UNIQUE IAS ACADEMY AUGUST 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS
16th August 2017
1. India to Host Next Steering Committee Meeting of TAPI Gas Pipeline i. India (New Delhi) will host the next steering committee meeting of the proposed 1,814 kilometre-long Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline senior officials on both sides confirmed. The decision came during the sixth joint Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) meeting on trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation. ii. The meeting was followed by a meeting between visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan.
About TAPI Gas Pipeline in Brief-
The Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline, also known as Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline, is a natural gas pipeline being developed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). On 24 April 2008, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan signed a framework agreement to buy natural gas from Turkmenistan. The intergovernmental agreement on the pipeline was signed on 11 December 2010 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
2. Odisha: Special Programme to Prevent Spread of Malaria i. Odisha Government will soon launch “Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran” (DAMON), a special program to prevent the spread of malaria in remote areas of Ganjam district. ii. Under this program, camps will be held in remote areas for mass test for malaria. As many as 103 camps will be held in the next three months. Around 15,000 people would be covered under the program.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Malaria is most commonly transmitted by an infected female Anopheles.
Current Governor of Odisha is S C Jamir.
3. India Opens First Partition Museum in Amritsar i. India's first museum on Partition of the Indian subcontinent will open this week in Amritsar Punjab, as India and Pakistan celebrate 70 years as independent nations. ii. The museum will include photographs, newspaper clippings, donated personal items, and screens showing video interviews with survivors. iii. It will also have 'The Gallery of Hope', where visitors can scribble messages of love and peace. Tickets are priced low at Rs10 for Indians and Rs150 for foreigners.
Important Takeaways From Above News-
The CM of Punjab is Captain Amarinder Singh.
VP Singh Badnore is the Governor of Punjab.
4. Cabinet Approves MoU Between India and Sweden on IPRs i. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the MoU between India and Sweden on cooperation in the field of Intellectual Property (IPRs). ii. The MoU establishes a wide ranging and flexible mechanism through which both countries can exchange best practices and work together on training programs and technical exchanges to raise awareness on IPRs and better protect intellectual property rights.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
The Capital of Sweden is in Stockholm.
5. Union Cabinet Approves New Metro Rail Policy i. The government approved a new metro rail policy for expanding the metro network across various cities in the country. The new policy was approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ii. The metro policy will talk about standardizing norms and developing a procurement mechanism for implementation of the projects. At present, metro projects with a total length of more than 350km are operational in eight cities- Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Gurugram.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Metro projects are under way in Hyderabad, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Lucknow.
6. „Indira Canteen Scheme‟ Launched in Bengaluru i. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi launched the „Indira Canteen‟ scheme, dedicated to former Prime minister Indira Gandhi- a state government initiative to provide food at low cost to cater to the urban poor. ii. The canteen, located in Kanakana Palya (Jayanagar) in Bengaluru, is one of 101 such that opened across various locations in Bengaluru. The canteens are loosely modelled on the late Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa‟s “Amma canteens”.
7. KVGB Bags Best Performer Award i. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has conferred the „best performance award‟ for 2015-16 and 2016-17 to Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank (KVGB) for its work in the field of credit-linking joint liability groups (JLGs). ii. 1,194 JLGs(Joint Liability Group) were credit-linked by disbursing Rs 19.38 crore during 2016-17. The outstanding accounts under JLGs stood at 6,329 involving an amount of Rs 63.83 crore.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
S Ravindran is the Chairman of KVGB.
KVGB is sponsored by syndicate bank.
8. SBI Holds Home Loan Utsav in Bengaluru i. State Bank of India successfully held two-day Home Loan Utsav in Bengaluru. The loan Utsav saw title sponsor, GM Infinite. Subtitle sponsors, Brigade Group, Salarpuria Sattva and DSR Infra. ii. The bank is offering a 0.25% concession in interest rate from the fourth year of the home loan if it is availed at the SBI Utsav.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Recently, SBI had slashed interest rate on savings account deposits by 50 basis points to 3.5 per on balance of Rs 1 crore and below.
Its is Headquartered in Mumbai.
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9. ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund Launches „Plan Your Goal‟ Website i. ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has launched a new website 'PlanYourGoal.com' to help users plan their investments according to their future financial goals. ii. The website guides the users to plan their big spends, tax investments as well as the corpus required during retirement. The website also provides recommendations based on calculations.
Important Takeaways From Above News-
CEO of ICICI Bank is Chanda Kochhar.
Headquarter of ICICI is in Mumbai.
10. China Bans Imports from North Korea i. China halts iron, iron ore and seafood imports from North Korea, following through on new UN sanctions over its ally‟s nuclear program. ii. The United Nations Security Council, including permanent member Beijing, approved tough sanctions against Pyongyang that could cost the country $1 billion a year. China, which is suspected of failing to enforce past UN measures, accounts for 90% of North Korea‟s trade.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea.
Kim Jong-un is the Supreme Leader of North Korea.
The capital of China is Beijing.
11. Norway has World's Fastest Mobile Internet i. According to global leader in broadband testing Ookla, Norway has the fastest mobile Internet in the world. The Netherlands and Hungary are ranked number two and three on the list of the world‟s fastest mobile networks. ii. In only 13 months, Norway has jumped from 11th to first place on the list of world best providers of fast Internet connection.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Oslo is the capital city of Norway.
12. Australia to Get World's Biggest Single Tower Solar Thermal Plant i. Australian state government has approved the world's biggest single tower solar thermal power plant, a 150- megawatt structure to be built in South Australia by 2020. ii. Solar thermal technology uses mirrors to concentrate the Sun's light at the top of a tower. This heats the stored molten salt and the heat is then used to operate steam turbines.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The largest solar thermal installation in the world is currently in California which features three towers and has a capacity of 392 MW.
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13. Melbourne Named 'World's Most Liveable City' i. Melbourne (in Australia) has been named world‟s most liveable city for a record seventh year in a row, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit‟s Global Liveability Report 2017. Melbourne scored an overall rating of 97.5 out of 100 on the liveability index. ii. Damascus in Syria was deemed the world's worst among the 140 cities surveyed. It is the first time in the survey‟s 15-year history that a city has held the No 1 rank in its own right for seven consecutive years. Vienna (in Austria) and Vancouver (in Canada) were on 2nd and 3rd Positions, respectively.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Canberra is the Capital of Australia.
Ottawa is the Capital of Canada.
14. Earth's Largest Volcanic Region Discovered in Antarctica i. The largest volcanic region on Earth, with nearly 100 volcanoes, has been discovered two km below the surface of the vast ice sheet in West Antarctica. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh in Britain found a staggering 91 previously unknown volcanoes, adding to the 47 others. ii. These newly discovered volcanoes range in height from 100 to 3,850 meters, with the highest almost as tall as Switzerland's 3,970 meters Eiger mountain.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent.
It contains the geographic South Pole and is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere.
15. Tata Motors Appoints P B Balaji as New Chief Financial Officer i. Tata Motors announced the appointment of P B Balaji as the new Chief Financial Officer, Tata Motors Group from November 2017. He has replaced C R Ramakrishnan. ii. Since 2014, Balaji has been heading the finance function as the Chief Financial Officer of Hindustan Unilever.
16. Alexander Zverev Beats Roger Federer to Win Rogers Cup i. Alexander Zverev won 6-3 6-4 at the Rogers Cup to claim his second Masters 1000 title and extend his winning run to 10 matches. ii. Zverev is the youngest Rogers Cup finalist since Novak Djokovic in 2007. Alexander Zverev and Roger Federer now have five tournament titles this year.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The Current ranking of Alexander Zverev is eighth.
Alexander Zverev is from Germany.
Roger Federer is from Switzerland.
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17th August 2017
1. Cabinet Approved raising of over Rs 9000 cr through NABARD for Completing Irrigation Projects i. The Union Cabinet has approved raising extra budgetary resources up to 9,020 crore rupees for Long Term Irrigation Fund in 2017-18 under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). According to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the amount will be raised by NABARD through Bonds. ii. The Fund seeks to make loans from NABARD attractive for states by ensuring lending rate of 6 per cent per annum.
Important Takeaways From Above News-
PMKSY was launched on 1st July 2015.
2. CCEA Approves Proposal of DIPAM for Strategic Disinvestment i. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the proposal of Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) for the strategic disinvestment. The approval will help in speedy completion of strategic disinvestment transactions. ii. The department will set up an alternative mechanism comprising of the Finance Minister, Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Minister of Administrative Department, to decide on the matters relating to terms and conditions of the sale from the stage of inviting of Express of Interests till inviting of financial bid.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
DIPAM is headed by Shri Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister of India.
3. Italy to Host G-7 Interior Ministers' Summit on Security i. Italy will host a summit of G-7 interior ministers centered on security issues in the fall. According to Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti, the meeting is being organized at the request of Italy's G-7 partners: Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and the United States. ii. Italy currently holds the rotating helm of the Group of Seven industrialized nations. The summit is expected to be held in October 2017.
About G-7 in Brief-
1. Originally the group comprised six members- France, Italy, West Germany, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States.
2. It was founded in 1975.
3. Canada became the seventh member to begin attending the summits in 1976, after which the name 'Group 7' or G7 Summit was used.
4. Russia formally joined the group in 1998, resulting in the creation of a new governmental political forum, the Group of Eight or G8.
5. However, Russia was eliminated from the group in 2014 after it annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea.
4. NABARD Awards for Corporation Bank i. Corporation Bank has bagged the best performance awards for SHG-bank linkage program for Karnataka for 2015-16 and 2016-17 from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard). Unique IAS Academy, 1st Street Gandhipuram, Coimbatore
Page 5 UNIQUE IAS ACADEMY AUGUST 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS ii. The bank was given the award for its overall performance under SHG-bank linkage program for 2015-16 and 2016- 17 among commercial banks operating in Karnataka. The bank has formed more than 1.32 lakh self-help groups (SHGs).
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Jai Kumar Garg is the Managing Director & CEO of Corporation Bank.
5. SBI Gives Leg-up to CSR Initiatives i. State Bank of India has launched a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiative, SBI Gram Seva, which will work in the areas of health, education, environment and rural infrastructure. ii. The SBI Foundation will identify and partner with NGOs to carry out CSR initiatives under which it adopt five villages each from 10 village panchayats with each village getting around Rs 2.40 crore over the next three years.
Important Takeaways from Above News-\
Initially, 10 gram panchayats comprising of 50 villages in six states have been adopted.
The Chairman of SBI is Smt. Arundhati Bhattacharya.
SBI is Headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
6. Karnataka Bank on Social Media i. Karnataka Bank Ltd has ventured into social media by opening its official pages in social networking sites such as FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. ii. Mahabaleshwara MS, MD and CEO of the bank, unveiled the official social handles of the bank in Mangaluru. The official social handle of the bank is @karnatakabank for Twitter and Facebook, and @officialkarnatakabank for Instagram.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Karnataka Bank Headquarters in Mangaluru.
7. Karur Vysya Bank Opens its First Aadhaar Enrollment Centre i. Karur Vysya Bank rolled out an Aadhaar Enrollment Centre at its Nelson Manickam Road Branch in Chennai. ii. The facility was inaugurated by D M Gajare, assistant director general, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Regional Office, Bengaluru. KVB is the first private sector bank to provide this service in India.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Karur Vysya Bank headquarters in Karur, Tamil Nadu.
8. RCom's Merger with Aircel Gets NCLT Nod i. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted proposals for the merger between Aircel and Reliance Communications wireless business, as well as the latter's sale of its tower business to Canada's Brookfield. ii. The telecom department had also asked NCLT to direct RCom and Aircel to get permission from the Supreme Court before filing their merger plea. The Merged entities will be called as 'Aircom' and both will have 50% equity stake.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
Mahesh Mittal Kumar is the President of NCLT.
NCLT has been constituted by the Central Government with effect from 01 June 2016.
9. Reliance Defence is Now Reliance Naval and Engineering i. Anil Ambani‟s Reliance Infrastructure-controlled Reliance Defence and Engineering is changing its name to Reliance Naval and Engineering Ltd (RNEL). According to the Company, change of name is in line with company‟s focus on building capabilities for the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. ii. The company is set to seek shareholders‟ approval for the name change in its AGM on August 22. After the Reliance Group acquired a controlling stake in Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering in 2016, it changed the name of the company to Reliance Defence and Engineering.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Shri Anil Ambani is the Non-Executive Chairman of Reliance Defence.
K. Subramaniam is the Whole Time Director and Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Defence and Engineering Limited.
10. Government Slaps USD264 Million Penalty on RIL i. The government has imposed a new penalty of USD 264 million (about Rs 1,700 crore) on Reliance Industries Ltd and its partners for producing less than the targeted natural gas from eastern offshore KG-D6 fields in 2015-16. ii. The Production Sharing Contract (PSC) allows RIL and its partners BP Plc of the UK and Canada‟s Niko Resources to deduct all capital and operating expenses from the sale of gas before sharing profit with the government.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Mr. Mukesh Ambani is the CMD of RIL.
11. Uber Launches B2B Model for Business i. Ridesharing app Uber has launched a business to business model called "Uber for Business " to enable new use cases like daily commute, late-night rides home from work, between-office transportation. ii. This new model comes with the features like Set-and-forget travel programs, New permissions, Different access for different groups and A fresh user interface.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Uber was founded in 2009.
It is the US based company.
12. Karur Vysya Bank Appoints P R Seshadri as MD and CEO i. Karur Vysya Bank Ltd has informed BSE that the Reserve Bank of India has accorded their approval for the appointment of Shri P R Seshadri as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the Bank for a period of three years from the date of his taking charge. ii. He has replaced K Venkataraman.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
Karur Vysya Bank headquarters in Karur, Tamil Nadu.
13. RBI Makes Aadhaar Linkage Mandatory for Farmers i. To ensure hassle-free benefits to farmers under Interest Subvention Scheme, the Reserve Bank of India has advised banks to make Aadhaar linkage mandatory for availing short-term crop loans up to Rs 3 lakh in 2017-18. ii. In order to provide short-term crop loans to farmers at an interest rate of 7 percent during the year 2017-18, the RBI said it has been decided to offer interest subvention of 2 percent to lending institutions, public sector banks, private sector commercial banks on use of their own resources.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
RBI Headquarters in Mumbai.
The 24th Governor of RBI is Dr. Urjit Patel.
14. IAAF World Championships 2017 i. The 16th edition of IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) World Championships 2017 was held in London. The championships were held in the London Stadium in Stratford. 'Hero-the Hedgehog' was a Mascot of 2017 IAAF World Championships and 'Whizbee-the Bee' was the Mascot for the Para Athletics. ii. The USA topped the tally of Medals with 30 medals. Top 5 Countries in the list of Medals were-
1. US (30 Medals)
2. Kenya (11 Medals)
3. Great Britain (6 Medals)
4. Poland (8 Medals)
5. China (7 Medals)
Important Highlights of The Event-
1. Legendary Sprinter Usain Bolt Retires.
2. Justin Gatlin wins men‟s 100m gold.
3. Davinder Singh Kang has become the first Indian to qualify for the final round of the javelin throw at World Championships.
4. High jump champion Ruth Beitia of Spain receives Fair Play Award.
15. Real Madrid Beats Barcelona to Win 2017 Spanish Super Cup i. Real Madrid defeated Barcelona in the second leg of the 2017 Spanish Super Cup to seal the win at the Bernabeu, Spain. ii. Real Madrid achieved the feat without Cristiano Ronaldo, who was slapped with a five-game ban for pushing the referee after he was sent-off in the first leg.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
Madrid is the Capital of Spain. 18th August 2017
1. Cabinet Approves Completion of North Koel Reservoir Project i. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the proposal to complete the balance works of the North Koel Reservoir Project in Jharkhand and Bihar at an estimated expenditure of Rs.1622.27 crore to be incurred during three financial years from the start of the project. ii. The Cabinet also approved storage of water in dam restricted at lower level than envisaged earlier to reduce the submergence and to protect Betla National Park and Palamau Tiger Reserve.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The project is situated on North Koel river which is a tributary of Sone river finally joining the river Ganga.
2. Government to Conduct „World‟s Largest Sample Survey‟ for Students i. The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has announced November 13 as the date for conducting its National Assessment Survey (NAS) for the students of class 3, 5, and 8. ii. So far, during several rounds of the survey, a total of 4.45 lakh students have been tested for various learning outcomes. This time, approximately 30 lakh students will be assessed in the year 2017-18 making it the world‟s largest sample survey of student learning achievement.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Prakash Javadekar is the HRD Minister.
3. Government Bans Export of Gold Items Above 22-Carat Purity i. The government has banned exports of gold jewellery, medallions and other articles above 22- carat purity in a bid to check round tripping of the precious metal. ii. According to the Directorate-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), certain provisions of the foreign trade policy (2015-20) are amended to allow export of gold jewellery and articles containing gold of 8 carats and above up to a maximum limit of 22 carats only from domestic tariff area and export-oriented units, electronics hardware technology parks, software technology parks and bio technology parks.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
India is the world's second-biggest gold consumer after China.
4. Environment Minister Launches “Harit Diwali, Swasth Diwali” Campaign i. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, launched the “Harit Diwali, Swasth Diwali” campaign. ii. Addressing a gathering of about 800 children from schools of Delhi and NCR, the Minister impressed upon the children the importance of their contribution towards reducing pollution by not bursting harmful fire crackers during Diwali.
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5. NHAI Launches Mobile App MyFASTag and FASTag Partner i. National Highways Authority of India launched two mobile Apps – MyFASTag and FASTag Partner in New Delhi, to facilitate the availability of FASTags for Electronic Toll Collection. ii. MyFASTag is a consumer App that can be downloaded from the App Store for both Android and iOS systems. FASTag Partner is a merchant App. Agencies like Common Services Centre, banking partners, and vehicle dealers can sell and enroll FASTag through this App.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Shri Deepak Kumar is the Chairman of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
6. HDFC Bank Revises Interest Rates On Saving Accounts i. HDFC Bank Ltd has announced a revision in its savings bank interest rate effective August 19, 2017. Post revision, customers maintaining savings bank account balance of Rs 50 lakh and above will continue to earn interest at 4 per cent per annum. ii. Customers maintaining account balance of below Rs 50 lakh will earn interest at 3.5 per cent per annum from earlier 4 per cent. The revised rates will be applicable to both resident and Non-resident customers.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
CEO of HDFC Bank is Aditya Puri.
It Headquarters in Mumbai.
7. BSNL Launches Digital Wallet Powered by MobiKwik i. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) went digital by launching a bespoke mobile wallet (mobile payment App) that would enable its existing 100 million customers to make Bill payments. This digital wallet was launched at an event by Manoj Sinha, Minister for Telecommunications in the capital. ii. The wallet has been developed and issued by MobiKwik on behalf of BSNL.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Chairman & Managing Director of BSNL is Shri Anupam Shrivastava.
Bipin Preet Singh is the Founder CEO & Director of Mobikwik.
8. World Bank Pledges $24 Million to Enhance India's Forest Ecosystem Services i. The Finance Ministry and the World Bank signed a grant agreement of $24.64 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the World Bank for ecosystem service improvement project. ii. The project would be financed entirely by the World Bank out of its GEF Trust Fund. The project's duration is five years. The objective of the Project is to strengthen the institutional capacity of the departments of forestry and community organizations to enhance forest ecosystem services and improve the livelihoods of forest dependent communities in central Indian highlands.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
World Bank's Acting Country Director for India is Hisham Abdo Kahin.
The President of the World Bank is Mr. Jim Yong Kim.
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It was founded in 1944.
It Headquarters in Washington DC, USA.
9. Tata Power, First Power Utility to Use QR Code i. Tata Power has become the first power utility to introduce a QR code based bill payments system in India. The QR code linked to Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will be printed on the electricity bills. ii. The customers can scan the QR code with BHIM app or any other UPI linked bank app and pay their bills without any hassle.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Mr. Anil Sardana is the MD and CEO of TATA Power.
Tata Power established India's first large hydro-electric project in Khopoli, Maharashtra in 1915.
10. 5 Indian-Origin Persons in Fortune‟s Annual „40 Under 40‟ List] i. Five Indian-origin persons, including Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, have featured in Fortune‟s annual list of 40 young and influential people in the field of business. Fortune‟s 2017 „40 Under 40‟ list is an annual ranking of the most influential young people who are under 40 in business. ii. The list has been topped by 39-year-old French President Emmanuel Macron “France‟s youngest leader since Napoleon”. The Indian-origin persons on the list are 26-year-old Divya Nag, who oversees Apple‟s ambitious ResearchKit and CareKit programmes, Rishi Shah, 31, and Shradha Agarwal, 32, 31-year-old Leila Janah. The list also includes Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on the second spot.
11. Emma Stone Named as 2017‟s Highest-Paid Female Actor i. Emma Stone has been named Hollywood‟s best-paid female actor in Forbes annual list of top earners. ii. The 28-year-old made $26m in the last 12 months, the majority of which was earned from her Oscar-winning performance in the musical romance La La Land. The film made over $445m worldwide.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Stone won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.
12. Sohail Mahmood- Pakistan‟s High Commissioner to India i. Sohail Mahmood has assumed the charge of Pakistan‟s High Commissioner to India in New Delhi. ii. Mahmood, who joined foreign service in 1985, was earlier deputed in Turkey as Ambassador of Pakistan. He replaced Abdul Basit after his premature retirement.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been recently elected as Pakistan Prime Minister.
13. Infosys CEO and MD Vishal Sikka Resigns i. Vishal Sikka of Infosys Ltd has resigned as Managing Director and Chief Executive of the company with immediate effect. ii. U.B. Pravin Rao has been appointed as interim-managing director and chief executive. Mr. Sikka has now been appointed as executive vice-chairman of the company. Unique IAS Academy, 1st Street Gandhipuram, Coimbatore
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
Infosys is country's no. 2 software services exporter.
14. US Declares Hizbul Mujahideen as Global Terrorist Group i. The United States named Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group. ii. The Hizb is one of the two most active Pakistan-based terrorist groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir, and claimed responsibility for several attacks, including the April 2014 explosives attack in Kashmir.
15. Lakshya Sen Wins Bulgaria Open International Series i. Young Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen clinched the Bulgaria Open International Series title after notching up a hard-fought win over Croatia‟s Zvonimir Durkinjak in the men‟s singles final in Sofia, Bulgaria. ii. The 16-year-old shuttler defeated second seed Zvonimir in a 57-minute match.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The Capital of Bulgaria is Sofia.
Rumen Radev is the President of Bulgaria.
16. Malala Yousafzai Gets a Place at Oxford i. Pakistani rights activist Malala Yousafzai secured a place at Oxford University after getting her A-level results. ii. She will philosophy, politics, and economics at the prestigious varsity.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Malala was made the youngest ever UN Messenger of Peace.
She was also the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize aged 17 in 2014.
19th August 2017
1. World Humanitarian Day: 19 August i. World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is held every year on 19 August to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world. ii. The campaign was launched on WHD with the theme- #NotATarget. The Day is organized by the United Nations.
2. China Launches First Cyber Court in e-commerce Hub i. China launched its first cyber court specializing in handling Internet-related cases in the e-commerce hub of Hangzhou. ii. The Hangzhou Internet Court in Hangzhou will handle cases such as online trade disputes and copyright lawsuits. Hangzhou is home to many Internet companies, including e-commerce giant Alibaba.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Xi Jinping is the present President of China.
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The Capital of China is Beijing and its Currency is Renminbi.
3. Sri Lanka Appoints First Tamil Navy Chief After Four Decades i. Rear Admiral Travis Sinniah was appointed as the chief of Sri Lanka's naval forces, making him the first from the minority Tamil community to head the Navy since the brutal civil war erupted in the country 45 years ago. ii. He was appointed as the Navy chief by President Maithripala Sirisena. Sinniah succeeds Vice Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne who has retired.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
He is the second Tamil to head the Lankan Navy after Rajan Kadirgamar, who was the commander in the late 1960s.
4. Union Bank Signs Insurance Deals i. Union Bank of India entered into a corporate agency agreement with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance and Cholamandalam MS General Insurance for distribution of their insurance products. ii. The public-sector bank already has a corporate agency agreement with The New India Assurance.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Union Bank of India headquarters in Mumbai.
5. US, Japan Vow To Boost Defence Cooperation With India, S Korea, Australia i. The US and Japan have agreed to advance their multilateral security and defence cooperation with countries like India, South Korea and Australia, amidst China's growing assertiveness in the Asia Pacific region. ii. During the meeting the ministers underscored the importance of cooperating to promote a rules-based international order, taking note of the United States continued commitment to maintain a strong presence in the region and Japans initiatives demonstrated by its “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy”.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Defence minister of India is Arun Jaitley.
6. Neymar Becomes Goodwill Ambassador for Disabled i. World's Most expensive player Neymar became the Goodwill Ambassador for Handicap International. ii. The charity was founded in 1982 to assist 6,000 Cambodian refugees who had lost limbs and later co-founded the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) in 1992 which won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Neymar is from Brazil.
7. Putin Appoints Nikolay Kudashev as Russia‟s New Ambassador to India i. Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed career diplomat Nikolay Kudashev as Russia‟s new ambassador to India. ii. The appointment of Kudashev comes nearly seven months after the death of Russia‟s previous ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
Vladimir Putin is the President of Russia.
The Capital of Russia is Moscow and its Currency is Russian ruble.
8. Sanjiv Gupta Appointed President and MD of General Motors India i. General Motors India announced the appointment of Sanjiv Gupta as the new President and Managing Director of the company. ii. He will replace Kaher Kazem. Kazem has been appointed as the President and CEO of GM Korea.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
General Motors India was founded in 1995.
9. Mamta Suri Takes Charge as Executive Director of IBBI i. Dr. Mamta Suri took charge as Executive Director of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) in New Delhi. ii. Before joining IBBI, Dr. Suri was serving as Chief General Manager, Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI). She has also received Honorary membership for High Scholastic Achievement from USA.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
IBBI was set up on 1st October 2016 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code).
10. Veteran Photographer S Paul Dies i. Veteran photographer S Paul died at a hospital in New Delhi. He was 88. He was a self-taught photographer. He was the first Indian to win the Nikon International Photo Contest in 1971. ii. Apart from other recognitions, Paul was the first Indian to be profiled by The British Journal of Photography in 1967. 20th August 2017
1. India‟s First World Peace University Inaugurated in MIT, Pune i. MIT World Peace University, the first of its kind in India, was inaugurated by Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis. ii. Following the celebrations, a two-day „Global Summit Science and Spirituality for World Peace‟ was organized on the next day discussing issues of national and international importance and how a different outlook towards education could solve many of them.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
C V Rao is the present Governor of Maharashtra.
2. Sadbhavana Diwas: 20 August i. The Sadbhavana Diwas or Harmony Day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary (August 20) of Rajiv Gandhi. ii. On this day national integration, peace, love, affection and communal harmony among all Indians is encouraged.
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Shri Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20, 1944, in Bombay. At 40, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest Prime Minister of India.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was the 6th Prime Minister of India, serving from 1984 to 1989.
He was assassinated on 21 May 1991.
3. 'Champions of Change' Initiative Organised by NITI Aayog i. PM Narendra Modi addressed a gathering of young entrepreneurs and CEOs startups at an event organised by NITI Aayog. The event called 'Champions of Change' was organised by India‟s policy think-tank, was aimed at bringing together young businessmen at a place and share ideas. ii. The "Champions of Change" initiative is one effort to bring together diverse strengths for the benefit of the nation and society.
Important Takeaways From Above News-
PM Narendra Modi is present Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
Economist Rajiv Kumar to be new Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog.
4. Rs 50 Note to be Launched Soon i. The Reserve Bank of India will shortly issue Rs 50 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series signed by Governor of RBI Dr. Urjit Patel. The base colour of the note is fluorescent blue. ii. The new Rs 50 banknote has a motif of Hampi with a chariot, depicting the country‟s cultural heritage, and the Swachh Bharat logo with slogan on the reverse. All the banknotes in the denomination of Rs 50 issued by the Reserve Bank in the earlier series will continue to be legal tender.
Important Takeaways From Above News-
RBI Headquarters in Mumbai.
The 24th Governor of RBI is Dr. Urjit Patel.
In November 2016, the RBI had introduced new banknotes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 denominations with base colours of stone grey and magenta, respectively.
5. Telangana CM Chosen for Agriculture Leadership Award i. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has been selected for the prestigious Agriculture Leadership Award-2017. The award will be presented on September 5 at Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi. ii. The Chief Minister has been selected for the award for his innovative services rendered to the welfare of farmers and the farm sector.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The award, instituted by Indian Council of Food and Agriculture in 2008, is presented every year since then.
E S L Narasimhan is the present Governor of Telangana.
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6. Indian Athletes Bag Record 37 Medals at World Dwarf Games i. The Indian contingent created history in the World Dwarf Games by winning a record haul of medals. ii. The 21-men Indian team won 37 medals including 15 golds, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals in the 7th edition of the World Dwarf Games. It was held in Toronto, Canada. Arunachalam Nalini, who won five medals, including one gold.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Ottawa is the Capital of Canada.
Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada.
21st August 2017
1. Navika Sagar Parikrama: Indian Navy‟s All women Team to Circumnavigate Globe i. Under project Navika Sagar Parikrama, a team of women officers of the Indian Navy would circumnavigate the globe on an Indian-built sail boat INSV Tarini. This is the first ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all- women crew. ii. The project is considered essential towards promoting Ocean Sailing activities in the Navy while depicting Government of India‟s thrust for „Nari Shakti‟.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Defence minister of India is Arun Jaitley.
Current Chief of the Naval Staff is Admiral Sunil Lanba.
Tarini was inducted into the Indian Navy on February 18, 2017.
2. India, US Establish TWO-BY-TWO Ministerial Dialogue i. India and US have established new two-by-two (2 by 2) ministerial dialogue to enhance strategic coordination between them and maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. ii. The new dialogue format will replace the earlier India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. It will be similar to the India-Japan 2+2 dialogue format between foreign and defence secretaries of the two countries.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The capital of US is Washington D.C.
Donald John Trump is the 45th and current President of the United States.
3. US and South Korea 10-day Annual Military Exercise Begins i. The US and South Korea began a 10-day-long annual military exercise. The Ulchi Freedom Guardian drill is a computer-simulated defensive exercise designed to enhance readiness and maintain stability on the Korean peninsula. ii. The Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills will be the first joint military exercise between the allies since North Korea successfully flight-tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July and threatened to bracket Guam with intermediate range ballistic missile fire in August.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
Seoul is the Capital of South Korea.
Moon Jae-in is the President of South Korea.
4. Nepalese PM Deuba to Begin Four-Day Visit to India i. In his first foreign visit after assuming office, Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will arrive on a four-day trip. ii. Deuba will be accompanied by a high-level delegation and will also call on the President and the Vice-President.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Deuba took over as prime minister in June 2017.
He has replaced Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Kathmandu is the Capital of Nepal.
5. First Regional Centre of NDB Opens in S Africa i. The first regional centre of the New Development Bank, set up by India and other BRICS nations, was officially opened by South African President Jacob Zuma and the bank's Indian head K V Kamath. ii. NDB has anauthorized capital of the bank is USD 100 billion. In 2018 it is expected to present about 15 to 20 projects involving a total lending of about USD 4 billion for the boards consideration.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Headquarter of NDB is in Shanghai, China.
President of NDB is K.V. Kamath.
6. Smriti Irani Inaugurates Handicraft Manufacturing Unit in Jharkhand i. Smriti Irani has inaugurated Jharkhand‟s first textiles manufacturing and export unit „Orient Craft Ltd‟. ii. Irani will also lay foundation stones of numerous companies under special make in Jharkhand drive, called “Momentum Jharkhand" in Jamshedpur. The ongoing ceremony, named as ”Second Groundbreaking Ceremony” foundation stones for 70 companies.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Governor of Jharkhand is Draupadi Murmu.
Chief Minister of Jharkhand is RaghubarDas.
7. Union Ministry of Defence Approves Delegation of Powers to Border Roads Organisation i. The Ministry of Defence has decided to delegate administrative and financial powers to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to avoid delays on account of references between the Chief Engineer, HQ DGBR and the Ministry. ii. The Ministry of Defence has approved that for both departmental and contractual mode of execution. A chief engineer of the BRO can accord administrative approval up to Rs. 50 crore, ADGBR up to Rs. 75 crore and DGBR up
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Page 17 UNIQUE IAS ACADEMY AUGUST 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS to Rs. 100 crore. Defence Ministry has approved policy guidelines based on which the BRO may engage big construction companies for taking up road projects on a turnkey basis.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The defence minister of India is Arun Jaitley.
8. Rajasthan Govt Signed JV Agreement for Refinery Project with HPCL i. Rajasthan government and state-owned oil firm HPCL inked an agreement to form a joint venture company for Barmer petroleum refinery and petrochemical complex. In a new firm, HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), state government will have 26% and HPCL will have 74 per cent of partnership. ii. As per the proposed plan, the refinery project would be established in 4,813 acres of land area. A 270 MW power would be generated from the waste petcoke generated from the refinery.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Chief Minister of Rajasthan is Vasundhara Raje.
M K Surana is the current CEO, Chairman, Managing Director of HPCL.
9. Nestle India Ties up With Amazon i. Nestle India has tied up with Amazon India for the launch of its new Nutrilicious range of Maggi Noodles. The new range will be available first on Amazon.in, and the company, subsequently, aims to roll it out across retail outlets in India. ii. New Maggi Nutritious Noodles are in line with Nestle‟s “Simply Good” initiative to provide healthier & tastier choices to consumers.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Jeffrey Preston Bezos is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Amazon.com.
Mark Schneider is the Chief Executive Officer of Nestle.
10. UK Scientists Create World's Smallest Surgical Robot i. British scientists have developed the worlds smallest surgical robot which could transform daily operations for tens of thousands of patients. A team of 100 scientists and engineers have used low-cost technology originally developed for mobile phones and space industry. ii. The robot, called Versius, mimics the human arm and can be used to carry out a wide range of laparoscopic procedures. The robot is set to be launched next year.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The Capital of UK is London.
Theresa May is the PM of UK.
11. NASA Launches Satellite to Help Astronauts Talk to Earth i. NASA launched the latest in a series of satellites aimed at ensuring astronauts at the International Space Station can communicate with Earth. The $408 million Boeing-made Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-M) soared into space atop an Atlas V rocket that launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
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Page 18 UNIQUE IAS ACADEMY AUGUST 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS ii. The satellite will support critical space communication into the mid-2020s. TDRS-M is the last of 13 such satellites that have been launched since 1983.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the full form of NASA.
Robert M. Lightfoot Jr. is NASA Acting Administrator.
NASA was established in 1958.
12. 12-year-old Indian-Origin Crowned Child Genius in UK i. A 12-year-old Indian-origin boy named Rahul Doshi has been crowned as the UK‟s „Child Genius‟ in a popular television quiz competition, days after he became an overnight sensation after answering all questions correctly. ii. Rahul Doshi won the Channel 4 show „Child Genius‟ by beating his nine-year-old opponent – Ronan – 10-4. The school boy is from north London.
13. Power Grid Inks $500 Million Loan Pact with ADB i. State-run power transmission utility Power Grid Corp announced that it will get a loan of USD 500 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its various projects. ii. The proceeds of the loan are proposed to be utilised for funding of Green Energy Corridor (Part D); 800KV High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) bipole link between Western Region (Raigarh, Chhattisgarh) and Southern Region (Pugalur, Tamil Nadu) and 320 KV HDVC link between Pugalur and North Trichur (Kerala).
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Headquarter of ADB is in Manila, Philippines.
TakehikoNakao is the president of ADB.
I. S. Jha is Chairman & Managing Director of Power Grid Corporation of India.
14. At 27%, SBI Tops Share of Wilful Default to PSBs i. The country‟s largest lender, SBI, accounts for over 27 per cent of the total amount owed to public sector banks by wilful defaulters. As many as 1,762 wilful defaulters owed SBI Rs25,104 crore. ii. Punjab National Bank (PNB) is next on the list with 1,120 wilful defaulters having outstanding non-performing assets (NPAs) of Rs12,278 crore.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Headquarter of SBI is in Mumbai.
Arundhati Bhattacharya is currently the Chairman of the State Bank of India.
15. Serena Williams- The Highest-Paid Female Athlete of 2017 i. American Tennis Player Serena Williams has topped the Forbes‟ list of highest paid female athletes of 2017 with $27 million in earnings between June 2016 and June 2017. ii. Her earnings, which include prize money and endorsements, is twice that of any other female athlete.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
Sharapova was the highest-paid female athlete for 11 years until Williams unseated her in FORBES‟ 2016 look at the top-paid women in sports.
Williams ranked 51st on the list in 2016.
16. Comedy Legend Jerry Lewis Dies i. Veteran American entertainer Jerry Lewis died aged 91. One of the most popular comic actors of the 1950s and ‟60s, Lewis perfected the role of the quirky clown in slapstick comedies like “The Nutty Professor” but also won acclaim as a writer, actor, and philanthropist. ii. He was honoured with accolades at home and abroad, including a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The notable films in Lewis‟ repertoire include “It‟s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (1959), “The Geisha Boy” (1958) and “Funnybones” (1984). 22nd August 2017
1. National Sports Awards 2017 Announced i. National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four year, Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for four years, Dronacharya Award for coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious International sports events, Dhyan Chand Award for life time contribution to sports development. ii. The Union Government announced the National Sports Awards. Para athlete Devendra and hockey player Sardar Singh will be honoured with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
More Details of National Sports Awards 2017
2. FDI jumps 37% to $10.4 billion during April-June 2017 i. Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country grew by 37 per cent to USD 10.4 billion during the first quarter of the current fiscal. According to the figures of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), India had received USD 7.59 billion FDI during April-June 2016-17. ii. The main sectors which attracted the highest foreign inflows include services, telecom, trading, computer hardware and software and automobile. The bulk of the FDI came in from Singapore, Mauritius, the Netherlands and Japan.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
FDI is a major source of non-debt financial resource for the economic development of India.
FDI and Portfolio Investment in Public Sector Banks are subject to overall statutory limits of 20 percent.
DIPP was established in 1995 and has been reconstituted in the year 2000.
3. ONGC board approves HPCL takeover of 51.11% stake i. The board of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp, ONGC, has given 'in-principle' approval to acquire government's 51 (point) 11 per cent stake in Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd. The government had approved the sale
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Page 20 UNIQUE IAS ACADEMY AUGUST 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS of its 51.11 per cent stake in oil refiner HPCL to India's largest oil producer ONGC. The deal will be completed within a year. ii. The government had also constituted a committee headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and comprising oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan and road minister Nitin Gadkari to work out the modalities of the sale. Jaitley had in his Budget for 2017-18 talked about creating an integrated oil behemoth.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
HPCL is a Government of India Enterprise with a Navratna Status, and a Forbes 2000 and Global Fortune 500 company.
Dinesh K Sarraf is the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC).
Registered Office & Corporate Headquarters of HPCL is in Mumbai.
4. Home Minister Rajnath Singh launches digital police portal i. A digital police portal under the CCTNS project, which aims to create a national database of crimes and criminals has launched by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The digital police portal will provide the citizen, facility for online complaint registration and request for antecedent verification. ii. The police portal will provide 11 searches and 46 reports from the national database for state police and central investigation agencies. Central investigating and research agencies have also been provided logins to the digital police database to access crime statistics.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
CCTNS stands for Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems Project or the crime and criminal tracking network system.
Kiren Rijiju is current Union Minister of State for Home Affairs of India.
5. Android Oreo released by Google i. Keeping up its tradition of naming its Android upgrades with delectable desserts, Google has launched its version 8.0 o the operating system as Android Oreo. ii. The Oreo boasts of a two times faster boot speed, autofill option, and a longer battery life. The new update comes with a Picture-in-Picture feature that allows the user to see two apps simultaneously.
6. NABARD Approves Rs 1,350-cr loan to Rajasthan Government i. The National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned a loan assistance of Rs 1,349.55 crore to the Rajasthan government for the creation of rural infrastructure in the state under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). ii. The sanction includes assistance for construction of two rural drinking water supply projects, strengthening/ rehabilitation of 1,614 rural roads and modernisation of three major irrigation projects.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The government of India created the RIDF in NABARD in 1995-96, with an initial corpus of Rs.2,000 crore.
NABARD came into existence on 12 July 1982 by transferring the agricultural credit functions of RBI and refinance functions of the then Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation (ARDC). Unique IAS Academy, 1st Street Gandhipuram, Coimbatore
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Dr Harsh Kumar Bhanwala is the Chairman of NABARD since 18th December 2013.
7. IOC to Invest Rs 52,000 cr in Paradip Refinery Post Pact with Odisha Govt i. State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will invest about Rs 52,000 crore in expanding Paradip refinery in Odisha and setting up petrochemical complex after the Odisha State Government agreed to restore part of tax incentives. ii. Odisha Government has agreed to restore part of tax incentives and has agreed to give Rs 700 crore per annum of an interest-free loan for 15 years to make up for the withdrawn incentive.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Headquarters of IOC is located in New Delhi.
Sanjiv Singh is the current Chairman of IOC.
8. AIADMK Merger: O Panneerselvam Sworn in as Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu i. O Panneerselvam was on 21 August 2017 sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu, following the much-speculated merger of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) factions. ii. The two factions of the AIADMK merged six months after their split following the death of then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Panneerselvam was appointed as the Coordinator of the merged AIADMK.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Governor of Tamil Nadu is Vidyasagar Rao.
9. India Football Star Oinam Bembem Devi Receives Arjuna Award i. Oinam Bembem Devi, the flagbearer of Indian women's football for over the past two decades was named the winner of the prestigious Arjuna Award. Bembem becomes the second Indian woman footballer to win the award, the first being Shanti Mullick in 1983. ii. Bembem is the 25th Footballer to have won the Arjuna Award, the last being Subrata Paul in 2016. In addition, she was also awarded the AIFF Woman Footballer Award twice, in 2001 and 2013.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
President of All India Football Federation is Praful Patel.
10. I & B Ministry Constituted 40-Member Preview Panel for IFFI i. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry on 21 August 2017 constituted a 40-member 'preview committee‟ for the International Film Festival of India 2017, which is going to be held in Goa. ii. While filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has been chosen as the convenor of the committee. Besides this, the I and B Ministry also constituted a new 13-member steering committee and a 12-member technical committee, which will be headed by Jahnu Barua and Nagesh Kukunoor respectively.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is scheduled to be held in Goa from 20 – 28 November 2017.
Information and Broadcasting minister of India are Smriti Zubin Irani.
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11. Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat Programme Launched i. Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) Prakash Javadekar launched the „Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat‟ Programme in Kochi, Kerala. ii. Javadekar also launched the Health and Fitness Profile Card along with the programme. The programme is an initiative of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to prepare a physical Health and Fitness Profile Card for more than 12 lakhs of Kendriya Vidyalaya students. 23rd August 2017
1. World's Highest-Paid Actors 2017: Forbes List i. The former rapper-turned-actor Mark Wahlberg is Hollywood's highest-paid leading man, earning $68 million pretax in 12 month scoring period. From India, Shahrukh Khan is the highest paid actor (Rank 8) followed by Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar. Wahlberg has replaced out last year's top-ranked star, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. ii. The Top 10 Highest Paid Actors in the List are:
1. Mark Wahlberg ($68 million)
2. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson ($65 million)
3. Vin Diesel ($54.5 million)
4. Adam Sandler ($50.5 million)
5. Jackie Chan ($49 million)
6. Robert Downey, Jr. ($48 million)
7. Tom Cruise ($43 million)
8. Shah Rukh Khan ($38 million)
9. Salman Khan ($37 million)
10. Akshay Kumar ($35.5 million).
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The highest paid Female Actress is Emma Stone ($26 million).
2. 17th meeting of FSDC Held in New Delhi i. The seventeenth Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was held in New Delhi under the Chairmanship of the Union Minister of Finance, Shri Arun Jaitley. ii. The Council discussed the Central KYC Registry (CKYCR) system. The Council also deliberated on strengthening the regulation of the Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs).
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Present Finance Minister of India is Mr. Arun Jaitley.
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R. K. Shanmukham Chetty was the First Finance Minister of Independent India.
3. NITI Aayog Launched 'Mentor India' Campaign i. NITI Aayog launched the 'Mentor India Campaign'. It is a strategic nation building initiative to engage leaders who can guide and mentor students at more than 900 Atal Tinkering Labs, established across the country as a part of the Atal Innovation Mission. ii. CEO NITI Aayog, Shri Amitabh Kant unveiled the online nationwide initiative in New Delhi. Mentor India is aimed at maximizing the impact of Atal Tinkering Labs, possibly the biggest disruption in formal education globally.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
PM Narendra Modi is present Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
Economist Rajiv Kumar to be new Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog.
Full form of NITI Aayog is National Institution for Transforming India.
4. ICMR, Ministry of Health Sign Pact with S Korea‟s IVI i. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Union Ministry of Health inked a pact with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), South Korea to collaborate on vaccine research and development. ii. The ICMR is the apex body in the country for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research. The IVI has 35 signatory countries. With this partnership, India is committing an annual contribution of USD 5,00,000 to IVI and joins Sweden and South Korea as financially contributing signatories to IVI.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan is the Director General of ICMR.
Dr. Jerome H Kim is the Director General of IVI, South Korea.
5. 8th World Renewable Energy Technology Congress in New Delhi i. Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, Renewable Energy and Mines, Shri Piyush Goyal, addressed the 3- day 8th World Renewable Energy Technology Congress in New Delhi. ii. The annual conference is visualized and planned in the backdrop of India's vision of achieving "Energy Independence and Power for all by 2022". The theme of the conference was "Renewable Energy: What Works".
Important Takeaways from Above News-
7th World Renewable Energy Technology Congress & Expo-2016 was held in August 2016.
6. 40% Reservation for Girls at Planned Schools i. According to Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the government has decided to proffer 40 per cent reservation for girls at 100 Navodaya-type schools and five higher education institutes it plans to set up for minority community students. ii. A panel formed by The Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), a government-funded agency, had recommended a three-tier model to tackle educational backwardness among minorities. There are six notified minority communities in the country: Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis and Jains.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is the Minister of Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs.
7. RBI to issue Rs200 notes i. The government gave its go-ahead to the Reserve Bank of India to issue Rs 200 notes that will ease pressure on lower-denomination currency bills. ii. The new Rs 200 notes are likely to be in circulation shortly. The exercise of printing Rs 200 denomination notes is being undertaken to further improve the currency situation in the country.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
RBI Headquarters in Mumbai.
The 24th Governor of RBI is Dr. Urjit Patel.
In November 2016, the RBI had introduced new banknotes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 denominations with base colours of stone grey and magenta, respectively.
8. Railway Board Chairman Ashok Mittal Resigns i. Ashok Mittal, Chairman of the Railway Board submitted his resignation to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. His resignation comes in the wake of a number of a high-profile accidents and derailments on the Indian Railways. ii. Two Indian Rails namely Kaifyat Express and Utkal Express derailed, recently.
9. Ashwani Lohani: New Railway Board Chairman i. Ashwani Lohani, the CMD of Air India has been named as the new Chairman of Railway Board, following the resignation on A.K. Mittal. Ashwani Lohani, an IRSME cadre has previously served as DRM, Delhi Division. ii. Mr. Lohani holds four engineering degrees, has authored two books and is credited with the turnaround of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and the India Tourism Development Corporation.
10. Former Manipur CM Rishang Keishing Passes Away i. Former Manipur Chief Minister and a member of the first Lok Sabha Rishang Keishing passed away following a brief illness. The veteran Congress leader was 96. He served as the Chief Minister of Manipur from 1980 to 1988 and from 1994 to 1997. ii. Keishing passed away due to multiple organ failures. Keishing, who hailed from Bungpa village in Ukhrul district, was elected to the Lok Sabha in the first parliamentary elections held in 1952.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Shri Nongthombam Biren Singh is the present Chief Minister of Manipur.
11. New Zealand's Oldest Cricketer Tom Pritchard Passes Away i. New Zealand's oldest cricketer Tom Pritchard has passed away. He was 100. Pritchard claimed 818 wickets across 200 first-class games, including 695 during a decade of service at Edgbaston. ii. He, however, never played Test cricket. In March 2017, Pritchard became only the third New Zealand first-class cricketer, after John Wheatley and Syd Ward, to reach 100 years of age.
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12. Brian Aldiss, British Science Fiction Writer Passes Away i. Brian Aldiss, one of the most prolific and influential science fiction writers of the 20th century, has died aged 92. ii. Born in 1925, Aldiss served in India and Burma with the British Army during World War II and later became a bookseller, publishing his first stories in a trade magazine.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Aldiss was awarded the title of Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
24th August 2017
1. Important Cabinet Approvals- 23rd August i. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the following set of approvals. The full list of Cabinet Approvals is given as follows- ii. Cabinet has approved-
1. Setting up of a Commission to examine the Sub-Categorization within OBCs.
2. MoU between India and Nepal for laying down implementation arrangement for construction of a Closure of loss making Bharat Wagon and Engineering Company. 3. MoU between India and Nepal on Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and precursor chemicals and related matters. 4. Cabinet gives in-principle approval for Public Sector Banks to amalgamate through an Alternative Mechanism (AM). The salient features of the approval Framework for Consolidation of Public Sector Banks are as follows:
The decision regarding creating strong and competitive banks would be solely based on commercial considerations.
The proposal must start from the Boards of Banks.
The proposals received from Banks for in-principle approval to formulate schemes of amalgamation shall be placed before the Alternative Mechanism (AM).
After in-principle approval, the Banks will take steps in accordance with law and SEBI‟s requirements.
The final scheme will be notified by Central Government in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India.
2. Alibaba's Jack Ma is Asia's Richest Man: Forbes i. Alibaba Group‟s Jack Ma is back on top as Asia‟s richest man following gains in the company's earnings and share price. Jack Ma is worth $37.4 billion, according to the Forbes real-time billionaires list. ii. In the latest rankings, Chinese Internet billionaire- Tencent Chairman Ma Huateng, the latter has slipped to No. 2, with a fortune worth $36.7 billion. Jack Ma currently ranks as the world‟s No. 18 richest man and is No. 1 in Asia.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Alibaba Group Holding Limited is a Chinese e-commerce company.
Alibaba Headquarters in Hangzhou, China.
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3. Creamy Layer Ceiling Raised to Rs 8 LPA i. The government has hiked the ceiling for the creamy layer from Rs. 6 lakh per annum to Rs. 8 lakh per annum for central government jobs, according to the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. In the OBC category, those earning up to Rs. 8 lakh per annum will get reservation benefits. ii. The Cabinet also approved a commission to examine sub-categorization of OBCs. The better-educated member of Other Backward Classes who cannot avail government-sponsored educational and job benefits are called the creamy layer.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The Supreme Court had raised this ceiling from Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 6,00,000 in 2013 and is to be revised every 3 years.
4. Supreme Court Declares Right to Privacy as Fundamental Right i. The Supreme Court of India pronounced that individual privacy is a fundamental right protected by the Constitution. A nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar ruled that the right to privacy is intrinsic to life and liberty, thus coming under Article 21, and comes under the various fundamental freedoms in PART III of the Indian Constitution. ii. All the nine judges arrive at the same conclusion, though through different but concurring judgments, that right to privacy is intrinsic to right to life and liberty. With this now India has total seven fundamental rights.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Right to equality, Right to freedom, Right against exploitation, Right to freedom of religion, Cultural and Educational rights, and Right to constitutional remedies are the 6 fundamental rights of India.
Deepak Misra will be the new Chief Justice of India.
Supreme Court of India came into existence on 26th January 1950.
5. Cabinet Renames SAMPADA Scheme as PMKSY i. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the renaming of the new Central Sector Scheme- SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) as "Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)" for the period of 2016-20 coterminous with the 14th Finance Commission cycle. ii. The new Central Sector Scheme- SAMPADA was approved in May 2017 with same allocation and period. The objective of PMKSY is to supplement agriculture, modernize processing and decrease Agri-Waste.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The Agricultural Minister of India is Radha Mohan Singh.
6. TRAI Signs Deal with Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission i. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) signed a letter of intent (LoI) with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to jointly conduct capacity building exercises in the fields of broadcasting and telecommunications regulation. ii. The agreement would help both regulators to work closely in enhancing mutual cooperation and bilateral relations.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
R. S. Sharma is the Present Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
7. Sushma Swaraj to Inaugurate First Videsh Bhavan in Mumbai i. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will inaugurate the country's first Videsh Bhavan, assimilating all Regional Passport Offices under one roof, at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). ii. As a first pilot project, four offices of MEA - Regional Passport Office (RPO), Protector of Emigrants (PoE) office, Branch Secretariat and Regional Office of ICCR - have been assimilated and brought under one roof at the state-of-art office.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Sushma Swaraj is an Indian politician, former Supreme Court lawyer and the current Minister of External Affairs of India.
8. 8 MOUs signed between India and Nepal i. Nepalese PM Sher Bahadur Deuba accompanied by his spouse Dr. Arzu Deuba is on a State Visit to India at the invitation of PM of India, Shri Narendra Modi. On the Second Day of his visit following MoUs/Agreements were signed between the two countries-
1. MoU on Modalities for Utilization of India‟s Housing Grant Component to support Reconstruction of 50,000 Houses.
2. MoU on Implementation of the Grant Component of India‟s Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Package in the Education Sector in Nepal.
3. MoU on Implementation of the Grant Component of India‟s Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Package in the Cultural Heritage Sector in Nepal.
4. MoU on Implementation of the Grant Component of India‟s Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Package in the Health Sector in Nepal.
5. MoU for Implementation Arrangement on Cost Sharing, Schedules and Safeguard Issues for Construction of Mechi Bridge under ADB's SASEC Road Connectivity Program.
6. MoU on Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursor Chemical and Related Matters.
7. Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Standardization and Conformity Assessment.
8. MoU between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal.
9. Rajnath Attends SCO Meet in Kyrgyz Republic i. A two-day Meeting of Heads of Governments of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States begun at Choplon Ata in Kyrgyz Republic. The meeting focused on prevention and elimination of emergency situations. ii. Home Minister Rajnath Singh lead the Indian delegation which includes senior officers from Home and External Affairs Ministries and National Disaster Management Authority. India had joined the SCO in June 2017 in Kazakhstan capital Astana.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
The Capital of Kyrgyz Republic is Bishkek.
Its Currency is Kyrgyzstani som.
10. Microsoft Launches 'Project Brainwave' for Real-Time AI i. Software giant Microsoft has announced its 'Project Brainwave' deep learning acceleration platform for real-time artificial intelligence (AI). With the help of ultra-low latency, the system processes requests as fast as it receives them. ii. The 'Project Brainwave' uses the massive field-programmable gate array (FPGA) infrastructure that Microsoft has been deploying over the past few years.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Satya Nadella is the CEO of the USA based Microsoft Company.
11. Andhra Pradesh First to Implement Bharat QR Digital Payments i. Andhra Pradesh‟s Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd (EPDCL) and the Southern Power Distribution Corporation of AP Ltd. (SPDCL) have become the first state-owned distribution companies in India to accept payments through Bharat QR. ii. As part of the „Vizag less–cash city‟ initiative underway between Visa and the Andhra Pradesh government, the state has witnessed a slew of initiatives aimed at increasing the rate of digital payment adoption across the masses.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Bharat QR Code is the world‟s first interoperable quick response code acceptance solution launched by the Reserve Bank of India.
N. Chandrababu Naidu is the present CM of Andhra Pradesh.
E S L Narasimhan is the Present Governor of Andhra Pradesh.
12. Two RRBs Record Over Rs 150-cr Profit in FY17: RBI i. Of the 56 regional rural banks (RRBs), Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank and Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank recorded net profit of more than Rs 150 crore during 2016-17. These are among the 49 RRBs that recorded a profit in 2016-17. ii. According to the Reserve Bank of India‟s „Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India‟, 45 of the 56 RRBs earned profits without carrying any accumulated losses during 2015-16.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The first RRB of India is Prathama Bank located in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh.
The three RRBs promoted by Syndicate Bank - Prathama Bank, Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank, and Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank.
13. Government Announces Rajiv Bansal as New Air India CMD i. Rajiv Bansal, additional secretary in the petroleum ministry, has been named the interim CMD of Air India.
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Page 29 UNIQUE IAS ACADEMY AUGUST 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS ii. Bansal is an Indian Administrative Services officer from the 1988 batch. The government has appointed current Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani chairman of the Railway Board. Lohani's appointment came a day after AK Mital resigned from the post of railways chairman.
14. Ajay Vipin Nanavati is New Syndicate Bank Chairman i. Ajay Vipin Nanavati was appointed as the chairman of Syndicate Bank. The appointments committee of the cabinet has approved his appointment as non-official director/non-executive chairman of Syndicate Bank for three years. ii. In 2015, the government had bifurcated the posts of chairman and managing directors in public sector banks. While the chairman became responsible for overall policy directions, the managing director and chief executive officer became the executive head, accountable for day-to-day functioning of the bank.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Syndicate Bank Headquarters in Manipal Karnataka.
15. Wayne Rooney, England's Record Goalscorer, Retires i. Wayne Rooney, hailed from England retired from international football to prioritize ending his career on a high with boyhood club Everton. ii. The 31-year-old was England captain and is the all-time record goalscorer. Rooney‟s England career spanned 14 years.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
London is the capital of England.
Pound sterling is the currency of England. 25th August 2017
1. Nandan Nilekani Returns to Infosys as New Chairman i. Nandan Nilekani has been appointed as the New Chairman of the software giant Infosys. Nilekani has replaced R Seshasayee, who resigned as chairman of the board. Vishal Sikka stepped down as CEO of the company recently. ii. Sikka, who was appointed executive vice-chairman after he resigned as CEO, has also stepped down.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Nilekani served as Infosys‟s CEO from 2002 to 2007.
Infosys is country's no. 2 software services exporter.
2. Dhanlaxmi Bank, DHFL Pramerica Tie up for Bancassurance i. DHFL Pramerica Life Insurance Company has signed on Kerala-based Dhanlaxmi Bank as its bancassurance partner. Under the agreement, the latter will distribute retail and group life insurance products to its customers across 260 branches in India. ii. With this tie-up, the company is in a strong position to consolidate its presence in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The tie-up will further increase the insurance penetration in the region.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
G Sreeram is the Managing Director and CEO of Dhanlaxmi Bank.
3. Karnataka signs MOU with Microsoft i. Karnataka Agriculture Department has signed an MoU with Microsoft India to develop a unique “farm price forecasting model” using latest IT tools in a bid to help farmers, administrators and other stakeholders to understand the market behaviour in advance. ii. The proposed initiative is the first-of-its-kind in the country as it is a “multi-variate” one that takes into consideration various factors beyond the conventional supply-demand equation while forecasting the prices for crops. It will examine a slew of related factors including weather, rainfall and external factors that impact market behaviour.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Siddaramaiah is the CM of Karnataka.
Vajubhai Vala is the Present Governor of Karnataka.
4. Ronaldo First to be named Men's Player of the Year for Three Times i. Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has won the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award for the 2016/17 season. He received the award at the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League group stage draw in Monaco. ii. Ronaldo picked up the trophy for the second consecutive season and third time in total. Ronaldo received 482 points in the poll, with Messi (141 votes) and Buffon (109 votes) finishing second and third respectively.
Other Award Given are as follows-
1. UEFA Women's Player of the Year: Lieke Martens.
2. Best Goalkeeper of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League season: Gianluigi Buffon.
3. Best Defender of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League season: Sergio Ramos.
4. Best Midfielder of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League season: Luka Modrić.
5. Best Forward of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League season: Cristiano Ronaldo.
6. UEFA President's Award: Francesco Totti.
5. UIDAI Launches Door Step Aadhar Enrolment in Delhi i. UIDAI has joined hands with CSC India for launching door step enrolment facility in the national capital for the elderly, patients and others who cannot travel the Aadhar centers. ii. The van was flagged off by Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. The van will provide Aadhaar enrolment service at door step in Delhi area.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Shri J Satyanarayana (Part Time) is the Chairman of UIDAI.
UIDAI stands for Unique Identification Authority of India.
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6. Raghuram Rajan Pens Book 'I Do What I Do' on his RBI Stint i. Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has penned a book titled 'I Do What I Do: On Reform, Rhetoric & Resolve'. Raghuram Rajan explains economic concepts and talks of issues like tolerance and connection between political freedom and prosperity in his new book. ii. The book is a collection of essays and speeches during his stint as Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor. The book will hit stores on 4 September, exactly a year after he quit as the RBI governor.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
He co-authored Saving Capitalism from the Capitalists with Luigi Zingales and wrote Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy, for which he was awarded the Financial Times-Goldman Sachs prize for best business book.
7. Bilateral Meeting Between India and Uzbekistan Held in New Delhi i. The Commerce and Industries Minister, Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman and Mr. Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Elyor Ganiev, Minister of Foreign Trade held detailed discussions on deepening trade and economic ties between India and Uzbekistan in a bilateral meeting in New Delhi. ii. Commerce Minister expressed happiness on the formation of an Uzbek India Trading House at Delhi as a Joint Venture Company.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The Capital of Uzbekistan is Tashkent.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev is the president of Uzbekistan.
8. Indian Navy Band Participates in International Military Music Festival in Russia i. The International Military Music Festival "Spasskaya Tower" is the parade of the best military music bands of Russia and other countries that takes place every year at Red Square in Moscow. This time Indian Navy Band is participating in the festival. ii. Every year about 1500 musicians, military men and other artists from around 40 countries perform at the "Spasskaya Tower". The Festival is duly considered one of the largest international events in Russia and attracts tremendous response of the general public.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Moscow is the Capital of Russia.
Vladimir Putin is the Present President of Russia.
9. Tony de Brum Passes Away i. Tony de Brum, the former Marshall Islands foreign minister who became a leading advocate for the landmark Paris Climate Agreement and an internationally recognised voice in the fight against climate change, has died aged 72. ii. De Brum was also the Pacific nation‟s climate ambassador.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Majuro is the capital of Marshall Islands.
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10. India‟s Oldest Cinematographer Ramananda Sengupta Passes Away i. Country's oldest cinematographer Ramanda Sengupta, who worked with legends like Jean Renoir, Ritwik Ghatak, and Mrinal Sen, died in Kolkata, West Bengal. ii. Sengupta was 101 years old. He got his first break in 1938 when he joined Film Corporation of India in Kolkata (then Calcutta) as an assistant cameraman. His first film as a full-time cinematographer was in Purbaraag directed by Ardhendu Mukherjee in 1946.
11. Salient Features of Newly Introduced Rs 50 and Rs 200 Notes i. The Reserve Bank of India will shortly issue Rs 50 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, bearing the signature of Dr. Urjit R. Patel, Governor, Reserve Bank of India. ii. The new denomination has a motif of Hampi with Chariot on the reverse, depicting the country‟s cultural heritage. The base colour of the note is Fluorescent Blue. The dimension of the banknote will be 66 mm x 135 mm. 26th August 2017
1. Nungthaang Tampak- North East's First 100% Computer Literate Village i. Manipur's Nungthaang Tampak village has emerged as the '100 percent computer literate' not only in the state but in the entire North East. The computer course was organized by Mangal Rural as a part of the Digital India program. ii. Nungthang Tampak has become India's second 100 percent computer literate village. Kerala's Chamravattom village is the country's first 100 percent computer literate village.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
N Biren Singh is the present CM of Manipur.
Dr. Najma Heptulla is the present Governor of Manipur.
2. E-waste Disposal from Schools Kicks Starts in Kerala i. E-waste removal from Kerala schools has begun with about 12,500 kg being disposed statewide on a single day under a programme aiming to clear accumulated junk, reportedly estimated at over one crore kg. ii. It is aimed at disposing e-Waste such as desktop computers, CRT monitors, laptops, disk drives, printers, UPS, camera, speaker system, television, network components and generators from 10,000 odd schools and educational offices in the state.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Pinarayi Vijayan is the Present CM of Kerala.
Palaniswamy Sathasivam is the Present Governor of Kerala.
3. Jammu and Kashmir Government to Set Up First Eco-Park i. The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to build an Eco-Park on over 34 acres of land reclaimed from encroachers in the state's Rajouri district. ii. The park is a first-of-its-kind project in the region. It will have a botanical garden, a cactus garden, a cafeteria and other amenities.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed is the present CM of Jammu and Kashmir.
N. N. Vohra is the Present Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
4. CA Institute Signs MoU with ICA Nepal i. The CA Institute of India has signed an MoU with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN). Nilesh Vikamsey, President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Prakash Jung Thapa, President-- ICAN exchanged the MoU. ii. The MoU seeks to establish mutual co-operation for the advancement of accounting knowledge, professional and intellectual development, advancing the interests of their respective members and positively contributing to the development of the accounting profession in Nepal and India.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Bidhya Devi Bhandari is the present President of Nepal.
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal.
5. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Launches Rooftop Solar Program i. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the grid-connected rooftop solar project through net-metering system. He also launched the web portal of the rooftop solar programme– www.rtsodisha.gov.in. ii. Under the program, it can install solar plants on their rooftops and consume the generated solar power during the day time. The investment on a rooftop solar system is about Rs 70,000 per kw. The state government will provide 30 percent subsidy to the consumers.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
S C Jamir is the Present Governor of Odisha.
6. In a First, Nepal launches Climate-Smart Snow Leopard Plan i. In a first, Nepal launched its climate-smart snow leopard landscape management plan, leading the way in safeguarding this endangered species, also found in India, and its habitat. ii. This is the first climate-smart landscape management plan for snow leopard conservation in the world. The plan aims to safeguard the endangered species of snow leopard and its habitat.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Leopard is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Sher Bahadur Deuba is the present PM of Nepal.
7. RBI Appoints Committee to Link Home Loan Rates to Repo Rate i. Reserve Bank of India appointed committee on Household Finance has suggested that banks link their home loan rates to the RBI's repo rate, the rate at which it lends to banks. ii. In the past three years the central bank has reduced the policy rate by 200 basis points, but the weighted average lending rates have fallen by 145 basis points.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
RBI Headquarters in Mumbai.
The 24th Governor of RBI is Dr. Urjit Patel.
8. Coast Guard Training Ship Varuna Decommissioned i. The Indian Coast Guard Ship Varuna, which was part of the First Training Squadron of the Navy, was decommissioned with full armed forces honors at a ceremony. The ship had an illustrious service spanning about 30 years. ii. ICGS Varuna was the fourth of in its class of offshore patrol vessels built by the Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock. The ship had numerous operational achievements to its credit, including a record number of apprehension of smugglers with gold worth crores of rupees during the late 1980s.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
ICGS Varuna has now been replaced by ICGS Sarathi in the First Training Squadron of the Indian Navy.
9. Commerce Ministry Sets Up Task Force on Artificial Intelligence i. Commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman has constituted a task force on artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure “India‟s economic transformation”. The task force will be headed by V. Kamakoti, a professor in the department of computer science and engineering at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. ii. The committee will focus on a wide spectrum of areas including agriculture and transportation. The panel will comprise 18 experts, academics, researchers and industry leaders and will explore possibilities to leverage AI for development across various fields.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Artificial intelligence is intelligence exhibited by machines, rather than humans or other animals.
10. England to Host 2018 ITTF Team World Cup i. England has been awarded the right to host the 2018 Table Tennis Team World Cup, which will be held in London. The event will take place at the Copper Box Arena in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from 22-25 February 2018. ii. It will be the first major table tennis-only event to be held in London since Wembley hosted the 1954 World Championships. A total of 12 men's and 12 women's teams will compete at the event.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Thomas Weikert is the president of ITTF. 27th August 2017
1. HDFC Bank Launches All-in-one PoS Machine i. HDFC Bank announced a software upgrade to create a single point-of-sale (PoS) machine which will accept payments through Unified Payments Interface (UPI), BharatQR, SMS Pay and the bank‟s mobile wallet, in addition to the traditional mode of swiping cards. ii. The merchant has to do is to update his/her machine with a software at no cost. The new software will work only on HDFC Bank-issued PoS machines, but will accept any card or app from any bank/service provider. Unique IAS Academy, 1st Street Gandhipuram, Coimbatore
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
HDFC Bank Limited is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
MD of HDFC Bank is Aditya Puri.
The upgraded device will also allow merchants to offer equated monthly installment (EMI)-based payments using HDFC Bank credit and debit cards.
2. Banks to Pay 3% IGST on Gold Imports i. Banks importing gold and precious metals will have to pay 3 per cent tax under the GST which can be claimed as input tax credit. ii. Under GST 3% Integrated-GST is payable on all imports of precious metals in addition to the basic customs duty. IGST paid can be taken as input tax credit by the banks.
3. Dharmendra Kumar Appointed Director General of RPF i. CISF ADG Dharmendra Kumar has been appointed as Director General of the Railway Protection Force. Kumar, who is a 1984 batch IPS officer of Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre, took charge. ii. After the retirement of S K Bhagat in June 2017, the additional charge of DG, RPF, was being handled by National Security Guard (NSG) DG, Sudhir Pratap Singh. Kumar will retire on September 30, 2018.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Shri B.N.Laihri was the first DG of RPF.
4. Biju Patnaik Award for Scientific Excellence i. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik granted the Biju Patnaik Award for Scientific Excellence for the year 2016 to Prof Digambar Behera. ii. Digambar Behera is senior professor and Head, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. The award is given by Odisha Bigyan Academy(OBA).
Important Takeaways from Above News-
S C Jamir is the present Governor of Odisha.
5. Messi Becomes First Ever Player to Score 350 La Liga Goals i. Barcelona forward Lionel Messi scored a second-half brace against Alaves, becoming the first ever player to score 350 goals in La Liga. ii. Messi's best goal tally for a season came in 2011/12 when he netted 50 goals in 37 appearances. Messi, who has played 384 league matches, is now 66 goals ahead of rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Lionel Andrés Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team.
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28th August 2017
1. India, China Agree to Disengage at Doklam i. India and China have agreed to withdraw their troops from Doklam after being in a standoff for over two months. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the expeditious disengagement has been agreed to and is going on. ii. The standoff had started after India objected to China constructing a road in the disputed area.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Xi Jinping is the present President of China.
The Capital of China is Beijing and its Currency is Renminbi.
2. Dipak Misra Sworn in as CJI i. Justice Dipak Misra was sworn in as the 45th Chief Justice of India. At a brief ceremony in the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan, President Ramnath Kovind administered the oath of office to Mr. Misra. ii. Justice Misra, 64, assumes office following the retirement of Justice J.S. Khehar. Justice Misra will have a tenure of about 14 months till October 2, 2018.
Important Takeaways From Above News-
H. J. Kania was the first Chief Justice of Independent India.
3. Two-day Indian Ocean Conference in Colombo i. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will participate in the two-day Indian Ocean Conference to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in which Sri Lankan prime minister and the president are among key speakers. ii. The theme of the conference is peace, progress, and prosperity. It will see participation from around 35 countries and have speakers from 25 countries. The conference will be held in Temple Trees, the official residence of the Lankan prime minister.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
This will be second ICO conference, the first was held in Singapore in 2016.
4. Arun Jaitley hands over LRSAM to Indian Navy i. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley handed over the Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) jointly developed by India and Israel, to the Indian Navy, at Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL). LRSAM is an advanced combat suit for missile defence against air targets and missiles, and has full capabilities of air and surface surveillance, threat alert and fire control. ii. The minister also dedicated a first-of-its kind 50-tonne Rocket Motor Static Test Facility. He inaugurated the ASTRA Manufacturing Unit at the BDL‟s Bhanur unit.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Admiral Sunil Lanba is the present CNS of Indian Navy.
The ASTRA weapon system is an indigenously developed air-to-air Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile developed by the DRDO.
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5. IRDAI Launches Central Database of Insurance Sales Persons i. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has launched a Central Database of all Insurance Sales Persons in the country. ii. Named as `Envoy‟, the database will ensure that all licensed insurance sales persons working for insurers and intermediaries including entities such as insurance agents, broker qualified persons, specified persons of corporate agents do not work with multiple insurers and intermediaries in the same business category.
Important Takeaways From Above News-
Chairman of IRDAI is TS Vijayan.
Headquarter of IRDAI is in Hyderabad, Telangana.
6. Rural Games to Take Place in Delhi i. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mr. Vijay Goel announced that the first edition of Rural Games or Grameen Khel Mahotsav will kick-start from Delhi. ii. The Rural Games will aim at popularising the indigenous games like wrestling, athletics etc. and will also have fun games like Matka Race, Tug of War for senior citizens to add the fun element in the games.
7. Sushma Swaraj Inaugurated 1st 'Videsh Bhavan' in Mumbai i. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurated the country's first 'Videsh Bhavan'. The Bhavan integrates all offices of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Maharashtra It is located in the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai. ii. As a first pilot project, four offices of MEA - Regional Passport Office (RPO), Protector of Emigrants (PoE) office, Branch Secretariat and Regional Office of ICCR - have been assimilated and brought under one roof at the state-of-art office.
8. Island of Tuvalu World‟s Least Visited Country: UN Report i. According to a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the island of Tuvalu was the least visited country in 2016. ii. According to the report, 2,000 people visited Tuvalu in 2016, while 1,000 people visited the country in 2014. Located in the South Pacific Ocean, Tuvalu is 4.6 meters above sea level and has a population of 11,000 people. Important Takeaways From Above News-
The island of Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world in terms of land area.
Funafuti is the capital of Tuvalu.
9. Airtel Ties up with Symantec i. The country's largest telecom services provider, Bharti Airtel, entered into a partnership with Symantec Corp, the world‟s leading cyber security company, to serve the growing cyber security requirements of businesses in India. ii. It will provide protection and prevention of online threats in an increasingly digitally connected world. According to the agreement, Airtel will be the exclusive Cyber Security Services partner for Symantec in India, and will distribute Symantec‟s enterprise security software.
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Important Takeaways From Above News-
Bharti Airtel was established on July 07, 1995, as a Public Limited Company.
Chairmain of Airtel India is Sunil Bharti Mittal.
Its MD & CEO (India and South asia) is Gopal Vittal.
10. Hamilton Wins Belgian Grand Prix i. Mercedes' British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton registered his 58th career race win after claiming the Belgian Grand Prix title. ii. Hamilton's rival Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel came second, while Daniel Ricciardo was placed third. With the win, Hamilton has cut Vettel's lead at the top of the drivers' championship to seven points.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
He recently won the British Grand Prix for the fifth time.
11. P V Sindhu Won Silver at World Badminton Championship 2017 i. PV Sindhu won the Silver medal in World Badminton Championship 2017. She lost the historic match against Japan‟s Nozomi Okuhara in an epic final, in Glasgow, Scotland. In the longest match of the tournament, Sindhu lost (19-21 22-20 20-22) after battling hard for one hour and 49 minutes. ii. For India, it still is a historic edition since for the first time country‟s shuttler are returning with two medals. Saina Nehwal won a bronze.
Important Takeaways From Above News-
Prakash Padukone was the first Indian to win a medal in this event when he took a bronze in the men‟s singles in 1983.
Women‟s doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa bagged another bronze in 2011.
12. Baba Ram Rahim Sentenced 10 Years of Imprisonment i. Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh sentenced Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to 10 years of imprisonment. The sentencing came three days after the CBI court in Panchkula convicted Singh in a 2002 rape case. ii. A three-tier security ring was set up around the district jail. The Dera chief was sent for a medical examination and then will be given a prison uniform and will be allotted a jail cell.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
The CBI filed the charge-sheet against the Dera head in Ambala court in July 2007 about five years after the registration of the rape case (in 2002).
The charge-sheet mentions sexual exploitation of two „Sadhvis‟ (women followers) between 1999 and 2001. 29th August 2017
1. National Sports Day: 29 August i. The National Sports day is celebrated on 29th August every year to mark the birthday of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. To celebrate the day various programs are being conducted through the country.
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Page 39 UNIQUE IAS ACADEMY AUGUST 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS ii. On this occasion, President Ram Nath Kovind will give away the Sports Awards. A total of 29 players have been selected to receive the honors from President. The President will confer Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award and Dronacharya Award at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
In 2012, the Government of India designated 29 August as the country‟s „National Sports Day‟.
2. Vice President Launches „National Sports Talent Search Portal‟ i. The vice president of India Venkaiah Naidu launched the National Sports Talent Search Portal, a government initiative to unearth sporting talent from every nook and corner of the country. ii. Under the initiative, a child or his parents, teachers or coaches can upload his bio data or video on the portal. The Sports ministry will select talented players and impart training to them at Sports Authority India centres. The portal will also be available as an App enabling it to be downloaded on smart phones.
Important Takeaways From Above News-
Vijay Goel is the Union Sports Minister of India.
M Venkaiah Naidu is the 13th Vice President of India.
3. India, Germany Sign Pact to Improve Grid Integration of Renewable Energy i. India and Germany signed an agreement on technical cooperation under the Indo-German Energy Programme – Green Energy Corridors (IGEN-GEC). ii. The main objective of this program component is to improve the sector framework and conditions for grid integration of renewable energy.
Important Takeaways From Above News-
Berlin is the Capital of Germany.
Angela Merkel is the Chancellor of Germany.
4. Government Imposes Anti-Dumping Duty on Sodium Nitrite Imports from China i. The Finance Ministry has imposed a five-year anti-dumping duty on Sodium Nitrite imports from China. Deepak Nitrite Ltd had filed the petition, which was also supported by Punjab Chemicals & Crop Protection Ltd, seeking sunset review investigations on Sodium Nitrite imports from China. ii. There are two more producers of Sodium Nitrite in the country - National Fertilisers Ltd and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Sodium Nitrite is an oxidizing and also a reducing agent.
It is a white crystalline powder mostly used in the pharmaceutical and dye industries, lubricants, lubricants, construction chemicals, rubber blowing agent, meat processing, and textiles.
5. Kenya Imposes World's Toughest Law Against Plastic Bags i. In Kenya, selling or even using plastic bags will risk imprisonment of up to four years or fines of $40,000. It is the world‟s toughest law which is aimed at reducing plastic pollution came into effect.
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Page 40 UNIQUE IAS ACADEMY AUGUST 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS ii. The East African nation joins more than 40 other countries that have banned, partly banned or taxed single use plastic bags, including China, France, Rwanda, and Italy.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Uhuru Kenyatta is the President of Kenya.
Nairobi is the Capital of Kenya.
6. I-T dept imposes Rs 7,900 crore Penalty on Vodafone For Tax Dues i. The Income Tax Department has imposed Rs 7,900 crore penalty on the tax demand of the same amount on a unit of billionaire Li Ka-shing‟s CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. over its decade-old sale of mobile phone business in India to Vodafone Group Plc. ii. Vodafone had in 2007 acquired 67% stake in the mobile-phone business owned by Hutchison Whampoa, now part of CK Hutchison.
7. Nitasha Biswas Crowned First Miss TransQueen India i. Nitasha Biswas, a transwoman from Kolkata was crowned the first Miss TransQueen India. The competition was held in Gurugram, Haryana. Biswas is currently pursuing Masters in Business Management in Kolkata, West Bengal. ii. On the other hand, Manipur‟s Loiloi was crowned the first runner-up. Biswas will now go to Thailand for Miss International Queen, while Loiloi will compete at Miss Transsexual Australia.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Miss TransQueen India 2017 is the first ever transgender beauty contest of the country.
8. NRDC Wins Two Awards i. National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), the technology transfer and commercialization arm of the Ministry of Science & Technology, has won two accolades. It has won the Assocham Services Excellence Award 2017 and its Chairman and Managing Director, H Purushotham, an international recognition. ii. The International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM) Sweden honored Purushotham with the IAAM Medal 2017 for his outstanding R&D contributions in the Advanced Materials Science & Technology during its award ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Dr. H. Purushotham is the Chairman & Managing Director of NRDC.
National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) was established in 1953 by the Government of India.
9. FIFA U-17 World Cup Logo for Kochi Venue i. Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan launched the host city logo for Kochi, one of the venues of FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017. The logo represents and reflects Kochi's identity and will be a valuable tool in linking the local community in a global World Cup. ii. The tournament will be hosted in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium of the city. In October 2016, Kochi became the first Indian city to be officially declared as one of the venues for hosting the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
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Important Takeaways from Above News-
The Official Mascot of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 is a clouded leopard called Kheleo.
This is the first FIFA tournament hosted by India.
The final will be held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on 28 October 2017.
10. Indian U-15 Football Team Wins SAFF Championships i. The Indian U-15 football team completed a brilliant comeback win over Nepal to win the SAFF U-15 Championships in Kathmandu, Nepal. ii. India beat Nepal by 2-1 in the final and the match took place at ANFA Complex, Lalitpur in Nepal.
11. Dara Khosrowshahi is New Uber CEO i. Transport Company Uber has finally selected a new CEO of the company- Dara Khosrowshahi. He is from Iran. Khosrowshahi is the CEO of online travel booking company Expedia Inc. ii. He has replaced Travis Kalanick. Khosrowshahi received nearly $95 million in pay in 2015, making him one of the most highly paid leaders in corporate America.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
Uber Technologies Inc. is an American technology company headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States.
12. Olympian Footballer Ahmed Khan Passes Away i. India's two-time Olympic footballer and East Bengal legend Ahmed Khan passed away at the age of 90. ii. Khan, who played in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics, was one of the most famous of the legendary quintet of forwards called the "Five Pandavas" who played for East Bengal in an India that had just become an independent nation.
Important Takeaways from Above News-
He made his debut against France in the London Olympics.
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