CURRENT AFFAIRS (March 2020 to August 2019)

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF MARCH 2020

◼ The world’s highest polling station is now in the ◼ has established itself as the world’s 4th sleepy hamlet of Tashigang in the Buddhist- largest space super power. Till now, only three dominated Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal countries in the world – United States of Pradesh at an altitude of 15,256 feet. Mandi Lok America, Russia and China have achieved this. Sabha seat, the second largest constituency in the country. Mandi Lok Sabha seat, the second ◼ Lalit Kala Akademi 60th National Academy largest constituency in the country. Awards • The Lalit Kala Akademi or National Academy ◼ National Company Law Appellate Tribunal of Art is India's national academy of fine arts. • The National Company Law Tribunal is a It is an autonomous organisation, established quasi-judicial body in India that adjudicates in New in 1954 by Government of India issues relating to Indian companies. The to promote and propagate understanding of tribunal was established under the Indian art, in and outside the country. Companies Act 2013 and was constituted on 1 June 2016 by the government of India and ◼ India ranks 76th on WEF Global Energy Transition is based on the recommendation of the V. Index Balakrishna Eradi committee on law relating to the insolvency and the winding up of ◼ Kazakhstan’s parliament renamed its capital companies. Astana as ‘Nursultan’ in honour of outgoing leader Nursultan Nazarbayev. Nursultan stands ◼ International Energy Agency (IEA) recently for “Sultan of Light” in the Kazakh language, released Global Energy and CO2 Status Report while, Astana means ‘capital’ in the Kazakh that highlights worldwide trends and language developments of fuels, renewable sources, energy efficiency and carbon emissions. ◼ .India’s largest Bank State Bank of India (SBI) has • The report highlights global energy announced the launch of YONO Cash through consumption in 2018 increased at nearly which customers can withdraw money from twice the average rate of growth since 2010, ATMs without using a card. • As a result of higher energy consumption, CO2 emissions rose 1.7% last year and hit a ◼ This Cardless Cash Withdrawal process works new record. with two-factor authentication and eliminates the risk of skimming and cloning. The customers ◼ President Ram Nath Kovind was honoured with have to set a 6-digit Yono PIN for withdrawing Croatia’s highest civilian order – The Grand Order cash through the Yono app. of the King of Tomislav. Croatian state order is awarded to heads of state for their important ◼ Once the process is initiated the customer will contribution towards the development of state receive a 6-digit reference code via SMS, which relations between Croatia and their respective will then have to be entered into a Yono Cash countries. Point. The cash withdrawal must be completed within the next 30 minutes at an ATM using both ◼ Public sector lender Bank of Baroda Tuesday said the PIN and the reference number. ATMs it will develop an agri-digital platform called enabled with this service will be termed as Yono ‘Baroda Kisan’ in order to provide solutions for all Cash Point. major agricultural requirements. ◼ Raghu Karnad, the son of legendary writer and the Jnanpith awardee , has won the

Windham-Campbell Prize of $165,000 in the non- ◼ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) categorised the fiction category for his debut book, The Farthest IDBI Bank Limited as a ‘Private Sector Bank’ for Field: An Indian Story Of The Second World War. regulatory purposes with effect from January 21, The Windham-Campbell Prize is administered by 2019. the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University in the US and was established ◼ The move came following the acquisition of the in 2013. 51 per cent of the total paid-up equity share capital of the IDBI bank by Life Insurance ◼ India will host the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Corporation of India (LIC). The IDBI Bank was 2020. categorised in the sub-group ‘other public sector banks’ by the RBI in April 2005. ◼ West Nile Virus which is a viral infection • West Nile Virus (WNV) can cause ◼ As per the latest report of the World Gold neurological disease and death in people. Council, India has the 11th largest gold reserve • West Nile Virus (WNV) was first isolated in a and the current gold holding is pegged at 607 woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in tonnes. 1937. It was identified in birds (crows and • The World Gold Council is the market columbiformes) in Nile delta region in 1953. development organisation for the gold industry ◼ West Nile virus (WNV) is a single-stranded RNA • Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, virus that causes West Nile fever. It is a member they have offices in India ( Mumbai) , China, of the family Flaviviridae, specifically from the Singapore and the United States genus Flavivirus, which also contains the Zika • The top spot is occupied by US gold reserves virus, dengue virus, and yellow fever virus. West of 8,133.5 tonnes, followed by Germany with Nile virus is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, 3,369.7 tonnes. mostly species of Culex. The primary hosts of WNV are birds, so that the virus remains within a ◼ Arecanut, known as supari or betel nut, made its "bird–mosquito–bird" transmission cycle. entry in the list of agricultural produce for the first time with the Geographical Indication (GI) ◼ Recently a seven-year-old in Kerala has been tag for ‘Sirsi Supari’. The GI tag was accorded by detected with the West Nile Virus which is a viral the Registrar of Geographical Indications. The infection ‘Sirsi Supari’ is grown in Sirsi, Siddapur and Yellapur taluks of Uttara Kannada district in ◼ Erode Turmeric has received GI tag from the Karnataka. The GI tag will guarantee the Geographical Indication Registry. authenticity of Arecanut grown in these talukas, • Erode is the city in the state of Tamil Nadu. and ensure a better market. • Erode Turmeric is grown in hot moist conditions prevalent in the area with ◼ Vastradan Campaign initiated by the erstwhile temperature ranging from 20 degrees to 37.9 royal family of Udaipur has set the Guinness degrees Celsius with an average of 600 to 800 World Record for the largest collection of clothes mm rainfall in a year. for donation. • Geographical Indication defines the goods as originating in the territory of a country or a ◼ India is the second largest importer of weapons region or locality in that territory, provided a in the world, as per the annual report ‘Trends in given quality reputation or other International Arms Transfers-2018 released on characteristics of the product are March 11, 2019, by the think tank Stockholm attributable to its geographical origin. International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Saudi Arabia is now the world’s largest weapons importer

◼ 30 years of World Wide Web ◼ Chameli Devi Jain Award • The World Wide Web (WWW), commonly • The bilingual correspondent with the BBC known as the Web, is an information system Priyanka Dubey has been named for the where documents and other web resources Chameli Devi Jain Award for an Outstanding are identified by Uniform Resource Locators Woman Journalist for the year 2018. (URLs, such as https://www.example.com/), • The award is given to women journalists for which may be interlinked by hypertext, and their exceptional contribution to the cause of are accessible over the Internet. journalism upholding standards of excellence • The resources of the WWW are transferred through a sustained body of work via the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) • Raghuram Rajan, former governor of RBI has and may be accessed by users by a software been chosen for the ‘Yashwantrao Chavan application called a web browser and are National Award 2018’ by Yashwantrao published by a software application called a Chavan Pratishthan for his contribution to web server. economic development. • English scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989. He wrote the ◼ Soumya Swaminathan appointed as Chief first web browser in 1990 while employed at Scientist of WHO.She is the first Indian to hold CERN near Geneva, Switzerland . the post. • The browser was released outside CERN in 1991, first to other research institutions ◼ President Ram Nath Kovind has nominated starting in January 1991 and then to the Justice SA Bobde of the Supreme Court as general public in August 1991. The World Executive Chairman of National Legal Services Wide Web has been central to the Authority (NALSA). development of the Information Age and is • The National Legal Services Authority the primary tool billions of people use to (NALSA) is a statutory body constituted under interact on the Internet. the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free Legal Services to the weaker ◼ The Marayoor Jaggery largely produced in the sections of the society. regions of Marayur and Kanthalloor grama • The objective of NALSA is to legally empower panchayats of Kerala has got the GI tag the marginalized and excluded groups of the society by providing effective legal ◼ The Ministry of Power has announced that two representation, legal literacy and awareness more electrical appliances microwave ovens and and bridging the gap between the legally washing machines will now be assigned star available benefits and the entitled ratings based on their energy efficiency metrics. beneficiaries. • The programme of star rating of Microwave Ovens and Washing Machines will be ◼ Jalamrutha Scheme implemented on a voluntary basis and will be • Launched by Karnataka valid up to December 31, 2020. • A water conservation scheme • The star rating of Microwave Ovens and • The scheme focuses on drought-proofing Washing Machines encourage the transition measures, including protection and towards energy efficient equipment. rejuvenation of water bodies. • Star Rating of Appliances provides a basic sense of how energy efficient each product is. ◼ The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has decided to Higher the rating, higher is the efficiency of reintroduce Cricket in the 2022 Asian Games to the appliance. The rating of appliances in be held at Hangzhou, China. Earlier Cricket had India is undertaken by the Bureau of Energy featured in 2010 and 2014 Asian Games but was Efficiency. dropped from the 2018 Asian Games held at Incheon of Indonesia.

◼ The National Health Commission of China • Asian Games, also known as Asiad is a multi- published a list of recommended treatments to sport event held every four years among treat COVID-19. Apart from western medicine athletes from all over Asia. Asian Games are and Chinese medicine, the list included Tan Re organized by the Olympic Council of Asia Qing, injections that contain bear bile powder. (OCA) in association with the host nation. Bear's Bile: • Tan Re Qing is secreted by the liver and ◼ The Odisha State Disaster Management stored in the gallbladder of the bear. The Authority (OSDMA) has bagged the SKOCH bile from various species of bears, Award, 2018 for its remarkable achievements in including Asiatic black bears and brown the field of disaster management bears, has been used as a traditional • These awards are the recognition of Odisha Chinese medicine since the 8th century. becoming a model state in disaster Bear's bile contains high levels of management and risk mitigation since the ursodeoxycholic acid, also known as 1999 Super Cyclone. ursodiol. It has been clinically proven to help dissolve gallstones and treat liver ◼ Tea Board is functioning as a statutory body disease. Ursodeoxycholic acid has been under the Ministry of Commerce and Industries. available as a synthetic drug worldwide Tea Board Consists of 31 members drawn from for decades. The process of extracting Members of Parliament, tea producers, tea bile from the live bear is painful and can traders, tea brokers, consumers, and cause agony to the animal. Hence, a representatives of Governments from the synthetic version of ursodeoxycholic acid principal tea producing states, and trade unions. has been available for decades.

◼ Bhagwan Lal Sahni who hails from Bihar has been ◼ The Hindu New Year 2077 began on 25 March. It appointed as the Chairman of the National is officially known as Vikram Samvat 2077 or Nav Commission for Backward Classes. Samvatsar 2077. In common language, it is also ◼ National Commission for Backward known as Hindu Panchang. Classes is a Constitutional body set up through the 123rd constitutional ◼ 8th edition of the World Happiness Report2020 amendment bill 2018 and 102nd • Finaland- 1st amendment act under the provisions of • India - 144 Article 338B of Indian Constitution. The • The World Happiness Report is an annual commission consists of one chairman and publication of the United Nations Sustainable five Members with the term of three Development Solutions Network. It contains years. National Commission for Backward articles, and rankings of national happiness classes is the successor of the National based on respondent ratings of their own Commission for Socially and lives which the report also correlates with Educationally Backward Classes various life factors. As of March 2020, Finland (NCSEBC). was ranked the happiest country in the world three times in a row ◼ Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 ◼ The World Energy Statistics published by the ◼ To national recognition bestowed upon International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2019 states young scientists and engineers to honour that India is the 3rd largest producer of electricity their research and developmental work in in the world. India ranked 106th in terms of per India capita consumption in 2017.

◼ The Solar Charkha Mission was initiated by the made based on the geographic spread of a Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises disease, the severity of illnesses it causes, (MSME). The Khadi and Village Industries and its effects on society are defined as Commission (KVIC) implemented the program. "pandemic." • The Scheme aims to ensure inclusive growth by the generation of employment, especially ◼ the international animal welfare charity, World for women and youth, and sustainable Animal Protection, released the global Animal development through solar charkha clusters Protection Index 2020. India has ranked second in rural areas. as the better-performing countries in the Animal • A pilot project was implemented in 2016 at Protection Index (API). Khanwa village, Nawada District of Bihar. ◼ The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has ◼ Moghai Ojah award: instituted a special 'Shakti Award.' It will be • The Moghai Ojah award was instituted in annually presented to chosen personnel who 2011 by the Jorhat district unit of the Asom works for the empowerment of women. Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP). The award is annually presented on 15 ◼ Indian shuttler PV Sindhu won the BBC Indian March, on the death anniversary of Ojah. Sportswoman of the Year 2019. • Eminent researcher and writer Dr.Paramananda Majumder was presented ◼ Historic City Chowk in Jammu renamed as the 10th Moghai Ojah Award ‘Bharat Mata Chowk’

◼ Rajesh Chaplot, a distinguished Non-Resident ◼ Google India Launches Skill Development Indian (NRI) businessman, was honoured with Programme “DigiPivot “For Women the Highest Civilian Award "Golden Jubilee Medal-Civilians" of Uganda. ◼ Mayiladuthurai to become Tamil Nadu’s 38th district ◼ The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, a "pandemic" • According to WHO, a new disease that is spread worldwide and the determination is

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS One Liner Question / Answer

Which Ministry has launched ‘Stranded in India’ portal for foreign Ministry of Tourism tourists? Till which date the Union Government has extended the validity of vehicle June 30, 2020 documents such as driving license, permits and registration amid the lockdown imposed by Government to contain the spread of coronavirus?

Which fund has been set up to provide relief to all those affected by COVID- PM-CARES 19 pandemic? RBI’s Mega Bank Consolidation Plan will be implemented from which date? April 1st Under this plan RBI will implement the merger plan of 10 state- run banks into 4 larger banks. FM Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced which scheme for the poor amid Garib Kalyan Anna coronavirus lockdown under which 80 crore poor people will be given 5 kg of Yojana wheat or 5 kg rice for 3 months? Which company has set up India’s first 100-bed COVID-19 dedicated hospital? Reliance Industries

Who has been appointed as the CEO of Walmart India, succeeding Krish Iyer Sameer Aggarwal who is set to retire on March 31? Name the renowned Indian painter, sculptor, muralist and writer (also a Satish Gujral Padma Vibhushan awardee and brother of former PM IK Gujral) who passed away on 26th March 2020? The Central Government has announced how much insurance coverage for Rs 50 lakh healthcare professionals for the next three months? When is the new deadline for Income Tax filing? 30th June For which period the RBI has allowed a moratorium for payment of EMI on 3 months outstanding loans? The Health Ministry has restricted which drug’s sale, export and distribution Hydroxychloroquine declaring it as an essential drug to combat COVID-19 pandemic?

According to Finance Minister’s announcement on March 26, 2020, the Rs 500 women Jan Dhan account holders will get how much amount every month?

The MNREGA wage has been increased to how much per day? Rs 202 Who has been appointed to lead the 21-member high-level technical Dr. V K Paul committee of health experts set up to tackle coronavirus in India? Which state's folklore ‘Yakshgana’ has been digitized with more than Karnataka 900 scripts and made public? Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) of which State has developed IIT Delhi ‘Probe-Free Detection Assay', a Covid-19 test kit?

When is the last date for linking Aadhaar and Pan card? 30th June The Delhi Government has decided to give how much compensatory amount Rs 5000 to the labourers in the capital during the lockdown?

The RBI will purchase bonds worth how much to bring the Indian economy Rs. 30000 cr back on track? On which day Shaheed Diwas is observed every year to remember the brave 23rd March hearts, Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar, who sacrificed their lives for the goal of attaining freedom for India? What was India’s rank in the recently released World Happiness Index 144 2020? Name the former Chief Justice of India who was recently nominated to the Ranjan Gogoi Rajya Sabha by President Ram Nath Kovind? The former Indian footballer, Padmashree and Arjuna awardee, who passed PK Banerjee away on 20 March 2020? Which state recently removed quota in promotion for SC/ST Uttarakhand employees? The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the procurement of 83 how many Tejas fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force? The NCC cadets with ‘A’ category will get how many bonus marks in the direct 2 percent recruitment examinations of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)?

Which state’s Chief Minister resigned from his position on 20th Madhya Pradesh March? On which date Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all citizens to 22nd March follow a ‘Janata Curfew’ to stop the spread of novel coronavirus? What is the name of new train launched by SIDBI for new entrepreneurs? Swavalamban Express

As per the International Energy Agency, India is the largest third producer of electricity? Which Indian singer tested positive for COVID-19 infection on March 20, Kanika Kapoor 2020? The Union Government is using which superhero to clear all queries related to Vaayu Coronavirus and share healthy tips with kids on how to defeat COVID-19 pandemic? Who granted permanent commission for women in the Indian Navy? Supreme Court Which state has cancelled the Chaitra Jatra festival as a preventive measure Odisha to stop the spread of COVID-19 virus? Which senior Congress leader joined the BJP on 11th March 2020? Jyotiraditya Scindia Which Indian badminton player recently won the BBC India ‘Sports Woman of PV Sindhu the Year’ Award?

The Cabinet has approved how much hike in the Dearness 4 percent Allowance? What is the name of Facebook’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Pragati initiative in India? Which player, known as Tendulkar of domestic cricket, recently announced Wasim Jaffer his retirement from all formats of cricket? On which day Foundation Day of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) 10th March was observed? Who has been appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of Bimal Julka India? Who has been appointed as the new Finance Secretary of India? Ajay Bhushan Pandey Which place has been designated as the summer capital of the Uttarakhand? Gairsain

On which day National Security Day was celebrated in India every year? 4th March

Name the former Indian spinner who has been named as the Sunil Joshi chairman of BCCI’s national selection panel? Which court lifted RBI’s ban on trading in virtual currencies? Supreme Court of India During which period India celebrated Janaushadhi Week 2020? 1st March to 7th March Which national sanctuary has recently been declared eco-sensitive zone by the National Chambal Government of India? Ganga dolphins and critically endangered crocodiles are Sanctuary found in this sanctuary. Name the former Indian hockey player and Olympic bronze medalist who Balbir Singh Kullar passed away on February 28, 2020? Name the former chief financial officer and deputy managing director of State Prashant Kumar Bank of India who has been appointed the MD and CEO of Yes Bank

Which team which has won the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy title defeating Bengal in Saurashtra the finals? Name the snooker player who has won the National Snooker Championship Amee Kamani (Women's) defeating Vidya Pillai in the finals? Name the snooker player who has won the National Snooker Championship Pankaj Advani defeating Ishpreet Singh in the finals? At which place the first ever Khelo India Winter Games were Gulmarg, J&K inaugurated?

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS

Which country has banned funeral ceremonies to contain the spread of Spain coronavirus? As per the latest UNCTAD report, the world economy will go into recession China and India with the exception of which two countries? What are the new dates for Tokyo Olympics 2020 as per the announcement July-August 2021 made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)? Which organisation has launched a tracker to track policy responses by International Monetary different governments to combat COVID-19? Fund (IMF) What is the name of the new virus that has appeared in China amid the Hantavirus COVID-19 outbreak? On which day World Water Day is observed across the world every year? 22nd March

On which day World Tuberculosis Day is observed across the world every 24th March year? WHO has begun a global mega trial of four drugs to find a COVID-19 vaccine. Solidarity What is the name of the trial? Which nation’s Prime Minister has been tested positive for COVID-19? United Kingdom (UK) The G20 leaders have pledged to inject how much amount into the global USD 5 trillion economy to reduce COVID-19 impact? Who among the British Royal family has tested positive for Prince Charles Coronavirus on March 25, 2020? On which day World Meteorological Day was observed across the world? 23rd March

Which country ranked first in the World Happiness Index 2020? Finland On which day World Sparrow Day was observed across the world? 20th March The World Bank has increased its COVID-19 response fund to how much USD 14 billion amount? Which nation chaired the first virtual summit of G20 nations? Saudi Arabia On which day International Day of Happiness was observed across the 20th March world? Who has become the richest man in Asia? Jack Ma of Alibaba Group Which country's parliament recently passed a resolution that allows it's Russia President to be in the office till 2036? Which nation’s Health Minister has been tested positive for COVID-19 virus? United Kingdom

Who has announced his resignation as the CEO and President of Nokia? Rajeev Suri

On which day International Women’s Day was observed across the 8th March world? Which country has become the first in the world that has announced a free Luxembourg public transport system for all? Name the former Secretary General of the United Nations Jaivier Perez de Organisation who passed away on 4th March 2020? Cuellar On which day World Wildlife Day 2020 was observed across the world? 3rd March

On which day World Hearing Day 2020 was observed across the world? 3rd March

When was Zero Discrimination Day 2020 observed across the world? 1st March

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 2020

◼ The Government of Sri Lanka submitted a formal ◼ Ideal Legislative Assembly Speaker/Ideal notice to the United Nations expressing its desire Legislative Council Chairman Award was to withdraw from the United Nations Human conferred to the Speaker of Kerala Legislative Rights Council (UNHRC). Assembly Shri P. Ramakrishnan. He was awarded at the 10th edition of the Bharatiya Chhatra ◼ .United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Sansad held was established by Rahul Karad, • The United Nations Human Rights Council executive president of the MIT World Peace (UNHRC) is a United Nations body whose University. mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. The UNHRC has 47 ◼ Shri Sanjay Kothari was appointed as the new members elected for staggered three-year Chief Vigilance Commissioner terms on a regional group basis. The headquarters of UNHRC is in Geneva, ◼ Titabor became Assam’s first ‘Zero Waste’ town Switzerland. for implementing effective and efficient methods • The UNHRC investigates allegations of of waste management. Titabor transformed its breaches of human rights in UN member solid waste management system in the best states, and addresses important thematic possible way than any other state in Assam. human rights issues such as freedom of • A ‘Zero Waste’ town is any town that has association and assembly, freedom of managed up to 80% of the waste in its expression, freedom of belief and religion, domain. women's rights, LGBT rights, and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities. ◼ 21st February is observed as the International • The UNHRC was established by the UN Mother Language Day to spread awareness General Assembly on 15 March 2006 (by about the importance of linguistic, cultural resolution A/RES/60/251) to replace the UN diversity and multilingualism Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR,) that • In 1999 United Nations Educational, Scientific had been strongly criticised for allowing and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) countries with poor human rights records to recognised the fact of encouraging linguistic be members diversity and announced 21st February as the • The UNHRC holds regular sessions three International Mother Language Day. times a year, in March, June, and September • The Council consists of 47 members, elected ◼ RBI to sync its accounting year with yearly by the General Assembly for staggered government’s fiscal year from 2020 – 21 three-year terms. • The alignment will come in effect from this • India’s term from 2019-2021. year, aligning the bank’s accounting year of June – July with the government’s April – ◼ The Central Excise Day is celebrated across in on March. 24th February to encourage the implementation • The RBI used to follow the accounting year of of central excise duty, prevent corruption in the January – December before switching to July manufacturing business and monitoring the – June in March 1940. implementation of the duty effectively. ◼ Soil Health Card Day was first observed in the ◼ Before 1972 Mizoram was a part of Assam, it was year 2015 in Suratgarh, Rajasthan, that year the annexed by the British and because of being a Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid stress on mountainous region was made a part of Assam. the importance of knowing the health of the soil so that the yield is produced healthy.

• The aim of this day is to educate the farmers peaked the mountain which is 6962 meters high about the various kinds of soils in India, their and is the highest summit outside Asia. strengths and capacities and how to maintain those using balanced fertilizers. ◼ Cauvery Delta is a region of Tamil Nadu which contains the lower reaches of the Kaveri River ◼ Researchers at the Atomic Minerals Directorate, and its delta. India’s Atomic Energy Commission found Lithium Reserves of around 14,100 tonnes in the Mandya ◼ Lucknow Declaration region, an area which is 100km away from • Signed between India and Africa Bengaluru. • Lithium is a rare metal that is mainly used to ◼ Jiyo Parsi Scheme launched build batteries for electric vehicles. • the scheme was initially launched to curb the decline and then gradually increase the ◼ The US has removed the “Developing” tag for Zoroastrian population in India. The first India phase was launched in 2013 and the second • The tag of being a developing nation phase was launched in 2017. prevents the nation from being hit by many • The scheme aims to curb the decline of the trade tariffs that are imposed on developed Parsi population by adopting systematic nations. procedures and structured involvements to • The tag of being developed comes under the maintain the population. U.S. Trade Act 1974 which introduced the General System of Preferences (GSP). ◼ Prominent writer Shri Manoj Das received the • This system was introduced to assist and Mystic Kalinga Literary Award in the Indian and promote poor countries and help them in Global Languages category the Hon’ble President improving. of India presented the Gandhi Award to Dr N. S. Dharmshaktu in the individual category and the ◼ Indian hockey star Manpreet Singh has won the Leprosy Mission Trust in the institutional prestigious International Federation of Hockey category. (FIH) Men’s Player of the Year Award. ◼ Bhutan recently decided to charge a “Sustainable ◼ Electoral bonds are a substitute to the cash Development Fee” to all its regional tourists. The funding made to political parties in order to bring reason cited behind the decision is ecological transparency in political funding. disturbances that were faced by Bhutan because of the tourists. ◼ The World Health Organization developed a new name for the Coronavirus on 11th February 2020. ◼ The Pink City of Rajasthan, Jaipur will formally be The new name chosen is ‘COVID – 19’, called a World Heritage City now. • deadly coronavirus strain was first reported in Saudi Arabia called the Middle East ◼ The Kala Ghoda Art Festival is a very vibrant Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). This name event held in Mumbai. suggested that the virus was developed because of reasons found in the Middle ◼ Ujh Multipurpose (National) Project is a national Eastern region. project on Ujh River, a tributary of river . This project aims to benefit Kathua, Hiranagar and ◼ Kaamya Karthikeyan became the youngest girl to Samba districts of erstwhile state J&K in terms of climb atop the highest peak in South America, irrigation, drinking water, and power supply. Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina. Kaamya is a 12- year-old native of Mumbai, . She ◼ SFURTI (Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries) was launched in 2005 by

the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium ◼ The official name for the disease caused by the Enterprises (MSME), Govt. of India. This scheme new coronavirus is Covid-2019: World Health aimed at promoting traditional industries and Organization (WHO) artisans into clusters. ◼ Hindi third most spoken language in the world ◼ Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) is levied on after English, Mandarin, according to the 22nd companies for more efficient dividend tax edition of the world language database collection. Currently, no other country around Ethnologue, published by U.S.-based, Christian the globe has a DDT regime. Though India also non-profit organization Summer Institute of scrapped the law in 2002, it was brought back in Linguistics (SIL). the very next year on the pretext of ease of tax administration. ◼ India to host Commonwealth Shooting and Archery Championships in January 2022 ◼ Australian Scientists have detected a novel virus in Australian mosquitoes. The virus has been ◼ The 73rd edition of the annual British Academy named the Yada Yada virus (YYV). According to Film Awards, also known as BAFTA, was held on the Cambridge dictionary, Yada Yada means 2 February 2020 in London, boring speech or something not so important. • Best Film – 1917 • Best Director – Sam Mendes for 1917 ◼ The global theme for World Wetlands Day 2020 • Best Actor in a Leading Role – Joaquin is ‘Wetlands and Biodiversity’. Phoenix (Joker as Arthur Fleck / Joker) • This day was first observed in 1997 and • Best Actress in a Leading Role – Renee celebrated every year on 2nd February. Zellweger (Judy as Judy Garland)

◼ Oxford University Press recently named ◼ The 92nd Academy Awards also known by the “Samvidhaan” (Constitution) the Oxford Hindi name Oscars, took place Los Angeles, California Word of 2019. on February 9, 2020 to honor the best films of 2019. ◼ Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival • Best Picture- Parasite Awards 2020 • Best Director- Bong Joon Ho for Parasite • Best Film – Super 30 • Actor in a Leading Role- Joaquin Phoenix for • Best Actor – Hrithik Roshan Joker • Most Promising Actor – Kiccha Sudeep • Actress in a Leading Role- Renee Zellweger • Best Actor in Television Series – Dheeraj for Judy Dhoopar • Best Actress in Television – Divyanka Tripathi ◼ The 65th ceremony was held on • Most Favourite Television Actor – Harshad 15 February 2020 in Guwahati to honor the best Chopda Indian Hindi-language films of 2019. • Most Favourite Jodi in Television Series – Sriti • Best Film– Gully Boy Jha and Shabbir Ahluwalia (Kumkum Bhagya) • Best Director- Zoya Akhtar for Gully Boy • Best Reality Show – Bigg Boss 13 • Best Film (Critics) – Article 15 (Anubhav • Best Television Series – Kumkum Bhagya Sinha) and Sonchiriya (Abhishek Chaubey) • Best Playback Singer Male – Armaan Malik • Best Actor In A Leading Role (Male) – Ranveer Singh for Gully Boy ◼ NPCI launches “UPI Chalega” Campaign to • Best Actor (Critics) – Ayushmann Khurrana promote UPI for Article 15 • Best Actor In A Leading Role (Female) – Alia Bhatt for Gully Boy

◼ The Union Ministry of Finance has notified ◼ Twitter acquired Chroma Labs founded by ‘Printing of One Rupee Currency Notes Rules, Facebook veterans 2020’ on February 7, 2020. • These include details about the colour, ◼ Football — India to host 2022 AFC Women’s design, standard weight, dimensions etc. Asian Cup • The One Rupee notes shall be printed at the note printing presses for issue under the ◼ Tamil Nadu govt to celebrate former CM authority of Government of India for Jayalalitha’s birth anniversary as ‘State Girl Child circulation. Protection Day’ on Feb 24

◼ 1st “Nimad Chilli Festival 2020” begins at ◼ Hindi is the 3rd most spoken language in the Kasrawad in Khargone district,Madhya Pradesh; world after English & Mandarin Chinese mascot named “chilli chacha” released ◼ India ranked 35thin Worldwide Education for The ◼ RBI introduced 12 indicators for calculating Future Index (WEFFI) 2019, Finland tops India’s growth: RBI Working Paper • Index of industrial production (IIP) – ◼ India’s renowned Feminist scholar & activist Gita consumer goods Sen wins Dan David Prize 2020 • IIP- core sectors • Automobile sales ◼ Hockey player Manpreet singh became the 1st • Non-oil non-gold imports Indian to receive FIH player of the year award • Exports 2019 • Rail freight ◼ • Air cargo “Operation Nakail” for Auto-rickshaws in Ghaziabad to bear unique number aim to curb • Foreign tourist inflows crime • Government tax receipts

• Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) ◼ MoHUA launched Ease of Living Index and • Sensex Municipal Performance Index 2019 to assess • Bank Credit cities’ performance

◼ Sahitya Akademi’s Translation Prize 2019 ◼ Bhutan ends free entry for Indian tourists awarded to English translation of ‘Kusumabale’ ◼ Pakistan, Somalia declare locusts a ‘national ◼ Hurun Global Rich List 2020: Jeff Bezos retains 1st emergency’ after worst locust invasion rank, Mukesh Ambani at 9th position ◼ RBI governor Shaktikanta Das wins ‘Central ◼ Himachal Pradesh: 1st State to achieve 100% LPG banker of the year 2020, Asia-Pacific’ award coverage ◼ Noted Hindi writer Vinod shukla wins 1st ◼ Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw won EY Entrepreneur of Mathrubhumi book of the year 2020 award the Year award for 2019 ◼ Actress to be honoured MP ◼ India turn on to World’s Cleanest petrol and govt’s with Kishore Kumar Samman 2018 diesel from April 1,2020: Bharat Stage(BS)-VI ◼ Delhi’s DTC awarded Road Safety Award 2018- ◼ India ranks 77th in terms of sustainability & 131st 19; Nagaland State Transport won under Hill in flourishing index:UN report category

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS One Liner Question / Answer

As per latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, India has been ranked at Fifth which position in the list of world’s largest economies overtaking France and the United Kingdom? How many seats are going to polls in Rajya Sabha elections 2020 to be held on 55 March 26, 2020? On which day National Science Day is observed every year in India? 28th February High Court of which State recently passed an order banning all kinds of protests Kerala and strikes within school and college campuses? What is the name of Indian Coast Guard’s sixth offshore patrol vessel which was VAJRA launched on February 27, 2020 to provide a boost to coastal security? Who has been appointed as India’s next ambassador to France? Jawed Ashraf The Union Government will be organizing India’s maiden Artificial Intelligence Delhi summit- "RAISE 2020" from April 11-12, 2020. In which city it will be held? The RAISE 2020 stands for? Responsible AI for Social Empowerment 2020 The shooting and archery events of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games Chandigarh 2022 will be held in which Indian city? Which nation participated in the 5th edition of Indra Dhanush Exercise 2020 United Kingdom along with India? When did India observe the first anniversary of National War Memorial? 25th February On which day Central Excise Day is observed in India? 24th February Which Indian city hosted the International Judicial Conference New Delhi recently? Who won Laureus World Sports Awards 2020 under Best Sporting Moment category? On which day Soil Health Card Day is observed across India every year? 19th February As per the State of India’s Birds 2020 Report, what is the status of House Stable Sparrow in India? Pradhanmantri Fasal Beema Yojana national conference held in which Indian Udaipur city? What is the name of former Bengali actor and TMC MP who died recently at the Tapas Pal age of 61? Wrestlers of which country will not be able to participate in the Asian Wrestling China Championship in India due to the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus in that country? Which Ministry recently announced to set up the Central Consumer Protection Ministry of Consumer Authority? Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Which international agency signed a loan agreement of USD 450 million with the World Bank Government of India to improve groundwater in the country? Which Indian Union Territory will come under the jurisdiction of Central Jammu and Kashmir

Administrative Tribunal (CAT)? What is the name of a train connecting Varanasi to Ujjain which was inaugurated Kashi-Mahakal Express by PM Narendra Modi recently? What is the name of app launched by Confederation of Real Estate Developers CREDAI Awaas app Association of India (CREDAI) to help connect home buyers and developers? Which film has recently won the best film award in Filmfare Awards 2020? Gully Boy Who won Best Actor in Leading Role award in Filmfare Awards 2020? Ranveer Singh Who won Best Actor in Leading Role (female) award in Filmfare Awards 2020? Alia Bhatt Who won Best Director award in Filmfare Awards 2020? Zoya Akhtar Which State has recently started India’s first intercity electric bus Maharashtra service? Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra has been renamed after which late Union Minister? Sushma Swaraj Name the coach of Indian national badminton team who has been honoured with the IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards "honourable mention" for his excellent contribution in the field of coaching? Name the Indian Hockey Team captain who has become the first Indian to win Manpreet Singh FIH Men's Player of the Year 2019 award? Name the Indian Hockey player who was recently selected as FIH Lalremsiami Women’s Rising Star of the Year 2019? According to the RBI notification, who will sign the new one Rupee currency Finance Secretary note? Who has been appointed as Air India’s new Chairman and Managing Rajiv Bansal Director (CMD)? On which day National Women’s Day of India is celebrated on the 13th February occasion of Sarojini Naidu's birthday? In which Indian State world’s biggest cricket stadium was inaugurated Gujarat (Motera) by the US President Donald Trump in February 2020? Which company was named as the highest profitable PSU in Public Enterprises ONGC Survey 2018-19? Which former Jharkhand Chief Minister announced to merge its Jharkhand Vikas Babulal Marandi Morcha (Democratic) Party with BJP? Which state has approved Ground Water Act-2020 to improve ground water Uttar Pradesh levels? Which Indian hill station will host the National Winter Games from March 7, Gulmarg (Jammu and 2020? Kashmir) Who won the International Gandhi Award for Leprosy (IGAL) in the individual Dr. N S category? Dharamshaktu Which Indian city recently received UNESCO World Heritage City Certificate? Jaipur India’s 13th major port would be constructed at which place in Vadhavan Maharashtra? Who will head the recently constituted Ram Mandir Trust by the central K Parasaran government? Who was recently awarded ‘Kishore Kumar Samman’ by Madhya Waheeda Rehman Pradesh Government? The Union Government has set which year as the target for installing 100 December 2022 GigaWatt solar power?

What is the new Income Tax Rate for those falling in the salary bracket of Rs 5-10 10 percent lakh? Name the railway station in West Bengal at which Indian Railways has launched Asansol its first restaurant on wheels for railway passengers? India's first National Protein Day was observed on 27 February 2020. What was #ProteinMeinKyaHai its theme? What was the theme of National Science Day observed on 28 February 2020? Women in Science Name the station at which Indian Railways has launched first ever Fit India Squat Anand Vihar machine which dispenses free platform tickets to those who perform 30 squats in 180 seconds? Name the former chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change RK Pachauri (IPCC) and the Chairman and Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) who passed away on 13 February 2020? Name the well-known fashion designer and a Padma Shri award recipient who Wendell Rodricks passed away on 12 February 2020? At which place 63 feet tall statue of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay was unveiled Varanasi and dedicated to the nation by the PM Narendra Modi? Name the 10 year-old Indian girl from Navy Children School, Mumbai who has Kamya Karthikeyan become the youngest girl in the world to scale Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain peak in South America? Name the noted Hindi poet and novelist who has been chosen for the first Vinod Kumar Shukla Mathrubhoomi Book of the Year Award 2020 for his work "Blue is Like Blue"? Name the railway station in Andhra Pradesh from where India's first fruit-train Tadipatri was flagged off with locally grown bananas?

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS

Name the five-time Grand Slam champion who recently announced her Maria Sharapova retirement from tennis at the age of 32? Maria Sharapova played tennis for which country? Russia Name the former President of Egypt who ruled Egypt for 30 years from October Hosni Mubarak 1981 till February 2011? As per latest International Monetary Fund (IMF), which country has been ranked USA at the first position in the list of world’s largest economies followed by China and Japan? Which country has reported 256 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the nation to 2022, which is the highest outside China? Who recently resigned as the Prime Minister of Malaysia? Mahathir Mohamad Ashraf Ghani won a second term as the President of which country? Afghanistan Which country will host the FIFA U-17 Women's Football World Cup 2020 from India November 02, 2020? On which day World Day of Social Justice is observed across the world? 20th February

Which athlete from Uganda has made a new record by completing the five km Joshua Cheptegei road race in 12 minutes 51 seconds? What is the new official name of coronavirus given by the World Health COVID-19 Organisation (WHO)? On which day World Radio Day is celebrated every year across the world? 13th February

Which international organisation recently launched the ‘Step with Refugee’ United Nations High campaign? Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Which South Korean film created history by becaming the first non- Parasite English film to win the Oscar 2020 award for ‘Best Picture’? Who won the Best Actor award in Oscars 2020 for the film 'Joker'? Joaquin Phoenix Who won the Best Actress award in Oscars 2020 for the film 'Judy'? Renée Zellweger Who won the Best Director award in Oscars 2020 for the film 'Parasite'? Bong Joon-ho US astronaut Christina Koch returned to Earth on February 6 after the record 328 days space station mission. Koch spent how many days aboard the International Space Station? On which day World Cancer Day is observed every year to create awareness 4th February about cancer? Who won men’s singles title in Australian Open 2020? Novak Djokovic Who won women’s singles title in Australian Open 2020? Sofia Kenin What was the name of air-launched nuclear capable missile which was test-fired Ra'ad-II by Pakistan recently? Name the American computer scientist and developer of copy and paste Larry Tesler functionality who passed away on 16 February 2020? What is the motto of 2020 to be held in Tokyo from 24 July to 09 United by Emotion August 2020? Name the island nation which has rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations on 01 Maldives Feb 2020 about 3 years after it quit in 2016? Which country won the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup by defeating India in the Bangladesh final? The ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup was held in which country? South Africa Who was Player of the Series in the recently concluded ICC U-19 World Cup? Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JANUARY 2020

◼ International Holocaust Remembrance Day • The Padma Bhushan, along with other • UNESCO on 27th January every year observes personal civil honours, was briefly suspended International Holocaust Remembrance Day. twice, from July 1977 to January 1980 and The day is observed in memory of the victims from August 1992 to December 1995. of the Holocaust that occurred during the • The first time in July 1977 when Morarji Desai Second World War. was sworn in as the fourth Prime Minister of • The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of India, for being "worthless and politicized. the liberation of Auschwitz. The suspension was rescinded on 25 January • The day was first observed in November 2005 1980 after Indira Gandhi became the Prime by the United Nations General Assembly. Minister • The civilian awards were suspended again in ◼ Shiv Bhojan’ scheme mid-1992, when two Public-Interest • Launched by the the Maharashtra Litigations were filed in the High Courts of government India, one in the Kerala High Court on 13 • the meal will be provided to the poor for just February 1992 by Balaji Raghavan and Rs 10. another in the Madhya Pradesh High Court • there will be at least one ‘Shiv Bhojan’ (Indore Bench) on 24 August 1992 by Satya canteen at the district headquarters. Pal Anand. Both petitioners questioned the • The first canteen was set up by Tamil Nadu in civilian awards being "titles" per an 2013. interpretation of Article 18 (1) of the ◼ National Voters’ Day Constitution of India ] On 25 August 1992, the • 10th of January every year celebrated Madhya Pradesh High Court issued a notice • The theme for National Voters Day 2020 was temporarily suspending all civilian awards.A ‘Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy’. Special Division Bench of the Supreme Court • The Day was first celebrated in 2011 to mark of India was formed comprising five judges: the Foundation day of Election Commission A. M. Ahmadi C. J., Kuldip Singh, B. P. Jeevan of India, which was established on 25th Reddy, N. P. Singh, and S. Saghir Ahmad. On January 1950. 15 December 1995, the Special Division Bench restored the awards and delivered a ◼ PADMA AWARDS 2020 judgment that the "Bharat Ratna and Padma • The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest awards are not titles under Article 18 of the civilian award in the Republic of India, Constitution of India. preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma • The 1954 statutes did not allow posthumous Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. awards,[2] but this was subsequently Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is modified in the January 1955 statute. D. C. given for "distinguished service of a high Kizhakemuri became the first recipient to be order...without distinction of race, honoured posthumously in 1999. occupation, position or sex." The award • The Padma Bhushan award recipients are criteria include "service in any field including announced every year on 26 January, the service rendered by Government servants" Republic Day of India, and registered in The including doctors and scientists, but exclude Gazette of India—a publication released those working with the public sector weekly by the Department of Publication, undertakings. Ministry of Urban Development used for • Samarpan Khanal was the first Nepali to get official government notices. The conferral of it. the award is not considered official without • It was instituted in 1954. its publication in the Gazette. Recipients

whose awards have been revoked or ◼ Republic Day,2020 restored, both of which actions require the • 71st Republic Day. authority of the President, are also registered • Brazil President Jair Messias Bolsonaro was in the Gazette and are required to surrender the Chief Guest for the Republic Day their medals when their names are struck celebration. from the register. • The United Nations General Assembly on ◼ The International Labour Organization (ILO) December 3rd, 2018 passed a resolution to • It is a United Nations agency whose mandate celebrate the role of education in is to advance social and economic justice development. The International Day of through setting international labour Education was then first celebrated on 24 standards.[1] Founded in 1919 under the January 2019. League of Nations, it is the first and oldest • India has successfully achieved the complete specialised agency of the UN. The ILO has 187 phase-out of one of the most potent ozone- member states: 186 out of 193 UN member depleting chemical Hydrochlorofluorocarbon states plus the Cook Islands. It is (HCFC)-141 b, which is a chemical used by headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, foam manufacturing enterprises. • In 1969, the ILO received the Nobel Peace Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141 b is Prize for improving fraternity and peace used primarily as a blowing agent in the among nations, pursuing decent work and production of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams justice for workers, and providing technical assistance to other developing nations.[ ◼ China’s mystery virus: Wuhan Virus • The World Employment and Social Outlook: • The new coronavirus strain was first Trends 2020 (WESO) report was released by discovered in the central city of Wuhan. the UN’s International Labour Organization. • A Wuhan’s seafood market is being • The World Employment and Social Outlook: considered to be the center of the outbreak. Trends 2020 (WESO) report was released on • In 2002-03, Coronavirus killed more than 700 21st January 2020 by the UN’s International people in the world. The virus originated in Labour Organization. China. There is no specific vaccine for the • Ghana wants to replicate India’s successful virus as of 2019. The virus was first identified Ujjwala model of giving out cooking gas (LPG) in Saudi Arabia, in 2012. Most cases were connections to the needy, found in the Arabian peninsula.

◼ Ujjwala Yojna ◼ The Andhra Pradesh passed The Andhra • Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was Pradesh Decentralisation and Equal launched by Prime Minister of India Narendra Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, clearing Modi on 1 May 2016 to distribute 50 million the way for three state capitals in Amravati, LPG connections to women of BPL families Visakhapatnam, and Kurnool. • Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is a scheme of • Amaravati will now be the legislative capital, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for Visakhapatnam will be the executive capital providing LPG connections to women from and Kurnool the judicial capital. Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. • The Scheme provides a financial support of Rs ◼ Global Social Mobility Index launched by World 1600 for each LPG connection to the BPL Economic Forum households, interest free loan to purchase • Denmark ranked first followed by Finland, stove and refill by Oil Marketing Companies. Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. The administrative cost of Rs. 1600 per • India ranked 76th out of 82 countries. connection, which includes a cylinder, pressure regulator, booklet, safety hose, etc. ◼ Global Investment Trends Monitor Report would be borne by the Government. released by UNCTAD

• Foreign Direct Investment in South Asia • The Ministry of Home Affairs decides the increased by 10% as compared to 2018. questions which have to be asked in the • India was among the top 10 recipients of census. Foreign Direct Investment in 2019. India in • The Financial Action Task Force is an 2019 attracted $49 billion inflows which were intergovernmental organization established 16 percent more than that of the previous in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop year. policies to combat money laundering. In 2001 • The major chunk of the input in India went its mandate expanded to include terrorism into Information Technology. financing. • The lowest FDI was recorded in African countries which were just 3% ◼ World Gold Council report • India holds 607 tonnes of gold and is the 10th ◼ The National TB Control Programme has been largest gold reserve in the world. Apart from renamed to National Tuberculosis Elimination the country, organizations are also Programme considered in the survey. • India has set a goal to eliminate the disease • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has by 2025 total gold reserves of 2,814 tonnes and ranks • India’s goal to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025 third on the list. is five years ahead of the goal of the United • The US with gold reserves of 8,133.5 tonnes Nations Sustainable Development target. tops the list, followed by Germany with • Earlier,in 1983, the National Control 3,369.7 tonnes of the reserve. Programme was renamed to the National Leprosy Eradication Programme. ◼ “Seismic Hazard Microzonation” launched by • The National Programme for Control of GoI Poliomyelitis was renamed to Polio • Seismic Hazard Microzonation is the process eradication Programme. of dividing earthquake-prone areas based on factors like geological and geophysical ◼ Census,2021 characteristics of sites like ground shaking, • The 16th Indian Census will be conducted in landslide, liquefaction susceptibility, rockfall September 2021. For the first time in the hazard and flooding caused due to history of India, the census will collect data of earthquakes. transgenders headed houses and enquire about “Main cereal”. ◼ Indian wetlands are categorized into 8 categories • 31 questions will be asked to the citizens in based on their regional presence. It includes the 2021 census Deccan Plateau in the south, Gulf of Kutch in • Question one to five are related to building Gujarat, saline expenses in Rajasthan, delta numbers, floor material of the house, house wetlands of India’s East Coast, lakes and rivers in number, wall and roof of the house, mountain regions of Ladakh and Kashmir, condition of the census house and use of marshes and swamps in northeast India and census house Himalayan foothills and mangroves of Andaman • Questions six and seven are about the total and Nicobar Islands. number of persons normally residing, household number. ◼ Myanmar-China sign 33 deals of BRI • The other questions include caste details, • The China Myanmar Economic Corridor will ownership status of the house, access to a link the Indian Ocean to landlocked toilet, LPG connection, smartphone, car, southwestern China. drinking water availability, the main source of • The Kyaukphyu project is a concern for India lighting, type of latrine, wastewater outlet, as it provides China access to the Indian main cereal consumed, etc. Ocean.

• Brazil is planning to open a new research meteorological observations, weather base in Antarctica. forecasts, and seismological observations. • Around 30 countries operate research bases • It operates observatory station Antarctica in Antarctica under the 1959 Antarctic and India. Treaty. • The major IMD centers are located in • In 1975, Brazil joined this treaty. Guwahati, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, New • The aim of the treaty is to reduce the chances Delhi, and Nagpur. of confrontations over territorial disputes in • Indian Meteorological Department is one of Antarctica. the six regional specialized Meteorological centers of WMO. ◼ The World Economic Forum released its Global Risks Report ◼ The first Armistice Day was celebrated on • This report lists 5 top risks in terms of November 11, 1919, marking the anniversary of Likelihood and in terms of impact. Likelihood the end of World War I and celebrating the risks include climate action failure, extreme brave soldiers who were part of World War I. weather, natural disasters, biodiversity • In 1954, Armistice Day was changed to losses, and human-made environmental Veterans Day to honor the living legends of disasters. Impacts risks include climate action all wars. But, in India, the day was first failure, weapons of mass destruction, marked through a resolution passed in 1926 . biodiversity losses, extreme weather, and • The year 2020 marks the fourth year of the water crisis. Army Forces Veteran Day. This year the day is to be celebrated at the National War ◼ Global Health Challenges for 2020 released by Memorial in the presence of Chief of Navy WHO and Chief of Air Force. • This list of Global Health Challenges of the • Every year, January 14 is marked as Armed forthcoming year is released by WHO every Forces Veteran Day as the Field Marshal KM year. Cariappa, the first Commander-in-chief of • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and the Indian Armed Forces retired on the day. climate crisis are the foremost threats. These two threats topped the list in 2019 too. ◼ Statue of Unity • According to the report, climate change is • Included in 8 wonders of the Shanghai causing malnutrition and adding fuel to Cooperation Organization. The statue spread infectious diseases such as malaria. inaugurated on the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhai Patel was a monumental ◼ The Indian Meteorological Department tribute to him. • IMD was established in 1875. • The Statue of Unity is the world’s tallest • IMD earned global applause for its accurate statue. Since its inauguration in 2018, the prediction of Cyclone Fani. statue attracted 2.9 million tourists and • Around 5 observatories of IMD including earned revenue of INR 82 crores. Chennai, Mumbai, , • The Wonders of SCO include archaeological , and Panjim received and historical monuments of SCO. It includes recognition from the World Meteorological a. Statue of Unity in India Organization (WMO) for their long-term b. Daming Palace in China observatory services of more than 100 years. c. Navruz Palace in Tajikistan • The False Alarm ratio has declined and the d. Mughals Heritage in Pakistan Probability of Detection (POD) has increased e. Tamgaly Gorge in Kazakhstan from 0.45 in 2002 to 0.8 in 2019. f. Po-i-Kalan Complex in Uzbekistan • It is the agency of the Government of India, g. The Golden Ring of Russia headquartered in Delhi that makes

h. Lahore, the Mughals heritage in • Andhra Pradesh in 2018 introduced a plan of Pakistan 100% of natural farming in the state by 2024. • In India–Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Andhra ◼ For the 2020 republic day parade, Captain Tania Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Shergill has been selected to be the first woman and Kerala are practicing ZBNF. parade officer. The parade officer is responsible • Zero Budget Natural Farming can be used to for the parade. grow all crops in all agro-climatic zones. • Presently, ZBNF methods on wheat and ◼ National youth day is observed annually on basmati are being researched by the Indian January 12 to mark the birth anniversary of Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Swami Vivekananda. The Ministry of Youth affairs and sports also organizes the National ◼ Central Industrial Security Force, which operates Youth Festival on this day. The national youth under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs was festival has been organized since 1985 by the first established under the CISF Act, 1968. In GoI. The aim of the festival is to bring the youths 1983, there was an amendment in the act and it of the country together. was changed to armed forces.

◼ Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) on January 10, ◼ The World Health Organization on the occasion 2020, launched the State Energy Efficiency Index, of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence 2019. The report was released in association with Nightingale has designated the year 2020 as the Alliance for Energy-Efficient Economy. In 2018, “Year of Nurse and Midwife”. the first such Index in the country was released. ◼ Guru Gobind Singh was the son of the ninth Sikh ◼ Purvodaya to be launched by GoI to accelerate Guru Bahadur. At the age of 9, he was made the Eastern India Development 10th Guru after his father was beheaded for not • Purvodaya is in line with the Prime Minister’s following Islam. Vision for the focused development of the Eastern States. ◼ Sikh Warrior community known as Khalsa was • It will be a world-class steel hub and would founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. He contribute to socio-economic development introduced “Panj Kakar” also known as the five Ks in the Eastern region of India. in Sikhism., They are an iron bracelet (kara), • Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was observed on uncut hair (Kesh), iron dagger (Kirpan), 100% January 9, 2020, to recognize the cotton undergarment (Kuchera) and a wooden contribution of Indians staying overseas. This comb (Kangha). day was first observed in 2003 with an aim to promote unity among Indian diaspora living ◼ Dasam Granth, the holy Granth of Sikhism is abroad and also to mark the contribution of dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh. overseas Indians. • The day was declared biennial in 2015. ◼ The third edition of the Khelo India Youth Games will be held in Guwahati, Assam between ◼ Zero Budget Natural Farming February 10, 2020, and February 22, 2020. The • Zero Budget Natural Farming is a chemical- Games are conducted annually. free agricultural farming practice. ZBNF has been promoted by the Indian government ◼ Swachh Survekshan’ for 2020 under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and • Indore remained the cleanest city for the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana since 2015-16. third consecutive year in the more than 10 • Karnataka was the first state to adopt Zero lakh population category. Bhopal was ranked Budget Natural Farming. second and Surat third place in the cleanliness quotient. A population of one

lakh to ten lakh category Jamshedpur ◼ Stockholm International Peace Research secured first place followed by New Delhi and Institute (SIPRI), a Swedish research institute, Khargone. reported that China ranked second as the world's • The survey takes into consideration second-largest weapons manufacturer, behind wastewater treatment, fecal sludge the US. management. ◼ Maharashtra topped the Khelo India Youth • The focus is also on how the ODF+ and ODF++ Games champions 2020. The total medal tally of protocols are implemented as earmarked by 256 medals, including 78 gold. Haryana ranked the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. second and won a medal tally of 200. Organized • The RPF was first formed in 1854 when by: The 2020 Games is conducted in partnership railways were under construction in India. It with the School Games Federation of India was legalized in 1861 under the Police Act. (SGFI), Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and • The RPF works under the Government Assam STate government. Railway Police and the Ministry of Railways. ◼ :India ranked 80th in the global Corruption • It was formed under the Railway Protection Perceptions Index 2019 (CPI-2019). In 2018, India Force Act of 1957. ranked 78th in the index. The index was released by Transparency International. ◼ Indian women captain becomes the first-ever hockey player to win the prestigious ◼ Transparency International: World Games Athlete of the Year award. • Transparency International is a non- governmental organization. It was ◼ Bala Devi from Manipur Police becomes the first established in 1993. It is headquartered in Indian woman to become a professional Berlin, Germany. footballer in the world. • Managing Director: Patricia Moreira Chairman: Delia Ferreira Rubio ◼ Bengaluru is the world's most traffic-congested • The organization aims to combat global city. According to a report by TomTom, the corruption with civil societal anti-corruption Netherlands-based global provider of navigation, measures and to prevent criminal activities traffic, and map products, Bengaluru takes the arising from corruption. top spot this year with drivers in the southern • Priya Prakash won the Global Citizen Prize: Indian city expecting to spend an average of 71% Cisco Youth Leadership Award for 2019. She extra travel time stuck in traffic. is the founder and CEO of India-based HealthSetGo. The award recognizes her ◼ Oxford University Press (OUP) named school health program that aimed to Samvidhaan as the Oxford Hindi Word of 2019 provided 360-degree healthcare support to children. ◼ India added ten morewetlandsto sites protected • Guyana under Ambassador Rudolph Ten-Pow by the Ramsar Convention took over the chairmanship of G77. It assumed the chairmanship of the Group from ◼ The 10 new ones are Nandur Madhameshwar, a the State of Palestine. In 2020, Group of 77 first for Maharashtra; Keshopur-Miani, Beas will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of Conservation Reserve and Nangal in Punjab; and the United Nations. Nawabganj, Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi and Sarai Nawar in Uttar Pradesh. The ◼ Group of 77: other Ramsar sites are in Rajasthan, Kerala, • The Group of 77 (G77) is the largest Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, intergovernmental organization of Assam, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, developing countries in the United Nations. Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu • India is a member of the G77. and Tripura

• G77 was established by 77 developing 23 January 2020. It will be launched on the countries in 1964. It is located in Geneva. The opening day of the Jaipur Literature Festival group aims to provide the means for the 2020. countries of the South to articulate. It ensures to promote the collective economic ◼ Amazon.com chief Jeff Bezos announced USD 1 interests and enhance the joint negotiating billion over Rs 7,000 crore investment in India to capacity on all major economic issues within help bring small and medium businesses online the UN system. It also promotes South-South and committed to exporting USD 10 billion worth cooperation for development. G77 has of India-made goods by 2025. played a pivotal role in shaping priorities and driving change on many challenges. ◼ Henley Passport Index 2020 was launched recently by Henley & Partners. India ranked 84th ◼ India ranked 51st in the Democracy Index 2019.It in the index. Japan has the world's strongest has dropped 10 places in the Democracy Index’s passport. The index was based on the data global ranking. The survey described the erosion collected from the International Air Transport of civil liberties in India as the primary cause of democratic regression. ◼ Passport Index: • The report A year of democratic setbacks and • The passport index provides insights about popular protest was prepared by The visa-free travel options. The index score Economist Intelligence Unit. represents how welcoming the countries are. • It provided a snapshot of the state of The index includes the World Openness democracy worldwide in 165 independent score, Welcoming score, Visa- Frees score, states and two territories. and Global Mobility score. If the scores are • Norway topped EIU's index with a score of high, the passport index is also high and then 9.87 . North Korea ranked last of the global the passport is said to be highly powerful. rankings, with a score of 1.08. ◼ Assam's Dibrugarh district won the Plastic Waste ◼ Sri Lanka topped on breastfeeding rate according Management Award 2020. It was awarded for to a new survey conducted by the World being the best district of India in the plastic waste Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi). management category during Swachhta Hi Sewa 2019. ◼ The One Nation, One Ration Card scheme will be implemented by 1 June 2020 in India. ◼ Ishwar Sharma from the UK has been honoured • Under the scheme, the beneficiaries can avail with the Global Child Prodigy Award 2020. The of the benefits across the country using the award recognized for the achievements in same ration card. The scheme allows the spiritual discipline yoga. portability of food security benefits across India, that is, poor migrant workers can buy ◼ The Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly subsidized rice and wheat from any ration (APLA) adopted a new logo on 9 January. The shop in the country. logo reflects the distinct identity and culture of the state. ◼ India ranked 5th in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) India annual report. The non-profit ◼ Logo: organization surveyed among the countries for • The new logo consists of the national corporate commitments to science-based emblem and the state flower foxtail orchid, targets (SBT). Rhynchostylis Retusa. • The national emblem in the logo signifies the ◼ The Bloomsbury Anthology of Great Indian federal system of the Indian Constitution Poems edited by Abhay K. is to be launched on

• The flower foxtail orchid represents the transaction amount. MDR charge also has to be state, its people and culture of the state paid for online transactions based on QR Code. • The blue colour of the logo denotes the autonomy of the assembly secretariat. ◼ World Braille Day observed on January 4th. The day is marked remembering the birth ◼ The central government decided to wave off the anniversary of Louis Braille, the inventor of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) to promote Braille for people with visual disabilities. digital payments.When a person swipes card in any merchandise the shopkeeper has to pay to ◼ Dubai-based Indian girl Sucheta Satish, who can his service provider is called MDR Charge. The sing in 120 languages, won the Global Child MDR charges can range from 0% to 2% of the Prodigy Awards 2020.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS One Liner Question / Answer

Who becomes the first hockey player in the world to win 'World Games Rani Rampal Athlete of the Year' award? Which Indian city has the world’s worst traffic, as per the Global Traffic Bengaluru Index recently released by a Netherlands-based global provider of navigation? Which Indian state recently reported first confirmed case of Kerala Coronavirus? Which Parliament has deferred its vote on anti-CAA resolution against European Parliament India's new citizenship law? The Supreme Court has allowed the National Tiger Conservation Authority Namibia to relocate which nation’s cheetah to a suitable habitat in India?

The Indian Navy had launched ‘Operation Vanilla’ to provide Madagascar disaster relief to which country? Which Indian shuttler joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on January 29, 2020? Which state's tableau was adjudged the best among all the 16 participating Assam states and union territories at the Republic Day Parade 2020?

Which portal was recently released by the Union Government to speed up GATI construction works of national highways? Which Indian city is organising Global Potato Conclave 2020? Gandhi Nagar (Gujarat) The Union Government has targeted to install 175 Giga Watt renewable 2020 energy in India by which year? Which famous Indian actor will feature in Man Vs Wild episode with Rajinikanth popular adventurer Bear Grylls? (Last year, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had featured in one of the episodes of the survival series)

Which Bollywood actress has been selected for the Padma Shri award 2020? Which State’s insurgent groups signed a peace accord with the Assam Indian Government on January 27, 2020? The Union Government has offered to sell its 100 percent stake in which Air India airlines? Which State’s Chief Electoral Officer, S Karuna Raju, has won the ECI award Punjab for providing accessibility to vote to persons with disabilities, illness and senior citizens during Lok Sabha Elections 2019? On which day National Voter’s Day is celebrated in India? 25th January Which State’s cabinet passed a resolution to abolish Andhra Pradesh the Legislative Council on January 27, 2020?

What is the name of human robot that is being developed by ISRO for its Vyommitra space mission Gaganyaan? Which State has introduced a draft bill that proposes the creation of three Andhra Pradesh state capitals? Which State’s Disaster Mitigation & Management Centre won the Subhash Uttarakhand Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2020? India successfully test-fired which nuclear capable ballistic missile on 19th K-4 January 2020? Who has been appointed as the new Managing Director (MD) of the State C S Setty Bank of India (SBI)? Who has been elected as the new President of Archery Association of Arjun Munda India? Which International organization in its January World Economic Outlook International Monetary Fund has predicted reduced growth forecast of 5.8 percent for India in 2020? (IMF)

Andhra Pradesh government has proposed to make which city as its Kurnool Judicial capital? Andhra Pradesh government has proposed to make which city as its Amaravati Legislative capital? Andhra Pradesh government has proposed to make which city as its Visakhapatnam Executive capital? The One Nation One Ration Card Scheme will be implemented across India 1st June 2020 on which date? The Indian Air Force has inducted the first squadron of which aircraft that Sukhoi-30 are capable of carrying BrahMos supersonic cruise missile?

On which day National Girl Child Day is observed? 24th January Who was the Chief Guest at India’s 71st Republic Day President of Brazil, Jair celebration? Bolsonaro

What was India's rank in the Carbon Disclosure Project 2019? 5th Who was elected unopposed as 11th BJP National President? Jagat Prakash Nadda Which nuclear capable missile with a strike range of 3500 km was K-4 successfully test-fired by India? Who has been appointed as the Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India M D Patra (RBI)? Which communication satellite was launched by ISRO from French Guiana GSAT 30 on 17th January? Which cricketer was awarded the prestigious award at the Jasprit Bumrah BCCI Annual Awards function on 12th January 2020? Who won ICC 2019 Spirit of Cricket award? Which tribal refugee community will now be given permission to settle in Bru-Reang Tripura following the signing of a historic agreement on January 16, 2020?

Which cricketer has been left out from BCCI’s annual player contract list for M S Dhoni 2020? Which online e-commerce company recently announced an investment of Amazon USD 1 billion for digitalization of small and medium enterprises in India? Kerala has invoked which article to challenge Citizenship (Amendment) Act Article 131 (CAA) in the Supreme Court? On which day Indian Army Day is observed every year? 15th January Who has been appointed as the new Director General of the Central A P Maheshwari Reserve Police Force (CRPF)? The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has asked all the people 31st January 2020 possessing and flying drones to register their gadgets by? On which day National Youth Day is observed in India every year? 12th January What is the new name of Kolkata Port Trust? Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port India's first Human Space Flight Infrastructure Centre will be established in Challakere (Karnataka) which city? Which State has launched ‘Amma Vodi’ scheme to provide financial Andhra Pradesh assistance to BPL mothers for the education of their children?

Which Indian weightlifter has been banned from the sport for four years Sarbjeet Kaur after being found guilty of a doping violation? On which day World Hindi Day is celebrated every year? 10th January Which Indian city will host the International Naval Program 'Milan' to be Visakhapatnam held in March 2020? Census India-2021 is scheduled to begin from which date? 1st April 2020 On which day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated every year? 9th January

Which State Government sanctioned Rs 234 crore for the Uttar Pradesh establishment of Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan Zoological Garden? India’s first Turtle Rehabilitation Centre is set to come up in which Bhagalpur (Bihar) city? The Khelo India Youth Games-2020 officially advocate for which issue? Elimination of single-use plastic The Reserve Bank of India has launched which app to help the visually MANI (Mobile Aided Note challenged in identifying the denomination of currency notes? Identifier)

Which city hosted the 107th Indian Science Congress (ISC) from 3rd to 7th Bengaluru January 2020? What will be the maximum retirement age of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)? 65

The central government in consultation with BEE had notified new energy 24 Degree Celsius performance standards for room air conditioners (RACs). According to this notification how much temperature has been made default setting for air conditioners with effect from 01.01.2020? INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS

On which day World Leprosy Day is observed every year across the world? 30th January Which country is recently affected by deadly Coronavirus in which China hundreds of people have died? Which nation has become the second biggest weapon producer after the China United States, surpassing Russia, as per Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) annual report? Sheikh Khalid has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of which Qatar nation? Who won maximum awards along with her brother Finneas including best Billie Eilish song and record of the year for ‘Bad Guy’ at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020? Which album by American rock band Cage the Elephant won the Social Cues award for ‘Best Rock Album’ at the Grammy 2020 awards? What is the name of NBA player who recently died in a helicopter crash? Kobe Bryant On which day National Girl Child Day is observed every year across the 24th January world? Which country successfully phased out most potent ozone- depleting India chemical- HCFC 141 b? International Court of Justice directed which country to take "all measures Myanmar within its powers" to prevent alleged genocide against Rohingya Muslims?

Which city hosted the 50th World Economic Forum event 21st to 24th Davos (Switzerland) January?

Which country topped the Carbon Disclosure Project 2019 followed by United States Japan and UK in the second and third position respectively?

Who has been selected as the best cricketer of the year 2019 by ICC? Ben Stokes

When Britain is officially scheduled to leave the European Union? 31st January 2020 The Commonwealth Games 2022 will be held in which city? Birmingham (England) Which animal species has been most adversely impacted by Australia's Koala wildfire? On which day International Braille Day is observed every year? 4th January The year 2020 has been declared by World Health Organization as the year Nurse and Midwife of?

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF DECEMBER 2019

◼ The International Cricket Council (ICC) • India ranked below countries like Bangladesh announced the Australian all-rounder Ellyse (50th), Indonesia (85th), Brazil (92nd), Nepal Perry as the winner of the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint (101st), Sri Lanka (102nd), China (106th). Award. The 29-year-old won the ICC Women’s • India was in the 108th position in 2018. Cricketer of the Year and has also been named as • Iceland was ranked at the top as the most ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Year. gender-neutral country. Next to Iceland, other Countries like Norway, Finland, and ◼ December 18: Celebrated In India As Minorities Sweden were the top performers. Rights Day • The commission was established under the ◼ Vijay Diwas National Commission for Minorities act, • India celebrated its victory over Pakistan in 1992. the war of 1971. It was on 16th December • The act notifies 5 religious communities 1971 that India fought against Pakistan namely Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, helping Bangladesh attain its freedom and Zoroastrians and Buddhists under the act won the war. The same day, Bangladesh • In 2014, Jains were added to this list. The celebrates its independence. major function of the commission is to protect the interests of the minorities. ◼ International Geological Congress 2020 • India will play host to the 36th International ◼ 2019 DSC Prize For South Asian Literature Geological Congress (IGC) in New Delhi in the • Amitabha Bagchi for ‘Half the Night is Gone’ first week of March 2020. The theme for next • It is a prestigious international literary prize. year’s conference is ‘Geosciences: • It is awarded annually to writers of any • It will look to the launching collaborative ethnicity or nationality writing about South programs, search investment opportunities Asia themes such as culture, history, people in environmental management, mineral or politics. exploration, mining, and related fields. • South Asia is defined as Bangladesh, Bhutan, • India gets to host this event a second time. Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives, India first hosted it in 1964 which was the Myanmar and Sri Lanka. 22nd IGC. • It is given for an original full-length novel written in English or translated into English. ◼ Jamaica’s Toni-Ann Singh was crowned as Miss World 2019 ◼ The International Astronomical Union (IAU) named a white-yellow star in the Sextans ◼ Greta Thunberg has been selected as ‘Person of Constellation as “Bhibha” and its planet as the Year’ 2019, by Time magazine.She is a “Santamasa”. The star has been named Bhibha Swedish environmental activist on climate honouring Indian Woman Scientist Bhibha change. Choudhury who discovered subatomic particle pi-meson. ◼ 2020 Crystal Award • By the World Economic Forum(WEF) ◼ Gender Gap World Economic Forum Report 2019 • for leadership qualities and sustainable • India’s rank – 112 change influencers. It is given to leading • The WEF Gender Gap Index states that India artists and cultural figures. Every year the has a meager (13.8) women representation awards are hosted by the World Economic on company boards. Forum’s, World Art Forum.

◼ Nobel Literature Prize for Literature for 2019 • Miss South Africa, Zozibini Tunzi. Zozibini • Peter Handke, an Austrian Author for his Tunzi was declared the winner at an event influential work that explores the held in Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, The specificity of human experience. United States of America • Miss Universe is an annual beauty pageant ◼ The National Anti Doping Agency(NADA) has that is run by the United States-based Miss appointed actor Sunil Shetty as its brand Universe Organization. Ambassador. • Indian beauties who have won the Miss • NADA is India’s anti-doping agency which Universe title are Sushmita Sen in 1994, and monitors sports persons. Lara Dutta in 2000. • It was formed by the government of India under the Societies Registration Act. ◼ Only Aadhaar Authenticated Bank Accounts To • It has scientists and representatives from the Get PM-Kisan Payments Indian Olympic Association(IOA). PM-Kisan Yojana • This scheme is being funded by the Central ◼ The world’s first-ever fully electronic flight Government up to 100%. completed its test flight successfully on 10th • As per the PM-Kisan Yojana, the government December 2019. The flight will operate from will provide income support of Rs 6000 to all Vancouver, Canada to nearby islands. The flight farmer families of the country. lasted for 15 minutes. • This support will be provided in installments ◼ Abu Dhabi wins the World’s Leading Sports of Rs 2000 every four months. Tourism Destination for the 7th time in a row. • The scheme has defined a farmer’s family as The World Travel Awards were established in husband, wife, and minor children. 1993. • The responsibility of the identification of ◼ The world gets a new country named beneficiaries rests on State Governments and Bougainville. On 11th December 2019, the Union Territory governments. Archipelago of Bougainville voted to gain independence from Papua New Guinea. Around ◼ National Florence Nightingale Awards 2019 98% of the votes out of 1,81,067 voters voted to • This was first awarded in 1973 by the get independence from PNG (Papua New Government of India. Guinea). • The awards were given to 36 nursing • The island has the world’s largest copper professionals including midwives, nurses, deposits. and women’s health visitors from across the • The language spoken in this new nation is country. Halia. • One award was conferred posthumously to • The United Nations charter has 195 countries honour a nurse, Lini Sajeesh from Kozhikode that have been recognized by it. who passed away while caring for a Nipah virus patient in Kerala. Her husband Sajeesh ◼ 10th December is celebrated as International received the award. Human Rights Day every year all around the • N.Sobana who played a crucial role in taking world. The theme for the 2019 Human Rights Day care of Nipah virus patients for over a month is ‘Youth Standing up for Human Rights’ as head of nursing staff in Calicut Medical College was also honoured with the award. ◼ In 1993 UNGA declared to celebrate 10th • Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, December International Human Rights Day every Italy in May 1820 and died in August 1910 in year. England. • Florence Nightingale was an English social ◼ Miss Universe Crown for 2019 reformer and statistician and founder of modern nursing.

• She came into prominence as a trainer of ◼ India’s first university for transgender will open nurses and a Manager during the Crimean in Kushinagar, UP. War during which she organized the care of wounded soldiers. ◼ Bharatnet project: Centre to provide free wifi service to all villages by March 2020 ◼ New Zealand Wins 2019 Christopher Martin Jenkins Spirits Of Cricket Awards ◼ Chabahar port: • It is on the Indian Ocean about 100 ◼ Bhartiya Poshan Anthem kilometres west of the Pakistan border.It • aims to carry forward the message of consists of 2 separate ports -Shahid Kalantari ‘Malnutrition Free India’ to every corner of &Shahid Beheshti.India and Iran first agreed the country. to plans to further develop Shahid Beheshti • a flagship program of the government to port in 2003. improve nutrition in children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. ◼ About Iran: • ‘Poshan’ stands for ‘Prime Ministers ◼ ➔ Capital– Tehran Overreaching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition’. ◼ ➔ Currency– Iranian rial • The scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on 8 March 2018. ◼ Global House Price Index Q3 2019 report: India ranked at 47th & Hungary tops the list ◼ BSF Celebrates The 55th Raising Day • BSF was formed on 1 December 1965. ◼ Padma Vibhushan awardee • It ensures the security of the borders of India. conferred with 50th Dadasaheb Phalke Award It acts as the first line of defence against 2018 smuggling, infiltration and military attack. • BSF is the world’s largest border guarding ◼ The highest award in cinema, named after force. Dhundiraj Govind Phalke who is honored as the • It functions under the Ministry of Home Father of Indian cinema, was instituted in 1969. Affairs. • The Award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash ◼ Poet Akkithanam Namboodiri will be prize of Rs 10,00,000. awarded the 55th Jnanpith Award. • It is presented annually at the National Film • This award was instituted in 1961. It is Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film sponsored by Bhartiya Jnanpith. Festivals, an organization set up by the • It recognizes contributions by authors in Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. literature. • Jnanpith is the highest award in the literary ◼ Biennial “India State of Forest Report (ISFR)”, field. 2019 • n terms of largest forest cover in the country ◼ Govt of India launched a national program called by area wise, Madhya Pradesh (MP) has the “EChO Network” largest forest cover. It was followed by • The purpose of this programme is to bring Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and citizens, govt etc to solve problems in the Maharashtra in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th areas of research knowledge, and awareness place respectively. of Indian ecology and the environment. ◼ “Lokmanya Tilak National Journalism Award ◼ .Ethiopia Launches First Satellite Named ETRSS-1 • The award was instituted by the Kesari- from China. Maratha Trust and it will be conferred to Gupta on 4th January 2020 during the 139th

foundation ceremony of ‘kesari’ newspaper ◼ Afghanistan becomes the 1st nation to recognize started by Lokmanya Tilak. Indian Pharmacopoeia

◼ Maharashtra emerged as the top-ranked state in ◼ IAU named new star as ‘Sharjah’ and its planet as terms of employability. It was followed by Tamil ‘Barajeel’ Nadu and Uttar Pradesh(UP) in the second and third rank respectively as per 7th India Skills ◼ Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize: Report 2020 • This award, established in the year 2008, is given to new writers for exceptional writing ◼ World Habitat Award: in all genres in South Asian countries. • World Habitat Awards recognise and • It carries a cash prize of ₹2 lakh and a trophy. highlight innovative, outstanding and It is funded by the Shakti Bhatt Foundation. sometimes revolutionary housing ideas, projects and programmes from across the ◼ Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG)Khelo India- world. • It is the biggest sporting event in India. It is • It was established in the year 1985, by the a national level multidisciplinary grassroot Building and Social Housing Foundation games in India held for two categories, (BSHF) for the identification and promotion namely under-17 years school students and of good habitat practices. under-21 college students. • It was initiated in 1987 as World Habitat • Fact1- It was first launched in 2018 in New contribution to the United Nations Delhi under the name Khelo India School International Year of Shelter for the Games (KISG). Haryana emerged as top Homeless. performers in the first edition. • Odisha won the ‘World Habitat Award 2019’ • Fact2- The second edition was launched in for Jaga Mission also called Odisha Livable Pune, Maharashtra, where Maharashtra Habitat Mission (OLHM), a slum land titling emerged as the top performers. project executed for the benefit of millions of urban-poor people living in slums. The award ◼ 13th South Asian Games (SAG) 2019 begins in was given by the World Habitat, a UK (United Kathmandu, Nepal Kingdom) based organization, in association • The South Asian Games (SAF Games, SAG, or with the United Nations (UN)-Habitat, which SA games, and formerly known as South gives the award annually to recognize Asian Federation Games) are a biennial multi- innovative housing projects around the sport event held among the athletes from world. South Asia. • SAG are joined by eight members namely ◼ Inner Line Permit (ILP) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, • ILP is an official travel document issued by Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan the Government of India to allow the inward joined the SAF Games in 2004 and left the citizens to travel into a protected area for a organization in 2016. limited period of time. The document is an • The first South Asian Games were hosted by initiative taken by the Indian Government to Kathmandu, Nepal in 1984 regulate movements to areas located in the • The XIII South Asian Games was held at international border of India. Kathmandu, Pokhara and Janakpur from 1 • Manipur is the fourth state to have the ILP December to 10 December 2019. after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram. Other state citizens require ILP to ◼ India’s first Ganga centralised aqualab at visit these states in terms of Section 2 of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Dehradun, Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873. Uttarakhand.

• The aqualabs will be set up under the report India ranked 129th out of 189 countries in National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) the list which is up by 1 rank of 130 from 2017. The list was topped by Norway. ◼ The United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) released its report titled ◼ India has been ranked 9th in 2019's Climate “Human Development Report 2019– Beyond Change Performance Index (CCPI) at the COP25 income, beyond averages, beyond today: climate summit in the Spanish capital Madrid. Inequalities in human development in the 21st The index is jointly presented by Germanwatch, century”. The report was based on the human NewClimate Institute and Climate Action development of a changing world. As per the Network.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS One Liner Question / Answer Who has been appointed as Chief of the Indian Army? Manoj Mukund Naravane

Which city has been adjudged India's cleanest city for the 4th time in the latest Indore cleanliness survey of the Union Government?

Which state secured first position in the recently released ‘India State of Forest Karnataka (1,025 km) Report 2019’ for the highest growth in forest area in the country? Andhra Pradesh (990 km) and Kerala (823 km) secured 2nd and 3rd position respectively. Web portal launched for Delhi-NCR residents to track or block their lost/stolen Central Equipment phones. What is the name and address of this portal? Identity Register (www.ceir.gov.in)

The deadline for linking Pan Card with Aadhaar has been extended till which March 2020 period?

Who has been named as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff? General Bipin Rawat

Which state has topped the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Index for Kerala 2019-20?

Which Union Territory of India has topped the Sustainable Chandigarh Development Goals (SDGs) Index for 2019-20?

Which Indian defence service has banned the use of Facebook by its personnel Indian Navy to prevent the "leaking" of classified information?

Which state government has withdrawn all cases relating to the pathalgadi Jharkhand movement?

Which Indian female chess player recently won the World Rapid Championship title?

What is the name of ISRO’s first solar mission that will help scientists Aditya L1 study the solar corona? Who swore in as the new deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra? Ajit Pawar

Name the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader who has been sworn-in as the 11th Hemant Soren Chief Minister of Jharkhand? On which day 'Good Governance Day' is observed in India every year? 25th December

Which film won the Best Hindi Film award at the 66th National Film Awards? Andhadhun Who won the National Film Award for Best Direction for his movie Uri: The Aditya Dhar Surgical Strike? Which Indian Air Force aircraft was decommissioned on December 27, 2019? MiG-27 Name the cricketer who has become the first Indian bowler to claim 2 hat- Kuldeep Yadav tricks in one-day internationals? Which Indian tennis player has announced his decision to retire in 2020?

Name the veteran Hindi and Marathi film and theatre actor who passed away Dr. Shriram Lagoo on 17th December 2019?

Which mobile service provider recently introduced Wi-Fi calling facility in Bharti Airtel India?

Former Sri Lankan opener batsman Sanath Jayasuriya's record of scoring the Rohit Sharma (2,442 most runs in a year as an opener was broken by which Indian batsman? runs) On 25th of December which tunnel was officially renamed as the Atal tunnel Rohtang tunnel and dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi? Name the noted Hindi writer who has been chosen for the 33rd Moortidevi Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari Award 2019 for his work Asti aur Bhavati?

Who has been appointed as Foreign Secretary of India? Harsh Vardhan Shringla On which day National Farmers Day is observed in India? 23rd December On which day National Mathematics Day is observed every year in India? 22nd December To which country India gifted a Made in India patrol vessel named Maldives KAAMIYAAB? Which railway station has been conferred with the Eat Right Station Mumbai Central certification with four stars rating by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as a part of 'Eat Right India' movement launched last year? Who has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in the creative non-fiction Shashi Tharoor category in English literature? On which day India observes Vijay Diwas every year to commemorate India's 16th December victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war? Who has recently announced his decision to step down as Mahindra Group Anand Mahindra Executive Chairman? The Union Government has decided to sell its percent stake in Air 100 percent India. Who has been named as La Liga's first India brand ambassador? Rohit Sharma The Constitution (126th) Amendment Bill proposes to extend the reservation 10 years, till 2030

quota for SCs and STs in the legislatures by how many years?

Which Bollywood actor has been appointed by the National Anti- Doping Sunil Shetty Agency (NADA) as its brand ambassador? India won maximum gold medals in which sport at the South Asian Games Swimming 2019?

Who has been appointed as the 24th Controller General of Accounts? Soma Roy Burman

Which language made its debut in the Rajya Sabha on December 6, 2019? Santhali

Which among the following disciplines has been introduced as a CBSE subject Artificial Intelligence from 2019-20 academic year?

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS

Which country recently deployed first ‘Avangard’ Hypersonic missile in its defence Russia system? Avangard is capable of carrying 2 megaton nuclear weapon at 27 times the speed of sound.

What is the title of movie based on the life of Malala Yousafzai? The movie is Gul Makai scheduled to release on 31 January 2020? Name the US astronaut who has created a new record for the longest single space Christina Koch flight by a woman breaking the record of 288 days held by Peggy Whitson? Name the activist from Pakistan who has been named as the most famous Malala Yousafzai teenager in the world by the United Nations in its decade review report? Name the tennis players who have been named International Tennis Ashleigh Barty (Australia) Federation's World Champions for 2019? and Rafael Nadal (Spain)

Eight West African countries Mali, Niger, Senegal, Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, Eco Guinea-Bissau, and Ivory Coast have renamed their common currency CFA-Franc to .

Who has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Cuba? Manuel Marrero Cruz

Name the European country whose football team has been named FIFA Team of Belgium the Year 2019 for the second time in a row?

Who was named the captain of the Wisden Test Team of the decade? Virat Kohli

Name the English cricketer who has been chosen as the BBC Sports Personality Ben Stokes of the Year 2019?

Name the environmental activist from Sweden who has been named Time Person Greta Thunberg of the Year 2019 by Time Magazine?

Name the South African contestant who has been crowned Miss Universe 2019 in Zozibini Tunzi an event held in Atlanta, USA?

Which country has been banned by World Anti-Doping Agency for 4 years from all Russia major sporting events for its alleged tampering with laboratory data by planting fake evidence and deleting files linked to positive doping tests that could have helped identify drug cheats? Name the US engineer who helped develop the barcode and who recently George Laurer passed away at the age of 94?

Name the Australian cricketer who has become the fastest to score 7000 runs in Steve Smith test cricket by reaching the milestone in 126 innings? He broke the record of Wally Hammond who had made 7000 runs in 131 innings.

Which country topped the medal tally at the South Asian Games 2019 with 312 India medals including 174 gold, 93 silver and 45 bronze medals?

Name the Prime Minister of Ethiopia who was recently conferred with the Noble Abiy Ahmed Peace Prize 2019 for his efforts to resolve his country’s long- standing conflict with neighbouring nation Eritrea?

Name the Indian-American CEO of Google who will soon take over as the CEO of Sundar Pichai Alphabet?

Which company has announced the world’s largest-ever Initial Public Offering Saudi Aramco (IPO)?

On which day United Nations Human Rights Day is observed across the world 10th December every year?

On which day International Civil Aviation Day is observed across the world every 7th December year?

On which day World Soil Day is observed across the world every year? 5th December

On which day World AIDS Day is observed across the world every year? 1st December

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 2019

◼ United Nations Environment Program(UNEP), India. Ministry of Home Affairs manages this Emissions Gap Report 2019 warned that the university. Earth’s temperature may rise by 3.2*C by 2021 ◼ Logo Of Lokpal And Motto Launched ◼ Loktak Lake, located at Moirang in Manipur is the • The motto of Lokpal is “मा गृध: कस्यस्विद्धनम largest freshwater lake in the Northeast. It is “. The meaning of the motto is that do not be famous for phumdis floating over it which are greedy for anyone’s wealth formed naturally. • he logo was designed by Prashant Mishra from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh ◼ FCI is a Government-owned corporation • The objective of FCI is to ensure the food ◼ 13th Asia Pacific Screen Awards security of the Nation. • The 13th Asia Pacific Screen Awards were • Ensure minimum support price to farmers. held in Brisbane, Australia • Distribution of food grains under the National • Best Feature Film: ‘Parasite’, Directed by Food Security Act. South Korean Director, Bong Joon-Ho • Execution of Government Policies and schemes. ◼ The National Milk Day is observed on 26th November to commemorate the birthday of Dr ◼ Global Diplomacy Index 2019 , the father India’s White • Released by Sydney based Lowy Institute Revolution. World Milk Day is observed around • The Index gives the latest statistics about the world on 1 June as deemed by the United how the latest diplomatic networks of the Nations. world are expanding and in some cases shrinking. ◼ The Water Technology and Environment Control • In 2019 China has more diplomatic posts than conference was held in Israel. This conference the United States. helps to get updates on technologies related to • China has 276 Embassies and Consulates water and environmental management. Many across the world whereas US has lesser countries participated to showcase their consulates. This shows China’s growing clout revolutionary technologies. and ambitions. • Israel is considered a world leader in terms of • China’s diplomatic expansion has been rapid, water management. in 2016 China was in 3rd place, behind, the • Israel desalinated seawater and drip United States and France.It moved to 2nd irrigation. place pushing France to 3rd place. • It is a world leader in agriculture. • India ranked 12th in the list of 61 countries with 123 embassies and high commissions ◼ Article 3 of the Indian Constitution allows the and 54 consulates across the world. formation of States and Union Territories. It allows increasing or decreasing the area and ◼ National Institute of Disaster Management changing the boundaries of a state. The bills on (NIDM) state formation can be presented in either of the • NIDM was established in 1995 as the National houses. However, the President’s consent on the Centre of Disaster Management (NCDM). In bill is required before presenting the bill. 2006 it was renamed as National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM). The institute ◼ Chitharesh Natesan, a bodybuilder from Kerala conducts training and capacity development has been crowned as Mr Universe 2019 in the 90 programs to manage natural disasters in kg category at the 11th edition of World

Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship ◼ Green Tea and White Tea of Darjeeling were held at the Island city of Jeju in South Korea. At registered under “Geographical Indication of the same event, India secured 2nd position in the Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999”. team championship category. The first product to receive the GI tag in India was Darjeeling Tea ◼ Oxford Dictionary declares “climate emergency” • The Geographical tag Indication is given to as word of the year for 2019. The Word of the products that correspond to a specific Year citation is intended to highlight a word or geographical location. The tag provides expression shown through usage evidence to identity to the product in the international mood, or preoccupations, reflect the ethos of market. The Geographical Indications are the passing year, and have lasting potential as a defined by the WTO’s Trade-Related Aspects term of cultural significance. Recent winners of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement. In have included toxic youthquake post-truth and 2009, India enacted the GI of Goods act as a vape. member of WTO and as a signatory of TRIPS agreement. ◼ National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) project will start by December 31. 2020 ◼ India marked 78 among 200 countries in Bribery • National Intelligence Grid interconnects Risk Index 2019 databases of important security agencies of • TRACE Matrix, globally recognized anti- India and so is known as counter-terrorism bribery business association, is registered in Programme. Canada and is headquartered in the United • Technologies like Big Data is being utilized by States. NATGRID to study and analyze data from various enforcement and intelligence ◼ The farthest cosmic body, earlier known as agencies. ‘Ultima Thule’ has been renamed by The US • The proposal to form the National Space Agency National Aeronautics and Space Intelligence Grid was first put forward after Administration (NASA) to ‘Arrokoth’ or Sky. the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. ◼ On the Kundankulam nuclear power plant, India ◼ Arundhati Scheme: Assam Govt and Russia are to set up cybersecurity • Under the scheme, every bride who has cooperation in the backdrop of cyber-attack. completed her studies till 10th standard and • Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant was has registered her marriage will be gifted commissioned on 22 October 2013, operated 10gms of gold by the Assam government. by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India • The scheme will start on January 1, 2020. Limited (NCPIL).

◼ In the 2019 IMD, World Talent Ranking India ◼ The government of India appointed Mihir Shah slipped to 59th rank from 53rd in 2018 among 63 and formed a high-powered committee to draft countries. The ranking was released by the and analyze water reforms. International Institute for Management • The Ministry of Water Resources drafted the Development. National Water Policy which will ensure the development of water resources and their ◼ Pakistan is the first nation to introduce the WHO- optimum utilization. approved India made typhoid vaccine. • The National Water Policy was reviewed and • Typhoid is caused due to unsafe water and updated for the first time in 2002 and later in sanitation systems and inadequate drinking 2012. water. • The first National Water Policy was adopted in September 1987.

◼ Pune hosted the 2nd International Conference resonated with school children across the on Sustainable Water Management. world. • Manisha Kulshreshtha awarded the 28th ◼ Bangladesh, on the eighth death anniversary of Bihari Puraskar for 2018 for her novel the State’s cultural icon – has Swapnapash. been given a Sanskrit makeover to its National Anthem “Amar Sonar Bangla”. Rabindranath • The award is presented by the KK Birla Tagore had composed the national anthem of Foundation for writers of Rajasthani origin. It Bangladesh in 1905. The melody of the hymn is is given annually to an outstanding work in taken from the song “Ami Kothay Pabo Tare” set Hindi or Rajasthani published in the past ten to Dadra Tala by Baul singer Gagan Harkaras. years. • Hazarika was awarded the Dada Saheb • The Central government has the set year Phalke Award (1992). In 2019 he was 2021 as the deadline for complete posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna. eradication of filaria in the country. ◼ Renowned naturalist and broadcaster Sir David • he Indian journalist Neha Dixit was awarded Attenborough is to be conferred the Indira the 2019 International Press Freedom Award Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and by the Committee to Protect Journalists Development for 2019. (CPJ). She has covered gender, politics, and social justice in print, TV, and online media ◼ The awards recognized his efforts for the well for more than a decade. The award being of our planet, of all living creatures, and recognized her investigation that shed a light their relationship with human beings. on important issues in the country, including • Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairperson and extrajudicial killings by police, in 2019. managing director of Biocon, has been conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): by the Indian Council of Medical Research • Formed on: 1981 (ICMR), the apex body in India for the • Headquarters: New York, United States formulation, coordination, and promotion of • CPJ is known as Journalism's Red Cross. The biomedical research. The award was given by committee defends the rights of journalists Bill Gates, co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates and promotes press freedom. Foundation at an event to mark the celebration of 108th Foundation Day of International Press Freedom Award: ICMR. ◼ The award was instituted by Committee to • She was awarded for her outstanding Protect Journalists in 1991. The award honours achievement in healthcare and contribution journalists who show courage in defending press to the society at large. The award recognized freedom despite attacks, threats, or her as the leader for building a globally, imprisonment. The first honorees of the award renowned biopharmaceuticals company that are Bill Foley and Cary Vaughan from US, Pius provides high-quality, affordable medicines Njawe from Cameroon, Wang Juntao and Chen to patients across the world. She was noted Ziming from China, Tatyana Mitkova from Russia for her philanthropic efforts. She provided and Byron Barrera from Guatemala. better healthcare to people in India and globally through cost-effective life-saving ◼ Saudi Arabia was elected to the United Nations therapies and increasing access to healthcare Educational, Scientific and Cultural at the grassroots. Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage • Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teen activist, Committee for the first time. The Kingdom was was awarded an International Children's elected to the UN heritage body's executive Peace Prize. The award recognized her work board for the term 2019-2023. in the struggle against climate change. It had

◼ The approval confirms Saudi Arabia's reforming global governance. In 2011 South international status and its role in building peace Africa joined the group. After the admission of and contributing effectively to the establishment South Africa, BRIC became BRICS. of the principles of culture and science. ◼ In 2012, the fourth summit was held in New ◼ The World Heritage Committee meets once Delhi. The summit has called for the transparent every year. The committee consists of and merit-based procedure for the appointment representatives from 21 member states to the of heads of international monetary institutions. convention elected by the United Nations General Assembly. The committee decides and ◼ Suranga Bawadi has entered the World approves of whether a property can be added to Monuments Watch List under the Ancient Water the World System of the Deccan Plateau of the World Monument Funds. It is situated in Bijapur, Jnanpith Award Karnataka. It is an integral part of the ancient ◼ Malayalam poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboodiri Karez System by which water was supplied has been chosen as the recipient of the 55th through subterranean tunnels. Jnanpith Award ◼ jnanpith Award was instituted in 1961. It is ◼ Suranga Bawadi was built in the 16th century by sponsored by Bharatiya Jnanpith. It is India's Adil Shah-I of the Adilshahi dynasty of Bijapur. highest literary honour. The award recognizes The system was aimed to supply water to the outstanding contribution of the authors Vijaypura in Karnataka. towards literature. ◼ The award is presented only on the writing of the ◼ Karez System is a method to harness water in Indian writers in Indian languages that are which groundwater is brought to the surface by included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian a tunnel. No mechanical pump or lift is used in Constitution and English, with no posthumous the system. The water from the underground conferral. Jnanpith Award was awarded for the source was brought by gravity alone. The first time in 1965. The first awardee is G. Sankara technology originated in Persia and Iran. This Kurup. technology was widely used during the medieval period. ◼ Loktak Inland Waterways improvement project in Manipur under the central sector scheme. ◼ Tobacco Board of India was awarded the Golden Leaf Award in the Most Impressive Public Service ◼ The move by the Centre aims to develop the Initiative category for the year 2019 Inland water transport connectivity in North East States. It will boost the tourism sector. The Italian Golden Sand Art Award 2019 ◼ Renowned sand artist ◼ The etymology of Loktak is Lok means stream and received the Italian Golden Sand Art Award 2019 tak means the end. The Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the Northeastern part of India. ◼ Switzerland topped the 2019 IMD World Talent It is located at Moirang, Manipur. Loktak Day is Ranking. India ranked 59 on the global annual list observed on 15 October every year at the of 63 countries. The list was released by the periphery of the Loktak lake. Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD). ◼ The 11th BRICS Summit has been scheduled to be held in Brasilia, Brazil, from 13 November 2019. ◼ The ranking was based on the performance in three main categories, namely investment and ◼ The first BRIC Summit was held in Russia in 2009. development, appeal, and readiness. The member group decided to work on

◼ Indian wrestler has been conferred • Constitution Day or Samvidhan Divas is the Indian Personality of the Year Award (Sports) celebrated 26 November cross the country to at the Indo Arab Leaders Summit & Awards 2019 mark the adopting of the Indian Constitution in Dubai. Also, World powerlifting champion by the Constituent Assembly on this day in Mahant Gaurav Sharma was honoured with the 1949. Visionary Leaders of the Year (Sports) award. ◼ It came into force on 26th January 1950, marking ◼ Madhuri Vijay won the 2019 JCB Prize for the beginning of a new era in the history of the Literature for her novel The Far Field. Sir Mark Indian Republic Tully announced the winner in a live broadcast on social media. ◼ India’s constitution is the longest written constitution in the world. It took around 2 years, ◼ CB Prize for Literature award established in 2018. 11 months and 17 days to complete the It is an Indian literary award. Prize money of Constitution Rs.25 lakh is awarded to a distinguished work of • The 10th edition of the Commonwealth fiction by an Indian writer working in English or Youth Parliament (#CYP10) was held in New translated fiction by an Indian writer. The Delhi, for the first time in India, from Director of the literary award is Rana Dasgupta. November 25-27, 2019. It was hosted by The winners are announced every November. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association • Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde took oath as the (CPA) and the Delhi Legislative Assembly. 47th Chief Justice of India.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS One Liner Question / Answer Recently, a Bill to merge the Union Territories (UTs) of Daman and Diu (D&D) and 8 Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DNH) has been introduced in the Lok Sabha. India will have how many union territories after the merger? At which place Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Nitin Manesar, Haryana Gadkari inaugurated NuGen Mobility Summit-2019 at International Center of Automotive Technology (ICAT)? The term of the 15th Finance Commission will end on? October 30, 2020 Who swore in as the 18th chief minister of Maharashtra recently? Uddhav Thackeray The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister 10,000 crore Narendra Modi has approved to increase the authorized capital of Food Corporation of India (FCI) from the existing 3,500 crore rupees to rupees. Name the famous cartoonist who died recently at the age of 87? He started his 58- Sudhir Dhar year-long career with The Statesman and worked for many Indian newspapers as well as foreign newspapers like the New York Times, Washington Post and Saturday Review. Name the launch vehicle through which ISRO successfully launched Cartosat-3 PSLV-C47 and 13 US satellites to the space? On which day National Milk Day is observed every year in India? 26th November On which day National Constitution Day is observed every year in India? 26th November

Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, the Chairman of Lokpal, recently launched the logo मा गध ृ ः कयसि् ःद्धनम ः् of Lokpal and officially adopted as the motto of the Lokpal. The motto means "Do not be greedy for anyone’s wealth". (Ma Gridhah Kasyasvidhanam) Which state government has launched a massive immunisation campaign against Uttar Pradesh the disease filariasis or Filaria? Which state observes Sangai Festival every year to present the State as a world Manipur class tourist destination? Name the Lieutenant Governor under the chairmanship of which the Jammu and G C Murmu Kashmir Union Territory has constituted an administrative council to fulfill the functions of a government? President Ram Nath Kovind awarded the President’s Colour to the Indian Naval on November 20, 2019. The President’s Colour is the Academy (INA) highest honour conferred upon a military unit. Who has been selected as PETA person of the year? Virat Kohli Which cricket stadium hosted India’s first-ever pink ball day and night test match Eden Gardens against Bangladesh? (Kolkata) Which state recently announced a ban on sale and storage of single-use plastic such Kerala as plastic bags, plastic sheets, disposable plastic plates and cups and thermocol from January 1, 2020? The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of National Institute of Sowa Leh Rigpa in India. The institute will be set up in which district?

In which north-eastern State, a newspaper in Hindi (Arun Bhoomi) was launched Arunachal Pradesh for the first time? Paradise Beach was recently declared as ‘no plastic’ zone to restrict the use and Puducherry sale of plastic items. The beach is located in which State / Union Territory? IRCTC signed a MoU with which state to run the Golden Chariot Train? Karnataka India’s Ravi Prakash won the BRICS-Young Innovator Prize for inventing which Milk chilling unit machine? Who swore in as the 47th Chief Justice of India on November 18, 2019 succeeding Justice SA Bobde Justice Ranjan Gogoi? The government of which State has launched a mobile application 'e- Ganna' for Uttar Pradesh the sugarcane farmers in the state? More than 1,000 migratory birds have been found dead in Sambhar lake. Sambhar Rajasthan lake is in which State? Name the Union Cabinet Minister who has been given additional charge of Heavy Prakash Javadekar Industries and Public Enterprises? He is currently holding the charge of Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Who has become the fastest Indian cricketer to take 50 T20I wickets in 34 Yuzvendra Chahal matches? Name the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India who passed away recently? TN Seshan

Which country has raised objections to the inclusion of Kalapani in India’s new Nepal political map? India claims Kalapani to be a part of Uttarakhand.

The new union territory of Ladakh has how many districts? 2 districts (Kargil and Leh) The citizens of which countries are not eligible for the Overseas Citizen of India Pakistan and (OCI) card? Bangladesh Name the Malayalam writer who has been chosen for the 55th Jnanpith Award? A A Namboodri

Name the Indian bodybuilder who has been crowned Mr. Universe (Pro) 2019 in Chitahresh Natesan the 90 kg category? Name the noted Indian academic and mathematician who passed away on 14 Dr. Vashishtha November 2019? Narayan Singh Name the cricketer who has become the first Indian (male) to take a hat trick in Deepak Chahar T20 Internationals while playing against Bangladesh in Nagpur? Name the Hindi writer who has been conferred with 28th Vyas Samman for the Leeladhar Jagoori year 2018 by KK Birla Foundation? INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS Which country continues to be the largest country of origin of international India migrants, with 17.5 million living abroad, followed by Mexico (11.8 million) and China (10.7 million)? Which country was recently elected to the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO Saudi Arabia for first time?

Which businessman has announced that he would be running for US Presidential Michael Bloomberg Elections 2020? Who has been awarded the International Children's Peace Prize for the year 2019 Greta Thunberg for her global campaign called 'School Strike'? Which cricket umpire has written the book - Finding the Gaps? Simon Taufel Which Rhino has gone extinct in Malaysia after the last survivor of the species died Sumatran rhinoceros of cancer? Which nation’s floating school project has won the Aga Khan Architecture Bangladesh Award? Name the renowned naturalist and broadcaster who has been conferred with the David Attenborough Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2019 for his lifetime worth of work to awaken the mankind to the need to preserve and protect the planet's biodiversity? Who swore in as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka? Mahinda Rajapaksa Name the Microsoft CEO who topped the list of Fortune’s Businessperson Satya Nadella of the Year 2019? Google has launched a new cloud-based game streaming service. What is the Google Stadia name of the gaming service?

On which day World Fisheries Day is celebrated every year to spread awareness 21st November about the importance of lives of creatures living in water? On which day World Children's Day is celebrated every year to promote 20th November international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare? On which day National Press Day is observed every year? 16th November In which country 11th BRICS Summit 2019 was held from 13th to 14th November Brazil 2019?? President of which country will be the chief guest of Republic Day celebration of Brazil India in 2020? Which country will host the 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup? The tournament will India be held from January 13 to January 29, 2023. Which country has been ranked as the world’s worst abuser of internet freedom China for the fourth consecutive year by Freedom on the Net report 2019? On which day World Science Day for Peace and Development is observed every 10th November year? What is the Oxford Word of the Year 2019? Climate Emergency Which country has become the first in the world to introduce WHO recommended Pakistan TCV (Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine) in its national immunisation programme?

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCTOBER 2019

◼ In Assam, in order to gradually collect and remove ◼ The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has the harmful plastics from the eco- system named an asteroid, discovered in 2006, after Bongaigaon District administration is going to Indian classical singer Pandit . “Sangeet launch a campaign ‘Plants for Plastic’. Martand Pandit Jasraj (b. 1930) is an exponent of Indian classical vocal music. The asteroid, or more ◼ World Vegetarian Day is celebrated annually on formally known as a minor planet, is located October 1. The day brings global attention to the between Mars and Jupiter, and was discovered on health and environmental benefits of November 11, 2006, by the Catalina Sky Survey, vegetarianism and focuses on the ethics of whose telescopes are based in Arizona in the following a vegetarian lifestyle. World Vegetarian United States Day was founded in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) and was endorsed by ◼ Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched his the International Vegetarian Union in 1978. government’s ‘Mo Sarkar’ (my government) initiative and directly talked to some people to ◼ Exercise MAITREE-2019, the joint military training know about their experience in state-run hospitals exercise between Indian Army (IA) & Royal and police stations. The objective of the ‘Mo Thailand Army (RTA) which commenced on 16 Sep Sarkar’ initiative is to provide service with dignity 19, culminated on 29 Sep 2019 at Foreign Training to people who are coming to government offices Node, Umroi (Meghalaya). for different purposes

◼ Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria ◼ Eminent economist Surjit S Bhalla was appointed took over as the 26th Chief of the Air Staff at a as the Executive Director for India on the board of ceremony held at Air Headquarters (Vayu the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Bhalla (71) Bhawan). will succeed former RBI deputy governor Subir Gokarn. ◼ Annu Rani has become the first Indian to qualify for Women’s Javelin Throw Final at World ◼ In a latest initiative to recognize young people as Athletics Championships in Doha. critical drivers of sustainable development, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and United ◼ Telangana has become one the fully electrified Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India states in the country after providing electricity to launched Youth Co:Lab which aims at accelerating over 5 lakh 15 thousand households under the social entrepreneurship and innovation in young Soubhagya Yojana introduced by the Centre in India. The first phase of Youth Co:Lab will focus on October 2017. six SDGs: SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and ◼ The government of Uzbekistan has issued a special Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic postage stamp to mark the 150th birth anniversary Growth), SDG 12 (Sustainable Consumption and of Mahatma Gandhi. Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

◼ Russia will next month celebrate the life of ◼ The United Nations designated the first Monday of Kalashnikov, designer of the AK-47, with a number October of every year as World Habitat Day to of events, including the museum display and a reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on biopic. The designer of the AK-47 is seen as a the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The Day national hero and a symbol of the country’s proud is also intended to remind the world that we all military past have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns. 2019 theme:

Frontier Technologies as an innovative tool to ◼ Shri Hardeep S Puri, Minister of State(I/c) for transform waste to wealth Housing & Urban Affairs launching the mobile app, “mHariyali,”, . The app is aimed to encourage ◼ World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 Public engagement in planting trees and other October, the anniversary of the establishment of such Green drives. People can now upload the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss information/photos of any plantation done by Capital, Bern. It was declared World Post Day by them, which is linked to app and will be displayed the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969 on the website www.epgc.gov.in.

◼ Union Cabinet has doubled honorarium for ten Nobel Peace Prize lakh ASHA workers from the existing 1000 rupees ◼ Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has won the to 2000 rupees per month. 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his peacemaking efforts with Eritrea. Nobel Prize in Literature ◼ The 2019 Nobel Prize in Literature has been ◼ Ethiopia and Eritrea, longtime foes who fought a announced along with the 2018 Prize. The Swedish border war from 1998 to 2000, restored relations Academy said, Austrian author Peter Handke has in July 2018 after years of hostility. The prize will won the 2019 Prize while Polish writer Olga be presented in Oslo on Dec 10 Tokarczuk has received the 2018 Prize. ◼ The Nobel Prize 2019 were announced recently in ◼ Handke was honoured for an influential work that 6 different fields viz. Physiology or Medicine, with linguistic ingenuity has explored the Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and periphery and the specificity of human experience. Economic Sciences. The Nobel Prize distribution His notable works include “Short Letter, Long was first done on 1901. The winners will receive a Farewell” and “A Sorrow Beyond Dreams”. full cash prize, valued this year at 9-million kronor ($918,000), a gold medal and a diploma. ◼ Tokarczuk was awarded for a narrative imagination that with encyclopedic passion ◼ On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his represents the crossing of boundaries as a form of 3rd and last will at the Swedish-Norwegian Club in life. Her first novel, “The Journey of the People of Paris in which he specifically designated the the Book,” was released in 1993 institutions responsible for the prizes he wished to be established: The Royal Swedish Academy of ◼ The 2019 Nobel Prize in Literature has been Sciences for the Nobel Prize in Physics and announced along with the 2018 Prize. The Swedish Chemistry, Karolinska Institute for the Nobel Prize Academy said, Austrian author Peter Handke has in Physiology or Medicine, the Swedish Academy won the 2019 Prize while Polish writer Olga for the Nobel Prize in Literature, and a Committee Tokarczuk has received the 2018 Prize. of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) for the Nobel Peace Prize. In ◼ Handke was honoured for an influential work that 1968, the Sveriges Riksbank established the with linguistic ingenuity has explored the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in periphery and the specificity of human experience. Memory of Alfred Nobel. His notable works include “Short Letter, Long Farewell” and “A Sorrow Beyond Dreams”. ◼ The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was started in 1989, after a call by the United ◼ Tokarczuk was awarded for a narrative Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a imagination that with encyclopedic passion global culture of risk-awareness and disaster represents the crossing of boundaries as a form of reduction. 2019 Theme: Reduce disaster damage life. Her first novel, “The Journey of the People of to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic the Book,” was released in 1993 services

◼ Bangladesh has become the second-fastest ◼ The International Criminal Police Organisation growing economy in South Asia after Bhutan. (Interpol) had hosted the general assembly, where World Bank in its report ‘South Asia Economic representatives of all member countries converge, Focus, Making (De) Centralization Work’ says that in India in 1997. GDP growth rate of the country is projected to moderate to 7.2 per cent this fiscal year and 7.3 ◼ Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has per cent in 2020 in Bangladesh. recommended Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde as his successor and the 47th Chief Justice of India in ◼ The 2019 Nobel Prize for Economics has been keeping with convention and the seniority norm. jointly won by Indian-American Abhijit Banerjee, his wife, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer of the ◼ Justice Bobde, who will be sworn in as CJI on United States for their experimental approach to November 18, will have a tenure of about 18 alleviating global poverty. months.

◼ Dr Harsh Vardhan launched Food Safety Mitra ◼ Sri Lanka has been removed from the Financial (FSM) scheme for strengthening and scaling up Action Task Force (FATF) list of countries at risk for ‘Eat Right India’ movement. money laundering.

◼ The ‘Food Safety Mitra (FSM)’ scheme will support ◼ Paris informed the removal of Sri Lanka’s name small and medium scale food businesses to comply from the blacklist commending the new measures with the food safety laws and facilitate licensing taken by the country on financial security. Sri and registration, hygiene ratings and training. Lanka was first included in the blacklist in 2011. By Apart from strengthening food safety, this scheme 2012, Sri Lanka was listed in the list as a dangerous would also create new employment opportunities country with no commitment to the financial for youth, particularly with food and nutrition security plan background. ◼ 24 October has been celebrated as United Nations ◼ NITI Aayog with Institute for Competitiveness as Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations the knowledge partner released the India General Assembly recommended that the day be Innovation Index (III) 2019. Karnataka is the most observed by Member States as a public holiday innovative major state in India. Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana, Haryana, Kerala, Uttar ◼ The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu will Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Andhra lead the Indian delegation at the XVIII Summit of Pradesh form the remaining top ten major states Heads of State and Government of the Non- respectively. Aligned Movement (NAM) to be held at Baku, Azerbaijan on 25-26 October. ◼ The top ten major states are majorly concentrated in southern and western India. Sikkim and Delhi ◼ The World Bank released its latest Doing Business take the top spots among the north- eastern & hill Report(DBR, 2020) on 24th October 2019. India states, and union territories/city states/small has recorded a jump of 14 positions against its states respectively. rank of 77 in 2019 to be placed now at 63rdrank among 190 countries assessed by the World Bank. ◼ India will host the 91st Interpol General Assembly in 2022 after a proposal received the ◼ India’s leap of 14 ranks in the Ease of Doing overwhelming support of member countries at Business ranking is significant considering that this year’s congregation at Santinago in Chile. there has been continuous improvement since 2015 and for the third consecutive year India is amongst the top 10 improvers.

◼ Infantry Day is observed on October 27 to mark the ◼ The State of Jammu and Kashmir ceased to exist at landing of first Indian troops in Jammu and 30 October in line with The Jammu and Kashmir Kashmir in 1947 to push back Pakistan supported Reorganisation Act, 2019. The two Union intruders. Territories came into existence following the August 5th decision of Parliament to bifurcate National CSR Awards Jammu and Kashmir. ◼ The National CSR Awards has been instituted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to recognize ◼ The total number of states in the country is now corporate initiatives in the area of Corporate Social 28, while the total UTs has gone up to nine Responsibility (CSR) to achieve inclusive growth and inclusive and sustainable development. These ◼ The UT of Jammu and Kashmir will have a awards are the highest recongnisation in the legislature like Puducherry while Ladakh will be a domain of CSR by the Government of India. UT without legislature like Chandigarh. Both UTs will be headed by separate Lieutenant Governors ◼ Karnataka was crowned the 2019-20 (LG), as per the Act Champions as they beat Tamil Nadu by nine wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at Bengaluru. ◼ 14thNational Health Profile (NHP)2019 & its e- Abhimanyu Mithun and Mayank Agarwal put on a book (digital version). The NHP is prepared by the masterclass performance as Karnataka won their Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) and fourth Vijay Hazare Trophy title with a dominant covers comprehensive information on display against Tamil Nadu via VJD method. demographic, socio-economic health status, health finance indicators, health infrastructure ◼ Nagaland partners with Madhya Pradesh under ‘Ek and health of human resources in the country. This Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’’ 14th edition of NHP is the continuation of the publication since 2005. National Unity day ◼ National Unity day (also known as Rashtriya Ekta Vyas Samman Diwas) is celebrated every year on 31st of October ◼ The 28th Vyas Samman for the year 2018 was by the people all through India. It is celebrated to conferred on well known Hindi writer Leeladhar commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Jagoori at a function in New Delhi. Mr Jagoori has Vallabhbhai Patel who really unified the country. been chosen for the prestigious award for his Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day was poetry collection- Jitne Log Utne Prem. introduced by the Government of India in 2014 with the aim of celebrating this event every year ◼ The Vyas Samman, started in 1991, is given by K K on 31st October. Birla Foundation for an outstanding literary work in Hindi authored by an Indian citizen published ◼ The aim of introducing this event is to pay tribute during the last 10 years. to the great man, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on his birth anniversary by remembering his ◼ Peddapalli district of Telangana became first in the extraordinary works for the country. He really 2019 rural Swachhta survey (sanitation survey) to worked hard in keeping India united. become the cleanest district in India. The most improved district in the list was ◼ Radha Krishna Mathur took oath as the first Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. ◼ Haryana’s Faridabad, which moved to second place in 2019 from its previous rank of 71 in 2018. ◼ Girish Chandra Murmu has been appointed as the first Lieutenant Governor of the J&K Union ◼ Haryana’s Rewari district ranks 3rd in the list. Territory Among larger states, Tamil Nadu has topped the

list from 11position in 2018. Haryana and Gujarat ◼ Indian magazine India today’s Vice Chairperson slipped to second and third positions respectively. (VC) Kallie Puri was honoured with 2019 “India’s Most Powerful Women in Media” award at famed ◼ Rajasthan became the first state in India to launch Confluence Excellence Awards at the British such a policy and in January 2015, it had became Parliament in London, United Kingdom. Recently the first Indian state to notify Pneumoconiosis as in September 2019, she was also honored with an epidemic. Pneumoconiosis is a disease of the Two ‘Outstanding Media & Entertainment Award’ lungs due to inhalation of dust, characterized by at the annual 21st Century Icon Awards in London. inflammation, coughing, and fibrosis. ◼ The latest 2019 Henley Passport Index ranking was ◼ The first e-waste clinic of India will be set up in released. In the report, India is currently ranked at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Bhopal Municipal 82nd place in 2019, which is one place down from Corporation (BMC) and the Central Pollution its previous rank of 81 in 2018. Japan and Control Board (CPCB) have tied up to set up the Singapore both hold the most powerful passport clinic. It will be formed in compliance with the by ranking 1st in the list. The study was conducted Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. by Henley & Partners.

◼ Ecuador will quit Organization of the Petroleum ◼ Global Health Security (GHS) Index 2019 was Exporting Countries (OPEC) from January 1, 2020 released. It is a project of the Nuclear Threat due to fiscal problems. Initiative (NTI) and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security (CHS), with research by ◼ Human rights lawyer from Kyrgyzstan, Azizbek the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). It is the first Ashurov was awarded the 2019 UN High comprehensive assessment of epidemic and Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) prestigious pandemic threats globally. In this Index, India was Nansen Award. He was awarded for ending status ranked 57th out of 195 countries with a score of of stateless people through his organisation 46.5 out of 100. The United States (US) topped the Ferghana Valley Lawyers Without Borders list globally, overall with a score of 83.5, followed (FVLWB) in Kyrgyzstan which thus became the by United Kingdom (77.9) and Netherlands world's first country to end statelessness.Ashurov will receive the award comprising of a ◼ The State Cabinet of Assam has decided to make commemorative medal and a cash prize of USD government jobs out of bounds for people with 150,000 prize money at a ceremony in Geneva. more than 2 children and policy will come into effect from January 1, 2021.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS One Liner Question / Answer Which Indian city will host the 2nd Assembly of International Solar Alliance New Delhi (ISA)? Which category of citizens was recently allowed by the PFRDA to enroll in Overseas Citizens of National Pension Scheme (NPS)? India (OCI) Who has been appointed as the 47th Chief Justice of India succeeding Justice SA Bobde current Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi? Former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Satya Pal Malik has been Goa transferred and appointed as the new Governor of which state? Who has been appointed as the first Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu Girish Chandra Murmu and Kashmir, now a union territory?

Who has been appointed as the first Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh? Radha Krishna Mathur In which state 7th edition of Tawang Festival began on October 29, 2019? Arunachal Pradesh Which party won the maximum seats in the Haryana assembly elections BJP 2019? What is India's position in the 2019 Ease of Doing Business 63rd rankings? After and Virat Kohli who has become the third Indian Rohit Sharma batsman to reach the top 10 in all three formats (One Day International, Test and T20)? To create awareness and to take steps against hunger and malnutrition in Feed Our Future India which campaign was started by the United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP)? On which day National Unity Day is celebrated in India? 31st October Which district became the first kerosene-free district of Gujarat? Gandhinagar At which place the Colonel Chewang Rinchen Setu was recently inaugurated Ladakh by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh? Which Indian cricketer has created a new record of hitting the most number Rohit Sharma of sixes in a bilateral Test series? Which country has recently stopped the postal services with India? Pakistan The Government Employees of which Union Territory will now get all 7th Jammu & Kashmir and CPC Allowances with effect from 31st October 2019? Ladakh Which Indian cricketer broke Don Bradman's record of highest average in Rohit Sharma Test cricket on home soil? On which day Police Commemoration Day 2019 was observed in India? 21st October A Buddha Circuit Special Train has been started by IRCTC to connect all 8 days Buddha pilgrimages located in India and Nepal. How many days it will take to complete its journey? UNICEF recently released its State of the World’s Children report for 2019. 33 per cent According to this report what percentage of Indian Children are underweight? In which Indian state Shirui Lily Festival 2019, a 4-day cultural festival, was Manipur inaugurated? In which school Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the proposal Sainik School to give admission to girls from the session 2021-22? Who was appointed as the Director-General of the National Security Guard Anup Kumar Singh (NSG)? Which State’s Legislative Council was abolished recently on October Jammu & Kashmir 18, 2019? Which State topped the India Innovation Index 2019 of NITI Aayog followed Karnataka by Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra at second and third position respectively?

Which Union Territory got the first rank in India Innovation Index 2019? Delhi According to the report of which international organization, India's economic IMF growth rate for the year 2019 and 2020 will be 6.1 per cent and 7 per cent respectively? What percentage of growth was recorded in the recently concluded 4.63 per cent Livestock Census in India as compared to the year 2012? Alarmed by the low percentage of women in Science, Technology, Vigyan Jyoti Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) which scheme has been launched by the Central Government to encourage girl students to pursue STEM education? Chief Minister Pema Khandu rode a motorcycle for more than 122 kilometres Arunachal Pradesh to promote adventure tourism in his state. He is the Chief Minister of which state? What is the rank of India in Global Hunger Index 2019 of 117 countries? 102 Which scheme was recently launched by FSSAI on the occasion of World Food Food Safety Mitra Day to engage motivated individuals with the food safety ecosystem at ground level? Who has been appointed as the Union Law Secretary? Anoop Kumar Mendiratta Which airline becomes first airline to use Taxibot on A320 aircraft with Air India passengers on-board? Taxibot is a robot-used aircraft tractor for taxiing an aircraft from parking bay to runway and vice versa. What is the name of Indian nun who was declared saint by Pope Francis Mariam Thresia recently? Which state/UT has started postpaid mobile service after 70 days of ban? Jammu and Kashmir What was the India’s rank in Global Competitiveness Index 2019? 68 Name the feminist social reformer of Bengal and the first woman to graduate Kamini Roy with honours in India for whom Google has recently dedicated a doodle? Who is the first Indian captain to score 40 hundreds in international cricket? Virat Kohli After Union Cabinet’s approval, what is the new honorarium amount Rs 2000 per month that will be given to ASHA workers? Name the girl who is a graduate in B. Tech degree in Computer Science and Kavitha Gopal Engineering and who has created history by becoming the first girl student of the Indian Institute Technology-Madras to win the President of India Prize?

Which state topped the 'School Education Quality Index' released by NITI Kerala Aayog? Who has become the first-ever Indian cricketer to play 100 T20 Harmanpreet Kaur internationals? Name the Indian classical musician who has been honoured by the Pandit Jasraj International Astronomical Union (IAU) with a planet named after him?

Who became the second fastest Indian to take 200 Test wickets? Ravindra Jadeja The UK High Court on Wednesday ruled in favour of India and dismissed 35 million pounds Pakistan's claim over funds belonging to the late seventh Nizam of Hyderabad at the time of Partition in 1947. How much fund was involved? Which state has imposed a complete ban on all types of tobacco products Rajasthan including storage, advertising and sale of pan-masala products? PM Narendra Modi released a commemorative coin on Mahatma Gandhi's Rs. 150 150th birth anniversary. What is the value of this coin? Which team won the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2019-20 defeating Tamil Nadu in Karnataka the finals held in Bengaluru? Who has been appointed as the CEO of Unique Identification Authority of Pankaj Kumar India (UIAI)? Name the former cricketer and captain of Indian team who has been made Saurav Ganguly President of BCCI? What was the theme of Vigilance Awareness Week observed from 28 October Integrity - A way of life to 02 November 2019 by Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)? Which city of Uttar Pradesh has been designated as the most polluted in Varanasi India by the Central Pollution Control Board? Name the pioneer of Chipko movement who has been chosen for the 31st Chandi Prasad Bhatt Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the years 2017-18? Name the cricketer from Mumbai who has become the youngest in the world Yashasvi Jaiswal (aged 17 years 192 days) to score a double hundred in one- day cricket while playing against Jharkhand? Name the two PSUs which have been conferred the Maharatna status by HPCL and Power Grid the Govt of India Corporation

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS

On which day World Cities Day is observed across the world? 31st October Name the Bangladesh captain who has been banned from all cricket for two Shakib Al Hasan years, with 12 months suspended, by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after acceptance of three anti-corruption charges by him?

Prime Minister of which country recently resigned after nationwide protests Lebanon against tax provisions on using WhatsApp calls along with other austerity measures? Name the leader of terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) who was recently Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed in a US military operation? Which city is hosting the 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government of Baku, the capital of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)? Azerbaijan On which day United Nations Day was observed across the world? 24th October

Naruhito has formally proclaimed his ascension to the throne as the Emperor Japan of which country? Joko Widodo has been re-elected as the President of which country? Indonesia How many women astronauts did a spacewalk, without a male astronaut, for Two the first time in the history of Space? Name the CEO of Oracle who passed away recently at the age of 62? Mark Hurd On which day International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed 17th October across the world? Name the Argentine footballer (also plays for Barcelona) who became the Lionel Messi only player to win European Golden Shoe award for 6th time and the only player to win the award for three years in a row? Which actress has made a world record of getting more than 1 million Jennifer Aniston followers on Instagram in 5 hours 16 minutes? The Booker Prize for the year 2019 has been given jointly to Margaret The Testaments Girl, Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo for their work and Woman, Other respectively. On which day International Rural Women Day is observed across the world? 15th October

Which rule will decide a winner during a tie cricket match as per the new ICC Super Over rule? Who won Nobel Prize for Economics 2019? Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer Who won Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2019 for developing lightweight, energy- Akira Yoshino, M Stanley efficient and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries? Whittingham and John B Goodenough Who won Nobel Prize in Physics 2019 for theoretical discoveries in Michel Mayor, Didier physical cosmology? Queloz and James Peebles

On which day World Post Day is observed across the world? 9th October Which country was ranked number one with 84.8 points in Global Singapore Competitiveness Index 2019? What is the name of NASA’s recently launched a satellite to study the ICON ionosphere to explore the mysterious, dynamic region where air meets space? Name the legendary cosmonaut who was the first person to do space walk in Alexei Leonov 1965 but died recently at the age of 85? Who won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to secure a peace deal Abiy Ahmed Ali between Ethiopia and its neighbour Eritrea and put an end to the over 20- year-old border conflict?

On which day International Day of the Girl Child is observed across the 11th October world? Which United Nations' agency recently became the first to make transactions UNICEF in cryptocurrency? Who has been awarded with the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature? Olga Tokarczuk Who won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Literature? Peter Handke Who won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their discoveries of "how William G Kaelin Jr, Peter cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability"? J Ratcliffe & Gregg L Semenza On which day World Teachers Day was observed across the world with the 5th October theme - Young Teachers: The future of the Profession? Which country has announced to leave membership of OPEC due to internal Ecuador financial problems?

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 2019

◼ Hindi Diwas is observed every year on 14 September to mark the popularity of Hindi as an official language of India.

◼ India’s first National Antimicrobial Resistance Hub was recently inaugurated in Kolkata

◼ Google has announced that it will open an artificial ◼ The “Best Fifa Football Awards 2019” felicitated in intelligence (AI) based research lab “Google Milan. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi won the best Research India“. The lab will be opened in men’s player at the Best Fifa Football Awards in Bengaluru Milan ◼ According to a report of Economist Intelligence ◼ Airtel Payments Bank launched “Bharosa savings Unit, Mumbai has been ranked as the 45th safest account” services, designed for deepening the city on the Safe Cities Index (SCI) 2019, while Delhi financial inclusion in the country. stood at the 52nd position. ➢ "Global Happiness

Survey" by Ipsos, Indian has been ranked 9th on ◼ Ministry of Commerce & Industry through Export the happiness index among 28 global markets Credit Guarantee Corporation has introduced a

new Export Credit Insurance Scheme called ◼ The Film Federation of India (FFI) has chosen ‘Gully NIRVIK. The Niryat Rin Vikash Yojana has been Boy’ as India’s official entry to the Oscars. launched to enhance loan availability to exporters

and to ease the lending process. Under the new

scheme NIRVIK, up to 90 per cent of the principal amount and interest will be covered through insurance.

◼ Actor has been chosen as “goodwill ambassador” by the Chief Electoral Office in Maharashtra to create awareness among people about the importance of voting

◼ Suresh Chitturi has been appointed as chairman of the International Egg Commission (IEC) for the ◼ Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the 2019 next two years. Global Goalkeeper Award. He received the award for Swachh Bharat Mission from Bill and Melinda ◼ The United Nations observes 16 September every Gates Foundation. Swachh Bharat Mission was year as International Day for the Preservation of launched on October 2, 2014, aims to accelerate the Ozone Layer. Theme of the day for 2019: 32 the efforts to achieve universal sanitation Years and Healing coverage in the country.

◼ International Day of Peace is observed around the ◼ The SASTRA Ramanujan prize for 2019 will be world on 21 September. The theme for awarded to Adam Harper. Mathematician Adam International Day of Peace 2019 is “Climate Action Harper is an Assistant Professor with the for Peace” University of Warwick, England

◼ India declares free from H5N1 avian influenza

having the capacity to generate 688 million kWh ◼ India has been declared free from H5N1 avian (kilowatt-hour) of electricity annually. influenza (commonly known as bird flu) by OIE (Office International des Epizooties)-World ◼ India took over the COP Presidency from China for Organisation for Animal Health. The flu was last the next two years till 2021.India is one among the reported in 2017 with disease outbreaks in Odisha, selected few countries to have hosted the COP of Bihar, and Jharkhand. all three Rio conventions on climate change, biodiversity and land.Shri Prakash Javadekar, ◼ According to the recent Travel & Tourism Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Competitiveness Index (TTCI) for the year 2019 Change was elected as the COP President for the released by next two years.

◼ The World Economic Forum(WEF) on September ◼ Asia’s first environment school named World 4, 2019, India was ranked at the 34th spot, an Environment School, Coorg (WESc) was launched improvement by 6 places from the 2017 report on the occasion. It is set up in Coorg, Karnataka.It (40th rank). The index was topped by Spain will be operational from 2021 for grade 6 to 12 followed by France and Germany in the second students and educate the next generation of and third places respectively. environmental leaders.

◼ Japan-India-U.S trilateral maritime exercise ◼ India’s first Central Police University will be “MALABAR 2019” will be held from late September established in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh near to early October, 2019.India, Japan Annual the Yamuna Expressway with the aim to improve Defence Dialogue 2019 resolved to further deepen the law and order of the country. In-Principle bilateral defence and strategic ties. approval has been given by the centre for the establishment of the university and 100 acres of ◼ The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has honored land has also been identified for this in Sector Indian Ambassador Navdeep Singh Suri with its Techzone, Greater Noida. highest civilian honor Order of Zayed II award. He has been given this honor for strengthening the ◼ The 74th edition of United Nations (UN) Climate relationship between the two countries. UAE Action Summit 2019 was held in the General Minister for Foreign and International Affairs HH Assembly Hall of the UN Headquarters in New Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented York, United States on September 23, 2019. It was the honor to Suri, who has been serving as the hosted/convened by the UN Secretary-General Indian ambassador to the Gulf nation since António Guterres in order to meet the urgent need October 2016. He will retire in September 2019. to address climate change; to achieve the goals of Senior diplomat Pavan Kapoor will succeed him as the Paris Agreement and to galvanize action that the new ambassador to the UAE. can limit climate change to 2°C and even to 1.5°C. Luis Alfonso de Alba was the Secretary-General’s ◼ The 24th Edition of World Energy Congress (WEC) Special Envoy for the 2019 Climate Action Summit. for 2019 was held from September 9-12, 2019 at The theme of 74th edition of United Nations (UN) the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Climate Action Summit 2019 was “Climate Action in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) under Summit 2019: A Race We Can Win. A Race We the theme “Energy for Prosperity”. Must Win”.

◼ Vietnam has inaugurated Southeast Asia’s largest ◼ Assam is the most species-rich State in India in solar power farm called ‘Dau Tieng Solar Power terms of turtle diversity. About 70 hatchlings of Complex’. It occupies 540 hectares in Tay Ninh the rare Black Softshell and Indian Softshell turtles province, some 100 km from Ho Chi Minh City, bred in the ponds of two temples in Assam were released in the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, about

50 km east of Guwahati. The sanctuary is often ◼ Vatican city(smallest country in the world) called ‘Mini Kaziranga’ because of similar conferred 2006 Noble laureate of Bangladesh, Prof landscape and a sizeable population of the one- MuhammadYunus with 2019 ‘Lamp of Peace of horned rhino. Saint Francis ‘ award at the historical Papal Basilica of Assisi,Italy. The lamp of peace award recognizes ◼ According to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), distinguished work by an individual in promoting India is the fourth country in the world to have its peace. own national standard on bulletproof jackets after the United States, United Kingdom and Germany, ◼ The Government of India think tank NITI Aayog which provides 360-degree protection. They are released the SEQI – School Education Quality manufactured at 2 Public Sector Undertakings Index. SEQI evaluates the performance of states (PSUs) Medani and Ordnance factory at Avadi, and union territory. Chennai and private firms SNPP (Palwal), Starwire (Faridabad) in Haryana and MKU (originally ◼ The SEQI was conceptualized by MHRD and NITI incorporated as M Kumar Udyog) in Kanpur, Uttar Aayog. The index is divided into 2 categories Pradesh. Outcomes – It includes learning, infrastructure and facility, access and equity. Governance processes ◼ National Green Tribunal (NGT) formed a and structural reforms committee inorder to look into the issues related to illegal groundwater extraction and prevent ◼ Rose Day is observed on 22 September every year. them. The committee headed by NGT chairperson It is for the welfare of cancer patients. The day Adharsh Kumar Goel directed the panel to frame marks hope for cancer patients that cancer is mechanism to prevent the unauthorized curable. extraction and also to monitor the functioning of Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ◼ Telugu poet K Siva Reddy conferred the prestigious Saraswati Samman, 2018 for his collection of ◼ National Institution for Transforming India (Niti poems titled Pakkaki Ottigilite. The award Aayog) has selected McKinsey & Company to set instituted by the KK Birla Foundation, is given up India's first Digital Capability Centre (DCC) in annually for an outstanding literary work written New Delhi. in any official Indian languages and published during the preceding 10 years. The highest ◼ Hima Das(19yrs) from Assam was appointed as the recognition in the field of Indian literature and ambassador of sports drink brand Gatorade India carries a cash purse of Rs 15 lakh. which is a subsidiary of PepsiCo India. Hima, nicknamed as Dhing express, joins shuttler P.V ◼ State Bank of India opened its Melbourne office to Sindhu and javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra as become the first Indian bank to have a branch in brand ambassadors in the country. the Australian state of Victoria.

◼ Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is to be ◼ NPR will be conducted at the local, sub-district, honored with ‘Global Goalkeeper Award 2019’ by district, state and national levels. • It will be the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for his work conducted in conjunction with the first phase of under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) Mission. the Census 2021, by the Office of the Registrar He will be honored during his visit to United States General of India (RGI) under the Home Ministry. (US) in September 2019. The award is presented to Only Assam will not be included, given the recently leaders who have demonstrated their completed NRC. commitment to the Global Goals through impactful work in their country /globally. ◼ Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) It was introduced in 2010, to consolidate the law to regulate the acceptance and utilization of foreign

contribution by individuals or associations and to agreement that links environment & development prohibit acceptance and utilization of foreign to sustainable land management. It addresses contribution or foreign hospitality for any activities specifically arid, semi-arid and dry sub humid detrimental to national interest and for matters areas. connected therewith or incidental. ◼ Recently, Ministry of Jal Shakti launched 10 Year ◼ ASEAN, ( Association of South East Asian Countries Rural Sanitation Strategy (2019-2029), which ) is a geo-political and economic organization with focuses on sustaining the sanitation behaviour 10 member countries, formed in August 1967 by change and increasing access to solid and liquid Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore waste management. and Thailand. ◼ Born in Ahmedabad in 1919, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai ◼ UNCTAD (United Nation Conference on Trade and is considered as the father of India's space Development) - It is a permanent program. intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964. • It is part of ◼ ERONET is a web-based system for Electoral the UN Secretariat and the principal body dealing officials. It automates the process of electoral roll with trade, finance, investment and management starting such as elector registration, developmental issues. field verification of electors etc.

◼ United Nations Convention to Combat ◼ Recently, eighth edition of World Happiness Desertification (UNCCD) - It is one of three Report released by Sustainable Development Conventions that came out of the historic 1992 Solutions Network .Finland topped the report as Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro including UN happiest country amongst 156 nations surveyed. Framework Convention on Climate Change and India dropped to rank 144 from previously at 140 Convention on Biological Diversity. o Established in and became new entrant to the bottom-fifteen 1994, it is sole legally binding international group.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS One Liner Question / Answer

Which film has been nominated for Oscar 2019 as India’s official Gully Boy entry? Who has been selected for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award? Amitabh Bachchan Which city hosted the Howdy Modi event where PM Narendra Modi and US Houston President Donald Trump shared the stage together? Which Indian athlete was recently awarded with International Association of PT Usha Athletics Federation (IAAF) Veteran Pin Prize? What is India's position in digital competitiveness in the world as per the IMD 44th World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2019 (WDCR) report? Who is the author of the book - Reset: Regaining India’s Economic Subramanian Swamy Legacy? Who was conferred with the "Global Goalkeeper" award by the Bill and Prime Minister Narendra Melinda Gates Foundation on September 24, 2019 for his leadership in India’s Modi massive Swachh Bharat Abhiyan?

Who has become the first Indian cricketer to bowl 3 maidens in T20Is? Deepti Sharma Which is India’s first corporate-run train that is slated to run from Lucknow Tejas Express to Delhi on October 4, 2019? Which State/UT became the first to issue the highest number of Golden Jammu & Kashmir Cards under Ayushman Bharat scheme? Who has become first Indian boxer to won silver medal in World Boxing Amit Panghal Championship 2019? In order to attract fresh investment in manufacturing and thereby provide 15 boost to ‘Make-in-India’ initiative of the Government, new domestic manufacturing companies incorporated after October 1, has been allowed to pay income tax at a rate of per cent without any incentives. In order to promote growth and investment, a new provision has been 22 inserted in the Income-tax Act with effect from FY 2019-20 which allows any domestic company an option to pay income-tax at the rate of per cent subject to condition that they will not avail any exemption/incentive. Which Indian documentary based on the life of an Uttarakhand farmer Moti Bagh Vidyadutt and directed by Nirmal Chander has been nominated for the Oscars? Which state government has made Sanskrit language compulsory from 3rd Uttarakhand to 8th grade in all government and private schools? Who took charge as the 26th chief of the Indian Air Force succeeding Air Rakesh Kumar Singh Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa? Bhadauria Who has become the first Defence Minister to fly indigenously-built light Rajnath Singh Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas?

Which state has decided to celebrate the year of 2020 as the Year of Artificial Telangana Intelligence (AI)? As per announcement made by the Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Kalyana Karnataka Hyderabad Karnataka region comprising Bidar, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur and Yadgir would be renamed as ? Who recently became the first Indian wrestler to qualify for 2020 Tokyo Vinesh Phogat Olympics after defeating world number one Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the ongoing World Wrestling Championship in Kazakhstan? Which company will flag-off the country’s first non-Indian Railways run IRCTC passenger train between Lucknow and Delhi on October 4, offering passengers, better amenities and a refund of ₹100 if the train is late by an hour? Over 6 crore EPFO subscribers will get per cent interest for 2018- 8.65 19. On which day Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated his 69th birthday? 17th September Which Air-to-Air missile was successfully flight-tested from the fighter jet Astra Su-30 MKI?

Name the world-renowned chef whose directorial debut- 'The Last Colour' Vikas Khanna won the Best Feature Film award at the Indian International Film Festival of Boston? Who among the following set a new record in cue sports by winning his 22nd Pankaj Advani World Billiards Title at the IBSF World Billiards Championship 2019? The Centre has pledged to provide how much fund to Export Credit Rs 8,500 crore Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) in next five years? Who has been appointed as the first Lokayukta of Andhra Pradesh? Justice P Lakshman Reddy Who has become the 44th person in the world and the first Indian to Mayank Vaid complete the Enduroman — a triathlon from England to France which is considered to be one of the toughest endurance competitions in the world? Which organisation has decided to translate and publish an anthology of the UNESCO writings of Guru Nanak Dev in world languages to mark his 550th birth anniversary? Name one of India’s most renowned and respected criminal lawyers Ram Jethmalani who passed away at the age of 95 on September 8, 2019? Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated South Asia’s first cross- Nepal border oil pipeline. The pipeline will connect India with which nation? Which Committee has been constituted by the Union Government to oversee Sanjay Mitra Committee the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) into Union Territories? At which place in Jharkhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to Sahibganj nation the second Multi Modal Terminal constructed on the river Ganga and built at a cost of ₹290 crores under Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP)? In which airport, India’s tallest Air Traffic Control tower was inaugurated to Indira Gandhi enhance safety and efficiency of air transport management services? International Airport (Delhi) Who was appointed as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Pramod Kumar Mishra Narendra Modi? Who has been appointed as the Principal Advisor to Prime Minister Narendra P K Sinha Modi? Which programme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which National Animal Disease aims to control the livestock diseases by 2025 and eradicate these by 2030? Control Programme Who sworn-in as the Governor of Rajasthan recently? Kalraj Mishra Which newly created Union Territories will have a common high court? Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Name the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India who recently assumed Sunil Arora the Chairmanship of ‘Association of World Election Bodies’ (AWEB) on September 3, 2019? Which Ministry won the Swachh Bharat award in Swachhta Action Plan Ministry of Railways category?

Name the activist who has become the first Indian to be awarded the Payal Jangid Changemaker Award 2019 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for her work towards abolition of child marriage in Rajasthan? Name the noted mathematician, educator and founder of Super 30 from Anand Kumar Bihar who has been awarded Education Excellence Award 2019 by US based organisation Foundation for Excellence? Name the Indian bowler who has become the 3rd Indian to claim a hat-trick Jasprit Bumrah in test cricket while playing against West Indies? What was the theme of the 7th annual World Hindu Economic Forum Prosperous Society: (WHEF) 2019 held in Mumbai? Stronger Society Name the Indian classical singer after whom a minor planet (located Pandit Jasraj between Mars and Jupiter) has been named? Name the Indian duo who won the IBSF World Snooker Team title defeating Pankaj Advani and the team from Thailand at Mandalay, Myanmar? Aditya Mehta

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS

Which 178-year-old British travel company collapsed recently due to Thomas Cook bankruptcy? Who has been selected as the new Chief of International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva (IMF)? Which nation topped the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2019? USA On which day World Tourism Day is observed? 27th September On which day World Maritime Day 2019 is observed? 26th September "How dare you? You have stolen my dreams, my childhood with your empty Greta Thunberg words." Who said these words blasting off the world leaders during the 2019 UN climate action summit in New York? Who won the FIFA's Best Men's Player Award 2019 for his outstanding Lionel Messi performance? Who won the FIFA's Best Women's Player Award 2019 for her outstanding Megan Rapinoe performance? Which television series won the 'Outstanding Drama Series Award' in the Game of Thrones 71st Emmy Awards? On which day International Day of Peace is observed? 21st September The 2019 theme of the International Day of Peace is? Climate Action for Peace On which day World Health Organization (WHO) celebrated the first World 17th September Patient Safety Day to create awareness about safety of patients?

Name the chairman of Alibaba, one of world's largest online shopping Jack Ma website, who has stepped down from his post?

Who won US Open 2019 Men's singles title by defeating Daniil Medvedev 7- Rafael Nadal (Spain) 5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 in the final? Who won US Open 2019 Women's singles title by defeating 23-time major Bianca Andreescu champion Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 in the final? (Canada) Robert Mugabe passed away at the age of 95 on September 6, 2019. He Zimbabwe served as the President of which nation for almost four decades? On which day International Literacy Day is observed? 8th September President Donald Trump has formally launched the US Space Command, SpaceCom which he said will ensure that America's dominance in space is "never threatened," amidst advances made by countries like Russia and China. What is the name of this space command? At which place UN Climate Action Summit was held on 23rd September 2019 New York with the theme - A Race We Can Win? Which country won the Under-19 Asia Cup cricket tournament defeating India Bangladesh in the finals held in Colombo, Sri Lanka? Name the Sri Lankan cricketer who has become the first bowler to claim 100 Lasith Malinga wickets in T20 internationals? Name the former leg-spinner from Pakistan who passed away on 06 Sep Abdul Qadir 2019?

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF AUGUST 2019

◼ CABINET NOD FOR CABINET NOD FOR MORE ◼ The Union Cabinet has approved the introduction JUDGES IN SUPREME COURT of the Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2019, in Parliament, to reduce the compliance burden of the registered chit funds in the country while also protecting the interest of the subscribers

◼ The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the extension of the term of the commission constituted under Article 340 of the constitution to examine the issue of Sub-categorization within other Backward Classes The Supreme Court of India in the Central List by six months beyond 31st July, • The Supreme Court of India came into being on 2019 and upto 31st January, 2020. 28 January 1950. ◼ Plan for single water disputes tribunal • The first Chief Justice of India was H. J. Kania. • The Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh • Originally, the Constitution of India envisaged Shekhawat has moved the Inter State River a supreme court with a chief justice and seven Water Disputes ( Amendment ) Bill,2019 for judges; leaving it to the parliament to increase passage in the Lok Sabha. this number • It has been observed in the bill that though the • The chief architect of the Supreme Court original Inter State River Water Disputes Act Building was Ganesh Bhikaji Deolalikar, the enacted in 1956 was amended 17 yeras ago to first Indian to head the Central Public Works make five years the maximum period which Department. river waster disputes need to be resolved.The • The design of the Court's seal is reproduced new Bill proposes that the final award will be from the wheel that appears on the Sarnath delivered in two years and whenever it gives Lion capital of Ashoka with 24 spokes. The the order, the verdict will be notified inscription in Sanskrit, यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः (IAST: automatically Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ, means "whence • Water is a State subject.” justice (dharma), thence victory". It is also

referred as the wheel of righteousness, ◼ The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of encompassing truth, goodness and equity Marriage) Bill, 2019 that criminalises instant • Parliament increased the number of judges divorce by Muslim men was passed in the Rajya (including the Chief Justice) from the original 8 Sabha on Wednesday, paving the way for it to in 1950 to 11 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1978, become law. 26 in 1986, 31 in 2009, to 34 in 2019.

• The Supreme Court saw its first woman judge ◼ The eight core sector industries are coal, crude oil, when Justice M. Fathima Beevi was sworn into natural gas, refinery products, fertilizer, steel, office in 1989.[ cement and electricity. • Indu Malhotra is the first woman justice to be selected directly from the bar ◼ Domestic SMEs and startups have written to • At present the The Supreme Court consists of Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey 31 judges (ome Chief Justice and thirty other complaining about the equalisation levy they have judges ) to pay to foreign companies doing business in India, resulting in increased costs as well as lost revenue for the government. The equalisation

levy, introduced in 2016, is a direct tax on ◼ On the issue of NMC deciding fee/other payments made by residents to non•resident charges of 50% seats in private institutions, the companies for online advertisement, provision of Minister clarified that the body would make digital and advertising space or any other facility or rules to cap the fees for other seats. The State service for online advertisement. would enter into memoranda of understanding with private colleges to ◼ The Delhi Chief Minister , Shri Arvind Kejriwal has regulate fee structure for the other 50% seats, announced Free electricity for Delhiites using up to he said. 200 units from 1st of August,2019. ◼ Ratings agency Crisil has cut its forecast for ◼ 9.Kaziranga, a World Heritage Site designated by GDP growth in 2019•20 to 6.9% from its earlier UNESCO, is more popular as the world’s best forecast of 7.1%, citing weak monsoon, slow address for the one• horned rhino. It is also been a global growth and poor high•frequency data major tiger reserve covering an area of 1,080 sq for the first quarter of the financial year km. ◼ The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment ◼ UGC panel urges review of process to appoint V•Cs Bill, 2019 that empowers the Union Home Ministry • “The UGC /MHRD as well as State governments to designate individuals as terrorists was passed in must seriously review the mechanism by which the Rajya Sabha ViceChancellors are appointed. Good academic leadership is essential for improving ◼ Giving voice sample does not violate privacy, says the research culture, including the quality of SC Ph.D./M.Phil. Degrees,” says the report of the • A judicial magistrate is empowered to order a committee headed by former Indian Institute person to give a sample of his voice for the of Science director P. Balaram. purpose of investigation • “The UGC /MHRD as well as State governments • A person to part with his voice sample to police must seriously review the mechanism by which was not a violation of his fundamental right to ViceChancellors are appointed. Good privacy academic leadership is essential for improving • The judgment authored by Chief Justice said the research culture, including the quality of “the fundamental right to privacy cannot be Ph.D./M.Phil. Degrees,” says the report of the construed as absolute and must bow down to committee headed by former Indian Institute compelling public interest”. of Science director P. Balaram. • The 87th Report of the Law Commission of India in 1980 describes a voice print as a “visual ◼ Medical panel Bill crosses Rajya Sabha recording of voice”. Voiceprints resemble ◼ The National Medical Commission (NMC) will fingerprints, in that each person has a replace the Medical Council of India (MCI). distinctive voice with characteristic features ◼ The new body, after the law is implemented, dictated by vocal cavities and articulates. will be constituted in nine months and in the next three years, it will set up the mechanism ◼ Ravish Kumar receives Ramon Magsaysay Award for conducting the common final year examination, or the National Exit Test (NEXT), for all MBBS students. ◼ Based on the results, the students will get their degrees and licence to practise (after an internship). Performance in the theory paper will decide eligibility for admission to

postgraduate courses.

• Ramon Magsaysay Award is regarded as the Asian version of the Nobel Prize, for harnessing ◼ The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed journalism to give voice to the voiceless. the Delhi government to issue appropriate • He is among the five individuals who were notifications pertaining to the use of sound declared winners of the award, which limiters in all sound systems. The directions came celebrates greatness of spirit and following a plea which alleged that authorities had transformative leadership in Asia. The other failed to curb noise pollution in the city. winners were Ko Swe Win from Myanmar, Angkhana Neelapaijit from Thailand, ◼ Surrogacy regulation Bill passed in Lok Sabha Raymundo Pujante Cayabyab from the Philippines and Kim Jong•ki from South Korea. • Seeks to ban commercial surrogacy and provides for constituting a National Surrogacy ◼ The Rajya Sabha passed the Wage Code Bill that Board, State Surrogacy Boards, and the seeks to enforce minimum wage among both appointment of appropriate authorities for the formal and informal sector. “The Bill also ends all regulation of the practice and process of kinds of discrimination. Women and transgenders surrogacy will get the same pay as men. • The Bill is aimed at ending the exploitation of women who are lending their womb for ◼ Saudi women allowed to travel independently surrogacy, and protecting the rights of children • Saudi Arabia published new laws that loosen born through this. The Bill will also look after restrictions on women by allowing all citizens, the interests of the couple that opt for women and men alike, to apply for a passport surrogacy, ensuring that there are laws and travel freely, ending a long•standing protecting them against exploitation by clinics guardianship policy that had controlled that are carrying this out as a business.” women’s freedom of movement. The • The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill regulates development is a potential game•changer for altruistic surrogacy and prohibits commercial Saudi women’s rights. surrogacy. It defines surrogacy as a practice • The new rules allows any person 21 and older where a woman gives birth to a child for an to travel abroad without prior consent and any eligible couple and agrees to hand over the citizen to apply for a Saudi passport on their child to them after the birth. The Bill allows own. altruistic surrogacy, which involves a surrogacy arrangement where the monetary reward only ◼ U.S. formally withdraws from INF arms treaty involves medical expenses and insurance • The U.S. and Russia terminated a Cold War•era coverage for the surrogate mother. missile pact. It had raised the spectre of an Commercial surrogacy is prohibited under the arms race between the global superpowers. Bill. • The 1987 IntermediateRange Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty limited the use of medium•range ◼ House clears transgender protection Bill missiles, both conventional and nuclear. • The Bill provides a mechanism for social, economic and educational empowerment of ◼ RBI penalises eight banks for violations transgenders • Allahabad Bank, Bank of Baroda , Bank of India , Bank of Maharashtra, Indian Overseas Bank, ◼ Govt. unveils draft e•com norms Oriental Bank of Commerce and Union Bank of • To protect the interest of online shoppers, the India were fined for non•compliance Department of Consumer Affairs has released Corporation Bank was fined for draft guidelines on e•commerce that state that non•compliance with RBI directions on an e•commerce entity cannot directly or cybersecurity framework in banks and frauds indirectly influence the price of the goods or classification and reporting. services.

• The draft ‘e­commerce guidelines for granted clearance by the Ministry of consumer protection 2019,’ which adds that Environment and Forests (MoEF). e•commerce firms need to ensure that personally identifiable information of ◼ Special Category Status to States in India customers is protected • The concept of a special category status was • an ecommerce firm cannot falsely represent first introduced in 1969 when the fifth Finance themselves as consumers or post reviews Commission sought to provide certain about goods and services in their name. disadvantaged states with preferential • it proposed to make it mandatory for firms to treatment in the form of central assistance and display terms of contract with the seller tax breaks, establishing special development relating to return, refund, exchange, boards, reservation in local government jobs, warranty/guarantee, delivery/ shipment, educational institutions, etc. mode of payments and grievance redressal • This formula was named after the then Deputy mechanism to enable consumers to make Chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr informed decisions. The draft also proposes Gadgil Mukherjee and is related to the transfer that once an ecommerce firm comes to know of assistance to the states by centre under about any counterfeit product, and if the seller various schemes. is unable to provide any evidence that the • Initially, three states; Assam, Nagaland and product is genuine, the firm needs to take Jammu & Kashmir were granted special status down the listing and notify the consumers of but from 1974-1979, five more states were the same added under the special category. These include Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, ◼ Consumer Protection Bill gets RS green light Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tripura. • In 1990, with the addition of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, the states increased to 10. The state of Uttarakhand was given special category status in 2001. • The Constitution of India does not include any provision for the categorization of any state in India as a 'special category state.

◼ Benefits states confer with special category status: • The Bill seeks to strengthen the rights of States which are granted special category status enjoy consumers and provides a mechanism for several benefits. redressal of complaints regarding defects in 1. The central government bears 90 percent of goods and deficiency in services the state expenditure on all centrally- • The Bill will replace the Consumer Protection sponsored schemes and external aid while rest Act, 1986 10 percent is given as loan to state at zero • The Upper House also passed the Public percent rate of interest. Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) 2. Preferential treatment in getting central funds. Amendment Bill, 2019 for speedy eviction of 3. Concession on excise duty to attract industries unauthorised occupants of government to the state. residential accommodation 4. 30 percent of the Centre's gross budget also goes to special category states. ◼ Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir project 5. These states can avail the benefit of debt- • The contentious Mekedatu Balancing swapping and debt relief schemes. Reservoir project, which aims to augment the 6. States with special category status are Cauvery water supply to Bengaluru much to exempted from customs duty, corporate tax, the opposition of Tamil Nadu, has not been

income tax and other taxes to attract special category states like Assam, Jammu & investment. Kashmir, and Nagaland were given preference. 7. Special category states have the facility that if they have unspent money in a financial year; it ◼ Criteria for Special Category Status: does not lapse and gets carry forward for the • The erstwhile Planning Commission body, the next financial year. National Development Council (NDC), granted Special Category Status to states based on a ◼ What is the difference between special category number of features, which included: status and special status? 1. Hilly and difficult terrain • The constitution provides special status 2. Low population density through an Act that has to be passed by 2/3rds 3. Presence of a sizeable tribal population majority in both the houses of Parliament 4. Strategic location along international whereas the special category status is granted borders by the National Development Council, which is 5. Economic & infrastructural backwardness an administrative body of the government. 6. Non-viable nature of state finances • For example, Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed a Jammu and Kashmir was the first state to get Special special status as per Article 370 and also Category Status and another 10 states were added special category status. But now that Article over the years, with Uttarakhand being the last in 35A has been scrapped and it has become a 2010. union territory with legislature, special category status doesn't apply to J&K anymore. ◼ Certification of seeds to be made mandatory to • Special status empowers legislative and step up agri output political rights while special category status • The Centre now hopes to mandate uniform deals only with economic, administrative and certification by pushing through a replacement financial aspects. to the Seeds Act, 1966 • After the dissolution of the Planning • This could increase overall agricultural Commission and the subsequent constitution productivity by up to 25%, of the NITI-Aayog, the recommendations of • Definition changed “The existing legislation the 14th Finance Commission have been that was enacted over half a century ago needs implemented, meaning that the Gadgil to be revised urgently. Technology has formula-based grants have been discontinued. changed, farmers’ expectations have changed, But this has been compensated by the increase even the very definition of what is a seed has in devolution from the divisible pool to all changed. Planting materials such as cuttings, states from 32% to 42%. The Centre says that grafting and tissue culture — all that must also the 14th Finance Commission effectively be brought under the ambit of the law,” removed the concept of Special Category • The main aim of the new legislation, which is Status after its recommendations were ready for submission to the Cabinet for accepted in 2015. approval, is to bring uniformity to the process • The Special Category issue was first raised in of quality regulation. The 1966 Act starts with the National Development Council meeting in these words: “An Act to provide for regulating 1969. The D R Gadgil committee gave a the quality of certain seeds for sale...” The new formula which was evolved in 1969. This Bill removes the word “certain”, and aims to formula lays down the allocation of Central regulate the quality of all seeds sold in the Assistance for state plans in India. Before this, country, as well as exported and imported there was no definite formula to grant funds to seeds the states and only scheme-based grants were given. The National Development Council ◼ Single male service personnel can avail Child Care approved the D R Gadgil Formula under which Leave

• The scheme was currently restricted to female total 154.42 hectares of forest land to be officers diverted to the DRDO, 45 acres falls in the • Now the Govt has extended the benefit to heart of the sanctuary. “The DRDO proposes single male government servants as well to utilise the 45•acre forest land in the • Further, the age limit of 22 years prescribed sanctuary for the road facility that connects to earlier in the case of a child with 40% disability the test and technical facility of the project, has been removed for the purpose of availing almost dividing it into two parts,” observed CCL. Further, the minimum period of CCL that former Chief Wildlife Warden A.V. Joseph in his can be availed at a time has been reduced to 5 field report in 2014. “The stretch of 308.84 days instead of 15 hectares (761.085 acres) of revenue land adjacent to the KWS has been identified as per ◼ Hampi the recommendations of the National Board for Wildlife. The final notification exercise to include the area in the sanctuary has almost been completed. The higher authorities are re•examining the facts and area without any technical problems before issuing the final • Hampi or Hampe (in Kannada), also referred to notification,” Divisional Forest Officer as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a (Eluru•Wildlife) Anant Shankar told The Hindu. UNESCO World Heritage Site located in east- Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Forest central Karnataka, India. It became the Resources) V. Bhaskara Ramana Murthy told pilgrimage centre of the Hindu religion. It was The Hindu: “The area, compensating the forest the capital of Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th land to be diverted for the DRDO, has been century.[ identified adjacent to the KWS to ensure the • Hampi is situated on the banks of the maintenance of ecological balance and Tungabhadra River in the eastern part of mangrove cover central Karnataka near the state border with Andhra Pradesh. ◼ Headgear made mandatory for children above • The ruins of Hampi were surveyed in 1800 by four years Scottish Colonel Colin Mackenzie, first • In a significant move, protective headgear of Surveyor General of India. prescribed standards has been made mandatory for children above four years while ◼ The National Board for Wildlife, travelling on a motorcycle. The safety • The Forest Department has identified 308.84 measures for the children travelling on hectares of revenue land for inclusion in the motorcycles have been included in the Motor Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) as Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 that is passed recommended by the National Board for by Parliament. With the President of India Wildlife, compensating the land being diverted giving assent to the Act, that has amended the for setting up a Missile Test Launch Facility by Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, on August 9, the the Defence Research and Development Union Ministry of Law and Justice has notified Organisation (DRDO) in Nagayalanka mandal in the Act in the Gazette of India. To make the Krishna District. Declared a sanctuary in 1989, protective headgear mandatory for children, the KWS is spread across 194.84 hectares in Section 129 of the principal Act has been Krishna and Guntur districts. The huge chunk replaced in the Act as “Every person, above of revenue land adjacent to the existing four years of age, driving or riding or being sanctuary is now supporting a moderately carried on a motorcycle of any class or dense mangrove cover in Nagayalanka mandal, description shall, while in public place wear geographically near the confluence point of protective headgear conforming to such the river Krishna and the Bay of Bengal. Of the standards as may be prescribed by the Central

government”. Exemption Only Sikhs wearing Joint Entrance Examination – Main (JEE Main), turban have been exempted from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test- provision of Section 129 that makes helmets Undergraduate (NEET UG), National Eligibility mandatory for all riders of motorcycles above Test (NET), Common Management Admission four years of age. The Act says the Central Test (CMAT) and Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude government may by rules provide for Test (GPAT). measures for the safety of the children below four years of age riding or being carried on a ◼ Nonbanking finance companies (NBFCs)- motorcycle. With this amendment, children • A non-banking financial institution (NBFI) or from the Kindergarten classes will have to non-bank financial company (NBFC) is a wear the protective headgear if they have to financial institution that does not have a full travel on motorcycles. At present, only banking license or is not supervised by a protective headgear for children riding cycles national or international banking regulatory are available in the market across the country. agency. NBFI facilitate bank-related financial The decision of the Union government will see services, such as investment, risk pooling, the markets flooded with protective headgear contractual savings, and market brokering.[1] for children. For the parents, carrying Examples of these include insurance firms, headgear of children is another issue. Road pawn shops, cashier's check issuers, check safety expert and former director of the cashing locations, payday lending, currency National Transportation Planning and exchanges, and microloan organizations Research Centre (Natpac) T. Elangovan has • A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a called for providing a breathing space till the company registered under the Companies Act, markets get ready with the protective 1956 engaged in the business of loans and headgear of prescribed standards. The parents advances, acquisition of shares / stocks / should be made aware of the need of bonds / debentures / securities issued by protective gear for children. “Pillion riders, Government or local authority or other including children, are more prone to the marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, injuries than the rider of the motorcycle in case hire-purchase, insurance business, chit the vehicle collides. Helmets of prescribed business but does not include any institution standards fastened to the head by straps or whose principal business is that of agriculture other fastenings can avoid head injuries,” Mr. activity, industrial activity, purchase or sale of Elangovan told The Hindu. The former Natpac any goods (other than securities) or providing director says law enforcers should enforce any services and sale/purchase/construction rules to restrict travellers to two on a of immovable property. A non-banking motorcycle. “Often, the children hold on to the institution which is a company and has rider and the chances of thrown off are high. If principal business of receiving deposits under at all children are allowed as a pillion riders, any scheme or arrangement in one lump sum they should be of 13 years and above.” or in installments by way of contributions or in any other manner, is also a non-banking financial company (Residuary non-banking ◼ National Testing Agency- company). • National Testing Agency (NTA) is an Indian government agency that has been approved by ◼ What is difference between banks & NBFCs? the Union Council of Ministers and established • NBFCs lend and make investments and hence in November 2017 to conduct entrance their activities are akin to that of banks; examinations for higher educational however there are a few differences as given institutions.[1][2] The government appointed below: Vineet Joshi as the first Director-General of the • NBFC cannot accept demand deposits; agency. NTA is responsible for conducting the

• NBFCs do not form part of the payment and • The WTO's current Director-General is Roberto settlement system and cannot issue cheques Azevêdo drawn on itself; • Afghanistan became the 164th member on 29 • deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance July 2016 and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not • Its located in Geneva, Switzerland. It was available to depositors of NBFCs, unlike in case established on 1 January 1995 and its official of banks languages are English, French and Spanish.

◼ Delimitation process for Jammu and Kashmir ◼ Chilika faces oil spill threat from stuck ship • The total population would be divided over the • Chilika Lake is a brackish water lagoon, spread 114 seats to get an average number of electors over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of per constituency Odisha state on the east coast of India, at the • According to the Jammu and Kashmir mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay Reorganisation Act, 2019, the number of seats of Bengal, covering an area of over 1,100 km. in the Legislative Assembly of the UT of J&K It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the would be increased from 107 to 114. The Act second largest brackish water lagoon in the also specifies that delimitation will be based on world[4][5] after The New Caledonian barrier the 2011 census till 2026 reef.[6] It has been listed as a tentative • Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a UNESCO World Heritage site.[7] Delimitation Act after every Census. • It is the largest wintering ground for migratory • Delimitation Commissions have been set up birds on the Indian sub-continent four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under • In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002. Indian wetland of international importance • There was no delimitation after the 1981 and under the Ramsar Convention 1991 Censuses. • In 1992, the Government of Odisha, concerned • The Delimitation Commission in India is a high by the degradation of the lake's ecosystem and power body whose orders have the force of cognizant of significant numbers of people law and cannot be called in question before who were dependent upon the lake's any court. These orders come into force on a resources, set up the Chilika Development date to be specified by the President of India in Authority (CDA). The CDA was set up for this behalf. The copies of its orders are laid restoration and overall development of the before the House of the People and the State lake under the Indian Societies Registration Act Legislative Assembly concerned, but no as a parastatal body under the administrative modifications are permissible therein by them. jurisdiction of the Forest and Environment Department • The governing body of the Authority is headed ◼ Trump repeats threat to take U.S. out of WTO by the Chief Minister of Odisha State and has • The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an people's representatives (Members of intergovernmental organization that is Parliament and Legislative Assembly), concerned with the regulation of international representatives of the fisherfolk communities trade between nations. The WTO officially and secretaries of the key departments, commenced on 1 January 1995 under the experts and eminent scientists as its members. Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 123 nations • In 2003, a collaboration of Indian and Japanese on 15 April 1994, replacing the General experts led to a friendly relationship between Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which Chilika lake and Saroma Lake in Japan called commenced in 1948. It is the largest Sister Wetlands international economic organization in the • he Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puruskar, world.[5][6] constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India awarded the

prestigious Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Award– seen thousands of birds descending during the 2002 to the Chilika Development Authority for migratory season. The island disappears during the outstanding contribution of conservation monsoon season due to inundation, and post- and restoration of the Chilika lake eco-system.[ monsoon, the island emerges again. • Chilika is home to the only known population of Irrawaddy dolphins in India It is classified as ◼ Textiles Ministry signs MoU for skill training Endangered according to International Union • The Union Textiles Ministry signed a for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) Memorandum of Understanding with 16 State • The 15 km2 Nalaban Island is within the governments on Wednesday to offer skill Lagoon and is the core area of the Ramsar training programmes under the Samarth designated wetlands. It was declared a bird scheme (Scheme for capacity building in the sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act in textiles sector) 1973. It is the heart of the park where one can

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS One Liner Question Which three banks will be merged into a single entity to form the 2nd largest PNB, OBC & United bank of India? Bank of India Who has become the first IPS officer to be honoured with the prestigious Aparna Kumar Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2018? To commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major , 29 August National Sports Day is celebrated across the country on which date?

Which financial institution recently decided to transfer a record high surplus Reserve Bank of India reserve of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the government after approving all the (RBI) recommendations of the Bimal Jalan-led expert committee?

Name the Delhi High Court judge who revoked former UPA minister P Sunil Gaur Chidambaram's anticipatory bails in INX Media case by ED and CBI 48 hours before his retirement and who has been appointed as the new Chairperson of PMLA Appellate Tribunal? Which telecom company has become the leading telecom operator by revenue Reliance Jio market share (RMS) of 31.7 per cent in the April-June quarter?

In a bid to fill the vacant seats in trains and meet the challenges posed by the 25 per cent roadways and airways, the Indian Railways has decided to give discount of up to to passengers on ticket fares in air- conditioned executive class and chair cars of trains like Shatabdi Express, Gatiman Express, Tejas Express, Double Decker and Intercity Express.

Name the India's first woman Director General of Police (DGP) who passed Kanchan Chaudhary away recently? Which stadium in Delhi will soon be renamed as Arun Jaitley Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium? stadium

Name the 22-year-old tennis player from Haryana who earned a dream Grand Sumit Nagal Slam debut for himself in the US Open as he beat the 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer 6-4 in the opening set of the match?

Which item has been banned by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Apple Mac Book (DGCA) while travelling in planes as these items have been deemed fire hazard because their batteries can overheat? Name the former Finance Minister and Member of Parliament who passed Arun Jaitley away on August 24, 2019 after prolonged illness? Who became the first Indian to win Badminton World Championships gold by PV Sindhu defeating Nozomi Okuhara in two straight games 21-7, 21-17? In which country PM Narendra Modi officially launched the RuPay card on UAE August 24, 2019? Which country awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'The King Hamad Bahrain Order of the Renaissance'? Whose 109th birth anniversary was commemorated across the world on Mother Teresa August 26, 2019? Who won their maiden title by defeating Mohun Bagan 2–1 in the 2019 Gokulam Kerala FC Durand Cup Final which was held on August 24, 2019? Name the Director General of Central Public Works Department (CPWD) who Prabhakar Singh was selected for the Outstanding Engineer Award-2019 by Institution of Engineers in India? The Direct Tax Code (DTC) task force has recommended a major cut in 25 percent corporate tax for both domestic and foreign companies. What is the newly recommended corporate tax rate for both domestic and foreign companies?

According to Greenpeace data which country is the largest emitter of India anthropogenic sulphur dioxide (SO2) which is produced from burning of coal and greatly contributes to air pollution? Which country bestowed its highest civilian award 'Order of Zaid‟ upon UAE Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi? Which Indian structures featured in Time‟s 2019 list of 100 greatest Statue of Unity places in the world?

What will be the retirement age of the Central Armed Police Force personnel 60 years irrespective of rank as per the order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs?

In which country PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Mangdechhu hydroelectric Bhutan power plant? Union Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy (IC) and Skill ocean energy Development and Entrepreneurship, RK Singh approved a proposal to declare as Renewable Energy. From which state former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has recently Rajasthan been elected as a member of Rajya Sabha?

Name the music composer of films like 'Umrao Jaan', 'Bazaar' and 'Kabhi Mohammad Khayyam Kabhi' who passed away recently? Name the former Chief Minister of Bihar who died recently in Delhi at the age Jagannath Mishra of 83? In which city Punjab and Haryana High Court started its first virtual court Faridabad through video conferencing? In which sector Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the creation of the Defence post of Chief in his Independence Day speech 2019? Which Indian batsman has become first cricketer to score 20,000 international Virat Kohli runs in a decade? Who created history by becoming the first Indian to claim a world title in Aishwarya Pissay motorsports by lifting the FIM World Cup held in Hungary in the women‟s category? Who won the National Film Award 2019 for Best Actress for her performance Keerthy Suresh in Telugu film Mahanati? Who won the National Film Award 2019 for Best Actor? Ayushmann Khurrana (Andhadhun), (Uri: The Surgical Strike) Which film won the National Film Award 2019 for Best Feature Film category? Helaru (Gujarati)

Who won the National Film Award 2019 for Best Direction? Aditya Dhar (Uri: The Surgical Strike) Which film won the National Film Award 2019 for Best Hindi Film? Andhadhun Which film won the National Film Award 2019 for Best Popular Film category? Badhaai Ho

How many states have signed MoU with Union Ministry of Textiles for skilling 16 about 4 lakh workers as part of Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SAMARTH)? Name the ISRO Chief who led ISRO's successful launch of Chandrayaan 2 K Sivan mission recently and who was awarded Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award by Tamil Nadu government? Who was elected as the first woman President of Indian National Science Chandrima Shaha Academy (INSA)? Name the founder of ISRO on whose 100th birthday Google has dedicated a Vikram Sarabhai doodle? Which Article along with Article 35A related to Jammu and Kashmir was Article 370 scrapped by the Parliament recently? After scrapping of Article 370, now India has how many union territories? 9 (earlier it was 7) After scrapping of Article 370 which two union territories were formed? Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

Now as a union territory, out of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, which one will Ladakh not have a Legislative Assembly? After scrapping of Article 370, now India has how many states? 28 (earlier it was 29) Name the former External Affairs Minister and first women chief minister of Sushma Swaraj Delhi who passed away recently? The BCCI after years of opposition has finally agreed to come under the ambit National Anti-Doping of the and agreed to adhere to its anti-doping policy. Agency (NADA)

Name the former President of India who was conferred the Bharat Ratna by Pranab Mukherjee President Ram Nath Kovind? Name the Assamese singer and Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader who were also Bhupen Hazarika and awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously by President Ram Nath Kovind? Nanaji Deshmukh

Pakistan has permanently stopped which train‟s services to India? Samjhauta express Name the Indian freedom struggle movement which completed 77 years on Quit India August 8, 2019? Reserve Bank of India‟s (RBI) Third Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement, 35 basis points 2019-20 reduces Repo Rate by from 5.75 per cent. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2017-18, what percentage 17.8 per cent of India‟s young people (15-29 years) in the labour force are unemployed? On which day The National Handloom Day was observed across India? 7 August India‟s 1st 3-D Smart Traffic Signal “Intelights” devised by the Mohali students of Chitkara University was launched in which city? As per the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in which state „Bharati Huda‟, Odisha a rural settlement, had thrived about 3600 years ago? How many individuals will be scanned under the Human Genome Mapping 20,000 Project of Government of India? Who has sworn in as the Governor of Nagaland? RN Ravi Delhi Government announced to provide free electricity to households 200 units consuming up electricity up to what power? Which Indian journalist of NDTV news channel has been selected for the Ravish Kumar Ramon Magsaysay Award 2019? Name the veteran Bollywood actress who was known for her role in films like Choti si Baat, Rajnigandha etc. who passed away on August 15, 2019?

Name the former Indian cricketer who has been appointed coach of Indian Ravi Shastri cricket team for the second time in a row? What was the rank of India in the Global GDP rankings released by World Bank seventh for 2018?

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS AND EVENTS

Which country will be the host of G7 summit 2020? United States On which day Women's Equality Day is observed every year to celebrate the 26 August passage of the 19th Amendment in the United States of America that provides voting rights to the women? Amazon rainforest, the world‟s largest rain forest, which provides almost 20 South America percent of the earth‟s oxygen, has been burning for over 16 days resulted in a major loss of trees and biodiversity. This rainforest is in which continent?

Which glacier in Iceland has lost its identity due to climate change? Okjokull What is the name of new Android version launched by Google on August 22, Android 10 2019? Which nation has unveiled a domestically-built Bavar-373 missile defense Iran system despite sanctions? Which country hosted the 28th BASIC ((Brazil, South Africa, India and China)) Brazil Ministerial meeting on Climate Change? On which day the World Humanitarian Day 2019 was observed across the 19 August world? Who won „Doodle for Google‟ 2019 contest for her Doodle titled “Once You Arantza Pena Popo Get It, Give It Back.”? On which day the World Sanskrit Divas 2019 was celebrated? 15 August What was the theme of International Youth Day 2019? Transforming Education Which South African cricketer has announced his retirement from all forms of Hashim Amla International cricket on August 8, 2019? Which player topped Forbes magazine's list of highest-paid women player in Serena Williams sports category? Name the Hollywood actress who has been named the highest paid actress in Scarlett Johnsson 2019 by the Forbes magazine?