology impairment. companies from January 1.

Sports

May 2019

1. 12th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 – • Earlier, Mumbai won the IPL title in 2013, Mumbai beat Chennai by 1 run to win the 4th IPL title 2015, 2017 • Mumbai Indian Captain – Rohit Sharma Cap holders • Man of the Match - Jasprit Bumrah • Orange Cap: David Warner (SRH) - 692 runs

79 www.gradeup.co • Purple Cap: Imran Tahir (CSK) - 26 wickets • The logo of brand Amul will appear on the • MVP: Andre Russell (KKR) - 510 runs and 11 leading arm of the Afghanistan team playing wickets jerseys as well as on the training kits Other awards throughout the showpiece event. • Subhman Gill (KKR): Emerging player of the 3. Indian shooting ace Apurvi Chandela has been ranked year the world number one in the women’s 10 metres air • Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Playing in right rifle event. spirit award 4. Asian Youth Women Handball Championship - • Hardik Pandya (MI): Fastest fifty of the season Jaipur will host the 8th Asian Youth Women Handball (50 runs in 17 balls) Championship in August 2019. • Andre Russell (KKR): Super striker of the Note: The previous edition in 2017 was held at Jakarta season in Indonesia. • KL Rahul (KXIP) : Stylish player of the season 5. Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez has • Rahul Chahar (MI): Gamechanger of the season announced that he will retire from professional 2. Amul to sponsor Afghanistan in 2019 World Cup - football at the end of the current season. Amul has been announced as the principal sponsor of 6. Sri Lanka’s former captain Kumar Sangakkara will the Afghanistan cricket team for the upcoming World become first Non-British president of Marylebone Cup, slated to be held in England and Wales from May Cricket Club (MCC). 30. April 2019

1. Azlan Shah Hockey Cup 2019 - South Korea defeated 10. Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 - Lewis Hamilton India in the final of Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2019. 11. Sam Curran Claims First Hat-Trick Of IPL 2019 – • The final match was held at Azlan Shah Sam Curran bagged the first hat-trick of Indian Premier Stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia. League (IPL) 2019 during Kings XI Punjab's clash 2. Santosh Trophy 2019 - Services' has won the 73rd against Delhi Capitals. edition of premier domestic football tournament • The English all-rounder bagged the wickets of ‘Santosh Trophy’ by defeating Punjab 1-0 in the final at Harshal Patel in the final delivery of the 18th Ludhiana, Punjab. over which was followed by two unplayable Note: The trophy is named after the late Maharaja Sir yorkers to get rid of Kagiso Rabada and Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhary of Santosh (now in Sandeep Lamichhane respectively. Bangladesh). 12. Saurav Ghosal became the first Indian male squash 3. Barcelona Open 2019 - Dominic Thiem (Austria) won player to enter the top 10 in latest Professional Squash the Barcelona Open 2019 after defeating Daniil Association (PSA) world rankings. Medvedev (Russia). 13. Chief Coach of India Men’s Hockey Team - Graham 4. Miami Open 2019 – Reid (Australian) • Men’s Singles – Roger Federer (Switzerland) 14. India Open 2019 (Badminton) defeated John Isner (United States) • Men’s Singles - Viktor • Women’s Singles - Ashleigh Barty (Australia) Axelsen(Denmark)defeated Srikanth Kidambi defeated Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) (India) 7. First Indian to be elected as a member of FIFA • Women’s Singles - Ratchanok Executive Council - Praful Patel, president of All India Intanon(Thailand) defeated He Bingjiao Football Federation (AIFF), has become the first Indian (China) to be elected as a member of FIFA Executive Council. 15. Boxing World Cup 2019 - India bagged a Gold and 8. First Female Umpire in Men’s ODI - Australia’s two Silver medals at the Boxing World Cup at Cologne Claire Polosak will become the first female umpire to in Germany. officiate in a men’s one-day international at the ICC • Meena Kumari Maisnam (from Manipur) World Cricket League Division claimed the Gold medal in the 54 kg category. 9. Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 - Mercedes’ driver 16. Shuttler Harsheel Dani clinched dutch Valtteri Bottas beat his English teammate Lewis International Badminton title - Former junior Hamilton national champion Harsheel Dani defeated Mads

80 www.gradeup.co Christophersen of Denmark to clinch the Dutch • Japan was third with 5 Gold, 4 Silver, and 9 International badminton title in The Hague, Bronze. Netherlands. 25. Pankaj Advani wins Asian Snooker Tour title 17. Lewis Hamilton wins Formula One’s 1,000th Race 26. Stuttgart’s Porsche Grand Prix 2019 - Tennis player 18. Chinese Grand Prix - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) won Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Anett Kontaveit the Chinese Grand Prix for a record sixth time. (Estonia) to win Stuttgart’s Porsche Grand Prix for her 19. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has signed an second title of the year. MoU with Serbian Tennis Federation (STF) to train 27. Asian Wrestling Championship 2019 – Iran topped Indian junior players under world-renowned Serbian the medal tally coaches. Note: 20. Paris Marathon - Ethiopian athletes Gelete Burka • Iran topped the medal tally with – 11 Gold, (women’s race) and Abrha Milaw (men’s race) won the 0 Sliver, 6 Bronze 43rd edition of the Paris Marathon. • China on second spot – 5 Gold, 5 Silver, 6 21. Tiger Woods wins 2019 Masters to claim 15th Bronze Major in Golf - Famous Golfer Tiger Woods completed • Japan on third spot – 4 Gold, 7 Silver, 6 one of the sport’s great all-time comebacks to end an Bronze 11-year major title drought at the Masters by claiming • India on 8th spot – 1 Gold, 6 Silver, 9 Bronze a fifth Green Jacket. 28. All India Football Federation (AIFF) recommended 22. Bajrang regains top Spot in World Wrestling rankings - names of National team footballers Gurpreet Singh Bajrang Punia has regained the world number one Sandhu and Jeje Lalpekhlua for the prestigious Arjuna spot in the men’s 65-kilogram freestyle category Award 2019. rankings. 29. Cricketer Mithali Raj has been named as the goodwill 23. Fabio Fognini became the first Italian to win an ATP ambassador of the Indian team for the Street Child Masters 1000 title at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. Cricket World Cup. He defeated Dusan Lajovic (Serbia) 30. Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year for 2018 – 24. Asian Athletics Championships 2019 held at Doha • The Wisden has named Virat Kohli as the in Qatar - India ended at the fourth spot in the medals Leading Cricketer of the Year for 2018. tally with 3 Gold, 7 Silver and 7 Bronze. • Indian player Smriti Mandhana bagged the • Bahrain topped the table with 11 Gold, 7 Silver Women’s Leading Cricketer of the Year. and 4 Bronze. • Rashid Khan of Afghanistan bagged the • China was second with 9 Gold, 13 Silver, and 7 Leading T20 Cricketer of the Year. Bronze.

March 2019

1. Suresh Raina 1st Cricketer to score 5,000 Runs in • Indian youth team finish second in the overall IPL – Chennai Super Kings’ Suresh Raina has become medals tally with a total of 26 medals including the first ever cricketer to reach 5,000 runs in Indian 8 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze medals. Premier League. • China topped the overall medals tally with 31 • The 32-year-old left-handed batsman achieved medals that included 12 gold, 11 silver and the feat after scoring 15 runs in the IPL 2019 eight bronze medals and opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Japan finished third with 20 medals that 2. SAFF Women’s Championship – India defeated Nepal included 6 Gold, 8 Silver and 6 bronze. in the final by 3-1 in Biratnagar, Nepal. 4. Indian Super League (football) title - Bengaluru FC • India has lifted South Asian Football clinched their maiden title after beating FC Goa, in the Federation SAFF Women’s Championship fifth final. time in a row. 5. Australian F1 Grand Prix 2019 - Mercedes’ Valtteri • India has clinched all five editions of SAFF Bottas championship. 6. U-17 Women’s Football World Cup in 2020 - India 3. Asian Youth Championship 2019 held in Hong Kong - will host the Under-17 Women’s Football World Cup in India finishes 2nd, China Tops 2020. Note: Note:

81 www.gradeup.co • This will be the second FIFA tournament India 9. Chris Gayle becomes first player to smash 500 will be hosting, after the U-17 Men’s World Sixes in International Cricket - West Indies opener Cup in 2017. Chris Gayle has become the first batsman ever to • England won the U-17 World Cup for the first smash 500 or more sixes in international cricket. time after beating Spain 5–2 in the final. 10. Makran Cup - National Boxing champion Deepak 7. Special Olympics World Games 2019 – UAE Singh (49kg) was the only Indian boxer to notch up the Note: gold medal in the Makran Cup held in Chabahar, Iran. • Special Olympics World Games 2019 which 11. Roger Federer claims 100th ATP title of his career - was held from March 14 to March 21 in the Roger Federer has claimed the 100th ATP title of his UAE has made history by welcoming a record- career after beating 20-year-old Greek Stefanos breaking 200 nations ahead of the Games. Tsitsipas in the final of the Dubai Tennis • The next Special Olympic Games are set to take Championships. place in Sweden in 2021. 12. The Supreme Court appointed senior advocate PS • India won total 368 medals (85 gold, 154 Narasimha as a mediator for resolving various disputes Silver, and 129 Bronze) at the Special Olympics related to cricket administration within the cricket World Summer Games, held at Abu Dhabi, UAE. body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 8. South African all-rounder JP Duminy announced that 13. Cricket to be re-introduced in Asian Games - The he would retire from ODIs after the ICC World Cup in Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has decided to England. reintroduce Cricket in the 2022 Asian Games to be held at Hangzhou, China.

February 2019

1. Afghanistan scores highest ever T20 International 7. Cannes International Open Trophy - Indian score - Afghanistan scored 278 for the loss of three Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta lifted the Cannes wickets from their allotted 20 overs, to register the International Open trophy. highest-ever total in T20s at the Rajiv Gandhi 8. Sri Lanka cricket team became the first Asian side to International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun, win a Test series in South Africa after winning the Uttarakhand against Ireland. series by 2-0. Note: They toppled Australia’s record score of 263/3 Note: which they achieved back in 2016 against Sri Lanka. • Before Sri Lanka, only Australia and England 2. Irani Cup title 2018-19 - Vidarbha beat Rest of India have defeated South Africa in a Test series at to retain 2018–19 Irani Cup title in Nagpur. home. Note: Vidarbha has now become the third team after 9. Ranji Trophy – Vidarbha defeated Saurashtra by 78 Mumbai and Karnataka to clinch two Irani Cup titles in runs in the final. a row. Note: 3. West Indian batsman Chris Gayle has announced that • The defending champions Vidarbha won he will retire from One-day Internationals after the the 85th Ranji Trophy title. forthcoming World Cup. • Aditya Sarwate of was Vidarbha was 4. ‘Clouded Leopard’ to be Mascot for National Games declared man of the match. 2022 - The Sports and Youth Ministry in the meeting • Vidarbha became the sixth team to of Executive Committee of the National Games 2022 successfully defend their title. has chosen the Smiling Clouded Leopard to be the • Mumbai (Bombay) have won the Mascot for the National Games 2022. tournament the most number of times Note: Meghalaya will host the 2022 National Games, with 41 wins. which is coinciding with its 50 years of statehood. • Ranji Trophy is named after Ranjitsinhji 5. Qatar Open title - Elise Merten, world number 21 Vibhaji Jadeja, who was famously referred from Belgium beat world number 3, Simona Halep to to as ‘Ranji’. win the Qatar Open held in Doha, Qatar. 10. India's Rohit Sharma becomes highest run-scorer 6. Malaysia’s Nicol David most successful squash in T20 cricket – India's Rohit Sharma (31-year) has players of all time announced the retirement become the highest run scorer in the Twenty20

82 www.gradeup.co International history while playing against New • She is also the highest run-scorer in ODIs Zealand in Auckland. with 6622 runs at an average of 51.33, • Rohit Sharma (India) scored 2288 runs in including 7 hundred. 92 matches. 14. Ricky Ponting appointed as Assistant Coach of • He also became first Indian and the third Australia for 2019 World Cup. The main coach for the overall player to smash 100 sixes in T20 Australian Cricket team is Justin Langer. cricket. 15. The 83rd edition of Senior National Badminton 11. Smriti Mandhana becomes World No.1 Women’s Championships has begun in Guwahati. ODI batter - Indian women’s cricket team opener 16. Jamie Chadwick from England made history by Smriti Mandhana has become the top-ranked batter in becoming the first female driver to win the MRF women’s ODI cricket, as per the latest rankings challenge title after scoring a triple win in the final released by the ICC. round in Chennai. 12. Smriti Mandhana Scores India’s fastest-ever T20I 17. France’s Corentin Moutet has clinched the Chennai Fifty - Indian opener Smriti Mandhana hammered the Open ATP Challenger tournament title after beating fastest fifty for India in Women’s T20Is in just 24 balls Andrew Harris of Australia in the singles final. against New Zealand. 18. Golfer Vani Kapoor has become the first Indian to grab 13. Mithali Raj became First Woman to play 200 ODIs - Australian Ladies PGA Tour (LPGA). India captain Mithali Raj has become the first woman 19. South Korean Footballer Ki Sung-yueng Announces cricketer to play 200 ODIs. retirement. 20. The INS Dronacharya team won the Regatta trophy in the Kochi Area Pulling Regatta 2019 of the Southern Naval Command (SNC) held in the Ernakulam Channel.

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

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

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

84 www.gradeup.co newest team event in men’s tennis for the multi- • He took a total of 78 wickets in the million dollar ATP Cup from 2020. calendar year. 23. Khelo India Youth Games 2019 – The second edition 27. Smriti Mandhana named ICC Women’s Cricketer of of the Khelo India Youth Games was held from 09 Jan – the Year 20 Jan 2019 in Pune, Maharashtra. • India’s opener Smriti Mandhana has been Note: named as the International Cricket Council • Maharashtra tops medal tally with 228 (ICC) Women’s Cricketer of the Year. medals. • She also named as the ICC Women’s ODI • Haryana stood on the second spot and Player of the Year. Delhi is on the third spot. 28. ICC Awards 2018 – The list of Awards is as follows: • The first edition of the Khelo India Youth • Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Games 2018 was held at New Delhi. Cricketer of the Year: Virat Kohli State Gold Silver Bronze Total • ICC Men’s Test Player of the Year: Virat Kohli 1.Maharashtra 85 62 81 228 • ICC ODI Player of the Year: Virat Kohli 2. Haryana 62 56 60 178 • ICC Emerging Player of the Year: Rishabh Pant 3. Delhi 48 37 51 136 • ICC Associate Player of the Year: Calum MacLeod • T20I Performance of the Year: Aaron Finch 24. Hopman Cup: Roger Federer & Belinda Bencic • ICC Spirit of Cricket award: Williamson retain title for Switzerland • Umpire of the Year: Kumar Dharmasena • Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic secured victory over Germany’s Note: Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev • Virat Kohli became the first player in to win the Hopman Cup for the second history to win the Sir Garfield Sobers year in a row. Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year, the

25. The 80th National Table Tennis Championship was ICC Men’s Test Player of the Year and the held at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack. ICC ODI Player of the Year awards. 26. Jasprit Bumrah becomes Highest International • He was also named the captain of the ICC Wicket-Taker in 2018 Test and ODI teams of the year for 2018.

• Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah became the highest international wicket-taker across formats in 2018.

Science & Defense

Military Exercise

April 2019

1. Varuna 19.1 - naval exercise between India & France. 2. ‘Bold Kurukshetra–2019 - joint military exercise • The first part of the Indo-French joint naval between India & Singapore held in Babina Cantonment exercise, Varuna 19.1 conducted in Off Goa in Jhansi. Coast. 3. African Lion 2019 - joint military exercise between • The second part, Varuna 19.2, is scheduled to Morocco and the US held in southern Morocco. be held at the end of May in Djibouti. 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

85 www.gradeup.co

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

February 2019

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

1. `Exercise Rahat´ - Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Note: Disaster Relief Exercise `Exercise Rahat´ concluded in • Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Shaunak is Jaipur, Rajasthan. the main Indian ship took part in the drills. 2. ‘Exercise Topchi’ - Indian Army carried out the annual • The ICGS Shaunkak is a 105-metre class exercise named ‘Exercise Topchi’ which was held at Offshore Patrol Vessel and is one of the Deolali Camp near Nashik. largest ships in the Indian Coast Guard. 3. ‘Aman 19’ - The 5-day multinational maritime exercise 6. IAFTX 2019: Indian Africa Field Training Exercise ‘AMAN-19’ in which 46 nations participated from all (IAFTX) will be held at Aundh Military Station and over the world was formally commenced at Pakistan College of Military Engineering, Pune, Maharashtra. Navy Dockyard in Karachi. The joint training exercise is being conducted with 4. ‘Cutclass Express 2019’ - INS Trikand, the frontline more than a dozen African countries & India. warship of the Indian Navy, participated in a multi- 7. IMBEX 2018-19: bilateral army exercise between national training exercise ‘CUTCLASS EXPRESS 2019’. India & Myanmar was held in Chandimandir Military • The annual Exercise Cutlass Express is Station in Haryana. sponsored by U.S. Africa Command 8. ‘Sea Vigil’: Indian Navy commenced the largest coastal (USAFRICOM) and conducted by Naval defence exercise off the Indian coast. Forces Africa (NAVAF). 5. Disaster Control Exercise: The coast guards of India and Japan undertook disaster control, search and rescue exercises off the coast of Yokohama in Japan.

Science & Technology

April

1. China Launches Its 2nd Generational Data Relay 2. Astronomers Capture first-ever image of a Black Satellite, Tianlian II-01 Hole – Astronomers have taken the first-ever image of a black hole, which is located in a distant galaxy known

86 www.gradeup.co as ‘Messier 87’ (M87) around 55 million light-years 8. Nepal launches Its first Satellite from USA - Nepal’s away from Earth. first satellite NepaliSat-1 was launched into space • It was captured by the Event Horizon from the Virginia-based station of the National Telescope (EHT), a network of eight linked Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the telescopes. It measures 40 billion km space US. across and has been described by scientists as • NepaliSat-1 will start rotating around the “a monster”. Earths orbit to collect information about the 3. ISRO launches PSLV C-45 carrying EMISAT & 28 country’s topography and Earths magnetic Nano Satellites – The Indian Space Research field. Organisation (ISRO) has launched a Defence • The satellite also bears the Nepal flag and logo Intelligence Satellite, EMISAT in its 47th Polar Satellite of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission, along with 28 other (NAST). customer satellites, onboard the advanced PSLV-C45 • The satellite is equipped with a 5MP camera to Rocket. capture Nepal’s topography and a • The PSLV C45 was launched from ISRO’s Satish magnetometer to collect data related to the Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Earth’s magnetic field. 4. Tesla Builds its ‘largest Energy Storage System in 9. Sri Lanka’s 1st Satellite ‘Raavana-1’ launched into Asia’ – Tesla has developed its ‘largest power storage Space – Sri Lanka’s first satellite Raavana-1 was system in Asia’ at Osaka train station in Japan to launched into space from NASA’s Flight Facility on reduce energy demand and provide emergency backup Virginia’s east shore. power to trains in Japan. • Raavana 1 weights around 1.05 kg and is 1000 5. Google launches new cloud platform Anthos – cubic centimetres in size. Google launched Anthos, a new open platform from • The minimum lifespan of the satellite is around Google Cloud, that lets users run applications from one and a half years and it is expected to be anywhere. active for five years. 6. Google has opened its first African artificial • Raavana 1 satellite was designed and built at intelligence (AI) centre in Ghana – Google has the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan by opened its first African artificial intelligence (AI) two Sri Lankan research engineers. centre in Accra, Ghana. • Raavana 1 satellite’s camera mission is to • The research laboratory will host software capture images of Sri Lanka and its engineers and research scientists to work on neighbouring countries. projects dedicated to next-generation 10. First privately funded mission to the Moon technology. ‘Beresheet’ spacecraft crashed into the moon’s surface • Note: Accra is the capital and Cedi is the - Beresheet is an Israeli mission. It is the first privately currency of Ghana. funded lunar mission. 7. South Korea launches World’s First National 5G • Beresheet crashed during landing on lunar Networks – South Korea launches the world’s first surface. fully-fledged 5G mobile networks. The system will • It was launched with a partnership between bring smartphones near-instantaneous connectivity 20 non-profit Spacell_ and government owned times faster than the existing 4G allowing users to aerospace company of Israe. download entire movies in less than a second.

March

1. ISRO launches ‘Yuva Vigyani Karyakram’ for School telescope mission dedicated to understanding the Children – Indian Space Research Organisation has origins of life and the universe. launched ‘Yuva VIgyani Karyakram’, a ‘Young Scientist • It’s called the Spectro-Photometer for the Programme’ for the School Children to be studying in History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization the 9th standard. and Ices Explorer or SPHEREx, for short. The 2. NASA to launch SPHEREx Mission to Investigate space agency is aiming for a 2023 launch. Universe – NASA has announced a new space 3. China’s Xinhua unveils World’s First Female AI News Anchor – Chinese news agency Xinhua unveiled

87 www.gradeup.co the world’s first female AI news anchor Xin Xiaomeng. 5. First Humanoid Police Robot KP-BOT launched in She has been developed in collaboration with Sogou Kerala – Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, Inc, a search engine company. inaugurated India’s first Humanoid Police Robot 4. Bandicoot- a drainage cleaning Robot Introduced named KP-BOT, ranked as Sub-Inspector (SI), at the in Chennai – Bandicoot, a drainage-cleaning robot, has Police Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. been introduced for the first time in India at the • The robot’s gender is declared female keeping Kumbakonam city corporation as part of efforts to rid in mind women empowerment and gender of manual scavenging at the cost of Rs 18 lakh in equality. Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

January & February 2019

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

88 www.gradeup.co 6. Young Scientist Programme support of academia, the scientific community, • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has industry, IAF and Isro (Indian Space Research announced Young Scientist Programme to Organisation). inculcate and nurture space research fervour • India will launch two unmanned missions before in young minds. Young Scientist programme is the final mission. part of Isro’s efforts to reach out to the student • The first unmanned test-flight will be launched in community. December 2020. 7. Samwad with Students • The second unmanned test will be conducted in • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has July 2021 and the human space flight will be launched an outreach programme called launched in December 2021. Samwad with Students. • A human-rated GSLV Mk-lll will be used to carry • Isro’s outreach programme was aimed at the orbital module. motivating young India and tapping their Union Cabinet approves budget for Gaganyaan project scientific potential. • The Union Cabinet has approved a budget 8. Pune to soon be first city in country to see a traffic of Rs 10,000 crore for India’s Gaganyaan robot project. • The traffic police authorities of Pune are 10. Govt allocates Rs 10,900 Cr For Development of 40 planning to introduce a robot named ‘Roadeo’ Satellite Launch Vehicles which would move around city roads, • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) functioning as a quasi-traffic policeman and Chairman Dr. K Sivan stated that the Union cautioning commuters about traffic rules and Government has allocated 10,900 crore offences. rupees for the development of 40 satellite • Roadeo consists of 16-inch LED display to launch vehicles in the next 4 years. showcase traffic rules and other important 11. Paper Sensor to detect freshness of Milk messages such as ‘Wear a helmet’, ‘Do not • Scientists from the Indian Institute of jump the signal’ and others. Technology, Guwahati, have developed a • It is a first of its kind initiative in the entire paper kit to test the freshness of milk and country. determine how well the milk has been • The Robot “Roadeo” is developed by SP pasteurized. Robotics Maker Lab, a Pune based laboratory 12. Chandrayaan-2 mission launch most likely in Feb: that trains people to learn about robotics and ISRO build tech themselves. • Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) 9. First manned mission to space by December 2021: will most likely launch Chandrayaan-2, the ISRO chief country’s second mission to the Moon in • ISRO Chairman Dr. K Sivan has announced the month of February. that the organization is well prepared to The features of the Chandrayaan-2 mission are: meet the targets of launching Gaganyaan • Chandrayaan-2 mission is a totally manned mission to outer space by indigenous venture comprising of an December 2021. orbiter, a lander and a rover. • Under Gaganyaan project, India is • The rover will observe the lunar surface planning to send three astronauts to outer and send back the data. This data will be space for seven days and bring them back. useful for analysis of the lunar soil. • The initial training for Gaganyaan will be • The payloads will collect scientific done in India and advanced training might information on lunar topography, happen in Russia. mineralogy, elemental abundance, lunar • Women astronauts will be there on the exosphere and signatures of hydroxyl and team. water-ice. • The 3,290-kg Chandrayaan-2 will orbit the The salient features of the Gaganyaan Mission are: Moon and perform the objectives of • The Mission aims to carry three human beings for remote sensing the moon. a maximum period of seven days in space with the Note:

89 www.gradeup.co • India’s first lunar probe Chandrayaan-1 was • It is the third new planet discovered by the launched by the ISRO in October 2008 and NASA mission, Transiting Exoplanet Survey operated till August 2009. Satellite (TESS). 13. China’s Chang’e 4 probe makes historic touchdown • The new planet HD 21749b is outside our solar • China’s Chang’e 4 probe spacecraft has become the system and orbits a dwarf star 53 light years first spacecraft to land on the far side of the moon. away. • Chang’e 4 is a Chinese lunar exploration mission • HD 21749b orbits a bright star in the that aims to achieve soft-landing on the far side of constellation Reticulum. the Moo • It has the longest orbital period of all the three • The mission aims to deliver samples of Moon rock discoveries made by TESS. and soil to Earth. • HD 21749b orbits its star in a relatively 14. Japan Launches Satellite for World’s 1st Artificial leisurely 36 days. Meteor Shower • The other two discoveries made by the TESS • Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has probe are Pi Mensae b and LHS 3844b. launched Tokyo-based startup Star-ALE’s • Pi Mensae b has an orbit of 6.3 days and LHS mini-satellite aimed to deliver the world’s first 3844b has an orbit of just 11 hours. artificial meteor shower. 17. IIT-H Launches full-fledged B.Tech in Artificial 15. IIT-M recreates Space Fuel Intelligence • The researchers from the Indian Institute of • Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT- Technology-Madras (IIT-M) have recreated H) has announced the launch of a full-fledged space fuel by simulating interstellar conditions bachelor’s programme in Artificial Intelligence in the laboratory. (AI) technology from the new academic • It is a big breakthrough for India in the session, a first for the country and only the exploration of cleaner and sustainable third globally. alternatives to fossil fuel. • The new course will have 20 seats and the 16. NASA Discovers new planet ‘HD 21749b’ eligibility is clearing the JEE-Advanced test. • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of USA has discovered a new planet. Defense News

May 2019

1. Indian Army to commemorate 2019 as ‘Year of the Indian Navy. The cost of the deal would be around next of kin’ – The Indian Army is commemorating this Rs 3,600 crore. year as the ‘Year of Next of Kin’ and plans to reach out 4. Indian Navy launches 4th Scorpene Class to the next of kin of battle casualties, ex-servicemen Submarine INS Vela – The fourth of Indian Navy’s and serving soldiers to inform them of entitled stealth Scorpene class Submarines of Project 75, INS financial benefits, welfare schemes and help resolve Vela was launched at the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of pension-related problems. Mazagon Dock Limited at Mumbai in Maharashtra. 2. First AH-64E (I) – Apache Guardian helicopter was formally handed over to the Indian Air Force at Boeing 5. INS Ranjit to be decommissioned – INS Ranjit, an production facility in Arizona, USA. Indian navy destroyer built by erstwhile USSR, is set to • IAF had signed a contract with US Government be decommissioned. The third of the five Kashin-class and M/s Boeing Ltd in Sep 2015 for 22 Apache destroyers, it was commissioned in 1983 and has helicopters. rendered service to the Navy for over 36 years. 3. India to purchase 10 Kamov-31 Choppers from • The ship will be decommissioned at a solemn Russia for INR 3,600 cr – Defence ministry has ceremony at the Naval dockyard in approved the procurement of 10 Kamov Ka-31 Visakhapatnam. Airborne Early Warning and Control helicopters for April 2019

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1. Navy Chief launches new guided Missile destroyer has successfully built the longest suspension bridge ‘INS Imphal’ – Indigenously designed ‘INS Imphal’ a ‘Matiri Bridge’ over the Indus River in the Leh-Ladakh guided missile destroyer was launched by Navy Chief region. Sunil Lanba at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited • Built in a record time of 40 days ‘Maitri Bridge’ (MDL) in Mumbai. This ship is designed by the Indian is longest Suspension Bridge over Indus River. Navy’s Directorate of Naval Designs, New Delhi. 5. India’s 1st Indigenously built Dhanush Howitzer 2. INS Kolkata, INS Shakti to participate in IFR in Inducted in Army – In a major boost to India’s China – The Indian Navy will participate in firepower, country’s first indigenously designed and International Fleet Review (IFR) that is scheduled to developed Dhanush artillery gun was inducted in the take place in Qingdao, China as part of 70th Indian Army during a ceremony held at Ordnance Anniversary celebrations of People’s Liberation Army Factory in Jabalpur, MP. Navy (PLA Navy). • Dhanush 155mm/45 calibre towed gun • The Indian Navy would be represented in the system can be deployed in all types of terrains. IFR by indigenously built stealth guided • The Dhanush gun system is based on the missile destroyer INS Kolkata and fleet designs of the Bofors howitzer which was support ship INS Shakti. inducted in the Army in the 1980. 3. India successfully test fires Sub-Sonic Cruise 6. GRSE becomes first Indian Shipyard to deliver 100 Missile ‘Nirbhay’ - India has successfully test-fired Warships – Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers first indigenously designed and developed long-range Ltd (GRSE) became the ‘first Indian shipyard’ to build sub-sonic cruise missile ‘Nirbhay’ from a test range in and deliver 100 warships. Odisha. 7. Coast Guard Patrol Ship Veera Commissioned – • The all-weather missile, has a 1,000-kilometre Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat commissioned strike range. the Indian Coast Guard Ship Veera at a ceremony held • The missile has been developed by Bengaluru- at Naval Jetty at the dockyard at Vishakhapatnam, based Aeronautical Development Andhra Pradesh. Establishment (ADE), a lab under Defence • Veera, third in the series of offshore patrol Research and Development Organisation vessels of the Coast Guard, was built by L&T at (DRDO). its shipbuilding facility at Kattupalli in 4. Indian Army builds Longest Suspension bridge Chennai. over River Indus in Leh-Ladakh – The Indian Army March

1. Chinook Helicopters inducted in Indian Air Force – WEAPON rocket system from Pokhran range in The Indian Air Force formally inducted the CH 47 F(I)- Rajasthan. Chinook heavy-lift helicopters into its inventory at Air 4. US Special Operations Forces hold Exercise with Force Station Chandigarh. NSG In Hyderabad – The United States Special Forces • IAF had signed a contract with M/s Boeing Ltd Group stationed in Japan is involved in a joint exercise in September 2015 for 15 Chinook helicopters. with India’s National Security Guard in Hyderabad, 2. The Indian Navy’s state of the art Nuclear, Biological, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the armed forces and Chemical Training Facility (NBCTF) was of the two countries. inaugurated by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil 5. ‘Vijit’ becomes 1st Indian Coast Guard Ship to visit Lanba at INS Shivaji, Lonavala. The training facility has Indonesia – Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Vijit’ became the been named ABHEDYA, which means impenetrable in first-ever Coast Guard ship to visit Sabang, Indonesia. Sanskrit. 3. Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully test fired the PINAKA guided

February 2019

91 www.gradeup.co 1. Aero India 2019 held in Bengaluru – The 12th edition of international aerospace and defence exhibition, Aero India 2019 was held on February 24, 2019 at air force station Yelahanka in Bengaluru. • It was inaugurated by Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. • The Aero India 2019 had tagline “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities” that aims to bolster business in the international aviation sector and provide a platform to showcase India’s aeronautical advancements. 2. India signed deal with US to procure 72,400 Assault Rifles – The Indian Government has signed a deal with the US under Fast Track Procurement (FTP) to avail the Indian Army with 72,400 new ‘Sig Sauer Assault Rifles’ which will overhaul the army’s inventory of frontline rifles. 3. Hina Jaiswal becomes the First Indian Woman Flight Engineer – Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal from Chandigarh, became the First Indian Woman Flight Engineer of the Indian Air Force(IAF). 4. Iran’s First Semi-Heavy Missile-Equipped Submarine Fateh Unveiled – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani unveiled the first Iranian made semi-heavy submarine named ‘Fateh’capable of being fitted with missiles. • It has subsurface-to-surface missiles with a range of about 2,000 km (1,250 miles) and is capable of reaching Israel and U.S. military bases in the region. January 2019

1. Iran announced the successful test flight of Hoveizeh • The construction of the Bridge was long-range cruise missile. undertaken by the Project Udayak of the 2. Indian Navy test-fires LRSAM missile off Odisha Border Roads Organisation. coast 5. PM Modi inaugurates country’s first private • The Indian Navy has successfully test-fired Howitzer plant the long-range surface-to-air missile • Prime Minister Narendra Modi (LRSAM) from warship INS Chennai, off inaugurated the Armoured Systems the coast of Odisha. Complex (ASC), developed by Larsen & • It was jointly developed by Defence Toubro (L&T) at Hazira near Surat in Research and Development Organisation Gujarat. (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries • This is the country’s first private facility (IAI) for the Indian Navy. where the K9 Vajra self-propelled • LRSAM is capable of achieving a maximum Howitzer guns will be manufactured. speed of Mach 2 and has an operational L&T had won the Rs 4,500-crore contract range of 70km. to supply 100 units of the K9 Vajra-T 155 • LRSAM also known as Barak 8, the missile mm/52 calibre Tracked Self-Propelled gun can counter-attack aircraft, unmanned systems to the Indian Army in 2017. aerial vehicles (UAVs) and incoming anti- 6. National Conference on Self Reliance in Defence ship missiles. Manufacturing is organised at Hyderabad. The 3. Women to get 20% jobs in Military Police National Conference is being held by Forum for • The Union Defence Minister Nirmala Integrated National Security in association with Sitharaman has announced the decision to Indigenous Defence Entrepreneurs Association. induct women in Personnel Below Officer 7. Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba Commissioned Rank, PBOR, role in Corps of Military New Naval Air Base ‘INS Kohassa’ Police. • Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba • The women will be inducted in a graded commissioned the new Naval Air Base ‘INS manner to eventually comprise 20% of Kohassa’ at Diglipur in Andaman and total Corps of Military Police. Nicobar Islands. 4. Diffo Bridge of Arunachal Pradesh Inaugurated • It will be the third naval air base in the • In Arunachal Pradesh, Defence Minister islands. Nirmala Sitharaman on January 18, 8. India's second defence innovation hub to come up inaugurated the Diffo Bridge over Chipu in Nashik, Maharashtra' River in Lower Dibang Valley District. • Nashik in Maharashtra will be the site of the country's second defence innovation hub after Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

92 www.gradeup.co • India's first defence innovation hub will be • The Defence Industrial Corridor will set up in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It will be include - Chennai, Hosur, Salem and set up by Coimbatore District Small Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli as the nodes. Industries Association (Codissia). • The Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial • In January last year, Sitharaman had Corridor — also called the Tamil Nadu announced a fund of Rs 20 crore to set up Defence Production Quad. the centre under Codissia in the city. Note: 9. Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor • This is the second Defence Industrial inaugurated in Tiruchirapalli Corridor to be inaugurated in the country • The Union Defence Minister Nirmala after Uttar Pradesh. Sitharaman inaugurated the Tamil Nadu • The first defence corridor was launched in Defence Industrial Corridor in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh in August 2018. Tiruchirapalli, 300 km from Chennai a • Tamil Nadu Aerospace Park opened at total investment of Rs 3,100 crore. Sriperumbudur in Chennai.

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