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GK Tornado for IBPS Clerk Main Exam -2019

Dear Aspirants, This GK Tornado is a complete docket of important Banking Awareness & Current Affairs news and events that occurred in last 4 months (1st September 2019 – 10th January 2020). This file is important and relevant for all competitive exams like Banking, Insurance, SSC and UPSC Exams.

News related to RBI January /December

1. RBI revised the supervisory framework for Urban Co- Note: operative : • RBI has launched the ‘MANI’ app for visually Note: impaired people to identify denomination of the new • To prevent PMC -like scams the Reserve currency notes. The full form of ‘MANI’ is “Mobile Bank of (RBI) has revised the supervisory Aided Note Identifier”. The MANI App also works action framework for urban co-operative banks offline once installed. (UCBs). • MANI application scans currency notes using camera • As per the guidelines, UCBs, with deposits of Rs and gives audio output in Hindi and English. 100 crore and above, will constitute the BoM, • There were challenges faced by visually challenged in which will be a mandatory requirement for identifying these notes. Hence, the application has opening new branches. been launched to help visually aided in easily • A UCB may be placed under supervisory action identifying the notes. However, the application does framework when its net non-performing assets not detect genuine or counterfeit notes. (NPAs) exceed 6% of its net advances. 4. RBI directs large UCBs to report exposures above Rs 5 • As soon as this threshold is breached, the cr to CRILC: regulator may initiate multiple actions, Note: depending on severity of stress. • In order to detect the financial distress at earliest • The can ask UCB to submit a the RBI has directed large cooperative banks to board-approved action plan for reducing its net report all exposures of Rs 5 crore and more to the NPAs below 6%. Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC). 2. RBI granted in principle approval to Shivalik Mercantile • to become SFB: The aggregate exposure will include all fund-based Note: and non-fund based exposures like partial credit enhancement, including investment exposure on • The Reserve (RBI) has granted in- the borrower. principle approval to Uttar Pradesh-based • As per the new rules, Urban Cooperatives Banks are Shivalik Mercantile Co-operative Bank Ltd to required to submit CRILC report on quarterly basis convert to a (SFB). with effect from December 31, 2019. • Thus, it becomes the first urban cooperative 5. RBI launches new prepaid payment instrument (PPI) bank (UCB) to make the transition since the for small digital transactions guidelines came out nearly two years ago. Note: • Approval granted will be valid for 18 months to • In order to the digital transaction in India the enable the applicant to comply with the Reserve Bank (RBI) has introduced a new semi- requirements under the scheme on voluntary closed prepaid payment instrument (PPI). transition of urban co-operative bank into a • The new PPI can be used for transaction of goods small finance bank. and services up to a limit of Rs 10,000. 3. ‘MANI’ App launched by RBI for visually challenged to • This direction was made under Section 18 read with Identify currency Denomination: Section 10(2) of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. 2 www.gradeup.co • These PPIs will enhance the digitization of daily to voluntarily transit into SFBs, initial requirement of net payments at local shops and retail outlets for the worth shall be at Rs.100 crores that will have to be purchase of daily household goods and services. increased to Rs.200 crores within 5 years from date of

6. RBI sets ₹50-lakh lending cap on NBFC-P2P platforms commencement of business. Payments Banks like Note: an IndiaPost and Fino can apply for conversion • In order to protect the consumers interest, the (RBI) has set a ₹50-lakh cap on into SFB after 5 years of operations, if they are the aggregate exposure of a lender to all borrowers otherwise eligible as per these guidelines. As of now, across all Non-Banking Financial Company – Peer to the RBI has issued licences to 10 SFBs. Peer (NBFC-P2P) lending platforms at any point of 10. RBI released fifth bi-monthly Monetary Policy review: time. The Reserve Bank of India on December 5, 2019, • Further, the RBI has specified that the investments of released its fifth bi-monthly monetary policy statement the lenders on P2P platforms have to be consistent for the year 2019-20. In this RBI decided to keep key with their net-worth. policy rate unchanged. • A NBFC-P2P is an intermediary providing the Key rates are as below: services of loan facilitation via online medium or Note: The repo rate under the liquidity adjustment otherwise to the participants, who enter into an facility (LAF) left unchanged to 5.15%. The reverse repo arrangement with the intermediary to lend on it or rate under the LAF stands same i.e. 4.90%. to get the loan facilitation services provided by it. 7. RBI to buy, sell government bonds worth Rs 10,000 Current Policy Rates: crore on Monday Policy Repo Rate 5.15% Note: Reverse Repo Rate 4.90 % • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on December 23, 2019 Marginal Standing Facility Rate 5.40% will simultaneously purchase and sell government securities worth Rs 10,000 crore under a special Open Bank Rate 5.40% Market Operation (OMO). 11. NEFT transactions to be made 24×7 from 16th • Such exercises are done by the central bank when the December 2019: proceeds from sale of short-term securities are used Note: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that to buy long-term government securities or bonds in a all bank customers will be able to transfer funds through bid to bring down interest rates on long-term NEFT around the clock on all days including weekends securities. and holidays from December 16, 2019. These • The purchase will be for government securities worth transactions after the usual banking hours are set to be Rs 10,000 crore for the instrument ‘6.45 per cent GS automated initiated using 'Straight Through Processing 2029’. (STP)' modes by the banks. The existing discipline for 8. RBI waives NEFT, RTGS transfer charges for savings crediting the beneficiary's account or returning the account holders: transaction within 2 hours of settlement to the • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has waived NEFT, RTGS transfer charges for savings account holders. originating bank will also continue. • In an order, RBI instructed banks to make all online 12. RBI Imposes Rs 1.50 crore penalty on Corporation payments done through RTGS and NEFT free of cost Bank: for savings account holders. The new rule will be Note: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a effective from January 1, 2020. monetary penalty of Rs. 1.50 crore on 9. RBI Unveils Guidelines on Small Finance Banks: for non-compliance with certain provisions of directions. Note: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released The penalty has been imposed in the exercise of powers ‘Guidelines for ‘on tap’ Licensing of Small Finance Banks vested in the RBI under the provisions of Section 47 A (SFB) in the Private Sector’. The on-tap facility allows (1) (c) read with Section 46 (4) (i) and 51 (1) of the RBI to accept applications and grant licence for banks Banking Regulation Act, 1949. This action is based on throughout the year. Minimum paid-up voting equity the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not capital/ net worth requirement shall be Rs.200 crore. intended to pronounce upon the validity of any For Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs), aspiring

3 www.gradeup.co transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with rupees for all borrowers and lenders on all P2P platforms. its customers. Apart from this, a single borrower can only take up to a 13. Reserve Bank expressed concern over rising bad assets maximum of Rs 50,000 from a lender on all NBFC (Non- from Mudra loans: Banking Financial Company)-P2P platforms. Note: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has expressed 17. RBI revises framework on SAARC currency swap concern over rising bad loans from Pradhan Mantri arrangement: MUDRA Yojana (PMMY). This scheme was announced by Note: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2015, which South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation offers faster credit, with ticket sizes starting from (SAARC) currency swap arrangement framework for a ₹50,000 and going up to ₹10 lakh, to small businesses. period of November 14, 2019, to November 13, 2022. As According to RBI, the percentage of MUDRA loans were per the new framework, RBI continues to offer a swap at 2.52% in 2017-18, It has now raised to 2.89% in 2018- arrangement within the overall corpus of USD 2 billion. 19. It also says that the number of loans being sanctioned The drawal can be made in US Dollars, Euro or Indian under the scheme has increased greatly. Rupee. There are certain concessions for swap drawal in 14. RBI Enhances Scope of Non-Resident Rupee Accounts: Indian Rupee. Note: The RBI expanded the scope of Special Non- 18. RBI disclosed major wilful defaulter details under RTI Resident Rupee Accounts (SNRR account) by permitting act 2005: non-residents to open such accounts for rupee- Note: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has disclosed list of denominated overseas borrowings, trade credit and 30 major wilful defaulters of India. The list was disclosed trade invoicing for popularising cross-border transactions by RBI in response to Right to Information (RTI) in the domestic currency. Any person resident outside application of the RTI act 2005, filed by Indian news India, having a business interest in India, can open a non- website ‘The Wire’ in May 2019. 3 companies of fugitive interest bearing Special Non-Resident Rupee Account diamond manufacturer & businessman Mehul Choksi, (SNRR account) with a bank for bona fide transactions in were among the 30 major wilful defaulters. These 30 rupees. The restriction on the tenure of SNRR account, companies added up to over Rs 50,000 crores of total which is currently 7 years, has also been removed. RBI outstanding advances. Some of the companies that has has also modified norms regarding re-export of unsold been added to the list include Gitanjali Gems, Rotomac rough diamonds from the special notified zone of Global, Zoom Developers, Deccan Chronicle Holdings, Customs without export declaration form (EDF) Winsome Diamonds, REI Agro, Siddhi Vinayak Logistics formality. and Kudos Chemie. 15. RBI excluded , from 2nd schedule 19. RBI constitutes a three-member advisory committee for of RBI Act, 1934: DHFL: Note: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has excluded Vijaya Note: The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has set up a 3- Bank and Dena Bank from the second schedule of the RBI member committee consisting of IDFC First Bank non- Act, 1934 with effect from April 1, 2019, as they have executive chairman Rajiv Lall, ICICI Prudential Life ceased to carry on banking business. Because, these Insurance chief executive NS Kannan and the mutual public sector banks (PSBs) were merged into Bank of funds body AMFI (Association of Mutual Funds in India) Baroda on April 1, 2019, hence, they were ceased to chief executive NS Venkatesh, before formally sending operate as banking companies separately. It should be the case of the troubled deposit-taking housing finance noted that those banks included in this schedule are company- Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) for known as scheduled banks in India while banks not under bankruptcy proceedings. This committee will serve as this schedule are called non-scheduled banks. advisor to the DHFL administrator. 16. RBI raises P2P lending limit five-fold: 20. RBI supersedes DHFL board to initiate insolvency Note: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken a big step proceedings: to promote the peer-2-peer (P2P) sector by increasing Note: The Reserve Bank of India superseded the board of the total loan limit among such lenders from 10 lakh to debt-laden Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited Rs. 50 lakhs. Presently, the aggregate limit is 10 lakh (DHFL) as it intends to shortly initiate the process of

4 www.gradeup.co resolution of the company under the insolvency and Note: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has tightened bankruptcy rules. The company is all set to become norms for Asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) by India’s first financier to land up in bankruptcy courts. The barring them to bilaterally buy assets from banks central bank superseded the board “owing to governance /financial institutions (FIs) which is its sponsor, lender or concerns and defaults by DHFL in meeting various has subscribed to the fund raised by the ARC for its payment obligations. R Subramaniakumar, ex-MD and operations or an entity in the group to which the ARC CEO of has been appointed as the belongs. However, RBI allowed ARCs to participate in administrator. auctions of the financial assets, that should be conducted 21. RBI tightens norms for acquisition of financial assets by in a transparent manner, on arm’s length basis and the ARCs from sponsors and lenders prices are set by market forces only.

November

1. RBI Enhances Scope of Non-Resident Rupee Accounts: 3. RBI supersedes DHFL board to initiate insolvency • To popularise cross-border transactions in Indian proceedings: rupee, the Reserve Bank of India has enhanced the • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has superseded the scope of 'Special Non-resident Rupee' (SNRR) board of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation account. Limited (DHFL) as it "intends to shortly" initiate the • It allows the persons residing outside India to open process of insolvency. such accounts for purposes like external commercial • In January, a web portal accused the DHFL borrowing and trade credit in Indian rupee. promoters of committing financial frauds by • Any person resident outside India, having a business creating shell companies. interest in India, can open a non-interest-bearing • A total of 32 Indian and foreign banks lent Rs 97,000 Special Non-Resident Rupee Account (SNRR crore to DHFL Group companies with many account) with a bank for bona fide transactions in borrower companies having the same addresses, rupees. directors, and auditors. • The restriction on the tenure of SNRR account, • DHFL is the fourth-largest Indian housing finance which is currently 7 years, has also been removed. company based on loans outstanding as of March. • RBI has also modified norms regarding re-export of unsold rough diamonds from the special notified 4. RBI imposes Rs 5 lakh fine on zone of Customs without export declaration form (EDF) formality. • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a fine 2. Banks cannot charge on NEFT transactions from of Rs 5 lakh on prepaid payment instrument Oxigen January 2020: Services. • On the third anniversary of demonetisation, the • The move was taken in exercise of powers vested Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a report titled under Section 30 of the Payment and Settlement “Furthering Digital Payments”. Systems Act, 2007, for non-compliance of • In the report with a view to promoting 5digital regulatory guidelines. transactions RBI proposed that from January 2020, • The fine comes through a speaking order dated banks can no longer charge savings bank account September 17, 2019. holders for online transactions in the NEFT system. • Oxigen Services facilitates payment processing and • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has now mandated money transfer services. banks to do this. October

1. Rs 35 lakh penalty on Tamilnad Mercantile Bank: fraud classification and reporting by commercial • The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a penalty of banks and select FIs directions 2016. Rs 35 lakh on Tamilnad Mercantile Bank for violating 2. NBFC licence for Vreedhi Financial Services: norms on fraud classification and notification. • The RBI has given a non-banking finance company • The bank has been penalized for non-compliance licence to Vreedhi Financial Services (VFS). with certain provisions of directions issued by RBI on

5 www.gradeup.co • Vreedhi Financial Services objective is to provide • Households’ sentiments on the general economic credit and other services to micro-enterprises situation and the employment scenario declined. operating in tier two-three cities and small towns. They were less optimistic on their income over the • It will address the gap between the addressable and year ahead than in July 2019. viable credit in the micro-enterprises space which is • Respondents perceived an increase in the price $123 billion as per the study conducted by the level over the last 1 year and a majority of them International Finance Corporation (IFC). expect prices to rise further in the coming year. 3. RBI approves merger of DCBs to form ‘’: 5. Indiabulls Housing & merger rejected • The Reserve Bank of India approved the by RBI: amalgamation of 13 district cooperative banks • The Reserve Bank of India has rejected the merger (DCBs) with the Kerala State Cooperative Bank to proposal of Indiabulls Housing Finance and Lakshmi form the proposed “Kerala Bank”. Vilas Bank. • Except the Malappuram District Cooperative Bank, • RBI has rejected the application for voluntary all district banks had approved the scheme of amalgamation of Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd. amalgamation proposed by the State government at and Indiabulls Commercial Credit Ltd. with the their respective general body meetings. Lakshmi Vilas Bank Ltd. • RBI also insisted that the State government would • The merger was crucial for Lakshmi Vilas Bank as it have to consistently infuse additional capital and is now under the prompt corrective action also put in place a well-defined governance framework of the RBI due to a high level of bad structure by amending the KSCS Act. loans and insufficient capital. 4. RBI released Consumer Confidence Survey (September 6. RBI Consumer Confidence Survey, 2019 – According to RBI 2019): Consumer Confidence Survey, the consumer confidence • The Reserve Bank of India has released the data of dipped to a six-year low. the September 2019 round of its Consumer • The says that this is mainly due to Confidence Survey. decline in employment, income and discretionary • The survey was conducted in 13 major cities: spending. Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, , • The CSI – Current Situation Index fell to 89.4 Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, , Lucknow, whereas it was recorded as 95.7 in July. Previously Mumbai, Patna and Thiruvananthapuram. the index hit its low in 2013, when it reached 88. Key Highlights: • Consumer confidence weakened in September with both the current situation index and the future expectations index recording declines. September

1. RBI placed restrictions on PMC Bank – The Reserve Bank • It enables RBI with the power to take action in order of India has imposed caps on withdrawals made by to prevent a banking company acting detrimental to customers of Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative the interests of the depositors. Banks for 6 months. 2. RBI expands coverage of Bharat Bill Payment System – In • The imposition was invoked by the central bank a consumer friendly initiative, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under Section 35 A of India’s Banking Regulation has expanded the scope and coverage of Bharat Bill act, 1949. Payment System (BBPS) to include all categories of billers • PMC is spread across 6 states and has a network who raise recurring bills and payments (except prepaid of 137 branches. recharges) as eligible participants, on a voluntary basis. Section 35 A of India’s Banking Regulation act, 1949 • At present, the facility of payment of recurring • Section 35A of the Banking Regulation act provides bills through BBPS is available only in five powers to RBI to give directions to banks. segments i.e. direct to home (DTH), electricity, gas, water and telecom.

6 www.gradeup.co 3. Harsh Vardhan committee submitted its report to RBI • Banks offers their savings account customers a Governor - A panel set up by the central bank to suggest certain number of free transactions at ATMs measures to make the housing finance securitization every month and beyond that they levy charges. market more attractive has recommended that the • Now, the Reserve Bank of India or RBI has (NHB) set up an intermediary with clarified the list of transactions at ATMs for 51% government ownership. which banks cannot charge their customers. Note: Banks cannot charge for these ATM transactions: • The Reserve Bank of India had constituted a (i) ATM transactions that fail due to technical reasons like Committee on the Development of Housing Finance hardware, software, communication issues will not be Securitisation Market, on May 29, 2019, with Dr. counted as valid ATM transactions for the customer. Harsh Vardhan, Senior Advisor, Bain & Co. as the (ii) Other ATM transactions that failed due to non-availability Chairperson. of currency notes, invalid PIN/validations, and other

4. T.N. Manoharan committee submitted its report – A task transaction declines directly attributable to the bank or force set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) submitted services provider will not be counted as valid transactions and its report on the development of a secondary market for cannot be charged. corporate loans. (iii) Non-cash withdrawal transactions from ATMs such as • The task force headed by chairman T.N. balance enquiry, cheque book request, payment of taxes and Manoharan recommended setting up of a self- regulatory body (SRB), which will oversee the funds transfer - which is part of ‘on-us’ transactions - shall proposed secondary market. also not be part of the number of free ATM transactions. Other recommendations of the Task Force include – Note: At the end of March 2019, the number of ATMs stood • linking the pricing of all loans to an external at 2.22 lakh, down from 2.21 lakh in the previous year, benchmark as the current Marginal Cost of Funds according to the RBI's latest report. Based Lending Rate (MCLR) may not be comparable 7. RBI selected Daffodil Software Pvt Ltd for developing across banks. mobile app for visually impaired – The Reserve Bank of • recommended setting up of an online loan sales India (RBI) selected Daffodil Software Pvt Ltd to develop platform to conduct auctions of secondary market a mobile phone-based application for visually impaired loans. people to identify currency notes. It informed the 5. RBI orders banks to link lending rate to external interest Bombay High Court that an internet connection would rate benchmark – The Reserve Bank of India has made not be required for its proposed mobile application. mandatory for banks to link retail and MSME loans to 8. Deposit insurance in India covers 92% of accounts, 28% external interest rate benchmarks. of banking deposits: RBI • This new norm will be effective from 1st of • According to the Reserve Bank of India data, Deposit October. Under this norm, banks have to link all insurance in India covers 92% of the total number of of their new loan products, be it personal, accounts but only 28% of the total banking deposits. • At the current level, this insurance cover works out to housing or auto to an external benchmark rate. 0.8 times of per capita income in 2018-19. • Banks have been allowed to choose any • RBI in its annual report said that - “With the current benchmark market interest rate published by the limit of deposit insurance in India at Rs 1 lakh, the Financial Benchmarks India Private Ltd (FBIL). number of fully protected accounts stood at 200 • Banks can choose RBI’s repo rate, government of crores at the of end-March 2019, which constituted India’s three-month treasury bill yield published 92% of the total number of accounts, as against the by the FBIL, government’s six-month treasury bill international benchmark of 80%. yield published by the FBIL or any other market • In terms of amount, the total insured deposits of Rs interest rate published by the FBIL. 33.7 lakh crore as at end-March 2019 constituted 6. RBI has clarified that non-cash withdrawal transactions 28% of assessable deposits of Rs 120 lakh crore, from ATMs such as balance enquiry cannot be part of against the international benchmark of 20% to 30%. • free transactions In August last year, the government scrapped the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill Key points – which had argued a higher share of deposit insurance for depositors.

7 www.gradeup.co Important points to note: 1961, for the purpose of providing insurance of • The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee deposits and guaranteeing of credit facilities. Corporation (DICGC) provides insurance cover to • DICGC insures all bank deposits, such as saving, fixed, deposits in all commercial banks. current, recurring deposits for up to the limit of Rs. 1 • Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation lakh of each deposit in a bank. (DICGC) is a subsidiary of Reserve Bank of India. • It was established on July 15, 1978 under Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, Ranking/Indexes

1. UIDAI’s 10-year success-The State of Aadhaar Report: • According to the study, sugar intake was the highest in • According to the State of Aadhaar report, 2019, Mumbai. Mumbai reported 26.3 g/day followed by Aadhaar has been the first identity document for Ahmedabad at 25.9 g/day. around 65-70 million individuals. This benefitted 4. Violence against Children surpassed to 1,70,000: UNICEF them in opening bank accounts, accessing food Report rations, mobile phone services, etc. • The annual report published by the United Nations • The report also stated that 80% of participants felt Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on December 31, 2019, that Aadhaar improved the reach of government stated that since 1989, the number of countries schemes and services faster. Only 34% of Indians are experiencing conflicts has increased and the attacks yet to link their Aadhaar in the fear of losing the on children has increased as well. services. • The UNICEF has named the last decade as “Deadly • State of Aadhaar report surveyed 1,70,000 Decade” because as per the report, the number of individuals. The initiative was started 3 years ago by attacks on children since 2010 has increased to three- IDinsight and Omidyar Network of India. fold. • The world agency responsible for providing 2. Effect of Automation on FDI flows: World Bank humanitarian and developmental aid to children • World Bank released its study on how FDI flows are around the world says that in 2018, around 24,000 affected in the world due to automation. The study grave violations were recorded against children and concluded that automation will certainly disrupt the the number has gone up highly to 1,70,000 in 2019. flow of capital from rich countries to poor countries. • This includes abductions, killing, sexual violence, On the other hand, the poor countries can gain from maiming, child recruitment, denial to humanitarian automation if adopted at the right time. access and attacks in schools and hospitals. • The study has used data of FDI (Foreign Direct 5. 'World Economic League Table 2020': India become Investment) and industrial robot usages between 2004 fourth-largest economy by 2026 and 2015. It reports that during this period, High • The report titled 'World Economic League Table 2020' Income Countries (HIC) saw the highest FDI outflows. was released by the UK-based Centre for Economics 3. ICMR releases report on Sugar Intake of India: and Business Research (CEBR). • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) released • According to the report, India is expected to become first of its kind report on sugar intake of India. The the fourth largest economy by 2026 and the third intake was measured in grams per day. largest by 2034. • The report was released based on a joint survey • The CEBR report states that India would surpass conducted by ICMR, NIN (National Institute of Nutrition), Hyderabad and ILSI (International Life Germany to become fourth largest economy by 2026 Science Institute of India). The study is the first of its and further topple Japan in 2034 to become the third kind in the country. largest economy. • The study says that intake of added sugar in metro • Today, India is the fifth largest economy in the World cities was 19.5 grams per day. This is lower than the after US (20.49 trillion USD), China (13.41 trillion USD), level recommended by ICMR which is 30 gram per day. Japan (4.97 trillion USD) and Germany (4 trillion USD). • Though the levels of all the cities were within the • India has decisively overtaken both France and the UK threshold, they were so close to the upper limit in to become the world's fifth-largest economy in 2019. certain cities. 6. Swachh Survekshan League 2020: Indore tops again

8 www.gradeup.co • Swachh Survekshan League 2020 was released by • The States and Union Territories were divided into 3 Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Around groups namely Big states, North East and hill states 4,372 cities participated in the league. and union territories. • Among 10 Lakh population category, Indore 10. India is world’s third largest producer of scientific secured first place in both the quarters. Bhopal got the articles: US Report • second and Surat in Gujarat third spot in first Quarter. According to a latest report by US National Science Foundation (NSF), India has emerged as the world’s In the second quarter, Rajkot in Gujarat was at the 2nd third largest publisher of science and engineering spot while Navi Mumbai at third. articles. As per the statistics compiled in report, China • In one Lakh to 10 Lakh population category, has topped the list followed by US. Jamshedpur in Jharkhand got the 1st spot in both 11. India slips to rank 112 in Gender Gap: WEF quarters. • The World Economic Forum released its report • Municipal Council and Khargone in Madhya according to which India ranked 112th in terms of Pradesh got the second and third spot in the first gender gap. The report said that the India was ranked quarter in this category. Chandrapur in Maharashtra in bottom-five in terms of survival and economic and Khargone got the second and third spot in Quarter participation. India was in 108th position in 2018. 2 in one to ten lakh population categories. 12. India Skills Report 2019: 7. Report of Task Force on National Infrastructure Pipeline • India Skills Report was released jointly by the CII, released AICTE, UNDP and AIU. The report provides • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released a employability of citizens in the country across the report of task force on National Infrastructure on states and. The report also ranked the cities based on the availability of employment. Pipeline (NIP) 2019-2025. The task force was set up in • The report was prepared based on a survey that order to draw up National Infrastructure Pipeline from assessed 300,000 candidates from 35 educational fiscal year 2019-20 to 2024-25. institutes across 28 states and 9 Union Territories. • The report says that between 2020 and 2025 GoI has • According to the report, Maharashtra topped the list planned investment in infrastructure sectors such as with the highest employable talent. Following roads, railways, urban, energy. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh ranked • These sectors account to 70% of infrastructure second and third respectively. investments planned. The plan is to invest 102 lakh 13. UNDP Human Development Index Report 2019: crores of rupees by 2025 and make India a 5 trillion- • The United Nations Development Programme dollar economy. released the Human Development Index for 189 8. Sustainable Development Goal Index Released: countries on December 9, 2019. • NITI Aayog released Sustainable Development Goals • The rankings were listed by the report titled “Beyond Index 2019-20. According to the report, the overall Income, Beyond Averages, Beyond Today: Inequalities composite score of India improved from 60 in 2018 to in Human Development in 21st century”. 57 in 2019. India succeeded in the areas of power • India ranked 129 among them, which is one rank and industry, water and sanitation, nutrition and ahead of its previous positions. In 2018, India ranked gender equality. 130. The rankings were listed based on the assessment • Kerala ranked first in composite SDG index with score of poverty, education, life expectancy and access to of 70. Kerala was followed by Himachal Pradesh, health care. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. The 14. Global prosperity index 2019: biggest improvement was seen in states such as Uttar • The first-ever Prosperity & Inclusion City Seal and Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim. Awards (PICSA) Index, released in the Basque 9. Government launched Good Governance Index: Country capital of Bilbao in northern Spain. • Government of India launched Good Governance • Bangalore emerged as India’s highest-ranked city at Index in which Tamil Nadu topped in the “Big States” No. 83 in a new index of the world’s 113 cities in category. It was followed by Maharashtra, , terms of economic and social inclusivity. Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. • Delhi at 101 and Mumbai at 107 are the other • The report also said that among the big states the poor Indian cities to make at the index, performers were Odisha, Bihar, Goa and Uttar • with the top 20 awarded a PICSA Seal as the Pradesh. Jharkhand was ranked the last in good world’s highest-ranked cities building inclusive governance index. prosperity.

9 www.gradeup.co • Zurich in Switzerland topped the list while Austrian 18. India Justice Report 2019: Maharashtra holds top, UP capital, Vienna in second place. Copenhagen, ranks bottom Luxembourg and Helsinki complete the top five. • According to ‘India Justice Report 2019’, 15. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella tops Fortune's Maharashtra is the top state in delivering justice to Businessperson of the Year 2019 list its citizens followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab • India-born Satya Nadella (Chief Executive Officer of and Haryana in the first-ever ranking of states on Microsoft) has occupied the top spot in Fortune's their capacity to deliver justice to citizens. Businessperson of the Year 2019 list. • The list of seven small states (population less than • The list also includes Ajay Banga (Mastercard CEO) one crore each) was topped by Goa, followed by and Jayshree Ullal (Arista head). Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh. In this classification, • Fortune's annual Businessperson of the Year list Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are at the features 20 business leaders "who tackled bottom. audacious goals, overcame impossible odds, found • The ranking is part of the India Justice Report (IJR) creative solutions". 2019, an initiative of Tata Trusts in collaboration • Top five Fortune’s Businessperson of the Year 2019 with Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, are here: Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, DAKSH, 1. Satya Nadella (CEO, Microsoft); TISS- Prayas and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. 2. Elizabeth Gaines (CEO, Fortescue Metals Group); 19. Singapore is the world's smartest city: IMD Smart City 3. Brian Niccol (CEO, Chipotle Mexican Grill) Index 4. Margaret Keane (CEO, Synchrony Financial) • According to the IMD Smart City Index, Singapore is 5. Bjorn Gulden (CEO, Puma) the smartest city in the world. 16. India ranks 59th on IMD World Talent Ranking Report • The first edition of the IMD Smart City Index 2019 • The International Institute of Management ranks 102 cities worldwide. Development’s (IMD) World Talent Ranking (WTR) • Zurich ranked second and Oslo is the third smartest report for the year 2019 was released. city in the world. • In the released report, India was ranked at 59th position, a slip by 6 places on a global annual list of Indian cities in the index 63 countries. The list was topped by Switzerland. • Indian city Hyderabad ranked 67 in the list, while the • The top 10 countries that followed Switzerland capital of India, New Delhi is the 68th smart city in the were Denmark(2nd), Sweden(3rd), Austria(4th), world. Luxembourg (5th), Norway(6th), Iceland(7th), • On the other hand, Mumbai is the 78th and Bengaluru Finland (8th), Netherlands (9th) and is the 79th smart city in the world. Singapore(10th). • The index is released by the IMD World 17. tops business bribery risk in South Asia Competitiveness Center’s Smart City Observatory in • According to the latest Global Bribery Risk Index, partnership with Singapore University of Technology Bangladesh has been identified as the “country and Design (SUTD). with the highest risk” in terms of bribery threats in 20. World Digital Competitiveness Rankings – India was South Asia. ranked 44th in the IMD World Digital Competitiveness • India has been ranked at 78th in the Global Bribery Risk Index out of 178 countries. Ranking. • In South Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the • In 2018, India was ranked at the 48th position. only countries where the bribery risk is “high”. • Top 3 countries – (1) United States (2) Singapore (3) • Except for Bhutan, which has a “low” risk of bribery Sweden demands, the risk level of other countries in the • The report is published by the Swiss based region is “medium”. Bhutan, which has the lowest International Institute for Management risk score of 41, was placed ranked 52nd. Development. • The five countries with the lowest bribery risk in The Index ranks the countries based on the following three the world are New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, factors: Sweden and Finland. • Knowledge: The capacity to understand and learn • The countries with the highest risk are Venezuela, new technologies. Yemen, North Korea, South Sudan and Somalia. • Technology: The competence to develop new digital innovations.

10 www.gradeup.co • Future readiness: The preparedness for the coming spot on world Travel & Tourism Competitiveness developments. Index 2019. 21. NITI Aayog’s School Education Quality Index – Kerala has • The WEF report shows, over 1.5 crore international topped the “School Education Quality Index” launched by tourists arrived in India while the share of travel NITI Aayog. and tourism industry was 3.6 per cent and that of • The School Education Quality Index assesses States industry employment was 5.1 per cent. on the basis of learning outcomes, access, equity • Spain tops the ranking index followed by France and infrastructure and facilities, using survey data, and Germany. self-reported data from States and third-party • Other countries in the top 10 include Japan, the verification. United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Key points of the report Canada, and Switzerland. • Uttar Pradesh was ranked at the bottom of the list. 25. India among top 10 nations in gold reserves – • Chandigarh has topped the list of Union Territories. • India has surpassed the Netherlands to move into • Tamil Nadu was the top performer in access and the list of top10 countries in terms of total gold equity outcomes, while Karnataka led in learning reserves. outcomes. Haryana had the best infrastructure and • According to the World Gold Council, India has gold facilities. reserves totalling 618.2 tonnes, which is marginally • Among smaller States, Manipur emerged as the higher than the Netherlands’ reserves of 612.5 best performer. tonnes. 22. Times Higher Education released “World University • According to the World Gold Council, the U.S. leads Rankings 2020” – World University Rankings 2020, the country list with total gold reserves of 8,133.5 published by the United Kingdom (UK) based Times tonnes followed by Germany with 3,366.8 tonnes. Higher Education (THE). • In terms of individual countries, India actually ranks • The University of Oxford is the number one 9th since the International Monetary Fund (IMF) university in the world for the fourth time in a row. occupies the third position after the U.S. and • The California Institute of Technology stands at Germany. the second place and the University of Cambridge 26. ‘Statue of Unity’, Mumbai’s Soho House among Time’s fell to the third rank this year. 100 greatest places in the world • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar and • The 597-ft tall ‘Statue of Unity’ in Gujarat and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore were Mumbai’s Soho House have been featured by the ranked number 1 among the 56 Indian institutes on Time magazine in its second annual list of the 2019 the list of the best universities of the world. World’s greatest places, in a compilation of 100 23. Global Firepower Index: Indian military strongest in new and newly “noteworthy destinations. South Asia • The ‘Statue of Unity’, the world’s tallest statue, is a • In the Global Firepower's 2019 Military Strength tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, independent Ranking, the Indian military has been ranked as the India’s first home minister as well as deputy prime strongest military power in South Asia. minister. • While Pakistan has been ranked the second and • Soho House Mumbai is Asia’s first Soho House that Bangladesh is ranked the third most powerful puts a local spin on the “formula that has allowed military power in South Asia. Nick Jones’ members-•only clubs to blossom across • In the world ranking, the United States has topped the US and Europe”. the list, followed by Russia, and China. 27. India ranks 9th on “Global Happiness Survey” by Ipsos • India has been ranked at 4th position in the world • According to a “Global Happiness Survey” by Ipsos, ranking. Indian has been ranked 9th on the happiness index 24. India ranked at 34th position on world travel and among 28 global markets. tourism competitiveness index • For India, there has been a six per cent drop (from • According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) 83 per cent in 2018 to 77 per cent in 2019). report, India has jumped 6 places to claim 34th • Australia and Canada at the top spot (at 86 per cent) have emerged as the happiest nations of the

11 www.gradeup.co world, While Russia (47 per cent) emerged at the • In 2017, India had emerged as the 6th largest bottom of the heap, among the 28 markets. economy. 28. Delhi, Mumbai fall in EIU’s Global Liveability Index 2019 • The US remains the top economy with a GDP of • Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability $20.5 trillion in 2018. Index for 2019, released with both Delhi and • China was the 2nd largest economy with $13.6 Mumbai sliding down ranks. trillion, while Japan took the 3rd place with $5 • New Delhi dropped 6 places to 118, from 112 last trillion. year and Mumbai also fell in this year’s index, by • India’s GDP was at $2.7 trillion in 2018, while UK two places to 119, from 117 last year. and France were at $2.8 trillion. • Vienna in Austria, Melbourne and Sydney in • India still remains the fastest-growing major Australia make the top three cities. economy in the world. • The survey ranks countries across indicators 33. London named the world’s best city for students - including stability, healthcare, education, • London has named the world’s best city for infrastructure, culture and environment. students for the 2nd consecutive year, beating 29. Mumbai at 45th spot and Delhi at 52nd in World Safe Tokyo and Melbourne that came 2nd and 3rd, Cities Index 2019 respectively, on a new worldwide ranking. • According to a report of Economist Intelligence • According to the rankings, India’s best student city Unit, Mumbai has been ranked as the 45th safest is Bengaluru (81st), followed by Mumbai (85th), city on the Safe Cities Index (SCI) 2019, while Delhi Delhi at 113th and Chennai at 115th, out of a total stood at the 52nd position. of 120th cities in the list. • Tokyo taking the top spot, while Singapore and • The QS Best Student Cities Ranking compiled by Osaka came 2nd and 3rd in the list. global education consultancy QS Quacquarelli 30. Karnataka tops the State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Symonds highlights each city’s performance across Index – different categories. • The State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index-SARAL 34. India is the 46th highest risk country in the world: Water was launched during the Review Planning and Stress Index 2019 Monitoring (RPM) Meeting with States and State • According to the Water Stress Index 2019, Power Utilities. formulated by London-based risk analytics firm • Karnataka has topped the index which evaluates Verisk Maplecroft, India is the 46th highest risk Indian states based on their attractiveness for country in the world. rooftop development. • 11 out of India’s 20 largest cities face an ‘extreme • SARAL has been designed collaboratively by the risk’ of water stress and 7 are in the ‘high risk’ Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), category. Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), Nashik, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Indore are among Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the cities facing ‘extreme risk’. India (ASSOCHAM) and Ernst & Young (EY). • Chennai is the “tip of the iceberg” for India’s water- 31. Akshay Kumar in 4th spot in Forbes highest paid actors stressed cities. list 2019 35. Global Innovation Index 2019 – On July 24, 2019, Union • Bollywood Actor Akshay Kumar has made it to the Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, Piyush 4th position on the Forbes magazine’s Worlds Goyal launched the 12th Edition of the Global Innovation Highest-Paid Actors Of 2019 list. Index (GII) for the year 2019 in New Delhi. • Akshay has raked in $65 million. Hollywood star • The theme of the 2019 GII is “Creating Healthy Dwayne ‘Rock’ Johnson tops the Forbes list of the Lives – The Future of Medical Innovation”. 10 highest-paid actors. • Global Index is published annually by Cornell 32. India slips to 7th largest economy in 2018 University, INSEAD (Institut Européen • According to the World Bank, India has been d’Administration des Affaires) and the United pushed to the 7th place in the global GDP rankings Nations World Intellectual Property Organisation in 2018. (WIPO) and GII Knowledge Partners.

12 www.gradeup.co • It ranked 129 economies based on 80 indicators, • India (along with Ethiopia and Peru) significantly ranging from intellectual property filing rates to reduced deprivations in all 10 indicators, namely mobile-application creation, education spending nutrition, sanitation, child mortality, drinking water, and scientific and technical publications. years of schooling, electricity, school attendance, • The headquarters of World Intellectual Property housing, cooking fuel and assets. Organisation (WIPO) is in Geneva, Switzerland. • MPI reduced from 640 million people (55.1%) in 2005- Ranking 2006 to 369 million people (27.9%) in 2015-16. • India was ranked 52nd in 2019 with the score 36.58 out 37. Singapore tops Asia in Dell Global Women Entrepreneur of 100 from 57th position in 2018. Cities Index 2019 • Top 3 countries – Switzerland, Sweden and United • According to the latest “Women Entrepreneur States of America. Cities Index 2019”, sponsored by Dell and 36. Global Multidimensional Poverty Index - conducted by London-based global information • The MPI provides a comprehensive and in-depth provider, IHS Markit, San Francisco Bay Area has picture of global poverty – in all its dimensions – topped the list with 63.7 points followed by New and monitors progress towards Sustainable York (62.9 points) and London(3rd ). Development Goal (SDG) 1 – to end poverty in all • Singapore tops in Asian city ranked at 21st position, its forms. while Indian cities Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Delhi • The global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is were ranked 43rd (7th in Asia) and 50th (10th in published by United Nation Development Asia) respectively. Programme (UNDP) 38. Chandigarh best performing state in the field of Key findings education in the Performance Grading Index 2017-18 • Across 101 countries, 1.3 billion people—23.1 • Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) percent—are multidimensionally poor. informed that in the Performance Grading Index • Two-thirds of multidimensionally poor people live 2017-18, Chandigarh was ranked best among States in middle-income countries. and Union territories (UTs) in the field of education. • One in every three children (under the age of 10) • The Index ranked the states on the basis of 5 and every second child below the age of 18 years is parameters including learning outcomes and multidimensionally poor in the world. quality, access, infrastructure and facilities, equity • About 34% of the world’s children and 17.5% adults and governance process. 36 States/ UTs were covered under MPI survey are multidimensionally ranked in the Index. poor. • Other Rankings: Kerala was ranked second followed • One adult in six is multidimensionally poor by Gujarat (3), Haryana (4), Tamil Nadu (5), Punjab compared with one child in three, hence children (7), Rajasthan (8), Delhi(9). are more prone to multidimensional poverty than • Least Rankings: Arunachal Pradesh (36), Nagaland adults. (35) and Meghalaya (34) were the least performing Indian Scenario states. • India’s MPI value reduced from 0.283 in 2005-06 to • Literacy: Kerala had the highest literacy rate 0.123 in 2015-16. followed by Lakshadweep and Mizoram.

• India has lifted 271 million people out of poverty 39. Public Affairs Index 2018: Kerala Best Governed State, between 2006 and 2016, recording the fastest Bihar Worst reductions in the multidimensional poverty index. • Kerala is the best governed state in the country, • India and Cambodia has reduced their MPI values the according to a survey released by a Bengaluru fastest among the 10 selected countries for which think-tank, Public Affairs Centre. changes over time were analysed. • As per the report, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, • Jharkhand has reduced the incidence of poverty at a Karnataka and Gujarat are among the top five faster pace than other regions (reduced the incidence states delivering good governance. of multidimensional poverty from 74.9% in 2005-06 to • Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh 46.5% in 2015-16). and Odisha ranked the lowest on the index, indicating higher social and economic inequalities.

13 www.gradeup.co • Among smaller states – with the population less • Gujarat, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh stood at than two crore – Himachal Pradesh topped the list fourth, fifth and sixth spots. of states with good governance, followed by Goa, • The ranking was done under three categories -- Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura. larger states, smaller states and Union territories • Meghalaya performed the worst in this list. (UTs) -- to ensure comparison among similar Manipur, Nagaland, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir entities. were the other poor performers. • In terms of annual incremental performance • This year’s index also measured how child-friendly among the larger states, Haryana, Rajasthan and each state is. Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand are the top-three states. Mizoram topped this index. • Among the smaller states, Mizoram ranked first in 40. India ranked 86th in the Henley Passport Index 2019 overall performance, while Tripura and Manipur • The Henley Passport Index 2019 have ranked the were the top-two states in terms of incremental Indian passport on the 86th position with a performance. mobility score of 58. • Among the UTs, Chandigarh ranked first in overall • Japan and Singapore hold the top spot with a score performance, while Dadra and Nagar Haveli of 189. improved the most. • The index includes 199 passports and 227 travel • Niti Aayog member Vinod Kumar Paul said the destinations including micro-states and territories. Union government should spend 2.5 per cent of 41. Global Peace Index 2019: India Ranks 141 gross domestic product on health. • India’s ranked141 among 163 countries on the • Kerala and Tamil Nadu have already reached the Global Peace Index 2019. 2030 SDG target for neonatal mortality rate (NMR), • Iceland remains the most peaceful country and which is 12 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births. Afghanistan the least peaceful nation. • The report has been prepared in collaboration with • New Zealand has been ranked the second most the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with peaceful country. technical assistance from the World Bank. • Portugal was ranked third, and Austria fourth and • The second round of the Health Index took into Denmark was fifth most peaceful country in the account the period 2015-16 (base year) to 2017-18 world. (reference year). • The report is prepared by Australian think tank 44. Global Gender Equality Index Released: India Ranks 95 Institute for Economics & Peace. • India ranked 95th out of 129 countries in a new 42. Maharashtra ranks first in NITI Aayog’s AMFFR Index – index that measures global gender equality looking Maharashtra achieves first rank in NITI Aayog launched at aspects such as poverty, health, education, “Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms literacy, political representation and equality at the Index (AMFFRI)”. workplace. • Gujarat secured the second rank with a score of • The list was topped by Denmark followed by 71.5 out of 100, followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Finland and Sweden. Pradesh. • Chad was placed at bottom most position (129th). • The index ranks states based on the degree of • The Index is developed by Equal Measures 2030, a reforms they have undertaken in agricultural partnership effort of regional and global marketing. organisations. • AMFFRI has a score that can have minimum value • Indicators: It includes 51 indicators across 14 of 17 “0” implying no reforms and maximum value “100” official Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). implying complete reforms in the selected areas. 45. IIT Bombay has emerged the country’s best university: 43. NITI Aayog’s Health Index 2019 - Kerala took the top spot QS Rankings among larger states for overall performance on health • IIT Bombay has emerged the country’s best indicators in a NITI Aayog report, followed by Andhra university for the second consecutive year in the Pradesh and Maharashtra. 2019 QS World University Ranking. • Uttar Pradesh is the worst state in the index. Key points

14 www.gradeup.co • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was 50. Inclusive Internet Index 2019 – India has been ranked named the world’s best for a record eighth 47th. consecutive year. • Sweden has topped the rankings followed by • Twenty-three Indian institutes feature in the Singapore and the US. sixteenth edition of the QS World University • The Inclusive Internet Index 2019 was prepared Ranking in which IIT Bombay (152), IIT Delhi (182) by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for and Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (184) are Facebook. ranked in the global top 200. • The ‘Inclusive Internet’ score was based on the • The ranking is produced by global higher education scores of availability, affordability, relevance consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds, QS ranks the and readiness categories. world’s top 1,000 universities. 51. International IP index 2019 46. IMD World Competitiveness Rankings 2019 • India has jumped eight places to 36th position on • India ranked at 43rd position in the most the International Intellectual Property (IP) Index. competitive economy in the world. • The US, the UK, Sweden, France and Germany • In 2018 India was ranked at 44th place. remained the top five economies on the • Singapore has grabbed the top position. intellectual property index in 2019 • Hong Kong SAR is in second position and US has • In 2018, India was ranked at 44th position. slipped to the third place in 2019. 52. Corruption Perception Index 2018 • The ranking is compiled by International Institute • India has improved its ranking by 3 points by for Management Development (IMD). moving onto 78th position in the Corruption 47. India Ranks 140th In World Press Freedom Index – Perceptions Index 2018 published by Transparency • India ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the International. World Press Freedom Index 2019. • China and Pakistan, in a list of 180 countries, lagged • Index is released by Reporters Without far behind than India at 87th and 117th position Borders. respectively. • The index is topped by Norway followed by 53. India ranks 54th in 'Bloomberg Innovation Index’ of 60 Finland and Sweden. economies 48. WEF Global Energy Transition Index – India rank 76th on • India has grabbed the 54th spot among 60 a global energy transition index. countries in the Bloomberg Innovation Index with a • The report stated that India is amongst the score of 47.93 out of 100. countries with high pollution levels and has a • South Korea has topped the Bloomberg Innovation relatively high CO2 intensity in its energy Index for the sixth time in a row with a total score system. of 87.38. • Sweden remains on the top and is followed by • Germany ranked second, Finland stood on the third Switzerland and Norway in the top three. spot. • The index is compiled by Geneva-based World 54. Global Talent Competitive Index 2019: Economic Forum (WEF). • India ranked at 80th positions on the Global Talent 49. World Happiness Report 2019 – India is ranked 140th Competitive Index (GTCI) 2019. out of 156 nations. • The index is released by INSEAD business school in • The World Happiness Report was released by partnership with Tata Communications and Adecco the Sustainable Development Solutions Group. Network for the United Nations. • Switzerland topped the index which is followed by • For the second consecutive year, Finland Singapore and the US. topped the list. • Last year in 2018, India was ranked at 81st position. • Denmark ranked second followed by Norway. 55. Democracy Index 2019: The Economist Intelligence Unit • Pakistan ranked 67th, Bhutan 95th, China 93rd, (EIU) has released the Democracy Index which ranks 167 Bangladesh 125th, and Sri Lanka 130th while countries by 60 indicators across five broad categories. South Sudan ranked last in the World • Top 3 countries in the list are – Norway, Iceland Happiness Report. and Sweden.

15 www.gradeup.co • Australia and New Zealand are the only “full • The World Bank has decided to have four cities democracies” in the entire Asia-Pacific region from every country with a population above 100 • India was at the 41st place with a score of 7.23/10 million. and was placed in the flawed democracies 59. IIT-Bombay again tops this year’s QS India University category. Rankings 2020 • The latest 2 edition of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) 56. Three Indian origin CEOs in the top 10 best performing India University Rankings 2020 released. CEOs of the world: • The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) • Among the top 10 chief executives on the list, 3 has again topped all Indian Institutes in the list with spots have been occupied by the Indian-origin an overall score of 88.5 followed by IISc- Indian CEOs.. in the Best-Performing CEOs in the World, Institute of Science, Bangalore (ranked 2 with 84.7 2019′ list compiled by the Harvard Business Review score) & Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (HBR). (IITD),which has improved a notch to rank 3 with • Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen was ranked 6th, 82.2 scores. MasterCard CEO Ajay Banga ranked at 7th and 60. 2019 World Giving Index: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella ranked at 9th spot. • India ranked 82 spots among the 128 countries • The list also features India-born CEO of DBS Bank surveyed in the World Giving Index (WGI). Piyush Gupta on the 89th spot. Apple CEO Tim • The average figures for India over the past decade Cook was ranked 62nd in the list. show that 34 per cent people helped a stranger, 24 • The 2019 list has 4 female CEOs in the top 50 of the per cent donated money and 19 per cent rankings. volunteered or donated their time. • The List features 100 CEOs which has been topped • According to the WGI, the USA stood at the top by the American technology company NVIDIA’s CEO followed Myanmar, New Zealand and Australia. Jensen Huang. 61. India ranked 102 in Global Hunger Index 2019: 57. Bill Gates regains world’s richest person title: • As per the 2019 Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2019, • Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates overtook Jeff Bezos India has has slipped from 95th ranks in 2010 to to become the world’s richest person. 102nd out of 117 qualifying countries, with a score • Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos lost the title to of 30.3. Bill Gates, after losing nearly $7 billion in stock • Seventeen countries, including Belarus, Ukraine, value leaving his net worth to $103.9 billion. Turkey, Cuba and Kuwait, shared the top rank with • Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is currently worth GHI scores less than 5. $105.7 billion. • There were only four countries in the alarming • Bezos ended Gates’ 24-year run as the richest man hunger category are Madagascar, Chad, Yemen and in 2018 and became the first man on earth with a the Central African Republic in the extremely net worth of $160 billion. alarming hunger category. • Bill Gates debuted on Forbes’ first ever billionaire • The report warned that climate change was causing list in 1987 with a net worth of $1.25 billion. alarming levels of hunger and making it more 58. World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Ranking, India difficult to feed people in the world’s most ranked at 63rd: vulnerable regions. • World Bank has released Ease of Doing business • The Global Hunger Index is a peer-reviewed annual Rankings which includes 190 countries. report, jointly published by Concern Worldwide • India has jumped 14 places and has been ranked at and Welthungerhilfe. 63rd. • The aim of the GHI is to trigger action to reduce • New Zealand and Somalia retained their 1st and hunger around the world. 190th spot respectively. 62. Global Competitiveness Index be WEF; India Ranks at • From 2020, the World Bank has expanded its ease 68th: of doing business survey to 2 more cities: • World Economic Forum has released the Global Bengaluru and Kolkata in addition to Delhi and Competitiveness Index report 2019. Mumbai that are currently surveyed.

16 www.gradeup.co • As per the WEF’s released report, India has moved • India is among the worst-performing BRICS nations down 10 places to rank 68th on an annual global along with Brazil which is ranked 71st this year. competitiveness index which was topped by Singapore.

Economy News Key Highlights of Economic Survey 2018-19

The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey 2018-19 in the Parliament on 04th July 2019. • From ‘Beti Baco Beti Padhao’ to ‘BADLAV’ (Beti Aapki The Key Highlights of Economic Survey 2018-19 are as Dhan Lakshmi Aur Vijay Lakshmi). follows: • From ‘Swachh Bharat’ to ‘Sundar Bharat’. • This is the first survey by the new chief economic • From ‘Give it up” for the LPG subsidy to ‘Think about advisor Krishnamurthy V Subramanian. the Subsidy’. • The theme of Economic Survey, 2018-19 is "Shifting • From ‘Tax evasion’ to ‘Tax compliance’. Gears towards a $5 trillion Indian economy by Nudge Theory 2024-25”. • American economist Richard Thaler has won the 2017 • Sustained real GDP growth rate of 8% needed for a Nobel Prize in economics for his contributions to $5 trillion economy by 2024-25. behavioural economics. • “Virtuous Cycle” of savings, investment and exports • According to Nudge theory, people, rather than being catalyzed and supported by a favorable forced, can be encouraged and influenced to pursue or demographic phase required for sustainable desist from certain actions through nudges. growth. • It does not talk about penalizing people if they do not behave in a particular manner, rather it encourages Key ingredients for a self-sustaining virtuous cycle: them to make desirable decisions. • Presenting data as a public good. • It believes that Humans are not-so-rational and often • Emphasizing legal reforms. need encouragement or intervention — a nudge — to • Ensuring policy consistency. get going and do what’s best for the country or society • Encouraging behavior change using principles of at large. behavioral economics. Policies for MSME Growth • Nourishing MSMEs to create more jobs and • The survey highlights the importance of become more productive. intervention in the case of “Dwarfs”. • Reducing the cost of capital. • Dwarfs are the firms with less than 100 workers • Rationalizing the risk-return trade-off for despite being more than 10 years old. investments. • They account for more than 50% of all organized Behavioural Economics for Social Change firms in manufacturing by number. • The survey has drawn on Nobel Laureate Richard • Contribution of dwarfs to employment is only 14% Thaler’s Behavioural Economics Theory to lay out and to the productivity is a mere 8%. an “ambitious agenda" for behavior change that • Large firms (more than 100 employees) account for will bring in social change, which in turn, will help 75% employment and close to 90% of productivity India transit to a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25. despite accounting for about 15% by number. • Decisions by real people deviate from impractical Minimum Wage System & Inclusive Growth robots theorized in classical economics. Behavioral • Survey proposes a well-designed minimum wage economics provides insights to ‘nudge’ people system as a potent tool for protecting workers and towards desirable behavior. alleviating poverty. Using insights from behavioral economics to create an • The survey supports rationalization of minimum wages aspirational agenda for social change: as proposed under the Code on Wages Bill. Minimum wages to all employments/workers.

17 www.gradeup.co Current Scenario: Sustainable Development and Climate Change • India’s SDG Index Score ranges between 42 and 69 for • Present minimum wage system in India has 1,915 States and between 57 and 68 for UTs: minimum wages for various scheduled job categories • Kerala and Himachal Pradesh are the front runners with across states. a score of 69 amongst states. • 1 in every 3 wage worker in India is not protected by • Chandigarh and Puducherry are the front runners with the minimum wage law. a score of 68 and 65 respectively among the UTs. Setting a National Floor Level Minimum Wage:. • Namami Gange Mission launched as a key policy • The Survey now suggests that the Central priority towards achieving the SDG 6, with a budget Government should notify a national floor outlay of INR. 20,000 crore for the period 2015-2020. minimum wage that can vary across five External Sector geographical regions. • As per WTO, World trade growth slowed down to 3 per Criteria for setting minimum wage: cent in 2018 from 4.6 per cent in 2017. • The Survey suggests that the Code on Wages Bill • Top export items continue to be Petroleum products, should consider fixing minimum wages based on precious stones, drug formulations, gold and other either of two factors: (a) the skill category i.e. precious metals. unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled; • Top import items continue to be Crude petroleum, and (b) the geographical region, or else both. pearl, precious, semi-precious stones and gold. • For instance, Madhya Pradesh has notified • India’s main trading partners continue to be the US, minimum wages based on just four skill levels of China, Hong Kong, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. unskilled, semiskilled, skilled and highly skilled Agriculture and Food Management across occupations and regions. The state has just • Dairying as India is the largest producer of milk. four basic minimum wages for the four skill • Fisheries sector, as India is the second largest producer. categories." • 89% of groundwater extracted is used for irrigation. Enabling Inclusive Growth through Affordable, Reliable and • Organic and natural farming techniques including Zero Sustainable Energy Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) can improve both water • India now stands at 4th in wind power, 5th in solar use efficiency and soil fertility. power and 5th in renewable power installed capacity. About Zero Budget Natural Farming • Market share of electric cars only 0.06% in India while it • Zero Budget Natural Farming, as the name implies, is 2% in China and 39% in Norway. is a method of farming where the cost of growing • Thermal power still plays a dominant role at 60% share. and harvesting plants is zero. • This means that farmers need not purchase State of the Economy in 2018-19: fertilizers and pesticides in order to ensure the • India still the fastest growing major economy in 2018- healthy growth of crops. 19. • It is, basically, a natural farming technique that • Growth of GDP moderated to 6.8 per cent in 2018-19 uses biological pesticides instead of chemical-based from 7.2 per cent in 2017-18. fertilizers. Farmers use earthworms, cow dung, • Inflation contained at 3.4 per cent in 2018-19. urine, plants, human excreta and such biological • Non-Performing Assets as percentage of Gross fertilizers for crop protection. It reduces farmers’ Advances reduced to 10.1 per cent at end December investment. It also protects the soil from 2018 from 11.5 per cent at end March 2018. degradation. • Current account deficit manageable at 2.1 percent of • Zero budget natural farming requires only 10 per GDP. cent water and 10 per cent electricity than what is • Fiscal deficit of Central Government declined from 3.5 required under chemical and organic farming. percent of GDP in 2017-18 to 3.4 percent in 2018-19. Industry and Infrastructure Fiscal Developments • Overall Index of Eight Core Industries registered a • FY 2018-19 ended with fiscal deficit at 3.4 per cent of growth rate of 4.3 percent in 2018-19. GDP and debt to GDP ratio of 44.5 per cent (Provisional).

18 www.gradeup.co • India’s ranking improved by 23 to 77th position in Social Infrastructure, Employment and Human Development 2018 among 190 countries assessed by the World Government expenditure (Centre plus States) as a percentage of Bank Doing Business (DB) Report, 2019. GDP on • Total telephone connections in India touched • Health: increased to 1.5 per cent in 2018-19 from 1.2 118.34 crore in 2018-19 per cent in 2014-15. • Services Sector Education: increased from 2.8 per cent to 3 per cent during this period. • Services sector (excluding construction) has a share of

54.3 per cent in India’s GVA and contributed more than

half of GVA growth in 2018-19. • Services share in employment is 34 per cent in 2017.

January & December

1. NSO pegs India’s Economic Growth at 5% for FY20 • Under the project, a capital grant worth Rs 5559 Note: crores will be provided to Indradhanush Gas Grid • The National Statistics Office (NSO) estimates India’s Limited to build a natural gas pipeline grid covering GDP growth during the fiscal 2019-20 at 5% as eight north eastern states. compared to 6.8% in the previous year. • This is the second such funding approved by the • Estimated growth of real Gross Value Added (GVA) in Union Government for a gas pipeline project. 2019-20 is 4.9% as against 6.6% in 2018-19. 4. CCI Released report on ‘Market Study on E-commerce in India’: • The manufacturing sector is expected to grow at 2% in • The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has 2019-20 as compared to 6.9% in the previous year. released a report ‘Market Study on E-commerce in • The per capita income in real terms (at 2011-12 India: Key Findings and Observations’ on January 08, prices) during 2019-20 is likely to attain a level of 2020. This study was initiated by CCI in April 2019 with ₹96,563 as compared to ₹92,565 for the year 2018- an objective to understand the performance of e- 19. commerce in India. • The growth rate in per capita income is estimated at • This study highlights that e-commerce is gaining 4.3% during 2019-20, as against 5.6% in the previous importance across the sectors in India. The study year. shows that e-commerce has increased price • Agriculture sector is expected to see a growth of 2.8% transparency and price competition in the country. as compared to 2.9% in the previous year. Apart from that, it also presents key trends and issues 2. Union Budget 2020 to be presented on February 01 of the market. Note: 5. NTPC will invest Rs. 50,000 crores to add 10GW Solar • As per Finance Ministry the Union Budget 2020-21 will Energy Capacity by 2022 be presented on February 01. The budget session will • State-owned power giant NTPC Ltd. is planning to add begin from January 31 and will be held in two phases 10 GW (gigawatt) of solar energy generation capacity till 3 April. by 2022. The project would entail an investment of • As per the reports, the Budget Session of Parliament around Rs.50,000 crore which will be funded mainly will be held in two phases on recommendations by by green bonds. the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. • NTPC’s plans to add 10GW solar energy capacity • The first phase of Union Budget 2020-21 will be held assumes significance in view of country’s ambitious from January 31 to February 11 and the second phase target of having 175GW of clean energy by 2022.

from March 2 to April 3. 6. Pan-Aadhaar linking deadline extended to March 2020 3. Government approves over Rs 5000 crore fund for North Note: East natural gas grid project • Aadhaar-Pan linking: The deadline to link PAN card Note: with Aadhaar has been extended till March 2020. The • The Government has approved 'Viability Gap Funding' Income Tax Department had earlier announced worth Rs 5559 crores to set up a natural gas pipeline December 31 as the final deadline. grid in the North East. The Cabinet Committee on • The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended Economic Affairs gave its approval to the project on the deadline to link the Permanent Account Number January 8, 2020. (PAN) with Aadhaar for the eighth time. The Tax

19 www.gradeup.co department had earlier on December 16, 2019 • The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has announced that the linking process must be completed set up the new state-of-the-art LPG Bottling Plant at before December 31, 2019 to reap seamless benefits of Village Barkani in Bolangir district of Odisha. income tax services. • The LPG bottling plant with an annual capacity of • The earlier deadline to link the PAN card with the filling 42 lakh cylinders has been developed by state- Aadhaar card was September 30, 2019. The deadline, run BPCL. however, was extended till December 31, 2019 by the 11. Union Cabinet approves Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) through order in (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 September 2019. • Union Cabinet approved Insolvency and Bankruptcy

Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 on December 7. Finance Minister launches ‘eBkray’ auction platform for 11, 2019. The cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister assets attached by banks Narendra Modi. Note: • The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second • Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has Amendment) Bill, 2019 proposes to make launched eBkray, a common e-auction platform to amendments in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, enable online auction of attached assets transparently 2016. and cleanly for the improved realization of value by • banks. The amendments aim to remove the bottlenecks in insolvency resolution, streamline Corporate • The e-auction platform is now linked on Indian Banks Insolvency Resolution Process and protect last-mile Auctions Mortgaged Properties Information (IBAPI) funding to boost investment in the financially portal and guidelines have been made available. distressed sectors. • The portal will enhance user experience through 12. Lok Sabha passes International Financial Services Bill seamless access to information by search based on • The Lok Sabha passed the International Financial type and location of property put up for e-auction by Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 on December 11, banks in India. 2019. The bill proposes setting of an authority to 8. Reliance JioMart launch: Everything you need to know develop and regulate the financial services market in Note: the International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) in • The Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) launched JioMart, a India. new online grocery platform on December 31, 2019. • The bill will be applicable to all the International • JioMart brings Reliance industries in direct competition Financial Services Centres in India, which were set up with other major e-commerce players such as Flipkart under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005. and Amazon. The new e-commerce platform has been • The International Financial Services Centres Authority initially launched for customers in Navi Mumbai, Thane will comprise nine members including a Chairperson, and Kalyan. all of whom will be appointed by the Union • The service will be extended to people across India government. The members will comprise one each gradually. It will be operated by Reliance Retail. from RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA and two officials Reliance Retail has already started begun taking pre- from Union Ministry of Finance. registrations.

9. Tripura gets its first SEZ in Sabroom 13. Cabinet approves transfer of Assam Gas Cracker Project Note: to oil ministry • Tripura is all set to get its first Special Economic Zone • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) (SEZ) as the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has has issued a notification for the same on December 16, approved the transfer of administrative control of 2019. Tripura’s first SEZ will be established at Jalefa, Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL), the Sabroom, South Tripura District. Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) • Sarbroom is about 130 km away from Agartala. This SEZ implementing Assam Gas Cracker Project (AGCP) from will be an agro-based food processing sector specified Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals (under economic zone. This project will help hundreds of Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers) to Union native people to get employment and provide an Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MOP&NG). opportunity to learn new technologies in the agro- 14. SEBI signs pact with Kazakhstan’s AFSA for mutual co- based food processing sector. operation 10. BPCL’s LPG bottling plant inaugurated in Odisha Note:

20 www.gradeup.co • Markets regulator SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board Kasaragod SHSR corridor project. The order was of India) has signed a bilateral memorandum of issued by Union Ministry of Railways. understanding (MoU) with Kazakhstan-based Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) for mutual co- 18. HDFC Bank becomes third Indian company to cross $100 operation and technical assistance. bn M-cap • The MoU was signed by SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi and • HDFC Bank Ltd has crossed the $100 billion market the acting chief executive officer (CEO) of AFSA capitalization (M-Cap) in intraday trading, thus Mukhtar Bubeyev. becoming only the third company in India to achieve 15. GoI to organize more than 100 Hunar Haats in next 5 this milestone. However, it closed below $100 billion years mark at $99.5 billion. HDFC is one of India’s largest Note: private-sector lenders. • The Ministry of Minority Affairs will organize more than 100 Hunar Haat in the next five years. The move aims 19. India’s first ever fresh vegetable export to Dubai by Sea to increase employment opportunities to craftsmen, Route artisans and culinary experts and also to increase their • On December 20, 2019, the Agricultural and Processed market exposure. Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) • The Ministry will organize Hunar Haats in Chennai, sent its first trial shipment of fresh vegetables from Delhi, Kolakata, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Patna, Dehradun Varanasi to Dubai by sea route. APEDA is the and Indore. The ministry has also sanctioned to set up organization under Ministry of Commerce and Industry more than 100 Hunar hubs in different parts of the that promotes export of agricultural and processed country. food products from India. • The Ministry in its report said that more than 65,000 20. Railways Ministry signs MoU with University of artisans and craftsmen have been employed through Birmingham for establishing Centre of Excellence Hunar Haats in the last 2 years. 16. India, ADB sign $490 Mn loan for PPP to upgrade Madhya • National Rail Transport Institute (NRTI) signed an Pradesh roads Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with University Note: of Birmingham in Rail Bhawan, New Delhi to set up its • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Government first Centre of Excellence for Next Generation of India has signed a $490 million loan for public- Transportation Systems. NRTI is a deemed to be private partnership (PPP) project for upgradation of university under Union Ministry of Railways. about 1,600 km of state highways and major district 21. Uttrakhand to host 11th Regional Quality Conclave roads (MDRs) from single-lane to two-lane widths, • The 11th Regional Quality Conclave (RQC) is being with road safety features and all-weather standards in organized on 20 December 2019 at Rudrapur, district state of Madhya Pradesh. An additional $286 million Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. The is being investment will be mobilised via private sector organized by Quality Council of India (QCI) along with participation under PPP modality. PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI). • The state highways and major district roads provide a Through this Conclave the Quality Council of India (QCI) crucial link between rural roads and national hopes to reach out to industries in the hilly regions of highways, therefore, the upgradation of these roads the country. under project will improve rural and peri-urban connectivity in state as well as improve access to 22. Infosys launches three block-chain powered distributed markets and better services. applications 17. Kerala sets 2024 deadline for Semi High-Speed Rail project • Infosys announced the launch of three blockchain- Note: powered distributed applications for government • The Thiruvananthapuram–Kasargode Semi High- services, supply chain management and insurance Speed Rail Corridor (SHSR), a proposed high-speed rail domains. These applications are equipped with corridor in India that would connect predictive return on investment (ROI) analytics for Thiruvananthapuram with Kasaragod in Kerala is business investments that can be tailored to meet expected to be completed by 2024. numerous industry-specific needs. • Recently, centre had also given in-principle approval 23. ADB issues $250 million loan to India to expand energy to the Rs.56,000 crore Thiruvananthapuram- efficiency investments Note:

21 www.gradeup.co • Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a US $250 conducting the census has tied up with CSC e- million loan agreement with Government of India to governance services for the 7th census. Currently the provide loan to public sector company Energy census is being held in Delhi. Delhi is the 26th place Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) so as to expand where the census is launched. The process is long and energy efficiency investments in India that will benefit will take minimum of three months to complete the agricultural, institutional and residential consumers. census in Delhi region alone. Already the census is on • Earlier, in 2016, ADB had approved a US $200 million in 20 states and 5 union territories. loan to EESL for demand side energy efficiency sector 27. Cabinet approves MoU between CDSCO and Saudi FDA project that focused on efficient lighting and appliances. • Union Cabinet has given ex-post facto approval to 24. India secures loan from Germany to develop an energy- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between efficient housing programme Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) Note: and Saudi Food and Drug Authority in field of Medical • India has secured a US $277 million (about Rs.1,900 Products Regulation. The MoU was signed on 29 crore) loan from Germany to establish an energy- October 2019 during the visit of Prime Minister efficient housing programme in the country. The loan Narendra Modi to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. agreement was signed between (SBI) and Germany’s KfW Development Bank for US 28. Govt launches Pilot Project for using Fastags for Parking $277 million to establish an energy-efficient housing at Hyderabad Airport programme in India. 25. BEE organized International workshop on Energy Efficient • To ensure the benefits of FASTag beyond tolling, the Cooling Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Note: (MoRTH) has launched a pilot project for using FASTags • The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statuary body for parking purposes at Hyderabad Airport. under Union Ministry of Power, conducted an Conceptualised as FASTag 2.0, the tag would cover International Workshop on 12-13 December 2019 on parking payments, fuel payments, etc. After the ‘Energy Efficient Cooling’ at Scope Convention Centre success of project in Hyderabad, it will be launched at in New Delhi. The two-day international workshop was Delhi airport. organised as part of ‘Energy Conservation Week’ being 29. India’s Foreign Exchange touches all time high of 457.468 celebrated from 9- 14 December 2019. billion USD 26. 7th Economic Census: First time digital; to be complete • RBI announced that Foreign Exchange Reserves of by 2020 India has swelled by 2.52 billion USD in the week that Note: ended on December 27, 2019. • The Seventh Economic Census is being conducted • The Central Bank also said that the country’s special nationwide through Common Service Centres (CSC) drawing rights with the IMF (International Monetary and is expected to be completed by March 2020. This Fund) dipped by 2 million USD and the reserve is the first time the census is being conducted digitally. position increased by 58 million USD. Currently, India • As the census is being conducted digitally, the Ministry SDR with the IMF is 1.4441 billion USD and the reserve of Statistics and Programme Implementation is 3.7 billion USD. 30. NSIC & ARAMCO Asia signs MoU for development in Oil & December 9, 2019. The seven-member body that was Gas Sector: cut down to a 3-member body in 2018 is now Note: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has completely blocked by the United States. Without been signed between National Small Industries WTO’s appellate body, the dispute settlement will Corporation (NSIC) and Suadi Aramco (Asia) for the return to pre-1995 GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Trade) status quo. (MSME) Ecosystem in India in Oil & Gas Sector. The 32. Alliance Air flags off Guwahati-Dimapur-Imphal flight MoU will pave a way for accredited Indian MSMEs to under UDAN-RCS carve out a space as vendors in Global space. Note: Air India owned Alliance Air has flagged-off its first 31. United States shuts down WTO appeal court: flight operations between Guwahati in Assam to Note: The Appeal Court of the World Trade Organization Dimapur (largest city of Nagaland) and Imphal (capital of that acts as trade dispute settlement body for the Manipur), under the Regional Connectivity Scheme – members was shut down by the United States on Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN). This direct 50-

22 www.gradeup.co minute-long flights connecting Guwahati-Dimapur- STP to be completed under Hybrid Annuity (HAM) Based Imphal is under a Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), Public Private Partnership Model (PPPM). part of government’s Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) 38. Cabinet approves Bharat Bond Exchange Traded Fund programme. Note: The union cabinet has approved the launch of 33. Jharkhand’s Mahuamilan station becomes country’s Bharat Bond Exchange Traded Fund (BBETF) in order to 5500th station to get free wifi facility allow the investors to buy government debts. The fund Note: Jharkhand’s Mahuamilan station which comes will allow easy and low-cost access with the smallest under East Central Railway (ECZ) zone has become amount of Rs 1000. The BBETF at its initial stages will 5500th station to get free wifi facility. The RailTel hold basket of bonds that are issued by the public sector Corporation of India Ltd. (RCIL), the digital arm of Indian undertakings and other government organization bonds. Railways, has thus provided free WiFi at 5,500 stations It will have a maturity period of 3 to 10 years and are across country. RailTel is a ‘Miniratna’ enterprise that permitted to be traded on stock exchanges. focuses on providing broadband and VPN services. 39. National Public Procurement Conclave held in New Delhi 34. Foreign Exchange reserve touches a new high of 451.08 Note: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush billion USD Goyal inaugurated the 3rd edition of National Public Note: According to the weekly data released by the Procurement Conclave (NPPC) in New Delhi. The two- Reserve Bank of India, the foreign exchange reserve day conclave was organized by Government e- touched a new high of 451.08 billion USD. The foreign Marketplace (GeM) in association with Confederation of exchange currency assets include the depreciation or Indian Industry (CII). NPCC will be held from 5-6 appreciation of the non-US currency like pound, Euro December 2019. and Yen as well. The increase is mainly due to the rise in 40. Cabinet apprised of Indo-German strategic collaboration on foreign currency assets. The Gold reserves of India also Railways declined by 148 million USD. Note: Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister 35. Artificial Intelligence introduced as a subject in CBSE Narendra Modi was notified of Joint Declaration of schools Intent (JDI) between India and Germany regarding Note: The Ministry of Human Resource and strategic cooperation on Railways projects. The Joint Development has introduced Artificial Intelligence in Declaration of Intent was signed by Union Ministry of classes VIII, IX and X in CBSE schools. The study Railways with Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and materials have already been provided to the schools Energy of Federal Republic of Germany in November through official CBSE website. The CBSE has 2019. Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) will provide a collaborated with several organization like Microsoft, platform to Indian Railways to interact and share latest Intel, IBM and so on in order to create the module of developments and knowledge in field of Railways. Artificial Intelligence. 41. Aditya Birla Finance becomes first company to list 36. CSIR, BHEL signs MoU to push ‘Make in India’ initiative commercial papers on stock exchanges Note: The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research Note: Aditya Birla Finance Ltd (ABFL), the Non-Banking (CSIR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding Financial Company (NBFC) arm of Aditya Birla Capital, (MoU) with Khadi and Village Industries Commission has now become the first company to list its commercial (KVIC) on promotion of honey production Khadi outlets papers (CPs) on stock exchanges. The move comes after to also display CSIR products. MoU is signed to leverage stock exchanges- the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) and expertise available in CSIR with effort of KVIC for NSE (National Stock Exchange), came out with a promotion of honey production as well as to enable framework for listing of commercial papers (CPs), in a wider outreach of CSIR technologies and products. bid to broaden investors’ participation in such 37. Sarai Sewage Treatment Plant inaugurated in Uttarakhand securities. Note: King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden 42. Cabinet approves extension of norms for mandatory inaugurated Sarai Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in packaging in jute materials Uttarakhand. The Swedish King and Queen are on a five- Note: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) day visit to India to strengthen bilateral ties.It is the first has accorded its approval for mandatory packaging of

23 www.gradeup.co foodgrains and sugar in jute material for Jute Year 2019- Note: Union Government will launch India’s first fixed 20. The scope of mandatory packaging norms under Jute income Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) comprising debt Packaging Material (JPM) Act, 1987 has been retained securities of large central public sector enterprises by Union Government as per 2018. Cabinet decision (PSUs) by mid-December 2019. It will comprise only mandates that 100% of food grains and 20% of sugar AAA-rated papers of the PSU companies. It is expected shall be mandatorily packed in diversified jute bags. to have a size of Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore. It is 43. Authorised capital of Food Corporation of India increased expected to improve liquidity in corporate bond market, to Rs.10000 crore smoothen borrowing plans of the participating state- Note: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) owned companies and enhance investor base. approved increasing authorized capital of Food 48. UKIBC launched Aerospace and Defence Industry Group Corporation of India (FCI) from existing Rs.3,500 crore to Note: In order to boost the bilateral cooperation in the Rs.10,000 crore. CCEA was chaired by Prime Minister field of aerospace and defence between India and UK Narendra Modi. FCI’s operations require maintaining the United Kingdom India Business Council (UKIBC) perpetual stock of foodgrains which needs to be funded announced the establishment of Aerospace and by government of India through equity or via long term Defence Industry Group. The group will advance India’s loan. Therefore, Centre government is providing equity defence acquisition process and also foster long-term to FCI for maintaining stocks. technology and hardware transfers. The Aerospace and 44. Cabinet approves loan waiver of worth Rs.4 Cr against Defence Industry Group has been formed after Sikkim Mining Corporation suggestions of the Defence and Security Organisation of Note: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) UK defence solution centre. has approved waiver of repayment of loan and interest 49. ADB approves $206 million loans to develop water supply, thereon, of nearly worth Rs. 4 crore outstanding against sewerage infrastructure in 5 cities of Tamil Nadu Sikkim Mining Corporation (SMC) including interest Note: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed accrued on total amount from 1 April 2019, till this $206 million loan agreement with Government of India approval outstanding against SMC. CCEA is chaired by (GoI) to develop water supply, sewerage infrastructure Prime Minister Narendra Modi. in 5 cities (Ambur,Tiruchirappalli, Tiruppur, Madurai and 45. Indian Railways sets up Institute of Financial Management Vellore) of Tamil Nadu (TN) and also enhances capacities in Hyderabad of urban local bodies (ULBs) for improved service Note: The Indian Railway Institute of Financial delivery. It is the 2nd project loan for the ADB-assisted Management (IRIFM) has been set up in Hyderabad, $500 million multi-tranche financing for TN Urban Telangana. This new entity is set up to impart Flagship Investment Program, granted in earlier professional training in management of railway September 2018, that will develop climate-resilient finances. The project was conceived and constructed by water supply, sewerage, and drainage infrastructure in Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) at a cost of Rs 85 crore. at least 10 cities in Tamil Nadu. IRIFM institution is based on a 14-acre campus at 50. CRISIL lowers India’s GDP growth rate estimate for FY 20 to Moula-Ali, Secunderabad. 5.1% from 6.3% 46. CBDT inaugurates Web Portal for exchange of information Note: The CRISIL formerly known as Credit Rating on Income Tax Information Services of India Limited has lowered its Note: Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has estimate of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) inaugurated the Web Portal for Exchange of Information growth rate to 5.1 % for the current financial year – on Income Tax which will consolidate all relevant FY20 from an earlier estimate of 6.3 %. Growth in the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) related second half of 2019-20 will go up to 5.5%, up from 4.75% in the first half. Crisil’s revision is the lowest information at one place. This portal will help in since Japan’s brokerage company Nomura’s 4.7 % convenient access by public, financial institutions as well estimate, comes within days of the government figures as departmental officers at large. showing the economic growth rate in the second 47. Government to launch first fixed income ETF of bluechip PSUs

24 www.gradeup.co quarter (July-September,2019) of the current financial between expenditure and revenue was at Rs 7,20,445 year came down to 4.5 %. crore. In comparison with 2018-19 (last year), the deficit 51. Fiscal deficit for April-Oct hit at 102.4%, crosses full-year is lower, as it was at 103.9 percent of 2018-19 BE. In target-CGA budget, government has estimated the fiscal deficit for Note: According to the data released by the Controller the current financial year at Rs 7.03 lakh crore, aiming General of Accounts (CGA), India’s fiscal deficit for April- to restrict the deficit at 3.3 per cent of the gross October, 2019 hit at 102.4% of 2019-20 Budget Estimate domestic product (GDP). (BE) as on October 31, 2019. The fiscal deficit or the gap

November

1. Government to launch first fixed income ETF of supplementary demands to fulfil their purposes. bluechip PSUs: The Budget allocated Rs 12,000 crore for this. • Union Government will launch India’s first fixed • The General Insurance Companies have sought Rs income Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) comprising 500 crore to Rs 3000 crore each to avoid falling debt securities of large central public sector below solvency ratio. However, the three enterprises (PSUs) by mid-December 2019. companies that are to be merged are struggling to • It will comprise only AAA-rated papers of the PSU maintain minimum solvency ratio of 1.5 companies. 4. World Bank’s 300 million USD plan to Develop • It is expected to have a size of Rs 15,000 crore to Rs Kolkata: 20,000 crore. • The World Bank has submitted a master plan to • It is expected to improve liquidity in corporate develop logistics infrastructure of Kolkata bond market, smoothen borrowing plans of the metropolitan area. The bank is to invest 300 million participating state-owned companies and enhance USD in the project. The Government entities investor base. participating in the deal includes CII and the West • Department of Investment and Public Asset Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. Management (DIPAM) has appointed Edelweiss • The focus of the project is to be on construction of Asset Management as the asset manager for this rail, road, industrial parks. The aim of the project is proposed debt ETF. to improve competitiveness, increase employment. • The tax treatment of this debt ETF will be same as • The Inland Water Transport World Bank Project, that of debt mutual funds. Asian High way project, Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial 2. IRCTC Revenue doubles; 14% increase in profits Corridor are the current prominent infrastructural • The earnings from internet ticketing services of developments in the region IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism 5. AIIB to invest 100 million USD in solar and wind Corporation) increased by 80.8% between the projects in India: period April, 2019 and September, 2019. • The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) • IRCTC is an exclusive e-ticketing partner of the which is headquartered at Beijing expects an Indian Railways. investment of 100 million USD in India in a year. • This is the first time IRCTC is releasing its revenue The foreign investment is to enter India through after it entered the stock market in October, 14, the bank in Wind and solar projects. 2019. Also, the sector has earned huge success in • AIIB approves 500 million USD for MUTP 3 India’s path of Digitization. • On November 16, 2019, the bank approved a loan 3. GoI merges three Insurance PSUs: of 500 million USD in three suburban rail • The GoI will merge 3 public Sector Insurance infrastructure projects. Companies as announced in budget 2019-20. • The projects are being executed under MUTP- • The merger includes United India Insurance Mumbai Urban Transport Project Limited, National Insurance Co Limited and Oriental • The project curbs trespass deaths by including mid- Insurance Company Limited. section trespasses. It is the first of its kind in the • The Budget 2019-2020 did not make provision of country. funds for insurers and the Department of Financial Services. Therefore, the government institutions in 6. Indo-French collaboration: Largest FDI project of the financial sector are forced to seek Indian Railways:

25 www.gradeup.co • The Indian Railways and Alstom came together in • World’s first CNG port terminal the intention of transforming the freight • The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) had signed transportation of India. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UK- • In line with the collaboration, the MELPM- based Foresight Group to set up this port terminal at Madhepura Electric Locomotive Private Limited has Bhavnagar in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit held in been established. January 2019. The existing port at Bhavnagar is • MELPM will now manufacture 800 electric administered by Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB). locomotives for freight services with the foreign • The terminal will be jointly built by Foresight Group investment of 3.5 billion Euros. and Mumbai-based Padmanabh Mafatlal Group. 7. BHIM UPI goes global: Demonstrated at Singapore The consortium of company will invest Rs.1,900 FinTech Festival: crore out of which Rs.1,300 crore will be invested in As a first step towards internationalization, a global pilot 1st phase and Rs.600 crore in 2nd phase. demo of BHIM UPI QR-based payments began on 13 November 2019 with a live transaction at merchant 10. Finance Minister: Rs 25,000 crore Fund for stuck terminal at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2019. The Housing Projects Indian contingent with participation of 43 companies and start-ups was one of the largest at Singapore • On November 7, 2019, Government of India FinTech Festival 2019 being held between 11 and 15 announced the establishment of Rs 25,000 crore November. fund for home buyers whose money is stuck in In May 2018 Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested stalled projects. According to the Ministry of the launch of BHIM UPI QR code-based payments Finance, there are over 1600 such projects internationally after launching RuPay International card comprising of 4.58 lakh housing units across the and SBI’s UPI based remittance app in Singapore, as an country. The “Special Window” will prioritize debt achievement for fintech cooperation between India and financing in the Affordable and middle-income Singapore. housing sector. • Rs 10,000 crore is to be provided by GoI towards the 8. Central Electricity Authority Data: India’s Electricity fund. Other firms like LIC and SBI along with Demand fell to a 12-year low sovereign wealth funds and pension funds will contribute Rs 15,000 crore • According to the data released by the Central • The fund is to be set up as Category II Alternate electricity Authority (CEA), the electricity demand of Investment Fund. the country fell by 13% in October 2019 as • The fund is to be registered with SEBI as an escrow compared to October 2018. This is the lowest in 12 account. years. • Sharp reduction in the industrialized states like 11. India withdraws from RCEP Maharashtra and Gujarat indicating an economic slowdown is the major reason for the decline in • On November 4, 2019, India decided against joining demand. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership • Electricity demand of the country was 98 billion (RCEP) trade deal as India did not receive any units in October 2019 as against 112 billion units in credible assurance on market access and non-tariff October 2018. barriers. This paved way for the other 15-members • Power demand in Madhya Pradesh declined by 26%, to go ahead and sign the deal keeping the door open Karnataka declined by 25%, Maharashtra declined for India to join at later date. by 22%, Gujarat by 19%, Telangana by 16% and • Reasons of Withdrawal Andhra Pradesh by 16%. • Trade Deficit • India has trade deficit with at least 11 of 15 RCEP 9. World’s first CNG port terminal to be built in Gujarat: countries. It has doubled in the last five years from • Gujarat government has given its approval to a 54 billion USD in 2013-14 to 105 billion USD in 2018- Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) terminal facility at 19. Of this China alone accounts to 53 billion USD. Bhavnagar port. This would be the world’s first CNG Signing the RCEP will widen trade deficit and will port terminal. The approval for this was given by empty foreign exchange reserve of India at a faster Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board headed rate. by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

26 www.gradeup.co 12. ADB to give $451Mn for Chennai-Kanyakumari 13. IIT Delhi launches Global Alumni Endowment Fund Industrial Corridor power links • The Asian Development Bank will provide a $451 • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has million (appx. Rs.3,200 crore) loan to strengthen formally launched its Global Alumni Endowment power connectivity between southern and Fund with an initial commitment of Rs 250.crore northern parts of Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial from nearly 20 corporate leaders and alumni of Corridor (CKIC) in Tamil Nadu. institution. • As per ADB, the Manila-headquartered multilateral • The Endowment Fund was launched by President agency the total cost of the project is $653.5 Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 31 million, of which the government will provide October 2019. $202.5 million.

October

1. SEBI new rule to impact foreign funds – The Securities and ‘ATITHI’ for improved monitoring and pace of Exchange Board of India (SEBI) notified that only FPIs – customs clearance of imported goods and Foreign Portfolio Investors located in FATF countries or facilitating arriving international passengers. managed by an enterprise based under FATF jurisdiction • ICEDASH is an Ease of Doing Business monitoring can deal in Participatory Notes. dashboard of the Indian Customs helping the public Note: see the daily Customs clearance times of import • HR Khan Committee - The new rule is based on the cargo at various ports and airports. HR Khan Committee’s recommendation. HR Khan • The ATITHI app will facilitate hassle-free and faster Committee was formed by SEBI under clearance by Customs at the airports and enhance chairmanship of former deputy governor of RBI to the experience of international tourists and other streamline FPI. visitors at the airports. • Participatory Notes are financial instruments 6. Moody’s cuts India’s GDP growth forecast to 5.8% for FY20 required by investors to invest in Indian stock • US Rating agency, Moody has lowered the India markets without being registered with SEBI. GDP growth forecast for 2019-20 to 5.8% from 2. Govt constituted Ajay Bhushan Pandey panel to check 6.2%. money laundering activities – On 07th October the • It stated that the Indian economy is experiencing a government set up a high-level inter-ministerial committee pronounced slowdown partly due to long-lasting chaired by the Ajay Bhushan Pandey (Revenue Secretary) factors. for better coordination among various departments and law 7. IMF cuts World and India growth rates enforcement agencies to prevent money laundering • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has activities. downgrade the global growth in 2019 to 3%, the 3. S&P lowered India's growth forecast to 6.3% for 2019-20 - slowest since the global financial crisis. The S&P Global Ratings lowered India’s growth projection • India’s growth projections have also been for 2019-20 to 6.3% from 7.1%. downgraded to 6.1% and 7.0% in 2019 and 2020 4. CBDT launches Documentation Identification Number – respectively, down by 1.2 percentage points and The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has launched a 0.5 percentage points relative to April projection. computer-generated Document Identification Number • The IMF projected the U.S. would grow at 2.4% and (DIN) to ensure greater transparency and accountability in 2.1% in 2019 and 2020 respectively. For China, tax administration. growth was projected to grow at 6.1% and 5.8% in • Thus, from now onwards, every CBDT 2019 and 2020. communication will have to have a documentation 8. Reliance MF renamed as “Nippon India Mutual Fund” identification number. • Reliance Mutual Fund has been renamed as 5. Finance Minister launches two IT initiatives ICEDASH and “Nippon India Mutual Fund“. ATITHI • The organization was renamed following the • The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman purchase of 75% stake in Reliance Nippon Life Asset unveiled two new IT Initiatives ‘ICEDASH’ and Management by Nippon Life Insurance.

27 www.gradeup.co • Nippon India Mutual Fund has become the largest foreign-owned Asset Management Company in India. Sundeep Sikka will continue to lead company as the CEO. September

1. Economic Advisory Council to PM reconstituted under • It is one of the lowest tax rates among the Bibek Debroy – Government of India has reconstituted Developed and Developing economies in South Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) Asian and South-East Asia Regions for the under existing Chairman Bibek Debroy. manufacturing units globally. • The reconstitution is for a period of two years, with Note: effect from 26 September 2019. • Corporate Tax Rate after surcharge will now stand Note: at 25.17% for domestic companies (inclusive of all • Bibek Debroy is the Chairman of Economic cess and surcharges). Advisory Council to Prime Minister (PMEAC) as of • New domestic manufacturing companies February 2018. incorporated after October 1, 2019, will now be About Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC- required to pay income tax at 15%, which stands at PM – 17.01% including the surcharge and cess. • Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister 6. India among top 10 nations in gold reserves – According to (PMEAC) is a non-constitutional, non-permanent the World Gold Council, India ranked at the 10th positions and independent body constituted to give in terms of total gold reserves. economic advice to the Prime Minister. • India has surpassed the Netherlands to move into 2. ADB cuts India growth forecast to 6.5% for 2019-20 – The the list of top ten countries in terms of total gold Asian Development Bank has slashed its growth forecast for reserves. India for fiscal year 2019-20 to 6.5% from 7%. • India with total gold reserves of 618.2 tonnes is 3. GSTN makes Aadhaar verification mandatory for new marginally higher than the Netherlands’ reserves of dealers from Jan 2020 – The Goods and Services Tax 612.5 tonnes. Network has decided to make Aadhaar authentication or • The U.S. topped the list with total gold reserves of physical verification mandatory for new dealers from 8,133.5 tonnes followed by Germany with 3,366.8 January 2020. tonnes. • The announcement in this regard was made by • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is ranked Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Modi, third with a holding of 2,451.8 tonnes. who heads the Group of Ministers of GST Network. • The other countries in the list are - Italy (4th), 4. NIRVIK scheme: Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of France (5th), Russia (6th), China (7th), Switzerland India (ECGC) has introduced ‘NIRVIK’ scheme to ease the (8th) and Japan (9th) before India at the 10th spot. lending process and enhance loan availability for exporters. 7. TN Manoharan committee recommends for creating a loan Note: contract registry – The six-member task force headed by • Under the new ‘NIRVIK’ scheme, which is also Canara Bank chairman TN Manoharan submitted its report called the Export Credit Insurance Scheme (ECIS), to Governor of RBI Shaktikanta Das on September 3. the insurance cover guaranteed will cover up to 90 • The Reserve Bank of India constituted the task percent of the principal and interest. force. • The insurance cover will include both pre and post- • It has recommended for creating a loan contract shipment credit. The Export Credit Guarantee registry to remove information asymmetries Corporation of India (ECGC) currently provides between buyers and sellers. credit guarantee of up to 60 percent loss. • The report also recommends setting up of an 5. Centre cuts Corporate Tax Rate for domestic investors – online loan sales platform to conduct auctions/sale Corporate Tax Rate has been cut to 22 per cent from 30 per process of secondary market loans. cent earlier. 8. Modi launches Act Far East Policy for Russia; announces $1 bn support – Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 'Act

28 www.gradeup.co Far East' policy and asserted that India will walk shoulder- GDP growth to recover to 7.4% in the second half of to-shoulder with Russia in its development of the Far East. financial year 2019-20. • Narendra Modi announced a $ one billion line of 12. Growth of eight core sectors slows to 2.1% in July 2019 – credit for the development of the resource-rich According to official data released by Government, Growth region. of eight core industries (Index of Eight Core Industries) 9. ‘Ashok Leyland’s heavy-duty trucks becomes 1st to get BS- dropped to 2.1% in July 2019. It was mainly due to VI certification – Commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland contraction in coal, crude oil, natural gas and refinery announced that its entire range of heavy duty trucks has products. been upgraded to meet BS-VI emission norms, which come 13. CRISIL revises India’s GDP growth to 6.3% in fiscal 2020 – into force from 1 April 2020. Rating agency CRISIL has revised India’s fiscal year 2020 10. FM sets up a task force to implement Rs 100 lakh crore GDP growth forecast to 6.3%. CRISIL has lowered the GDP infrastructure projects – growth forecast from 6.9% to 6.3%. The growth was revised • Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had as the first-quarter growth rate of India reduced to a 25- announced the setting up of 6 member task force quarter low of 5%. to implement Rs 100 lakh crore over the next five 14. Centre to infuse Rs 12,000 crore in state general insurance years in the infrastructure projects in the country. firms – Following the recapitalisation of public sector banks • The task force would be headed by the department (PSBs), now public sector insurance companies -- National of economic affairs (DEA) secretary and will have Insurance, Oriental Insurance and United India Insurance -- the CEO of a government think tank or his nominee are going to be infused with funds worth Rs 12,000 crore to as one of the members. boost their capital base and meet regulatory norms, sources 11. Ind-Ra cuts GDP growthforecast in FY20 to 6.7% - India said. Ratings and Research has revised its projection of the • Last year's Budget announced plans to merge these India’s GDP growth in financial year 2019-20 to 6.7%. It has three insurance companies, and thereafter list the reduced the GDP growth rate from 7.3% to 6.7%. It expects combined entity.

Banking & Financial Awareness

January/December

1. sings MoU with WEWA to provide credit health insurers. As per the guidelines issued by the Note: IRDAI, every general and standalone health insurer • Public sector lender Indian Bank has signed an MoU should offer a standard health product, the Arogya with the Women Entrepreneurs Welfare Association Sanjeevani Policy, with a minimum sum insured of Rs (WEWA), Tamil Nadu, to offer training and credit 1 lakh, with upper limit of Rs 5 lakh. The policy term linkage to women members/entrepreneurs of the will be for one year. association for establishing business. • The Arogya Sanjeevani policy is a first of its kind • The bank, which has dedicated products especially standard health insurance product that will help designed for women customers, will provide loans easy availability of health insurance. to WEWA members at special discounted rates. • The minimum entry age will be 18 years with • Training will be given to the WEWA members in the lifelong renewability and there is no exit age. INDSETIs (Indian Bank Self Employment Training 3. Shivalik Mercantile gets RBI Nod to become SFB Institutes) Note: • WEWA aims at adding 1,000 members by 2023 and • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted in- requested the bank to provide the skill training to principle approval to Uttar Pradesh-based Shivalik their members as per the interest and choice of the Mercantile Co-operative Bank Ltd to convert to a members. small finance bank (SFB). 2. Health policy in the name ‘Arogya Sanjeevani’ • Thus, it becomes the first urban cooperative bank mandatory: IRDAI (UCB) to make the transition since the guidelines Note: came out nearly two years ago. • IRDA has introduced a standard health cover policy that must be offered by all general and standalone

29 www.gradeup.co • Approval granted will be valid for 18 months to • Along with this, the company has also launched QR enable the applicant to comply with the codes in to calculator, power bank, watch, pen stand requirements under the scheme on voluntary and radio for the convenience of businessmen. transition of urban co-operative bank into a small 7. In a first, HDFC Bank launches myApps to boost digital finance bank. payments 4. SBI announces 'residential builder finance with buyer Note: guarantee' scheme • India’s leading private sector lender HDFC Bank Note: launched myApps application to boost digital • State Bank of India has announced a 'residential payments in India on January 09, 2020. • myApps is a unique customised suite of banking builder finance with buyer guarantee' (RBBG) products to benefit urban local bodies, housing scheme to give a push to residential sales and societies, local clubs and gymkhanas and religious improve homebuyers' confidence. Under which the institutions. SBI will issue a guarantee for completion of select • At present HDFC Bank is offering four types of residential projects to customers who have availed applications — mySociety, myClub, myPrayer and home loans from it. myCity. • The scheme will focus on affordable housing projects • myApps will allow institutions to customise their priced up to 2.50 crore rupees in 10 cities initially. branding and content. Moreover, the app can be Under RBBG, the guarantee would be given by the customised in over 20 languages starting with Hindi bank till the project gets the occupation certificate and English. (OC). 8. 2 Indian banks to end their operations in Sri Lanka 5. SBI lowers GDP estimates for FY20 to 4.6% from 5% Note: Note: • Two private sector bank of India, ICICI Bank and Axis • The State Bank of India’s research desk has released Bank decided to close their operations in Sri Lanka its ‘Ecowrap’ report on January 09, 2020. after taking permission from the Central Bank of Sri • In its report the SBI has lowered its GDP growth Lanka. forecast for FY20 to 4.6 per cent from the earlier 5 • The licenses issued by Central Bank of Sri Lanka will per cent. be cancelled once the winding-up operations are • Also, the latest SBI Ecowrap report even predicted complete. growth rate to remain below 6 per cent for the two • The two banks are no longer to carry their banking years in a row. operations, including accepting deposits from the • For FY20, the budgeted nominal GDP growth rate public in Sri Lanka. was 12 per cent which has now been revised 9. No extra charge on digital payments via RuPay & UPI downwards to 7.5 per cent. from 1st Jan 2020 6. Paytm launches unified QR code for merchants to Note: enable unlimited payments • Finance Minister announced that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges for businesses with Note: over Rs 50 crore annual revenues will be waived off • India's leading digital payments company, Paytm from January 1, 2020. announced the launch of its all-in-one QR for • Also, the digital transactions made using RuPay merchants across the country. credit cards, or UPI QR codes will not face any • The QR code will enable business to accept unlimited additional charges for merchants or customers from payments through Paytm Wallet, Rupay Cards and all January 1, 2020. UPI-based payment apps directly into their bank • The Merchant Discount Rate is the percentage of account at zero percent fee the digital transaction that a merchant pays to • The platform offers a single reconciliation of all banks. This cost is often passed on to the customer. payments through its 'Paytm for Business' app The decision aims to promote the home-grown • Paytm also launched ‘Paytm Business Khata’, a new digital payment pathways like RuPay and UPI, over service to promotes the Paytm merchant partners to those promoted by foreign companies, including maintain digital ledgers of all their customer VISA and MasterCard. transactions including cash and credit. 10. SBI to implement OTP-based ATM cash withdrawals: Note:

30 www.gradeup.co • State Bank of India will introduce One Time • The collaboration will help PNB MetLife to reach out Password (OTP)-based ATM cash withdrawals to unbanked areas & drive greater financial effective from January 1, 2020 across all SBI ATMs. inclusion in the country by securing the families of The step has been taken to reduce the occurrences the borrowers against loan repayment in case of of unauthorised transactions happening at ATMs. unfortunate death of the borrower. • SBI will introduce one-time password for every cash 14. CSC inks pact with Paytm for sale of withdrawal of Rs 10,000 and above between 8 am FASTags and 8 pm. Note: • When an SBI cardholder will enter the amount of • Common Service Centres (CSC) e-Governance cash he/she wishes to withdraw, a screen will appear Services India has signed a memorandum of asking for the OTP. The customer will then have to understanding with Ltd (PPBL) put the OTP that the bank will send to the registered for sale of FASTags. The agreement will facilitate the mobile number. sale of PPBL FASTags through the last mile network • The facility will not be applicable at other banks’ ATM of 3.6 lakh CSCs, helping realise the government’s as this functionality has not been developed in vision of cashless and smooth transit at all toll plazas National Financial Switch (NFS). across the country. 11. Government will infuse Rs 8,655 crore into Allahabad • FASTags which work on Radio Frequency Bank, IOB & UCO Bank Identification (RFID) technology have been Note: mademandatory at toll gates on national highways. • The Government of India has approved the release • The FASTag process allows toll payments directly of Rs 8,655 crore as fresh capital for , from the prepaid or savings account linked to it, thus IOB & UCO Bank. The infusion will be done for doing away with the need for waiting in queues, preferential allotment of shares. saving time and fuel. • Fresh capital amounting to Rs 2,153 crore will be 15. Federal Bank joined hands with Magicbricks to recover allocated to Allahabad Bank, Rs 2,142 crore to UCO dues: Bank and Rs 4,630 crore to Indian Overseas Bank • Federal Bank has partnered with online real estate (IOB) for preferential allotment of shares. platform Magicbricks for listing and e-auctioning of 12. Google searches for ‘Operation Twist’ surge in India immovable properties repossessed by the bank in Note: recovery proceedings. • Google searches for “Operation Twist” surged in • The move is aimed at speedy recovery of the bank’s India after the central bank announced its version of impaired assets, while helping customers get the the U.S. Federal Reserve’s unconventional monetary best rate in the market for their properties. policy. • The bank has got into a pan-India arrangement with • Most searches for the term came from Delhi the housing portal in order to recover dues in 30 followed by Maharashtra. major accounts amounting to Rs 50 crore in the • The central bank will buy long-term bonds, while fourth quarter of this year. simultaneously selling short-term government • Under the deal, Federal Bank will leverage on securities in an effort to cheapen long-term Magicbrick’s reach across demographic profiles and borrowing and boost bank lending. consumer categories, removing any geographical • The Reserve Bank of India will buy longer-tenor restrictions for buyers. bonds while selling shorter debt. The concept is 16. partners with Pine Labs to similar to Operation Twist used by the Fed in 2011- enable EMIs on debit cards 2012 in an effort to cheapen long-term borrowing Note: and spur bank lending. • Kotak Mahindra Bank has tied up with Pine Labs to 13. RevFin and PNB MetLife in tie-up to offer life cover enable debit card facility for their debit cardholders Note: across point-of-sale terminals by Pine Labs. • India’s leading Digital lending startup, RevFin has • Banks customers can avail EMI facility with a joined hands with PNB MetLife India Insurance minimum purchase of Rs 8,000 and repay over 3 Company to offer protection to the RevFin’s months to 12 months. Its aim is to provide customers by bundling life insurance cover on their affordable, flexible and easy EMI options on a range loans. This insurance covers loans up to ₹3 lakh for of products so that bank’s customers can break their a period of 3 years. high-value purchases into affordable instalments at no extra cost.

31 www.gradeup.co 17. No extra charge on digital payments via UPI, RuPay provider is called MDR Charge. The MDR charges from January 1, 2020 can range from 0% to 2% of the transaction Note: amount • The central government has decided to remove the 18. NPIC to export UPI, sets up subsidiary: RBI Governor Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) to promote digital Note: payments. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman • The Unified Payment Interface was introduced in recently said that all digital transactions using India in 2016. Based on its performance, Google has RuPay or UPI will not face additional charges from recommended similar service called FedNow to the January 1, 2020. US Federal Reserve Board. • Earlier, the central government amended two acts, • With its growing popularity, the RBI on December 16, Payments and Settlement Systems Act and the 2019 announced that NPCI will set up a subsidiary to Income Tax Act. Now, the Department of Revenue export UPI. (DoR) will notify UPI and RuPay as the approved • India is already extending the app to other countries. mode of payment for digital transactions without Recently, PM Modi launched the service in Singapore any Merchant Discount Rate (MDR). during his visit to the country • When a person swaps his card at a shop, the fee that the shopkeeper has to pay to his service 19. ZestMoney joins hands with Xiaomi to launch ‘Mi • The agreement became effective from November 7, Credit’ personal loan service in the Indian market 2019, and the utilisation period of the loan is 10 years • On December 7, 2019, ZestMoney, an AI (Artificial from the date of signing the agreement. Intelligence) -driven EMI(Equated Monthly 22. IEPFA inks MoU with (BoB) for investor Instalment) financing platform based in Bengaluru, awareness Karnataka, has partnered with Chinese smartphone • The Investor Education & Protection Fund Authority company, Xiaomi, to launch new loan service app (IEPFA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding called “MiCredit” in the Indian market. (MOU) with Bank of Baroda (BoB) to spread customer • Through this, customers can get an instant loan awareness and investor education and reaching out to ranging from Rs 7,000 – Rs 1,00,000. investors and stakeholders. 20. Loans worth over Rs10 lakh cr sanctioned under PMMY • As per the agreement, 9,456 BoB branches will exhibit • The Union Government has informed that loans worth IEPFA posters on investor protection & 3,115 ATMs over 10 lakh crore rupees have been sanctioned till () and Cash Recyclers 1st November this year under the Pradhan Mantri supported by self-service channels will feature digital Mudra Yojana, PMMY. banners on IEPFA. • As per the findings of the PMMY survey, around five • The IEPFA works under the Ministry of Corporate crore persons were working in the establishments for Affairs. which MUDRA loans were availed between April 2015 23. Mastercard joins hands with Thailand Tourism to March 2018. Authority (TAT) to tap more tourists from India • The survey reveals that these loans enabled • American multinational financial service corporation, beneficiaries to sustain the economic activities they Mastercard on December 5, 2019 has partnered with were engaged in. Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT) to tap more tourists 21. Exim Bank provided $500 million Line of Credit to from India & enable digital payments for a more Bangladesh: experiential visit for them. • Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has provided • As per Mastercard data, there is 20% increase in the $500 million (Rs 3561 crore) Line of Credit to amount of spends done by Indians via cashless Bangladesh for defence-related procurement in the transactions in Thailand & TAT witnessed a growth of neighbouring country. nearly 25% in arrivals from India, taking the total to • In this regard the Exim bank has entered into an 1.60 million in 2018-19. agreement with Bangladesh’s Armed Forces Division • Airports of Mumbai & Delhi account for more than 50 (AFD) in April 11, 2019. % of departures to Thailand. • Bangkok (Thailand’s capital) has ranked No.1 in Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index 2019 as

32 www.gradeup.co the world’s best travel destination. Cardholders spent • On December 2, 2019, The International Finance more than 88% in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Krabi Corporation (IFC) has anchored an investment round of cities. $ 200 million in Mahindra & Mahindra Financial 24. HDFC ERGO general insurance launches ‘my:health Services Limited (MMFSL) with the objective to create woman suraksha policy’ a ‘pool’ specifically for financing micro, small and • HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company has launched medium enterprises (MSMEs) in low income states. “my:health Woman Suraksha policy”, a • In a regulatory filing, IFC has invested $ 75 million out comprehensive medical insurance scheme specially of this in its account. The remaining $ 125 million is designed for women. being raised in parallel loans. At the same time, • Under this scheme women aged 18–65 years are Mahindra Finance has committed to invest $225 eligible for the policy & they offered a sum insured million in this fund. ranging from Rs. 1 lakh to 1 crore. • The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a unit of • The policy is designed to provide financial support the World Bank Group. during medical emergencies and sicknesses in 27. 78% account holders withdraw all their money from women’s lives. PMC Bank: Nirmala Sitharaman 25. KVGB inks MoU with Canara HSBC OBC for • As per the Union Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala bancassurance Sitharaman, nearly 78% depositors of the scam-hit • On 2nd December 2019 the Karnataka Vikas Grameen Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank Bank (KVGB) has entered into an MoU with Canara have been allowed to withdraw their entire deposits HSBC OBC Life Insurance Company Ltd. for even though the ceiling of Rs 50,000 on withdrawal bancassurance business. continues. • Under the MoU KVGB will market wide range • Also account holders are allowed to withdraw up to Rs insurance products of the Canara HSBC through its 1 lakh in case of medical emergency, marriage and 636 branches in 9 districts of Karnataka. other serious situations. 26. World Bank arm IFC to invest $ 200 million in Mahindra finance November

1. SEBI slaps Rs 40.5 lakh fine on 7 firms for fraudulent private sector banks IDFC Bank and to offer trading FASTags to truck fleet owners free of cost. • The Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) • Under this partnership, truck owners can order imposed a total fine of Rs 40.5 lakh on 7 companies FASTags on Blackbuck’s Boss app. for indulging in fraudulent trading in the illiquid stock • It will be given free at their doorstep till 31st options segment on the BSE. December 2019. • The total fine levied on the firms, Rs 10.5 lakh was 3. SBI’s economic research team revised India’s GDP levied on Green Venture Securities Management Pvt forecast to 5% for FY 2020: Ltd while Morgan Financial Services, Niranjan • The economic research team from the State Bank of Housing, Navrang Tradelinks, Niranjan Metallic, Nishu India (SBI) has revised India’s Gross Domestic Product Leasing and Finance and Midpoint Tradelink faced a (GDP) to 5% from its earlier estimate of 6.1% for the fine of Rs 5 lakh each. Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20). • The reversal trades executed by the Notice were non- • This downgrade was due to global slowdown in the genuine in nature and created an impression of index of industrial production (IIP). genuine trading volumes in respective contracts. • The SBI economic research team group has projected the second quarter (July-September) GDP growth at 2. BlackBuck joins hands with IDFC &Yes Bank to provide 4.2% in their report titled “EcoWrap”. It expects the free FASTags to truckers growth rate to pick up in FY2021 to 6.2%. • On November 28, 2019, India’s largest online trucking platform, BlackBuck has partnered with leading 4. Karnataka Gramin Bank initiates ‘mobile ATMs’ in rural areas

33 www.gradeup.co • The Karnataka Gramin Bank (KGB) has launched account up to a maximum of Rs. 1 Lakh without a ‘mobile ATMs’ in Kalaburagi, among several other Savings Account. districts in the Karnataka. • The Privilege SA account comes with the eligibility • The special vehicle includes an ATM and a screen to for a monthly salary of Rs. 30,000 or above /on show videos of different banking schemes. maintaining a Monthly Average Balance of Rs 25,000 / opening a Fixed Deposit of Rs. 10 Lakh. It • The mobile ATMs will go to the doorsteps of the provides a higher accidental insurance cover of Rs. farmers and make them aware of the banking 2 Lakh. schemes and digital operating systems. 3. Bajaj Allianz General Insurance launches ‘Farmitra’ • A bank official would be present in the van, who will mobile app for farmers provide information regarding the digital operating systems and schemes. • Bajaj Allianz General Insurance has launched a new mobile app called ‘Farmitra’ to help the farmers 5. DHFL becomes 1st financial services firm to be taken to needs and address their worries. NCLT • It also resolves with relevant information, which • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has referred Dewan they can use in optimizing their farming practices. Housing Finance Corp. Ltd (DHFL) to the National • The app ‘Farmitra’ provides services for even those Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for insolvency who are not customers of Bajaj Allianz. proceedings, making it the first financial services 4. Karnataka Gramin Bank initiates ‘mobile ATMs’ in player to go NCLT for a possible debt resolution. rural areas • DHFL has a debt of Rrs. 83,873 crore. As per the statutory inspection of DHFL conducted by the • The Karnataka Gramin Bank (KGB) has launched National Housing Bank, the DHFL showed a serious ‘mobile ATMs’ in Kalaburagi, among several other districts in the Karnataka. deterioration in its finances. • The special vehicle includes an ATM and a screen to 1. Muthoot Finance to acquire IDBI Mutual Fund for Rs show videos of different banking schemes. 215 crore • The mobile ATMs will go to the doorsteps of the • Muthoot Finance Ltd, the largest gold loan non- farmers and make them aware of the banking banking finance company in the country, entered schemes and digital operating systems. into a definitive agreement to acquire IDBI Asset • A bank official would be present in the van, who Management Ltd and IDBI Mutual Fund Trustee will provide information regarding the digital Company Ltd. operating systems and schemes. • Muthoot Finance will purchase 100 per cent equity 5. SBI’s economic research team revised India’s FY20 shares of IDBI Asset Management and IDBI MF GDP forecast to 5% Trustee for a total consideration of Rs 215 crore.

• The transaction is expected to be completed by the • The economic research team from the State Bank end of February 2020. The deal is subject to receipt of India (SBI) has revised India’s Gross Domestic of approval from regulators including the Securities Product (GDP) to 5% from its earlier estimate of and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). 6.1% for the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20). 2. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank launches Instant Digital • This downgrade was due to global slowdown in the Savings and Instant FD Account index of industrial production (IIP). • Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB) has launched an • The SBI economic research team group has instant digital savings account (SA) along with Fixed projected the second quarter (July-September) GDP Deposit (FD) and Privilege Savings Account to offer growth at 4.2% in their report titled “EcoWrap”. It distinctive banking and digital services to its expects the growth rate to pick up in FY2021 to customers. 6.2%. • The Instant Digital SA account has the restriction of

Rs 1 lakh deposit & has the unlimited free 6. New rules framed under IBC for rescue of non-bank transactions on the bank’s own ATM (automated lenders teller machine) and 6 free transactions for other • The Government of India has issued fresh rules bank ATMs per month. under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to • The Instant Fixed Deposit (FD) will fetch interest govern the rescue of non-bank lenders. rate ranging from 5.5% (7days to 29 days) & up to 8.3% (799 days), the customers can invest in this

34 www.gradeup.co • The new rules are likely to help out distressed the views of the regulator before deciding to shadow banks and housing financiers, which have liquidate it. been battling a liquidity crunch for a year. 7. Exim Bank grants $30 million line of credit to Ghana • These entities will be covered by a special window • The Export-Import (Exim) Bank has provided a USD under the bankruptcy code, which will be notified 30 million (about Rs 210 crore) line of credit to from time to time. Ghana for a potable water project in the country. • Reserve Bank of India has been given the authority • Under the arrangement, financing of export of to decide which companies will be taken up to a eligible goods, works and services from India would bankruptcy tribunal under these rules. be allowed subject to their being eligible for export • The bankruptcy tribunal will appoint an under the Foreign Trade Policy of India and whose administrator who will be nominated by the purchase may be agreed to be financed by the Exim regulator, will try to stitch together a turnaround Bank. plan. In case a turnaround of the financial • As per the agreement, the terminal utilisation time institution is not possible, the tribunal will gather is 60 months period after the scheduled completion date of the project. October

1. T.L. Alamelu committee - The Insurance Regulatory and • Acting swiftly, the RBI on September 23 placed PMC Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has constituted a Bank under an administrator, suspended the 12-member working group (WG) chaired by T.L. Alamelu to management, and placed curbs on deposit withdrawals. review the product structure of title insurance, which • The former Managing Director of the bank, Joy Thomas, covers any loss caused due to a defect in the ‘title’ of the has been arrested by the Economic Offences Wing property arising out of third-party challenges. (EOW). 2. launches short-term online fixed deposits • Thomas confessed that the loans granted by the bank “Express FD” – Axis Bank has launched the ‘Express FD’, a were not classified as non-performing assets (NPAs) in digital fixed deposit (FD) product that allows a customer to the bank’s books deliberately so as to avoid RBI open an FD account in 3 minutes through the digital mode scrutiny. without opening a savings account with the bank. • PMC Bank has given loans of Rs 6,500 crore, which • A customer can open an Express FD account by accounts for 73 per cent of the bank’s loan book of Rs investing a minimum Rs 5,000 up to Rs 90,000, for a 8,880 crore. tenure of 6 to 12 months. 6. SBI Card launches contactless mobile phone payments 3. SBI becomes first Indian bank to have office in Australia’s facility: Victoria – The State Bank of India opened its Melbourne • SBI Card has launched ‘SBI Card Pay’, a feature office and becoming the first Indian bank to have a branch which allows contactless payment using mobile in the Australian state of Victoria. phones at PoS terminals. 4. UCO Bank launches UCash, Digilocker and an App – UCO • Using SBI Card Pay, customers can make Bank has launched three new digital products called, UCash, contactless payments at near field communication Digilocker and an app in Kolkata, West Bengal. (NFC) enabled point of sale terminals with just one 5. Grant Thornton to investigate Rs 4,355-crore PMC Bank tap of their mobiles, without using the physical fraud – The government has roped in Grant Thornton to credit card or entering any PIN. carry out forensic investigations into the fraud hit Punjab • SBI Card Pay is a payment feature based on Host and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank. Card Emulation (HCE) technology for faster, • Grant Thornton LLP is the sixth largest U.S. convenient and more secure card payments using accounting and advisory organization. mobile phones. Note: 7. India Post launches mobile banking facility for savings • The PMC Bank scam came into the limelight after a accounts whistle-blower informed the RBI to look into the books • The Department of Post announced that it has of the cooperative bank. launched mobile banking for its savings account customers.

35 www.gradeup.co • The facility will be available all the post office opening an FD of Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh for a savings account holders of the CBS (core banking tenure of at least two years. solutions) post offices. • The critical illness cover will be available on • The launch of the mobile banking facility comes Cumulative FDs opened for a period of a minimum almost a year after the Department of Post of 2 years. launched Internet banking facility for its savings 9. UCO Bank launches UCash, Digilocker and an App account holders. • UCO Bank has launched three new digital products 8. ICICI Bank launches new FD scheme “FD health” called, UCash, Digilocker and an app in Kolkata, • ICICI Bank has launched a fixed deposit scheme West Bengal. A new current account facility has called FD Health, that comes with an in-built critical also been launched by the bank. insurance policy. • UCash enables customers to withdraw money from • The FD Health – Critical illness Cover will be ATMs through mobile banking without using a provided to only the primary holder of the FD debit card. account. Anyone in the age bracket of 18-50 years, • Digilocker aims to eliminate the use of physical gets this complimentary insurance cover for a year documents and enables sharing of verified on 33 critical illnesses. electronic documents. • For the first year, free of cost insurance cover will • The third product, the new mobile app, integrates be provided which can be renewed later. four existing apps of the bank – UCO Mbanking, • The new FD scheme from ICICI bank offers a UCO UPI, UCO Mpassbook and UCO Secure- in a complimentary critical illness cover of Rs. 1 lakh single interface. from ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company on

September

1. launches ‘Bharosa’ savings account – • It is an integrated digital banking platform to Airtel Payments Bank launched “Bharosa savings account” enable users to access a variety of financial and services, designed for deepening the financial inclusion in other services such as taxi bookings, online the country. shopping, or medical bill payments. • Bharosa savings account would offer Rs 5 lakh 4. EPFO to credit 8.65% interest in over 6 crore accounts – personal accident insurance on maintaining the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to pay balance of Rs 500 along with one debit transaction 8.65% interest on the deposits of more than 6 crore per month. subscribers for the period of 2018-19. 2. Preventive Vigilance portal: launched by PNB – Punjab 5. IDBI Bank introduces repo-linked home and auto loans – National Bank launched a Preventive Vigilance (PV) portal • IDBI Bank will introduce two Repo Linked Products to facilitate its staff members to check procedural lapses as –Suvidha Plus Home Loan and Suvidha Plus Auto well as promote good practices. Loan from September 10. • To promote vigilance awareness in the banking • The new Home Loan and Auto Loan products will system, PNB introduced the first of its kind be offered to new customers having good credit technology based solutions through Preventive score and minimum income of Rs. 6 lakh per Vigilance portal. annum. 3. SBI launches mobile app YONO in the UK – State Bank of • The Suvidha Plus Home Loan will be offered for up India (SBI) has launched its digital banking app YONO in the to Rs. 75 Lakh with a tenor of up to 35 years. The UK, marking its global launch. Suvidha Plus Auto loan will be offered for up to Rs. • The app is unveiled by SBI Chairman 25 lakh covering the on-road price with a tenor of in coordination with the UK India Business Council up to 7 years. (UKIBC) in London on 23rd September. 6. ECL Finance and ink pact to co-lend Note: to MSMEs – ECL Finance Ltd, a subsidiary of Edelweiss • In 2017, SBI launched the ‘YONO’ (You Only Need Financial Services, and Central Bank of India have signed an One) app in India.

36 www.gradeup.co agreement for priority sector lending to Micro, Small and will buy the recapitalisation bonds from the Medium Enterprise (MSME’s) customers. government on the same day. 7. Cabinet approves Rs 4,557 crore capital infusion into IDBI 8. Bank launches “DigiSmart” credit card Bank – The Cabinet has approved a capital infusion of Rs – Standard Chartered Bank, a British multinational banking 4,557 crore into IDBI Bank. and financial services company has launched a DigiSmart • The capital infusion process will be done through credit card. recapitalisation bonds under which the government • The primary focus of the Bank on the ever-growing will infuse the capital into the bank and the bank segment of millennials.

Banking & Financial terms

1. AEPS – Aadhar Enabled Payment System 40. Ind As - Indian Accounting Standards 2. APBS – Aadhar Payment Bridge System 41. ICAAP - Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process 3. ATM – Automated Teller Machine 42. IFSC - Indian Financial System Code 4. ALM - Asset Liability Management 43. IMPS - Immediate Payment Service 5. AIIB - Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 44. IMPS - Interbank Mobile Payment Service 6. AMFI - Association of Mutual Funds in India 45. MMID - Mobile Money Identifier 7. BIS - Bureau of Indian Standards 46. MPIN - Mobile Personal Identification Number 8. BBPS – Bharat Bill Payment System 47. NPA – Non- Performing Assets 9. BCA -Baseline Credit Assessment 48. NSFR - Net Stable Funding Ratio 10. BHIM - Bharat Interface for Money 49. NPCI - National Payment Corporation of India 11. BLRA: Bank Led Resolution Approach 50. NFS – National Financial Switch 12. CBL - Chest Balance Limit 51. NSFR - Net Stable Funding Ratio 13. CMFRI - Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute 52. NACH – National Automated Clearing House 14. CBS – Core Banking System 53. NEFT – National Electronic Fund Transfer 15. CIDR - Central Identities Data Repository 54. NFC - Near field communication 16. CTS – Cheque Truncation System 55. NDTL – Net Demand and Time Liabilities. 17. CDR - Corporate Debt Restructuring 56. NASSCOM - National Association of Software and Services 18. CASA – Current Account Saving Account Companies 19. CAD – Capital Account Deficit 57. NIIF - National Investment and Infrastructure Fund 20. CRA - Counterparty Risk Assessment 58. OTC – Over the Counter 21. CRR – Cash Reserve Ratio 59. PIN – Personal Identification Number 22. ECS – Electronic Clearing Service 60. PAC - Personal Access Code 23. DNS - Domain Name System 61. PCA - Prompt Corrective Action 24. DEAF - Depositor Education and Awareness Fund 62. PCR – Public Credit Registry 25. EFTPOS - Electronic funds transfer at point of sale 63. PCR - Provisioning Coverage Ratio 26. EFT – Electronic Fund Transfer. 64. PSPs - Payment Support Providers 27. FRBM - Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management 65. TC-CCP - Third-Country Central Counterparty 28. LGD - Loss Given Default 66. TRR - Temporary Recognition Regime 29. LTV- Loan To Value 67. TReDS - Trade Receivables Discounting System 30. LRS - Liberalized Remittance Scheme 68. RTGS – Real Time Gross Settlement 31. LCR - Liquidity Coverage Ratio 69. USSD - Unstructured Supplementary Services Data 32. GNFV - Gross Negative Fair Value 70. UIDAI - Unique Identification Authority of India 33. SFTs: Securities financing transactions 71. VPA - Virtual Payment Address. 34. HCE - Host Card Emulation 72. WMA - Ways and Means Advances 35. PFE - Potential Future Exposure 73. TIEA - Tax Information and Exchange Agreement 36. IIP - Index of Industrial Production 74. NRETP - National Rural Economic Transformation Project 37. IBBI - Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India 75. IBC - Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 38. IFC - International Finance Corporation 76. GSP - Generalised System of Preferences 39. IDRBT - Institute for Development and Research in Banking 77. IFFCO - Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-operative Technology 78. PMJAY - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana

37 www.gradeup.co 79. NBFC - Non-banking finance companies 95. FPIs - Foreign portfolio investors 80. SWIFT - Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial 96. FVCIs - Foreign venture capital investors Telecommunications 97. PPF - Public Provident Fund 81. NHB – National Housing Bank 98. NSC - National Savings Certificate 82. NGT - National Green Tribunal 99. CbC - Country-by-Country 83. DSIB – Domestically Systematically Important Bank 100. WEF - World Economic Forum 84. RWAs - Risk Weighted Assets 101. MPI - Multidimensional Poverty Index 85. TCs - Trade credits 102. UNDP - United Nations Development Programme 86. CSO - Central Statistics Office 103. UPI - Unified Payments Interface 87. ASSOCHAM - Associated Chambers of Commerce and 104. NPCI - National Payments Corporation of India Industry of India 105. CII - Confederation of Indian Industry 88. WPI - Wholesale Price Index 106. NBCC - National Buildings Construction Corporation 89. FTA - Free Trade Agreement 107. NSSO - National Sample Survey Office 90. NHB - National Housing Bank 108. EMV - Europay, MasterCard, Visa. 91. YONO - You only need one 109. FATF - Financial Action Task Force 92. ARC - Asset Reconstruction Company 93. D-SIBs - Domestic Systemically Important Banks 94. MFIs - Micro Finance Institutions Important Committees

1. Tapan Ray committee – The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has interchange fee structure with a “view to increase the ATM set up a working group to review the regulatory and deployment in the unbanked areas”. supervisory framework for core investment companies • The committee will be led by V G Kannan, Chief (CICs). Executive, Indian Banks Association. 2. Ramesh Chand (Member, NITI Aayog) committee – Central 7. Anil Kakodkar & Sidharth Pradhan committee - to discuss Government has constituted Working Group for the research-related synergies and tax issues for state-run oil revision of the current series of Wholesale Price Index (Base companies. The committee has recommended strategies to 2011-12). reduce import dependency. 3. Devendra Fadnavis (CM of Maharashtra) - PM Narendra 8. TN Manoharan committee (Chairman Canara Bank)- on the Modi has constituted a high-powered Committee of Chief Development of Secondary Market for Corporate Loans to Ministers (CMs) for ‘Transformation of Indian Agriculture’. come up with recommendations to increase the efficiencies 1. Aruna Sundararajan Committee - – Union Telecom Minister of the debt market and aid in the resolution of stressed Ravi Shankar Prasad had constituted a committee chaired assets. by Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan to spell out 9. Kasturirangan committee - Former ISRO chief Dr. revival plans for Telecom sector. Kasturirangan led Committee submitted the draft National 4. P K Sinha (Cabinet Secretary) panel - Central Government Educational Policy (NEP) to HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal has formed a committee for coordination among the Nishank in New Delhi. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), the 10. Amitabh Kant (Niti Aayog CEO) committee - National Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, (MoEFCC) and the state governments after a tug of war which is being set up to promote clean and sustainable between the two ministries. The panel formation will help mobility initiatives in the country. in speeding up hydrocarbon exploration-related clearances. 11. Suresh Mathur committee – to review the regulatory 5. Nandan Nilekani committee – To encourage digital framework on microinsurance and recommend measures to payments, the committee has suggested a host of increase the demand for such products. measures, including elimination of charges, round-the-clock 12. Bimal Jalan Panel - to suggest how the central bank should RTGS and NEFT facility, and duty-free import of point-of- handle its reserves and whether it can transfer its surplus to sales machines. the government. 6. V G Kannan committee - The Reserve Bank of India 13. Anoop Satpathy Committee - Recommends Rs 9,750 constituted a six-member committee to review the ATM Monthly National Minimum Wage Note:

38 www.gradeup.co • submitted its report on “Determining the Note: Methodology for Fixation of the National Minimum • The Panel headed by IIT-Hyderabad chairman B V R Wage” to the Government. Mohan Reddy has suggested All India Council for • It recommended the fixation of need-based Technical Education (AICTE) not to allow setting up National Minimum Wage (NMW) for India at Rs 375 of new Engineering colleges from 2020. per day or Rs 9,750 per month irrespective of 18. Nandan Nilekani committee - to boost digital payments sectors, skills, occupations and rural-urban and enhance financial inclusion. locations for a family comprising of 3.6 19. U.K. Sinha committee - to suggest long-term solutions for consumption units. the economic and financial sustainability of the MSME • The Present NMW is Rs. 4,576. sector. 14. Sanjeev Sharma (income tax commissioner) Committee - 20. Committee headed by NITI Aayog member (health) - The to look into the matter of taxation related pain points and Union government has constituted a high-power committee submit its final report and recommendations by mid-March. headed by NITI Aayog member (health) to monitor the 15. CPWD Constitutes 8-member Committee to Chart Out pricing of medicines and healthcare products. Design Policy - The Central Works Public Department 21. Praveen Kutumbe committee - Insurance Regulatory (CPWD) has constituted an expert committee to formulate a Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has set up a panel design policy for building construction and infrastructure headed by Praveen Kutumbe, to identify domestically development. systematically important insurers (SIIs) and an augmented • The committee has been set up under the regulatory framework is logically established in this regard. chairmanship of CPWD’s Additional Director 22. Akhilesh Ranjan Committee – for drafting New Direct Tax General M K Sharma. Legislation (Law) 16. Environment Ministry Constitutes Committee to 23. Dr. Bibek Debroy (The Economic Advisory Council to the Implement National Clean Air Programme - The Union Prime Minister) Committee - to assess key challenges and Environment Ministry has constituted a committee to suggest reforms in logistics development and associated implement the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), commerce. which aims to reduce particulate matter (PM) pollution by 24. Rajiv Kumar (NITI Aayog Vice Chairman) Committee – to 20%-30% in at least 102 cities by 2024. look at selling of 149 small and marginal oil and gas fields of • The committee will be chaired by the Secretary, state-owned the Oil and Natural Gas Corporatio (ONGC) and Union Environment Ministry. It would be Oil India Limited (OIL) to private and foreign companies to headquartered in New Delhi. boost domestic output. 17. B V R Mohan Reddy committee - not to allow setting up of new Engineering colleges from 2020.

Agreement & Deals

January

1. Hyundai, Uber join hands to develop electric air taxis 2. India to MoU with Russia on AK-203 assault rifles • South Korean automobile manufacturer Hyundai • The Indian Army is to sign a Memorandum of Motor Company has entered into a partnership with Understanding (MoU) for the procurement of over US ride-hailing giant Uber to produce electric air 7.5 lakh AK-203 assault rifles with Russia. The rifles taxis. Hyundai is the first automotive company to will be manufactured by the Indo-Russian Rifles join the Uber Elevate initiative. Private Limited (IRRPL) at Korwa in Uttar Pradesh. • Under the partnership, Hyundai will produce and • The facility is being set up between the Ordnance deploy the air vehicles and Uber will provide Factories Board (OFB) from the Indian side, and airspace support services, connections to ground Rosoboron Exports and Kalashnikov on the Russian transportation and customer interfaces through an side. The OFB owns 50.5% equity and Russian side aerial rideshare network. The two entities are also holds the remaining 49.5%. The Army has been collaborating on infrastructure concepts to support looking to replace the indigenous INSAS (Indian their take-off and landing.

39 www.gradeup.co National Small Arms System) rifles in use with a • Kotak Mahindra Bank has tied up with Pine Labs to modern rifle. enable debit card facility for their debit cardholders 3. RevFin and PNB MetLife in tie-up to offer life cover across point-of-sale terminals by Pine Labs. Banks • India’s leading Digital lending startup, RevFin has customers can avail EMI facility with a minimum joined hands with PNB MetLife India Insurance purchase of Rs 8,000 and repay over 3 months to 12 Company to offer protection to the RevFin’s months. Its aim is to provide affordable, flexible and customers by bundling life insurance cover on their easy EMI options on a range of products so that loans. This insurance covers loans up to ₹3 lakh for a bank’s customers can break their high-value period of 3 years. purchases into affordable instalments at no extra • The collaboration will help PNB MetLife to reach out cost. to unbanked areas & drive greater financial inclusion 8. Bank of Baroda partners with Gujarat govt to provide in the country by securing the families of the MSME loans borrowers against loanrepayment in case of • Bank of Baroda signed an MoU with the Gujarat unfortunate death of the borrower. government to facilitate the flow of credit in the 4. CSC signed pact with Paytm Payments Bank for sale of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) FASTags sector. As per the agreement, the credit will be • Common Service Centres (CSC) e-Governance provided to the MSME for greenfield projects, Services India has signed a memorandum of startups, women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs understanding with Paytm Payments Bank Ltd from backward areas under the Gujarat Single (PPBL) for sale of FASTags. The agreement will Window Clearance Act 2017 & Ordinance Number 1 facilitate the sale of PPBL FASTags through the last of 2019 dated October 24, 2019. mile network of 3.6 lakh CSCs, helping realise the 9. Wipro partnered with NASSCOM to train 10,000 government’s vision of cashless and smooth transit students on emerging technologies at all toll plazas across the country. • Wipro has partnered with Nasscom to train students • FASTags which work on Radio Frequency on emerging technologies. The programme will train Identification (RFID) technology have been made on technologies such as artificial intelligence, data mandatory at toll gates on national highways. The science, internet of things, cybersecurity. Wipro will FASTag process allows toll payments directly from train 10,000 students from engineering colleges in the prepaid or savings account linked to it, thus India as a part of Wipro’s corporate social doing away with the need for waiting in queues, responsibility programme “TalentNext“. saving time and fuel. • TalentNext aims to improve the quality of 5. GOI signed MoU with Flipkart under DAY-NULM engineering education by preparing faculty and scheme academic leaders to train students. The programme • Government of India signed MoU with Flipkart for will now be extended to students directly through selling the products made by women self-help Future Skills, a Nasscom platform. “Future Skills” groups under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National bridges the industry-academia skill gap and help Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) on the e- students learn new-age technologies. commerce platform. Under the Deendayal 10. Apple, Amazon & Google partners for ‘Connected Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Home over IP’ Mission (DAY-NULM), self-help groups consisting of • “Amazon.com Inc”, “Apple Inc” and Alphabet Inc’s 44 lakh women have been working across the “Google” have announced a partnership to lay the country, a move aimed at making women financially groundwork for better compatibility among their independent. smart home products. Zigbee Alliance, whose 6. Federal Bank Partnered with Magicbricks members include IKEA and NXP Semiconductors • Private sector lender Federal Bank has tied up with among others, will also contribute to the project, online real estate platform Magicbricks for listing titled ‘Connected Home over IP’. and e-auctioning of immovable properties • The partnership aims to make it easier for device repossessed by it in recovery proceedings. The manufacturers to build products that are move is aimed at speedy recovery of the bank’s compatible with smart home and voice services impaired assets while helping customers get the such as Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant. best rate in the market for their properties. 11. India and US signed defence tech transfer pact during 7. Kotak Mahindra Bank partners with Pine Labs to 2+2 dialogue enable EMIs on debit cards

40 www.gradeup.co • India and the US have signed an agreement to 13. ICAR & NABARD signed MoU to promote agriculture facilitate the transfer of defence technology during & farming systems research the 2+2 dialogue held at Washington DC. India and • The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) the US have a common vision of a free, seamless and and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural peaceful Indo-Pacific region. Development (NABARD) signed a Memorandum of • India has bought weapons worth more than $15 Understanding (MoU) to promote sustainable billion from the United States over the past decade agriculture and climate-resilient farming systems. as it seeks to replace its Russian-origin military and • The research will be of active participation in is in talks for helicopters, armed drones and a bigger climate-resilient practices, models and integrated Indian plan for local production of combat planes and hi-tech farming practices in a participatory together worth billions of dollars. model. The aim of this MoU was to promote 12. SBI signed $277 million Agreement with Germany sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient based KfW bank farming systems. • State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a loan agreement 14. Maldives signs contract with JV of Indian companies worth of $277 million (about Rs 1,958 crore) with for development of Addu Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) German • Maldives government has signed a contract with a development bank for establishing an energy- joint venture of Indian companies. The contract efficient housing programme in India. The aims to prepare project report and the programme shall be part of the Indo-German development of Addu, which is the second biggest Development Co-operation, guided by the 2030 city in the island nation. The contract was signed L Agenda for Sustainable Development. & T engineering limited and Lea associates south • Under the programme, both builders and asia for the Addu Road and Reclamation Project. homebuyers shall be financed for The project includes land reclamation, construction developing/purchasing energy-efficient residential of roads and storm water drainage system in Addu. projects that achieve at least 25 per cent energy This will upgrade existing infrastructure and savings in comparison to standard reference mitigate the flood situation in Addu. buildings. The arrangement of the loan and the • Financing of the project will be done by EXIM bank grant facilities was facilitated by SBI’s investment of India through line of credit of USD 800 million. banking subsidiary SBI Capital Markets Ltd.

December

1. Dell Technologies tie up with UNESCO to boost quality of (NSIC) and Suadi Aramco (Asia) for the development of education: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) • Dell Technologies has partnered with UNESCO Mahatma Ecosystem in India in Oil & Gas Sector. Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace (MGIEP) to • The MoU will pave a way for accredited Indian MSMEs enable school teachers to adopt technology in to carve out space as vendors in Global space. classrooms by using ICT tools. 3. NTPC signed Agreement with SBI for Rs. 5,000 crores: • The information and communication technology (ICT) • National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) has tools have been developed by Dell Aarambh and signed a term loan agreement of Rs. 5,000 crores with FramerSpace platform. State Bank of India (SBI). • The partnership would enable achieving the UN • The loan facility has been extended at an interest rate Sustainable Goal 4.7 towards education for building linked to 3 Months MCLR of the bank and has a door to peaceful and sustainable societies and also UNESCO door tenure of 15 years. The loan will be utilised to part MGIEP in its mission of building social and emotional finance the capital expenditure of NTPC. learning, innovative digital pedagogies and empowering 4. IEPFA signs MoU with Bank of Baroda (BOB) for Investor youth. Awareness 2. MoU signed Between NSIC & ARAMCO Asia for • Investor Education & Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) development in Oil & Gas Sectors has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) • A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been with Bank of Baroda (BoB) to spread customer signed between National Small Industries Corporation

41 www.gradeup.co awareness and investor education and reaching out to investors and stakeholders. 8. Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank signs MoU for • As per the agreement, 9,456 BoB branches will exhibit bancassurance: IEPFA posters on investor protection & 3,115 ATMs • Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) and Canara, (Automated Teller Machine) and Cash Recyclers HSBC, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Life Insurance supported by self-service channels will feature digital Company Ltd. signed an MoU for bancassurance (for banners on IEPFA. selling life insurance products through the branches of • Investor Education & Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA KVGB). works under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, • As per the pact, KVGB will market wide range insurance 5. India-Bangladesh ties transcend strategic partnership products of the Canara HSBC through its 636 branches in • The ties between India and Bangladesh for transcend 9 districts of Karnataka. strategic partnership. The multidimensional relationship 9. ZestMoney partnered with Xiaomi to launch ‘Mi Credit’ between the two countries covers not only traditional personal loan service in India: areas like trade, commerce, security and border • Bengaluru based EMI financing platform, ZestMoney has management but also new areas such as IT, space and partnered with Chinese smartphone company, Xiaomi, nuclear science among others. to launch new loan service app called “MiCredit” in the • India is a committed development partner of Bangladesh Indian market. with a credit line worth 8 billion US dollars of which 80% • Through this app customers can get an instant loan is earmarked for infrastructure and connectivity sector. ranging from Rs 7,000 – Rs 1,00,000. 6. BlackBuck partners with IDFC Bank, Yes Bank to offer free • Application process for loans can be completed within 5 FASTags to truck Owners: minutes, and the repayment can be done over a period • The Online trucking platform BlackBuck has partnered from 3 months – 3 years in easy EMIs. with private lenders IDFC Bank and Yes Bank to provide 10. National Museum of Indian Cinema signs MoU with Films FASTags to truck owners free of cost. Division and BookMyShow: • Truck owners can order FASTags on BlackBuck’s Boss • Films Division of India and BookMyShow (BMS) signed a App, a digital services platform exclusively for truck fleet memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for online owners, and it will be delivered at their doorstep free of ticketing of National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) cost until December 31, 2019. in New Delhi. • The initiative is expected to help over 3 million trucks in • With this MoU, booking a ticket to visit NMIC will be a India become FASTag compliant. click away as it will now be available on BookMyShow, 7. CPPIB to invest $600 million in National Investment and thus benefiting film lovers in India and abroad. Infrastructure Fund: • The MoU has been part of Museum outreach initiatives • The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) aimed at increasing footfalls to NMIC. of India and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board 11. Walmart India ties-up with HDFC to launch co-branded (CPPIB) have agreed for CPPIB to invest up to $600 credit card for Best price stores million through the NIIF Master Fund. • In a first, Walmart India has partnered with HDFC Bank • The agreement includes a commitment of $150 million to launch a co-branded credit card. in the NIIF Master Fund and co-investment rights of up • The new co-branded credit card is available exclusively to $450 million in future opportunities to invest for members of Best Price Modern Wholesale B2B alongside the NIIF Master Fund. (business to business) cash & carry Stores, owned and • The NIIF Master Fund invests equity capital in core operated by Walmart India . infrastructure sectors in India, with a focus on • In this, the facility of free credit will be available for up transportation, energy and urban infrastructure. to 50 days without any interest.

November

1. ADB, India sign $451 million loan to strengthen Power • Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Connectivity in Tamil Nadu has signed a $451 million loan for strengthening power connectivity between northern and southern parts of

42 www.gradeup.co Chennai–Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) which is • U GRO Capital, a BSE listed, technology-enabled small part of East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC). business lending platform entered into a loan co- • ECEC is India’s first coastal economic corridor. origination. • It will help establish extra-high-voltage transmission link between Coimbatore and Virudhunagar. It will meet 3. India-Uzbekistan sign pact on counter-terror cooperation increased power demand in CKIC by transfering • India and Uzbekistan have signed a pact for further additional generation capacity of 9,000 megawatt (MW), strengthening of cooperation in the fields of counter- including 6,000 MW from renewables by 2025. This will terrorism and organised crime. help reliably evacuate power from these new power • The agreement was signed by Union Home Minister Amit plants in southern CKIC. Shah and his Uzbekistan counterpart Pulat Bobojonov here to further increase cooperation between India and 2. SBI & U-GRO signed loan co-origination agreement Uzbekistan in diverse fields including counter-terrorism, • U-GRO Capital has signed an SME loan co-origination organized crime and human trafficking. agreement with State Bank of India to facilitate broader • The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest credit outreach and faster disbursal. including bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation, • The alliance to leverage U GRO Capital’s proprietary capacity building and training for Uzbek security technology platform ‘GRO-Xstream’ to provide in- personnel in Indian institutions, border guarding and principle loan approval within 60 minutes. disaster management.

October

1. NHA and Google tie up for Ayushman Bharat • Inauguration of BIPSDI – Bangladesh – India Implementation – The National Health Authority (NHA) has Professional Skill Development Institute joined hands with international giant Google to collaborate • Inauguration of Vivekananda Bhaban, students as well as strengthen the implementation of government’s hostel at Ramakrishna mission in Dhaka. flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat- 4. Bank of Baroda signs MoU with Indian Army for Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). customised services – Bank of Baroda (BoB) has signed a 2. Sports Ministry inks MoU with NBCC to develop National Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Sports University at Imphal – State-owned construction Army under which the bank would offer customised firm NBCC (India) has signed a Memorandum of services along with a host of facilities to account holders. Understanding (MoU) with Department of Sports under • The MoU includes handsome free personal Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) to provide accident insurance cover, free air accident Project Management Consultancy for development of insurance cover of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 50 lakh and an National Sports University at Imphal, Manipur. The overdraft facility up to three times of monthly net approximate cost of project would be Rs.400 crore. salary. 3. Indian & Bangladesh signed 7 agreements – The seven 5. Siemens signs MoUs with NTPC, TERI on decarbonisation, pacts and three projects that were signed and finalised energy transition during the visit of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh to India. • German multinational conglomerate company, The key agreements signed between India & Bangladesh – Siemens Limited has signed a Memorandum of • Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the use of Understanding (MoU) with NTPC Limited to identify, Chattogram and Mongla Ports for Movement of evaluate and set up reference use cases of hydrogen goods to and from India sector-coupling for various upstream and • withdrawal of 1.82 cusec of water from Feni river downstream applications. by India for drinking water supply, scheme for • The collaboration is aimed at developing innovative Sabroom town, Tripura, India technologies, solutions and techniques to reduce • MoU on providing Coastal Surveillance System - the dependence on Hydrocarbons in India. Delhi to set up a coastal surveillance system radar in Bangladesh

43 www.gradeup.co • Siemens has also inked a separate MoU with TERI for Accounts (GPA), advising of Performance Bank collaboration on technologies to support the energy Guarantees (e-PBG) and Earnest Money Deposit transition in India including sector-coupling. (EMD) to the registered users on the portal. 6. GeM signs MoU with Indian Bank and Canara Bank for • The MoU will facilitate a cashless, paperless and payment related service transparent payment system on the portal and • Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has signed MoU would create an efficient procurement system for with Indian Bank and Canara Bank. government entities. • The MoU will facilitate a cashless, paperless and 10. Grasim partenered with German’s MR to produce transparent payment system on the portal and insulators would create an efficient procurement system for • Grasim Industries Limited has signed a definitive government entities. agreement to form a joint venture company in • Through this partnership, both the banks will be able India with Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH (MR) to offer an array of services including transfer of of Germany. funds through GeM Pool Accounts (GPA), advising of • The joint venture is for the manufacturing and sale Performance Bank Guarantees (e-PBG), Earnest of Composite Hollow Core Insulators to serve the Money Deposit (EMD) and Payment Gateway to the power transmission and distribution (T&D) industry registered users on the portal. globally. 7. IOB launches health care plus insurance policy • This joint venture will bring together Aditya Birla • Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) in association with Insulators (a unit of Grasim) and Reinhausen Power Universal Sompo General Insurance Co Ltd. has Composites (a unit of MR). launched upgraded health care plus insurance • ABPCL will build a fully integrated CHCI plant at policy. Halol, bringing the latest technology for Composite • It is a co-branded insurance scheme exclusively Hollow Insulators from Europe. designed for IOB customers with a sum insured • It will serve the insulator requirements of Indian starting from ₹50,000 and going up to ₹15 lakh. and global OEMs in the power equipment industry. • The policy issuance will be made on a real-time 11. AYUSH, Defence ministries ink MoU to provide basis at the IOB branches to its customers. Self, traditional medicine services: spouse, dependent children, dependent parents • The AYUSH ministry has signed an MoU with the can be covered under the policy. Defence Ministry to provide traditional medicine 8. USD 165 mn loan agreement for Odisha’s Integrated services at the armed forces’ hospitals and Irrigation Project dispensaries. • The Government of India, Government of Odisha • Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik and the World Bank have signed a USD 165 million inaugurated an Ayurveda Palliative Care Unit at the loan agreement. Base Hospital in the Delhi Cantonment. • The agreement is signed for Odisha’s Integrated • Under the MoU, Ayurveda units will also be Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture. established at palliative care centres at the Army • The project will be implemented in rural areas Research and Referral Hospital, Air Force Hospital, vulnerable to droughts and largely dependent on Hindon in Ghaziabad and five identified ex- rainfed agriculture. servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) • The $165 million loan from the International Bank polyclinics in Delhi–NCR. for Reconstruction and Development (Member of 12. Home Credit India join hand with for World Bank Group), has a 6-year grace period, and joint lending: a maturity of 24 years. • Home Credit India (HCIN), a local arm of the 9. GeM and Federal Bank sign MoU for payment related international consumer finance provider, has tied- services up with Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) for joint lending • The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) signed a using end-to-end automated processing which will memorandum of understanding (MoU) with help the customer get real-time approval and Federal Bank to offer a number of services disbursement. including transfer of funds through GeM Pool

44 www.gradeup.co • Under the agreement, HCIN and KVB will disburse constructing more than 200 bus stops, 70 km of loans in a single amount to customers. With this hard shoulder, and 2 km of raised sidewalk on partnership and by leveraging the lower cost of project roads. funds of KVB, Home Credit India will be able to reach out to a new segment of customer. Home 15. GeM signs MOU with Credit India has operations spread over 179 cities • Government e-Marketplace signed an MoU with across 20 States in India. Union Bank of India. As per the MoU, UBI will be 13. Mastercard and MS Dhoni partner to build ‘Team able to offer an array of services including transfer Cashless India’: of funds through GeM Pool Accounts, advising of • Mastercard, along with cricketer Mahendra Singh Performance Bank Guarantees and Earnest Money Dhoni, launched a nationwide initiative ‘Team Deposit to the registered users on the GeM portal. Cashless India’ to accelerate the acceptance and • The MoU will facilitate a cashless, paperless and adoption of digital payments. transparent payment system on the portal and will • The initiative ‘Team Cashless India’ brings create an efficient procurement system for consumers and merchants to the forefront of the government entities. digital payments dialogue. 16. NHA ties with Google to strengthen the • The campaign encourages all Indians to nominate implementation of PMJAY one or more merchants who currently do not • National Health Authority signed a Statement of accept digital payments. Intent (SoI) with Google to collaborate and • Mastercard will work together with Confederation strengthen the implementation of Ayushman of All India Traders (CAIT), acquirer banks and Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). fintech companies to support nominated • The two organizations will now work together to merchants to deploy digital payments acceptance increase process efficiencies in day-to-day infrastructure. applications. Google will support NHA in improving 14. ADB & India signs $190 million loan for projects in digital presence of PMJAY and showcasing relevant Rajasthan: content to the 50 crore entitled beneficiaries. • The Asian Development Bank and the Government • Google will also help provide training and support to of India has signed a $190 Million loan. The amount NHA personnel to build on digital skills. NHA is the will be used to upgrade 754 km of state highways nodal agency for implementing Ayushman Bharat- and major district roads (MDRs) to benefit about 26 Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. million people in 14 districts of Rajasthan. For the benefit of commuters and pedestrians, particularly women and children, the project provides for September

1. DRDO and CUJ sign MoU to set up Kalam Centre for 3. Facebook bags digital content rights for ICC matches in Science and Technology – Defence Research & South Asia – The International Council has inked an Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence and agreement with Facebook, under which the social media Central University of Jammu (CUJ) have entered into a platform will get exclusive digital content rights for select Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the cricket matches in the Indian subcontinent including the establishment of Kalam Centre for Science and Technology Women’s T20 World Cup 2020-22, Men’s T20 World Cup (KCST) at the university. 2020-21 and the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. 2. India, ADB sign $200-million loan agreement for upgrading 4. DSCI, MeitY and Google India join hands for ‘Digital rural roads in Maharashtra Payment Abhiyan – Nasscom’s Data Security Council of • India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed India (DSCI) collaborated with the electronics and IT 200-million dollar loan agreement for upgrading ministry (MeitY) and Google India to launch a nationwide rural roads in 34 districts of Maharashtra with the awareness campaign ‘Digital Payment Abhiyan’. objective of improving road safety and better 5. ISRO, DRDO sign MoUs to provide technologies for Human connecting rural areas with markets and services. Space Mission – The Indian Space Research Organisation

45 www.gradeup.co (ISRO) joined hands with Defence Research and • It is a partnership agreement to promote Development Organisation (DRDO) for the development of community-based responsible tourism based on human-centric systems for the Human Space Mission to the rich intangible cultural heritage of Rajasthan. demonstrate its human space flight capabilities. • The project will be implemented in Jodhpur, 6. Skill India sign agreement with IBM for Train-the-Trainer Barmer, Jaisalmer and Bikaner districts. programme in AI – The Directorate General of Training Note: (DGT), under the skill development and entrepreneurship • The United Nations Educational, Scientific and ministry, has signed an agreement with IT major IBM to Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the carry out a nationwide Train-the-Trainer programme in United Nations based in Paris, France. basic artificial intelligence. 14. Microsoft & CBSE partners to build AI learning for schools 7. Niti Aayog, McKinsey to launch First Digital Capability – Microsoft India and the Central Board of Secondary Centre – National Institution for Transforming India (Niti Education have partnered to build AI learning for schools. Aayog) has selected McKinsey & Company to set up India’s • They will conduct capacity building programmes for first Digital Capability Centre (DCC). high school teachers with an aim to integrate 8. Gurugram Police ties up with tech giant Google – The cloud-powered technology in K12 teaching. Gurugram traffic police have tied up with Google maps for 15. Wipro bags $300-million deal from ICICI Bank – Wipro real time traffic updates. Limited has bagged a strategic contract valued at $300 9. World Bank to sanction Rs 3,000 crore for food parks – The million from the ICICI Bank. World Bank will provide Rs 3,000 crore assistance to finance • Under the contract, Wipro will offer a mini and mega food parks across India. comprehensive suite of services to ICICI Bank for • The announcement was made by Union Minister of the next seven years, starting September 2019. State for Food Processing Industries during the 16. Bangladesh partners with Reliance Power for gas-based 15th Indo-US Economic Summit held in New Delhi. power plant – The Bangladesh government has signed an 10. Gujarat Govt, Delaware State of America sign MoU for agreement with Reliance Power of India. As per the sister state – Gujarat Government and the Delaware State agreement, they will set up a 750 MW gas based power of America signed Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) plant in Meghnahat near Dhaka. for sister state. This is the first sister-state MoU signed by • The construction of the plant will be completed by Gujarat with any state of America. 2022. 11. ESIC Signs an Agreement with SBI – Employees’ State • Reliance Power has also signed an MoU with Petro Insurance Corporation(ESIC) signed Memorandum of Bangla to set up 500 mmscfd (Million standard Agreement (MoA) with State Bank of India for direct cubic feet per day) LNG terminal at Kutubdia Island transfer of benefits electronically into bank accounts of all near Chittagong in Bangladesh. stakeholders. 17. MeitY and Google signed a SoI to roll out “Build for Digital 12. IIT-Kharagpur and Amazon Web Services join hands to India” – Google and the Ministry of Electronics and develop AI portal – IIT Kharagpur has collaborated with Information Technology have signed a statement of intent Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop a National Artificial to roll-out ‘Build for Digital India‘. Intelligence resource platform (NAIRP) to promote learning • It is a programme which will provide engineering and development in artificial intelligence (AI). students a platform to develop market-ready, 13. UNESCO & Rajasthan partners to promote the state’s technology-based solutions that address key social intangible cultural heritage – UNESCO and Rajasthan problems. government partners to promote music, art and craft forms, • Under this program, the applicants will participate and other intangible cultural heritage of the state to spur in online and offline learning opportunities on key socio-economic growth of several artist communities. technologies like machine learning, cloud and android.

Reports/Survey

December

46 www.gradeup.co 1. UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) 2019: • UK and France ranked third and fourth contributing • The United Nations Development Programme 8.4% and 5.5% respectively. released the Human Development Index for 189 countries on December 9, 2019. 4. Global Climate Risk Index 2020 • India was ranked 129 out of 189 countries on the 2019 • The international environmental think tank Human Development Index (HDI) improving from the ‘Germanwatch’ has recently released the Global 130th position in 2018. Climate Risk Index 2019. • HDI is part of the Human Development Report that is • The index analyses the extent to which countries and published by the United Nations Development regions have been affected by the impacts of weather- Programme (UNDP). related loss events (storms, floods, heat waves etc.) • HDI emphasizes that people and their capabilities • As per the report Japan to be the most vulnerable should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the country to climate change, followed by Philippines, development of a country, not economic growth Germany, Madagascar and India. alone. • Globally India is the 5th most vulnerable country to • Norway, Switzerland, Ireland occupied the top three climate change. India also recorded highest number of positions in that order in the Human Development fatalities due to climate change and 2nd highest Index 2019. monetary losses from its impact in 2018. 2. India among top 10 countries with higher climate 5. Delhi enters list of top 10 most popular destinations in performance the world • The National Capital has been witnessing soaring • The 2019 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) has popularity and wellness tourism across the world. been presented at the ongoing COP25 climate summit • According to Euro Monitor International, Delhi in Madrid, Spain. currently ranks 11th in the list of world’s tops 100 • For the first time, India has emerged among the top 10 destinations and is to gain 8th rank in 2019. countries with higher climate performance. • The ranking was released by the organization on • India has been ranked at 9th spot in the index for its Climate Policy performance among 57 countries and December 3, 2019 under the title “Top 100 city the European Union. destination ranking” • However, the first three places of the ranking remain unoccupied, Sweden (4th) and Denmark (5th). 6. Skymet Report: Kharif crop production to dip by 12% • On December 3, 2019, a private weather monitoring 3. SIPRI Report: Arms sales increased by 5% in 2018 company, Skymet released a report on Kharif Crop • As per the report published by the ‘Stockholm outlook. International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)’, arms • According to the report, barring cotton the Kharif sales rose by 5% throughout the world in 2018. crops are expected to witness a drop-in production by • The report said that the turnover of 100 biggest arms 4.5% to 12% as compared to 2018-19. manufacturers came to 420 billion USD. • Several crops such as groundnut, soybean, cotton, tur • Amongst arms manufacturers, US manufacturers and urad were adversely affected all over the country accounted for 59% of global weapon market. and especially in Maharashtra. • Next to the US, Russia ranked second in arms production contributing 8.6% of the weapon market.

November

1. UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2019 • Moreover, despite all scientific warnings and • The United Nations Environment Programme political commitments emissions of greenhouse (UNEP) has released ‘Emissions Gap Report-2019’ gases (GHG) couldn’t decrease globally. • The report warns that the Earth’s average • The report was released prior to United Nations temperature may rise by 3.2 degrees Celsius by Climate Conference (COP-25) to be held in Spain 2100. from 2 December 2019.

47 www.gradeup.co • It states that GHG emissions have increased by 1.5% • The National Statistical Office on November 23, 2019 since last decade and that carbon dioxide (CO2) released its survey on Household Social Consumption emissions have reached an all-time high figure of related to health. 55.3 gigatons. • The survey was conducted between July 2017 and June 2018. It was a part of the 75th round of National 2. India Corruption Survey 2019 Sample Survey. • India Corruption Survey 2019 was carried out by Local • The main objective of the survey was to collect data on Circles, a social media firm and the Transparency expenditure on medicines, expenditure in International India. hospitalization, investigation, expenditure, maternity, • As per the survey, Rajasthan and Bihar fared the worst childbirth, etc. in country with 78% and 75% of respondents admitting • The data for the survey was collected from 1.13,823 to paying bribes, while Telangana topped the list in households south India. 6. NSS releases report on disability • As compared to 2018, India’s overall ranking in • The National Statistical Office conducted survey of Corruption Perception Index has risen 3 places to 78 out Persons with disabilities in the country between the of 180 countries. period July 2018 and December 2018. 3. Global Diplomacy Index 2019 • The main objective of the survey is to estimate • The 2019 Global Diplomacy Index was released by indicators of incidence and prevalence of disability, Sydney-based Lowy Institute. The index gives the facilities available to persons with disability, age at latest statistics and marking about how the world’s onset of disability, arrangement of regular care giver, diplomatic networks are expanding and, in certain difficulties faced by the persons with disabilities, out cases, shrinking. The index ranked 61 countries across of pocket expenses. the world. • The survey carried out in the year 2018 was the 76th • China now has more diplomatic posts across the world round. It included all the disabilities that were than United States in 2019. China has overtaken included in The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, United States with 276 embassies and consulates 2016. worldwide, which is 3 more than US (both countries 7. NSO report: Rural India yet to become Open Defecation have an equal number of embassies but China has 3 Free more consulates). This signifies a marker of its growing • The NSO under Ministry of Statistics and Programme international clout and ambition. Implementation conducted survey on drinking water, 4. CRY Report on Crime against Children in India hygiene, sanitation and housing condition between • The Child Rights and You recently released a report the period July 2018 and December 2018. “How Vulnerable are Children in India to crime?” The • According to the survey one fourth of the households report was based on the analysis of National Crime had no access to toilets. Records Bureau for 2016-17. • The main objective of this survey was to gather • The report says that the states of Madhya Pradesh and information about sanitation along with housing Uttar Pradesh topped the list of states for crimes facilities available to the households and micro against children. There were over 19,000 cases in both environment surrounding the houses. the states. • The survey is important as the GoI is currently working 5. NSO Survey on Household Health Expenditure on a set target of Drinking Water for all by 2024.

October 2. India has the second-highest number of Internet users 1. 300 mn Indians lifted above the poverty line in the last 14 after China – years: NITI Aayog • According to a report by Internet and Mobile • According to the NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, as Association of India (IAMAI), India has the second- many as 300 million Indians were lifted above the highest number of internet users after China. poverty line between 2004 and 2018.

48 www.gradeup.co • As per the report, India has 451 million monthly 46.6 million stunted children out of 150.8 million stunted active internet users at the end of the financial year children all over the world. 2019. The report also says that • Out of 50.5 million children who are wasted 3. Indian diaspora largest in the world at 17.5 million: UN globally, 25.5 million are in India. Report • India is the third most obese nation in the world. • India was the leading country of origin of WHO states India as Diabetes capital with 69.2 international migrants in 2019 with a 17.5 million million suffering from diabetes. strong diaspora. 7. Mumbai most preferred city for co-living in India: Knight • Migrants from Mexico constituted the second Frank largest diaspora (11.8 million), followed by China • According to the report of property consultant Knight (10.7 million). Frank Mumbai ranks 5th among 20 cities in the Asia • In India, the highest number of international Pacific that can emerge as a co-living destination. migrants came from Bangladesh, Pakistan and • Whereas, India capital city New Delhi ranked at 11th and . Bengaluru at 19th rank in the list, according to Knight • The International Migrant Stock 2019 was released Frank's report 'Insights on Co-living: An Asia-Pacific by the Population Division of the UN Department of Perspective.' Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). • Beijing, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong are the top • The report provides the latest estimates of the four cities in the list. number of international migrants by age, sex and 8. Earth has lost 53% of its Wildlife since 1970: WWF Report origin for all countries and areas of the world. • According to the first-ever global assessment of 4. National Nutrition Survey – The Ministry of Health and forest biodiversity, “Below the Canopy: Plotting Family Welfare organized first National Nutrition Survey. Global Trends in Forest Wildlife Populations” by • The ministry took help from UNICEF to complete World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the number of the survey. forest wildlife populations have declined on • The survey was conducted between 2016 and average by 53% since 1970 due to Habitat loss and 2018. degradation, over exploitation and Climate change. Key points – • The report has been produced in collaboration with • Around 10% of children in the age group of 5 to 9 years the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)& The UN and adolescents in the age group 10 to 19 years are pre Environment World Conservation Monitoring – diabetic. 5% of them were overweight and 5% Centre (UNEP-WCMC) co-led the analysis and suffered from blood pressure. modelling for this report. • Tamil Nadu and Goa had the highest number of 9. MSME Pulse Report: Gujarat tops – adolescents who were obese or overweight. • According to TransUnion Credit Information Bureau 5. Mukesh Ambani richest Indian with a net worth of Rs (India) Limited (CIBIL) – Small Industries 3,80,700 crore: Report Development Bank of India’s (SIDBI) Micro, Small & • According to the latest IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich Medium Enterprises (MSME) Pulse Report, Gujarat List, Reliance Industries' Chairman Mukesh Ambani was ranked first in terms of performance and credit has topped the list of richest Indians for the eighth growth potential for MSME Corporate Lending in consecutive year, with a net worth of Rs 3,80,700 India. crore. • It has maintained the top position since the past 4 • The second spot was retained by the London-based years. MSME corporate entities are borrowers with SP Hinduja & family, with assets worth Rs 1,86,500 aggregate credit exposure of up to Rs 50 crore. The crore which is followed by Wipro founder Azim market size of this category is Rs 17.6 lakh crore as Premji at the third place with a wealth of Rs of March 31, 2019. 1,17,100 crore. • Gujarat was followed by Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, 6. Global Nutrition Report, 2018 – The Global Nutrition Karnataka and Delhi. Maharashtra, one among the Report 2018, prepared by WHO, states that India is home to most industrialized states, was ranked 9th.

49 www.gradeup.co 10. “Tata” becomes India’s most valuable brand for 2019: • A country’s GNI per capita, which can change with Brand Finance India 100 2019 report economic growth, inflation, exchange rates, and • According to the London-based consultancy Brand population. Revisions to national accounts methods Finance annual report , “Brand Finance India 100 and data can also influence GNI per capita. 2019”, “Tata” has become India’s most valuable 13. WHO has launched its first guidelines on self-care brand for the second straight year in 2019 with the interventions for health – brand value of $19.6 billion followed by LIC(Life • As per an estimate by 2035 the world will face a Insurance Corporation) (2nd )with $7.3 billion and shortage of nearly 13 million healthcare workers. Infosys (3rd )$6.5 billion. • Currently at least 400 million people worldwide 11. UN Report: Over 820 million people suffering from hunger lack access to the most essential health services. – • The International Self Care Day (ISD) is observed • A UN report has said, more than 821 million annually on July 24. people suffered from hunger worldwide last year. 14. 75% of children with disabilities don't attend schools in It is the third year in a row that the number has India: UNESCO - The 2019 "State of the Education Report risen. for India: Children with Disabilities" took into account the • The report named, ‘The State of Food Security and 2011 census, according to which there are 78,64,636 Nutrition in the World’, produced by the UN Food children with disability in India constituting 1.7 percent of and Agriculture Organization and other UN the total child population. agencies, including WHO, was released. Key points of the report - • The report is part of tracking progress towards • India is home to 8 million children with disabilities. Sustainable Development Goal to Zero Hunger, • Nearly 75% of 5 year olds who have certain disabilties, which aims to end hunger, promote food security do not go to any educational institution. and end all forms of malnutrition by 2030. • There are more than 78 lakh children aged under 19 Number of hungry people in the world in 2018: 821.6 lived with disabilities. million (or 1 in 9 people) • Three-fourths of the children with disabilities at the age • Asia: 513.9 million. of five years and one-fourth between 5-19 years do not • Africa: 256.1million. go to any educational institution. • Latin America and the Caribbean: 42.5 million. • SDG: The report is in sync with the Sustainable 12. India stays lower-middle-income nation while Sri Lanka Development Goal 4(SDG) which aims to ensure gets richer: World Bank Report “inclusive and equitable quality education”. • According to the World Bank’s classification of • The report was commissioned by UNESCO and was countries by income levels, released on July 1, prepared by the Tata Institute of Social Science. 2019, India continues to be a lower-middle-income 15. World Food Programme (WFP) report on Food & Nutrition country along with 46 others, while Sri Lanka has Security (FNS) – The report on Food & Nutrition Security climbed to the upper-middle-income group for the (FNS) Analysis of India developed by UN (United Nations) fiscal year (FY) 2020. World Food Programme in partnership with Ministry of • India became a lower-middle-income nation from Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) stated low-income in FY 2009. that 31.4% of Indian children under five years will still be • Sri Lanka entered the lower-middle-income group stunted by 2022. in FY 1999, from the low-income category and Key Highlights: continued for over two decades, before moving to • The stunting in children under 5years of age is the the upper-middle-income group this year. highest in Bihar (48%), Uttar Pradesh (46%), • The World Bank classifies economies based on Jharkhand (45%), and Meghalaya (44%). gross national income (GNI) per capita (current • Only one in five children in Kerala and Goa (20% US$) calculated using what is called the Atlas each) are stunted. method. • Reduction: Stunting in children in India under the • Argentina is the only country that slipped from the age of five has reduced at a rate of about 1% per high-income to upper-middle-income group. year in the last decade. Classifications are determined:

50 www.gradeup.co • India must double its rate of progress to reach the • The UN report 'The World Population Prospects 2019' target of 25% by 2022 set by the National Nutrition added that the world's population is expected to Mission. increase by two billion people in the next 30 years -- About Stunting: from 7.7 billion currently to 9.7 billion in 2050. • Stunting is the impaired growth and development Population Growing Older that children experience from poor nutrition, • By 2050, one in six people in the world will be over age repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial 65 (16 per cent), up from one in 11 in 2019 (9 per stimulation. cent). 16. WHO - E-2020 initiative: 2019 progress report – According • The number of persons aged 80 years or over is to the World Health Organzation (WHO) - four countries projected to triple, from 143 million in 2019 to 426 from Asia — China, Iran, Malaysia and Timor-Leste — and million in 2050. one from Central America — El Salvador — reported no Average life expectancy indigenous cases of malaria in 2018. • The report also projected people would survive longer Note: in the future, with global average life expectancy • Earlier in May 2019, the WHO declared Algeria and expected to reach 77.1 years in 2050 against 72.6 years Argentina as malaria-free. The last case of currently. indigenous malaria was reported from Algeria in • In 1990, the average life expectancy worldwide was 2013 and Argentina in 2010. 64.2 years. • Algeria became the second E-2020 country to 19. At 9.8 GB per month, India has the highest data usage per achieve certification, after Paraguay was certified smartphone malaria-free by WHO last year. • According to a new study by Swedish telecom 17. Mercer’s 25th Annual Cost of Living Survey – equipment maker Ericsson, India has the highest • Mumbai was considered as India’s most expensive average data usage per smartphone, reaching 9.8 GB city. per month at the end of 2018. • Costliest city in the world was Hong Kong for the • The report, released on 19th June, also forecasts that second consecutive year. this figure is likely to double to 18 GB per month per • It was followed by Tokyo, Singapore and Seoul. smartphone by 2024. • iLeast Expensive Cities: The world’s least expensive • The ‘Ericsson Mobility Report’ added that total cities for expatriates were Tunis (209), Tashkent smartphone subscriptions in the region is likely to (208), and Karachi (207). reach 1.1 billion by 2024, growing at 11% CAGR. • Indian Cities: Mumbai fell 12 spots and was ranked • The total mobile broadband subscriptions in India are 67th position. expected to grow from about 610 million in 2018 to • New Delhi stood at 118th place, Chennai was 1.25 billion in 2024. ranked 154th position, Bengaluru at 179th position 20. Dell has emerged as the most trusted brand in India in and Kolkata at 189th place. 2019: TRA 18. India to cross China's population by 2027: United Nations • According to a report released by brand analytics • As per a United Nations report, India is projected to firm TRA Research, “Dell” has emerged as the most surpass China as the world's most populous country in trusted brand in India in 2019. 2027 and will have almost 1.64 billion inhabitants by • IC and Amazon are ranked on the third and fourth 2050. spots and Apple iPhone emerged as India’s fifth Key highlights of the report most trusted brand. • India is expected to add nearly 273 million people 21. Amazon top global brand: 100 Top BrandZ report between 2019 and 2050 and remain the most • According to global market research agency Kantar populated country through the end of the current in its 2019’s ‘100 Top BrandZ Report’, US retail century. giant Amazon has moved past hi-tech titans Apple • China, with 1.43 billion people in 2019, and India, with and Google to become the world’s most valuable 1.37 billion, have long been the two most populous brand. countries of the world, World Population

51 www.gradeup.co • The brand value of Amazon surged by 52 percent to • The incidents registered under the Scheduled Caste $315 billion, hence jumping from third to first place Prevention of Atrocities Act saw an increase from to replace Google. 5,082 incidents reported in 2016 to 5,775 in 2017. 22. Arunachal has highest 35% of India’s Graphite Deposits: • Incidents of crime related to Scheduled Tribes GSI Report dipped from 844 in 2016 to 720 in 2017. • The Geological Survey of India (GSI) in its report 25. Narendra Modi becomes most followed leader on revealed that about 35 % of India’s total Graphite Instagram: reserves are found in Arunachal Pradesh. This is the • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the highest found in the country. most-followed elected world leader on photo- 23. BPRD releases “Data on Police Organizations (DoPO sharing app Instagram. 2018)” • He is ahead of US President Donald Trump, • Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G. Kishan Indonesian President Joko Widodo and former Reddy has released the Bureau of Police Research president Barack Obama. and Development’s flagship publication “Data on • With 30 million followers, PM Modi leads the list of Police Organizations” (DoPO 2018) in New Delhi. world leaders on Instagram, with Joko Widodo • There has been an increase of 19,686 Police coming in a close second with 25.6 million personnel in the sanctioned strength of the State followers on the popular app. Police and 16,051 in the strength of CAPFs • Barack Obama comes in third with 24.8 million • There has been 20.95% increase in the strength of followers while, Donald Trump, trails behind with Woman Police which brings the total percentage of 14.9 million followers. women in the Indian Police to 8.73%. 26. Forbes India Rich List 2019 • The overall Police Population Ratio at the state • The US business magazine Forbes has released level stood at 192.95 policemen per lakh “The Forbes India Rich List 2019” which has been population. topped by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh • Police Stations have increased from 15579 to Ambani with net worth of $51.4 billion. 16422. This includes Cyber Police Stations whose • Industrialist Gautam Adani jumped 8 spots on the number has risen from 84 to 120. list to become the 2nd richest Indian with net • Electronic surveillance has improved with addition worth of $15.7 billion. of 2,10,278 CCTV Cameras. • Hinduja Brothers, Pallonji Mistry and Uday Kotak 24. NCRB releases Crime in India Report 2017 are at 3rd, 4th and 5th position respectively with net • National Crime Records Bureau has released the worth of $15.6 billion, $15 billion and $14.8 billion annual “Crime in India Report 2017” after a delay 27. 2019 Global Report on Food Crises – of 2 years. • The report is released by the Food and Agriculture • 3.59 lakh cases of crime against women were Organization (FAO). reported in the country. Uttar Pradesh topped the Key points – list with 56,011 cases followed by Maharashtra • More than 113 million people across 53 countries with 31,979 cases and West Bengal 30,002 in cases experienced “acute hunger” last year because of of crime against women. wars and climate disasters, with Africa the worst- • Majority of cases under crimes against women hit region. were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or his • Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Relatives’ (27.9%) followed by ‘Assault on Women Afghanistan and Syria were among the eight with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’ (21.7%), nations accounting for two-thirds of the total ‘Kidnapping & Abduction of Women’ (20.5%) and number of people worldwide exposed to the risk of ‘Rape’ (7.0%). famine. • The NCRB report also cited 58,880 incidents of • African Nations were “disproportionally” affected rioting in 2017. Maximum incidents of rioting were as close to 72 million people on the continent reported from Bihar (11,698), followed by Uttar suffered acute hunger. Pradesh (8,990) and Maharashtra (7,743). About FAO –

52 www.gradeup.co • The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a • Founded: 16 October 1945 specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. • Headquarters: Rome, Italy Government Schemes

January/ December

1. Indian Railways introduces New Passenger friendly 6. Narendra Modi launches Atal scheme on groundwater: Information System at Anakapalle Station Note: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the Note: The Passenger Information system comprises of a nation the world’s longest mountain tunnel and launched a Board that provides the Coach Composition position of a groundwater conservation mission after Atal Bihari train. The main objective of this application is to provide better features and an easy guide to the passengers and Vajpayee, on the latter’s 95th birth anniversary. Atal tunnel thereby providing satisfactory user experience. Atal tunnel, an underground passage of strategic importance 2. Adityanath announces yearly pension of Rs 6,000 for Triple beneath Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh cuts the road Talaq Victims: distance between Leh in the Union territory of Ladakh and Note: Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh Himachal’s Manali by 46 hours and reduces travel time announced to give an annual pension of Rs 6,000 per year to between Leh and Manali by five hours. Muslim women who have been given triple talaq by their 7. CM Gehlot inaugurated first Janta clinic in Jaipur: husbands. The state government should look more into the education of children and their problem of housing, which Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has inaugurated the will be better than giving Rs 500 as pension to triple talaq first Janta clinic at Valmiki Basti in Malviya Nagar, Jaipur. The victims. state government will also launch Nirogi Rajasthan to 3. Digit Insurance Launches Health Insurance approves DIY support the Janta clinic service. Doctor: 8. Odisha launched the Jalsathi programme: Odisha state Note: Digit Insurance awarded the General Insurance government unveiled the "Jalsathi" programme. It was Company of the Year 2019 in Singapore by Asia Insurance launched by the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The Review Award named the Fastest Growing General Jalsathi programme aims to ensure the supply of safe Insurance Company in the world with a 1% market share (Q2 drinking water to all households in the state. FY2019-20) fortified their product portfolio with the launch 9. Centre to begin Phase III of PMGSY: of retail Health Insurance product Digit Health Care Plus. Note: The Phase-III of PMGSY is aimed to consolidate 4. Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal launches welfare scheme 1,25,000 Kms through routes and major Rural links that for students: connect habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets Note: Assam has launched the state government's (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. Abhinandan scheme during a programme held at Srimanta 10. Government launched the 4th phase of Regional Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati. Abhinandan scheme Connectivity Scheme30 days ago: The Union government emphasis on one-time subsidy against education loans has launched the fourth phase of the Regional Connectivity availed by the students for an amount of Rs 50,000 each to Scheme (RCS) to stimulate air connectivity in an affordable 1,546 students. way. Ministry of Civil Aviation has invited bids for the 4th 5. Maharashtra Cabinet approves farm loan waiver, meal round of Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN. The scheme scheme for poor: was launched by the Ministry of civil aviation (MoCA). The Note: Maharashtra Govt. has approved the farm loan waiver scheme is a part of the government's vision to scheme announced a subsidized meal scheme for the poor. operationalize over 100 airports in smaller towns and cities The government seek information from banks on accounts over the next five years. where crop loan and restructured crop loans. Shiv Bhojan 11. Centre launched the National Broadband Mission: Union scheme The Shiv Bhojan scheme incur an expenditure of Rs Minister for Communications Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad. The 6.4 crore for starting a pilot project that will run for three mission aims to provide broadband access to all villages by months. The canteen will be started at district headquarters. 2022. The mission aims to provide universal and equitable

53 www.gradeup.co access to broadband services in India, especially in rural and 17. 100 days of Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana remote areas. Note: The National programme driven by Tribal 12. Kerala launched schemes to support differently abled Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India people: The Kerala state government launched two social (TRIFED), Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY), welfare schemes to honour differently abled people and completed 100 days under Ministry of Tribal Affairs on NSS, NCC and Student Police Cadet (SPC) units working for December 7, 2019. The programme aims at empowering their care and welfare. The schemes are Vijayamritham and the tribal community. Sahachari. 18. Fourth Phase of UDAN scheme launched 13. First Pashu Kisan credit cards were launched in Haryana: Note: The Union Government of India has launched the The First Pashu Kisan credit cards in India were distributed fourth round of UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) to to 101 animal farmers in Bhiwani, Haryana on 6 December enhance the connectivity to regional areas of the country. at the Animal Farmers Credit Card Scheme launching This phase is to focus on Hilly states, North East Region, ceremony. Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and Islands. 14. Odisha to merge Kalia scheme with PM Kisan scheme: The 19. Bharatiya Poshan Anthem launched by Vice President M Odisha government is to merge the State's Krushak Venkaiah Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (Kalia) scheme with the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Note: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched the Nidhi (PM-Kisan) yojana due to financial constraint. Under ‘Bharatiya Poshan Anthem’ in New Delhi, which aims the scheme farmers, mostly small and marginal cultivators towrads taking message of making India malnutrition free will get Rs.10,000 in two installments for two crops in a year. to all corners of country. While launching, Vice president 15. Draj Bridge for all-weather connectivity inaugurated in hoped that the ‘poshan anthem’ will lead to a nutrition Rajouri (J&K) revolution to transform India into a malnutrition-free Note: Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Girish Chandra country by 2022. The anthem was conceptualised by Union Murmu, inaugurated all weather Draj Bridge in Rajouri, J&K. Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) and It is an important bridge for the military as well as for socio- has been penned by noted lyricist Prasoon Joshi and sung economic development of J&K’s Rajouri District as a whole. It by Shankar Mahadevan. is a 72-metre-long Multi Cell Box Type Load Class 70 bridge. 20. Intensified Mission Indra Dhanush 2.0 begins 16. GoI Notified that only Aadhar authenticated bank accounts Note: Government has launched its flagship scheme to get PM-Kisan payments Note: Union Government has notified that the fourth ‘Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0’ to focus on full instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi immunization coverage of 272 districts spread over 27 (PM-KISAN) income support scheme due in December 2019 states and 652 blocks of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar among will be transferred only to Aadhar-authenticated bank hard-to-reach and tribal populations. The Mission accounts of more than 50 million beneficiaries. This will be Indradhanush 2.0 will be carried out between December the first time since the launch of this scheme on 24 2019 and March 2020. February 2019, that the government is insisting on mandatory condition of Aadhar seeding.

November

1. HRD Ministry launches Kartavya Portal: On the occasion of (Creation/Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation 70th Constitution Day also known as Samvidhan Divas Capacities) scheme. The focus was given to projects that observed on 26 November 2019, Union Human Resource emphasized on linking agriculture and marketing food Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ processing technologies. launched the kartavya.ugc.ac.in portal for holding monthly 3. CLAP: Credit-linked Subsidy Services Awas Portal launched essay competitions for students. The portal was launched as by government part of year-long ‘Nagrik Kartavya Paalan Abhiyan’ being Note: Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep observed throughout the country. Singh Puri launched the Credit Link Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) 2. Food Processing Scheme: 271 crores cleared by IMAC: Awas Portal (CLAP). Along with portal, the Union Ministry of Note: The Inter-Ministerial Approval Committee chaired by Housing and Urban Affairs (MHUA) also launched Global Minister of Food Processing Shri Harsimrat Kaur has Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC)-India to accomplish sanctioned Rs 271 crores for the CEFPPC scheme ‘Housing for All Mission’. MHUA also signed agreements

54 www.gradeup.co with certain state governments for the construction of habitations against the total sanctioned length of 19,700 LightHouse projects under GHTC-India. kilometres against sanctioned 2,214 habitations. 4. J&K achieves highest road length in country under PMGSY 5. Assam Government to launch Arundhati Swarna Yojana in 2019 Note: Assam Government has announced to launch Note: During the current fiscal year so far, the Jammu and ‘Arundhati Swarna Yojana’ on 1 January 2020. Under this Kashmir has achieved the highest road length in country scheme, state government will give each beneficiary bride under Centre’s rural roads’ programme of Pradhan Mantri fixed amount to buy 10 grams (one tola) of gold during her Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). It is a centrally-sponsored marriage if the marriage is registered. Under this scheme, scheme under the Union Ministry of Rural Development. This State government will not give the gold directly to significant accomplishment involves completion of around beneficiary bride but will provide Rs. 30,000 to purchase 10 11,400 kilometres of different road projects covering 1,838 gms of gold. The scheme will cost around Rs 800 crore annually on the state government exchequer.

October

1. Faceless e-Assessment scheme launched by the Income 3. YSR Vahana Mitra scheme launched by Andhra Pradesh Tax Department – On 07th October, the Income-Tax state – The scheme was launched by the Chief Minister of Department launched a faceless e-assessment scheme to Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. eliminate interface between an assessing officer and a • The scheme will provide Rs.10,000 allowance taxpayer. to self-employed drivers of the state. • The scheme was launched by the Revenue About YSR Vahana Mitra Scheme Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey in New Delhi. • Under the scheme an allowance of Rs.10000 • With the launch of the scheme, the Income Tax would be given every year to the beneficiaries. Department begin with, 58,322 cases for the • It will provide Rs.50,000 to self-employed faceless e-Assessment scheme. drivers in 5 years. • The National e-Assessment Center (NeAC) will 4. ‘The Gandhian Challenge’ for school children - On the facilitate the faceless e-assessment scheme occasion of 150th birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, across the country and benefit taxpayers. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog’s Atal Tinkering 2. 'Farishtey Dilli Ke' scheme launched by the Delhi Labs (ATL) and UNICEF India, including Generation Government – On 07th October Chief Minister of Delhi Unlimited, launched ‘The Gandhian Challenge’ for school Arvind Kejriwal launched 'Farishtey Dilli Ke' scheme to children. honour good samaritans who take accident victims to the • This innovation challenge provides a platform hospital. for every child across India to ideate innovative solutions for a sustainable India of their dreams, using Gandhi’s principles. September

1. Government launches UMMID initiative – To tackle the initiative. These centres will provide counselling, prenatal menace of genetic diseases in newborn babies. testing / diagnosis and management in government hospitals of • This initiative was launched by Minister of the country. Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan 2. Haryana launches two insurance schemes for traders – The Key points – State government of Haryana has launched two insurance • UMMID stands for - The Unique Methods of schemes for registered small and medium traders. Traders Management and treatment of Inherited registered under the Haryana Goods and Service Tax (HGST) Disorders. Act, 2017 would be covered under these schemes. • Aim - to tackle inherited genetic diseases of (i) “Mukhyamantri Vyapari Samuhik Niji Durghatna newborn babies. Beema Yojana” – An insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh would National Inherited Diseases Administration (NIDAN) – The be provided under this scheme. NIDAN kendras are to be established under the UMMID

55 www.gradeup.co (ii) Mukhyamantri Vyapari Kshatipurti Beema Yojana – • The government will fund the programme for An insurance cover ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh Rs 12,652 crore for a period of 5 years till 2024. would be provided under this scheme. • The programme has two components; to 3. ‘Mukhya Mantri Dal Poshit Yojana’ launched in control the diseases by 2025 and eradication Uttarakhand – ‘Mukhya Mantri Dal Poshit Yojana’ launched by 2030. in 7. PM Modi launched 3 schemes launched in Ranchi, Uttarakhand. The scheme was launched by the Chief Jharkhand Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. (i) 'Kisan Maan-dhan Yojana', pension scheme for • Aim - Yojana’ to provide state ration card small and marginal farmers – Prime Minister Narendra holders two kilograms of two different varieties Modi launched 'Kisan Maan-dhan Yojana' or PM-KMY in of pulses available at prices much lower than Ranchi, Jharkhand. the market rate. Key points of the scheme – • Under the scheme State government will offer • Minimum pension - Under this scheme, small a subsidy of Rs.15 per kilogram on variety of and marginal farmers, who have attained the pulses identified, including chana, malka and age of 60, will get a minimum pension of Rs masur. 3,000 per month. • Each eligible beneficiary and ration card • Age limit - All small and marginal farmers, who holders in state will get 2 kgs of pulses at are currently aged between 18 and 40 years, subsidised rates every month under the are eligible to avail the benefits. scheme. • Outlay of the scheme - The scheme has an 4. Assam Govt launches “Aponar Apon Ghar” scheme – The outlay of Rs 10,774 crore for the next three Assam Government has launched a housing loan subsidy years. scheme “Aponar Apon Ghar”. • Monthly contribution - The farmers will have • The scheme was launched to provide financial to make a monthly contribution of Rs 55 to Rs assistance on purchase or construction of the 200, depending on their age of entry in the first house for a family. pension fund till they reach the retirement • The subsidy of up to Rs 250000 will be date. provided for loan amounts from Rs 5,00,000 to (ii) Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyaparik Mandhan Yojana' - For Rs 40,00,000. small traders and shopkeepers - 5. Scheme “Nirvik” to ease the lending process – Ministry of Commerce & Industry through Export Credit Guarantee • Minimum pension - Under this scheme, small and Corporation has introduced a new Export Credit Insurance marginal farmers, who have attained the age of 60, will Scheme called NIRVIK. get a minimum pension of Rs 3,000 per month. • Under the new scheme NIRVIK, up to 90 per • Age limit - All small and marginal farmers, who are cent of the principal amount and interest will currently aged between 18 and 40 years, are eligible to be covered through insurance. avail the benefits. 6. PM Narendra Modi launches National Animal Disease • Government has earmarked Rs 750 crore for the Control Programme – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has scheme in the Union Budget 2019-20. launched the National Animal Disease Control Programme • The benefit of the scheme will be available to all those in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura. businesses whose annual turnover under GST is less Key points – than Rs 1.5 crore. • The programme aims at vaccinating over 500 (iii) Ekalavya Model residential schools - The Prime Minister Million livestock including cattle, buffalo, laid the foundation stone of 462 Eklavya Model Residential sheep, goats and pigs against foot and mouth Schools online in tribal areas. disease. • In this, 69 Eklavya schools are being opened in 13 • The programme also aims at vaccinating 36 districts of Jharkhand. million female bovine calves annually in its • Each school will have 480 tribal students. The students fight against Brucellosis disease. will be trained in four different sports.

56 www.gradeup.co 8. Ayushman Bharat scheme completes one year of its launch 10. Govt. launches updated Credit linked Capital Subsidy – Ayushman Bharat - the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Scheme – Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium has completed one year of its launch on 23rd September Enterprises Nitin Gadkari launched the updated Credit 2019. linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) to allow micro, small • Indu Bhushan is the Chief Executive Officer and medium enterprises (MSMEs) access to capital. (CEO) of the Centre's ambitious Ayushman • Union Minister re-Launched the Credit Linked Bharat National Health Protection Mission Capital Subsidy (CLCS) web portal during the 2-day (ABNHPM). workshop on ‘Credit Linked Capital Subsidy and Note: Delayed Payment of MSMEs’ held at New Delhi. • On 23rd September 2018, Prime Minister • During the course of workshop Memorandum of Narendra Modi had launched the scheme from Understandings (MoUs) was also signed by office of Ranchi, Jharkhand. Development Commissioner (MSME), Ministry of • The scheme is renamed as PM Jan Arogya MSME with 11 Nodal Banks. Yojana. • It provides 15% subsidy for additional investment • The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, up to Rrs.1cr. for technology upgradation by popularly known as Ayushman Bharat, looks to MSMEs in the specified 51 sub-sectors. provide cashless hospitalisation for 1,354 • Now in relaunched scheme there is an additional procedures to 10 crore poor families for Rs 5 10% subsidy to SC-ST entrepreneurs while special lakh per family per year. provisions have been made for 117 ‘aspirational’ • The Indian insurance regulator has partnered districts, northeastern region and hill states. with the National Health Authority to study the 11. SATHI: IIT Kharagpur to assist academic institutes in prime minister’s health insurance scheme neighbouring region – Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) and Kharagpur has been selected for setting up a Sophisticated suggest measures to streamline its Analytical and Technical Help Institute (SATHI), a implementation. Department of Science and Technology (DST) initiative of 9. National Artificial Insemination Programme – Prime Centre. Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Artificial • Centre has allotted an amount of Rs.125 crore over Insemination Programme at Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. a period of financial years (starting from 2019-20) • Aim – To eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease for the purpose. (FMD) and Brucellosis in the livestock. • SATHI is a state-of-the-art, professionally managed • The programme 100% funding from Central science and technology infrastructure facility. Its Government, of Rs.12,652 Crores for a period primary objective will be to extend help to of 5 years till 2024. academic institutes in neighbouring regions.

Scheme Announced in Budget 2019-20

1. FAME II scheme – aims to encourage faster adoption of • Total fund requirement for this scheme is Rs. electric vehicles by right incentives and charging infra. 10,000 crores over three years from 2019-20 to Key points 2021-22. • The Union cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Note: Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for • This scheme is the expanded version of the present implementation of scheme titled 'Faster Adoption scheme titled 'FAME India1 which was launched on 1st and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India April 2015, with total outlay of Rs. 895 crores. Phase II (FAME India Phase II)' for promotion of 2. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao – The Economic Survey 2019 has Electric Mobility in the country. proposed a change in the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) • Only advanced-battery-operated and registered e- scheme. vehicles to be incentivized under FAME Scheme. Financial Implications:

57 www.gradeup.co • The campaign, to be labelled BADLAV (Beti Aapki Dhan • Under the scheme all small shopkeepers, retail Lakshmi Aur Vijay Lakshmi), will be used to represent traders and self-employed persons are assured a the change towards gender equality. minimum of Rs.3,000 monthly pension after Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme: attaining 60 years of 60 years. • BBBP scheme was launched on 22 January 2015 by • The new pension scheme that offers pension Prime Minister Narendra Modi. coverage to the trading community will cover 3 • It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child crore small retail traders and shop keepers. Development, the Ministry of Health and Family • Eligibility: All small shopkeepers, self-employed Welfare and the Ministry of Human Resource persons and retail traders aged between 18-40 Development. years and with Goods and Service Tax (GST) • The budget of Rs 280 crore allocated to BBBP scheme in turnover below Rs.1.5 crore can enrol for pension the current financial year. scheme. 3. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) – In the 6. National Common Mobility Card – India’s first indigenously Union Budget 2019-20, the allocation for the Pradhan developed payment ecosystem for transport, based on Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), a maternity National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) standards, benefit programme, was Rs 2,500 crore. launched in March 2019. Key points • This will enable people to pay multiple transport • Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya charges across India. Pradesh were the top three performing states • This card runs on RuPay card and allows users to under the maternity benefit programme 'Pradhan pay bus charges, parking charges, etc. Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' (PMMVY). Note: 4. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana: A new scheme to • National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) promote processing in the fishery sector. developed One Nation One Card. • While presenting Union Budget 2019-20, Finance • Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ministry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new formulates the concept of One Nation One Card. scheme to promote processing in the fishery 7. One Nation, One Grid – for power availability to states at sector. affordable rates. • The new scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matsya 8. MUDRA scheme – According to the Union Budget 2019-20, Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), will be established the overdraft of Rs. 5,000 to be allowed for every verified under the Department of Fisheries for a robust women SHG member having a Jan Dhan Bank Account. fisheries management framework. • One woman per SHG to be eligible for a loan up to • She also announced the creation of a new ministry Rs. 1 lakh under MUDRA Scheme. for fisheries sector Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Note: Husbandry and Dairying. • Prime Minister Modi had launched Pradhan Mantri • The new ministry was formed in order to promote Mudra Yojana (PMMY) in April 2015. the allied farm sector that has huge potential to • The objective was to provide non-corporate and help achieve the government's target of doubling non-agricultural small businesses with loans up to farmers' income by 2022. Rs 10 lakh, which are called Mudra loans. • The budget allocated for the newly carved out • Mudra loans are divided into three categories: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Shishu (loans up to Rs 50,000), Kishor (loans Dairying is Rs 3,737 crore. between Rs. 50,001 and Rs. 5 lakh), and Tarun 5. Pradhan Mantri Karam Yogi Maandhan Scheme – Monthly (loans between Rs. 5,00,001 and Rs. 10 lakh). Pension Scheme for Traders • Maximum loan amount under MUDRA scheme is – • The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Rs 10 lakh and the minimum loan amount is Rs. Narendra Modi has approved Rs.3000 monthly 50,000. pension scheme for small retail traders and • MUDRA stands for - Micro Units Development & shopkeepers after they attain the age of 60 years. Refinance Agency Ltd. Key points of Scheme

58 www.gradeup.co 9. Jal Jeevan Mission – Jal Shakti Mantralaya will work with • Objective - To set up a network of technology states to ensure Har Ghar Jal for all rural houses by 2024, centres, incubation centres to accelerate under JalJeevan Mission. entrepreneurship and also to promote start-ups for • To all rural households by 2024, water will be innovation and entrepreneurship in rural and supplied. agriculture based industry with a fund of Rs. 200 10. Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan - Over 2 crores. crore Indian made digitally literate under PMGDISHA 13. MNREGA – According to the budget document, for the (Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan). Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee • Under Digital India Programme would cover 6 crore Programme (MNREGA) the budget was allocated to Rs households in rural areas to make them digitally 60,000 crore for 2019-20. literate. 14. National Rural Livelihood Mission – In the Union Budget • The Scheme is applicable only for rural areas of the 2019-20, this year, the allocation has been increased to Rs country. 9,024 crore. Entry criteria Note: Originally called as Aajeevika – National Rural • The beneficiary should be Digitally Illiterate Livelihoods Mission, the programme was renamed as • Only one person per eligible household would be Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood considered for training Mission (DAY-NRLM) in 2015. • Age Group: 14 - 60 years 15. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) - Under PMAY 11. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana – Under phase three of Garmin, in the 2nd phase 1.95 crore houses are proposed to PM Gram Sadak Yojana, 1.25 lakh kms of road to be built in be provide to eligible beneficiary with facilities like toilet the next five years. Project cost estimated cost of nearly Rs and LPG connection. 80,200 crore. • Urban, over 80 lakh houses have been sanctioned 12. ASPIRE scheme - Under ASPIRE to develop, 80 Livelihood under PMAY. business incubators and 20 technology business incubators • The completion of houses that required 314 days in to be set up in 2019-20 2015-16, it has now come down to 114 days since ASPIRE Scheme - 2017. • The ASPIRE-A scheme runs under the Ministry of • The budget allocated for PMAY for 2019-20 fiscal is Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and aims to Rs 19,000 crore. promote innovation, rural industry and entrepreneurship in India. • This scheme was launched in March 2015.

Summits & Conference

January/December

1. International Seminar on Climate Smart Farming healthcare and that many pharmaceutical companies Systems begins in New Delhi have emerged as the center of Switzerland. Note: BIMSTEC countries’ ‘International Seminar on 3. 54th DGsP/IGsP Conference held in Pune Climate Smart Farming Systems’ was held in New Delhi. Note: 54th DGsP/IGsP conference was held in Pune. Prime The objective of this International Seminar is to have Minister Narendra Modi addressed the valedictory experience sharing to enable improvement of tropical session of the Conference. President’s police medals were smallholder farming systems for greater productivity and also awarded to officers of the Intelligence Bureau for resilience to climate change through ecological their distinguished services. approaches. 4. Goa to host 2nd edition of Startup India Global Venture 2. Switzerland to be the country partner of BioAsia 2020 Capital Summit 2019 Note: Switzerland will be the country partner at the 17th Note: The 2nd edition of Startup India Global Venture edition of BioAsia2020 scheduled to be held from Capital Summit was held in Goa on 6-7 December 2019 February 17-19, 2020 in Hyderabad, Telangana. The for Fund Managers and Limited Partners of Top Global theme of the summit is “Today For Tomorrow”. Venture Capital (VC) Firms. The summit is being organized Switzerland is making innovations in the world of medical by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal

59 www.gradeup.co Trade (DPIIT) under Union Ministry of Commerce and Note: Pacific Air Chiefs’ Symposium 2019 (PACS 2019) Industry, in partnership with Goa Government. Theme for was held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Chief Startup India Global Venture Capital Summit 2019 is- of the Air Staff of India participated in the conclave. The ‘India Opportunity- Investing in tomorrow together’. theme for this year’s symposium is ‘A Collaborative 5. NATO Summit 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom: Approach to Regional Security’. The conference will bring Note: 2019 NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) together Air Chiefs from across the Indo-Pacific region Summit was held in London, United Kingdom (UK). The who will provide perspectives on common challenges year 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the summit. It faced and on shared mutual interests while focusing on was attended by NATO leaders and chaired by NATO relevant topics like ‘Regional Security’, ‘Domain Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. The purpose of the Awareness’, ‘Multi-Domain Awareness’, Ínteroperability’ summit was to make the heads of state and heads of and ‘HADR’. government of NATO member countries to evaluate and 8. Defence Minister addresses Armed Forces Flag Day-CSR provide strategic direction for Alliance activities. Conclave: 6. 3rd edition of National Public Procurement Conclave Note: Defence Minister addresses the Armed Forces Flag held in New Delhi Day-CSR Conclave in New Delhi. He has expressed Note: It was inaugurated by the Commerce and Industry confidence that the corporate sector will contribute Minister Piyush Goyal. The conclave has been organized generously to the welfare of ex-servicemen. He said by Government e-Marketplace, GeM in association with common people had generously contributed to ‘Bharat Ke Confederation of Indian Industry. GeM epitomizes the Veer’ Fund for the bereaved families of soldiers who laid speed, skill and scale which is essential in an e- down their lives in the line of duty. ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ Fund marketplace platform. GeM rests on the three pillars of was established with the help of the corporate sector that openness, fairness and inclusiveness and is a symbol of a assisted the families of martyred Central Armed Police truly transparent e-marketplace. Forces personnel. 7. Pacific Air Chiefs’ Symposium 2019 held in Pearl Harbor:

November

1. 1st International Conference on “Landslides Risk between the three services.47th All India Police Science Reduction and Resilience” held in New Delhi: Congress held in Lucknow Note: Minister of State for Home Affairs, inaugurated the Note: The 47th All India Police Science Congress (AIPSC) 1st International Conference on “Landslides Risk was held in Lucknow. The event was inaugurated by Reduction and Resilience” in New Delhi. The Conference Puducherry Lieutenant Governor and retired IPS officer called for developing technology to anticipate disasters Kiran Bedi. Uttar Pradesh Police in association with the like landslides and develop infrastructure to quickly Home Ministry and the Bureau of Police Research and respond to minimise the damage. The landslides have Development has organised the event at the police attracted global attention as they may cause huge havoc headquarters in Lucknow. on communities, livestock, environment leading to huge 4. India to host SCO forum of Young Scientists and loss of lives. This conference will go a long way in finding Innovators 2020 long term solutions to natural disasters. Note: India will host the Shanghai Cooperation 2. 8th Water Technology and Environment Control Organisation (SCO) Forum of Young Scientists and Conference 2019 Innovators in 2020. The 5th Meeting of Shanghai Note: Union Minister of Jal Shakti, represented India at Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States Heads of the 8 WATEC (Water Technology and Environment Ministries and Departments of Science and Technology Control) Conference 2019. The theme of the conference and Permanent Working Group on S&T Cooperation is “Water Stewardship and Innovation–driving global concluded in Moscow, Russia. leadership in the responsible planning management, and 5. NuGen Mobility Summit-2019 being held in Haryana protection of water”. The conference held at David Note: Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Intercontinental in Tel Aviv, Israel. Shipping, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated NuGen Mobility 3. DEFCOM India 2019: Summit-2019 at International Center of Automotive Note: The DEFCOM INDIA 2019 seminar was held at Technology (ICAT) in Manesar, Haryana. This three-day Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. The theme for the conference was held from 27 to 29 November 2019. The seminar is, “Communications: A Decisive Catalyst for conference is the largest automotive technology event in Jointness”. The seminar is devoted to the seminal theme country so far. The event is being organized by ICAT on of leveraging communications for achieving jointness relevant topics of Alternate Fuel Systems and e-Mobility.

60 www.gradeup.co 1. The 9th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership 12. The first India-Bangladesh Stakeholders’ meet was held in - (RCEP) Intersessional Ministerial Meeting held in -- - Guwahati. Bangkok, Thailand. Note: A 70-member delegation from Bangladesh is Note: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has represented participating in the meet, while a similar top-level team will India in the meeting. represent the host nation. 2. State Power Ministers’ Conference held in --- Gujarat. 13. The Global Bio-India 2019 held for the first time in India -- Note: The 2-day conference discussed on policies related to New Delhi. emerging technologies in sustainable and renewable energy Note: A brochure of GlobalBio-India 2019 was also released sector. at the Curtain Raiser ceremony. 3. The 1st India Sports Summit 2019 held in -- New Delhi. 14. The 9th edition of Bangladesh-India Friendship Dialogue Note: According to Minister of State for Youth and Sports will be held at -- Cox Bazar, Bangladesh. Kiren Rijiju, ‘Fit India’ mission office would be set up, with Note: The dialogue aims to draw from learning and the help of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), to experiences in these sectors between India and Bangladesh. promote the aforementioned goals. 15. The 35th ASEAN Summit began in --- Bangkok, Thailand. 4. The 2nd “India-China Informal Summit” held at Note: 10 ASEAN member countries: Indonesia, Thailand, Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Note:The first summit held in Wuhan in the wake of the Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Laos. The theme of the Doklam crisis in April, 2018. summit for this year is “Advancing Partnership for 5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on ‘Ek Sustainability”. Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ programme in -- Delhi. 16. The 6th parliamentary summit of G20 countries, held in --- Note: Under the initiative, the government plans to hold Tokyo, Japan. people-to-people exchange between states to enhance Note: Lok sabha speaker Om Birla composed the Indian knowledge about each-others culture. ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Parliament delegation. Bharat’ highlights India’s diversity and furthers national 17. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the11th BRICS unity. Summit in -- Brasilia, Brazil. 6. The first National Hindi Science writers conference 2019 Note: The theme of the Summit this year is “Economic held in -- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Growth for an Innovative Future”. Note: A dedicated website WWW.VIGYANLEKHAN.COM has 18. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurating 10th Asian been prepared for this event. Conference of Emergency Medicine in -- New Delhi. 7. Union minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated a conference on - Note: The Government of India has made it mandatory for -- ‘One Nation One Tag – FASTag. all medical college hospitals to have full-fledged Emergency Note: Under this system the same FASTag affixed on the Departments by 2022 with an aim to improve trauma car windscreen of a vehicle can be used to pay toll across all toll 19. National Capital Region -2041” conclave held in --- Delhi plazas in the country. Note: This conclave is organized by the National Capital 8. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 41st DRDO Region Planning Board (NCRPB). The theme of the conclave Directors Conference in -- New Delhi. was “Planning for Tomorrow’s Greatest Capital Region”. 9. Who will host the 91st Interpol General Assembly in 2022 -- 20. 19th council of heads of government of the Shanghai - India. Cooperation Organisation 2020 will be held in – India. Note: All major decisions affecting general policy, the 21. The 27th Conference of Central and State Statistical resources needed for international cooperation, working Organizations (COCSSO) held in -- Kolkata. methods and finances are deliberated and discussed by Note: The theme of this conference was “Sustainable representatives. Development Goals (SDGs)” which highlights the actions 10. Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 11th Edition of Nuclear taken by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Energy Conclave 2019 in -- New Delhi. Implementation (MoSPI) for a strong observing mechanism Note: The theme of the Conclave: “Economics of Nuclear for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Power- Innovation towards Safer & Cost-Effective 22. India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Technologies”. It was organized by India Energy Forum (IEF). Business Summit 2019 held in --- New Delhi. A “Hall of Nuclear Energy” was opened to educate the 23. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Forum of Young students and the general public about the applications of Scientists and Innovators in 2020 will be hosted by -- India nuclear energy, in Pragati Maidan in Delhi. 24. Global Bio-India Summit 2019 held in -- New Delhi. 11. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit held in -- Baku, Note: It will bring academia, innovators, researchers, start- Azerbaijan. ups, medium and large companies together on the same Note: The Non-Alignment Movement was founded in 1961. platform. India is a founding member of the NAM summit.

61 www.gradeup.co 25. 8th International Conference on Agricultural Statistics will 26. The Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani be held in – India. addressed the 2nd edition of South Asia Safety Summit in - Note: The conference will be held with the theme of New Delhi. ‘Statistics for Transformation of Agriculture to Achieve the Note: The summit was joined by over 100 organisations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’. from Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and India.

October 1. C40 Summit will be held in Copenhagen – The C40 Summit 3. Kochi to host national health informatics meet in 2020 – is to take place in Copenhagen between 9th October and The 20th National Health Informatics conference will be 12th October, 2019. The aim of the summit is to show how held in Kochi on February 7 and 8 next year. cities are delivering their strong commitments for healthier, • The conference will be jointly organised by the sustainable, resilient and inclusive future. Health Informatics and Information Management 2. Second edition of informal summit between India and Association (HIIMA), Kerala, and the Health Records China – Mamallpuram, Tamil Nadu Association of India (HERAI). • Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese • The theme of the conference – Medrecon 2020 – is President Xi Jinping, who would be visiting ‘Value of Data in Health Care Ecosystem’. Mamallapuram for the second edition of the 4. India Economic Summit was held in New Delhi. informal summit between India and China. Note: • The summit will be held from October 11-October • The World Economic Forum is organizing India 12. Economic Summit on October 3 – 4, 2019 in New Note: Delhi. • Mamallapuram is also known as Seven Pagodas or • It is hosted in collaboration with CII – Mahabalipuram. Marco Polo and other Europeans Confederation of Indian Industry. named it Seven Pagodas September

1. UN Climate Change Summit 2020 – Glasgow, UK 6. 24th World Energy Congress commence in Abu Dhabi, • The COP26 meeting, under the auspices of the UN, UAE. will take place in Glasgow in December 2020. • The theme of this World Energy Congress is 2. UN Climate Action Summit 2019 – New York “Energy for Prosperity”. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi represented India at • It was held under the patronage of Sheikh Khalifa the UN Climate Action Summit 2019 which was bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE. held on 23 September in New York. 7. The 1st conference on military medicine for the Shanghai • Sweden's 16-year-old environmental activist Greta Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states held in Thunberg shook world leaders with her speech at Delhi. the United Nations, accusing world leaders of 8. The 9th India-China Financial dialogue was held in New failing to take action on climate change. Delhi. 3. International Conference on Sindh held in London – The 9. First India-Caribbean Summit – 2019 was held in New York. World Sindhi Congress (WSC) hosted a 31st international Note: conference on Sindh in London. • Prime Minister Modi met the leaders of the 4. 7th World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF) 2019 held in Caribbean Community on 25th September, 2019, in Mumbai – 7th World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF) 2019 New York. held in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The theme of (WHEF) 2019 • At the meeting, PM Modi announced 14 million “Prosperous Society: Stronger Society”. USD grant for community development projects in 5. International conference ‘ANGAN’ organized in New Delhi the region. He also extended 150 million USD of - International conference ANGAN (Augmenting Nature by line of credit for renewable energy, solar and Green Affordable New-habitat) for Energy Efficiency in the climate change related projects. Building Sector is being organized by the Bureau of Energy 10. SAARC Council of Ministers meeting – The SAARC Council Efficiency in New Delhi. of Ministers meeting was held on New York on 26th September 2019.

62 www.gradeup.co • The 2020 SAARC Summit will take place in 17. For the first time, India is hosting COP14 of UNCCD Islamabad, Pakistan. • For the first time, India is hosting the Conference of • The last and the 18th SAARC summit was held in Parties (COP14) to the United Nations Convention , Nepal. to combat desertification (UNCCD). About SAARC • The 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP) • SAARC is South Asian Association for Regional of UNCCD began at the India Mart and Expo, in Cooperation. Greater Noida. • The 8 member nations of the grouping are - • The conference began on September 2 and will end Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, on September 13, 2019. Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Note: • Headquarters of SAARC is in Kathmandu, Nepal. • The current Union Minister of Environment, Forest and 11. Fourth Indian Ocean Conference 2019 held in Male – Climate Change is Prakash Javadekar. Fourth Indian Ocean Conference 2019 was recently held in 18. 4th General Assembly of A-WEB held at Bengaluru Male, capital of Maldives. • The Election Commission of India hosted the 4th • The two-day conference was held from 3-4 General Assembly of Association of World Election September 2019. Bodies (A-WEB) at Bengaluru on 3rd September • Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was 2019. one of the speakers at Indian Ocean Conference • India will take over as A-WEB’s Chair for the 2019- 2019 event. 21 term. 12. India’s first-ever helicopter summit held in Dehradun – 19. 72nd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South- Union Ministry of Civil Aviation organised country’s first East Asia held in New Delhi - Union Minister of Health and ever helicopter summit at Sahastradhara helidrome in Family Welfare inaugurated the 72nd Session of the WHO Dehradun, capital of Uttarakhand. The summit was based Regional Committee for South-East Asia held in New Delhi. on theme of expanding connectivity through helicopters. • The committee is the highest decision making and 13. Union Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh co-chaired the governing body of WHO in the region. Japan–India Defence Ministerial Meeting with Defence • Dr Harsh Vardhan was unanimously elected as Minister of Japan Takeshi lwaya in Tokyo, Japan. Chair of the 72nd Session of the WHO Regional 14. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh addresses 8th Seoul Committee for South-East Asia. Defense Defence Dialogue 2019 – Defence Minister Rajnath 20. National Conference on ‘India-Africa Partnership in a Singh delivered a keynote address at ‘Seoul Defence Changing Global Order: Priorities, Prospects and Dialogue 2019’ during his visit to South Korea. Challenges’ held in New Delhi. • The theme of Defence Dialogue was- ‘Building • It was organized by Indian Council of World Affairs Peace Together: Challenges and Vision’. Defence (ICWA). Minister is on a 3-day visit to Seoul. 21. India-New Development Bank Workshop held in New Delhi 15. India hosts 6th India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue – – A joint India- New Development Bank workshop was held India is hosting 6th India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue in New Delhi. The workshop was organized to enhance the (SED) in New Delhi. NDB’s engagement with the India’s private and public • The three-day Dialogue was held from 7-9 sector. September 2019. Note: • It was chaired by Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Rajiv • The NDB is the first Multilateral Development Bank Kumar and Chinese side will led by chairman, established by developing countries and emerging National Development and Reforms Commission economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. (NDRC). 22. Japan–India Defence Ministerial Meeting held in Tokyo, 16. 20th India-Russia Summit talks conclude in Vladivostok Japan – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh co-chaired the • The 20th India-Russia annual summit held in Japan–India Defence Ministerial Meeting held in Tokyo, Vladivostok, Russia. Japan. • During the summit, India and Russia have signed 15 • Japan’s delegation was represented by Defence agreements in several areas in the presence of Minister of Japan Mr Takeshi lwaya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin.

63 www.gradeup.co

Books & Author

1. Former Australian cricket umpire Simon Taufel released his of India: Past to Present' in Guwahati. The book has book titled Finding The Gaps. captured the historical developments which took place 2. Note: Simon Taufel (retired in 2012) is a five-time ICC in the history of the nation's courts. Umpire of the Year (between 2004 and 2008) and part of 10. Writer and columnist, Harish Bhat’s new novel was ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires.The Australian stood in his first launched in Mumbai -- An Extreme Love of Coffee. One-Day International in 1999, and his first Test in 2000. Note: The novel is published by Penguin Random House 3. A book titled “Hemant Karkare -A Daughter’s Memoir” by India with the collaboration of Tata Starbucks. This is his daughter Jui Karkare Navare. his third book but the first fiction and it took Bhat about 4. Note: The book portrays former Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) 8 months to complete. The book is a story about two chief Hemant Karkare’s life as a father to Jui Karkare young people, Rahul, and Neha who follow their Navare. The book has been published by The Write Place. passion for coffee. 18 security personnel lost their lives in the 26/11 terror 11. Jal Shakti Minister releases short documentary film -- attacks (11th anniversary). SHIKHAR SE PUKAR. 5. Mr. ‘Nishank’ also launched three books which are a 12. ‘Hemant Karkare: A Daughters Memoir’, book written by -- collection of stories for Children namely Kumbh, Garam Jui Karkare Navare. Pahad and Dilli ki Bulbul (Sindhi edition). 13. Former cricket umpire and author of ‘Finding The Gaps’ is -- 6. Note: Books has been authored by a popular writer of Simon Taufel. children’s books and travelogues Dr Anita Bhatnagar Jain 14. Book titled “150 Years of Celebrating the Mahatma the (IAS-1985 batch). The three books are a collection of stories South African Legacy”, -- written by Fakir Hassen for children and have brought out environmental issues and Note: This book released on Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth topics like socio-cultural unity& cultural heritage in a very anniversary. simple and interesting manner. 15. Bill Gates’ Book titled “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The 7. English author Tony Joseph has won the 12th ‘Shakti Bhatt Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need” will be First Book Prize’ for his book, --- Early Indians: The Story of released -- June 2020. Our Ancestors and Where We Came From. Note: Note: The book tells the tale of the people of South Asia 16. Book titled “India in a Warming world: Integrating Climate through research in six disciplines, including path-breaking Change and Development” will be published by –-Oxford new DNA evidence. The award was instituted in 2008 and it University Press(OUP). carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh along with a trophy. Last 17. Book titled “Mind Master: Winning Lessons from a year, the prize was awarded to Sujatha Gidla for her Ants Champion’s Life” - written by . Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family And The Making Note: The book is based on the experience he had in the Of Modern India. game of Chess. 8. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has released the 18. Book titled ‘Bridgital Nation’ – written by N monograph, the Musical Excellence of Mridangam in Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons and Roopa Chennai. Purushothaman Eminent industrialist. Note: The book was authored by mridangam Note: The book presents a powerful vision of the future and Padma Vibhushan awardee Umayalpuram K. where technology and human beings co-exist in a mutually Sivaraman and former scientists T. Ramasami (former beneficial ecosystem. Secretary of the Department of Science and 19. “Ten Studies in Kashmir: History and Politics” - written by Technology) and M.D. Naresh. Kashi Nath Pandit. 9. CJI Ranjan Gogoi releases Assamese version of book -- Note: A new book looks at the riveting history of Jammu 'Courts of India: Past to Present'. and Kashmir from the time of its political and geographic Note: Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has consolidation to the abrogation of the state’s special status. inaugurated the Assamese version of the book Courts

64 www.gradeup.co 20. Book titled “The Tech Whisperer” written by - Jaspreet 38. Book titled ‘The New Delhi Conspiracy’ – authored by 5. Bindra BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi 21. Book titled ‘Reset: Regaining India’s Economic Legacy’ - 39. Book titled ‘War over Words: Censorship in India, 1930- written by Subramanian Swamy (BJP MP) 1960” authored by Devika Sethi 22. ‘Professor Ayushman’ a comic book released by Ayush 40. Book titled ‘Whispers of Time’ authored by Dr. Krishna Ministry in New Delhi Saksena 23. Book titled “Being Gandhi” authored by Paro Anand 41. Autobiography titled 'Lessons Life Taught Me, 24. Book titled “The Cousins Thackeray: Uddhav, Raj and the Unknowingly' - autobiography of veteran Bollywood actor Shadow of their Senas” written by the journalist Dhaval Anupam Kher Kulkarni 42. Autobiography titled- ‘My Life, My Mission’ – 25. Book titled “Savarkar: Echoes from a forgotten past, 1883- authobiography of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev 1924″ written by Bengaluru-based historian Vikram • The book is co-authored with senior journalist Uday Sampath Mahurkar. 26. Book titled ‘Fortune Turners: The Quartet That Spun India 43. Book titled ‘Function of Data Sovereignty: The Pursuit of To Glory’ written by - Aditya Bhushan and Sachin Bajaj. Supremacy’ authored by - Vinit Goenka Note: The book on India’s 4 spin legends: , 44. Book titled ‘Cricket World Cup: The Indian Challenge” – Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrashekhar and S. authored by - Ashis Ray Venkataraghavan. 45. Book titled - Politics of Jugaad: The Coalition Handbook - 27. Book titled ‘A Short History of Indian Railways’ written by Journalist Saba Naqvi Rajendra B Aklekar 46. Book titled 'Darkness to light' - Former American 28. Book titled ‘Big Billion Startup’: The Untold Flipkart Story - professional player, Lamar Odom. written by Mihir Dalal 47. Book titled "No Presents Please’ is authored by - Jayant 29. The Book titled ‘Kashmir’s untold story: Declassification’- Kaikini author of the book is Delhi- based filmmaker Iqbal Chand 48. Book titled “Game Changer” autobiography of - Shahid Malhotra and defense analyst Maroof Raza. Afridi (Pakistan’s former Cricket team ). The book is 30. Book ‘Resurgent India’ – Book authored by former co-authored by Afridi and journalist Wajahat S Khan. Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Bimal Jalan 49. Book titled “Indian Fiscal Federalism” authored by - Dr. Y. 31. The book, titled ‘Sridevi: Girl Woman Superstar’ authored V. Reddy, former Governor of RBI and Chairman of the 14th by screenwriter Satyarth Nayak. Finance Commission of India (The Chairman of 15th Finance 32. Vice President’s book titled “Listening, Learning & Leading” Commission of India, N.K. Singh launched the book) released – Home Minister Amit Shah released a Vice 50. Book titled ‘Saffron Swords’ authored by - Manoshi Sinha President M Venkaiah Naidu’s book titled “Listening, Rawal Learning & Leading”. 51. Book titled “The Third Pillar - How Markets and the State 33. PM Modi releases book on former PM Chandra Shekhar – leave the Community Behind” authored by –Raghuram PM Narendra Modi releases book “Chandra Shekhar – The Rajan (Former Governor of RBI) Last Icon of Ideological Politics” is written by Deputy 52. Book titled ‘Every Vote Counts: The Story of India's Chairman in the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh and Ravi Dutt Elections’ authored by - former Chief Election Bajpai in New Delhi. Commissioner Navin Chawla. Former Vice-President Hamid 34. Book ‘Who Stole My Job’ authored by Sunil Mishra Ansari launched the book. 35. The coffee table book titled ‘Fire and Fury Corps – Saga of 53. Book titled “India Positive” authored by - Chetan Bhagat Valour, Fortitude and Sacrifice’, was released by Northern 54. Book titled ‘Simplicity & Wisdom’ authored by - Mr. Dinesh Army Commander Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh. Shahra Note: This book showcases the courage and bravery of the 55. Book titled ‘ Khooni Vaisakhi’ authored by -- Nanak Singh Fire and Fury Warriors and portrays the rich heritage and (Jallianwala Bagh survivor) ethos of the Indian Army. Note: A poem on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, ‘Khooni 36. Book titled ‘Vivekadeepini’ – authored by Adi Vaisakhi’, by Punjabi writer Nanak Singh has now been Shankaracharya translated into English. 37. Book titled “A Prime Minister to Remember,” – authored by • It was banned by the British in 1920. Singh was former Navy Chief Admiral Sushil Kumar present at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919, and was 22 years old at the time.

65 www.gradeup.co • A book containing English translation of the 100- 58. Arun Jaitley releases book titled ‘Mann Ki Baat – A Social year-old classic Punjabi poem about Jallianwala Revolution on Radio’ authored by - BlueKraft Digital Bagh massacre, ‘Khooni Vaisakhi’ has been released Foundation in Abu Dhabi. 59. Book titled ‘Moving On, Moving Forward: A year in Office’ - • India’s Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu commended the launch of the book. 60. Book titled “Undaunted: Saving the Idea of India” authored • It will be published by Harper Collins India in March by - P Chidambaram (former Finance Minister) to mark the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh. 61. Book titled 'We are Displaced' authored by - Malala 56. Book titled “Quality, Accreditation & Ranking” authored by - Yousafzai Dr. H Chaturvedi 62. A book titled ‘Changing India’ written by – Former PM 57. Book titled ‘Mann Ki Baat – A Social Revolution on Radio’ Manmohan Singh

Obituaries

January

1. Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader passed away 3. Irani Gen killed in US airstrike on Baghdad airport -- Qassem in New Delhi -- DP Tripathi. Soleimani. Note: He was the general secretary of the Nationalist Note: General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Congress Party and a former students' union leader. Despite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC's) Quds Force, and visual impairment, he worked throughout life. He has also architect of its regional security apparatus has been killed written several books, including Congress and Independent following a US airstrike at Baghdad's international airport. India, Jawahar Satkam, Celebrating Faiz and Nepal The strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy Transition-A way forward among others. commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the 2. Noted Assamese theatre personality passed away -- Ratna Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Ojha. 4. Former Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi passes away. Note: Eminent Assamese dramatist, litterateur and social Note: Former Governor of Karnataka T N Chaturvedi (90- activist Ratna Ojha (88) passed away in Guwahati, Assam. years) passed away at a private hospital in Noida. Recipient of the prestigious Natyasurya Award in 2005 for Chaturvedi was the 14th Governor of Karnataka (from 2002– his contributions to theatre, Ojha had introduced street 2007).He also served as of the Comptroller and Auditor General plays in Assam in 1971 with his skit 'Kokaideo' to revive the of India (CAG) from 1984 to 1989. theatre movement in the state that was fading with the death of his mentor Phani Sarma. December

5. Former Hollywood actress Shelley Morrison passed away Note: The writer penned numerous stories for the original at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Star Trek' TV series and developed one of its signature Note: Morrison played Rosario Salazar, a maid from El characters, Spock. She wrote 1967's 'Journey to Babel', Salvador, in the original run of 'Will & Grace' from 1999 to which introduced Spock's father Sarek and mother, 2006, becoming part of a cast that won a Screen Actors Amanda. Guild award for best ensemble in a comedy series. 8. George J. Laurer passed away at his home in Wendell, 6. Former England fast bowler Bob Willis passed away after a North Carolina in the US. short illness. Note: Mr. Laurer was an electrical engineer with IBM in Note: Bob Willis took 325 in 90 Tests and 80 wickets North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park in the early 1970s in 64 ODIs in his career. He also captained England in 18 when he spearheaded the development of the UPC Tests and 29 ODIs. (Universal Product Code), or bar code. The now-ubiquitous 7. The first female writer for 'Star Trek' passed away -- DC marking, composed of unique black bars and a 12-digit Fontana. number, allowed retailers to identify products and their prices as they are scanned, usually at checkout.

66 www.gradeup.co 9. Former Odisha Minister Bhagabat Prasad Mohanty passed roles in Marathi plays such as “Natsamrat” and away at his residence in Bhubaneswar. “Himalayachi Saoli”, and films such as “Pinjra” made him Note: Mohanty was elected to the state Assembly in 1971 popular. Dr Lagoo also wrote a book, an autobiography as Praja Socialist Party (PSP) candidate and in 1985 and titled ‘Lamaan’ (means ‘the carrier of goods’). 1995 as a Congress nominee, said sources. He had served as 17. Former Union Minister & Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) the Higher Education Minister of the state. leader passed away in Faridabad -- I D Swami. 10. The Chairman of Indian Council of Social Science Research Note: He served as the Union Minister of State for Home (ICSSR) Braj Bihari Kumar passed away. Affairs in 1999 in former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Note: Mr’ Kumar was appointed as the chairman of the Vajpayee’s government. He was also two times Lok Sabha ICSSR in May 2017. Indian Council of Social Science member from Karnal (Haryana) in 1966 and 1999. Research (ICSSR) was established in the year 1969 by the 18. Renowned Hindustani Classical vocalist passed away -- Government of India to promote research in social sciences Vidushi Savita Devi. in the country. Note: Savita Devi was considered a doyen in the field of 11. The former chairman of the US Federal Reserve Paul classical music field for her mastery on various semi- Volcker passed away in New York. classical vocal forms, such as thumri, dadra, chaiti, kajri and Note: Paul Volcker is popularly known for his battles against tappa of the Banaras Gharana (Purabang). She authored a inflation in the late 1970s and early 1980s.He was biographical work on her mother, titled "Maa... appointed as the chief of the US Federal Reserve in 1979. Siddheshwari" and was the head of the Music Department 12. Renowned Telugu actor & writer Gollapudi Maruti Rao at 's Daulat Ram College for many years. passed away in Chennai. 19. England football World Cup winner passed away -- Martin Note: Mr. Maruti Rao was a multi-faceted personality as he Peters. was a journalist, playwright, writer, actor and television Note: Peters was part of the 1966 World Cup-winning side personality. Some of his memorable films as an actor and scored in the final against West Germany. Peters is the include ‘Intlo Ramayya, Veedhilo Krishnayya’, ‘Challenge’, fifth member of England's World Cup final team to have ‘Samsaram oka Chadarangam’, ‘Aditya 369’ and ‘Leader’. died, after captain Bobby Moore, Alan Ball, Ray Wilson and Mr. Rao was born in 1939 in Vizianagaram in Madras Gordon Banks. Presidency, in present-day Andhra Pradesh. 20. American Song writer Allee Willis passed away due to 13. New Zealand's greatest athlete Peter Snell passed away at cardiac arrest. his Texas home. Note: She was best known for composing the “I’ll Be There Note: Peter Snell took the 800 meters at the 1960 Rome For You”, the theme song of the popular sitcom Friends. Games and won both the 800 and 1,500 metres at the 1964 She has several other hits under her name like Earth, Wind, Tokyo Games. He also won 2 gold medals at the and Fire, which was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Commonwealth Games in 1962 in the 880 yards and one Fame in 2018. She won a Grammy in 1985 for her work on mile run in Perth. the soundtrack for “Beverly Hills Cop“ 14. Veteran film actor passed away -- Danny Aiello. 21. The brilliant storyteller of China Da Chen passed away. Note: He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role Note: In his critically acclaimed, best-selling Colours of the as pizzeria owner Sal in Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing. He Mountain, he recounted the abuses he and his family also played Madonna's father in the 1986 video for Papa suffered during the latter years of the country’s Cultural Don't Preach. Revolution. His book “Colours of the mountain was 15. The legendary Bollywood actress and a social worker published in seven languages. His most recent book, Girl passed away -- Gita Siddharth. Under a Red Moon, was published just three months ago. Note: The actress was best known for her role as Amina in 22. Renowned Hindi author Ganga Prasad Vimal passed away MS Sathy ’s 1973 classic ‘Garm Hava’. Gita made her debut in a road accident in southern Sri Lanka. in Gulzar’s 1972 film, Parichay. Sholay, Trishul, Disco Note: Mr. Vimal wrote more than one dozen poetry Dancer,are some of the major films done by Gita. collections, short story collections and novels. His last novel, 16. Veteran actor Dr Shriram Lagoo passed away at his Pune Manushkhor, was published in 2013. He received several residence. Hindi literary awards. Note: Mr. Lagoo acted in more than 100 Hindi and Marathi 23. Vishwesha Theertha Swami of Pejawar mutt passed away in films in his career and directed twenty plays in Marathi. His the coastal town of Udupi in Karnataka.

67 www.gradeup.co Note: Swamiji is the 32nd in the lineage of Pejawar Mutt Note: Inspired by Bal Thackeray and RK Laxman, he had following Vishvamanya Tirtha. He had established started his career in 1968. Since then, for over 50 years, Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha in Bangalore which has Sabnis has worked as a staff cartoonist at various completed over 63 years. The Pejavara mutt is one among newspapers, including The Times of India and the Mid-day. the 'Ashta' Mutts of Udupi. He made caricatures and political cartoons on various 24. Veteran Political cartoonist Vikas Sabnis passed away in subjects and issues. Mumbai.

November

1. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister & Bharatiya Janata Note: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be the chief Party (BJP) leader Kailash Joshi passed away. guest at the valedictory function tomorrow evening. During Note: Mr. Joshi was called as the ‘saint of politics’, served 6 sessions of the event, police officers, academicians, as the Madhya Pradesh 9th chief minister (from June 1977 researchers, judicial and scientific experts will present their to January 1978). He was MLA for eight terms and served as papers. a member of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. 7. Lokpal Chairman Justice (retired) Pinaki Chandra Ghose has 2. Tamil television and film actor Bala Singh passed away in a launched the new logo and motto for the apex anti- private hospital in Chennai. corruption ombudsman Ma Gridhah Kasyasvidhanam. Note: Bala Singh was known for playing villainous roles with Note: Earlier, an open competition was conducted, inviting much aplomb. He played notable characters in Kamal entries for the logo and the motto. A total of 2,236 entries Haasan's Indian, Ullaasam, Simmarasi, Dheena, Virumaandi, for the logo and 4,705 entries for the motto were received. Saamy, Kannathil Muthamittal, Pudhupettai and many more A logo designed by Prashant Mishra, a resident of Prayagraj films. Bala was last seen in the serial Aathira as Rajarajan in in Uttar Pradesh, was finally selected. the year 2016 8. world-renowned rock climber Brad Gobright fell to his 3. Cartoonist Sudhir Dar passed away due to cardiac arrest in death while climbing a sheer rock face in northern Mexico. Noida. Note: Witnesses said the men had finished climbing the Note: Sudhir Dar began his career with The Statesman (in 900-meter (2,300-foot) summit and were rappelling back 1961), after which he moved to the Hindustan Times. Dar’s down when the accident occurred. US national Gobright cartoons were often political in nature, often taking direct (31-years) and fellow American Aidan Jacobson (26-years) shots at the bureaucracy and the general corruption in were climbing a route known as the Shining Path in the Indian politics northern state of Nuevo Leon. 4. Former Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sushil Kumar passed 9. Japan Former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone passed away in New Delhi. away. Note: Sushil Kumar was Navy Chief from 1998-2001. He Note: Nakasone also broke an unwritten rule on limiting the authored a book named "A Prime Minister to Remember- annual defence budget to 1% of Gross National Product. In Memories of a Military Chief" which highlighted the key 1983, he became the first Japanese Premier to officially visit defence-related decisions taken by late former Prime South Korea, mending fences with a country that Japan had Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Kumar had credited brutally colonized from 1910 to 1945. Vajpayee for turning the strategic tactical loss into a 10. Former judge of the Supreme Court and former Lokayukta massive victory of Karnataka Venkatachala passed away. 5. Australian writer and broadcaster Clive James passed away Note: Venkatachala was known for bringing to light the at home in Cambridge. existence of Karnataka’s autonomous anti-corruption wing Note: Clive James moved to England in 1961 and rose to as the Lokayukta by conducting raids on public servants and prominence as a literary critic and TV columnist. He went on disclosing their names and particulars of seized assets. He to deliver wry commentary on international programming was Lokayukta from July 3, 2001, to July 2, 2006. in such shows as Clive James On Television. 11. Geetanjali Ramakrishna: Vetrean Telugu actress passed 6. Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi has away inaugurated the 47th All India Police Science Congress Note: She had an illustrious career spanning nearly six (AIPSC) in Lucknow. decades by doing movies not just in Telugu, but also in

68 www.gradeup.co other South Indian languages. Some of her popular works Umakant Gundecha. Dhrupad is a genre in Hindustani include Seetharama Kalyanam, Deivathin Deivam, classical music from the Indian subcontinent and is related Swapnangal, Parasmani, Gudachari 116 and Bobbili to the South Indian Carnatic tradition. Yuddham. 17. Sahitya Akademi awardee writer Nabaneeta Dev Sen 12. Gurudas Dasgupta: Veteran communist leader and trade passed away. unionist passed away. Note: She was also the recipient of the Padma Shri in 2000. Note: Dasgupta became a member of the Rajya Sabha in She is the founder and president of the West Bengal 1985. He was also elected to the Lok Sabha from Panskura Women Writers’ Association. and Ghatal constituencies of West Bengal in 2004 and 2009 18. Kailash Joshi: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister. respectively. Note: He was MLA for eight terms and also served as a 13. Krishnan Kumar Modi: Noted industrialist & Chairman of member of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha Modi Enterprises passed away. 19. Vashishth Narayan Singh: Famous Indian mathematician Note: Mr. Modi served as the chairman of Modi passed away. Enterprises, which includes companies like Godfrey Phillips, Note: The 77-year old had been suffering from Indofil Industries and Modicare. He was the eldest son of Schizophrenia for 40 years. Vashishth Narayan Singh was late Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi (founder of the city of famous for his extraordinary skills of calculation, challenged Modi Nagar). Einstein's theory of relativity. 14. Babasaheb Dhabekar: Senior Congress party leader & 20. Kshiti Goswami: former West Bengal Minister & The former Maharashtra minister passed away in Mumbai General Secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP). Note: Mr. Dhabekar was water resources minister when the Note: Goswami was PWD Minister in Jyoti Basu and Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government came to power for the Buddhadev Bhattacharjee’s cabinet in the Left Front first time in the 1990s. Government in the State. 15. TN Seshan: Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) 21. Veteran actor Shaukat Kaifi passed away. Note: Mr Seshan (IAS Officer: 1955 batch) was appointed Note: Kaifi’s husband was the celebrated Urdu poet and CEC on 12th December 1990 during the P V Narasimha Rao film lyricist, Kaifi Azmi. Kaifi and Shaukat were leaders of led Congress government. He is widely credited for bringing the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) and the in electoral reforms that changed the face of Indian Progressive Writers Association (IWA). elections. 22. Famous Indian mathematician Vashishth Narayan Singh 16. Ramakant Gundecha: Padma Shri-awardee Dhrupad passed away. vocalist passed away. Note: Vashishth Narayan Singh was famous for his Note: He was awarded the Padma Shri for 2012 in the field extraordinary skills of calculation, challenged Einstein's of Art – Indian Classical Music – Vocal along with his brother theory of relativity.

October

1. Ramu, Satyapriya Mohathero: The second highest Buddhist 5. Alexei Leonov: He was the legendary Soviet cosmonaut leader of Bangladesh and head of Sima Bihar of Ramu, who became the first human to walk in space 54 years ago. Satyapriya Mohathero passed away in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 6. Renowned painter Kalidas Karmakar passes away in Dhaka. 2. Diahann Carroll: American actress, singer, and model. 7. Alicia Alonso: Cuban ballet dancer considered one of the 3. Kadri Gopalnath: Legendary saxophonist and the Padma greatest 20th Century ballerinas. In 1948, she founded the Shri awardee. The Carnatic music maestro won multiple Alicia Alonso Ballet Company in Cuba’s capital. awards in his illustrious career, including the Kendra 8. Mark Hurd: Former Co-Chief executive Officer (CEO) of Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award and Karnataka Kalashree Oracle 4. Sara Danius: She was the first female head of Nobel’s 9. Writer and philosopher K.B. Siddaiah passed away. Literature Award Body. She also served as the first female Note: He was one of the founder members of Dalitha permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy between Sangharsha Samithi (DSS) during the ’80s and co- 2015 and 2018. authored many songs to inspire the movement.

69 www.gradeup.co 10. Dadu Chougule: wrestler and recipient of Major • She had bagged 150 awards, 6 national-level Dhyanchand award passed away. gold medals and Yoga Ratna award of the Note: Government of Karnataka in 2014. ➢ In 1973, Chougule had won the titles ‘Rustum- • She was also conferred the Padma Shri in e-Hind’ and ‘Mahan Bharat Kesari’ in national- January 2019 for her efforts to make people level tournaments. lead a healthy life. 11. Marieke Vervoort: Belgian Paralympic athlete has ended 14. First female UN refugee chief passed away-- Sadako Ogata her life at the age of 40 through euthanasia. 15. John Witherspoon passed away -- Actor and comedian 12. Dilip Parikh: Former Gujarat Chief Minister (13th) passed Note: away. He was an industrialist and also served as president • He was best known best known for the hit of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Friday franchise and The Wayan Brothers. 13. India’s oldest Yoga teacher Nanammal passed away at 99 16. N. Venkatachala: Former judge of the Supreme Court and years. former Lokayukta of Karnataka Note: September

1. Viju Khote - Famous Bollywood actor Viju Khote passed 12. Veeru Krishnan - Actor, Kathak Dancer away at the age of 77 on 30th September. 13. Ram Jethmalani - One of India’s finest lawyers and a former • He is known for his 'Kalia' role in the film 'Sholay'. union minister has passed away. 2. Jacques Chirac - Former President Jacques Chirac who • Mr. Jethmalani had also served as the chairman of dominated French politics for decades in roles ranging from the Bar Council of India. mayor of Paris to the second-longest serving leader of the 14. Abdul Qadir - Pakistan's master leg-spinner, passes away nation passed away on 26th September. He was 86. • Abdul Qadir played cricket for Pakistan for 16 years 3. Bhagat Ram Vats – A former senior correspondent and took 236 wickets in 67 Test matches and 132 (journalist) of the country's leading news agency 'Press wickets in 104 ODIs. Trust of India', passed away. • He was known as 'Dancing Bowler' in the cricket • He had covered the first Lok Sabha election of the world due to his interesting bowling action. country in April 1952. 15. Sukhdev Singh Libra - Veteran congress leader and former • He had also written a book called 'Foreign Intrigue MP. Against India'. • He was the member of the 14th and 15th Lok 4. Madhav Apte – Former Indian cricketer Sabha. 5. KPS Menon (junior) - Former Foreign Secretary 16. Robert Mugabe - Zimbabwe’s former President Robert 6. Boman Rashid Kohinoor – co-owner of Mumbai's iconic Mugabe passed away. eatery Britannia & Co. • He was the country’s first post-independence 7. S.K. Padmadevi - Veteran actor and multi-faceted artiste leader and also considered as Zimbabwe’s founding 8. Shyam Ramsay – Bollywood’s famous horror film producer father. 9. Sanjib Kumar Datta – Film editor 17. Kiran Nagarkar - Sahitya Akademi Award-winning writer 10. Sivaraman Cheriyanad - renowned writer of Kerala • He began his career as an educationist, a journalist 11. B.N. Yugandhar - Former bureaucrat and Secretary to the and then later as a screenplay writer in the PMO advertising industry. Note: B.N. Yugandhar was the father of Microsoft’s present • His novel “Cuckold” (1997) won him the 2001 Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella. Sahitya Akademi award.

National Appointments

LIST OF CABINET MINISTERS & CONSTITUENCY 2019

Portfolio (Department) Minister Name Constituency

70 www.gradeup.co Prime Minister and Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy; Department of Space; and All- Narendra Modi Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh important policy issues; and All other portfolios not allocated to any Minister. Ministry of Home Affairs Amit Shah Gandhinagar, Gujarat Ministry of Defence Rajnath Singh Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar - Minister of Finance; and Minister of Corporate Nirmala Sitharaman Karnataka, Rajya Sabha Affairs Minister of Road Transport and Highways; and Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Nitin Jairam Gadkari Nagpur, Maharashtra Enterprises. Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers D.V. Sadananda Gowda Bangalore North, Karnataka Minister of Health and Family Welfare; Minister of Science and Technology; and Minister of Dr. Harsh Vardhan Chandni Chowk, Delhi Earth Sciences Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Ramvilas Paswan -- Distribution Minister of Law and Justice; Minister of Communications; and Minister of Electronics Ravi Shankar Prasad Patna Sahib, Bihar and Information Technology Ministry of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Jharkhand, Rajya Sabha Minister of Parliamentary Affairs; Minister of Prahlad Joshi Dharwad, Karnataka Coal; and Minister of Mines Minister of Skill Development and Mahendra Nath Pandey Chandauli. Uttar Pradesh Entrepreneurship Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Prakash Javadekar Maharashtra, Rajya Sabha Enterprises Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal Bathinda, Punjab Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Minister of Rural Development; and Minister of Narendra Singh Tomar Morena, Madhya Pradesh Panchayati Raj. Ministry of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda Khunti, Jharkhand Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Giriraj Singh Begusarai, Bihar Fisheries Minister of Women and Child Development; Smriti Zubin Irani Amethi, Uttar Pradesh and Minister of Textiles Minister of Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ Haridwar, Uttarakhand Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot Madhya Pradesh, Rajya Sabha Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and Minister of Information and Prakash Javadekar Maharashtra, Rajya Sabha Broadcasting Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas; and Dharmendra Pradhan Madhya Pradesh, Rajya Sabha Minister of Steel

71 www.gradeup.co Minister of Railways; and Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal Maharashtra, Rajya Sabha and Industry Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Shekhawat Jodhpur, Rajasthan

New Appointments January

1. VK Yadav has been re-appointed as Railway Board navratna PSU.Harjeet Kaur will become the first lady to Chairman for a period of one year. head SCI, which is 63.75 percent owned by the government. Note: Mr. Yadav had taken over as Railway Board Chairman She will take charge of SCI at a time when the government is from Ashwani Lohani, who had retired from the post in planning to privatize the shipping company. December 2018.Earlier, Yadav had held the post of General 6. Dr. Suresh Chandra Sharma has been appointed as Manager of South Central Railway (SCR).He is an electrical Chairman of National Medical Commission. engineer and belongs to the 1980 batch of the Indian Note: He is Professor and Head of ENT – Head and Neck Railway Service of Electrical Engineers. Surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences 2. The Union government has set up a 7 members Group of (AIIMS). Regarding this, an order was issued by the Minister (GoM) to review the crop insurance scheme, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Health “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) headed by Ministry bureaucrat RK Vats, who has also been Medical Rajnath Singh (Defence Minister). Council of India (MCI) Secretary-General, has been named Note: The GoM will also make suggestions to improve the Secretary General of NMC. insurance scheme according to the needs of the farmers. 7. Dubai-based Indian girl can sing in 120 languages wins 3. Hillary Clinton has been appointed as the new chancellor of Global Child Prodigy Award -- Sucheta Satish. Queen's University Belfast in Ireland. Note: The 13-year-old Sucheta Satish, known as the Dubai Note: Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been Indian High School's nightingale, won in the singing appointed the new chancellor of Queen's University in category. The Global Child Prodigy Award is a platform to Belfast, Ireland for a five-year term.She became the celebrate children's talent and power in different categories university's first female chancellor. The position of such as dancing, music, arts, writing, acting, modelling, chancellor has been vacant since the death in 2018 of science, innovation, sports, etc. Thomas J Moran, chairman, president, and chief executive 8. Best Motion Picture (Drama) in ‘Golden Globe Awards 2020’ of Mutual of America Life Insurance Company. -- 1917. 4. Iran's supreme leader named the Deputy Head of the Note: The 77th Golden Globe Awards, which honor the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm Esmail Qaani movies and American Television were distributed on 6th Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. January 2020 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, Note: Earlier, Soleimani was killed in a pre-dawn US strike in California. Baghdad. Qaani was one of the most decorated ➢ Best film – drama: 1917 commanders of the Guards during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq ➢ Best actress in a film – drama: Renee Zellweger, war. Judy ➢ Best actor in a film – drama: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker 5. Harjeet Kaur Joshi has been appointed as the Chairperson ➢ Best film – musical or comedy: Once Upon a Time and Managing Director of Shipping Corporation of India in Hollywood (SCI). ➢ Best score – film: Joker Note: Harjeet Kaur is currently the Director Finance at SCI ➢ Best director – film: Sam Mendes, 1917 and, since September 12, has been holding the additional ➢ Best song – film: I’m Gonna Love Me Again, charge of the Chairperson and Managing Director of the Rocketman

December

72 www.gradeup.co 1. Soma Roy Burman took charge as the new Controller 8. Indian American business executive promoted as Alphabet General of Accounts (CGA). Inc. CEO (chief executive officer) -- Sundar Pichai. Note: Soma Roy Burman (1986-batch Indian Civil Accounts Note: Sundar Pichai will replace Larry Page.Earlier, Google Service officer) is the 24th CGA and the 7th woman to hold co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have announced this coveted position. She took over from J P S Chawla. CGA that they are stepping down from the leadership role of the works under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. parent company Alphabet.Alphabet and Google no longer 2. H R Khan has been appointed as the first chairman of the need two CEOs and a President and Sundar Pichai will be steering committee of the Code for Responsible Lending the CEO of both Google and Alphabet. (CRL) in micro-credit. 9. Pritivirajsing Roopun has been elected as new President of Note: The CRL is a self-regulatory step for the micro-credit Mauritius by parliament. industry making diverse entities like banks, NBFC-MFIs and Note:He was the former arts and culture minister of NBFCs adhere to standards of customer protection.CRL was Mauritius. The motion for his election as new President was launched in September by MFIN and Sa-Dhan (RBI- presented by Prime Minister, Home Affairs and External recognised association of MFIs) along with Finance Industry Communications, Minister of Defence, Minister for Development Council, an association of NBFCs. Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity. 3. Congress leader Nana Patole has been elected as the 10. Senior diplomat has been concurrently accredited as the Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Costa Rica -- Note: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kisan Kathore Upender Singh Rawat. withdrew his nomination. Maharashtra BJP legislature Note: Presently Mr Rawat is Ambassador of India to the party leader Devendra Fadnavis was named Leader of Republic of Panama. Shri Anjani Kumar (IFS:2003) has been Opposition in the state Assembly. appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic 4. Ursula von der Leyen took charge as the first female of Mali. President of the European Commission (EC). 11. Girish Chandra Chaturvedi has been appointed as the Note: Von der Leyen served in the federal government of Chairman of the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Germany (from 2005 to 2019) as the longest-serving Note: The appointment comes within weeks of him joining member of Angela Merkel's cabinet. Prime Minister the NSE board as a public interest director. Mr. Girish also Narendra Modi has congratulated Ursula von der Leyen. Ms serves as non-executive chairman of ICICI Bank. The Leyen invited Prime Minister Modi to visit Brussels for the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) (established next India-EU Summit. in 1992) is the leading stock exchange of India, located in 5. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has unanimously Mumbai. elected new President -- Masatsugu Asakawa. 12. Finland’s ruling Social Democrats elected as the prime Note: Currently, he is the Special Advisor to Japan’s Prime minister (youngest head of govt in the country’s history) -- Minister and Minister of Finance. Masatsugu Asakawa will Sanna Marin (34-years). succeed Takehiko Nakao. Mr. Asakawa will assume office as Note: Marin will become the world's youngest sitting prime ADB’s 10th President on 17th January 2020. minister.The prime minister is Finland's head of 6. India’s Sub Lieutenant has created history to become the government and is formally appointed by the president. first woman pilot of the Indian Navy -- Shivangi. 13. The News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) has elected Note: Shivangi was inducted into the Indian Navy under the President of its governing board -- Arnab Goswami. Short Service Commission Pilot entry scheme. She was Note: The NBF is the body of over 78 news channels (14 commissioned into the Navy in June 2018. languages) of India, representing broadcasters from 25 7. Shri Hari Mohan has been appointed as the Director- states.The new self-regulatory organization in order to bring General of Ordnance Factories (DGOF) and chairman of the in transparent self-regulation on content will be announced Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). by the end of January 2020. Note: He has made significant contributions in improving 14. C. Sugandh Rajaram has been appointed as the next High the production of Armoured Fighting Vehicles like Ajeya Commissioner of India to the Republic of Ghana. Tanks, MBT Arjun, Bridge Layer and Trawls Tanks. He has Note: He will replace Birender Singh Yadav. Presently, also made a significant contribution to the modernisation of Sugandh Rajaram is the Consul General, Consulate General steel plants of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) of India to Southern Germany. during his tenure in Ministry of Steel & Mines.

73 www.gradeup.co 15. Shrikant Madhav Vaidya has been appointed as the time chief. Until his appointment, Srivastava handled the chairman of the country’s largest commercial enterprise departments of HR, worldwide reinsurance, health and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL). innovation center at GIC Re. The government has also Note: Mr. Vaidya will replace Sanjiv Singh who retires as appointed Malay Kumar Poddar as Chairman and MD of Chairman of the company at the end of June next year.Mr. Agriculture Insurance Corporation of India. Vaidya is at present the director of Refineries at the 21. Atul Karwal has been appointed as the Director of Sardar IOCL.Mr. Vaidya will be first screened by anti-corruption Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in bodies CVC and CBI before his candidature is put before the HyderabadNote: Cabinet Committee on Appointments headed by Prime Note: The proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for his Minister for approval. appointment has been approved by the cabinet committee 16. Abdelmadjid Tebboune elected as the President of Algeria. of appointment Note: Mr. Tebboune succeeded Abdelkader Bensalah. He 22. Indian American computer scientist to lead the prestigious served as the Prime Minister from May 2017 to August National Science Foundation -- Sethuraman Panchanathan 2017, under the governance of President Abdelaziz Note: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is a US Bouteflika. government agency that supports fundamental research 17. Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane will be the next Chief of and education in all the non-medical fields of science and Army Staff (28th) of the Indian Army. engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Note: Lt Gen Naravane will succeed Gen Bipin Rawat, who Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr Sethuraman Panchanathan will retire on the 31st December this year. Naravane was brings to this position a wealth of experience in research, commissioned into the 7th battalion, the Sikh Light Infantry innovation, academic administration, and policy as Regiment in June 1980. During his career, he has been exemplified by his long and distinguished career. awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2019), Ati Vishisht 23. Manuel Marrero Cruz was named the first prime minister of Seva Medal (2017), Sena Medal and Vishist Seva Medal Cuba in more than 40 years. (2015) for his service and the CoAS commendation card. Note: In Cuba, the post of PM was abolished in 1976 when The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) is the professional head, Fidel Castro became president. It was reinstated under the commander, and usually the highest-ranking military officer rules of a new constitution for the communist-run island of the Indian Army. passed earlier this year. Marrero, who has served as 18. Sridhar Patra has been appointed as the chairman-cum- tourism minister for 16 years and is an architect by trade, managing director (CMD) of NALCO. helped boost Cuba's economy by making tourism one of the Note: Currently, Mr Patra is posted as Director (Finance) in 24. Harsh Vardhan Shringla has been appointed as new foreign the National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO). secretary of India. National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) is a Note: At present, he is an ambassador to the United States Navratna group ‘A’ CPSE having integrated and diversified and will become the 33rd Foreign Secretary of the country. operations in mining, metal and power under Ministry of He will replace Vijay Gokhale whose term will be completed Mines, Government of India. on January 28, 2020. 19. The Telangana government has appointed former High 25. Dr. Sangita Reddy has taken over as the President of the Court judge as Lokayukta -- Justice C V Ramulu. industry chamber FICCI for 2019-20. Note: Governor Tamilisai Sounderarajan has issued the Note: She replaced Sandip Somany, Vice-Chairman and orders to this effect. The governor also appointed another Managing Director, HSIL. The Walt Disney Company APAC former judge Justice G Chandraiah as Chairman of the State President and Star & Disney India Chairman Uday Shankar Human Rights Commission. This is the first time that the has been elevated as Senior Vice-President of the chamber. state government has constituted the Lokayukta and 26. Dr. Monisha Ghosh has been appointed as the first woman Human Rights Commission since the state was formed in Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at the US government's 2014 powerful Federal Communications Commission. 20. Devesh Srivastava has been appointed Chairman and MD of Note: She will advise Indian American Chairman of the FCC national reinsurer General Insurance Corporation of India Ajit Pai and the agency on technology and engineering (GIC Re). issues and work closely with the Office of Engineering and Note: Srivastava succeeds Alice Vaidyan, who retired in July Technology. Ghosh will take charge on 13th January 2020 2019, since then the GIC Re was functioning without a full- and replace Dr. Eric Burger.

74 www.gradeup.co 27. Boeing CEO has stepped down as the company is facing rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications tough period following two fatal crashes -- Dennis equipment, and missiles worldwide. Muilenburg. 28. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader took oath as the Note: Muilenburg will be replaced by Chairman David 11th Chief Minister of the state -- Hemant Soren. Calhoun (from 13th January 2020). Muilenburg became the Note: Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu administered CEO of the world's largest aerospace company in July 2015. the oath of office to Mr Soren at Morhabadi grounds in The company's best- selling commercial jet was grounded Ranchi. Earlier, Hemant Soren had served as the 5th Chief worldwide in March 2019 after two fatal crashes killed 346 Minister of Jharkhand (13 July 2013 – 28 December 2014). people. The Boeing Company is an American multinational In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, JMM-Congress-RJD corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, alliance has won 47 seats in the recently concluded Assembly elections and BJP - 25 seats.

November

29. New Prime minister of Sri Lanka -- Mahinda Rajapaksa. leader Devendra Fadnavis was named Leader of Opposition Note: Mr. Rajapaksa was sworn in by President Gotabaya in the state Assembly. Rajapksa (his younger brother). Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa 35. Ursula von der Leyen took charge as the first female served as two-term President from 2005 to 2015 and was President of the European Commission (EC). barred from contesting Presidential elections because of Note: Von der Leyen served in the federal government of the two-term limit. Germany (from 2005 to 2019) as the longest-serving Ms 30. Chairman of the Zee Entertainment Enterprises' board has Leyen invited Prime Minister Modi to visit Brussels for the resigned -- Subhash Chandra. next India-EU Summit. Note: Mr. Chandra will continue as a non-executive member of Angela Merkel's cabinet. director, which he founded in 1992. Subhash Chandra 36. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) new President -- resigns to comply with a rule mandating that Chairman Masatsugu Asakawa. can’t be related to MD & CEO. Zee board appoints six Note: Currently, he is the Special Advisor to Japan’s Prime independent directors; all the appointments will have to be Minister and Minister of Finance. Masatsugu Asakawa will approved by the shareholders. succeed Takehiko Nakao. Mr. Asakawa will assume office as 31. The Chief minister (18th) of Maharashtra state -- Uddhav ADB’s 10th President on 17th January 2020. Thackeray. 37. India’s first woman pilot of the Indian Navy -- Sub Note: Mr. Thackeray is the third Shiv Sena leader to hold Lieutenant Shivangi. the post after Manohar Joshi (1995–1999) and Narayan Note: Shivangi was inducted into the Indian Navy under the Rane (1 Feb- 17 Oct1999). Short Service Commission Pilot entry scheme. She was 32. Soma Roy Burman took charge as the new Controller commissioned into the Navy in June 2018. General of Accounts (CGA). 38. Director-General of Ordnance Factories (DGOF) and Note: Soma Roy Burman (1986-batch Indian Civil Accounts chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) -- Shri Hari Service officer) is the 24th CGA and the 7th woman to hold Mohan. this coveted position. CGA works under the Ministry of Note: He has made significant contributions in improving Finance, Government of India. the production of Armoured Fighting Vehicles like Ajeya 33. H R Khan has been appointed as the first chairman of the Tanks, MBT Arjun, Bridge Layer and Trawls Tanks. steering committee of the Code for Responsible Lending 39. Indian American business executive promoted as Alphabet (CRL) in micro-credit. Inc. CEO -- Sundar Pichai Note: The CRL is a self-regulatory step for the micro-credit Note: Sundar Pichai will replace Larry Page. Earlier, Google industry making diverse entities like banks, NBFC-MFIs and co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have announced NBFCs adhere to standards of customer protection. that they are stepping down from the leadership role of the 34. Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly --. Nana parent company Alphabet. Patole. 40. Pritivirajsing Roopun has been elected as new President of Note: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kisan Kathore Mauritius by parliament. withdrew his nomination. Maharashtra BJP legislature party

75 www.gradeup.co Note: He was the former arts and culture minister of Note: Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh L. Mauritius. The motion for his election as new President was Mandaviya has inaugurated the two-day BIMSTEC (Bay of presented by Prime Minister, Home Affairs and External Bengal initiative multi-sector technical and economic Communications, Minister of Defence, Minister for cooperation) Conclave at Visakhapatnam. Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity. 52. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated two-day 41. New Ambassador of India to the Republic of Costa Rica -- mega global investors meet ‘Rising Himachal 2019’ at Upender Singh Rawat. Dharamshala. Note: Presently Mr Rawat is Ambassador of India to the Note: The event has been graced by the presence of top Republic of Panama. Shri Anjani Kumar (IFS:2003) has been heads of Indian industry and business besides foreign appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic delegations and Union minister and senior government of Mali. officials. 42. The first Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh UT -- Radha 53. Re-elected President of UAE -- Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Krishna Mathur. Nahyan. 43. The first Lieutenant Governor of J&K - Girish Chandra Note: The UAE's Supreme Council of the Union has re- Murmu. elected His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as 44. Argentina’s new President: Alberto Fernandez. its President for a fourth five-year term. Note: Fernandez, a 60-year-old law professor, got 47.36 per 54. Prime Minister of Mauritius -- Pravind Jugnauth. cent votes crossing the threshold for outright victory. 55. Manmohan Singh has been nominated to the parliamentary 45. Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Hariri has resigned from standing committee on finance. the portfolio amid anti-government protests. Note: In August 2019, Manmohan Singh was elected Note: He resigned bowing to one of the central demands of unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. anti-government demonstrators shortly after baton- 56. Additional charge of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and wielding Hezbollah supporters rampaged through the main Public Enterprises --- Minister Prakash Javadekar. protest camp in Beirut. Note: President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted the 46. The Government of India has appointment of new Chief resignation of the Union Council of Ministers Arvind Ganpat Justices to the High Courts. Sawant (Shiv Sena MP). Note: 57. Suranga Bawadi in Bijapur (Karnataka) has been selected ➢ Chief Justice of the Madras High Court -- Justice as the World Monument Watch List for 2020. Amreshwar Pratap Sahi Note: Suranga Bawadi was selected under the category of ➢ Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court -- “Ancient Water System of the Deccan Plateau” along with Justice AK Mittal 24 monuments across the world. It was built in the 16th ➢ Chief Justice of the Patna High Court ---- Justice century of Adil Shahi-I in Vijayapura. Sanjay Karol. 58. The new Chairman and Managing Director of India Tourism ➢ The Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court -- Justice Development Corporation (ITDC) - G Kamala Vardhana Muhammad Raffiq. Rao. ➢ Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court -- Justice Dr Note: He has also served as the Secretary of Kerala Tourism Ravi Ranjan. in 2014-15. ➢ Chief Justice of Tripura High Court -- Justice Akil 59. The new Chairman of Unilever -- Nils Andersen. Abdulhamid Kureshi Note: Nil Andersen replaced Marijn Dekkers. Unilever is a 47. The new Ambassador to UAE -- Pavan Kapoor. British-Dutch transnational consumer goods company co- 48. chairman of the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) -- headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and Rotterdam, Aditya Mishra. Netherlands. 60. First woman Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh -- Nilam 49. Speaker of Haryana Assembly -- Gian Chand Gupta. Sawhney. 50. Governor of Mizoram - P.S Sreedharan Pillai. Note: She will replace Neerabh Kumar, who has been Note: P.S Sreedharan Pillai replaced Governor of Assam holding additional charge as the CS, following the sudden Jagdish Mukhi (additional charge- Mizoram). transfer of LV Subramanyam, a week ago. 51. The two-day ‘BIMSTEC Conclave’ held in Visakhapatnam.

76 www.gradeup.co 61. Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde sworn in as the 47th Chief Note: Currently, he is Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the Justice of India. United Arab Emirates. Note: Justice SA Bobde succeeds Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. 66. Next ambassador of India to the Republic of Mali - Anjani 62. The new President of Sri Lanka -- Gotabaya Rajapakasa. Kumar. Note: Gotabaya is the younger brother of former President 67. First Indian to be elected to the position of General Vice Mahinda Rajapksa (now Prime minister) and served as President (GVP), International Organisation Development defence secretary during the end of LTTE war. Association (IODA) -- Dr Vinaya Shetty 63. President of Gymnastics Federation of India -- Sudhir Mital. 68. MD and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IndusInd Bank -- 64. FIFA’s Chief of global football development - Arsene Suman Kathpalia Wenger. 69. ’s managing director (MD) and chief 65. Bangladesh High Commissioner to India -- Mohammad executive officer (CEO) T. Latha has resigned. Imran. October

1. Surjit Bhalla: The executive director of the International • New Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court - Monetary Fund for a period of three years. J.K. Maheshwari 2. Amrit Lugun: Ambassador of India to Greece. • New Chief Justice of Kerala High Court - S. 3. Muktesh Kumar Pardeshi: High Commissioner of India to Manikumar Niue. • New Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court - Arup K. 4. Sushil Chandra: MD & CEO of Oil India Limited. Goswami 5. J. P. S. Chawla: the new Controller General of Accounts • New Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court - Ajai (CGA). He will replace Girraj Prasad Gupta. Lamba

6. Anup Kumar Singh: Director-General of NSG. 20. Vice-Chief of Air Force - Air Marshal HS Arora. He succeeds Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria 7. Pankaj Kumar: CEO of UIDAI (Unique Identification 21. New chief of PIB - Kuldeep Singh Dhatwalia has been Authority of India) appointed as the new Director-General of the Press 8. : New BCCI President Information Bureau (PIB). He becomes the 28th DG of the

9. Rajnish Kumar (SBI chairman): new chairman of IBA. PIB. 10. Manohar Lal Khattar sworn in as CM of Haryana for a • He succeeds incumbent Sitanshu Ranjan Kar. second term. 22. New Lokpal of Punjab - Justice Vinod Kumar Sharma 11. Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde: 47th Chief Justice of India. 23. New MD & CEO of Oil India Limited – Sushil Chandra 12. G C Murmu: Lt Governors of J&K Mishra 13. R K Mathur: Lt Governors of Ladakh. 24. Surjit Bhalla Appointed as Executive Director for India at Note: Satya Pal Malik has been transferred and IMF - The government has appointed an eminent economist appointed as Governor of Goa, succeeding Mridula Surjit S Bhalla as the Executive Director for India on the Sinha board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 14. P S Sreedharan Pillai: the 15th governor of Mizoram Note: Surjit S Bhalla succeeds former RBI deputy governor succeeding Jagdish Mukhi. Subir Gokarn who died in the US on July 30 after a brief 18. New Chief of Indian Air Force (IAF) - Rakesh Kumar illness. Bhadauria. He is the 26th Chief of the Air Force. 25. President of Mumbai Cricket Association – Vijay Patil (son • He succeeds Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa. of former Governor of Bihar Dr DY Patil) 19. President Ram Nath Kovind appointed Chief Justices to 7 26. New MD & CEO of Tata Communications - Amur high courts – Lakshminarayanan 27. New MD & CEO of - SS Mallikarjuna • New Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court - Rao. He will replace Sunil Mehta. Lingappa Narayana Swamy 28. New chief of South Western Air Command - Air Marshal S K • New Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Ghotia Court - Ravi Shankar Jha 29. New administrator for PMC Bank – Jai Bhagwan Bhoria • New Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court - Indrajit 30. International Egg Commission chief – Suresh Chitturi Mohanty

77 www.gradeup.co 31. Former Indian cricketer, resigned as chairman of Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of BCCI. September

1. Four new judges appointed as judge in the Supreme Court 9. Vineet Jain, Managing Director of Bennett, Coleman and - Justice Krishna Murari, Justice S Ravindra Bhat, Justice V Company Limited (BCCL), has been elected as the Vice- Ramasubramanian and Justice Hrishikesh appointed as Chairman of PTI. judge in the Supreme Court. 10. New Chairman of Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) - • With this, the number of judges in the court has Madhukar Kamath increased to 34. 11. New chairman of the Association of Mutual Funds in India 2. Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee – Army Chief Gen. (AMFI) - Nilesh Shah Bipin Rawat 12. New Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of IDBI Bank - 3. New chairman of Audit Bureau of Circulations – Madhukar Samuel Joseph Jebaraj Kamat 13. India’s first female military diplomat – Wing Commander 4. First woman Lieutenant Colonel from Arunachal Pradesh – Anjali Singh Army officer Ponung Doming became the first woman Note: officer from Arunachal Pradesh state to be elevated to the • She has joined the Indian Embassy in Russia as rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army. India’s first female military diplomat to be posted 5. Visa appoints PV Sindhu as brand ambassador - Payment in any of the Indian missions abroad. technology company Visa announced that it has signed up • She has joined her new assignment as the Deputy world champion Pusarla Venkata Sindhu (PV Air Attache. Sindhu) as its brand ambassador. 14. First Lokayukta of Andhra Pradesh - Justice P Lakshmana 6. Election Commission appoints Madhuri Dixit as goodwill Reddy ambassador for Maharashtra Assembly polls. 15. First chancellor of Rai Sports University – The Haryana 7. Telangana Governor Tamilisai becomes the youngest Government has appointed cricket legend Kapil Dev as the governor - Tamilisai Soundararajan who was sworn in as the first Chancellor of Sports University, Rai (Sonepat). first woman governor of Telangana became the youngest 16. Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court – Justice Vikram Nath state governor at the age of 58 among all the current 17. New Principal Secretary to PM Modi - Pramod Kumar governors. Mishra • She is the only governor who is under 60 years of 18. New Principal Advisor to PM Modi - Pradeep Kumar Sinha age. 19. New Press Secretary to President Ram Nath Kovind - Ajay • The second youngest governor is Acharya Devvrat, Kumar Singh 60, who is serving as the governor of Gujarat since 20. New MD of Microsoft India (R&D) - Rajiv Kumar July this year. 21. First Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax of NeAC - • She replaces E.S.L. Narasimhan. Krishna Mohan Prasad 8. Vijay Kumar Chopra elected PTI Chairman - Chief Editor of Note: Central Board of Direct Tax (CBDT) has newly set up the Punjab Kesari Group of newspapers Vijay Kumar Chopra National e-Assessment Centre (NeAC) in Delhi. has been elected as the Chairman of Press Trust of India 22. New Director General (DG) of BSF - Vivek Kumar Johri (PTI). 23. Vice Chief of Army Staff - Lt. Gen. Mukund Naravane • Vijay Kumar Chopra succeeds N Ravi, Publisher and 24. New Chairman of Association of World Election Bodies former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu. (AWEB) - Sunil Arora

International Appointment

1. Next High Commissioner of India to Niue – Muktesh Kumar 3. Christine Lagarde: Head of European Central Bank. Pardeshi 4. Rafael Mariano Grossi: New Director-General of the Note: Capital of Niue: Alofi; Currency: Niue dollar, New International Atomic Energy Agency. Zealand dollar. 5. New President of Tunisia: Kais Saied. 2. Next Ambassador of India to Greece - Amrit Lugun

78 www.gradeup.co Note: The Independent law professor Kais Saied won announced his resignation. He became the president of ADB against his rival, Nabil Karoui. He won Tunisia’s presidential on April 28, 2013. election with 73% of votes. The elections followed the Note: Headquarters of ADB: Manila, Philippines; death of President Beji Caid Essebsi in July 2019. Founded:19 December 1966. 6. Prime Minister of Portugal: Antonio Costa. 11. Head of Hodeidah mission – Lieutenant General (Retired) 7. Bulgaria's economist Kristalina Georgieva (66-year-old) has Abhijit Guha as the head of the UN mission in Hodeidah, been elected the new head of the International Monetary Yemen Fund (IMF). 12. First female Chief of - Alison Rose. 8. Next Indian Ambassador to Guinea Bissau - Godavarthi She will replace Ross McEwan on November 1. Venkata Srinivas 13. Next Indian Ambassador to Norway - B Bala Bhaskar Note: Capital of Guinea Bissau: Bissau, Currency of Guinea 14. Next High Commissioner of India to Lesotho - Jaideep Bissau: West African CFA franc. Sarkar 9. National Security Adviser of US – Robert O’Brien 15. Youngest-ever Prime Minister of Ukraine - Oleksiy 10. ADB president Takehiko Nakao resigns - Asian Honcharuk Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao has 16. President Donald Trump has nominated Indian American Shireen Mathews as a judge of the US District Court for the Southern District of California.

• Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships. Honours & Awards

1. Results of Swachh Survekshan League 2020: Note: Sanjay Gupta (editor-in-chief of 'Jagran') will be Note: honoured with the 'Lokmanya Tilak National Journalism ➢ Around 4,372 cities participated in the league. It is Award' for his contribution to the field of journalism. The a cleanliness survey that helps in competitive award, instituted by the Kesari-Maratha Trust, will be federalism. conferred on Gupta in Pune on 139th Foundation Day of ➢ Among 10 Lakh plus population category, Indore 'Kesari', the newspaper started by Lokmanya Tilak. The secured first place in both the quarters. award is given to recognize the work of an individual, which ➢ Madhya Pradesh Capital Bhopal got the second and he or she has carried out for the larger good of the Surat in Gujarat third spot in first Quarter. journalistic field. ➢ Rajkot in Gujarat was at the 2nd spot while Navi 4. Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) & SUM Hospital has Mumbai at third. been adjudged the best medical college of the year and ➢ In one Lakh to 10 Lakh population category, conferred with the Six Sigma Healthcare Excellence Award Jamshedpur in Jharkhand got the 1st spot in both for 2019. quarters. Note: Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate ➢ New Delhi Municipal Council and Khargone in Affairs Anurag Thakur presented the award at a special Madhya Pradesh got the second and third spots in function held at New Delhi. SOA University also won a the first quarter in this category. separate award on the occasion as its founder president ➢ Chandrapur in Maharashtra and Khargone got the Manojranjan Nayak was chosen as the dynamic second and third spots in Quarter 2 in one to ten entrepreneur of the year. lakh population categories. 5. Five-day-long festival of ‘Lai Haraoba’ has begun in 2. Who has won Guinea-Bissau presidential election -- Umaro Agartala, Tripura. Cissoko Embalo. Note: It is a ritualistic festival observed by Manipuri Meitei Note: In the Guinea-Bissau Umaro Cissoko Embalo has won communities since ancient times. The five-day-long festival the presidential election with 53.55 percent of votes.This is jointly organized by the Department of Information and was announced by the National Electoral Commission (CNE) Cultural Affairs, Government of Tripura, Puthiba Lai of Guinea-Bissau.He was the opposition leader also served Haraoba Committee and Puthiba Welfare & Cultural as prime minister of the country. Society, Agartala. Lai Haraoba is celebrated through oral 3. Sanjay Gupta has been honoured with Lokmanya Tilak literature, music, dance, and rituals. journalism award.

79 www.gradeup.co 6. Ministry of Science and Technology has awarded Swarna Jayanti Fellowships to 14 scientists to pursue basic research A research grant of five lakh rupees for five years is also being in frontier areas of science and technology. provided in addition to their salary. Instituted to commemorate Note: The fellowship covers all the requirements for India's 50th year of independence, Swaran Jayanti Fellowships performing the research and includes a fellowship of 25 are awarded to young and brilliant scientists to pursue thousand rupees per month. unfettered research with financial freedom and flexibility.

December

1. Former Finance Minister of India Arun Jaitley was stations and assessing their performance based on bestowed with the Economic Times (ET) Lifetime feedback. Achievement Award for Public Service 2019. 6. Ripu Daman Bevli will be the Plogging Ambassador of India Note: The award was received by Arun Jaitley’s spouse on 50th Fit India Plogging Run. Sangeeta Jaitley. Note: The minister also launched the nation-wide Plogging 2. Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has been awarded the Ambassador Mission under which, Indians who have been Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award from UNICEF at the running and cleaning their cities, towns or districts, will be Snowflake Ball in New York. nominated as Plogging Ambassadors of their region. Fit Note: Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg (UNICEF's India Plogging Run was launched on October 2 which is a first Goodwill Ambassador) handed over the award to the unique way of picking up garbage while jogging and was actor. Priyanka Chopra has been associated with UNICEF added to the Fit India Movement as a unique way of for the past 15 years as a Goodwill Ambassador. combining cleanliness and fitness. 3. Bollywood actor fitness and wellness application has been 7. Zozibini Tunzi has been crowned Miss Universe 2019 in a awarded Google Play’s Best Apps of 2019 in the ‘Personal glitzy ceremony held in Atlanta. Growth’ category -- Shilpa Shetty App. Note: Madison Anderson (Miss Universe Puerto Rico) was Note: Google has announced the winners of Google Play's the runner-up in this contest. Sofía Aragón (Miss Universe Best of 2019 awards selecting the best across apps, games, Mexico) is the second runner up. Miss Universe is an ebooks, movies, and audiobooks of the year. annual international beauty pageant that is run by the ➢ Best App of 2019 - Ablo Miss Universe Organization ➢ Best Game of 2019 - Call of Duty: Mobile 8. Dr Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari has been selected for the ➢ Google Play User's Choice 2019 Awards Moortidevi Award for the year 2019 for his work 'Asti Aur ➢ App: Video Editor - Glitch Video Effects Bhavati'. ➢ Game: Call of Duty: Mobile Note: ‘ASTI AUR BHAVTI’ is an autobiographical journey of ➢ Movie: Marvel Studios' Avengers Endgame Dr Tiwari which captures the historical, philosophical and ➢ Ebook: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark cultural aspects at different temporal settings thus igniting 4. legend Roger Federer set to become the first living life in subjects like changing values and changes in societal person in Switzerland to have a coin minted in his honour. and cultural landscapes. Dr. Tiwari has published over Note: Swiss mint has announced that it would honour eight poetry collections, three travelogues, one diary and Roger Federer by releasing 20 Swiss francs (USD 20.06) several critical essays. The award consists of a Saraswati silver commemorative coin in January 2020. This would be Statue, a Citation Plaque and Cash Award of Rupees Four for the first time in its history of Swiss mint that it is lacs. dedicating a Swiss commemorative coin to a living person. 9. Gulu Mirchandani has been conferred with “Lifetime This year's commemorative Swiss coins included the 50th Achievement Award” by the Consumer Electronics and anniversary of the moon landings, the Furka Pass and the Appliances Manufacturers Association. roe deer. Note: He has been awarded for his extensive contribution 5. Andaman and Nicobar Islands police station ranks first in to the consumer electronics industry. Consumer the best police station in Country -- Aberdeen Police Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association station. (CEAMA) is an all-India organisation in the consumer Note: Balasinor police station in Gujarat secured the electronics and durables sector. second rank while and Ajk Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh 10. Swedish climate crisis activist Greta Thunberg has been got the 3rd position. The ranking of police stations came named Time Magazine's youngest ever Person of the Year. after Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the Note: Greta Thunberg is known for her blunt addresses to DGPs conference in 2015 in Kutch of Gujarat, had directed world leaders.She is the youngest individual ever named that parameters should be laid down for grading police Time Person of the Year. Earlier this year, Thunberg had

80 www.gradeup.co been nominated for a Nobel peace prize 2019, recognized intelligence)- based tool to measure and monitor farm for her mobilization of students in her "Fridays for Future" fires and stubble burning across India. weekly school strikes. 17. Nirmala Sitharaman has been ranked 34th by Forbes in 11. Climate activist has won the Time Person of the Year 2019 ‘The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women’. -- Greta Thunberg. Note: Roshni Nadar Malhotra (HCL Corporation CEO and Note: Swedish climate crisis activist Greta Thunberg has Executive Director) and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (Biocon been named Time Magazine's youngest ever Person of the Founder) are two other Indians who also featured in the Year. Greta Thunberg is known for her blunt addresses to top 100 list. world leaders. She is the youngest individual ever named 18. Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma has been named as the Time Person of the Year. Times Person of the Year (called Brand Ambassador of La Liga in India. Man of the Year or Woman of the Year until 1999) is an Note: With this, star cricketer Rohit Sharma has become annual issue of the United States news magazine Time. the first non-footballer in the world to be named one of La 12. Odisha won award of Jaga Mission (Odisha Livable Habitat Liga’s global ambassadors. La Liga is the top professional Mission (OLHM) executed for the benefit of millions of football division of the Spanish football league system. A urban-poor people living in slums -- World Habitat Award brand ambassador is a person who is hired by an Note: The Jaga is a society under Housing and Urban organization or company to represent a brand in a positive Development Department (HUDD), Government of Odisha. light and by doing so help to increase brand awareness and The OLHM-JAGA aims at transforming the slums into sales. livable habitats and under which 52,682 urban poor 19. Tony-Ann Singh has won the coveted Miss World 2019 families living in the slums have been granted land rights (69th edition) crown in United Kingdom (UK). certificate. Note: Toni-Ann Singh is a women’s studies and psychology 13. has been appointed as its new brand student at US’ Florida State University. It's the first time in ambassador of PUMA for three years. history that black women hold the titles for Miss USA, Miss Note: With this deal, Chhetri has joined the brand’s roster Teen USA, Miss America, Miss Universe and Miss World. of global players like Antoine Griezmann, Romelu Lukaku, 20. Deepika Padukone has won the Crystal award for Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero among others. Sunil Chhetri spreading mental health awareness. is the captain of the Indian national football team and Note: Deepika Padukone has won the 26th Annual Crystal Bengaluru Football Club. Sunil Chhetri was also conferred Award for spreading awareness about the importance of with the Arjuna award in 2011 and Padma Shri in 2019. mental health. She is the only Indian actress to appear in 14. Salman Khan has been appointed as brand ambassador for the list of winners of Davos 2020. Deepika will receive the its flagship Pepsi brand in India. award in January 2020 at the annual meeting of the World Note: The commercial will be launched in 2020 and will Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. take up the “SWAG” themed campaign which was 21. B P Raju has been awarded the ‘India Cyber Cop of the launched in the summer of 2019. Previously Salman Khan Year 2019. was the brand ambassador of Pepsico’s rival company Note: He won the award for investigating and cracking a Coca-Cola’s popular ThumsUp and also as the brand fraud case in an online entrance exam conducted by an ambassador of Parle Agro-backed soft drink Appy Fizz. engineering college in Rajasthan. Raju arrested nine Previously, He also endorsed PepsiCo’s Mountain Dew accused persons and collected incriminating evidence from drink. digital devices, which revealed the modus operandi 15. Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty has been appointed as the adopted by the accuse. The award was conferred by Brand Ambassador of National Anti-Doping Agency NASSCOM-DSCI (Data Security Council of India). (NADA). 22. Aalst Carnival of Belgium has been removed from Note: The appointment took place in the presence of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of humanity. Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State (MoS) for Youth Affairs and Note: Heritage list, after the annual festival, depicted Sports.The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is the afloat with caricatures of Orthodox Jews with hooked national organisation responsible for promoting, noses and sitting atop bags of money. The body has coordinating, and monitoring the doping control program termed the parade as racist and antisemitic in sports in all its forms in India. representations and mockery towards some communities. 16. An application developed by Blue Sky Analytics won the 23. Amitabha Bagchi has won the 2019 DSC Prize. Copernicus Masters award, under the social Note: The DSC Prize, instituted in 2010, awards fiction entrepreneurship category -- Zuri app. from the South Asian region, which includes Afghanistan, Note: The award has been given by the Earth observation Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, program managed by the European Commission in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as well as from the diaspora. partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). The 24. Sahitya Akademi has announced its annual Sahitya startup is working in utilizing satellite data to solve Akademi Awards 2019 in 23 languages. environmental problems and using its AI (artificial

81 www.gradeup.co Note: Seven books of poetry, four of novel, six of short 27. Major Anoop Mishra has received the Army Design Bureau stories, three of essays and one each of non-fiction, (ADB) Excellence Award by Army Chief General Bipin autobiography and biography have won the Sahitya Rawat for Developing bulletproof jacket -- Sarvatra. Akademi Awards 2019. Note: Bulletproof jacket ‘Sarvatra’ that can effectively ➢ Seven books of poetry were awarded to Dr. provide protection to troops from lethal sniper rifle Phukan Ch. Basumatary (Bodo), Dr. Nand Kishore bullets. The ADB was set up to work together with industry Acharya (Hindi), Sri Nilba A. Khandekar (Konkani), and academia and develop indigenous solutions for the Sri Kumar Manish Arvind (Maithili), Sri V. Indian Army. Currently, Maj. Anoop posted as Instructor at Madhusoodanan Nair (Malayalam), Smt. College of Military Engineering, Pune. Anuradha Patil (Marathi) and Prof. Penna 28. Aayushi Dholakia has won the 2019 Miss Teen Madhusudan(Sanskrit). International. ➢ Four novels were awarded to Dr. JoysreeGoswami Note: She was crowned by the previous year winner Mahanta (Assamese), Sri L. Birmangol Singh (Beryl Odalys Duarte of Mexico. With this, she became the first Thanga) (Manipuri), Sri Cho. Dharman (Tamil) and Indian as well as Asian to win the title in the 27 years Sri Bandi Narayana Swamy (Telugu). history of the beauty pageant. Yessenia Garcia (Paraguay) ➢ Six books of short stories were awarded to Sri came as the First Runners-Up and Anicia Gaothusi from Abdul Ahad Hajini (Kashmiri), Sri Tarun Kanti Botswana came as the Second Runners-Up. Mishra(Odia), Sri Kirpal Kazak (Punjabi), Sri Ram 29. Former India captain has been named as the recipient of sawroop Kisan (Rajasthani), Sri Kali Charan the prestigious CK Nayudu Lifetime Award for the year Hembram(Santali) and Sri Ishwar Moorjani 2019 -- Krishnamachari Srikkanth (Sindhi). Note: The 60-year-old Srikkanth played 43 Tests, scoring 25. Portugal will launch a Gandhi Citizenship Education Prize. 2062 runs with two hundred and 12 half-centuries. Note: Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Costa has 30. Former India women’s captain Anjum Chopra is the co- announced that in order to help perpetuate Mahatma recipient of the lifetime achievement award for the year Gandhi’s ideals. The first edition of this prize will be 2019. dedicated to animal welfare as Mahatma Gandhi said that Note: They will receive the award during the BCCI Annual the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its Award function in Mumbai on 12th January 2020. animals are treated. 31. Malala Yousafzai has been named as “the most famous 26. Former Miss World has been voted the Sexiest Vegetarian teenager in the world” by the United Nations (UN) in its Personality by American animal rights organization PETA -- ‘decade in review’ report. Manushi Chhillar. Note: Malala Yousafzai is the Pakistani activist for female Note: Manushi is a strong advocate for vegetarianism and education and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize (2014) has expressed her views on the subject even on global laureate. The report covers a decade of major events platforms. Manushi has been roped in for Yash Raj Films' happened between 2010 and the end of 2013, celebrities biggest historical drama 'Prithviraj' where she will be seen and agreements that have become most famous. in the lead role opposite Akshay Kumar.

November

32. The 28th Vyas Samman for the year 2018 was conferred to Isabelle Huppert. The Icon of Golden Jubilee Award is a Hindi writer Leeladhar Jagoori. special award constituted by the Government of India in the Note: The prestigious award was presented to him by year 2019. renowned author Govind Mishra. Mr Jagoori has been 35. Noted writer Anand has been selected for the 27th chosen for the prestigious award for his poetry collection- Ezhuthachan Puraskaram. Jitne Log Utne Prem. Note: This award is given by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi 33. Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been honored with the Award and the Government of Kerala. His one of the prestigious Golden Dragon Award. famous Novel is Aalkoottam which portrays the unique Note: The Gangs of Wasseypur actor was presented the crises that the nation had witnessed with a rare finesse. His award by counsel general of Wales, UK, Mick Antoniw, at an Govardhante Yatrakal had won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi event in Cardiff. The actor has made a mark internationally award, Veedum Thadavum and Jaina Manushyan Kerala with Netflix’s Sacred Games, Ritesh Batra’s Photograph and Sahitya Akademi award and Marubhoomikal Undakunnath, BBC UK’s McMafia. Vayalar award. 34. Indian Film star Rajinikanth will be honoured with first 36. Neeraj Sharma: winner of the ‘Early Career Researcher of “Icon of Golden Jubilee Award” at IFFI. the Year Award-2019’ (Physical Sciences). Note: The IFFI will also confer with the Lifetime Achievement Award for a Foreign Artiste to French Actress

82 www.gradeup.co Note: The Award has been given by the Australian was honoured by the Golden Dragon Award at the Cardiff government for his work in lithium-ion batteries found in International Film Festival for his excellence in cinema in electronic devices, electric vehicles and the grid. the International market. 37. Sudarsan Pattnaik has been chosen for the Italian Golden 45. Wildlife biologist K. Ullas Karanth was awarded the Wildlife Sand Art Award 2019. Conservation Society’s George Schaller Lifetime Award in Note: He will be felicitated during the International Wildlife Conservation Science. Scorrana Sand Nativity fete in Italy which will be held Note: K. Ullas Karanth has been awarded for his between 13th and 18th November 2019. contribution to the field of conservation. His research is 38. U.S. based-Indian author Madhuri Vijay’s debut novel, “The described as pioneering and groundbreaking with focus on Far Field” has won 2019 JCB prize for Literature. the ecology of tigers, predator-prey population ecology, Note: She also received the Rs 25 lakh as the prize money, a sympatric predators and other large mammals, and sculpture by Delhi artist duo Thukral & Tagra entitled Mirror mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts.The award is Melting. instituted by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), New 39. Shripad Naik inaugurated the DRDO Igniter Complex at York. High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in 46. Writer, translator and film critic Shanta Gokhale has been Pune. conferred with Tata Literature Live Lifetime Achievement Note: HEMRL (a premier laboratory of DRDO) is primarily Award 2019. engaged in developing rocket and gun propellants, Note: Poet K Satchidanandan was named the Tata pyrotechnic devices, high-explosive systems and synthesis Literature Live! Poet Laureate for 2019. Recently, Gokhale of high-energy molecules. published her memoir One Foot on the Ground: A Life Told 40. Sara Damnjanovic has been crowned ‘Miss Asia Global Through the Body. 2019’ (5th Edition) at Gokulam Convention centre in Kochi, 47. Dr Debabhuson Borah: winner of Munin Barkotoki Literary Kerala. Award 2018 in Assam. Note: Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Yen Trang was crowned 'Miss Note: He has been awarded for his book on literary Asia', while Samiksha Singh (India) won the sub-title of 'Miss criticism titled 'Nirbochon'. The award carries a cash prize of Beautiful Face'. Miss Asia Global aims to find the most Rs 50,000 along with with a citation and a plaque. The beautiful and talented women from all over the globe. Munin Barkotoki Memorial Trust announced the annual 41. West Bengal based writer Abhisek Sarkar has won an award Award instituted to encourage young and promising writers at Dhaka Lit-fest. in Assamese. Note: West Bengal-based writer Abhisek Sarkar and 48. An Indian Ph.D. Scholar has won BRICS-Young Innovator Bangladeshi poet Rofiquzzaman Rony were given the Prize -- Ravi Prakash. Gemcon Young Literature Award and Gemcon Young Poetry Note: India won 1st prize of #BRICS -Young scientist forum's Award. Abhisek and Rofiquzzaman won the awards for their (YSF) conclave during 6-8 Nov 2019 in Brazil. The theme for manus, "Nishiddho" and "Dhoashar Tamate Rong," the 4th BRICS-YSF was “Cybersecurity and Bio-economy”. respectively. 49. Tobacco Board got ‘Golden Leaf Award’ Tab Expo 2019 in 42. The Raja Ram Mohan Roy award will be presented to the Netherlands. Rajasthan Patrika group chairman Gulab Kothari. Note: The Tobacco Board of India was awarded the ‘Golden Note: Mr Kothari was selected for the prestigious award by Leaf award 2019’ at the Tab Expo 2019 in Amsterdam, the Press Council of India for his outstanding contribution in Netherlands. the field of journalism. 50. Manoj Bajpayee starrer won two awards at Asian Film 43. TVS Motor Chairman Srinivasan conferred with Deming Festival Barcelona -- Bhonsle. award. Note: Manoj Bajpayee-starrer and critically acclaimed Note: Venu Srinivasan (Chairman of TVS Motor Company movie "Bhonsle" has won the ‘Best Screenplay’ and ‘Best and Sundaram Clayton) was conferred with the prestigious Director’ awards at the ‘Asian Film Festival’ in Barcelona, Deming Distinguished Service Award For Dissemination and Spain. Promotion Overseas. Srinivasan becomes the first 51. Renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent from Bangladesh industrialist from India to be bestowed this prestigious Rezwana Choudhury Bannya has conferred the ICCR award for his contributions in the field of total quality distinguished alumni award in Dhaka. management (TQM). Note: The award was given away by the Riva Ganguly Das 44. Nawazuddin Siddiqui will be honoured with Lesley Ho (High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh) in a musical Asian Film Talent Award at the Singapore International Film function organized by the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre Festival (SIFF). (IGCC). Note: He will be awarded for his Netflix's Emmy-nominated original series Sacred Games. Earlier, Nawazuddin Siddiqui

83 www.gradeup.co 52. Late actor Sridevi Sridevi & actor Rekha conferred with the 54. Sir David Attenborough.: 2019 Indira Gandhi Peace Prize. Akkineni Nageswara Rao National Award for 2018 and 2019 Note: He will receive the award for his tireless work to respectively. preserve and protect biodiversity. This prestigious award Note: The award was presented by Chiranjeevi (Telugu (named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi) has actor). The award is instituted by the Akkineni International been accorded annually by Indira Gandhi Trust since 1986. Foundation and honours those who have made a lasting 55. : Named People for the Ethical Treatment of impact on Indian cinema. Animals (PETA) India’s Person of the Year for 2019 for his 53. has been conferred the Indian Personality of animal advocacy efforts. the Year Award (Sports) at the Indo Arab Leaders Summit & Note: Virat Kohli’s efforts to improve conditions for animals Awards 2019. include sending a letter to officials asking for the release of Note:World powerlifting champion Mahant Gaurav Sharma an elephant used for rides at Amer Fort. People for the was honoured with Visionary Leaders of the Year (Sports) Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an American animal award.Gaurav was conferred with the prestigious Mahatma rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia. Gandhi Leadership Award in London.

October Complete list of the winners of Nobel Prize 2019:

S.No. Field Winners Description

William G. Kaelin (USA)

Physiology or Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe for their discoveries of how cells sense 1 Medicine (United Kingdom) and adapt to oxygen availability

Gregg L. Semenza (USA)

James Peebles for theoretical discoveries in physical (Canada) cosmology

Michel Mayor 2 Physics (Switzerland) for the discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star Didier Queloz (Switzerland)

John B. Goodenough (Germany) for the development of lithium-ion 3 Chemistry batteries M. Stanley Whittingham (United Kingdom)

84 www.gradeup.co Akira Yoshino (Japan)

for a narrative imagination that with Olga Tokarczuk Literature (2018) encyclopedic passion represents the (Poland) crossing of boundaries as a form of life

4 for an influential work that with Peter Handke linguistic ingenuity has explored the Literature (2019) (Austria) periphery and the specificity of human experience

Abiy Ahmed Ali for his efforts to achieve peace and 5 Peace (Ethiopia) international cooperation

Abhijit Banerjee (India)

Esther Duflo for their experimental approach to 6 Economics (France) alleviating global poverty

Michael Kremer (USA)

1. Swachhata ambassador award – President Ram Nath Kovind presented the most effective Swachchta Ambassador award to Former Indian cricketer on 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. 2. AzizbekAshurov wins 2019 – Human rights lawyer from Kyrgyzstan Azizbek Ashurov was awarded the 2019 UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) prestigious Nansen Award. 3. National Tourism Award – Odisha’s Tapan Kumar Mishra has been honoured with the National Tourism Award for the Category of “Best Tourist Guide” for the year 2017-18 during celebration of the World Tourism Day. • He is a freelance Tourist Guide approved by the Union Ministry of Tourism. 4. Golden Dragon Award for his works in Hindi cinema - Nawazuddin Siddiqui. 5. The Mohun Bagan Athletic Club has conferred life membership to Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee. 6. The Sakharov Prize to Uighur intellectual -- Ilham Tohti. 7. The Asian Academy Creative Awards – ‘Gully Boy’ & ‘Delhi Crime’. 8. People’s Icon Award 2019: Jennifer Aniston. 9. “Most Eminent Senior Citizen Award”: K Parasaran (former Attorney General of India). 10. Orchestra of the year award 2019: Philharmonic Orchestra 11. 2019 Booker Prize: Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo. 12. Golden Shoe as top scorer in European Leagues: Leo Messi Note: Messi won the trophy for a 3rd straight year after scoring 36 goals, 3 more than his closest challenger, Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain. 13. Madhya Pradesh government’s National Kishore Kumar Samman for 2018-19 – Priyadarshan. 14. The 31st Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the years 2017 and 2018: Chandi Prasad Bhatt. 15. Asia Environmental Enforcement Award by the United Nations Environment Programme -- Ramesh Pandey. 16. The Don’ Award -- Ashleigh Barty. 17. Russia’s highest honours, “The Order of Courage“-- Nick Hague (NASA astronaut).

85 www.gradeup.co 18. People’s Choice Award at My Rode Reel film competition -- Spirit Of Kerala.

September

1. Pandit Jasraj becomes first Indian musician to have minor • The award will be presented to Infosys at the UN planet named after him – The IAU – International Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Santiago, Astronomical Union has named a minor planet between Chile (December 2019). Mars and Jupiter after an Indian classical singer Pandit Jasraj. 8. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes 2019 – Kolkata-based • The number given to Pandit Jasraj planet was mathematician Neena Gupta has bagged the Shanti Swarup 300128 which is a reverse order of his date of birth Bhatnagar award, the most prestigious award of the 28/01/30. country for maths, this year. • He is the first Indian musician to receive this honor. • She has also been recognised as the youngest ever • The planet was discovered on November 11, 2006. to win it. She is yet to be 35. • President of India Ram Nath Kovind, presented About IAU Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes 2019, for • International Astronomical Union was founded in 1919. outstanding contributions in science and • The objective of the organization was to promote and technology at a function held at Vigyan Bhawan in safeguard astronomical science in every aspect. New Delhi. • The headquarters of IAU is located in Paris, France. • The awards were presented on the occasion of the 2. India’s Most Powerful Women in Media” – Kallie Puri has 78th Foundation Day of Council of Scientific and been awarded with “India’s Most Powerful Women in Industrial Research (CSIR). Media” award at the famed Confluence Excellence Awards. List of winners – • She received the prestigious award at the British • For Biological Sciences: Dr. Kayarat Sai Krishnan (Indian Parliament. She is the Vice-Chairperson of the India Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune); Dr. Today Group. Soumen Basak (National Institute of Immunology, New 3. MP Birla Memorial Award –Thanu Padmanabhan (62-year- Delhi) old) a well-known Physicist and Cosmologist was conferred • For Chemical Sciences: · Dr. Raghavan B Sunoj (IIT, the prestigious M P Birla Memorial Award 2019 for his Bombay); Dr. Tapas Kumar Maji (Jawaharlal Nehru contributions to the world of cosmology. Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru) 4. Punyabhushan Award – Eminent archaeologist Dr. G.B. • For Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences: Deglurkar has been awarded with the prestigious Dr. Subimal Ghosh (IIT, Bombay) Punyabhushan Award. • For Engineering Sciences: Manik Varma (Microsoft • The award was presented him for his long-standing Research India, Bengaluru) contribution to the field of Indian Archaeology • For Mathematical Sciences: Dr. Dishant Mayur Bhai through renowned Deccan College Post graduate & Pancholi (Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai), Research Institute. Dr. Neena Gupta (Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata) 5. Real Kashmir FC nominated for BAFTA Awards – A • For Medical Sciences: Dr. Dheeraj Kumar (International documentary on Srinagar-based football club Real Kashmir Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New FC has nominated in the prestigious British Academy Film Delhi), Dr. Mohammad Javed Ali (LV Prasad Eye and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards. Institute, Hyderabad) 6. Cochin International Airport wins award for passenger • For Physical Sciences: Dr. Aninda Sinha (IISc, satisfaction – Airport Council International has recognised Bengaluru), Dr. Shankar Ghosh (TIFR, Mumbai) Cochin International Airport Limited as the best airport in 9. 21st Century Icon Awards – Playback singer Sonu Nigam terms of services offered to passengers. has been honoured with the Magnificent Performing Arts 7. Infosys Bags UN Global Climate Action Award – IT major Award at the annual 21st Century Icon Awards in London. Infosys has received the United Nations Global Climate 10. Vaccine Hero’ award – Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Action Award in the ‘Climate Neutral Now’ category. Hasina has been conferred with prestigious ‘Vaccine Hero’ award of Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisations

86 www.gradeup.co (GAVI) in recognition of Bangladesh’s outstanding success in • 'Moti Bagh' is directed by Nirmal Chander vaccination to immunise children. Dandriyal. 11. Right Livelihood Award 2019 – Swedish climate activist 16. 2017-18 National Tourism Awards – National Tourism Greta Thunberg has been named for Right Livelihood Award Awards for 2017-18 were presented by Vice President M. 2019. Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi on 27 September 2019 on • Right Livelihood Award also known as ‘Alternative occasion of World Tourism Day. Nobel Prize’. • Andhra Pradesh state won the first prize for Best List of winners – State for Comprehensive Development of Tourism. • Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg– for • Goa and Madhya Pradesh: Both states were inspiring and amplifying political demands for announced as joint winners in Adventure Tourism urgent climate action reflecting scientific facts category. • Sahrawi human rights activist Aminatou Haidar- for • Uttarakhand state won the best film promotion her steadfast nonviolent action, despite friendly state. imprisonment and torture, in pursuit of justice and • Telangana won the best state in innovative use of self-determination for people of Western Sahara IT category. • Chinese women’s rights lawyer Guo Jianmei– for 17. SASTRA Ramanujan prize for 2019 – The SASTRA her pioneering and persistent work in securing Ramanujan prize for 2019 will be awarded to Adam Harper. women’s rights in China. • Mathematician Adam Harper is an Assistant • Hutukara Yanomami Association (Brazil) and its Professor with the University of Warwick, England. indigenous leader Davi Kopenawa– for their • The award was instituted in 2005 and awarded by courageous determination to protect the forests SASTRA University on its campus near and biodiversity of Amazon, and the lands and Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. culture of its indigenous peoples 18. Senior journalist and Ramon Magsaysay awardee, Ravish 12. Changemaker Award 2019 – Rajasthan’s Payal Jangid, aged Kumar has received the 1st Gauri Lankesh National Award 17, became the first Indian to receive the Changemaker for Journalism. Award 2019 at the Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards 2019. 19. Gully Boy’ India’s official entry to Oscars 2020 – The Film • The Award was presented by the Bill and Melinda Federation of India (FFI) has chosen ‘Gully Boy’ as India’s Gates Foundation at a ceremony held in New York, official entry to the Oscars. “Gully Boy”, produced by Ritesh United States. Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar and directed by Zoya Akhtar. • She was awarded for her work towards the • Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt was in a lead role in abolition of child marriage in her village and other film Gully Boy. neighbouring areas. 20. IIFA Awards 2019 – 13. Global Goalkeeper Award – Prime Minister Narendra Modi • Best Film – Raazi received the 2019 Global Goalkeeper Award. • Best Actor (Female) - Alia Bhatt (Raazi) • He received the award for Swachh Bharat Mission • Best Actor (Male) - Ranveer Singh (Padmaavat) from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. • Best Director - Sriram Raghavan (Andhadhun) 14. Dada Saheb Phalke award – Veteran Bollywood actor • Lifetime Achievement Award - Jagdeep Jaffery Amitabh Bachchan has been selected for the 66th (actor & comedian) Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2018. • 20 Years Best Actor (Female) - Deepika Padukone • The Award is given by the Government of India for • Outstanding performance by a director in the last Lifetime Contribution to Indian Cinema. 20 years - Rajkumar Hirani (Sanju) • The first Dadasaheb Phalke award was given to • 20 Years Best Actor (Male) - Ranbir Kapoor Devika Rani in 1969. • Best music in the last 20 years – Pritam 15. Documentary film Moti Bagh’ nominated for Oscars – A • Best film of the past 20 years - Kaho Na Pyaar Hai documentary film 'Moti Bagh' has been nominated for the 21. Education Excellence Award 2019 – Super 30 founder and Oscars which is based on the life struggle of farmer 'Vidya noted mathematician Anand Kumar has been felicitated in Dutt Sharma'. the US with a prestigious Education Excellence Award 2019. • He is a resident of Sanguda in Kaljikhal block of Pauri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

87 www.gradeup.co 22. Boston Film Festival – Bollywood actress Neena Gupta has 30. Sarala Puraskar – Noted Odia writer Pradeep Dash will be won 2 awards at Indian International Film Festival of conferred with the 40th edition of prestigious Sarala Boston. Puraskar for his poetry work Charu Chibar O Charjya. • The actress won the Best Actress award for 31. “Oscars of science” awarded to Event Horizon Telescope ‘Badhaai Ho‘ and her film ‘The Last Color‘ emerged Team – victorious in Best Feature Film category. • On 5th September the team from the Event • ‘The Last Color’ was directed by chef Vikas Khanna. Horizon Telescope Collaboration project won the The film deals with taboo surrounding widows in ‘Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics’ an Vrindavan and Varanasi in India. award considered the ‘Oscars of Science’. 23. Eminent Engineers Award – Vinod Kumar Yadav (Chairman • The team won a prize of $3 million for their work. of Railway Board) • On April 10, 2019, the team had published the • The Union Minister for Skill Development & image of black hole circled by a flame-orange halo Entrepreneurship, Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey of white-hot plasma on the Messier 87 (M87) presented the award to Vinod Kumar Yadav for his galaxy. outstanding contributions in the field of 32. Odisha bags award for using IT in disaster management - engineering. Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has • The award was presented on 52nd Engineers’ Day. won the IT Excellence Award, 2019. The theme of 52nd Engineers’ Day was • The award was presented to the Odisha state for its “Engineering for change”. innovative conception by using information 24. Aga Khan Architecture Award – Arcadia Education Project technology in the field of disaster management. which involves construction of floating school for • The "SATARK" (System for Assessing, Tracking and marginalised children in South Kanarchor of Bangladesh, Alerting Disaster Risk Information based on has been awarded the prestigious Aga Khan Architecture Dynamic Risk Knowledge) has been chosen for the Award 2019. award, 25. Dr Kalam Smriti International Excellence Award – 33. ‘Lamp of Peace of Saint Francis’ Award conferred on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the Dr Muhammad Yunus – The Vatican has honoured Nobel Kalam Smriti International Excellence Award 2019 in Dhaka. Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus with the ‘Lamp of Peace of 26. 11th International Hrant Dink Award - Meghalaya-based Saint Francis’ award. rights activist Agnes Kharshiing, who survived an assault by • The award aims to honour those who work towards the coal mafia almost a year ago, received the 11th promoting peace and harmony. International Hrant Dink Award. • Dr. Muhammad Yunus is known as the father of the • She received the award along with Turkish activist microcredit concept. against male violence, Nebahat Akkoc. • He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for 27. First Class Order of Zayed II – Navdeep Singh Suri, India’s founding the Grameen Bank and pioneering the envoy to United Arab Emirates, has been honoured with the concepts of microcredit and microfinance. First Class Order of Zayed II award. 34. Indian Railways wins Best Ministry for Implementation of 28. Asia Pacific Hall of Fame – Managing Director and Swachhata Action Plan for 2018-19 –On occasion of Chairman of Hero MotoCorp, Pawan Munjal will be Swachh Mahotsav 2019 held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi inducted into the 2019 Asia Pacific Golf Hall of Fame. He will (on 6 September 2019). be inducted for his support to “Golf” in India and around • President of India Ram Nath Kovind presented an the world. award to Indian Railways as Best Ministries for 29. Knighthoods award - England cricket greats Geoffrey Implementation of Swachhata Action Plan for 2018- Boycott and Andrew Strauss have been honoured with 19. “Knighthoods” by Theresa May in her resignation honours • Best Swachh iconic Place award to Chhatrapati list. Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Mumbai under • Both the former cricketers have received the Swachh Bharat Mission initiative. honour for their services to sport after outstanding • The 3 best stations as per Cleanliness Ranking careers for England. Survey for 2018 i.e. Jaipur, Jodhpur and Tirupati were also awarded.

88 www.gradeup.co Note: About Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Swachhata Action Plan (SAP)? • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is one of the ambitious • It is one of flagship initiatives of Prime Minister Naredra projects that was introduced by PM Modi on Mahatma Modi towards making Swachh Bharat everyone’s Gandhi’s birth anniversary 2nd October 2014. business. • The ambitious mission aims at accelerating the efforts • SAP was formally launched on 1 April 2017, with active to achieve universal sanitation coverage in the country participation of 72 Ministries and Departments. by this year as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his • It has brought all Ministries and Departments under 150th birth anniversary. one umbrella and contributed towards achieving • As per the reports, till now 90 million toilets have been Swachh Bharat by 2019. built to eliminate open defecation by October 2, 2019, • Nodal agency: for SAP is Union Ministry of Drinking and currently, 98 per cent of India's villages have rural Water and Sanitation. sanitation coverage instead of 38 per cent four years 35. Global Goalkeeper Awards – Prime Minister Narendra ago. Modi will be honoured with the prestigious ‘Global 36. CSIR Young Scientist Award 2019 – Scientist John Mondal Goalkeeper Award’. receives the CSIR Young Scientist Award 2019 in the field of Note: Chemical Sciences. • He will be given this honour for his commitment Note and leadership towards Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. • Currently, he is working as a scientist at the CSIR- • The award will be presented by the Bill and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology in Melinda Gates Foundation which is owned by Hyderabad. Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda • The CSIR Young Scientist Award given to those Gates. people who are under 35 years old. The award • According to this foundation, this award is to a carries a cash prize of ₹50,000 and a plaque. leader to show commitment towards working 37. Best Swachh Iconic Place - Vaishno Devi shrine effectively for the global goal in his country or • Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu and globally. Kashmir tops the list of the Best Swachh Iconic About Global Goalkeeper Awards place in the country in the ‘Swachh Iconic Places’. • The Global Goalkeeper Awards are presented to leaders • The Shrine has been adjudged based on the overall and individuals for their efforts in achieving the improvement in sanitation. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in five • The list is list released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, categories. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation on • The categories are Progress, Changemaker, Campaign, September 3. Goalkeepers Voice and the Global Goalkeeper. August

National Sports Awards 2019 - National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 29th August 2019.

• Para-athlete and wrestler Bajrang Punia will be conferred with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. • Khel Ratna is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four year. • Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for four years. • Dronacharya Award for coaches is given for producing medal winners at prestigious International sports events. • Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime contribution to sports development.

List of all winners Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna

89 www.gradeup.co • Bajrang Punia – • Deepa Malik - Para Athletics

Dronacharya Award (regular category for coaches) • Vimal Kumar – Badminton • Sandeep Gupta - • Mohinder Singh Dhillon – Athletics Dronacharya Award (lifetime category) • Sanjay Bhardwaj - cricket • Rambir Singh Khokar - • Mezban Patel – hockey Dhyan Chand Award • Manoj Kumar (wrestling), • C Lalremsanga (), • Arup Basak (table tennis), • Nitten Kirrtane (tennis) and • Manuel Fredricks (hockey). Arjuna Awards

Arjuna Award Sh. Tajinderpal Singh Toor Athletics Arjuna Award Mohammed Anas Yahiya Athletics Arjuna Award Sh. S. Bhaskaran Body Building Arjuna Award Ms. Sonia Lather Arjuna Award Sh. Ravindra Jadeja Cricket Arjuna Award Sh. Chinglensana Singh Kangujam Hockey Arjuna Award Sh. Kabaddi Arjuna Award Sh. Gaurav Singh Gill Motor Sports Arjuna Award Sh. Pramod Bhagat Para Sports (Badminton) Arjuna Award Ms. Anjum Moudgil Shooting Arjuna Award Sh. Harmeet Rajul Desai Table Tennis Arjuna Award Ms. Pooja Dhanda Wrestling Arjuna Award Sh. Fouaad Mirza Equestrian Arjuna Award Sh. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Football Arjuna Award Ms. Poonam Yadav Cricket Arjuna Award Ms. Swapna Barman Athletics Arjuna Award Sh. Sundar Singh Gurjar Para Sports (Athletics) Arjuna Award Sh. Bhamidipati Sai Praneeth Badminton Arjuna Award Sh. Simran Singh Shergill Polo

66th National Film Awards

• Ayushmann Khurrana and Vicky Kaushal shared the Best Actor national film award and Uri Director Aditya Dhar won the Best Director award. • The 66th National Film awards were announced by Rahul Rawail, head of the Jury for feature films. List of winners –

90 www.gradeup.co

• Best Director: Aditya Dhar for Uri : The Surgical Strike • Best Feature Film: Hellaro a Gujarati film directed by Abhishek Shah • Best Actor: Ayushmann Khuranna for Andhadhun and Vicky Kaushal for Uri : The Surgical Strike • Best Actress: Keerthy Suresh for Mahanati • Best Supporting Actor - Swanand Kirkire for Chumbhak • Best supporting actress - Surekha Sikri for Badhaai Ho • Best Action Direction: KGF Chapter I • Best Choreography: Padmaavat for Goomar • Best Film for National Integration - Ondalla Eradalla (Kannada) • Best Popular Film: Badhaai Ho • Best film on Environment issues - Paani • Best Debut Film of a Director: Naal (Marathi) • Best film on Social Issues: Padman • Best Children's Film: Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shaale Kasaragod • Special Jury Award: Award shared by Sruthi Hariharan, Joju George for Joseph, Savithri for Sudani From Nigeria, Chandrachood Rai

Other Awards

1. King Hamad Order of the Renaissance – Prime Minister of flagship mission under the Ministry of Housing and India Narendra Modi has been conferred King Hamad Order Urban Affairs. of the Renaissance by Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa bin 6. Indian documentary film I’m Jeeja” has won the award at Salman Al Khalifa in Manama, capital of Bahrain. the 14th edition of the ‘We Care Film Festival on Disability • He was conferred this prestigious honour in Issues’. recognition of his efforts to strengthen bilateral 7. Pushkin Medal 2019 - JNU Professor Meeta Narain was relations with Bahrain. conferred the ‘Pushkin Medal – 2019’. This award is the • PM Modi is the 1st Indian prime minister to visit highest honour given to an Indian scholar by the Russian Bahrain. government. 2. Order of Zayed - Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi Note: Pushkin Medal is given to a scholar of Russian was honoured with prestigious ‘Order of Zayed’, United language and literature for outstanding contribution to Arab Emirates’ (UAE) highest civilian award. Russian studies abroad. Note: The award in name of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al 8. South Asian Spelling Bee competition 2019 – Navneeth Nahyan, founding father of UAE. Murali, an Indian-American teenager from New Jersey, has 3. Eminent Engineer Award 2019 - Prabhakar Singh, Director won the 2019 South Asian Spelling Bee contest. General, Central Public Works Department has been chosen 9. Bharat Ratna Award 2019 for the ‘Eminent Engineer Award for the Year 2019’. • President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, presented Note: This award will be given by the Institution of Bharat Ratna Awards to Nanaji Deshmukh Engineers (India) for his distinguished and exemplary (posthumously), Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika service in the field of Engineering and Technology. (posthumously) and Pranab Mukherjee at 4. UEFA President’s Award – Former Manchester United Rashtrapati Bhavan. forward player Eric Cantona honoured with the award. • Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika were conferred 5. SKOCH Governance Gold Award – Deendayal Antyodaya the award posthumously. Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), • The Bharat Ratna has been conferred after a gap of has been conferred the prestigious SKOCH Governance Gold four years. Award. • Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and • It has been conferred the award for its initiative founder of Banaras Hindu University Madan Mohan “Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Malviya were given the award by the government Subvention Access (PAiSA)”. DAY-NULM is a in 2015.

91 www.gradeup.co About Nanaji Deshmukh • He was given this fellowship for his outstanding • Nanaji Deshmukh was born in 1916 in a Marathi contributions in the field of population and medical family in Parbhani, Maharashtra. As a child, he was genomics. inspired by freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak. • The JC Bose Fellowship is awarded to scientists in • Nanaji established India's first Saraswati Sishu recognition for their outstanding performance by Mandir at Gorakhpur in 1950. the Science and Engineering Research Board, • Nanaji Deshmukh had won in the 1977 Lok Sabha Department of Science and Technology. election from Balrampur. 13. Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman honoured with Vir Chakra About Bhupen Hazarika – Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, has been • Bhupen Hazarika was born on September 8, honoured with the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest war time 1926 in Sadiya, Assam. gallantry medal. • He was also one of the leading author-poets of Note: Assam with more than 1,000 lyrics and several • From the Army, Sapper Prakash Jadhav of the short stories, essays and travelogues to his Rashtriya Rifles posthumously awarded Kirti Chakra, credit. the second highest peacetime gallantry award. • Bhupen Hazarika, popularly known as the 'Bard • Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal, who played a key role of Brahmaputra',. as flight controller during the aerial combat between • In May 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi India and Pakistan on February 27, has been awarded inaugurated India’s longest bridge (9.15 kms), Yudh Seva medal. which runs over the Lohit river in Assam. Modi 14. Arun Lal awarded CAB’s Lifetime Achievement Award – named the Dhola-Sadia bridge after Bhupen Former India cricketer Arun Lal conferred with Karthik Bose Hazarika. Lifetime Achievement award of the Cricket Association of About Pranab Mukherjee Bengal’s (CAB’s) in Kolkata. • Pranab Mukherjee was born in Mirati in Birbhum • Former Bengal captain Raju Mukherjee was also District of West Bengal on December 11, 1935 to considered for 2019 Lifetime Achievement but CAB freedom fighters. eventually picked Lal. • He served as the 13th President of India from 2012 until 15. Longest documentary “100 Years of Chrysostum” will 2017. receive Guinness Award – A biographical documentary About Bharat Ratna “100 Years of Chrysostum” will receive Guinness Award in the category of longest documentary. • It is highest civilian award of Republic of India. It was

instituted in 2 January 1954. • The “100 Years of Chrysostum” is based on the life of Philipose Mar Chrysostum, scripted and directed • First recipients of Bharat Ratna award (1954)- C. by filmmaker Blessy. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and C. V.

Raman. • The 48-hour and 8 minutes documentary has broken the record of the 21-hour Saudi Arabian • Limits: Maximum of 3 nominees can be awarded per documentary “World of Snakes”. year. 16. Rajasthan bags award at World Education Summit 2019 – 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be honoured with Rajasthan wins the “best innovation and initiative “Order of Zayed” – The United Arab Emirates will honour leadership award” for its achievements in higher education the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the “Order in the World Education Summit-2019 held in New Delhi. of Zayed“, the highest civilian award of the country. 17. Priyam Chatterjee becomes 1st Indian chef to win French 11. ISRO Chairman K. Sivan honoured with A.P.J. Abdul Kalam honour – Priyam Chatterjee became the 1st Indian chef to Award – Tamil Nadu government has awarded K. Sivan with be awarded the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricoleto’ its Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award. by the government of France to recognise his contribution • K. Sivan is currently serving as the chairman of towards reinventing the gastronomic scene in India. Indian Space Research Organisation. • Chatterjee is best known for revisiting the 12. CCMB scientist K Thangaraj awarded JC Bose Fellowship – traditional dishes from his native state of West Dr K Thangaraj, Chief Scientist at Council of Scientific & Bengal and giving it a French twist. Industrial Research (CSIR)– Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) was awarded JC Bose Fellowship.

92 www.gradeup.co 18. Lionel Messi Wins UEFA Goal of the Season Award 2018-19 • Ko Swe Win (Myanmar): He is a human rights defender – Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has been awarded UEFA’s Goal and the chief editor of Myanmar Now news agency. of the Season award 2018-19 for his free-kick against • Angkhana Neelapajit (Thailand) is human rights activist Liverpool. and a leading human rights defender in Southern 19. ISRO announces Vikram Sarabhai Journalism Award 2019 - Thailand. As part of centenary year celebrations of Dr. Vikram • Raymundo Pujante Cayabyab (Philippines) is a musician Sarabhai, father of Indian space programme, ISRO institutes who has served in the music faculty of the University of two categories of awards in journalism. the Philippines and has conducted free workshops for • ISRO has announced its “Vikram Sarabhai thousands of students all across the country. Journalism Award in Space Science, Technology • Kim Jong-Ki (South Korea) is an activist working with and Research” to recognize and reward journalists violence and mental health issues in youth and a South who have actively contributed towards the field of Korean agrarian movement leader who pioneered space science, applications, and research. wasteland cultivation, and strove to demonstrate 20. BAFTA LA to honour Steve Coogan with Charlie Chaplin through his work that life as a farmer can be fulfilling Award - Actor Steve Coogan will be felicitated with the and productive. Charlie Chaplin Award by the British Academy’s Los Angeles Note: branch. He will receive the honour during the 2019 • The Magsaysay award was started in 1957 and Britannia Awards. celebrates the memory and leadership 21. President Kovind honoured with the highest award of example of the former Philippine president Republic of Guinea – President Ram Nath Kovind has been Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay. awarded the National Order of Merit by the President of • Ramon Magsaysay Award is regarded as the Guinea. Asian version of the Nobel Prize. • The award is bestowed for his exceptional 25. Kapil Dev honoured with Bharat Gaurav Award – East contribution to the advancement of overall Bengal club awarded former Indian Cricket captain Kapil relations and development of mutual Dev with its highest honour, Bharat Gaurav. cooperation between India and Guinea. 26. 2019 Prem Bhatia Award – Veteran journalist and Note: consulting editor at India Today TV (television), Mr. Rajdeep • President of Guinea: Alpha Conde Sardesai was awarded the 2019 Prem Bhatia Award for his • Capital of Guinea: Conakry Outstanding Political Reporting with a career spanning over • Currency of Guinea: Guinean franc three decades. 22. India’s transsexual woman Naaz Joshi was crowned Miss 27. Ruhan Rajput honoured with ‘Entrepreneur of the Year World Diversity 2019. This event was held in Port Louis, Award, 2019’ – Mauritius. • Ruhan Rajput, a renowned entrepreneur, co- 23. Miss England 2019 - Bhasha Mukherjee, a 23-year-old founder and Director of Einfolge Technologies Indian origin doctor was crowned Miss England 2019. Pvt Ltd was awarded the prestigious 24. Ramon Magsaysay award 2019 – Ravish Kumar has been Entrepreneur Award 2019 at New Delhi. awarded the 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award for “harnessing • Ruhan was acknowledged for his contributions journalism to give voice to the voiceless”. and achievements in the business industry. The other winners of the award are: • His company, is one of the leading players in the knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) industry.

Oscar Awards 2019

1. Oscar Awards 2019 announced: The 91st Academy Awards (Oscars) has been announced at the Dolby Theatre in • Best Actress in a Leading Role - Olivia Colman for Hollywood, the USA. film - The Favourite Complete list of winners • Best Actor in a Leading Role - Rami Malek for film - • Best Picture - Green Book, directed by - Peter Bohemian Rhapsody Farrelly

93 www.gradeup.co • Best Director - Alfonso Cuarón for Roma • India-based Period End of Sentence has won • Best Foreign Language – Roma (Alfonso Cuaron's Documentary Short at 91stOscars Academy Roma from Mexico has won Best Foreign language) Awards. • Best Documentary Short film - Period. End of • The film talks about the stigma of menstruation in Sentence Rayka Zehtabchi and Melissa Berton India. Note: • It is directed by Rakya Zehtabchi.

National Affairs

January

1. NITI Aayog has released SDG India Index and Dashboard Note: The theme of ISC 2020 is “Science and Technology: 2019. Rural Development”. The event brings together science Note: Government think tank the NITI Aayog has Aayog has fraternity across the world to discuss scientific innovation released the 2nd edition of Sustainable Development Goals and research. Over 15,000 participants, including Nobel (SDG) India Index and dashboard for the year 2019 in New Laureates, scientists, intellectuals, academicians, Delhi. The Index comprehensively documents the progress policymakers, researchers, students and delegates from made by India’s States and Union Territories towards different institutions are participating in the event. achieving the 2030 SDG targets. Kerala achieved the first There will be 28 Plenary Sessions during the event, on areas rank in the composite SDG Index with a score of 70, followed ranging from Climate Smart Agriculture for Food Security, by Himachal Pradesh at 69. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Crop Improvement Towards Food and Nutrition Security to Tamil Nadu ranked at the third position with the score of 67. Artificial Intelligence and Medical Technology. While Bihar is at the bottom of Niti Aayog’s Sustainable 6. Labour Ministry to launch a portal for the speedy resolution Development Goals (SDG) India Index. of grievances -- Santusht. 2. India's second spaceport for launching small satellites will Note: The labour ministry has announced to launch a new be established in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district. portal 'Santusht' for the speedy redressal of workers as well Note: The country's first spaceport is at Sriharikota in as employer grievances and ensuring effective Andhra Pradesh, about 90 km northeast of Chennai. implementation of labour laws at the grassroots level. Thoothukudi is about 600 km southeast of Chennai. The new Initially, ‘Santusht’ would monitor all services provided by location is ideal for launching smaller satellites of less than retirement fund body EPFO and health insurance and 500 kg in the sun-synchronous orbit. services provider ESIC to formal sector workers. Workers 3. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) will conduct the Asiatic and employers can lodge their complaints on the portal, Lion Census in May 2020. which would be managed by an internal monitoring cell Note: Around 8,000-10,000 cameras will be used to carry comprising five to six officers. out the 2020 lion census in Gujarat, the last abode of the 7. city will host the 14th Global Healthcare Summit 2021 -- Asiatic lion. The 2015 lion census had counted 523 lions in Visakhapatnam. the state. The number is expected to have risen Note: The brochure of the summit was released on 30 phenomenally the population may have crossed the 1,000- December 2019 by MP M.V.V. Satyanarayana. The focus of mark. The entire census area is to be divided into a 3-km the Global Health Summit is an Indian-centric approach, grid. Officers will collect hair, nails, teeth, etc. The collection with special events such as global impact and India’s process is to be carried out using scientific methods laid out contribution in providing cost-effective medicines and by NTCA. addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals. For the 4. The Ministry of Agriculture announced that the sowing area first time, the 14th Global Health Care summit will be held in of rabi crops has increased by 36 lakh hectares. AP and is expected to boost the healthcare in the region. Note: This is mainly due to the improvement in soil 8. HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal has inaugurated the 28th moisture in Rabi growing states. The total area under Rabi edition of annual New Delhi World Book Fair at Pragati crops was 536 hectares last year and this has increased to Maidan in New Delhi. 571 hectares. Of these, wheat has been sown in 297 lakh Note: As part of Mahatma Gandhiji's 150 birth anniversary hectares, rice has been sown in 14 lakh hectares, coarse celebrations, the theme of this year is Gandhi: The Writers' cereals in 46 lakh hectares and oilseeds in 74 lakh hectares. Writer. Eminent Gandhian scholar Girishwar Mishra is the 5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 107th edition of chief guest on the occasion. The book fair organised by Indian Science Congress in Bengaluru. National Book Trust (NBT).Other features at the fair will include -- Theme pavilion, authors' corner, seminar hall,

94 www.gradeup.co braille books, children's pavilion and foreign countries' today said NDA government is committed to protect the pavilion. interests of traders and to promote ease of doing business. 9. Indian Railways launches integrated helpline number for 12. Third international symposium on marine ecosystems – passengers -- 139. challenges and opportunities (MECOS-3) is to be held in Note: The Indian Railways has integrated its helpline Kochi numbers into a single number 139 for quick grievance Note: Eminent marine scientists, oceanographers, fisheries redressal and enquiries by passengers during their train researchers, and marine biotechnologists from across the journeys. The new helpline number 139 will take over all the globe are expected to participate in it. existing helpline numbers.It will be easy for passengers to 13. 5th Global Drosophila Conference held at Pune. remember this number and connect with Railways for all Note: The fifth edition of the Asia Pacific Drosophila their needs during train travel. Research Conference (APDRC5) was held in Pune. The 10. Twenty-two tableau proposals (16-states and 6- Central conference was organized in the country for the first time by Ministries) have been short-listed for participation in this the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research year's Republic Day parade. (IISER). Note: Ministry of Defence had received a total of 56 14. India extends USD 75 mn line of credit for solar parks in tableaux proposals comprising 32 from States and 24 from Cuba. Ministries in this regard. The tableaux proposals received Note: Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank) has given a $75 are evaluated in a series of meetings of the Expert million line of credit to Cuba for financing 75 MW Committee comprising of eminent persons in the field of art, Photovoltaic Solar Parks. Exim Bank is the premier export culture, painting, sculpture, music and architecture. Brazilian finance institution of India. Regarding this, the Exim Bank President Jair Bolsonaro to be the chief guest at India's has entered into an agreement with Banco Exterior De Cuba Republic Day celebrations in 2020. on July 16, 2019. 11. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the National 15. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has Traders Convention in New Delhi. inaugurated the first silk processing plant at Surendranagar Note: The convention has been organized by the in Gujarat. Confederation of All India Traders and will deliberate upon Note: This would help cut down the cost of production of various issues concerning traders. The aim of this silk yarn drastically and increase the sale and availability of convention will be to discuss the role of the trading raw material for Gujarati 'Patola' sarees locally. The plant community in achieving a 5 trillion dollar economy goal. has been set up by a khadi institution at a cost of Rs 75 lakh, in which KVIC has contributed Rs 60 lakh.

December

1. The Union Government has launched the Intensified 3. India-Sri Lanka joint exercise “MITRA SHAKTI” (7th edition) Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 2.0 across the country. begins at Aundh Military Station Pune. Note: The government's flagship scheme is aimed at Note: It aims to build and promote positive relations immunizing children under the age of 2 years and pregnant between armies of both the countries focusing subunit level women against eight vaccine-preventable diseases. The training on counter insurgency and counter-terrorism Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) covers vaccines for operations in the urban and rural environment. It is diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis, conducted annually as part of military diplomacy and tuberculosis, measles, meningitis and Hepatitis B. Vaccines interaction between armies of two nations. for Japanese encephalitis and Hemophilus influenzal are 4. English author Tony Joseph has won the 12th ‘Shakti Bhatt also being provided in selected areas. The IMI 2.0 aims to First Book Prize’ for his book, --- Early Indians: The Story of achieve targets of full immunization coverage in 272 Our Ancestors and Where We Came From. districts spread over 27 States between December 2019 and Note: The book tells the tale of the people of South Asia March 2020. through research in six disciplines, including path-breaking 2. India has become the first country to make the entire new DNA evidence. The award was instituted in 2008 and it process for pilgrims going on Haj completely digital. carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh along with a trophy. Last Note: This came after the minister signed the bilateral year, the prize was awarded to Sujatha Gidla for her Ants agreement for the pilgrimage with the Saudi Haj Minister in Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family And The Making Jeddah. The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Of Modern India. Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims.

95 www.gradeup.co 5. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has energy and will result in cost savings of approx. 8.35 lakh revamped mobile number portability (MNP) rules, making MVR per year for Male city. the entire process faster and simpler. 12. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set-up a Note: The TRAI has prescribed three working days timeline Space Technology Incubation Centre (S-TIC) at the National for port out requests within a service area. Similarly, the Institute of Technology (NIT) -- Tiruchirappalli. timeline of five working days has been prescribed for Note: The centre will work with ISRO on the technical requests for port out from one circle to another. The problems at hand related to the future Space programmes validity of the Unique Porting Code (UPC) has also been brought down to four days instead of a fortnight earlier. and shall provide solutions. This S-TIC will cater to the 6. The Union Government has launched the 4th round of southern region of India, including Andhra Pradesh, Regional Connectivity Scheme --- UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Telangana, the Union Nagrik). Territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry. Note: The focus in this round will be North East Region, Hilly 13. A 3-day annual national conference of DGPs and IGPs held States, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Islands. The Civil in -- Pune. Aviation Ministry aims to operationalize one thousand Note: The conference is to be held at two venues - Indian routes and more than 100 airports in the next five years. Institute of Science, Education and Research in Baner and

7. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has launched the -- the Centre for Police Research in Pashan. Bharatiya Poshan Anthem. 14. The Union Minister Piyush Goyal has inaugurated the 3rd Note: The anthem has been conceptualised by the Ministry edition of National Public Procurement Conclave in New of Women and Child Development. It has been written by Delhi. noted lyricist Prasoon Joshi and sung by Shankar Note: The two-day conclave has been organized by Mahadevan. Government e-Marketplace (GeM) in association with 8. India and Sweden signed a Memorandum of Understanding Confederation of Indian Industry. GeM rests on the three (MoU) for India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre in --- pillars of openness, fairness and inclusiveness and is a New Delhi. symbol of a truly transparent e-marketplace. Note: The objective of the innovation Centre is to develop 15. India’s first Ganga centralized aqua lab at Wildlife Institute an ecosystem of open innovation to which start-ups and the of India (WII), Dehradun, Uttarakhand. healthcare delivery stakeholders can use to collaborate and Note: The aqua labs will be set up under the National address current and future challenges in the healthcare Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). Tributaries of river Ganga sector. 22 new AIIMS soon to become fully operational, and such as Gomti, Betwa, Kosi will be scientifically studied and 157 new Medical Colleges are at the development stage. their biological components will be preserved in the lab. 9. The Mumbai Central station of Railways was conferred 16. India-China joint training exercise has begun at Umroi, with the ‘Eat Right Station’ certification with four stars Meghalaya ---HAND-IN-HAND 2019. rating by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Note: The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning (FSSAI). and conduct of counter-terrorist operations in semi-urban Note:The Mumbai Central Railway Station is the country’s terrainThe theme of the exercise is ‘counter-terrorism first “Eat Right Station.”The focus of the movement is on under United Nations mandate’. It is a 14-day-long training improving the health and well-being of people by ensuring exercise and will see the participation of around 260 they eat healthily. ‘Eat Right India’ movement is built on military personals two broad pillars of ‘Eat Healthy’ and ‘Eat Safe’. 17. Election Commission Set to implement ‘Political Parties 10. India’s first maritime museum coming up at Lothal, Registration Tracking Management System’ from -- Gujarat. January 2020. Note: Government of India (GoI) & Portugal has decided to Note:The Election Commission of India has decided to cooperate in the setting up of an India’s 1st National implement the “Political Parties Registration Tracking Maritime Heritage Museum at Lothal in Gujarat. The Management System” (PPRTMS) to help the applicants, objective of the museum to boost the underwater or applying for party registration, to track the progress of his marine archaeology. /her application. The new guidelines will be effective from 1 11. India gifted a ‘Made in India’ Patrol Vessel to the Maldives January 2020. National Defence Force (MNDF) -- KAAMIYAAB. 18. Human Library event held in Mysuru. Note: It will be net security provider in the region amid Note: In Karnataka, Human Library, a concept which seeks China’s increasing forays in the Indian Ocean Region. to replace books with humans, will be held in the City of Meanwhile, 2500 LED streetlights donated by India were Palaces, Mysuru. The notion of Human Library was initially installed in Male recently. These streetlights save 80%

96 www.gradeup.co launched in the year 2000 and currently exists in more than 25. Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation Chairman Ehsan 85 countries, known as The Human Library Organization. Elahi has inaugurated the trial run on Dhaka-Gangtok & 19. The ISRO has launched its radar imaging earth observation Dhaka-Darjeeling bus routes. satellite, RISAT-2BR1 and nine foreign satellites through Note: Two buses with about 35 passengers including Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C48) from Sriharikota, officials of the Road Transport department left Dhaka in the Andhra Pradesh. evening. Darjeeling via Siliguri is around 450km and Note: PSLV-C48 (50th mission of PSLV) carried nine Gangtok about 500km away from Dhaka. Currently, buses customer satellites of Israel (1), Italy(1), Japan (1) and operate on five cross-border routes between Bangladesh USA(6)as co-passengers. RISAT-2BR1 is a radar imaging and India -- Dhaka-Kolkata-Dhaka, Dhaka-Agartala-Dhaka, earth observation satellite weighing about 628 kg, mission Dhaka-Sylhet-Shillong-Guwahati-Dhaka, Agartala-Dhaka- life of 5 years. Kolkata-Agartala and Dhaka-Khulna-Kolkata-Dhaka. 20. These international satellites launched under a commercial 26. The bilateral military exercise between India and Russia arrangement with New Space India Limited. Union held in Pune and Goa ‘INDRA 2019’. Government has allowed girls’ education in all Sainik Note: This military exercise is being held under the aegis of School (phased manner). the United Nations (UN) aimed at combating terrorism and Note: These 5 schools are Kalikiri (Andhra Pradesh), Kodagu insurgency. The objective of this exercise is to enhance the (Karnataka), Ghorakhal (Uttarakhand), Chandrapur coordination of the two armies in maintaining peace and (Maharashtra) and Bijapur (Karnataka). The co-educational security under the aegis of the United Nations. policy adopted on a pilot-basis at Sainik School in Mizoram 27. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) works for and now is being implemented across the country. setting up a third rocket launchpad in the small coastal 21. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) passed by the hamlet of Kulashekhrapattinam in Thuthukudi, Tamil Nadu. Rajya Sabha. Note: The District Administration has appointed a Special Note: As many as 125 lawmakers voted in the favour of the Tehsildar along with eight more Tahsildars to speed up the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and 99 against it.Now, The process of land acquisition for the centre. At present, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill will go to the President for his Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has two launch assent. Earlier, the citizenship bill passed by the Lok Sabha pads at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. with a majority of 311 votes against 80. 28. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and Nasscom 22. 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue, Delhi Dialogue XI started in New Foundation have signed an MoU to develop a technology Delhi. platform to prevent food wastage and encouraging food Note: External Affairs Ministry is hosting the 6th Indian donation by developing an app for the purpose. Ocean Dialogue and Delhi Dialogue XI at the Pravasi Note: They will develop a common 24×7 helpline number Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi.For the first time, these two and a mobile application ‘Food Donation in India’ to donate dialogues held consecutively and on similar Indo-Pacific food to the needy. It will help in facilitating the registration themes. The theme of 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue is "Indo- of surplus food distribution organisations. Pacific: Re-imagining the Indian Ocean through an 29. India will host the 36th International Geological Congress Expanded Geography”. in March 2020. 23. Saudi Aramco has secured its position as the most valuable Note: The theme of this conference is ‘Geosciences: The listed company in history. Basic Science for Sustainable Development'. The IGCs are Note: The world’s biggest contributor to the climate crisis prestigious global geoscientific events held once every four had been valued at more than Apple and Facebook – years and participated by around 5,000-6,000 geoscientists previously the world’s most valuable and fifth-most from across the world. India is the only Asian country to valuable companies respectively – combined. It is also twice host the event twice. the size of Amazon and Google's parent company, and 30. The World Design Organization (WDO) will launch its new bigger than the next five listed oil companies put together. global programme World Design Protopolis in Bengaluru. 24. The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has identified 138 Note: It aims at implementing holistic progress in monuments in the country as must-see. megacities across the world and making them sustainable. Note: Those interested can see the complete list on the The project aims to measure the progress of the city, attract “must-see” portal, 'asimustsee.nic.in' of the ASI. The “Must investments and solve problems so that the city becomes a See” list features a number of outstanding Indian better place for the citizens. monuments and archaeological sites, under the protection 31. Ministry of Coal has decided to establish a Sustainable of the ASI, including some UNESCO World Heritage Sites as Development Cell (SDC) in order to promote well. There are 38 World Heritage Sites in India (out of environmentally sustainable coal mining in the country. which 22 cultural sites) including monuments and caves are Note: It will also address the environmental concerns under ASI protection. during the decommissioning or closure of mines. The SDC

97 www.gradeup.co will advise, mentor, plan and monitor the mitigation Mark-II variant and can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 measures taken by the coal companies for maximising the seconds utilisation of available resources in a sustainable way. 37. Ministry of Defence hold the ARTECH seminar in New Delhi 32. The Union Government has extended the deadline of its Note: ARTEC is Army Technology Seminar that is being held flagship scheme AMRUT by two more years. since 2016. The fifth edition of ARTEC is to be organized by Note: In 2015, PM Modi has launched AMRUT mission, the Indian Army under the Ministry of Defence on promising 139 lakh water connections and 145 lakh sewer “Technologies for Non-contact Warfare”. The seminar was connections by March 2020. In the last five years, 2,316 launched as a part of the “Make in India” campaign. It is a projects have been completed so far at an expense of Rs flagship event of the Indian Army that focuses on harvesting 7,195 crore. The expenditure of the mission was estimated indigenous as Rs 77,640 crores. With the help of the AMRUT scheme, 38. Indian chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand has launched the centre formulates city level estimation of budget his autobiography -- Mind Master. required to avail water supply, draining system, sewerages, Note: Autobiography ‘Mind Master’ is co-authored by digital and internet facilities, industrial and transport sports journalist Susan Ninann and published by THG facilities, etc Publishing Private Limited. The book covers wonderful 33. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has started laser along memories of Viswanathan Anand’s journey. the Indo-Nepal border. 39. Government e-commerce portal (GeM) has launched a Note: The objective of the laser fencing is to prevent third- national outreach programme ‘GeM Samvaad’ to bring on- party nationals from entering without permission. The SSB board more local sellers. is deployed to guard the 2450-km-long border with Nepal Note:The outreach programme will take place with and Bhutan. According to K Rajesh Chandra (SSB Director stakeholders across the country and with local sellers to General), cases of unauthorized entry of Third-Party Nationals have increased this year as compared to previous facilitate on-boarding of local sellers on the years. marketplace.The programme will take place from tomorrow 34. Narendra Singh Tomar has launched Phase-III of Pradhan to 17th February next year and will cover all the States and Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in New Delhi. Union Territories of the country. GeM has more than 15 Note: The Phase-III of PMGSY aims at consolidation of 1 lakh products and around 20,000 services, more than 3 lakh lakh 25 thousand Kilometers through Routes and Major registered sellers and service providers and more than 40 Rural Links that connect habitations to Gramin Agricultural thousand government buyer organizations Markets, Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals with an 40. The Govt. of India has constructed Girls' Hostel for Nepal estimated cost of 80 thousand 250 crore rupees for the Armed Police Force School -- . period 2019-20 to 2024-25. The Central Share will be 53 Note: The hostel was inaugurated by the Deputy Chief of thousand 800 crore rupees. Mission, Embassy of India, Dr. Ajay Kumar at Kirtipur in 35. The National Conference on ‘Uniformed Women in Prisons Kathmandu district. Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) School Administration’ (second edition) has been organized in is an academic institution created under the APF Welfare Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Service Centre of Nepal Armed Police Force. The school was Note: The conference is being held in collaboration of established in 2005 and it has over 21 percent of girls' Madhya Pradesh Jail Department and BPR& D, New Delhi. students. The uniformed women police and employees from the post 41. The Vice President of India Shri M Venkaiah Naidu has of Jail Warden to Inspector General Level of various states, released the book -- Turbulence and Triumph – The Modi members of non-government organisations, Years. representatives of academic institutions and officers of Note: The book was written by Rahul Agarwal and Bharti S other government departments are participating in the Pradhan and is published by Om Books International. It is a conference. The first conference was held in Delhi in 2017 pictorial book which traces the journey of Narendra Modi 36. An upgraded version of India's indigenously developed from his days as a young boy from Vadnagar in Gujarat to Pinaka guided rocket system was successfully test-fired New Delhi’s 7, Lok Kalyan Marg as the 14th prime minister from a base on Odisha coast. of India. Note: The multi-barrel rocket launch system developed by 42. India and Iran chaired the 19th Joint Commission Meeting the Defence Research and Development Organisation (JCM) in Tehran. (DRDO) will boost the Army's artillery power. The weapon Note: They were agreed to accelerate work on the system, mounted on a Tatra truck, is equipped with a state- Chabahar project while reviewing the entire gamut of of-the-art guidance kit comprising an advanced navigation bilateral relations. During the visit, the External Affairs and control system. The sophisticated system has a Minister is expected to meet Iranian President Hassan maximum range of 40 km for Mark-I and 75 km for the Rouhani. In 2018, Iran and India had signed an agreement

98 www.gradeup.co worth $85 million to develop the Chabahar Port in south- Note: ATAL JAL scheme has been designed with the eastern Iran. principal objective of strengthening the institutional 43. President Ram Nath Kovind has released the mobile app of framework for participatory groundwater management and the Red Cross Society of India in Hyderabad. bringing about behavioural changes at the community level Note: He has inaugurated the mobile app formally at a for sustainable groundwater resource management in dinner hosted by Telangana governor Tamilisai seven States (Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Sounderarajan at Rajbhavan in his honour. Developed by Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh). ATAL the Telangana Centre for Good Governance in less than JAL will promote panchayat led groundwater management three months, the mobile app is accessible in all languages. and behavioural change with a primary focus on demand- 44. K VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the side management. Implementation of the scheme is Government of India has launched an EChO Network. expected to benefit nearly 8350 Gram Panchayats in 78 Note: It is a national program to provide a template for districts in these States cross-disciplinary leadership in India with the specific focus 49. Prime Minister Narendra Modi named Rohtang of increasing research, knowledge, and awareness of Indian passageway in Himachal Pradesh as -- Atal Tunnel. ecology and the environment. EChO Network would Note: The strategic Atal tunnel will change the fortunes of develop a national network to catalyze a new generation of this region and will help in promoting tourism in the region. Indians who can synthesize interdisciplinary concepts and The 8.8-kilometre-long tunnel is the world's longest tunnel tackle real-world problems in medicine, agriculture, above an altitude of 3,000 metres.After completion of the ecology, and technology. tunnel, it will provide all-weather connectivity to remote 45. India successfully test-fired its Quick Reaction Surface to Air areas of Lahaul and Spiti Valley and reduce the distance Missile (QRSAM) system from a base off of Odisha coast. between Manali and Leh by 46 Kilometres. Note: The missile system developed by the Defence 50. Railway station in Mumbai has been conferred with 'Eat Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is likely to Right Station' certification with the five-star rating by the be inducted into the armed forces by 2021.The QRSAM Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for weapon system, which operates on the move, comprises a food safety and hygiene -- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj fully automated command and control, active array battery Terminus (CSMT) surveillance radar, active array battery multifunction radar Note:The CSMT is the first station on the Central Railway to and launcher. With this mission, the developmental trials of get this certification.The CSMT has been judged on the basis the weapon system have been successfully completed and of compliance of food safety and hygiene, availability of it is expected to be ready for induction by 2021. healthy diet, food handling at preparation, food waste 46. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted a two-day regional management, promotion of local and seasonal food and level pollution response exercise at sea off Vadinar in Gulf creating awareness on food safety and healthy diet. 'Eat of Kutch -- Swachchh Samundra NW-2019. Right Station' initiative is a part of the 'Eat Right India' Note: The exercise was conducted to validate and reinforce movement launched by FSSAI and an FMCG major which is the response mechanism for oil pollution incidents and aimed at promoting food safety and hygiene at the static enable the Indian Coast Guard to fine-tune the actions catering units at railway stations. required in such eventualities. The exercise was conducted 51. India's first long-distance Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in two phases. During phase one a tabletop exercise bus fitted with CNG cylinders at a function in New Delhi. simulating oil spill from a tanker was conducted While a Note: It can travel around one thousand kilometers in a real-time demonstration of the oil spill scenario was single fill. The first long-range interstate CNG bus will play conducted during the second phase of the exercise. from Delhi to Dehradun. Mahindra & Mahindra along with 47. As per the report compiled by the US National Science Agility Fuel Solutions of USA have partnered with IGL for Foundation (NSF), Who has emerged as the world’s third- introducing the new concept of lightweight Type IV largest publisher of science and engineering articles -- India. composite cylinders in buses. Note: China, which accounts for 20.67 percent of all global 52. Indian Railways has unveiled ‘Him Darshan Express’ publications in scientific articles, is at the top position, comprising all-new Vistadome coaches from Kalka railway followed by the US at 16.54 percent. As per the report in station to Shimla. 2008, India published 48,998 science and engineering Note: This special train will commute between the Kalka articles. This increased to 1,35,788 articles in 2018 and the and Shimla station for the next year till December 24, 2020. country now accounts for 5.31 percent of the total world Modified in carriage and wagon depot at Kalka, this is a publications in science and engineering. first-of-its-kind train on the Kalka-Shimla route. The train 48. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has launched Atal Bhujal will have seven coaches including one first-class sitting cum Yojana in an event held in New Delhi. luggage room coach (FCZLR) and six first-class AC Vistadom coaches. Him Darshan Express will be the first-ever train

99 www.gradeup.co with Vistadome coaches by the Indian Railways that will run 55. The book titled “Dreams of a Billion: India and the Olympic on a regular basis. Games” is written by Boria Majumdar & Nalin Mehta. 53. The Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Note: This book will describe India’s journey in the global Pokhriyal Nishank launched the five documents developed sports arena of Olympics – the wins, the misses, the star by University Grants Commission. sportspersons, their stories, and the challenges and Note: These five documents cover evaluation reforms, eco- possibilities that lie ahead of India to make its mark at the friendly and sustainable university campuses, human values mega sporting event in Tokyo in 2020. and professional ethics, faculty induction and academic 56. India's ophthalmologist has conferred with American research integrity. On the occasion, the HRD Minister also Academy of Ophthalmology's (AAO) highest award Life mentioned SATAT and MulyaPravah, both frameworks of Achievement -- Dr Santosh G Honavar. the UGC. Note: American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is the 54. The Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh world's largest association of eye specialists. Vardhan has launched the second edition of the ‘Eat Right 57. Noted Economist and Political Analyst has released a book Mela’ in New Delhi. titled Politics of Opportunism -- S Gurumurthy. Note: The ‘Eat Right Mela’ is an effort to encourage citizens Note: The book was written by R P N Singh which throws on having a healthy diet and reduce the disease burden in light on the subject related to the rise of regional parties the country. The theme of the event is ‘Healthier Diets’. and Centre -States relation.On the occasion, Mr Organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of Gurumurthy shared his views on the politics of India (FSSAI) and National Association of Street Vendors of opportunism. Citizenship Amendment Act grants citizenship India, the Eat Right Mela is a commendable effort and to the minority communities who have faced religious outreach activity for citizens to nudge them towards eating persecution in three neighbouring countries and came to right. The first ‘Eat Right Mela’ was launched in New Delhi India. in December 2018.

November

1. Census 2021(16th) will be conducted in two phases (House- Note: It has been organised by the National Film listing & Housing Census) during April to September 2020. Development Corporation. The Film Bazaar encourages Note: The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) has creative and financial collaboration between the South recommended an amount of Rs. 8754.23 crore for Asian and International film communities. Over the years, conducting Census 2021 in 16 languages. The reference films such as Lunch Box, Margarita with A Straw, Chauthi date for the census will be 1 March 2021. It will be 1st Koot, Qissa, Miss Lovely, Dum Lagake Haisha and Thithi October 2020 for Snow-bound Jammu and Kashmir, some have been through one or more programmes of the Bazaar. areas of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 5. The Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) 2. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has has delivered ‘ICGS Amrit Kaur’, third in the series of five inaugurated an Agro-based Exhibition ‘Agro-Vision-2019’ in fast patrol vessels (FPV) to Indian Coast Guard. Nagpur. Note: ICGS Priyadarshini and ICGS Annie Besant are the first Note: Agro-Vision exhibition comprises of National Agri- two FPV in the series which has already been delivered to Exhibition Workshop for farmers and seminars.Small ICGS. The last two FPVs namely ICGS Kamla Devi and ICGS entrepreneurs who are engaged in the production of Kanaklata Barua will be commissioned shortly, after Agricultural machinery and components will be displaying successful sea trials. their products at the stalls. 6. The three-day Global Bio-India Summit 2019 held at 3. India’s two lakhs Gram Panchayats will be connected with Aerocity, New Delhi. internet, broadband by March 2020. Note: It will be one of the largest biotechnology stakeholder Note: The union Govt. has set a target to provide internet conglomerates held in India for the first time. It will bring and broadband connectivity to two lakh Gram Panchayats academia, innovators, researchers, start-ups, medium and by March 2019. BharatNet project is being implemented in large companies together on the same platform. a phased manner to provide broadband and internet 7. As per Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2019 awards, top- connectivity to all 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats in the country. ranked state in the list is Tamil Nadu. 4. The Film Bazaar has been inaugurated by the Information Note: Top-ranked district is Peddapalli (Telangana) and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on the 8. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation sidelines of the golden jubilee edition of the International (IRCTC) will operate and manage luxury train, Golden Film Festival of India. Chariot from March 2020.

100 www.gradeup.co Note: The Golden Chariot Train (commenced operations in 15. The US State Department cleared the sale of sophisticated 2008) travels through one of the famous tourists and naval guns worth USD 1 billion to India. picturesque destinations of Karnataka, and Hamp (UNESCO Note: The MK-45 guns will enhance India's naval world heritage site). It has 18 coaches with 44 guest rooms capabilities, particularly in the Arabian Sea.The Gun System having a capacity for 84 guests. The train promises to offer will provide the capability to conduct anti-surface warfare world-class comfort, state-of-the-art amenities and and anti-air defence missions while enhancing enhanced and unforgettable experience to passengers. interoperability with the U.S. and other allied forces. 9. The two days Conference of Governors and Lieutenant 16. Oxford Dictionaries has named ‘climate emergency’ as Governors (50th) held in New Delhi. 2019 Word of the Year. Note: The Conference discussed important thematic issues Note: It also included ‘climate action’, ‘climate denial’, ‘eco- in various sessions. It includes tribal issues, reforms in anxiety’, ‘extinction’ and ‘flight shame’. The word is agriculture, Jal Jeevan Mission, new education policy for selected because it shows the increase in usage since 2018. higher education and governance for ease of living. Climate emergency defines as “a situation in which urgent 10. The 2019 NuGen Mobility Summit held at Manesar, action is required to reduce or halt climate change. Haryana. 17. Hardeep Singh Puri has launched Credit-linked Subsidy Note: The Theme of 2019 is “Smart & Green Mobility”. The Services Awas Portal (CLAP) in New Delhi. objective of the summit is to share new ideas, learnings, Note: The portal provides a transparent and robust real- global experiences, innovations and future technologies time web-based monitoring system for credit-linked Subsidy trends for the faster adoption, assimilation and Services (CLSS) beneficiaries. Using the portal, a beneficiary development of advanced Automotive Technologies for a can track his application status in real-time. The initiative smarter and greener future. would also benefit other stakeholders to work in synergy to 11. Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat release subsidy to beneficiaries on time. has released a short documentary film on Water 18. The Indian Railways has decided to introduce an automatic Conservation named ‘SHIKHAR SE PUKAR’. train protection system in its entire network of 68,000 km Note: The film has been made to promote 'Jalshakti route. Abhiyan' and is based on the Journey of an IAS Officer Note: As a pilot project, the system would be implemented Ravindra Kumar. Mr Ravindra Kumar climbed Everest this on 650 route km of the golden quadrilateral corridor year to attract the attention of people from the top of the connecting the four metros - Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Everest on the serious issue of Water Conservation and Kolkata. stopping Water Pollution. It also picturizes the difficulties 19. ISRO has launched India’s most sophisticated Earth and challenges in climbing the highest peak in the world. observation satellite Cartosat-3 and 13 US nanosatellites 12. The world's biggest Islamic Congregation ‘Aalmi Tablighi from Sri harikota in Andhra Pradesh. Ijtima’ held at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Note: The launch enhanced India's ability in high-resolution Note: More than one million people from 54 countries are imaging and also reinforce India as a global launch expected to attend the congregation which will continue till destination for small satellites using its workhorse rocket 25th November. It is a forum for delivering some important Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. According to ISRO, the 1,625 religious-spiritual messages to Muslims around the world. kg Cartosat-3 is an advanced agile satellite to obtain The first Alami Tablighi Ijtima took place in Bhopal in 1944 panchromatic and multispectral imagery with an and only 14 people attended it then. operational life of five years. 13. Nitin Gadkari has released a booklet titled 'Convergence of 20. Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik has inaugurated National Highway improvement/construction with water a two-day seminar "DEFCOM INDIA 2019’ in New Delhi. conservation and groundwater recharge' at Agro Vision- Note: The theme of ‘DEFCOM INDIA 2019’ is 2019, Nagpur. ‘Communications: A Decisive Catalyst for Jointness’. The Note: The agriculture exhibition, Agro Vision show (4-Day) seminar is devoted to the seminal theme of leveraging highlight the scope where the Indian agricultural sector can communications for achieving jointness between the three achieve new height of success. The theme of the 11th services. Agrovision has been aptly chosen as "Smart Technologies 21. The Indian Navy will host military drill ‘Milan 2020’ in for Sustainable Development March. 14. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the two- Note: MILAN stands for ‘Multilateral Naval Exercise’. 41 day Air Force Commanders' Conference in New Delhi. nations from South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe Note: Top commanders of the Indian Air Force (IAF)is that share defence cooperation with India have been participating in it. They will discuss the operational, invited for the drill. maintenance and administrative matters related to Air 22. The Indian Railways has set up the Institute of Financial Force. Management (IRIFM) at Secunderabad, Telangana.

101 www.gradeup.co Note: The institute was formally inaugurated by Vinod 29. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a 400 Kumar Yadav (Chairman, Railway Board.The new entity million-dollar Line of Credit of to Sri Lanka. (IRIFM) will impart professional training in the management Note: India gives priority to its relations with Sri Lanka of railway finances). Rail Vikas Nigam Limited conceived and under its Neighbour hood First' Policy. constructed the project, on a 14-acre campus at a cost of Rs 30. Hallmarking for Gold jewellery and artefacts will be 85 crore. mandatory from 15th January 2021. 23. The Centre for Water Resources Development and Note: More than 26 thousand jewellers have taken the Management (CWRDM) has launched the Water 4 Change. Bureau of Indian Standards, BIS (Hallmarking) registration Note: Under the project, six prominent institutions from the till now. If anyone is found violating the set rules after 15th Netherlands will perform long-term research and field-level January 2021, they may attract a fine of minimum one lakh action on urban water management systems along with rupees or five times the value of the items or a jail term of Indian scientists. The project will bring solutions for water one year. problems in the cities of Kozhikode, Shimla, Bhuj and 31. As per Economist Intelligence Unit's 2019 Global Bhopal. The CWRDM was established by the Government of Microscope on Financial Inclusion report: Kerala to cater to the needs of research and development in Note: India placed among the top nations with the most water management of the state. conducive environment for financial inclusion in terms of 24. Union Minister Piyush Goyal has inaugurated the 2019 allowing non-banks to issue e-money.The overall Global Exhibition on Services (5th edition) in Bengaluru, environment for financial inclusion has improved globally Karnataka. with India, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay and Mexico have the Note: The inaugural function was also attended by Chief most favourable conditions for inclusive finance. Minister of Karnataka B. S. Yediyurappa. GES is an annual 32. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the National symposium to event established by the Department of Commerce, Union eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in New Delhi. Ministry of Commerce and Industry in association with Note: The theme of the symposium was “United to Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) and Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis”. During the symposium, Dr. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Harsh Vardhan signed a ‘Call to Action to eliminate 25. G Satheesh Reddy has been awarded honorary fellowship Lymphatic Filariasis by 2021’. The Lymphatic Filariasis is a by Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) of United Kingdom disease caused by a human parasitic worm called (UK). Wuchereria Bancrofti and spread by Culex Mosquitoes. Note: He is the first Indian recipient of the prestigious 33. 5th Indo-German Inter-Governmental Consultations held in award in more than 100 years. It is one of the world’s -- New Delhi. highest distinctions for aerospace achievement awarded for Note: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German only most exceptional contributions to the aerospace Chancellor Angela Merkel co-chaired the 5th Indo-German profession. It is considered as equivalent to Nobel Prize in Inter-Governmental Consultations to strengthen the "very the aerospace domain. close" relationship between the two countries. The two 26. The sixth Dornier aircraft squadron has been leaders also discuss bilateral issues including agriculture commissioned at Naval Air Enclave- Porbandar on Gujarat economic partnership, trade and investment. coast Indian Naval Air Squadron 314. 34. Telecom Regulatory Authority of Indian (TRAI) fixed phone Note: This squadron will operate the Dornier aircraft, a call ring time at 30 seconds on mobiles and 60 seconds for multi-role SRMR aircraft, with twin turboprop engine landline phones. manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited, Kanpur. Note: The time duration of alert for an incoming voice call, 27. The Aditya Birla Finance Ltd (ABFL) became the first which is neither answered nor rejected by the called party, company to list its commercial papers on the stock shall be thirty seconds for Cellular Mobile Telephone exchanges. Service and sixty seconds for Basic Telephone Service. Note: The value date of the commercial paper is November Telecom operators on their own were reducing incoming 28 and maturity date on February 7, 2020. call ring time to attract reverse calls from the subscriber of 28. Union Government has extended the date for making other networks. FASTag mandatory for toll payments on National Highways 35. According to a new academic paper- written by Santosh to 15th December 2019. Mehrotra and Jajati K Parida, The total employment during Note: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has 2011-12 and 2017-18 declined by - 9 million. equipped all Fee Plazas with Electronic Toll Collection Note: It has been published by the Centre of Sustainable System and to ease in availability of FASTag. It has also Employment at the Azim Premji University. The paper is launched MyFASTag APP whereby all information regarding based on both the recent “Employment and FASTag can be obtained. Unemployment” and “Unincorporated Non‐Agricultural

102 www.gradeup.co Enterprise” survey data of the National Sample Survey Note: The vessel MV Maheshwari, carrying 53 containers of (NSS). petrochemicals, edible oil and beverage will take 12-15 days 36. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi is collaborating to reach the IWAI terminal at Pandu in Assam’s Guwahati. with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to set National Waterway 2 (NW-2) is a section of the up a space technology cell at the campus. Brahmaputra River having a length of 891 km between the Note: The cell will work for carrying out focused research Bangladesh border near Dhubri and Sadiya in Assam. projects in the space technology domain with specific 43. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has launched a first deliverables. The IIT Delhi celebrating 50thConvocation on 2 of its kind job helpline number (76260-76260) for the November where Dr. K Sivan, Chairman, ISRO will be the unemployed youth of the state under Ghar Ghar Rozgar’ chief guest. programme. 37. Siemens Limited has signed a MoU with NTPC Limited to Note: The objective of this helpline is to reach every house identify, evaluate and set up reference use cases of in Punjab. In this process, a 110-seat call centre of Punjab hydrogen sector-coupling for various upstream and Job Helpline has also been created for the data to be downstream applications. prepared. Note: The collaboration is aimed at developing innovative 44. The first-ever India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise technologies, solutions and techniques to reduce the ‘Dustlik-2019’ has begun at Chirchiq Training Area dependence on Hydrocarbons in India. Siemens has also nearTashkent. inked a separate MoU with TERI for collaboration on Note: The exercise enabled the sharing of best practices technologies to support the energy transition in India and experiences between the Armed Forces of the two including sector-coupling. countries and will lead to greater operational effectiveness. 38. AYUSH Ministry has Inaugurated National Research 45. The Guinness World Records for the largest astrophysics Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders. lesson (45 minutes) and assembly of spectroscopes was Note: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for successfully achieved at the Science City, Kolkata (IISF- AYUSH Shri Shripad Yesso Naik inaugurated National 2019) Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders Note: Over 1,598 students has participated in the event. (NRIUMSD) in Hyderabad. It is upgraded institutions from 46. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has attended the 15th the Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CRIUM). meeting of the Governing Council of South Asia Co- 39. German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to invest 1 operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in Dhaka. billion euros over the next five years on environmentally Note: The SACEP is an inter-governmental organization friendly urban mobility in India. which was established in 1982. Its member countries Note: Merkel, whose visit to the country coincided with one Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, of the worst spells of air pollution in Delhi/NCR, also Pakistan and Sri Lanka aim to promote and support emphasized on the need to replace diesel-run public protection, management and enhancement of the transport with electric vehicles. Germany would also put in environment in the region. 200 million euros to reform the bus sector in Tamil Nadu. 47. Italian movie Despite the Fog is the opening movie at the 40. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 5th 50th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) India International Science Festival (IISF) through video 2019. conference. Note: The 100-minute film directed by Goran Paskaljevic Note: The theme for this year’s festival is RISEN India - narrates the tale of a child whose parents drown while Research, Innovation and Science Empowering the Nation. trying to migrate to Italy in a rubber boat. The 50th edition 41. The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled of IFFI witnessed the screening of over 200 best films from two new IT Initiatives (ICEDASH and ATITHI) for improved 76 countries. monitoring and pace of customs clearance of imported 48. Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development goods. Sanjay Dhotre has launched the Shala Darpan Portal of Note: ICEDASH is an Ease of Doing Business monitoring Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti. dashboard of the Indian Customs helping the public see the Note: Shala Darpan provides an integrated platform to daily Customs clearance times of import cargo at various meet the educational and administrative needs of all ports and airports. The ATITHI app will facilitate hassle-free stakeholders-students, teachers and parents. This will and faster clearance by Customs at the airports and integrate all Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas with a common enhance the experience of international tourists and other standard which includes around 636 schools and 2.67 visitors at the airports. million students. 42. The first-ever containerized cargo movement via the Indo- 49. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has released Bangladesh protocol route and Brahmaputra river will start the fifth edition of Wastelands Atlas - 2019. from Haldia (West Bengal).

103 www.gradeup.co Note: The Atlas, published jointly by Department of Land Note: It conducted this exercise to check the preparedness Resources and National Remote Sensing Centre, provides and response measures for search and rescue at sea in a robust geospatial information on wasteland. coordinated manner. The two days event organised by the 50. India has decided not to be part of the Regional Coast Guard District Headquarters - 11 (Goa) comprised of Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement in search and rescue workshop and tabletop exercise followed the national interest. by search and rescue exercise at sea. Note: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during his 57. India will be the host nation for the ‘No Money For Terror’ speech at the RCEP Summit in Bangkok. The Regional Conference to be held in 2020. Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed Note: The ‘No Money For Terror’ conference is organised by free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) of over 100 countries, of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) jointly known as the Egmont Group. (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, 58. The 25th Kolkata International Film Festival (eight-day) held the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and its six at the Netaji Indoor Stadium Kolkata. FTA partners (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia Note: Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan inaugurated the and New Zealand). festival at a glittering function at the Netaji Indoor Stadium 51. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the 10th in the city in presence of a galaxy of cine personalities and Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine in New Delhi. dignitaries of cultural and sports field. Noted film director Note: Within Asia, EM was first recognized in Singapore in Mahesh Bhatt referred the contribution of Bengal’s Movies 1984, followed by the Philippines, Turkey, South Korea, in the national perspective. 213 feature films and 152 short Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and India. and documentary films from 76 countries will be screened 52. The union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated state in 17 venues during the film extravaganza. of art railway station in Sultanpur Lodhi. Punjab. 59. The Golden Jubilee of International Film Festival of India Note: The railway station modelled on Sikh architecture (IFFI) 2019 will screen three films for differently abled. has been engineered to facilitate pilgrims visiting the holy Note: International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2019 will city. The Minister also released a book on the life and have the screening of Accessible India Films. This is a teachings of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji to commemorate Guru collaboration between IFFI, Saksham Bharat and UNESCO Sahab's 550th Prakash Purb. with the aim to promote the creation of inclusive spaces for 53. The Eleventh edition of Bal Sangam has begun in New the differently abled to access the joy of cinema through Delhi. Audio Deion.This unique film section will witness the Note: The four-day festival will showcase enthralling folk screening of three films, two in Hindi - Lage Raho Munna and traditional performing arts and folk theatre dedicated Bhai and M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story and one in Konkani- to children. As many as twelve States including Assam, Questao De Confusao in Konkani. Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat are participating in 60. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation the event. (MoSPI) has organized the 27th Conference of Central and 54. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Supreme Court State Statistical Organizations (COCSSO) in Kolkata. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi paved the way for the Note: The theme of this year’s Conference “Sustainable construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya. Development Goals (SDGs)”. Note: It also directed the Centre to allot an alternative five- 61. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque at launched its first all-electric experimental aircraft named-- a prominent place in the holy town. X-57 ‘Maxwell’. 55. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Integrated Note: The first delivery of the all-electric experimental check post of Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak in aircraft was taken from Empirical Systems Aerospace Punjab. (ESAero) in California, United States (US). Due to current Note: Mr. Modi flagged off the first batch of over 500 Indian battery limitations, Maxwell's design is envisioned for use in pilgrims led by Akal Takhat Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to short-haul flights as an air-taxi or commuter plane for a Gurdwara Darbar Sahib through the corridor. The corridor small number of passengers. connects ‘Dera Baba Nanak’ (in Gurdaspur district-India) to 62. The Union government of India has given approval for the ‘Gurdwara Darbar Sahib’ (in Kartarpur in Narowal setting up Four medical device parks. district of Pakistan). The Kartarpur Gurudwara (Darbar Note: The four parks will be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Sahib Kartarpur) is situated on the banks of river ‘Ravi’, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. These parks will provide considered to be the first gurdwara ever built. the necessary infrastructure, where companies can easily 56. Indian Coast Guard conducted the Regional level Search plug and play. The project of Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone and Rescue Workshop and Exercise - 2019 (ReSAREX - for creation of Common Facility Centre (CFC) for 2019).

104 www.gradeup.co Superconducting Magnetic Coil Testing and Research was On 26th January 2020, India will celebrate its 71st Republic given in-principle approval recently. Day. 63. The 50th- edition of International Film Festival of India 69. India gets USD 43 million from Green Climate Fund to boost (IFFI) showcase Eight movies from Russia. climate resilience. Note: 'Andrei Tarkovsky: A Cinema Prayer', is one of the Note: India kicked-off a USD 43 million project to boost movies to be featured among these Russian movies. The climate resilience in three coastal states in partnership with documentary by Tarkovsky is considered one of his the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The masterpieces. It recounts the director's life and works told project is funded by the Green Climate Fund, established by himself. In the film, he shares his memories, view of art within the framework of the United Nations Framework and reflections on the destiny of the artist and the meaning Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to assist of human existence. developing countries. 64. Newly discovered species of spider named after Sachin 70. Mangala Mani is the first woman scientist to spend 403 Tendulkar. days in Antarctica. Note: Mr. Dhruv Prajapati is a research scholar from the Note: Mani was part of an expedition team that went to Gujarat Ecological Education & Research (GEER) Bharati – India’s research station in Antarctica – in Foundation. One spider species was named after Indian November 2016. She was the only woman in the 23- cricketer Sachin Tendulkar as “Marengo Sachin Tendulkar”. member-team that went to the freezing continent this time. The other was named as “Indomarengo chavarapater” after 71. The Union Water Resources Ministry has set up a Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara, who played a key role in Committee to draft a new National Water Policy (NWP). creating awareness on education in the state of Kerala. The Committee will be chaired by Mihir Shah. 65. The defence ministry is organizing Def-Connect to showcase Note: The committee has 10 principal members, including the accomplishments of the Innovations for Defence Shashi Shekhar, a former secretary of Water Resources, Excellence (iDEX) initiative in New Delhi. and A.B. Pandya, former chairman of the Central Ground Note: The conference aims to bring together all Water Board. The NWP currently in force was drafted in stakeholders of the iDEX ecosystem, Ministry of defence, 2012 and is the third such policy since 1987 iDEX selected startups, Partner Incubators, Defence 72. The Supreme Court has held that the office of the Chief Innovation Organisation, Nodal agencies (Indian Army, Justice of India (CJI) is a public authority under the Right to Navy, Airforce), Defence Research Information (RTI) Act 2005. 66. The 39th edition of India International Trade Fair (IITF- Note: The judgment in this regard was made by a five-judge 2019) started at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. constitution bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi on Note: The theme for the 39th edition of the fair is ‘Ease of November 13, 2019. Doing Business’ inspired by India’s unique achievement of 73. The first woman Assistant Naval Attache and second rising to 63rd rank on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing woman defence personnel to be appointed for a diplomatic Business Index from 142nd rank in the year 2014. Several assignment in Russia --- Gogoi countries, including Australia, Iran, UK, and Vietnam will 74. The 6th World Congress on Rural and Agricultural Finance participate in the 14-day IITF-2019. This year the status of was held in New Delhi. ‘Partner Country’ has been accorded to ‘The Islamic Note: It was jointly hosted by the Asia-Pacific Rural and Republic of Afghanistan’ and ‘The Republic of Korea’ will be Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), National Bank for the ‘Focus Country’. Bihar and Jharkhand will be the focus Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Ministry states in this edition of the fair. of Agriculture, Government of India. 67. Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria has inaugurated the 58th 75. India-U.S. tri-services amphibious exercise Tiger Triumph Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ISAM) Annual has begun at Vishakhapatnam. Conference at Bengaluru. Note: The training events will enhance U.S.-India military- Note: The objective of the conference to address to-military relations and hone individual and small-unit skills contemporary issues and applications in the subject of in humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The aerospace medicine. The theme for this year’s conference is exercise will include staff-planning events as well as field ‘Changing Paradigms in Aerospace Healthcare’. training that simulates moving a humanitarian 68. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will be the Chief Guest at assistance/disaster relief force from ship to shore. the Republic Day Parade 2020. 76. CSIR- IMTECH, Chandigarh has signed a MoU with the Note: The year 2018 was historic when leaders from the 10 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay to promote ASEAN nations – Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, collaborative research. the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Note: The objective of this collaboration is to carry out state Brunei – were the chief guests at Republic Day celebration. of the art research in areas of healthcare especially in

105 www.gradeup.co projects and missions where both the institutes can 81. President Ram Nath Kovind presented the prestigious significantly complement each other. President's Colour to the Indian Naval Academy at 77. Two-day Regional Conference on the theme: “Replication Kannur,Kerala. of Good Governance Practices in Union Territories of J&K Note: President's Colour is a visible symbol of excellence and Ladakh” has begun in Jammu. and is earned through worthy contribution both during war Note: The Conference is organized by the Department of and peace. Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), 82. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) has launched a special Government of India in collaboration with the Government winter-grade diesel that remains unfrozen up to minus 33 of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. degree Celsius. 78. National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Note: The fuel would help provide year-round access to Advancement (NISHTHA) was launched in Jammu and snow-capped border regions and is part of India’s efforts to Kashmir. speed up strategic road connectivity. Note: The event was attended by around 300 teachers, Key 83. UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) has released a 28- Resource Persons (KRPs) and Chief Education Officers, DIET page booklet called ‘From uttapam to sprouted dal Principals and Educational Administrators. NISHTHA is a parantha’. National Mission aimed at improving learning outcomes at Note: It explains that nutritious food prepared at less than Elementary level through integrated Teacher Training 20 rupees will help in dealing with problems like 79. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has a set up an Online underweight, obesity and Anaemia in children. The book Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (OCSAE) Prevention and gives a detailed break-up of protein, carbohydrate, fat, total Investigation Unit at headquarter in New Delhi. fibre, iron, vitamin C and calcium content of the recipe. Note: It has been set up to counter the growing menace of 84. The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of the child porn on the internet. The new specialized unit under National Institute for Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) in Leh. the Special Crime Investigation Wing of the agency will Note: The setting up of the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa collect intelligence on those who are allegedly creating and (NISR) would provide an impetus for the revival of Sowa- transmitting such material on the internet. Rigpa in the Indian Sub-continent. It will be an autonomous 80. Smriti Irani Inaugurates Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh organization under the Ministry of AYUSH. (BPKK) to Tackle Malnutrition. 85. RSS Chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat has inaugurated the Note: The Poshan Atlas was inaugurated by Smriti Zubin International Principal’s Education Conference (IPEC) at Irani along with Bill Gates in New Delhi. The Bharatiya Nagpur. Poshan Krishi Kosh is a repository of diverse crops across Note: Noted mathematician Anand Kumar (Super 30 128 agro-climatic zones to help enable better nutritional founder) was honoured with Nachiketa Sarvottama Award outcomes. The Kosh aims to reduce malnutrition among on the occasion. Mr. Kumar dedicated this award to all the women and children across the country, through a multi- teachers who are working for the upliftment of sectoral results-based framework, including agriculture underprivileged children. October

1. Aarambh: The Centre’s first-ever common foundation 5. IIM Kozhikode and Mangalore Refineries and course for the 2019 batch probationer civil servants at Petrochemicals Ltd. have announced a special drive to the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat. support women entrepreneurs in the country -- “La Eve Note: The theme this year is ‘How to achieve the goal (meaning The Woman)” of making India a 5 trillion Dollar economy. 6. United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has 2. ‘Maharatna’ status has been granted by the launched a cinema advertisement campaign to raise Government to state-owned --- Hindustan Petroleum awareness and take steps against hunger and Corporation Limited & Power Grid Corporation of malnutrition in India -- Feed Our Future. India Limited. 7. Union Minister Harsh Vardhan has launched the postal 3. The Union Cabinet has approved the merger of loss- stamp under the ‘Corporate My Stamp’ scheme of making telecom firms BSNL and MTNL India Posts. 4. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare observed 8. NITI Aayog with Institute for Competitiveness as the the Vigilance Awareness Week -- 28th October to 2nd knowledge partner released the -- India Innovation November 2019. Index (III) 2019. Note:

106 www.gradeup.co • Karnataka is the most innovative major state in • All passengers travelling by Delhi-Lucknow Tejas India. Express will be provided free insurance of up to ₹25 • Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana, Haryana, lakh by IRCTC. Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Note: and Andhra Pradesh form the remaining top • In a first, IRCTC will offer a refund to travellers if the ten major states respectively. train gets delayed. 9. National Highway No. 703AA renamed as -- Shri Guru • If the Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express delays for over an Nanak Dev Ji Marg. hour, passengers will get a compensation of ₹100. • Note: The road starting from Kapurthala connecting For delay of two hours and more, the passengers will receive ₹250. Goindwal Sahib and terminating near Taran Taran in 15. Jaipur topped the list of cleanest railway stations in Punjab. the country - ‘Swachh Rail, Swachh Bharat 2019 10. India’s longest Tunnel Chenani- Nashri on NH 44, in • According to the ‘Swachh Rail, Swachh Bharat Jammu and Kashmir will be named after --- Dr Shyama 2019’ report, Jaipur topped the list of the cleanest Prasad Mukherjee (Bhartiya Jansangh Founder). railway station in India. 11. Railways Minister Piyush Goyal flagged off ‘Sewa • Three railway stations of Rajasthan have been Service’ trains -- 9. included in the list of top clean railway stations in Note: The trains are – Delhi to Shamli, Bhubaneswar to the country. Nayagarh town, Murkongselek to Dibrugarh, • In the Railway Cleanliness Survey conducted by the Coimbatore to Palani, Coimbatore to Pollachi, Vadnagar Ministry of Railways, Jaipur Junction has come first, to Mehsana, Asarya to Himmatnagar, Karur to Salem, Jodhpur railway station ranked second and Yesvantpur to Tumkur. Durgapura railway station ranked at the third spot. 12. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences in • A total of 720 stations and were included in the collaboration with the Union Health Ministry launched survey. the 1st-ever website and mobile application on oral • Since 2016, cleanliness survey is carried out by the health awareness – eDantSeva. Quality Council of India (QCI), an independent 13. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a body. four-day official visit to India – Key points of the report - Top 10 cleanest railway station - • On 03rd October, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister The top ten railway stations include seven cities of Sheikh Hasina paid a four-day official visit to India. Rajasthan. 33rd India Economic Summit in New Delhi • Jaipur (Rajasthan)

• Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was invited as the • Jodhpur (Rajasthan) Chief Guest at the 33rd edition of the India • Durgapura (Rajasthan) Economic Summit which was held in New Delhi. • Jammu Tawi • The summit was organized by the World Economic • Gandhinagar (Jaipur district) Forum (WEF) in partnership with Confederation of • Suratgarh (Rajasthan) Indian Industry (CII). • Vijayawada • The theme for the 2019 summit was ’Innovating for • Udaipur (Rajasthan) India: Strengthening South Asia, Impacting the • Ajmer (Rajasthan) World‘. • Haridwar 14. India’s first private train Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express Suburban stations - Suburban stations were included for flagged off – Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi the first time in this survey. Adityanath flagged off country’s first private train Delhi- • Andheri, Virar and Naigaon railway stations were Lucknow Tejas Express started its maiden journey from the top three among 109 suburban stations. Lucknow. Best railway zone • It will be the first train of Indian Railways that will • The North Western Railway (NWR), headquartered be entirely run by Indian Railway Catering and in Jaipur, has been ranked the best among the 17 Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). railway zones in the country.

107 www.gradeup.co • South Eastern Railway ranked at second place was 20. Amit Shah flags off Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express – and East Central Railway ranked at the third spot in Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off Delhi-Katra the list. Vande Bharat Express from the New Delhi Railway 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declares India open Station. defecation-free – On the occasion of 150th birth • This is the second Vande Bharat Express. The first anniversary of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, one runs in between Delhi and Varanasi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India as Open Note: Defecation Free (ODF). • Vande Bharat Express, also known as Train 18, is an • On 02nd October, 'Swachh Bharat Divas' program Indian semi-high speed intercity electric multiple was organized in Sabarmati, Ahmedabad where PM unit. Modi announced the country to be open • It was designed and built by Integral Coach Factory defecation free. Chennai under the Indian government's Make in • During the event, the PM Modi released India initiative over a span of 18 months. commemorative Rs 150 coins on Mahatma 21. Nation pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary. birth anniversary on 02nd October 2019 • According to the PM Modi, under the massive, • The Nation pays homage to the Father of the Swachh Bharat Mission India has built almost 11 Nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth crore toilets for about 60 crore people in just a anniversary today i.e. 2nd October 2019. period of 60 months. • The nation also remembers Former Prime Minister 17. Titan MD Bhaskar Bhat retires - The Managing Director Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 115th birth anniversary. (MD) of Titan company Bhaskar Bhat has retired after 22. India will shift to Bharat Stage Six (BS-VI) vehicular 33 years of service in the company on 30th September. emission norms from BS IV by April 2020 in order to Note: C.K. Venkataraman appointed new MD of Titan - curb vehicular pollution. This announcement was made C.K. Venkataraman has been appointed as the Managing by the Environment and Forest Minister Mr Prakash Director (MD) of Titan company with immediate effect from Javadekar in New Delhi. October 1. 23. Government launches eDant Seva – On October 7, 18. CISF to set up permanent deployment at Baglihar 2019, the eDant Seva was launched by the Ministry of Hydro Electric Power plant – According to sources, the Health and Family welfare. It is an initiative under the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is all set to have National Oral Health Program. a permanent deployment of more than 300 highly- 24. Ganga Aamantran initiative launched by Jal Shakti trained personnel at Baglihar Hydro Electric Power Minister – Ganga Aamantran is an initiative to connect plant in Jammu and Kashmir. stakeholders of the Ganga river. It is the first effort of Note: National Mission for Clean Ganga. • Baglihar Dam also known as Baglihar Hydroelectric 25. Govt. launches PRAKASH Portal – To bring better Power Project, is a run-of-the-river power project coordination for coal supplies among all stakeholders, on the Chenab River in the Ramban district of the PRAKASH portal was launched by Union Power Minister Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. (Independent charge) Raj Kumar Singh and Coal, Mines 19. India’s largest ‘Charkha’ made of waste plastic and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. inaugurated in Noida – Union Minister Smriti Irani • PRAKASH stands for - Power Rail Koyla Availability inaugurated India’s largest ‘Charkha’ made of Waste through Supply Harmony Portal Plastic in Noida. 26. Sarbat Da Bhala Express: Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Note: Harsh Vardhan and Harsimrat Kaur Badal flagged off • This ‘charkha’ (spinning wheel) made of used ‘Sarbat Da Bhala Express’ train at New Delhi railway plastic waste was inaugurated the eve of Mahatma station. Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. • The ‘New Delhi-Lohian Khas-New Delhi Intercity • The ‘charkha’, which symbolises Gandhi’s dream of Express’ was recently renamed as ‘Sarbat da Bhala Swadeshi (self-sufficing and self-reliance), Express’ by Indian Railways. measures 14ft, 20ft and 8ft and is made of 1,250 kg • The renamed train will run from New Delhi to of used plastic. Lohian Khas via holy city Sultanpur Lodhi.

108 www.gradeup.co 27. Kartarpur corridor: Former PM Manmohan Singh has accepted Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's invitation to join the inaugural event of Kartarpur corridor. September

• The Indian AI lab will be led by Dr. Manish Gupta, a 1. First Indigenous Fuel Cell System launched on CSIR renowned computer scientist in the country. Foundation Day – The President of India Ramnath Kovind 7. India Post expands speed post service to 6 new foreign unveiled the first Indigenous High-Temperature Fuel Cell countries – India Post expanded speed post service to six System. new foreign destinations in Asia, Europe and South • This system is developed by Council of Scientific America. and Industrial Research (CSIR) in partnership with • The Department of Posts has announced Indian industries under India’s flagship program commencing of International Speed Post (EMS) named “New Millennium Indian Technology Service to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Ecuador, Leadership Initiative (NMITLI)” on the occasion of Kazakhstan, Lithuania and North Macedonia. CSIR Foundation Day in New Delhi. 8. India’s 1st National Antimicrobial Resistance Hub set up in Note: Kolkata – India’s first National Antimicrobial Resistance Hub • The 77th foundation day of Council of Scientific and was recently inaugurated in Kolkata. The Kolkata centre Industrial Research (CSIR) was observed on 26th would be the hub for research on antibiotic resistance not September 2019. only for the country but for the entire South Asia. 2. NTPC to build India’s biggest solar park in Gujarat – India’s 9. India to fund 1000 PhD fellowships for ASEAN students at National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) plans IITs – India has formally launched an initiative to fund 1000 to set up a 5-gigawatt solar park in the western state of scholars from South East Asian countries to pursue PhD at Gujarat, which would be the biggest in the country. its 23 Indian Institutes of Technology. • It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of External 3. Telecom body approves Rs 8500 crore for mobile towers & Affairs and the Human Resource Development. optical fibres – The Digital Communication Commission, the • The scheme has an initial budget of Rs. 300 crore. highest decision making body in the Department of Telecom 10. Ravi Shankar Prasad launches Maritime Communication has approved multiple projects worth over Rs 8,500 crore. Services in India – Union Minister for Communications, • The projects aims to set up mobile towers and Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice laying of optical fibre, with an aim to provide Ravi Shankar Prasad has launched the Maritime improved connectivity. The commission also Communication Services at Mumbai, Maharashtra. approved a special scheme to cover upto 12,000 • Nelco, India’s leading VSAT solutions provider is the uncovered villages in aspirational districts. first Indian company that will now provide quality 4. Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank launches broadband services to the maritime sector. WAWE Summit 2019 – Human Resource Development 11. Centre to set up 12,500 Ayush Health and Wellness Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has launched Waste Centres – Union Government has set a target of setting up Management Accelerator for Aspiring Women 12,500 Ayush Health and Wellness Centres across the Entrepreneurs (WAWE) summit. country. • It will be jointly organized by All India Council for • Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Technical Education (AICTE) and Institute of Waste Homoeopathy Minister Shripad Yesso Naik Management (IIWM) at Jaipur. announced this during the inauguration of a Unani 5. India’s first central police university to come up in Greater Medical Centre and Siddha Clinical Research Unit. Noida – The country’s first central police university will be 12. PM Modi inaugurates multi-modal terminal at Jharkhand’s set up by the Union Home Ministry at the Yamuna Sahibganj – Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Expressway in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. second riverine multi modal terminal at Sahibgunj. 6. Google announces new AI research lab in India - Google Note: has announced that it will open an artificial intelligence (AI) based research lab “Google Research India” in Bengaluru.

109 www.gradeup.co • This is the second of the three Multi Modal • It is the first new smart industrial city in the country Terminals being constructed on river Ganga under and is spread over 10 thousand acres. It is part of Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP). the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial corridor. • Earlier, in November 2018 the Prime Minister had • PM Modi also inaugurated the Auric Hall, a six- inaugurated the MMT at Varanasi. storey building which will be both monitoring and • The MMTs are being built as part of the Jal Marg administrative nerve centre for a smart city. Vikas Project that aims to develop the stretch of • He also launched the Auric chatbot that will help River Ganga between Varanasi to Haldia. anyone get their problems addressed by the city administration. 13. 'TB Harega Desh Jeetega': A campaign to eliminate • Developed in the backward Marathwada region of tuberculosis from India – 'TB Harega Desh Jeetega': Union Maharashtra, this city is being described as the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan country's first greenfield industrial smart city. has launched a new ‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign’. 17. HRD Ministry awarded Institute of Eminence status to 5 • A National TB prevalence Survey was also launched public institutions – The Human Resource Development by the minister. ‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega Ministry has awarded the Institute of Eminence status to 5 Campaign’ campaign has been launched with an public institutions. aim to eliminate tuberculosis from India. • Each of the above university has to sign a MoU with the HRD Ministry and will lay out its plan to achieve 14. Govt constituted a Sanjay Mitra committee to look into the objective of becoming a world-class institution. assets, liabilities of J&K – The government has constituted The public institutions on the list will then be a three-member committee to look into the distribution of eligible for a government grant of RS 1,000 crore. assets and liabilities of Jammu and Kashmir between two The status was awarded to the following institutions: successor Union territories. It will come into existence on • IIT Madras October 31. • IIT Kharagpur • Former defence secretary Sanjay Mitra will be the • Delhi University chairman of the committee. The other members • Banaras Hindu University are - retired IAS officer Arun Goyal and retired • University of Hyderabad Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer Giriraj 18. GoI to spend 3.5 lakh crore rupees on Jal Jeevan Mission – Prasad Gupta. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the Important point - central government will spend 3.5 lakh crore rupees in the • As per Section 84 of the Act, the assets and next five years on ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ to deliver potable liabilities of the existing state of Jammu and water at every household across the country. Kashmir have to be apportioned between the • Jal Jeevan Mission involves saving water and Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and delivering water at one’s doorstep. Ladakh. 19. Tourism Minister inaugurates first-ever architectural LED 15. PM Modi crosses 50 million followers, becomes third most illumination at Qutub Minar – Minister of State for Culture followed leader – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has and Tourism Prahalad Singh Patel inaugurated first-ever crossed the mark of 50 million followers on his twitter architectural LED illumination at the Qutub Minar. account, becoming the third most followed world leader • With the illumination, the architectural beauty of after Donald Trump and Barack Obama. the 12th-century monument will display its historic • PM Modi is the most followed Indian on Twitter, majesty after sunset. Qutb Minar is a UNESCO even ahead of Bollywood superstars like Salman World Heritage Site is one of most visited historical Khan and Shahrukh Khan and Indian skipper Virat site in Delhi. Kohli. 20. Delhi’s IGI Airport Gets India’s Tallest ATC Tower – Delhi’s 16. First greenfield industrial smart city opened in Aurangabad Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport gets India’s tallest • On 7th September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ATC tower to enhance the safety and boost the efficiency of inaugurated the Aurangabad Industrial City (Aurik) air transport management services. in Aurangabad. • The Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the Delhi Air Traffic Service Complex,

110 www.gradeup.co which is the tallest Air Traffic Control tower in India • The main objective of the centre would be is to with a height of 102 metres. provide professionally managed services under one • The tower aims to reduce the pressure on roof to meet the demands of industry, start-ups controllers and provide relief to flyers from delays. and academia. The tower has over 45 workstations with better 25. Income tax dept creates a world record with the filing of operational area visibility. The tower has 49 lakh ITRs in one day – According to the Income Tax multilayered security. department, it has created a sort of world record by 21. INX Media case: P Chidambaram sent to Tihar jail till achieving a record Income Tax Return filing in a single day. September 19 - P Chidambaram has been sent to Tihar jail • While releasing the data on e-filing of ITRs, The till September 19, 2019. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said that the • The order was given by Rouse Avenue Court in IT department made history with an all-time high Delhi where the CBI's case against the former record of 49 lakh 29 thousand ITRs filed in a single Finance Minister in relation to INX Media day on August 31. corruption case was being heard. 26. September month to be celebrated as 'Rashtriya Poshan 22. Ministry of culture rolls out 25 new mobile science Maah' – Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his latest Mann Ki museums buses – Union Minister of State for Culture and Baat programme announced to celebrate September 2019 Tourism (Independent Charge), flagged off the first-ever as a month of nutrition. The month of September will be Mobile Science Exhibition buses for the entire Ladakh celebrated as ‘Poshan Abhiyaan’ or 'Rashtriya Poshan Maah' Region in Leh. across India. • The Minister simultaneously launched 25 new • This year the theme is 'Complementary Feeding'. Mobile Science Exhibition buses for Aspirational About POSHAN Abhiyaan Districts of India. • The POSHAN Abhiyaan, an overarching scheme for 23. First metro coach manufactured by Bharat Earth Movers holistic nourishment, was launched by Prime inaugurated by PM Modi Minister Narendra Modi in March 2018 at • On 07th September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. inaugurated the first metro coach manufactured by • POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) is a Bharat Earth Movers in Mumbai. scheme of Ministry of Women and Child • Bharat Earth Movers (BEML) has built it in just 75 Development. days. • POSHAN stands for - Prime Minister’s Overarching • Prime Minister laid the foundation stones for three Scheme for Holistic Nutrition. Metro corridors worth over 19,000 crore rupees. • The Abhiyaan targets to reduce stunting, under- • The three corridors, namely Gaimukh-Shivaji nutrition, anaemia (among young children, women Chowk; Wadala-CST and Kalyan-Taloja are together and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight expected to carry more than 40 lakh commuters by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively. daily. • The target of the mission is to bring down stunting Note: among children in the age group 0-6 years from • BEML (formerly known as Bharat Earth Movers 38.4% to 25% by 2022. Limited) is an Indian Public Sector Undertaking. Its 27. Govt. to set up 12,500 AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres headquarters is located in Bengaluru. across country – Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 24. IIT Delhi to establish shared research infrastructure 'SATHI' government’s target of setting up 12,500 AYUSH (Ayurveda, – Indian Institute of Delhi (IIT Delhi) will set up a science and Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) technology infrastructure facility centre named Centres across India. Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institute • Out of which government is trying to set up 4000 (SATHI). such centres in 2019 itself. The announcement was • The centre will be set up in the Sonepat campus made by PM Modi during giving away Yoga Awards (Haryana) of IIT Delhi. to winners for Outstanding Contribution for • The Department of Science and Technology (DST) Promotion and Development of Yoga in New Delhi. has selected Indian Institute of Delhi (IIT Delhi) for 28. Country's longest electrified rail tunnel inaugurated in setting up 'SATHI' centre in the country. Andhra Pradesh – Vice-President of India inaugurated the

111 www.gradeup.co country's longest electrified rail tunnel between Cherlopalli • The height of the tunnel (rail level to roof) is 6.5 and Rapuru and the electrified railway line between meters and the minimum height of the contact Venkatachalam and Obulavaripalli in Andhra Pradesh. The wire is maintained at 5.2 meters. length of the rail tunnel is 6.6 kilometre. 29. Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi • The South-Central Railway (SCR) zone of the Indian has approved establishment of International Coalition for Railways has commissioned India’s longest Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) along with its electrified railway tunnel in Andhra Pradesh. supporting Secretariat Office in New Delhi. • It is situated between Cherlopalli and Rapuru • CDRI is proposed to be launched at United Nations Railway stations in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. (UN) Climate Action Summit scheduled to be held in New York, US on 23rd September 2019.

State Affairs January 1. Indian e-commerce company Flipkart has signed an 4. The Pacific nation of Palau has become the first country in agreement with MoHUA to support DAY-NULM. the world to ban sunscreen that is harmful to corals and Note: Flipkart has signed a memorandum of understanding sea life. (MoU) with the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry to Note: From January 1, sunscreen that includes ingredients support the ministry’s ‘Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - like oxybenzone and octinoxate is no longer allowed to be National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)’.Under worn or sold in the Palau. The compounds are commonly the MoU Flipkart will sell the products made by women used in sunscreen formulas as they absorb ultraviolet A self-help groups under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- rays. The pristine islands, which have a combined National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) on the e- population of about 20000, are a famed diving location, commerce platform.The e-commerce company will and their lagoon is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. collaborate with state missions to establish the 'Flipkart 5. UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has Samarth programme' in 22 states in India. launched a dedicated women helpline -- Damini. 2. The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to introduce Note: It will boost women’s safety in Roadways buses. As door-delivery of sand from 2nd January 2020. an extension of “Nirbhaya Yojana” of the central Note: As a pilot project, it is to be started from in Krishna government a unique number, “81142-77777”, has been district on an experimental basis and then extend it. Under subscribed for the helpline. By using this ‘Damini’ helpline this initiative, the AP government will deliver sand at women passengers can lodge their complaints by calling or doorsteps and collect transportation charges from the by using WhatsApp service. customers. In order to make the initiative successful, the 6. Entire Nagaland declared ‘disturbed area’ for six more Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation will months under AFSPA. stock 15 lakh tons of sand per month for the next four Note: The entire state of Nagaland has been declared a months. disturbed area for a period of six months under the Armed 3. The Kerala.Government has passed a resolution to roll Forces (Special Powers) Act, AFSPA. The Act empowers back the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest Note: According to the Government of Kerala, the act was anyone without any prior notice. against secularism and has triggered widespread protests 7. Assam state zoo first to breed endangered Hargila. in the country. The act also dented India’s image among Note:Hargila is currently on the brink of extinction due to the international community.The Citizenship Amendment habitat loss stemming from indiscriminate felling of big Act, 2019 was passed in December 2019. The act amended trees and dwindling wetlands. The Endangered Greater the Citizenship act passed in 1955. It allows Hindus, Adjutant stork is one of the rarest species of Storks out of Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, and Parsi religious twenty species of Storks in the world. In India, eight minorities to gain Indian citizenship. species of residential storks are found, out of which Greater Adjutant is one of them.

112 www.gradeup.co 8. Maharashtra Government has launched ‘Cyber Safe 9. ISRO to set up Human Space Flight Centre in Challakere, Women’ initiative. Karnataka. Note: Maharashtra Government has launched a ‘Cyber Note: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will Safe Women’ initiative to ensure that women and children establish a Massive Human Space Flight Center in the do not fall prey to these cyber-criminal activities. Under Challakere in Chitradurga district of Karnataka. For this the initiative, various awareness camps will be held across ISRO has proposed 2,700 crores of the infrastructure plan all the districts of the state regarding cyber safety to help to construct the facility that will become operational in in educating women about how the web is used by anti- three years. social elements and child predators to commit various 10. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has decided to types of Women Science Congress held in Bengaluru. observe 2020 as the “Year of Mobility” for the welfare of Note:DRDO Aeronautical Systems Director General the troops. Dr.Tessy Thomas who is known as Missile Woman of India Note: It will focus on the construction of residential units graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.The women’s and the implementation of welfare measures for the science congress aims to provide a single platform for troops. In the year 2020, the Central Industrial Security women working in different arena of science and Force (CISF) will aim at creating the infrastructure for their technology to showcase their achievements and families. It will also aim at focusing on sports and physical experiences. It will also prepare a vision document or a fitness leveraging modern gadgetry. The CISF guard civil road map for women in science and technology and airports, nuclear power stations, mines, thermal power recommend policies to enhance the role and utilize the full stations in the private domain as well. potential of women in science and technology.

December

1. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has inaugurated the the State by providing universal access to water supply Multi-Media Exhibition at World War II museum --- and sanitation. Kisama. 4. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has Note: For the first time in the history of Hornbill festival, inaugurated the first-ever North East Food Show at Polo Bureau of Outreach & Communication, Ministry of Grounds, Shillong. Information & Broadcasting is organising a Multi-Media Note: The food show will provide a strong platform and Exhibition commemorating the 150th Birth Anniversary of network to different stakeholders. There are different Mahatma Gandhi. technologies and products relating to the food industry 2. A three-day Bharatnatyam dance festival with live which people are not aware of, and the show will serve as Carnatic music ensemble held at Chhayanaut auditorium the bridge to connect with one another. It will also be an Rongarpon. opportunity for these majors to source products not Note: It has been Organized by Kolpotoru, artistes available anywhere else and to introduce their products Shudha Srimoyee Das, Shammy Akter and Zuairiyah Mouli to the region will be presenting their solo recitals respectively on 5. Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has inaugurated December 2, 3 and 4. Musicians are coming all the way Avantee mega Food Park in Dewas. Madhya Pradesh. from Bangalore, India for this festival. These dancers have Note: This first food park of central India is spread over performed in various dance festivals in Bangladesh, India 51 acres and has been constructed at a cost of about 150 and abroad. crore rupees. About 5 thousand local people will get 3. The Union government and Asian Development Bank employment from this Mega Food Park. Processing of (ADB) have signed the 206-million-dollar loan agreement soyabean, gram, wheat and other grains and vegetables to develop water supply and sewerage infrastructure in 5 will be done in the park. Warehouses will also be opened cities of --- Tamil Nadu. in Indore, Ujjain, Dhar and Agar in the next phases. Note: The project will target four cities namely Ambur, 6. Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik has launched e- Tiruchirappalli, Tiruppur, Vellore, and Madurai for learning mobile app for school students ‘Madhu’. developing sewage collection and treatment and Note: It is an e-learning mobile phone application which drainage systems. It will also strengthen the capacities of will help school students to understand their subjects in a Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for improved service delivery. better and most efficient way. Through this app, the The project will improve the lives of the urban people in students will be able to access the video explanation of the topics they were taught in their classroom. The app is

113 www.gradeup.co named after ‘Utkal Gourab’ Madhusudan Das, developed applications, including CCTV-based public safety and by Ganjam district administration. adaptive traffic management system, smart parking 7. The Startup India Global Venture Capital Summit-2019 system, water supply management system, pollution (2nd edition) held in Goa. monitoring, property tax management system and asset Note: The theme for Startup India Global Venture Capital management system. It has been developed as the nerve Summit 2019 ‘India Opportunity: Investing in tomorrow centre to provide multifaceted online smart services to together’. The event will be organized by the Department people. for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), in 13. Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has inaugurated partnership with Government of Goa. The key objectives Imphal to Dimapur direct flight service at Imphal Airport. of the Summit are to show India’s opportunity in the Note: The flight service which is being operated by sectors of E-Mobility, FinTech, MedTech, Enterprise Alliance Air would be operational thrice a week. This Software, EdTech, Genomics and Lifesciences. better connectivity would build deeper connections 8. President Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone to among the people of the two states. the memorial being built in memory of the Paika 14. Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has inaugurated rebellion. Avantee mega Food Park in Madhya Pradesh. Note: Paika rebellion is a 200-year-old armed revolt in Note: This first food park of central India is spread over 1817 against the British East India Company in Odisha. 51 acres and has been constructed at a cost of about 150 The memorial is seen as an epitome of Odisha’s valour crore rupees. Around 5 thousand local people will get and will serve as an inspiration for the youth. The Paika employment from this Mega Food Park. Processing of Rebellion memorial which will come up in 10 acres of soyabean, gram, wheat and other grains and vegetables land will be a source of inspiration for the youths and will be done in the park. generations to come 15. Kamal Nath has inaugurated 2nd Eklavya Model 9. Assam has formed a squad to tackle human-wildlife Residential School (EMRS) All India Sports Competition conflicts in the state. at TT Nagar Stadium, Bhopal. Note: The squad would be stationed at 15 major human- Note: Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) wildlife conflict districts in order to mitigate the problem scheme is one of the flagship interventions of the and to ensure the safety of both humans and wildlife. Ministry of Tribal Affairs introduced in 1997-98 to ensure Currently, The squads will be equipped with 150 numbers tribal students get access to quality education in the of 12 bore pump action guns, 15,000 rounds of rubber remote tribal areas. Tribal Folk artists from Madhya bullets and other essential items. Pradesh and other states will perform cultural 10. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy programmes during the event. As many as 4500 players has launched a scheme at his camp office at Tadepalli -- of 284 Eklavya Schools of 20 states will exhibit their skills YSR Law Nestham Scheme. in 16 sports disciplines during the competition. Note: Under this scheme, a stipend of Rs 5,000 has been 16. Anthony Joshua reclaimed his world heavyweight crown. credited in the accounts of beneficiary junior lawyers Note: Joshua produced a masterclass performance to with the click of a button. Lawyers thanked the Chief regain his IBF, WBA and WBO titles in emphatic fashion at Minister for granting Rs 100 crore to Lawyers' Welfare Ad Diriyah in Saudi Arabia. Dominating from the outset, Fund and for giving a stipend of Rs 5,000 to junior Joshua won by margins of 118-110 on two scorecards lawyers. with the third judge making it 119-109. 11. The Punjab Cabinet headed by Captain Amarinder Singh 17. A three-day National Tribal Dance Festival will be held in gave in-principle approval to amend the Punjab Village Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Common Land (Regulation) Rules, 1964, Note: Nearly 1,400 artists belonging to 151 art troupes Note: It will create land banks in rural areas to boost from 23 states and guest artists from six countries industrial development in the city. The Cabinet cleared including Sri Lanka, Belarus, Uganda and Bangladesh will the proposal to provide special provision for transfer of participate in this tribal folk cultural programme. Shamlat Lands for development of industrial 18. The Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime has been extended to infrastructure projects, to be implemented by Industry Manipur. Department and Punjab Small Industries & Export Note: Manipur is the fourth state after Arunachal Corporation. Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram where the ILP regime 12. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has has been made applicable. To visit the ILP-regime states, inaugurated Gurgaon's ambitious Integrated Command outsiders, including people from other states of the and Control Centre (ICCC). country, need to take permission. Inner Line Permit (ILP) Note: The ICCC has been designed to serve as the nodal is an official travel document issued by the Government point for all online data related to the Smart City

114 www.gradeup.co of India to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a musicians and instrumentalists from all over the world to protected area for a limited period. showcase their talent. 19. The Puducherry government unveiled a start-up policy. 25. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has Note: The objective of the policy to create a corpus fund inaugurated the International Film Festival in Shilpkala of Rs. 10 crores to support the setting up of start-up village of Khajuraho. incubators and to develop co-working spaces. A startup Note: Films from the country and abroad including (or startup) is a company or project initiated by an Bundelkhandi will be screened at the Tapra Talkies made entrepreneur to seek, effectively develop, and validate a for the festival. The International Khajuraho Film Festival scalable business model. is being organized by the Prayas Sanstha in collaboration 20. Andhra Pradesh Government has approved the creation with the State Government. Events like interaction with of fast-track courts in the state to curb crimes against film stars, film making workshop, mobile film making women and children. workshop, plays, programmes for promoting local art and Note: It is proposed to complete the case along with the culture, herbal forest fair, animal fair etc. are also punishment within 21 days of the registration of the FIR. organized during the Film Festival. This decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held on 26. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh inaugurated the three days under the chairmanship of Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan State-level Orange festival at Tamenglong (Manipur). Reddy. Note: The state government under the sponsorship of 21. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy North Eastern Council organise the festival annually to has inaugurated the Virtual Police Station at Andhra promote the fruit and encourage its growers. As part of University. the festival, cultural show, traditional games, orange Note: The Virtual Police Station (as a pilot project) has queen completion, a seminar for growers will be held. been set up on the suggestion of Andhra University’s Tamenglong district is the largest producer of orange fruit Vice-Chancellor to make it easy for students to report in Manipur. their grievances. The initiative is expected to help bridge 27. Odisha Govt. has launched ‘Jalsathi’ programme . the gap between students and the police department. Note: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched 22. West Bengal has been selected for the 1st prize in 100- the ‘Jalsathi’ programme and ‘JalSathi’ App to ensure Day Work Programme for Promoting Livelihoods. supply of safe drinking water to all households in the Note: The Rural Development Ministry has selected state. The Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO) signed Bankura and Cooch Behar Districts of the state for 1st and a memorandum of understanding with the women 2nd positions among districts in the country in federations in Bhubaneswar for the implementation of implementation of rural job scheme. The Chief Minister the programme. Mamata Banerjee also informed that Baburmahal Gram 28. Union Minister Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot has released Panchayat of Kulpi in South 24 Parganas District has also the Braille Edition of the book -- Exam Warriors. bagged the best performance award from the Centre. Note: The book has been authored by Prime Minister Shri 23. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has Narendra Modi. The braille version (English and Hindi) inaugurated the barcoding system of Forensic Science has been printed by Rajasthan Netraheen Kalyan Sangh in Laboratory (FSL) -- TRAKEA. Jaipur. The book contains a detailed design of the Note: According to Haryana police, it helps to automate animated picture and various yoga asanas which will let the entire procedure, right from the moment when students imagine the pictorial graphics with ease. It will forensic experts collect vital samples from the scene of boost the confidence level of these students and help the crime to conducting an analysis of the samples.Now, them get success in various competitive exams. Haryana became the first state in the country to 29. The security cover of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan introduce this unique barcoding system. The Reddy has been strengthened with the induction of ‘TRAKEA’software has been developed by Amit Mishra, a OCTOPUS. software engineer who was in Bhondsi jail for 13 months Note: The Organisation for Counter-Terrorist Operations imprisoned on the charge of killing his wife (OCTOPUS) is an elite force for counter-terror in the 24. Popular classical music festival held in Gwalior, Madhya state. A team of 32 members divided into five teams Pradesh -- Tansen Samaroh. would be part of the security. Note: The five-day festival is celebrated every year in the 30. The 40-day harshest winter period in Kashmir has begun memory of one of the most eminent singers of Indian with the upper reaches of the valley -- Chillai-Kalan. history, ‘Mian Tansen’.Pandit Vidyadhar Vyas will be Note: These 40 days are when the chances of snowfall honoured with this year's prestigious Tansen Samman. are the highest and the maximum temperature drops On this occasion, the music-driven platform is used by the considerably.

115 www.gradeup.co 31. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated the Note: The National Tribal Dance Festival is being first Janta Clinic in Malviya Nagar, Jaipur. organized in Chhattisgarh for the first time. More than Note: In its first phase, 12 Janta Clinics will be opened in 1300 participants from 25 states & UTs of the country Jaipur where people would get free medicines and free and six countries are participating in this three-day dance medical examinations in some cases. Later, in the second fest. Nearly 1,400 artists belonging to 151 art troupes and third phases of this scheme, Janta Clinics will be from 23 states and guest artists from six countries opened in other areas. including Sri Lanka, Belarus, Uganda and Bangladesh will 32. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy participate in this tribal folk cultural programme launched a scheme for handloom weavers -- YSR 36. Union Territory (UT) is celebrating Losar Festival -- Nethanna Nestham. Ladakh. Note: This scheme as per his promise made to the Note: People of various parts of Ladakh region, celebrate handloom weavers during his 3,648 km Praja Sankalpa Losar on the 1st Day of the Eleventh Month of Tibetan Yatra.The scheme will benefit 85,000 handloom weaver Calendar correlating to a date in the Gregorian calendar. families in the State. “Under the scheme, Rs 24,000 will The celebrations continue for three to nine days in be credited directly into the bank accounts of the different parts of Ladakh. Losar Festival celebrations weavers having own looms every year. The amount will include making symbolic meals and offerings to God and not be adjusted to the old dues of the beneficiary to the Goddess. This year, it will be joyous Losar festival bank. celebrations in the newly born Union Territory Ladakh. 33. Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express depicting 37. 76th Anniversary of First Flag Hoisting by Netaji Subhas Odisha's Art and culture flagged off by Dharmendra Chandra Bose at Port Blair. Pradhan. Note:Lt Governor Admiral DK Joshi and Minister of State Note: The train has been draped in high-quality designs for Health & Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey on vinyl wrapping showcasing dance forms, hoisted the National Flag at Flag Point, Port Blair. archaeological monuments, traditional Pattachitra, and Subhash Mela Committee Swarajdweep organised a bike flora and fauna of Odisha. East Coast Railway (ECoR) and rally and a cultural programme. National Aluminium Limited Company (NALCO) had 38. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has signed an agreement in this regard. Mr. Pradhan also announced to observe the year 2020 as Susashan launched unreserved train tickets in Odia language, which Sankalp Varsh. will be available at 317 stations across the state. Note: As a part of this, suggestions and reforms in the 34. The country's first university for the transgender field of governance would be invited from people of the community will be opened in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar State. He dedicated a website would also be prepared on district. which the people could upload their suggestions. Note: It will facilitate its members to study right from 39. Five-day event ‘Mandu Festival’ (1st- edition) kicked-off class one to PG and even do research and get a PhD at Mandu (Madhya Pradesh) degree. The university is being built by the Akhil Bhartiya Note: Mandu Festival’ has been organised by Madhya Kinnar Siksha Seva Trust (All-India transgender education Pradesh Tourism Board to dive deep into the rich history service trust). of the city. Based on the idea of Khojne Me Kho Jao, the 35. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has inaugurated the Mandu festival is offering an eclectic mix of performing National Tribal Dance Festival in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. arts, workshops, nature trails, food, architecture and music to the visitors.

November

1. President Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone to (last prepared in 1989). According to Mr. Sonowal, the the memorial being built in memory of the Paika state government has given a lot of emphasis in preparing rebellion. the Policy to safeguard the interest of the indigenous Note: A 200-year-old armed revolt in 1817 against the people. British East India Company in Odisha. The proposed 3. The Centre and Asian Development Bank (ADB) has project will come up at the foothills of Barunei hills in signed an agreement to extend 91 million US dollar loan Khurda district, Odisha to modernize the Vijayanagara Channel Irrigation 2. The Assam Govt. has released the new Land Policy 2019. Systems. Note: The Land Policy has been prepared by the Revenue Note: It prepares river basin management plans in the and Disaster Management Department after 30 years. Krishna river basin. It will help improve irrigation water

116 www.gradeup.co use efficiency and contribute to improving sustainable triple-drug categories in which they will be provided DEC water security in Karnataka. The investment programme tablet, Albendazole and ivermectin. will help Karnataka’s water agencies better draw up and 10. Gujarat Govt. has announced a relief package 3,795 crore roll out effective river basin management plans. rupees for farmers who suffered crop loss due to 4. A three-day Global Buddhist Congregation has begun at unseasonal rains. Nagsenvan in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Note: The relief package will help more than 56 lakh Note: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has delivered farmers across the state. According to Deputy Chief two lectures in the Congregation. Buddhist monks and Minister Nitin Patel, total package (1,641 crore rupees) followers of the religion from across the globe arrived will be given through a budgetary provision and 2,145 here to attend this Congregation crores under the State Disaster Response Fund. Farmers 5. Jitendra Singh inaugurates ‘Destination North East’ will get assistance in the range of 4,000 rupees to 13,000 Festival in Varanasi. rupees Note: All 8 North-East states have been presented at the 11. The Madhya Pradesh Govt has announced that sports event along with their handicrafts, handloom, organic persons of the state will get 5% reservation in products and cultural troupes. The visitors will have live government jobs. experiences of the artisans and artists from the NE states Note: The Minister also announced that children from all working on their looms and crafts, performing their songs CBSE, government and private schools would be involved and dances in the open stage during the day. in the Under 16 state-level Olympics. At present, the 6. The Assam Government will start Arundhati gold scheme competition is being organized for children above 16 by January 2020 for the registered newly married years of age. It includes 10 sports (hockey, basketball, couples. football, , kabaddi, kho-kho, athletics, wrestling, Note: Under the scheme, an amount of 30 thousand badminton and table tennis). rupees will be given to the bride to purchase gold. 12. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated According to Assam Finance minister Himanta Biswa the 8th National Tribal Craft Mela at State Tribal Sarma, the scheme is aimed to promote marriage Museum Complex in Bhubaneswar. registrations and prevent under-age marriages in the Note: As a part of Odisha Government’s ‘5Ts’ initiative, state. The annual income of the bride and her father 45 Supplementary Readers prepared in 21 Tribal should not be more than 5 lakh rupees per year to get languages were released simultaneously by CM Patnaik. the benefit. The objective of the National Tribal Craft Mela is to 7. The Kerala Government has decided to ban the preserve, promote and popularize traditional tribal art manufacture, sale and storage of one-time-use plastic and crafts. items from 1st of January 2019. 13. Uttar Pradesh, Etawah Lion Safari opened for public Note: Plastic carry bags, plastic sheets, cooling films, without the lion segment. plastic plates, cups, thermocol and Styrofoam-based Note: The Safari has been inaugurated by the Uttar items and others will be covered under the ban. A fine of Pradesh Forest Minister Dara Singh Chauhan. It is spread 10,000 rupees will be slapped on manufacturers, in 350 hectares of land and has been developed as an wholesalers and small traders who defy the ban. If the educative tourist destination for children as well as ban is violated for the second time, the fine will be youths.It is one of the biggest safari parks in Asia, spread 25,000 rupees. over an area of 350 hectares (860 acres). 8. Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has inaugurated 14. The Uttar Pradesh government will set up state's first the week-long Manipur Sangai Festival 2019 at Hapta vulture conservation and breeding centre in farenda Kangjeibung, Imphal. area of Maharajganj district. Note: During the festival, cultural programmes, Note: The new centre will be set up on the lines of Jatayu traditional games, folk dance and classical music will be Conservation Centre at Pinjore in Haryana (first in the performed by different communities of the State as well country). It would be set up in association with Bombay as from other States. The festival will conclude on the Natural History Society, a wildlife research organization. 30th of this month. 15. The Chhattisgarh state is set to have Guru Ghasidas 9. Uttar Pradesh Health & Family Welfare Minister Jai National Park in Kotiya district as its fourth ‘tiger Pratap Singh has launched a massive immunisation reserve’. campaign against the filariasis or Filaria. Note: At present there are three tiger reserves in state: Note: Under this campaign, more than 65 thousand ➢ Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in Bilaspur. teams of health workers will distribute medicines to ➢ Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve in Gariaband, around 6.5 crore people till 10 December. This year, ➢ Indravati Tiger Reserve in Bijapur district. state’s 19 districts have been divided in double drug and

117 www.gradeup.co 16. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved the set up in nine places of the state. Hundreds of uprooted 2nd tranche of USD 150 million for West Bengal. trees have blocked thoroughfares in Kolkata and its fringe Note: The board of ADB approved a loan of USD 300 areas. million to continue a comprehensive series of fiscal 25. Gujarat Govt. has given approval to the world’s first CNG reforms in West Bengal to revive the financial health of terminal at Bhavnagar port. public sector enterprises. Note: The joint venture of United Kingdom-based 17. Assam Government has prohibited manufacture and sale Foresight Group and Mumbai-based Padmanabh Mafatlal of gutkha, pan masala or any others chewing material in Group will invest 1,900 crore rupees to set up a CNG the state. terminal at Bhavnagar port. Proposed CNG terminal will Note: According to Food Safety commissioner, have an annual capacity of 1.5 metric tonnes. manufacture, storage, sale, display and transportation of 26. As per Maharashtra Governor’s Bhagat Singh Koshyari any products containing tobacco or nicotine are banned recommendation, President Ram Nath Kovind signed a in the state for one year. proclamation imposing President’s rule in Maharashtra. 18. Shipping Ministry gave approval for the development of Note: The state legislative assembly has been kept under Loktak Inland Waterways improvement project in suspended animation. In India, the president's rule is the Manipur. suspension of state government and imposition of direct Note: The estimated cost of the project is over 25 crore central government rule in a state. rupees. The Loktak Lake is the largest fresh-water lake in 27. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has launched an Northeast located at Moirang in Manipur. online registration portal to facilitate setting up of new 19. According to the Election Commission, Jharkhand MSME units. assembly polls will be held in five phases between 30th Note: Mr. Rupani approved the first online application November to 20 December. through the portal and issued a certificate through an e- Note: As per the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, mail to a woman entrepreneur. the polls to 81-member assembly will be held on 28. The Supreme Court upheld the disqualification of November 30, December 7, 12, 16 and 20. The counting Congress-JD (S) MLA who had resigned this year 17 of votes will take place on 23rd December. Jharkhand was MLAs. formed in the year 2000 by dividing Bihar into two-state. Note: Now, the Supreme Court allowed them to contest 20. The National Tribal festival (15-day Aadi Mahotsav) held the election. The speaker of legislative assembly Ramesh in New Delhi. Kumar had disqualified 17 rebel MLAs before the Note: The theme of the festival is a celebration of the confidence motion of the HD Kumaraswamy government spirit of tribal culture, craft, cuisine and commerce. in the assembly. Kumaraswamy's government resigned 21. The French Development Agency (AFD) and Assam govt. after failing to get a trust vote in the assembly. have signed an agreement for supporting Phase II of 29. The Haryana government has decided to bring more Assam Project for Forest and Biodiversity Conservation crops under its ‘Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojna (BBY)’ (APFBC). scheme. Note: The total budget for the second phase is Rs 500 Note: The decision was taken at a BBY’s review meeting crore. The project was launched in response to the which was presided by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar threats posed by deforestation, poaching and over- Lal Khattar. Under BBY scheme, farmers get compensated dependence of local communities on forest resources. for selling their crop at a price lower than that fixed by 22. The Indian Railways has installed two ‘Health ATMs’ at the government the Charbagh railway station in Lucknow. 30. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh visited Arunachal Note: The kiosks, promoted by YOLO Health ATM, Pradesh to attend the Maitree Diwas celebrations (11th provide 16 health check-ups for Rs 50-100. There are two edition) at Tawang. types of check-ups a 9-minute one that costs Rs 100, and Note: Maitree Diwas (Civil-Military Friendship) will be a 6-minute one that costs Rs 50. celebrated for two days at Gyalwa Tsangyang Gyatso High 23. Sanskrit lovers from 17th countries are attended the Altitude Stadium Tawang. Mr. Rajnath Singh will also three-day mega event in New Delhi. inaugurate Sisseri River Bridge and National Highway-52 Note: According to Minister of State for External Affairs in East Siang District. V.Muraleedharan, Sanskrit continues to be prevalent in 31. Haryana Government has constituted an Economic the society as it is used by the people across the country. Advisory Council (EAC) for five years to promote 24. Cyclone Bulbul claims at least ten lives and affected 2.73 industries in the state. lakh families as it hit the coastal districts of West Bengal. Note: The Economic Advisory Council will comprise Note: The cyclone has also damaged hundreds of houses. membership-based advisory panel and will be headed by Nearly two lakh people have been moved to relief camps the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. This council

118 www.gradeup.co would be constituted for 5 years, in which the considered as “niche and luxury” products in the country government members would remain as permanent and abroad. members of the council, while the members of the 38. Union Minister Harsh Vardhan has launched ‘SAANS’ private sector would serve a term of 2 years. campaign to reduce child mortality due to pneumonia in 32. The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a dedicated Gujarat. web portal and a mobile application for sugarcane Note: Mr. Vardhan launched the campaign while farmers of the state -- e-Ganna App. inaugurating the 6th National Summit on Good, Note: The web portal and e-Ganna App will help in Replicable Practices and Innovations in Gujarat. The eradicating cane mafia and middleman and strengthen objective of the SAANS campaign to reduce child cane development societies. The portal and the App will mortality due to pneumonia, which contributes to around ensure transparency in the process of getting slips and 15% of deaths annually of children under the age of five. facilitate sugarcane supply by farmers to mills and check 39. Union Minister for Rural Development Narendra Singh irregularities. Tomar has inaugurated the SARAS India International 33. The Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Trade Fair in New Delhi. Rights has launched a mobile app ‘Sishu Suraksha App’. Note: More than seven crore women have joined Self- Note: The purpose of the app is to empower citizens to Help Groups so far and the Ministry is making all efforts take moral responsibility for protecting future to take this number to 10 crores. generations. The app can be used by anyone in the state 40. The Government of India and the Asian Development to lodge a complaint which will be directly registered at Bank (ADB) has signed a loan amount USD 91 million Commission. under Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water 34. Andhra Pradesh has launched the ‘Nadu-Nedu’ scheme Resources Management Investment Program (IWRM). to introduce English medium from classes 1 to 6th. Note: The project will help to modernize the Vijayanagara Note: The Union government also planning to introduce Channel irrigation systems, prepare river basin another scheme called ‘Amma Vodi’ in January 2020 to management plans in the Krishna river basin that will give incentives to others who send their children to help improve irrigation water use efficiency and school and continue their education till class 12. In the contribute to improving sustainable water security in first phase, the ‘Nadu-Nedu’ programme will be Karnataka. implemented in 15,715 schools. It will cover all schools in 41. India's biggest cinematic event, the 50th International three years under a budget of Rs 12,000 crores. Film Festival of India (IFFI) has begun in Panaji, Goa. 35. Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa has Note: Rajinikanth has been conferred with the Special inaugurated the Bengaluru Tech Summit at Bengaluru Icon of Golden Jubilee award for his outstanding Place. contribution to Indian cinema. French actor Isabelle Note: More than 3500 delegates, 12,000 visitors and 200 Huppert honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. speakers are participating in this Summit. 250 Exhibitors Russia is the partner country of the IFFI 2019. will showcase their services, products, and technologies 42. Directorate of School Education (DSEJ), Jammu has to visitors. The summit is expected to be attended by launched a special enrollment drive under the banner global tech leaders, investors, industry captains, research 'Aao School Chalein' for increasing the enrollment in heads, policymakers and startups from India and 20 government schools. foreign countries. Note: As per the Directorate of School Education, the 36. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has inaugurated North special enrollment drive would be conducted across all India's first sugar mill in Gorakhpur (Pipraich area). the villages and catchment areas of the government Note: North India's first sugar mill will produce ethanol schools, under the supervision of chief education officers direct from sugarcane.Ethanol is naturally produced by of all the districts of Jammu Division. The prime focus of the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical the drive is on the strengthening of pre-schooling of processes and is commonly consumed as a popular children in the age group of 3 to 5 years. recreational drug. 43. Assam Govt. has approved Arundhati scheme to provide 37. The two tea varieties of Darjeeling (green tea and white 1 Tola Gold to Brides free of cost. tea) have been registered as a geographical indication Note: This scheme to give 1 tola Gold (11.66 grams) to (GI) products in the country. brides parents belonging to the economically weaker Note: These two varieties of Darjeeling tea have been sections of the society, whose annual income is below Rs registered under Geographical Indications of Goods 5 lakh. The objective of the scheme to reduce child (Registration and Protection) Act 1999 (effective from marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act that October 2019). This will “strengthen the protection of the a girl in India can’t get married before the age of 18 and a intellectual property rights of the Darjeeling tea” which is boy cant get married before 21 years of age

119 www.gradeup.co 44. Uttarakhand govt. has launched a project to connect 500 investment, employment for youth and welfare of Non- secondary schools to virtual classrooms. Resident Indians.The new department will deal in the Note: The schools in the state facing a shortage of formulation of country-wise strategies for the promotion teachers will benefit from the new technology. Virtual of investment, employment in the state, education and classes are attended through video conferences where skill development and promotion of Haryanvi culture and students can meet the teacher on a real-time basis and welfare of Haryanvi diaspora. ask questions. An estimated 1.90 lakh students of 500 46. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has government-run secondary schools in the state will inaugurated the newly established Munderwa Sugar Mill benefit from the project in Basti district. 45. Haryana Government has decided to create a dedicated Note: Munderwa mill will have a capacity of 5000 Tons of new department namely Department of Foreign Cane per Day and generate 27 Mega Watt of power. It Cooperation. will be the third inauguration of sugar mills in the state in Note: The department has been created in order to just three weeks (Ramala in Baghpat and Pipraich in streamline and provide focus to various initiatives taken Gorakhpur). by the state government for the promotion of

October

1. India’s first e-waste clinic to be set up in Bhopal – The • The mascot- ‘Tikki Mausi’ aims to change the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Central behaviour of common people and make Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have joined hands to set them aware about child and woman’s up the country’s first e-waste clinic in Bhopal, Madhya nutrition and development in every Pradesh. household. • “Electronic waste will be collected door-to- 5. No govt. jobs in Assam for people with more than door or could be deposited directly at the two children: clinic in exchange for a fee. The State Cabinet of Assam has decided to 2. PMJAY – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana – make government jobs out of bounds for people According to data available with the Union Health with more than 2 children. The policy will come Ministry, in its first year, the Pradhan Mantri Jan into effect from January 1, 2021. Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), the tertiary care arm of The Cabinet also adopted a new land policy Ayushman Bharat, has funded the treatment of that will make the landless indigenous people eligible for 3 bighas (43,200 sq. ft.) of land for 90,000 cancer patients through 1.8 lakh hospital farming and half a bigha for constructing a admissions. house. • Tamil Nadu, with 40,056 cases, tops the state The beneficiary will be able to sell the given where the most cancer patients availed land only after 15 years of use. treatment under PMJAY, followed by Kerala 6. First Robot Chef Restaurant opens in Odisha: (22,000), Madhya Pradesh (19,455), Odisha’s smart city Bhubaneswar gets it 1st Chhattisgarh (15,997) and Gujarat (14,380). Robo Chef Restaurant in Odisha. 3. Meghalaya govt. signed agreement with Dalmia The Robot Restaurant opened at the Cement to turn plastic waste into Fuel – The Infocity DLF tower of Bhubaneswar claims to be Meghalaya state government signed an agreement the first restaurant in Eastern India where two with Dalmia Cement a cement company, to make the indigenously developed robots, ‘Champa’ and state plastic-free by 2022. ‘Chameli’ are engaged. The robots are developed at a Jaipur-based 4. Odisha govt. & UNICEF launched ‘Tikki Mausi’ startup using SLAM technology, and It mascot – The Department of Women & Child automatically navigates like humans, follows the Development and Mission Shakti, Government of routes and instructions. Odisha, in collaboration with United Nations 7. Madhya Pradesh CM inaugurates “Magnificent Madhya International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Pradesh Conference”: unveiled a mascot named ‘Tikki Mausi’. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal • Aim - to spread awareness about nutrition of Nath formally inaugurated the 2-day Magnificent children and women. Madhya Pradesh Conference in Indore.

120 www.gradeup.co The event showcasing various opportunities government. Cauvery Technical Committee that exist in the state in variegated sectors, chairperson R. Subramanian is also part of both including food processing, pharmaceuticals, the panels textile and garment, warehousing and logistics, IT 9. Shirui Lily Festival inaugurated in Manipur &ESDM, urban development and renewable • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for energy. Tourism and Culture Prahlad Singh Patel Chief Minister Kamal Nath also inaugurated inaugurated Shirui Lily Festival, 2019 at Shirui the Global Trade Exhibition at the Brilliant Vangayan Ground of Ukhrul in Manipur. Convention Centre, Indore. • Mr Patel along with State Chief Minister N. Biren 8. Tamil Nadu constitutes two panels over water disputes Singh also inaugurated the Strength of Unity with Kerala: Statue as a mark of opening the third edition of • The Tamil Nadu government constituted two the four-day state festival. committees to deal over water disputes with • This joint efforts of the State Government and Kerala relating to the Parambikulam-Aliyar Central Government can only promote tourism Project (PAP) and the Pandiyar-Punnampuzha and culture of a region to the level of people’s project. expectation. • Secretary of Tamil Nadu’s Public Works Department (PWD) K. Manivasan would lead both the committees constituted by the State September • The state government has signed up with 1. J&K becomes first state to issue highest number of NITI Aayog (National Institution for golden cards under Ayushman Bharat scheme – Jammu Transforming India), which has come out and Kashmir became the first state in the country to issue with ‘National Strategy for Artificial the highest number of golden cards under Ayushman Intelligence‘ to run pilot projects in Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). Telangana. • Over 11 lakh golden cards have been • Telangana was 1st State to sign up with NITI generated within the first 90 days of the Aayog when they prepared ‘AI for All’ launch of the scheme with 60% of families document. having at least one golden card which is • IIT- Khargapur is also coming up with its highest in the country. regional centre in Hyderabad to train About Ayushman Bharat scheme students in AI in partnership with State • The Ayushman Bharat Scheme introduced by government. the Government of India provides medical 3. Madhya Pradesh government appointed film star coverage of up to ₹ 5 lakh per family per Govinda as brand ambassador to promote the state’s year. traditions and tourist places. • The scheme will cover 10 crore vulnerable 4. Hyderabad-Karnataka Region Renamed ‘Kalyana families, with approximately 50 crore Karnataka’ – Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa beneficiaries. announced that the Hyderabad-Karnataka region has • It was launched on 23rd September 2018 by been renamed as ‘Kalyana Karnataka’ and a separate Prime Minister Narendra Modi in secretariat would be established for its development. Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi. • Hyderabad Karnataka region comprising six 2. Telangana government declares 2020 as Artificial north-eastern districts of the State — Bidar, Intelligence year – The state government of Telangana Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal and has decided to declare 2020 as Year of Artificial Ballari. Intelligence. 5. Dikshi Hydroelectric Project – Arunachal Pradesh Chief • The state government will be running Minister Pema Khandu dedicated the Dikshi Hydroelectric multiple programs, meetings and activities Project to the people of the state. such as hackathons, master classes and other • The 24 Mega Watt Hydroelectric Project has activities. been installed at Dikshi Village in West Kameng District.

121 www.gradeup.co • It is a Run of the River project constructed on 11. Google ties up with BSNL; launches free public Wi-Fi in the river Phudung by Devi Energies Private villages in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar Limited. • Google has announced the partnership with 6. U.P. government announces Rs 6,000 annual aid for BSNL which would help its expansion of high- triple talaq victims speed public WiFi to villages in Gujarat, • Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Maharashtra and Bihar. has today announced that the state • The announcement was done at the Google government will provide financial assistance for India event which took place in New of six thousand rupees to the triple divorce Delhi on 19th September. victims and the women left by the husband. 12. Assembly polls in Maharashtra, Haryana to be held on • The CM said that the government will Oct 21 – According to the Chief Election Commissioner arrange for a free trial of women suffering Sunil Arora, the legislative Assemblies election of from triple talaq. Maharashtra and Haryana will go to the polls on October 7. Now CM- ministers will fill their income tax in UP – Yogi 21. While votes will be counted on 24 October. Adityanath Government of Uttar Pradesh has ended the • In Maharashtra, the Legislative Assemblies 38-year-old system of paying income tax of the salaries of elections to be held for 288 seats and 90 the Chief Minister and ministers from the government seats in Haryana. treasury. • In the last Legislative Assemblies elections, • Now Chief Minister and Ministers will have BJP won 47 out of 90 seats in Haryana, while to pay their own income tax burdening the in Maharashtra BJP emerged as the largest exchequer for the last 40 years. party by winning 122 out of 288 seats. 8. Kerala to open the country's first women's global trade 13. Mukhya Mantri Seva Sankalp Helpline ‘1100’ launched centre – Taking a major initiative towards promoting in Himachal Pradesh - Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister women entrepreneurship, Kerala state government has Jai Ram Thakur has launched Mukhya Mantri Seva decided to set up the country's first International Sankalp Helpline ‘1100’ (Chief Minister’s Service Women's Business Center (IWTC) in Kozhikode. Resolution Helpline) for speedy and time-bound redressal 9. Maharashtra to set up Swachh Bharat World University of public grievances using modern technology. • The State Government of Maharashtra has • So far, this facility is available in decided to set up ‘Swachh Bharat World Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar University’ in Wardha to mark Mahatma Pradesh. Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. 14. Kerala to set up India’s first iWTC in Kozhikode – Kerala • The University will focus on research studies will set up India’s first international women’s trade centre in sanitation, cleanliness and environment. (iWTC), in consonance with the United Nations • The State has formed a seven-member sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Kozhikode. committee headed by the Minister of • The first phase of iWTC, being executed Education Vinod Tawde. The committee will under the gender park’s “Vision 2020”, is conduct a study on the requirements of the scheduled to be completed by 2021. University. 15. Rajasthan launches ‘Jan Soochna Portal’ – The state 10. IIT Guwahati & Numaligarh refinery partners to set up government of Rajasthan launched ‘Jan Soochna Portal’, Centre of Excellence – Indian Institute of Technology a portal for quick access to information on government Guwahati has joined hands with Numaligarh Refinery departments. The portal was launched by Rajasthan’s Limited (NRL) for setting up the “NRL-Centre of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Excellence (CoE) for Sustainable Materials”. This is a first 16. Madhya Pradesh government offers cows for adoption of its kind academic-industrial collaborative venture. online – The state government of Madhya Pradesh is Note: launched an online service for those wanting to adopt a • The Numaligarh Refinery is located at cow and provide sheds to them at gaushalas (cow Morangi, Golaghat district, Assam. shelters) across the State. • It is a joint venture between Bharat • People can adopt a cow for a minimum Petroleum, Oil India and Govt of Assam. period of 15 days and can go on supporting it

122 www.gradeup.co till animal’s lifetime. This initiative is part of • The Government of Maharashtra has accorded Madhya Pradesh government’s ‘Project permission for establishing the International Zoo, Gaushala’. through Forest Development Corporation of 17. Maharashtra to have drone service for emergency Maharashtra Limited (FDCM. Ltd.), Nagpur. medicine and critical care – The Maharashtra Note: government will now take the help of drones to provide The Gorewada International Zoo is likely to be one of the essential medicines and medical aid to remote areas in largest captive Zoo Safari in India with over 1914 Hectares case of flood or other emergency situations. of land adjoining the Gorewada Lake. • For this service, the Government of 22. India’s first 'Garbage Cafe' will be opened in Maharashtra has done a partnership with Chhattisgarh - The Ambikapur municipal corporation of the Zipline. Zipline is an automated logistics Chhattisgarh will open India’s first 'Garbage Cafe'. company based in California. • This cafe offers a full-fledged meal to a person 18. Unani Medical Centre to be inaugurated at Safdarjung who collects 1 kg of plastic waste and a Hospital, New Delhi – Union Minister of State substantial breakfast to those who collect 500 (Independent Charge) for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik will grams. be inaugurating Unani Medical Centre at New OPD • This initiative was to ensure that the homeless Building in Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi rag pickers, who collect plastic waste to earn 19. Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) to opened in Mumbai, some money, had a hearty meal. Maharashtra. • The municipal corporation will provide food to • Objective - To provide skill training in highly- the poor and homeless in exchange for plastic specialised areas to students who want to waste. pursue technical education after completing 23. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched Class X and XII and also to make them first ever ‘Terracotta Grinder’ at Sewapuri in Varanasi, employable and industry ready for New India Uttar Pradesh. This machine will grind the wasted and and global market. broken pottery items for re-using in pottery-making. 20. Garvi Gujarat: 2nd state bhawan of Gujarat inaugurated 24. Haryana govt waives off interest & penalty of Rs 4,750 cr by PM Modi on crop loans – Haryana government has announced Rs • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 4,750 crore interest and penalty waiver on crop loans. ‘Garvi Gujarat’, the second state bhawan of the • The waive off is for farmers who had borrowed Gujarat government in the national capital New from Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies, Delhi. District Cooperative Central Banks and Land • This is the ‘first eco-friendly’ state Bhawan in Mortgage Bank. The step will benefit around 10 national capital. lakh farmers in the state. 21. Gorewada International Zoo opened in Nagpur – Union 25. UDAN regional connectivity scheme launched in Minister Prakash Javadekar has announced the approval Haryana from Hisar – Hisar, Haryana has entered into the of the new ‘Gorewada International Zoo’ in Nagpur civil aviation map after the launch of the air shuttle district of Maharashtra. service between Hisar and Chandigarh. • The Zoo will have attractions like Bio Park, Indian • SpiceJet has started the air shuttle service Safari, African Safari, Night Safari, Research, between Hisar and Chandigarh under the Ude Education and Training, facilities for tourists, etc. Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) Regional • The task of construction of Indian Safari and Connectivity Service scheme. ancillary activities, Water Reservoir and Gorewada Reserve has been given to FDCM Ltd. with Government Grants.

International Affairs

January

123 www.gradeup.co 1. has launched a much-awaited Visit Nepal empowerment and introducing new talent in the field of arts Year 2020 campaign at historic Dasaratha Rangashala and culture. This award was presented by Rajya Sabha MP Kathmandu. and Padma Shri Awardee Dr. CP Thakur and Bihar Women Note: The ambitious campaign is aimed to promote tourism Commission president Dilmani Devi in Patna to promote in Nepal and attract 2 million tourists during the year 2020. women empowerment. Visit Nepal Year 2020 will create a new image of Nepal in the 4. Indian Army to sign MoU for AK-203 assault rifles with hearts and minds of the world community Russia. Mythical creature Yeti has been selected as a mascot of the Note: The Army is likely to sign a Memorandum of campaign. Understanding (MoU) for the procurement of over 7.5 lakh 2. The annual report published by the United Nations AK-203 assault rifles from Russia. As per the MoU, around 1 Children’s Fund (UNICEF): lakh rifles are to be received directly from Russia and the Note: UNICEF has named the last decade as “Deadly rest will be manufactured in India. The rifles will be Decade” because as per the report, the number of attacks manufactured at Korwa in Uttar Pradesh by a joint venture on children since 2010 has increased to three-fold. The (JV) called Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL). Of the world agency responsible for providing humanitarian and JV, 50.5% is to be owned by India and 49.5% by Russia. developmental aid to children around the world says that in 5. Naval Exercise 'Naseem-Al-Bahr' will be conducted in Goa. 2018, around 24,000 grave violations were recorded against Note: 12th edition of the Indo-Oman bilateral naval exercise children and the number has gone up highly to 1,70,000 in ''Naseem-Al-Bahr' will be conducted in Goa. To participate in 2019. This includes abductions, killing, sexual violence, it Two ships of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), RNOV Al maiming, child recruitment, denial of humanitarian access Rasikh and RNOV Khassab arrived at Mormugao Port on and attacks in schools and hospitals. January 06, 2020. Along with these ships, Indian Naval Ships 3. Piyush Jaiswal has been awarded the Global Bihar Shubhadra and Beas will also participate in the exercise. Excellence Award 2019. Naseem-Al-Bahr' (or sea breeze) naval exercise between the Note: The award was given to recognize and felicitated Indian Navy and the RNO, being conducted since 1993. Piyuus Jaiswal's contribution towards social welfare, women

December

6. Minister of State for Human Resource Development Mr golf resort in outer London. The twenty -nine members Sanjay Dhotre has inaugurated the India Pavilion at alliance is the world's biggest military alliance. International Book Fair in Guadalajara, Mexico. 9. Saudi Arabia has taken over the G20 Presidency from Note: This fair is the biggest book fair in the Spanish- Japan. speaking world. India is the ‘Guest of Honour Country’ in Note: It is the first Arab nation to assume the G20 this book fair and it becomes the first Asian country to presidency. The Saudi G20 presidency is committed to participate as ‘Guest of Honour' in the Fair. continuing the work from Osaka and promoting 7. UN Climate Change Conference (known as COP25) held multilateral consensus." The G20 presidency (Saudi in the Spanish capital Madrid. Arabia has taken over from Japan) will host world leaders Note: COP 25 is an important conference as countries for a global summit in its capital on 21-22 November in prepare to move from the pre-2020 period under the 2020. Kyoto Protocol to the post-2020 period under the Paris 10. The Global Migration Film Festival (GMFF) was organized Agreement. India's approach will be guided by principles in -- Dhaka. and provisions of UNFCCC and Paris Agreement Note: The day-long festival screened 15 films on the particularly the principles of Equity and Common But theme of migration and its various aspects. The short Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capability films and documentaries shown during the festival were (CBDR-RC). India has been leading the world in its pursuit selected through a global competition for which 600 of enhanced solar energy capacity through International entries were received. The GMFF started in 2016 and this Solar Alliance (ISA). year it is being organized across many cities in the world 8. The leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization between 28 November to 18 December. (NATO) mark the 70th birthday of the organization in 11. Abu Dhabi has been selected as the world’s leading London. Sports tourism Destination at the 26th edition of the Note: The summit includes receptions at Buckingham World Travel Awards (WTA) held in Muscat. Palace and Downing Street plus a working session at a Note: This is the seventh time in a row that Abu Dhabi has been selected for this coveted award.Abu Dhabi

124 www.gradeup.co shined as a premium destination once again for sports electric motors will eventually be developed to power tourism in 2019 after hosting some of the world’s top longer flights. sporting events, such as the FIFA Club World Cup 2017 17. The fourth edition of International Seminar cum and 2018, the first edition of the UAE Tour, the Special Exhibition on Naval Weapon Systems ‘NAVARMS-19’ Olympics World Games 2019, the AFC Asian Cup 2019, started in New Delhi. the UFC 242 showdown and the Brazil vs South Korea Note: The two-day event will provide an opportunity for international friendly match. the exchange of ideas, create awareness and identify 12. A joint military exercise between the ground forces of emerging prospects for Indian/International defence the UAE and the United States commenced in al-Hamra industry in the domain of Naval Weapon Systems. The region (UAE) -- Iron Union 12. theme of this day is to “Make in India - Fight Category: Note: Spanning a few weeks, 'Iron Union 12' will see the Opportunities and Imperatives”. two sides take part in joint military cooperation to 13. Boris Johnson won the General Elections in the UK. enhance combat and tactical capabilities. The joint Note: The ruling Conservative party led by Prime Minister military exercises of the UAE Armed Forces with fraternal Boris Johnson is all set to win an overall majority in the and friendly countries takes place in a manner consistent snap elections. Conservative Party gets 365 out of 650 with latest developments and reflects the UAE Armed seats in the lower House of Commons. In the United Forces' determination to stand firmly against all threats Kingdom, 15 Indian-origin politicians have entered the and challenges facing the region House of Commons in the historic general election. 13. The Incredible India Road Show held in Singapore. 14. Switzerland will be the country partner at the 17th Note: The roadshow by Indian delegation will provide a edition of BioAsia2020 scheduled to be held in platform to the stakeholders of India's tourism industry Hyderabad, Telangana. to interact with their Singaporean counterparts. Indian Note: The theme of the summit will be “Today For delegation comprises 25 tour operators and destination Tomorrow”. Switzerland is making innovations in the management companies along with representations from world of medical healthcare and that many the state governments of Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. pharmaceutical companies have emerged as the centre of 14. Driverless vehicles are being tested on 5G technology in Switzerland. the United Arab Emirates. 15. Amazon launched 'Audible Suno app' in India with 60 ad- Note: The Director-General of the UAE’s TRA free shows in Hindi and English. (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority) said they will Note: Audible Suno is a world-first for Audible and expand 5G network to important sectors such as reflects our commitment to creating exceptional transport, health and education. According to industry entertainment for our Indian customers. On Apple's App reports, 5G-enabled driverless vehicles will be able to Store, these shows are available in the company's existing have more efficient and quick communication with each Audible app. The Audible app comes with a 30-day free other and traffic infrastructure, which will help to trial period after which users will have to pay a monthly minimize traffic jams and bottlenecks. 5G technology can subscription fee of Rs 199. also enable these vehicles to identify traffics conditions 16. Edelweiss Asset Management Company (AMC) has and potential dangers quickly. launched India’s first corporate bond exchange-traded 15. The 2019 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) has fund (ETF), called the Bharat Bond ETF. been presented at the ongoing COP25 climate summit in Note: Bharat Bond ETF is also the country’s largest new Madrid, Spain. fund offer (NFO) ever. Edelweiss AMC will invest in AAA- Note: For the first time, India has emerged among the rated bonds of public sector companies and aims to raise top 10 countries with higher climate performance. India up to Rs 15,000 crore through this initiative. ETF is an has been ranked at 9th spot in the index for its Climate initiative of the Government of India, from the Policy performance among 57 countries and the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management European Union. However, the first three places of the while Edelweiss AMC is given the mandate to design and ranking remain unoccupied, Sweden (4th) and Denmark manage the product. (5th). 17. Sri Lanka formally released its new National policy 16. World's 1st fully electric commercial aircraft takes an Framework meant to guide the government ministries inaugural test flight in Canada. and departments in implementing their policies__ Note: The world's first fully electric commercial aircraft Note: The framework titled ‘Vistas of Prosperity and took its inaugural test flight, in Vancouver, Canada. The Splendor’ is aimed at achieving the fourfold outcome of technology would mean significant cost savings for being a productive citizen, a contented family, a virtuous, airlines, not to mention zero emissions. The range is disciplined and just society and a prosperous nation. The enough to start the revolution, adding that batteries and main objective of the National Policy Framework to

125 www.gradeup.co maintain a 6.5% or higher GDP growth rate under the Note: It has been recognized formally by the National macroeconomic programme, achieving a per capita Department of Regulation of Medicines and Health income exceeding 6,500 US dollar from 2020 to 2025. The Products of the Ministry of Public Health Afghanistan. It policy mandates to implement a national and will also be used based on the requirement as reputable international partnership based on principles of priority pharmacopeia in the laboratory of medicines and health to national security, friendly and non-aligned foreign product quality. With this, a new beginning has been policy. made and Afghanistan has become the first country to 18. Indian peace keepers has been recognized for their recognize IP pursuant to the efforts of the Department of strong contribution to building peace in conflict-affected Commerce and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. South Sudan as well as for going above and beyond their 23. Ecuador has declared an emergency to contain the duties to support local communities. environmental impact of a fuel spill in the Galapagos Note: Around 850 Indian troops received the United Islands. Nations Medal for their dedication and sacrifice serving Note: The Islands are located 1,000 kilometers east of so far away from home to protect civilians and build mainland Ecuador. The accident occurred when a crane durable peace in South Sudan. Currently, 2,342 Indian collapsed while loading a container onto the barge. The troops & 25 police personnel are deployed with the UN falling container destabilized the ship, causing it to sink. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Latin American Galapagos archipelago, a UNESCO World 19. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Heritage Site, is home to one of the most fragile (NASA) will launch rover ‘Mars 2020’ in 2020. ecosystems on the planet. Note: The rover builds and managed by NASA’s Jet 24. The eight West African countries have agreed to change Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. “Mars the name of their common currency from ‘CFA franc’ to 2020” will explore a landscape shaped by water which is Eco. the ‘Jezero Crater’, the site of an ancient delta. ‘Mars Note: The announcement was made during a visit by 2020’s arm has the same reach as ‘Curiosity’s arm. ‘Mars French President Emmanuel Macron to Ivory Coast, who 2020’s’ turret weighs 99 pounds (45 kilograms) more than hailed the decision as a historic reform. Even though the Curiosity’s because it carries larger instruments and a deal took six months in making, common currency Eco larger drill for coring and has many other changes in the will see the light of day in 2020. These countries currently physical design. use 'CFA franc' as their currency. 20. Kawasaki Heavy Industries has launched world’s first 25. China, Russia, and Iran hold trilateral naval exercises in marine carrier ‘Suiso Frontier’ transports liquefied the Gulf of Oman. hydrogen, in a bid to establish green energy supply chain. Note: This will be the first such move by the three Note: By liquefying hydrogen at minus 253 degrees countries in the volatile Middle East. The Chinese Navy Celsius, the cargo can be compressed to one-800th of its has sent a guided-missile destroyer to participate in the gaseous volume. The carrier will transport to Japan drills. The exercise aims to deepen the exchanges and hydrogen produced in Australia from cheap coal, with cooperation between the navies of the three countries trial shipments due to begin before March 2021. and demonstrating the goodwill and ability of the three 21. Donald Trump has become the third US President in parties to jointly maintain world peace and maritime history to be impeached by the House of Representatives. security. Note: The House voted the President on two charges: 26. China has successfully launched the largest carrier rocket one that he abused his power and other that he had of the country -- ‘Long March-5’. obstructed Congress. The issue will now pass to the US Note: The rocket (also known as CZ-5) blasted off with Senate, which will hold a trial on whether to convict and more than 1,000 tonnes of thrust. The Chinese space remove Mr Trump from the office next month. Andrew authorities declared the mission a "complete success" Johnson and Bill Clinton were other two former just over half an hour after the lift-off when the Shijian-20 Presidents who had been impeached. satellite it carried entered its designated orbit. It is the 22. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has become the first country's third attempt (first and second failed) to launch country to recognize Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) pursuant the rocket to the efforts of the Department of Commerce and Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

November 1. The researchers of the University of Gothenburg in Note: Science journal, The Lancet, reports that it has been Sweden have developed Diarrhea vaccine. proved safe and effective in an early-stage clinical trial in Bangladesh. The report said that 80 to 100 per cent of the

126 www.gradeup.co children aged two to five years and 50 to 80 per cent of 8. Russia's newest nuclear submarine was successfully test- infants aged six to eleven months, selected for the study fired a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile from White responded to all key immunity generating components of Sea off Russia. the vaccine. Note: The Knyaz Vladimir, or Prince Vladimir, fired the 2. There is no vaccine yet for use for children and vaccine missile from underwater that landed on target on the development for Diarrhea is a World Health Organization Kamchatka peninsula in far eastern Russia. Bangladesh’s State minister of cultural affairs KM Khalid 9. The biennial Commonwealth Law Ministers’ Conference has inaugurated the Ocean Dance Festival 2019 in Cox held in Colombo, Sri Lanka 2019. Bazar of Bangladesh. Note: The Union Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Note: Ocean Dance Festival is the largest international Prasad is representing India at the conference. The theme dance festival of Bangladesh in which more than 200 of the event: “Equal Access to Justice and the Rule of Law”. dancers, choreographers and scholars from 15 countries Purpose of the event: It seeks to address challenges faced are participating. The theme of this year's festival is by millions of people seeking to resolve legal problems or 'Bridging the distance' or Durotter Shetubandhan. The disputes. festival is being organised by the Nrityajog which is the 10. Sudan’s first-ever satellite for conducting research in Bangladesh wing of World Dance Alliance (WDA). military, economic and space technology has been 3. Maldives’ former president Abdulla Yameen has been launched by China. found guilty of money laundering and sentenced to five 11. Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep years in prison. Singh Puri has inaugurated a new Guru Nanak Chair at Note: The five-judge bench of the criminal court University of Birmingham. unanimously concurred that Yameen is guilty on the Note: Mr. Puri also announced the new Chair to mark the charge of laundering state funds for personal gain. He was 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak, during his visit to accused of over 1 million dollars deposit in his bank Birmingham where he delivered an Annual Lecture on the account by a company that was used to channel resort Contemporary Relevance of Guru Nanak's Teachings. acquisition fees. 12. The Ministry of Tourism has participated in the three-day- 4. Pakistan's Supreme Court General Qamar Javed Bajwa long World Travel Market (WTM) in London, UK. granted a six-month conditional extension to Army chief. Note: The theme for India Pavilion at WTM 2019 is Note: Current Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army Mr. ‘Incredible India - Find Incredible India’. This year, the Bajwa (since 29 November 2016) continue as the Army 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the chief for another six months. The Chief of Army Staff is Statue of Unity are also being promoted and publicized in appointed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and final the India Pavilion at WTM 2019. confirmation by the President of Pakistan. 13. Defence minister Rajnath Singh has co-chaired the 19th 5. India will set up 12 hi-tech parks at a cost of USD 193 India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military million in Bangladesh. and Military-Technical Cooperation in Moscow. Note: According to High Commissioner of India to 14. The US- Bangladesh Navy exercise 'Cooperation Afloat Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das, these hi-tech parks will Readiness and Training (CARAT)- 2019' started in provide training to 30,000 youth of Bangladesh as skilled IT Chattogram professionals. Note: CARAT is one of the U.S. Navy’s longest continually 6. The 35th ASEAN Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand. running exercise in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Note:Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan -O-Cha Assistant chief of naval staff (operations) Bangladesh Navy inaugurated this summit at IMPACT convention complex. rear admiral M Makbul Hossain was present as the chief The theme of the summit is 'Advancing Partnership for guest in the opening ceremony. sustainability'. 15. According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services 7. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh represented India at a (USCIS), The US has announced the increase of H-1B work meeting of the council of heads of government (CHG) of visa application fee by 10 US Dollars. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tashkent. Note: The non-refundable fee will support the new Note: The SCO is an influential regional security grouping electronic registration system to make the H-1B cap which is seen as a counterweight to NATO. Shanghai selection process more efficient. Petitioners seeking to file Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, H-1B cap-subject petitions will first have to electronically economic and military organisation, which was founded in register with the USCIS during a designated registration Shanghai by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, period. Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan in the year 2001. 16. Iran and Russia inaugurated a new phase of construction for a second reactor at Iran's sole nuclear power plant in Bushehr.

127 www.gradeup.co Note: The reactor is one of two officially under Note: It is the first such high-level meeting of the eight- construction since 2017 at the Bushehr site. The landmark member grouping to be organised by New Delhi after its 2015 nuclear deal Iran signed with six major powers, admission into the grouping in 2017. including Russia, placed restrictions on the sort of nuclear 22. The 6th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM- reactor Tehran could develop and its production of nuclear Plus) held in Bangkok, Thailand. fuel. Note: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with 17 other 17. Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited the Defence Ministers of ADMM-Plus countries are attending United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the inaugural the meeting. Ministerial session of Abu Dhabi International Petroleum 23. As per latest Global Bribery Risk Index, Bangladesh has Exhibition and Conference. been identified as the “country with the highest risk” in Note: The Minister is scheduled to meet his UAE terms of bribery threats in South Asia. counterpart Minister of Energy and Industry, Suhail Note: India has been ranked at 78th in the Global Bribery Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei. Both the countries will Risk Index out of 178 countries. In South Asia, Pakistan and discuss issues of bilateral hydrocarbon as well as steel Afghanistan are the only countries where the bribery risk is sector engagements. “high”. The five countries with the lowest bribery risk in 18. BRICS trade ministers meeting has been started in Brasilia. the world are New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Sweden Note: MoU on trade and investment promotion between and Finland. agencies of all the 5 BRICS countries will be signed after 24. Pakistan has become the 1st country to introduce the new the meeting. Commerce minister Piyush Goyal is leading vaccine to combat typhoid. the Indian delegation. Note: Pakistan has become the first country in the world 19. The fifth edition of Global Exhibition on Services (GES)- to introduce World Health Organisation-recommended 2019 will be held at Bengaluru. typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) in its national Note: The Global Exhibition on Services is an annual event immunisation program. It will initially be used during a which aims to engage industry and governments across two-week immunisation campaign starting from 18 to 30th the world and to promote greater exchange of trade in November in the urban areas of Sindh. services between India and the rest of the world. GES 2019 25. 1st Indo-Qatari joint Naval Exercise Za’ir-Al-Bahr (Roar of is an attempt towards escalating the Indian services bar in the Sea) held in Doha. the global arena, encompassing participation from 100 Note: The Bilateral Maritime Exercise Za’ir-Al-Bahr (Roar of countries and hosting sector-specific knowledge sessions. the Sea) between the Indian Navy and Qatari Emiri Naval India is looking to attract investments and partnerships in Forces has been started in Doha to enhance strategic areas like aviation and space programme, interoperability between the two navies. From the Indian infrastructure, and telecom projects. side, Indian Navy Guided Missile Stealth Frigate INS 20. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 11th BRICS Trikand and Patrol Aircraft P8-I are participating in the Summit in Brasilia. exercise. Note: BRICS Business Forum will enhance the business 26. As per World Talent Ranking (WTR), for the year 201, India collaborations between BRICS countries and deepen the was ranked at 59th position. relations with the New Development Bank.The theme of Note: In the released report, India was ranked at 59th the Summit this year is "Economic Growth for an position, a slip by 6 places on a global annual list of 63 Innovative Future”. countries. The top 10 countries that followed Switzerland 21. India will host 19th SCO Heads of Government Council in (1st) were Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd), Austria (4th), 2020. Luxembourg (5th), Norway(6th), Iceland (7th), Finland (8th), Netherlands (9th) and Singapore (10th). October 2. Palestine has released a commemorative postage stamp 1. Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio named UNESCO on Mahatma Gandhi, honouring his legacy and values, to Goodwill Ambassador – The Director-General of mark the 150th birth anniversary of the world leader. UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has named Mexican actress 3. PM Modi inaugurates Metro Service and ENT hospital in Yalitza Aparicio as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Mauritius – The Indian Government has granted $275 Indigenous Peoples. million for the Metro Express project and a grant of $14 Note: She is the first indigenous Mexican woman to be so million for the new Hospital Project. recognized by the US Academy Awards 4. Typhoon ‘Mitag’ hits Northern Taiwan 5. Mahatma Gandhi’s 80-year-old Letter wishing Jews ‘Era of Peace’ Unveiled – The National Library of Israel

128 www.gradeup.co unveiled an 80 – year old handwritten letter by Mahatma • Nizam VII, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last ruler of Gandhiji on the day World War II broke out. He had Hyderabad had transferred a sum of 1 million pounds wished the Jewish people an era of peace in his letter. for safe-keeping to Pakistan’s High Commissioner to • The letter was written by Gandhiji on the the United Kingdom, Habib Ibrahim Rahimtoola, in occasion of Jewish new year, that is, on 1948. September 1, 1939. • The money was transferred from the state of 6. World Space Week: 4-10 October: Important Facts – Hyderabad’s bank account to Rahimtoola’s account in World Space Week is the largest space event on the UK’s National Westminster Bank. Earth. More than 80 countries are participating • The amount, which has now grown in value to 35 commemorating the week this year million pounds or Rs 306 crore, continues to remain • This year Theme: The Moon: Gateway to the in the UK bank. stars. 9. Ecuador to withdraw from OPEC in January 2020 – Ecuador has announced to withdraw its membership 7. FATF report on money laundering: The Asia – Pacific from Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Group of FATF (Financial Action Task Force) slammed (OPEC) from 1 January 2020. Pakistan as the later failed to take actions against terror • Ecuador joined OPEC in 1973 had earlier groups. withdrawn from the bloc in 1992. However, it • On 5th October, 2019, the group published rejoined the organization in 2007. report on Money Laundering and terror financing About OPEC – in Pakistan. • The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting 8. Nizam Funds case: India wins £35m worth case at UK Countries (OPEC) is a permanent court – India has won a decades-old legal dispute over intergovernmental organization of 14 oil- funds belonging to the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad at the UK exporting developing nations that coordinates Court. and unifies the petroleum policies of its Member • The High Court of England and Wales, in a Countries. landmark judgement on October 2, 2019, ruled in • It was founded on 14 September 1960 in favour of India and the Nizam's descendants and Baghdad by the first five members. dismissed Pakistan's claims in a legal battle • OPEC headquartered is in Vienna, Austria. involving £35m. • The judgement was delivered by Justice Marcus Smith. The court ruled that those claiming in right of Nizam VII- his grandsons and India were now entitled to the Nizam Funds. Background – September

1. Hazzaa al-Mansoori becomes first Arab to reach the company decided to close the business with International Space Station - Hazzaa al-Mansoori has immediate effect. created history to become the first Arab to reach the • The company was founded in 1841 by Thomas International Space Station (ISS). Cook. Earlier it served domestic travellers in • He was a former military pilot who was selected Britain, later it started taking foreign trips. for the UAE's new human spaceflight program in 3. Thailand 1st in Asia to roll out plain cigarette packaging 2018. – Thailand became the first country in Asia to introduce 2. British travel giant Thomas Cook collapses – Britain's rolled out plain cigarette packaging which aims to reduce 178-year-old travel company Thomas Cook declared itself the appeal of smoking. bankrupt. • Keeping a uniform typeface below graphic • Thomas Cook, one of the world's leading travel depictions of cigarette-related illnesses will make companies, said after the private investment and the products less attractive to buyers the government could not get bailout package,

129 www.gradeup.co 4. PM Modi Inaugurates Gandhi Solar Park at UN 11. Howdy Modi event held in Houston, Texas – Prime Headquarters – Prime Minister Narendra Modi Minister Narendra Modi played host to United States inaugurated a 50 kilowatt ‘Gandhi Solar Park’ at the UN President Donald Trump at NRG Stadium in Houston, headquarters in New York. Texas, for an Indian-American rally dubbed the ‘Howdy • Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated a Gandhi Modi: Shared Dreams, Bright Futures’. The mega ‘Howdy, Peace Garden at the State University of New York Modi’ gala event saw around 50,000 Indian-Americans in Campus at Old Westbury in Long Island. attendance. • The world leaders also launched UN postage 12. India-Nepal petroleum products pipeline inaugurated – stamp on Mahatma Gandhi, commemorating his Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepal counterpart 150th birth anniversary. KP Sharma Oli jointly inaugurated South Asia’s first cross- 5. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to offer tourist visas for the border petroleum products pipeline from Motihari (in first time – The kingdom of Saudi Arabia will offer tourist Bihar) in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal. visas for the first time as part of a push to diversify its • It is a first-ever cross-border petroleum products economy away from oil. pipeline in the South Asia region. 6. St. Vincent and Grenadines, 79th country to join India- 13. Hurricane Dorian: India has announced an immediate led ISA – Saint Vincent and Grenadines became the 79th humanitarian assistance of $1 million to help people in country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The Bahamas affected by Hurricane Dorian. • ISA is an initiative by India aimed at combating 14. India joins Global AMR R&D hub as a new member – the threats of climate change and global India has joined Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) warming. Research and Development (R&D) hub as a new member. • The International Solar Alliance is a group of 121 • AMR refers to a microbe’s ability to resist the solar resource-rich countries with headquarters effects of drugs and medication that once could in Gurugram, India successfully treat the microbe. 7. UNWTO selects India as host country to celebrate World • The announcement in this regard was made by Tourism Day 2019 – India has been selected as the host Department of Biotechnology, Union Ministry of country for celebration of World Tourism Day 2019 by Science & Technology in New Delhi. United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). • The Global AMR R&D hub was launched in May Note: 2018 on the sidelines of 71st session of World • This is for the very first time that India will host Health Assembly (WHA), following a call from the day in its National Capital, New Delhi. G20 leaders in 2017. • The World Tourism Day which observed globally • Global AMR R&D Secretariat: It is established in on 27 September every year. Berlin, Germany. • World Tourism Organization headquarters is in 15. WHO South-East Asia Region to eliminate measles & Madrid, Spain. rubella by 2023 – World Health Organisation South-East 8. Sri Lanka unveils South Asia’s tallest tower – Sri Lanka Asia Region have resolved to eliminate measles and unveiled South Asia’s tallest tower, costing over $100 rubella by 2023. million, 80% of which has been funded by China under • The resolution to eliminate the highly infectious the controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). childhood killer diseases “measles and rubella” • The 350-metre-tall 17-storey Lotus Tower, was taken at the 72nd session of the WHO located in the heart of Colombo city. Regional Committee for South-East Asia in Delhi. 9. Vietnam opens Southeast Asia’s largest solar power 16. US Federal Trade Commission fines YouTube with $170 farm – Vietnam has inaugurated Southeast Asia’s largest million – The US’s Federal Trade Commission has fined solar power farm which has the capacity to produce 688 Google’s YouTube with $170 million. YouTube will have to million kWh of electricity annually. pay $170 million to settle allegations of collecting 10. Typhoon Faxai hits Tokyo, Japan – Typhoon Faxai has hit personal information about children. Tokyo, Japan. There were winds of up to 210km/h • YouTube has been accused of tracking viewers of (130mph). Faxai is one of the strongest typhoons to hit children’s channels using cookies without the Japanese capital in a decade. parental consent.

130 www.gradeup.co • YouTube also used those cookies to deliver • India stands firm to its long-standing partnership million of dollars in targeted advertisements to with Global Fund and its commitment to those viewers. eliminate AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. 17. India to contribute $22 mn to GFTAM for 2020-22 – India 18. Indonesia to move capital from Jakarta to East has announced contribution of $22 million to Global Fund Kalimantan – Indonesia’s president announced that the for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFTAM) for 6th Replenishment country’s capital will move from overcrowded, sinking Cycle (for year 2020-22). This is an increase of 10% over and polluted Jakarta to a site in sparsely populated East the amount contributed by India in 5th cycle. Kalimantan province on Borneo island.

Sports January

1. Games will be included in the 3rd edition of the ‘Khelo Note: The first edition of Khelo India University Games is India youth games lawn bowls and cycling. scheduled to be held at the KIIT University in Note: The 3rd edition of the games is going to start from Bhubaneswar from February 22 to March 1, 2020. Khelo 10th January 2020 in Guwahati Assam. Around 6500 India University Games will witness over 4,000 athletes athletes from 37 teams are expected to take part. The from 100 Universities across India vying for top honours cultural events from Assam, North East and rest of the in 17 different disciplines namely archery, athletics, country will be held from 13th to 15th January. The boxing, fencing, , , weight-lifting, wrestling, exhibition of indigenous games will also be held. He said a badminton, basketball, football, hockey, table tennis, mega inaugural ceremony is being planned at Sarusajai. tennis, volleyball, rugby and kabaddi. 2. The 5th Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) National 6. Saurabh Chaudhary has won gold medal in men's 10 m Ice Hockey Championship -2020 held in Leh, Ladakh. air pistol at 63rd National Shooting C'ship. Note: The tournament will continue till 7th January in Note: Ace shooter Saurabh Chaudhary has won the Karzoo Ice Hockey Rink in Leh, where the Army, men's 10 meters air pistol gold at the 63rd National Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra and home team Shooting Championship in Bhopal. Second-placed Ladakh are fighting for the championship in U-20 boys Sarabjot Singh of Haryana was well behind with a score of category.Similarly, in Girls category Ladakh, Maharashtra, 243.9, while world number two Abhishek Verma settled Delhi, and Chandigarh are playing for the championship. for bronze in a high-quality final. 3. Former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was picked 7. India’s all-rounder Irfan Pathan retires from all forms of as captain of ESPN Cricinfo's ODI and teams of cricket. the decade. Note: Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan announced his Note: Virat Kohli was named the leader in Tests. Kuldeep retirement from all forms of cricket.Pathan played 29 Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal, were the only other Tests, 120 ODIs and 24 T20Is.He was part of the victorious Indians to make the Test XI. Former skipper Indian team at the 2007 World Twenty20 and was the and fast bowler were named in the same man-of-the-match in the final against Pakistan. women's team picked for both the ODIs and T20s. 8. Cristiano Ronaldo has won best Men’s Player of the Year Australia's inspirational cricketer, Meg Lanning was at Dubai Globe Soccer Awards 2019. named the captain of the side. Note: Cristiano Ronaldo won the Best Men’s Player of the 4. Magesh Chandran has won the Hastings International Year award at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards in chess title. Dubai.Ronaldo has won the award six times out of its Note: Indian Grand Master P Magesh Chandran has won nine years of its existence.England international Lucy the 95th edition of the prestigious Hastings International Bronze was crowned Best Women’s Player of the Chess Congress in Hastings, England. France's Romain Year.The 2019 Awards were presented in 16 different Edouard, who was the only player to end the tournament categories.The Globe Soccer Awards are the annual a half-point behind Chandran, took the second spot.The awards given for excellence in football, organised by the US-based Chandran posted six wins and secured three EFAA (European Association of Player’s Agents) and the draws to take the top spot. ECA (European Club Association). 5. Bhubaneswar will host the first Edition of Khelo India University Games.

December

131 www.gradeup.co

1. Gurpreet Singh & Sunil Kumar clinched gold medals at the in the race.The 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (formally senior national wrestling championships in Jalandhar. known as the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Note: Gurpreet defeated Sajan Bhanwal by a 3-1 margin, in Prix 2019) was a Formula One motor race held at the Yas the 77-kilogram category. Sunil also managed an easy win Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. over Punjab's Prabhal. The Railway's grappler used all his 8. New Zealand cricket team has been awarded the experience to crush the Punjab wrestler 5-1 in the 87 kg Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket award. final. Note: The team has been awarded for its exemplary show 2. Star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat & registered of sportsmanship during the final match of the ICC World convincing wins in the finals to claim gold medals at the Cup at Lord’s in July 2019, which it lost under controversial Senior Wrestling National Championships in Jalandhar. circumstances. Martin-Jenkins was the former MCC Note: Phogat beat Haryana’s Anju 7-3 in the 55kg president and BBC Test Match Special commentator. category. Olympic bronze medallist Malik defeated 9. Virat Kohli regained the top spot in the International Radhika (Haryana) 4-2 in the 62kg category. In the 68kg Cricket Council's (ICC) Test rankings in . category, Haryana wrestler Anita Sheoran stunned Note: Kohli, who had struck a fine 136 in the day-night Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Divya Kakran. Kolkata Test against Bangladesh last week, reached 928 3. Priyam Garg will lead defending champions India in next points. Australian Steve Smith (923 points) slipped a rung year's Under-19 ICC Cricket World Cup (13th edition) to be in the latest list issued in Dubai. Among the bowlers, held in South Africa. Jasprit Bumrah is the highest-placed Indian at the fifth Note: India (defending champions) are placed in Group 'A' position. West Indies captain Jason Holder has with first-time qualifier Japan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. consolidated his position at the top of the all-rounders' list. Sixteen teams will be taking part in the tournament, split 10. Danish player announced her retirement from tennis after into four groups of four. The top two teams from each Australian Open 2020 -- Caroline Wozniacki. group will qualify for the Super League stage, with the Note: The Dane (29-years) won her only Grand Slam bottom two teams in each group progressing to the Plate singles title in Melbourne last year in her third major final. League. 11. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated 4. President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari declared 13th a Premier League at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National open in a glittering ceremony at in Cricket Stadium -- Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier Kathmandu, Nepal. League. Note: Over 2700 athletes from seven South Asian Note: This is a special edition of Bangladesh Premier Countries participated in the march past. For 10 days League Twenty20 cricket tournament (BBPL) named after biggest sporting event of South Asia, 2715 athletes (India - Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to celebrate his 487 athletes) compete for 1119 medals including 319 Gold 100th birth anniversary. A total of 7 teams are in 26 game categories. The closing ceremony will be held participating in the BBPL event, play 46 matches including on 10th December. the 4 playoff matches. This is the first time that the 5. Karnataka won the Trophy 2019-20. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is organizing the Premier Note: Karnataka lifted the Syed Mushtaq Trophy 2019-20 League matches without involving any franchise. (Cricket) after a thrilling one-run win over Tamil Nadu in 12. Russia has been handed a four-year ban from all major the final. This is the second consecutive title win for sporting events by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada). Karnataka. Karnataka rode on skipper Manish Pandey’s 60 Note: Wada's executive committee made the unanimous runs (45-ball) to post a total of 180/5 in 20 overs. decision to impose the ban on Russia in a meeting in 6. Steve Smith has become the fastest cricketer to score Lausanne, Switzerland. It comes after Russia's Anti-Doping 7,000 Test runs. Agency (Rusada) was declared non-compliant for Note: Australian Steve Smith had gone past legendary Don manipulating laboratory data handed over to investigators Bradman's 73-year-old record to become the fastest in January 2019. batsman to score 7000 runs in just 126 innings. He has a 13. Veteran opener Wasim Jaffer has become the first player mountain to climb to reach Ricky Ponting, who amassed in Indian cricket to feature in 150 Ranji matches. 13,378 runs in his 168 Tests. India’s is the Note: Overall, Jaffer has played 253 first-class games, third fastest in 134 innings. scoring 19,147 runs at an average of 51.19. He has scored 7. British racing driver Lewis Hamilton has won the Abu 57 hundred and 88 fifties with 314 being his highest score. Dhabi Grand Prix held in Abu Dhabi UAE. Jaffer is followed by batsman Devendra Bundela (145 Note: He has claimed his 84th career victory and 11th in matches) and Amol Muzumdar (136 matches). 21 races of this year.Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished 14. The , (officially, XIII South Asian 2nd in the race while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished 3rd Games) was held in Nepal.

132 www.gradeup.co Note: Thousands of sports lovers witnessed gala closing Note: The WTA Awards are given by the Women’s Tennis ceremony held at historic Dasaratha Rangshala in Association to players for outstanding achievements Kathmandu. India finished the 13th edition of the during the season or their career. tournament way ahead of other teams in the tally with 312 21. Ben Stokes has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the medals (174 Gold, 93 Silver, 45 Bronze). Seven countries Year 2019. (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Note: He became the first cricketer to win the prize after Sri Lanka) competed in the competition having 27 games. Andrew Flintoff (in 2005). In a public vote, Lewis Hamilton 15. R. Praggnanandhaa has won the FIDE Open category of came second with Dina Asher-Smith third. The BBC Sports the London Chess Classic held in London. Personality of the Year 2019 took place at the P&J Live in Note: He won the tournament with a tally of 7.5 points Aberdeen, United Kingdom. out of nine rounds. R. Praggnanandhaa finished joint first 22. Deepak Punia has been named United World Wrestling’s with Anton Smirnov of Australia both scoring 7.5 points. (UWW) Junior Freestyle Wrestler of the Year. The London Chess Classic is a chess festival held at the Note: Punia became the first Indian wrestler in 18 years to Olympia Conference Centre, West Kensington, London. win a junior world title since 2001. Japan’s Yui SUSAKI has 16. Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has announced a cash been named United World Wrestling’s Junior Women’s reward for the 174 gold medalists of the South Asian Wrestler of the Year. Currently, Punia is number-1 in the Games held in Nepal UWW rankings of 86kg category. ➢ 174 gold medalists - 1.5 lakh rupees each 23. England off-spinner has announced her retirement after a ➢ 93 Silver medalist – 1.0 lakh rupees each. 13-year career -- Laura Marsh. ➢ 45 bronze medalist -- 50,000 rupees each. Note: She has represented England in 103 ODI’s, 67 T20’s Note: and 9 Tests and has taken 217 wickets in her career. She is ➢ The Union government will have a structured cash also England’s 3rd highest -taker in ODI cricket. reward policy for medallists in South Asian Games, Laura Marsh was awarded a full central contract by the like other multi-sporting events like the Olympics, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in February 2019. Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. 24. Kuldeep Yadav has become India's first bowler to claim 17. Former Indian Cricketer Gandikota Sarva Lakshmi has two international hat-tricks. become the first woman referee in the Men’s ODI in Note: Kuldeep Yadav sent back Shai Hope (78-runs), Jason Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Holder (11-runs) and Alzarri Joseph (0) on the final three Note: The match is between the UAE and the United deliveries of his eighth over in Visakhapatnam against States of America (USA). Lakshmi was appointed as the West Indies. He claimed his first against Australia at first woman in the ICC (International Cricket Council) Kolkata's in 2017. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), International Panel of Match Referees in May 2019. Wasim Akram (Pakistan), Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka), Gandikota Sarva Lakshmi has overseen three women’s ODI Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan) and Trent Boult (New Zealand) matches, 16 men’s T20 Internationals and seven women’s to pick up more than one hat-trick in ODIs. The only T20 Internationals. bowler to have taken three ODI hat-tricks is Sri Lanka's 18. India's women’s hockey team captain has Lasith Malinga. been awarded the Sportsperson of the Year Award 2019. 25. Zeena Khitta has become the national champion in the Note: In the male category, Asian Games gold medalist women's 10m Air Rifle event in Bhopal. shooter Saurabh Chaudhary won the Sportsperson of the Note: Among the teams, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and West Year Award 2019. The awards ceremony was held at the Bengal won two gold medals each FICCI Federation House, in New Delhi. 26. Pat Cummins (Australia) has become the most expensive 19. International Hockey Federation (FIH) unveiled a new overseas player signing in IPL history. world ranking system for 2020 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Note: Kolkata Knight Riders pick up the top-ranked Test International Hockey Federation (FIH)It will come into bowler for a whopping Rs 15.50 crore. Glenn Maxwell effect from the first of next month. For a better reflection earned himself a big payday as well, the hard-hitting of current performances, the new ranking will be match- batsmen signed by Kings XI Punjab for Rs. 10.75 crore after based instead of tournament-based calculation. The new a tussle with Delhi Capitals.Chris Morris hit the 10-crore model removes much of the subjectivity surrounding rupee mark with Royal Challengers Bangalore outlasting continental weighing by creating a system which is fair to both Punjab and Mumbai Indians to secure the services of all. the South African all-rounder. 20. Ashleigh Barty (Australia) has won the WTA Player of the 27. The Indian men’s football team remained static in the Year 2019. year-ending FIFA rankings -- 108th spot. Note: Belgium ended on top for the second successive year and France remained in second place ahead of Brazil.

133 www.gradeup.co In the Asian rankings, Japan (28th) is followed by Iran (33), Hasan, Jos Buttler, MS Dhoni (c), Mitchell Starc, Trent Korea (40), Australia (42) and continental champions Qatar Boult, Lasith Malinga, Rashid Khan. (55). 34. Indian weightlifter Rakhi Halder clinched a bronze medal 28. Belgium has been crowned FIFA's Team of the Year. in the women's 64kg weight category at the Qatar Note: Roberto Martinez's side will end 2019 at the top of International Cup in Doha. the standings after winning all 10 of their international 'A' Note: She superseded the senior national record in both matches this year to secure qualification for Euro 2020. snatch and total lift with her personal best effort of 218kg World champions France conclude the year in second (95kg in snatch + 123 kg in clean and jerk). India ended the place, with Brazil third, England fourth and Uruguay fifth. Olympic qualifying silver level event with three medals. World Cup runner-up Croatia and Nations League Finals 35. Indian skipper Virat Kohli is one of the five players named winner Portugal join Spain, Argentina, and Colombia in the in the Wisden Cricketers of the Decade. top 10. Note: Virat Kohli joins Australian batsman Steve Smith, 29. Former world champion weightlifter has won the and South Africans, Dale Steyn, and AB de Villiers. women's 49kg category gold medal at the 6th Qatar Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry is the only female International Cup -- cricketer in the list. In 2019, Kohli scored 2,370 across Note: Chanu won gold with an effort of 194kg in the formats at an average of 64.05. Olympic qualifying silver level event, the points from which 36. Former Asian Games silver medalist boxer has been will come in handy when the final rankings for 2020 Tokyo banned for one year by the National Anti-Doping Agency Olympics cut are done.Chanu's performance was way (NADA) -- Sumit Sangwan. below her personal best of 201kg which she lifted during Note: Sangwan's sample was collected by the body on this year's World Championships in Thailand. In the men's October 10 during the Elite Men Boxing Championship. 67kg category, India's Jeremy Lalrinnunga won the silver The governing body for the anti-doping in sports medal with a total lift of 306kg (140kg in snatch and 166kg announced its decision. The boxer who was set to appear in clean and jerk) for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and was named in the 30. International Tennis Federation's (ITF) World Champions Olympics Qualifiers list will surely miss the event for 2019 -- Ashleigh Barty and Rafael Nadal. 37. Abhinav Lohan has won the Bengaluru Open Golf Note: They will be rewarded for stellar seasons in which Championship on December 26, 2019, and lifts PGTI title. they finished at the top of women's and men's rankings Note: It was Lohan’s first title on the TATA Steel PGTI and respectively. Barty, who quit tennis to play cricket in 2014 his second win of the year emerged victorious at the PGTI before returning to the game in 2016, became the first Feeder Tour event in Lucknow. Lohan became the fourth Australian to win the French Open since Margaret Court in Indian golfer to register his maiden title on the TATA Steel 1973 when she beat Czech Marketa Vondrousova in June. PGTI this season following the likes of Kshitij Naveed Kaul, Nadal claimed the season-ending ITF world title for the Priyanshu Singh, and Veer Ahlawat. fourth time after sealing a historic 12th French Open and a 38. has announced that 2020 will be his last fourth U.S. Open, as well as helping Spain to their sixth year as a professional tennis player. Davis Cup title. Note: Leander (made his Olympic debut in 1992) will look 31. India's shuttler Maisnam Meiraba Luwang has won the for one final flourish at Tokyo Olympics next year. He has Men's singles Bangladesh Junior International Badminton won eight doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam Series 2019 in Dhaka. titles. Paes received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award (in Note: Top-seeded Meiraba beat Ken Yong Ong 21 - 14, 21- 1996–97), the Arjuna Award (in 1990), the Padma Shri 18 in the final. award (in 2001) and the Padma Bhushan prize (in January 32. Doha will host the African Super Cup for the next three 2014) for his outstanding contribution to tennis in India. years. He won a bronze medal for India in singles in the 1996 Note: The African Super Cup in Doha with the next edition Atlanta Olympic Games will be held on February 14, 2020. At the beginning of this 39. South African all-rounder Vernon Philander announced year, Qatar hosted the African Super Cup for the first time retirement from all forms of cricket after the conclusion of when the Moroccan "Confederation" champion of the the upcoming Test series against England. Confederation succeeded in beating the Tunisian Note: Philander has played 97 matches across all three "champions" Esperance 2-1. formats, taking a combined 261 wickets with 1784 runs in 33. Former Indian captain MS Dhoni has been named captain his international career. He also took 51 wickets in his first of Cricket Australia's (CA) ODI team of the decade. seven Test matches which earned him the 2012 SA Note: Cricket Australia's ODI team of the decade: Rohit Cricketer of the Year award. Sharma, Hashim Amla, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Shakib Al 40. Indian grandmaster has become the 2019 Women's World Rapid Champion.

134 www.gradeup.co Note: She defeated China's Lei Tingjie in a dramatic final in each in 12 rounds to be tied with Tingjie. Tingjie finished Moscow, Russia. After losing the opening game, Humpy with a silver, while Turkey's Ekaterina Atalik won bronze. made an impressive comeback and collected nine points Norway's Magnus Carlsen claimed the men's title

November

1. Rafael Nadal has clinched 6th Davis Cup title for Spain. 7. Abhishek Verma & Jyothi Surekha Vennam claimed the Note: Nadal (33-year) defeated Shapovalov 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) gold in compound mixed pair event at the 21st Asian to clinch Spain’s 2-0 win against Canada. It was the Archery Championships, in Bangkok. Spanish team's first Davis Cup title since 2011 and their Note: The Indians defeated Chinese Taipei opponents Yi- sixth Davis Cup title overall. In 2019, Nadal won the Hsuan Chen and Chieh-Luh Chen 158-151 in the final French Open and the US Open, made the Australian Open clash. India picked up seven medals including one gold, final and reached the Wimbledon semi-final. two silver and four bronze meddles in the event. The 2. India's Lakshya Sen has won the Scottish Open men's Indian archers participated in the tournament as neutral singles title in Glasgow. athletes under the World Archery flag due to the Note: Lakshya Sen defeated Ygor Coelho 18-21, 21-18, suspension of the national federation Archery Association 21-19 to seal his fourth title in three months. Within a of India (AAI). month, Lakshya won his first BWF Super 100 title at the 8. has won gold medal in the women's Dutch Open, with the second one coming soon after, at individual recurve event of the 21st Asian Championships the SaarLorLux Open in Germany in Bangkok. 3. India concluded its campaign at the Under-15 Asian Note: Deepika defeated Ankita 6-0 in the one-sided final. Championships with 28 medals (13 gold, 14 silver and a Earlier, the duo had secured an individual Olympic quota bronze). for the country by storming into the semi-finals of the Note: For the first time, India finished on top of the team event. rankings in freestyle category with 225 points as all 10 9. Justice Mukundakam Sharma committee: Sports wrestlers finished on the podium. Kazakhstan finished Ministry has constituted a 13-member expert committee second while Japan was third. to review the Draft National Sports Code. 4. Sangram Dahiya and Varsha Varman clinched double Note: Former sports persons , Bhaichung trap titles, winning gold at the 63rd National Shotgun Bhutia, and national badminton Shooting Championship in New Delhi. coach Pulella Gopichand are part of the panel. The panel Note: In the men's category, Sangram shot 142 out of 150 has been formed to suggest measures to make the Sports targets to clinch the gold medal. Former world champion Code acceptable to all the stakeholders.It will try to strike Ankur Mittal has won Silver and Prithvi Singh Chahal a balance between the autonomy of National Sports bronze. Federations vis-a-vis need for transparency and 5. Eliud Kipchoge & Dalilah Muhammad has won the World autonomy. Athlete of the Year awards. 10. C. : included in a 10-member athlete Note: Kipchoge claimed the prize in Monaco after making ambassadors’ group by the International Olympic history last month when he ran the marathon distance of Committee (IOC). 42.195 kilometres (26.219 miles) in 1hr 59min 40.2sec. Note: The group will represent boxers in the build-up to American Muhammad won her award after a magnificent next year’s Tokyo Olympics (Tokyo Olympic 2020). C. year that saw her set a world record of 52.20 seconds at Mary Kom will represent the Asian bloc in boxing's the US Trials in Iowa in July breaking a record that had athlete ambassadors’ group. stood since 2003. 11. Pooja Gehlot: silver medal in 53kg at UWW Under-23 6. India won the bid to host 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup. World Championships in Budapest. Note: Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar and Biju Note: Pooja lost 0-2 to Okuno in the summit clash. She Patnaik Hockey Stadium Stadium in Rourkela to be the had entered the finals after beating Turkey's Zeynep venues for the tournament. Bhubaneswar has hosted Yetgil in the semifinals of the tournament. some big international sporting events, including the 12. South Africa defeated England in the final to win the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships, 2017 FIH Hockey Rugby World Cup. World League Final, FIH Men's Series Finals in 2019. Note: South Africa beat England 32-12 in the world cup final in Japan.

135 www.gradeup.co 13. Lakshya Sen has won the SaarLorLux Open badminton 23. Kento Momota: China Open 2019 winner. tournament at Saarbrücken in Germany. Note: Japan's Kento Momota (world number -1) defeated Note: He defeated Weng Hong Yang of China in an Taiwan's Tien-chen (world number-2) to retain his Fuzhou exciting final last night. China Open Badminton title.Chinese player Chen Yufei 14. Novak Djokovic won the fifth Paris Masters title for 2019 successfully defended the women's title with a victory by defeating Denis Shapovalov in the final. over Japan's Nozomi Okuhara. Chen Yufei beat Okuhara Note: Djokovic will lose top spot in the rankings to Nadal 21-9, 21-12, 21-18. next week,but could still equal Pete Sampras' record by 24. Saurabh Chaudhary has won silver medal in Men's 10m finishing a sixth year as the world's best player. air pistol event at Asian Championship. 15. Finnish racing driver Valtteri Bottas has won the Formula 25. India's Javelin thrower Sundar Singh Gurjar has won a One, United States Grand Prix 2019. gold medal in the men's F46 javelin throw event at World Note: Lewis Hamilton was on second, Max Verstappen on Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. third, Charles Leclerc on fourth and Alexander Albon on Note: Gurjar came up with his season's best effort of fifth. 61.22m to claim the top spot. While Yogesh Kathuniya 16. India B has won the 2019–20 Deodhar Trophy (47th added a silver for India in men's discus throw F56 event edition) at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi. with a best throw of 42.05m yesterday. Note: Deodhar Trophy was contested between three 26. Shafali Verma (15-years- and 285 days) has become the teams (India-A, India -B and India-C) selected by the youngest Indian Cricketer to score a half- century in Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). International Cricket. 17. Serbian professional tennis player Novak Djokovic eased Note: Shafali Verma’s 73 runs (49-ball) in the first T20 to a record-extending fifth Paris Masters title. International against West Indies surpassing Sachin Note: He defeated Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov Tendulkar’s 30-year-old record. Shafali achieved the feat 6-3, 6-4 in the final. surpassing batting legend Tendulkar, who had notched up 18. Deepak Kumar: won the men's 10m air rifle bronze his maiden Test fifty at 16 years and 214 days. medal at the 14th Asian shooting Championships in Doha. 27. The 1st South Asian country to call match-fixing a crime - Note: India has already secured nine Tokyo quotas in rifle - Sri Lanka. and pistol and lies behind China who has 25 quotas and Note: Sri Lanka has become the first South Asian nation Korea's 12 in the Asian region, besides the host-country to criminalize several offenses related to match-fixing. Sri Japan, in terms of quotas won. Lanka parliament passed all three readings of a bill 19. Manu Bhaker: He won gold medal in women’s 10m air labeled "Prevention of Offences Related to Sports". pistol event at Doha, Qatar. 28. Punjab will host the Kabaddi World Cup 2019. Note: She put up a dominant showing, shooting 584 in Note: The tournament will be dedicated to the 550th qualification and 244.3 in the final to take gold.Vivaan birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji (1 to 9 December) Kapoor & Manisha Keer also won the Gold medal in junior Nine teams -- India, USA, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, trap mixed event at the Asian Shooting Championships Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Canada -- are 2019. expected to take part in the tournament. 20. Rohit Sharma has become the first Indian man and 29. Indian sprinter Dutee Chand has been named in the TIME second in world cricket to complete 100 T-20 100 list of the most influential persons in the world. Internationals. Note: The list, an initiative of TIME magazine, highlights Note: He reached the milestone when he led the team in 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, the second match against Bangladesh at the Saurashtra entertainment, sports, politics, health, science, activism, Cricket Association Stadium. Shoaib Malik with 111 etc. games from Pakistan is the only player to have played 30. England has qualified for the UEFA Euro 2020 football more than 100 T20 Internationals. tournament. 21. India will host the 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup from Note: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 99th international goal 13th to 29th January. as Portugal secured its place at the Euro 2020 finals. Note: The decisions were made during FIH's Executive Portugal are the defending champions, having won the Board Meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. 2016 edition. For the first time, the video assistant 22. Two-time Olympic champion Nicola Adams will retire referee (VAR) system will be used at the UEFA European because of fears about her sight. Championship. Note: Nicola Adams became the first-ever women's 31. Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas.has won the ATP Olympic boxing champion at London 2012. Adams Finals in London. successfully defended her title in the 2016 Rio Olympic Note: It is Tsitsipas's third title of the season and comes a Games. year after he was crowned champion at the Next Gen ATP

136 www.gradeup.co Finals in Milan. Tsitsipas had qualified for the finals after goalscorer as well as the country's top scorer in the defeating six-time champion Roger Federer in the semi- World Cup, with nine goals. finals. 36. India-Pakistan Davis Cup tie shifted to Kazakhstan capital 32. Indian women have clinched five gold, while men bagged Nur-Sultan from Islamabad. two silver at Asian Youth Boxing Championship in Note: The Devis Cup tie was scheduled to be held in Mongolia. September but was pushed to 29-30 November after Note: All five women finalists, Naorem Chanu (51kg), India expressed concerns about the safety of their Vinka (64kg) Sanamacha Chanu (75kg), Poonam (54kg) players. and Sushma (81kg) won Gold for the country in a 37. Belgian-Dutch racing driver Max Verstappen (with Red phenomenal sweep. Bull) has won the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix 2019. 33. Harmeet Desai has won men’s singles Gold medal at Note: The Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Challenge clashed in the race due to which Verstappen was able to Indonesia Open 2019 Table Tennis tournament. take the lead and ultimately win the race. Pierre Gasly 34. Korean teenager Joohyung Kim has won the 2019 (France) was on the second position and was the first Panasonic Open India held at Gurgaon, Haryana. podium position for him while Lewis Hamilton remained Note: India’s Shiv Kapur and Chikkarangappa S finished on the third. tied second. With this win, the Joohyung Kim has become 38. Manu Bhaker has become the second Indian shooter to the second-youngest winner on the Asian Tour. win a gold medal Women's 10m Air Pistol at the ISS 35. David Villa: Spanish striker has announced his retirement World Cup 2019. from football. Note: Serbia's Zorana Arunovic won the silver with 241.9, Note: David Villa retired from the national team with 59 while Quian Wang of China bagged the bronze with goals in 98 matches, making him Spain's all-time top 221.8. Manu Bhaker shot 244.7 to win the gold medal at World Cup Finals.

October

1. has become the 1st Indian to play 100 11. Priyanshu Rajawat wins men’s singles title at Bahrain T20 International matches. International Series. 2. Japan Open title 2019 -- Novak Djokovic. 12. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has changed the Note: He defeated Millman with a score of 6-3, 6-2 super-over rule for all its major events and secured a 76th career singles tournament win. Note:As per new rule, in case of a super over tie, 3. Austria’s Christine Wolf has won the Hero Women’s there will be a repeated super over until one team Indian Open at Gurugram, Haryana. has more runs than the other. 4. Japan’s Naomi Osaka has won the China Open held in 13. Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas won the 2019 Japanese Grand Beijing, China. Prix. 5. Simone Biles has won the 15th World Gymnastics Note: Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel (Germany) and Championship title in Stuttgart, Germany. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (Britain) were ranked at 6. German World Cup champion Bastian Schweinsteiger has the 2nd and 3rd places respectively. announced his retirement from soccer. 14. Zimbabwe and Nepal were re-admitted as ICC members. 7. India’s M C Mary Kom has won the bronze medal in the Note: Zimbabwe will now be able to take up their 51kg event of World Women’s Boxing Championships in place in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup in Russia. January and the ICC Super League later in 2020. 8. Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge becomes 1st athlete to run sub 2- 15. The Indian football team won the 3rd Edition of the SAFF hour marathon. U-15 Women’s Championships 2019 at Changlimithang 9. Indian shuttler clinched his maiden BWF World Tour title Stadium in Thimpu, Bhutan. in the Netherlands-- Lakshya Sen. 16. Yashasvi Jaiswal (17-year) has become the youngest 10. Manju Rani settled for silver medal in World Women’s cricketer in the world to score a double century in One Boxing Championships (in the 48-kilogram category) in Day cricket. Russia. 17. England all-rounder Jennifer Louise Gunn has announced her retirement from international cricket.

137 www.gradeup.co 18. Great Britain won the 9th edition of the Sultan of Johor Note: Karnataka won their 4th Trophy title Cup 2019. with a dominant display against Tamil Nadu. Note: Great Britain defeated India in the finals by 2-1 32. Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana won Wisden India in the Almanack Cricketer of the Year award. 19. Kuhoo Garg and Dhruv Rawat won the badminton mixed Note: The other 3 winners are Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan), doubles title at the Egypt International 2019 in Cairo, Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka) and Rashid Khan Egypt. (Afghanistan).The Zozo Championship 2019 tournament 20. Indian cyclist Ronaldo Singh bagged a gold medal in the title was clinched by -- Tiger Woods. men’s junior Keirin event at the Asian Track Cycling 33. Mercedes’ driver won the Mexican Grand Prix 2019 -- Championships in South Korea. Lewis Hamilton. 21. Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma smashed the Don 34. Indian men’s doubles pair has won the silver medal in Bradman’s (former Australia cricketer)record of highest the men’s doubles event at French Open -- Chirag Shetty average in Test cricket on home soil. and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. Note: He broke record by scoring an average of 35. Indian boxer clinched gold medals in Olympic Test Event 99.84. Bradman, the legendary Australia cricketer for Boxing in Tokyo, Japan -- Shiva Thapa and Pooja Rani. had an average of 98.22. 36. India’s Prithvi Sekhar wins gold in World Deaf Tennis 22. Riya Bhatia has won the ITF women’s tennis tournament Championship. in Lagos, Nigeria. Note: The 2nd Edition of World Deaf Tennis Note: She defeated Slovenian player Nastja Kolar of Championships 2019 was held in Antalya, Turkey. Slovenia 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 in the summit clash of the ITF 37. The Indian cricket team will play its first-ever Day-Night women’s tennis tournament. Test match against -- Bangladesh. 23. India’s 65th Grandmaster: Raunak Sadhwani. 24. Canadian player Denis Shapovalov has won the 38. China Open (tennis) - Japan’s Naomi Osaka has won the Stockholm Open title 2019. China Open held in Beijing, China. She defeated world 25. Bengal Warriors wins 7th season of Vivo Pro Kabaddi number one Ashleigh Barty in the final. League 2019. 39. Hero Women’s Indian Open (Golf) - Austria’s Christine Note: Bengal Warriors won their first title by Wolf has won the Hero Women’s Indian Open at defeating Dabang Delhi by 39-34 at the EKA Arena by Gurugram, Haryana. 40. Japan Open (Tennis) – Novak Djokovic defeated TransStadia in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Australia’s John Millman in the finals to win the Japan 26. The logo for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games unveiled at a Open title. ceremony in the French capital. 41. Ravindra Jadeja becomes second fastest Indian to 200 Note: The circular design with Paris 2024 in the art wickets in Test cricket – deco style which was in vogue in 1924 when Paris last • Ravindra Jadeja became the fastest left-arm hosted the Games, also incorporates the lips and bowler to reach the milestone. outline of Marianne, the personification of the • He became the second Indian bowler to take the French Republic since the revolution in 1789. fastest 200 wickets in Test cricket. 27. Para-athlete Anandan Gunasekaran has won 2 gold • He achieved the feat when he dismissed medals at the 7th CISM World Military Games in Wuhan, centurion Dean Elgar (160) during South Africa's China. first innings on the third day, in reply to India's 28. Graeme Smith (Former South Africa skipper) has been 502 for 7 declared. elected an Honorary Life Member of the Marylebone 42. Professional Cricketers’ Association player of the year – Cricket Club (MCC). England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been voted 29. 1st Indian man to win a gold medal at the World Professional Cricketers’ Association player of the year at Championships-- Praveen Kumar. the Professional Cricketers’ Association awards. 30. Mumbai all-rounder has announced his retirement from • All-rounder Stokes played a starring role in all forms of cricket -- Abhishek Nayar. England’s maiden World Cup win before 31. Karnataka has won the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Trophy.

138 www.gradeup.co 43. Annu Rani becomes 1st Indian to qualify for women's • India has won the Under-19 Asia Cup title for the javelin throw final – India's top female javelin thrower seventh time. player Annu Rani made it to the finals of the World • Earlier India won this title in 1989, 2003, 2012, Athletics Championship. She is the first Indian woman to 2013-14, 2016, 2018. reach the finals of this event. 46. Maj Abdul Quadir Khan of the Corps of Signals has won 44. India gets its first-ever floating basketball court in the Silver medal at the 53rd Asian Body Building and Mumbai – The National Basketball Association installed Physique Sports Championship held at Batam, Indonesia. India's first-ever floating basketball court in Mumbai. 47. India’s N. Wilson Singh and Satish Kumar Prahapati won • The basketball court set up in the Arabian Sea the gold medal in the 10m platform synchronised diving near the Bandra-Worli Sealink. event at the Asian Age Group Championships held in • India’s first NBA Game to be held in October Bengaluru. • The first NBA game is scheduled to host from 48. Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won gold October 4 to October 5 in in the SVP Stadium at medal in 100m race of 2019 IAAF World Championships Dome, NSCI, in Mumbai. held in Doha. 45. India won the under-19 Asia Cup for the 7th time – The 49. Indian fencer Bhavani Devi wins the silver medal in the Indian U-19 cricket team has won the Asia Cup for the women’s sabre individual event at the Tournoi satellite second time in a row. competition in Belgium. • Team India defeated Bangladesh by 5 runs in a 50. Mercedes Lewis Hamilton won 2019 Russia F1 Grand thrilling final in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Prix. Note: September

1. India lift SAFF U-18 Championship title for first time 5. Rupa Gurunath was appointed as the first woman • India won the SAFF Under-18 football president of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) at the Championship by defeating Bangladesh by 2-1 in 87th Annual General Meeting of TNCA in Chennai, final held in Kathmandu, Nepal. This is India’s TamilNadu. maiden SAFF U-18 trophy. 6. FIFA Football Awards 2019 – The Best FIFA Football 2. IAAF Council: Adille Sumariwalla re-elected as its Awards 2019 were presented at La Scala opera house in member – The President of Athletics Federation of India Milan, Italy. (AFI), Adille Sumariwallam has been re-elected as • Best Men’s Player: Lionel Messi of Barcelona & member of Council of International Association of Argentina Athletics Federations (IAAF). His election is for a second • Best Women’s Player: Megan Rapinoe of Reign four-year term. FC & United States International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) 7. World Wrestling Championships: India’s bags 5 medals • It is the international governing body for sport of • The World Wrestling Championships held in Nur- athletics. Sultan, Kazakhstan. • It was established on 17 July 1912 in Stockholm, • Rahul Aware bagged a bronze medal in men’s Sweden. It is headquartered in Monaco. 61kg category. • Membership: 215 member federations • Deepak Punia won silver in men’s 86 kg freestyle. 3. PT Usha honoured with IAAF Veteran Pin – Former • Deepak Punia by winning silver has become only athlete and Olympian PT Usha, known as 'Payyoli 5th Indian to reach the final at senior World Express', has been awarded the prestigious International Championships. Athletics Federation (IAAF) Veteran Pin Award. • Bajrang Punia won a bronze medal • IAAF chief Sebastian Coe presented her the 8. Sumit Nagal wins title at ATP Challenger Tournament – Veteran Pin during the 52nd IAAF Congress at Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal has won the men’s Doha. singles title at the ATP Challenger Tournament held in 4. Singapore Grand Prix Formula – Four-time world Buenos Aires, Argentina. champion Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel

139 www.gradeup.co 9. Advani-Mehta pair wins “IBSF World Snooker” title – 20. India’s Kaushal Dharmamer wins Myanmar International The Indian team of Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta to Series – Indian shuttler Kaushal Dharmamer has won the win the “IBSF World Snooker” title. Myanmar International Series. He defeated Indonesia’s • India defeated Thailand in the team event to Karono Karono by 18-21, 21-14, 21-11 in the finals. emerge World champions in the IBSF World 21. Lakshya Sen wins Belgian International Badminton title – snooker team event held in Mandalay, Myanmar. Indian Badminton star, Lakshya Sen has won the Belgian 10. Manipur wins Senior Women’s National Football International badminton title. Championship – Manipur defeated Railways by 1-0 to win 22. Sourabh Verma clinches Vietnam Open Super 100 title – the Senior Women’s National Football Championship held Sourabh Verma has won the Vietnam Open Super 100 in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh. title held at the Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. • This was Manipur’s 20th National title. 23. Pankaj Advani became world champion for 22nd time – 11. Skolkova Fides Grand Prix title 2019 – Indian chess Pankaj Advani has become the world champion for the grandmaster, Koneru Hampi of Gudivada ( Andhra 22nd time. Pradesh) has clinched Fide World Grand Prix 2019 title. • The 34-year-old Advani has won the title of IBSF 12. Indian shuttler Malvika Bansod has won the Maldives World Billiards Championship for the fourth International Future Series held in Maldives. consecutive time. This is his fifth world title in 13. Amit Panghal becomes first Indian male boxer to win the last 6 years in the short format of billiards. silver at World Boxing Championship – Amit Panghal settled for the silver medal at World Boxing 24. Andrew Strauss becomes chairman of ECB’s cricket Championships after he lost to Uzbekistan’s Shakhobidin committee – Former England captain Andrew Strauss has Zoirov 3-2 in the 52kg category final. been appointed as the chairman of the England and • He became the first Indian male pugilist to win a Wales Cricket Board’s cricket committee. silver in World Championships at Ekaterinburg in 25. Megan Schutt becomes the first woman to claim two Russia. white ball hat-trick – Australian fast bowler Megan 14. The International Cricket Council has banned Sri Lankan Schutt scripted history by becoming the first woman to off-spinner Akila Dananjaya from bowling in international claim two hat•tricks in white-ball cricket. matches for 1 year. • The right-arm medium-pacer claimed an ODI hat- 15. India slip to 104th spot in latest FIFA ranking – The trick to become the first Australian woman to Indian football team slipped a place to 104th position in achieve the feat. the latest FIFA rankings released. • She became the first Australian women to claim 16. Anurag Thakur announces cricket and sports academy a hat•trick in ODIs. Schutt had claimed her first for Leh – Union Minister of State for Finance and hat•trick in a T20 game against India. Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur announced that a cricket 26. Athlete Hima Das named brand ambassador of Gatorade and sports academy will be set up in Ladakh. by PepsiCo – PepsiCo India has roped in India’s star 17. Vinesh Phogat wins bronze medal in Wrestling World athlete Hima Das as the brand ambassador for its sports Championships – Vinesh Phogat won the bronze medal at drink brand Gatorade. the Wrestling World Championships held in Nur-Sultan, • With this the 19-year old Hima Das joins ace Kazakhstan. shuttler PV Sindhu (since 2017) and javelin • She defeated Maria Prevolaraki of Greece in the thrower Neeraj Chopra (since 2018) as the 53 kg freestyle event. brand’s ambassadors in country. 18. Dinesh Mongia announces retirement forms all form of 27. Sports Ministry derecognises Paralympic Committee of cricket – Former Indian Cricket all-rounder Dinesh Mongia India – Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. derecognised the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) for 19. Basketball World Cup – Spain defeated Argentina by 95- violating National Sports Development Code of India, 75 to win the Basketball World Cup held in Beijing, China. 2011. The next world cup will be held in 2023 in Japan, 28. Diego Matos banned for a lifetime for match-fixing – Indonesia and the Philippines. Diego Matos of Brazil was banned for life from • Spain became the fifth country to win the World professional tennis for being found guilty of match-fixing. Cup 2 times.

140 www.gradeup.co 29. Feroz Shah Kotla stadium renamed after Arun Jaitley – • Runner-up - DomDaniil Medvedev (Russia) Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi will now be known as Note: Arun Jaitley Stadium. • Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has clinched his • The stadium was renamed on 12 September fourth US Open title at the Arthur Ash Stadium in 2019 in the memory of former Finance Minister New York. of the country and stalwart BJP leader Arun • With this win, Nadal won the second Grand Slam Jaitley. this year. He also won the men's singles French 30. Sarah Thomas became the first person to swim across Open title 2019 the Channel four times – American Sarah Thomas, 37, 19th Grand Slam singles title - became the first person to swim across the Channel four • In the men's US Open 2019 final which lasted nearly times non-stop in a 54-hour feat of endurance. five hours, Nadal defeated Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4- • A woman who was treated for breast cancer a 6, 6-4 to win his 19th Grand Slam singles title. year ago has become the first person to swim • With this, Nadal is now just a step away from across the English Channel four times non-stop. Switzerland's Roger Federer record of winning the 31. Vinesh Phogat becomes first Indian wrestler to qualify most Grand Slam title. for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – Indian women wrestler • Federer, who was out of the quarterfinals of the US Vinesh Phogat has qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Open 2019, has recorded 20 Grand Slams title in his Vinesh managed to get an Olympic ticket in the 53 kg name. category. 35. Bianca Andreescu wins U.S. Open women’s singles title • She has become the first Indian woman wrestler 2019 to make it to the 2020 Olympics. • Bianca Andreescu becomes the first Canadian • Vinesh Phogat achieved this feat by defeating singles player to win a Grand Slam event. Sarah Hildebrandt of America in the repechage • She defeated Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 in her first rounder of the World Wrestling Championship. Grand Slam title. Note: • With the victory, Andreescu also jumps into the top 10 in the WTA rankings. • The International Olympic Committee (IOC. has • The 19-year-old teen is also the first woman to selected Tokyo, Japan, to host the Summer win the trophy in her tournament debut in the Olympics in 2020. The games are planned to be US Open era. held from 24 July to 9 August 2020 in Tokyo. 36. India Red clinch Duleep Trophy title • The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris, • India Red defeated India Green by an innings and France. 38 runs to clinch the Duleep Trophy title. • The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los 37. Malinga creates history by taking 4 wickets in 4 balls for Angeles, California. the second time in Int'l cricket • Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga has taken 32. Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza retires from four wickets in 4 balls for the second time in his international cricket – The captain of Zimbabwe cricket international career. team Hamilton Masakadza retires from International • The 36-year-old took his second double hat-trick cricket on 21st September. by dismissing New Zealand’s Colin Munro, • He broke a T20I record in his final international Hamish Rutherford, Colin de Grandhomme and game against Afghanistan in the ongoing tri- Ross Taylor in the third T20I. series also involving Bangladesh. • Earlier, he took four wickets in 4 consecutive

33. Deepak Punia claims world number 1 spot in 86 kg – balls against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup. Wrestler Deepak Poonia became the world's number one 38. Steve Smith becomes 2nd Australian to score 500 in wrestler in the 86kg category in the latest rankings Ashes series released by the international federation United World • On 5th September in the current Ashes series, Wrestling (UWW). Steve Smith scored his third double century 34. US Open men's singles title 2019 against England. • Winner - Rafael Nadal (Spain)

141 www.gradeup.co • With this, he became the second Australian after • She is also the first Indian woman to reach the Allan Border to score 500 and more runs in the landmark of 2000 T20I runs. consecutive Ashes series in England. Smith • She hails from Jodhpur, Rajasthan. scored 508 runs in the Ashes series in England 43. Rishabh Pant became fastest Indian wicket-keeper to which was held in 2015. claim 50 dismissals in Test cricket • Allan Border is the first Australian batsman who • Rishabh Pant became fastest Indian wicket- scored 500 plus runs consecutively in the Ashes keeper to claim 50 dismissals in Test cricket. in England. • He broke previous record held by MS Dhoni for • Border scored more than 500 runs in 1981 and India. 1985. • Pant claimed his 50th test wicket in his 11th test 39. Italian Grand Prix - Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has won the during India vs West Indies. Italian Grand Prix. • MS Dhoni had taken 15 tests to get to 50 Test 40. Bianca Andreescu of Canada becomes 1st teen US Open dismissals. semi-finalist 44. Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. • The 19-year-old Canadian, Bianca Andreescu • Qatar will be the first Arab country to host the became the first teen to enter in the semi-finals World Cup. of US Open tournament. 45. Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza has announced • Bianca Andreescu becomes the first teenager to to retire from international cricket. reach the US Open semi-finals since Caroline 46. Anupama Swain wins bronze in World Martial Arts Wozniacki in 2009. Mastership – Indian woman athlete Anupama Swain won 41. Rashid Khan becomes the youngest Test Captain a bronze medal in the recently concluded World Martial • Afghanistan leg spinner Rashid Khan created Arts Mastership Jiu-Jitsu 2019. another record in his name. He has become the • The event was held in Chungju, South Korea. youngest Test Captain in the world at the age 20 Now she qualified for 2022 Asian Games. she was years 350 days. the only Indian to participate in the • Rashid Khan achieved this feat when the championship. Afghanistan team started playing against • Jiu-Jitsu is a form of martial art and combat sport Bangladesh. and it puts the entire focus on grappling with • Rashid Khan won his first toss as a Test captain particular emphasis on ground fighting. and decided to bat first. 47. Virat Kohli becomes India's most successful Test skipper • Before Rashid Khan, the record of captaining the • Virat Kohli surpassed Mahendra Singh Dhoni to Test team at the youngest was the name of become India's most successful Test captain. Tatenda Taibu of Zimbabwe. • Virat achieved this feat by winning 28 matches • He first captained against Sri Lanka in 2004. His for India from 48 games. age at that time was 20 years 358 days. • It came after the Indian team recorded its 28th 42. Mithali Raj retires from T20Is win under Kohli's leadership in the second and • Indian women cricketer Mithali Raj announced final test against the West Indies at Kingston. her retirement from the T20 International • MS Dhoni in his captaincy won a total of 27 Cricket. matches from 60 Test matches. Note: • Sourav Ganguly with 21 wins and Mohammad • She leads team India in 32 T20 International Azharuddin with 14 wins are third and fourth in matches. the list of successful Indian Test skippers. • Three times she has also captained team India in • Former South African captain Graeme Smith the ICC Women's World Twenty20. remains the most successful skipper in the world • She was the first captain of the Indian women's with 53 Test wins, followed by ex-Australia Twenty20 team in 2006, played a total of 89 captain Ricky Ponting, who recorded 48 Test wins International Twenty20 matches and scored in his captaincy tenure. 2364 runs. 48. India beat Nepal 7-0 to lift SAFF Under-15 title • She is the highest run-scorer in this format.

142 www.gradeup.co • India defeated Nepal with 7-0 to lift the SAFF Shamarh Brooks and Roston Chase to claim the Under-15 title at Kalyanai, West Bengal, hat trick. • With this win, India wins the title for a record • This was the third test hat-trick by an Indian third time after previous wins in 2013 and 2017. bowler after and Irfan Pathan. • India is now the most successful team in the 51. Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei completed the fastest half- tournament's history. marathon ever ran by a woman. 49. Yashaswini Deswal wins gold at ISSF World Cup 52. Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary won the gold • Indian shooter Yashaswini Singh Deswal won medal in mixed 10m air pistol at the ISSF World Cup in Rio gold in the women’s 10meter Air Pistol event at de Janeiro. the ISSF World Cup at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. 53. Shot putter Tejinderpal Singh Toor won a silver medal 50. Jasprit Bumrah becomes 3rd Indian to register hat trick during an athletic meet at Decin in the Czech Republic. in Test cricket 54. Belgian Grand Prix – Charles Leclerc of Ferrari won the • Indian pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has become Belgian Grand Prix after defeating Lewis Hamilton by less the third Indian to register a hat-trick in Test than a second. cricket. He took 3 wickets in 3 successive balls in 55. New head coach appointed of Pakistan Cricket team - the 2nd test against West Indies, held in Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq has been appointed as Kingston, Jamaica. He dismissed Darren Bravo, head coach and chief selector of Pakistan’s cricket team. Note: Waqar Younis appointed as the team’s new bowling coach.

Science & Defense

Military Exercise

November

1. Indian Navy to host multi-nation military drill in 6. The Defense Research and Defense Organization has March -- Milan 2020. allowed free access to its -- 450 patents. Note: 41 nations from South Asia, Southeast Asia, Note: The organization intends to provide a boost to Africa and Europe that share defence cooperation domestic industries, especially startups and the with India have been invited for the drill. strategic sector that has a network of 50 national 2. The union Govt. has extended to ban on Assam- laboratories that are involved in research and based NDFB by another ---5 years. development 3. Mine Counter Measure Exercise-first time between – 7. Prithvi-2 missile successfully test fired: India & Japan. Note: India successfully test-fired two rounds of its Note: This is first time an explosive ordance disposal indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II and mine counter measure was held by Indian and missile at night as part of a user trial by Indian Japanese forces. Army.These test were conducted from a mobile 4. United States of America (USA) approved Foreign launcher from Launch Complex-3 of Chandipur Military Sale to India Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Balasore district of Note: The principal contractor in this India-US Odisha. These were second night trials of Prithvi-II defence deal will be BAE Systems Land and missile. Armaments, Minneapolis, Minnesota with gun 8. DRDO to double ASTRA’s range: Astra (Sanskrit word manufacturing in Louisville, Kentucky. for weapon) is an all-weather air-to-air missile 5. Lieutenant Shivangi: 1st woman pilot of Indian Navy developed completely by DRDO. Currently, ASTRA is to join Naval operations. capable of engaging targets upto a distance of 110 Note: She will join after naval operations on km. completion of operational training at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, Kerala

143 www.gradeup.co 9. The central government has banned Meghalaya- and Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. It includes field based insurgent group ‘Hynniewtrep National training and events that simulate humanitarian Liberation Council’ (HNLC). assistance in disaster times.The event will also hold Note: The union Govt. also notified that HNLC’s simulations in moving disaster relief forces from ship activities are detrimental to the sovereignty and to shore. integrity of India. 18. India- Indonesian Joint Naval exercise: Samudra 10. Pakistan successfully test fires Shaheen-1 surface- Shakti to-surface ballistic missile: Note: This year is the second edition of India, Note: The test come days after India conducted the Indonesia Bilateral Naval Exercise. The inaugural first night trial of Agni-II surface-to-surface medium edition of exercise was held at the port of Surabaya, range nuclear-capable missile having strike range of Indonesia in November 2018. 2,000 km. 19. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the ‘Regional 11. A three-day naval exercise is being conducted Level Search and Rescue Workshop and Exercise between the Indian and Qatar Naval Forces -- Za’ir- 2019’: ReSAREX- 19. Al-Bahr (Roar of the Sea). Note: The two-day event was organised by Coast Note: The aim of the exercise is to enhance Guard District Headquarters-11 (Goa) to test interoperability between the naval forces. efficiency and preparedness of ICG. 12. Indian Army conducts Sindhu Sudarshan exercise in -- 20. DRDO’s Igniter Complex inaugurated in Pune: The Barmer, Rajasthan. main purpose of the laboratory is to design, process, Note:The annual exercise will test the operational evaluate ignition systems for any kind of DRDO readiness and maneuver warfare capability of Indian projects. Army’s 21 Corps, one of the service’s three so-called 21. US-Bangladesh Navy exercise: CARAT- 2019 Strike Corps. Note: The biggest US- Bangladesh Navy exercise 13. India conducted its first night trial of AGNI II missile dubbed as ‘Cooperation Afloat Readiness and successfully: It is the first night trial being tested by Training (CARAT) – 2019’ is being held in Chattogram the country. The nuclear capable missile was tested (or Chittagong City) in Bangladesh. The CARAT is a at the Abdul Kalam Island of Odisha Coast. yearly exercise conducted between the navies of 14. Defence Minister inaugurates Sisseri River Bridge in Bangladesh and United States in the Bay of Bengal. East Siang:The bridge will play an important role in The first edition of exercise was held in 2011. the overall development of the area and will 22. Shanghai Cooperation Organization Joint Exercise: immensely contributes to the socio-economic SCOJtEx-2019 development of the region. Note: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated 15. Ministry of Defence showcases the innovations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Joint Exercise iDEX initiative: The main objective of the event is to on Urban Earthquake Search and Rescue- ‘SCOJtEx- showcase the accomplishments of iDEX-Innovations 2019’ in New Delhi. for Defence Exellence. 23. India Uzbekistan joint Military Exercise: Dustlik 2019 16. IAF launches multiplayer version of ‘Indian Air Force Note: The Defence Minister Shri Raj Nath Singh – A Cut Above’ game during his 3 day visit met the Indian contingent Note: The game is a combat simulator that lets the participating in the joint exercise. players choose from an array of IAF’s fighter aircraft, 24. Brahmos missile is considered as one of the fastest such as Tejas, Rafale Mirage-2000, Su-30 among supersonic missiles. Philippines army is acquiring others. Indian-manufactured weapon in order to strengthen 17. First Tri-services amphibious exercise between its coastal defences. In 2018, Indian PM Modi signed India and US: India and US are to jointly conduct 4 bilateral agreements during his visit to Philippines, Tiger TRIUMP. It is to be conducted in Visakhapatnam and acquiring Brahmos is one among them.

October

1. Nomadic Elephant 2019 – joint military exercise between • The exercise will be conducted from 05 Oct 19 to India and Mongolia. 18 Oct 19 at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.

144 www.gradeup.co 2. ‘Him Vijay’ 2019 – Indian Army’s first and biggest 5. Exercise ‘Chang Thang’ - The Indian Army conducted a mountain combat exercise “Him Vijay” for the year 2019 massive rare exercise ‘Chang Thang’ in Eastern Ladakh begun at Arunachal Pradesh. bordering China. 3. KAZIND -2019: joint military exercise between India and 6. “SITMEX” - A maiden trilateral exercise SITMEX, involving Kazakhistan held at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand. Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Royal Thailand Navy 4. Malabar 2019 – The 23rd edition of the trilateral (RTN) and Indian Navy (IN) conducted at Port Blair. maritime exercise of India, Japan and the United States 7. Maitree 2019 – joint military exercise between India and (US) named “Malabar 2019” exercise was held at Sasebo, Thailand held at Node, Umroi, Meghalaya. Japan.

September

1. ‘SLINEX 2019’ - the bilateral maritime exercise between (East), Zapad (West), TSENTR (Centre) and Kavkas India and Sri Lanka held at Visakhapatnam (Andhra (South). Pradesh). 3. AUMX: 1st ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise 2. EX TSENTR 2019: India, Pakistan forces to be part of • The first ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise (AUMX) military exercise in Russia between regional bloc- Association of Southeast • Armies of India, Pakistan will take part in this Asian Nations (ASEAN) and United States kicked year’s military exercise TSENTR 2019 that will be off at the Sattahip Naval Base in Thailand. conducted by Russia from September 9 to 23, 4. Exercise “Yudh Abhyas 2019” - joint military exercise 2019. between India & US. Note: • This exercise is being conducted at Joint Base • Russia holds major military exercise every year at Lewis Mc Chord, Washington, USA from 05-18 one of its four military Commands i.e Vostok September 2019.

Science & Technology December

1. NVIDIA announces world’s largest GPU-accelerated Days in Gurgaon Microsoft Education Days 2019 brought cloud-based supercomputer together more than 700 school leaders, educators, Note: NVIDIA has announced a new kind of GPU- students and Microsoft partners to deliberate on the accelerated supercomputer in the cloud on Microsoft future of learning. Azure. It enables customers to rent an AI supercomputer 3. ISRO transfer space-grade Li-Ion cell technology to BHEL on-demand from their desk and match the capabilities of Note: ISRO has transferred its indigenous technology to large-scale on-premises supercomputers. produce space-grade Li-Ion cells to Bharat Heavy 2. Microsoft rolls out the K12 Education Transformation Electricals Limited (BHEL). BHEL can also produce and sell Framework in India: Li-Ion cells for meeting other national/commercial Note: Microsoft rolled out its K12 Education applications by suitably modifying the space-grade cell Transformation Framework more widely to schools across which can lead to cost reduction. India at the second edition of the Microsoft Education

September

1. India International Science Festival to be held in Kolkata 3. National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) will launch – The 5th edition of India International Science Festival ‘Samudrayaan project by 2021-22 to explore the deep sea (IISF) will be held in Kolkata from November 5-8. IISF is region. the largest science festival in the world. • It is pilot project of Union Ministry of Earth 2. The theme for this year’s festival is ‘RISEN India – Sciences as part the Rs 6000 crore ‘Deep Ocean’ Research, Innovation, and Science Empowering the mission for deep ocean mining of rare minerals. Nation’.

145 www.gradeup.co

Defense News

1. The Indo – Mongolian joint military training, Exercise Note: Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence (14th edition) -- Nomadic Elephant-XIV. Forces (JGSDF) comprising 25 soldiers each will Note: Nomadic Elephant-XIV is aimed at training participate in the exercise with an aim to share troops in counter insurgency & counter-terrorism experience gained during various Counter-Terrorism operations under United Nations mandate. Operations in respective Countries. 2. The first-ever India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise at 12. The 2nd edition of Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) of the Uzbekistan –- Dustlik-2019. navies of India and Bangladesh held at -- Northern Bay of 3. The bilateral between the armies of India and France at Bengal. Rajasthan -- ‘Exercise SHAKTI’. 13. Rajnath Singh creates history, becomes first Defence Note: It will be conducted from 31st October to 13th Minister to fly Rafale jet – Union Defence Minister November 2019 at Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Rajnath Singh created history by becoming the first Field Firing Ranges. defence minister to fly sortie in Rafale fighter jet from 4. The Indian Army (IA) will conduct exercise Sindhu Dassault Aviation Mérignac facility in France. Sudarshan in 2019 in the deserts of Rajasthan. • The Defence Minister received the first of the 36 Note: The aim of this exercise is to evaluate the Rafale fighter jets on behalf of the Indian Air capability of the defence services in an integrated air- Force (IAF) at Merignac in France. land battle. 14. China launched Dongfeng-41 (DF-41) intercontinental- 5. Two-day long manoeuvres by Sudarshan Chakra Vahini range ballistic missile – The missile is touted to be the of Indian Army Started held at – Jaisalmer. most powerful missile on the planet. It was launched Note: In this war exercise, the army is going to during the National Day parade, as China observed its 70th anniversary of Communist rule. exhibit its strength regarding Agni Missile and • DF-41 has a range of up to 9,320 miles (15,000 artillery kilometres), more than any missile on Earth. 6. The India-Myanmar Naval Exercise is being organized in 15. Japan Launches “World’s Biggest Transport Space-Ship” Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh -- IMNEX-2019. for Space Station – Japan launched an unmanned H-2B

7. Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) has conducted rocket towards the International Space Station. The H-2B the 2nd edition of Defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands rocket lifted off with cargo vessel Kounotori8, Mitsubishi 2019 -- DANX-19. Heavy Industries. 8. Indian Air Force (IAF) kickstarted its bilateral joint 16. India successfully test-fired a land-attack version of exercise with Royal Air Force Oman (RAFO)-- EX EASTERN BrahMos supersonic missile from Chandipur coast in BRIDGE-V. Odisha’s Balasore district. DRDO conducted the test-fire 9. Indian Air Force and Japanese Air Self Defence Force successfully. (JASDF) carrying out a joint military air force exercise • The missile, with a strike range of 290km. named -- Shinyuu Maitri. 17. US military test fires Minuteman III ballistic missile – US Note: The focus of the exercise will be to undertake tested an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental Joint Mobility and Tactical interoperability among the ballistic missile. The missile was launched from the two forces. California base. 10. The 10th edition of the joint military exercise between • The missile travelled 6,750 km across Pacific Ocean to the Kwajalein Atoll in Marshall Islands. India and the US-- Vajra Prahar 2019. 18. China launches its first Amphibious Assault Ship – China Note: ‘Vajra Prahar’ is a Special Forces joint training has launched its first amphibious assault ship in Shanghai. exercise conducted alternately in India and the US. This ship would enable ground forces to carry out attacks Last year, the exercise had taken place in Jaipur. on enemy territory from sea. 11. The 2nd joint military exercise to promote military 19. INS Khanderi submarine commissioned into Indian Navy cooperation between India and Japan held in Mizoram-- – Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on September ‘Dharma Guardian-2019’ 28, 2019 commissioned the INS Khanderi, the second

146 www.gradeup.co indigenously built Scorpene class submarine, into the 25. Shaheen VIII: joint bilateral aerial exercise between Indian Navy. Pakistan and China held in China’s Hotan City. • INS Khanderi is fully automated and has been 26. As part of Indian Navy’s Overseas Deployment to South built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited East Asia and Western Pacific, two Indian Navy warships, in Mumbai INS Sahyadri and INS Kiltan arrived at Laem Chabang, 20. Rajnath Singh becomes 1st Defence Minister to fly in Bangkok for a port call from 31 August to 3 September LCA Tejas – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh becomes the 2019. The port call is a demonstration of India’s warm first defence minister to fly in the indigenously-built light ties with Thailand. combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas. 27. Pakistan test-fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile • He flew in the Tejas fighter aircraft from the HAL Ghaznavi – Pakistan successfully conducted night training airport in Bengaluru. launch of hypersonic surface-to-surface ballistic missile 21. White Water Rafting Expedition ‘Rudrashila’ Flagged off Hatf-III Ghaznavi from Sonmiani test range in Balochistan. at Jaisalmer – The White water Rafting Expedition 28. Abhinandan Varthaman flies with IAF Chief BS Dhanoa christened ‘RUDRASHILA’ being undertaken by Kalidhar on his last sortie – Wing Commander Abhinandan Battalion under the aegis of Battle Axe Division was Varthaman, the recipient of Vir Chakra, flew with IAF Flagged Off at Jaisalmer Military station. Chief BS Dhanoa on his last sortie aboard MiG-21 fighter • The expedition christened ‘Rudrashila’ has been aircraft on September 2, 2019. organised to commemorate the 75th Raising day • Indian Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa and Wing of the Kalidhar Battalion. Commander Abhinandan took off in MiG-21 22. ICGS ‘Varaha’ commissioned – Defense Minister Rajnath trainer from the Pathankot Airbase in Punjab and Singh has formally commissioned the Indian Coast Guard flew for 30 minutes. offshore patrol vessel ‘Varaha’ at the Chennai Port Trust. 29. Amazon India launches Military Veterans Employment 23. DRDO hands over second ‘Netra’ (AEWC) aircraft to IAF programme – Amazon India has launched a Military – The Defence Research Development Organization Veterans Employment programme in country. (DRDO) has handed over the second airborne warning • This initiative of e-commerce giant will create plane, Netra, to the Indian Air Force. The Netra, an employment opportunities for military veterans Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) aircraft. as well as their spouses across company’s sort 24. India successfully test-fires air-to-air missile Astra – India centres, delivery centres and fulfilment centres has successfully test-fired air-to-air missile Astra from in India. Sukhoi-30 MKI. The indigenously developed missile was • For this, Amazon India has partnered with office tested off the coast of Odisha on September 17, 2019. of Director-General of Resettlement (DGR), • Astra missile is India’s first indigenous air-to-air 30. IAF inducts 8 Apache AH-64E attack helicopters – The and beyond visual range missile. Indian Air Force has inducted 8 Apache AH-64E attack • The missile can engage targets of different helicopters at the Pathankot Air Force station to enhance ranges and altitudes its combat capabilities. • Astra missile has a strike range of over 70 km. It The Apache AH-64E helicopters are made by US can fly towards its target at a speed of over 5,555 company Boeing and will give a major boots to km per hour. combat capabilities of Indian Air Force.

Important Days

January 4th January World Braille Day 9th January Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (NRI Day) 10th January World Hindi Day World Laughter Day 12th January National Youth Day (Birth Day of Swami Vivekanand) 15th January Army Day

147 www.gradeup.co 24th January National Girl Child Day 25th January National Voters Day National Tourism Day 26th January India’s Republic Day International Customs day 29th January National Immunization Day December 01 Dec World AIDS Day 02 Dec World Computer Literacy Day, International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 03 Dec International Day of People with Disability or World Disability Day 04 Dec Indian Navy Day 07 Dec International Civil Aviation Day, Indian Armed Force Flag Day 09 Dec The International Anticorruption Day 10 Dec World Human Rights Day, International Children's Day of Broadcasting 11 Dec International Mountain Day, UNICEF Day 14 Dec National Energy Conservation Day (India) 16 Dec Vijay Diwas 18 Dec International Migrants Day, National Minority Rights Day 23 Dec National Farmer’s Day or Kisan Diwas 25 Dec Good Governance day

November

01 Nov World Vegan Day

2nd Nov The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists

5th Nov World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) 06 Nov International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

07 Nov National Cancer Awareness Day 10 Nov World Science day for Peace and Development, Public Transport Day 11 Nov National Education Day 12 Nov World Pneumonia Day, Public Service Broadcasting Day 13 Nov World Kindness Day 14 Nov Children’s Day (India), World Diabetes Day 17 Nov International Students Day, Gurunanak Dev's Birth Anniversary, National eplilepsy day 19 Nov World Toilet Day, International Men’s Day, National Integration Day 20 Nov Universal Children’s Day 26 Nov National Law Day or National constitution Day 30 Nov National Flag Day

148 www.gradeup.co October

1. October 1 - International Day of Older Persons (2019 8. October 8 – Air Force Day Theme: The Journey to Age Equality) 9. October 9 - World Postal Day or World Post Office Day 2. October 1 - International Coffee Day 10. October 10 - World Mental Health Day 3. October 1 - World Vegetarian Day 11. October 11 - International Girl Child Day 4. October 2 - International Day of Non – Violence 12. October 13 - World Calamity Control Day 5. October 5 – World Teachers Day (2019 Theme: Young 13. October 14 - World Standards Day Teachers: The Future of the Profession) 14. October 15 - World Students’ Day 6. October 7: World Habitat Day (2019 Theme: Frontier 15. October 16 - World Food Day Technologies as an innovative tool to transform waste 16. October 17 - International Poverty Eradication Day to wealth) 17. October 24 - United Nations Day 7. October 7 - World Cotton Day 18. October 31 - Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day September

1. September 05 - International Day of Charity 6. September 21: Alzheimer’s Day; Day for Peace & Non- 2. September 08 - International Literacy Day (Theme - violence (UN) Literacy and Multilingualism) 7. September 22: Rose Day (Welfare of cancer patients) 3. September 14: Hindi Diwas 8. September 23: International Day of Sign Languages 4. September 15: Engineers’ Day; International Day of 9. September 26: Day of the Deaf; World Contraception Day Democracy 10. September 27: World Tourism Day; World Maritime Day 5. September 16: World Ozone Day; International Day for 11. September 29: World Heart Day Preservation 12. September 30: International Translation Day

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