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GK Tornado for Bank Exams

Dear readers,

This GK Digest is a complete docket of important news and events that occurred in last 5 months (August – 15 January 2017).

The GK Digest is important and relevant for all upcoming banking exams.

RBI in News

1. RBI Keeps interest rate unchanged - On February8th, 2017 Reserve Bank of (RBI) in its sixth bi-monthly monetary policy review, kept key policy rates unchanged.

Current Policy & Reserve Rates

Repo Rate 6.25% Reverse Repo Rate 5.75% Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) 4.00% Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) 20.50% Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) 6.75% Bank Rate 6.75%

Below are the basic definitions of the Policy Rates - (i) Repo Rate – It is the rate at which RBI lends money to commercial banks. (ii) Reverse Repo rate – It is the rate at which RBI borrows money from commercial banks. (iii) Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) – The share of net demand and time liabilities (deposits) that banks must maintain as cash balance with the Reserve Bank. (iv) Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) – The share of net demand and time liabilities (deposits) that banks must maintain in safe and liquid assets, such as, government securities, cash and gold. (v) Bank Rate – It is the rate at which the Reserve Bank is ready to buy or rediscount bills of exchange or other commercial papers for long term. (vi) Marginal Standing Facility Rate (MSF) – The rate at which the scheduled banks can borrow funds from the RBI overnight, against the approved government securities is termed as MSF. Note: Basis points – ‘one’ Basis Point is a unit equivalent to 0.01% i.e. 1/100th of a percent. 2. RBI appoints Surekha Marandi as the new Executive Director. She will look after consumer education and protection department, financial inclusion and development department. 3. RBI has approved increase in MSS ceiling to Rs. 6 lakh crore from Rs. 30,000 crore. The move aims to manage extra liquidity after increase in deposits post demonetisation. Note: MSS are securities issued with the objective of providing RBI with a stock of securities with which it can intervene in the market for managing liquidity. These securities are not issued to meet government’s expenditure. 4. Prof. Viral Acharya has been appointed as the New Deputy Governor of RBI. The other Deputy Governors include – R. Gandhi, N. S. Vishwanathan and S. S. Mundra. 5. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cuts India’s GDP growth forecast for FY 17 to 7.1% from 7.6 %. The move comes after disruption in economic activity and demand compression because of demonetisation 6. RBI has opened a second office of the Banking Ombudsman in New Delhi, considering the significant increase of the banking network. The first office of the banking ombudsman at RBI, New Delhi, would have control over Delhi and Jammu & . The second office would have jurisdiction over Haryana. 7. The Reserve Bank of India increase the limit of the Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 per month and Rs. 50,000 for Merchant Bank to facilitate digital transactions. 8. The Reserve Bank of India increased the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) for incremental deposits between September 16 and November 11 to 100% while the current CRR is 4%, effective from November 25, 2016 gradeup.co/banking-insurance

9. The RBI has planned to open “Islamic window” in conventional banks. Aim: Gradual introduction of Sharia-compliant (interest-free banking) in the country. 10. Construction company Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) became India’s first firm to get Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) approval for debt recast under Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A). 11. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has permitted start-ups to raise external commercial borrowings (ECBs) of up to $3 million in a financial year for three-year tenure. 12. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the Report of the Internal Working Group (IWG) on Rationalisation of Branch Authorisation Policy. The Group is chaired by Lily Vadera, Chief General Manager, and Department of Banking Regulation. 13. RBI had introduced new Rs. 2000 note – the key features of the notes are as follows –  The new note measures 166 x 66 mm, slightly smaller than the ₹1,000 denomination which was measured at 177 x 73 mm.  The color of the new note is magenta.  The denominational numeral 2,000 will be written in the Devnagari script and, in micro letters, RBI and 2,000 on the left side of the banknote.  The new denomination will see the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at the centre.  To celebrate India's Mars mission, the notes will carry an image of the Mangalyaan, depicting the country's first venture into interplanetary space, and the logo and tagline of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The reverse side features a motif of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM).  There will be a windowed security thread with the inscriptions ‘Bharat’ (in Devnagari), RBI and 2,000 on banknotes with colour shift. The colour of the thread changes from green to blue when the note is tilted.  The guarantee clause, governor's signature with promise clause and RBI emblem have been shifted to the right in the new notes, with the portrait and electrotype watermarks appearing right next to them.  There will be a ashoka pillar emblem to the right of the Mahatma Gandhi portrait and electrotype (2000) watermarks. It will also have seven bleed lines and a rectangle as an identifying shape; as per the RBI guidelines, these are the identification and salient features for the visually impaired.  The security features of the Rs 2,000 note include latent images, coloured strip security threads and watermarks.  There will also be a latent image with the denomination numeral that would be visible when the note is held at a 45-degree angle at eye level. 14. The Reserve Bank of India has issued a new batch of Rs 500 notes in Mahatma Gandhi (New) series with the inset letter R in both the number panels. 15. RBI constitutes Tarun Ramadorai Committee on Household Finance - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) constituted a committee to look at various facets of household finance in India. The Committee will be chaired by Tarun Ramadorai, Professor of Financial Economics, University of Oxford. 16. RBI formed single Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) with Rs. 2000 crore corpus. The fund was formed by merging the Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) and Financial Inclusion Technology Fund (FITF). This fund will support the developmental and promotional activities covered under the financial inclusion initiatives. 17. The Reserve Bank of India has extended the timeline for full implementation of the Basel III capital regulations from March 31, 2018 to March 31, 2019. 18. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the deadline for deployment of Aadhar-enabled devices that process card transactions using Aadhaar-based biometric authentication___30th June 2017. 19. Interest subvention scheme announced by RBI for Women Self-Help Groups – Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed all commercial and Co-operative banks to provide loans to women self-help groups (SHGs) in rural areas at 7 percent per annum. Key points –  The loans will be provided for the financial year 2016-17 under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) in 250 districts.  All women self-help groups (SHGs) will be eligible for interest subvention on credit up to three lakh rupees at 7 percent per annum.  All banks will be subvented to the extent of difference between the weighted average interest charged and 7%, subject to the maximum limit of 5.5% for 2016-17. gradeup.co/banking-insurance

SBI Bank in News

1. The State Bank of India (SBI)recently launched its India’s largest lender in 37 countries through 198 mobile wallet application ‘State Bank MobiCash’ in offices. partnership with ____Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited 7. SBI declares Silchar as its 5th zone in North East - The (BSNL) State Bank of India (SBI) has declared Silchar as its 5th Note - MobiCash’ will allow users to deposit cash zone in North East to facilitate banking issues for the customers of the region. The 5th zone will further help to through BSNL retail outlets and withdraw funds from cater the banking needs of the people of Mizoram, their account. Tripura and along with the Barak Valley of 2. The bank has tied up with online portal North east India. “magicbricks.com” to conduct joint marketing 5. SBI launches SBI Mingle, a social media banking activities___ State Bank of India platform - State Bank of India (SBI) had launched SBI Note - To kick start the MOU, SBI and Magicbricks has Mingle, a social media banking platform for Facebook launched the “Seal the Deal” campaign. The campaign and Twitter users. will show case SBI approved projects on the The SBI Mingle will allow SBI’s customers to access Magicbricks platform. This mega online property show various banking services via these social platforms. will be the first housing carnival in the industry at this 8. SBI launches IT Innovation Start-up Fund to assist scale. start-ups – SBI launched IT Innovation Start-up Fund to 3. State Bank of India adopts Shirki Village in Pen support start-ups in the financial technology (fintech) Taluka, Maharashtra to promote Aadhar based space. The fund has corpus of 200 crore rupees. It will Merchant payments. provide assistance of up to 3 crore rupees to a company 4. Mahila e-Haat, an online marketing platform ties up registered in India for promoting their business with India Post and SBI to offer more payment options. innovations using information technology for banking 5. SBI announced the launch of a special financing and related activities. scheme ‘Hope Loans’, under which customers could 9. State Bank of India (SBI)'s point of sales terminal avail credit facility at lower rates. (PoS) network is now the largest in the country after it

6. SBI became the first domestic bank of India to open a over took its private sector rivals in February. It plans to branch in . It has announced the opening of its add another 1 lakh PoS terminals in the current fiscal foreign branch in Yangon, the capital city of Myanmar. year ending March 2017. The Yangon branch is the 54th foreign branch of the SBI. This branch further extends the global presence of

Banking/Financial/Economy News

1. IMF has cut India’s growth rate for the fiscal year 2016–  Indeed, the technology through BHIM will empower 17 to 6.6% from its previous estimate of 7.6%. poorest of the poor, small business and the marginalised 2. The Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) – It is a digital section. payment app, rolled out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an initiative to enable fast, secure and reliable 3. CCEA (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs) gives cashless payments through mobile phones. The app was approval for listing 5 general Insurance Companies in named after Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. Stock Exchange. Key features – Note: The companies are - New India Assurance, United  BHIM is a digital payments solution app based on the India Insurance, Oriental Insurance, National Unified Payments Interface (UPI) developed by the Insurance and General Insurance. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the 4. India’s first international stock exchange “India umbrella organisation for all retail payments systems in International Exchange” launched in the city-- India. Gandhinagar (Gujrat).  Transaction Limit: In a 24-hour cycle, a maximum  Note - The new international exchange will provide transaction not exceeding Rs 10,000 is allowed as well electronic trading platform for companies that are as an upper limit of Rs 20,000 worth of transactions. going multinational. The new stock exchange will  The payments through the new system (BHIM App) can trade in all the products like the other exchanges in be made by just a thumb impression after the bank the world such as Singapore, Hong Kong, London, account is linked with Aadhaar gateway. New York in currency, equities, commodities derivatives gradeup.co/banking-insurance

5. State Government will launch its indigenously- 18. Bharti Airtel Starts First Payments Bank Service developed e-Wallet “Tokapoisa.in” to enable the people in____Rajasthan. of the state for hassle-free online transactions in local 19. YES Bank, Gujarat Roadways join hands to digitise bus language. travel payments. Note -The e-wallet is developed by the Assam Electronics 20. Amount per district to be provided by NITI Aayog to Development Corp. Ltd and is powered by Amrton and encourage digital payment system____ Rs. 5 lakh ICICI Bank 21. As per updated report “Asian Development Outlook 6. Corporation Bank received the SKOCH silver award 2016” of Asian Development Bank (ADB) India’s for attaining the position of number one channel partner economic growth forecast for Financial year 2017 - 7.0%. of LIC of India for the past three financial years. 22. The first Indian state to launch crop insurance claim distribution programme___ Madhya Pradesh. 7. Current Interest Rate on Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) for FY 17 – 8.65%. 23. The union Government has decreased the import duty on Note - Employee's Provident Fund (EPF) is a retirement wheat to zero from ___10%. benefit scheme that's available to all salaried employees 24. Who has become first Canadian woman to appear on This fund is maintained and overseen by the Employees bank note____Viola Desmond. Provident Fund Organisation of India (EPFO) and any 25. Yes Bank’ has tied-up with a grocery delivery startup to company with over 20 employees is required by law to deliver up to Rs. 2,000 cash to customers when they register with the EPFO. order grocery worth minimum Rs. 1,000 8. will contribute $500,000 to United online_____Grofers. Nation’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for 26. Who has been adjudged “Best Bank for SME Lending” by Associate Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India the year 2016-17. (ASSOCHAM)____ Vijaya Bank. Note - The CERF is a humanitarian fund to promote 27. Public sector company MMTC will tie-up with the State early and coordinated action and response to save lives, Bank of India (SBI) to sell government-minted to increase response to time-crucial requirements based ____Indian Gold Coin. on demonstrable needs. 28. U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) 9. This bank has partnership with Ola to provide cash-on- and -based RBL Bank announced $75 million demand at customer’s doorstep___ YES Bank. Loan Guarantee for clean energy. 29. YES BANK, country’s 5th largest private sector lender 10. HDFC Bank has launched a chatbot service “HDFC has launched its “YES MOBILE 2.0” mobile Banking app. OnChat” to allow users to make payments through 30. India’s third largest private sector bank Axis Bank has Facebook Messenger. announced its partnership with Flipkart to launch ‘Axis 11. Mobile app launched by ICICI Bank for merchants as an Bank Buzz Credit Card’. all-in-one acceptance payment platform__ EazyPay. 31. Banks to report frauds of Rs 1 crore and above to Central 12. An aadhaar-linked cashless merchant solution “Aadhaar Vigilance Commission (CVC) (Vigilance Commissioner - TM Bhasin) Pay” has been launched by the bank __ IDFC Bank. 32. Standard Chartered Bank launched ‘Unified Payments The IDFC Aadhaar Pay will enable millions of merchants Interface’ (UPI) solution. across the country to facilitate cashless purchases for Note:This UPI solution will enable clients to send and customers in a cost-effective and scalable way. receive money through a Virtual Payment Address 13. Bank of Baroda (BoB) has signed Memorandum of without entering additional bank account details. UPI enables real time ‘push and pull’ of funds. Understanding (MoU) with a private sector dairy 33. Kumbakonam based City Union Bank has introduced a enterprises to provide dairy loans to farmers through the robot on pilot basis to improve customer service. The lender’s branches across the country____ Heritage Foods robot is named CUB-LAKSHMI. Ltd (HFL) 34. Federal Bank to open its first overseas branch in Dubai. 14. ICICI Bank has launched home loan overdraft facility for 35. Global payments & technology company MasterCard salaried customers against their home loans. has introduced a safe and secure ‘quick response’ (QR) 15. ICICI Bank: First bank to introduce Software Robotics mobile payments solution in India - Masterpass QR (a for power banking operations ICICI Bank has successfully digital wallet service, which allows mobile banking users deployed ‘Software Robotics’ for power banking to safely pay for face-to-face purchases using their operations. With this, it becomes first bank in the smartphones). country and among few globally to deploy ‘Software 36. , Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (KAT) Robotics’. Zone of Bank of Baroda (BoB) organised an online 16. Hailakandi district of Assam has become the first Light up a Smile Campaign at Bengaluru to bring smiles district to pay wages to tea garden workers through on the faces of children residing in the village. individual bank accounts. 37. Axis Bank to launch intelligent banking chat bots to 17. The Public Financial Management System (PFMS) to make mobile banking services more conversational. be implemented on full scale to help Union Government 38. India has pledged how many dollar for development to save a significant amount on interest costs. activities across several UN (United Nation) bodies for the year 2017 - about 10.95 million gradeup.co/banking-insurance

39. The State Bank of Mauritius (SBM) Group has appointed 2. Member - R Gandhi: Deputy Governor RBI in charge Chief Executive for its India operations - Siby Sebastian of Monetary Policy 40. The Union Government has signed the loan agreement to 3. Member - Michael Patra: Executive Director of RBI improve Assam’s Power Distribution with - Asian Development Bank. 4. Member - Chetan Ghate: Professor, Indian Statistical 41. Utkarsh Micro Finance gets final nod to set up Small Institute (ISI) Finance Bank. 5. Member - Professor Pami Dua: Director, Delhi 42. Interest rates on small savings schemes have been School of Economics (DSE) reduced marginally by 0.1 per cent for the October- 6. Member - Ravindra H. Dholakia: Professor Indian December quarter of 2016-17, leading to lower returns on Public Provident Fund, Kisan Vikas Patra, Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad Sukanya Samriddhi Account, among others. Note: I. Kisan Vikas Patra – Saving scheme relaunched by (i) The six member MPC has been entrusted with the government of India. task of fixing the benchmark policy rate (repo rate) Key points – required to contain inflation within the specified target  Interest rate on Kisan Vikas Patra has been brought down to 7.7 per cent from 7.8 per cent. level.  As a result, the KVP will now mature in 112 (ii) It will help in determining the Monetary Policy which months instead of 110 months. in turn adds value and transparency to monetary policy  KVP will be available in denominations of Rs. 1,000, decisions. Rs. 5,000, Rs. 10,000, and Rs. 50,000. (iii) The meetings of the MPC will be held at least 4  There will be no upper ceiling on investment.  Minimum lock-in period is 2 years and 6 months. times a year and it will publish its decisions after each  KVP can be encashed in eight equal monthly such meeting. installments after the lock-in period. 44. The Centre has constituted a four-member Insolvency  No KYC norms would be applicable at the time of and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) committee purchase of KVP, PAN details will not be required. under the Chairmanship of MS Sahoo. The main activity II. Public Provident Fund (PPF) – Saving scheme of IBBI would be to regulate the functioning of Key points –  Public Provident Fund will fetch interest rate of insolvency professionals, insolvency professional 8 per cent in the third quarter of the current fiscal agencies and information utilities under the as against 8.1 per cent in the previous three- Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016. months period. 45. Union Government set up Public Debt Management  An individual can open account with Rs. 100/- but Cell - The Union Finance Ministry has set up a Public Debt has to deposit minimum of Rs. 500/- in a financial Management Cell (PDMC) with the objective of deepening year and maximum Rs.1.5 lakh.  Maturity period is 15 years but the same can be bond markets in the country. PDMC will streamline extended within one year of maturity for further 5 government borrowings and better cash management for years and so on. deepening bond markets. III. Senior Citizens Savings Scheme – 46. Government pegs inflation target at 4% for 5 years –  The rate of interest for the third quarter for 5- Government had recently, notified 4 per cent inflation Year Senior Citizens Savings Scheme is reduced target with a range of plus/minus 2 per cent for the next to 8.5%. five years under the monetary policy framework IV. National Savings Certificate  The rate of interest for the third quarter for 5- agreement with the Reserve Bank. Year National Savings Certificate has been 47. NTPC, lists world’s first Indian green Masala bond and reduced to 8 per cent. first masala bond by a quasi-sovereign issuer. V. The Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, for girl Note: - NTPC will invest the proceeds of the green Masala child, will now fetch 8.5 per cent interest rate. It was bond in the renewable energy market as it seeks to add 8.6 per cent in July-September quarter. more wind and solar power projects to its portfolio to 43. Monetary Policy Committee - The Union support the Indian government’s ambition to generate Government has notified the constitution of the six 175GW of renewable energy by 2022. members Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). 48. Assam becomes first state to ratify GST Bill - Assam Key points – The Union Finance Minister has used powers became the first state in the country to ratify the designated under the section 45ZB of the Reserve Bank of constitution amendment bill on the Goods and Services India (RBI) Act, 1934 to constitute MPC. Tax (GST) as the assembly unanimously passed the bill. Composition of MPC 49. Syndicate Bank launched a transformation program 1. Chairman - Urjit Patel: RBI Governor called "Project Ananya" that focuses on improved gradeup.co/banking-insurance

customer service and offering latest in digital banking Exchange (LSE) and successfully raised $75 million services. (about Rs 500 crore). 50. South Indian Bank partnered with SBI Card to launch What are Green Bonds? Masala bond is a term used to refer to a financial co-branded credit card. With this partnership both instrument through which Indian entities can raise South Indian Bank and SBI Card will launch two variants money from overseas markets in the rupee, not foreign of credit card on VISA platform, namely South Indian currency. In other words, they are rupee-denominated Bank Platinum SBI Card and South Indian Bank bonds issued to overseas buyers. SimplySAVE SBI Card. 59. Federal bank becomes the first among the private sector 51. Kotak Mahindra Bank has acquired Karnataka-focused banks to offer Indian Gold Coins. The bank has tied up BSS Microfinance for Rs 139.2 crore. with MMTC for distribution of Indian Gold Coins (IGC). 52. International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slashed India’s 60. AIIB approves first loans for projects in four GDP growth forecast to 6.6% from 7.6% as a result of countries - The China-led Asian Infrastructure Demonetisation. Investment Bank (AIIB) approved first set of loans 53. World Bank forecasts India’s GDP Growth to 7.0% totalling US 509 million dollars to finance projects in four because of demonetisation. countries viz. Bangladesh, Pakistan, and 54. Financial services company MasterCard rolled out Tajikistan. Selfie Pay app in Europe. This app will use facial 61. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) to be set up as a biometrics for payment authentication. It will support Public Limited Company under the Department of Posts, both selfies and fingerprint biometrics, offering users a choice of authenticating a mobile payment at the point of with 100% Government of India (GOI) equity. purchase. Note - These banks will be established at an expense of 55. Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has renewed its corporate 800 crore rupees and rolled out in the entire country in a agency tie-up with United India Insurance Company phased manner. The IPPB will obtain banking licence (UIIC). Customers can buy the entire gamut of UIIC from RBI by March 2017 and by September 2017. products at any of the 1,896 branches of the bank across 62. ‘56 Indian firms’ feature in Forbes ‘Global 2000’. the country. 63. Reliance Industries Limited was the 1st in Indian Firm 56. The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) Category. Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited notified 100 per cent foreign direct investment in ‘other ranked at 121st Position which improved from 142nd financial services’ carried out by Non-Banking Finance Rank in 2015 on the Global List. State Bank of India companies(NBFCs) to attract foreign capital into India. ranked 149th globally and was 2nd among Indian firms. 57. YES Bank has tied up with ToneTag, a Mobile payment India Largest Private Banking Companies ICICI Bank held solutions start-up to integrate and deploy sound based 266th rank and HDFC held 275th globally. contactless payments on its mobile wallet YES Pay. 64. Axis Bank launched India’s first internationally-listed 58. Canada’s British Columbia becomes first foreign certified green bond to finance climate change solutions government to issue masala bonds, a rupee-denominated around the world at London Stock Exchange (LSE). It will bond. play important role in reinforcing India’s commitment to Note - It had issued Rs 500 crore rupee denominated produce 175,000 MW of renewable power by 2022. overseas bonds (masala bond) on the London Stock

Current Affairs – National News

1. Web portal for Sarv Sikhsha Abhiyan, ShaGun launched by 6. North Eastern Frontier Railways has announced the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Prakash launch of Aastha Circuit Tourist Train from Guwahati Javadekar. (Assam). Note: The portal can be accessed at http://ssashagun.nic.in. 7. The 20th Edition of the National Conference for e- 2. Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister of State for Information Governance 2016-17 has started in the city___ and Broadcasting inaugurates Indian Panorama Film Visakhapatnam, (Andhra Pradesh). The theme of Festival at Siri fort auditorium in New Delhi. conference is ‘Internet of Things and e-Governance’. 3. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Vijay Goel 8. The 3rd edition of 2017 National conference ‘Jal Manthan- inaugurated Khelo India Competitions at S. P. Mukherjee III’ was held in the city___ New Delhi. The focus of the Swimming Pool Complex in New Delhi. conference was to on refining policies of the Ministry to 4. Saksham 2017, Petroleum Awareness program make them more people friendly and responsive to the inaugurated by Dhramendra Pradhan, Minister of state for needs of the states. Petroleum & Natural Gas. 9. The world’s largest street light replacement programme of 5. 58th India International Garment Fair begins in New Delhi. India ____ Street Lighting National Programme Fair was inaugurated at Pragati Maidan by Textiles (SLNP) implemented by the Energy Efficiency Services Minister, Smriti Zubin Irani. gradeup.co/banking-insurance

Limited (EESL). Presently, the SLNP programme is 23. The union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has running in more than 14 states. inaugurated the three-day International Conference and 10. Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 8th Vibrant Gujarat Exhibition on Reinforced Plastics (ICERP) at Bombay Global Investors Summit 2017 at Mahatma Mandir in Exhibition center. Gandhinagar. 24. The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs. has launched Note: The purpose of the summit is to provide a platform ‘OCMC’ to provide speedy redressal of consumer to debate global economic and social issues on the lines of grievances. the World Economic Forum in Davos. 25. Aizawl has become the first free Wi-Fi city in the North- 11. India’s second Kalvari-class Scorpene stealth submarine East region. It is a pilot project of the Aizawl Municipal “INS Khanderi” has been launched in Mumbai, Corporation. Maharashtra. Khanderi is named after the Island fort of 26. The ‘Chardham highway project’ will come up in Maratha forces, which played a vital role in ensuring their Uttarakhand. supremacy at sea in the late 17th century. 27. Vittiya Saksharata Abhiyan (VISAKA) has been launched 12. India’s first-ever solar powered boat “Aditya” has been by the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry launched in the Kerala. The 'Aditya' is the 75-seater boat to make people aware about cashless economic system. fitted with 78 rooftop solar panels. It will ferry along a 2.5 28. The 2016 National Children Science Congress (NCSC) kilometre route between Vaikom and Thavanakkadavu 22 programme started in Pune. times a day. 29. The 2017 Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit will take place 13. Who has launched a " Fly For Sure" sceme ____ Air India in Gandhinagar. The 8th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Note: The customer has to pay extra Rs. 2,000 while Summit will be held at Mahatma mandir, Gandhinagar booking the ticket and get to board any Air India flight on from January 10th to 13th, 2017. the same day and same sector. The voucher will be non- 30. The 77th session of Indian History Congress (IHC) has refundable and can be availed on all domestic routes started in Kerala. The IHC is the largest professional and offered by AI academic body of Indian historians with over 10,000 14. ‘SEZ India’ mobile app has been launched by the Union members Ministry of Commerce and Industry for special 31. India successfully test fired its home-grown long range economic zones. The app would help the SEZ units and intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear capable developers to find information easily and track their ballistic missile, Agni-5. transactions on SEZ Online System. 32. The state government who will set up a pilot corridor for 15. The Chinese Mobile handset brand 'Gionee' has signed an innovative concept of ‘Caterpillar Train ___ Haryana. Virat Kohli as the brand ambassador. He will be joining Note: The C-train includes a citywide network of Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt. lightweight, elevated train coaches running at about 100 16. Union Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu flagging-off the kmph on a track supported by poles bent into arches. first freight train in New Delhi which featured a newly 33. The 2016 World Bhojpuri Conference was held in the developed guard van, which uses solar power to run fans cities____Varanasi. and lights at Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station. Note: The 4-day conference will deliberate on culture, 17. Suresh Prabhu inaugurated and dedicated the “Okha- religion, language and business among other issues, in Kanalus and Porbandar-Wansjaliya Sections in Gujarat of which over 18 countries will participate. Western Railways as Green Corridor Sections. 34. The union government will set up a toll-free number to 18. First ‘Happiness Junction’ of India was inaugurated in provide relevant information and guidance directly to the ’s Sonepur railway station of the East Central Railway pregnant women____10588. (ECR) by Sonepur Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) 35. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has Aggarwal. decided that Class X Board exams will be compulsory 19. Bharti Airtel has announced the completion of merger of from the academic session ___2017-18. its subsidiary unit in Bangladesh with ____Robi Axiata Note: The languages listed in schedule VIII of the 20. The union railway minister Suresh Prabhu has released an Constitution should be taught under the "Three language Android-based mobile application app, IRCTC Rail formula" under which , English and Indian language are Connect app to promote ease of ticketing through digital taught could be extended till Class X and the Foreign transactions. language might be treated as fourth and elective. 21. India successfully test-fired the Guided Pinaka rocket from 36. National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered to impose a Integrated Test Range launch pad at Chandipur fine of how many Rs. on airlines, whose aircraft empty (Odisha). toilet tanks in air while landing and splattering human 22. Sumit Bose committee has submitted report on Socio waste on houses___Rs. 50,000. Economic and Caste Census (SECC) to the Union 37. The 104th Indian Science Congress (ISC) has started in Government. The committee was constituted to study the the state ____Andhra Pradesh. objective criteria for allocation of resources to States and Note: The focal theme of 5-day annual ISC is “Science and identification and prioritization of beneficiaries under Technology for National Development”. various programmes using SECC data. 38. India’s first laser technology-based advanced Automatic Vechime Monitoring System (AVMS) RTO check post has gradeup.co/banking-insurance

set up at_____ Gujarat. 52. The Union AYUSH Ministry has launched ‘Swasthya Note: The advanced AVMS RTO check-post will provide Raksha Programme’ to promote health and health transparent, sensitive, decisive and progressive education in villages. government to the people. 53. Government has launched country’s first 39. The 25th New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) wil be held amphibious bus project at the Harike wetland near at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 7-15th January, 2017. Amritsar. The amphibious bus named as “Harike Cruise” The 2017 theme is ______Manushi – Books Written on travels on land and as well as in water. It was launched by and by Women. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. 40. The 2017 Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) will be hosted by 54. The tropical cyclonic storm Vardah over southeast Bay of the city____Bengaluru. Bengal hit Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and 41. Who has inaugurated the five-day annual Indian Science Kakinada. It is the third cyclonic storm of the season after Congress at the Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati Cyclone Kyant and Nada, that were formed during the (Andhra Pradesh) ___ Narendra Modi. Northeast Monsoon season. 42. Who has launched a Bunkar Mitra-Handloom Helpline 55. The Union Government is going to observe birth Centre where professional queries of weavers will be anniversary of the father of Indian Constitution B R answered by the experts in the field___Smriti Irani. Ambedkar (April 14) as “Water Day” in the country. 43. The International Conference on “Yoga for diabetes” has 56. The Hornbill Festival began in the Naga Heritage village been held in the city______New Delhi. of Kisama. The festival coincides with the Statehood Day Note: The purpose of the conference is to generate of which is observed on December 1. discussions on the role of Yoga in the prevention and 57. Andhra Pradesh Government has launched AP Purse management of Diabetes and to draw up a roadmap to be mobile application to promote digital transactions adopted for the control of Diabetes through Yoga. among the people. It was launched by Chief Minister N 44. The birth anniversary of 10th and last Sikh Guru, Guru Chandrababu Naidu in Vijayawada to solve the cash Gobind Singh being celebrated across country ____350th. crunch problem in the state following demonetization of Note: The main function being held at "Takht Harmandar high value old currency notes. Sahib" in where Prime Minister Narendra Modi has 58. The has launched a “Veterans Outreach participated in the Prakash Parva. App” in a bid to reach out to its ex-servicemen. The app 45. The 2017 All India Conference of Waqf Boards has started was launched by the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) in the city______New Delhi. General Dalbir Singh Suhag. It is dedicated to Army Note: The conference was inaugurated by Mukhtar Abbas Veterans and Veer Naris. Naqvi, the Minister of State (I/C), Minority Affairs and 59. The Union Power Ministry to launch new mobile Parliamentary Affairs. application GARV-II to provide real time data of all six lakh 46. The Union Government has approved 26% strategic stake villages of the country. The purpose of the mobile sale in this public-sector undertaking ____ Bharat Earth application is to ensure transparency in implementation of Movers Limited rural electrification programme. 47. Who has launched the web portal and a Mobile App for 60. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stone of the the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY)_____Piyush country’s first Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) in Kanpur, Goyal. to make India the Skill Capital of the World. 48. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced pan- He also inaugurated the Kaushal Pradarshini (Skill India expansion of this programme to benefit pregnant Exhibition) for the youth of Uttar Pradesh to portray major and lactating mothers across the country ____Maternity skill development initiatives of the Union Skill Benefit Programme (MBP). Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry. 49. The city is going to play host to the ninth edition of Jaipur 61. State-owned power producer National Thermal Power International Film Festival (JIFF)_____Jaipur. Corporation (NTPC) and aluminium producer National 50. India has test-fired long range intercontinental nuclear Aluminium Co. Ltd (NALCO) have signed MoU to establish capable ballistic missile Agni-IV_____Surface-to-surface a 2.4 giga watt (GW) Coal based power project at Gajmara, missile. Odisha. Note: 62. Haryana became the first state in the country to launch Agni-IV test is aimed at re-validating new technologies Mahila Police Volunteer (MPV) initiative for safety of incorporated in Agni-IV system and checking the women. It was launched by Chief Minister Manohar Lal readiness of armed forces to launch the missile on its Khattar. own. Agni-IV is the 20-metre-long and weighs 17 tonnes 63. The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs is going to will launch and carry a one-tonne nuclear warhead over a distance of “Vanjeevan”, the National Resource Centre (NRC) for 4,000 kilometre Tribal Livelihood issues in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. 51. The Department of Telecom (DoT) will soon launch 64. President Pranab Mukherjee launched a ‘100 Million for ‘Tarang Sanchar’ portal that will let users check radiation 100 Million’ Campaign at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The compliance status of mobile towers and transmitters campaign was conceptualized by Nobel peace prize winner across country. Kailash Satyarthi and was organized by the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation.The campaign aims to gradeup.co/banking-insurance

mobilise 100 million youth and children for 100 million China- border at an altitude of 8188 meters above underprivileged children across the world. the sea level. 65. Madhya Pradesh Government has launched five months 83. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated long Narmada Seva Yatra to turn the Narmada river first Model Skill Development Centre “Pradhan Mantri pollution free. It was launched by Chief Minister Shivraj Kaushal Kendra” at Panjabari, Guwahati. Singh Chouhan at Amarkantak. The Narmada Sewa Yatra 84. Union Government launched UDAN for Regional Air aims to create awareness about the conservation of the Connectivity - Union Government unveiled the regional air river. connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam naagrik), 66. The 2016 Serendipity Arts Festival (SAF) will be held in which seeks to get more people to fly in the smaller towns. ____ Goa. The Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju who 67. Kerala Government has launched Haritha Keralam launched the scheme in New Delhi, scheme is expected to Mission, a comprehensive programme for creating new be rolled out by January 2017. Note: The scheme would be sustainable development perspectives in the state. It was in operation for a period of 10 years. launched by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the state 85. India, World Bank sign $650 Million agreement for Eastern capital Thiruvananthapuram. Singer K.J. Yesudas and actor Dedicated Freight Corridor - India signed a 650-million US Manju Warrier are the mission ambassador. dollar loan agreement with the World Bank for the Eastern 68. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has become Dedicated Freight Corridor-III (EDFC-III) Project. The the second airport in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve project will benefit industries of Northern and Eastern carbon neutral status. India, which rely on railway network for transportation of 69. Vijayawada is India’s first parliamentary constituency to material inputs and exports. have health insurance for all. 86. Jagat Prakash Nadda has launched the “Healthy India 70. West Bengal CM distributes 43,000 bicycles to students Initiative” magazine and “No More Tension” mobile App under ‘SabujSathi‘. for promotion of health and to strengthen the health 71. The 2016 Great Indian Film and Literature Festival communications programmes in New Delhi. (GIFLIF) will be held in Gurugram, Haryana. 87. Dharmendra Pradhan - has launched ‘Pradhan Mantri 72. The first Indian state to adopt the Fly Ash Utilization Policy Ujjwala Yojana‘in Punjab. - Maharashtra 88. Prakash Javadekar - has inaugurated the world’s largest 73. The app has been launched by Union Tribal Affairs digital national building initiative “Smart India Hackathon Minister Jual Oram to promote breastfeeding___ Stanpan 2017” by handing over a torch to technology students. Suraksha. 89. 36th edition of India International Trade Fair (IITF) has 74. International Energy Forum (IEF) - IGU Ministerial Forum been inaugurated at - Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. (5th Edition) has been started in the city____ New Delhi. 90. Union Government grants BP Plc licence to set up 3500 75. Smriti Irani inaugurated thematic handicrafts exhibition petrol pumps in India - The Union Government has and ‘pehchan‘Identity cards to artisans in Ahmedabad formally granted a licence to BP Plc to set up 3500 petrol (Gujarat). pumps in India. 76. The crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Note: BP plc is a British multinational oil and gas Zayed Al Nahyan will be the chief guest for the 68th company headquartered in London, England. It was Republic Day celebrations on 26 January 2017. formerly known as British Petroleum. 77. PM Modi to become the mascot for Incredible India. 91. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), 78. Asia’s biggest ‘Jungle Safari will come up in Naya Raipur, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved Chhattisgarh. the construction of a new link between Sahibganj bypass 79. Kerala has become the third Open Defecation Free (ODF) worth Rs 1,955 crore in Jharkhand to Manihari bypass in state in the country. Earlier, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim Bihar. had declared themselves Open Defecation Free. 92. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $631 80. Social networking site Facebook is collaborating with the million loan for building India’s first coastal industrial Election Commission of India in five states going to polls corridor between Visakhapatnam (Vizag) and Chennai. next year to run a voter registration drive aimed at 93. Union Cabinet approves setting up of Indian Institute of encouraging youth to participate in the democratic Management (IIM) at Jammu. exercise. The five states are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, 94. First Medipark to be setup in Tamil Nadu - The Union Manipur and Uttarakhand for the first time in the country Cabinet had approved setting up of a Medical Devices to run a voter registration drive. Manufacturing Park (Medipark) at Chengalpattu, 81. The Union government has accepted the recommendation Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu through a special of the 7th Pay Commission on Modified Assured Career purpose Vehicle. Progression (MACP) for Central employees which would 95. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly ensure one minimum promotion for every 10 years till 30 built war memorial- Shaurya Samarakand in Bhopal. years of service. 96. The 19th ‘World Peace Conference’ was inaugurated by 82. Indian mountaineer Arjun Vajpai scaled world’s sixth Maharashtra Governor Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao at highest mountain Cho Oyu. The mountain is located on the Nashik in Maharashtra on October 24, 2016 to strengthen gradeup.co/banking-insurance

people to search truth and utilise education for witness artistes performing ShehnaiVaadan, puppet development of the society. show, Behrupia, Raavanhatha, among others at Chand 97. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated First National Tribal Baori and Harshat Mata temple. Carnival-2016 in New Delhi. 112. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared 98. Maharashtra government has allocated 40.68-hectare Nagpur as the first digital district of India in Mumbai. All land in Hingloi to Department of Atomic Energy(DAE) for 776 gram panchayats in Nagpur district have been LIGO India Project. digitally transformed. Note: The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave 113. The Union Cabinet here approved “Mini Ratna” public Observatory (LIGO) project that was given the in- sector undertaking HLL Lifecare to sub-lease its land for principle approval by the Cabinet planned to construct in setting up the country’s first medical devices Hingoli district, Maharashtra. It is third LIGO laboratory manufacturing park in Chennai. in the world and first laboratory outside the United 114. Telangana, carved out of Andhra Pradesh, came into States. The existing laborataries are located in Hanford, existence on June 2, 2014 as the 29th state of India with Washington, and in Livingston, Louisiana. 10 districts. The state government carried out the biggest 99. The government would “completely seal” the India administrative reform, creating 21 new districts. The Pakistan border by December 2018, as announced by total number of districts in the state went up to 31 from Union home minister Rajnath Singh. 10. 100. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vadodara to 115. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra inaugurate the international terminal at Harni airport on Pradhan inaugurated the National Seismic Programme October 22 016. Harni is only the second “green building” (NSP) at Taranga in Baleswar district of Odisha. airport in country. He would also attend a programme to 116. The Uttarakhand High Court ordered a complete ban distribute manmade limbs and other implements to more on the sale of whitener in the state following the death of than 8000 ‘Divyangs’ (disabled persons) in the city. a teenager from sniffing an excess of it for a kick in the 101. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated three state-run district. mega hydro power of 1,752 MW capacity in Himachal 117. India’s first ‘Design Yatra’ launched by the Institute of Pradesh during his day-long maiden visit to the state. Indian Interior Designer(IIID) in Kerala to spread 102. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Punjab awareness and take designs to the masses, India’s first Agricultural University in Ludhiana and he launched two ‘Design Yatra’, launched by the Institute of Indian Interior schemes-National SC/ST Hub and Zero Defect Zero Effect Designers(IIID). scheme. 118. Union Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma 103. India’s second eco-friendly airport in Vadodara is all inaugurated the 5th International Buddhist Conclave in set to open its doors to passengers. Varanasi-Sarnath. 104. Activist Irom Sharmila formed a new political party 119. Indian Railways launches Yatri Mitra Sewa for named People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) elderly, differently-abled – Under this initiative, ahead of the Assembly polls in Manipur in 2017. differently abled and ailing travelers will get facilitate 105. The Central Government has proposed a four-slab access to wheelchairs, battery operated cars and porter rate structure for the Goods & Services Tax, ranging from services. zero to 26 per cent, at a meeting of the GST Council. The 120. The Women of India Festival 2016 of organic tax slabs are fixed at 5, 12, 18 and 28 percent. products was inaugurated by the Union Minister of 106. The Ministry of Shipping ratified the Capital Dredging Women & Child Development in New Delhi. Project for Ro Pax Ferry Services between Gogha & Dahej, 121. Himansh, India’s remote, high – altitude station opens in Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat. in Himalayas - A high altitude glaciological research 107. PM Modi launched #Sandesh2Soldiers campaign station in Himalaya called Himansh (meaning a slice of through which people can send their Diwali greetings and ice) began functioning above 13,500 ft (4000 m) in a messages to soldiers guarding the nation’s frontiers to remote region in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. Researchers boost their morale. will use this station as a base for undertaking surveys that 108. Election Commission of India (ECI) unveiled three IT would digitize the glacier motion and snow cover based Systems – Samadhan, Suvidha, and Sugam to make variations with exceptional precision. the election process smooth, effective and transparent. 122. The International Energy Agency (IAE) is going to 109. The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has laid the partner with India to implement its Unnat Jyoti by foundation stone of National Institute of Archaeology at Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) initiative globally for Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. energy savings. Note: (i) IAE has been impressed with 110. Union Cabinet given its ex-post facto approval to performance of India’s UJALA programme in terms of formation of the Indian Institute of Science Education & vastly improving access to LED lighting while reducing Research (IISER) at Berhampur in Odisha under the their cost drastically. (ii) The UJALA scheme is Societies Registration Act, 1860. implemented by the Energy Efficiency Services Limited 111. Abhaneri festival would be organised at the Abhaneri (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Union Ministry village in Dausa district, Rajasthan to promote rural of Power. tourism in the area for two days. The festival would gradeup.co/banking-insurance

123. The first International Arbitration Centre of India was complaints regarding telecom and postal services. The inaugurated in Mumbai, Maharashtra to provide an complaints will be lodge through Twitter handle arbitration platform for Indian business houses to “@manojsinhabjp”. negotiate commercial disputes. 136. Indian Railway joined hands with the forest 124. 2016 Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk departments of Punjab and Haryana to plant five lakh trees Reduction (AMCDRR) will be held in New Delhi. This will on rail land along tracks. be second time India hosting AMCDRR. The conference 137. Maneka Gandhi has inaugurated the Uttarakhand’s will be hosted by Union Government in collaboration with first animal birth control center (ABC) at Dehradun. the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction 138. Tarang, Mobile app has been launched by Union (UNISDR). Government to monitor execution of the under 125. India declared itself free from the highly contagious construction power transmission projects. Note: The avian influenza (H5N1) or bird flu. The declaration was Union Ministry of Power launched the TARANG Mobile made by the Department of Animal Husbandry under the App to Track power transmission projects. Agriculture Ministry. 139. Youth Voters’ Festival of 2016 held in Nagaland. 126. The Union Government has launched a toll-free number 140. Sugamya Pustakalaya, an e-Library has been launched ‘1924’ to registered postal complaints. The service has been by the Union government for divyang. Note: Sugamya launched Department of Posts (DoP). It was launched after Pustakalaya is an online library for Divyang and houses Government had introduced Twitter Sewa for redressal of publications across diverse subjects and languages in telecom and postal grievances. multiple accessible formats. Over 2 lakhs books are 127. The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister available in Accessible formats for people with visual Prakash Javadekar has inaugurated the super computer impairment and other print disabilities. PARAM ISHAN at IIT Guwahati campus. 141. A Bronze statue of B R Ambedkar will be installed at Note: PARAM ISHAN is the fastest and most powerful the Ambedkar memorial at Indu Mill land in Mumbai. The computer in North East, Eastern and Southern region of statue will be called Statue of Equality. India outside Bengaluru (Karnataka). 142. The first Children Court of South India has launched in 128. India’s first underground museum will be opened in Hyderabad. New Delhi. Note: This court is a child-friendly court and 6th in India Note: It will be opened at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New with features like separate waiting rooms for children and Delhi on October 2, 2016. The museum showcases a a video camera trial for the accused, mandated under the collection of relics associated with each of the past Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act- presidents of India along with a range of vestiges reflecting 2012. upon the history of India’s freedom struggle. 143. Abhinav Bindra has been named as the Chairman of a 129. The world’s tallest girder rail bridge will set up in 5-member National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) Manipur. review committee. Note: The new tunnel will be 11.55 km long, more than the 144. Union Women and Child Development Minister has famous Pir Panjal tunnel on the BanihalQazigund line. The launched Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses rail bridge with height of 141m will surpass the existing (POCSO) e-box in New Delhi. tallest bridge in Europe which has a height of 139m. Note: POCSO e-box is an online complaint management 130. First tiger cell of India will set up in Dehradun. system under the POCSO Act, 2012. Note: The cell will house a database of tigers as well as 145. The 4th edition of Mother Teresa International Film DNA and stripes samples of the big cats from over 50 tiger Festival (MTIFF) 2016 was held in Kolkata. reserves. It will aid conservation efforts by preventing 146. Redefined Engagement with Indian Diaspora poaching and providing an update on tiger numbers. Karnataka will host the 15th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya 131. National Disaster Response Force Director General, OP Divas (PBS) 2017 in Bengaluru. Singh laid the foundation stone for a permanent NDRF 147. India’s first textile university will set up in Surat, station at Sudumbare village of Pune. Gujarat. 132. The Union Minister of Urban Development M.Venkaiah 148. Gujarat has become the first Indian state to distribute Naidu has launched Swachh Suvekshan-2017 project in two crore LED bulbs under the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable New Delhi. LEDs for all (UJALA) scheme. 133. ‘70 Saal Azadi Yaad Karo Kurbani’ for Tiranga Yatra theme Note: Gujarat has reached this milestone in just 96 days song has been composed by___Kesiraju Srinivas. and over 42 lakh households have already benefitted Note: Srinivas popularly known as Ghazal Srinivas. from the scheme. 134. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has 149. The Union Cabinet gave its approval to The High signed Memorandum of Understanding with IIT Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016 to change names Kharagpur. of the High Courts based on the nomenclature cities they Note: IIT-Kharagpur will develop ‘Paneled Cement are located. Concrete Pavements’ for highways. Note: The Bill facilitates changing of the names of ‘Madras 135. Minister of state (Telecom), Manoj Sinha has launched High Court as Chennai High Court’ and ‘Bombay High Twitter Sewa service to address the common man’s Court as Mumbai High Court’ respectively. After the gradeup.co/banking-insurance

enactment of this act, the High Courts of Bombay and Madras will named after the names of the cities in which they were located.

International News

platform which enables developers to build apps, bots 1. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed pact with the country’s space agency on satellite and integrations on top of Flock. launch technology ____ France. 15. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) links the Note: The space programmes of both countries are Pakistani port of Gwadar with “Kashgar” in ____China. complementary in terms of comparable size and sharing The first country in the world to use drones for national similar objectives. ISRO is the second partner of CNES, in 16. mail service___ France. The French postal service has terms of volume, after NASA. announced a drone delivery program to deliver parcels on 2. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has recently released a 14-kilometre route once a week to reach mountainous its 12th edition of the ____Global Risks Report 2017. regions. Note: This year’s report will provide an outlook on the threats facing the world in 2017. 17. Who will launch “Digitally Safe Consumer” campaign in India___Google. 3. Who has become the world’s first country to shut-down Note:The Google India will launch “Digitally Safe the Frequency Modulation (FM) radio broadcasting Consumer” campaign with the Ministry of Consumer network and started its’ switching to Digital Audio Affairs in 2017 to raise awareness and protect consumer Broadcasting (DAB) ____Norway. interest on the internet. India and Sri Lanka have signed a Memorandum of 4. China has launched a global carbon dioxide monitoring understanding (MoU) to construct 3000 rainwater 18. satellite to understand climate change____TanSat. harvesting system at a cost of 30 crore Sri lankan Rupees Note - It was put into orbit by Long March-2D rocket from in northern Jaffana District. Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in north west China's Gobi 5. The International conference for peace talks between Desert. Israel and Palestinians will be held in the city___ Paris 19. Who has successfully tested the newest version of the J-31 (France). stealth fighter “FC-31 Gyrfalcon” ___ China. 6. Who has become the first country in the world to officially The world’s highest bridge “Beipanjiang Bridge” is in the recognize parkour as a sport___ The . 20. country ___ China. 7. The country has conferred national order of knighthood honour on former Union Minister of State for External 21. World’s first Goat with superfine wool cloned in China. Affairs Eduardo Faleiro ___ Portugal. 22. The sixth edition of Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD) held in New The Country who has test-fired the first submarine- 8. Delhi. launched Cruise Missile Babur-3 ____Pakistan. 23. India has become the world’s fourth largest defence 9. Who has become the first country in Europe to pay its spender. United States, China, and the UK remain the top unemployed citizens a basic monthly income, amounting three defence spender in the world.US tops with defence to 560 euros (USD 587) ____Finland. spending of $622 billion. China is second with defence 10. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is spending of $191.75 billion. sending first African-American space station crew 24. The UN cultural body UNESCO has accorded world member to space station in 2018______Jeanette Epps. heritage status to Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro 11. The Union Government has imposed an antidumping duty (nicknamed as Marvelous City). It has been registered as ranging from 6.30 US dollars to 351.72 US dollars per “Carioca Landscapes between Mountain and Sea” on the tonne on imports of jute and its products from____ UNESCO world heritage list. Bangladesh and Nepal. 25. Software giant Microsoft India has launched its first full- 12. The company that launched the training program, named scale Cybersecurity Engagement Centre (CSEC) in New Digital Unlocked, for Indian small and medium businesses Delhi. is _____ Google. 26. The fifth edition of the India-Arab Partnership Conference 13. Who has lifted its three-year ban on import of some was held in Muscat, Oman. The theme of the conference vegetables (bitter gourd, snake gourd and aubergines) was ‘Partnership towards innovation and cooperation in from India___European Union (EU). IT. 14. The world’s first chat operating system “Flock OS” has 27. Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo (31) from been launched by ___Flock. Portugal has won the prestigious 2016 FIFA Ballon d’Or Flock is the free instant messaging service for work and Award. He has earned this title of world’s best football business environments. The FlockOS is an ultra-powerful player for fourth time. Earlier he had won the Ballon d’Or gradeup.co/banking-insurance

in 2008, 2013 and 2014. In this year’s competition, 42. Barack Obama designated first US Marine National Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (Argentina) finished second and Monument (Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann (France) third in the National Monument) in Atlantic Ocean. vote. 43. BRICS’ contingent reserve arrangement (CRA) is now 28. The twin-bore GBT (Gotthard Base Tunnel) in Switzerland operational in India to deal with any short-term balance of is world’s longest and deepest railway tunnel with length payments pressures the grouping’s member nations face. of 57-kilometer. It had overtaken Japan’s Seikan tunnel CRA was established in 2015 by BRICS member nations (53.9 kilometers) as the longest rail tunnel in world. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 29. The sixth edition of ‘Heart of Asia- Istanbul Process of 44. The yuan joined the dollar, euro, yen and pound in the Aghanistan‘conference, an annual regional gathering of IMF’s special drawing rights(SDR) basket, which Asian and other countries was held in Amritsar, Punjab determined currencies that countries could receive as part (India). of IMF loans. 30. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was placed at 9th position 45. Mr. Y.K. Sinha, High Commissioner of India inaugurated among 74 of the world’s most powerful people list the Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Library and Resource released by the Forbes Magazine. Centre in Sri Palee College at Horana in Sri Lanka on 31. The 7th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) was held from October 28, 2016. December 2 to 4, 2016 at Science City in Kolkata, West 46. France has become the first country in the world to ban Bengal. disposable plastic cups and plates. 32. E-commerce giant Amazon has launched its global startup 47. World's first driverless bus service launched in French city program ‘Launchpad’ in India. The program will enable of Lyon. Indian startups to sell their products overseas. 48. The World Health Organisation certified Sri Lanka a 33. The Bollywood personality has been appointed as the malaria-free nation. UNICEF’s newest Global Goodwill Ambassador___ Sri Lanka is the second country in the WHO South-East Priyanka Chopra. Asia Region to eliminate malaria after Maldives. 34. The 2016 India International Science Festival (IISF) will be 49. World's first self-driving taxi service launched in held in ____ New Delhi. Singapore. 35. India has become an Associate Member of the European 50. Tesla Motors tops Forbes’s Sixth Annual List of The Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN). World's Most Innovative Companies 2016. At number 18, Asian Paints is the highest-ranked Indian company on the The 2016 World Internet Conference will kick off in 36. list. Wuzhen, China. 51. As per the rankings in the report, India is the seventh 37. The 2016 World Travel Market (WTM), the leading global richest country in the world with a total individual wealth event for the travel industry, has started in - London, of 5.6 trillion US dollars. United Kingdom (UK). 52. China has launched first mobile telecom satellite, The 38. The BBC World Service will launch how many language Tiantong-01 satellite at southwestern China’s Xichang services as part of its biggest expansion since the 1940s - Satellite Launch Center with the Long March-3B carrier 11 language. rocket. 39. The Company who has launched the photo scanning app 53. NITI Aayog has signed agreement to set up web portal on named PhotoScan – Google. energy data with US Energy Information Administration. 54. NITI Aayog has signed agreement to set up web portal on 40. Mission of NASA that created Guinness World Record for highest altitude fix of GPS signal - Magnetospheric energy data with US Energy Information Administration. Multiscale Mission. 55. World’s largest indoor theme park will open in Dubai. 2nd BRICS Communication Ministers meeting was held in 56. Norway becomes World’s First Country to Ban 41. Deforestation. - Bengaluru.

State News

1. Pratibha - Parva observed in Madhya Pradesh. Three day Vivekananda) was held in ___ Rohtak (Haryana). The Pratibha parva is being observed to evaluate the academic 2017 theme of festival is “Youth for Digital India”. achievements of 78 lakh students pursuing studies in Class 4. The world’s first "Gender literature festival" will be held in I to VIII. the state of India___ Bihar. 2. India’s largest public WiFi service has been launched by 5. The first-ever Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Maharashtra government. International Dance festival has been held in the ___ 3. The 21st edition of National Youth Festival (to Hyderabad. commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami 6. The Insurance company that tied up with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for capital support to gradeup.co/banking-insurance

enterprises_____ Life Insurance Corporation of India 25. The 2016 Global Citizen India festival organise in the city – (LIC). Mumbai. 7. The Bargarh Dhanua Jatra festival has started in the 26. 'Har Ghar Bijli Lagatar’ scheme has been launched by the state of Odisha. state government - Bihar 8. Haryana and Andhra Pradesh state governments have 27. Gujarat government - has started Deendayal generic signed MoU to prepare State Resident Data Base (SRDB). medicine stores to sell generic medicines in the state. 9. A new health scheme 'NTR Arogya Raksha' has been 28. 1st Indian National Open Accuracy Paragliding takes off in launched by Andhra Pradesh. - Himachal Pradesh. 10. Who has inaugurated 10-day Island Tourism Festival 2017 29. India’s first LNG-powered bus has been launched in the at Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands___Lt. state – Kerala. Governor Jagdish Mukhi. 30. Maharashtra is the first state in the country which will 11. The city who hosted the International Conference on Yoga have a cyber police station in each district simultaneously. for Diabetes ___ New Delhi. 31. Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani inaugurated a 34-ft long ‘Lamp 12. “Good Samaritan Policy” has been launched by the state / of Humanity’ in Ahmedabad, as part of the Vibrant Navratri union territory ___Delhi government. celebrations. 13. The first Second Generation ethanol bio-refinery will be 32. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu flagged set up in Bathinda, Punjab by Hindustan Petroleum off an all-women Mt Gorichen expedition. This would be Corporation Limited (HPCL), the first all women team attempting to summit the second highest peak of the state, which is considered as a technical 14. India beat Sri Lanka to win the Asian Cricket Council Under-19 Asia Cup title. peak and only seasoned climbers can make it to the top (6,488 m).

15. A new malaria control programme “DAMAN” will be 33. Centre approves a grant of Rs. 515 Crores for the launch by Odisha government. development of Sagar Port Project in West Bengal. Madhya Pradesh government has launched “Nagar Uday 16. 34. Maharashtra government has launched ‘Kaushalya Setu’, Abhiyan” in all 378 urban bodies. a skill development programme for students - Students of 17. Maharashtra government will create new ministry for Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), OBCs and SBCs. Secondary Education who failed to clear Class X or SSC 18. India’s first transgender school “Sahaj International” has exam, will be accommodated in skill development courses. started in Kerala. 35. Jharkhand has become the first state in the country to 19. India’s first cashless and digital tribal colony is located in implement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Kerosene Nedumkayam, Kerala. Scheme. 20. The Bihar state government has approved 50% 36. The world’s largest solar power plant with an installed reservation in all its judicial services. capacity of 648MW was commissioned at Kamudhi in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. 21. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has aid foundation stone for Shivaji Memorial in the Arabian Sea off ___Mumbai 37. Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to approve sewage and waste water policy. coast. 22. Assam government has launched ‘Sustainable Action for 38. India's first e-court opened at Hyderabad High Court. Climate Resilient Development in Majuli’ (SACReD, Majuli) 39. Assam’s Majuli (35th district of Assam) becomes first to make river island Majuli country’s first ever Carbon island district of India. With this, Majuli became India's Neutral district by 2020. first island district. 23. The Madras High Court has banned all unauthorised Sharia Note: Guinness World Records declare Majuli as the largest courts in mosques across Tamil Nadu, saying centres of river island worship were only to be used for religious purposes. 40. Gumthala Garhu near Pehowa became the first Wifi 24. The National Institute of Sowa Rigpa will be established at hotspot village in Haryana circle under the bulk plan of - Leh (Jammu & Kashmir). BSNL for the state.

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Awards & Honours

1. Shatrugan Sinha honoured with Lifetime Achievement University in Hyderabad for extraordinary contribution Award at the 62nd Filmfare Awards. Apart from this, towards promotion of Urdu language and culture. other awards included Dangal for Best Film, Nitesh 12. Who has been chosen for 2016 Bihari Puraskar____ Dr. Tiwari (Dangal) for Best director, (Dangal) Satya Narayan. for Best Actor and Alia Bhatt (Udta Punjab) for Best Note: Dr. Satya Narayan is the well-known Rajasthani Actress. litterateur. He has been chosen for the 26th edition of 2. Jacob Polley wins 2016 T. S. Eliot Prize for Poetry. The Bihari Puraskar for 2016 for his Hindi book titled, “Yeh Ek british poet has won this honour for his collection, Dunia”. ‘Jackself’. 13. Who has been chosen for the 2016 Navlekhan Award of 3. Kapil Dev inducted into Legends Club Hall of Fame. Bharatiya Jnanpith___ Shraddha and Ghyansham 4. Outgoing US President Barack Obama has awarded Kumar Devansh "Presidential Medal of Freedom" at a ceremony in his 14. Indian city has bagged the C40 Award for best solid waste honor at the White House___ Vice President Joe Biden. management improvement project of 2016____ Kolkata. 5. Who has won the prestigious Young Travel Photographer 15. Who has won the 2016 International Children’s Peace of The Year (TPOTY) 2016___ Darpan Basak. Prize ____ Kehkashan Basu Note: The TPOTY is the premier annual international 16. Who has won the 2016 Miss Supranational crown____ travel photography awards for amateur, professional, and Srinidhi Shetty young photographers. 17. Who has been named as the “Asian of the Year 2016” 6. The Government of India(GoI) has been awarded 'Scroll ____Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal of Honor' to promote cashless transactions___ Gaurav 18. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, ISRO chairman A S Goyal. Kiran Kumar, UK-based scholar John Ralston Marr and Note: The district collector of Ajmer "Gaurav Goyal" has Hari Katha exponent Kamala Murthy have been selected been awarded ‘Scroll of Honor’ by Prime Minister for SIES-Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati National Narendra Modi in New Delhi for encouraging cashless Eminence Award. transactions in the district. Ajmer topped the 5 best 19. Who has been bestowed with the Golden Jubilee Lifetime districts to promote cashless transactions. Achievement Award by the Sports Journalists’ Association The award was jointly given by Ministry of Information of Mumbai (SJAM)_____ Sunil Gavaskar and Technology (IT) and Niti Ayog. 20. The first Indian to win medal at the Mr. Olympia Amateur 7. The 7th edition of Yashwant International Film Festival Asia 2016’s Classic Bodybuilding category___ Iqbal will be held from 20 to 26 January 2017 in ______Mumbai. Sayed. 8. Who has bagged the prestigious Sir Garfield sobers 21. - will be honored with Tata Literature Trophy ____Ravichandran Ahwin. Live! Lifetime Achievement Award. Note: He has become the 2nd Indian player after Rahul 22. Mark Zuckerberg - has been anointed as Business Dravid to bag the two coveted prizes in the same year. In Person of the Year for 2016. 2016, Ashwin has picked up 72 wickets in 12 test 23. SP Balasubrahmaniam - has been honored with the matches at an average of 23.90 and scored 612 runs at an 2016 Centenary Indian Film Personality of the year average of 43.17 award at the 47th International Film Festival of India 9. Who has won the 2016 Sastra Ramanujan award for (IFFI) 2016 at Panaji in Goa. mathematics____Maksym Radziwill. 24. Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia - has conferred this year’s Note: The award citation and the shared prize money of Sumitra Charat Ram Lifetime Achievement Award for his $5,000 were presented by Prof. Steven Weintraub from contribution in the field of Indian classical music. Lehigh University who is also the Associate Secretary of 25. Gulzar - will be honoured with the Tata Literature Live! the American Mathematical Society. Poet Laureate Award for 2016. 10. Who has topped the 2016 Forbes India celebrity 100 List 26. Two of the five major Swachh Bharat awards to be ____ Salman Khan. presented by the Centre are likely to go to Gujarat. Note: Note: has been ranked second, followed UNESCO-approved Rani Ki Vav at Patan in Gujarat was set by Virat Kohli, actor and MS Dhoni. The to get the“cleanest monument award“ while textile city Forbes’ ranking is based parameters, estimates of Suratwas likely to get the tag of the city with cleanest entertainment-related earnings and estimates of fame railway station. during the period October 2015 to September 2016. 27. Mrs India Earth 2016 - Prineet Grewal from Pune 11. Bollywood personality has been conferred honorary conferred with the award. doctorate by the Maulana Azad National Urdu 28. Murga has won the first prize at the Swachh Bharat Short University___ Shahrukh Khan. Film Festival (SBSFF). The short film was directed by young filmmaker Katyayan Shivpuri from Maharashtra. Note: He has been conferred honorary doctorate at the 29. Swayam Shikshan Prayog has bagged the UN climate 6th convocation of the Maulana Azad National Urdu award 2016 for clean energy project. The NGO trains gradeup.co/banking-insurance

women to become clean energy entrepreneurs across the award for Gymnastics. Note: The award is conferred Maharashtra and Bihar. on coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious 30. Eminent novelist and short story writer U K international sports events. Kumaran is selected for prestigious Vayalar award 2016 (iii) Arjuna Awards - 15 sports person from different for his novel ‘Thakshankunnu Swarooopam. discipline of sports were selected for the award and they 31. India’s hockey captain PR Sreejesh bagged Jimmy George are Rajat Chauhan for Archery, Lalita Babar for Athletics, award. Sourav Kothari for Billiards & Snooker, Shiva Thapa for 32. Mathrubhumi Literary Award 2016 – Eminent writer C Boxing, Ajinkya Rahane for Cricket, Subrata Paul for Radhakrishnan chosen for Mathrubhumi Literary Award Football, Rani for Hockey, Raghunath VR for Hockey, 2016 in recognition of his contribution to the field of Gurpreet Singh for Shooting, Apurvi Chandela for literature. Shooting, Soumyajit Ghosh for Table Tennis, Vinesh for 33. 24th Ekalabya Award - Sprinter Srabani Nanda won the Wrestling, Amit Kumar for Wrestling, Sandeep Singh 24th Ekalabya Award for the year 2016 in recognition of Mann for Para-Athletics and Virender Singh for Wrestling her sporting excellence. (Deaf). 34. 2016 Sustainable Development Leadership Award - (iv) Dhyan Chand Award 2016 - Athlete Satti Geetha, Pawan Chamling, the Chief Minister of Sikkim, conferred hockey player Sylvanus Dung Dung and Rower Rajendra the prestigious 2016 Sustainable Development Pralhad Shelke. Note: The award is conferred for life time Leadership Award. contribution to sports development. 35. Former ISRO chief U R Rao becomes first Indian to be (v) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy: Punjabi inducted into International Aeronautical Federation (IAF) University, Patiala. The trophy is given to the overall top Hall of Fame performing university in interuniversity tournaments. 36. Saraswati Samman for year 2015 - Eminent author 43. A R Rahman honoured with Tamil Ratna Award. conferred with the prestigious Saraswati 44. APJ Abdul Kalam award - Central Leather Research Samman for the year 2015 for her autobiography 'Chitt- Institute's (CLRI) Principal Scientist P Shanmugam Chete' written in Dogri language. bagged the APJ Abdul Kalam Award for his meritorious 37. Wildlife film-maker Prajna Chowta conferred services in the Higher Education Department of Tamil knighthood by France - Film-maker and elephant Nadu. researcher Prajna Chowta was recently appointed 45. Sangeet Martand Ustad Chand Khan Lifetime Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite (Knight in the Achievement Award - Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. Note: National Order of Merit) by the French Government. The Sursagar Society of Dilli will confer the 38. Indian-origin Kiara Nirghin wins Google Science Fair annual Sangeet Martand Ustad Chand Khan Lifetime prize 2016. She won this grand prize of 50000 US dollars’ Achievement Award on santoor maestro Pandit Shiv scholarship for using orange peel to develop a cheaper Kumar Sharma. super-absorbent material that helps soil retain water. 46. Bharat Gaurav Award - Kolkata’s football club East 39. 29th Moortidevi Award - Noted Telugu writer Prof. Bengal announced that the 2016 Bharat Gaurav Award, Kalakaluri Enoch conferred with Moortidevi Award of also known as Pride of India Award, will be conferred on Bharatiya Jnanpith for the year 2015 at function in New legendary athlete Milkha Singh. Delhi. The award was given for his novel Ananta 47. Sangita Kalanidhi Award 2016 – Versatile violinist A. Jeevanam. Kanyakumari chosen for Sangita Kalanidhi Award for the 40. Veteran music director and violinist Uttam Singh named year 2016. The award will be presented by Madras Music for the 2016 Lata Mangeshkar Award for Lifetime Academy. Achievement of the Maharashtra Government. 48. N Chandra, bollywood film-maker honoured with the 41. Vyas Samman award 2015 - Hindi scholar and writer Lifetime Achievement award at the 8th edition of Goa awarded with the prestigious 25th Vyas State Film Festival 2016. Samman 2015 for her poetry collection Kshama. 49. honoured with the 23rd edition of 2016 42. National Sports Award 2016 – Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award. (i) Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - P.V. Sindhu for Badminton, 50. Radhika Menon becomes first woman to bag IMO Award Dipa Karmakar for Gymnastics, Jitu Rai for Shooting and for Exceptional Bravery at Sea - Captain Radhika Menon Sakshi Malik for Wrestling. Note: The award is given for selected for the 2016 International Maritime the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the Organization (IMO) Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea. field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four Note: (i) She became the first female to receive the IMO years. Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea. (ii) She is the first (ii) Dronacharya Awards - Six sports coaches will be woman captain in the Indian Merchant Navy honoured with Dronacharya Awards and they are 51. 2016 Caine Prize - South African writer, filmmaker and Nagapuri Ramesh for Athletics, Sagar Mal Dhayal for photographer Lidudumalingani Mqombothi won the 17th Boxing, Raj Kumar Sharma for Cricket, Bishweshwar edition of prestigious Caine Prize 2016 for his short story Nandi for Gymnastics, S Pradeep Kumar for Swimming Memories We Lost. (Lifetime) and Mahabir Singh for Wrestling (Lifetime). Dipa Karmakar's coach Bishweshwar Nandi will receive gradeup.co/banking-insurance

Note: The Caine Prize is an annual literature prize (iv) Best Actress - Deepika Padukone for Piku awarded to an African writer of a short story published in (v) Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Anil the English language. Kapoor for Dil Dhadakne Do 52. International Indian Film Academy IIFA Awards 2016 (vi) Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Priyanka presented - The 17th International Indian Film Academy Chopra for Bajirao Mastani (IIFA) Awards 2016 were presented on 25 June 2016 in (vii) Best Story - Juhi Chaturvedi for Piku Madrid, Spain. List of 2016 IIFA Awards 53. G D Birla Award for Scientific Research for 2015 - IIT- (i) Best Film - Bajrangi Bhaijaan Kanpur professor Sanjay Mittal conferred with the award. (ii) Best Director - for 54. Mohun Bagan Ratna Award - Syed Nayeemuddin has Bajirao Mastani been selected for the Mohun Bagan Ratna award for his (iii) Best Actor - Ranveer Singh for Bajirao overall contribution to the club and the country both as a Mastani player and as a coach.

International Awards

1. Indian film has won the best motion picture award at the Fame for his contribution to development of India’s space 2017 Golden Globes awards____ Moonlight. technology. Note: The Golden Globe Awards is a major part of the film 11. Robert De Niro to be honoured with Chaplin Award by industry’s awards season, which culminates each year Film Society of Lincoln Center with the Academy Awards or Oscars. 12. Luis Suarez was awarded with the European Golden Shoe 2. Indian-origin British professor has been honored with the after scoring 40 goals for Barcelona last season and it is the Queen Elizabeth II Knighthood____ Prof. Shankar second time he’s won the prize, having shared it with Balasubramanian. Cristiano Ronaldo two years ago. Note: He has been honored with the Queen Elizabeth II 13. Adi Godrej conferred Clinton Global Citizen Award Knighthood for his work as a co-inventor of Next 14. Aung San Suu Kyi honoured as 2016 Humanitarian of the Generation DNA sequencing, described as the most Year by Harvard Foundation transformational advance in biology and medicine for 15. Honorary Academy (Oscar) Award - Action movie star, decades. writer, director and martial artist Jackie Chan selected for 3. The Social reformer who has been honoured by Google an honorary Academy (Oscar) Award for his extraordinary Doodle on her 186th birth anniversary_____ Savitribai achievements in the movies. Phule. 16. Mister World title - Rohit Khandelwal won the coveted 4. Who has been selected for the prestigious 2016 Jnanpith Mister World 2016 title. The grand finale of Mr World Award___ Shankha Ghosh. 2016 was held at the Southport Theatre & Convention Note: He has earlier won the Sahitya Academy Award Centre in Southport, U.K. Note: With this, Khandelwal has and the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Indian become the first Indian and Asian to win the Mr World title literature. The Jnanpith Award is an Indian literary award at the competition presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an 17. Elephant researcher Prajna Chowta awarded with author for their 'outstanding contribution towards Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite, one of the highest literature'. civilian recognitions of the French government. 5. Nobel Prize 2016 - 18. Knight of the National Order of the French Legion of Peace Prize – Juan Manuel Santos. Honour - Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson and Literature – Bob Dylan Managing Director of Biocon Limited appointed Chevalier Physics – David J Thouless, F Duncan M Haldane & J. de l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur (Knight of the Michael Kosterlitz National Order of the French Legion of Honour). She was Physiology & Medicine – Yoshinori Ohsumi honoured for her contribution to biosciences and research. Economic Sciences – Oliver Hart, Bengt Holmstrom 19. Google Community Impact Award from Asia - Advay Chemistry – Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir James Fraser Ramesh, a Class 10 student from Chennai won the Stoddart & Bernard L Feringa prestigious Google Community Impact Award from Asia, a 6. UAE based Indian environmental activist Kehkashan theme based award part of Google Science Fair 2016 Basu (16) has won 2016 prestigious International 20. 2016 UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy - The Jan Children’s Peace Prize. Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) of Malappuram, Kerala conferred 7. Who has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of with the 2016 Unesco Confucius Prize for Literacy. Italy____ Paolo Gentiloni. 21. Former Indian women’s cricket team captain Anjum 8. Who has been named as the Time magazine’s Person of the Chopra awarded an honorary life membership of the Year 2016___Donald Trump. Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). 9. Who has been named as the 2016 Foreign Policy Global Note: With this, Chopra became the first Indian woman Thinker for novel Twitter diplomacy____ Sushma Swaraj. cricketer to get the prestigious life membership of MCC. 10. The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) 22. Best Film Award at 19th Shanghai International Film inducted renowned space scientist U.R. Rao into its Hall of Festival - Movie Thithi won two awards - Best gradeup.co/banking-insurance

Film and Best Script Writers - under the Asia New Talent 24. 2016 International DUBLIN Literary Award - American Awards Category at the 19th Shanghai International Film author Akhil Sharma won the 2016 International DUBLIN Festival. Raam Reddy is the director of the film. Note: In Literary Award for his novel Family Life. 63rd National Film Awards, it won the National Film Note: The book Family Life tells the story of eightyear-old Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada. Ajay, whose family move from Delhi to America in 1978 23. 2016 PEN Pinter Prize - Canadian poet, novelist and 25. Man Booker Prize for 2016 - South Korean author Han environmental activist Margaret Atwood was conferred Kang won the Man Booker Prize for 2016 for her novel with the 2016 PEN Pinter Prize. ‘The Vegetarian’ Note - The PEN Pinter Prize is an annual literary award 26. Lhakpa becomes first woman to climb Everest seventh launched in 2009 by English PEN. It was launched in time - Nepalese woman Lhakpa Sherpa, breaks own record honour of the late Nobel Literature Prize-winning to climb Everest a seventh time. playwright Harold Pinter.

Obituaries

National

1. Former governor of Uttarakhand, Surjit Singh Barnala 14. The legendary Tamil poet and activist has passed away at passed away. Urappakkam in Chennai, Tamil Nadu - Makkal Pavalar 2. Deepak Roy, National Award winning filmmaker passed Inkulab. away. He was known for his movie, ‘Limit to Freedom’. 15. International hockey umpire has passed away recently - 3. Veteran Film Actress, Geeta Sen passed away. Phulel Singh Sujlana. 4. Senior Congress leader and former Tourism Minister of 16. AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister passed Maharashtra has passed away in Pune ____Chandrakant away at Apollo Hospital in Chennai - J Jayalalithaa Chhajed. He became Pune mayor in 1987. 17. Noted geophysicist who passed away in Hyderabad - 5. Imtiaz Ahmed, who passed away was the former cricketer Janardhan Negi of _____Pakistan. 18. Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor has passed away at Note: He featured in Pakistan's first Test played in Delhi the Army Research and Referral hospital in New Delhi- Lt. against India in October 1952 and went on to play 41 Gen Srinivas Kumar Sinha matches as a wicket keeper-batsman. 19. Pandit Amaradeva - Padma Shri singer and composer 6. Karnataka Minister has passed away while he was in passed away. Chikkamagaluru to attend the silver jubilee celebrations of 20. Mangat Ram Sharma - Former J&K Deputy CM passed the Transport Cooperative Society at Koppa ______H S away. Mahadeva Prasad. 21. Reoti Saran Sharma - Hindi and Urdu writer passed away. 7. , who passed away was the 22. - Theatre legend of Manipur passed famous musician of musical instrument____ Sitar. He was away. regarded as one of the ‘Sitar Trinity’ of India along with 23. Nalinidhar Bhattacharyya - Noted Assamese poet, Pandit Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan. literary critic and author, passed away. 8. Veteran Kannada film actor has recently passed away in 24. Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai, Former Governor and Mysuru, Karnataka___ Chetan Ramarao. recipient of Padma Vibhushan passed away. 9. The famous Malayalam actor, who passed away in 25. Kalikho Pul - Former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala_____ Jagannatha Verma. He is passed away. known for his hit films like New Delhi, and Lelam. 26. K K Sreedharan Nair - Former editor of ‘Mathrubhumi’ 10. An international fame painter, has passed away in Indore, passed away. Madhya Pradesh____ Dinanath Bhargava. 27. Xerxes Sapur Desai - Founder of Titan (watch) passed 11. Senior BJP leader and former chief minister of Madhya away. Pradesh has passed away in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh___ 28. Neil O'Brien - Pioneer of Indian quizzing passed away. Sunderlal Patwa. 29. Manohar Aich - India’s first Mr Universe passed away. 12. Environmentalist Anupam Mishra passes away. 13. Noted journalist Cho S Ramaswamy passes away. gradeup.co/banking-insurance

International

1. Former President of Iran has passed away in Tehran, 8. The British pop superstar and founding member of Wham! Iran____ Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. He served as has passed away at Goring, England ___ George Michael. president from 1989 to 1997 9. Former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka has passed away in 2. The former President and prime-minister of Portugal has Colombo, Sri Lanka___ Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. He passed away in Lisbon, Portugal___ Mario Soares. He was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 2000 to 2001 and played a central role in the re-establishment of diplomatic again from 2005 to 2010. relations between Portugal and India in 1974. 10. Henry Heimlich, inventor of Heimlich manoeuvre passed 3. The renowned sociologist of Poland has passed away at away. Leeds, England____ Zygmunt Bauman. He was one of the 11. Legendary horse jockey Walter Swinburn passed away. world’s most prominent and prolific European sociologists 12. Astronaut John Glenn, the 1st American to Orbit Earth, writing on issues as diverse as modernity and the dies at 95. Holocaust, postmodern consumerism and liquid 13. Bhumibol Adulyadej - King of Thailand, passed away. modernity. 14. Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister of Israel, dies. 4. English singer-songwriter has passed away in Sussex, 15. Edward Albee - Pulitzer-winning US playwright passed England____ Peter Sarstedt. away. 5. The former President of Germany who passed away 16. Lindsay Tuckett – South African, World’s oldest cricketer recently ____Roman Herzog. He served as President under passed away. Chancellor Helmut Kohl and later under Gerhard Schroder 17. Islam Karimov, President of Uzbekistan passed away. between 1994 and 1999. 18. George E. Curry, Legendary journalist George E. Curry, 6. Tyrus Wong, who passed away was the legendary Disney considered the ‘dean of black press columnists’ passed artist of the country___United States. He was best known away. for his sketches for the Walt Disney animated feature 19. Sellapan Ramanathan, Singapore’s longest serving 'Bambi'. president, passed away. 7. John Berger, who passed away was the renowned author 20. Ahmed Zewail, Chemistry Prof and Nobel Laureate, of the country ____United Kingdom. His best-known work passed away. was Ways of Seeing, a criticism of western cultural 21. Joao Havelange - Former FIFA president and IOC aesthetics. He also won the Booker Prize for his novel G member, passed away. and donated half the prize money to the radical African- 22. Braj B Kachru, Indian-American linguist and Jubilee American movement. Professor Emeritus of Linguistics at the University of Illinois passed away.

Sports News

CRICKET 1. Karun Nair became second Indian to score triple 6. The world’s largest seating capacity cricket stadium century in Tests. Earlier, Virendra Sehwag scored two will be Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. triple centuries in test matches. 7. Ravichandran Ashwin has equalled Kapil Dev's 2. India defeated England by 4-0 to win the Anthony De record of 23 five-wicket hauls. Mello trophy 2016. 8. New Zealand’s Suzie Bates has become the first 3. Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana named in ICC cricketer to clinch both the ICC Women’s ODI and T20I Women's Team of the Year. Player of the Year awards 4. Virat Kohli is the fifth cricketer to score three double 9. Mahindra Singh Dhoni, Indian cricketer has test centuries in a calendar year. announced to step down as captain of Team India's 5. India beats Pakistan to win 2016 T20 Women's Asia limited over cricket matches. Cup. 10. Gujarat has won the Ranji Trophy tournament 2016- 17. gradeup.co/banking-insurance

HOCKEY

1. Indian Junior Men’s hockey team has won the 2016 6. Indian women’s hockey team defeated china to win Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup tournament by Women’s Asian trophy. defeating Belgium in the final match by 2-1 in 7. Indian men’s hockey team defeated Pakistan to win Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Women’s Asian trophy. 2. The Women’s Hockey World Cup 2018 will be held in 8. Argentina Women won 2016 Champions Trophy London, England. Hockey title. Argentina defeated Netherlands in the 3. The Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 will be held in final. India. 9. Narinder Batra has become the first Indian to be 4. PR Sreejesh Indian hockey player has become a elected the President of the International Hockey. member of International Hockey Federation (FIH) 10. Hockey India recommended Ritu Rani and VR Athletes’ Committee. Raghunath for Arjuna Award. 5. PR Sreejesh takes charge as Goalkeeping Coach of India Under-21 hockey team.

FOOTBALL

1. The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 will be held in India. 6. Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Best FIFA Men’s 2. The FIFA World Cup 2018 will be held in Russia. player award at the 2016 Best FIFA Football Awards in 3. The FIFA World Cup 2022 will be held in Qatar. Zurich. 4. India ranks at 137 position in latest FIFA ranking. 7. Indian women football team has won the 2016 SAFF 5. Argentina tops the FIFA World Rankings, followed by Women’s Championship defeating Bangladesh. Germany and Brazil. 8. Atletico de Kolkata crowned 2016 Indian Super League champions. 9. Jeje Lalpekhlua has won the 2016 All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player of the Year

BADMINTON

1. Rio Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu has won the 4. Saina Nehwal appointed member of International 2016 ‘Most Improved Player’ award by the Badminton Olympic Committee's (IOC) Athletes' Commission World Federation (BWF). Athletes' Commission. 2. Indian shuttler Pratul Joshi has won the men’s singles 5. Brazil Open Grand Prix - India's mixed doubles pair of title of the Bahrain International Challenge badminton Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy won the title tournament. after defeating Canadian combo of Toby Ng and Rachel 3. Shuttler Pratul Joshi wins Bahrain International Honderich 21-15, 21-16 in straight games at Costa Challenge title. Cavalcante.

BOXING

1. M C Mary Kom has been honored with the “Legends 4. Rajouri Abbu Ammaz, an eight-year old boy from Jammu Award” by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) for and Kashmir has won gold medal in Thai Boxing her trailblazing boxing career in Montreux, Switzerland. Championship at the national level. 2. Indian boxing star Vijender Singh knocked out former 5. Sachin Singh bagged gold at AIBA & became the third world Francis Cheka and retain WBO-Asia Pacific Super Indian boxer to bag gold medal at the AIBA Youth World Middleweight title at Thyagraj Stadium in New Delhi. Championships. 3. The first elite men’s senior national boxing tournament has started in Assam.

TENNIS 1. Andy Murray, Scottish professional tennis player has 4. Rohan Bopanna and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan has won won the BBC sports personality of the Year 2016. the 2017 Aircel Chenni Open men’s doubles tournament 2. Rafael Nadal, a Spanish professional tennis player has 5. Mubadala World Tennis Championship was organized at won the 2016 Mubadala World Tennis the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex in United 3. Novak Djokovic has won the 2017 Qatar Open Men’s Arab Emirates (UAE) between 29th – 31st DECEMBER singles tennis tournament. 2016.

OTHER SPORTS gradeup.co/banking-insurance

1. Farrukh Amonatov wins Delhi International Open 10. Usain Bolt has won the IAAF World Athlete of the Year Chess Tournament. He defeated Dzhumaev Marat of award for a record sixth time. Uzbekistan. 11. Nico Rosberg German Formula 1 racing driver has 2. Sergey Karjakin has won the gold in the 2016 World announced his retirement from Formula1 Blitz Chess Championship in Doha, Qatar. 12. LeBron James, Basketball player has been chosen as 3. Magnus Carlsen wins 2016 World Chess the Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year. Championship. 13. Pankaj Advani, the Indian snooker player has won the 4. Lewis Hamilton won both the 2016 Mexican Grand National title in 6-red Snooker. Prix and the Brazilian Grand Prix 2016. 14. Kush Bhagat has won all three gold medals in three 5. Pankaj Advani won World Billiards title in Bengaluru categories (Rapid, Blitz and Standard) on offer in the 6. Mukesh kumar, Indian Golfer has become the oldest 1st Western Asia Youth Chess Championships at Al Ain golfer to win an Asian Tour title at Delhi Golf Club Chess Club in UAE. (DGC). 15. The 2017 National Ice Skating Championship has 7. Arjun Bhati has won the Kids Golf World started in the Gurugram (Haryana). Championship 2016 16. Velavan Senthilkumar has won the Under-19 British 8. India’s largest indoor sports arena will come up in Junior Open Squash 2017 tournament. New Town area (Kolkata). 17. Shreyas Mehta has won the 2017 Scottish Junior 9. The highest-paid athlete of all time, according to Open Squash championship by defeating Colombia’s Forbes is Michael Jordan Juan Jose Torres Lara in the final at Edinburgh, Scotland.

Science and Defence News

1. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has 10. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is successfully launched remote sensing satellite sending first African-American space station crew Resourcesat-2A into its dedicated orbit. It was member to space station in 2018 Jeanette Epps. launched onboard of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle 11. India’s second Kalvari-class Scorpene stealth (PSLV)-C36 from first launch pad at Satish Dhawan submarine “INS Khanderi” has been launched in Mumbai. Space Centre in Sriharikota. 2. Indian Navy’s eight landing craft utility (LCU) L-58 12. The union railway minister Suresh Prabhu has released an was launched by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Android-based mobile application named “IRCTC Rail Engineers Ltd (GRSE) in Kolkata, West Bengal. Connect’’ app to promote ease of ticketing through digital transactions. 3. China has successfully launched Fengyun-4 satellite, 13. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has first of its new generation weather satellites into signed pact with the French Space agency (CNES) satellite geostationary orbit. launch technology. 4. India successfully test fired its home-grown long range 14. Pakistan Army has test-fired the first submarine- intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear capable launched Cruise Missile Babur-3. ballistic missile Agni-5. 15. India and Vietnam have signed a civil nuclear 5. The first-ever joint military exercise “Pratikar-I” will be held between Nepal and China on 10th February cooperation agreement. With this, Vietnam became 2017.The focus of the military exercise will be on training 14th country with which India has signed the civil nuclear Nepali forces in dealing with hostage scenarios involving deal. international terror groups. 16. China has successfully launched a navigation satellite XPNAV-1 6. The first country in the world to use drones for national mail service France. 17. India has become the first non-NPT country with 7. The Google India will launch “Digitally Safe Consumer” which Japan has signed a Civil Nuclear Agreement. campaign with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in 2017 18. NASA’s most powerful space telescope completed. to raise awareness and protect consumer interest on the The James Webb Space Telescope will be the internet. successor to NASA’s 26-year-old Hubble Space Telescope. It will be 100 times more powerful than the 8. China has launched a global carbon dioxide monitoring Hubble probe and may find the first galaxies that satellite to understand climate change TanSat. formed in the early universe. 9. China has successfully tested the newest version of the J- 19. China launches Long March 5 Rocket. 31stealth fighter “FC-31 Gyrfalcon”. 20. Zumwalt - US Navy has commissioned its largest, most expensive and technologically advanced destroyer, Zumwalt. The 610-foot The 610-foot-long ship, gradeup.co/banking-insurance

commissioned in Baltimore also has an advanced power  The S 400 is the latest of a long range of highly plant and weapon systems. successful air defence systems that have been the 21. Barak-8 - surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) - India and biggest threat to western aircraft across the world. Israel jointly developed most advanced long range 24. INS Tihayu - Indian Navy has commissioned INS Tihayu, surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) Barak-8 was successfully a Car Nicobar Class water jet fast attack craft (WJFAC). INS test fired off the Odisha coast. The missile was test fired Tahiyu is the sixth WJFAC Car Nicobar Class vessel to be from a mobile launcher at the Integrated Test Range in commissioned and allotted to the Eastern Fleet of the Chandipur in Balasore district in Odisha. Indian Navy. It has been built by Kolkata-based shipyard 22. Akula II - India has signed agreement with Russia to Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). lease second Akula-II class nuclear attack submarine 25. Communication satellite GSAT-18 successfully launched - (SSN). The deal is believed to be worth about $2 billion. India successfully launched the communication satellite 23. S-400 ‘Triumf’ air defence systems - India has signed a GSAT-18. The satellite was launched by a heavy-duty defence deal worth nearly Rs 39,000 crore with Russia to rocket of Arianespace from the spaceport of Kourou in purchase five state of art S-400 ‘Triumf’ air defence French Guiana. systems. 26. Sarathi - The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned Note: well-equipped offshore patrolling (OPV) vessel named  The S-400 Triumf- NATO names it Growler- is an ‘Sarathi’. It was commissioned by anti-aircraft weapon system. It has been developed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Defence by Russia’s Almaz Central Design Bureau. Minister Manohar Parrikar at Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL)  The system uses long range and medium range shipyard at Vasco in south Goa. missiles.

Military Exercises

EXERCISE NAME COUNTRIES INVOLVED INDRA India Navy-Russia Navy JIMEX JAPAN Navy- INDIA navy VARUNA FRANCE navy - INDIA navy IBSAMAR India, Brazil&South African Navy ELEPHANT Indo- Mongolia Militiary HAND in HAND INDO - CHINA Militiary MITRA SHAKTI INDo - SRILANKA Militiary SLINEX Srilanka- India Navy YUDDH ABHYAS INDIA - US Army RED FLAG INDIA - US Air Forces MALABAR INDIA, Japan and US Navy COPE INDIA - US Air Forces SAMPRITI INDIA - BANGALDESH Militiary GARUDA SHAKTI Indo- Indonesia Militiary GARUDA Indo- French Air Forces SHADE India, japan and China Navy SURYA KIRAN India - Nepal Militiary KONKAN India- Britain navy SIMBEX Singapore- India Maritime EKUVERIN India- Maldives Militiary SAHAYOG-KAIJIN India - Japan Coast Guard AUSINDEX Australia- India Navy DRUZHBA Russia- Pakistan Militiary Naseem-Al- Bahr Oman - Indian navy PRATIKAR-I Nepal - China

Important Agreements/ MoU Signed/ Deals: India & Abroad gradeup.co/banking-insurance

(MoU) in the field of civil nuclear deal and nine other 1. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed pact with the country’s space agency on agreements in various fields. 13. India, Sri Lanka sign MoU to support fishermen in satellite launch technology ____ France. Hambantota district of Sri Lanka. 2. India and Mauritius sign MoU for cooperation in 14. India along with 10 other member countries of WHO's Agriculture. South-East Asian Regional Committee decided to set 3. India has signed a Protocol to amend the Double up a dedicated fund aimed at building preparedness Taxation Avoidance Convention in January 2017 ___ for health emergencies in the Sri Lanka. Kazakhstan. 15. India, Greece sign Air Services Agreement under Open 4. The Union Cabinet of the country has agreed to sign an Sky Policy - India signed the bilateral Air Services agreement for cooperation in field of agriculture and Agreement with Greece to allow unlimited points of allied sectors ___ Portugal. call for domestic airlines in Greece. 16. India, Egypt sign agreement in area of Maritime 5. Union Cabinet approved to sign a MoU with this country in the field of agriculture and allied sectors Transport. 17. India and the United States signed Logistics Exchange ____ Kenya. 6. India and Kyrgyzstan sign 6 agreements - Tourism, Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). The logistics cooperation in youth exchange, Youth development, agreement will enable the forces of the two nations to Agriculture and Food Industry, Broadcasting and use each other’s bases for repair and replenishment of exchange of audio visual programmes. supplies. 7. India and Indonesia have signed three agreements in 18. World Bank to provide $1 bn for India solar projects - various areas to enhance strategic partnership. The World Bank on Thursday committed USD 1 billion 8. The Union Cabinet has given its approval to (about 625 million or Rs 6,750 crore) to support solar Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India energy programme in India, which is reducing and United Kingdom (UK) to support Ease of Doing dependence on conventional energy sources to reduce Business in India. greenhouse gas emissions. 9. India and Qatar have signed five agreements including 19. Bangladesh & India signed an agreement for the in the field of visas, cyberspace and investments. construction of a 1,320 megawatt (MW) coal fired 10. The Union Cabinet has approved Memorandum of power plant near Sundarbans. Understanding (MoU) between India and Afghanistan 20. Agreement between India & Tanzania in the field of on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy. 11. India and Tajikistan have signed four agreements in 21. Agreement between India & Mauritius in the field of areas including on double taxation avoidance, money Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation. laundering and counter-terrorism. 22. India signed agreement with Mozambique for import 12. During the Prime Minister’s 3 Days Visit To Japan of pulses. The MoU aims to promote the production of – Prime Minister Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Tur (Pigeon Peas) and other pulses in Mozambique by Shinzo Abe inked a Memorandum of understanding encouraging progressive increase in the trading of these pulses.

Schemes/ Policy launched by State/ Union Govt. of India

1. NITI Aayog announces launch of the schemes - Lucky 50,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs. 2,500 Grahak Yojana and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana - for c) Mega Draw on 14th of April (Ambedkar Jayanti) - 3 incentivising digital payments. Mega Prizes for consumers worth Rs 1 cr, 50 lakh, 25 lakh The primary aim of these schemes is to incentivize digital & 3 Mega Prizes for merchants worth Rs 50 lakhs, 25 transactions so that electronic payments are adopted by lakh, 12 lakh for digital transactions between 8th all sections of the society, especially the poor and the November, 2016 to 13th April, 2017 to be announced on middle class. 14th April, 2017. The scheme became operational with the first draw on 2. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) 25th December, 2016, leading up to a Mega Draw on notified along with other provisions of Taxation Laws Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti on 14th April 2017. (Second Amendment) Act, 2016 came into effect from 17 a) Lucky Grahak Yojana [Consumers]: Daily reward of December 2016. It will remain open until March 31, 2017. Rs 1000 to be given to 15,000 lucky Consumers for a PMGKY is Union Government’s second income disclosure period of 100 days, Weekly prizes worth Rs 1 lakh, Rs scheme (IDS) to allow tax evaders to come clean with 10,000 and Rs. 5000 for Consumers who use the alternate unaccounted wealth. It provides for 50 per cent tax and modes of digital Payments. surcharge on declarations of unaccounted cash deposited b) Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana [Merchants]: Prizes for in banks. Merchants for all digital transactions conducted at 3. Vittiya Saksharata Abhiyan (VISAKA) was launched by Merchant establishments. Weekly prizes worth Rs. the Union Ministry for Human Resource Development gradeup.co/banking-insurance

(HRD) to make people aware about cashless economic Ganga (NMCG) for infrastructure development for sewage system. It was launched by Union HRD minister Prakash treatment. Javadekar in New Delhi. It is campaign by Higher 14. Odisha government has launched Madhubabu Aain Educational institutions for digital economy. Sahayata Sibir’ (MASS) scheme to provide legal assistance 4. Rajasthan Government has launched Annapurna Rasoi to deprived sections of the society at the grassroots level. Scheme to provide quality meal at cheap price to poor The scheme has been named after great Odia lawyer and needy on lines with Tamil Nadu Government’s Amma Babu, who is considered as the first lawyer of canteens. The tagline for the scheme is: “Sabke liye Odisha. Key Features of Scheme State government will bhojan, sabke liye sammaan (Food for all, respect for all)”. provide free legal consultations to deprived sections of 5. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has launched Student the society by setting up legal assistance cells in all 6,812 credit card scheme for the students passing Class 12th gram panchayats across the state. Legal assistance will exam on Oct 2, 2016. It will fecilaitate to get an interest be given in shape of free legal aid in order to ensure that free loan of Rs four lakh for pursuing higher studies. opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen for economic and other reasons. 6. Jharkhand became the first state in the country to implement Direct Benefit Transfer(DBT) in Kerosene. The 15. Swadesh scheme – The scheme was launched scheme would be implemented in four identified districts by Union Tourism Ministry with an aim to develop theme of the state from 1st of October 2017. These districts are based tourist circuits in the country. Key points: The Chatra, Hazaribagh, Khunti and Jamtara. Union Government has approved 450 crore for the scheme. The scheme was launched in 5 states for the 7. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has decided to launch a scheme -‘Lalima Abhiyan’ to development of Heritage circuit in Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Ramayana Circuit in Uttar Pradesh, North make Madhya Pradesh anaemia-free. Note: It will be effective from November 1, 2016. East Circuit in Sikkim and Coastal Circuit of Tamil Nadu. Biju Kanya Ratna Yojana (BKRY) - The scheme was 8. The 'Farm Tourism' scheme launched by Haryana 16. Tourism Minister Rambilas Sharma to attract people to launched by the Odisha Government for the development of girls in three districts of the state which are - Ganjam, villages. Note: Under this scheme, farm owners can host tourists Dhenkanal and Angul. The objective the scheme is to improve Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) and Child Sex Ratio under holiday packages. (CSR) in the three districts.

9. Maharashtra government launched ‘Kaushalya Setu’, its 17. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) – The skill development programme for students. scheme was announced by the union government which Note: The state will play a leading role in fulfilling PM aims to providing apprenticeship training to over 50 lakh Narendra Modi’s Skill India Mission-2020. youngsters in order to create more jobs. Key points – The 10. PM launched several schemes including ‘Urja Ganga’ gas Scheme has an outlay of 10,000 crore rupees with a target pipeline project in Varanasi. of 50 Lakh apprentices to be trained by 2019-20. Central Note: Urja Ganga”, 1500 km long gas pipeline project Government will also directly share 25% of the total which costing Rs 51,000 crore to provide piped cooking stipend (maximum of 1,500 rupees per month per gas to residents of Varanasi within two years. apprentice) payable to an apprentice with employers. 11. The Ministry of Science and Technology has started two 18. Indian Railway launched Insurance scheme for new initiatives namely Biotech-KISAN (Krishi Innovation passengers travelling on e- ticket Science Application Network) and Cattle Genomics. Note: The scheme was launched by Union Railway Note: Under the scheme, fellowship will be given to Minister Suresh Prabhu in New Delhi. women farmers for training and education in the farm Key points – Person booking a train ticket through the practice. IRCTC website will be eligible for the travel insurance and 12. The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has it is optional. To avail the facility, train passengers have given its approval to New Productivity Linked to pay 92 paisa premium. The insurance cover will not be Reward(PLR) Scheme for all Major Port Trusts and Dock applicable for children upto 5 years of age and foreign Labour Board employees/workers for the years 2015-16 citizens. The facility will be available only for confirmed to 2017-18. and RAC ticket passengers. The scheme offers travellers 13. Smart Ganga City Scheme in 10 cities – The scheme was or nominees a compensation of 10 lakh Rupees in the launched by Union Minister for Water Resources, River event of death or total disabilty, 7.5 lakh Rupees for Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti and partial disability. Besides it will pay upto 2 lakh Rupees Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu. for hospitalisation expenses and 10,000 rupees for Key points: The scheme was launched in 10 ten transportation of mortal remains from the place of a train important cities through video conference. These cities accident. are – 1. Haridwar, 2. Rishikesh, 3. Mathura-Vrindavan, 4. 19. E-Library ‘Sugamya Pustakalaya’ - The Union Varanasi, 5. Kanpur, 6. Allahabad, 7. Lucknow, 8. Patna, 9. Government has launched Accessible E-Library ‘Sugamya Sahibgunj, 10. Barrackpore. These cities were chosen as Pustakalaya’ for Divyang under Prime Minister’s Sugamya part of the Phase-I of the National Mission for Clean Bharat Abhiyan. It was jointly launched by Union Ministers Prasad, Prakash Javadekar and gradeup.co/banking-insurance

Thawar Chand Gehlot at a fucntion in New Delhi. 26. Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) - The Union Key points: Sugamya Pustakalaya is an online library for Cabinet has approved proposal of extending the deadline Divyang and houses publications across diverse subjects for implementing the Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana and languages and multiple accessible formats. In this (UDAY) by a year to March 31, 2017. The UDAY scheme online library books will available in accessible formats aims at bringing ailing power discoms to a state of for people with visual impairment and other print operational efficiency, with state governments taking disabilities. It will house over 2 lakhs books in diverse over up to 75% of their respective debt and issuing languages. It will also integrate libraries across India and sovereign bonds to pay back the lenders. the Globe, including the largest international library 27. Union Government launches UJALA Scheme - Unnat Bookshare. Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) will help people 20. Mission Bhagiratha, safe drinking water scheme of Madhya Pradesh get subsidised 9W energy efficient launched in Telangana – The scheme was launched by LED bulbs by paying just 85 rupees per LED bulb. Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi. It was launched by state 28. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: It is a small deposit scheme Government at Komatibanda Village, Gajwel in Medak for the girl child. District of Telangana. Key points of the scheme – Key points : Mission Bhagiratha is a water grid project In one family, a maximum of two accounts can be opened that aims to provide safe drinking water to all even to for two girl children. The account can be transferred remotest places in Telangana. The objective of the anywhere in India from one Post office/Bank to another. scheme is to provide 100 litres of clean drinking water Age Limit: The upper age limit of the girl child for per person in rural households and 150 litres per person opening this account is 10 years. The govt. has given a in urban households. Under it safe drinking water will be relaxation of one year in the upper age limit for those provided to about 25000 rural habitations and 67 urban opening accounts till December 1, 2015. habitations. Documents required - 1. Birth Certificate of the girl 21. Baristha Bunakar Sahayata Yojana launched in Odisha child. 2. Address proof. 3. Identity proof. Note: A special assistance scheme for elderly weavers. Minimum & Maximum deposit: The minimum deposit The scheme was launched by Chief Minister Naveen under the scheme is Rs. 1000/-. The maximum deposit is Patnaik on the occasion of the second National Rs. 1.5 lakhs. There is no limit on the number of Handlooms Day (observed on 7th August). The scheme investments one can make in an account either in a aims at improving the financial condition of over 8,000 month or in a year. weavers in the state. Interest rate: The revised rate is 8.6%. 22. DISHA scheme launched by govt. - The Union Maturity period: The maturity period of the scheme is 21 Government has constituted the District Development years from the date of account opening, though deposits Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DDCMC) for need to be made only for the first 14 years. The minimum effective development and coordination of Central lock-in in period under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is Government’s programme. It will be known as DISHA. 11 years. Key Points - It will monitor the implementation of 28 29. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): The schemes and programmes of Union Ministry of Rural scheme aims to impart skill training to youth with focus Development and other Ministries to promote synergy on first time entrants to the labour market and class 10 and convergence for greater impact. The main purpose of and class 12 drop outs. The scheme will be implemented the DISHA is to coordinate with Central and State and by the Union Ministry of Skill Development and local Panchayat Governments. It has been created for Entrepreneurship through the National Skill effective coordination and development of Central Development Corporation (NSDC). It will cover 24 lakh Government’s programme for infrastructure persons and skill training would be based on the National development or Social and human resource development. Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and industry led 23. ‘Himayat’ programme launched in J & K – The scheme standards. was launched in Jammu & Kashmir. 30. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY): It Note: The govt. had approved nearly 1,600 crore is a low premium insurance scheme which will link with rupees for the implementation of the ‘Hinayat the Pradhan Mantri Jhan Dhan Yojna. Programme’ in the state. Key points of the scheme: 24. Prime Minister launched Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Eligibility: Minimum 18 years and maximum 50 years Yojana at Ballia. and have bank account are eligible for the scheme. If the Note: It will provide 5 crore LPG connections to BPL account is opened before attaining the age of 50 years, the Families. life cover would remain intact up to the age of 55 years, if 25. Interest Subvention Scheme for farmers - The scheme premium is paid regularly. Premium - Rs.330 per year i.e. will help farmers getting short term crop loan payable less than Rs.1 per day. Risk coverage - Rs.2 Lakh in case within one year up to 3 lakhs Rupees at only 4% per of death for any reason. The premium paid will be tax- annum. free under section 80C and also the proceeds amount will get tax-exemption u/s 10(10D). gradeup.co/banking-insurance

31. Atal Pension Yojana (APY): It is a scheme mainly for annum, whichever is lower, to each eligible subscriber workers in unorganised sector. The scheme will be account, for a period of 5 years, i.e., from 2015-16 to administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and 2019-20, who join the NPS before 31st December, 2015 Development Authority (PFRDA) and replace the and who are not income taxpayers. previous government's Swavalamban Yojana NPS Lite. 32. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): It is Key points of the scheme: an insurance scheme which covers death or disablement The subscribers who will joined the scheme would of the policyholder caused due to accident or accidental receive the fixed pension of Rs. 1000 per month, Rs. 2000 injuries. per month, Rs. 3000 per month, Rs. 4000 per month, Rs. Key points of the scheme: Age limit: Minimum 18 yrs 5000 per month, at the age of 60 years, depending on and maximum 70 years. The scheme will be a one year their contributions. cover, renewable from year to year and would be Age limit: minimum 18 years and maximum age is 40 administered through the Public Sector General years. Insurance Companies in collaboration with Banks. A subscriber can contribute for minimum period of 20 Risk coverage: Rs. 2 Lakh and for partial disability cover years or more and pension payment will start at the age of Rs. 1 Lakh. of 60 years. Premium: Rs.12 per annum. The premium will be The government of India has decided to co-contribute directly auto-debited by the bank from the subscribers' 50% of the subscriber's contribution or Rs. 1000 per account.

Appointments

National Appointments

1. New Chief Justice of India (CJI) - Justice Jagdish Singh 21. Brand ambassador for Swachh Rail Mission__ Khehar. He replaces Chief Justice TS Thakur. Bindeshwar Pathak 2. New Executive Director (ED) of Reserve Bank of India 22. Chairman of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India – (RBI)____Surekha Marandi. MS Sahoo. 3. New chairman of Tata Sons _____Natarajan 23. Indian Bank’s Association Chairman for 2016-17___ Chandrasekaran Rajeev Rishi. 4. New Chief of Army - Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat. 24. Bilal Nazki appointed as chairperson of J&K Human Note: He succeeds Army Chief General Dalbir Singh. Rights Commission. 5. New Air Chief - BS Dhanoa 25. Karnal Singh appointed as Director of Enforcement 6. New Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tata Directorate. Consultancy Services(TCS)___ Rajesh Gopinathan 26. S Sivakumar full-time member of 21st Law Commission 7. New chief executive officer of Flipkart___ Kalyan of India Krishnamurthy 27. Junaid Ahmad appointed as the World Bank Country 8. New chairman of the Union Public Service Director for India. Commission(UPSC)_____ Prof. David R. Syiemlieh. Note: He will succeed Onno Ruhl who completed his four- 9. DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) has elected party year term recently. treasurer as its Working President____M K Stalin. 28. New Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) - 10. New president of All India Football Federation (AIFF) for Sushil Chandra. the term 2017-2020____ Praful Patel. Note: He will replace Rani Singh Nair. 11. Coca-Cola India has signed Bollywood actor as the brand 29. New Director General (DG) of counter-terrorism force ambassador for its Thumbs Up brand___Ranveer Singh National Security Guard (NSG) – Sudhir Pratap Singh. 12. Rajiv Jain has appointed as new chief of Intelligence 30. R. K. Pachnanda appointed as Director General of Bureau. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). 13. New Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu - Edappadi K. 31. New Directors General of the Central Industrial Security Palaniswami Force (CISF) – OP Singh 14. New director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) - 32. New Governor of RBI – Urjit Patel. Alok Verma Note: He succeeds Raghuram Rajan. He assumes charge 15. Non-executive Chairperson of IDFC Bank____Veena as the 24th Governor of RBI. Mankar. 33. New Chancellor of The Energy and Resources Institute 16. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and MD of the National (Teri) University – Ashok Chawla. Stock Exchange of India (NSE)____Vikram Limaye. 34. New Governor of Manipur – Najma Heptullah. 17. New chief of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation 35. New Chief Minister of Gujarat - Vijay Rupani. (DGCA)___ B S Bhullar. Note: He succeeds Anandiben Patel. 18. New Director-General of Military Operations - Lt. 36. New Governor of Punjab - V P Singh Badnore General A K Bhatt. 37. New Governor of Assam - Banwarilal Purohit 19. First woman director of LBSNAA - Upma Chowdhary 38. New Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh – Pema 20. New Chairman of NHAI - Yudhvir Singh Malik. Khandu. gradeup.co/banking-insurance

39. New MD of SBI – Dinesh Kumar Khara 41. New Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar 40. Aishwaryaa R Dhanush appointed as UN Women’s Islands - Jagdish Mukhi. Advocate for Gender Equality and Women’s 42. Shashi Arora appointed new CEO, MD of Airtel Payments Empowerment in India. Bank.

International Appointments

1. New Prime Minister of Romania____ Sorin 13. New President of the United States of America - Grindeanu. Donald Trump. 2. Antonio Tajani elected as the new president of 14. New PM of Guinea-Bissau - Umaro Sissoco Embalo European Parliament. 15. Kristalina Georgieva appointed as the new CEO of 3. New President of Nicaragua___ Daniel Ortega. IBRD and IDA. 4. New chief justice of Pakistan_____ Justice Mian Saqib 16. Sarabjit Singh Marwah becomes Canada’s first Sikh Nisar Senator. 5. Who has won the 2016 Presidential election of 17. First female President of Estonia - Kersti Kaljulaid. Haiti____Jovenel Moise from Haitian Tet Kale Party 18. Abdelilah Bekirane re-appointed Prime Minister of (HTKP). Morocco. 6. Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio 19. New President of Brazil - Michel Temer. Guterres was sworn in as the 9th UN Secretary- Note: Brazil’s Senate removed President Dilma General. Rousseff from office for breaking budgetary laws. Note: He succeeds Ban Ki-moon. 20. New PM of Nepal - Pushpa Kamal Dahal 7. The British diplomat appointed as the United 'Prachanda'. Kingdom’s ambassador to the European Union is 21. New PM of Tunisia – Youssed Chahed. ____Sir Tim Barrow. 22. New Prime Minister of United Kingdom - Theresa 8. New President of Republic of Ghana ____ Nana Akufo- May. Addo. Note: She succeeded David Cameron. 9. New Prime Minister of New Zealand___ Bill English. 23. Nepal's first woman Chief Justice - Sushila Karki. 10. New chief of Pakistan's powerful spy agency ISI ____Lt 24. Nita Ambani - first Indian woman to be nominated as Gen Naveed Mukhtar. a member of the International Olympic Committee 11. New Prime Minister of France____ Bernard (IOC). Cazeneuve. 25. New Prime Minister of Iceland - Sigurdur Ingi 12. US President-elect Donald Trump has announced Johannsson National Security Adviser - Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster.

International Meets & Summits

1. The 24th edition of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation The ninth BRICS Summit will be hosted by China in (APEC) summit - Lima, Peru 2017. Theme - Quality Growth and Human Development 6. 2016 BRICS Labour & Employment Ministerial Meet was Logo of the APEC summit - The architecture of Caral held in New Delhi. The 23th edition of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 7. The first meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Energy (APEC) summit – Philippines. Saving and Energy Efficiency held in Visakhapatnam, The 25th edition of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Andhra Pradesh. (APEC) summit - Vietnam. 8. The 2016 BRICS Youth Summit held in Guwahati, Assam. 2. Arun Jaitley - inaugurated Economic Editors’ Note: The theme of the 2nd youth summit was “Youth as Conference-2016 in New Delhi. bridge for Intra-BRICS Exchanges”. 3. 104th Indian Science Congress held in – Tirupati, Andhra 9. BRICS Women Parliamentarians' Forum meet held in Pradesh. Jaipur, Rajasthan. 4. World Internet Conference 2016 – Wuzhen, China. 10. The two-day meeting of Ministers of Disaster Theme – Innovation – driven Internet Development for Management (MDM) of BRICS countries concluded in the Benefit of All – Building a Community of Common Udaipur, Rajasthan with the adoption of the Udaipur Future in Cyberspace. Declaration. 5. 8th BRICS Summit – Goa, India 11. The third edition of BRICS Urbanisation Forum Meet has Note: - The logo for the Summit is a lotus having colours started in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. from all the five member countries and a traditional 12. The first BRICS Wellness Workshop held in Bengaluru, Namaste in the centre. The theme 2016 BRICS Summit is - Karnataka. Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective 13. The 2016 BRICS Convention on Tourism held at UNESCO Solutions. 7th BRICS Summit 2015 held in the beautiful World heritage site Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh to city of Ufa, Russia. promote intra-regional tourism. gradeup.co/banking-insurance

14. First BRICS Film Festival held in New Delhi. 2010 G20 Summit. The 2017 G20 Summit will be held in Note: Indian film Thithi has won the best film award at Hamburg, Germany, under the leadership of Angela the first BRICS Film Festival concluded in New Delhi. Merkel. G20 Members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, 15. The first-ever meeting of BRICS Employment Working Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Group (BEWG) was held in Hyderabad, Telangana. Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South 16. The BRICS Policy Planning Dialogue was successfully Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States of concluded in Patna, Bihar. America and European Union. 17. 17th India-Russia Annual Summit held in Goa -The year 24. NATO Summit 2016 held in Warsaw, Poland. 2017 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Note: The organization comprises of 28 member diplomatic relations between the two countries. India and countries. Russia have finalised a general framework agreement for 25. Asia Security Summit (ASS) - is an intergovernmental unit 5 and 6 of Kudankulam nuclear plant. security forum held in Singapore. It is attended by heads 18. President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the first edition of ministries and military chiefs of 28 Asia-Pacific states of World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) in including India. New Delhi. It is organised by TERI with emphasis on the 26. International Buddhist conference held in Nepal to need to limit the rise of climate change. Theme: “Beyond remember the Buddha Birthday Anniversary. 2015: People, Planet and Progress”. 27. First world conference on tourism for development held 19. ASEAN Summit 2016 held in - Vientiane, Laos. in Beijing to step up International Cooperation Venue: Note: The theme for the 2016 summit was - Turning Beijing, China Vision into Reality for a Dynamic ASEAN Community. Theme: “Tourism for Peace and Development” 25. World 20. The Jaipur Sufi festival held at the Diggi palace in Jaipur. Humanitarian Summit held at Istanbul. Note: It is organised annually by the Foundation 28. New fund “Education Cannot Wait” launched at UN World 21. of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL), in Humanitarian Summit. association with the Rajasthan government. 29. The 2016 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 22. The first edition of IoT India Congress 2016 held in summit concluded in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Bengaluru, Karnataka. 30. The Group of Seven (G-7) summit for the year 2016 is to 23. 2016 G20 Summit held in - Hangzhou, China be held in - Japan Note: The Group of 7 (G7) is a group Note: The theme of 2016 G20 Summit was - Toward an consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive United Kingdom, and the United States. The next major World Economy. It was the first ever G20 summit to be G7 summit will be held in Japan in 2016. hosted in China and the second Asian country to host the Summit. Before China, Seoul, South Korea, hosted the

India’s rankings in different indexes

 Bengaluru emerged as the most dynamic city in the Note - The index was released as part of Global Wind Re- world - According to recently released Jones Lang port, Annual Market, the flagship publication of the Global LaSalle’s City Momentum Index (CMI), Bengaluru (capital Wind Energy Council (GWEC). of Karnatak) has emerged as the most dynamic city in the  According to the study of ASSOCHAM, India ranked third world. in number of technology driven startups in the world. Note: Top 5 cities in 2017 CMI: Bengaluru (India), Ho Chi  India ranked at 7th position among 10 wealthiest coun- Minh City (Vietnam), Silicon Valley (US), Shanghai tries. As per the rankings in the report, India is the sev- (China), Hyderabad (India) enth richest country in the world with a total individual  2017 Inclusive Development Index (IDI) - India ranked wealth of 5.6 trillion US dollars. 60th among the 79 developing countries. Note : According to the report – US and UK has occupied Note: Top 5 developing economies in 2017 IDI: Lithuania the top two positions. (1st), Azerbaijan (2nd), Hungary (3rd), Poland (4th), Ro-  Bengaluru ranked first in the largest share of technology mania (5th), Uruguay startups in the country which is followed by Delhi NCR  2017 Global index of talent competitiveness (GTI) - and Mumbai. India was ranked 92nd among 118 countries in the list.  India has been ranked 141st out of 163 countries in the Note: Top 5 Countries: Switzerland (1st), Singapore 2016 Global Peace Index (GPI), compiled by global think (2nd), United Kingdom (3rd), United States (4th), Sweden tank Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). (5th).  India’s rank in the 2016 Global Terrorism Index (GTI)____  As per 2016 HSBC Expat Explorer Survey India’s rank in 7th. offering highest salaries to expats____3rd. According to the 2016 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) India  India’s rank in the 2016 Global Wind Power Installed Ca- was ranked 7th among 163 countries in the list of most pacity Index___4th. impacted by terrorism in 2015. Iraq was the worst hit by terror in 2015 followed by Afghanistan and Nigeria. Paki- stan and Syria were ranked fourth and fifth respectively. gradeup.co/banking-insurance

 Global business optimism index report – India ranked at (1st), Singapore (2nd), New Zealand (3rd), Switzerland 2nd spot. (4th), Canada (5th). Note - The report was released by - the Grant Thornton  India ranks 66th in 2016 Global Innovation Index Note: International Business Report. In the report Indonesia Switzerland, Sweden, UK were ranked top 3 countries re- took the top spot and Philippines was placed third after spectively. India.  India has been ranked 77th out of 171 countries on the  Ease of doing business report: India ranks 130 out of 190 World Risk Index 2016. countries in ease of doing business. The report is pub-  India ranks 10th in FDI inflows: UNCTAD report – India lished by World Bank. continues to be among the top ten countries in terms of  World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report - In- foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows globally and the dia ranked at 87th on the World 2016. Iceland tops the fourth in developing Asia, as per the World Investment latest rankings followed by Finland, Norway and Sweden. Report 2016 by the United Nations Conference for Trade  Ease of Doing Business report - Andhra Pradesh and Tel- and Development (UNCTAD). angana have jointly topped the Ease of Doing Business Note - The list is topped by United States followed by Reforms Ranking 2015-16. The ranking of the states was Hong kong, China, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sin- conducted by the Department of Industrial Policy and gapore, Brazil and Canada. Promotion (DIPP) and the World Bank.  India ranks 35th in 2016 Logistics Performance Index:  India ranks 78th in Global Passport Index. Germany World Bank Report - In the recently released bi-annual topped the list with a visa-free score of 157 while India Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 2016 of World Bank scored 46. Group, India ranked 35th among 160 countries. The index  Global Youth Development Index - India ranks 133rd in was published in the World Bank bi-annual report ‘Con- the index covering 183 nations. Germany topped the list necting to Compete 2016: Top 5 countries in 2016 LPI: which is followed by Denmark & Switzerland. Germany (score: 4.23 points), Luxembourg (4.22), Swe-  Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) – India rank 39th den (4.20), Netherlands (4.19) and Singapore (4.14). among the 138 countries.  India ranks 91st in 2016 Networked Readiness Index – Note - The index was released as part of the World Eco- India was placed at 91st position in the recently released nomic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report for 2016 Networked Readiness Index (NRI) by the Geneva- 2016-17. Top 5 Countries: Switzerland (1st), Singapore based World Economic Forum (WEF). Top-5 countries in (2nd), United States 3rd), Netherlands (4th) and Germany 2016 NRI: Singapore (1st) Finland (2nd), Sweden (3rd), (5th). Norway (4th), United States (5th),  2016 Global Power City Index (GPCI) - London has  India ranked 2nd position as per 2016 Global Retail De- topped for the fifth consecutive year with Mumbai ranked velopment Index (GRDI) - India has been ranked second 39th on the list of the world’s leading global cities for position as per 2016 Global Retail Development Index business, innovation and culture. New York experienced (GRDI) released by London-based business consultancy A no significant change in its ratings, retaining its No. 2 slot. T Kearney.  According to New World Wealth, India’s financial hub  India ranks 70th on 2015 Good Country Index - In re- Mumbai has been named among top 15 cities globally in cently released 2015 Good Country Index (GCI), India has terms of total wealth held, while London topped the list. been placed at 70th position in the list of 163 countries.  India’s Right to Information (RTI) Act, that was passed in The list has been topped by Sweden as the best country. the year 2005, is widely is ranked as 4th best in the Top 5 Countries in 2015 GCI: Sweden, Denmark, Nether- world. Mexico has topped the rankings, followed by Ser- lands, United Kingdom, Germany. bia and Slovenia. India scored a total of 128 out of 150  India was ranked low at 105th position out of 130 coun- points. tries globally on the 2016 Human Capital Index (HCI),  Biomedical investment Attractiveness - India has been which was recently released in the World Economic Fo- ranked No. 19 in a 28-nation survey of biomedical invest- rum (WEF) report. Top 5 Countries in 2016 HCI: Finland ment attractiveness of countries, with an overall score of (1st position), Norway (2nd), Switzerland (3rd), Japan 59 out of 100. Note: The US, UK and Switzerland lead, (4th), Sweden (5th). with the US at No. 1 with a score of 86.  India becomes third largest oil consumer - According to  Most Safe country - Finland is rated the safest country recently released BP Statistical Review of World Energy while El Salvador was named as the least safe and secure India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s third- country in the world in the Global Travel and Tourism Re- largest oil consumer. US is the largest oil consumer in the port 2016. Note: In the rankings India, has been Rated world which is followed by China. 13th lowest country in the world released by the World  India ranked at 9th position in crony-capitalism with Economic Forum. crony sector wealth accounting for 3.4 per cent of the  Global Hunger Index 2016 - India ranked at 97th posi- gross domestic product (GDP). Russia tops the list fol- tion among 118 countries. lowed by Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.  2016 World Economic Freedom Index - India ranks at  India tops global slavery index with 18.35 mn peple en- 112th. Note: Top 5 Countries in 2016 WEFI: Hong Kong slaved. gradeup.co/banking-insurance

 India ranked at 133 on World Press Freedom Index. Fin-  India ranked third in attractiveness index of renewable land, retained its top spot for the sixth consecutive year, energy - India’s renewable energy sector has been ranked followed by Netherlands and Norway. third in the Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness In-  India ranked 118 in World’s Happiness Index. Denmark dex (RECAI) with China at second and the US on top. top spot as the happiest country in the world, displacing  India ranks 44 in 2016 Global Connectivity Index - In Switzerland, according to The World Happiness Report terms of numbers, United States, Singapore and Sweden 2016, published by the Sustainable Development Solu- top the rankings, while India is ranked 44. The report tions Network (SDSN), a global initiative for the United sheds light on various global improvements in the field of Nations. internet connectivity.  India ranked 141 in Global Peace Index - Iceland was ranked as the world’s most peaceful country, followed by Denmark and Austria.

First in India

 Maharashtra Forest Department will launch India’s first 24x7 toll free number (1926) to lodge com-  India’s first Space park – Bengaluru. plaints or get information about a variety of issues re-  India’s first solar powered ferry – Kerala.  India’s first IT co-operative UL CyberPark – Kerala. lated to forests and wildlife.  In a first, an all-Indian crew will take part in a two-  India’s first ever Gender Park – Kerala. week Mars-related research assignment between Jan-  India’s first LCD panel plant - Maharashtra. uary 28 and February 12, 2017, at the Mars Desert  India’s first railway university set up in - Vadodara, Gujarat. Research Station (MDRS) in Utah, US.  India’s first titanium project starts test production in  India’s first underwater restaurant - Ahmedabad. Odisha.  India’s first National Organic Farming Research Insti- tute – Sikkim.  India’s first Civil Aviation park – Gujarat.

Art & Culture

 The Bargarh Dhanua Jatra festival has started in the  The Tripitak Sutrapath Mahotasava-2016 has started state____Odisha. in the state - Bihar. Note - The 11-day gala event will set the stage for all  The first-ever International Gita Mahotsav held in the mythological places related to Lord Krishna based in state of India - Haryana. the ancient city itself. It is considered to be the  Kerala celebrates Harvest Festival Vishu. world’s largest open-air theatrical festival.  ‘Gudi Padwa’ festival celebrated in Maharashtra.  Who has inaugurated 10-day Island Tourism Festival  Sajibu Cheiraoba festival celebrated in Manipur. 2017 at Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Is-  Simhastha Kumbh mela 2016 concluded in Ujjain. lands___Lt. Governor Jagdish Mukhi.  Kerala, Thazhathangady Juma Mosque opens doors to  The three-day International Kite Festival (fourth) - women for the first time. New Delhi.  Traditional Chapchar Kut Festival Celebrated Across Note : Professional kite flying experts from across In- Mizoram. dia like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jaipur, Chennai, Kerala,  Nagaland Information Commission Rated – “one of Punjab, Delhi and the globe are taking part in the fes- the best”. tival.  Honey festival Celebrated in Mangaluru. A special kite making demonstration has been also  World Sufi Forum Inaugurated in New Delhi. organized where professional kite flyers will show-  Arogya Fair held in Goa. case their expertise and demonstrate the art of kite  Kashmiri Pandits celebrated annual Kheer Bhawani making. Festival.

Book and Authors

1. The book 'Scattered Souls' has been authored by - 5. The author of the book The People's President: Dr APJ Ab- Shahnaj Bashir. dul Kalam is - SM Khan. 2. The book “Just Another Jihadi Jane” has been authored by 6. The book “Bose: The Indian Samurai – Netaji and the INA - Tabish Khair. Military Assessment” has been authored by - G D Bakshi. 3. The book “Death Under The Deodars: The Adventures of 7. The book “Magpie Murders” has been authored by - An- Miss Ripley-Bean” has been authored by - . thony Horowitz. 4. The book “The Untold Vajpayee: Politician and Paradox” 8. The book “My Odyssey: Memoirs of the Man behind the has been authored by- Ullekh NP. Mangalyaan Mission” has been authored by - Dr. K Ra- dhakrishnan. gradeup.co/banking-insurance

9. The book “The Untold Story of Talking Books” has been 33. Modi’s Midas Touch in Foreign Policy”: authored by authored by - Matthew Rubery. Surendra Kumar 10. The author of the book titled ‘Jinnah Often Came to Our 34. “The Sleepwalker's Dream” - authored by Dhrubajyoti House’ has been awarded with The Hindu Prize 2016 is - Borah Kiran Doshi. 35. “Democrats and Dissenters” authored by Ramachandra 11. The book “An Unsuitable Boy” is the autobiography of Guha which Indian personality- Karan Johar. 36. The book “Far and Away: Reporting from the Brink of 12. The book “Parijat” has been authored by - Nasira Change” has been authored by Andrew Solomon. Sharma. 37. The book “Until the Lions: Echoes from the Mahabharata” 13. Who has launched book series “Tactabet” for visually im- has been authored by - Karthika Nair. paired children- Hrithik Roshan. 38. The book “India Rising: Fresh Hope, New Fears” has been 14. The book “On the Front Line: The Collected Journalism” authored by - Ravi Velloor. has been authored by - Marie Colvin. 39. The book “Grassroots Innovation” has been authored by- 15. The book “India-US relations in the age of uncertainity: Anil K. Gupta. An uneasy courtship” has been authored by - B M Jain. 40. The book “R D Burmania: Panchamemoirs has been au- 16. The book “Emperor Chandragupta” has been authored by thored by - Chaitanya Padukone. - Adity Kay. 41. Author of the book “Gulbadan: Portrait of a Rose Princess 17. The book “Watership Sown” was authored by - Richard at the Mughal Court” is - Margaret Rumer Godden. Adams. 42. Author of the book ‘Police and Counter Insurgency-The 18. The book “I am a troll” has been authored by journalist - Untold Story of Tripura’s COIN Campaign’ is - Kuldeep Swati Chaturvedi. Kumar. 19. The book “That thing called love” has been authored by - 43. Author of the book ‘Police and Counter Insurgency-The Tuhin A. Sinha. Untold Story of Tripura’s COIN Campaign’ is - Kuldeep 20. The book “The Secret Chord” has been authored by -Ger- Kumar. aldine. 44. Author of the book ‘A Book of Light: When a Loved One 21. The book “Dipa Karmakar: The Small Wonder” has been Has a Different Mind’ is - Jerry Pinto. authored by - Bishweshwar Nandi. 45. Author of the book ‘The Orphanage of Words’ is - Shinie 22. The book ‘The Other One Percent: Indians in America’ has Antony. been authored by - Sanjoy Chakravorty. 46. Author of the book ‘The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian 23. The book ‘Many Everests: An Inspiring Journey of Trans- Ocean Shaped Human History is - Sanjeev Sanyal. forming Dream into Reality” has been authored by - 47. Author of the book 'One Indian Girl' is- Chetan Bhagat. Ravindra Kumar. 48. Author of the book “Theatres of Democracy: Between the 24. The Indian actor has launched the book titled ‘The Leg- Epic and the Everyday – Selected Essays” is- Shiv end of Lakshmi Prasad’ - Twinkle Khanna Visvanathan. 25. The book authored by Shashi Tharoor has been launched 49. Author of the book ' book Life In Diplomacy ' is - M K Ras- by Vice President M. Hamid Ansari - An Era of Darkness – gotra. The British Empire 50. Author of the autobiography “Chitt-Chete” written in 26. The book “Beyond the Last Blue Mountain: A Life Of J. R. Dogri language is - Padma Sachdev. D. Tata” has been authored - R M Lala. 51. Author of the book” An Intimate History of Killing: Face to 27. Book titled “Driven: The Virat Kohli Story’ - authored by Face Killing in Twentieth Century Warfare” - Joanna senior journalist Vijay Lokapally. Bourke. 28. “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness” – authored by 52. Book titled “Who Moved My Interest Rate? authored by Arundhati Roy the former Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 29. Mike McCormack from Ireland has won the 2016 Gold- Duvvuri Subbarao. smiths Prize for his novel - Solar Bones. 53. Book titled “The Unseen Indira Gandhi” authored by Dr 30. Book ‘Andhere se Ujaleki Aur‘authored by Union Finance KP Mathur. Minister Arun Jaitley. 54. Book “MS: A life in Music” authored by T.J.S. George 31. Book “The Adivasi Will Not Dance” authored by Hansda 55. Book titled “Courage & Commitment: An Autobiography Sowvendra Shekhar by Margaret Alva 32. The book “Water for Elephants” has been authored by - 56. The book “Ace against Odds” is the autobiography of In- Sara Gruen dian tennis player- Sania Mirza gradeup.co/banking-insurance

57. Book titled "The making of India: The untold story of Brit- 60. Book titled 'Param Vir: A War Diary' authored by - Manju ish Enterprises" authored by Kartar Lalvani. Lodha. 58. Book titled 'Shashi Kapoor - the Householder, the Star' 61. Book titled “Gandhi: An Illustrated Biography” authored authored by Aseem Chhabra. by – Pramod Kapoor. 59. Book titled 'Anything but Khamosh: The Shatrughan Sinha Biography' authored by Bharathi S Pradhan. Important Committees

14. Justice L Narasimha Reddy committee - to consider the 1. B N Srikrishna Committee - to review anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP. institutionalization of arbitration mechanism in India_____ 15. Pradeep Kumar Sinha committee - to develop the pan- 2. Ajit Mohan committee - to fight against the menace of India road map for trade facilitation online piracy. 16. Ratan P Watal committee - to suggest steps to promote 3. Nripendra Mishra Committee - on Indus Water Treaty. card payments 4. Ratan Watal Committee for Digital Payments. 17. Amitabh Kant committee (CEO of NITI Aayog) - to look Note: The 11- member committee was notified in Sep- at easing the policy regime for e-commerce players, in- tember 2016 by the Union Finance Ministry to review ex- cluding the rules for foreign direct investment (FDI). isting payment systems in country and recommend ap- 18. Arvind Panagariya committee - to prepare a road map propriate measures for encouraging Digital Payments. for elimination of poverty. It has suggested setting up a 5. Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Ship- committee to identify people Below Poverty Line (BPL). It ping Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stones for 17 road also suggested participation from states in defining the projects at a cost of Rs 1152 cr in two functions held at BPL population. Jiribam and Imphal. 19. TVSN Prasad committee - to look into the alternatives to 6. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and pellet guns. It suggests that the pellet guns should be used Justice, has called for transparency in the appointments in rarest of rare cases. It suggests for use of other non-le- process on the part of the judiciary and the government. thal weapons, like chilli grenade shells, for crowd control. The committee was headed by Deputy Leader of the Op- 20. Ak Sinha committee - to study slit in river Ganga in Bi- position (Rajya Sabha), Anand Sharma. har. 7. Committee on Demonetisation - Andhra Pradesh Chief 21. Justice R.M. Lodha committee - to oversee the function- Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. ing of Medical Council of India (MCI) 8. Recalibration of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) - 22. NK Singh committee - to review and give recommenda- Task Force headed by S.S Mundra, Deputy Governor, Re- tions on Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management serve Bank of India (RBI) (FRBM) roadmap for the future. 9. Munialappa committee - to monitor the bird flu situa- 23. Sanjay Mitra committee - to prepare a policy framework tion and help state governments take steps to contain the for taxi and other transport operators in view of the ban disease. on diesel taxis in the National Capital Region (NCR). 10. K.S. Valdiya committee - The Saraswati river, so far con- 24. NK Singh committee - to review the working of the 12- sidered mythical, did exist, a Governmentconstituted ex- year old Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management pert committee has found. (FRBM) Act. 11. GS Jha committee - to visit the Cauvery basin area and 25. DB Shekatkar Committee - on defence spending. assess the ground. 26. T S R Subramanian committee - New Education Policy. 12. Hem Pande committee - to sell subsidised pulses to en- 27. Lt Gen D B Shekatkar panel - to relook defence expendi- sure that there is no shortage of the item during this festi- ture. val season. 28. B BTandon Committee - to monitor Government Adver- 13. Mata Prasad committee - suggested an overhaul in tisements transmission planning to facilitate transfer of power on 29. Akhilesh Ranjan committee - recommendations on Tax- economic principles. ation of e-commerce

Important Dates

1. The World Hindi Day (WHD) is observed every year on 2. National Youth Day is celebrated in India on ____12th Jan- ____ 10th January. uary. Note: The day will promote Hindi across the world and to Note: The Union Government had declared to observe the mark the anniversary of first World Hindi Conference birthday of Swami Vivekananda as a National Youth Day (WHD)which was held in 1975. every year from 1985 onwards.The theme of this year’s Festival is ‘Youth for Digital India’. gradeup.co/banking-insurance

3. The World Braille Day (WBD) is observed on _____ 4th 19. International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against January. Journalists is observed globally on - 2nd November. Note: The Day create importance of braille for those who 20. The first-ever World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) are blind and to commemorate the birth anniversary of has been observed on - 5th November. Louis Braille. 4. The United Nations has designated the year 2017 as Note: The 2016 theme of WTAD is “Effective Education _____The International Year of Sustainable Tourism and Evacuation Drills”. for Development. 21. International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the 5. The World AIDS Day is observed on ____ 1st December. Environment in War and Armed Conflict is observed glob- Note: The theme for this year's World AIDS Day is “Hands ally on - 6th November. up for HIVprevention”. 22. The National Cancer Awareness Day is observed every 6. The Raising Day of Border Security Force (BSF) is cele- year in India on - 7th November. brated on - 1st December. 23. The World Science Day for Peace and Development 7. The National Pollution Control Day (NPCD) is observed (WSDPD) is observed - 10th November. on - 2nd December. The 2016 WSDPD is celebrated with the theme “Celebrat- 8. International Day of Persons with Disabilities being ob- ing Science Centres and Science Museums”. served on - 3rd December. 24. The Public Service Broadcasting Day is observed in India - Note: The theme for this year is “Achieving 17 Goals for 12th November. the Future We Want”. 25. The World Pneumonia Day (WPD) is observed every year 9. The United Nations (UN)’ International Volunteer Day on - 12th November. (IVD) is observed every year on- 5th December. The 2016 theme is “Keep the Promise, Stop Pneumonia Note: The 2016 theme is “Global Applause – give volun- Now” teers a hand”. 26. The International Day for Tolerance is being observed in 10. The World Soil Day 2016 is observed every year on - 5th the world - 16th November. December. 27. World Philosophy Day is being observed worldwide on - Note: The 2016 theme is “Soils and pulses, a symbiosis 17th November. for life”. 28. The World Toilet Day is being observed across the world 11. The Armed Forces Flag Day is celebrated annually in In- on - 19th November. dia on - 7th December. Note: The theme for 2016 World Toilet Day is ‘toilets and Note: The day is dedicated towards collection of funds jobs’ focusing on how sanitation or the lack of it can im- from people for the welfare of the Armed Forces person- pact people’s livelihoods. nel. 29. The Universal Children’s Day was observed across the 12. The United Nations’ (UN) International Anti-Corruption world on - 20th November. Day (IACD) is observed every year on ____9th December. 30. The United Nations' (UN) World Television Day is annu- Note: The 2016 theme is ‘United against corruption for ally observed in many places around the world on - 21st development, peace and security’. November. 13. The Human Rights Day (HRD) is observed every year on 31. The 2016 International Day for the Elimination of Vio- ____ 10th December. lence against Women is observed every year on - 25th Note: The 2016 theme is ‘Stand up for someone’s rights November. today!’. Note: The 2016 theme is “Orange the World – raise funds 14. The International Mountain Day (IMD) is observed every to end violence against women” in which orange colour year on ____11th December. designated the UNiTE campaign to symbolize a brighter Note: The 2016 theme is “Mountain cultures: Celebrating future without violence. diversity and strengthening identity”. 32. The Constitution Day is celebrated every year on - 26th 15. The International Migrants Day (IMD) is observed on ___ November. 18th December. 33. The National Milk Day (NMD) is celebrated on - 26th No- 16. The United Nations’ (UN) International Human Solidarity vember. Day is observed on ____ 20th December. 34. The World Vegetarian Day (WVD) is observed on - 1st 17. National Mathematics Day is observed every year on - October. 22nd December. 35. The World Habitat Day (WHD) is observed every year on 18. Kishan Divas (Farmer’s Day) is observed every year on - - 3rd October. 23rd Dec. gradeup.co/banking-insurance

Note: The 2016 WHD was observed on October 3 with 45. World Food Day is celebrated every year around the theme “Housing at the Centre”. world on - 16th October. 36. The World Animal Day (WAD) is observed every year on - Note: The theme of 2016 is Climate change: “Climate is 4th October. changing. Food and agriculture must too”. 37. The Indian Air Force (IAF) Day is celebrated on - 8th Oc- 46. The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is tober. observed on - 17th October. 38. The World Post Day (WPD) is observed each year on - 9th Note: The 2016 theme is “Moving from humiliation and October. exclusion to participation: Ending poverty in all its Note: This day was first declared World Post Day at the forms”. 1969 UPU Congress in Tokyo, Japan. 47. The World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) is observed every The 2016 theme is “Innovation, Integration and year on - 20th October. Inclusion”. Note: The 2016 theme is “Love Your Bones – Protect your 39. The World Mental Health Day is being observed annually Future”. across world on - 10th October. 48. The Police Commemoration Day is celebrated every year Note: The Day raise awareness about mental health is- on- 21st October. sues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support 49. The United Nations Day is observed every year on - 24th of mental health. October. 40. The International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) is observed Note: The 2016 theme is “Freedom First”. every year across the world on - 11th October. 50. The Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has celebrated its Note: The theme of 2016 is “Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Pro- raising day on - 24th October. gress: What Counts for Girls”. 51. The 2016 World Day for Audio Visual Heritage is ob- 41. The International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) is served every year on - 27th October. observed every year on - 13th October. Note: The 2016 theme is “It’s your story – don’t lose it”. Note: The 2016 theme is “Live to Tell: Raising Awareness, 52. The first National Ayurveda Day is celebrated on - 28th Reducing Mortality”, which targets to reduce mortality October. globally. Note: The theme “Ayurveda for Prevention and Control of 42. The World Standards Day (WSD) is observed every year Diabetes” to create awareness on people’s health. on - 14th October. 53. Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is observed every year in India on - Note: The 2016 theme is “Standards Build Trust”. 31st October. 43. The International day of Rural woman is observer across Note: The 2016 theme is “Integration of India”. the world on - 15th October. 44. Nations has declared his birthday as- World Students Day.

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