9043 2113 11/411
CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411
TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – JULY 2018
CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY Vellore & Tiruvannamalai ENGLISH MEDIUM
www.chennaiiasacademy.com
chennaiiasacademy Contact : 9043 211 311 / 411
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Current Affairs For TNPSC Examinations JULY 2018
SI.NO CONTENTS PAGE.NO 1. TAMILNADU 03 - 05 2. NATIONAL 05 – 35 3. INTERNATIONAL 36 – 42 4. APPOINTMENTS & 42 - 45 RESIGNS 5. AWARDS 45 - 48 6. SCIENCE AND 48 - 53 TECHNOLOGY 7. BOOKS AND AUTHORS 53 - 53 8. SPORTS 54 - 59 9. IMPORTANT DAYS 59 - 61 10. PRACTICE QUESTIONS 61 - 76
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The climate change is the main factor that TAMIL NADU threatening the Nilgiri tahr according to recent study published by international journal Ecological Engineering. Chairperson and Member will be appointed by There are only around 2,500 Nilgiri Tahrs left in Governor by recommendation of the selection the wild and their population is small and committee comprising the Chief Minister, isolated. In 2030‘s , it is estimated that Assembly Speaker, opposition leader of endangered wild goat could lose approximately 60% of its habitat. Nilgiri tahr is the state animal assembly. of Tamil Nadu. It is endemic to Western Ghats Local administration and government from the Nilgiris to Kanyakumari. IUCN in its contracts do not comes under the purview of red data book has classified it as Endangered Lokayukta. (number fewer than 2,500 mature individuals). Chairperson or members will be removed by order of Governor.
India's first transgender lawyer Sathyasri Sharmila created history by becoming India's first transgender lawyer Sharmila, who hails from Tamil Nadu, enrolled her name in the Bar Council Of Tamil Nadu And Puducherry
and became the first transgender lawyer in Thiru Ramasaamy Padatchiyar. India. On a related note, the Rajasthan Police Tamil Nadu State Government announced birth had appointed Ganga Kumari, its first anniversary of freedom fighter Thiru Ramasaamy transgender constable, last year, after the state Padatchiyar as State Celebration High Court‘s directive. Meanwhile, West Bengal‘s Joyita Mondal was appointed the Tamil Nadu Lokayukta Bill 2018 Lok Adalat judge of Islampur in North Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly finally passed Dinajpur district, thus giving India its first the Tamil Nadu Lokayukta act 2018 through transgender judge. voice vote. The Act would look into graft charges against government Servants including current and former elected representatives (including Chief Ministers and Cabinet Ministers). Features of Act: Lokayukta consists of Chairperson and four members. Chairperson would be current or former judge of High Court or person with 25 years of experience in any field in anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance and law.
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the name of the father at the time of registering her child‘s birth. The judgement is aimed to benefit single mothers and those going in for intrauterine insemination. It is sufficient for her to file a sworn affidavit that the child was born from her womb. Fossil Museum - Ariyalur The fossil museum at Varanavasi near Ariyalur town is set to open. Private Universities in Tamilnadu The 100-acre museum will showcase the natural Two bills adopting the establishment of Shiv formation of rocks that provide evidence of the Nadar Univesity and Sai University were existence of dinosaurs and other associated passed in the Tamilnadu assembly. reptilians in the Ariyalur region Shiv Nadar University would be established by SSN Trust of Industrialist Shiv Nadar
Sai University is the backed by NASSCOM founder – mentor K.V.Ramani. As per the provisions of the two bills adopted in the assembly, the two universities will be self- financing institutions and would be allowed to establish constituent colleges, regional centres, and additional campuses and study centres. Upgradation of 7 monuments in Tamil Nadu The decision of the TN Government to establish The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has two private universities assumes significance as planned to upgrade infrastructural and tourist- there are currently no private universities in the friendly facilities at seven sites, which are state. The state government took over the control approved under Adarsh Smarak Scheme for of Annamalai University, a reputed private Conservation of Monuments, in Tamil Nadu. university in 2013. However, there is any number The Adarsh Monuments proposed to be upgraded of deemed universities in the state. by the Ministry of Culture include Shore Temple The universities ―shall reserve 35% of seats in each Mamallapuram ,Gingee Fort,Kailasanathar Temple course of study for resident students of Tamil Kanchipuram Brihadeeswarar Temple Thanjavur Nadu‖ and this shall be made following the Sithannavasal caves,Vellore Fort,Moovar communal reservation as per law in force. Koil,Kodumbalur. Father‘s name in Birth Certificate Tamil Nadu‘s forest policy unveiled The Madras High Court has ruled that there is no Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K. legal obligation on the part of a mother to disclose Palaniswami released the State‘s forest policy The norms stipulated by the Forest (Conservation) Act, 4
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1980, would be strictly enforced to preserve the shale gas sites are Cambay, Gondwana, Krishna- existing forest cover for ecological security. Godavari and Cauvery Basins. The Forest Department would also develop mangroves in the state as 'bio-shield' along the coast. The policy also looks to increase forest and tree cover to at least 30% by 2025 and enhance participation of women in village forest committees(VFCs).Tamil Nadu has about 30.92% of the forest declared as 'protected areas' and has 15 wildlife sanctuaries,five National parks,15 bird sanctuaries,3 biosphere reserves,four project tiger areas.
NATIONAL
The 9th Heads of Mission Conference inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was held in New Delhi from June 30-July 2, 2018. The theme of three-day annual conference was ‗Unprecedented Outreach: Unparalleled Outcomes‘. Definition of hydrocarbon amended Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has amended Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules 1959 to include shale in the definition of petroleum.This change will allow private companies to explore and produce the resource in the blocks they already operate. Earlier, definition excluded shale and therefore barred companies from exploiting it from fields that are producing conventional oil and gas or coal- Four cultural sites namely Victorian Gothic bed methane.Shale is distinguished from other and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai (India), mudstones due to laminated and fissile nature. Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars region (Iran), Hidden Christian Sites in Shale gas is natural gas formed from being trapped Nagasaki Region (Japan) and Sansa, Buddhist within shale formations.Shale gas is cheaper than Mountain Monasteries in Korea (South Korea) natural gas,releases 50% less CO2,hence better has inscribed on the World Heritage List source for generating electricity. In India, potential
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At the 42nd session of World Heritage Kerala Government has declared Kozhikode Committee (WHC) meeting of United Nations and Malappuram districts free from Nipah Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization virus infection. (UNESCO) held in Manama,Bahrain. NiV infection is zoonotic disease (disease transmitted to humans from animals) that causes severe disease in both animals and humans. The organism which causes Nipah Virus encephalitis is RNA or Ribonucleic acid virus of family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus, and is closely related to Hendra virus.
The Union Government has constituted 13- member Committee for Sub-National As per the provision of bilateral agreement on Accounts headed by Ravindra H Dholakia, a consular access signed between both countries retired professor of IIM Ahmedabad to in May 2008, India and Pakistan have upgrade the norms for computation of exchanged lists of civilian prisoners and economic data at states and districts level in fishermen lodged in each other‘s jails. backdrop of plans to revise the base year for In the latest exchange, Pakistan has shared with National Accounts or Gross Domestic India list of 53 civilian prisoners and 418 Production (GDP) calculation. fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or The committee will review concepts, definitions, believed to be Indians. India handed over to classifications, data conventions, data sources and Pakistan list of 249 civilian prisoners and 108 data requirements for preparation of State fishermen from Pakistan lodged in Indian jails. Domestic Product (SDP) and District Domestic Under the bilateral agreement, the lists of Product (DDP) and to lay down revised prisoners have to be exchanged twice every year guidelines. It will submit its report within one – on January 1 and July 1. year.
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Indian Naval officer Commander Abhilash Tomy has been selected to participate in the prestigious Golden Globe Race (GGR), which The Uttar Pradesh Government launched commenced from Les Sables d‘Olonne 'Commercial Tax at your door steps' on the harbour in France on July 1, 2018. occasion of Goods and Services Tax (GST) The GGR requires all the participants to sail Day celebration at the offices of commercial around the world, single-handed and non-stop. tax on July 1, 2018. Abhilash Tomy is the only invitee from Asia to During these days, officials will meet the small participate in the prestigious and unique voyage. and medium traders and resolve their issues The uniqueness of the race is that it forbids the related to commercial taxes. The scheme will run use of boat designs and technology newer than from July 1 to August 31, 2018. 1968.
The Conference of Ministers for Power, New & Renewable Energy of states & union territories will be held on July 3, 2018 in The Supreme Court Bench comprising justices Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Ranjan Gogoi and R. Banumathi asked the The one-day conference aims to review the government to file an affidavit within 10 days implementation of various ongoing schemes/ giving details of the steps which are likely to be programmes & deliberate on a host of issues taken for appointing the Lokpal. relating to power and renewable energy sectors. The court was hearing a contempt petition filed by NGO Common Cause, which had raised the issue of non-appointment of the ombudsman despite the apex court‘s verdict on April 27, 2017.
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holders. The e-PAN will be allotted on basis of one-time password (OTP) sent on mobile number linked to Aadhaar number of a person. It will have the same name, date of birth, gender, mobile number and address as in Aadhaar. The process can be done at the official portal of the department:https://www.incometaxindiaefiling.go v.in.
15 executive directors to be elevated as managing directors (MD) at various public sector banks (PSBs) were recommended by the Banks Board Bureau (BBB). These recommendations were based on interactions held by BBB and are subject to various clearances. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister will India‘s manufacturing growth jumps to six- take the final decision in this regard. BBB is month high in June 2018 according to Nikkei advisory authority (autonomous and self- Manufacturing Purchasing Managers‘ Index governing body) of Central Government (PMI), compiled by IHS Markit. comprising eminent professionals and officials to This is the 11th consecutive month that the improve governance of PSB‘s. manufacturing PMI remained above the 50-point mark. Manufacturing PMI rose to 53.1 in June 2018 from 51.2 in May 2018, the highest since December 2017. PMI is an indicator of business activity-both in the manufacturing and services sectors. It is a survey-based measure that asks respondents about changes in their perception of some key business variables from month before.
For the first time, the Income Tax Department has launched instant Aadhaar-based e-PAN allotment service for individuals seeking PAN (Permanent Account Number) service. It was introduced because of increasing number of people applying for PAN. A. This facility is free of cost and is available for a limited period The Central Board of Direct Taxes on first-come, first-served basis for valid Aadhaar (CBDT) extended the deadline for the PAN- Aadhaar linking to March 31, 2019.
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This is the fifth time the government has teachings, and mental exercises, with the aim of extended the deadline for individuals to link their turning students into good human being. Permanent Account Number (PAN) to their biometric ID (Aadhaar). The Central
Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had last extended the deadline on March 27.
Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) in Assam decided to adopt an online legal compliance system by introducing ‗Legatrix‗. Legatrix is cloud-based compliance management Supreme Court has extended deadline for system to serve as onestop solution for effectively publication of final draft of Assam‘s National managing organisations legal and regulatory Register of Citizens (NRC) from earlier June compliances through monitoring control at 30, 2018 to July 31,2018. The NRC is being different levels. This initiative aims to induce prepared to identify illegal migrants in Assam. greater transparency NRL‘s operations and The major northeastern state had faced influx of augment its contribution towards Digital India people from Bangladesh since early 20th century. Mission of the Government. With this, It is the only state having an NRC, which was Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) in Assam first prepared in 1951. The report had mentioned became first oil public sector undertaking (PSU) that it would be not be possible to release final in India. draft of the NRC as scheduled on June 30, 2018 due to the floods in state.
‗The Flying Daggers‘ - Indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas of No 45 Squadron has formally ‗Happiness Curriculum‘ which includes commenced operations from Sulur Air Force meditation, moral values and mental exercises Station near Coimbatore. for its school students was launched by the No 45 Squadron has been entrusted with the Delhi government. responsibility of integrating Tejas fighter aircraft It was launched by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind in Air Force‘s Concept of Operations. It has been Kejriwal in the presence of the Dalai Lama. It involved in training aircrew of fighter aircraft involves ‗Happiness‘ period of 45 minutes for all Tejas. It will now undertake operations and students studying in nursery up to class VIII at all maintenance of the indigenous fighter aircraft. Delhi government schools. Each class will begin with 5 minute meditation practice. The curriculum focuses on meditation, moral 9
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‗National Workshop on Skill Development for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)‘ organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities The Rajasthan government has clarified that (DEPwD) under Ministry of Social Justice and five castes, including Gujjars, under the most Empowerment was held in New Delhi on July backward classes (MBC), are also entitled to 3, 2018. the 21 per cent quota under the OBC category The workshop was organised with a view to for admission to educational institutions and provide a platform to all stakeholders ranging recruitment in government jobs in the state. from training partners to the policymakers as well The candidates of these five castes of MBC if not as employers. selected on the basis of merit in the general category will be considered first under the OBC (21 per cent) and then under the MBC (1 per cent) in admissions and recruitments. The five castes under the most backward class (MBC) include Banjara/Baldia/Labana; Gadia- Lohar/Gadalia; Gujjar/Gurjar; Raika/Rebari and Gadaria (Gaadri), who were initially enlisted in the OBC since 1994.
The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, comprising A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, ordered all the States and Union territories to not appoint any police officer as acting Director General of Police (DGP) on July 3, 2018. The court also directed all the states to send The Chhattisgarh government will set up a names of senior police officers to the Union tribal museum in the state's upcoming new Public Service Commission (UPSC) for being capital Naya Raipur with a view to exhibit considered as probable candidates to be appointed culture and tradition of scheduled tribes. as DGPs. It will be named after Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh, a freedom fighter from the state who had made a tremendous contribution in the freedom struggle of 1857. A Tribal Culture and Language Academy will also be set up in the state.
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Mahi Talat Siddiqui-a Muslim teacher and author has translated the Ramayana into Urdu The Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences to spread the message of communal harmony (MAIDS) under the Government of NCT of and brotherhood. Delhi has been ranked the ‗Best Dental College It took her two years to complete the work. She in India‘ for the seventh year in a row out of hoped more people from the Muslim community 310 dental colleges. would now become aware of the goodness of The institute is the first and only dental hospital Ramayana. Talat has written seven books in India to be accredited by the National including 'Yadon ke jharokon se', 'Adabi-sangam', Accreditation of Board for Hospitals and 'Gantav ki aor', 'Mukhrit hote shabd' and 'Main Healthcare Providers (NABH). bhi hazir tha wahan". IPS officer Sundari Nanda becomes the first woman DGP of the Union Territory Puducherry. She assumed charge as Puducherry Director General of Police on July 2, 2018.
The growth of eight core infrastructure industries has dropped to 10-month low of 3.6% in May 2018 due to decline in production of crude oil and natural gas according to Index Punjab state cabinet decided to recommend to of Eight Core Industries released by Ministry the Centre death penalty for drug peddlers of Commerce and Industry. and smugglers on July 2, 2018. In India, there are eight core sectors comprising This move was aimed to act as a deterrent to the of coal, crude oil, natural gas, petroleum refinery heinous crime, which was destroying the lives of products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity. youth in Punjab and many other places. This is the lowest growth rate since July 2017 when eight core infrastructure industries had expanded by 2.9%. The growth rate recorded in April 2018. The eight industries recorded 4.1% growth compared to 3.3% in same period in 2017.
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Committee‘s suggestions of a 5-pronged strategy to tackle the Non-Performing Assets (NPA).
India has agreed to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 products to Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) members, from July 1, 2018. The tariff concessions are implementation of results of fourth round of negotiations under APTA, which were formally concluded and signed by the ministers of member countries A single-umbrella e-marketing system named during meeting of APTA Ministerial Council in Khadi Institution Management and January, 2017. APTA is an initiative under Information technology launched by the Khadi United Nations Economic and Social and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) in Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN New Delhi. ESCAP) for trade expansion through exchange of KIMIS will serve as in-house single umbrella tariff concessions among developing country billing software for sale and purchase that could members of Asia Pacific Region. be monitored, round-the-clock, from any part of India. It has been developed by KVIC IT team. The system can be accessed from anywhere in the country for sale and purchase of Khadi and Village Industries products.
The committee led by Punjab National Bank Chairman Sunil Mehta has submitted its draft report titled 'Sashakt' to the Finance Ministry with a strategy to tackle stress in the banking sector. The 'Sashakt' Report highlights nine guiding principles aimed at the operational turnaround of the banking sector in a manner that will create Cvigil mobile application for citizens to report jobs and enhance the value of public sector any violation of the Model Code of Conduct banks. The Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal (MCC) during elections has been launched by on July 2, 2018 approved the Sunil Mehta the Election Commission of India. 12
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At present its beta version has been released and that all DNA data, including DNA samples, DNA will be made available for use during forthcoming profiles and records, will be only used for Assembly elections Chhattisgarh, Madhya identification of the person and not for any other Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan. purpose.
NITI Aayog in collaboration with various ministries and industry partners announced to A five-judge Supreme Court bench on July 4, organise ‗MOVE: Global Mobility Summit‘ in 2018 unanimously held that the Lieutenant New Delhi on September 7-8, 2018. Governor (LG) of Delhi is bound by the ―aid It will help drive Government‘s goals for vehicle and advice‖ of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam electrification, renewable energy integration and Aadmi Party (AAP) Government and both job growth, thus, speeding up India‘s transition to have to work harmoniously with each other. a clean energy economy.
The Supreme Court refused to put a stay on the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) circular prohibiting banks and financial institutions from dealing in virtual currencies, thus upholding the ban on the virtual currencies such as Bitcoin. The DNA Technology (Use and Application) With this ruling, all virtual currency transactions Regulation Bill 2018 approved by the Union through banks would be blocked with effect from Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra July 6, 2018, thus, resulting in a ban. Modi on July 4, 2018. The main objective behind the enactment of the bill is to expand the application of DNA-based forensic technologies to support and strengthen the justice delivery system of the country. It states 13
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The Department of Environment's proposal for a real-time study of air pollution in the The continuance of 8 existing schemes of national capital has approved by the Delhi Ministry of Home Affairs for relief and Cabinet. rehabilitation of migrants and repatriates upto The project, to be completed within a period of March 2020 under Umbrella scheme Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and 18 months from the date of award of the study, Repatriates has approved by the Union has been granted to the Department of Energy, Cabinet. Environmental and Chemical Engineering, the The 8 schemes are i) Central Scheme for University of Washington in the US on Assistance to Civilian Victims, Family of Victims nomination basis. of Terrorist, Communal, LWE Violence and
Cross Border Firing and Mine and IED blasts on Indian Territory ii) Rehabilitation of Bru and Reang families from Tripura to Mizoram iii) Grant-in-Aid to Tripura Government for maintenance of Brus lodged in relief camps of Tripura iv) Grant of enhanced relief of Rs. 5.00 lakh per deceased person, who died during 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots v) Grant-in-Aid to Central The Rajasthan government announced 1 Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC) for 5 years for percent reservation for five communities– administrative and social welfare expenses of Gujjar, Banjara, Gadia-Lohar, Raika, and Tibetan settlements vi) Central Assistance for Gadariya– under the Most Backward Classes one-time settlement of displaced families from (MBC) category. Pak Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and The move comes after Gujjar leaders threatened Chhamb settled in J&K vii) Relief assistance to to launch protests during PM Narendra Modi‘s Sri Lankan refugees staying in camps in Tamil upcoming Jaipur visit. Nadu and Odisha viii) Rehabilitation Package and Gujarat government decided to form a high up-gradation of infrastructure of Bangladeshi powered committee that will offer solutions for Enclaves and Cooch Behar District after transfer imported coal fired power plants that are of enclaves between India and Bangladesh under underutilised due to viability issues. Land Boundary Agreement (LBA). The schemes The committee chaired by former Supreme Court will provide relief and rehabilitation assistance to judge Justice RK Agrawal will look into the refugees, displaced persons, civilian victims of possibility of ―contribution by each stakeholder terrorist, communal, Left Wing Extremism including banks, project developers and procurers (LWE) violence and cross border firing and mine by way of concessions for mitigating hardship‖. and IED blasts on Indian territory and riot victims The committee will be assisted by SBI Capital of various incidents etc. Markets Ltd and NTPC Ltd. 14
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The proposal of renaming Agartala Airport in India‘s accession to WIPO Copyright Treaty, Tripura as ‗Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya 1996 and WIPO Performers and Phonograms Kishore Airport, Agartala was approved by Treaty, 1996 which extends coverage of the Union Cabinet. copyright to the internet and digital He is considered the father of modern architecture environment has approved by the Union in Tripura, as entire planning of present-day Cabinet. Tripura was initiated during his rule. He was the The approval is step towards objective laid in king of Tripura from 1923 to 1947 before its National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy merger with India. Agartala Airport was adopted by Government which aims to get value constructed in 1942 on the land donated by for IPRs through commercialization by providing Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Kishore. Due to guidance and support to EPR (End Point his initiative, an aerodrome at Agartala w as Royalties) owners about commercial constructed that has evolved as second busiest opportunities of e-commerce through Internet and airport in North East and provides crucial air mobile platforms. connectivity to Tripura. The proposal for expanding the scope of Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) by tasking it to mobilise Rs 1,00,000 crore for Revitalizing Infrastructure and Systems in Education (RISE) by 2022 approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 4, 2018.
The proposal also called for enhancing the capital The creation of one post each of Vice- base of the Higher Education Financing Agency Chairperson and Member in the National to Rs 10,000 crore. Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK) The National Mission for Clean Ganga has approved by the Union Cabinet. (NMCG) organised a workshop on At present, it has sanctioned strength of four ‗Collaboration for Ganga Rejuvenation‘ on members and a chairperson. With these posts, July 5, 2018 in New Delhi on the occasion of sanctioned strength of NCSK will be one the World Environment Day 2018. Chairperson,one Vice-Chairperson and five The workshop paved way for discussions over members. NCSK is statutory body established issues including the urgent need for International under National Commission for Safai Cooperation for integrated water Karamcharis Act, 1993. management.During the event, DG, NMCG Rajiv Ranjan Mishra while giving an overview of the Namami Gange programme, talked about the
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paradigm shift that has been brought about by the order to achieve universal health coverage use of the Hybrid Annuity model in the waste launched by the National Health Agency water sector by NMCG. (NHA), the apex body for the implementation of Centre's ambitious Ayushman Bharat- National Health Protection Mission (AB- NHPM). The main objective is to improve medical access for the most vulnerable sections of the population and holistically address healthcare by covering prevention, promotion and ambulatory care at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. The extension of scheme of recapitalization of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) for next three Do It Yourself (DIY)- an Online Guidance years (upto 2019-20) has approved by the System for determining notifiability of merger Union Cabinet. & acquisitions (combinations) in terms of the The scheme of Recapitalization of RRBs was Competition Act, 2002 launched by the started in 2010-11 and was extended twice in the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on year 2012-13 and 2015-16. The last extension July 4, 2018. was upto March 2017. This scheme will enable The online guidance system has been launched as RRBs to maintain minimum prescribed Capital to part of CCI‘s outreach initiatives and measures to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of 9%. This simplify compliance requirements regarding will facilitate financial stability of RRBs and combinations. enable them to play greater role in financial inclusion and meeting credit requirements of rural areas. It will ensure strong capital structure and minimum required level of CRAR.
A list of fuels permissible for industrial use within the National Capital Territory (NCT) of The IBBI (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board Delhi notified by the Delhi Pollution Control of India) notified the Insolvency and Committee (DPCC) a move which has been Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency hailed by the Centre for Science and Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Environment (CSE). (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2018 All existing industrial units and commercial Revised norms for insolvency resolution process establishments who are currently using fuels that paving the way for home buyers to seek relief as are not approved under the notification financial creditors, detailing clear timelines to be have been asked to switch over to the approved followed by resolution fuels within 90 days. professionals and permitting withdrawal of A formal process to empanel public and insolvency applications, subject to certain private hospitals to implement AB-NHPM, in conditions.
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Development Board (APEDB) is going to set up ‗Design University for Gaming‘ in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. For this UNESCO has requested State Government to provide 100 acres of land in Visakhapatnam for developing the city as International Gaming and Digital Learning Hub.
‗Sambal yojana‘ -an outstanding power bill It will help UNSECO to develop edutech gaming waiver scheme and subsidised power scheme in state, with the target of providing 50,000 jobs launched for labourers and poor families by in 10 years. Madhya Pradesh state government on July 3, 2018. The Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and registered labourers of unorganised sector from the state would be provided electricity at a cost of Rs 200 per month under this scheme. The beneficiaries will be provided with power free of cost connection. People not using air- conditioners, electric heaters and whose power consumption is below 1000 watts would be eligible for this scheme. So far, around 1 crore 83 The Law Commission of India (LCI) has lakh workers are registered under the scheme. In recommended that gambling and betting on case the bill is lower than Rs 200, beneficiaries sports be allowed as regulated activities in its will have to pay actual bill amount and if bill report ―Legal Framework: Gambling and amount is crossing Rs 200 then, difference Sports Betting including Cricket in India‖. amount will be subsidised by state government. It recommended number of changes in law for regulating betting for making it taxable under direct and indirect tax regimes and used as source for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
The entire animal kingdom i.e. all animals, UNESCO delegation has entered into an including avian and aquatic species as legal agreement with Andhra Pradesh Economic
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entities with rights, duties and liabilities of living person . This declaration was made by the Uttarakhand High Court Bench consists of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Lok Pal.
The study conducted by researchers from US based Earth Institute, Columbia University and Indian School of Business, Hyderabad recommended that Indian farmers can make a big switch from growing rice and wheat to alternative cereals such as maize, sorghum and millet The Supreme Court ruled that the Chief It could reduce demand for irrigation water by Justice of India is the ‗Master of Roster‘ who 33%. This could also improve nutritional has the authority to decide on allocation of availability to consumers. cases. Satyarup Siddhanta has become second The ruling was given by a bench comprising Indian mountaineer after Malli Mastan Babu Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM to climb Mt Ojos del Salado (6893 m), the Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud. CJI is an highest volcano in the world. individual judge and not the powerful collective He is certified mountaineer from Himalayan of five senior-most judges of Supreme Court Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling. He has called the ‗Collegium‘. CJI has exclusive skied last degree to South Pole by covering authority to allocate cases to fellow judges and is distance of 111 km. In December 2017 he spokesperson of the court. summited Vinson Massif, becoming only fifth Indian civilian to complete the seven summits (Messner‘s List).
A mandatory dope test for all government employees, including police personnel, from the time of their recruitment through every stage of their service has ordered by Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh. India‘s most popular competitive exams, Joint Drug screening will be mandatory in cases of Entrance Examination (JEE) (Main) and National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) promotions, and also be a part of annual medical examinations. 18
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will now be held twice a year and over multiple rehriwalas will use thermocol cutlery in any form days. manufactured from non-biodegradable material as This announcement was announced by the Union listed in Schedule under Himachal Pradesh Non- Ministry of Human Resource Development Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995. (HRD). Both exams will be conducted by newly formed National Testing Agency (NTA). It will also conduct National Eligibility Test (NET). The 67th plenary meeting of North Eastern Council (NEC) chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was recently held in Shillong, Meghalaya.
The meeting was attended by Union Minister of Development of NER and Governors and Chief Ministers of the north-eastern States. The meeting discussed development projects of Northeast
States. The Haryana government announced on July The Uttar Pradesh Government has granted 7, 2018 that it has decided to enrol family Status of Revenue Village to three villages members of nomadic tribes so no person living inhabited by the Tongia Scheduled Tribe in in the state remain deprive of an Aadhaar and around forests in Saharanpur district card. under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA). Under the campaign, 20 Aadhaar enrolment kits The granting of Revenue Status to villages means would be provided in the three sub-divisions of that these villages will now come under the Gurugram to all nomadic tribe 'bastis'. A special revenue department instead of forest department. enrolment campaign for nomadic tribes is being The Forest Rights Act, 2006 has a provision for run till July 10 in all 22 districts. turning forest villages into revenue villages so The Telangana government has allotted 200 that civic facilities reach these areas. These acres to three different women entrepreneurs' villages are - Kaluwala, Sodhinagar and associations in the state. Bhagwatpur. It has allocated 50 acres to FLO at Sultanpur, 30 acres to Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE) at Toopran and 120 acres to the Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of India (ALEAP) and also 10 per cent of land in all the 140 various industrial parks in the state are earmarked for women entrepreneurs. The Himachal Pradesh government issued a The Haryana Excise and Taxation Department fresh notification banning the use of thermocol has identified a total of 6,091 value-added tax cutlery across the state on July 7, 2018. (VAT) dealers in the state having arrears over This announcement was made by state‘s Chief Rs 5 lakh and uploaded the photographs of the Minister Jai Ram Thakur on the occasion of the defaulters on its website. World Environment Day on June 5. The The action has been taken on the directions of the government has issued fresh notification Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the report reiterating that no person including shopkeepers, of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) vendors, wholesalers, retailers, hawkers, 2012-13. It was also suggested by the PAC that
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the names of these defaulters should be published strategic partnership with two leading South in the newspapers. Korean firms Six global aircraft manufacturers have LS Mtron Ltd, a South Korean agriculture responded Indian Air Force‘s (IAF) Request equipment manufacturer and NH Capital co. Ltd., for Information (RFI) to supply South Korea‘s leading financial services provider) to explore business opportunities in 110 fighter aircrafts to replace its ageing fleet agri-machinery and farm credit sectors. Under of MiG-21s and MiG-27s, which are being this strategic partnership, IFFCO together phased out of service. South Korean firms will explore business The bids now will be evaluated after which IAF opportunities involving supply, sales and will issue Request For Proposal (RFP) with exact distribution of agricultural machinery and finance specifications of aircraft to be procured. The RFP to fulfil the market demand in India. is expected by early 2019. It has not specified Gujarat became third state in India to grant religious minority status to Jews after West exact requirement of fighter jets, opening up Bengal and Maharashtra. contest to both single-and twin-engine jets. In this regard, State‘s Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has issued GR to this effect. Institution of Eminence (IoE) status to six educational institutions which includes 3 Institutions from Public Sector and 3 from Private Sector has granted by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD). Public Sector institutes are Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru (Karnataka); Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay National Information Security Policy and (Maharashtra) and IIT, Delhi. Private Sector Guidelines (NISPG) will be upgrading by the institutes include Birla Institute of Technology & Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Sciences, Pilani (Rajashtan); Manipal Academy To secure government data and control access to of Higher Education, Manipal (Karnataka) and it inorder to prevent sensitive information making proposed Jio Institute of Reliance Foundation in its way to internet. The upgraded and updated Pune (Maharashtra) under Green Field Project. policy will cover issues pertaining to the Official They were selected by Empowered Expert Secrets Act. Committee headed by former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) by Gujarat Government‘s Industries and Mines Department with aim to recognize mutual desire to further enhance and strengthen India (Gujarat) and South Korea trade and industrial investment relations IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser and encourage ongoing dialogue and cooperation. Cooperative Limited) has entered into KOTRA is national trade and investment 20
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promotion organisation operated by South Korea By Minister of State (I/C) MSME Giriraj Singh Government. and Minister of SMEs and Start-ups of South Korea, Hong Jong- hak. The purpose of centre is to create platform for MSMEs of India and South Korea where they can be assisted to identify and exchange latest technologies, share management expertise, product development and technology applications for product development. Andhra Pradesh Government has launched 60 Anna Canteens across the state in the first phase to provide subsidised food to urban
poor. The Eat Right Movement‘- a national They will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner at campaign to improve public health and Rs 5 a meal. They will be run by Akshaya Patra combat lifestyle diseases has launched by the Foundation. The first Anna Canteen named Food Safety and Standards Authority of India former undivided Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister (FSSAI). N T Rama Rao was launched in March 2016. It FSSAI also launched Eat Right tool kit and Safe was opened on pilot basis close to Government and Nutritious Food at Workplace campaign. The Transitional Headquarters at Velgapudi in kit aims serve as supplementary engagement Amaravati.Note : Tamil Nadu is first state to resource to be mainstreamed in national nutrition launch ‗Amma‘ canteens in February 2013 in and public health programmes at grassroots level Chennai. It success had inspired other states to Safe and Nutritious Food at Workplace campaign adopt the concept of subsidised food canteens. is nation-wide campaign to help people eat safe, Rajasthan (Annapurna Rasoi Yojana), Madhya eat healthy and eat right at their workplaces. It Pradesh (Deendayal canteens), Delhi (Aam promotes safe and healthy diets through The Aadmi canteens), Odisha, and Karnataka have Orange Book (its resource book) and through started their own versions of subsidised food FSSAI-trained Food Safety Supervisors (FSS) canteens. and Health and Wellness Coordinators (HWC) at every workplace across the country.
The Lining Project of Son canal in Shahabad- Bhojpur region of Bihar has approved by the The India-Korea Technology Exchange Centre Asian Development Bank (ADB). was inaugurated at National Small Industries This project on completion will bring immense Corporation premises in New Delhi benefits to agriculture sector of Shahabad – Bhojpur region of Bihar. The estimated cost of
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this project is US $503 million (Rs 3272.49 crore) out of which US $352 million is being provided by ADB.
India has become world‘s sixth-biggest economy surpassing France to seventh place according to updated World Bank figures on GDP of countries for 2017. India‘s gross domestic product (GDP) amounted to $2.597 trillion at the end of 2017, as against $2.582 trillion for France.
At end of 2017, United States was world‘s largest India was ranked 57th among 130 countries economy with size of US $19.39 trillion, according to the recently released Global Innovation Index (GII) 2018. followed by China (US $12.23 trillion) at the This year, India has moved up 3 places as second place. Japan (US $4.87 trillion) and compared to 60th rank in GII 2017 and emerged Germany (US $3.67 trillion) are at third and as top-ranked economy in Central and South fourth places, respectively. Britain is still world‘s Asia. Top 10 countries includes Switzerland (1), fifth-biggest economy with a GDP of $2.622 Netherland (2), Sweden (3), UK (4), Singapore trillion. (5), USA (6), Finland (7), Denmark (8), Germany Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana ( (9) and Ireland (10) Italy.It was 11th edition of Urban), over 51 lakh houses have been GII and was jointly released by Cornell approved by the Union Ministry of Housing University, INSEAD and World Intellectual and Urban Affairs. Property Organisation (WIPO). It is new version of Prime Minister‘s Housing For All by 2022 vision. It aims provide affordable houses to all poor in urban areas by 2022. Out of 51 lakh sanctioned houses, over 28 lakhs houses are already in various stages of construction. Over 8 lakh houses have already been completed.
India was formally inducted as 69th Global Housing Construction Technology shareholder of European Bank for Challenge is going to launch by the Ministry of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) as part after entire membership process completed of technology sub-mission of Pradhan Mantri recently Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U). After EBRD‘s board of governors, which Through this global challenge, MoHUA will represents all existing shareholders voted invite ideas for innovative technologies for mass unanimously in favour of India‘s application in housing projects that can help build houses faster, March 2018. India had applied for EBRD cheaper and of better quality with sustainable membership in December 2017. green materials. Four parameters in challenge are time, cost, quality, and sustainability. The winning technologies will be used to build 1,000
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houses, multi-storey or otherwise, depending on 2018 according to the data released by the area type, in each of these places. Central Statistics Office (CSO). The first India Tourism Mart (IMT) organized It was mainly due to sluggish performance of by Ministry of Tourism in partnership with manufacturing and power sectors coupled with Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism poor off take of fast moving consumer goods and Hospitality (FAITH) will be held in New (FMCG). Delhi from 16 September 2018 to create a A first consolidated Bridge Management global tourism mart for India on lines of major System (IR-BMS), a web-enabled IT international travel marts. application to store data on its 1.5 lakh bridges It will provide platform for all stakeholders in has launched by Indian Railways. tourism and hospitality industries to interact and transact business opportunities. It is web-based platform that will show bridge master data, works data, information regarding inspection and monitoring and maintenance of bridges and other essentials. Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018 (SSG 2018)- a rural cleanliness survey to rank all states and districts on basis of qualitative and quantitative evaluation has launched by Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation The threshold monetary limit for tax (MDWS) in New Delhi. departments has hiked by the Union Finance Ministry to file appeals all three levels of The criteria of SSG-2018 include survey of public appeal — Appellate Tribunals, places, citizens‘ perspective of cleanliness, their High Courts, and Supreme Court. recommendations and data from SBM-G. As part The move is aimed at significantly decreasing of it, 6,980 villages in 698 districts across India taxpayer greivances and litigation burden of tax will be covered. The departments in courts and tribunals across the SSG 2018 will be conducted by independent country. Under new limits tax departments CBDT survey agency in all districts from 1st to 31st and CBIC can file appeals in ITAT/CESTAT only if the tax amount involved is Rs 20 lakh or August 2018. It will also take feedback from over more, up from Rs 10 lakh at present.The new 50 lakh citizens on SBM related issues through threshold limits will result in 41% reduction direct interaction as well as online feedback. The litigation from CBDT‘s side, including 34% cases top performing states and districts are expected to in ITAT, 48% of cases in case of High Courts and be awarded on 2nd October 2018. 54% of cases in case of Supreme Court. A draft fee regulation to put in place uniform Similarly, in case of CBIC, it will result in fee framework to check frequent and arbitrary
increases in school fees by unaided private reduction in 18% of cases as 16% of cases will schools has made by the National Commission be withdrawn in CESTAT, 22% in High Courts, for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). and 21% in Supreme Court. This decision will It proposes 10% yearly cap on the fee hike give relief to taxpayers. permissible by private, unaided schools. It The factory output measured in terms of the suggests setting up district fee regulatory Index of Industrial Production (IIP) has authority in states. It will recommend these draft slipped to seven-month low of 3.2% in May
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regulations to Union Ministry of Human For running this contest, Ministry has joined Resource Development (HRD). hands with MyGov portal (www.mygov.in). The An order allowing photography within contest will last till 4th November 2018 and three premises of protected monuments and sites has winners will be chosen every fortnight. In this issued by the Archaeological Survey of India contest, participants can make and upload videos (ASI). Under the new order, photography will by capturing efforts, significant contributions, be allowed within premises of Centrally best practices in the field of water conservation, protected monuments maintained and water resource development and management and managed by ASI. optimum water utilization in different parts of the However photography will remain prohibited country. They can also submit any innovative near Ajanta Caves, Leh Palace (both housing advertisement or commercial on water paintings that can be damaged by camera flash) Conservation. It should be uploaded on YouTube and mausoleum of Taj Mahal. The order was and share publicly accessible link of it on video issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi link section of MyGov contest page. The prize questioned ASI‘s rules prohibiting visitors from amount for first, second and third positions is Rs taking photographs at certain monuments while 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. inaugurating ASI‘s new headquarters Dharohar A MoU has signed by Indian Army with State Bhawan in Delhi‘s Tilak Marg area. bank of India (SBI) on Defence Salary A high-level task force under Chairmanship of Package. Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha to identify Currently Indian Army has MoUs on Defence various items and policy interventions to Salary Package with 11 public and private sector reduce dependence on imports has constituted banks. These MoUs are considered for inception by the Union Government. and renewal with banks on analyzing their utility It will suggest ways to cut import of those items and suitability to requirements of serving soldiers, which can be manufactured or explored in the pensioners and families. country. The new headquarters building of the India becomes world‘s fifth largest area Archaeological Survey of India (ASI cultivated under genetically modified (GM) ‗Dharohar Bhawan‘ has inaugurated by Prime crops in 2017 with 11.4 million hectares (mh) Minister Narendra Modi at 24, Tilak Marg in according to the International Service for the New Delhi. Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications It houses Central Archaeological Library, with a (ISAAA) latest ‗Global Status of collection of 1.5 lakh books and journals. It Commercialized Biotech/ GM Crops in 2017 houses authentic records related to archaeology, report. such as ASI reports, etc., diary of Alexander United States has highest area under transgenic Cunningham (founder of ASI), John Marshall, crops, at 75 mh. It is followed by Brazil (50.2 etc. It also has original collection of religious mh), Argentina‘s (23.6 mh) and Canada (13.1 books and books on cultural heritage of India, mh). India‘s entire GM crop area is under single such as sacred books on Hindus, Manusmiti, crop BT Cotton incorporating genes from Kautilya‘s Arthasastra. Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt soil bacterium coding for resistance against heliothis bollworm insect pests.
A fortnightly video contest ―Jal Bachao, Video Banao, Puruskar Pao‖ has launched by the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. 24
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Mohapatra has nominated as members of Rajya Sabha by President Ram Nath Kovind as per Article 80(1)(a) of the Constitution. Prior to these four nominations, there were eight nominated members in Rajya Sabha. India became Vice-Chair or regional head of Asia Pacific Region of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) for two years from July United States President Donald Trump has 2018 to June 2020. invited to be the chief guest at 2019 Republic By becoming Vice Chair, India will be able to Day celebrations by the Union Government. take up leadership role at the WCO. If President Trump accepts the invitation, he will be second serving US President after Barack Obama to be invited as chief guest of Republic Day Parade. It will indicate importance of the Indo-U.S. relationship
The Goa IT Policy 2018 was unveiled at the Inox complex in Panaji on July 15, 2018, on the final day of Goa IT Day celebrations by the Union minister for electronics, IT and law & justice Ravi Shankar Prasad. The Bansagar canal project (171 km long) has The Goa IT Policy focuses on infrastructure inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra development, fiscal incentives, governance and Modi in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh. human resource development. The policy offers Bansagar Dam project is a joint venture (JV) special incentives for solar power-based units, between Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and internet subsidy and assistance for campus Bihar Governments. recruitment. Besides, there is a special provision It is multipurpose river valley project built on Son for capital investment subsidy for the people of River situated in Ganges Basin in Madhya Goa. Pradesh. The canal network will bring waters A 10 Member Committee to review the penal from Shahdol district in Madhya Pradesh for provisions in the Companies Act, 2013 Adwa Barrage, Meza Dam and Jirgo reservoir. has constituted by the Ministry of Corporate PM also laid foundation stone of Mirzapur Affairs (MCA). Medical College. He also inaugurated 100 The Commerce Ministry seeks to review offences Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras and bridge under the Companies Act, 2013, as some of the over Ganga River at Balughat, Chunar, which offences may be required to be decriminalised will facilitate connectivity between Mirzapur and and handled in an in-house mechanism, where a Varanasi. penalty could be levied in instances of default. Former MP Ram Shakal, RSS ideologue The decision will allow the trial courts to pay Rakesh Sinha, classical dancer Sonal more attention on offences of serious nature. Mansingh and stone artist Raghunath 25
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The Life Insurance Corporation of India's Pensioners will get the benefit of senior pension (LIC's) board has approved acquiring up to 51 with the State government‘s 7th pay scale before per cent stake in state-run IDBI Bank. January 1, 2016. Since Insurance Regulatory and Development According to which an increased Basic Pension Authority of India (IRDAI) has already given its of 2.57 per cent would be received by them. approval to LIC for the stake purchase, the This online management system has been corporation will now approach the regulator for prepared by the Department of Finance for the the securities market India, Securities and pensioners by the Directorate of Funds, Accounts Exchange Board of India (SEBI).Till end of June and Pension. 2018, LIC owned about 8 per cent of IDBI Bank, This will entail an additional expenditure of Rs while the federal government owned 86 per cent. 500 crore on the State Government. NMCG Organised ―Ganga Vriksharopan Additionally, the Gratuity of officers-employees Abhiyan‖ in Five Ganga Basin States had been hiked from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. On July 19, 2018, National Mission for Clean Udaipur ranked 3rd among world‘s best cities Ganga (NMCG) organised ―Ganga for second successive year: Travel + Leisure Vriksharopan Abhiyan‖ in five main stem On July 19, 2018, According to Travel + Ganga basin states – Uttarakhand, Uttar Leisure‘s World‘s Best Cities report, The city Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. of Udaipur has ranked 3rd among the 15 of the 9thJuly to 15th July 2018 was observed as world‘s best cities. ‗Shubharambh Saptah‘ . The top 2 cities are both in Mexico: San Miguel Chhattisgarh: CM Raman Singh launches de Allende and Oaxaca. online pension system ‗Aabhar-Aapki seva ka‘ The ranks were given based on sights and On July 19, 2018, Chhattisgarh CM Raman landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, Singh launched an online portal and mobile app shopping, and overall value. st called ‗Aabhaar-Aapki seva ka‘ for the online Earlier in 2009 it has ranked 1 in the list making pensioners of the state. it ‗best city in the world to visit‘. And in 2017 also it has received the 3rd rank. Nicknames of Udaipur: City of Lakes, Venice of the East.
i. This would be implemented by Online Pension Infosys Foundation, Bangalore Metro sign Management System. MoU for construction of a station at 80,000 pensioners would get information related Konappana.Agrahara th to pension through the app and portal. On 19 July 2018, Infosys Foundation signed a 26
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Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with total length 226 km, worth Rs 3583 Crore and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited also inaugurated 188 km of NH projects worth (BMRCL) for the construction of a station Rs 1902 Crores. at Konappana Agrahara in Electronics City,Bengaluru. Regional Rail Training Institute inaugurated at Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh On 22nd July 2018, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha inaugurated Regional Rail Training Institute (RRTI) in Ghazipur, UttarPradesh. The Rail Training Institute (RRTI) was inaugurated with an aim to strengthen the expertise and capabilities of the employees of North-Eastern Railways. He also inaugurated the newly constructed All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) & IIT washing pit at Ghazipur City station. Manoj Sinha said that, the RRTI was constructed Delhi sign MOU to give scientific validation to within stipulated time. It will highly boost the Ayurveda development of the area. On July 17, 2018, IIT Delhi signed an agreement with All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) to launch projects to give scientific validation to the ancient medical science of Ayurveda and integrate it with technology.
Lok Sabha passes National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017 Nitin Gadkari launches development projects On 23rd July 2018, the Lok Sabha passed the worth over Rs 5000 crore in MadhyaPradesh National Council for Teacher Education On July 23 2018, Road Transport and Highways (Amendment) Bill 2017 to grant retrospective Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the foundation recognition to Central/State institutions that are for National Highways projects in Guna district conducting teacher education courses without of Madhya Pradesh. NCTE approval. The total project worths over Rs 5485 Crores. He laid the foundation stone for 5 NH projects of
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‘#Childline1098‘ Contest- ‗Spot the Logo and and Training and other fields as mutually Suggest a Tagline‘ launched by Ministry of determined. Women and Child Development On July 24, 2018, To mark World Day against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched a contest named – ― #Childline1098‖.
Committee to review offences under Companies Act. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has constituted a 10 Member Committee for review of the penal provisions in the Companies Act, 2013. This Panel, headed by the Secretary of Ministry of Corporate Affairs, is expected to examine ‗de-criminalization‘ of certain offences. 3 states UP, Jharkhand and Maharashtra The MCA seeks to review offences under the launched SwachhSurvekshan Grameen Companies Act, 2013 as some of the offences 2018 On July 24, 2018, 3 states namely, UP, may be required to be decriminalized and Jharkhand and Maharashtra launched the handled in an in-house mechanism. The Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018 Committee shall submit its report within thirty (SSG 2018) announced by the Ministry of days to the Central Government for Drinking Water and Sanitation on July consideration. 13th, 2018. Secretary of Ministry of Corporate Affairs- A MoU signed amongst BRICS Nations (viz. Injeti Srinivas Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) has approved by the Union Cabinet on Regional Aviation Partnership Cooperation. The areas of cooperation under MoU are public policies and best practices in regional services; airport infrastructure management and air navigation Services; regional airports; technical cooperation between regulatory agencies; innovation; environment sustainability; deliberation of global initiatives; Qualification
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As a part of commemoration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to be observed in 2019, the grant of Special Remission to Prisoners has been approved by the Union Cabinet. The following five categories of prisoners will be considered for special remission. Women and Transgender convicts (55 years of age and above and who have completed 50% of their actual sentence period). Male convicts (60 years of age and above and who have completed 50% of their actual sentence National Database of Arms Licenses system is going to create by Union Ministry of Home period). Affairs (MHA) from April 2019. Physically challenged/disabled convicts (convicts The move is aimed at keeping tab on with 70% disability and more and who have authorised private gun holders, many of whom are completed 50% of their actual sentence period). often found involved in crimes and celebratory Terminally ill convicts. firing leading to loss of lives. It will include Convicted prisoners who have completed two- names of all arms licence holders, new or old and third (66%) of their actual sentence period. they will be issued a unique identification number (UIN). Any arms licence without UIN will be considered invalid.
A bill providing for stringent punishment, including death penalty, for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years has The assent for Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Bill, cleared by the Union Cabinet. 2015 passed by State Assembly in August 2015 Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced has given by President Ram Nath Kovind. that the bill will be introduced in the ongoing The law aims to eliminate superstition from Monsoon Session of Parliament. society by making such offences under it as non- bailable, non-compoundable and cognizable.
A MoU has signed with Saab (Swedish aerospace and defence firm) by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) for jointly marketing
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L-Band 3D air surveillance radar (RAWL-03) ancient Indian medicine. IIT Delhi does not have which is co-developed by the companies. medical facility and has lined up 10 projects in RAWL-03 is long range air surveillance radar for Ayurveda research. early detection and tracking of air and surface A draft amendment to Central Motor Vehicles targets. Its system is based on state-of-the-art Rules, 1989 GAN TR module technology and incorporates Making Vehicle Tracking System device and the latest signal processing techniques. It can be FASTags mandatory for all commercial vehicles fitted in both ship-borne and land-based obtaining national permit has been issued by configurations. Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). ‗Paudhagiri campaign‘- an unique program to increase green cover in the state has launched by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar by planting ‗maulsari‘ sapling in Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex premises of Gurugram. Under this campaign, 22 lakh students studying in Class 6th to 12th of all government and private Elphinstone Road suburban railway station in schools will plant sapling each, during three Mumbai, Maharashtra was renamed to month s of monsoon(July,August and Prabhadevi Station in honour of local deity Prabhadevi by Western Railways. September). State forest department will provide The station code of Prabhadevi station will be sapling to every student. The campaign aims PBHD. The station was initially named after increase green cover in the state, help in Lord Elphinstone, who was Governor of Bombay stabilising environment and improve overall Presidency from 1853 to 1860. climatic conditions, thus help in checking global warming. State Government will give incentive of Rs 50 in every six months from government, after student upload his selfie with his or her plant on App planted by him or her. Student will get total Rs 300 in three years for looking after sapling. The trials of US-made M777 ultralight A MoU to enhance research in the field of howitzer is going to resume by Indian Army Ayurveda was signed between All India in the Pokhran firing range, Rajasthan. Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and IIT (Indian M777 is 155-mm, 39-calibre towed artillery gun. Institute of Technology)-Delhi on sidelines of It is manufactured by US based BAE Systems‘ two-day conference on ‗Raising towards Global Combat Systems division. Excellence‘ held at New Delhi. As of part of MoU, AIIA will invite technological experts from IIT Delhi for research in ancient Indian medicine. It was the idea of Ministry of AYUSH to utilize technological expertise of IIT Delhi for further research in 30
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World‘s first remotely operable LEAP The Supreme Court on July 18, 2018 observed microscope has commissioned by the Indian that banning the entry of women in Kerala‘s Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras. Sabarimala temple by the temple authorities LEAP is high-performance microscope that can is unconstitutional and questioned the provide a precise atom-by-atom view of authorities regarding the same. materials. It provides atomic-scale insights into The court stated that women have the right to metallic, which will influence wide spectrum of enter and pray like men at the Sabarimala temple industries ranging from steel to automobiles and in Kerala as the fundamental right of freedom to energy to transportation sector. practice religion is provided to all persons by the Constitution. The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill, 2017 seeks to amend the regulations governing the compensation payable for acquisition of immovable property by the Centre for defence and security purposes passed by the Parliament. A bill to amend the Right to Education (RTE) Act to abolish the 'no detention policy' in schools was passed in the Lok Sabha on July A MoU signed amongst BRICS Nations (viz. 18, 2018. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Under the current provisions of the RTE Act, no has approved by the Union Cabinet on student can be detained till class 8 and all Regional Aviation Partnership Cooperation. students are promoted to the next grade. The areas of cooperation under MoU are public The 10th edition of the Delhi Dialogue got policies and best practices in regional services; underway in New Delhi on July 19, 2018. airport infrastructure management and air The theme for this year is 'Strengthening India- navigation services; regional airports; technical ASEAN Maritime Co-operation'. This will be the cooperation between regulatory agencies; first major event to be organised after the innovation; environment sustainability; ASEAN-India commemorative Summit, which deliberation of global initiatives; Qualification was held in New Delhi in January 2018. and Training and other fields as mutually The Rajya Sabha Chamber has become Wi- determined. Fi-enabled. This announcement was made by Chairman M Venkiah Naidu in the House during the Zero Hour , he added that members can now browse all the government websites including that of
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Parliament. This facility is accessible on all the mobile phones, tablets, Laptops.
The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 A remote sensing instrument- LiDAR for was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 18, assessment of offshore wind resource at Gulf 2018. of Khambat, off the Gujarat Coast has The offences involving 100 crore rupees or more installed by the National Institute of Wind will fall under its purview. The bill has been Energy (NIWE). brought to help the government in confiscating A total of 31.67 GW of renewable energy properties of economic offenders who have capacity has been installed through absconded the country to avoid prosecution. implementation of various renewable energy A financial assistance of 300 crore rupees to programmes in the past 3 years and current year the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi for (up to June 2018) in India including Uttarakhand. effective solid waste management and dust control has sanctioned by the Centre. The orders for various projects worth 236 crores were issued and the North and East MCDs were asked to prepare other proposals worth 64 crores. The execution of proposals was on fast- track so that there was effective implementation of solid waste management. This announcement was made by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra in New Delhi. A MoU was signed with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) by Infosys Foundation for the construction of a Combined Task Force (CTF 151) led by station at Konappana Agrahara in Electronics City, Bengaluru. Commander Rear Admiral Saw Shi Tat of the As per the MoU, the station will be Singapore Navy visited Indian Naval Ship Teg named Infosys Foundation – Konappana in Djibouti to carry out anti-piracy Agrahara Metro Station. The station will be operations. developed on an area of more than 2 lakh square Discussions on various aspects of anti-piracy feet. An area of 3,000 square feet within the operations including CTF 151 modus station will be dedicated to Infosys Foundation. Infosys Foundation has committed to maintain it operandi were made. The Indian Ambassador to for the next 30 years. The roof of the station will Ethiopia, Anurag Srivastav, and Nalin Kothari, be designed to support solar panels that will offer Consulate General, Djibouti, also visited the power for lighting. The station would be ship. The Indian Navy has been participating in operational by 2021. 32
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the anti-piracy operation by sending ships to Gulf of Aden.
Odisha government approved a proposal for setting up a riverine port on river Mahanadi in Kendrapara district On 28th July 2018, Odisha government approved a proposal for setting up a riverine port on river Mahanadi in Kendrapara district, Odisha.
India‘s first National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) for Women Launched by Dharmendra Pradhan in Mohali. On July 29, 2018, The Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development &Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, laid the foundation stone of National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) for Women at Mohali, Punjab.
Mumbai Weather Live : a mobile application that to provide information on extreme Odisha to implement its own food security act weather events in Mumbai launched by The from Oct 2, 2018 Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). On July 29, 2018, Odisha Chief Minister On July 29, 2018, The Union Ministry of Earth Naveen Patnaik announced that the state Sciences (MoES) launched a mobile application named Mumbai Weather Live that will provide government would implement its own food information on extreme weather events in Mumbai. security act from October 2 . PM Modi‘s 2 day Visit to Uttar Pradesh: PM Manipur hosts 11th state-level pineapple launches 81 projects worth Rs 60,000 crore festival cum Sellers & Buyers Meet and Youth Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his 2 Festival, 2018 day tour of Uttar Pradesh from July 28- On 14th to 19th July 2018, the 11th state-level 29th 2018. he was welcomed by Uttar Pradesh pineapple festival cum Sellers & Buyers Meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union and Youth Festival, 2018, was held in Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Thambalnu Market Complex under Andro The Prime Minister inaugurated 81 investment constituency in Thoubal district of Manipur. projects worth Rs 60,000 crore in Lucknow. ii. The Prime Minister laid the foundation of
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India‘s first Mobile Open Exchange Zone (MOX) at World Trade Centre, Noida
Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) in Finance Ministry domain: President‘s order On July 30, 2018, Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) has been taken away from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and brought under the domain of Rs.215 crore project of Meghalaya Milk the Finance Ministry. Mission launched in Shillong by Union Minister It will now be under the Department of Economic for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Affairs (DEA), Finance Ministry.This move Mohan Singh would use proceeds of the road less under CRIF to On July 30, 2018, Union Minister for Agriculture finance other infrastructure projects like and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh waterways, railway infrastructure etc. launched the Rs. 215 crore Meghalaya Milk Unified Commanders‘ Conference (UCC) 2018 Mission in Shillong through National Cooperative in New Delhi Development Corporation (NCDC). On 30th and 31st July 2018, Unified Commanders‘ Conference (UCC) 2018 is held in New Delhi.
A High Level Empowered Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary set up to address stressed thermal power assets On July 30, 2018, Government set up a High Level Empowered Committee headed by Cabinet 2nd Conference of Young Superintendent of Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha to address the Police held in New Delhi issues of Stressed Thermal Power Projects. On 26th July 2018, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, inaugurated the 2nd Conference of Young Superintendent of Police, organized by Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), in New Delhi.
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Fortnight celebration of Swachhta Pakhwada launched by IT Ministry across the country by Ministry of Petroleum & On July 31, 2018, The IT ministry launched a Natural Gas desktop software e-Aksharayan in a On July 31, 2018, Ministry of Petroleum & conference for Indian Languages Technology Natural Gas (MoPNG), Oil & Gas CPSEs and Industry ‗Bhashantara‘, in New Delhi. its offices celebrated Swachhta Pakhwada SBI raises retail fixed deposit rates by 5-10 bps from 1st to 15th July, 2018. with effect from 30th July 2018. The theme of MoPNG initiatives in this Pakhwada On July 31, 2018, State Bank of India raised its were ―Innovation‖ and ―Sustainability‖. interest rates on fixed deposits by 5-10 basis Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill points on deposits of below Rs 1 crore. Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri This will be effective from 30th July 2018. Dharmendra Pradhan led a cleaning drive These changes will apply to senior citizens as in Satyanagar, Bharatpur and well. Khandagiri areas of Bhubaneswar which have Interest rates on recurring deposits of SBI are the been adopted by Indian Oil . same as that on FDs. GDP predicted to go from 7.8% (April-June) to 7.2% in second half of 2018: Nomura On July 31, 2018, According to Nomura , GDP growth to peak to 7.8% in April-June quarter and then moderate to 7.2 per cent in the second half of 2018. This is owing to tighter financial conditions, slowing global growth and adverse terms of trade. Union Ministry of Earth Science unveils The GDP growth was at 7.7 per cent in January- blueprint of Deep Ocean Mission for March quarter 2018. exploration Also global oil prices and higher minimum On July 31, 2018, The Union Ministry of Earth support prices predict a hike of 25 basis Science unveiled a blueprint of Deep Ocean points rate hike in August in the RBI‘s third bi Mission (DOM) to explore deep ocean. monthly meeting to be held in August 1,2018. To promote exploration in the deep ocean to meet Reserve Bank of India had increase its retail energy requirements of India. inflation projection by 0.30 per cent.
E-Aksharayan a desktop software to enable editing of text printed on scanned documents 35
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The United Nations has placed Colombia's INTERNATIONAL Chiribiquete national park on its list of world heritage sites. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador won It is the ninth site in Colombia to be given Mexico‘s presidency in a landslide victory world heritage status. The park, which on July 1, 2018 straddles the southern provinces of Caquetá setting the stage for the left-wing to form the and Guaviare, is the country's largest and has government at a time of tense relations with the one of the highest rates of plant diversity in the northern Amazon. Trump administration.
North Korea and South Korea on July 1, The 5th Regional Comprehensive Economic 2018 reopened a maritime communication Partnership (RCEP) intersessional channel for the first time in 10 years with ministerial meeting co-chaired by vessels from the two countries making radio Singapore‘s Minister of Trade and Industry contact for the first time in a decade. The Ministry said that the move showed the Chan Chun Sing and his Japanese two Koreas were taking practical steps to counterpart Hiroshige Seko was held in uphold agreements made last month when their Tokyo, Japan. It was first RCEP ministerial gathering to be leaders decided to defuse military tensions in a held outside ASEAN countries. RCEP is a gradual manner. proposed proposed free trade agreement (FTA) or comprehensive regional economic integration agreement between the 10-ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and its six FTA partners (Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Japan and Korea). The 42nd World Heritage Committee meeting concluded with 19 new sites inscribed to the World Heritage List in Bahrain's capital Manama on July 4, 2018. The World Heritage List now contains 1,092 sites in 167 countries.The meeting, which opened on June 24, added 13 cultural sites, three natural sites and three mixed ones to the World Heritage List, including Germany‘s 36
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Naumburg Cathedral, Kenya‘s Thimlich (Administrative and Budgetary) of United Ohinga Archaeological Site, Oman‘s Ancient Nations General Assembly (UNGA). City of Qalhat, China‘s Mount Fanjingshan and The budget approved for missions include France‘s Chaine des. The next session of the MINUJUSTH (UN Mission for Justice Support World Heritage Committee will be held in in Haiti), MINUSCA (Multidimensional Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Central African Republic), MINURSO (Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara), MONUSCO (Stabilisation Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo) and UNIFIL (Interim Force in Lebanon).
An accountability court in Pakistan on July 6, 2018 sentenced ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to 10 years in prison in one of the three corruption cases against him in the The 17th World Sanskrit Conference was high-profile Panama Papers scandal. held at Vancouver, Canada from 9th July to His daughter Maryam was sentenced to seven 13th July, 2018. years and son-in-law Captain (retired) Safdar It was inaugurated by Human Resource was sentenced one year imprisonment. While Development Minister Prakash Javadekar. So Nawaz Sharif was fined 10 million dollar, his far it has been held thrice in India. The World daughter Maryam was handed down a 2.6 Sanskrit Conference is being held in various million dollar fine. The ruling came weeks countries across the globe once in every three before the general elections of Pakistan that are years under the auspices of the International scheduled to be held on July 25. Association of Sanskrit Studies. The purpose of this conference was to promote, preserve and practice Sanskrit language all over world by the people.
The sixth edition of biennial World Cities US $6.69 billion dollar budget for 13 Summit was jointly organised by peacekeeping operations for year 2018-19 Singapore‘s Centre for Liveable Cities and has approved by the Fifth Committee 37
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Urban Redevelopment Authority was held seeking to meet a court- imposed deadline of in Singapore from July 8 to 12, 2018. next Tuesday to reunite some 100 detained Its theme was ―Liveable & Sustainable Cities: children less than five years of age. Embracing the Future through Innovation and Collaboration. The summit was held together with Singapore International Water Week and CleanEnviro Summit Singapore.
Regular citizens and NGOs will have the right to sue polluting companies in civil courts, as per a new bill proposal approved on July 8, 2018 by the Israeli Ministerial Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Committee for Legislation. Bhutanese counterpart Dasho Tshering Israel suffered two significant pollution Tobgay during their meeting in New Delhi disasters in nature reserves during recent years, agreed to take the exemplary bilateral where Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Co and Israel partnership to new heights for benefit of the Chemical Ltd were held accountable. The people of both the countries. Israeli government hopes the new bill will put Both leaders expressed happiness over the more pressure and deterrence toward big commemoration of Golden Jubilee of the companies that do not care about the state establishment of formal diplomatic relations supervision against pollution. between India and Bhutan. China has announced that it has clinched deal with India on reduction of tariffs (import duties) on Indian medicines including anti-cancer drugs. However, it is not yet clear whether it has agreed to grant licences to Indian companies to sell cancer drugs in its huge market. Indian drugs, especially cancer-curing medicines are in big demand in China as they are far cheaper than their western counterparts.
US officials have ordered DNA tests on '3,000' detained children who remain separated from their migrant parents in an effort to reunite families at the centre of a border crisis. The Department of Health and Human Services, HHS is doing DNA testing to confirm A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) parentage accurately. The department is for promoting inter-parliamentary dialogue 38
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capacity building and cooperation has signed between India‘s upper house of parliament Rajya Sabha and Senate of Rwanda. The MoU has 6 articles of cooperation and seeks to promote inter-Parliamentary dialogue, capacity building of parliamentary staff, organisation of conferences, forums, seminars, staff attachment programmes. It was signed A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Vice President and Rajya Sabha has signed between India and United Chairman Venkaiah Naidu and visiting Kingdom on cooperation in the sphere of President of Senate of Rwanda, Bernard Law & Justice and establishing Joint Makuza in New Delhi. Consultativ e Committee. The MoU aims to enhance bilateral cooperation in legal affairs which would provide framework for promoting greater cooperation between judicial and legal professionals in both countries through exchange of expertise and training.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted Resolution 2427 aimed at providing legal framework for mainstreaming protection, rights, well-being and empowerment of children throughout World‘s first-ever 3-D, colour X-ray on the conflict cycle. human has performed by scientists from The resolution has won unanimous approval of New Zealand. the 15 members of the council. The resolution The new device is based on the traditional strongly condemns recruitment and use of black-and-white X-ray but incorporates children in armed conflicts as well as their re- particle-tracking technology called Medipix. It recruitment, killing and rape, maiming and is developed by European Organization for other forms of sexual violence and abductions. Nuclear Research (CERN). This colour X-ray It also condemns attacks against schools and imaging technique can produce clearer and hospitals and denial of humanitarian access by more accurate pictures and help doctors give parties to armed conflict and all other their patients more accurate diagnoses. The violations of international law committed images very clearly show difference between against children in situations of armed conflict. bone, muscle and cartilage and also the position and size of cancerous tumours.
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The Resolution 2428 (2018) has adopted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan almost five years after the civil war was started in the country. US President Donald Trump and his The Resolution calls upon all UN member Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to hold states to prevent supply, sale or transfer to their first summit at Helsinki, Finland on South Sudan — from or through their July 15, 2018. territories till 31 May 2019. Trump arrived in Finland on July 15 with his wife, First Lady Melania Trump and a host of other dignitaries for the Helsinki summit. The host and President of Finland, Sauli Niinisto is scheduled to meet Trump before Trump and Putin sit down to a bilateral meeting first without aides and then with their teams of support staff. Trump's meeting with Putin comes days after a federal grand jury indicted A panel on digital cooperation which aimed 12 Russian intelligence officials on charges of at addressing concerns of cyber security hacking the servers of the Democratic National threats and rise in hate speech has Committee and that of its 2016 presidential established by United Nations (UN) candidate Hillary Clinton. Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The panel will have 20 members in total and include leaders from technology, public policy, science and academia etc. The high-level panel on digital cooperation will be co-chaired by US philanthropist Melinda Gates and China-based Alibaba founder Jack Ma.
India on July 15, 2018 signed a revised travel agreement with Bangladesh to ease visa restrictions for citizens from the neighbouring country in Dhaka in the presence of visiting Home Minister Rajnath
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Singh and his counterpart Asaduzzaman launch rockets vertically and put satellites in Khan. orbit. Under the Revised Travel Arrangement (RTA)- The first rocket launches from this spaceport 2018, freedom fighters and elderly Bangladeshi are planned for early 2020s. The site was nationals will get five-year multiple visa from selected in part due to its beneficial geography. India. Besides this, both the leaders also held For development of this spaceport, UK the 6th Home Minister Level Talks between Government is going to provide $3.3 million India and Bangladesh. funding and will be built with help of consortium of companies.
To monitor impacts of human activity on global ecosystems by using sophisticated online tools, UN Environment Programme The United States has rejected requests (UNEP) has entered into partnership with from the European Union to grant search engine giant Google during High- exemptions to European companies from its Level Political Forum on Sustainable sanctions against Iran. Development at United Nations (UN) The letter further read that the US is not in a headquarters in New York. position to make exceptions to this policy The aim of the partnership is to develop except in very specific circumstances. It also platform to enable governments, NGO‘s and said that Washington will seek to provide public to track specific environment-related unprecedented financial pressure on the Iranian development targets with user-friendly Google regime. front-end. Its initial focus will be on freshwater Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) ecosystems including mountains, forests, was signed between European Union (EU) wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes. Google and Japan at EU-Japan summit in Tokyo. will periodically produce geospatial maps and It is biggest ever trade deal negotiated by the data on water-related ecosystems by employing EU and creates free trade zone covering nearly massive parallel Cloud computing technology. third of the world‘s GDP.
3rd BRICS Film Festival held in Durban, A‘Mhoine peninsula on north coast of South Africa from July 22-27, 2018. th Scotland at Sutherland has selected by UK On 22-27 July, 2018, The 3rd BRICS Film Space Agency for its first spaceport to Festival was held in Durban, South Africa, 41
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along with the International Durban Film NASAMS-II: India plans to procure Festival (DIFF). advanced air defence system from US worth $1 billion to defend NCR of Delhi. On July 31, 2018, Defence acquisitions council (DAC), chaired by India‘s Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, approved the acquisition of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System-II (NASAMS-II) worth around $1 billion.
India a Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) country: US On July 31, 2018, The US has elevated India‘s status in the export control regime and designated it as a Strategic Trade
Authorization-1 (STA-1) country.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS
Renowned journalist Rajat Sharma was India ranks 96th in UN‘s E-Government elected as the President of Delhi & District index 2018; jumps 11 places since 2016 Cricket Association On July 31, 2018, India ranks 96th in the After polling 54.40 percent of the total votes biannual United Nation‘s E-Government cast and surpassed former World Cup winning Index 2018 among 193 countries released Indian cricketer Madan Lal by 517 votes to by UN. register his win.
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Vishwas Patel was appointed as the new Justice AK Goel has appointed as the new Chairman of Payments Council of India Chairperson of National Green Tribunal (PCI). (NGT) by the Appointments Committee of PCI also has appointed Loney Antony, the Cabinet (ACC). Managing Director, Hitachi Payment Services, His appointment comes after he retired as as its new co-Chairman. PCI is an apex non- Supreme Court Judge. He will have tenure of governmental body representing companies in five years from date he assumes office or till he payments and settlement system. reaches age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
Major General José Eladio Alcain of Uruguayan Army has appointed as Head of Britain's Brexit minister David Davis has Mission and Chief Military Observer for UN resigned Military Observer Group in India and Two days after the cabinet approved a plan to Pakistan (UNMOGIP) by United Nations retain strong alignment with the European Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Union even after leaving the bloc. UNMOGIP has been established by UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution and
started its operations in 1949. It has been tasked with monitoring the ceasefire line or tasked with monitoring the ceasefire line between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan in Jammu and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Former Information and Broadcasting Analjit Singh appointed as Non-executive secretary Uday Kumar Varma has been Chairman on board of Max Financial appointed as a member of the Broadcasting Services Ltd Content Complaints Council, rd On 23 July 2018, the Board of Max Financial A self-regulatory body for general entertainment channel. Services (MFS) named Mr. Analjit Singh, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Max Group, as the non-executive Chairman of Max Financial Services (MFS).
Justice Tahira Safdar to be first woman chief justice of any court in Pakistan On 23rd July 2018, Justice Tahira Safdar was made the Chief Justice of the Balochistan high Dr. TCA Raghavan was appointed as the court, Pakistan, by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Director General (DG) of Indian Council of Nisar. This makes her the first woman chief World Affairs (ICWA). justice of any court in Pakistan.
Hima Das to be Assam sports ambassador Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda
Sonowal has named Indian Athlete Hima Das as the first sports ambassador of Assam.
Prof Anil D Sahasrabudhe has been reappointed as the chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). He was joined AICTE as Chairman in July 2015.
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Renu Satti quits as Paytm Payments Bank CEO, to head ‗New Retail‘ initiative at company HSBC India appoints Surendra Rosha as Paytm Payments Bank CEO Renu CEO th Satti has resigned from her position. Now, On 30 July 2018, Hongkong and Shanghai she will lead as COO (Chief Operating Banking Corporation (HSBC) announced Officer)of the ‗New Retail‘ initiative. that, Surendra Rosha has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer for HSBC India.
AWARDS Anil Kumar Chawla appointed as FOC- in-Chief of Southern Naval Command The prestigious National Kalidas Samman Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla has been on noted artist Anjolie Ela Menon (78) appointed as the next Flag Officer Madhya Pradesh Government has conferred Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern by Madhya Pradesh Government for her Naval Command. contribution to visual arts. She is a well-known muralist and one of India‘s leading contemporary artists. Her preferred medium is oil on masonite, but she also has worked in other media, including glass and water colour.
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Milan Shankar Tare, a fisherman from Maharashtra‘s Palghar district, has been Sahapedia‘s India Heritage Walk fete wins selected for this year‘s National Maritime PATA award India Heritage Walk Festival, a collaboration Search and Rescue Award. of Sahapedia and YES Arts & Culture, has A Coast Guard press release issued in Mumbai been awarded the PATA Gold Award stated that the fisherman had saved the lives of 2018.The award has been announced by the 12 people from a sinking fishing boat named Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in Shivneri in May 2018. The award recognises Bangkok under the ‗Heritage-Culture‘ Tare‘s act of bravery at sea and selfless duty in category. sync with the highest traditions of maritime It was sponsored by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO). fraternity. The PATA Awards achievements of 2018 Sangita Kalanidhi award of Music recognised achievements of 27 organisations Academy has been awarded to renowned and individuals in the field of travel and Carnatic vocalist Aruna Sairam for her tourism. PATA Awardswill be presented to the contribution to Carnatic music. winners on September 14 during the PATA Under this recognition, she will preside over Travel Mart in Malaysia.The month-long, multi-city IHWF 2018 was organised in 92nd annual conference to be held between February 2018. December 15, 2018 and January 1, 2019. YES Arts & Culture is the cultural division of The award will be conferred to her on January YES Global Institute, a practicing think tank of 1, 2019 the day of Sadas of the conference. YES BANK. Mridhangist Thanjavur R. Ramadoss and vocalist K. Oman Kutty will be awarded Sangita Kala Acharya award. Veena player Kalyani Ganesan and nagaswaram player S.R.G. Rajanna will be awarded T.K. Awards. Dr. Premeela Gurumurthy, the Vice Chancellor, Tamil Nadu University will be awarded Musicologist award. veteran danseuse Shanta Dhananjayan will be awarded Nritiya Kalanidhi award.
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2017 AIFF Awards: Sunil Chhetri wins 2017 AIFF player of the year award On 22nd July 2018, Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri was named the 2017 All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player of the Year. This was announced by AIFF after its Executive Committee meeting in Mumbai.
HDFC awarded best performing primary lending institution in CLSS scheme HDFC has received the best performing primary lending institution in Credit Linked Michael Ondaatje named in Man Booker Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) for the EWS Prize long list (Economically Weaker Section) and LIG (Low On July 24, 2018, Canadian author Michael Income Group) category. Ondaatje has again made the Man Booker Prize list with his latest novel ―Warlight‖.
Gopalkrishna Gandhi to receive 24th Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award Gopalkrishna Gandhi has been chosen for the th 24 Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award for his contribution in promoting communal harmony, peace and goodwill. Shivangi Pathak from Haryana scales Mount Kilimanjaro Haryana‘s Shivangi Pathak has successfully scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of Africa.
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‗Khan Prahari‘ launched by the Union Minister of Coal, Railways, Finance & Corporate Affairs, Piyush Goyal. Khan Prahari is a tool for reporting any activity taking place related to illegal coal mining like rat hole mining, pilferage etc.The CMSMS is a web based GIS application through which location of sites for unauthorised mining can be detected.It aims to report, monitor and take suitable action on unauthorised coal mining activities.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Scientists from several organizations in the US, including NASA, are planning to use remote- operated submarines to hunt for the remains of an outer space object. The object splashed down into the Pacific Ocean on March 7, 2018. The Nautilus Research Ship of
the non-profit group Ocean Exploration Trust The test of Crew Escape System that provides (OET) will aid in the scavenger hunt Digital escape mechanism for astronauts if the launch trends. operation is aborted has successfully conducted by ISRO. The crew escape system is being developed as part of the he proposed human spaceflight programme. India at present does not have human space flight programme. Only three countries United States of America (USA), Russia and China have human space flight programmes. The only Indian scientist to ever travel to space was fighter pilot Rakesh Sharma who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 (spacecraft of former USSR) in 1984. The standing committee of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has recently added four species into Centre‘s Recovery Programme for Critically Endangered Species on the recommendation by Wildlife Division of Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The four species are namely Northern River Terrapin, Clouded Leopard, Arabian Sea Humpback Whale and Red Panda. The Coal Mine Surveillance & Management System (CMSMS) and Mobile Application 48
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The Centre of Excellence for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (CoE-DSAI) has opened by Indian IT industry apex body NASSCOM (National Association of Software & Services Companies) in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The centre aims to support small and mid-sized businesses (SMB) by fast-tracking their product developing, providing market access and assist them by co-creating programs along with other industry partners and start-ups.
China successfully launched two remote sensing satellites PRSS-1 and PakTes-1A of Pakistan on board of Long March-2C rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. It is China‘s first international commercial launch in nearly two decades after it carried Motorola‘s Saathi - a mobile help centre to reach out to Iridium satellites into orbit in 1999 and overall people undertaking annual pilgrimage to 3,880- 279th mission for the Long March rocket series metre high holy cave shrine of Amarnath has (mainly used to send satellites into low Earth or launched by the Central Reserve Police Force Sun-synchronous orbits). (CRPF). It will provide help and information to yatris staying in camps outside the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu. This will be in addition to security provided by CRPF to the yatra routes. In addition, they will also provide first aid treatment to people in need and would also be distributing medicines.
Technology Challenge: Identifying solutions for cleaning of Sewerage Systems and Septic Tanks to promote suitable techniques for cleaning sewers and septic tanks it to eliminate need for human entry in them has launched by Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoUHA) The challenge will be conducted for two separate categories. Category A: technological solutions for cleaning and maintenance of sewerage systems to eliminate need for human entry, Category B:
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technological solutions for cleaning and maintenance of septic tanks to eliminate need for human entry. The challenge will be part of Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention that will be held on October 2, 2018. Century‘s (2001 AD to 2100 AD) longest total lunar eclipse of 1 hour 43 minutes will occur on July 27-28, 2018. This announcement was made by the Union India's indigenously developed surface-to- Ministry of Earth Sciences. The entire eclipse will surface supersonic cruise missile- BrahMos was be visible from all parts of India. successfully test-fired from the Chandipur Test Range, off the coast of Odisha on July 16, 2018. The previous test firing of the missile was conducted on May 21, when it was launched from a mobile launcher under life extension program. BrahMos is the first Indian missile whose life has been extended from 10 to 15 years.
An e-commerce platform IFFCO iMandi (an mobile application and web portal) has launched by Fertiliser major IFFCO to address all needs of the farming community associated with it. China has announced that it plans to launch The e-commerce platform is one stop shop for agri 300 low-orbit satellitesKnown as the Hongyan inputs and produce, FMCG, electronics, loans, constellation to provide worldwide insurance etc. It has features like buy-sell, communication services, with the first in the communication (chat and calling), entertainment series to be launched later this year. and information/advisory content to keep farmers The constellation will be built in three engaged. Through this e-commerce platform, stages. China‘s Aerospace Science and IFFCO is targeting to reach GMV (gross Technology Corporation said, once completed, merchandise value) of $5 billion in the next two the satellite communication network will take the years by catering needs of 5.5 crore farmers place of the ground-based network and allow a already associated with it. mobile phone to be connected everywhere on the ISRO has successfully conducted ground test of planet, even in a remote desert or at sea. its high thrust version of Vikas Engine at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu for duration of 195 seconds. Vikas belongs to family of liquid fuelled rocket engines conceptualized and designed by ISRO‘s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in the 1970s.
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Bharat Electronics Limited, Bengaluru, and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Hyderabad.
Commander of Combined task force (CTF- 151) visits Indian naval ship Teg in Djibouti On July 18, 2018, Combined Task Force (CTF 151) led by Commander Rear Admiral Saw Shi Tat of the Singapore Navy visited Indian Naval Ship Teg in Djibouti to carry out anti-piracy World‘s beaches eroding in protected marine operations . areas: NASA The Indian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Anurag On July 19, 2018, According to Landsat satellites Srivastav, and Nalin Kothari, Consulate General, data from NASA and the US Geological Survey Djibouti, also visited the ship. taken between 1984 and 2016 (30 years), the Discussions on various aspects of anti-piracy world‘s sandy shorelines are declining in operations including CTF 151 modus protected marine areas. operandi were made. This could threaten plant and animal species and The Indian Navy has been participating in the cultural heritage sites. anti-piracy operation by sending ships to Gulf of About 24 per cent of sandy beaches worldwide Aden. are eroding, while 27 per cent are growing. 13th launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 Sets New A third (31 per cent) of all ice-free shorelines are Record of launching heaviest satellite ever sandy or gravelly and Africa has the highest SpaceX conducted their 13th launch of the proportion of sandy beaches (66 per cent) and year with a Falcon 9 rocket launching the Telstar Europe has the lowest (22 per cent). 19V communications satellite for Canada‘s Beaches in Australia and Africa are experiencing Telesat. more erosion than growth while Asia is It has set a record as the heaviest payload that a experiencing the highest rate of overall growth. Falcon 9 has ever carried to a GTO. Reasons could be : artificial coastline The satellite weights over 7000 kg. development in China, land reclamation, or Telstar 19 VANTAGE will offer coverage across draining land for human use. the Americas and the Atlantic. The satellite has been produced by Space ISRO partners with 3 vendors to assemble 27 Systems Loral (SSL). satellites by 2021 The goal is to provide high-throughput broadcast On July 19, 2018, ISRO signed contracts and internet services from Brazil to the with three vendors to outsource Spacecraft northernmost regions of Canada. Assembly Integration and Testing (AIT) activities. It is aimed at industry participation in satellite building activities. They will help ISRO assemble about 27 satellites over the next three years. The U R Rao Satellite Centre of ISRO has signed the agreements with Alpha Technologies Private Limited, Bengaluru, and its consortium partners;
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World‘s fastest man-made spinning object year‘s.Every day after August 1 will now be Scientists have developed the world‘s fastest considered a strain on Earth‘s natural resources. rotor,which will help in studying quantum mechanics.The rotor can spin at more than 60 billion revolutions per minute,making it the world‘s fastest man-made object.It is more than 100,000 times faster than a high-speed dental drill.To produce the fastest rotor, scientists had synthesized nanoscale dumbbell made from silica and had levitated it in a high vacuum using a laser.
As a part of the service life extension programme for Indian Army, DRDO has successfully test-fired supersonic cruise missile under extreme weather conditions from the Integrated Test Range at Balasore, Odisha. The test was conducted on the heels of earlier two trials conducted on May 21 and 22, 2018 in which the major sub-systems manufactured indigenously under the ‗Make in India‘ campaign were successfully tested to increase missile‘s life
Earth Overshoot Day 2018 from 10 to 15 years. Earth Overshoot Day will fall on August 1,the earliest date since ecological overshoot began in the early 1970s.It is calculated by Global Footprint Network and World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF). It is the date when,humanity's annual demand on nature,exceeds what Earth can regenerate over
the entire year.In 2018,nature‘s budget for the ISRO has signed contracts with three vendors entire year has already been used up in just span namely Alpha Technologies Private Limited, of 8 months only.It means humanity is currently Bengaluru, and its consortium partners; using nature 1.7 times faster than Earth‘s Bharat Electronics Limited, Bengaluru, and ecosystems can regenerate.This year the Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Hyderabad overshoot day falls two days earlier than the last to outsource Spacecraft Assembly Integration and Testing (AIT) activities.
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The vendors are expected to help ISRO assemble about 27 satellites over the next three years. The U R Rao Satellite Centre of ISRO has signed the agreements with these three vendors.
BOOKS AND AUTHORS
China launches high-resolution Earth Non-stop India- Mark Tully observation satellite ―Gaofen-11‖, to monitor The Mad Tibetan:Stories from then and On 31st July 2018, China successfully now- Deepti Naval The Best thing about you is you-Anupam launched Gaofen-11 satellite, an optical remote Kher sensing satellite, as part of its high-resolution Nirbasan-Taslima Nasreen Earth observation project. I witness:Partial Observations-Kapil Sibal Origins of Love-Kishwar Desai The day i stopped drinking Milk-Sudha Murthy A better India:A better World-NR Narayan Murthy India:My Beloved- Dominique Lapierre Dare to Do:For the new generation-Kiran Bedi
Kashmir:The Unwritten history- Rare bloodgroup ‗pp‘ or ‗P null‘ phenotype Christopher Snedden identified by doctors in Mangaluru The Hanging of Afzal Guru-Arundhati Roy A rare blood group named ―pp‖ or ―P null‖ India:The Future is now-Shashi Tharoor phenotype has been identified by doctors from One Indian Girl-Chetan Bhagat Kasturba Medical College (KMC) in India Central Asia Relations:The Economic Mangaluru, Karnataka. Dimension-Amiya Chandra
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SPORTS
India clinched Kabaddi Masters title by defeating Iran 44-26 in the summit clash in Dubai on July 1, 2018. India is the reigning world champions and they now hold the title of the Kabaddi Masters too. The team will now focus on the Asian games.
Major General V D Dogra becomes the first Indian Army officer to complete the Ironman Triathalon event, considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world, in Austria. The Ironman Triathlon comprises three consecutive events 3.8 km swim, 180km cycling and 42.2 km marathon - all completed International Cricket Council (ICC) will in a day without a break. The competitors have impose a ban of minimum six Tests or 12 to complete the events in sequence within 17 ODIs on ball tampering offenders as it has hours to earn the title of 'Ironman'. The now been upgraded as a Level 3 offence as competition was held in the scenic town of per it's new code of conduct. Klagenfurt and it saw participation from over The ball tampering incident involving Steve 3000 athletes. Major General V D Dogra Smith and David Warner has forced ICC to completed the full Ironman at Klagenfurt in 14 upgrade it as Level 3 offence, which will carry hours and 21 minutes. 12 suspension points. This decision was taken at its Annual Conference in Dublin, Ireland on July 2, 2018.
Andres Iniesta, the elegant Spanish midfielder who was a symbol of Spain's golden generation, retired from international soccer following the team's loss to Russia in a penalty shootout at the 2018 FIFA World Cup on July 1, 2018.
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Overall, Iniesta played 131 matches for Spain. India‘s leading gymnasts Dipa Karmakar won gold medal in the vault event of FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup at Mersin, Turkey. This is her first medal in World Challenge Cup. She created history by becoming first Indian gymnast to win gold medal in the vault event of FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup. Indian Cricket Jambawan Sachin Tendulkar has launched #KitupChallenge to encourage people to start playing sports. As part of the challenge, Tendulkar called upon the viewers to post a short video of themselves on social media while getting ready to play a sport and use the hashtag to nominate others in the process. Tendulkar‘s new initiative aims to promote overall fitness and encourage Indians to inculcate an active lifestyle through the joy of playing sports. Posting a video of himself The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) of Union putting on his cricketing gear and getting ready Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has to play, Tendulkar asked the viewers to take up included entire Men‘s Hockey team of India a sport of their choice. under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). The decision to include hockey was taken after India‘s performance had improved as they had finished runners up in Champions Trophy in Netherlands. This is first instance that entire team has been made beneficiary of the scheme as earlier only individual athletes from
different sports were included as beneficiaries Sports Authority of India (SAI), will now be of the scheme. the 18 team members will be known as ‗Sports India‘. provided with monthly allowance of Rs. This announcement was made by Union 50,000 each under the Target Olympic Podium Ministers of Youth Affairs and Sports Scheme (TOPS). The women‘s team may be Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. also included in the TOPS after reviewing its performance in the upcoming World Cup and following Asian Games. The 2018 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament held from2 July to 15 July 2018 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. Serbia‘s Novak Djokovic (World Number 21) won the 2018 Wimbledon title in men‘s singles category by defeating 55
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Kevin Anderson (South Africa). It was his fourth Wimbledon title (earlier won in 2011, 2014 and 2015). Overall, it was his 13th career Grand Slam crown.: It was by Mike Bryan and Jack Sock pair from United States won Men‘s Doubles by defeating Raven Klaasen (South Africa) and Michael Venus (New Zealand)pair. Angelique Kerber (Germany) won the 2018 Wimbledon title in women‘s singles category by defeating Former Indian off-spinner Ramesh Powar Serena Williams (United States).Barbora has been named as the interim coach of the Krejčíková and Kateřina Siniaková pair Indian women's cricket team. from Czech Republic won Women‘s Powar has been asked to coach the team by Doubles by defeating Kveta Peschke (Czech BCCI until they find a replacement for Tushar Republic) and Nicole Melichar (United Arothe, who resigned as the coach of the States). Mixed Doubles was won by women's team five months after being Alexander Peya (Austria) and Nicole appointed. The BCCI has invited applications Melichar (United States) pair had defeated for the post of the coach of the women's cricket Jamie Murray (United Kingdom) and Victoria team, with the last date to submit an Azarenka (Belarus). application being July 30,2018. 2018 FIFA World Cup Football has won by France by defeating Croatia by 4-2 goals in the final match held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia. It was France‘s second World Cup crown after it had own it in 1998 (by defeating Brazil) on home soil. It was Croatia‘s first World Cup final appearance and smallest country ever to Indian boxers ruled the ring at the Golden reach final in the modern era. With this, victory Glove of Vojvodinayouth tournament at France joins Uruguay and Argentina in Subotica in Serbia, finishing at the top with winning World Cup for a second time. Qatar seven gold medals. will be hosting next FIFA World Cup in 2022. Overall, the Indian medal tally included 17 medals, which comprised 7 Gold, 6Silver and 4 It will be the first Arab country to host World Cup and it will also for first time it will be held Bronze. Kazakhstan came second with a gold in Middle East region. 2018 FIFA World Cup medal count of 5 in their overall haul of 7 Awards: Top 4 team rankings:France (1st, medals, while Russia with 11 medals including Winner), Croatia (2nd, Croatia), Belgium (3rd) 3 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze finished third. and England (4th).Golden Ball award: Luka Modric (Croatia). Golden Boot award: Harry Kane (England captain) for scoring six goals across six games. Golden Glove award: Thibaut Courtois (Belgium). FIFA Young Player award: 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe (France). FIFA Fair Play Award: Spain for superb disciplinary record.
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The Central Government will soon launch Ferrari‘s Kimi Raikkonen secured the third an ambitious scheme to test sports ability of position. The first part of the F1 season ends in two to three crore children across the Hungary next weekend. country. This announcement was made by the Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Rathore while addressing a function at Ahmedabad in Gujarat on July 15, 2018. The Minister said that around one thousand children will be selected every year under the physical capability mapping programme. Each of the selected children will be provided with a scholarship of five lakh rupees per annum for eight years to help groom their sports talent. The International Cricket Council released its ODI rankings; VIrat Kohli tops the chart Badminton Asia Junior Championship 2018 with 911 points held in Jakarta, Indonesia th nd On July 19, 2018, The International Cricket On 14 to 22 July 2018, Badminton Asia Council (ICC) released the latest ODI rankings Junior Championship 2018 was held and India captain Virat Kohli has topped with in Jakarta, Indonesia.The tournament was a score of 911 points a career high for him.This played in a mixed team format and individual th th is the highest since Australia‘s Dean Jones tally format. From 14 to 17 July 2018. The th of 918 points in March 1991. individual events were played from 18 to 22nd July 2018. On 22nd July 2018, Indian badminton player Lakshaya Sen defeated Indonesia‘s Kunlavut Vitidsaran 21-19, 21-18 in the finals and won gold medal in the Badminton Asia Junior Championship. Lakshaya Sen has won a gold medal for India at the Badminton Asia Junior Championship after a gap of 6 years. He is 16 years old.
Lewis Hamilton won German Grand Prix 2018 On 22nd July 2018, Lewis Hamilton won the German Grand Prix 2018 held at Hockenheimring track in Germany.
Mercedes‘ Lewis Hamilton secured the first position in the German Grand Prix 2018. He was followed by Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes India‘s Mannu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy in the second position. win Lagos International title (Badminton) 57
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On 22nd July 2018, India‘s Mannu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy won the men‘s doubles title at Lagos International Badminton in Lagos, Nigeria.
International Army Games 2018 in Moscow On 28th July 2018, the International Army Games 2018 was inaugurated by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, at Patriot Park in Moscow, Russia.
Russian Open 2018 held in Vladivostok, Russia from July 24-29th 2018. The 2018 Russian Open, was a badminton tournament which took place at Sport Hall Olympic in Vladivostok, Russia from 24 to 29 July 2018. It has a total prize of $75,000. Prabhat Koli became the 1st Asian Teen to Swim UK-France Channel On 26th July 2018, Prabhat Koli became the first Asian to swim the choppy water from Jersey (an Island in the UK) to Francein cold weather.
3 day Yasar Dogu International wrestling 2018 tournament held in Istanbul, Turkey On July 27-29, 2018, The Yasar Dogu International Wrestling was held in Istanbul, Turkey. It was conducted in two events namely Free Style and Women Wrestling.
Dustin Johnson won 2018 RBC Canadian Open (Golf) On 29th July 2018, Dustin Johnson won 58
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the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at the Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville in Canada.
2. July 7 The International Day of Cooperatives (IDC) was observed on first Saturday of July across the world to promote co-
operative model as it contains core aspects Neeraj Chopra wins gold medal in javelin of sustainable development and is based on throw at Savo Games in Finland ethical values and principles. The 2018 th On 29 July 2018, Indian javelin theme of the Day was ‗Sustainable societies thrower Neeraj Chopra, won a gold medal in through cooperation‘. the Savo Games in Lapinlahti, Finland.
IMPORTANT DAYS 3. JULY 11 World Population Day The World 1. July 1 Population Day is observed across the world Goods and Services Tax (GST) Day.India on July 11 to attention on the urgency and on1st July observed the 1st GST day to importance of population issue.The theme commemorate the first year of the for the World Population Day 2018 is unprecedented reform of Indian ―Family Planning is a Human Right‖. taxation. Earlier on June 30, 2018, the Union The World Population Day was established Finance Ministry announced to observe July by the then Governing Council of the United 1, 2018 as the ‗GST Day‘. The GST is a single indirect tax that subsumes most of the Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Central and State taxes such as the Value in 1989.It was inspired by the public interest Added Tax (VAT), excise duty, service tax, in Five Billion Day on July 11, 1987.On this central sales tax, additional customs duty date world‘s approximate population had and special additional duty of customs. reached five billion people. 59
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4. JULY 17 International Justice Day. Every year on July 17, World Day for International Justice is observed all around
the world.The aim of this day is to unite 6. JULY 26 everyone who wants to support justice as Kargil Vijay Diwas The 19th anniversary of well as promote victims‘ rights. It is to help Kargil Vijay Diwas was celebrated across prevent serious crimes and those that put the India to commemorate the success of peace, security and well-being of the world Operation Vijay and remember the brave at risk. sacrifice of Indian soldiers during the 1999 India-Pakistan Kargil War. It is being celebrated every year for three days from 24th July - 26th July at the Drass War Memorial in Jammu and Kashmir. The war took place between May and July of 1999 in Jammu and Kashmir‘s Kargil district
5. JULY 18 Nelson Mandela International Day was observed all over the world. This year marks the 100th birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela, who was born on 18th July 1918. Nelson Mandela is the late President of South Africa. He had spent 27 years in prison in his struggle against racism, poverty 7.JULY 29 and social injustice July 29 is celebrated as International tiger day or Global Tiger day. It is done to raise awareness for tiger conservation.
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7. JULY 30 World Day against Trafficking in Persons On 30th July 2018, World Day against Trafficking in Persons was observed all over the world.
8. JULY 31 World Ranger day On 31st July 2018, World Ranger Day was celebrated all over the world.
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1. The Income Tax Department has launched instant Aadhaar-based e-PAN allotment service for individuals seeking PAN (Permanent Account Number) service for the first time. How many digits does the PAN contains? A) 9 B) 11 C) 10 D) 12 2. ―National Workshop on Skill Development for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)‖ was inaugurated by Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment _____? A) Thaawarchand Gehlot B).Anant Geethe C).Jual Oram D) Rajnath Singh 3. The ―National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017‖ was announced in the inter-session meeting of the consultative committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers‘ Welfare on ―Marine Fisheries-Mariculture in India‖ held in ____? A) Chennai,Tamil Nadu B) Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu C) Nagpur,Maharashtra D) Mumbai,Maharashtra 4. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting a two-day ―National Consultation on Accessible Elections,‖ from the 3rd July, 2018 in ____? A) Mumbai B) Kolkata C) Chennai D) New Delhi 5. Which Bank has said that, its emPower app will get enhancements like Chatbot and artificial intelligence based e-commerce payments? A) Indian Overseas Bank B) Oriental Bank of Commerce C) Allahabad Bank D) Punjab National Bank 6. Name the refinery that has become the first oil public sector undertaking (PSU) to adopt an online legal compliance system by introducing ‗Legatrix‘? A) Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL), Assam B) Mangalore Refineries Private Ltd, Karnataka C) Manali PetroChemicals Ltd, Tamil Nadu D) Reliance Refineries, Gujarat 7. Whic state has been named first among states for its performance under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritav Abhiyan (PMSMA) in India? A) Madhya Pradesh B) Himachal Pradesh C) Tamil Nadu D) Uttar Pradesh 8. Who was appointed the new chairman and managing director (CMD) of SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited), on 30th June 2018? A) P K Sharma B) R K Agarwal C) Saraswati Prasad D) Rithvik Sharma 9. Who took charge as the new director general and chairman of the Ordinance Factory Board (OFB) with effect from 1st July 2018? A) V M Shrinivas B) P K Shrivastava C) Rajesh Kumar D) Amit Pawar 10. Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) named _____ as its president? A) Rajat Sharma B) Sumit Rawat C) Amit Bharghav D) Aman Mittal 11. India is currently in the process of inducting the first batch of its intercontinental ballistic missile system _____? A) Agni-V B) Agni-II C) Agni-VI D) Agni-IV
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CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411 12. which country won the six-nation Kabaddi Masters Dubai title in Dubai? A) Japan B) India C) Italy D) France 13. who won the Austrian Grand Prix in Austria? A) Lewis Hamilton B) Sebastian Vettel C) Max Verstappen D) Kimi Raikonen 14. where was the ―National Workshop on Skill Development for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)‖ held? A) New Delhi B) Chennai C) Mumbai D) Kolkata 15. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the ―____ Curriculum‖ for students of nursery to Class 8 in government schools? A) Happiness B) Creative C) Collaborative D) Inclusive 16. The first meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) was held at Central Water Commission (CWC) office in Delhi. Name the Chairman of CWC? A) S Masood Hussain B) Ravi Kumar C) Naveenathan D) Murali Baskar 17. On July 2, 2018, it was announced that which state will have the first ‗Khadi Mall‘ of India? A) Himachal Pradesh B) Madhya Pradesh C) Uttar Pradesh D) Jharkhand 18. The Chhattisgarh government set up a tribal museum in the state‘s upcoming new capital ____? A) Naya Raipur B) Bilaspur C) Bhilai D) Jagdalpur 19. The Centre announced a state-of-the-art e-waste recycling unit for which city. This will be India‘s first such unit in the government sector? A) Mumbai B) New Delhi C) Bengaluru D) Hyderabad 20. where was the 5th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Intersessional Ministerial Meeting held? A) Tokyo, Japan B) Beijing, China C) Paris, France D) Dublin, Ireland 21. Which is India‘s top investment bank for equity issuance by private sector companies as per report of Prime Database Investment Bankers League table for FY 2017-18? A) IIFL B) ICICI Lombard General Insurance C) HDFC Life D) Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management 22. SoundLogic has named which Indian cricketer as a partner-evangelist? A) M.S.Dhoni B) Virat Kohli C) R Ashwin D) Yuvraj Singh 23. Indian cricketer _____ and Australian Ricky Ponting have been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame for their achievements in international cricket, at an event in Dublin, Ireland? A) Virat Kohli B) Rohit Sharma C) Rahul Dravid D) Suresh Raina 24. Fleet Space Technologies, an IoT (Internet of Things) startup, disclosed last week that its first 10-kg nano-satellite _____ would fly to space on a PSLV later this year? A) Centauri I B) Galaxy I C) Limelight II D) Spot Light II3 25. which country won the Champions Trophy hockey 2018 in Breda, the Netherlands? A) India B) France C) Brazil D) Australia 26. Admiral JG Nadkarni died at naval hospital in Mumbai. He was a former ____? A) Chief of Naval Staff B) Director General of Border Roads Organization C) Director Roads of Indian Coast Guard D) Chief of Air Staff
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CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411 27. Rajmata of the erstwhile ____ principality and former MP, Krishna Kumari, passed away following a heart attack in Jodhpur, Rajasthan? A) Mathura B) Marwar C) Karwar D) Ambala 28. Union Minister of Coal, Railways, Finance & Corporate Affairs, Shri Piyush Goyal launched the Coal Mine Surveillance & Management System (CMSMS) and Mobile Application _____ on Swami Vivekananda‘s death anniversary in New Delhi to pay tribute to integrity? A) Khan Prahari B) c-surveillance C) Unnat D) Prahar 29. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurated a three day 9th Heads of Mission Conference of all Indian ambassadors and high commissioners in _____? A) Mumbai B) Kolkata C) New Delhi D) Pune 30. The apex body for implementation of the Centre‘s ambitious Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Scheme, has launched a formal process to empanel public and private hospitals to achieve universal health coverage? A) National Health Agency (NHA) B) Indian Health Agency (IHA) C) Central Health Organisation (CHO) D) Universal Health Organisation (UHO) 31. The Centre and the state governments of Tripura and Mizoram signed an agreement for repatriation of thousands of people belonging to the ____ community from Tripura to Mizoram? A) Bohra B) Bru C) Baduga D) Coorgi 32. RBI issued licence to which Chinese Bank to launch operations in India? A) Bank of China B) Investment Bank of China C) Industrial and Construction Bank of India D) Chinese National Bank 33. which credit card issuer, announced the launch of ELA‘ (Electronic Live Assistant), a virtual assistant for customer support and services? A) SBI Card B) Axis Card C) ICICI Card D) Canara Card 34. Yes Bank said it has received approval from SEBI to start mutual fund business after RBI‘s approval. The name of the Mutual Fund business is Yes Asset Management (India) Limited (YAMIL). It will have its Headquarters in which city? A) Hyderabad B) Lucknow C) Mumbai D) New Delhi 35. International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) has issued the first BS-VI certification for a heavy duty engine model for which firm? A) M/s Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicle Limited B) Maruti Automobiles C) Nissan Automotives D) Ford Private Limited 36. Minister of State (Independent Charge), Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh distributed the Swachhata Awards 2018 of MSME Ministry at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in ____? A) New Delhi B) Jaipur C) Indore D) Bhopal 37. who became the first serving Indian Army officer and the only General in the world to have completed ‗Ironman‘ competition held in Austria? A) Major General VD Dogra B) Major General Amit Bhatia
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CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411 C) Major General Tanmoy Singh D) Major General Praful Bhattacharya 38. Who was elected the President of Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) on 2nd July 2018? A) Ravi Varma B) Rajat Sharma C) Ravi Shastri D) Amal Thomas 39. Name the person who has been appointed the Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) by President Ram Nath Kovind? A) Justice P K Naidu B) Justice L Narasimha Reddy C) Justice Alok Sharma D) Justice Ranjit Bhargav 40. Wipro has promoted its head of digital business ____ as a president? A) Navjot Roy B) Rajan Kohli C) Kavin Murali D) Larry Thomas 41. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that, the first ____ test was performed successfully on 5th July 2018 at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota? A) pad abort B) mission abort C) mission restart D) safe abort 42. The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved to include how many species recently in the recovery programme for critically endangered species? A) 5 B) 6 C) 4 D) 2 43. Name the shot putter who was given a 4 year suspension by anti-doping disciplinary panel of NADA for testing positive for anabolic steroids in a dope test before the 2016 Rio Olympic Games? A) Inderjeet Singh B) Ravinder Singh C) Kavinder Sharma D) Amool Yadav 44. Nagpur, the second capital of Maharashtra, hosted the Monsoon session of the state Legislature after a gap of how many years? A) 25 B) 20 C) 15 D) 47 45. An MoU was signed between British Council in India Director Alan Gemmell OBE and state Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya to promote cultural, educational and skill development exchanges between UK and which Indian state? A) Rajasthan B) Gujarat C) Tamil Nadu D) West Bengal 46. The chief minister of which state released the policy document of the five year jackfruit mission at Jackfruit Festival 2018? A) Kerala B) West Bengal C) Tamil Nadu D) Meghalay 47. The Chief Minister of which state launched a state-wide plantation campaign from the Narwana sub-division of the district. It would be carried out from July to August 2018? A) Chhattisgarh B) Haryana C) Madhya Pradesh D) Jharkhand 48. The _____ administration in Uttar Pradesh launched an android based smart phone application named ‗Stop JE/AES‘ to combat encephalitis? A) Muzaffar nagar B) Ghaziabad C) Gorakhpur D) Noida 49. The 17th World Sanskrit Conference will be inaugurated by Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar at _____ from 9th July to 13th July, 2018? A) New York, United States B) Vancouver, Canada C) Sydney, Australia D) New Delhi, India 50. which country launched the new UKRI Science, Research and Academia scheme for overseas scientists and researchers, including Indians, to enhance the growth of the country‘s research sector? A) Russia B) Germany C) United Kingdom D) Ireland
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CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411 51. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that the license of which bank in Alwar, Rajasthan has been cancelled due to its bad position to pay its depositors in full and the present financial position of the bank leaves no scope for its revival? A) Rajasthan Co-operative Bank B) Alwar Urban Co-operative Bank C) Kota Urban Co-operative Bank D) Jodhpur Rural Bank 52. Who has been appointed a member of the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC)? A) Ravi Shastri B) Mridula Palkar C) Uday Kumar Varma D) Shankar Narayanan 53. Which Indian squash player was appointed Asia‘s representative in the Athletes Advisory Commission of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)? A) Joshna Chinappa B) Aman Mittal C) Vasuki Soni D) Dipika Pallikal 54. On 6th July 2018, who retired as a Supreme Court judge? A) Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel B) Justice K K Venugopal C) Justice Radhika Kumaresan D) Justice Debashish Banerjee 55. Indian Gymnast _____ bagged gold medal in FIG Atistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup at Mersin, Turkey? A) Sharmila Rithvik B) Dipa Karmakar C) Pooja Bindra D) Minnu George 56. MM Jacob died due to age-related ailments, at a private hospital in Pala near Kottayam, Kerala. What was his profession? A) Cricketer B) Golf player C) Writer D) Politician 57. Name the Indian warship that reached Sri Lanka on a goodwill visit on 8th July 2018? A) INS Trikand B) INS Vikram C) INS Tarini D) INS Sathya 58. Who emerged as winner of the Euro JK 18 category at the 21st JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship in Coimbatore on 7th July 2018? A) Karthik Tharani B) Nirmal Uma Shankar C) Manav Sharma D) Vishnu Prasad 59. Venkaiah Naidu became the first Chairman of Rajya Sabha to sign MOU with the visiting President of the Senate of the Republic of Rwanda, _____ on his visit during 09 to 11, July 2018? A) Bernard Makuza B) Edward Razazzi C) Nathanial Bennet D) Daniel Reccardio 60. the Energy Minister of which state government announced that the state government will launch ―one farmer one transformer‖ scheme for the farmers from August 2018? A) Madhya Pradesh B) Maharashtra C) Kerala D) Gujarat 61. Education Minister of which state announced the launch of a scheme for electrification of schools in the state. Under the scheme, state-run schools will be provided electricity at government rates and the bill amount will be directly deposited in their accounts? A) Maharashtra B) Telangana C) Andhra Pradesh D) Tamil Nadu 62. Which state government has given religious minority status to its Jewish Community? A) Gujarat B) Telangana C) Andhra Pradesh D) Tamil Nadu 63. It was announced that the next Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held in which city in January 2019? A) New Delhi B) Bengaluru C) Shillong D) Varanasi 64. According to a report by US venture capital and startup data base CB Insights, which 2 Indian cities had among the highest number of startup investment rounds greater than $100 million since 2014? A) Mumbai, Bengaluru B) Bengaluru, New Delhi
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CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411 C) New Delhi, Mumbai D) Mumbai, Hyderabad 65. The Foreign Ministry announced that, India and which country have reached an agreement regarding reduction of tariffs on the import of Indian medicines, cancer drugs? A) United States B) China C) Russia D) Saudi Arabia 66. Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy R.K Singh with the officials from ADB and Finance Ministry reviewed the progress of lining project of the Son canal in Shahabad – Bhojpur region of which state and ADB approved it? A) Assam B) Chhattisgarh C) Bihar D) Tamil Nadu 67. Microsoft signed an MoU with which state government to provide free digital training to 9,500 college students for one year? A) Tamil Nadu B) Kerala C) Telangana D) Rajasthan 68. Name the software giant that announced Launchpad Accelerator India, a new mentorship program that has been developed exclusively for startups based in India, utilising Machine Learning/AI to develop solutions for India‘s local needs on 10th July 2018? A) Mircosoft B) Google C) Accenture D) TCS 69. _____, Chairman of Foresight Group International Ltd., received a lifetime achievement award at the Seatrade 30th Anniversary Award Ceremony held at the Landmark, London? A) Dr Ravi Mehrotra B) Siddharth Malhotra C) Shekar Das D) Varun Karthik 70. Who has become the second Indian mountaineer after Malli Mastan Babu to climb Mt Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano in the world? A) Karthik Tharani B) Satyarup Siddhanta C) Arpith Shukla D) Praful Patel 71. Dhanlaxmi Bank Limited has appointed ____ as the Managing Director & CEO? A) Maheshwari Ravi B) T Latha C) Vijay Narayanan D) Ananth Kumar 72. Drug firm Lupin said that, it has appointed ____ as President, Global Human Resources? A) Yashwant Mahadik B) Vinay Kumar C) Pawan Kumar Singh D) Vivek Kumar Singh 73. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has conditionally approved the merger of Vodafone India with ____, the largest M&A deal in the sector, which will displace Bharti Airtel from the No. 1 spot after over 15 years? A) Aircel B) Reliance Jio C) BSNL D) Idea Cellular 74. Hockey India announced that _____ will lead the 18-member Indian Men‘s Hockey Team at the 18th Asian Games, to be held in Jakarta and Palembang from August 18,2018? A) R Abhilash B) Sunil Tapas C) Rajath Seth D) P.R. Sreejesh 75. which Indian lifter bagged the bronze medal in the 2018 IWF Junior World Weightlifting Championships at Tashkent, Uzbekistan? A) Dinesh Kumar B) Jhilli Dalabehera C) Sandeep Vaishnav D) Suraj P S 76. Indian shuttler ____ finished runners-up at the White Nights International Challenge in Gatchina, Russia? A) Ajay Jayaram B) Prajwal Das C) Ranjith Kumar D) Dhruv Singh
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CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411 77. Who has become the oldest Indian woman to complete an Ironman Triathlon which is one of the toughest one-day sporting events? A) Sunitha Sharma B) Pavani Reddy C) Anju Khosla D) Madhu Chawla 78. J N Sadhu died following a long term illness in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. He was a ____? A) Politician B) Singer C) Scientist D) Journalist 79. Who has written the book ―Winning Like Sourav: Think & Succeed Like Ganguly‖? A) A S Kiran Kumar B) Payal Kumar C) Abhirup Bhattacharya D) Sanjay Bhadra 80. Inspector General of the CRPF, Jammu Sector, launched ____ initiative to reach out to people undertaking the annual pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre high holy shrine of Amarnath through a mobile help centre? A) Samiksha B) Samrithi C) Saathi D) Nidaan 81. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ‗Dharohar Bhawan‘, the new Headquarters building of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in which city? A) New Delhi B) Mumbai C) Hyderabad D) Chennai 82. Niti Aayog has proposed 15-point action plan named ―_____‖ for combating air pollution in ten most polluted cities in India? A) Healthy Breathing B) Breathe India C) Pure Breathing D) Healthy Breathing 83. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in collaboration with which portal has launched a video contest titled ―Jal Bachao, Video Banao, Puruskar Pao‖? A) MyGov B) NewIndia C) CitizenConnect D) IndiConnect 84. Which Ministry has launched a technology challenge with an aim to eliminate human entry into septic tanks and drains for cleaning, seeking suitable solutions from individuals and NGOs? A) Ministry of Agriculture B) Ministry of Science and Technology C) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs D) Ministry of Home Affairs 85. _____ approved the net neutrality rules implying internet will remain open to everybody in India? A) Ministry of Communications B) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting C) Telecom Commission D) Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited 86. which state government approved amendments in stringent provisions of the Prohibition and Excise Act 2016? A) Bihar B) Assam C) Gujarat D) Rajasthan 87. which state Cabinet approved Information Technology policy 2018? A) Maharashtra B) Assam C) Chhattisgarh D) Goa 88. Minister for Law & Justice and Electronics & IT, India, Ravi Shankar Prasad visited United Kingdom from 6th to 10th July 2018 at the invitation of Mr. David Gauke, Secretary of State for Justice, UK. The two Ministers signed a MoU for improving bilateral cooperation in _____? A) Customs matters B) Defence C) Maritime issues D) Legal affairs 89. India has ranked ____ in the Global Innovation Index (GII) developed by Cornell University, the Paris-based business school Insead and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva? A) 61 B) 68 C) 69 D) 57
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CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411 90. a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Indian Army and which bank on the Defence Salary Package? A) ICICI Ban B) YES Bank C) State Bank of India D) Canara Bank 91. India has become the _____ shareholder of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)? A) 72nd B) 50th C) 101st D) 69th 92. India‘s first private sector unit for manufacturing Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) and Light Bullet Proof Vehicles (LBPV) will be set up by DCM Shriram Industries Group on the campus of Shriram Rayons in ____? A) Nagpur, Maharashtra B) Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh C) Kota, Rajasthan D) Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 93. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan inaugurated the state-run power giant NTPC‘s 250 MW Solar Power Plant in Suwasra, in which district? A) Bhopal B) Indore C) Mandsaur D) Chhindwara 94. Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra appointed _____ as the advocate general of Jammu and Kashmir? A) Anil Kumar B) Sumeet Singhania C) Pawan Singh D) D C Raina
95. Scientists have developed a computer named ―_____‖ that mimics human brain‘s neural networks, and would overcome the speed and power consumption problems of conventional supercomputers? A) Simunoid B) SpiNNaker C) Rapidex D) EXpro 96. Dada JP Vaswani who died due to old age related ailments in Pune, Maharashtra, was a ____? A) Politician B) Musician C) Freedom Fighter D) Spiritual Leader 97. When was International Malala Day celebrated to commemorate Malala Yousafzai‘s birthday? A) July 12 B) July 13 C) July 11 D) July 9 98. India and South Korea have decided to join forces to work towards Industrial Revolution _____? A) 2.0 B) 3.0 C) 5.0 D) 4.0 99. Who has been appointed the chief electoral officer (CEO) of Madhya Pradesh? A) Shantha Kumar B) Kamalesh Yadav C) V L Kantha Rao D) Ranjith Bhargav 100. India Women‘s Cricket Team Coach ____ resigned from his position citing personal reasons? A) Harpal Singh B) Rajinder Singh C) Tushar Arothe D) Diana Edulji 101. Indian Navy‘s _____ long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft from Indian Naval Ship (INS) Rajali has inducted at Hawaii to take part in the Rim of Pacific Multinational Naval exercise (RIMPAC-18) for the first time? A) VI8 B) P8I C) TG9 D) VI6 102. which Indian naval ship became the first-ever warship to enter port of Sabang in Indonesia? A) INS Trikend B) INS Sumitra C) INS Kalvari D) INS Mantra 103. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) constituted a 10 Member Committee to review Companies Act 2013. The committee is headed by the Secretary of Ministry of Corporate Affairs _____? A) Sathish Krishnan B) Praful PAtil C) Ranjith Srivats D) Injeti Srinivas
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CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411 104. Which country will head the Asia Pacific Region of World Customs Organisation (WCO) for two years as its Vice Chair from July, 2018 to June, 2020? A) China B) India C) Japan D) Singapore 105. Where was the 2nd National Tourism Conclave organised by Elets held? A) Mumbai,Maharashtra B).Guwahati,Assam C) Leh,Jammu and Kashmir D) Jaipur,Rajasthan 106. ‗Sulabh Jal‘, the first of world‘s cheapest drinking water project was launched by Sulabh International in Darbhanga district, of which state? A) Bihar B) Gujarat C) Rajasthan D) Assam 107. The Education Department of which state launched ‗I am not afraid of English‘ initiative from Class 1 in the state‘s primary schools, on July 15, 2018? A) Haryana B) Punjab C) Maharashtra D) Assam 108. State Bank of India (SBI) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) have joined hands to provide collateral-free credit in which state? A) Maharashtra B) Jharkhand C) Chhattsgarh D) Telangana 109. Militaries of India and Pakistan will be part of a mega anti-terror drill in _____ in August which is being organized by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)? A) China B) Pakistan C) India D) Russia 110. The University of Houston and which Indian university signed an MOU on mutual collaboration on various fields? A) Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy(IIPE) B) Indian Institute of Metallurgy(IIME) C) Indian Institute of Mines and Coal Engineering(IIMC) D) Indian Institute of Ocean Sciences(IIOS) 111. Name the 8 year old Indian origin school boy who has been named the ―British Indian of the Year‖ for his achievements in Yoga? A) Ishwar Sharma B) Kishwar Singh C) Pawan Kunha D) Srijeet Kapoor 112. Who was presented the Special Jury ‗NRI of the Year Award‘ at the 5th edition of Times NOW & ICICI Bank NRI of the Year Awards 2018, in Mumbai? A) Prem Watsa B) Aniket Singh C) Raju Srinivas D) Preethi Biswas 113. Haryana Governor _____ was handed the additional charge of Himachal Pradesh by President Ram Nath Kovind? A) Kaptan Singh Solanki B) N N Vohra C) Kesari Nath Tripathi D) Vajubhai Valla 114. which Indian cricketer became the fourth Indian to achieve the mark of 10,000 runs in ODIs, during the second match of the three-game series against England, at Lord‘s cricket ground in London? A) Mahendra Singh Dhoni B) Rohit Sharma C) Shikhar Dawan D) Dinesh Karthik 115. The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has praised which bank for its effective communications strategy? A) State Bank of India (SBI) B) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) C) ICICI Bank D) HDFC Bank 116. In a first of its kind initiative, which state government will appoint girls as a district Brand Ambassador who have recorded significant achievements in any field under the Beti Bachao-
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CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411 Beti Padhao scheme? A) Haryana B) Odisha C) Bihar D) Madhya Pradesh 117. Union Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan laid the foundation stone for National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) at Barang, in ______, to be established at a cost of Rs 160 crore? A) Bhopal,Madhya Pradesh B) Bhubhaneswar,Odisha C) Guwahati,Assam D) Pune,Maharashtra 118. India‘s first Defence Incubator will come up in T-Hub in which city as proposed by the Telangana IT minister KT Rama Rao? A) Hyderabad B) Warangal C) Karimnagar D) Kamam 119. Union Home minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the largest Indian visa centre in the world in _____? A) Kathmandu,Nepal B) Dhaka,Bangladesh C) Colombo,Sri Lanka D) Kuala Lampur,Malaysia 120. Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj co-chaired 2nd India-Bahrain High Joint Commission with her counterpart Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa in _____? A) New Delhi, India B) Mumbai, India C) Manama, Bahrain D) Hyderabad, India 121. Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, co-chaired the 8th session of India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) along with Minister of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy of Oman,Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, in _____? A) Muscat,Oman B) New Delhi,India C) Kolkata,India D) Bengaluru,India 122. which entity signed an MOU with Swedish firm SAAB to market air-surveillance radar? A) Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) B) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) C) Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL) D) Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) 123. which institute launched a remotely operable microscope worth Rs. 40 crore, claimed to be the world‘s first remotely operable Local Electrode Atom Probe (LEAP) microscope, which will allow precise view of atoms of a material? A) Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) B) Birla Institute of Technology C) Raman Research Institute D) Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) 124. NASA‘s Juno spacecraft using its Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) instrument has discovered a volcano close to the south pole of Jupiter‘s moon ____? A) Mo B) Leo C) Io D) Tuarax 125. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organised ―Ganga Vriksharopan Abhiyan‖ in how many main stem Ganga basin states? A) 4 B) 5 C) 6 D) 7 126. The chief minister of which state launched an online portal and mobile app called ‗Aabhaar- Aapki seva ka‘ for the online pensioners of the state? A) Bihar B) Assam C) Rajasthan D) Chhattisgarh
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CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411 127. According to Travel + Leisure‘s World‘s Best Cities report, which Indian city has ranked 3rd among the 15 of the world‘s best cities? A) Mysore B) Shimla C) Udaipur D) Kochi 128. National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has installed a remote sensing instrument- LiDAR for assessment of offshore wind resource at Gulf of Khambat, off the Coast of _____? A) Odisha B) West Bengal C) Gujarat D) Karnataka 129. The UK Space Agency said that, it had chosen _____, a peninsula on Scotland‘s north coast as the site for UK‘s first space port? A) Portland B) Sutherland C) Maryland D) Costa Rica 130. Senior security officials of India and the United States held a meeting on Homeland Security Dialogue in ____? A) Mumbai B) Bengaluru C) Chennai D) Delhi 131. _____ was awarded the NABARD 2018 award for its service to self-help group (SHG) linkage in Tamil Nadu for the fiscal year 2017-18? A) Repco Micro Finance Ltd B) Muthoot Finance Limited C) Mangalam Finance Limited D) Shriram Chit Funds Limited 132. Combined Task Force (CTF 151) led by Commander Rear Admiral Saw Shi Tat of which Navy visited Indian Naval Ship Teg in Djibouti to carry out anti-piracy operations? A) Malaysian B) Singapore C) Russia D) France 133. ‗K-Tech Innovation Hub‘ (K-TI Hub), the first of its kind in Karnataka was inaugurated by K J George, Karnataka Minister for IT/BT & ST, Large and Medium Scale Industries in which city? A) Bengaluru B) Mangalore C) Mysore D) Belagavi 134. Scientists from International Union of Geological Science (IUGS) have classified a new chapter in Earth‘s history as the ______Age? A) Himalayan B) Meghalayan C) Arunachal D) Sikkim 135. Which state government has set a 24-hour helpline to assist and protect inter-caste couples? A) Haryana B) Uttar Pradesh C) Kerala D) Tamil Nadu 136. Which state government has approved implementation of Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for procurement of apple? A) Uttarakhand B) Arunachal Pradesh C) Himachal Pradesh D) Jammu and Kashmir 137. The 7 day long ―Kharchi Puja‖ began at Puran Habeli, in ____? A) Nagaland B) Tripura C) Assam D) West Bengal 138. Which state police has decided to hire digital volunteers to control the issue of rumors and eliminate illegal activities? A) Tamil Nadu B) Karnataka C) Andhra Pradesh D) Uttar Pradesh 139. Which city has launched ‗Walking Action Plan‘ to become the world‘s most walkable city in the world? A) New York, United States B) New Delhi, India C) London, United Kingdom D) Sydney, Australia 140. which country joined International Solar Alliance (ISA) and became the 68th member of the association?
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CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411 A) Saudi Arabia B) Egypt C) Myanmar D) Sri Lanka 141. National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launched the Centre for Climate Change in which city? A) Shimla B) Lucknow C) Hyderabad D) Pune 142. Science& Technology, Earth Sciences; Environment, Forest & Climate Change Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated first of its kind Air Quality and Weather Forecast System– SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting) in ______? A) Hyderabad B) Bengaluru C) Delhi D) Chennai 143. Facebook announced that it is aiming to launch, ‗_____‘, its own internet satellite, early in 2019? A) Avira B) Athena C) Jaasos D) Miracle 144. The Government set up a four-member committee headed by Home Secretary _____ to suggest measures and legal framework to effectively deal with incidents of mob violence? A) Subash Chandra Garg B) Injeti Shrinivas C) Rajiv Gauba D) Ravi Subramaniam 145. Canadian author Michael Ondaatje has again made the Man Booker Prize list with his latest novel ____? A) Moonlight B) Warlight C).Graveyard D).Flowers of Sin 146. _____ platform, a collaboration between the Atal Innovation Mission and MyGov was launched by NITI Aayog to create and encourage a structured ecosystem for innovation in India? A).#InnovateIndia B).#NewIndia C).#CelebrateIndia D).#ThinkIndia 147. On July 29, 2018, The Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development &Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan, laid the foundation stone of National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) for Women at ______? A).Patiala,Punjab B).Mohali,Punjab C) .Guwahati,Assam D) Raipur,Chhattisgarh 148. The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) launched a mobile application named _____ that will provide information on extreme weather events in Mumbai? A) MumbaiNow B) Mumbai Weather Live C) Know Your Mumbai D) Mumbai Times 149. The high-level panel on data protection framework headed by _____ submitted its report to the government, that included recommendations on changes to the Aadhaar Act, amending the Right to Information Act etc.? A) Justice B N Srikrishna B) B M Deosthalee C) Malhom Roy D) Sunil Mehta 150. Which state government approved a proposal for setting up a riverine port on river Mahanadi in Kendrapara district? A) Assam B) Gujarat C) Odisha D) West Bengal 151. The Chief Minister of which state announced that the state government would implement its own food security act from October 2? A) Gujarat B) Telangana C) West Bengal D) Odisha
152. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman handed over two types of indigenously built high-power multi-fuel engines named V92S2 and V-46-6, to the Vice Chief of Army Staff Devaraj Anbu.
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CHENNAI IAS ACADEMY – 9043 2113 11/411 The engines were manufactured by the Engine Factory in _____? A) Avadi,Tamil Nadu B) Pune,Maharashtra C) Nagpur,Maharashtra D) Dehradun,Uttarakhand 153. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) hunting probe of which space agency has started operations to look for new worlds? A) ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) B) NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) C) CNSA (Chinese National Space Agency) D) European Space Agency 154. Mohun Bagan ‗Ratna‘, the highest honour of Mohun Bagan club was awarded to former India international _____ at its foundation day programme? A) Liakhat Khan B) Pradip Chowdhury C) Sourav Chatterjee D) Sudeep Das 155. Which hospitality firm signed MoUs with State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda for extending financial support to the company’s hotel partners? A) OYO B) GoIbibo C) MakeMyTrip D) Trivago 156. which state government signed a MoU with a private trust for the first cow sanctuary in the state? A) Uttar Pradesh B) Gujarat C) Rajasthan D) Madhya Pradesh 157. What was the theme of World Day against Trafficking in Persons that was observed all over the world on 30th July 2018? A) Responding to the trafficking of children and young people B) Eliminate trafficking of children and young people C) Safeguard the victims of human trafficking D) Welfare of human trafficking victims 158. Name the Indian swimmer who has become the first Asian to swim the choppy water from Jersey (an Island in the UK) to France in cold weather? A) Prabhat Koli B) Prithviraj R C) Satheesh Reddy D) Bharath Singh 159. Where was the International Army Games 2018 inaugurated on 28th July 2018? A) Beijing, China B) Moscow, Russia C) New Delhi, India D) Tokyo, Japan 160. The 2018 Russian Open badminton tournament was held in Vladivostok, Russia from 24 to 29 July 2018. Who won the men’s singles title of the tournament? A) Koki Watanabe B) Sourabh Verma C) Alexandr Zinchenko D) Rohan Kapoor.
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