DAILY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS – 5.02.2018 TO 7.02.2018

NATIONAL Nuclear Capable Agni-1 Missile successfully test-fired Indigenously developed surface-to-surface, Medium-range nuclear capable ballistic Agni-1 was successfully test-fired from mobile launcher located at Integrated Test Range of Dr Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island) off the Odisha. It has strike range of over 700 km and can carry both conventional as well as nuclear payloads (warheads) up to 1,000 kg. Agni (missile) Name Type Range Length Agni -I(Operational) MRBM 700 – 900 km 15 m MRBM-Medium-range ballistic Agni-II(Operational) MRBM 2,000 – 3,000 km 21 m missile Agni-III(Operational) IRBM 3,500 – 5,000 km 17 m IRBM-Intermediate-range Agni -IV(Testing) IRBM 3,000 – 4,000 20 m ballistic missile Agni-V(Testing) ICBM 5,000 – 8,000 km 17.5 m ICBM-Intercontinental ballistic Agni-VI (Under development) ICBM 8,000 – 10,000 km missile

Haryana Govt launches ‘Gobardhan Yojana’ to support farmers • Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the 'Gobardhan Yojana'(Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resource Fund Scheme) to provide for the sale of organic manure and cow urine with an aim to benefit farmer. • Under this scheme, solid waste of dung and fields will be changed into compost, biogas and bio-CNG. • A provision of Rs 11 crore has been made to provide benefits of various projects under this scheme, Khattar said while addressing villagers at a 'Kisan Samman Samaroh' in Nizampur village of Sonipat district. He also distributed cheques of the 'Fasal Bima Yojana' to farmers at the event. airport becomes world’s busiest single-runway airport • On January 20 Mumbai airport created a new world record for single-runway operations by handling 980 arrivals and take-offs in 24 hours, or almost one flight every minute. With this, the Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International airport bettered its own feat of 974 flights in 24 hours, recorded on December 6, 2017. • Gatwick, the U.K.’s second largest airport, remains the most efficient single-runway airport in the world. • Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) based in Sydney, Australia. Minister of State for Civil Aviation-Jayant Sinha • Dubai retains rank as world’s busiest international airport. Government launches Start-up- ranking framework • Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu has unveiled Start-up-India ranking framework to rank states/UTs based on measures regions that have taken to foster entrepreneurship. • The Commerce and Industry Ministry (DIPP) has launched three tools to rank states and union territories on the basis of measures taken by them to promote budding entrepreneurs. • These tools are the start-up-India ranking framework, compendium of good practices for promoting startups in India and Startup India Kit. UP government in association with UNICEF launches DASTAK campaign • In Uttar Pradesh, State government in association with UNICEF launched massive door to door campaign DASTAK to eradicate deadly Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and Japanise Encephalitis disease in the state. • The war cry of DASTAK is Darwaja khatkhatao, AES aur JE ko bhagao. • Japanese encephalitis (JE) is an infection of the brain caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).JEV is generally spread by mosquitoes. Pigs and wild birds serve as a reservoir for the virus.The disease occurs in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. • United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) -HQ: New York City, President: Tore Hattrem Govt releases Rs 65,000 cr under SC special assistance plan • Union minister Thaawarchand Gehlot announced that the Centre has released Rs 65,000 crore to states and union territories under the special assistance to scheduled castes sub plan till January end of the current fiscal • The amount is more than 80 per cent of the total allocation of Rs 80,000 crore made under the Special Central Assistance to SC Sub Plan for 2017-18. • According to data provided by the minister in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Rs 65,003 crore has been released under the plan till January 31. UBER, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways join hands for road safety awareness • Taxi aggregator Uber reinforced its commitment to road safety by announcing a slew of measures and initiatives. • As part of its ongoing efforts to encourage road safety awareness, Uber will be jointly promoting road safety messaging on the Uber app and social media through Ministry of Road Transport and Highways co branded materials and mediums. • Uber-Headquarters: San Francisco, US. Founders: Travis Kalanick, CEO : Dara Khosrowshahi . India head-Amit Jain Google India, NCERT bring ‘Digital Citizenship’ lessons to schools • Reiterating its commitment to make the web a safer place for everyone, Google India announced its collaboration with NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) to integrate a course on “Digital Citizenship and Safety” in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) curriculum in schools. • Students from class I to class XII across 1.4 million schools in India would now learn how to become good and responsible digital citizens, through structured classroom modules on the social, ethical and legal aspects of Internet safety. India successfully test-fires nuclear capable ballistic missile Prithvi-II • India on successfully test-fired indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile from launch complex three of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur near Balasore, Odisha.

1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRPF Square, Bhubaneswar-750015 1 Ph. : (0674) 6556677, 8093556677. Web : www.vanik.org, E-mail : [email protected]

DAILY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS – 5.02.2018 TO 7.02.2018

• The nine-metre-tall and single-stage liquid-fuelled Prithvi-II missile has a strike range of 350 kilometres. • It is capable of carrying 500 to 1000 kilograms of warheads and derives its thrust from liquid propulsion twin engines. • Prithvi-II is the first missile to be developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). The naval operational variant of Prithvi-II class missile is known as Dhanush. Railways signs MoU with AYUSH to augment AYUSH services in Railway hospitals • The Ministry of Railways signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of AYUSH to augment the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) system services in Railway zonal hospitals at New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Guwahati. • The AYUSH health services will be augmented in B.R. Singh Hospital in Eastern Railway, Perambur Railway Hospital Southern Railway, Central Hospital of Northern Railway, JR Hospital in Western Railway and the Central Hospital of Northeast Frontier Railway. • At present, Indian Railways is running 126 Homeopathic Clinics and 40 Ayurvedic Clinics through Staff Benefit Fund under Welfare Section of Establishment Directorate. US Air Force chief General David L. Goldfein flies Tejas aircraft • The Chief of US Air Force, General David L Goldfein flew a sortie in indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas at the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. With this he became first foreign military chief to fly Tejas aircraft. He was accompanied by Air Vice Marshal AP Singh as a co-pilot during the short flight. • Earlier in November 2017, Defence Minister of Singapore Ng Eng Hen was flown in a Tejas fighter jet. • Tejas has been indigenously developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency, and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). • The first squadron of LCA Tejas named as ‘Flying Daggers’ based in Sulur, Tamil Nadu was inducted in July 2016. Maratha Light Infantry celebrates 250th anniversary • The Maratha Light Infantry celebrated 250 years of its existence on 4 February 2018. The first battalion of regiment was raised as ‘Second Battalion Bombay Sepoys’ on this day in 1768. • On this day in 1670, Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji conquered famous Kondana Fort (now known as Sinhgad) near Pune, Maharashtra. The Maratha Light Infantry is infantry regiment of the Indian Army. • The Maratha Light Infantry was bestowed with rare honour of winning two Victoria crosses to two of its soldiers- N.K. Yeshwant Ghadge and Sepoy Namdev Jadhav. It was also first infantry regiment of the Army to be awarded the title of ‘Light Infantry’ during the First Afghan War in 1841. Centre clears Rs 62crore for cleaning Sal river • The central government has approved Rs 61.7 crore to diminish pollution of river Sal in Navelim,Goa .The Sal River is a small river in Salcete, Goa in India and drains itself into the Arabian Sea at Betul. • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had in 2015 identified the river stretch at Navelim as one of the 302 polluted river stretches across the country based on bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels - a key indicator of organic pollution showing water quality. • The project was approved by the Union environment ministry last week under its National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) which covers 31 rivers (other than Ganga and its tributaries) in 14 states. The pollution abatement measures for Ganga is being managed separately under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) of the water resources ministry. • At present, several projects worth Rs 2,691 crore are being implemented under the NRCP in eight states. It includes pollution abatement of Mula-Mutha river at Pune (estimated cost of over Rs 990 crore) and Sabarmati river conservation phase-II at Ahmedabad (estimated cost of over Rs 444 crore) among others. Odisha gets Rs 5,252 cr for railway projects The union government has allocated Rs 5,252 crore in the Union Budget 2018-19 for railway projects in the state as against the state’s demand for Rs 6,500 crore. It received Rs 150 crore more compared with last year’s budget, which is the highest ever allocation for Odisha in any Budget pertaining to railways. Rs 100 cr in Budget for development of 800 MW advanced boiler The development of 800 MW advanced ultra super critical thermal power plant project got Rs 100 crore for next year from the Department of Heavy Industry with a target to finalise the turbine design, as per 2018-19 budget papers. India’s first chat based job app ‘Empzilla’ launched Country’s first ever chat-based job search mobile app ‘Empzilla’ has been launched which will simplify the communication process between jobs seekers and recruiters. With an objective of taking prime minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India initiative forward, it will also helps the HRD department get rid of excessive mails and the need to download all the profiles which is time consuming. Chairman Empzilla- Akash Attray. 5th South Asia Region Public Procurement Conference held in New Delhi The Fifth edition of South Asia Region Public Procurement Conference was held in New Delhi. It was hosted by Public Procurement Division (PPD) of Ministry of Finance and All India Management Association (AIMA).The theme this edition of conference was “Public Procurement and Service Delivery”.The First Conference was held in Kathmandu in 2010, second in Islamabad (2014), third in Dhaka (2015) and fourth in Sri Lanka (2017). 60 Solar Cities to be developed across country The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under its scheme “Development of Solar Cities” has approved/sanctioned 60 Cities including 13 Pilot and 5 Model Cities up to 12th Five-year Plan period.While Rs. 101.64 crore has been sanctioned, Rs. 25.92 crore has been released under scheme “Development of Solar Cities” so far.

1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRPF Square, Bhubaneswar-750015 2 Ph. : (0674) 6556677, 8093556677. Web : www.vanik.org, E-mail : [email protected]

DAILY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS – 5.02.2018 TO 7.02.2018

INTERNATIONAL Dubai retains rank as world’s busiest international airport • Dubai International Airport retained its No 1 ranking as the world’s busiest airport for international travel, after seeing some 88.2 million passengers in 2017. Dubai Airports CEO -Paul Griffiths • Dubai International Airport first surpassed London Heathrow as the world’s busiest airport for international traffic in 2014. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia remains the world’s busiest airport overall. Sweden commits record $370m aid to UN World Food Programme • Sweden has singed Strategic Partnership Agreement with United Nations for committing record $370 million dollars to UN World Food Programme. The contribution is for next four years i.e. 2018-2021. It is the biggest ever contribution made by donor within a WFP Strategic Partnership Agreement. • World Food Programme (WFP) was established in 1961 after the 1960 Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Conference. It is headquartered in Rome (Italy). Sweden-Capital: Stockholm, Currency: krona Nepali tea receives international trademark after 154 years • Nepalese tea has finally received an international trademark after 154 years which will be now sold in the international market with a common logo, which represents the national identity. • The trademark comprises an image of mountains with "Nepal Tea: Quality from the Himalayas. • The government of Nepal has also been marking 15th of the month of Baisakh, as per the Nepali calendar, as National Tea Day. Top tea producing countries-1-China, 2- India, 3- Kenya, 4- Srilanka,5-Turkey • Top Tea producing state-1-Assam, 2- West Bengal, 3- Tamil Nadu. • Nepali King-, Gyanendra Shah ,Prime minister: Sher Bahadur Deuba, President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari SpaceX launched the world's most powerful operational rocket 'Falcon Heavy' US space flight company SpaceX launched the world's most powerful operational rocket 'Falcon Heavy' into the space. It was launched from the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States.

ECONOMY RBI keeps key interest rate unchanged at 6% with neutral stance The (RBI) kept its key interest rate unchanged at 6 per cent for the fourth time in succession at its final bi-monthly monetary policy review of the fiscal, citing concerns about the inflationary push by rising global crude oil prices. Current Monetary Policy Rates: Repo Rate: Unchanged at 6% Revrese Repo Rate: Unchanged at 5.75% Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate: Unchanged at 6.25% Bank Rate: Unchanged at 6.25% Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): Unchanged at 19.5% Cash Reserve Ratio: Unchanged at 4% • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revealed that the estimated inflation for first half of the next fiscal would stand at 5.1 to 5.6 percent. However, RBI Governor Urjit Patel noted that it may ease to 4.6 percent, likely in the second half. • To speed up retail transmission by banks of the central bank’s cuts in the lending rate, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that it will link the Base Rate with the Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rate (MCLR) from the next fiscal. • The RBI introduced the MCLR from April 1, 2016, as a system working in tandem with its policy rates, which commercial banks have been slow in accepting, preferring to continue with the Base Rate regime. • As per RBI guidelines, banks have to prepare their MCLR which would serve as the internal benchmark lending rate. RBI to set up ombudsman for non-banking finance companies • RBI deputy governor B.P. Kanungo announced that the Reserve Bank of India going to set up ombudsman for addressing customer grievances in the non-banking finance companies. • Initially RBI will start implement of ombudsman with deposit taking NBFCs and at a later stage will include all non- banking finance companies that have asset size of Rs 100 and above. • There are 20 regional offices of Banking Ombudsmen in India. The latest offices are opened Jammu & Raipur. MobiKwik launches ‘Magic’ SaaS-based digital enterprise solutions suite MobiKwik, a issuer-independent digital financial services platform and mobile wallet announced the launch of Magic – a digital platform for end-to-end corporate processes, rewards and reimbursements. Magic is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)-based institutional platform that aims to radically reform the employee benefit and reimbursements process by eliminating the constant challenges faced by both the employer and the employee. MobiKwik MobiKwik is an Indian company founded in 2009 that provides a mobile phone based payment system and digital wallet. Customers add money to an online wallet that can be used for payments. In 2013 the Reserve Bank of India authorized the company's use of the MobiKwik wallet, and in May 2016 the company began providing small loans to consumers as part of its service. Headquarters: Gurgaon, India. Founder and CEO: CEO: Bipin Preet Singh Mumbai partner with Paytm Payments Bank Paytm Payments Bank, a digital bank which provides zero balance accounts and zero charges on digital transactions, partnered with the Mumbai Association, the pioneers of home-cooked food delivery. As part of this association, around 5000 dabbawalas will now be able to collect instant payments for their Dabba service through Paytm QR. Additionally, they will also avail an easy access to banking and other financial services by opening their bank accounts with Paytm Payments Bank.

1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRPF Square, Bhubaneswar-750015 3 Ph. : (0674) 6556677, 8093556677. Web : www.vanik.org, E-mail : [email protected]

DAILY UPDATED CURRENT AFFAIRS – 5.02.2018 TO 7.02.2018

Hike, Airtel partner to launch ‘Total’ service for smartphones Homegrown messaging app Hike Messenger partnered with telecom service provider Airtel to embed its “Total” service on mobile phones under the latter’s “Mera Pehla Smartphone” programme. India FY2019 fiscal deficit to come in at 3.5% of GDP: Report According to the report by BMI Research, a unit of Fitch Group, India’s fiscal deficit is expected to come in at 3.5 per cent of GDP in financial year 2018-19, as policymakers seek to promote economic growth by reducing the pace of fiscal consolidation. CRISIL, SIDBI launches India’s first MSE Sentiment Index CriSidEx The SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) and ratings agency Crisil have launched CriSidEx, India’s first MSE Sentiment Index for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). PERSON IN NEWS Nicos Anastasiades: Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades won reelection to second five-year term Sunday, promising to continue economic recovery and the island’s reunification efforts. Cyprus-Capital: Nicosia, Currency: Euro NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant granted extension till June 2019 NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has been granted an extension of his tenure until June 30, 2019. A 1980-batch IAS officer from the Kerala Cadre, Kant was appointed as the CEO of the government’s think tank in 2016, for a two-year term. NITI Aayog- Chairman: Narendra Modi, Vice Chairman: Rajiv Kumar. Hardayal Prasad: SBI Card, the country’s second largest credit card issuer, has appointed Hardayal Prasad as new Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer. Lakshmi Devi Kanakala: Veteran Telugu actor Lakshmi Devi Kanakala has passed away Madavoor Vasudevan Nair: Kathakali maestro Madavoor Vasudevan Nair has passed away. He was 89. He was a recipient of several awards including Padma Bhushan. SBI Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar SPORTS Shubhankar becomes highest ranked Indian golfer • In-form young golfer Shubhankar Sharma was elevated from 193 to 72, a gain of 121 spots, in the world rankings making him the highest-ranked Indian in the world. • Anirban Lahiri, is placed 76th, Kapurthala golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar is placed 155th followed by Shiv Kapur at 192 and Ajeetesh Sandhu at 199th. • Shubhankar Sharma recently won Maybank Championship in Malaysia in february 2018 and European Tour in last year. 2018 India Open (badminton) • The 2018 India Open took place at Siri Fort Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India. The 2018 India Open was the fourth tournament of the 2018 BWF World Tour and also part of the India Open championships which has been held since 2008. • Shi Yuqi became the first Chinese player to win the India Open men’s singles badminton title, defeating Chou Tien Chen of China in the final. • In womens final Chinese-born American, Zhang Beiwen won the title by defeating Pusarla Venkata Sindhu Jhulan Goswami 1st woman in the world to take 200 ODI wickets • Indian women’s cricket team pacer Jhulan Goswami has become the first woman in the world to take 200 wickets in ODI cricket. Goswami achieved the feat playing in her 166th ODI against South Africa. • Goswami had become the leading wicket-taker in women’s ODIs in May last year, overtaking former Australian pacer Cathryn Fitzpatrick’s record of 180 wickets. Jhulan Nishit Goswami is from Nadia district, West Bengal. CRPF crowned Senior Women Hockey champions Central Reserve Police Force were crowned as champions of the 8th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2018 (B Division) after they defeated Kerala Hockey by a margin of 7-0 in the final match of the competition. MISCELLANEOUS Google launches ‘#SecurityCheckKiya’ campaign Search engine giant Google has launched ‘#SecurityCheckKiya’ campaign in India to create awareness around Internet safety. It was launched on the occasion of Safer Internet Day (6 February). Pelican Bird Festival-2018 held in Kolleru lake The ‘Pelican Bird Festival-2018’ was held for first in Atapaka Bird Sanctuary on at Kolleru lake in Andhra Pradesh. It was jointly organised by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority (APTA) and Krishna district administration. Recently, Atapaka Bird Sanctuary was recognised as one of the largest pelicanry in the world. Kolleru Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India located in Andhra Pradesh. It is located between Krishna and Godavari deltas. President Ram Nath Kovind Inaugurates Mahamastakabhisheka Utsav The President of India Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the 88th Mahamastakabhisheka Utsav of Lord Gomateshwara in Hassan district of Karnataka. Mahamastakabhisheka of Gommateshwara, who is also known as Bahubali takes place once in 12 years. It is an important Jain pilgrimage centre and lakhs of tourists visit Shravanbelagola to see 57 feet tall monolithic stone statue. The first ever International Kala Mela inaugurated by the Vice President in New Delhi • The First ever International Kala Mela was inaugurated by the Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi. The International Kala Mela has been organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi in partnership with IGNCA of the Ministry of Culture. • IGNCA-Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts(New Delhi). It was established in 1985 by Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi in the memory of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, with Kapila Vatsyayan as its founding director.

‹ Arts Festival (KGAF 2018) began in Mumbai, Maharashtra with the theme “Hara Ghoda”.

1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRPF Square, Bhubaneswar-750015 4 Ph. : (0674) 6556677, 8093556677. Web : www.vanik.org, E-mail : [email protected]