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Current Affairs – 28 February 2018 guilty of raping girls aged 12 years or less. Q1. Day observed on 28th Feb? Haryana: National Science Day. Capital – Chandigarh It was celebrated to mark the discovery of the Raman effect by Governor – Kaptan Singh Solanki Indian physicist Sir CV Raman on 28th February 1928. Chief Minister – Manohar Lal Khattar Theme: “Science and Technology for a sustainable future.” Q6. Moody’s Investors Service Report? Q2. SRIJAN? Moody’s Investors Service report has said that India’s GDP is ‘SRIJAN’ (Station Rejuvenation through Joint Action) estimated to grow at 7.6% in 2018. Launched by: Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited (IRSDC). Q7. Country’s first Aviation Multi Skill Development Centre? Objective: To redevelop nearly 600 major railway stations in Launched in: Chandigarh India, Inaugurated by: Union Civil Aviation Minister, P. Ashok This was announced at MyGov portal. Gajapathi Raju It is a best idea competition and All classes of people from The centre has been set up by the National Skill Development railway passengers to architects, urban planners, engineers can Corporation (NSDC) and the Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill submit their ideas. Council of India. # Last date for submission is 26 March 2018. In next three years, the centre will train (free of cost) nearly # Winners will be awarded certificates and good ideas will be 2300 students in eight aviation job roles. considered for implementation in the redevelopment plans for Airports Authority of India (AAI): Chairman – Dr. Guruprasad stations. Mohapatra # First round of International Design Competition for Gwalior, Nagpur and Bayappanhalli stations has been finished and Q8. EPFO online claims mandatory? second stage will be over by 31.03.2018. In order to go paperless Employees Provident Fund Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited Organisation (EPFO) has made it mandatory to file online (IRSDC): MD & CEO – Mr. S.K. Lohia claims for provident fund (PF) withdrawals above Rs 10 lac. And withdrawals of above Rs 5 lakh under the Employees Pension Q3. Rs 6000 crore fund for disaster-hit states? Scheme 1995 has also been made mandatory. A committee chaired by Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh # Central Provident Fund Commissioner – Dr. V P Joy has approved a central assistance of around Rs 6000 crore for nine states which suffered from natural calamities during 2017- Q9. India’s first defence ‘Quad’ 18. Objective: Union Defence Ministry has started the process to Fund allocation as follows: set up India’s first defence industrial ‘Quad’ (quadrilateral States affected by floods during 2017-18. corridor)to link Chennai with four other cities of Tamil Nadu Rs 1055.05 crore for Gujarat (Hosur, Coimbatore, Salem and Tiruchirappalli) to promote Rs 420.69 crore for Uttar Pradesh industries manufacturing weapons and military equipments. Rs 420.57 crore for Rajasthan Rs 838.85 crore for West Bengal Q10. 7th meeting of EPG on Nepal-India relations? Rs 1711.66 crore for Bihar Held in: Kathmandu, Nepal States affected by cyclone Ockhi and North East Monsoon EPG: Eminent Persons Group Rs 169.63 crore for Kerala Nepal’s coordinator of EPG Dr Bhekh Bahadur Thapa Rs 133.05 crore for Tamil Nadu India’s coordinator of EPG Bhagat Singh Koshiyari State affected by kharif drought EPG’s next meeting will be conducted in New Delhi. Rs 395.91 crore for Chhattisgarh Rs 836.09 crore for Madhya Pradesh Q11. New appointed Group Chief Risk Officer of PNB A K Pradhan has been appointed as the Group Chief Risk Officer Q4. Inclusive Internet Index 2018? of Punjab National Bank (PNB). India has ranked 47th out of 86 countries on Inclusive Internet Earlier he was holding the post of a General Manager. Index 2018. PNB: # MD & CEO – Sunil Mehta #Tagline – ‘The name you India’s rank was 36th rank in 2017. can bank upon’ Inclusive Internet Index 2018 – Top 5 countries: 1. Sweden Q12. “marinefishsales” for fishermen? 2. Singapore Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has 3. United States developed a multivendor e-commerce website and mobile app 4. Denmark named ‘marinefishsales’ to help fishermen to sell their 5. South Korea products and marine catch directly to the customers. Developed under: National Innovations on Climate Resilient Q5. Death penalty for rape? Agriculture (NICRA) project of CMFRI. Haryana State Cabinet approved a proposal to bring in Objective: To increase the income of coastal community. legislation for awarding death penalty to those who have found
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Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI): # Director Foundation Stone laid at: IIT Chennai. – Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan #Headquarters – Kochi, Kerala NTCPWC is set up under the Sagarmala programme of Ministry of Shipping and It will function as a technology arm of the Q13. 2018 Laureus World Sports Awards? Ministry of Shipping. Held in: Monaco. The cost for setting up NTCPWC is Rs 70.53 crore. This amount Award Awardees is shared by Ministry of Shipping, IWAI and the Major Ports. Sportsman of the Year award -- Roger Federer (Switzerland; NTCPWC will offer indigenous software and technology, and Tennis) will develop technical guidelines and standards and work Sportswoman of the Year award -- Serena Williams (USA; towards modernization of Indian ports. Tennis) Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI): Team of the Year -- Mercedes-Amg Petronas F1 Team Chairperson – Nutan Guha-Biswas (Germany; Motor Racing) Headquarters – Noida, Uttar Pradesh Breakthrough of the Year -- Sergio Garcia (Spain; Golf) Comeback of the Year -- Roger Federer (Switzerland; Tennis) Q3. Swajal Yojana in Rajasthan? Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability -- Marcel Hug Launched by: Union Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation, (Switzerland; Athletics) Uma Bharti Action Sportsperson of the Year -- Armel Le Cleac’h (France; at Village Bhikampura, in Rajasthan. Sailing) What is Swajal Project: Swajal is a community owned drinking Best Sporting Moment of the Year -- Chapecoense (Brazil) water programme for sustained drinking water supply. 90% of Sporting Inspiration -- J. J. Watt (USA) the project cost will be provided by Central Government while Exceptional Achievement Award -- Francesco Totti (Italy) remaining 10% of the project cost will be contributed by the Lifetime Achievement Award -- Edwin Moses (USA) local community. Fund of Rs. 54.17 lakh has been allocated for Swajal Project at Q14. Viral Load test for People Living with HIV/AIDS? Bhikampura. Launched by: J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Under the Swajal Project, four reservoirs will be constructed in Welfare. the village and common tap connection will be given to all the Aim: This initiative will offer free of cost viral load testing for 12 households. lakh people living with HIV/AIDS on treatment in India at least once a year. Q4. Health-cum-life insurance scheme for farmers? Announcement made by: Telangana Chief Minister K Q15. Jharkhand Chief Secretary ? Chandrasekhar Rao Sudhir Tripathy He announced health-cum-life insurance scheme of Rs.5 lac for Replaces: Rajbala Verma farmers in the state. Entire premium for the insurance will be borne by the Q16. Penny Vincenzi? Telangana State Government. Rs. 500 crore has been allocated Penny Vincenzi, is a popular British novelist, passed away. for implementation of this scheme. Telangana: Q17. Ratnavel Pandian passes away? Capital – Hyderabad S Ratnavel Pandian, was former Supreme Court judge. Governor – E.S.L. Narasimhan Chief Minister – K. Chandrashekar Rao Q18. Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi passes away? Kanchi acharya Sri Jayendra Saraswathi died after suffering Q5. India-Korea Business Summit 2018 from breathing problems, at a hospital in Kancheepuram, Tamil Held in: New Delhi Nadu. It was the second summit. Jayendra Saraswathi was 82 years old. He was the 69th head of Theme: “India-Korea: Scaling up the Special Strategic the Kanchi mutt. Relationship through Trade and Investments”. Objective: Exploring opportunities in Infrastructure, Current Affairs – 27 February 2018 Information Communication Technology, Power, Smart Cities Q1. Chilika Lake for Dolphins? and Manufacturing sectors. Chilika Lake in Odisha has become the single largest habitat of Irrawaddy dolphins in the world now. Q6. Currency derivative trade limit increased? Information Provided by: A Chilika Development Authority Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the exposure limit under (CDA) official, he said that, 155 Irrawaddy dolphins have been the exchange traded currency derivatives (ETCD) for residents identified in the Chilika Lake. and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to USD 100 million across all currency pairs. Earlier this exposure limit set by RBI was USD Q2. National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and 15 million for USD-INR contracts and USD 5 million for other Coasts (NTCPWC)? currency pairs. Foundation Stone Laid by: Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road As of now, four currency pairs, viz. USD/INR, EUR/INR (Euro), Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River GBP/INR (Great British Pound) and JPY/INR (Japanese Yen) are Development & Ganga Rejuvenation. traded on Indian exchanges.
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Increasing exposure limit will help the participants to better Q13. ‘igloos’? manage their risk and will also improve the liquidity in the ISRO plans to build ‘igloos’ on Moon for astronauts instrument. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has started work on building igloos (referred to as lunar habitats) on the Moon for Q7. India corner? astronauts Union Ministry of External Affairs is planning to set up “India Objective: To help the astronauts to spend more time on the corners” at educational institutes in abroad, which will provide moon. authentic reference material for students who wish to know ISRO: Chairman – K. Sivan more about India. Q14. CSIR-NIO Goa? Q8. IndusInd Bank and Ripple’s partnership? CSIR-NIO Goa has announced that it has found High IndusInd Bank has partnered with Ripple, the blockchain concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, calcium carbonate, unique solution provider to facilitate cross border remittances across faunal groups and shallow presence of methane hydrates in the world. Krishna Godavari basin in Bay of Bengal over a water depth of IndusInd Bank will use the platform for settling payment of its 900 metres to 1,900 metres. retail remitters, recipients as well as institutional partners Gas hydrates are a potential source of alternate energy. across the world. CSIR - Council of Scientific & Industrial Research NIO - National Institute Of Oceanography Q9. MoU between CSIR and IORA-RCSTT? Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has signed a More in the day: MoU with the Indian Ocean Rim Association’s Regional Center # Kanakalata Mohanty passes away, He was Eminent Odia for Science and Technology Transfer (IORA-RCSTT) for writer . designating Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants # Prabodh Panda passes away, he was former MP and State (CIMAP) in Lucknow as the coordinating centre on medicinal Secretary of West Bengal for Communist Party of India (CPI). plants. Director of CIMAP: Anil Kumar Tripathi Current Affairs – 26 February 2018 Director of IORA-RCSTT: A Sedrpousan Q1. Australia’s new deputy Prime Minister? IORA is an association of 21 countries and 7 dialogue partners. Michael McCormack ‘Medicinal plants’ is one of the 6 areas of cooperation Former Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce identified by IORA. resigned as leader of the National party and Deputy Prime CIMAP: Minister of Australia, following an allegation of extra-marital Located in – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh affair.
Q10. Catholic Syrian Bank and Celebrus Capital’s partnership? Q2. ‘Baal Aadhaar’? Catholic Syrian Bank Ltd (CSB) has partnered with Celebrus Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), introduced a Capital Ltd (Celebrus), to offer online equity trading and demat ‘Baal Aadhaar’ card for children below the age of five years. services to its customers. ’Baal Aadhaar’ Card will be Blue in Colour. Catholic Syrian Bank: Aadhhar Card is not mandatory for childrentill 5 years of age. # Founded in – 1920 However, it is required if the child is attending educational # Headquarters – Thrissur, Kerala programmes overseas and if he/she wants to avail # Chairman – T.S. Anantharaman government scholarships. IndusInd Bank: Chairman – R. Seshasayee Q3. Milan 2018? Andaman & Nicobar Command of Indian Navy will be hosting Q11. New DGP of Bihar? a multinational mega event ‘MILAN 2018’ from 6th – 13th KS Dwivedi has been named the new Director General of Police March, 2018 at Port Blair (DGP) of Bihar. Objective: To foster co-operation through naval exercises and He will replace PK Thakur. professional interactions. Theme: ‘Friendship Across the Seas’. Q12. UNDP National Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan? Participating Countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mountaineer Samina Baig is appointed the National Goodwill Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Ambassador for Pakistan. New Zealand, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Appointed by: United Nations Development Programme Tanzania and Thailand. (UNDP). Countries participating for first time: Brunei, Mozambique, About Samina Baig: Papua New Guinea, Oman, South Africa, Timor Leste and She is the first Pakistani woman who had climbed Mount Vietnam. Everest. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): Q4. ‘Hari Singh Nalwa: Champion of the Khalsaji (1791-1837)’. Headquarters – New York Author: Dr Vanit Nalwa.
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Dr Vanit Nalwa has written this book after 7 years of research, on cooperation in the field of Information Communications which reveals how Sikh warrior Hari Singh Nalwa got his Technology and Electronics. surname. She said, Hari Singh Nalwa, a Sikh warrior who lived # Cooperation in higher education. in the 19th century, got his surname after Maharaja Ranjit # Agreement for cooperation in sports. Singh said “wah mere Raja Nal, wah”. # MoU between India’s Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for Q5. ‘Run for New India’ cooperation on Intellectual Property Rights. A marathon in Surat, Gujarat # India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Flagged off by: Prime Minister Narednra Modi Department of Natural Resources of Canada exchanged terms Objective: To create awareness about social causes and call of reference for the India-Canada Ministerial Energy Dialogue. upon youth to resolve to build a New India. Also Agreement were signed between India and Canada’s Organized by: Surat Nagrik Samiti. (IDRC) International Development Research Centre for global and local developmental challenges. Q6. IOA and Edelweiss Group partnership? Canada: Capital – Ottawa The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced its partnership with Edelweiss Financial Services Limited as Q10. Winter Olympics 2018? sponsor of the Indian team for 2018 Commonwealth Games, XXIII Olympic Winter Games was held in Pyeongchang, South the 2018 Asian Games and the 2020 Olympic Games and Korea. National Games 2018 and 2019. Motto: “Passion.Connected”. Official mascots: Soohorang, a white tiger, and Bandabi, an Q7. TAPI Gas pipeline? Asiatic black bear. Turkmenistan has announced that the construction work has More than 2900 athletes from 92 countries took part in been started on the Afghan section of Turkmenistan- PyeongChang Winter Olympics 2018. Afghanistan-Pakistan-India TAPI natural gas pipeline (project Special Moments:- amount - $8 billion) that will link energy-rich Turkmenistan to Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla wins first Olympic gold medal as Pakistan and India. Dutch sweep speed skating. The project TAPI has been supported by United States and First Gold Medal at PyeongChang Winter Olympics 2018 was Asian Development Bank (ADB). won by Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla. Charlotte Kalla won the Gold Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh Gas Field is world’s second-biggest for 15-kilometer cross-country skiing. gas field. All medals in the ladies’ 3000m speed skating were won by Netherlands team. Q8. RISE scheme? Korean ‘Iron Man’ Kim wins historic Olympic skeleton gold RISE- Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems in Education South Korea’s Yun Sung-bin made history by winning Gold in (RISE) scheme. Skeleton racing and becomes Asia’s first Olympic skeleton 23 IITs will get 25 % of govt loans for higher education champion. institutes under this scheme. Norway’s Bjorgen becomes most successful Winter Olympian Announced by, Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley during Norwegian female cross-country skier, Marit Bjorgen won a Union Budget 2018 speech, RISE scheme with a fund medal in all five of the events she has competed in. allocation of Rs 100000 crore. US wins Ice Hockey Gold at Winter Olympics 2018. This was US Under this scheme, all centrally-funded institutes (CFIs) can Women’s Ice Hockey team’s first gold medal in 20 years. borrow funds from the corpus over the next four years to PyeongChang Winter Olympics 2018 Medal Table – Top 5 expand and build new infrastructure. Out of Rs. 100000 crore, Countries: Rs. 25000 crore, will be set aside exclusively for the 23 IITs. 1. Norway Fund Allocation:- Gold- 14 Silver- 14 Bronze- 11 Total- 39 Central Universities - Rs 20000 crore. 2. Germany National Institutes of Technology (NITs) - Rs 11300 crore Gold- 14 Silver- 10 Bronze- 7 Total- 31 New IIMs - Rs 4500 crore 3. Canada Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) - Gold- 11 Silver- 8 Bronze- 10 Total- 29 Rs 5000 crore. 4. United States Under RISE, all financing will be done through the Higher Gold- 9 Silver- 8 Bronze- 6 Total- 23 Education Funding Agency (HEFA). Netherlands Gold- 8 Silver- 6 Bronze- 6 Total- 20 Q9. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s visit to India India – Canada signed six important agreement Q11. Rahul Mahajan? A MoU between India’s Department of Atomic Energy and the Rahul Mahajan has been appointed as new Editor-in-Chief of Department of Natural Resources of Canada for co-operation Rajya Sabha Television in the fields of science, technology and innovation. Rajya Sabha chairman: M Venkaiah Naidu approved his # A joint declaration of intent between the India’s Ministry of appointment. Electronics And Information Technology and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development of Canada
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Q12. 20th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers The new species were discovered in Jaldapara and Buxa (20CCEM)? National Parks in West Bengal. Held in: Nadi, Fiji # Drypetes kalamii is a small shrub. It grows up to a length of 1 Theme: “Sustainability and Resilience: Can Education metre. Deliver?”. It is discovered by the scientists of Botanical Survey of India. First Commonwealth education conference was held in Scientists have declared this plant species as “Critically Oxford, UK in 1959. Endangered”. Objective: Education Ministers of Commonwealth nations meet and discuss solutions to issues and challenges in Q4. BioAsia 2018? education sector. Edition: 15th India’s representative Dr. Satya Pal Singh, Minister of State, Held in: Hyderabad Ministry of Human Resource Development. Theme: “RIGHT TIME, RIGHT NOW”. BioAsia is a bio-business convention in Asia for Life sciences, Q13. 21st National Conference on e-Governance pharmaceuticals and healthcare which brings together all the Held in: Hyderabad, Telangana national as well as international stakeholders of Pharma and Organized by: the Department of Administrative Reforms and Life Sciences sector. Public Grievances (DARPG), jointly with the Ministry of International Partners: Ireland, Netherlands and South Africa Electronics & Information Technology along with Telangana Partner states: Gujarat, Assam and Rajasthan. Government. Inaugurated by: Y.S. Chowdary, Union Minister of State for Q5. Amma 2 Wheeler Scheme? Science & Technology and Earth Sciences. It is scheme to provide subsidised 2 Wheeler for working Theme: ‘Technology for accelerating Development’. women in Tamil Nadu. Launched by: PM Narendra Modi Q14. Airtel and ‘Seamless Alliance’ Launched in: Tamil Nadu. Bharti Airtel has announced that it has joined ‘Seamless This scheme was launched to mark 70th birth anniversary of Alliance’, to bring high-speed and uninterrupted in-flight data Jayalalithaa , the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. connectivity to mobile customers. Every year, one lakh working women in Tamil Nadu will be Once the platform will go Live, Airtel’s 370 million mobile given 50% of the cost of a two- wheeler or a grant of Rs. customers will be able to enjoy uninterrupted access to high- 25000. speed data services even while they are in-flight. Tamil Nadu: # Capital – Chennai # Governor – Banwarilal Along with Bharti Airtel, OneWeb, Airbus, Delta and Sprint are Purohit # Chief Minister – K Palaniswami the other founding members of this alliance. Q6. Rustom-2 drone or TAPAS-BH-201? More in the day: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) 1. China has been elected as the Vice President of the successfully carries out test flight of indigenous Rustom-2 Financial Action Task Force (FATF). drone which is a medium altitude long-endurance unmanned 2. India’s Vikas Krishan won a gold medal for the best boxer of aerial vehicle. the tournament honour at the 69th Strandja Memorial boxing Test Location: Chalakere in Chitradurga district of Karnataka tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria. It can continuously fly for 24 hours. 3. Sajeev Krishnan- New Additional Director of Dhanlaxmi # Chairman – S Christopher Bank. Q7. Groovz Jazz festival in Riyadh? Current Affairs – 25 February 2018 Saudi Arabia conducted the Groovz Jazz Festival, its first ever Q1. Day observed on 24 Feb.? jazz festival, at the Riyadh Intercontinental Hotel, in Riyadh Central Excise Day Organized by: Time Entertainment Central Board of Excise and Customs: # Chairman – Mrs. Vanaja N. Sarna Q8. Austrian Open International Challenge (badminton)? Winner: India’s Parupalli Kashyap. Q2. 1st Indian to win medal at Gymnastics World Cup? Location: Vienna, Austria. Aruna Budda Reddy becomes 1st Indian to win individual Parupalli Kashyap defeated Malaysia’s June Wei Cheam. medal at Gymnastics World Cup Badminton World Federation (BWF): # President – Poul-Erik Location: Melbourne, Australia. Høyer # Headquarters – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia She won a bronze medal. A total of 16 countries are taking part in the Gymnastics World Q9. ‘Doing Business’ ranking? Cup in Melbourne. Union Commerce and Industry Ministry has appointed four institutes: Q3. New plant species discovered in West Bengal? 1. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Indian scientists have discovered a new plant species in West 2. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Bengal and have named it “Drypetes kalamii” after former 3. National Institute of Construction Management and President Dr. Abdul Kalam. Research (NICMAR)
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4. Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) to interact This festival is conducted to provide a platform for theatre with stakeholders and suggest measures to push up India’s artists to display their talent. ranking in ease of doing business index. Work distribution: Q3. ‘Lamitye’? ICAI will ascertain views on ‘taxes’ parameter. Indo-Seychelles joint Army exercise. ICSI and IIFT will look into ‘starting a business’ and ‘trading Edition: 8th across borders’ parameters. Held in: Seychelles. NICMAR will get feedback on ‘dealing with construction ’Lamiye’ means friendship in Creole (local dialect). permits’. Seychelles: # Capital – Victoria # Currency – Seychellois ‘Ease of Doing Business’ Index: rupee # President – Danny Faure # Prepared by: World Bank (since 2003) # India’s Rank in latest Ranking: 100 out of 190 countries Q4. Ambassador of India to Pluri national State of Bolivia. Subbarayudu Q10. Anti-Dumping Duty on Ceramicware from China? He is currently the Ambassador of India to Lima. Anti-Dumping Duty: A protectionist tariff imposed by domestic Bolivia: # President – Evo Morales # Vice President – government on below-cost foreign imports, to protect Álvaro García Linera domestic producers is referred to as anti-dumping duty. To protect domestic producers, India has imposed anti- Q5. Neelabh Mishra passes away. dumping duty on import of ceramic tableware and He was Senior journalist. kitchenware from China He was the editor-in-chief of National Herald newspaper. Anti-dumping duty of USD 1.04 per kg for a period of five years starting from June 2017 has been imposed. Q6. 4G LTE telecom system? Launched by: Union Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha More in the day: It is India’s first locally developed 4G/LTE telecom system. # Veteran Actress Sridevi passes away. This system has been designed and developed by VNL Ltd. # RSS founder member Bhanu Shashtri passes away. # French international banking group BNP Paribas has Q7. India International Textiles Expo. announced that it is acquiring the Luxembourg-based wealth Inaugurated by: Sri Lankan Minister of Special Assignments, management and insurance business of ABN Amro. Dr. Sarath Amunugama. # Tamil Nadu State Government has entered in to an Organised in: Colombo, Sri Lanka agreement with Microsoft to improve the integration of Organised by: Powerloom Development & Export Promotion technology in teaching and learning across the state. Council (PDEXCIL) with the support of Union Ministry of Microsoft will adopt seven schools and will train their teachers Textiles & Ministry of Commerce & Industry. and students in inculcating skills such as critical thinking, app development, creative coding & gaming, robotics and Q8. Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav? entrepreneurship. Begins in: Madhya Pradesh # From April 1, 2018, SBI’s UK operations will operate as SBI’s Organized by: Ministry of Culture under the Ek Bharat subsidiary under the name of State Bank of India UK Limited. Shrestha Bharat matrix. SBI has 12 retail branches in UK, out of which, 7 are located in A literary meet named ‘Samvaad’, will be held with writers London. and poets from Manipur, Nagaland and other North Eastern # Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has signed a MoU with States. Andhra Pradesh State Government to invest Rs 3730 crore in the state. (1) Supply of 10000 electric cars and 4000 chargers Q9. Global Business Summit? to various departments of Andhra Pradesh through Non- Edition: 4th conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Theme: ‘New Economy, New Rules’ Pradesh Limited (NREDCAP). This year’s Summit was presented by Yes Bank and Economic (2) Supply of approximately 17 lakh smart energy meters to Times two power distribution companies in Andhra Pradesh. It is flagship initiative of the Times Group.
Current Affairs – 24 February 2018 Q10. Development schemes for Daman & Diu? Q1. Youth Festival? Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched development Edition: 7th schemes worth Rs 1000 crore for Daman and Diu. Held in: Central Park, New Delhi. Services launched by PM Narendra Modi: Theme: ‘Let Love Live’ # Pawan Hans helicopter service between Diu and Daman. Organised by: Sahitya Kala Parishad and the Department of # Ahmedabad-Diu flight service under UDAN (Ude Desh ka Art, Culture and Languages, Delhi Government. Aam Naagrik–let the common citizen of the country fly), Regional Air Connectivity scheme. Q2. Vodafone Odeon Theatre Festival? # Also inaugurated anganwadis and schools constructed under Edition: 15th corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Starts in: Kolkata, West Bengal.
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Q11. SCPUL? More in the Day: State Council for Promotion of Urdu Language. # Bharti Airtel and information and communications A set up of Jammu & Kashmir Government technology (ICT) solutions provider Huawei have successfully Fund allocated for this council is 2 crore conducted India’s first 5G network trial under a test setup at Jammu & Kashmir: Airtel’s network experience centre in Manesar, Gurgaon. # Capital – Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) # Siemens India has commissioned a Medium-Voltage (MV) # Governor – Narinder Nath Vohra training lab at INS Valsura, Gujarat, for the Indian Navy. It has # Chief Minister – Mehbooba Mufti been inaugurated by Admiral Sunil Lamba, the Chief of the # J&K State Finance Minister, Haseeb Drabu. Naval Staff. Objective of forming this lab is to train, manage and operate modern Q12. Partnership Summit of the CII? equipment of Indian Navy without going to the field. Inaugurated by: Vice-President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu # National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has Partnership Summit of the Confederation of Indian Industry retained its ‘A’ status of accreditation with Global Alliance of (CII) took place in Visakahpatnam. National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) for the fourth # This summit is jointly organised by the Andhra Pradesh State consecutive term. NHRC, Government, the CII, and the Department of Industrial Policy India: # Chairman – H. L. Dattu (Former Chief Justice of India) and Promotion under Union Ministry of Commerce and # Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has instructed all banks to Industry. integrate SWIFT (Society for World Interbank Financial Telecommunication System platform) with their core banking Q13. IT infrastructure for National Health Protection Scheme solutions (CBS) by April 30, 2018. (NHPS)? Nandan Nilekani will assist the government in developing IT Current Affairs – 23 February 2018 infrastructure for National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS). Q1. ‘Rhino Day’? # Covering 40% of the India’s population, National Health Assam will celebrate 22nd September as ‘Rhino Day’ Protection Scheme (NHPS) aims to offer medical cover for up Aim: to create awareness on protection of the one-horned to Rs 5 lakh to more than 10 crore poor families. rhinoceros of Assam. # Nandan Nilekani is the former Chairman of UIDAI (Unique Announced by: Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam Chief Minister) Identification Authority of India) and he is also a member of It was also decided to set up a Special Battalion to safeguard the GST return simplification committee. wild animals in Manas National Park. # Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for NHPS in the Union Some of the National Parks in Assam: Budget. # Kaziranga National Park # Dibru-Saikhowa National Park # As per the funding arrangement, the Central government will contribute 60% fund, and the remaining will be provided Q2. Suresh Seth passes away. by the corresponding states. And 90 % fund, in case of special He was former Indore mayor and Senior Congress leader. He category states. was also called as the ‘Lion of Indore’ or ‘Sher-e-Indore’.
Q3. ‘Dhanush’? Indian Navy successfully test-fired nuclear-capable surface-to- surface ballistic missile ‘Dhanush’ from a naval warship positioned in the Bay of Bengal. Dhanush is the naval version of the ‘Prithvi’ short-range ballistic missile. Strike range of 350 km and can hit land-based as well as sea- based targets.
Q4. Resignation of Barnaby Joyce? Due to an allegation of extra-marital affair with his former media secretary Vikki Campion, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce announced that, he will resign as leader of the National party and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.
Q5. Kunwar Bai passes away? She was 106-year-old Swachch Bharat brand ambassador from Chattisgarh. Kunwarbai was the woman who sold her goats for Rs 22,000 to built a toilet at her home.
Q6. Federal Bank & Equirus Capital?
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Kochi-based Federal Bank acquires 26% stake in Equirus # This scheme will serve as an alternative to cash donations Capital and is thereby an attempt to make political funding more Federal Bank: # Headquarters – Kochi, Kerala # MD & CEO – transparent. Shyam Srinivasan #Tagline – ‘Your Perfect Banking Partner’ # The bonds will be available in multiples of Rs.1000, Rs. 10000, Rs. 10 lakh, Rs. 1 crore. Q7. ‘Aadi Mahotsava’? # These bonds will be valid for 15 days from the date of issue. It is a tribal festival which is organized by Assam, and began at # These bond’s will be a bearer instrument. Gandhi Mandir Indoor stadium, in Guwahati. # Only registered political parties, which have secured not less Inaugurated by: Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam Chief Minister) than 1% of the votes polled in the last election of the Lok ‘Aadi Mahotsava’ celebrates the art and culture of tribal Sabha or legislative assembly of the state, will be eligible to communities. receive donation through electoral bonds.
Q8. “Global T20 Canada”? More in the day: Cricket Canada’s ICC-approved T20 league “Global T20 # Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan Canada” inaugurates a supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle test It is conceptualised, designed, developed and managed by loop facility at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. Mercuri Group with Cricket Canada. It is the first of its kind project in India. # Director – Anurag Cricket Canada: # President – Mr Ranjit Saini. Kumar. # One 97 communications, the parent company of Paytm, has Q9. Khajuraho dance festival? created Paytm Life Insurance Corporation Ltd. and Paytm Organised in: Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. General Insurance Corporation Ltd.. Paytm founder Vijay Inaugurated by: Anandiben Patel (Governor, Madhya Pradesh) Shekhar Sharma. This time it was 44th Khajuraho dance festival. # MoU has been signed between Mahindra Aerospace and Organised by: Culture department of the Madhya Pradesh Canada’s Viking Air, to form a strategic alliance for making government. smaller aircraft to support regional air connectivity in India. This MoU was signed during the ongoing India visit of Q10. MoU between India-Germany? Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. A MoU between Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs # Central Government has set up an inter-ministerial (MoHUA), India and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale committee (IMC) on medicinal and aromatic plants for the Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of Germany north-east (NE) to suggest actionable measures to generate Government was signed for “Implementation Agreement in more livelihood opportunities in the North East region of Sustainable Urban Development and Smart Cities in India” India. # Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Urban Development – Hardeep Singh Puri Current Affairs – 22 February 2018 # Secretary (Housing and Urban Affairs) – Durga Shanker Q1. Defence Industrial Corridor in Bundelkhand? Mishra Announcement made by: PM Narendra Modi, in the ‘Investors Meet’ at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow Q11. 15th BioAsia Summit? Fund allotted: Rs 20,000 crore Telangana # Bundelkhand is a region located between Uttar Pradesh and At the inaugural speech of this summit Telangana Industry Madhya Pradesh Minister K. T. Rama Rao said that, the Telangana government # It will generate employment opportunities for 2,50,000 aims to double the valuation of its life sciences ecosystem to people. $100 billion in 10 years. # This corridor will connect Agra, Aligarh, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi and Chitrakoot. Current value: $50 billion. Telangana has more than 800 companies, which contributes more than 35% to the national Q2. 1st Indian state to clear business and investment projects pharmaceutical production of India. Telangana is also digitally? considered the vaccine hub of India and the world. It produces Uttar Pradesh nearly 33 % of global vaccines dosages. Also: ‘Nivesh Mitra’ is turning out to be a helpful digital Also, at this event Genome Valley Excellence Award was platform which will serve as a single-window clearance presented to Professor Michael N. Hall from Biozentrum system. University of Basel, Switzerland for discovery of nutrient- activated TOR (Target of Rapamycin) proteins and their UP State Government has brought 20 departments under the function in the metabolic control of cell growth. ‘Nivesh Mitra’ and application for 70 clearances can be made through this platform. Q12. First sale of electoral bonds? Nivesh Mitra had replaced Udyog Bandhu. First sale of electoral bonds will start from March 1, 2018 for a Uttar Pradesh: # Capital – Lucknow # Governor – Ram period of 10 days at some of the selected branches of State Naik # Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath Bank of India (SBI). Announced by: Union Finance Ministry.
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Q3. 1st Indian woman to fly fighter aircraft solo? Report released by Transparency International. Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi Top 5 – Least Corrupt Countries Avani Chaturvedi achieved this feat by flying a MiG-21 “Bison, New Zealand from the Jamnagar base of Indian Air Force Denmark # there are 3 women who have undergone fighter pilot Finland training in the Indian Air Force Norway 1. Avani Chaturvedi 2. Bhawana Kanth 3. Mohana Singh Switzerland Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) – Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa Q10. Parivartan scheme? Launched in: Haryana Q4. “Atlantic sixgill shark”? Launched by: Manohar Lal Khattar (Haryana Chief Minister) New shark species discovered in Atlantic Ocean. 10 Issues to be addresses under ‘Partivartan’ Scheme: Atlantic sixgill shark named – Hexanchus vitulus. facilitation of financing, improving health services, making Existing species of shark is — Hexanchus nakamurai. agriculture profitable and sustainable, implementing Swachh The findings have been published in the journal Marine Bharat, engaging the youth, decongesting market areas, Biodiversity. checking air pollution, effective policing, ensuring availability of identity-related services and ensuring road order and Q5. 5th Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championship? conduct. Indian “A” team won gold at the 5th Commonwealth Nations Haryana: Bridge Championship which was held in Gold Coast, Australia. # Capital – Chandigarh Team was headed by Kiran Nadar. # Governor – Kaptan Singh Solanki The team members were Keyzad Anklesari, B. Satyanarayana, Rajeshwar Tewari, Jaggy Shivdasani and Sunit Chokshi. Q11. Gandhi Nagar railway station? India won Gold by defeating Australia. Jaipur’s Gandhi Nagar railway station became India’s first major railway station to be completely managed by women Q6. India, revised tax treaty with Kenya? personnel. Indian government had revised Double Taxation Avoidance Also: Sanitary napkin vending machine has been installed at Agreement (DTAA) between India and Kenya. the station. Objective: Note: (Matunga railway station in Mumbai is also completely # To enhance transparency in tax matters, managed by women personnel but it is not a major station). # Control tax evasion # Elimination of double taxation Q12. YH Malegam committee? # It will also improve the flow of investment, technology and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted an expert services between India and Kenya. committee under the chairmanship of YH Malegam to look # Reduction in withholding tax rate:- into the issues related to classification of bad loans, rising :: on dividend and interest — 10 % from 15 %. incidents of frauds and effectiveness of audits. :: rate on royalties, and fees for management, professional, About Cmmittee and members:- technical services has been decreased to 10 % from 20 % and # Y H Malegam is a former member of the Central Board of 17.5 % respectively. Directors of RBI. Bharat Doshi – Member of Central Board of RBI Q7. Night trial of Prithvi-II missile? S Raman – Former Chairman and MD of Canara Bank India successfully conducted a night trial of Prithvi-II, an Nandkumar Saravade – Chief Executive Officer of Reserve indigenously developed nuclear capable missile, from a Test Bank Information Technology Pvt Ltd (ReBIT) Range at Chandipur in Odisha. A K Misra – Executive Director of RBI will be the Member- # Prithvi-II is a surface-to-surface missile with a strike range of Secretary of the committee. 350km. It has the ability to carry 500 to 1,000 kg of warheads. Q13. BAFTA Awards 2018, 71st British Academy Film Awards # Chairman DRDO & Secretary Department of Defence R&D – ceremony. Dr S Christopher Held in: London, United Kingdom. Best Film — Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Q8. EPFO lowers interest rate? Best Leading Actress — Frances McDormand – Three Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) declared that Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri the rate of interest on employees’ provident fund for 2017-18 Best Leading Actor — Gary Oldman – Darkest Hour will be 8.55 per cent, which is 0.10% less then compared to Best Director — The Shape Of Water – Guillermo Del Toro last years 8.65%. Best Film Not in the English Language — The Handmaiden – Park Chan-wook and Syd Lim Q9. India ranks in global Corruption Perceptions Index? Best Animated Film — Coco – Lee Unkrich and Darla K. India has ranked 81st out of 180 countries in the global Anderson Corruption Perceptions Index 2017. Best Short Animation — Poles Apart – Paloma Baeza and Ser En Low
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BAFTA Fellowship — Ridley Scott Launched by: Uma Bharati (Union Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister) Q14. Special package for Arunachal Pradesh? Launched in: Uttarkashi. Announced by: Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister. Also launched Gangotri Swachh Iconic Place project. Central Government has sanctioned a special package to And also announced ‘Bagori Ganga Gram’ project for strengthen Uttarakhand’s Bagori village, which has been declared open security in 3 eastern districts of Arunachal Pradesh: Tirap, defecation free (ODF). Changlang and Longding. Uttarakhand: This fund will be used for creation of new posts, purchasing of # Capital – Dehradun vehicles and equipment for police. And also for construction # Chief Minister – Trivendra Singh Rawat of 20 police stations in the three districts. # Governor – Krishan Kant Paul
More in the day: Q6. Vaccination Card mandatory for School Admission? # MS Anantharaman passed away, he was a renowned New Health Policy by Kerala government. Violinist. This new health policy is presented by Health Minister KK Kalyan Singh Chouhan passes away, he was MLA from BJP in Shylaja. Rajasthan. # Israeli Ambassador to India, Mr Daniel Carmon has said that Q7. Web Application Attacks? North East region (NER) first regional Centre for Agriculture As per a report from content delivery network services Akamai with Israeli expertise will be inaugurated in Mizoram on March Technologies, India has ranked 7th on the list of targeted 7, 2018. Setup cost will be 8-10 crore. countries for Web Application Attacks (WAA). # India has contributed $ 1 million for the rehabilitation works Reports title: “Akamai State of the Internet Security Q4 in Tonga, after the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone 2017”. Gita. Q8. SARAS? Current Affairs – 21 February 2018 SARAS is an indigenous light transport aircraft of India, which Q1. Day observed on 21st Feb.? has successfully finished its second test flight. International Mother Language Day. First celebrated in year SARAS is designed and developed by CSIR-National Aerospace 2000. Laboratories (NAL). Theme: Linguistic diversity and multilingualism count for Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR): sustainable development. # Director General – Dr Girish Sahni United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural # Chairman – PM Narendra Modi Organization(UNESCO): Director-General of the UNESCO – Audrey Azoulay Q9. Coach factory at Latur, Maharashtra. Headquarters – Paris, France Union Ministry of Railways and Maharashtra State Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding Q2. Virat Kohli (MoU) to set up a rail coach factory at Latur, Maharashtra. First Indian to cross 900 points in ICC ODI player rankings. He is just behind Sir Vivian Richards who had 935 points Q10. Investors’ Summit 2018? (1985), Zaheer Abbas – 931 points (1983), Greg Chappell – 921 Started in: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. points (1981), David Gower – 919 points (1983), Dean Jones – Inaugurated by: PM Narendra Modi. 918 points (1991) and Javed Miandad – 910 points (1987). Aim: Showcasing business and investment potential across the state. Q3. New Executive Directors’ appointed for Canara Bank and Major Investment Commitments announced: Vijaya Bank? # Adani Group — Rs. 35000 crore — Over next five years, in Debashish Mukherjee – Canara Bank (currently the general various sectors manager of United Bank of India) # Aditya Birla Group — Rs. 25000 crore — Over next five Murali Ramaswami — Vijaya Bank (general manager of Vijaya years, in various sectors Bank) # Reliance Industries — Rs. 10000 crore — Over next three years, through Jio Q4. Palace Queen Hamsafar Express Train? Flags off at: Mysuru railway station, Karnataka, by PM Q11. Regional conference of southern states on water Narendra Modi. resources ? This train will run between Mysuru in Karnataka to Udaipur in Held in: Telangana, Hyderabad. Rajasthan. And will cover a total distance of 2000 km. Organised by: Union Ministry of Water Resources, River This project costs Rs 220 crore. Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. Minister: Arjun Ram Meghwal. Q5. Swajal project? It is a community owned drinking water programme. Q12. 6 new features of National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform?
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Launched by: Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ # Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018 – Main objective — to Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh facilitate orderly growth of the Chit Funds sector and remove Objective: to offer competitive price to farmers for their challenges being faced by the Chit Funds industry. products by means of online competitive bidding process. e-NAM Mobile App which is now multilingual. Current Affairs – 20 February 2018 Direct Gate Entry from e-NAM Mobile App. Q1. Day observed on 20th Feb.? Farmers can see the progress of their lot that is traded. World Day of Social Justice. Real time bidding progress of price. Theme: Workers on the Move: the Quest for Social Justice. During trade, assaying certificate can be viewed through the app. Q2. ‘Mission Buniyaad’? Online payment by trader can also be done from the app. Launched by: Delhi government. SMS alert for farmers Aim: To improve learning levels of students attending primary Also new website has been launched with e-learning module. classes in the state government and municipal schools. Provides live status of markets of e-NAM based on gate entry, Announced by: Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia. information on latest events, dynamic training calendar etc. Focus on students of Class 3 to Class 8. e-Learning module also available in Hindi language. Students will be divided in 3 different groups based on the And Grievance Redressal Management System by which assessment: Mandi Secretary can raise technology issues linked to portal/ Students who perform up to mark will be placed in ‘Ujjawal’ software and its operation. group. Students who score medium-level marks will be placed in Q13. Institutions of Eminence (IoE)? ‘Utkarsh’ group The University Grants Commission (UGC) has formed a 4 And students who are behind their peers will be placed in member Empowered Expert Committee (EEC) to perform ‘Udyam’ group. appraisal of applications in order to shortlist 20 Institutions of Eminence (IoE) Q3. Christian Coleman – new world record? Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, N Gopalaswami Christian Coleman breaks 20-year-old 60m sprint indoor world is the chairperson of the Empowered Expert Committee (EEC). record at at the US Indoor National Championships in The other three members are: Albuquerque. 1.Tarun Khanna, a Jorge Paulo Lemman Professor at Harvard Christian Coleman is a sprinter and represents the US. Business School Previous world record in 60 metre sprint was 6.39 seconds 2.Pritam Singh, former director of IIM, Lucknow and the new record is 6.34 seconds. 3.Renu Khator, Chancellor of University of Houston System Q4. Agni-II missile? More in the day: India successfully test-fired medium range nuclear capable # Lokendra Singh, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) MLA, passed Agni-II Missile from Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of away in a road accident, in Uttar Pradesh. He was an MLA Odisha. from Bijnor’s Noorpur in Uttar Pradesh. His car collided with a About Agni-II missile: truck in Sitapur, while he was travelling to attend the # Strike range: 2,000 km. It is an Intermediate Range Ballistic ‘Investors Meet’ in Lucknow. Missile (IRBM). # Dr. BK Goyal passes away, he was a renowned cardiologist. # The tests was conducted by Army’s strategic forces # Kunhiraman Panoor passes away, he was a Malayalam command (SFC). writer. # Payload capacity: 1,000 kg up to a distance of 2,000km. # UP’s Khadi and Village Industries Board has signed a MOU with Amazon India for online selling of Khadi products. Q5. World Environment Day 2018? # Capital First has announced that the regulator National India is going to host World Environment Day 2018. (on June Housing Bank (NHB) has approved its merger with IDFC Bank 5, 2018) Capital First has 2 subsidiaries which are — Capital Home Announcement made by: Union Minister of Environment, Dr. Finance and Capital First Securities Limited. Harsh Vardhan # A Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has allowed And the theme will be: ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. private companies to mine the coal for commercial use, and this decision will end the monopoly of state-owned Coal India Q6. Mandarin? Ltd (CIL). Pakistan has approved Mandarin as one of its three official # To protect the savings of the investors, Union Cabinet has languages. approval to introduce Banning of Unregulated Deposit Declared by: Pakistan’s Senate Schemes Bill, 2018 and Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018 in This move has been made to improve ties between Pakistan Parliament. and China. # Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018 – Main objective — Pakistan: to tackle the menace of illicit deposit taking activities across # President – Mamnoon Hussain India by plugging the existing regulatory gaps and implement # Prime Minister – Shahid Khaqan Abbasi strict administrative measures.
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Q7. Arrow-3. # Chief Minister – Manohar Lal Khattar Israel successfully tests Arrow-3, an advanced missile defence system, having the ability to defend against ballistic missile Q3. “Asmita Yojana” for rural women? threats outside the atmosphere. Maharashtra government will launch subsidised sanitary pads to girl student and women in rural areas on March 8 Q8. “Garuda Shakti”? (International Women’s Day). Joint Military Exercise — India, Indonesia More info.:- Zilla Parishad schools will get a sanitary napkin Begins in: Bandung (the capital of West Java province of packet at Rs 5 while rural women can avail it at a subsidised Indonesia) rate of Rs 24 and Rs 29. Edition: 6th Objective: to strengthen relations between the two Armies of Q4. International educational institution for minorities? India and Indonesia and to enhance their ability to undertake Rajasthan, Alwar city. joint tactical level operations. Announced by: Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Indonesia: Abbas Naqvi # Capital – Jakarta Rajasthan: # Capital – Jaipur # Governor – Kalyan Singh # Currency – Indonesian rupiah # Chief Minister – Vasundhra Raje # President – Joko Widodo Q5. Hyperloop between Mumbai and Pune? Q9. “Cobra Gold 2018” Maharashtra government has signed a deal with Virgin Group An international military exercise, is held in Thailand to built a Hyperloop between Mumbai and Pune Edition: 37th What is a hyperloop:- It comprises a sealed tube through Participating Countries: Thailand, United States of America, which a pod may travel free of air resistance or friction Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and Singapore. conveying people or objects at high speed. Objective: To improve regional security, maritime security and As per 6 years timeline, India may be the first market for interoperability between participating countries. Hyperloop One even before Middle East, where Hyperloop One is considering rolling out its service. Q10. ‘International R&D Conclave’ A person can travel from Mumbai to Pune (approximate Inaugurated by: R.K. Singh, Union Minister of State (IC) for distance – 150 km) in 14-25 minutes through Hybperloop. Power and New & Renewable Energy. Inaugurated in: New Delhi. Q6. WCIT & ILF? Organised by: Central Electricity Authority (CEA). WCIT: World Congress on Information Technology ILF: Nasscom India Leadership Forum More in the day: Edition: 22nd of WCIT and 26th of ILF # US India Business Council (USIBC), a business advocacy Held in: Hyderabad, at the Hyderabad International organisation has announced the formation of an India Convention Centre. Advisory Council to enhance bilateral strategic and economic Inaugurated by: Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a video partnership between India and US. conference. The WCIT is held for the first time in India. # UK-India joint research projects on ‘Water Quality Research’ Theme: “Amplify Digital – Disrupt The Core”. and ‘Energy Demand Reduction in Built Environment’ were launched, NITI Aayog member Dr V K Saraswat, Department of Q7. Carbon tax – 2019? Science and Technology Secretary Ashutosh Sharma and Announcement made by Singapore Government: that it would Research Councils UK- India Director Daniel Shah. impose a carbon tax from 2019 to cut its greenhouse gas emissions. Current Affairs – 19 February 2018 Singapore: # Capital – Singapore (city-state) Q1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar? # Prime Minister – Lee Hsien Loong He has become the first Indian bowler to take a “5-wicket” in all three formats in international cricket Q8. Robots for cleaning manholes? Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI): Announcement made by: Kerala government, that it will soon # President – C K Khanna employ robots to clean sewer holes, instead of involving # CEO – Rahul Johri humans. Developed by: Genrobotics. Q2. Antyodaya Aahaar Yojana? Name of this robot service: ‘Bandicoot’. Haryana State Government launched four canteens under Antyodaya Aahaar Yojana which will serve healthy, nutritious Q9. Rotterdam Open title? and hygienic food to poor and needy people of the state. Winner: Roger Federer Launched by: Manohar Lal Khattar (Haryana Chief Minister) at Beats: Grigor Dimitrov Faridabad, Gurugram, Hisar, and Yamunanagar. Played at : Netherlands. Haryana: # Capital – Chandigarh Q10. New Commandant of Indian Naval Academy? # Governor – Kaptan Singh Solanki Vice-Admiral R B Pandit .
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He took charge as the Commandant of Indian Naval Academy (INA) at Ezhimala in Kannur district, Kerala. He has succeeded Vice Admiral S V Bhokare. # Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) – Admiral Sunil Lanba
Q11. “AstroSat-2”? ISRO is planning to launch India’s 2nd space observatory “AstroSat-2” India’s first space observatory was AstroSat-1 which was launched on 28th September 2015 and has a life span of five years. Currently, only US, Japan, Russia, Europe and India have their own space observatories. ISRO: Chairman – K. Sivan
More in the day:- # Announcement by Saudi Arabia government that women can start their own businesses without their guardian’s consent (generally the guardian is a male relative that is — husband, father or brother of the woman) # Crown Prince – Mohammed bin Salman. # Global Digital Health Partnership Summit took place at Australia. # Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda addressed the Summit, and spoke on the topic: Making Digital Health Services a Priority in Healthcare Reform # Amazon has becomes first foreign ecommerce firm to start Q3. Amazon: 3rd most valuable company? its own food retailing business in India from Pune. Amazon became the third most valuable company in the Amazon Chairman, President and CEO – Jeff Bezos. world, with market capitalisation of $702.5 billion. Amazon: # Headquarters – Washington, US Current Affairs – 18 February 2018 #Chairman, President and CEO – Jeff Bezos Q1. National Banana Festival 2018? Held at: Vellayani Devi Temple grounds at Kalliyoor, in Q4. Brand Ambassador of Pakistan Cricket Board. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Shoaib Akhtar Inaugurated by: Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan More Info.: He was the first bowler to cross the 100 mph Singh. mark. About Pakistan Cricket Board: # Chairman – Najam Organised by: Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Sethi. Action (CISSA) jointly with Kalliyoor panchayat, National Q5. Chennai Open ATP Challenger tennis championship? Centre for Banana. Winner: Jordan Thompson From: Australia. Q2. Tropical cyclone Kelvin? In men’s singles ATP world rankings, Jordan Thompson Hits north coast of Western Australia. currently ranks 101st. Speed: 150 km per hour. Q6. Geotaging of 10 lakh livestock farmer houses? Decision by: Kerala government Objective: to compile a comprehensive digital repository of the information of animal husbandry and dairying in Kerala and integrate the data using the Geographical Information System (GIS). Kerala: # Capital – Thiruvananthapuram # Chief Minister – Pinari Vijayan # Governor – P. Sathasivam
Q7. Tezpur University’s New Vice Chancellor? Prof Vinod Kumar Jain He is Former JNU professor. His term will be for 5 years.
Q8.Hassan Rouhani’s Indian visit? Hassan Rouhani, President of Iran,was on a three-day visit to India where he held a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime
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Minister Narendra Modi and signed a leasing agreement for Occurred in South Pacific island nation of Tonga, (Tongatapu giving operational control of Shahid Beheshti port to India for group of islands). a period of 18 months. Shahid Beheshti port is the phase one Tonga: # Monarch – Tupou VI # Prime Minister – Akilisi of the Chabahar port, located on Iran’s east coast. Pohiva
More in the day: Q8. CPA Conference? # Former MLA and Padma Shri awardee Ram Swarup Sharma Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan inaugurated the 6th passes away. Conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association # Fiji has signed a declaration of partnership with India’s (CPA) of India Region in Patna, Bihar. Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for assistance in tackling Subjects for discussion: ‘Parliament’s role in the development climate change effects and achieving environmental agenda’ and ‘Legislature and Judiciary’. sustainability. Fiji: # Capital – Suva # Currency – Fijian dollar # Prime Q8. West Bengal State Government announces sale of West Minister – Frank Bainimarama. Bengal Stock (Securities) for Rs 2000 Crore to Meet Expenses # Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been recognized as one of Developmental Projects of the world’s best employers by the Top Employer Institute West Bengal: for the third consecutive year. # MD & CEO – Rajesh # Capital – Kolkata Gopinathan. # Governor – Keshari Nath Tripathi # Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board is working # Chief Minister – Mamata Banerjee towards setting up 3 Terminal Mart for agricultural products in the state in order to give a boost to agricultural market. Marts Q9. MoU between Botanical Survey of India and Natural will be at Silchar, Jorhat and Guwahati. History Museum, UK. Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Natural History Museum Current Affairs – 17 February 2018 (NHM), United Kingdom has signed a Memorandum of Q1. Roger Federer? Understanding for cooperation in the field of He has become the oldest player in the world to hold no. 1 genetic/taxonomic studies, research and training, rank in the ATP world rankings. conservation in India, including species and habitat conservation assessments. Q2. The Kepler Mission? Botanical Survey of India: BY this mission discovery of nearly 100 new exoplanets Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal (planets outside solar system) has been confirmed based on data from the second mission of NASA’s Kepler Space More in the day: Telescope or K2 released in 2014. # Virat Kohli has created a world record by becoming the first batsman ever to score 500 runs in a bilateral ODI series. Q3. ‘malacidin’? # India’s second lunar mission Chandrayan-2 will be launched It is a new type of antibiotic discovered in soil capable of in April. killing drug-resistant bacteria. # PNB Housing Finance Ltd. has tied up with International For now, malacidin has been found to be effective only against Finance Corporation (IFC) to raise fund of $800 million for Methicillin Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacterium that green and affordable housing in India. causes infections in different parts of the body. # National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), permits WhatsApp BHIM UPI beta launch with limited user base of 1 Q4. T20 Mumbai League’s Brand Ambassador? million and low per transaction limit. Sachin Tendulkar # In terms of maternal mortality rate (MMR), Assam is at the bottom of the list among all Indian States. MMR figure in Q5. Munich Security Conference? Assam is 300 against the national average of 167. MMR: Held in: Germany Annual number of female deaths per 100000 live births from Edition: 54th any cause related to pregnancy. Important topics of Discussions were: North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and the Syrian civil war. Current Affairs – 16 February 2018 Q6. “Agriculture 2022- Doubling Farmers’ Income”? Q1. New President of South Africa? National Conference Cyril Ramaphosa Held in: New Delhi Replaces: Jacob Zuma Organized by: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Objective: To build a consensus and arrive at actionable points Q2. Ethiopia Prime Minister? on measures to be taken for shaping and sharpening Central Hailemariam Desalegn Government’s vision on Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2022. He had recently resigned from his position unexpectedly.
Q7. Tropical Cyclone Gita? Q3. Milkbasket? ‘Startup of the Year’ 2017
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Event: 7th Small Business Awards, in New Delhi. Current Affairs – 15 February 2018 Q1. Cristiano Ronaldo? Q4. New Governor of Bank of Japan? First player in Champions League history to score 100 goals for Haruhiko Kuroda, he is reappointed for second term. one club. Club: Real Madrid Q5. 2017’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year? He is followed by Lionel Messi with 97 goals for Barcelona Sanjiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Finserv. club.
Q6. Madhya Pradesh’s first butterfly park? Q2. 23rd Senior Women’s National Football Championship Opened at Gopalpur in Raisen district. title? Madhya Pradesh: Winner: Tamil Nadu Capital – Bhopal Played at: the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha. Governor – Anandiben Patel AIFF (All India Football Federation): # President – Praful M Chief Minister – Shivraj Singh Chouhan Patel
Q7. Next Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research Q3. Nepal’s next Prime Minister? (ICHR)? KP Sharma Oli. Archaeologist Arvind Jamkhedkar. Party: CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist– He will succeed Prof. K. Sudershan Rao. Leninist)
Q8. ‘train the trainers’ programme? Q4. Award at World Government Summit? Launched by: Former Indian Badminton player Pullela Umang App: Best M-Government Service award Gopichand. Aadhar: Best Emerging Technology award Objective: Is to develop the skills of PE teachers so that they Event held in: Dubai. can impart the right techniques to children aspiring to make a India got the ‘Guest of Honour’ country status in the World career in sports. Government Summit.
Q9. World Sustainable Development Summit? Q5. Ruud Lubbers passed away? Inaugurated by: PM Narendra Modi Longest-serving Dutch Prime Minister. Inaugurated in: New Delhi Was PM of Netherlands. Organized by: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Theme: ‘Partnerships for a Resilient Planet’. Q6. ‘PricePoint’? India’s first-ever platform for transparent pricing in real Q10. India’s first artificial intelligence centre? estate. Maharashtra Launched by: Zippserv Declaration done during Magnetic Maharashtra Summit by For: Bengaluru CM Devendra Fadnavis. Zippserv: # Co-founder and CEO – Sudeep Anandapuram # Co-founder and COO – Debashish Hota More in the Day: Q7. India’s first Radio Festival? 1. Raghbir Singh Khandpur (former Director General of the Held in: Delhi Centre for Electronics Design and Technology and the Pushpa Organised by: International Association of Women in Radio Gujral Science City in Kapurthala) will be awarded for his and Television along with UNESCO. contribution to science and for transforming the Science City in Kapurthala, Punjab. Q8. Odisha government will sponsor the Indian National Hockey? 2. PhonePe (Parent Organisation – Flipkart) has entered into a Announcement made by: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, for thr partnership with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to next 5 years. deploy its Point of Sale (POS) device at IOCL retail outlets. Odisha hosted the Hockey World League in November 2017 and it is also the sponsor for the upcoming Men’s Hockey 3. Because of millions of dollars of unpaid dues Venezuela and World Cup in 2018. Libya have been suspended from voting in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Q9. SCO summit 2018? Will be hosted by: China’s Qingdao city. (expected to be held 4. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has suspended in june 2018) Romania’s drug-testing laboratory for 6 months. Reason: the laboratory was not up to the required standards. Q10. International conference ‘Agricon 2018’? World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA): # President – Craig Reedie Inaugurated by: President Ram Nath Kovind. # Headquarters – Montreal, Canada At: Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology (CSAUT), Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
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Q11. ‘Paschim Lehar’? According to: India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2017. It is a tri-service maritime exercise (ships, submarines and India’s rank – 10th fighter aircrafts), held off India’s Western Coast. Announced by: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Objective: to build interoperability among Indian Navy, Air Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan. Force and Army. Q3. First Hindu minority woman lawmaker from Pakistan Q12. Residents of Bhalupani village in Balrampur district of Krishna Kumari Chhattisgarh gets electricity connection for the first time after She is a member of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). the district administration installed solar panels for every family. Q4. New Ambassador of India to Brazil? Village population: 150 people. Ashok Das. District collector: Avinash Kumar Sharan Q5. Oman port Duqm? Chhattisgarh: On the official visit of Mr. Narendra Modi to Oman he has # Capital – Raipur secured access to the Port of Duqm in Oman for military use # Governor – Balram Das Tandon and logistical support. # Chief Minister – Raman Singh Oman: # Capital – Muscat # Currency – Omani rial.
Q13. “selfeSavings” digital savings account? Q6. India, Bangladesh ‘Friendship Gate’? Initiative by: Equitas Small Finance Bank. Inaugurated by: Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad Aim: to have a Wagah-like beating retreat ceremony for Q14. ‘Military Balance 2018’? India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Report by: International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Bangladesh. India, fifth-largest defence spender in the world in 2017.( ‘Friendship Gate’ has been constructed near Shillong on $52.5 billion) border with Bangladesh. Meghalaya: # Capital – Shillong # Governor – Ganga Prasad Q15. ‘India Pharma & India Medical Device 2018’: Affordable # CM – Mukul Sangam and Quality Healthcare. India’s biggest global pharma conference. Q7. Theatre Olympics? Started in: Bengaluru, Karnataka. Host: India (for the first time) Organized by: Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry Edition: 8th of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Federation of Indian Inaugurated by: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). Theme: “Flag of Friendship”. Theme: ‘Driving NextGen Pharmaceuticals’. Inaugurated by: Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers — Q8. “Progress”? Ananthkumar Russian unmanned Cargo Ship. Launched to: International Space Station Q16. Hampi? Launched from: Russian space complex in Baikonur, Centre has decided to develop Karnataka’s pride Hampi (click Kazakhstan. to view) as iconic tourism site. It carries 2.7 metric tons of food, fuel and other supplies to This announcement was made by Finance Minister Arun the International Space Station. Jaitley in the Union Budget 2018 speech. Hampi Monuments: Q9. Ibrahim prize for African Leadership? Located in Hosapete taluk of Ballari district of Karnataka. Awarded to: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf There are 57 monuments which were constructed between She is former Liberian president & (first elected female head 1336 AD to 1565 AD during Vijayanagar Rule. of state in Africa) also she is the first female leader to receive It was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations this award. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The award consists of $5 million, which will be paid over 10 years, and $200,000 every year for the rest of the recipient’s More in the day: life.
1. Jacob Zuma has resigned from his position as South Africa’s Q10. ‘Modicare’? President. National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) is also known as ‘Modicare’ Current Affairs – 14 February 2018 Announcement made by Mamata Banerjee (CM West Bengal) Q1. 8th Senior National Women’s Hockey Championship title? that, West Bengal has opted out of National Health Protection Winner: Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB). Scheme (NHPS) ‘Modicare’ and has becomes first state to opt Place: the Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi. this scheme. Won over: Madhya Pradesh Q11. Amendments in Small Savings Act? Q2. India’s rank in the World in Terms of Forest Area?
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Government of India has proposed merger of Government International Ski Federation: # Headquarters – Oberhofen am Savings Certificates Act, 1959 and Public Provident Fund Act, Thunersee, Switzerland # President – Gian-Franco Kasper 1968 with the Government Savings Banks Act, 1873. Also, Government has proposed ‘Government Savings Promotion Q3. New President of Sahitya Akademi? Act’. Chandrashekhara Kambar. Objective: To make implementation easier for the depositors He is a Kannada writer. and Acts for understanding the provision of various small saving schemes. Q4. ‘most ethical company’ award? Winner: Tata Steel has Q12. Punjab Government in News? Award given by Ethisphere Institute. Punjab State Government has issued notification to attach Super Straw Management System, using the combine Q5. 6th World Government Summit (WGS-2018)? harvester machines for harvesting the rice crop. Held in: Dubai Aim: to reduce Air Pollution Edition: 6th. Punjab State Government has formed a six-member revenue Approx. 4000 participants from 140 countries. commission to revisit the existing land Acts to make them Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech on the relevant theme: ‘Technology for development’. with the changed land use situation. Head: Justice (Retd) SS Saron of Punjab and Haryana high Q6. Bans on sale of loose cigarettes? court. State: Bihar. Objective: to streamline the existing laws, procedures and Notice issued by: Bihar’s health department’s special secretary processes relating to land administration. Lokesh Kumar Singh. Bihar has become the 12th state in India to ban the sale of More in the day: loose cigarettes. Q7. ‘Darwin Week’? 1. South Africa declares drought a ‘national disaster’: this Began in: Kolkata. drought that began two years ago was triggered by El Nino (a It is observed by the India March for Science Organising complex phenomenon, developing in Pacific region, that Committee, Kolkata and Breakthrough Science Society, West causes global changes in temperature and rainfall). Bengal Chapter. South Africa: # Capital – Pretoria (Executive), Bloemfontein (Judicial), Cape Q8. Radio Umang? Town (Legislative) India’s first online radio station. # President – Jacob Zuma # Currency – South African rand Theme: Love, peace and happiness. 2. NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), has won a tender to Creative Director of Radio Umang: Vidhi Maheshwari. supply 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Bangladesh for 15 years. Q9. Tanzania has withdrawn from the UN refugee programme. Indian, Chinese armies celebrate Chinese spring festival in Announcement made by Tanzanian President John Magufuli Ladakh, and on this occasion both the armies held a Border Reasons for the withdrawal: Security issues and lack of funds. Personnel Meeting (BPM) in Chushul sector of Ladakh region. 3. Assam has become the fourth state to issue the “Right of More in the day:- Way” (RoW) guidelines for telecom service providers. These guidelines will regulate the establishment of underground and 1. Bank of Baroda has announced that it will shut down its overground telecom infrastructure in Assam. operation in South Africa with effect from March 31, 2018. BOB is operating in South Africa since past 21 years. Current Affairs – 13 February 2018 2. All villages will be linked by roads by 2019 under ‘Pradhan Q1. Day observed on 13th Feb.? Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna’. Announcement by Union Minister World Radio Day of State for Rural Development, Ram Kripal Yadav. Aim:- To spread awareness among public about the 3. First ‘Raj Kapoor Award for Excellence in Cinema’: it will be importance of radio and to promote the use of radio in various awarded to filmmaker Ramesh Sippy. sectors. 4. Report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Theme: Radio and Sports. National Election Watch (NEW): Chandrababu Naidu richest UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Chief Minister in India. Organization 5. Citi Bank, India has announced that its customers will not be Director-General – Audrey Azoulay allowed to purchase cryptocurrencies using its credit and debit Headquarters – Paris, France cards. India-Russia Agriculture Business Summit took place in New Q2. World’s first robot ski competition? Delhi, and was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture & Held in: South Korea, near PyeongChang at Welli Hilli ski Farmers Welfare. resort. Name: “The Edge of Robot: Ski Robot Challenge”
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# Minister of Agriculture – Radha Mohan Singh Q11. 12th International Conference on corporate social Ministers of State for Agriculture – Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, responsibility? Parsottambhai Rupala and Krishna Raj. Held in: Bengaluru. Organised by: Institute Of Directors (IOD). Current Affairs – 12 February 2018 Inaugurated by: T. M. Vijay Bhaskar, IAS, Additional Chief Q1. Day observed on 12 Feb.? Secretary, Government of Karnataka. National Productivity Day. Also, during the course of the event, Golden Peacock Award Occasion: 60th Anniversary of the National Productivity 2017 were presented. Council. And this year is celebrated as Diamond Jubilee Year. Institute of Directors (IOD): # Headquarters – London Theme: Industry 4.0 Leapfrog Opportunity for India. # Institute of Directors (India), established in – 1990
Q2. 13th edition of National Chess ‘A’ Championship for Blind? Q12. Water Resources Research, India ranks second in global Winner: Kishan Gangolli (5th consecutive time) phosphorus pollution by human activity. Organised by: the All India Chess Federation for the Blind Data shows about 1.5 teragrams of phosphorus (one teragram (AICFB). is equal to one billion kilograms) was dumped into the freshwater systems every year. Q3. Gevora? It the world’s tallest hotel, opens in Dubai Q13. PM Narendra Modi visits 3 Nation (Palestine, UAE and Height: 356 meters, with 75-storey Oman) Built by: Majid Al Attar. Visit to Palestine:- He travelled from New Delhi to Jordanian capital Amman and Q4. “Dada-Dadi Park” ? took a chopper ride to reach the Palestinian city of Ramallah. Will be set up Jharkhand’s every city, for senior citizens. Narendra Modi became first Indian Prime Minister to make an Announced by: CM Raghubar Das official visit to Palestine. Mr. Narendra Modi was conferred the ‘Grand Collar of the Q5. First International Solar Alliance Summit? State of Palestine’ by Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas. To be held in: New Delhi, 11 March. Grand Collar is Palestine’s Highest order given to foreign Aim: To make solar energy affordable, develop solar grids and dignitaries solar credit mechanism. India, Palestine signed six agreements in different areas International Solar Alliance (ISA): # Interim Director General – MoU for:- Mr. Upendra Tripathy # Secretariat – Gurugram, Haryana Setting up of India-Palestine Super-specialty hospital at Beit Sahour in Bethelhem Governorate. Q6. “Mere Sapno Ka Bharat” book on best interviews of Atal Construction of India-Palestine Centre for Empowering Bihari Vajpayee? women Launched by: Rajnath Singh Setting up of a new National Printing Press at Ramallah Construction of school in Muthalth Al Shuhada Village Q7. Three new species of “eel” found in Bay of Bengal? Construction of school in Tamoon village in Tubas Governorate (1) Gymnothorax pseudotile (2) Gymnothorax visakhaensis Providing assistance for construction of additional floor to (3) Enchelycore propinqua Jawahar Lal Nehru for Boys at Abu Dees Anil Mohapatra (scientist) contributed a major part to these India to invest $50 mn to boost capacity building in Palestine discoveries. Description of these eel species was published in the Zootaxa Visit to UAE:- journal. He was received by the UAE Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Abu Dhabi. Q8. Australia’s Allan Border Medal? Mr. Narendra Modi inaugurated a project for the construction Stevan Smith wins the medal for 2nd time. of the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. It will be a Swaminarayan temple which will be run and Q9. 4th Nepal Buildcon and Wood International Expo 2018 maintained by Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan held in Kathmandu Sanstha. Inaugurated by: Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa and the India, UAE sign five agreements in different areas:- guest of honour for the event was Indian Ambassador to MoU between the Consortium of Indian oil companies and the Nepal Manjeev Sibgh Puri. More than 80 Indian companies Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) was signed for the participated in the expo. acquisition of a 10% participating interest in the Abu Dhabi’s offshore Lower Zakum Concession. Q10. World’s first autonomous pods for tests? MoU for cooperation in the field of manpower aimed to Unveiled in: Dubai institutionalise the collaborative administration of contractual Launched by: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in employment of Indian workers in the Gulf country. collaboration with Next Future Transportation. MoU for technical cooperation in railways to facilitate development of joint projects, knowledge sharing, joint research and technology transfer.
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MoU between Bombay Stock Exchange and Abu Dhabi Q3. Sharmila Nicollet ? Securities Exchange aimed at enhancing cooperation between First Indian golfer to qualify for China Ladies PGA Tour both the countries in financial services industry. Age: 26 years. MoU between the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and DP Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI): World to establish multi-modal logistics park and hub in President – Mrs. Kavita Singh Jammu comprising warehouses and specialised storage Secretary General – Ms. Champika N. Sayal solutions. PM Modi, UAE Crown Prince agree to initiate joint Q4. World’s wealthiest cities ranking? development projects for third countries. Report by: New World Wealth Besides, both the countries have expressed desire to work 1st rank: New York, Mumbai ranks 12th together in the spirit of South-South cooperation in sub- New York, wealth — 3 Trillion Saharan Africa, particularly through capacity-building, grants London, wealth — 2.7 Trillion and loans, joint projects aimed at supporting the Tokyo, wealth — 2.5 Trillion implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and San Francisco Bay Area, US — 2.3 Trillion collaboration in trade and technology. Beijing, China — 2.2 Trillion India, UAE to hold first joint naval drill in Gulf Shanghai, China — 2 Trillion Los Angeles, US — 1.4 Trillion Visit to Oman:- Hong Kong — 1.3 Trillion PM Modi landed in Muscat, the capital of Oman. Sydney, Australia — 1 Trillion Meets : Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said Singapore — 1 Trillion MoU on Chicago, US — 988 billion legal and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters. Mumbai, India — 950 billion Cooperation in the field of health Toronto, Canada — 944 billion Cooperation in the field of tourism Frankfurt, Germany — 912 billion Cooperation and peaceful uses of outer space Paris, France — 860 billion Cooperation between Foreign Service Institute, Ministry of External Affairs, India and Oman’s Diplomatic Institute. Q5. Spoken Sanskrit centre? Academic and scholarly cooperation between National Inaugurated by: Rajnath Singh (Union Home Minister). Defence College, Sultanate of Oman and the Institute for Course introduced by: Gujarat University. Defence Studies and Analyses. Course duration: six-month. Mr. Narendra Modi visits Shiva temple located in the Matrah This course will teach people how to speak Sanskrit. area & Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat. Q6. National Deworming Day? Q14. ‘Vikas Sathaye’? 10 February and 10 August every year. An Indian-born engineer, along with three other people won Launched by: J P Nadda the scientific and engineering award, at the Oscars 2018 Objective: to treat intestinal worm infections in all children Scientific and Technical Awards in Beverly Hills, United States, aged 1- 19 years. for aerial camera mount. Team of 4: Vikas Sathaye, Brad Hurndell, John Coyle and Q7. Asma Jehangir passes away Shane Buckham. She was known as Pakistan’s iron lady.
Q15. ‘Clean Air Campaign’ Q8. ‘Voluntary Safety Reporting’? Launched for: New Delhi. Launched by: Indian Railways Launched by: Delhi government and the Union Ministry of It is a website for its railway employees to anonymously report Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). internal safety issues and hazards. Indian Railways: # Chairman – Ashwani Lohani Current Affairs – 11 February 2018 Union Minister of Railways – Piyush Goyal Q1. Day observed on 11th Feb.? International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Q9. India and UAE signs first concessional agreement in oil Objective: to gain access and participation for women and girls sector. in science. This concessional agreement between Indian oil companies Aims: to work towards gender equality and empowerment of and ADNOC is for 40 years from 2018 to 2057 and the women and girls. participation fees is $600 million. UN Women: # Executive Director – Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka # Headquarters – New York City, New York, U.S. Q10. Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) It is an additional instrument for liquidity management Q2. Ocean 7 Challenge? proposed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Union Budget Rohan More, a Pune-based swimmer, has become the world’s 2018. youngest (32 yr.) and first Asian swimmer to complete the Ocean 7 Challenge. He is the ninth swimmer to do this. More in the day:
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1. ‘Integrated Automatic Aviation Meteorological System All India Chess Federation for the Blind (AICFB): (IAAMS)’ inaugurated at INS Garuda, a naval air station in # Objective – to promote chess among the visually impaired all Kochi, Kerala. IAAMS comprises of Transmissometer, Radar over India. Vertical Wind Profiler, Ceilometer and Automatic Weather # Headquarters – Mumbai Observation System which automatically records relevant Q9. Construction of 1.86 lakh more houses under Pradhan weather parameters. Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) scheme? After this approval, total number of affordable houses 2. Union Defence Ministry has sanctioned Rs 1487 cr to Indian sanctioned: 39.25 lakhs. Army to fortify its bases in Jammu and Kashmir, North East. Max. No. Of houses sanctioned to Haryana: 53290 houses. Tamil Nadu: 40623 houses Current Affairs – 10 February 2018 Karnataka 32656 houses. Q1. Book: ‘Even When There Is A Doctor’ Author: Dr Yashwant Amdekar, Dr Rajesh Chokhani and Q10. New private banking head of HDFC Bank? Krishnan Sivaramakrishnan. Rakesh Singh Launched by: Sachin Tendulkar and his wife. HDFC Bank: It is a book on child health care. Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra MD – Aditya Puri Q2. 23rd Olympic Winter Games started at Pyeongchang in Tagline – ‘We Undertand Your World’ South Korea. 23rd Olympic Winter Games begin: More in the day: The opening ceremony was named “Peace in Motion”. 1. Paisabazaar.com partners with Microsoft to drive an ‘industry first’ technology innovation on its platform. Q3. New Brand Ambassador of Muthoot Group? 2. People who died:- Amitabh Bachchan # Bevan Congdon, associated with Cricket, team New Zealand. Muthoot Group: # Chairman – M.G. George Muthoot # Chandrasekhar Rath, Odia litterateur. #MD – George Alexander Muthoot 3. New Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FONA) — Philipose George #Head Office – Ernakulam, Kerala Pynumootil. 4. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) will start Digital Payments Q4. Golden Peacock Award 2017? in Post Offices by April 2018. Awarded to: Reliance Industries Ltd. :: For corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Current Affairs – 09 February 2018 Q1. New brand ambassador of ‘POWER’ (a Bata’s sport wear Q5. International Conference on Unani Medicine? brand)? Inaugurated by: Dr. Jitendra Singh (Minister of State (IC) for Smriti Mandhana (Indian cricketer) Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region) Organised by: Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine Q2. New Chief Justice of Kerala? (CCRUM), under the Ministry of AYUSH Justice Antony Dominic Theme: “Integration of Unani System of Medicine in main On 9th February 2018, Antony Dominic, Acting Chief Justice of stream healthcare”. the Kerala High Court, took charge as the Chief Justice of Unani Day: 11th February, to mark the 150th Birth Anniversary Kerala. of Hakim Ajmal Khan (Indian Unani physician/researcher). Kerala’s Governor: P. Sadasivam.
Q6. “Swachh Bharat Sanitation Park” ? Q3. First cryptocurrency rich list? Inaugurated in: New Delhi. Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen has topped this list, (crypto net Inaugurated by: Uma Bharti (Union Minister of Drinking Water worth of $7.5-8 billion) and Sanitation) Released by: Forbes Objective: to create awareness on various safe technological options related to Sanitation. Q4. NPCI’s new non-executive chairman? Biswamohan Mahapatra Q7. UK Mathletics Hall of Fame? Term: 2 years Sohini Roy Chowdhury (Indian origin girl) Replaces: B Sambamurthy Age: 8 years NPCI: National Payments Corporation of India About UK’s Mathletics Hall of Fame: It is a mathematics-based competitive online platform. It Q5. First independent female director at ICC? engages PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi primary school students. Q6. Ambassador of India to Timor-Leste? Q8. Brand ambassador of All India Chess Federation for the Pradeep Kumar Rawat Blind (AICFB)? Grand Master Vidit Gujrathi
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He is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of 1990 batch. Q15. ASH TRACK Mobile App? Current position Ambassador of India to Jakarta. Launched by: R.K Singh, Union Minister of State (IC) for Power Timor-Leste: and New & Renewable Energy Capital: Dili It is a Web based monitoring System and a Fly Ash mobile application called ASH TRACK. Q7. Janadriyah festival? Objective: To improve ash management. It is the national heritage and cultural festival of Saudi Arabia. Inaugurated by: Sushma Swaraj (Union External Affairs Current Affairs – 08 February 2018 Minister) and Salman bin Abdulaziz (Saudi King) Q1. Jhulan Goswami? At: Saudi Arabia at Riyadh India’s Jhulan Goswami became the first female cricketer in # India was accorded the ‘Guest of Honour’ status. the world to score 200 ODI (One Day International) wickets. # The Indian Pavilion was based on the theme “Saudi ka Dost This record was made at the second ODI against South Africa Bharat”. in the ICC Women’s Championship at Kimberley, South Africa. Saudi Arabia: Information: The first male cricketer to get 200 ODI wickets Capital – Riyadh was India’s Kapil Dev. Currency – Saudi riyal King – Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Q2. Bangladesh elects………………… as president for second consecutive term? Q8. New Chief Justice of Manipur High Court? Abdul Hamid Justice Abhilasha Kumari. Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh KM Nurul Huda. Manipur Governor: Najma Heptulla. Q3. Global IP Index? Q9. Saudi Arabia temporarily bans import of birds, eggs, International Intellectual Property (IP) index, released by the chickens from India? US Chambers of Commerce. Reason: Due to the report about avian flu. (a form of bird flu) US tops the list and India ranks 44 out of 50. United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC): Q10. PlastIndia 2018? # President and CEO – Thomas J. Donohue International plastics exhibition Held in: Gandhinagar, Gujarat Q4. 1st rail zone with 100% LED lighting at stations? Edition: 10th edition of international plastics exhibition, South Central Railway (SCR) started in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Inaugurated by: Vijay Rupani (CM Gujarat) Q5. “Pay as You Use”? (satellite based electronic toll collection system) Q11. Third Global Procurement Summit? Launched by: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Held in: New Delhi A Project on Delhi — Mumbai national highway to analyse the Inaugurated by: Pon Radhakrishnan (Union Minister of State feasibility of “Pay as you use” tolling system in India. for Finance & Shipping) # Chairman NHAI – Deepak Kumar. Theme: ‘New Frontiers faced in the Transformation process of Procurement Today’. Q6. MOGO? Launched by: IndusInd Bank, its new Sonic Identity – MOGO, a Q12. 88th Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsav? musical logo, as a part of branding initiatives taken by the Held at: Shravanabelagola in Hassan district, Karnataka bank. Inaugurated by: President Ram Nath Kovind, unveiling an idol IndusInd Bank: # Chairman – R.Seshasayee of Bahubali. # CEO – Romesh Sobti More info: this event takes place once in 12 years. Karnataka Governor: Vajubha Vala Q7. New MD & CEO of SBI Card? Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Hardayal Prasad Replaced: Vijay Jasuja. Vijay Jasuja retired on 31st January Q13. Grassroot Informatics- VIVID 2018? 2018. Hardayal Prasad’s appointment as MD and CEO came to Held in: New Delhi effect from 1st February 2018. Organised by: National Informatics Centre (NIC). Hardayal Prasad joined State Bank of India in 1983 as a Inaugurated by: Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Probationary Officer. Electronics & Information Technology # SBI Chairman – Rajnish Kumar # Headquarters – Mumbai Objective: It would serve as an extensive platform for knowledge sharing among 240 NIC District of India. Q8. New Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air)? Theme: “Cyber Security and Innovation”. Rear Admiral Mukul Asthana Current Position: Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air). Q14. Jarrod Bannister was associated with which sports? Javelin throw, Australia. Q9. TIMES Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking’s (Asia)?
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Indian Institute of Science (IISc) ranked 29th Will be established in: Haryana IIT, Bombay ranked 44th. Announced by: CM Manohar Lal Khattar Objective: To make agriculture remunerative by enhancing More in the Day: productivity and thereby mitigate the distress of farm households and landless workers. 1. Madavoor Vasudevan Nair — Kathakali maestro passes Haryana: # Capital – Chandigarh # Governor – Kaptan Singh away. He Solanki # CM – Manohar Lal Khattar died while he was performing on stage, at Agasthyacodu Mahadeva Q6. “pollution metre” app? Temple, Anchal, in Kerala. Introduced by: Madhya Pradesh government Objective: it is a mobile application to spread awareness 2. Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has formed against pollution in the western part of Madhya Pradesh. Raksha Mantri’s Advisory Committee under Vinay Sheel Oberoi on Ministry of Defence (MoD) Capital Projects Q7. 5th South Asia Region Public Procurement Conference? (RMCOMP) to monitor and expedite capital acquisition Held in: New Delhi projects for modernisation of armed forces. Inaugurated by: Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley. Objective: To serve as a platform for Heads of Public 3. Prince Charles (Britain) has launched $ 10 mn Development Procurement and other key stakeholders in the eight South Impact Bond (DIB) with an objective to help improve Asian countries to meet and learn from one another and education for over 200000 children in India. interact with experts in the field of public procurement. Theme: “Public Procurement and Service Delivery”. 4. Kangir Jamoh, former president of BJP Arunachal Pradesh South Asia Region Public Procurement Network (SARPPN) is unit, passed away. sponsored by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank. Current Affairs – 07 February 2018 Q1. Prithvi-11? Q8. Sixth bi- monthly Monetary Policy: Recently test fired successfully from the Odisha coast. Policy Repo Rate 6.00% Prithvi-11 is an indigenously developed nuclear capable Reverse Repo Rate 5.75% surface-to-surface missile. Bank Rate 6.25% Strike range of 350 km. Marginal Standing Facility Rate 6.25% Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) 4.00% Q2. ‘Empzilla’ ? Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) 19.50% ‘Empzilla’:- is a chat based job search mobile app, launched in India. Q9. ‘Falcon Heavy’, world’s most powerful rocket? Objective: employers and job searchers can easily carry out a Launched by: SpaceX conversation. This rocket has been sent towards Mars from the Kennedy # Chairman – Akash Attray. Space Centre in Florida.
Q3. Comprehensive fintech policy? Q10. ‘Internet Saathi’ programme? Maharashtra became the first State in India to adopt a In: Tamil Nadu (rural areas) comprehensive fintech (Financial Technology) policy for Objective: to promote IT adoption among TN rural women fostering an environment for fintech startups. Google India and Tata Trusts have extended their “Internet Aim: to position Maharashtra among the five best global Saathi” programme to 4,000 villages in six districts of Tamil fintech hubs in the coming years and for this very purpose Nadu. Maharashtra State Government will provide the infrastructure The ‘Internet Saathi’ was started as a pilot programme in and financial support to facilitate 300 start-ups over next Rajasthan in July 2015. three years. Maharashtra: # Capital–Mumbai # CM–Devendra Fadnavis More in the Day: # Governor – Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao 1. Dubai International Airport: world’s busiest international Q4. Rhodendron Park? airport in terms of passenger traffic. (4th time) Foundation stone laid by: Pema Khandu (CM Arunachal Pradesh) 2. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has developed the first Place: Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. flight of Hawk-i with indigenous Real Time Operating System Area: 1.15 hectares. (RTOS). Approx. 30 species of rhododendrons will be planted in the park and conserved. 3. Under Union Budget 2018, Central Government has allocated Rs 5252 cr for different railway projects in Odisha. Q5. Farmers’ welfare department? ‘Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran’
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4. Google and NCERT has signed an agreement to integrate Q8. River taxi service? ‘Digital Citizenship and Safety’ course in information and Assam State Government and Ola signed (MoU) to start an communication technology curriculum. app-based river taxi service in Guwahati. River Taxi refers to: machine-operated boats which are faster 5. Sudha Karmarkar passes away: she was Pioneer of and safer than conventional boats. Children’s Theatre. Route: Lachit Ghat and Machkhowa in Guwahati to North Guwahati across the river. 6. Reserve Bank of India has announced for setting up ombudsman for addressing customer grievances in the non- Q9. 16th chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal banking finance companies (NBFCs). Reserve System? Jerome H. Powell Current Affairs – 06 February 2018 Replaces: Janet Yellen. (first woman chairman of Federal Q1. Day observed on 6th Feb? Reserve in its 100-year history) International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Federal Reserve System: Mutilation. # Central bank of the United States # Vice Chair for Supervision – Randal K. Quarles Q2. First-ever Pelican Bird Festival-2018? # Headquarters: Washington, D.C Held at: Atapaka Bird Sanctuary on Kolleru Lake, in Andhra Pradesh. Q10. Nepalese tea? Organised by: Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority (APTA) and Nepalese tea has received its own brand logo in the Krishna district administration. international market after 154-year long cultivation. # Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Tourism, Telugu Language and The trademark has an image of mountains with “Nepal Tea: Culture – Bhuma Akhila Priya Quality from the Himalayas” written below it. 3rd International Tea Festival in Nepal will be in March. Q3. #SecurityCheckKiya campaign? Nepal: Launched by: Google # Capital – Kathmandu Objective: To create awareness about Internet safety and to # Currency – Nepalese Rupee protect young and first-time web users from account # Prime Minister – Sher Bahadur Deuba hijacking, safeguard Android devices from malicious mobile Q11. London will host new World Cup Event? applications and secure their personal data. Athletics event. # Google CEO – Sundar Pichai Announced by: British Athletics # Parent Organisation – Alphabet Inc. Host: London will Participating countries: Britain, the United States, Poland, Q4. Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR)? China, Germany, France, Jamaica and South Africa. Indian Golfer Shubhankar becomes World No. 72. He is now International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF): the highest-ranked Indian in the world. # Headquarters – Monaco Previous rank: 193. # President – Sebastian Coe Five Indian Golfers in OWGR top-200: Shubhankar Sharma — 72 More in the day: Anirban Lahiri — 76 Gaganjeet Bhullar — 155 1. Capgemini will buy LiquidHub for 400 million euros. Shiv Kapur — 192 Ajeetesh Sandhu – 199 2. Ministry of Railways signed a (MoU) with Ministry of Ayush to scale up Ayush services in Railway’s Zonal hospitals. Q5. Agni-I ballistic missile? India successfully flight-tested the indigenously developed Current Affairs – 05 February 2018 Agni-I ballistic missile from a test range off at Abdul Kalam Q1. Odisha State New Election Commissioner? Island in Balasore, Odisha. Naba Kumar Nayak Information: Replaces: Rabi Narayan Senapati 1. Previous strike range: 700 km, Now 900 km Election Commission of India: Also capable to carry nuclear payload up to 1000 kg. # Chief Election Commissioner – Om Prakash Rawat # Election Commissioners – Sunil Arora, Ashok Lavasa Q6. New executive chairman of Murugappa Group? Mr. M.M. Murugappan Q2. DASTAK campaign? Replaces: A Vellayan Launched by: Yogi Adityanath (UP Chief Minister) in association with UNICEF. Q7. Report by Business Monitor International (BMI)? Tagline: “Darwaja khatkhatao, AES aur JE ko bhagao”. India’s fiscal deficit in financial year 2018-19 is expected to About ‘DASTAK’: It is a door to door campaign to eradicate come in at 3.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Acute Encephalitis (AE) Syndrome and Japanese Encephalitis (JES) disease from UP.
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UNICEF: United Nations Children’s Fund Runner up: Indonesia’s Praveen Jordan and Melati Daeva # Headquarters: New York, US Oktavianti. # Current Executive Director: Henrietta Fore More in the Day: Q3. World’s busiest single-runway airport? Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport, Mumbai. 1. Maratha Light Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army It created a new world record by handling 980 arrivals and completes 250 years of its raising. take-offs in 24 hours. It is currently handling 45.2 million passengers on an average 2. General David L Goldfein, chief of staff of the US Air Force, per day. flew Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’ at the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Q4. First state to have Transgender Welfare Board? Maharashtra Current Affairs – 04 February 2018 Aim: to look after education, employment, housing, and Q1. Day observed on 4th Feb? health schemes for transgenders and also to protect their World Cancer Day Constitutional and human rights. Aim: To spread awareness about cancer, its prevention, detection, and treatment. And also to reduce illness and Q5. New Cyprus President ? death due to cancer by 2020. Nicos Anastasiades Theme: ‘We Can. I can.’ Political party: Democratic Rally. Country: Cyprus Q2. Maybank Championship? Capital: Nicosia Golf Championship. Currency: Euro Won by: Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma Played at: Saujana Golf and Country Club, in Malaysia. Q6. ‘Hisaab Kitaab’ International Golf Federation (IGF): Author: Actress Anjana Sukhani # Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland About book: It is a book on household budgeting. # President – Peter Dawson
Q7. 8th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship Q3. V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award? 2018? Awarded to: Shyam Benegal (film maker) at Mumbai Winner: Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) International Film Festival for Documentary, Shorts & Final match played in: Ranchi, Jharkhand Animation Films – MIFF 2018. Match between: CRPF team v/s Kerala Hockey Award presented by: C Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Q8. Research report by Mercom Capital? Maharashtra. India has achieved 20 GW of installed solar capacity. Within: 8 Years. Q4. First International Kala Mela (Art Festival)? Information: Under National Solar Mission this target was set Inaugurated by: M. Venkaiah Naidu for 2022. Now Revised Target is, Installed Solar Power Place: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi. Capacity of 100 GW by 2022 Organised by: Lalit Kala Akademi, India’s premier institution for the promotion of Art and Culture. Q9. India Open 2018 (Badminton)? Women’s singles: Objective: To facilitate direct interaction between artists and Winner: Beiwen Zhang (America). the experts of the art forms. Runner up: India’s PV Sindhu Men’s singles: Q5. 2018 Kala Ghoda Arts festival ? Winner: China’s Shi Yuqi Organised in: Mumbai Runner up: Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen Edition: 20th. Men’s doubles: Theme: ‘Hara Ghoda’ (Green Horse) Winner: Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Objective: Maintaining and preserving the heritage and art Sanjaya Sukamuljo district of South Mumbai. Runner up: Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen Q6. Approval for new wildlife sanctuary by Maharashtra govt.? Women’s doubles: Place: Ghodazari in Chandrapur district. Winner: Indonesia’s Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu. The new wildlife sanctuary will include 159 sq km of Runner up: Thailand’s Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Brahmapuri forest. Prajongjai Mixed Doubles: Q7. Pollution Control Project in River Sal? Winner: Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen and Christinna Approved by: Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Pedersen. Climate Change (Centre Government), under National River Conservation Plan.
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Aim: To control the pollution of River Sal at Navelin, Goa. BHU: Banaras Hindu University. Estimated cost Rs. 61.74 crore. Currently working as: Vice-chancellor of Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. Q8. New chief justice of Bangladesh? Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain. Q4. KUSUM scheme? 22nd chief justice of the Supreme Court in Dhaka. Full form: Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahaabhiyan Bangladesh President Md Abdul Hamid. Total fund allotted by Govt.: Rs 140000-crore Kisan announced More info: Chief Justice of India – Justice Dipak Misra in Union Budget 2018. Aim: To promote use of solar energy for pumps and encourage Q9. ‘Exam Warriors’? use of barren land for setting up decentralised solar power Book, written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — to inspire plants. youth and help them face difficult situations like examinations Released by: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Q5. Global Investors Summit 2018? Global Investors Summit 2018 – ‘Advantage Assam’ Q10. ‘Demetrios Galanos and His Legacy’ ? Inaugurated in: Guwahati, Assam An International Conference begins in New Delhi. Inaugurated by: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated in Inaugurated at: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts Aim: to showcase manufacturing opportunities in Assam and (IGNCA). related geostrategic advantages to foreign and domestic Who was ‘Demetrios Galanos’ investors. He was a Greek scholar who came to India to study in the Organised by: Assam State Government in association with nineteenth century. For 40 years he lived in Varanasi. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry He compiled a Sanskrit-English-Greek lexicon of about 9000 (FICCI). words. He also translated the Bhagvad Gita into Greek. Q6. ‘Zhangheng 1’? Q11. ‘Green Good Deeds’ campaign? China launches first seismo-electromagnetic satellite to study Launched by: Environment Ministry. earthquake precursors. Purpose: to sensitise students about climate change and Launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gobi Desert global warming. China National Space Administration (CNSA): # Headquarters – Haidian District, Beijing More in the Day: Q7. CriSidEx? 1. PAN card mandatory for transactions over Rs. 2.5 lakh. India’s first sentiment index for micro and small enterprises ( Announcement made in Union Budget 2018. MSEs). Developed by: CRISIL, SIDBI Current Affairs – 03 February 2018 Launched by: Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Q1. Butterfly Park? Affairs, Arun Jaitley. Inaugurated in: Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Full form of CRISIL: Credit Rating Information Services of India It will be UP’s first ever butterfly park in Kanpur. More than Limited. 100 species of flowers and more than 50 species of butterflies It is a global analytical company providing ratings, research, have already been spotted in this park. and risk and policy advisory services. State: Uttar Pradesh: # Capital – Lucknow Q8. International Young Chef Olympiad 2018? # Governor – Ram Naik Malaysia’s Lai Jia Yi won International Young Chef Olympiad # Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath (YCO) in Kolkata. Edition: 4th Q2. U-19 Cricket World Cup? Second Position: Surya Sekhar Roy Choudhury. India won the U-19 Cricket World Cup at the Bay Oval, Mount Award presented by Chefs Sanjeev Kapoor & David Foskett. Maunganui, in New Zealand. Defeated: Australia Q9. Jal Marg Project on Ganga? Indian Captain: Prithvi Shaw. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed a Man of the Match: Manjot Kalra. project agreement with World Bank for Jal Marg Vikas Project Earlier India had won the U19 World Cup in 2000, 2008 and (JMVP). Fund raised $800 million. 2012 this is 4th time i.e. 2018. Aim: Enhancing navigation on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) International Cricket Council (ICC): from Varanasi to Haldia. # Chairman – Shashank Manohar # President – Zaheer Abbas Q10. India’s largest Floating Treatment Wetland (FTW)? # Headquarters – Dubai, United Arab Emirates Launched in: Hyderabad’s Neknampur Lake Inaugurated on: World Wetlands Day (February 2). Q3. New vice-chancellor of BHU? Size of the FTW is 3,000 sq. ft. B A Chopade
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Purpose: These plants absorb excess nitrates and oxygen Q3. Interceptor boat V-410? present in the water and reduce the content of these V-410 – is an interceptor boat, built for the Indian Coast Guard chemicals. It is said that, this method is very cheap compared Launched in: Mangaluru, Karnataka to sewage treatment plants. Launched by: Bharati Defence and Infrastructure Limited (BDIL). Q11. Twin Tower Trade Centre? Information: V-410 is the sixth in the series of 15 interceptors Guwahati, Assam. for which BDIL had been given a contract. Assam State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with National Building Construction Q4. Professional Squash Association (PSA) rankings? Corporation (NBCC) for setting up a twin tower trade centre in Saurav Ghosal with 14th rank became the highest ranked Guwahati. Indian in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) rankings. Estimated cost: Rs. 1950 crore. Dipika Pallikal – 20th # State: Assam Harinder Pal Sandhu – 49th # Capital – Dispur Professional Squash Association (PSA): # Governor – Jagdish Mukhi # President – Ali Farag (Men), Jenny Duncalf (Women) # Chief Minister – Sarbananda Sonowal # Headquarter – Leeds, England, United Kingdom
Q12. Agreement for Fata, Balochistan? Q5. New Director General of NSG (National Security Guard)? Government of China, United Nations Development Sudeep Lakhtakia Programme (UNDP) and Government of Pakistan have signed Replaces: S P Singh a agreement to provide assistance to help the people of Fata Currently working as Special DG in the Central Reserve Police and Balochistan region in Pakistan. Force (CRPF) headquarters. Assistance of: $4 million. Q6. Times Power Woman 2017 award? Q13. Three-parent babies through mitochondrial donation? Shabnam Asthana Country: UK Award presented by: Dilip Kamble (Minister of State for Social Aim: to prevent passing of incurable genetic diseases from Justice and Special Assistance in the Government of mothers to babies. Maharashtra) Permitted by: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Awards were presented to the women of Pune, with power, Authority (HFEA). supremacy, command and control were awarded.
Current Affairs – 02 February 2018 Q7. Nobel Prize Series India 2018? Q1. Day observed on 2 February? Begins in: Panaji,Goa. World Wetlands Day Inaugurated by: Goa CM Manohar Parrikar Theme: “Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future”. Organised by: Department of Bio-Technology under Union Why….? On the same day in 1971, the Convention on Ministry of Science and Technology, Goa State Government Wetlands was adopted in Ramsar, Iran. and Nobel Media, Sweden. What is Convention on Wetlands? Theme: ‘Science Impacts Life’. It is an international treaty for the conservation and Edition: 2nd (first edition held in Gujarat in January 2017) sustainable use of wetlands. Q8. New tunnel at Sela pass in Arunachal Pradesh? Q2. SpiceJet India Open International Boxing tournament? Announcement done in Budget Session by Mr. Arun Jaitley Held at: Thyagraj Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. Sela pass: located at an elevation of 13700 ft between Tawang 1. M C Mary Kom defeated Filipino Josie Gabuco in 48kg and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh. category and won the gold medal. 2. Pinki Rani defeated Jargalan Ochirbat in (48-51 kg) category Q9. World’s longest zip line? and won gold medal. Opened in Ras Al Khaimah, the smallest state of United Arab 3. Pwilao Basumatary (India) defeated Thailand’s Sudaporn Emirates Seesondee in women’s 64 kg category and won gold medal. Lenght: 2.83 kilometres. 4. Shiva Thapa won a bronze medal in the 60 kg category. It allows people to jump from the peak of Jebel Jais, UAE’s 5. India’s Lovlina Borgohain defeated India’s Pooja in the highest mountain. Also It has created a Guinness World women’s (69kg) category and won gold. Record for world’s longest zip line. 6. L Sarita Devi lost to Finland’s Mira Potkenon in the women’s Country: UAE 60kg category and won a silver medal. Capital – Abu Dhabi 7. Sanjeet defeated Uzbekistan’s Sanjar Tursunov in the men’s Currency – UAE dirham 91kg category and won a gold medal. President – Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan 8. Manish Kaushik won gold medal in the 60 kg category for men. Q10. New Ambassador of India to Romania? AIBA (International Boxing Association): # Headquarters – Thanglura Darlong Lausanne, Switzerland # President – Dr Wu Ching-kuo
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Currently working as the CLO (Chief Liaison Officer) in the Will be set up by the Indian Railways in Latur district, South Asian University in New Delhi. Maharashtra. About Romania: Purpose: This coach factory will produce Electric Multiple Capital: Bucharest Units (EMUs) for sub-urban trains and coaches for metro Currency: Romanian leu trains.
Q11. Surajkund crafts mela? Q5. First poor country to provide eye care for all? 32nd Surajkund International Crafts Mela began on 2nd Country name: Rwanda February in Surajkund, Haryana. Total population: 12 million. Inaugurated by: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Rwanda government has partnered with Vision for a Nation UP is the theme state for the first time. (VFAN), a charity organization, to train 3,000 eye care nurses Benefit: This will provides a platform for the artists and in 502 local health centres. craftsmen from across the world to showcase their countries’ The most common eye problem is short sightedness. rich diversity, cuisine and traditions. Country: Rwanda Capital: Kigali More in the Day: Currency: Rwandan franc 1. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the Union budget 2018-19—Details in Static GK Section. Q6. Sahitya Akademi’s Bhasha Samman award? 2. Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt takes charge as the 47th Corps Giver to: Shesh Anand Madhukar (Magahi writer). Commander of Chinar Corps. Bhasha Samman award recognizes the languages that are 3. John Hennessy was appointed as Chairman of Alphabet’s equally spoken in different parts of India. Board. He succeeds Eric Schmidt. President of Sahitya Akademi: Dr. Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari 4. India joins Ashgabat agreement. It is a Multimodal transport agreement for setting up of an international transport and Q7. Who was Kalamandalam Geethanandan? transit (of goods) corridor, linking Central Asia with the Kalamandalam Geethanandan, famous Ottanthullal artist Persian Gulf. (dance form), died while he was performing at a temple in Irinjalakkuda, Kerala. Current Affairs – 01 February 2018 Q1. Day observed on 01 Feb.? Q8. ‘Bulletin’ app? 41st Foundation Day of Indian Coast Guard (ICG). Launched by: Google Indian Coast Guard (ICG)’s 41st Foundation Day: “Bulletin” is an free app, allows anyone to submit stories Established in: 1978. related to their local communities. # Headquarters – New Delhi Google: # Headquarters – California, U.S. # CEO – Sundar # Director General – Rajendra Singh Pichai
Q2. 7th India Energy Congress? Q9. Chef-de-Mission for CWG? Held in: New Delhi Vikram Singh Sisodia Theme: ‘Energy 4.0: Energy Transition Towards 2030’ Indian Olympic Association (IOA) named Vikram Singh Sisodia Highlights of 7th India Energy Congress: as the Chef-de-Mission for Commonwealth Games (CWG) that Organised by: Union Ministries of Power, Coal, New & will be held in Gold Coast, Australia. Renewable Energy, Petroleum & Natural Gas, External Affairs Current position: Joint secretary of Indian Olympic Association and Department of Atomic Energy. (IOA), also president of Chhattisgarh State Tennis Association. IOA: # Headquarters – New Delhi # President – Dr. Narinder Q3. Ban on sale of Endosulfan? Dhruv Batra In Punjab: Capt. Amarinder Singh approved a ban on the sale of Endosulfan and 19 other insecticides. Q10. New Vice Chairman of USISPF Board? Punjab CM: Capt. Amarinder Singh Shantanu Narayen Capital – Chandigarh Current position: CEO of Adobe Governor – V P Singh Badnore Full form of USISPF: US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum Shantanu Narayen – Vice Chairman of (USISPF) Board: Q4. Indian Railways? US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF): # 1. India will get its 1st high-speed electric locomotive in March President – Dr. Mukesh Aghi # Managing Director – Nivedita 2018 Mehra Maximum speed: 120 kmph It will be launched in March 2018 when French President Q11. India’s GDP acc. to CSO? Emmanuel Macron’s will be on Indian visit. India’s GDP has fallen 7.1% in 2016-17 This high-speed electric locomotive has been produced in Last year’s GDP 8.2% — 2015-16 collaboration with Alstom. Full form of CSO: Central Statistics Office 2. New Coach Factory. Q12. ‘Smart OPD’?
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India’s first integrated mobility platform. Launched by: Health-tech startup mCURA. Objective: Reduces waiting time in counters and provides e- prescriptions.
Q13. New Director General (DG) of Sports Authority of India (SAI). Neelam Kapoor — first time an IIS officer has been appointed as DG of SAI. Usually this post is given to an IAS. Current position: Principal Director General of the Directorate of Field Publicity (DFP).
More in Day: 1. Rs. 370 crore has been allotted by Home Ministry to Border Security Force (BSF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to strengthen border infrastructure.
2. Rs 1500 crore has been sanctioned by Union Agriculture Minister, Radha Mohan Singh (Centre Government) for organic farming in Uttarakhand Uttarakhand Chief Minister: Trivendra Singh Rawat. # Capital – Dehradun # Governor – Krishan Kant Paul
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