VOL - 12 ISSUE - 08 CONTENTS SUCCESS SAGA 5

SBI FEVER 6-10

SPOTLIGHT 11

THE PEOPLE 12-26

NEWS BYTES 28-94

GLOBAL PEACE INDEX 2016 96

NOVAK DJOKOVICAT2016 97

PM NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT 98 Editor RLV-TD 99 N.K. Jain Que TM - GENERAL AWARENESS 100-105 Advisors Neeraj Chabra GRAPHIC FACTORY 106-111 K.C.Gupta MOHD. ALI THE LEGEND 112-113

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GLOBAL PEACE INDEX PEACE

Dear Aspirants, A Peaceful Earth is much better than a prosperous one; if Peace is prevalent the latter shall follow. So when the Global Peace Index was released we were delighted to see Iceland at the top,were apalled to see not even featuring in the Top 100. We are reminded of our Father of the Nation who lived,spread and practiced Peace. We Hope we fare better next year. As a child,we were amazed and enamoured both in equal measure with the Postman and the Post Office providing us letters of our dear ones as well those that mattered. Since the advent of e-mails and other new tools of technology the post office started loosing its sheen,but its the India Post we are talking out which came out with new techniques of itself. One of those is the India Post Payment Bank whereby India Post shall be setting up a Payment Bank which shall provide nominal banking services like Demand Depsoits and Debit cards. At a minimum Paid-up Capital of rs 100 crores and with 650 India Post Payment Bank Branches,India Post is entering a new domain and we are happy that our childhood has “Grown-Up”. Moving on to the “Virat Kohli” of Tennis World No. 1 who prevailed on the Rolland Garros and achieved what even the mighty Federer still hasn’t achieved. This gives us an essence that no matter the target it is achievable. We wondered how can we re-use the single use space vehicles which could lead to high cost effectiveness. “Your Wish and ISRO delivered”. The Reusable Technology Demonstrator which was a sample in line with the future of space travel and multiple use of a single Vehicle. Bravo! ISRO make us Proud!!! Last but not the least, “THE GREATEST” bid us adieu, let us try again “The Greatest Boxer” is no more. Yes, “MOHD. ALI” passed away on 3rd of JUNE this year making us revisit the impeccable legacy of “THE PEOPLE’S CHAMPION”. With Passion,determination and tenacity everything is possible and with an guide, Success is a guarantee. We at Mahendras, follow the same and try to be an able guide the seeking apirant. In the end, the lines by the Great Mohammad Ali. “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can’t hit what the eyes can’t see.”

We wish you the Best of Luck and Keep up the Hard Work. “YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS” With Best Wishes Mahendra Publication Pvt. Ltd. SUCCESS SAGA TUSHAR PERSONAL DETAILS General Awareness: Name : Tushar Internet, for banking Mahendras, MICA & Monthly Boosters. Father’s Name : Man Mohan Nayak Mother’s Name : Indu Nayak Computer & Marketing Study material provided by Mahendra Education : B.Tech. MICA : How do you take “Master in Current Affairs Hobbies : Playing Magazine”, and “Mahendra Guru” Website? Prior Selection : IBPS-Clerk (RRB) Tushar : Specially Mahendra Guru website was full of Name of the Exam : Baroda UP Gramin Bank-PO content & helpful, Interview videos were also very helpful. Roll No. of Qualified Exam : 3551090126 Roll No. of Mahendra Institute : MAH0010908699 MICA : What is the best thing about your coaching institute, according to you? MICA : Mahendras family expresses its heartiest Inspiring faculties and so competitive ambience. congratulations on your success as PO in Baroda Tushar : UP Gramin Bank. MICA : What is the role of “Time Management” in one’s success? MICA : To whom do you want to give the credit of your selection? Tushar : Time Management plays a very pivotal role in any competitions.. Tushar : I would like to owe my success to my parents and faculty at Mahendra. MICA : How did you prepare for the Interview? Joined Mahendra’s Interview classes and regular MICA : After how many attempts did you succeed in Tushar : examination? Newspaper reading. MICA : Tell us about the Interview Board and the Tushar : It was my first attempt. questions asked? MICA : Did you take help of any institute and if yes, what Tushar : Very co-operative and all questions were is the role of that institute in your selection? pertaining to banking & academies. Tushar : Mahendra Institute gave me proper idea how to The questions asked were: prepare and in case of scarcity of time how to optimize your efforts. (I) Is there any interest paid on CRR & SLR MICA : How did you prepare for the written examination? (II) Role of EXIM & ECGC (III) Faradey’s law, ohm’s law, electricity Tushar : I had devoted myself to the guidance of Mahendra Faculty Members, Study Material, (IV) Gold monetization scheme Mahendra Guru Website, Smart Class, Speed (V) Career related question. Test and Problem Solving Sessions. The best MICA : By whom did you get information of your part is it was present both in offline and online selection and what was your reaction? mode. Tushar : I myself was continuously online. It gave me a Quantitative Aptitude: very soothing experience like all pressure was Mahendras Maths Book released. Reasoning Ability: MICA : What message do you want to convey to other Mahendra Reasoning book & practice paper aspirants? Tushar : Be consistent and aspire to achieve bigger than English: what currently you have. Speed test were so helpful and read text book thouroughly MICA : Congratulations once again on your success... for all subjects. Your success is our success. Tushar : Thank You Mahendra for guiding me to Success. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 5 SBI FEVER QUE PANORAMA Q.1. The Prime Minister, NarendraModi, launched Q.10. Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Culture which e-trading platform for the National and Tourism (I/C) and Civil Aviation released a Agriculture Market on pilot basis? Commemorative Coin of which denomination and a Circulation Coin of Rs. 10/- on Tatya Tope on the Ans- e-NAM occasion of his Martyr Day? Q.2. Pakistan began their fifth joint air exercise, Shaheen-V, at an operational base in Pakistan with Ans- Rs. 200/- which country ? Q.11. Which company’s cofounder S Gopalakrishnan Ans- launched a new app ‘itihaasa’ (history) that chronicles the fascinating journey of the Indian IT Q.3. Who has been appointed as the new chairperson of industry since the 1950s ? the National Monument Authority (NMA)? Ans- Infosys Ans- Susmita Pandey Q.12. A global consortium with Reliance Jio as a key Q.4. The Indian Navy has collaborated with which member announced the launch of a 8,100-km, 100 educational institute to provide recognition to the GBPS fibre optic communications cable system, in-service training that sailors get by giving them inking East Asia and West Asia, with a landing at graduation degrees? which city ? Ans- Jamia Millia Islamia Ans- Chennai Q.5. Who has appointed as the first woman Chief Justice Q.13. Multi-lateral funding agency Asian Development of Nepal? Bank (ADB) has approved a project loan of $300 Ans- Sushila Karki million (about Rs 2,000 crore) for upgradation of over 400 kilometre (km) of major district roads in Q.6. BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) gave which state? a $250 million funding to which bank for a renewable energy project. India is among the Ans- first four countries to get a loan from the newly Q.14. India’s which Trust and Jain Irrigation Systems established BRICS New Development Bank (JISL) have signed an agreement to work towards (NDB). improving agriculture extension, agribusiness and Ans- Canara Bank research and development systems in multiple geographies across the country? Q.7. NSDC has signed an agreement with ICDL Asia of Singapore to collaborate on improving digital Ans- TATA literacy skills of Indians. What does NSDC stands Q.15. Where did P.M.NarendraModi inaugurated Shri for? Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Ans- National Skill Development Corporation Hospital? Q.8. Which Government signed an MoU with China- Ans- Katra based KDX and Dubai-based Aries EPICA Electronics to manufacture glass-free 3-D Q.16. Who has been appointed as the Additional Director screens, mobiles, televisions and electronic home General in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)? appliances in the state? Ans- Deepak Mishra Ans- Telangana Q.17. Panama will adopt international tax reporting Q.9. National Mission for Clean Ganga under the standards and participate in the automatic exchange Ministry of Water Resources, River Development of tax information by which year? and Ganga Rejuvenation in collaboration with Ans- 2018 which educational institute announced the formal launch of Centre for Ganga River Basin Q.18. Which technology will be used to decide whether Management and Studies (CGRBMS) in New the ball has crossed the goal-line at this year’s Delhi? European Championship? Ans- IIT Kanpur Ans- Hawk-Eye

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TM @Mahendra’s 6 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS SBI FEVER QUE PANORAMA Q.19. The Centre informed the Supreme Court that 256 Q.29. Which of the following bodies has awarded 67 of 675 (over one-third) of India’s districts have million $ contract for Solar electronic propulsion been declared drought-hit, due to which at least to aero jet rocket dyne? how many people are affected ? Ans- NASA Ans- 33 crore Q. 30. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited Q.20. The IMF, World Bank, ______and the (NPCIL) has cleared the insurance policy for all Organization for Economic Cooperation and _____- nuclear reactors in the country. Development have joined forces to build effective tax systems, to avoid tax base erosion and develop Ans- 21 new standards for taxing multinational enterprises. Q.31. Which of the following countries observed its 1st Ans- United Nations Anniversary of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that Q.21. Recently who was conferred one of the highest claimed 9000 lives? awards of Cyprus ‘Commander of the Order Ans- Nepal of Merit’ at a ceremony at the Cypriot high commission? Q. 32. Which of the following social networking site has collaborated with IndiaSpend to provide real time Ans- Amitav Banerji pollution updates on air pollution? Q.22. What is India’s rank in the latest press freedom Ans- Twitter index, according to the report which was released by the Paris-based agency ‘Reporters Without Q.33. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a famous ______Borders’? Ans- Director Ans- 133 Q.34. Mumbai-born property magnates ______have Q.23. Who has joined the prominent world leaders when topped ‘The Sunday Times’ Rich List 2016 with his wax figures took up residence at Madame a fortune of 13.1 billion pounds, followed by the Tussauds branches in Singapore, Hong Kong and Hinduja brothers at 13 billion pounds. Bangkok? Ans- David and Simon Reuben Ans - Q.24. Which city has been named the world’s best Q.35. Where did J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health sporting city of the past decade, beating London, and Family Welfare inaugurated the first of its kind New York, Tokyo, Berlin and Sydney to the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) crown? compliant facility ? Ans- Melbourne Ans– Kasauli Q.25. Who is the founder of the Flipkart? Q.36. Which of the following politicians was elected as the member of the Rajya Sabha recently? Ans- Binny Bansal Q.26. Which country has replaced China as top Ans- Anand Sharma destination for foreign direct investment in 2015, Q.37. According to finance ministry, the interest on PF according to the report of FDI Intelligence, a deposits in Employees Provident Fund organisation division of The Financial Times? (EPFO) would be- Ans- India Ans- 8.7% Q.27. Which firm has been recognised as one of the UK’s Q.38. SBI has launched which facility to check debit card leading employers for women in a list published frauds? by ‘The Times’? Ans- TCS Ans- SBI Quick Q.28. Which state has bagged another National Award in Q.39. What is the name of the Eleventh Indo-Mongolia Agriculture sector for 2015-16? joint training Exercise? Ans- Himachal Pradesh Ans- Nomadic Elephant Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 7 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS SBI FEVER QUE PANORAMA Q. 40. Recently who has been nominated as a member of Q.52. The prestigious award “The Order of the Rising the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association? Sun, Gold and Silver Star” related to which country? Ans- Sitasaran Sharma Ans- Japan Q.41. Regional Human Development Report is published by- Q.53. During his visit in UP on 1 May 2016, PM Modi Ans- United Nations Launched which yojana? Q.42. The newly appointed secretary of Information and Ans- Ujjwala Broadcasting is- Q.54. Recently President Pranav Mukherjee has been Ans- Ashok Lavasa honoured with a banquet by the Governor General of which country? Q.43. A six-metre statue of former South African president Nelson Mandela has been unveiled in Ans- New Zealand ______. Q.55. Which state is set to become the first State in Ans- Palestine the country to make all of its urban areas ‘Open Defecation Free’ by October 2nd this year? Q.44. Chinese scientists launched a sounding rocket Kunpeng-1B from which City? Ans- Ans- Danzhou Q.56. Which scheme is launched in MP recently with an aim to distribute 3 Crore LED Bulbs in Next 6 Q.45. India successfully launched its seventh navigation Months? satellite _____ on-board the PSLV from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota. Ans- Ujala Ans- IRNSS 1G Q.57. Recently which country has signed a deal with india that opens the door for direct flights between Q.46. Gold medal at 9th Moscow Sand Sculpture the two countries that could boost tourism and Championship 2016 goes to- trade sectors? Ans- Sudarsan Pattnaik Ans- New Zealand Q.47. launched a _____ rocket from the Q.58. Recently the US President Barack Obama and the Cosmodrome located in the country? First Lady Michelle awarded an Indian- American Ans- -2.1a journalist and three of her colleagues from “Inside Climate News, which one is not among the Q.48. The newly appointed Chairman and Managing following? Director of Power Finance Corporation (PFC) is- Ans- Rajeev Sharma Ans- Neela Banerjee Q.49. What is the name of the highest civilian award of Q.59. As per the Standard Chartered the Indian economy Mongolia? is expected to clock a GDP growth of at what per cent in current fiscal 2016-17? Ans- North Star Ans- 7.4% Q.50. According to a report by United Nations Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific Q.60. Which of the following activist of the (UNESCAP), Indian economy for the year 2016- RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh (RSS) and former 17 projected to be- president of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh (BJS) died recently? Ans- 7.6% Ans- BalrajMadhok Q.51. Which of the following Indian origin CEO have been named among 100 highest-paid CEOs Q.61. Which international organization and Asian globally? Development Bank (ADB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for jointly- Ans- Indira Nooyi financed projects to strengthen cooperation?

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TM @Mahendra’s 8 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS SBI FEVER QUE PANORAMA Ans- The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Q.71. According to the global financial services company HSBC India’s annual GDP growth in the current Q.62. Which Indian American Sikh woman elected to an financial year 2016-17 will be how much percent? important position in the Republican Party at the US national level? Ans- 7.4 percent Ans- Harmeet Kaur Dhillon Q.72. Who has been the head of the All World Gayatri Pariwar and editor of Akhand Jyoti magazine Q.63. With an aim of afforestation on the vast tracts of that has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by rail land, the signed a MOU with President ? the forest departments of which of the following states for plantation of 5 lakh trees as part of the Ans- Pranav Pandya Green India Mission ? Q.73. Forbes Middle east released the list of Top ten Ans- Punjab and Haryana richest Indians living in Arab region. The list includes top 10 businessmen above 50 years of Q.64. Future group Chairman Mr. ______age. who has topped in the list ? stepped down as managing director of Future Ans- Sunil Vaswani of Stallion Group. Retail. Q.74. Who has been appointed as the chairman of the Ans- Kishore Biyani company of Future Retail group? Q.65. Who among the following is a foreign policy Ans- V K Chopra strategist that has been named as the inaugural Marshall Bouton Asia Fellow of the prestigious Q.75. Which renowned scholar and critic Professor died Chicago Council on Global Affairs? recently and He was 91 years old? Ans- C Raja Mohan Ans - Asloob Ahmad Ansari Q.66. Which bank has extended a line of credit (LoC) Q.76. The trade body of Indian IT firms NASSCOM worth USD 1 billion to Mongolia for developing has signed a MoU with which company to build a product design initiative to engage the country’s its railways and related infrastructure? young entrepreneurs into becoming problem Ans- Exim Bank solvers and solution builders ? Q.67. Who launched a dashboard on EXIM Analytics, Ans- Facebook a initiative of the Ministry of Commerce and Q.77. US President Barack Obama has announced to Industry to provide easy access to the public on reappoint Indian-American ______export and import trends of India? to a key independent government agency devoted Ans- Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman to accessibility for people with disabilities. Q.68. Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Minister of Railways Ans- Sachin Dev Pavithran launched one E-enabled application, PMIS for Q.78. Country’s biggest lender State Bank of India proper Monitoring of all the Railway projects launched which facility, a mobile-based payment throughout the country.What does PMIS stands solution. The service will help customers make for? payments through their smartphones by simply Ans- Project Management Information System scanning the unique merchant QR (Quick Response) code at merchant outlets? Q.69. An eminent statistician, who took over as the Ans- mPaisa part-time Chairperson in the National Statistical Commission.? Q.79. Which Private Sector Bank became the first financial institution in the country to tie up with the Ans- Dr. Radha Binod Barman BRICS Grouping-promoted. New Development Q.70. Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Bank (NDB) for a partnership in bond issuances, Coal and New and Renewable Energy launched co-financing, treasury management and human which portal of Coal India Limited (CIL)? resources? Ans- ‘Contract Labour Payment Management System’ Ans- ICICI Bank

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TM @Mahendra’s 9 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS SBI FEVER QUE PANORAMA Q.80. World’s first ETF focused on India’s sovereign Q.90. According to Governor Raghuram Rajan, Reserve bonds was launched by the MCB Capital Markets Bank is working on a new system for making and will be listed in Mauritius, providing global public the list of ______. investors access to the Indian government Ans- Wilful Defaulters securities,what is the full form of ETF ? Q.91. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched Ans- Exchange Traded Fund which programme in Kadapa, under which loan waiver of Rs. 10,000 per acre would be extended Q.81. Who is the founder and chairman of Finolex to horticulturists in the State? Group,who died recently at the age of 86 years? Ans- Runa Upasamanam Ans- Pralhad P Chhabria Q.92. Tajima Naoki won the boys’ singles title of the Q.82. Which Senior IPS officer has been appointed as BVG India-MSLTA B1 ITF Asian junior tennis chief of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), championships. He belongs to which country? the aviation security wing of the government? Ans- Japan Ans- Kumar Rajesh Chandra Q.93. Which of the following country has the highest Q.83. American companySpaceX launched which e-commerce growth in the world? unmanned rocket to put a communication satellite Ans- India into ? Q.94. According to the study of The Economist, What is Ans- ’ India’s position in crony-capitalism? Q.84. India ended its campaign at the International Ans- 9th Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Q.95. Which single emergency number will be Cup at which rank with 3 gold, 4 silver and 3 operational throughout India from January 1, 2017 bronze medals, while Italy finished at the top spot to help people reach immediate services of police, in the medal table? ambulance and fire department? Ans- Fourth Ans- 112 Q.85. What is the name given to the military exercise Q.96. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Dr. held by Indian Army in Suratgarh? Mahesh Sharma released a Commemorative coin of Rs. 100/- and a Circulation coin of Rs. 10/- on Ans- Chakravyuv II birth occasion of- Q.86. Railway sections of which state has been identified Ans- Maharana Pratap to be made zero toilet discharge sections, in the Q.97. Veteran freedom fighter and former Communist second phase? Party leader ______died. Ans- Ans- Chennamaneni Rajeswara Rao Q.87. Name the Saudi Arabian veteran oil minister Q.98. In which city the Union Minister for Micro, Small recently replaced with a close ally Deputy Crown and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Kalraj Mishra Prince Mohammed bin Salman- inaugurated the HarmukhKhadi Gram Udyog Sansthan? Ans- Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Naimi Ans- Srinagar Q.88. Name the Pakistani rights activist and social media campaigner who was killed by unknown assailants Q.99. Which of the following player defeated Andy in the country’s financial capital Karachi- Murray to win Madrid Open Tennis Men’s Single title? Ans-. Khurram Zaki Ans- Novak Djokovic Q.89. Canelo Alvarez defended his World Boxing Q.100. Who was awarded with the Best actor prize at Council middleweight belt by knocking out which the British Academy of Film and Television Arts boxer? (BAFTA) TV Awards? Ans- Amir Khan Ans- Mark Rylance Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 10 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS SPOTLIGHT ALL THAT MATTERS ABBREVIATIONS BOOKS & AUTHORS CDAC Centre for Development of Advanced Computing EDLI Employee Deposit Linked Insurance GRDI Global Retail Development Index IBBS Internet Based Book Building System ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization IIPE Indian Institute of Petroleum & Energy ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization NADA National Anti Doping Agency The Unseen Indira Gandhi NDMP National Disaster Management Plan BOOKS AND OUTHORS- Dr. K P Mathur RLV-TD Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator IGMDP Integrated Guided Missile Development Program IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES 1st June World Milk Day 1st June Global Parents Day 4rth June International Day of Innocent Children Chris Gayle: Six Machine Victims of Aggression - Chris Gayle 5th June World Environment Day ,Cancer Survivors Day 8th June World ocean day, World Brain Tumor day 12 th June Anti-Child Labor Day 14th June World Blood Donor Day 20th June World Refugee day 21st June International Yoga Day 26th June International Day against Drug Abuse and Gujarat Files- Anatomy of A Cover UP Illicit Trafficking -RanaAyyub ECONOMIC GLOSSARY Interest Rate Corridor:-An interest rate corridor or a policy corridor refers to the range within which the operating target of the monetary policy - a short term INDIA interest rate, say the weighted average call money market VS PAKISTAN rate - moves around the policy rate announced by the central bank. FBIL :- FBIL Overnight Mumbai Interbank Outright Rate’ India Vs Pakistan (commonly called as FBIL-Overnight MIBOR (Mumbai Inter- - Husain Haqani Bank Offer Rate)) is the new benchmark rate for unsecured loans of one day duration fixed by the Board of Financial Benchmarks India Pvt. Ltd (FBIL) based on the actual transactions in the inter-bank call money market. It reflects the short term funding costs to banks in India and indicates the THE RISE rate at which banks in India borrow and lend money amongst AND FALL OF themselves. The existing benchmark ie. MIBOR based on NATIONS ‘polled rates’ administered by Fixed Income Money Market and Derivative Association of India (FIMMDA) and National The Rise and Fall of Nations Stock Exchange (NSE) has been replaced by this new -Ruchir Sharma Benchmark with effect from July 22, 2015.

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TM @Mahendra’s 11 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS THE PEOPLE APPOINTMENT Service. The Appointments Committee APPOINTMENT of Cabinet has approved appointment of Claire Furlong Panda to the post for five years, an order he ICC announced the issued by Department of Personnel and appointment of Claire Training . TFurlong as the world cricket The Coal Mines Provident Fund body’s General Manager - Strategic Organisation provides social and financial Communications. She will take up her security to thousands of employees position on July 17. working in coal industry. Furlong is the current Head of Sport at NK Singh Hanover Sport with clients including England and Wales Cricket Board, NFL and Asian he Union Finance Ministry Football Confederation. constituted a five member Fiscal TResponsibility and Budget Namgya C Khampa Management (FRBM) panel. ndian Foreign Service officer The panel would be headed by former Namgya C Khampa was appointed revenue and expenditure secretary and Ias Director in Prime Minister’s Member of Parliament N.K. Singh. office. Former finance secretary Sumit Bose, Khampa is an Indian Foreign Service Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian, director of officer of 2000 batch. National Institute of Public Finance and Policy Rathin Roy and deputy governor of RBI Urijit Patel will be its members. Khampa has been appointed to the post for a period of three years, an order Swati Dandekar issued by Department of Personnel and Training . ndian-American politician Swati Besides her, there are five other officers working as Dandekar has been nominated by the Director in the PMO. IUS Senate to the post of Executive Director to the Asian Development Bank Khampa has worked as Counsellor (Trade, Commerce which has ambassadorial rank. and Economic) in Indian Embassy in Beijing. The first-ever Indian-American to be Deepak Gupta elected to Iowa House of Representatives ustice Deepak Gupta was sworn- in 2003, Dandekar, would replace Robert in as the new Chief Justice of the M. Orr, who has held this position since 2010. JChhattisgarh High Court. Dandekar, 65, was also the first Indian-born American citizen Chhattisgarh Governor Balram Das to win a state legislature seat in the United States. Tandon administered him the oath of Obama had nominated Dandekar to the top US position in office at a function at Raj Bhawan. Asian Development Bank (ADB) in November last year. Gupta was earlier the Chief Justice of Swati and her husband Arvind migrated to the United States the Tripura High Court. in 1973. Arvind Dandekar is the CEO and president of Fastek Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Speaker of International, located in Hiawatha, Iowa. thestate Assembly Gaurishankar Agarwal, state cabinet Sujoy Bose ministers and others were present on the occasion. ujoy Bose, the global co-head The Governor hoped that under the guidance of the new for infrastructure and natural Chief Justice, there will be speedy disposal of cases. Sresources at International Finance B K Panda Corporation, is likely to be appointed as the first CEO of India’s pioneering quasi- enior bureaucrat B K Panda was appointed as sovereign wealth fund, (SWF) the National Commissioner of Coal Mines Provident Fund Infrastructure and Investment Fund (NIIF). SOrganisation based in Dhanbad. The sources said Bose’s name has been Panda is a 1988 batch officer of Indian Ordnance Factory recommended by the finance ministry to Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 12 THE PEOPLE APPOINTMENT head NIIF as he will be able to hit the ground running given High Court. The official said that Justice his current assignment at IFC, the private lending arm of Vaiphei, 60, who was administered oath of the World Bank. His appointment order is expected shortly. office by the Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy on May 16, replaced Deepak Kumar Mihir Kr Jha and K C Saha Gupta, who was transferred as the chief ustice (Retd) Mihir Kumar Jha justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court. and former bureaucrat K C Saha Separate high courts were set up in 2013 took oath as members of the three- J in Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya memberBihar Lokayukta. which were earlier under the jurisdiction of the Gauhati High Governor Ram NathKovind administered Court which was common for all the seven northeastern the oath to Jha and Saha as judicial states, except Sikkim. member and member respectively. MachariaKamau Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, incumbent Lokayukta C enya United Nations M Prasad and other dignitaries attended the swearing- Ambassador MachariaKamau in ceremony of the new members of Bihar Lokayukta, a was appointed as one of two UN release from the Raj Bhawan said. K special envoys on El Niño and climate. Deven J Parekh UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also he US Senate has confirmed the named former president of Ireland Mary nomination of Deven J Parekh, Robinson to the newly created post. Indian-American by President T Ambassador Kamau has had a long and distinguished career Barack Obama to the board of directors in the service of the United Nations. of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. He serves as chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission and recently played a leading role in drafting the Sustainable Nominated by the US President Barack Development Goals. Obama in August 2014, Mr Parekh is currently a managing director at Insight Venture Partners, a In a message sent to the Nation, Ambassador Kamau cited position he has held since 2001. his work in formulating the new set of development goals as Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is the US having heightened his “global profile.” government’s development finance institution. It mobilises He said ,he intends to use that prominence to highlight private capital to help solve critical development challenges challenges and responses to climate change and El Niño. and, in doing so, advances US foreign policy. Mr Ban’s spokesperson stated that these appointments come Sumit Bose at a time of great urgency. Drought and flooding associated with El Niño have created massive needs across the world, op bourse BSE said it has especially in the four worst affected regions of East Africa, appointed Sumit Bose as a Tmember on the board of directors. Southern Africa, Central America and the Pacific. Kiran Bedi BSE had received the approval from SEBI on May 19, to nominate Sumit JP leader and former IPS officer Bose, a new member on its Governing Kiran Bedi was appointed Board as a Public Interest Director. BLieutenant Governor of Puducherry, a post that has been vacant BSE stated that the board has approved the appointment of for the past two years. Sumit Bose with effect from May 19, 2016. The Union Territory was under the TinlianthangVaipheias additional charge of Lt. Governor of he president has appointed Justice Andaman and Nicobar Islands. TinlianthangVaipheias the new chief justice of the The appointment comes three days after the Congress- Tripura High Court. T DMK alliance won 17 seats in the 30-member Assembly. A senior judicial official of Tripura High Court said that The AIADMK, which contested the elections on its own, union law and justice ministry said that the president had won four seats while the BJP could not get even a single appointed Justice Vaiphei, senior-most judge of the Tripura seat. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 13 THE PEOPLE APPOINTMENT The post has been lying vacant after the Narendra Modi Soon after his resignation, Thakur got the signatures of all government sacked UPA nominee Virendra Kataria on July six east zone units in his BCCI presidential nomination, 2014. paving the way for his unanimous choice as the 34th Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, with whom Ms.Bedi President of the world’s most influential cricket body. had differences as part of the India Against Corruption Thakur, incidentally, will go into the books as the first movement and against whom she had fought polls, first-class cricketer to turn BCCI president after Raj Singh congratulated Ms.Bedi on her appointment by giving his Dungarpur ended his tenure in 1998-99. best wishes to KiranDidi (elder sister) for this new role. J Jayalalithaa S K Saini IADMK chief J Jayalalithaa was ieutenant General S K Saini took sworn in as Tamil Nadu chief over as the new commandant of Aminister for a historic second Lthe Indian Military Academy consecutive term, after her mentor M G (IMA). Ramachandran set the record in 1984. Saini, who was posted at the National Top political leaders, film stars and Defence College (NDC) in Delhi as industrialists were in attendance as senior director (staff) has worked both 68-year-old Jayalalithaa took over the in field operations and administration reins of the state for the sixth time. during his career. The prestigious academy had been The swearing-in ceremony was held at the centenary hall of without a full fledged commandant since some time with the University of Madras. Governor K Rosaiah administered the duties of the commandant being taken care of by acting the oath of office and secrecy. commandant Maj Gen YS Mahiwal. Her 28 cabinet colleagues, including former chief minister The post of commandant fell vacant after the incumbent O Panneerselvam were also sworn in. Lt General BS Negi was transferred to central command as the general officer commanding-in-chief in December Her cabinet has a blend of new and old faces, with 12 last year. Since then, Maj Gen Mahiwal was carrying out ministers of the previous cabinet being accommodated and the administrative and protocol duties of the commandant. seven of them retaining their previous portfolios, in what The delay in appointing a full-fledged commandant for the could be seen as a recognition of their good work. academy which is due to conduct its next passing out parade S K Sharma on June 11, had been questioned by several retired officers. minent scientist S K Sharma Anurag Thakur was appointed as Chairman and nurag Thakur was unanimously EManaging Director (CMD) of elected as the second youngest Nuclear Power Corporation of India ABCCI President, while Ajay Limited (NPCIL), responsible for Shirke was chosen as Secretary in a design, construction, commissioning and smooth transition of power at a time operation of nuclear power reactors. when the world’s richest Cricket Board He is presently working as Distinguished is sailing through choppy waters. Scientist and Director (Operations) in NPCIL. The 41-year-old Thakur replaced Sharma has been appointed to the new post for a period of ShashankManohar who quit the position five years, an order issued by Department of Personnel and to take up the ICC chairman’s job. Training . The Maharashtra Cricket Association chief and business M.K. Stalin magnate Shirke expectedly filled in the Secretary’s post which was left vacant by Thakur’s resignation . MK treasurer and party MLA M.K. Stalin was once again Senior BCCI vice-president C K Khanna chaired the Special unanimously elected as the General Meeting (SGM) and announced Thakur’s name for D organisation’s legislative party leader. the top job. The former Minister, Duraimurgan, was Manohar’s exit from the top post barely seven months into elected as the deputy leader at a party’s his tenure had necessitated the election of the new chief of legislators meeting, which was presided the world’s richest and most powerful cricket body. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 14 THE PEOPLE APPOINTMENT over by M. Karunanidhi. Party’s whip R. Chakrapanai, in-C of the South Naval Command. Vice Admiral A K elected from Ottanchathiram, will continue in the post and Chawla, DG, Naval Operation has been appointed as the former minister K. Pitchandi is the deputy whip. new CoP. Even after the 2011 Assembly elections, Karunanidhi Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, Commandant of the National stepped aside to make Stalin leader of the party in the Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, has been made Deputy Assembly. The wheel-chair bound leader used to say he Chief of Naval Staff. Vice Admiral K B Singh is currently was ready to attend the House if arrangements were made the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff. to pave the way for his entry. AR Karve Sarbananda Sonowal ice-Admiral AR Karve took fter 15 years of Congress charge as the Flag Officer rule, Assam gets its first VCommanding-in-Chief of the ABJP government headed by Southern Naval Command (SNC) from SarbanandaSonowal. The BJP coalition Vice Admiral GirishLuthra. won a comfortable 86 seats in the An impressive ceremonial parade was 126-member Assembly. The BJP had held at the Naval base on the occasion alliances with smaller parties and ethnic which was followed by the traditional groups like the Asom Gana Parishad ‘Pulling Out’ ceremony in which the outgoing Commander- (AGP), the Bodo People’s Front (BPF) in-Chief, Luthra was ceremonially pulled out in a jeep by and the Rabhas and the Tiwa community, which also paved Flag Officers and Commanding Officers of ships and naval the way for its strong hold in the state. establishments of Kochi, amidst emotional ‘Jai’- ‘Jai’ by the The swearing-in ceremony of Sarbananda Sonowal as men of SNC. Assam Chief Minister couldn’t have come at a more In his farewell address Vice Admiral Luthra appreciated the appropriate time for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and synergy that exists in the Southern Naval Command and BJP president coinciding with the celebrations said without it operations and training cannot be successful. of the Modi government’s two years in office. The Parade was witnessed by many senior officers, men PinarayiVijayan and families of SNC. Vice Admiral GirishLuthra has been he Left Democratic Front (LDF) appointed Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western government led by CPI(M) Polit Naval Command. Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan T Sunil Lamba assumed office, after a 19-member Cabinet was sworn in at the Central dmiral Sunil Lamba, took Stadium by Governor P. Sathasivam. charge as the Chief of Naval Staff in New Delhi as the current This is the second LDF Cabinet to be A CNS Admiral R.K.Dhowan retired after sworn in outside the Raj Bhavan. four decade of service. Governor P. Sathasivam administered the oath of office and On May 6, 2016, the government secrecy to Chief Minister-designate Pinarayi Vijayan and 18 appointed Lamba, the Flag Officer members of his Cabinet at the Central Stadium. Mr.Vijayan Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval had called on the Governor in the morning and submitted Command as the Chief of Naval Staff. the list of Ministers. Admiral Lamba, 58, is a qualified specialist in navigation K B Singh and direction course and will have a full three-year-term in ice Admiral K B Singh was office till May 31, 2019. appointed as the Vice Chief of Nishi Singh, Gopal Mukherjee VNaval Staff, days ahead of the retirement of current Navy chief Admiral enior bureaucrats Nishi Singh and Gopal Mukherjee R K Dhowan and his deputy Vice were appointed as members in Central Board of Admiral P Murugesan. SDirect Taxes (CBDT), the apex direct taxes body. In a series of changes carried out by the The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved force at the top level, Chief of Personnel their appointments. (CoP) Vice Admiral A R Karve has been appointed as FOC- Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 15 THE PEOPLE APPOINTMENT Both are the officers of Indian Revenue The 1958 borne Jha is a Physics Graduate and joined the Service (Income Tax cadre). While, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs as Secretary on the Singh will have a tenure till July next superannuation of AfzalAmanullah. year, Mukherjee will continue till V Narayanasamy January 2018, when they complete 60 years of age of superannuation. enior Congress leader and former Union Minister V Narayanasamy CBDT consists of a chairman and six sworn in as the tenth Chief members. S Minister of Puducherry. Atulesh Jindal is CBDT chairman, while Rani S Nair,Sushil Lt Governor Kiran Bedi administered Chandra, S M Sahai and R C Mishra are other members the oath of office and secrecy to Rahul Johri Narayanasamy and five other ministers - A Namassivayam, Malladi Krishna Rao, CCI president Anurag Thakur M O H F Shah Jahan, M Kandasamy and R Kamalakannan welcomed former media - at ‘Gandhi Thidal’ near the sea shore here. Bprofessional Rahul Johri who has joined the cricket board as its first ever While Rao, hailing from , an enclave of Puducherryin chief executive officer (CEO). Andhra Pradesh, took the oath in Telugu, others took it in Tamil. Johri’s appointment as CEO, is in line with the recommendations of the All of them are former ministers of the Union Territory. Supreme Court-appointed Justice R.M. Earlier, Puducherry Chief Secretary Manoj Parida had Lodha Committee. read out the warrant of appointment of Narayanasamy as Earlier, welcoming Johri on board, the Board of Control for Chief Minister of Puducherry issued by President Pranab Cricket in India (BCCI) extended its warm wishes to the Mukherjee. new chief executive officer. 69-year-old Narayanasamy, who had served as Minister Navin Agarwal of State in the Prime Minister’s Office in the second UPA government after serving as MoS Parliamentary Affairs in enior IPS officer Navin Agarwal UPA-I, did not contest the May 16 assembly polls and will appointed chief of National now have to seek election to the legislature in a bypoll. SAnti-Doping Agency (NADA), working for dope-free sports. Agarwal is Ashok Ganapathy a 1986 batch IPS officer of Jammu and harti Airtel announced the Kashmir cadre. appointment of Ashok Ganapathy The Appointments Committee of Cabinet Bas Director – Airtel Business has approved Agarwals appointment as with effect from July 1. He will report Chief Executive Officer/Director General of NADA, an to Gopal Vittal, Chief Executive Officer order issued by Department of Personnel and Training said. and Managing Director (India & South Asia), Bharti Airtel. He has been appointed to the post for five years, it said. Agarwal is presently working in his cadre state. Ganapathy joined Bharti Airtel in 2013 as the Hub CEO for Mumbai, Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat Prabhas Jha circles. He has over 26 years of experience across FMCG, rabhas Kumar Jha assumed the Retail, Entertainment and Telecom sectors. office of Secretary in the Ministry He has done B.Tech from IIT-Madras and completed his of Parliamentary Affairs. P MBA from IIM–Ahmedabad. Member of Indian Administrative Service Manish Kumar (1982 Batch) from Uttar Pradesh cadre served in different senior positions in the he National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) Central Government. His last assignment announced the appointment of two key executives in was as Special Secretary and Financial Tits leadership team. Advisor in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Manish Kumar will be joining NSDC as Managing Director Public Distribution. He also served as Joint Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jayant Krishna will take (Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances). Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 16 THE PEOPLE APPOINTMENT up the new role of the Executive Director With a military career in the Swedish Army beginning in and Chief Operating Officer (COO) 1978, Major General Lodin most recently held the position effective July 1, 2016. of Director of Procurement and Logistics for the Swedish Armed Forces. The key executives were selected from a list of 900 applicants. The selection Peter Thomson committee went through a rigorous eter Thomson of Fiji has been process and was supported by People elected president of the next Strong before finalising the 2 names. Psession of the UN General Umang Bedi Assembly, which will choose the successor to Secretary General Ban Ki- acebook India has appointed moon. UmangBedi as managing director. FHe will take over from Kirthiga In a keenly contested election, he polled Reddy, who will be returning to the US 94 votes narrowly defeated Andreas to take on a new role at the company’s Mavroyiannis of Cyprus who got 90. Under the system of Menlo Park headquarters. regional rotation, it is the Asia-Pacific region’s turn to hold the post and usually one candidate is proposed by the group Bedi has close to two decades of whose turn it is. leadership experience covering sales, marketing and partnerships with This time the lack of a consensus sent election to a ballot by multinational companies. the 193-member General Assembly. Prior to joining Facebook, he was the managing director, Thomson will oversee the election of the next Secretary South Asia, at Adobe. He was responsible for making India General by the General Assembly in a process that will have one of Adobe’s leading markets. a measure of transparency for the first time. Naresh Goyal Thomson has a wide range of international leadership experience. He was the vice president of the General et Airways said its chairman Naresh Assembly in 2010-11. Goyal has been re-elected to IATA’s JBoard of Governors. He has also been the chair of the developing nations’ Group of 77 to which India belongs, and the chair of the executive This would be the fifth successive boards of both the UN Development Programme (UNDP) tenure for Goyal at the International Air and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). Transport Association’s (IATA) Board of Governors, the airline said in a release. The candidature of Mavroyiannis was undermined by the fact that Cyprus is member of the European Union, even Goyal is the only representative from India on this board. as it is a part of the Asian Pacific Group, of which Fiji is unambiguously a member. Per Lodin Suresh Chandra N Secretary General Ban Ki- Moon has appointed Swedish enior legal service officer Suresh Chandra was today appointed as Major General Per Lodin, a U Law Secretary. logistics expert, to head the UN Military S Observer Group in India and Pakistan Chandra, an officer of Indian Legal (UNMOGIP) that monitors the situation Service, is currently Additional Secretary in Kashmir. India does not recognize the in the department. UNMOGIP’s mandate. The Appointments Committee of Maj Gen Lodin succeeds Major General Delali Johnson Cabinet has approved the appointment of Sakyi of Ghana, who completes his two-year assignment Chandra as Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, an order as Chief Military Observer and Head of Mission for the issued by Department of Personnel and Training said. UNMOGIP on July 2. India has maintained that UNMOGIP G Narayana Raju, Legislative Secretary, was holding has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla additional charge of the post of Secretary, Legal Affairs. Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control (LoC).

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TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 17 THE PEOPLE AWARDS/HONOURS published in any language that have been translated into AWARDS/HONOURS English. UK ‘s honorary fellowship The prize money will be split evenly between Ms. Han and ormer Chief Election her 28-year-old translator, Deborah Smith, who only began Commissioner S Y Quraishi has learning Korean less than seven years ago. Fbeen awarded with an honorary “The Vegetarian” is the first of her books to be translated fellowship by a UK student body into English. It tells the story of Yeong-hye, a dutiful wife to celebrate and acknowledge his whose decision to forego meat uproots her whole existence. contributions in shaping the present and future of India. Intel Young Scientist Award Deputy High Commissioner of India 15-year-old Indian-American Dr. Virender Paul bestowed the Honorary Fellowship on boy has won the prestigious Quraishi at an event organised by the ‘100-Foot Journey A ‘Intel Foundation Young Scientist Club’ and the ‘National Indian Students and Alumni Union’ Award’ for developing a low-cost (NISAU), UK. electronically-aided knee brace that allows a person with a weakened leg to U.N. honour walk more naturally. our Indian peacekeepers and a Syamantak Payra, a Texas resident, civilian, who laid down their won the USD 50,000 award along Flives while serving in the U.N. with 17-year-old Kathy Liu. The award was given by peacekeeping operations last year, will be Intel Corporation and the Society for Science and the honoured along with other 124 personnel Public (SSP) at the 2016 ‘Intel International Science and with a prestigious U.N. medal awarded Engineering Fair’ in Arizona. posthumously for their courage and sacrifice. The fallen Indian peacekeepers Othmer Gold Medal who will be honoured with the Dag ukesh Ambani, Chairman and Hammarskjold Medal on the International Day of United Managing Director of Reliance Nations Peacekeepers are Head Constable Shubhkaran MIndustries Ltd, has been Yadav, Rifleman Manish Malik, HavildarAmalDeka, Naik awarded the prestigious Othmer Gold Rakesh Kumar and Gagan Punjabi. Medal for his entrepreneurial leadership. Yadav, serving in the U.N. Organization Stabilization Specifically, the award has been given to Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Ambani in recognition of his leadership (MONUSCO) made the supreme sacrifice in April last year role in the expansion of India’s and Malik, also serving in the same mission, died in August. petroleum refining industry, creation of the Jamnagar Refinery in Gujarat the Deka, serving in the United Nations Disengagement largest grassroots petroleum refinery in the world and path- Observer Force (UNDOF) died in June last year and Kumar breaking initiatives in oil and gas exploration. serving in the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) died in January 2015. Punjabi was serving in MONUSCO in a Distinguished Leadership in Teaching Excellence Award civilian capacity under the U.N. Volunteers programme and n Indian - American died in an incident in January last year. The International biotechnologist has received Day of U.N. Peacekeepers, observed annually on May 29, AUniversity of Houston’s highest will be commemorated this year on May 19. teaching award for her sustained and Man Booker prize significant contributions to education. outh Korean author Han Kang RupaIyer , an Indian-American Associate won the Man Booker International Dean, Research and Graduate Studies at SPrize for fiction with “The the University of Houston’s College of Vegetarian,” an unsettling novel in which Technology, has been presented the “ a woman’s decision to stop eating meat Award “. has devastating consequences. It is the highest award given in teaching and the only one Literary critic Boyd Tonkin, chair of given in this category by the varsity. the panel that chose the winner from National Medal of Science 155 entries, said Han’s book combined “tenderness and terror” in a tale of “volcanic, visceral .S. President Barack Obama has felicitated an intensity.” The award is the international counterpart to Indian-American scientist and a Pakistani-American Britain’s prestigious Booker Prize and is open to books Udoctor with the nation’s top honours on the field of science, technology and innovation respectively. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 18 THE PEOPLE AWARDS/HONOURS 65-year-old Rakesh K Jain of Harvard with the red tape of the benefits system. Medical School and Massachusetts The director, who turns 80 next month, General Hospital was presented with returned from retirement to make the the National Medal of Science for his film, and took to the stage at the Palais to role in developing novel strategies for address the audience in French. manipulating tumours and translating Loach has a very loyal following in those strategies into improved cancer Europe: many of his films have premiered detection, prevention, and treatment in at Cannes, while The Wind That Shakes humans. the Barley, about two brothers who join 53-year-old Humayun, who is a grandson of personal the IRA in the early 1920s, won the Palme d’Or in 2006. Yet physician of Jinnah, received the National few foresaw victory for the veteran dramatist . Medal of Technology and Innovation for invention, National Geographic Bee champion development, and application of bioelectronics in medicine, including a retinal prosthesis for restoring vision to the ndian-American students have blind, thereby significantly improving patients’ quality of swept the prestigious national bee life. Icompetitions, securing the first three positions for this year’s National Yug Kavi Siddhicharan Award Geographic Bee championship finals. ikkim chief minister Pawan Rishi Nair, 12, a sixth grader from Chamling was conferred the ‘Yug Florida took top honours at the 28th Kavi Siddhicharan Award’ by S annual National Geographic Bee held at Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli the National Geographic headquarters in for his commendable contributions in Washington. As National Geographic Bee champion, Rishi promoting Nepali literature in India. received a USD 50,000 college scholarship and a lifetime Siddhicharan Shrestha Academy membership in the National Geographic Society. This is the organised an event in Kathmandu on the fifth consecutive year that an Indian-American has won the occasion of 105th birth anniversary of prestigious national tournament. the late poet Shrestha. Eighth-grader Saketh Jonnalagadda, 14, from Massachusetts The award carries a certificate of appreciation and a sum of was the runner up and recipient of the USD 25,000 college NRs 100,000. Chamling, 65, was not present to receive the scholarship. Third place and a USD 10,000 college award. scholarship was grabbed by Kapil Nathan, a 12-year-old sixth-grader from Alabama. He has been awarded twice by the Sikkim Sahitya Parishad - Chintan Puraskar in 1987 for the best poem and Bhanu Harvard Alumni Award Puraskar in 2010. harti Enterprises founder and Chamling’s other works in Nepali include Prarambhik Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal Kavita (poems, 1978), Antyaheen Sapana: Mero Bipana Bhas received this year’s Harvard (poems, 1985), Ma KoHoon! (poems, 1992), and Sikkim ra Business School Alumni Achievement Nariko Maryada. Award. The award, presented annually since 1968, is the highest honour the An author of many books in Nepali, English and Hindi, he Harvard Business School confers is also a publisher. on its alumni who have contributed Cannes Award significantly to their companies and communities while upholding the highest annes, Indian film ‘The Cinema Travellers’, a documentary on the traditional art of travelling standards and values. This year’s award was conferred on Ccinema in the country, has won the jury prize of the Mittal. Cannes documentary award. On receiving the award, Mittal credited the Harvard Business School’s management programme with helping Directed by Mumbai-based filmmakers Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya, ‘The Cinema Travellers’ was him create Bharti Airtel. bestowed the Honourable Mention by the jury of the Having served on the HBS Board of Dean’s Advisors since Golden Eye (L’Oeil d’Or) award, presented on the sidelines 2010, Mittal stated that the School continues to lead in of the Cannes film festival to recognize the contribution of producing world-class business leaders. documentary films. Springer Theses Award In addition to this Ken Loach won his second Palme d’Or n Indian-American scientist has received the – the festival’s highest honour – for I, Daniel Blake, a prestigious Springer Theses Award in recognition social-realist drama about a disabled carpenter struggling Afor his outstanding research in which he developed Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 19 THE PEOPLE AWARDS/HONOURS transgenic mice to study a critical tumor- Ceat International Bowler of the Year suppressor called A20. Arnab De’s thesis award while Rohit Sharma was named as was nominated by New York’s Columbia the Indian Cricketer of the Year. University. Before this, De, who has also Kohli has been in the form of his life in developed peptide-based pro drugs as the shortest format recently as he was therapeutics for diabetes, had received named as Player-of-the-Tournament in the Young Investigator Award at the the World T20 held in India earlier this American Peptide Symposium. year and won the orange cap for amassing The thesis prize is awarded by Springer, the most runs of 973 in 16 matches in the a leading global publisher of renowned scientific journals just-concluded IPL-9. 60-year-old Vengsarkar had amassed and books, to recognize outstanding PhD research. 6868 runs in 116 Tests with 17 hundreds to boot that included a hat-trick of tons in successive Test appearances Internationally top-ranked research institutes select their at Lord’s Cricket ground in England. best thesis annually for publication in the book series: “Springer Theses: Recognising Outstanding PhD research”. Vengsarkar was also a part of the 1983-World Cup winning Indian team. Additionally, winners also get a cash prize of 500 euros. The research work was highlighted by the European Molecular The award winners: Biology Organization (EMBO) Reports. Lifetime Achievement Award - DilipVengsarkar Only research considered to be of ‘fundamental relevance to International Cricketer of the Year - Joe Root a general readership’ is chosen to be highlighted by EMBO. International Batsman of the Year - Joe Root Asian Book Award International Bowler of the Year - R Ashwin 31-year-old Indian woman author in Singapore has won the Test Cricketer of the Year - Kane Williamson A ‘Scholastic Asian Book Award’ ODI Cricketer of the Year - Martin Guptill for her 32,000-word manuscript rooted in “love of Indian history”. T20 Player of the Year - ViratKohli Aditi Krishna kumar won the Singapore Indian Cricketer of the Year -Rohit Sharma dollar 10,000 award this week for her Domestic Cricketer of the Year - ShreyasIyer manuscript “Codex: The Lost Treasure Of The Indus”. Young Player of the Year - Rishabh Pant Malti GyanPeeth Puraskar 2016 Special Award - AjinkyaRahane. peaking on the occasion, the Grand Fukuoka Prize 2016 President said that the award usic maestro A R Rahman has Sceremony coincided with the been announced as the recipient 95th birthday of Smt. Malti Mohinder Mof Grand Fukuoka Prize 2016 Singh Syngle. He conveyed his best for his outstanding contribution to Asian wishes to her on her birthday and wished culture through his music. that God may grant her the strength to continue her seven decades of dedicated As part of the ceremony, Rahman has service to the cause of education. He been invited to the city to give a public complimented Manoj Singhal, President lecture on “From the Heart: The World of the Mohinder Singh Syngle Education and Research of A R Rahman’s Music”. Society, for his initiative in introducing this Award and for The 49-year-old Oscar-winning composer has been chosen his passion in spreading quality education in the rural areas. He for the honour alongside Philippines’ historian Ameth R also complimented the efforts of the state government of Punjab Ocampo (Academic Prize) and Yasmeen Lari from Pakistan for recognizing and collaborating with the selection process. (Arts and Culture Prize) by the secretariat of Fukuoka prize Ceat Award committee. The annual award, was established by Fukuoka City, Japan, in 1990 with an aim to honour the outstanding tar India batsman Virat Kohli has been named Ceat work of individuals, groups and organizations working to T20 Player of the Year while former India captain preserve and promote the unique and diverse culture of SDilip Vengsarkar was conferred with the Lifetime Asia. Rahman started his movie career with Mani Ratnam’s Achievement Award. Tamil film “Roja”. Rahman’s first big break in Hindi cinema England batsman Joe Root was named as the Ceat came with Ram Gopal Varma’s “Rangeela”. International Cricketer of the Year as well as International He is now one of the most sought after composers in India Batsman of the Year. India off-spinner R Ashwin won the with his brilliant compositions for films like “Bombay”, Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 20 THE PEOPLE AWARDS/HONOURS “Dil Se”, “Taal”, “Lagaan”, “Rang De Basanti”, “Delhi 6”, Miss USA 2016 Award “Rockstar”, “Highway” and “Tamasha”. n Army Reserve officer and Rahman has carved an impressive career in Hollywood after IT analyst from the District of composing “Jai Ho” for British director Danny Boyle’s AColumbia has been crowned “Slumdog Millionaire”, which earned him two Academy Miss USA 2016 after mounting a strong awards and a Golden Globe trophy. defense of women in combat roles in the military. Deshauna Barber, a 26-year- Previous winners from India include distinguished old from the nation’s capital, gave the names such as sitar player Ravi Shankar, dancer Padma answer during the interview section of Subrahmanyam, historian RomilaThapar, sarod maestro the pageant in Las Vegas Amjad Ali Khan, Ashish Nandy, Partha Chatterjee, Vandana Shiva, NaliniMalini and historian RamachandraGuha. When asked by judge Joe Zee whether the Pentagon’s decision to open up all combat roles to women had “put Other winners include Nobel laureates Muhammad Yunus political correctness over our military’s ability to perform,” (Bangladesh) and Mo Yan (China). 1st Lt. Barber responded: Olive Medal of Peace Honour Tara Conner almost lost her 2006 Miss USA title over ope Francis honoured Hollywood substance abuse and rehab, and she came clean after her actors Richard Gere, George wild partying made national headlines. She was allowed to PClooney and Salma Hayek with keep her crown. the Olive Medal of Peace in an event to promote the Scholas Occurrentes Ivory Coast Award foundation. The A-listers have agreed to resident Pranab Mukherjee will be presented National work as ambassadors for the foundation’s Order of the Republic of Ivory Coast, the highest arts projects, said The Hollywood Paward of the West African country where he will be Reporter. on a two day visit starting June 14. It will be the first ever high level visit from India to Ivory Coast. Mukherjee has Scholas Occurrentes, or “schools that meet,” is a foundation been invited by Ivory Coast President AlassaneOuattara. that links 400,000 schools and educational networks from various cultures and religions in 82 countries. Mukherjee will have one-to-one with Ouattara followed by delegation level talks. 13th National Award for Excellence The President would also be handed the key to the city of .O. Chidambaranar Port has Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast, a statement bagged National Award for from External Affairs Ministry said. VExcellence in Cost Management for the year 2015 from The Institute Regius Professorshipin Manufacturing Award of Cost Accountants of India under minent Indian-origin professor the category of Public Service Sector- Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya has Small. The port participated in the 13th been awarded the prestigious National Awards for Excellence in Cost E Regius Professorship in Manufacturing Management-2015, organised by The by Queen Elizabeth II for his outstanding Institute of Cost Accountants of India. contribution in manufacturing. This is the third time this port is receiving the award , the WMG, at the University of Warwick, earlier years being 2008 and 2012. which was founded by eminent Indian The award has been given for exemplary performance Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, has of V.O. Chidambaranar Port towards optimization of been bestowed the prestigious Regius Professorship in manpower, savings in electricity, implementation of Solar Manufacturing by Her Majesty the Queen. Energy Systems, reduction of overall cost of handling by Through his career, he has advised the UK government mechanization and improvising efficiency and logistics on manufacturing, innovation, and technology, including support. former Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. The Institute of Cost Accountants of India, a statutory body International Dublin Literary Award under an Act of Parliament, presents awards for excellence in Cost Management to promote and recognize Cost ndian-American author Akhil Sharma won the Management practices in the Corporate Sector. The awards prestigious 100,000-euro International Dublin Literary under various categories were selected by a Jury panel IAward, the world’s richest award for a single novel, for headed by Honble Justice Mr. V.N.Khare, former Chief his second novel ‘Family Life’. Justice of India and persons of eminence from Industry, The Delhi-born New Yorker has already bagged the 2015 Government, Judiciary and CMA profession. Folio Prize worth 40,000 pounds for his autobiographical

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TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 21 THE PEOPLE AWARDS/HONOURS novel that tells the tale of how a family US award for diabetes research moves from Delhi to New York, where ariatric surgeon Shashank the older brother has an accident that S Shah has been honoured leaves him brain-damaged and in need of with the American Diabetes 24-hour care. B Association’s ‘Vivian Fonseca Scholar’ Order of FriendshipHonour Award 2016 for his contribution in N Secretary-General Ban Ki- the field of gastric bypass surgery for diabetes. Shah was conferred with the moon has been honored with coveted award, given in recognition of Russia’s Order of Friendship. U Diabetes research, at a function in New Orleans, a release The respective decree of Russian issued by American Diabetes Association said. The Pune- President Vladimir Putin was published based surgeon received the award for his abstract ‘Gastric on the Russian official legal information Bypass Vs Medical/Lifestyle Care for Type 2 Diabetes in website. South Asians’, which was the focus of his Vivian Fonseca American Cinematheque Award Award Lecture. irector Ridley Scott will be Highest Civilian Award of Ivory Coast honored with the 30th American resident Pranab Mukherjee was Cinemathequeaward during D awarded the highest civilian award the organization’s annual benefit gala of Ivory Coast, the ‘National October 14 at the Beverly Hilton. The P Grand Crois’. The award was conferred event for the iconic director of films on him during his two days visit to the including Alien, Blade Runnerand most West African country. recently last year’s commercial and awards-garnering sci-fi pic The Martian Mukherjee’s visit is the maiden visit of an will include in-person tributes from Indian President to Ivory Coast. On the some of Scott’s colleagues and friends. first day of his two day visit to the nation, Mukherjee held one-to-one dialogue with his counterpart Scott was the unanimous choice of the Cinematheque Ouattara which was followed by delegation level talks. Board of Directors selection committee, the group said in announcing the news. Reese Witherspoon was the honoree During the talks, President Mukherjee underlined the need last year in the annual showcase that is always cream-of- to reform global organisations. the-crop stop on the honors circuit. Both countries also signed Headquarters agreement for re- “The American Cinematheque is extremely pleased to establishment of Exim bank regional head quarters in the honor Ridley Scott as the 30th recipient of the American Ivory Coast. Cinematheque award at our celebration this year” said Mukherjee also attended state Banquet hosted by Ivory Coast Rick Nicita, American Cinematheque chairman. Ridley President ,where common issues like terrorism, climate Scott is one of the greatest directors in the history of the change and sustainable development were discussed. motion picture. From his first feature, The Duelists, to his most recent, The Martian, the films of Ridley Scott have Later addressing a gathering at the Banquet, the President combined keenly observed humanity with dazzling state-of- reiterated that India will remain the partner in assisting the-art effects and design in a style that appeal in equal parts the West African nation in its economic development and to the eye and to the mind. growth. Indian of the Year award LeEco partners with Bollywood IIFA awards 2016 ational award-winning actor hinese internet and technology Kangana Ranaut, ace Director conglomerate LeEco has signed NSS Rajamouli and Bollywood Cup as the official sponsor of the sensation Ranveer Singh got the creme 17th International Indian Film Academy de la creme at the CNN-News18 ‘Indian (IIFA) awards 2016 that will be held in of the Year’ 2015 awards for their Madrid, Spain, from June 23 to 26. contribution to the world of cinema. LeEco is now working with Eros Now, In a ceremony held here last night, YuppTV and Hungama in India. Information and Broadcasting Minister presented the award to the Through LeEco’s Membership programme, users can get trio. access to a collection of over 2000 movies that will be first released exclusively on LeEco devices, inclusive of Director Rajamouli won the award for the major success of premieres from Hollywood and Bollywood. his movie Bahubal, which grossed over Rs 600 crore at the box office in 2015. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 22 THE PEOPLE OBITUARY revolutionary comrade” of North Korean leader Kim Jong OBITUARY Un and an “excellent son” of the country’s ruling party, Cundasamy Kuppusami died of esophageal cancer Friday afternoon at the age of 76. n Indian-origin pioneering Tamil scholar and author, who was Kang, a longtime foreign policy specialist for the North, Ainstrumental in persuading the was Pyongyang’s chief negotiator when it reached a South African government to introduce landmark agreement with Washington in 1994 to freeze Tamil as a language at secondary schools, and eventually dismantle its nuclear facilities in exchange died at the age of 103. for international aid to build two electricity-producing nuclear reactors. Cundasamy Kuppusami, began his career as a teacher and went on to become The deal fell apart in 2002 after revelations that the North the first inspector of schools in the Department of Indian had operated a secret nuclear weapons program in violation Education when the system was still segregated by race in of the agreement, which was disclosed shortly after a the apartheid era. meeting between Kang and then-U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly. The South African-Indian community is mourning the death of Mr Kuppusami. Bikash Sandhu He was also a prolific author on education in the Indian eteran sports photojournalist community and Tamil culture among Indians in South Bikash Sandhu died following Africa. Va prolonged battle with a liver disease, said Calcutta Sports Journalists’ Among his most popular books which are still sought ‘A Club. He was 64. Short History of Indian Education’, Religions, Customs and Practices of South African-Indians’ and ‘The Three Pillars Sandhu is survived by his wife, a son of Tamil’. and a daughter. Mr Kuppusami was a founder member and the longest Sandhu has covered several Tests and serving member of the South African-Tamil Federation One-day Internationals, including World Cups. (SATF). He has also covered the Wimbledon, and Deepak Shodhan several other prestigious tournaments in his long career spanning more than three decades. eepak Shodhan, who was the first Indian to make a Test century in He has served Aajkal newspaper from its inception in 1985. Dhis debut innings, has died aged K. Anirudhan 87. He had been India’s oldest living Test cricketer. PI(M) veteran and former MLA and MP K Anirudhan, who was An attractive left-hand batsman who 92, passed away at his residence. bowled left-arm pace as well, Shodhan C was given his first India cap at 25, against Anirudhan was suffering from age- Pakistan at Eden Gardens in 1952, and made an immediate related ailments for some time and died impact. He walked in at No. 8, with the score on 179 for 6 . and no specialist batsmen left, and he walked out with 110 Known for his significant contribution against his name. India claimed a lead of 140 runs, but the to build theCommunist party movement in southern parts match ended in a draw. of the state, Anirudhan was elected to the state assembly in Kang SokJu 1963, 1965, 1979 and 1980. top North Korean diplomat Anirudhan, also an active trade union leader, had who negotiated a short-lived represented the Chirayinkeezhu constituency in Lok Sabha A 1994 deal with the United after defeating former chief minister R Shankar in the 1967 States to freeze its nuclear programs in elections. exchange for international aid has died of cancer, the country’s state media He is survived by wife Sudharma and sons, CPI-M Lok said. The North’s Korean Central News Sabha MP ASampath and Kasthuri. Agency said Kang SokJu, a “trustworthy Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 23 THE PEOPLE OBITUARY Aditya Awasthi She was the first to translate “Don Quixote” into Chinese, enior journalist Aditya Awasthi and her version is still considered the definitive one by passed away due to protracted many. Sillness. Her death was the top search term on the Chinese Awasthi(62) was suffering from liver microblogging site Weibo, a testimony to her fame and the related problems for quite sometime. public adoration she enjoyed. He is survived by wife, a son and a R G Jadhav daughter. oted Marathi critic and Awasthi served for a number of media houses including litterateur R G Jadhav passed news agency Samachar, evening daily Sandhya Times. Naway at his residence due to his He also inked a number of books. prolonged illness. He was 83. S.M. Seenivel Born on August 24, 1932, at Vadodara in Gujarat, Jadhav served as a professor ewly-elected AIADMK legislator from Thiruparan- of Marathi literature in various colleges, Nkundram in Tamil Nadu S.M. including one in Amravati, Elphinstone Seenivel died in a private hospital in College in Mumbai, and also at Milind College in Aurangabad. Madurai. Jadhav presided over Marathi SahityaSammelan held at Aurangabad in 2004 and worked as chief editor of Marathi Seenivel, 65, was admitted to hospital after he complained of chest pain a day Vishwakosha between 2000 and 2002. before the vote count. His condition Recipient of many awards, Jadhav penned more than was critical since then. Thiruparankundram is part of the 45 books, including ‘AnandachaDoh’ (a study of saint Madurai district. Tukaram), ‘NileePahat’ (a critique of Dalit literature) and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary ‘Bapu’ (a collection of 91 reflective poems on Mahatma J. Jayalalithaa expressed her grief at Seenivel’s death and Gandhi). conveyed her condolences to his family. Makiko Futaki Burt Kwouk, nimator Makiko Futaki, who e appeared in seven Pink worked on all of Studio Ghibli’s Panther films opposite Peter Abiggest hits, including 2002 HSellers as Clouseau’s servant Oscar-winner Spirited Away, died at the who regularly attacked his employer to age of 57. keep him alert. The prolific animator worked on nearly He also starred in BBC sitcom Last of every major Studio Ghibli animation, the Summer Wine from 2002 to 2010. including the hit factory’s final feature, ‘ When Marnie Was There’. The actor, who was born in Manchester A private funeral was held for Futaki, who died in a Tokyo but raised in Shanghai, was awarded an OBE in the 2011 hospital from an unspecified illness. New Year Honours List. Futaki worked for Studio Ghibli for three decades and was The family had a private funeral but there will be a memorial an animator for all of legendary Japanese director Hayao at a later date. Miyazaki’s productions including Howl’s Moving Castle, Yang Jiang Princess Mononoke and 2013’s The Wind Rises. Her final film credit was HiromasaYonebayashi’s critically acclaimed enowned Chinese writer Yang Jiang, known for her When Marnie Was There. prolific output and marriage to an equally famous Giorgio Albertazzi Rauthor, died at age 104. elebrated Italian theater and film actor-director Born in 1911, Yang became a household name in China for Giorgio Albertazzi died in his native Tuscany. He her novels, plays, essays and translated works. Cwas 92. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 24 THE PEOPLE OBITUARY Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Muhammad Ali remembered him in Venice as “a great uhammad Ali, the former Italian” and an artist who was classical world heavyweight boxing and progressive simultaneously. Mchampion and one of sport’s Italian President Sergio Mattarella said most influential individuals, has died that with Giorgio Albertazzi we have aged 74. lost one of the foremost artists of the Ali, who earned the nickname ‘The thecontemporary Italian cinema. Greatest’, suffered from Parkinson’s His interpretations of the great classics remain a milestone Disease since 1984. He was taken into in the history of entertainment. hospital for a respiratory condition and had been being kept in “as a precaution”. News of his death was released by his Describing his theatrical body of work, Mattarella called family’s spokesman . Albertazzia maestro and a point of reference for generations of actors and directors. Politicians, athletes and celebrities immediately flooded to social media to pay tribute to “The Greatest”. Ali was also He is best known in the U.S. for Alain Resnais’ Last Year described as a “humble mountain” and “the biggest and the at Marienbad, the hypnotizing romance he starred in with best”. DelphineSeyrig. K.K. Katyal His last film, La Sindrome di Antonio, directed by Claudio Rossi Massimi, is slated to be released this year. he Hindu’s former Delhi Chief of Bureau and veteran journalist Albertazzi is survived by his wife, Pia de Tolomei. TK.K. Katyal passed away in Prabir Mukherjee a Delhi hospital after a brief illness. Mr.Katyal was 88. ormer chief curator of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) Mr.Katyal, who was the face of The FPrabir Mukherjee, who was known Hindu’s Delhi bureau since the launch of for his no-nonsense steadfast approach, the paper’s New Delhi edition in 1986, had also worked in The Statesman andHindustan Times. died at a city hospital after a prolonged illness. Hailing from Jhang in Pakistan, he had wide contacts across political and diplomatic circles. Mr.Katyal was widely Mukherjee, 86, was suffering from a liver travelled and had a wide array of interests. condition and depression and was being A familiar byline to The Hindu’s readers, the veteran scribe treated at the BNR Hospital since April 11, his grandson worked towards improving relations with Pakistan. After Pranay Mukherjee said. his retirement from The Hindu in 2004, Mr.Katyal was His body, however, was not taken to Eden Gardens in a associated with the South Asia Free Media Association as departure of the tradition followed in the city’s cricket president of its India chapter. fraternity to honour his last wish, Pranay said. Mr.Katyal is survived by his wife Darshan and daughters Anita and Sugita, both of them accomplished journalists in Razzak Khan their own right. ctor Razzak Khan, who was Gordie Howe popularly known for his role anada’s hockey icon Gordie of Manikchand in Shah Rukh A Howe has died after a lengthy Khan starrer Baadshah, passed away. Cillness. He was 88 years old. He suffered a massive heart attack in Nicknamed as “Mr. Hockey”, Howe is midnight. considered one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time and an ironman in He was rushed to Holy Family hospital in Bandra, where many respects both on and off the ice. doctors declared him dead on arrival. Born in 1928 in Floral, Saskatchewan, The list of his popular films include Hello Brother, JoruKa Howe played 26 seasons in the National Hockey League Ghulam and Kyaa Kool Hain Hum and many more. (NHL) and six seasons in the World Hockey Association Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 25 THE PEOPLE OBITUARY (WHA). His first 25 seasons were spent with the NHL’s Born in 1931 at Pathsala, Lahkar had established Nataraj Detroit Red Wings, and he played an unparalleled 33 Theatre in 1963 and gave a rebirth to moving theatre in seasons over six decades after breaking into the pro ranks Assam. in 1945. Mudrarakshas A 23-time NHL All-Star, Howe held many of the sport’s amous Hindi novelist and critique scoring records until they were broken in the 1990s by Mudrarakshas died of old age Wayne Gretzky. Howe continues to hold NHL records for related causes here. He was 82. most games and seasons played. F As per his family members, the Howe retired in 1971 and was inducted into the Hockey octogenarian writer had been suffering Hall of Fame in Toronto in 1972. He was the inaugural from age-related ailments for some time. recipient of the NHL Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Educated in Lucknow, Mudrarakshas had Achyut Lahkar later worked as editor of Hindi journal eteran theatre personality Gyanodaya, published from Kolkata. Achyut Lahkar died at the age Born on June 21, 1933 in Lucknow, Mudrarakshas’ original of 85 at his residence in Barpeta V name was Subhash Chandra, who wrote novels and other district, leaving a pall of gloom in the forms of Hindi prose besides producing literature for theatre world. children with his pen name. Lahkar breathed his last and passed away He had also edited Hindi journal Anuvarta and was also due to age related issues. associated with All India Radio. His write-ups invariably Condoling his death, the Assam hinged on various vital social causes and issues. government declared state mourning for a day and his Expressing deep shock at the demise of Mudrarakshas, last rites were performed with full state honours. Chief famous literary figure Dudhnath Singh said he lost a Secretary V.K. Pipersenia accorded full state honours and personal friend since 1950s. declared one-day state mourning in his respect.

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TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 26

NEWS BYTES NATIONAL NATIONAL Burning Topics of the Month

1. India’s 1st driverless train to hit tracks. 2. Smart Cities list increased : Lucknow tops. 3. Union HRD minister Launches Bharatvani Portal.

Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Delhi Chief NITIN GADKARI LAUNCHES INFRACON, Minister ArvindKejriwal. EPACE AND UP-SCALED INAM PRO, The first driverless train for the ’s phase 3 17 MAY 2016 project was manufactured at Changwon in South Korea. nion Minister of Road Transport & Highways It arrived by sea at the Mundra port in Gujarat and was and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has called upon brought by road to Delhi on specially-made trailers. These Ustakeholders to make conscious and active use trains will ply on the upcoming 58-km Majlish Park-Shiv of innovations and successful best practices from round Vihar (Line 7) and 38-km Janakpuri West-Botanical Garden the world in engineering and construction of roads. (Line 8) corridors. Both these corridors are expected to be Technological initiatives have also been brought in like operational by the end of 2016. satellite based road asset management system, use of concrete for road construction, electronic toll collection, Twenty six-coach trains will be manufactured in South INAMPRO other IT initiatives.. Korea and the remaining 61 are being manufactured at the Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) plant in Bengaluru. Gadkari also launched ePACE, INFRACON and an updated version of INAMPRO, three innovative IT Initially, the train operators will be deputed for operation initiatives of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, and gradually withdrawn to move to Unattended Train developed in house by NHIDCL( National Highways and Operation (UTO). Each coach can accommodate maximum Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.) 380 passengers, which translates to 2,280 passengers in each six-coach train. The trains would be able to accommodate ePACE (Projects Appraisal & Continuing Enhancements) 40 commuters more in a six-coach train as the driver’s cabin is an online integrated Management Information System will not be required. that brings projects from all wings of the Ministry under a FREE WIFI SERVICE LAUNCHED AT BHOPAL common platform, ensuring their effective and real time RAILWAY STATION, 17 MAY 2016 tracking. INFRACON is the National Portal for Infrastructure Consultancy Firms and Key Personnel. This portal acts as a kind of bridge between consultancy firms working in the road engineering and construction sector and domain experts and key personnel who are deployed both for project preparation and supervision. INAM PRO has been developed as a web-based application (www.inampro.nic.in) for Infrastructure and Material Providers. It is a kind of a web based market place that brings together the material providers and the prospective buyers on a common platform. ith an aim to provide world class amenities to rail passengers, high-speed free Wi-Fifacility was INDIA’S FIRST DRIVERLESS TRAIN HIT launched at the Bhopal railway station by city TRACKS, 17 MAY 2016 W MP AlokSanjar. This ultra-modern world class Wi-Fi service he Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has conducted will benefit all passengers arriving at the Bhopal station. The the trial run of India’s first driverless train at service is part of Prime Minister NarendraModi’s Digital TMukundpur depot. India project. A train running on “Unattended Train Operations” mode The facility is being provided through Rail Wire, which is flagged off from Mukundpur Metro depot by Union Urban Railtel’s new broadband service. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 28 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES NATIONAL TAX GRIEVANCES: IT DEPT LAUNCHES patent by paying additional fees if they choose India as the ‘E-NIVARAN’ FOR SPEEDY GRIEVANCE International Search Authority or International Preliminary REDRESSAL, 18 MAY 2016 Examining Authorities. The only new applicants will be eligible for the benefits of the amended rules. Already, 2.37 lakh patent applications are pending with the government. For speedy clearances, application fees for individuals and start-ups have been kept at Rs 8,000 while for companies, it could be as much as Rs 60,000. However, under normal circumstances, initial patent filing cost ranges between Rs 1,600 and Rs 8,800. The amended rules suggest refund of fees in the case of withdrawal of an application. They provide for full refund of patent application fees and refund of 90% of the fee paid for ‘request for examination (RQ)’. Usually, the RQ fees range between Rs 4,000 and Rs 60,000 and may rise, depending on the number of pages. he Income Tax department has launched a special electronic grievance redressal system called The application fees have been waived and that will help T‘e-nivaran’ in order to fast track taxpayer grievances unclog the queue as there are a lot of applicants who are and ensure early resolution of their complaints. not withdrawing despite knowing that the application is A separate and dedicated window for grievance redressal not commercially viable. Applicants will be asked to give has been launched recently in the Income Tax Business their responses within 6 months after the first examination Application (ITBA), the new smart electronic platform for is completed so that the government will have some time to the regular operations of the department. decide on it and grant the patent. INS KARMUK ATTENDS CLOSING It acts to integrate all online and physical complaints CEREMONY OF 27TH IND – INDO CORPAT gathered by the department at this platform which will be AT INDONESIA, 19 MAY 2016 monitored by the Assessing Officer of the case upto the supervisory officers in a paperless environment. GOVT AMENDS PATENTS RULES, OFFERS ‘TATKAL’ WINDOW FOR SPEEDY APPROVAL, 18 MAY 2016

he closing ceremony of 27TH India-Indonesian CORPAT (Coordinated Patrol) was held from 16- T19 May 16. Indian Naval Ship Karmuk entered Belawan harbour (Indonesia) on 16 May 16 with the Senior Officer Commodore Girish Kumar Garg, Naval Component he government has amended patent rules to offer a Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Command embarked to ‘Tatkal’ option for speedy clearance of applications participate in the closing ceremony. The ship was escorted Tby start-ups or those that choose India as the by Indonesia Navy ship KRI Imam Bonjol into the harbour. destination for first filing of patent. In an ambitious move, It was a historic moment as the first woman IFS officer from India is also planning to reduce the time frame for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Dr Shalia Shah, Counsulate grant of patents to two-and-a-half years immediately and General of India in Medan (Indonesia), was present to one-and-a-half years by March 2018, from the current 5-7 receive the Port Blair based ship. The closing ceremony at years, as it attempts to be recognised as a serious player Belawan saw the two navies conducting interactive session globally in protecting intellectual property rights. Entities on measures to enhance inter-operability. can now opt for expeditious clearance route to obtaining Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 29 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES NATIONAL BJP WINS POWER IN ASSAM, WIDENS DR. MAHESH SHARMA INAUGURATES INFLUENCE, 19 MAY 2016 EXHIBITION ‘FRONTIER GANDHI AND THE INDIAN FREEDOM MOVEMENT’ 21 MAY 2016

rime Minister NarendraModi’s ruling party declared victory in Assam, which will help his right-wing Pnationalist government rebuild some momentum after poll losses last year. r. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C) for The BJP led in the races for more than 80 of the 126 seats in Culture and Tourism inaugurated an exhibition Assam where clear trends had been established, unofficial entitled ‘Frontier Gandhi and the Indian Freedom tallies compiled by television broadcasters showed, beating D Movement’ on the occasion of commemoration of the Congress party into second place. “125th Birth Anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan” Elsewhere, tallies showed regional parties heading for organized by Ministry of Culture . He honoured the victory in the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and Descendants of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan viz his Great the eastern state of West Bengal, where the BJP has a small Grand daughtersYasmin Khan &Tanzeem Khan, and Great presence and was not expected to win. Grand sonDanish Khan by presenting shawls to them on MINISTER OF RAILWAYS INTRODUCED this occasion. Prof.Lokesh Chandra, Chairman NMML, WI-FI SERVICES AT THREE MORE Mr.Shaida Mohammad Abdali, Ambassador of Afghanistan RAILWAY STATIONS I.E. PATNA, RANCHI & in India and senior officers of the Ministry of Culture were VISAKHAPATNAM, 21 MAY 2016 present. PUDUCHERRY ASSEMBLY TO HAVE WOMEN MLA AFTER 20 YEARS, 21 MAY 2016

he Minister of Railways, Suresh PrabhakarPrabhu inaugurated the High Speed Wi-Fi services at Patna T(Bihar), Ranchi (Jharkhand) & Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) Railway Stations through Video Conferencing from Rail Bhawan, New Delhi for the commuters at these Railway Stations. The Wi-Fi facility for the visitors & rail users at these stations has been fter a gap of 20 years, the Puducherry assembly will commissioned by RailTel in association with Google for have women legislators with four of them getting providing high speed state of the art world class internet Aelected . experience to the commuters. Chairman, Railway Board V Vizeaveny (Cong - Nettapakkam), Geetha (DMK-Neravy A.K.Mital, Member Engineering V.K. Gupta, M.D. RailTel T R Pattinam, B Kobika (AINRC -Thirubuvani) and Shri R.K. Bahuguna, and other board Members were present Chandrapriyanka (AINRC - Neduncadu) were among the at Rail Bhawan to grace the occasion. Various dignitaries 30 legislators elected to the assembly. No women candidate were also presented at the respective above mentioned were elected to the assembly afterS Arasi (AIADMK) in Railway Stations. 1996. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 30 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES NATIONAL MINISTER OF RAILWAYS SURESH Secretariat early this morning along with top Health PRABHAKAR PRABHU INAUGURATED FIVE Ministry officials to respond to clarifications sought by the NEW ACTIVITIES, 24 MAY 2016 President on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The President was briefed by Union Health Minister J P Nadda mainly on three issues including different exams of state boards, syllabi and regional languages. The exam will be applicable for those applying for Central government and private medical colleges. SMART CITIES LIST INCREASED: LUCKNOW TOPS; WARANGAL, DHARAMSHALA FOLLOW, 25 MAY 2016

inister of Railways Suresh PrabhakarPrabhu inaugurated five new activities namely (i) MNew AC Weekly Express train between H. Nizamuddin-Pune, (ii) Expansion of VIKALP Scheme of Alternate Train Reservation to Delhi-Howrah, Delhi- Chennai, Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Secunderabad Circuits, (iii) Pilot Project of Sale of Unreserved Tickets through Hand Held Terminals, (iv) Launching of Ergonomically Redesigned & Optimised Tools for Track Gangs, Keymen& Patrolmen and (v) Pilot Project for Improving Safety at Unmanned Level Crossing Minister of Railways SureshPrabhakarPrabhu inaugurated he government announced that 13 more cities will following activities through video conferencing from be eligible for priority funding under the Smart City Mumbai . Simultaneously, there was a parallel ceremony at Tmission. H. Nizamuddin Railway Station where Dr. Harsh Vardhan, The mission took off earlier this year with names of 20 Union Minister of Science and Technology & Earth Sciences cities being announced for funding in the first round of the and Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha were inter-city competition. specially present to grace the occasion. The total proposed investment for the 33 cities, through PRESIDENT SIGNS ORDINANCE KEEPING Union and state governments as well as private funding, STATE BOARDS OUT OF NEET THIS YEAR, comes to Rs 80,789 crore. 24 MAY 2016 While Lucknow has got the highest score, the other cities in the order of their ratings include Warangal, Dharamshala, Chandigarh, Raipur, New Town Kolkata, Bhagalpur, Panaji, Port Blair, Imphal, Ranchi, Agartala and Faridabad. These 13 are among the 98 cities that were selected for the Rs 48,000-crore mission last year. DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF DISABILITY AFFAIRS TO INCORPORATE THE WORD ‘DIVYANG’ IN HINDI AND ENGLISH NAMES, 25 MAY 2016 n line with the Prime Minister’s call to call the disabled as ‘Divyang’ instead of ‘Viklang’, the Centre has fter raising queries, President Pranab Mukherjee Irenamed the Department of Empowerment of Persons signed the ordinance to keep state boards out of with Disabilities to incorporate the word ‘Divyang’ in its Athe common entrance test ( NEET ) for MBBS and Hindi as well as English nomenclature. The Department dental courses for this year. so far known as the ‘Viklangjan Sashaktikaran Vibhag’ in Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi was at the President’s Hindi will now be knows as ‘Divyangjan Sashaktikaran Vibhag’ as per a change in the Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 31 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES NATIONAL Bharatavani aims to establish itself as a single point online window to knowledge in and about Indian Languages, dictionaries, language IT tools and textbooks. Bharatavani Multi-lingual App: Unique multiple source of worlds. Alongwith the Bharatavani portal, MHRD has also launched the Bharatavani Multi-lingual App called (Allocation of Business) rules now approved by President Bharatavani. This App will enable users to search for Pranab Mukherjee. In the English nomenclature too, the one language text in another language as well as get word ‘Divyangan’ has been suffixed now to the original meanings in different languages. Currently the App has 35 name and the Department will now on be known as the multilingual Dictionaries and MHRD aims to extend it to ‘Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities 250 dictionaries in a years time. This App, on the day of (Divyangan)’. its launch becomes India’s first and largest multilingual dictionary. Our endeavour is to make it the world’s biggest Last December, at an Accessible India event and later in his online multilingual dictionary source. Mann Ki Baat address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had suggested that the term ‘divyang’ (divine body) instead of The portal has been launched in 22 scheduled languages, ‘viklang’. which eventually will be extended to 100 more languages UNION HRD MINISTER LAUNCHES UNION CABINET GIVES APPROVAL TO 6 BHARATAVANI PORTAL, 26 MAY 2016 NEW IITS, 26 MAY 2016

he Union Cabinet which gave its ex post facto haratavani Becomes the Largest Online Repository approval to amend The Institutes of Technology of Dictionaries in India on its Very First Day. TAct, 1961 for incorporation of new IITs at Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Palakkad (Kerala), Dharwar (Karnataka), BThe Union HRD Minister,Smriti ZubinIani launched Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), Goa, Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) the multilingual knowledge portal www.bharatvani.in in and conversion of Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad Lucknow. to an IIT under the law. This project is in line with the HRD Ministry’s efforts to not The amendment will also help convert ISM, Dhanbad into only ensure universalization of education but also towards an IIT by bringing it into the ambit of the Institutes of creation of a knowledge society in the digital age. The Technology Act, 1961. Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru is INDIAN COAST GUARD SHIP ARUSH implementing this ambitious project of MHRD. COMMISSIONED, 27 MAY 2016 Bharatavani is the first knowledge portal of its kind in he Indian Coast Guard ship Arush, the seventeenth India which focuses on becoming a single point source for in the series of twenty Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), multiple language learning, content and technology. Tdesigned and built by M/s Cochin Shipyard Limited, Given India’s diversity, Bharatavani is an attempt to bring was commissioned at Kochi by the Coast Guard Commander the people of India under one portal, its goal being to bridge (Western Seaboard) Additional Director General SPS the Digital and language divide, with the idea to publish as Basra. Indian Coast Guard will be a 150 ships/boats and well as involve people in the Open Knowledge movement. 100 aircraft maritime force in next few years. In addition to these operational assets, a coastal surveillance network is Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 32 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES NATIONAL

being established with 46 stations to ensure real time coastal surveillance. The 50 meter indigenous FPV displaces 421 tonnes and can achieve a maximum speed of 33 knots with an endurance of 1500 nautical miles at economical speed of Understanding (MOU) signed between the three, an of 13 knots, equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and Agriculture Nutrition Cell would be set up in the Rajendra advanced communication and navigational equipment. She Agriculture University, Pusa. makes an ideal platform for undertaking multifarious close- coast missions such as surveillance, interdiction, search UNICEF head of Bihar Yamin Mazumdar, Vice Chancellor and rescue and medical evacuation. The special features of of Rajendra Agriculture University R C Shrivastava and the ship include an Integrated Bridge Management System Director of Mid-Day Meal Harihar Prasad were present on (IBMS) and Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS). the occasion. Addressing the function, VC R C Shrivastava stated that the Nutrition cell would assess the nutritional The ship has been named ICGS Arush, literally meaning value of foodgrains available at local level in different areas first ray of sun, and will be based at Porbandar under the of Bihar. MDM Director stated that the nutritional quality administrative and operational control of the Commander, assessment of food would help the quality of food served Coast Guard Region (North West). The ship is commanded to students in 7,000 schools of Bihar. The ‘Power for All’ by Commandant Pramod Pokhriyal and has complement of programme is a major step in this direction. Government four officers and 33 enrolled personnel. of India have taken a joint initiative with respective State MAMATA SWORN IN AS CM OF WEST Governments for preparation of State specific BENGAL FOR THE SECOND TIME, CENTRAL RAILWAYS LAUNCHES SAFETY 27 MAY 2016 ‘PANIC BUTTON’ FEATURE FOR WOMEN’S SAFETY, 30 MAY 2016

MC chief Mamata Banerjee was sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the second consecutive Ttime, heading a 42-member ministry. ith a view to strengthen security of women 61-year-old Banerjee was administered oath of office and passengers in trains, Central Railway (CR) has secrecy by state Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi at the Wintroduced ‘panic button’ system to alert officials sprawling Red Road. Her ministry has 18 new faces. in case of an emergency. The security feature - Red push button - installed inside each of the four ladies coach of a Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay was among those local train was launched last week on a trial basis. in attendance during the swearing-in ceremony of Mamata Banerjee as West Bengal Chief Minister for the second Currently, women passengers have to depend on either on consecutive term . helpline numbers by call or SMS, or on chain-pulling in BIHAR GOVERNMENT, UNICEF AND MDM emergency situation, but with this system immediate action JOIN HAND TO CURB MALNOURISHMENT, can be taken, he said. Briefing on the feature, a CR press 27 MAY 2016 released said in case of an emergency, women passengers can press the button, which is placed next to the alarm chain, he Bihar government, UNICEF and the Rajendra which will give an audio visual indication on flasher units Agriculture University, Pusa entered into an provided outside the coach, thereby alerting commuters and Tagreement to reduce malnourishment among staffers at the platform. women and children in the state. As per the Memorandum Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 33 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES NATIONAL PM MODI APPROVES RETIREMENT AGE of the cooperation between the two parties for imparting OF 65 YEARS FOR DOCTORS OF CENTRAL training of engineers, technicians, managers etc. SERVICES, 01 JUNE 2016 It will also include any other subject that is relevant to the common DGAC and DGCA areas of interest. For this purpose, the Parties undertake to co-operate through the following actions: a) By exchanging information concerning the various techniques used to reach the objectives; b) By sending French experts or instructors to India for training missions; and c) By receiving experts, or instructors of India, in for training missions. uperannuation age of all doctors in Central Health The specific activities to be performed by DGCA of India Service has been enhanced to 65 years , Prime and the DGCA of France under this MoU will be carried out SMinister Narendra Modi stated about the decision by mutual consent. that will benefit about 4,000 doctors. SHORT TERM YOGA PROGRAMMES He tweeted that Central Government has decided to enhance INCLUDED IN TOURIST VISA AND superannuation age of all doctors in Central Health Service E-TOURIST VISA, 02 JUNE 2016 to 65 years with effect 31st May 2016. There are about 4,000 doctors under the Central Health Service, according to the Health Ministry website. CABINET APPROVES MOU BETWEEN THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION OF INDIA (DGCA) AND THE FRENCH CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY, 02 JUNE 2016

he Ministry of Home Affairs has taken a decision to include short term yoga programmes in Tourist TVisa and e-Tourist Visa. Realizing the spread and importance of yoga world over, the Government has decided he Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime to include attending a short term yoga programme in the Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post list of permissible activities under Tourist Visa. Besides, Tfacto approval to the signing of Memorandum of the Government has decided to include attending a short Understanding (MOU) between the Directorate General term yoga programme and short duration medical treatment of Civil Aviation ofIndia (DGCA) and the French Civil under Indian systems of medicine in the list of permissible Aviation Authority - Direction Generale de l’AviationCivile activities under e-Tourist Visa. (DGAC) of France to implement Technical Cooperation Programme for promotion and implementation of Standards Presently, a Tourist Visa is granted to a foreigner whose and Recommended Practices of the International Civil sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sight seeing Aviation Organization (ICAO). and casual visit to meet friends or relatives, short duration medical treatment or casual business visit. The MoU has been signed on behalf of the two countries after its approval by the two Governments and would be for a term All Indian Mission abroad and Foreigners Regional of four years. The Technical Cooperation programme will be Registration Officers (FRROs)/ Foreigners Registration beneficial for enhancement of skills and expertise of DGCA’s Officers (FROs) in the country have been requested to take action as per above amendments. officers. This MoU is also beneficial for implementation Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 34 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES NATIONAL PM MODI UNVEILS FIRST-EVER NATIONAL that seeks to prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN, that are capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. 02 JUNE 2016 When asked if India’s joining HCoC will effectively mean that country has to shelve its Agni missile programme. UNIFIED GUIDELINES FOR LPG DISTRIBUTORSHIPS ISSUED, 04 JUNE 2016

ndia unveiled a blueprint to tackle national disasters through its first ever National Disaster Management IPlan (NDMP). The plan, released by Prime Minister NarendraModi, aims to make the country disaster resilient and reduce loss of lives and assets during calamities. The NDMP provides a framework to deal with all phases of disaster management cycle—prevention, mitigation, response and recovery—and lays down duties of various government departments at all levels such as centre, state, he Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) district and panchayat. is committed to provide clean fuel to all households Tin the country with key focus on rural and difficult The plan outlines 15 disasters, and has entrusted various areas. In this endeavour, strengthening supply chain of LPG ministries for its management and mitigation. distribution is one of the key initiatives of the Ministry. In For instance, in case of tsunami or cyclone, the ministry this direction, after an elaborate and comprehensive review of earth sciences would be responsible for disaster of the existing distributorship selection policies, a new set management and similarly for landslides, it will be the job of Guidelines have been finalised with the objective of of the ministry of mines. Health ministry will take care of strengthening LPG supply chain with focus on rural areas biological disasters and urban development ministry will and creating job opportunities through supply chain system. deal with urban floods. Union Minister of State (I/C) Petroleum and Natural Gas DharmendraPradhan unveiled the guidelines. Key HAGUE CODE OF CONDUCT: INDIA JOINS BALLISTIC MISSILE PROLIFERATION features of the Unified Guidelines for Selection of LPG distributorships are:- REGIME, 03 JUNE 2016 # Four broad types of distributorships with varying refill ceiling limits- Sheheri, Rurban, Gramin and DurgamVitrak. # Eligibility norms for age, education, fund requirement and ownership of land for godown& showroom have been relaxed to make selection process more participative. # 33 % reservation to women across all categories has been introduced to encourage women entrepreneurship. 3% reservation for Divyang candidates. # As a part of Government’s Digital India campaign, Online filing, processing and selection has been ndia joined a global ballistic missile proliferation introduced for Sheheri distributorships on a pilot basis. regime, but made it clear that it will not have any impact Ion the national security as well as country’s missile # To take care of interest of Defence personnel and programmes.India has joined the Hague Code of Conduct their dependents, inter-se priority in selection under (HCoC) against Ballistic Missile Proliferation by notifying Government Personnel category has been introduced. the HCoC Central Contact in Vienna through diplomatic # Monetary norms for security deposit have been relaxed channels. The HCoC is a voluntary, legally non-binding for the selected candidates belonging to SC/ST and international confidence building and transparency measure OBCs. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 35 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES NATIONAL # In order to address the issue of last mile reach of LPG aw & Justice Ministry has informed the State in difficult areas, LPG Suvidha Kendra facility will be Governments that the Enemy Property (Amendment introduced for improving delivery of services. Land Validation) Third Ordinance, 2016 (6 of 2016) has been promulgated by the President on 31st May, 2016 # LPG distributorships would be set up in active and published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part- collaboration with the State Government agencies to II, Section 1, dated 31st May, 2016, which is available on strengthen the supply chain in Durgam areas. the official website @ www.egazette.nic.in. The Ministry Unified Guidelines will pave the way for a more broadbased, has also requested that the same may be downloaded and participative and transparent system of selection of re-published in the State Gazette for general information. distributors across the country. In this year, the Oil SURESH PRABHU LAUNCHES TIGER Marketing Companies will start the process for selection EXPRESS TRAIN ON THE WORLD of new distributors in 10,000 new locations. Setting up of ENVIRONMENT DAY, 06 JUNE 2016 these new distributorships will give a tremendous boost to the rural employment opportunities. SUGGESTIONS INVITED ON DRAFT NATIONAL WATER FRAMEWORK BILL AND DRAFT MODEL BILL FOR CONSERVATION, PROTECTION, REGULATION AND MANAGEMENT OF GROUND WASTE, 04 JUNE 2016 Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has uploaded the draft national water framework bill and draft model bill for conservation, protection, regulation and management of ground water on its website (http://mowr.gov.in). The Draft National Water Framework Bill provides an overarching national legal framework based on principles for protection, conservation, regulation and management of water as a vital and stressed natural resource, under which legislation and executive action on water at all levels of governance can take place. The comments/suggestions/views from all Individuals/ Experts /Organizations/Institutions on the above bill may be sent to [email protected] or [email protected] latest by June 25, 2016. The Draft Ground Water Model Bill is based ailway Minister Suresh Prabhu flagged off IRCTC’s Tiger Express from Safdarjung station. A semi- on the principles of subsidarity, equitable distribution in an luxury tourist train, Tiger Express is launched integrated approach. The State should act as a public trustee R to spread awareness among people regarding tiger of ground water, which should be treated as a common conservation. pool resource to make sure that groundwater is protected, conserved, regulated and managed. Flagging off the train using a remote control from Mumbai, REPUBLICATION OF ENEMY PROPERTY Prabhu said that it has been launched to spread awareness (AMENDMENT AND VALIDATION) THIRD about conservation of tigers. ORDINANCE, 2016 (6 OF 2016) IN THE STATE It is the first semi-luxury train on a tourist circuit having a GAZETTES, 04 JUNE 2016 dining car. The itinerary has a tariff structure starting from Rs 38,500, IRCTC said in a statement. The package includes accommodation in air-conditioned rooms of three stars or equivalent ranked hotels for three nights, sightseeing, food, inter-city transfers and travel insurance, according to the released statement. During the five-night-six-day trip, the train would take passengers to Katni from where they will be taken to Bandhavgarh by road for a safari.

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TM @Mahendra’s 36 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES NATIONAL INDIA BECOMES CO-CHAIR OF WORKING GROUP ON MARITIME SITUATIONAL AWARENESS UNDER CONTACT GROUP ON PIRACY OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA, 06 JUNE 2016

Solar Power here today. The GPS based mobile app is developed by National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) which is an autonomous institution of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). he 19th Plenary Session of the Contact Group on The Surya Mitra Mobile App is currently available in Google Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) took place play store.This App is a high end technology platform Tin Mahe, Seychelles during 31 May – 3 June 2016. which can handle thousands of calls simultaneously and can India was chosen to co-chair the important Working Group efficiently monitor all visits of Suryamitra’s. The trained on Improving Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA) in Suryamitra’s who opts for entrepreneurship have joined the Region through consensus. The session was chaired by in the Mobile App in several states. These Suryamitras Mr. Joel Morgan, the Foreign Minister of the Seychelles and are once again sensitized by NISE on soft skills Customer more than 60 countries and organisations participated in the Relations Management, Punctuality and are now ready to four-day meeting. deliver the services. Seychelles is the current chairman of the CGPCS for the This innovative mobile approach shall enhance the biennium 2016-17. employment of trained youth in solar PV technology DELL ‘AARAMBH’ INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE and also improve the businesses of solar entrepreneurs USE OF PC FOR EDUCATION, 06 JUNE 2016 because of quality servicing, maintenance and repairing professionals are now available to customers at the click of a button on their mobiles. Overall this technical platform which is very useful in the field of Renewable energy to customers at their doorsteps with quality installation, repair, and O&M services. Suryamitras with the help of NISE ensure standard functioning and servicing of Solar PV and thermal n line with the government’s Digital India campaign, systems to all customers. NISE has checks and controls in computer technology giant Dell has announced the place to ensure that all Suryamitras offer quality service at Ilaunch of Aarambh – a pan-India initiative aimed reasonable price to their customers. NISE has fixed a price at spearheading the use of personal computer (PC) for Rs 150/- per visit as visiting charges for Suryamitra Services education. and for installation and O&M Charges Suryamitra’s would Dell’s ‘Aarambh’ initiative was aimed at exposing students charge standard charges as per MNRE advised rates. It is to interactive methods of learning in the developmental hoped that Suryamitra Mobile App would act as an effective years to contribute to the well-rounded growth of a student. catalyst in creating demand for solar products in the country and in offering employment and business opportunities for The year-long project aims to reach one million students Suryamitras. and 1,00,000 teachers across 5,000 schools; and 2, 00,000 parents in 75 cities across the country. BACKGROUND PIYUSH GOYAL LAUNCHES “SURYAMITRA” National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous MOBILE APP, 07 JUNE 2016 institution of Ministry of New and Renewable (MNRE), is iyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal the apex National R&D institution in the field Solar Energy. and New & Renewable Energy launched “Surya The institute is involved in demonstration, standardization, Mitra” mobile App at National Workshop on Rooftop interactive research, training and testing of solar energy P technologies and systems. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 37 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES STATE STATE Burning Topics of the Month

1. Himanchal to get India’s 1st state wind power. 2. Bihar top DIPP’s real - time ease of doing biz ranking 3. Rajnath Singh inaugurated Wi-Fi service at Charbagh railway station. analytics and software services, which is likely to aid Apple in developing local maps HIMACHAL TO GET INDIA’S FIRST SOLAR Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that Apple is focused on WIND POWER PLANT, 19 MAY 2016 making the best products and services in the world and we are thrilled to open this new office in Hyderabad which will focus on Maps development.Cook has been in India and is going to inaugurate this centre within the hour. The talent here in the local area is incredible and we are looking forward to expanding our relationships and introducing more universities and partners to our platforms as we scale our operations. . The iPhone maker did not specify the direct investment into this project, but ET has earlier reported that the centre in the city’s IT corridor, will see Apple putting in around $25 tate-run Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board Ltd million (Rs 170 crore). (HPEBL) and Solar Energy Corp of India (SECI) MANGROVE CONSERVATION PROJECT Ssigned a pact to set up India’s first solar wind hybrid KICKS OFF IN KERALA , 24 MAY 2016 power plant in the hill state. The agreement was signed by Managing Directors P.C. Negi of HPEBL and Ashwani Kumar of SECI in the presence of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Under the agreement, joint venture Himachal Pradesh Solar Power Corp Ltd has been set up to commission a pilot solar wind hybrid power project of 2.5 MW at Rangrik in Kaza in Lahaul-Spiti district. It will be commissioned by October 2017, a government statement said. On completion, it would benefit 12,000 habitants of Rangrik, Kaza, Tabo, Losar and Pin valley. pollo Tyres and Wildlife Trust of India have entered into a partnership to restore a critical mangrove Its estimated cost would be Rs.30.72 crore. The entire project in Kerala’s Kannur district. Lahaul-Spiti district, where the solar wind hybrid plant will A come up, is populated mainly by tribals. The climate in the Apollo Tyres and Wildlife Trust of India announced the district is harsh as much of the land forms part of a cold partnership to coincide with the International Day for desert where the mercury drops below minus 20 degrees Biodiversity. Celsius during winter. The Kannur Kandal project (mangrove conservation) aims APPLE OPENS DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IN at ensuring survival of existing mangroves and increase HYDERABAD, 19 MAY 2016 acreage of such habitats across Kannur, potentially making n one of its most significant investments into India it a prototype for other coastal districts of Kerala and a , Apple opened a new office in Hyderabad which model for the rest of the country, a release from the tyre Iwill focus on developing Maps for iPhones, iPads, major said. Mac and Apple Watch. The move will accelerate Maps The actual site for Apollo Tyres-WTI’s project will be in development and create up to 4,000 jobs. The Cupertino- Kunhimangalam village in Kannur district, which is one of based smartphone maker has also partnered with Noida- the largest mangrove villages of Kerala. based RMSI, a leading IT services player that offers GIS, Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 38 NEWS BYTES STATE PETROLEUM MINISTER LAUNCHES be replaced with LED bulbs under UJALA programme. WEBSITE OF IIPE VISAKHAPATNAM, Additionally, replacement of 3000 conventional street lights 28 MAY 2016 with LED street lights is also being taken up. The Government of India is committed to improve the quality of life of its citizens through higher electricity consumption. Our aim is to provide each household access to electricity, 24x7 Power supply by 2019. A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MoU) SIGNED BETWEEN MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS AND GOVT. OF HARYANA FOR SETTING UP OF JV COMPANY, 04 JUNE 2016

he Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan launched the website Tof Indian Institute of Petroleum & Energy (IIPE), Visakhapatnam (www.iipe.ac.in). LAKSHADWEEP SIGNS 24X7 ‘POWER FOR ALL’ DOCUMENT, 28 MAY 2016

n the august presence of Union Minister of Railways, Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and Chief Minister of IHaryana Manohar Lal Khattar a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for “Formation of Joint Venture Company for Development of Railway Infrastructure in the State” was signed today i.e. 3rd June, 2016. Chairman, Railway Board, A.K. Mital, Addl. Chief Secretary to Govt. of Haryana Hardeep Kumar, and other Board Members, and senior officials from both the sides were also present on the occasion. The MoU was signed by Ved Prakash Dudeja on behalf of Railway Ministry whereas it was signed by akshadweep became first Union Territory (UT) to Hardeep Kumar, Addl. Chief Secretary on behalf of Govt. sign “24x7 Power for All” document. Representative of Haryana. The MoU was signed in the context of Railway Lof Government of India and the Administration of Minister’s Budget Announcement regarding setting up of Lakshadweep signed the document in presence of P.K. JV Companies with the State Government for developing Pujari, Secretary, Ministry of Power. railway infrastructure in the States. The document chalks out a plan to increase solar capacity Salient Features of MoU : - of the region from 2.15 MW to 8.45 MW. At present, 10 inhabited islands of Lakshadweep are being fed by diesel ## In view of the growing demands for railway lines in mostly. The plan also envisions reduction of AT & C losses various states and huge requirement of funds to execute from current level of 21% to 6.7% till 2019 by increasing them, Hon’ble Minister for Railways announced in his the collection efficiency up to 99 %. As a part of energy budget speech regarding setting up of Joint Ventures efficiency measures, 1 lakh LED bulbs will be distributed with states for focused project development, resource by UT administration through Energy Efficiency Services mobilization, land acquisition, project implementation Limited (EESL) and Incandescent lamps/CFL bulbs will and monitoring of critical rail projects. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 39 NEWS BYTES STATE ## 17 State Governments consented for formation of Joint expansion as a railway line acts as an engine of growth Venture Companies in collaboration with the Ministry for the area it serves. of Railways for development of rail infrastructure in ## However, Railways have a large shelf of ongoing New their respective States. Draft MoUs were sent to these Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling projects needing State Governments and discussions were also held with about Rs 3.86 lakh crores to complete. We have been them to clarify various provisions of the MoU. trying to meet the aspirations of public within limited ## MoUs have already been signed by the Ministry of availability of funds. Railways with six State Governments viz. Odisha, ## To expedite the projects, Railways have been trying to Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana mobilize resources through other than Gross Budgetary and Kerala. Support. However, on the initiative of Hon’ble Minister ## Today, MoU is being signed with the State Government for Railways Sh. Suresh Prabhuji, Indian Railways of Haryana. This signing of MoU is going to be a have tied up funds for critical capacity enhancement stepping stone for formation of JV companies. project of doubling, third line, electrification etc. This tied up loan will ensure dedicated and assured funding ## The MoU envisages formation of a Joint Venture for such critical projects. company having 51% stake of the State Government and 49% stake of Ministry of Railways. Thus, the JV ## Formation of Joint Venture Companies with the company shall be fully owned by the Government. The State Governments will go a long way in faster company will primarily identify projects and possible commissioning of critical rail infrastructure projects as financing avenues in addition to Govt. of India and the it will not only help in mobilization of funds but also in facilitating various clearances and land acquisition. State Government. After finances for a project are tied up, project specific SPVs or special purpose vehicles JHARKHAND ADJUDGED ‘TOP shall be formed. These SPVs can have other stake PERFORMING STATE’ UNDER PM MODI’S holders from Industries, Central PSUs, State PSUs etc. DIGITAL INDIA PROGRAMME, 10 JUNE 2016 However, the JV companies shall be mandatory stake holders with minimum 26% shares in the SPVs. ## The ministry of Railways will sign a concession agreement of 30 years with the project SPV for safe and sound operation, revenue sharing and providing technical & marketing logistics to the SPV. The revenue sharing shall be based on already established formula being used for inter zonal apportionment of revenue. ## The most important aspect of this MoU is that the ownership of the land shall vest with the SPVs which is a departure from previous practice. This will give financial leverage to the company to exploit commercial potential of the land. This is likely to result in making project viable which are otherwise not viable. ## At the end of concession period, the railways will have option to take over the assets at a nominal price. This is largely in line with average codal life of the assets as most of the assets will need large scale replacement after 30 years. harkhand was adjudged ‘top performing state’ under ## Signing of this MoU will be followed by signing of the Digital India Programme. Joint Venture Agreement for which draft has been JAt a programme organised in Mumbai, Goa Chief made ready. JV Agreements are likely to be signed in Minister Laxmikant Parsekar gave away the award to next week or ten days time. Jharkhand for its work under the programme. ## Indian Railways has been playing a major role in national integration by connecting the remotest places Besides Jharkhand, Goa, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh also got awards as top and bringing people closer to each other. Railways performing states. receive a large number of demands for network Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 40 NEWS BYTES STATE BIHAR TOPS DIPP’S REAL-TIME EASE OF DOING BIZ RANKING, 10 JUNE 2016

and laptops as soon as they enter the premises, including at platforms, retiring rooms and waiting halls. To log in, users will receive a password via a text message ihar is at the top among all the states and union soon after they connect with the provider through their territories in terms of steps taken to improve ease of device. Bdoing business. RAILWAY MINISTER SURESH PRABHU Nitish Kumar-led Bihar is followed by Telangana and DEDICATES SIX RAILWAY FACILITIES IN Jharkhand on a ranking being done on real-time basis by BIHAR, 11 JUNE 2016 the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on business reforms and action plans. These rankings are dynamic and may change on the basis of initiatives taken by states and union territories. Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka are fourth and fifth, respectively, in the ranking. Bihar is leading the list with a score of 8.53%. In the last year’s final rankings, Bihar was at 21st position. As of now, 16 states have provided details about reform measures initiated by them through the DIPP-managed portal. Among them, Bihar has given information on as many as 29 reforms -- the highest among the 16 states. The moment other states report their respective reforms to ailway Minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated six rail the DIPP, the rankings are likely to get changed. facilities in Bihar including flagging off the weekly Motihari-Anand Vihar Champaran Satyagrah RAJNATH SINGH INAUGURATED WI-FI R Express. SERVICE AT CHARBAGH RAILWAY STATION, 04 JUNE 2016 He flagged off the weekly Champaran Satyagrah Express at nion home minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath a function organised at M S College ground through remote Singh inaugurated the Wi-Fi service at the Charbagh and dedicated three Road Over Bridges at Danapur (Patna), Urailway station in Lucknow. Motihari and Begusarai railway stations. The benifit can avail those Passengers who will be stepping Prabhu said two MoUs have already been signed for Rs onto the NR and NER stations. These passengers will be 40,000 crore projects for setting up Diesel and Electric able to access Wi-Fi on all 3G and 4G compatible handsets locomotive factories at Marhaura (Saran) and Madhepura, respectively. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 41 NEWS BYTES INTERNATIONAL INTERNATONAL Burning Topics of the Month

1. G-7 Finance Summit Begin in Japan. 2. India, Qatar sign part skill development. 3. Modi Becomes 6th Indian PM to address- US congress.

PANAMA SIGNS ONTO OECD TAX INFORMATION EXCHANGE PACT, Administration (UNPA) in February, 2016 for this purpose. 18 MAY 2016 In this Joint issue, the stamps were printed in the form of sheetlet of 20 se-tenants and Miniature Sheet of two stamps on the occasion of International Womens Day. UN Women “He For She” campaign is a solidarity movement for gender equality that brings together one half of humanity in support of the other half of humanity for the benefit of all in social terms. This Joint issue is dedicated for the empowerment of women around the world. This would promote great cause of gender equality which the Indian government has been championing in the recent times. Thus, Department of Posts and UNPA have arrived an agreement anama has officially signed on to comply with to celebrate and to commemorate International Womens day OECD standards on exchanging tax information, on 8th of March, 2016 by releasing a joint stamp. Pa move that comes more than a month after the INDIA AND SLOVENIA HAVE SIGNED Panama Papers data leak. PROTOCOL AMENDING THE INDIA- OECD officials stated that, they have long tried to get SLOVENIA DOUBLE TAXATION AVOIDANCE Panama to agree to their common reporting standards on CONVENTION, 20 MAY 2016 exchanging tax information, to no avail. ndia and Slovenia have signed a Protocol amending the existing Convention and Protocol between the However Panama’s Foreign Ministry announced that the two countries for avoidance of double taxation and country had inked its adhesion to the Organisation for I prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on Economic Cooperation and Development’s reporting income in Ljubljana. The Protocol was signed by Sarvajit standards. Chakravarti, Ambassador of India to Slovenia on behalf Foreign Minister Luis Miguel Hincapie delivered the of India and Dusan Mramor, the Slovenian Minister of document to OECD headquarters in Paris. The new Finance on behalf of Slovenia. membership however does not take practical effect until The Protocol will broaden the scope of the existing 2018. framework of exchange of tax related information which The Panama Papers reveal the full extent to which the will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance between the world’s wealthy, alongside criminals, create nominee two countries and will also enable mutual assistance in companies to stash and transfer assets out of sight of the collection of taxes. law and tax officials. PAKISTAN-CHINA 820- KM. LONG OPTICAL- JOINT ISSUE BETWEEN DEPARTMENT FIBRE CABLE PROJECT LAUNCHED, OF POSTS AND UNITED NATIONS POSTAL 20 MAY 2016 ADMINISTRATION ON UN WOMEN “HE akistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif performed the FOR SHE” POSTAGE STAMP, 18 MAY 2016 ground-breaking ceremony of the Pakistan-China he Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister POptical Fibre Cable Project which is part of the Narendra Modi, was apprised of the joint issue China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). of UN Women“He For She” postage stamp. A T The $44 million, 820-kilometre-long cable project stretching Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed from Rawalpindi to Khunjerab in Gilgit-Baltistan, will be between Department of Posts and United Nations Postal Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 42 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES INTERNATIONAL Mr Yildirim, 60 has been seen as one of Mr Erdogan’s closest longtime confidants and has served an almost unbroken stint from 2002 to 2013 as transport minister and then again from 2015. Analysts expect Mr Yildirim — who has never stepped out of line with the President on a policy issue — will prove a far more pliable figure for the President than Mr Davutoglu. US HOUSE APPROVES MOVE TO BOLSTER DEFENCE TIES WITH INDIA, 20 MAY 2016

completed by the Special Communication Organisation in two years. The project, which will provide an alternate telecommunication route between Pakistan and China, will also bring 3G and 4G connectivity to Gilgit region. India has already expressed its objection to the proposed corridor as it will pass through Pakistan-administered Kashmir, a region which is disputed between the two south Asian neighbours. Sharif also inaugurated the Gilgit- Baltistan CPEC patrolling police headquarters in Gilgit. The patrolling force comprising 300 personnel will help regulate traffic along a 439 km stretch of the CPEC in the area. China has provided 25 vehicles for the patrolling force. The premier announced the establishment of a technical training institute in the region with the initial set aside Rs.100 million for this project. Sharif stressed the need for preparedness for a newer he US House of Representatives has approved a knowledge-based economy. These development projects bipartisan legislative move to bolster defence ties will help reduce extremism. Twith India and bring it at part with other Nato allies TURKEY NAMES NEW PRIME MINISTER in terms of sale of defence equipment and technology BINALIYILDIRIM AS PRESIDENT RECEP transfer. ERDOGAN SEEKS TO TIGHTEN GRIP, It seeks to promote greater defence trade and encourage 20 MAY 2016 additional military cooperation between the United States and India.Congressman George Holding said on the of the House in favour of the amendment in this regard in the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA)-2017. The amendment (Enhancing Defence and Security Co- operation with India) was sponsored by Holding and Ami Bera (House India Caucus Chairs) and Chair and Ranking Member of House Foreign Affairs Committee Ed Royce and Elliot Engel, respectively. For the US, it encourages the executive branch to designate an official to focus on US-India defence cooperation, facilitate the transfer of defence technology, maintain a he ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) special office in the Pentagon dedicated exclusively to the appointed Transport Minister Binali Yildirim as its US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). chairman, meaning he will automatically become T It urges the US government to enhance India’s military the Prime Minister. Mr Yildirim is poised to replace Ahmet capabilities in the context of combined military planning, Davutoglu, who stepped down after a power struggle with and promote co-production/co-development opportunities. Mr Erdogan. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 43 NEWS BYTES INTERNATIONAL TAIWAN’S TSAI ING-WEN TAKES OFFICE AS This is the first meeting to identify the pressing PRESIDENT, 20 MAY 2016 macroeconomic challenges and seek ways to stimulate growth and check volatility in markets by pooling together macroeconomic agendas. The agenda also includes stock market exchange at a time when the US wants to reiterate its stand against “artificial” devaluations to increase competitiveness while Japan argues that recent Forex movement justifies an intervention to devalue the yen. Before the first meeting, participants will travel to the coastal area of Sendai, which was devastated in the earthquake and sai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s first female president, was tsunami of March 2011. sworn into office, facing two very different sets of Japan, which is currently holding the G7 presidency, has Texpectations from those who voted for her and a chosen Sendai as the venue for the summit to showcase its Chinese leadership that wants the island on a tight leash. efforts to rebuild the region and its experience in preparing Although she was given a strong mandate in the January for natural disasters. elections, with her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) INDIA AND OMAN SIGN FOUR KEY DEFENCE gaining control of the executive and legislative branches AGREEMENTS, 23 MAY 2016 of government, a souring relationship with Beijing could undermine her ability to accomplish what she has set out to do at home. Her address ended with choirs singing “Ilha Formosa” a poetic song that became an anthem for pro-democracy groups in Taiwan. G7 FINANCE SUMMIT BEGINS IN JAPAN, 21 MAY 2016

ndia and Oman vowed to deepen bilateral defence ties as the two countries signed four key agreements Iin the critical sector with focus on enhancing military cooperation. The agreements on defence cooperation, marine crime he G7 finance summit started in Japan’s Sendai city prevention, maritime issues and flight safety information with a focus on boosting and balancing the growth exchange was signed following the maiden visit of Defence Tof the global economy amid the slowing down of the Minister Manohar Parrikar to Oman, considered one of the Chinese economy and those of other emerging countries. closest country in the middle east. The finance ministers and governors of the central banks Parrikar, who is on an official visit at the invitation of Bader of the world’s seven most developed countries Japan, the Bin Saud Bin Harib Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for US, , Britain, France, Italy and Canada and their Defence Affairs of Oman, wrapped up his visit and left for European Union counterparts met informally in the forum UAE. titled ‘Future of the Global Economy’ to start the two- MALDIVES EX-PRESIDENT SAYS GRANTED day event. International Monetary Fund chief Christine UK REFUGEE STATUS, 24 MAY 2016 Lagarde, Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem, World ohamed Nasheed, the former president of the Bank president Jim Yong Kim and OECD secretary-general Maldives, has been granted refugee status in Angel Gurria attended the closed door symposium, along MBritain, his office claimed. with experts from top US universities. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 44 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES INTERNATIONAL e) To invest in the Tourism and Hospitality sectors f) To exchange visits of Tour Operators/Media/Opinion Makers for promotion of two-way tourism g) To exchange experiences in the areas of promotion, marketing, destination development and management h) To participate in travel fairs/exhibitions in each other’s country and i) To promote safe honourable and sustainable tourism GUINEA BISSAU PRESIDENT NAMES The 49-year-old was jailed last year on controversial BACIRODJA AS PRIME MINISTER, terrorism charges, but was allowed to travel to Britain in 27 MAY 2016 January for spinal cord surgery after he fell ill in prison. Nasheed claimed that he had “no choice” but to work from exile against President Abdulla Yameen. CABINET GIVES EX-POST FACTO APPROVAL TO THE MoU BETWEEN INDIA AND MALDIVES FOR STRENGTHENING COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF TOURISM, 26 MAY 2016

uinea Bissau President Jose Mario Vaz named BaciroDja as prime minister, according to a Gpresidential decree, sparking protests from political opponents who said the appointment was unconstitutional. Dja succeeds Carlos Correia, who was sacked earlier this month in a move that threatened to deepen political turmoil in the tiny West African nation. The ruling party said it he Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister would not support Dja, who held the same post briefly last year but was forced to resign when the supreme court NarendraModi granted ex-post facto approval to the ruled that the appointment was made without consulting all Memorandum of Understanding signed between the T political parties and was therefore unconstitutional. Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of Maldives for strengthening About 100 protesters descended on the presidential palace cooperation in the field of tourism. after the appointment, throwing stones at the palace and The Memorandum of Understanding with Maldives will burning tyres. Police fired tear gas on the crowd and some protesters were injured, according to a Reuters witness and be instrumental in increasing arrival from this important the PAIGC. The incident is the latest in a spiraling political source market. In recent years, Maldives has emerged as an crisis in Guinea Bissau, a former Portuguese colony that has important tourism generating market for India. not seen a democratically elected leader serve a full term The main objectives of the Memorandum of since independence in 1974. Understanding, are: It has had nine coups or attempted coups since 1980, and a) To expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector the turbulence has helped it become a major transit point for b) To exchange information and data related to tourism cocaine trafficked from South America to Europe MEDIA EXCHANGES TO HELP SOFT POWER c) To encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders, SOW UNDERSTANDING, 28 MAY 2016 including hotels and tour operators hinese and Australian media outlets signed multiple d) To establish exchange programme for cooperation in agreements in Sydney that will promote and deepen Human Resources Development Ctheir exchanges and build on the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 45 NEWS BYTES INTERNATIONAL President Hamid Ansari met Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid and discussed a range of issues of mutual and regional interests. India will also train 350 Tunisian students in next five years, Mr Ansari said adding “We will be happy to receive 350 Tunisian students for training in our institutions in different streams as our guests over the next five years”. PM TO INAUGURATE AFGHAN-INDIA FRIENDSHIP DAM WAPCOS EXECUTES Underscoring the latter aspect, the signings were witnessed LANDMARK INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, by Liu Qibao, the Communist Party of China Central 04 JUNE 2016 Committee’s publicity chief, and Gary Quinlan, acting secretary of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Six cooperative agreements were signed, involving Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, China Radio International, People’s Daily website, Qingdao Publishing Group, the University of Technology Sydney, Fairfax Media, Sky News Australia, Global CAMG and Weldon International. In recent years, China-Australia media cooperation has borne fruitful results and played an important role in facilitating mutual understanding between the two countries. rime Minister Narendra Modi will jointly inaugurate the Afghan-India Friendship Dam (Salma Dam) with EXCHANGE OF TERRORIST SCREENING President of Afghanistan Dr. Ashraf Ghani in Herat INFORMATION ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN P province in Western Afghanistan. Afghan-India Friendship INDIA AND USA SIGNED, 02 JUNE 2016 Dam is a Multipurpose project planned for generating 42 n arrangement between the authorized governmental MW of power, irrigating 75000 hectares of land, water agencies of the Government of India and United supply and other benefits to the people of Afghanistan. AStates of America (USA) for exchange of terrorist Salma Dam is a landmark infrastructure project undertaken screening information was signed in New Delhi. by Government of India on river Chist-e-Sharif, in Herat The arrangement was signed by the Union home Secretary, province of Afghanistan. The project is executed and Rajiv Mehrishi and Richard Verma, ambassador of the implemented by WAPCOS Ltd., a Government of India United States of America to India. Undertaking under ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. As per this arrangement, both sides shall provide each other access to terrorism screening information through The project is located 165 km east of Herat town and the designated contact points, subject to domestic laws and connected with earthen road. Due to security reasons Indian regulations. The arrangement would enhance the counter engineers and technicians involved with the project have terrorism cooperation between India and USA. been reaching the site once in a month by helicopter service INDIA, TUNISIA SIGN 2 AGREEMENTS IN IT, provided by Government of Afghanistan. All equipment and HANDICRAFTS SECTORS, 03 JUNE 2016 material were transported from India to Bander-e-Abbas port of Iran via sea and then along 1200 km by road from there to Islam Kila border post at Iran-Aghanistan border and then further 300 km by road from the border post to the site. Cement, steel reinforcement, explosives etc. were imported to Afghanistan from neighboring countries. The gross capacity of the Dam is 633 Million M3. The height of the Dam is 104.3 Mt, length 540 Mt and width at the bottom is 450 Mt. The project is funded by Government of India. The n an effort to increase mutual cooperation, India and successful completion of the project represents culmination Tunisia signed two MoUs on promotion of handicrafts of years of hard work by 1,500 Indian and Afghan engineers Iand IT and communication and digital economy as Vice and other professionals in very difficult conditions. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 46 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES INTERNATIONAL MODI VISIT WILL HIGHLIGHT DEEPENING INDO-US TIES: WH, 04 JUNE 2016

hold talks with President Schneider-Ammann to deepen our rime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the bilateral and multilateral cooperation. After Geneva visit, American capital will highlight the deepening of the he will reach Washington DC on a bilateral visit on 6th PUS-India relationship. June at the invitation of President Barack Obama. Among the issues that the President looks forward to INDIA, QATAR SIGN PACT FOR SKILL discussing are progress made on climate change and clean DEVELOPMENT, 06 JUNE 2016 energy partnership, security and defence cooperation, and economic growth priorities. There is a whole host of issues where our relationship and partnership is robust and important and everything ranging from climate to military steps we’re taking, to a whole host of economic steps that we’re working on together. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to arrive in Washington DC on June 6 on a three-day visit. This will be his fourth visit to the US. ndia and Qatar have signed an agreement to forge Soon after his arrival, he is scheduled to lay a wreath at the cooperation in skill development and facilitate mobility Tomb of Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery of workers from India to the gulf nation. where he will be accompanied by US Defence Secretary I Ashton Carter, Pentagon said. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and He is scheduled to meet President Obama at the White Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha. Under House on June 7 and address a joint meeting of the US the pact, Qatar will specify the areas in which it requires Congress on June 8. manpower and India will provide skill development to its He will only be the 6th Indian Prime Minister to address a nationals in those very areas before they go to the gulf joint session of Congress. country. The agreement was signed between Ministry of PM’S UPCOMING VISIT TO AFGHANISTAN, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (India) and the QATAR, SWITZERLAND, USA AND MEXICO, Ministry of Education and Higher Education (Qatar). 04 JUNE 2016 SINGAPORE’S TECHNICAL INSTITUTE TO he Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will be visiting SET UP CENTRES IN INDIA, 07 JUNE 2016 Afghanistan, State of Qatar, Switzerland, United TStates of America and Mexico from June 4, 2016 to June 8, 2016. In a series of posts from his Facebook Account, the Prime Minister said. He will join President Ashraf Ghani to inaugurate Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam in Herat. It is symbol of our friendship and would usher in hope, light up homes, nourish the fertile fields of Herat and bring prosperity to the people of the region. ingapore’s prestigious Institute of Technical After that he will reach Geneva on 5th June on a bilateral Education will help set up vocational skill centres visit to Switzerland, our key partner in Europe. He will Sacross India to train youths to fulfil the requirements Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 47 NEWS BYTES INTERNATIONAL of skilled manpower in select industries. ITE Education Modi said that Mexico is an important partner for India’s Services (ITEES), a subsidiary of the state-owned Institute energy security. We are looking to move beyond buyer- of Technical Education (ITE) which offers consultancy seller relationship and into a long-term partnership. and training services in skills development and vocational Modi, who will hold bilateral talks with President Pena training to more than 25 countries, is already working Nieto, is the first Indian prime minister to go on a state on other projects in India, the first of which is slated to visit to Mexico, since former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s trip in commence training from September 27 in Rajasthan, 1986. Former PM Dr.Manmohan Singh did visit Mexico in coinciding with the World Tourism Day. 2012, but it was for a G20 Summit. Earlier, amid chants of MEXICO BACKS INDIA’S BID TO BECOME ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, the Indian community in Mexico City MEMBER OF NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP, welcomed the Prime Minister who arrived in Mexico on the 09 JUNE 2016 final-leg of his five-nation tour. DISASTERS: INDIA, NEPAL SEEK TO ENHANCE MUTUAL COOPERATION, 09 JUNE 2016

ays after it got Switzerland’s backing, India gained support from Mexico, as well, for its bid to become Da member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto said that his country positively and constructively supports India’s membership ndia and Nepal decided to enhance mutual cooperation to the NSG. in matters of disaster response, management and effective preparedness against them. “I thank the President for supporting India’s membership to I the Nuclear Suppliers Group,” PM Modi said in statement, A 15-member Nepalese delegation today met the National hours after his arrival in Mexico on a state visit. Disaster Response Force (NDRF) here and discussed issues related to sharing and cooperation in these subjects. The US has for a while now supported India’s entry into the Group, even as China remains against it, saying that India The Nepal delegation, led by Joint Secretary in the Ministry has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The of Foreign Affairs P K Suvedi, was briefed about the Indian NSG aims to control proliferation of nuclear weapons. disaster profile and scenario and its control and response mechanisms by NDRF chief O P Singh. Getting NSG membership will give India access to technology that will help it in a variety of areas, ranging MODI BECOMES 6TH INDIAN PM TO from medicine to building nuclear plants. ADDRESS US CONGRESS, 09 JUNE 2016 Earlier this week, India also gained entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a non-proliferation group. Being a member of both the NSG and the MTCR will give India greater access to research and technology. Before the PM spoke, President Enrique Pena Nieto also said that Mexico positively and constructively supports India’s membership of the NSG. In his statement, PM Modi focussed on the warm ties between India and Mexico. He said Mexico was the first Latin American country to recognize India. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 48 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES INTERNATIONAL arendraModi became the sixth Indian Prime Minister to address the joint session of the US NCongress. Before this Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, P V Narasimha Rao, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh have addressed US Congress. ISRAEL ELECTED TO HEAD PERMANENT U.N. COMMITTEE FOR FIRST TIME, 14 JUNE 2016

counterpart John Dramani Mahama, included one for visa waivers for holders of diplomatic and official passports and one for setting up a Joint Commission. The Commission framework will periodically review various aspects of the multi-dimensional relationship between the two countries. A mutually convenient date for srael won an election to chair the United Nations’ legal its first meeting will be decided later. committee, the first time that it will head one of the After the hosting of the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit Iworld body’s six permanent committees since joining (IAFS) in New Delhi in October 2015, India is working on the U.N. in 1949. a plan to consolidate and further strengthen its engagement While it is a largely symbolic and procedural role, chairing with Africa. the committee will give Israel a chance to have a higher In an informal interaction with the accompanying media profile in routine affairs at the United Nations. delegation on board his aircraft the President said that his The so-called Legal Committee, or Sixth Committee, Africa tour was part of series of engagements at the highest oversees issues related to international law. The General level. 41 of the 54 heads of the African states of the IAFS Assembly has six standing committees that report to it, on: were present at the Delhi meet. disarmament, economic and financial issues, human rights, Heads of these countries regularly visit India. The President decolonization, the U.N. budget, and legal issues. said that a series of high level visits is taking place this year Israel was a candidate for the regional Western European from India to Africa. And his visit to Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Others Group (WEOG) and received a comfortable and Namibia is coming immediately after the visit of Vice- majority of votes - 109 out of 175 valid votes cast in the , Hamid Ansari to Morocco and Tunisia. 193-nation assembly. Sweden was runner-up with 10 votes. “My visit will be followed by visits to countries of East and South Africa by Prime Minister NarendraModi”, Mr. GHANA SEEKS CIVIL NUCLEAR Mukherjee said. COOPERATION WITH INDIA, 14 JUNE 2016 utting the agenda of deepening ties with the African Later in the evening Mr. Mukherjee will pay homage to countries on a fast-track, India and Ghana signed Ghana’s first President Kwame Nkrumah at his mausoleum three bilateral agreements to strengthen co-operation in Accra. He will also unveil a statue of Mahatma Gandhi P that was gifted by the ICCR, besides planting a sapling. in varied fields. Though symbolic in nature, the pacts came during the first The President will visit the India-Ghana Kofi Annan Centre ever visit of the President Pranab Mukherjee to the country. of Excellence in ICT, set up by India, and will meet its faculty and alumni. Ghana is the first of the six-day African tour of the President which commenced. The other two include yet another India is the largest foreign investor in Ghana today, with maiden trip by a President to Ivory Coast and to Namibia more than 700 investment projects. More than 222 of these after a gap of two decades. projects are in the manufacturing sector. Bilateral trade The three agreements signed with Ghana, after delegation between India and Ghana has increased to $1.2 billion from levels talks between Mr. Mukherjee and his Ghanaian $538 million in 2010. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 49 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY (provisional) for the month of April, 2016 as compared to Burning Topics of the Month ECONOMY (-)0.85% for the previous month. It was (-) 2.43% during the corresponding month of the 1. SBI Associate Banks propose merger with previous year, showed the data. parent SBI. TATA TRUSTS PARTNERS ‘THE NUDGE 2. Islamic Banking to debut in Gujrat. FOUNDATION’ ON POVERTY REMOVAL, 3. Ola money partner with eBay 17 MAY 2016

UN AGRI ARM IFAD TO GRANT USD 150 mn TO INDIA IN NEXT 3 YRS, 16 MAY 2016

ata Trusts and The Nudge Foundation, a city-based non-profit organisation, announced a partnership to Thelp alleviate poverty through product innovation and capacity building. Acco.to a joint release the partnership will enable and empower the further innovate on their flagship ‘Programme in Life Management’ in their Gurukuls, build the team nited Nation’s International Fund for Agricultural needed to scale pan-India and gear up for a growth target of Development (IFAD) will provide grants worth seven times in 2016-17. UUSD 150 million (about Rs 1,001 crore) to India in the next three years to aid the farm sector. WITH $118.9 Bn, INDIA 12TH TOP FOREIGN HOLDER OF US GOVT BONDS, 18 MAY 2016 Oscar Garcia, Director, Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE) stated that IFAD will invest USD 150 million in the next three years for the agriculture sector in India. WHOLESALE INFLATION TURNS POSITIVE AFTER 17 MONTHS, 16 MAY 2016

ndia is the 12th largest foreign holder of the US government securities with exposure to the tune of IUSD 118.9 billion as on March-end. Despite reducing its exposure to USD 1.245 trillion, China remained the top holder of these securities in March, as per holesale price-based inflation turned positive the latest data released by the US Treasury Department. after 17 months, posting an annual gain of China owned bonds valued at USD 1.252 trillion in 0.34% in April, on rise in vegetables and pulses W February. China is followed by Japan with securities to prices. the tune of USD 1.137 trillion. The April Wholesale Price Index-based inflation was at (-) As per the data, India is the 12th largest overseas holder of 0.85% in March. these securities, one place ahead of Saudi Arabia whose Acco. to recent government release the annual rate exposure has been made public for the first time in more of inflation, based on monthly WPI, stood at 0.34% than four decades. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 50 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY SBI ASSOCIATE BANKS PROPOSE MERGER With the launch of above services, the customer of Nepal WITH PARENT SBI, 18 MAY 2016 SBI Bank can utilise various features of mobile banking and other value added services along with the platform of the payment gateway, the bank said in a statement. The Payment Gateway was inaugurated by SBI Managing Director B Sriram, and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae. RATAN TATA, RONNIE SCREWVALA INVEST IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STARTUP NIKI, 20 MAY 2016

fter over five years of hiatus, associate banks of SBI including State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur have Aproposed to merger with the parent lender. Meanwhile, a section of employee unions have registered protest against any such move and threatened to go on a strike if such move is approved by the SBI and the government.

The country’s largest lender has five associate banks - State rtificial intelligence-powered chat app Niki.ai Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State has received undisclosed funds from Tata Sons Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Achairman emeritus Ratan Tata and Unilazer Hyderabad. Ventures . founder Ronnie Screwvala. The company intends Among these, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank to use the funds to strengthen technology and to increase the of Mysore and State Bank of Travancore are listed. base of partner businesses. SBI first merged associate State Bank of Saurashtra with Currently, Niki offers bill payments, cab booking, recharge, itself in 2008. Two years later in 2010, State Bank of Indore food ordering and cricket scores. It will soon offer laundry was merged. services, bus booking, hotel booking, event ticketing and doctor appointments. The company had earlier raised a seed The government recently set up the Bank Board Bureau round from Unilazer Ventures. (BBB) headed by former CAG Vinod Rai to look into the GOOGLE DOUBLES DOWN ON ARTIFICIAL issues including consolidation in public sector banking INTELLIGENCE WITH HOME AND ALLO, space. 20 MAY 2016 NEPAL SBI BANK LAUNCHES PAYMENT GATEWAY, 19 MAY 2016

lphabet’s Google Inc (GOOGL.O) unveiled its answer to Amazon’s (AMZN.O) Alexa virtual epal SBI Bank, one of the largest overseas Aassistant along with new messaging and virtual subsidiaries of SBI, has launched payment gateway reality products at its annual I/O developer conference, Nto facilitate online trade and non-trade transactions doubling down on artificial intelligence and machine between the Himalayan nation and India. learning as the keys to its future.

Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 51 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai introduced Google Assistant, a virtual personal assistant, along with the tabletop speaker appliance Google Home. He also unveiled Allo, a new messaging service that will compete with Facebook’s WhatsApp and Messenger products and feature a chatbot powered by the Google Assistant. Allo, like WhatsApp, will also have end-to-end encryption when it is rolled out this summer. Amazon’s Echo, a surprise hit that has other tech giants racing to match it, uses a virtual assistant called Alexa, a cloud-based system that controls the Echo speaker and responds to voice-controlled commands by users. Like Alexa, Google Assistant can search the internet and adjust your schedule. However, Pichai said Google Assistant can use images and other information to provide more intuitive giant Larsen & Toubro. Swapan Dasgupta, Nominee of the results. Administrator of The Specified Undertaking of The Unit RBI ALIGNS RULES FOR FDI IN CICs, Trust of India, has resigned as Director of the Company. 20 MAY 2016 The resignation is effective from May 15, 2016, the company said. Gupta had joined on the board of director of the company as a nominee of the the administrator of the Specified Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India (SUUTI), replacing A K Jain. SUUTI has nominated Dasgupta in place of A K Jain, as a director on the Board of the Company. President Pranab Mukherjee last month nominated Dasgupta to the Upper House following a recommendation of the Narendra Modi government. Swapan Dasgupta is a senior journalist and has held different editorial posts at eeking to attract more foreign investment, the Reserve The Statesman, The Times of India and India Today besides Bank laid down rules allowing FDI up to 100 per cent others. Sin credit information companies (CICs) if ownership Sixty-year-old Dasgupta, a known BJP sympathiser, was of the investor company is well diversified. awarded with Padma Bhushan last year. However, the FDI cap will be 49 per cent if the ownership He regularly appears in political debates in electronic is not well diversified. A diversified company is one in media, mostly arguing for the Modi government. which one or more shareholder each holds more than FY18 FISCAL DEFICIT TARGET MAY BE SET 10 per cent of voting rights. In supersession of its earlier AT 3-3.5% THAN 3%: BOFA, 20 MAY 2016 directions, RBI stated that it may consider allowing higher foreign direct investment limits to entities which have an established track record of running a CIC in a well- regulated environment. On investment by FIIs and FPIs, RBI said a single entity should, directly or indirectly, hold below 10 per cent equity. Any acquisition in excess of 1 per cent will have to be reported to RBI as a mandatory requirement. FIIs/FPIs investing in CICs shall not seek a representation on the board of directors based on their shareholding. DASGUPTA RESIGNS AS DIRECTOR OF LARSEN & TOUBRO, 20 MAY 2016 ank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA-ML) reported enior journalist-turned politician Swapan Dasgupta, that government’s fiscal deficit target for next fiscal who was nominated as a Rajya Sabha member last Bcould be changed to a ‘range’ and set at 3-3.5 per Smonth, has resigned as a director of the infrastructure cent of the GDP, rather than 3 per cent. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 52 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY According to the global financial services major, the offices or branches. Last September, Dilip Shanghvi as institution of a committee to review the Fiscal Responsibility lead applicant along with Telenor Financial Services and and Budget Management Act is a welcome move as it will IDFC Bank was granted inprinciple licence by the apex allow ‘cyclicity’ in setting fiscal deficit targets. bank to form a payments bank. Over the past eight months, representatives of these three partners had worked together The government formed a five-member committee under to establish relevant frameworks and a governance structure former revenue secretary N K Singh to review the working for the proposed joint venture. of the 12-year old FRBM Act and examine the feasibility of a fiscal deficit range instead of a fixed target. Norway’s Telenor did not spell out the reasons behind its decision to scrap the payments bank venture in India. BofA-ML said in a research note said that financial year 2017-18 fiscal deficit target may be set at 3-3.5 per cent of DEUTSCHE BANK SEES INDIA’S GDP GDP than 3 per cent, and added that this fiscal expansion GROWTH AT 7.8% NEXT YEAR, 24 MAY 2016 will offset credit/ growth slowdown. According to the report, the just-constituted FRBM committee is expected to shift to a growth-oriented fiscal policy and this in turn would be a big positive for consumption-led growth. In the 2016-17 budget, the government announced it was setting up a panel to change the medium-term fiscal deficit eutsche Bank sees India’s gross domestic product target from the current absolute number to a range, to give growth at 7.8 per cent in 2017, up from this year’s necessary policy space to the government to deal with D7.5 per cent, noting that the economy seems to dynamic situations. have bottomed out. But for this year, the growth is flattish, DILIP SHANGHVI, IDFC BANK, TELENOR forecast at 7.5 per cent, the same as last year. India’s DROP PLANS TO SET UP PAYMENTS BANK, economic challenges includes the building of judicial and 21 MAY 2016 legal systems, especially to settle commercial disputes for businesses. Speaking to reporters during the bank’s annual Asia Conference , Spencer said that Indian banks’ efforts to recapitalise and improve balance sheets while sorting out non-performing loans. Overall, India remains the world’s fastest growing economy, ahead of China’s 6.7 per cent forecast for 2017 and 2016, down from 6.9 per cent in 2015, according to data released by DB. It has forecast an improving economy of the combined emerging markets in Asia at 6.2 per cent growth in 2017 as to 6.0 per cent this year and 6.2 per cent recorded in 2015. The bank sees global economy growing at 3.6 per cent in 2017, up from 3.0 per cent this year and 3.1 per cent in elenor Financial Services , IDFC Bank and Dilip 2015. Shanghvi announced the withdrawal of their plans to Tset up a payments bank in India. SUBHASH CHANDRA STEPS DOWN AS ZEE MEDIA CHAIRMAN, 25 MAY 2016 The collective decision of the three partners will be communicated to Reserve Bank of India (RBI), following which the payments bank licence will not be pursued. A payments banks can, typically, accept deposits, convey remittances and make payments to recipients, making them ideal for migrant workers who often need to send cash home. They, however, cannot lend money. ubhash Chandra has resigned from the post of director The decision to abandon plans to set up a payments bank, it is learnt, was taken as the promoters collectively felt and non-executive chairman of Zee Media. In a filing to the BSE, Zee Media said that its board in a meeting that they lacked adequate physical presence in terms of S held took on record the resignation of Dr. Subhash Chandra Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 53 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY as Director & Non-Executive Chairman of the Company Tech Mahindra Ltd, which received in-principle approval to with effect from May 24, 2016. start a payments bank in August, said it is dropping its plans. Its management cited a long payback time on its investment It further said that its board also approved appointment of as a reason. Last week, a consortium of Sun Pharmaceutical R K Arora, CEO, as an Additional Director of the company. Industries Ltd promoter Dilip Shanghvi, IDFC Bank Ltd INDIA SIGNS $100 MILLION LOAN and Telenor Financial Services abandoned its plan to set AGREEMENT WITH WORLD BANK, up a payments bank. Earlier in March, Cholamandalam 25 MAY 2016 Investment and Finance Co. backed out as well. Neither gave a reason for its decision. This leaves eight potential payments banking entities: Payments banks can collect deposits and offer different payment solutions to customers but are not allowed to lend. RBI has also asked them to invest 75% of their deposits in government securities, limiting their ability to earn. And they will need to offer at least 4%, the current savings rate that banks offer, to attract customers. That leaves the banks with an interest spread of not more than 3-4% taking the current benchmark 10-year government bond yield of 7.46%. ISLAMIC BANKING TO DEBUT IN GUJARAT, 25 MAY 2016

he Indian government signed a $100 million (about Rs.677 crore) loan agreement with multilateral Tlending agency World Bank for the Karnataka urban water supply modernisation project. The project aims to provide access to a continuous piped water supply in various cities in Karnataka and strengthen the service delivery arrangements at the city level, a finance ministry statement said. The Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development & eddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is Finance Corp. (KUIDFC) is the implementing agency for set to start its India operations from Gujarat. The the project. Jinternational financial institution from Saudi Arabia The project will have four broad components—capital has chosen Gujarat to set up its first branch in India. The state will also get 30 medical vans as part of IDB’s social investment programme, institution building, technical sector initiatives. IDB’s main objective is to foster the assistance for sector development and project management. economic development and social progress of member It will be implemented over a period of six years, initially countries as well as the Muslim community in accordance in the twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad, with provision with principles of Shariah (Islamic law). The bank has 56 for other eligible cities to join the project at a later date, the Islamic countries as its members. statement said. During prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to UAE in April The agreement was signed by the department of economic this year, India’s EXIM Bank had signed a memorandum of affairs joint secretary Raj Kumar on behalf of India and understanding with IDB for a $100 million line-of-credit to World Bank’s India acting country director Michael Haney. facilitate exports to IDB’s member countries. TECH MAHINDRA LATEST TO DROP PLAN IDB had also signed a $55-million pact with Rashtriya FOR PAYMENTS BANK, 25 MAY 2016 Institute of Skill and Education (RISE) to provide medical he payments bank model, once considered an care to rural poor in India. IDB will provide 350 fully- innovation, is looking less appealing, with three equipped medical vans (mobile clinics) to India, 30 of Tof eleven firms that received licences to start such which will be received for the tribal areas of Chhota Udepur, banks abandoning their plans to do so. Narmada and Bharuch in Gujarat, in the first phase. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 54 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY HAL SIGNS PACT WITH BEL TO DEVELOP AIRBORNE COMMUNICATION, 21 MAY 2016

disposable income and improvement in economic activity, industan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said it has global rating agency Fitch said in a report. signed a pact with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) Fitch expects India’s GDP to grow 7.5% in fiscal year ending for developing advanced airborne communication H March 2016 and improve to 7.7% in the current fiscal year and electronic warfare systems. and further to 7.9% in the fiscal year ending March 2018. T Suvarna Raju, CMD, HAL stated in a release.that the India remains the fastest growing country across the world umbrella understanding includes sharing of expertise in with GDP in 2016 estimated to grow at 7.55% year on year design, development, engineering and manufacturing compared to global GDP which is likely to grow at 2.5% between HAL and BEL to develop and produce advanced according to Fitch estimates. airborne communication, electronic warfare systems, etc. INDIAN OIL REPORTS HIGHEST EVER NET S K Sharma stated that he is sure that such efforts will PROFIT IN SINGLE YEAR, 28 MAY 2016 lead to greater indigenisation and self-reliance in defence technologies. This collaboration will support the ‘Make in India’ mission. D K Venkatesh, Director (Engg and R&D) HAL and A T Kalghatgi, Director (R&D) of BEL signed the MoU in the presence of T Suvarna Raju, CMD, HAL and S K Sharma, CMD, BEL in New Delhi. EPFO DOUBLES INSURANCE FOR SUBSCRIBERS TO RS 6 LAKH, 26 MAY 2016 overnment has enforced the decision of retirement fund Gbody EPFO to almost double the maximum sum assured under its ndia’s largest fuel retailer Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) insurance scheme from 3.6 lakh to 6 lakh reported its highest ever net profit in a single year at Rs rupees. I10,399 crore in FY16, nearly double the level (Rs 5,273 It will benefit around four crore subscribers. crore) reported in FY15. This is despite its total income from operations dropping by 19.86% to Rs 3,50,603 crore Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya told reporters in in FY16 against Rs 4,37,524 crore in FY15. New Delhi, that the notification to enhance amount has been issued. In September, Employee Provident Fund It impacted its net profit by Rs. 2,464 crore. At the same Organization’s apex decision making body Central Board time, it booked about Rs, 494 crore of impairment losses. of Trustees had decided to increase benefits under the Till now, IOC had reported the highest profit of Rs 10,200 Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme to crore in 2009-10 when crude oil prices were at peak. The six lakh rupees government-owned company has reported a gross refining INDIA’S GROWTH TO RISE TO 8 PERCENT IN margin of $5.06/barrel in FY16 against $0.27/barrel in FY2019: FITCH, 27 MAY 2016 FY15. ndia’s economic growth rate will slowly accelerate to The inventory losses in FY16 were down 45.39% at Rs 9,731 8% by fiscal year ending March 2019, driven by the crore against Rs 17,822 crore in FY15. The company sold gradual implementation of structural reforms, higher I 5.49% more petroleum products in FY16 at 80.7 million Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 55 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY tonnes in FY16 against 76.5 million tonnes in FY15. During Association (WSA). India imported 13.3 million tonnes state elections also, oil marketing companies have increased (MT) of the metal in 2015 and was just a notch up from auto fuel prices and maintained their marketing margins. China, which imported 13.2 MT of steel during the same Now, there are no major state elections in FY17. Thus, we period. expect companies will be able to maintain its marketing According to the WSA data, European Union as a bloc margin by adjusting auto fuel prices. Current year-to-date imported 37.7 MT of steel last year, which was followed margins on diesel and petrol are Rs. 1.1 per litre and Rs 2.3 by the US (36.5 MT), Germany (24.8 MT), South Korea per litre, respectively, which is higher in petrol and flat in (21.7 MT), Italy (19.9 MT), Turkey (18.6 MT), Vietnam diesel on year-on-year basis. We believe given the recent (16.3 MT), Thailand (14.6 MT), France (13.7 MT) and correction in the stock price it is good opportunity again to India (13.3 MT). enter in the (IOC) stock, said Dhaval Joshi, an analyst at Emkay Global Financial Services. According to Indian government data, steel imports rose by 25.6 per cent to 11.71 MT during the 2015-16 financial In FY16, IOC’s refinery throughput stood at 56.694 mt year against 9.32 MT in the year-ago period. India was a net and its pipeline network ferried 79.824 mt of crude oil and importer of the metal in the last fiscal. products. TATA GROUP ENTERS E-COMMERCE WSA data also showed that India exported 7.6 MT of steel MARKET WITH APPAREL, ELECTRONICS in 2015, which was just a fraction of what its neighbour WEBSITE, 28 MAY 2016 China exported during the same period at 111.6 MT. Admitting that Indian steel sector is going through stress for some time due to rising imports, steel minister Narendra Singh Tomar had earlier this month assured the Rajya Sabha that government will take all steps to promote and safeguard the industry. SBI NOW ALSO HAS THE LARGEST POS NETWORK IN INDIA, 31 MAY 2016

ndia’s biggest conglomerate Tata Group launched an e-commerce venture , as it seeks to cash in on rising Ipurchasing power in a market dominated by deep- pocketed international retailers and startups backed by global tech investors. The group said it developed its Tata Cliq website over a year-and-a-half at a cost of “several hundred million dollars” to be a marketplace for in-house and partnercompanies to sell apparel and electronics. The move is in line with a second phase in Indian e-commerce development, with the some of the country’s oldest and tate Bank of India (SBI)’s point of sales terminal largest corporations entering an industry established in the (PoS) network is now the largest in the country after last five years by startups Snapdeal and Flipkart Online Sit over took its private sector rivals in February. It Services Pvt Ltd. plans to add another 1 lakh PoS terminals in the current fiscal year ending March 2017. The market also welcomed global e-commerce firm Amazon.com Inc in 2013, which has invested over $2 As of April 30, the state owned lender had a PoS network billion for growth. of 3,07,000, 26% of which were in the semi urban and rural INDIA AMONG TOP 10 STEEL IMPORTERS IN areas, the bank said in a press release. 2015: WORLD STEEL ASSOCIATION, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data shows that it had installed 30 MAY 2016 2,96,310 PoS terminals in India, higher than HDFC Bank’s ndia, the world’s third largest steel producer, was among 2,81,642, Axis Bank’s 2,58,250 and ICICI Bank’s 2,00,756. the top 10 importers of the alloy last year, according to These four large banks together dominate the 13,63,148 Ithe latest data by the global industry body World Steel PoS terminal network in the country. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 56 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY In the fiscal year which ended in March 2016, SBI added FINANCE MINISTRY EXPECTS GDP GROWTH 1,00,000 new PoS terminals, more than 30,000 of which TO IMPROVE TO 8% IN 2016-17, 01 JUNE 2016 were equipped with near field communications to make payments. The bank contributed 40% of the growth of total network that year. FICCI SURVEY REPORTS GDP GROWTH ESTIMATE AT 7.7% FOR 2016-17, 31 MAY 2016

inning hopes on better monsoon, the Finance Ministry said it expects GDP growth rate to notch up Pto 8 percent in the current financial year. Economy grew at 7.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015- 16 taking the growth rate for the entire fiscal to a five-year high of 7.6 percent, mainly on account of good performance of manufacturing sector although farm sector grew at a much slower pace. he results of latest round of FICCI’s Economic GOVERNMENT ACHIEVES 3.9% FISCAL Outlook Survey puts across a median GDP growth DEFICIT TARGET, 01 JUNE 2016 Tforecast of 7.7 percent for the fiscal year 2016- 17. The growth in 2016-17 is expected to be supported by an improvement in the agricultural and industrial sector performance. Prediction of a good monsoon after two consecutive years of sub-optimal rainfall backs the improved outlook in the current fiscal. According to the survey results, agriculture sector is expected to record a median growth of 2.8 percent in 2016- 17, with a minimum and maximum range of 1.6 percent and 3.5 percent respectively. Industrial growth is anticipated to grow by 7.1 percent in 2016-17, while services sector growth is estimated at 9.6 percent. The survey was conducted during April/May 2016 among overnment said that it has achieved the fiscal deficit economists belonging to the industry, banking and financial target of 3.9 per cent of GDP in 2015-16. services sector. The economists were asked to provide GAcco.to the Controller General of Accounts ( CGA ) forecast for key macro-economic variables for the year the fiscal deficit is 3.9 per cent of GDP or Rs 5.32 lakh crore 2016-17 as well as for Q4 (January-March) FY16 and Q1 in 2015-16. For 2016-17, the government aims to further (April-June) FY17. bring down the fiscal deficit the gap between expenditure The median growth forecast for IIP has been put at 3.5 and revenue to 3.5 per cent. percent for the year 2016-17, with a minimum and maximum The CGA further said revenue deficit during the last fiscal range of 3.0 percent and 4.5 percent respectively. was 2.5 per cent of GDP. The outlook of the participating economists on inflation As per the provisional data, the fiscal deficit in April was remained moderate. The median forecast for Wholesale Rs 1.37 lakh crore, which is 25.7 per cent of the Budget Price Index based inflation rate for 2016-17 has been put at estimate as against 23 per cent a year ago. 2.2 percent, with a minimum and maximum range of (-)1.3 percent and 2.9 percent respectively. The Consumer Price The fiscal deficit for the whole year is estimated at Rs 5.33 Index has a median forecast of 5.1 percent for 2016-17, lakh crore. with a minimum and maximum range of 4.5 percent and 5.5 Total expenditure of the government in April was Rs 1.61 percent respectively. lakh crore, or 8.2 per cent of the full-year estimate.

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NEWS BYTES ECONOMY NOMURA LOWERS INDIA’S GDP GROWTH UNION CABINET APPROVES SETTING UP OF TO 7.7% FOR FY17, 01 JUNE 2016 INDIA POST PAYMENTS BANK, 02 JUNE 2016

he Union Cabinet approved a proposal by the department of posts’ for foray into the banking Tsector by launching the India Post Payments Bank, a development that would help the central government in its initiative of 100% financial inclusion. omura marked down India’s GDP growth forecast Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union minister for communications marginally to 7.7 per cent for the current fiscal, and information technology said that the India Post from 7.8 per cent earlier, saying there is still no sign N Payments Bank will be a game changer for financial of an export or private capex turnaround. inclusion of the poorest of poor people and it will be the INDIA A BRIGHT SPOT ON GLOBAL MAP, largest banking network in the world.As per the proposal GROWTH RATE EXPECTED TO BE NEAR approved by the Cabinet, the India Post Payments Bank will 7.5%: OECD, 02 JUNE 2016 be set-up as a public limited company under the department of posts, with a total investment of Rs 800 crore, according to a government statement. Of this Rs 400 crore would be infused by the government as equity and the remainder would be given as grant for the next five years, it showed. The secretary of the department will be a part-time non- executive chairman of the bank’s board. RBI BEGINS WORK ON IT ARM, 03 JUNE 2016 he Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set in motion the process of establishing an IT (information Ttechnology) subsidiary. Key heads ndia’s growth rate is expected to hover near 7.5% this It has commenced the exercise to recruit key heads for year as well as next even as many emerging market assorted verticals of the proposed subsidiary. Ieconomies continue to lose momentum. Its “solid” growth led by strong investment is expected to continue, The subsidiary will have advisory committees to provide helped by reforms to bolster infrastructure spending and guidance on cyber security, current and future requirements robust demand growth, Paris based Organisation for of entities regulated by the RBI, particularly from the Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) said in regulatory and supervisory points of view, and to the central its Global Economic Outlook . bank on its IT systems and projects. RBI said that the IT subsidiary would focus on IT and cyber security (including The outlook was released a day after data shared by the related research) of the financial sector and assist in IT statistics office showed that India grew at 7.6% in 2015-16 systems audit and assessment of the RBI regulated entities; and economists expect it to grow 7.9% in FY17. advise, implement and manage internal or system-wide IT The projections incorporate an increase in public sector projects (both the existing and the new) of the Reserve Bank wages and pensions and efforts to improve tax compliance. as mutually decided between the Reserve Bank and the subsidiary . Given the need for inter-operability and cross- However, the OECD cautioned that non-performing loans institutional co-operation, the entity would be expected in the banking sector have been rising in several countries, to play an effective role in setting standards to strengthen including India where growth has been comparatively RBI’srole as regulator. robust. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 60 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY BSNL PARTNERS HITACHI TO FACILITATE In a circular BSE said that it has received approval from the BILL PAYMENT VIA ATMS, 03 JUNE 2016 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for acting as a receiving office for the Sovereign Gold Bond scheme. The exchange plans to offer an online bidding platform for collecting bids from members and their clients for the SGB issue. This bidding platform is part of the IBBS (Internet-based Book Building System) - exchange’s existing web-based online bidding platform for IPO, Offer for Sale, offer to buy issues. NESTLE, ALIBABA UPGRADE PARTNERSHIP TO TAP CHINESE CONSUMPTION POTENTIAL, 06 JUNE 2016 tate-run firm BSNL announced partnership with Hitachi Payment Services for facilitating round-the- Sclock phone bill payment through ATMs. Some customers often miss to pay bill because of fix timing of BSNL counters. With these ATMs in place, customers will be able to pay their bill during any time of the day. Under the partnership, Hitachi’s ATMs will be installed in all major customer service centers of BSNL. BSNL will provide free space in its premises to Hitachi to install and maintain ATMs. BSNL customers will be able to pay their bills through these ATMs. estle and Alibaba announced plans to upgrade their BSE GETS RBI NOD FOR ONLINE BIDDING partnership. The world’s largest food retailer will PLATFORM FOR SOVEREIGN GOLD BOND launch its biggest e-commerce campaign ever with SCHEME, 03 JUNE 2016 N its diverse products, spanning 30 brands from coffee to baby formula, being sold on Alibaba’s expansive e-commerce platforms such as T-mall. China is the right place to start Nestle’s next 150-year growth story as Chinese consumers have a more developed understanding and are quicker to adopt new consumption technologies than their global peers and have great passion for innovation, she added. China’s consumption pattern and manner have evolved fast and consumption is becoming increasingly digital with more young consumers choosing to shop online, said Zhang Yong, Alibaba CEO. The volume of online purchases surged by more than 12 SE, Asia’s oldest bourse, has received the Reserve times from January 2011 to April 2016 in China, while per Bank approval to start an online bidding platform capita consumption grew by 27 percent, according to a joint Bfor Sovereign Gold Bond scheme. report released by Alibaba’s financial services platform Ant Financial and a private economics research institute. SGBs - government securities denominated in grams of gold - offer an alternative to holding gold in physical form. Nestle strengthened its global capabilities in e-commerce by signing a strategic cooperation partnership with Alibaba The bond is issued by RBI on behalf of government and in late 2015 to increase its online sales and build its brands. investors can apply for the bonds at the price as disseminated In 2015, half of Nestle’s sales in China were online. by RBI. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 61 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY YES BANK PROJECTS INDIA’S GDP FY17 TO Switzerland is a key member of the NSG and its support to CROSS 8.1 %, 07 JUNE 2016 India’s bid for membership of the elite grouping was seen as crucial in the backdrop of China harping on the need for consensus as India was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In his remarks, the Prime Minister thanked the Swiss President for Switzerland’s “understanding and support” for India’s membership of the NSG. He also said combating the menace of black money and tax evasion was “shared priority” for both the countries. The US and many other NSG member countries have ES Bank projects India’s GDP set to cross 8.1% in supported India’s inclusion based on its non-proliferation FY17 on the back of visible pickup in consumption track record. Ydemand like cement, oil, electricity along with The NSG works under the principle of unanimity and even stronger than anticipated Q4FY16 corporate earnings . one country’s vote against India will scuttle its bid. A surplus monsoon out turn (assuming a favorable The NSG looks after critical issues relating to the nuclear spatial and intertemporal distribution) is likely to support sector and its members are allowed to trade in and export agriculture output and rural demand to a greater extent. nuclear technology. Its membership will help India Impetus to consumption gets further entrenched with significantly expand its atomic energy sector. anticipated revision in wages for government employees. The NSG had granted an exclusive waiver for India in 2008 Visible return in investment appetite by the end of the year. to access civil nuclear technology after China reluctantly backed India’s case based on the Indo-US nuclear deal. SWITZERLAND BACKS INDIA’S NSG BID; TO HELP TACKLE BLACKMONEY, 07 JUNE 2016 RBI MONETARY POLICY: RAGHURAM RAJAN LEAVES KEY POLICY RATES UNCHANGED, 07 JUNE 2016

he Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept a key interest rate unchanged at a five-year low of 6.50% in its bi- Tmonthly policy review. n a major boost to its diplomatic push for NSG In the first policy review of the financial year, governor membership, India managed to win crucial support of Raghuram Rajan had in April cut the central bank’s repo, ISwitzerland ahead of a key meeting of the 48-nation or short-term, rate by 25 basis points to 6.5%. Repo rate is bloc even as the two countries agreed to step up cooperation the rate of interest at which banks borrow from the central in unearthing black money stashed by Indians in Swiss bank. banks. The cash reserve ratio (CRR), or the share of deposits banks Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann announced his must keep with the RBI, was unchanged at 4% . country’s support to India’s membership in the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) after holding comprehensive talks For now, economists say, Rajan will focus on persuading with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a range of bilateral banks to pass on benefits of earlier RBI rate cuts to and global issues. borrowers, as they have only lowered lending rates by 65 bps since early 2015. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 62 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AND ASIAN said an RBI-sponsored survey of professional forecasters. DEVELOPMENT BANK SIGN $120 MILLION “Output growth, measured using GVA at basic prices, is LOAN AGREEMENT TO MODERNIZE likely to improve gradually in 2016-17 and further in 2017- IRRIGATION AND IMPROVE WATER 18. Quarterly growth projections for the next five quarters MANAGEMENT IN ODISHA , 07 JUNE 2016 indicate that growth is likely to improve...,” RBI said while releasing the survey on macroeconomic indicators. In the 40th round of survey, the forecasters expect real GVA to increase by 7.6 per cent in 2016-17. The survey further said ‘agriculture and allied activities’ and services are expected to grow by 2.9 per cent and 8.8 per cent, respectively. Industry growth forecast has been placed at 7.6 per cent. Regarding 2017-18, the forecasters said real GVA is overnment of India and the Asian Development expected to increase by 7.8 per cent, led by growth in Bank (ADB) signed a $120 million loan agreement services by 9.2 per cent. Agriculture and allied activities Gto improve irrigation and water management and industry are expected to grow by 2.7 per cent and 8 per infrastructure in Odisha. cent, respectively. The loan is the second tranche of a $157.5 million financing Current Account Deficit is projected at 1.1 per cent and 1.5 facility under the Orissa Integrated Irrigated Agriculture per cent (of GDP) in 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively. and Water Management Investment Program. The financing CPI inflation is expected to be at 5.2 per cent in first quarter will be used for modernizing seven irrigation subprojects of 2016-17 and remain above 5 per cent till fourth quarter of resulting in improved irrigation in over 100,000 hectares, this fiscal. Centre’s gross fiscal deficit (GFD) is projected at and strengthening of Water User Associations (WUAs) 3.5 per cent of GDP in 2016-17 and is expected to moderate and the institutional capacity of Odisha’s Department of to 3.1 per cent of GDP next fiscal. Water Resources. The selected areas for the investment program are the Baitarani, Brahmani, Budhabalanga, and The results of the survey represent the views of the Subernarekha river basins and part of the Mahanadi . respondent forecasters and in no way reflect the views or forecasts of the RBI, the central bank said. Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary (Multilateral Institutions), WORLD BANK CUTS 2016 GLOBAL GROWTH Department of Economic Affairs and. M. Teresa Kho, FORECAST TO 2.4%, 09 JUNE 2016 Country Director, ADB’s India Resident Mission signed the loan agreement on behalf of Government of India and ADB respectively. A separate project agreement was signed by. P.K. Jena, Principal Secretary, Water Resource Department of Government of Odisha. OUTPUT GROWTH LIKELY TO IMPROVE IN he World Bank has lowered its forecast for the global FY17: RBI SURVEY, 07 JUNE 2016 growth in 2016 to 2.4 per cent, saying that the world Teconomy is facing stronger headwinds. In its Global Economic Prospects Report, the Washington- based institution expected the world economy to grow 2.4 per cent in 2016, 0.5 percentage point lower than the bank’s forecast in January. Growth continues to falter in advanced economies, while there is considerable divergence of performance across emerging market and developing economies, and their overall growth remains below potential. According to the report, developing economies are forecast ndia’s real economy , as measured by the Gross Value to expand by 3.5 per cent in 2016, 0.6 percentage point Added (GVA), is likely to expand by 7.6 per cent in 2016- lower than its January’s projection; advanced economies 17 due to improvement in farm and industry sectors, are expected to grow 1.7 per cent this year, 0.5 lower than I its January’s forecast. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 63 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY OLA MONEY PARTNERS WITH eBAY, TWO RBI CANCELS REGISTRATION OF THREE OTHER ONLINE MARKET PLATFORMS, NBFCS, 11 JUNE 2016 10 JUNE 2016

eserve Bank has cancelled registration of three NBFCs including Escorts Finance and Express RTrading & Securities. la Money, the wallet payment of cab aggregator The apex bank has also terminated the registration certificate Ola, has partnered with online marketplaces eBay, of Jayant Security and Finance. OYepMe and Askme Bazaar, to allow customers to pay through its digital payment service. However, the RBI did not cite any reason behind the cancellation of registrations. Customers will also be eligible for an additional 10 per cent discount on the usage of Ola Money to make their payments 179.9% GROWTH IN TOURISTS ARRIVAL ON on eBay, which will be valid till June 21, a company E-TOURIST VISA IN MAY 2016 OVER THE statement said. SAME PERIOD IN 2015, 12 JUNE 2016 USA Continues to Occupy Top Slot followed by UK and At the time of payment on any of these platforms, both web China Amongst the Countries Availing E-Tourist Visa and app, customers will get to choose Ola Money as one of Facility during May 2016 their payment options. A total of 43,833 tourists arrived in May 2016 on e-Tourist On selection, a one touch check-out, if on the app, and a Visa as compared to 15,659 during the month of May 2015 simple OTP authentication, if on the web, completes the registering a growth of 179.9%. payment. MAGICBRICKS PARTNERS SBI FOR ‘HOME Commencing from 27th November 2014 e-Tourist Visa BUYING FESTIVAL’, 11 JUNE 2016 facility was available until 25th February 2016 for citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 Airports in India. The Government of India has extended this scheme for citizens of 37 more countries w.e.f 26th February 2016 taking the tally to 150 countries. The following are the important highlights of e-Tourist Visa during May, 2016. INDIA TO GROW AT 7.8 PER CENT IN FY17, LED BY CONSUMPTION: DBS, 13 JUNE 2016

ealty portal Magicbricks has partnered with State Bank of India(SBI) to organise an online home- Rbuying festival. Magicbricks and State Bank of India (SBI) have launched India’s biggest property festival, Home Buying Festival (HBF). ecovery in the Indian economy is likely to continue The three-week long online festival will kick start from and the GDP growth is expected to be higher at June 10-30. R7.8 percent in the current fiscal, although it will be Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 64 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY “uneven”, propped largely by “strong consumption” and LinkedIn has seen 19 per cent growth year-on-year to public expenditure, says a DBS report. more than 433 million members worldwide while quarterly member page views rose 34 per cent to over 45 billion. Over According to the global financial services firm, doubts remain however on the underlying inconsistencies in the 92 million users came from Asia and the Pacific region. GDP numbers. For the 2015-16 fiscal, the GDP growth has In the first quarter of 2016, LinkedIn’s revenue increased 35 been pegged at 7.6 percent. per cent year-on-year to reach $861 million. It had forecast its revenue for the full year 2016 to be in the range of $3.65- “We expect growth to gain momentum in 2016-17 fiscal, 3.7 billion. with headline real GDP up at 7.8 percent,” DBS said in a research note. Though the January-March growth fared Microsoft will finance the transaction primarily through better than expected on real GDP and gross value added the issuance of new indebtedness. Upon closing, Microsoft (GVA) basis, it “masked” underlying weakness in fixed expects LinkedIn’s financials to be reported as part of investments and non-agricultural growth, the report added. Microsoft’s Productivity and Business Processes segment. The Indian economy expanded by 7.6 per cent in 2015-16. In addition, Microsoft also reiterated its intention to complete its existing $40 billion share repurchase The government expects the economy to grow by 7-7.75 per authorisation by December 31, 2016, the same timeframe as cent in the current fiscal. previously committed. LinkedIn has more than 9,700 full- Regarding the Reserve Bank’s policy stance, the report said time employees and is headquartered in Mountain View, that limited disinflation is expected to narrow the room for California. It has offices in 30 cities, including Bengaluru, further rate cuts. Beijing, Chicago, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong and London. “Transmission of 150 bps rate cut since January 2015 and Morgan Stanley acted as exclusive financial advisor to provision of liquidity to meet will continue to be a priority Microsoft and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP was the for the RBI, until the room to ease further re-emerges,” DBS legal advisor to Microsoft. said. In its policy review meet on June 7, RBI Governor Qatalyst Partners and Allen & Company LLC are acting Raghuram Rajan had kept interest rates intact citing rising as financial advisors to LinkedIn while Wilson Sonsini inflationary pressure but hinted at a reduction later this year Goodrich and Rosati, Professional Corporation, is acting as if good monsoon helps ease inflation. legal advisor. MICROSOFT AGREES TO BUY LINKEDIN RBI UNVEILS NEW SCHEME TO TACKLE FOR $26.2 BILLION, 14 JUNE 2016 BAD LOANS OF BIG FIRMS, 14 JUNE 2016

n a bid to further strengthen the lenders’ ability to deal with stressed assets and put real assets back on track, Ithe Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled yet another scheme — Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed echnology giant Microsoft will acquire LinkedIn for $196 per share in an all-cash deal valued at $26.2 Assets (S4A) — for “reworking the financial structure” of Tbillion, inclusive of LinkedIn’s net cash. big corporate entities “facing genuine difficulties”. The S4A envisages determination of the sustainable LinkedIn will retain its distinct brand, culture and debt level for a stressed borrower, and bifurcation of the independence. outstanding debt into sustainable debt and equity/quasi- Jeff Weiner will remain CEO of LinkedIn, reporting to Mr. equity instruments which are expected to provide upside Nadella. Reid Hoffman, Chairman of the board, co-founder to the lenders when the borrower turns around, the RBI and controlling shareholder of LinkedIn, and Weiner both said in a notification. The scheme will be considered if fully support this transaction, the statement said. In India, the aggregate exposure (including accrued interest) of all LinkedIn has about 650 employees and R&D operations in institutional lenders in the account is more than Rs 500 Bengaluru. crore (including rupee loans, foreign currency loans and external commercial borrowings). Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 65 NEWS BYTES ECONOMY DELL PARTNERS WITH SHIV NADAR UNIVERSITY FOR RESEARCH, 14 JUNE 2016

The April WPI-based inflation was at 0.34 per cent and in March it was (-)0.45 per cent while it stood at (-)2.20 per cent in May 2015. Food inflation rose to 7.88 per cent in ell and Shiv Nadar University have signed an May as against 4.23 per cent in April, showed a government agreement to collaborate and drive research and data. Inflation in vegetables came in at 12.94 per cent, a Dinnovation. sharp rise from 2.21 per cent, in May. Pulses inflation Under this agreement, Dell will engage with faculty remained stubborn at 35.56 per cent. members at the university to mentor students and jointly Prices of egg, meat and fish paced up by 9.75 per cent and work on technology projects in areas such as big data,cloud in fruits the rise was 3.80 per cent. However, kitchen staple computing and Internet of Things. onion continued to witness decline at (-)21.70 per cent in Through this partnership, Dell has set up two laboratories May. Manufactured products inflation too inched up to 0.91 jointly with the university to integrate theoretical concepts per cent from 0.71 per cent in April. with practical experience. The hardening of WPI food inflation follows the trend of DCB BANK LAUNCHES AADHAAR-BASED retail inflation . Retail inflation touched a 21-month high ATM IN BENGALURU, 14 JUNE 2016 of 5.76 per cent in May mainly due to rising prices of food items. The hardening of inflation could further dent the chances of a interest rate cut by Reserve Bank in its policy review in the months ahead. In its policy review earlier in June, RBI had retained January 2017 retail inflation target at 5 per cent, though with an upward bias on account of firming of oil prices and implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendations. CABINET APPROVES MERGER OF 5 ASSOCIATE BANKS WITH SBI, 15 JUNE 2016 CB Bank, launched a “card-less and PIN-less” ATM in Bengaluru. The ATM accepts Aadhaar Dnumber and Aadhaar fingerprint (biometric) instead of ATM / debit card and PIN to dispense cash from the bank account. The bank had, in April launched a pilot Aadhaar-based ATM in Mumbai. This was followed by launch of Aadhaar-based ATMs in Odisha and Punjab. Nandan Nilekani, Chairperson and Co-founder of EkStep Foundation, a non-profit literacy organisation, & he Union Cabinet approved the merger of five inaugurated the facility . associate banks — State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Patiala, WHOLESALE PRICE-BASED INFLATION AT T State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Hyderabad as well 0.79% IN MAY, VEGETABLE PRICES RISE, as Bharatiya Mahila Bank with State Bank of India. Last 14 JUNE 2016 month, SBI cleared proposal for merger of subsidiary banks ising for the second straight month, wholesale price- and Bharatiya Mahila Bank. The merger will create Rs 37- based inflation jumped to 0.79 per cent in May with lakh crore banking behemoth with over 50 crore customers. Rvegetable prices witnessing a double-digit growth. SBI first merged State Bank of Saurashtra with itself in 2008. Two years later, State Bank of Indore was merged. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 66 NEWS BYTES SPORTS Mladenovic at Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and Mutua Madrid SPORTS Burning Topics of the Month Open. Across the net were familiar foes in Makarova and Vesnina, who were playing just their second tournament 1. Sania & Maria triumph in Rome WTA event. together since last summer, having briefly split as the former healed a leg injury. 2. Virat Kohli become’s 1st player to score 4000 IPL Runs. Winners of the last three major titles, Sania and Martina roared through the opening set and carved out a 5-3 lead in 3. Indian women’s team settle for bronze in Thomas Uber Cup. the second. But the Russians levelled the set and later the match in a tie-break. Sania and Martina shook off the hiccup to beat back their GEREMEW AND JEPCHIRCHIR POWERED opponents and a gloomy forecast to capture their 14th title as TO IMPRESSIVE VICTORIES AT THE NINTH a pair, and their fifth of 2016. TCS WORLD 10K, 16 MAY 2016 Heading into the French Open on a four-match winning streak, Santina next look to complete a box set of titles - a Santina Slam - that began at Wimbledon over Makarova and Vesnina, and took them through victories at the US Open and Australian Open in January. JOE ROOT CLAIMS ENGLAND AWARDS TRIPLE, 17 MAY 2016 oe Root was named ‘Test Player of the Year’, ‘Limited Overs Player of the Year’ and Fans’ ‘Player of the Year’ osinet Geremew and Peres Jepchirchir powered Jat England’s annual awards ceremony. to impressive victories at the ninth TCS World The Yorkshire batsman 25, hit two centuries in England’s M10K in Bengaluru. Ashes triumph last year, scored four one-day tons and was Taking control of the men’s race in the eighth kilometre, his team’s leading scorer at the recent World Twenty20 Geremew held on to win in 28:36 to become the first athlete tournament in India. to secure back-to-back titles in Bengaluru. Jepchirchir, the He overcame competition from Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes world half marathon champion, broke from the field in the for the Test award and edged Jos Buttler and David Willey in seventh kilometre to win in 32:15, 13 seconds clear of her the Limited Overs category, with both prizes decided upon Kenyan compatriot Helah Kiprop. by a media poll. SANIA AND MARTINA TRIUMPH IN ROME VIRAT KOHLI BECOME’S FIRST PLAYER TO WTA EVENT, 16 MAY 2016 SCORE 4000 IPL RUNS, 19 MAY 2016

ania Mirza and won their first ever title on red clay, capturing the International BNL d’Italia trophy with a 6-1, 6-7(5), 10-3 win over S iratKohli became the first player in the history of the and ElenaVesnina in the final . Indian Premier League to score 4000 runs. His 113 The joint number one, Sania and Martina were playing Vrun knock off 50 balls in the 15 over game against their third straight final since the start of the KXIP saw him cross the 4000 mark. swing, falling both times to and Kristina Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 67 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS Kohli was batting with as many as 7 stitches on his hand HARI BECOMES SECOND INDIAN TO BAG and very efficiently defeated his injury. PODIUM IN ASIA DREAM CUP, 21 MAY 2016 He now has 865 runs in this years IPL. Kohli hit 8 sixes and 12 fours in his mammoth score as RCB posted 211-3 in the rain curtailed match in their 15 overs. INDIAN WOMEN’S 4X100M RELAY TEAM BREAKS 18-YEAR-OLD NATIONAL RECORD, 19 MAY 2016 he Indian 4x100m women’s relay team broke the 18-year-old national record to finish in 4th position Tat the IAAF World Challenge . The 4x100m women relay team comprising Dutee Chand ,Srabani Nanda , HM Jyoti and Merlin Joseph clocked ndian motorcycle racer Hari Krishnan romped home to 44.03s to finish the race, breaking the 18-year-old record of 44.43s created by the quartet of Saraswati Dey, Rachita his first-ever podium finish at the international level, Mistry, EB Shyla and PT Usha on July 22, 1998 in Fukuoka, Ifinishing a creditable second in the Race 2 of the Asia Japan. The Indian team ran with Merlin starting the race Dream Cup . with Jyoti running the second followed by the Srabani with Putting in a spectacular performance from start-to-finish, Dutee running the anchor leg. the 22-year old from Chennai provided ample proof of his talent with his aggressive racing style. The host nation grabbed the first and third positions with China A and China B team on the first and third position Hari is a product of Honda’s training Ten10 Racing academy respectively while Japan finished second. and selected by the company to represent Indiabased on LEAGUE FINAL 2016: SEVILLA his consistent performances in the Honda One Make Race DEFEATS LIVERPOOL IN BASEL, 19 MAY 2016 Championships. With the podium, he became the second- Indian to do so after S Sarath Kumar had finished second in Qatar during 2014 season. RENATO SANCHES BREAKS CRISTIANO RONALDO’S LONG STANDING PORTUGAL RECORD, 21 MAY 2016

evilla achieved a remarkable hat-trick as it became the first club to win three successive Europa League Stitles with victory over Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. The Spanish club came from behind to defeat its English opponent 3-1 at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel, Switzerland, with Kevin Gameirocanceling out Daniel enato Sanches, who is just 18 years old, has shattered Sturridge’s beautifully controlled first half strike before a Cristiano Ronaldo’s long standing 12-year-old brace from Coke sealed Sevilla’s success. Rrecord of being the youngest footballer to be called There was controversy over Coke’s second goal on 70 up by Portugal for a major tournament. Ronaldo had set this minutes with Liverpool players claiming the Sevilla record by entering the Euro 2004 with Portugal, when he captain was offside before firing beyond goalkeeper Simon was 19 years and four months old. Mignolet. The victory marks Sevilla’s fifth Europa League On the other hand, Sanches is only 18 years and 10 months success in 11 years and ensures it will qualify for next old. He was chosen in the Portuguese squad for the Euro season’s Champions League. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 68 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS 2016 . The young Portuguese had only two caps for the national team, but his incredible performances for Benfica, that sealed him a move to Bayern Munich, have also earned him a spot in the national team. Sanches earned the spot after Monaco midfielder Bernardo Silva was injured last weekend. Striker Danny and full-back Fabio Coentrao have also been ruled out due to long-term injuries. time, according to information received. The double IBSF Renato Sanches has had a truly magnificent break-through World Six-Red Snooker Champion stamped his authority season with Benfica having scored two goals in the process. again in the short format of the game, defeating top seeded Last week, he signed a bumper contract with Bundesliga Malaysian Keen Hoh Moh by 7-5 . winners Bayern Munich, who also snapped Mats Hummels Advani won the final in a battle of fluctuating fortunes by shortly afterwards. keeping his nerves intact. INDIAN WOMEN’S TEAM SETTLE FOR With the Indian ace leading the match 4-2 at the end of six BRONZE IN THOMAS AND UBER CUP, frames, Keen Hoh Moh fought back by winning the seventh 21 MAY 2016 frame, 38-21 only to lose the eight frame 24-45 with Advani securing a 45 break. ASHWIN RETAINS NO. 2 SPOT IN TEST BOWLERS RANKING, 23 MAY 2016

ndian women’s team settled for a bronze medal after suffering a 0-3 defeat at the hands of defending Ichampions China in the semifinals of the Uber Cup badminton championship . After top shuttlersSainaNehwal and PV Sindhu went down narrowly against their respective ff-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has managed opponents in the two singles match, JwalaGutta and N Sikki to retain his second spot in the latest ICC Player Reddy also bit the dust in the first doubles, ending India’s ORankings for Test Bowlers issued, while no Indian campaign. Indian eves had scripted history in the last features in the top 10 batsmen list. edition when they won a historic bronze in New Delhi and Ashwin (871) trails England’s Stuart Broad (872) by just they repeated the feat this time at Kunshan Sports Center a point while another Englishman James Anderson has Stadium. Indian eves, who assured themselves a bronze returned to the top three following his 10-wicket haul at after 3-1 win over Thailand , needed a magical performance Headingley against Sri Lanka to leapfrog Yasir Shah of to tame 13-time champions China at home but unfortunately Pakistan and South Africa’s Dale Steyn. Anderson earned the miracle did not happen. 49 points for his performance, which has put him on a In the second game, Sindhu had a healthy 18-8 advantage career-high 854 points. but all of it vaporised as Shixian crafted her way back in the The ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen is headed contest and caught up with the Indian at 20-20. But in the by Australia captain Steven Smith (925), followed by end it was the Chinese who had the last laugh. England’s Joe Root (876), New Zealand skipper Kane PANKAJ ADVANI WINS ASIAN 6-RED Williamson (868), South Africa’s HashimAmla (860) and SNOOKER TITLE, 23 MAY 2016 veteran Pakistan batsman Younus Khan (826). ndia’s ace cueist Pankaj Advani created history in Abu Ashwin continues to head the Test all-rounders’ ranking Dhabi by clinching the Asian 6-Red Snooker title. with 406 points. Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan is second IAdvani thus became the first in the world to hold both ahead of England’s Broad. world and continental titles in 6-red snooker at the same Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 69 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS MOHUN BAGAN FLOORS AIZAWL, WINS And the hero of the day was Hans-Kristian Vittinghus. 14TH FED CUP TITLE, 23 MAY 2016 The 30-year-old Vittinghus stayed calm throughout the match to beat an inexperienced 21-year-old Ihsan Maulana Mustofa 21-15, 21-7 in the decider and wild celebration erupted in Denmark’s camp. Earlier, Denmark had won two points through Viktor Axelsen and Jan O Jorgensen. Indonesia’s two points came through their doubles players - Mohd Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan and Angga Pratama-Ricky Karanda Suwardi. GETS CLOSER TO TOP-10, LEANDER PAES BACK IN TOP-50, 23 MAY 2016

ohun Bagan perfected a spectacular second-half resurgence to floor Aizawl FC by a record 5-0 Mmargin and regain the Federation Cup football title after eight years, at the Indira Gandhi Stadium ..ProminentFiguring prominently in Bagan’s win with two goals was Mizoram striker Jeje Lalpekhlua while Haitian Sony Norde, Dhanachandra Singh and Bikramjit Singh scored one each. He scored eight goals, including a hat-trick, in the Fed Cup. ndia’s doubles specialist Rohan Bopanna raised hopes of getting a direct entry into the Rio Olympic Games DYNAMIC DENMARK WIN FIRST THOMAS as he rose by two rungs to be 11th in the latest ATP CUP TITLE, BEAT INDONESIA 3-2, I Ranking charts issued. 23 MAY 2016 Bopanna and his Romanian partner Florin Mergea had earned 360 points with a semifinal place at Rome Masters. Leander Paes, who is gunning for his seventh Olympics and is playing at the Challenger level to earn points, was back in top-50 with a jump of four places. Meanwhile, continued to be world number one in women’s doubles ranking after winning the title in Rome. FIFA’S DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL MARKUS KATTNER DISMISSED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, 24 MAY 2016

enmark created history by winning the Thomas Cup Finals for the first time. DAfter crashing out in eight previous finals since the tournament’s inception in 1949, Denmark finally got their acts right by beating fancied Indonesia 3-2 in the final to become the first European country to win the world team title. They are only the fifth nation to win the Thomas Cup.

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TM @Mahendra’s 70 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS IFA’s Deputy Secretary General Markus Kattner SONIA LATHER LONE INDIAN TO MAKE has been dismissed from his position effective SEMIS OF WORLD C’SHIPS, 25 MAY 2016 Fimmediately. FIFA’s internal investigation uncovered breaches of his fiduciary responsibilities in connection with his employment contract. FIFA will not comment further on any of the details, but will continue its cooperation with the relevant authorities. BARCELONA BEATS SEVILLA TO WIN THE COPA DEL REY FOR THE 28TH TIME, 24 MAY 2016 en-man Barcelona completed the Spanish league and cup double as two goals in extra time clinched Tthe Copa Del Rey. Luis Enrique’s side claimed the trophy for the 28th time despite having Javier Mascherano sent off in the first half. Jordi Alba and Neymar scored for Barcelona, who can boast ormer Asian silver-medallist Sonia Lather (57kg) back-to-back doubles after winning La Liga. was the lone Indian boxer to make the semifinals and assure herself of a medal at the AIBA Women’s World Carrico was dismissed in stoppage time at the end of extra F Championships even as four others lost their quarterfinal bouts . time when he received a yellow card for a foul on Messi and another for his angry protest. KERALA’S ANMOL SETS NEW RECORD IN GIRLS’ 3000M RUN, 27 MAY 2016 Messi then fed Neymar for the Brazilian to add a second with a confident finish. LAHIRI ENSURES US OPEN BERTH; WILL PLAY 8th SUCCESSIVE MAJOR, 24 MAY 2016

erala’s distance runner Anmol Thampi bettered the national and meet records in the 3000 metre as Kthe hosts began their campaign in style at the 13th ndian golfer Anirban Lahiri will play his eighth National Youth (Under-18) Athletics championships. successive Major next month after confirming his place Haryana athletes also shone bright bagging three golds, Ifor the US Open at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, including in the 100 metre run in the boys division, on the Pennsylvania from June 16 to 19. first day of the three-day meet at C H Mohammed Koya Following his Tied 46th place at the AT&T Byron Nelson Stadium in the Calicut University campus. Thampi clocked golf, Lahiri stayed at the 56th place, which ensured that he a record 10:00.22 seconds, surpassing the national record of stayed on in Top-60 of the World Golf Rankings. The US 10:08.29 set by S Jadhav of Maharastra in 2013 and the meet Open is the only Major where Lahiri has not made the cut record of 10:08.45 set by Aleesha, also of Kerala, in 2015. so far. This will be the eighth successive Major for Lahiri, Bihar’s Rima Patel, came second, finishing the distance who is also confirmed for the British Open Championships in 10:19.61 sec and Maharashtra’s Komal Chandrakant and the PGA Championships later this year. won the bronze in 10:30.59s. In the boys 3000m run, After his maiden appearance at a Major in Open Tamil Nadu’s Bahadur Patel claimed the gold covering the Championships in 2012, Lahiri has played seven Majors distance in 8:36.76s. Anoj Kumar Yadav of Manipur came in a row dating back to the Open in 2014. He has the best second clocking 8:37.84s and Uttarkhand’s Mohan Saini streak of Major appearances by an Indian. finished third with 8:37.98s.

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TM @Mahendra’s 71 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS HOCKEY INDIA INDUCTS PSPB AS SUNRISERS HYDERABAD TEAM WON IPL 9 ASSOCIATE MEMBER, 27 MAY 2016 2016, 30 MAY 2016

ockey India inducted Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) as an associate member, making it unrisers Hyderabad clinched the 2016 IPL title by Hthe 36th inclusion in this category. beating Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final. The Hyderabad unit sucessfully defended 209 runs With this inclusion, PSPB can now take part in all the annual S National Championships which are being conducted by HI. even after fifties from Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli for RCB. After their effort, Twitterati was in full praise of the team as PSPB was established in June 1979 and registered through they won their maiden title. Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 as extended to the IPL 2016: VIRAT KOHLI BAGS ORANGE CAP Union Territory of Delhi. AFTER RECORD-BREAKING SEASON FOR Presently, a 12-member organisation (ONGC, IOCL, HPCL, ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE, OIL, GAIL, EIL, CPCL, MRPL, NRL, BalmerLawrie and 30 MAY 2016 PLL) form the PSPB. DHIRENDRA KUMAR BREAKS RECORD TO CLAIM POLE GOLD, 28 MAY 2016

oyal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain and Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli bagged the coveted hirendra Kumar of Gujarat shattered the national Orange Cap in the ninth edition of Indian premier and meet records to bag the gold in the boys Pole R League 2016. Virat Kohli amassed 973 runs in 16 matches. Vault category on the second day of 13th National D Kohli had a record-breaking season for RCB hitting as many Youth (Under 18) Athletics championship. as four-centuries most by any player in the history of IPL. Kumar vaulted a height of 4.72m to claim the first place in RCB won 3 of 4 the matches that Kohli cracked hundred. boys Pole Vault, bettering the national record of 4.70m set Kohli averaged a phenomenal 81.08 with a highest score by P Kumar Patel of Uttar Pradesh in 2010 and the meet of 113. David Warner came in a close second with 848 record of 4.41 m by Kundan of Haryana in 2011. Delhi’s runs in 17 matches playing for IPL 9 champions Sunrisers Manish Singh came second with 4.40m followed by Hyderabad. Full Cricket Scorecard: Royal Challengers Krishnan of Haryana who finished third with 4.30m. Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2016 Final

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TM @Mahendra’s 72 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS AB de Villiers came in at No.3 in the leading run scorer and have also become the first team to lift the trophy five of IPL 9, making with 687 runs in 16 matches with the times in the UEFA Champions League era. highest strike-rate among the top 5 (168.79). Kolkata Night RUSSIA’S MEN WIN GOLD AT EUROPEAN Riders (KKR) skipper came in a fourth with 501 runs in 15 GYMNASTICS MEET, 30 MAY 2016 matches, SRH’s Shikhar Dhawan also scored 501 runs in 17 matches. Kohli’s team fell short of just 8-runs of the IPL title chasing SRh’s mammoth target of 208 runs in the final at Bangalore. DELHI’S KIRTI GUPTA SHOOTS DOUBLE GOLD, 30 MAY 2016

ussia’s men won the team final at the European Championships. The Russia team, Rcomprising Denis Abliazian, , Nikita Ignatyev, and , won three gold, two silver and one bronze medals and recorded a score of 271.378. Great Britain and Armenia were joint second, with ndia’s Kirti Gupta won the individual gold as well as one gold and two silver medals each. team gold medal in trap event at the 8th International ALASTAIR COOK SURPASSES SACHIN IJunior Shotgun Cup shooting 2016 at Orimattila, TENDULKAR AS FASTEST TO 10K RUNS IN Finland. TESTS, 31 MAY 2016 The silver medal went to Italian shooter Erica Sessa and Russia’s Natalia Chestova got the bronze. Italy’s Erica shot 65/75, the highest in the semifinals. Natalia scored 60/75 while Kirti shot 58/75 clays. In the finals, Kirti shot 14 to win the gold medal while Erica and Natalia scored 12 and 10 for silver and bronze medals, respectively. The Indian team comprising Kirti, Bhopal’s Manisha Keer lastair Cook became the first England cricketer to cross the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket, and and Pragat Dubey won the gold medal in the trap shooting the youngest overall, beating Sachin Tendulkar’s event, while the silver medal went to Germany’s shooting A team. record set in 2005 by five months at the age of 31 years, five months. Tendulkar - Test cricket’s leading run-scorer REAL MADRID LIFT 11TH UEFA CHAMPIONS - was 31 years, ten months 20 days old when he scored LEAGUE TITLE IN MILAN, 30 MAY 2016 his 10,000th run in 2005. England captain Cook, already his country’s leading Test run-scorer, came into the ongoing second Test against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street just 20 runs away from becoming the first Englishman to join the coveted 10k club. Cook was dismissed for 15 runs in the first innings and the landmark came in post-lunch session of the fourth day in the second over of the second innings when he flicked a Nuwan Pradeep delivery to mid-wicket for four. Cook is the 12th batsman to get to 10,000 runs in Tests, after Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Kumar Sangakkara, Brian Lara, ShivnarineChanderpaul, Mahela Jayawardene, Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Sunil Gavaskar. Pakistan’s Younis Khan is the next active eal Madrid strengthened their position as the batsman with a chance at entering the club, having 9116 to European Cup’s dominant force with their 11th his name, and there is a chance he joins Cook with Pakistan victory in the competition following their penalty R playing four Tests in England later this summer. shoot-out defeat of neighbours Atlético Madrid in Milan – Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 73 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS SANDHU BECOMES FIRST INDIAN TO PLAY NUWANKULASEKARA RETIRES FROM TEST IN EUROPEAN TOP LEAGUE, 31 MAY 2016 CRICKET, 01 JUNE 2016

ational football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has achieved a historic feat as he became Nthe first Indian to feature in a top-tier league match in Europe by turning out for his Norwegian side Stabaek FC. uwanKulasekara, the 33-year old Sri Lanka seamer, has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The 24-year-old Indian kept a clean sheet in his first Tippeligaen (Norwegian Premier League) start for Stabaek NKulasekara had played 21 Tests and picked up 48 FC, helping them claim a dominant 5-0 triumph over IK wickets since making his debut in April 2005. Although Start in an away league match . pace wasn’t his strong suit, he had the ability to move the new ball and was known for his accuracy. Among his Sandhu, who signed for Stabaek FC in 2014, has not played standout performances were the two four-wicket hauls he in the Tippeligaen though he has already featured in five matches in the Norwegian Cup. He has thus far played took against Pakistan in Colombo in 2009 to finish with a match-winning 8 for 58 in 28.4 overs. second fiddle to Ivorian goalkeeper SayoubaMande who is the first choice Stabaek FC goalkeeper. Kulasekara played his last Test in June 2014 at Lord’s, where Sri Lanka clung on to a nail-biting draw. He was Sandhu will directly join the national football team in Laos not in the XI at Headingley, though, where Sri Lanka beat where India are playing their play-off match of the 2019 England to seal a landmark series win. Asian Cup Qualifiers on June 2. ENGLISH PACER JAMES ANDERSON HERO MOTOCORP EXTENDS TITLE BECOMES NUMBER-ONE TEST BOWLER, SPONSORSHIP OF CARIBBEAN PREMIER 01 JUNE 2016 LEAGUE UNTIL 2018, 01 JUNE 2016

ndian two wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp Ltd has extended its Title Sponsorship of the popular ICaribbean Premier League (CPL) for another three years. With this extension, the mega cricketing event will continue to be called the ‘Hero Caribbean Premier League’ until the 2018 season. ngland paceman James Anderson has topped the The New Delhi headquartered Hero Moto Corp became ICCPlayer Rankings for Test Bowlers for the first the Title Sponsor of the Twenty20 cricket league in the Etime in his career after bowling his side to a nine- Caribbean for the first time in 2015. wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second Test.

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TM @Mahendra’s 74 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS Anderson (884) leads India’s RavichandranAshwin by 13 Under this contract, which includes media and digital rights, points, who maintained the second position with 871 points. Star India will become Roland-Garros exclusive media RavindraJadeja, another Indian featuring in the top ten, partner for India and the Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, maintained his sixth position with 789 points. Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). Anderson took three for 36 in the first innings and five for Star India will offer extensive coverage of the full 15 days 58 in the second, leapfrogging team-mate Stuart Broad and of the tournament, and all of the French Tennis Federation’s Ashwin to the coveted number-one position. (FFT) on-ground initiatives in the region. Anderson is the fourth England bowler to top the bowlers’ FILM STARS JOIN TENDULKAR AS CO- table since Ian Botham first achieved this feat in 1980. Steve OWNERS OF KERALA BLASTERS, Harmison stormed up the chart in 2004, while Broad vaulted 01 JUNE 2016 to the number-one position earlier this year following the Johannesburg Test against South Africa. BECOMES 60TH MEMBER OF LAUREUS ACADEMY, 01 JUNE 2016

consortium of investors, including Telugu film stars Chiranjeevi and AkkineniNagarjuna, joined cricket A legend Sachin Tendulkar as co-owners of Indian Super League franchise, Kerala Blasters. Besides the duo, two other new co-owners are leading film producer AlluArvind and industrialist and serial etired Chinese tennis star Li Na has been named the entrepreneur Nimmagadda Prasad. 60th member of the Laureus World Sports Academy. The consortium has purchased stake in Blasters Sports Pvt RThe former world No.2 joins the 59 fellow sporting Ltd, the owners of Kerala Blasters Football Club. legends in the Laureus Academy including tennis greats KOHLI, DHONI THE ONLY CRICKETERS IN Boris Becker, IlieNastase, and Monica ESPN’S WORLD FAME 100, 02 JUNE 2016 Seles. Li Na became professional in 1999 and went on to win nine singles Women’s Tennis Association and 19 International Tennis Federation titles throughout her career. As well as winning the 2011 French Open, Li Na also achieved Grand Slam glory at the Australian Open in 2014. She retired from the professional game in September 2014 following a serious knee injury. In 2015, Li Na was presented with the Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Shanghai. STAR INDIA BAGS 5 YEAR BROADCAST RIGHTS FOR FRENCH OPEN, 01 JUNE 2016 ountry’s leading broadcaster Star India announced that it has bagged exclusive broadcasting rights for Cthe next five French Open from 2017 to 2021. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 75 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS iratKohli, in irresistible form in Twenty20 cricket The world number one downed old rival 3-6, and the captain of the Indian Test team, has found 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to claim a 12th career major and join Don Vhimself in the top ten of the global sports fame list Budge in 1938 and Rod Laver , in 1962 and 1969, as the put together by ESPN. only players to simultaneously possess the French Open, Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon trophies. Kohli was at No. 8 in the ESPN World Fame 100 rankings, which is otherwise dominated by basketball and football Djokovic, 29, also put himself halfway to the calendar players. However, cricket and India had a second entry in Grand Slam, last achieved by Laver 47 years ago. the top 20, with MS Dhoni, India’s ODI and T20 captain, at But he did it the hard way as the final reached its conclusion, number 13. Tennis player SaniaMirza was the third Indian being broken in the eighth game of the fourth set as he on the list, at number 41. served for the title and then squandering two championship INDIA DROPS ONE PLACE TO 163RD IN FIFA points in the 10th before he sealed victory when Murray RANKINGS, 02 JUNE 2016 netted a backhand. Playing in his 20th final at the majors and sixth in succession, the Serb superstar is the first man since Jim Courier in 1992 to win the Australian and French Opens back-to-back. Victory also allowed Djokovic to stretch his winning record over 29-year-old Murray to 24-10 overall and 8-2 in Grand Slams. LUCKNOW TO HOST JUNIOR HOCKEY WORLD CUP, 06 JUNE 2016

ndia, who beat Laos 1-0 in Vientiane in a play-off match of the 2019 Asian Cup Qualifiers today, are one place Ibehind Myanmar among the Asian countries at 29th place. Iran and Korea are the two highest ranked teams in Asia, at 39th and 50th respectively. Overall, there has been no movement with Argentina and Belgium occupying the number one and two spot respectively. DJOKOVIC WINS FRENCH OPEN, COMPLETES NON-CALENDAR GRAND he Capital city of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow will host SLAM, 06 JUNE 2016 this year’s FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup. TThe official said the venue for the event was decided after Hockey India President Narendra Batra met UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav who accepted the national federation’s invitation to host the tournament. The FIH Junior World Cup will be held between December 8 to December 18 and would be the first international hockey competition to be hosted in Lucknow. The Chief Minister said hockey is the national game and many masters of the game from the state like legendary Dhyanchand, K D Singh Babu along with other men and women players have made their place in the national team. ovak Djokovic captured a first French Open at the Batra said Junior World Cup was one of the most prestigious 12th time, becoming just the third man in history tournament and best 16 teams of the world would participate Nto hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time. in it. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 76 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS The countries that will participate in the Junior World Cup, Meanwhile, Japanese women’s doubles players include hosts India, Argentina, Autralia, Austria, Belgium, MisakiMatsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi edged China’s Canada, Egypt, England, Pakistan, Germany, Japan, Korea, Tang Yuanting and Yu Yang 21-15, 8-21, 21-15 to lift their Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain. first Indonesian Open title. The competition would be aired live in 100 countries of the The Japanese pair walked away with a prize of $71,000 world. U.S. dollars while the Chinese duo earned $34,000. SHUTTLERS CHONG WEI, TAI TZU BAG Ayaka said the victory came after they well adjusted their SINGLES TITLES AT INDONESIA OPEN, game in the one hour and six minute final. 06 JUNE 2016 In the mixed doubles final, Chinese pair of Xu Chen and Ma Jin successfully defended their title as they defeated South Korean Ko Sung Hyun and Kim Ha Na 21-15, 16-21, 21-13 in 58 minutes. ROHAN BOPANNA OFFICIALLY ENTERS TOP-10, SECURES DIRECT ENTRY FOR RIO 2016 OLYMPICS, 06 JUNE 2016

eteran Malaysian shuttler Lee Chong Wei and Chinese Taipei’s rising star Tai Tzu Ying won Vthe men’s singles and women’s singles titles respectively in the Indonesia Open Superseries. ndian tennis star Rohan Bopanna officially returned to Chong Wei came from behind to beat Danish fifth seed Jan top-10 in the ATP ranking doubles chart, securing a direct Jorgensen 17-21, 21-19, 21-17 in an hour and 13 minutes entry into the men’s doubles event of the Rio Olympic for his sixth Indonesia Open crown. I Games. After exiting the French Open at quarterfinal stage, Jorgensen, the 5th seed, said he was disappointed for the Bopanna needed defending champions Marcelo Melo and defeat because he could have won the game if he had grabbed to lose in the semi-finals to return to top-10. the crucial point in the second game, reports Xinhua. As Melo and Dodig lost, Bopanna gained a position to be World No.2 Chong Wei didn’t attend the press conference ranked 10 in the doubles chart issued . Veteran Leander as he had to rush to the airport to catch his flight. The former Paes, who also made the quarterfinals, gained five places to World No.1 pocketed $67,500 for the title, with runner-up be placed 46 now. Jorgensen receiving $34,200 dollars. Bopanna being a top-10 player not only gets a direct entry but Chong Wei now has a 15-1 advantage in career meetings also has the choice to pick his partner for the men’s doubles against World No.5 Jorgensen. The Danish shuttler’s only event irrespective of his ranking. The next best players in win came in 2009 at the China Open. the doubles for India are Purav Raja (103) DivijSharan (114), SakethMyneni (125), JeevanNedunchezhiyan (134) In the women’s singles contest, Tai stunned former and Mahesh Bhupathi (164). world champion Yihan Wang of China 21-17, 21-8 in just 34 minutes at the landmark badminton stadium of In the singles, out-of-action Yuki Bhambri has now slipped IstoraSenayan. six more places to 147 and is followed by Saketh (150) and RamkumarRamanathan (224). World No.9 Tai, 21, now leads 5-3 against No.3 Yihan in a head-to-head record. In the women’s doubles chart, SaniaMirza continued to be joint world number one with Swiss partner Martina Hingis. In the men’s doubles final, South Korea’s Lee Yong Dae and YooYeonSeong defeated China’s Chai Biao and Hong Wei PrarthanaThombare was second-highest ranked player at 13-21, 21-13, 21-16 in an hour and 13 minutes. number 209. In the singles, Ankita Raina dropped out of top-300 as she lost 10 spots to be 306. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 77 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS DETHRONES MARIA BRAZIL TO HOST COPA AMERICA 2019, SHARAPOVA AS WORLD’S HIGHEST PAID 08 JUNE 2016 FEMALE ATHLETE, 07 JUNE 2016

ONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez has let slip that Brazil will host the Copa America in 2019. CThe South American giants, who staged the 2014 erena Williams may have come off second best in the World Cup, were widely expected to be named as hosts but final of the French Open, but she has claimed the top no official confirmation had been made. Brazil were set to spot in terms of being the world’s highest paid female S host the 2015 edition of the tournament but Chile, next on athlete. CONMEBOL’s alphabetical rotation policy, were chosen According to Forbes magazine, Williams has beaten out instead due to the fact that Brazil were hosting the 2013 fellow tennis player for the number one Confederations Cup, 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic spot. Games. Williams’ overtaking ends Sharapova’s 11-year run atop the The United States been great hosts, just like Chile were last list, as she earned US$28.9 million (NZ$41.9M) over the year and like Brazil will be in 2019. past 12 months. Brazil have an excellent history when it comes to hosting American mixed martial arts star Ronda Rousey owns the the Copa America, having won all four editions (1919, third spot on the list at US$14M (NZ$20.2M) after a jump 1922, 1949 and 1989) that it has staged. from eighth last year, just ahead of fourth placed NASCAR GERMAN STAR MESUTOZIL ANNOUNCED driver Danica Patrick who earned US$13.9M (NZ$20.1M). AS LAUREUS AMBASSADOR, 09 JUNE 2016 The rest of the women’s top ten is made up of tennis players, including Spain’s newly crowned French Open champion GarbineMuguruza (US$7.6 million, NZ$11M). HERO MOTOCORP TO BE TITLE SPONSOR OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY HOCKEY, 07 JUNE 2016 India’s two-wheeler manufacturing major Hero MotoCorp Ltd will be the title sponsor of the men’s Hockey Champions Trophy 2016 which will be held in London from June 10- 17. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed ust days before the start of the European Championship, that Hero MotoCorp Ltd. will be the title sponsor of the Germany and Arsenal’s star midfielder Mesut Ozil was prestigious tournament. Jannounced as Laureus Sport for Good Ambassador. The event will be called the ‘Hero Hockey. This is the latest Ozil took time out of his preparations to inspire young agreement between Hero and FIH as part of the Hockey people from the Laureus-supported KICK FOR MORE Revolution’s major initiative aimed at securing commercial project. partners who share the 10-year strategy’s vision -- to make In 2013, Ozil signed for Arsenal, where he currently plays hockey a global game that inspires the next generation. and regularly tops the assist charts. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 78 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS MARIA SHARAPOVA BANNED FOR TWO The arbiters declared Visakh (ELO 2400) as the champion YEARS FOR DOPING, 09 JUNE 2016 on a better tie-break as he drew with Ghosh in 16 moves. Gusain also finished on 8 points after a final round win over IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni. ABHINAV BINDRA CHOSEN AS INDIA’S FLAGBEARER AT RIO 2016 OLYMPICS, 11 JUNE 2016

aria Sharapova has been suspended for two years by the International Tennis Federation for testing lympic champion shooter Abhinav Bindra was Mpositive for at the Australian Open. chosen as the flagbearer of the Indian contingent The five-time Grand Slam champion was provisionally Oat the Rio Games’ opening ceremony on August 5. suspended by the International Tennis Federation in early The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) confirmed that they March, when she announced at a news conference in Los have chosen the 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medallist as the Angeles that she failed a doping test in January. country’s flagbearer for the quadrennial extravaganza. Sharapova said, she was not aware that the World Anti- Bindra will be making his fifth olympic appearance this year. Doping Agency had barred athletes from using meldonium, Alongside star boxer Vijender Singh, tennis legend Leander also known as mildronate, as of January 1. Paes and decorated grappler Sushil Kumar, Bindra’s name N R VISAKH BECOMES FIRST INDIAN TO was under consideration prior to the 2012 London Games WIN MAYOR’S CHESS, 10 JUNE 2016 too, before the IOA gave the honour to the double Olympic medallist wrestler. The 33-year-old is till date India’s only individual gold medallist at the Olympics. The usually reserved shooter achieved the feat when he clinched a historic gold in 10-metre air rifle event at the Beijing Games in 2008. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) expressed its delight at the development. Winner of numerous medals at top international competitions including World Championships, World Cups, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, Bindra is also one of the goodwill ambassadors of the Indian contingent amil Nadu teenager and International Master N R for the Rio Games and is working towards inspiring the Visakh created history by becoming the first Indian athletes to give their best in the Brazilian city this summer. Tto clinch the Mumbai Mayor’s International Open INDIAN MEN BREAK 18-YEAR-OLD Chess Tournament and lead a top-three sweep. NATIONAL RECORD IN 4X400M RELAY, The 17-year-old Visakh drew his final round match with 13 JUNE 2016 fellow-Indian and GM Diptayan Ghosh and was tied for the he Indian men’s 4x400m relay team created a new top place on 8 points with Ghosh and Chandigarh’s Himal national record, clocking 3:02.17 at the International Gusain in a three-way tie. TSprint and Relay Teams Cup. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 79 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SPORTS They bettered the previous record of 3:02.62 set at the 1998 DUTCH FOOTBALL STAR JOHN ARNE RIISE Asian Games in Bangkok. ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT, 14 JUNE 2016 Meanwhile, the Indian women’s 4x400m relay team, who are the reigning Asian Games champion and record-holder, clocked 3:30.16 and jumped to world No 12 in the rankings, to emerge as strong contenders for a qualification berth for the 2016 Olympic Games. Earlier, the Indian team management decided to field two teams each in both the relay events for more options. The men’s second team (B team) clocked 3:06.61 while the women’s second team (B team) finished with a timing of 3:34.45. As per the IAAF regulations, only the top-16 teams as per qualification norms and world rankings under a stipulated period, will be eligible for participation in the relay events ormer Liverpool star John Arne Riise, who also at the Rio Olympic Games. played for Delhi Dynamos FC, has announced his LEWIS HAMILTON WINS 2016 FORMULA 1 Fretirement from professional football. CANADIAN GRAND PRIX, 13 JUNE 2016 The 35-year-old confirmed the news, following a hugely successful career that lasted 20 years. Riise joined Delhi Dynamos F.C. After a hugely successful stints at Monaco, Liverpool, Roma and Fulham. In the seven years at the Anfield, he cemented his reputation as arguably the best left-back during his time at the Premier League. DHONI BECOMES FIRST INDIAN KEEPER TO COMPLETE 350 ODI DISMISSALS, 15 JUNE 2016

ewis Hamilton has closed to within nine points of Nico Rosberg’s world championship lead after Lbeating Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to victory in a tense Canadian Grand Prix.

For the fifth time in nine starts in Montreal, Hamilton imited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni became emerged victorious but was pushed hard by a two-stopping the first Indian wicket keeper and fourth in the world Vettel after the German stormed past both Mercedes cars Lto complete 350 dismissals in One-Day International and into the lead of the race at the start. (ODI) cricket. Rosberg finished only fifth, meaning his advantage over Playing in his 278th match, Dhoni has taken 261 catches Hamilton has shrunk from 43 to nine points in just two and effected 89 stumpings. races. Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara leads the list with 482 The championship leader dropped to 10th on the opening dismissals followed by Australian Adam Gilchrist and lap after banging wheels with Hamilton as they went side- South African Mark Boucher with 472 and 424 dismissals by-side into Turn One behind the fast-starting Vettel. respectively.

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TM @Mahendra’s 80 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES SCIENCE INDIA SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRES SCIENCE Burning Topics of the Month ‘NUCLEAR CAPABLE’ PRITHVI-II MISSILE FROM ODISHA, 18 MAY 2016 1. Australia researches build world’s 1st scanning helium microscope. 2. MoU b/w ISRO and United Arab Emirates Space Agency. 3. China Launches 23rd BeiDiu Navigation Satellite.

INDIA SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRES INDIGENOUS ADVANCED AIR DEFENCE INTERCEPTOR MISSILE, ASHWIN, ndia successfully test-fired its indigenously-developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile as part of a user trial 16 MAY 2016 Iby the army from a test range at Chandipur in Odisha. The trial of the surface-to-surface missile was carried out from a mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR). With a strike range of 350 km, the Prithvi-II is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines. It uses advanced inertial guidance system with maneuvering trajectory to hit its target. The missile was randomly chosen from the production ndia successfully test fired an indigenously developed stock and the entire launch activities were carried out Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile, Ashwin. It by the specially formed strategic force command (SFC) Iwas launched from the complex of Abdul Kalam Island and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research and (formerly known as Wheeler Island) off Odisha coast. Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of training exercise. The advanced version of low altitude supersonic ballistic AUSTRALIAN RESEARCHERS BUILD interceptor missile was fired at a ballistic missile, a WORLD’S FIRST SCANNING HELIUM modified version of Prithvi weapon system. It was test MICROSCOPE, 18 MAY 2016 fired to validate various parameters of the interceptor in flight mode. Ashwin is capable of destroying any incoming hostile ballistic missile. Indigenously developed by DRDO, the ADD interceptor missile is a 7.5-meter long single-stage solid rocket propelled guided missile equipped with a navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electro- mechanical activator. It weighs around 1.2 tonnes and has a diameter of less than 0.5 meter. With this, India became the fourth country to have successfully developed this anti-ballistic missile system. The other three are United States, Russia and Israel. This he World-first scanning helium microscopehas been development now strengthens India’s position in the very built by Australian researchers who feel it could exclusive Ballistic Missile Defence club of the three T“open doors” for many new discoveries by allowing countries. scientists to scrutinize materials without disturbing them. The success is likely to pave the way for the supersonic Paul Dastoor of University of Newcastle who has been interceptor missile’s induction in the armed forces. The working on the scanning helium microscope (SHeM) for test was the twelfth test of interceptor missiles fired from a two decades said the new microscope will enable scientists warship in the Bay of Bengal near Paradip. Of the 11 tests to study human, animal and plant samples, as well as held earlier, nine have been successful. computer chips and pharmaceutical drugs, without damaging Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 81 NEWS BYTES SCIENCE or changing them. He said the scanning helium microscope MOU BETWEEN INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH means the samples will be analysed in their true state for ORGANISATION AND THE UNITED ARAB the first time ever and every time a new microscope was EMIRATES SPACE AGENCY, 26 MAY 2016 developed there had been enormous scientific advances. SWADESHI TESTS, ISRO’S ‘MISSION ACCOMPLISHED’, 23 MAY 2016

he Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum Tof Understanding (MoU) signed between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the United Arab ndia successfully tested its first-ever swadeshi or Emirates Space Agency (UAESA) for cooperation in the indigenous space shuttle today as its scale model - the exploration and user of outer space for peaceful purposes. IRe-Usable Launch Vehicle - Technology Demonstrator The MoU would result in setting up a Joint Working Group or RLV-TD - was launched from Sriharikota in Andhra with members from ISRO and UAESA, which will further Pradesh. Nearly 20 minutes after its lift-off, the Indian work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced, “mission means of implementing this MoU. accomplished”. INDIA TO GET NEW INDIGENOUSLY-BUILT Background: SUPERCOMPUTER NEXT YEAR, 25 MAY 2016 Promoting space cooperation between India and UAE was highlighted during the visit of Prime Minister of India to UAE in August 2015 and also at the 11th meeting of India-UAE Joint Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation held at New Delhi in September 2015. Subsequently, a delegation from UAESA visited ISRO technical facilities on September 16, 2015 and discussed on the avenues of building space cooperation including signing of a MoU. Accordingly, ISRO and UAESA, considering their mutual interest in expanding the applications of space technology for peaceful purposes signed a MoU in New ndia will get an indigenously-built supercomputer Delhi on February 11, 2016. next year as part of the government’s Rs 4,500-crore CHINA TO LAUNCH FIRST QUANTUM Iprogramme aimed at taking India into an elite league of COMMUNICATION SATELLITE, 30 MAY 2016 nations who have made advancements in the field. hina will launch its first quantum communication The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing satellite in July to improve the security of data (CDAC) that built India’s first supercomputer, Param , is Ctransmission and thwart hackers. handling the project, said Ashutosh Sharma, secretary in the It will be the first quantum communication through a ministry of science and technology. satellite in the world. Quantum communication boasts ultra- The new supercomputers will be kept in different institutes high security as a quantum photon can neither be separated across the country. The supercomputer can be used for various nor duplicated. purposes like climate modeling, weather forecast, discoveries The CAS’s project includes the launch of a satellite and of drugs among others. Currently, countries like the US, Japan, building of four ground stations for quantum communication China and the European Union account for a major share of the and one space quantum teleportation experiment station. top supercomputing machines in the world. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 82 NEWS BYTES SCIENCE NASA SPOTS GIANT CORONAL HOLE ON SUN, 01 JUNE 2016

Upon completion, the satellite will be able to establish quantum optical links simultaneously with two ground bases thousands of kilometres apart, state-run. Chinese scientists have taken five years to develop and manufacture the first quantum satellite. It will be transported to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in June ASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has spotted a CHINA LAUNCHES THREE SATELLITES, giant dark area on the upper half of the Sun known 31 MAY 2016 Nas a coronal hole. Coronal holes are areas on the Sun where the solar magnetic field extends up and out into interplanetary space, sending solar material speeding out in a high-speed stream of solar wind. Scientists study these fast solar wind streams because they sometimes interact with Earth’s magnetic field, creating what is called a geomagnetic storm, which can expose satellites to radiation and interfere with communications signals. Coronal holes are low-density regions of the Sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona. They contain little solar material and have lower temperatures, thus appearing much darker than their surroundings, researchers said. Coronal holes are visible in certain types of extreme ultraviolet light, which is typically invisible to our eyes. hina successfully launched a new civilian high- These coronal holes are important to understand the space resolution mapping satellite along with two other environment around Earth through which technology and Cforeign satellites . astronauts travel, NASA said. The Ziyuan III 02 satellite took off on the back of a Long Coronal holes are the source of a high-speed wind of solar March 4B rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre particles that streams off the Sun around three times faster in northern Shanxi Province. than the slower wind elsewhere. It was the 228th flight mission by a Long March carrier While it is unclear what causes coronal holes, they correlate rocket. to areas on the Sun where magnetic fields soar up and All three satellites have entered the preset , the Taiyuan away, without looping back down to the surface, as they do centre said in a statement. elsewhere, researchers said. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 83 NEWS BYTES SCIENCE SCIENTISTS UNLOCK X-FILES DNA CHINA LAUNCHES 23rd BEIDOU MYSTERY, 07 JUNE 2016 NAVIGATION SATELLITE, 13 JUNE 2016

cientists have unlocked a crucial part of the mystery as to how our DNA can replicate and repair itself, Ssomething which is essential for all life forms. The new research, conducted by leading scientists at the University of Sheffield in the UK, has revealed how branched DNA molecules are removed from the iconic hina launched a satellite to support its global double-helical structure, a process which scientists have navigation and positioning network on June 12. been looking to unlock for over 20 years. CThe satellite, launched from the Xichang Satellite In reality, far from being of alien origin, branched DNA Launch Centre in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, was is formed every day in our bodies. It happens every time taken into orbit by a Long March-3C carrier rocket. our cells divide. These branches are essential intermediates formed during the process of copying our DNA. It is the 23rd satellite in the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), which is being developed as an alternative The interdisciplinary team from the University’s to US GPS. Departments of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, and Molecular Biology and Biotechnology It was the 229th launch of the Long March carrier rocket. captured never-before- seen snapshots of the molecular The satellite, after entering its designed work orbit and events in incredible detail. finishing in-orbit testing, will join others already in orbit They show how Flap Endo Nuclease enzymes (FENs) trim and improve the stability of the system, preparing for BDS branched DNA molecules after cells have divided. to offer global coverage.

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TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 84 NEWS BYTES MISCELLANEOUS ndia is projected to add 300 million new urban residents Burning Topics of the Month MISCELLANEOUS by 2050 and it will need to build climate-friendly Icities to address the challenge of accommodating the needs of the growing population, a UN report has said. The first ‘World Cities Report 2016 - Urbanisation and 1. India ranks 3rd in ‘Renewable Energy Development: Emerging Futures’ report by UN Habitat Country Attractiveness Index. said in India, urban areas already contribute more than 60 2. Taj Mahal in top 5 tourist attractions globally. per cent of the GDP and an extra 300 million new urban 3. India 5th largest producer of e-waste. residents are projected by 2050, leading to a call by the Indian government to build 100 new cities over the period. The report said that central to this challenge are the twin INDIA RANKS 3RD IN ‘RENEWABLE ENERGY bottlenecks of municipal finance and infrastructure finance COUNTRY ATTRACTIVENESS INDEX’, for transport, electricity, communications, water supply and 16 MAY 2016 sanitation in support of production. Large South-Asian countries like Bangladesh, India and Pakistan feature massive, expanding urban populations in mega- cities such as Dhaka, Mumbai, Delhi, Karachi and Lahore as well as in growing number of secondary cities, it said. The report further said that as the world recovers from the global recession, cities in emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil have become major sites for business investment, presenting global companies with unprecedented opportunities for research and development. TAJ MAHAL IN TOP 5 TOURIST ATTRACTIONS GLOBALLY: SURVEY, ndia’s renewable energy sector has been ranked third 19 MAY 2016 in the Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index I(RECAI) with China at second and the US on top. The so-called emerging markets now represent half the countries in the 40-strong index, including four African markets featuring in the top 30. Just a decade ago, only China and India were attractive enough to compete with more developed markets for investment. While the top three countries maintained their ranking, Chile, Brazil and Mexico climbed higher in the index to be ranked in the top 10 at the fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively. Germany at fifth and France at eighth fell in the latest ranking. INDIA PROJECTED TO ADD 300 MILLION URBAN RESIDENTS BY 2050: UN, 18 MAY 2016 onsidered one of the most iconic wonders of the world, the TajMahal has been voted among the top Cfive tourist attractions in the world, second in Asia and led the popularity list in India, according to a leading travel planning and booking site Trip Advisor. The iconic ‘monument of love’ is ranked number 5 in the global list of the recently released TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Landmarks Awards, which put Machu Picchu in Peru and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi as the top two destinations for travellers. The TajMahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 85 NEWS BYTES MISCELLANEOUS U’KHAND GUV RELEASES BOOK FOR roughly 18.5 lakh metric tonnes of electronic waste each TEACHING VISUALLY CHALLENGED, year, with telecom equipment alone accounting for 12 per 24 MAY 2016 cent of the e-waste. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified e-waste management rules, 2016, in which producers are for the first time covered under Extended Producers’ Responsibility (EPR). The rules prescribe a waste collection target of 30 per cent waste generated under EPR for the first two years, progressively going up to 70 per cent in the seventh year of the rule. The rules prescribe stringent financial penalties for ttarakhand governor K K Paul released a resource non-compliance. However, the study said the unorganised book for teachers engaged in educating visually sector in India is estimated to handle around 95 per cent of Uchallenged persons. the e-waste produced in the country. Given the huge user base and vast reach of telecom in India, it is practically Paul stated during the release function at Raj Bhavan that difficult and expensive for the handset manufacturers to the book would prove to be very useful for professionals achieve the targets prescribed in the rules from first year, who are teaching visually challenged children and youth. the study added. The book was prepared by the National Institute for the HDFC AMONG WORLD’S TOP 10 CONSUMER Visually Handicapped (NIVH) in collaboration with experts FINANCIAL SERVICES FIRMS, 27 MAY 2016 on the matter. The Governor appreciated the efforts of the institute and those involved in the creation of the book. INDIA FIFTH LARGEST PRODUCER OF E-WASTE: STUDY, 26 MAY 2016

ortgage lender HDFC Ltd has been ranked among the world’s ten biggest and most powerful Mcompanies in the consumer financial services sector on a Forbes list topped by global major American Express. Ranked 7th, HDFC is the only Indian company in top-ten ith more than 100 crore mobile phones in in this category, where others include Capital One ,Visa and circulation, nearly 25 per cent end up in e-waste MasterCard. Wannually. In the overall list of the world’s 2,000 largest and most India, which has emerged as the world’s second largest powerful public companies compiled by Forbes, HDFC mobile market, is also the fifth largest producer of e-waste, is ranked 404th while it is at tenth position among Indian discarding roughly 18.5 lakh tonnes of electronic waste firms. each year, a study says. There are total 56 Indian companies on the list, with Acco. to Assocham-KPMG the telecom equipment alone Reliance Industries ranked highest among them. It is at accounts for 12 per cent of the e-waste. 121st place globally. Matter of concern For the oil and gas sector, RIL is ranked 9th while the top- The rising levels of e-waste generation in India have been a ranked firm is Exon Mobil of the US. matter of concern in recent years. With more than 100 crore SADHGURU TO LEAD YOGA SESSION AT UN mobile phones in circulation, nearly 25 per cent end up in ON 2nd INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY, e-waste annually, it said. 28 MAY 2016 Acco.to the study,India has surely emerged as the second piritual leader and Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru largest mobile market with 1.03 billion subscribers, but also JaggiVasudev will lead a yoga session at the UN on the fifth largest producer of e-waste in the world, discarding Sthe occasion of the second International Yoga Day. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 86 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES MISCELLANEOUS INDIA TOPS GLOBAL SLAVERY INDEX WITH 18.35 MILLION PEOPLE ENSLAVED, 31 MAY 2016

The International Yoga Day will be commemorated on June 21 and this year’s focus will be on the theme of Yoga for the Sustainable Development Goals. India’s Permanent Mission to the UN said Sadhguru will lead the yoga session at the international yoga day in the premises of the world body’s headquarters. The first International Yoga Day was commemorated at the ndia has the dubious distinction of having the highest UN with aplomb last year, with External Affairs Minister number of people in the world trapped in modern SushmaSwaraj leading the celebrations along with UN Islavery with 18.35 million victims of forced labour, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi ranging from prostitution and begging, according to a new Shankar and US Congresswoman TulsiGabbard. report, which estimated that nearly 46 million people are enslaved globally. Ban and his wife had joined hundreds of students and yoga practitioners to perform asanas and mediate during the According to the 2016 Global Slavery Index released by event. Australia-based human rights group Walk Free Foundation , an estimated 45.8 million people, including women and Apart from the Yoga day commemoration by the Indian children, are subject to some form of modern slavery in the mission in the UN, several events have been planned across world, compared to 35.8 million in 2014. the city by various organizations. MADHAVAN IS GOODWILL AMBASSADOR The report said India has the highest absolute numbers of AGAINST LEPROSY, 30 MAY 2016 people trapped in slavery with 18.35 million slaves among its 1.3 billion population while North Korea has the highest incidence, 4.37 per cent of the population, and the weakest government response to deal with it. In the last report in 2014, India had nearly 14.3 million people enslaved. Incidences of slavery were found in all 167 countries in the index, with Asian countries occupy the top five for people trapped in slavery. Behind India was China (3.39 million), Pakistan (2.13 million), Bangladesh (1.53 million) and Uzbekistan (1.23 million). The index said that these five countries combined accounted for almost 58 per cent of the world’s enslaved, or 26.6 million people. The Index presents a ranking of 167 countries based on ollywood Actor R Madhavan feels proud to be the proportion of the population that is estimated to be the goodwill ambassador for the the LEPRA India in modern slavery. Modern slavery refers to situations of Borganisation that fights against diseases like leprosy exploitation that a person cannot leave because of threats, and tuberculosis. violence, coercion and abuse of power or deception. Madhavan tweeted that he feels proud to be a goodwill The research included over 42,000 interviews conducted in ambassador for LEPRA India spreading the word that 53 languages across 25 countries, including 15 state-level leprosy is curable and no one needs to live with it. surveys in India. These representative surveys covered 44 per cent of the global population. The countries with the LEPRA India is a non-government organisation working highest estimated prevalence of modern slavery by the in the fields of leprosy, tuberculosis, malaria, HIV or AIDS proportion of their population are North Korea, Uzbekistan, and community health. Cambodia, Cambodia, India, and Qatar. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 87 NEWS BYTES MISCELLANEOUS INDIA AMONG 10 RICH COUNTRIES BUT 2 INDIAN-ORIGIN WOMEN IN FORBES’ AVERAGE INDIAN QUITE POOR: REPORT, SELF-MADE AMERICAN WOMEN LIST, 01 JUNE 2016 02 JUNE 2016

wo Indian-origin women have featured on the Forbes’ annual list of America’s 60 wealthiest and Tmost successful self-made women entrepreneurs who have “crashed ceilings through invention and innovation”. India-born NeerjaSethi, who co-founded IT consulting and outsourcing firm Syntel with her husband Bharat Desai, is ranked 16th on ‘America’s Richest Self-made Women’ list ndia has been ranked among the 10 wealthiest countries while president and CEO of Arista Networks Jayshree Ullal globally with total individual wealth of $5,200 billion, (55) is ranked 30th. According to Forbes, the richest self- but this is largely owing to its large population, a report I made woman in America is Diane Hendricks, the owner of said, adding that on a per capita basis, the average Indian ABC Supply, the largest wholesale distributor of roofing is “quite poor” . According to the report by New World and siding in the country. Hendricks is now worth USD Wealth, India has been ranked seventh in the list of top 10 4.9 billion, USD 1.2 billion more than last year when she wealthiest countries in the world, which was topped by was ranked second. The second annual tally of America’s the United States with total individual wealth of $48,700 wealthiest, most successful self-made women includes 60 billion. Acco.to report ,India only makes the W10 (10 trailblazers 10 more than last year. wealthiest) due to its large population. On a per capita basis, the average Indian is quite poor, adding that over the past 15 The 60 women, who are worth a combined USD 53 billion, years the country grew “strongly”. have created some of the nation’s best known brands such as Gap and Spanx, while a number of them have also helped China was the fastest growing W10 country over the past 15 build some of the most successful companies in tech, years (2000-2015). Australia and India also grew strongly. including Facebook, eBay and Google. Moreover, India has overtaken Italy this past year. Australia and Canada are expected to overtake Italy in the next couple Ms. Sethi (61) has a net worth of USD 1.1 billion. Her of years. company employs more than 25,000 people and boasts a recent market capof USD 3.6 billion. Other countries in the top five list are China in the second position with a total individual wealth of $17,300 billion, She is currently the vice president of corporate affairs, a Japan (3rd, $15,200 billion), Germany (4th, $9,400 billion) role she has had since the company’s inception. She also and (5th, $9,200 billion). sits on the board of directors alongside her husband, who remains the chairman. The other nations in the list include France at the 6th place with total individual wealth of $7,600 billion, Italy (8th, Born in London, raised in New Delhi, Ullal has a net worth $5,000 billion), Canada (9th, $4,800 billion) and Australia of USD 470 million. She became president and CEO of (10th, $4,500 billion). Australia’s ranking is impressive Arista Networks in 2008, when it had no revenues and considering it only has 22 million people living there. fewer than 50 employees. The company reported USD 838 million in revenue in 2015, after going public in June 2014. ‘Total individual wealth’ refers to the private wealth held by all the individuals in each country. The report defines The youngest person in the ranks is 26-year-old singer and ‘wealth’ as the net assets of a person. It includes all their pop icon Taylor Swift, who made her debut at number 60 assets (property, cash, equity, business interests) less any with a net worth of USD 50 million, thanks to her 1989 liabilities. The report excludes government funds from its World Tour, which grossed a quarter of a billion dollars last figures. year. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 88 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES MISCELLANEOUS NO POLITICS, SAYS SONIA AT INDIRA BOOK It said the size of the India’s black economy expanded LAUNCH, 03 JUNE 2016 rapidly over the 1970s and 1980s, but since then had been contracting at a gradual pace and is now estimated at around 20 per cent of the country’s GDP. The term ‘black economy’ typically refers to the economic activities outside formal banking channels and include cash transactions in high-value assets like gold and real estate. Given that India’s GDP in calender year 2016 is expected to be $2.3 trillion, the size of India’s black economy is about $460 billion (over Rs 30 lakh crore), which is larger than the stated GDP of emerging markets like Thailand and Argentina. INDIA JUMPS 13 POSITIONS TO RANK 2nd ON GRD INDEX ON EASE OF DOING BUSINESS: STUDY, 06 JUNE 2016

he book, The Unseen Indira Gandhi — Through Her Physician’s Eyes is written by Dr K P Mathur, Twho was Indira’s physician. The 92-year-old has chronicled 20 years of his personal experience with the former Prime Minister — a rare personal account of Indira. Mathur said many people had the impression that Indira was arrogant but he found her to be very pleasant, caring and ready to listen. BLACK ECONOMY SHRINKING, STILL EXCEEDS THAILAND’S GDP: AMBIT CAPITAL, 06 JUNE 2016

ndia has jumped 13 positions from last year to rank second among 30 developing countries this year on Iease of doing business, according to a study topped by China. According to 2016 Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), which ranks top 30 developing countries for retail investment worldwide, a pick up in GDP growth and better clarity regarding FDI regulations have helped india achieve egging India’s ‘black economy’ at over Rs 30 lakh a second ranking. crore or about 20 per cent of total GDP , a new study “India’s strong ranking reflects foreigner retailers’ increased Psays it has been contracting gradually over the years optimism in its retail market and its vast growth potential,” but still remains bigger than the overall economic size of said Debashish Mukherjee, a partner with A T Kearney countries like Thailand and Argentina . and co-head of the Consumer Industries & Retail Products Besides, a crackdown on black money has made the cost of Practice for India and Southeast Asia. capital costlier in the black economy with the lending rates India has relaxed several key Foreign Direct Investment having risen to as high as 34 per cent, from about 24 per (FDI) regulations in single-brand retail and this has paved cent a year ago, as per the study by Ambit Capital Research. the way for multinational firms to enter the market. The study said that the crackdown has had some “unintended India’s retail sector has expanded at a compound annual consequences” in form of an increase in preference for cash growth rate of 8.8% between 2013 and 2015, with annual in its physical form and a notable decline in the usage of sales crossing the US $1 trillion mark, according to A T formal banking channels with record low deposit growth Kearney, a London-based business consultancy. which may keep the GDP growth rate flat this year. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 89 NEWS BYTES MISCELLANEOUS DIAMIRZA NAMED AMBASSADOR FOR uwahati, Assam become the first city in the country SWACHH SAATHI PROGRAMME, to have its own city animal with the Kamrup 06 JUNE 2016 Gmetropolitan district administration declaring the Gangetic River dolphin as its mascot. In a press conference, Kamrup metropolitan deputy commissioner, M Angamuthu, said that the animal, locally known as ‘Sihu’, would be the ‘city animal’ of Guwahati. The district administration had organised online and off- line voting among three protected creatures, which are on the verge of extinction, to decide the mascot. Along with Gangetic River dolphin, the other two animals were black softshell turtle (BorKaso) and greater adjutant stork (Hargila).

ctress DiaMirza has been named the ambassador While fewer than 2,000 Gangetic River dolphins remain in for Swachh Bharat’s youth based SwachhSaathi the Brahmaputra along Guwahati, a recent survey said only (student internship) programme. a small population of Black Softshell Turtle were found in A the river and its tributaries. “Swachh Bharat is amongst the most important initiatives taken up by the government and she believe that the Swachh The three-month long voting process attracted 60,003 Saathi programme will be an extremely important part of participants to decide the city animal and Gangetic River our dream to realise a clean, healthy and environmentally dolphin received 24,247 votes. conscious youth and country,” Dia said in a statement. Along with the Kamrup metropolitan district administration, Under the programme more than 2000 interns would be other organisations such as the Assam forest department, enrolled, who would coordinate with around 10,000 schools Assam state biodiversity bard and an NGO, Help Earth across the country and ensure that all students in these worked closely to decide the city animal. schools take the pledge for Clean India. INDIAN, SOUTH KOREAN COAST GUARDS TO JOINTLY HOLD NAVAL EXERCISE, Dia is a youth icon and has been an active campaigner for 07 JUNE 2016 Swachh Bharat. Authorities felt that she would be the best person to help us reach out to more youngsters. The aim he coast guards of India and South Korea will hold a behind this is to make it a viral youth led movement. joint exercise ‘Sshyog-Hyeoblyeog-2016’ in Bay of TBengal off Chennai from June 8 to 11. As the brand ambassador, Dia would be interacting with thousands of school and college students from across the Korea Coast Guard ship 3009 will participate in the exercise, country through awareness sessions, community cleaning whose highlights encompass an anti piracy scenario wherein activities and motivational videos. the hijacked. GUWAHATI BECOMES FIRST CITY TO HAVE Vessel is subsequently rescued in a combined operation of ‘CITY ANIMAL’, 07 JUNE 2016 both coast guards, the interdiction of the pirate vessel, a joint boarding operation and other exercises. The exercise would be jointly witnessed by the Indian Coast Guard’s Director General Rajendra Singh, and his counterpart, Korea Coast Guard’s Commissioner General Hong Ik-tae. During their stay, the South Korean delegation would be calling on important dignitaries in Chennai. KENNETH COLE NAMED UNAIDS INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL AMBASSADOR, 08 JUNE 2016 ashion designer and AIDS activist Kenneth Cole was named an international goodwill ambassador by the Fhead of the U.N.’s AIDS-fighting organization. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 90 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES MISCELLANEOUS a payment aggregator service, among others. Under her leadership, SBI grew its network to around 17,000 branches and services over 330 million customers with presence in 36 countries. MALABAR-16: INDIA, US, JAPAN TO PLAY WAR GAMES, 09 JUNE 2016

The appointment by UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe came on the eve of the U.N. General Assembly’s high-level meeting on ending AIDS. Cole told reporters at a news conference at U.N. headquarters he hopes to combine his United Nations work with his work at The Foundation for AIDS Research, known as AMFAR, and its goal of finding a cure for the disease by 2020. our Indian naval ships including two stealth frigates ARUNDHATI BHATTACHARYA 5TH MOST and elite Marine Commandos (Marcos) will take POWERFUL WOMAN IN FINANCE: FORBES, part in a trilateral maritime exercise Malabar-16, that 08 JUNE 2016 F will see India, US and Japan playing war games in seas off Japan. The exercise also assumes significance as it is conducted in East Asia at a time when the South China Sea issue is a raging issue in the region. India has deployed two of its multi-role stealth frigates, INS Sahyadri and INS Satpura, equipped with weapons and sensors, missile corvette Kirch and fleet tanker INS Shakti for the exercise. Led by Eastern Fleet commander Rear Admiral S V Bokhare, Sea King- 42B and Chetak helicopters have also been deployed by the India for the military exercise starting from June 10 to 13 in the first phase at Sasebo in Japan. The second phase from June 14 to 17 will be off Okinawa. The US too will participate in the exercise with its full rundhati Bhattacharya , the first woman chairperson might. It also has Ticonderogaclass missile cruiser USS of the nation’s largest bank SBI , has been ranked Mobile Bay, three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and a Aamong the top five most powerful women in finance tanker along with a wide array of aircraft and helicopters. by the Forbes magazine. Japan has deployed its destroyer-cum helicopter carrier JS Bhattacharya has moved up five spots from the previous Hyuga, apart from P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft as year to 5th this year. well as the US-2i ShinMaywa amphibious aircraft, which She is also ranked 25th in Forbes’ list of ‘The World’s 100 it is keen to sell to India. Reacting sharply to India’s move Most Powerful Women’, which features top female leaders, in December last year of including Japan in the Indo-US entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, philanthropists and Malabar naval exercises on a permanent basis, China had CEOs. Bhattacharya has been instrumental in transforming said that Tokyo will not “provoke confrontation” and the over 200 year-old bank into technology-driven lender “heighten tensions” in the region. with SBI in TOUCH digital banking outlet, mobile wallet The US, which had been pushing for Japan’s inclusion, State Bank Buddy, State Bank Anywhere - a retail internet has said the exercise is an important element for assessing banking based application for smartphones, SBI Tech the maritime capabilities of all the three countries. The US Learning Centres for educating customers and SBI e-Pay, has in recent months ramped up its warnings over what Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 91 NEWS BYTES MISCELLANEOUS it calls China’s growing “militarisation” in the region. American warships and aircraft have undertaken number of operations in the region to challenge China’s moves even as the US hopes to stitch Asian military powers into a closer cooperation. The US has also been pushing for a quadrilateral security dialogue involving itself, India, Japan and Australia. INDIA BEATS JAPAN IN OIL USE, ONLY NEXT TO US, CHINA, 09 JUNE 2016

India has moved up two position, from 143rd last year, but the study said the country’s peace score has “deteriorated” over the past year -- which means the slight rise in ranking could be due to worse performance of others. The report said that in the last decade, India’s position has deteriorated when it comes to peace “by 5 per cent largely due to deteriorations in the indicators measuring UN peacekeeping funding and the level of political terror”. Within South Asia, Bhutan was ranked best (13th overall ndia has surpassed Japan to become the world’s third- rank), while India was fifth followed by Pakistan at sixth largest oil consumer, with its oil demand galloping 8.1 (overall 153rd) and Afghanistan at sixth place (global Iper cent in 2015, according to BP Statistical Review of 160th). World Energy released . With demand of 4.1 million barrels INDIAN AMONG TIME MAGAZINE’S 10 per day, India is the third-largest consumer behind US MILLENNIALS CHANGING THE WORLD, (19.39 million bpd) and China (11.96 million bpd). India 09 JUNE 2016 accounted for 4.5 per cent of world oil consumption in 2015. India’s demand growth surpassed China’s 6.3 per cent expansion. US oil consumption grew 1.6 per cent, which accounts for 19.7 per cent of the total world pie of 95 million bpd in 2015. Japan slipped to the fourth spot after its oil usage contracted 3.9 per cent to 4.15 million bpd in 2015. In 2014, it used 4.3 million bpd, ahead of India’s 3.84 million bpd. INDIA RANKS LOW AT 141st PLACE IN GLOBAL PEACE INDEX, 09 JUNE 2016 ndia was ranked at 141st place on a Global Peace Index -- making it less peaceful than countries like Burundi, ISerbia and Burkina Faso -- with violence taking a US $680-billion toll on its economy in 2015. In a ranking of 163 countries, compiled by global think tank Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Syria has been 30-year old Indian entrepreneur has been named by named as the least peaceful, followed by South Sudan, Iraq, Time magazine to its 2016 list of “10 millennials Afghanistan and Somalia. A who are changing the world” for building a phone On the other hand, Iceland was ranked as the world’s most which can help people to interact and access critical services peaceful country, followed by Denmark and Austria. by communicating in their native languages. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 92 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS BYTES MISCELLANEOUS UmeshSachdev has been named by Time to its 2016 list exercise since 1992. Since 2007, the Malabar has been held of “10 millennials who are changing the world” for his alternatively off India and in the Western Pacific. Last year, work on “building a phone that can understand almost any it was conducted off Chennai and included participation of language”. MrSachdev, along with his college friend Ravi Japan. Saraogi, founded Uniphore Software Systems. GLOBAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS: DOWNSIZING The Chennai-based start-up produces software allows BUT MODERNIZING, 14 JUNE 2016 people to interact with their phones and access services such as online banking by communicating in their native languages. Uniphore’s products, which include a virtual assistant that is able to process more than 25 global languages and 150 dialects, are being used by over five million people, mostly in India. Time said through the software, Mr. Sachdev is building bridges and helping hundreds of millions of people cross the divide between the digital and the real world by harnessing the power of speech. Mr. Sachdev found solution to a problem that phones didn’t carry the language of villagers in rural India. MALABAR’16 EXERCISE TAKES PLACE NEAR SOUTH CHINA SEA, 11 JUNE 2016

he Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) launches its annual nuclear forces data, Twhich highlights the current trends and developments in world nuclear arsenals. The data shows that while the overall number of nuclear weapons in the world continues to decline, none of the nuclear weapon-possessing states are prepared to give up their nuclear arsenals for the foreseeable future. At the start of 2016 nine states—the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea—possessed approximately 4,120 operationally deployed nuclear weapons. If all nuclear warheads are counted, these states together possessed a ndia, Japan and the US kicked off their annual naval total of approximately 15,395 nuclear weapons compared war exercise named Malabar Exercise near South China with 15,850 in early . ISea. The 8-day joint exercises will see in action over 100 IIT MADRAS, KANPUR BREAK INTO TOP-50 aircraft and 22 naval ships including a nuclear submarine. IN QS UNIVERSITY RANKINGS ASIA 2016, The exercise assumes significance as it is being conducted 14 JUNE 2016 close to South China Sea at a time when Chinese wo more Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) broke assertiveness in the region is a raging issue. It aims to into the top-50 in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds achieve deeper military ties and greater interoperability T(QS) University Rankings Asia 2016. amid rising tensions in the region. Among Indian universities featuring in the top-50 list in The Indian Navy said that their four ships are participating the QS University Rankings Asia, IIT Bombay and IIT in the 20th edition of the naval exercise in consonance with Madras joined the likes of Indian Institute of Science (IISc) India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and growing ties among the three Bangalore (33), IIT Bombay (35) and IIT Delhi (36). countries. Further, two Indian universities debuted the rankings this India and the US have regularly conducted the annual year — Amrita University, which ranked a joint 169th, and Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 93 NEWS BYTES MISCELLANEOUS

Andhra University, which debuted in the 301st-350th band. The biggest leap among Indian universities was seen by the University of Delhi and the University of Calcutta wherein the former rose by 25 places to 66th, the latter jumped 41 places to 108th. India’s performance as a nation is the 5th- most expensive prime office market in the world, said a new best of the 17 countries that feature in the rankings. With 23 study. Connaught Place was ranked sixth in the previous universities, it is outperformed by Taiwan (34), South Korea CBRE Research’s Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs (54), Japan (72), and China (82). Eleven Indian universities bi-annual survey. score the benchmark score of 100.0 for QS. Global prime office occupancy costs — which reflect rent, In the overall rankings, the National University of Singapore plus local taxes and service charges for the highest-quality, and University of Hong Kong retained their first and second prime office properties — rose 2.4% year-on-year. In Asia positions, respectively, for this year. Pacific, prime office occupancy costs are growing at a faster The QS University Rankings Asia was expanded this pace than average, up 2.7% year-over-year. A few key year to include the region’s 350 best universities and an Southeast Asian markets registered decreases, including expansion of 50 on the previous year. The rankings also saw Singapore and Jakarta. methodological enhancements this year, introducing staff Asia continued to dominate the list of the world’s most with PhD in order to add another dimension to the analyses expensive office locations, accounting for seven of the top of teaching quality their rankings provide. ten markets, according to the survey, Beijing (Finance CONNAUGHT PLACE WORLD’S SEVENTH Street) at $188 per sq. ft.), Beijing (Central Business MOST EXPENSIVE OFFICE MARKET, District (CBD) at $182 per sq. ft and Hong Kong (West 15 JUNE 2016 Kowloon at S$179 per sq. ft rounded out the top five ith occupancy cost of $149.71 (Rs 10,030) per positions. Apart from New Delhi (Connaught Place - CBD), sqft, New Delhi’s Central Business District Tokyo (Marunouchi/Otemachi), and Shanghai (Pudong) W(CBD) of Connaught Place ranks as the seventh also featured in the top ten list.

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TM @Mahendra’s 94 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS

GLOBAL PEACE INDEX 2016 ARTICLE The Global Peace Index Records a Historically Less positions from 143rd rank in 2015 GPI. Key facts from Peaceful and More Unequal World 2016 Global Peace Index Top 10 peaceful countries: Iceland (1st), Denmark (2nd), Austria (3rd), New Zealand (4th), The 2016 Global Peace Index (GPI) shows the world Portugal (5th), Czech Republic (6th), Switzerland (7th), became less peaceful in the last year, reinforcing the Canada (8th), Japan (9th) and Slovenia (10th). Top least underlying trend of declining peace over the last decade. peaceful countries: Pakistan (153rd), Libya (154th), Sudan Three of the five biggest countries declining in peace (155th), (156th), Central African Republic (157th), occurred in the region: Yemen, Libya and Bahrain. Yemen (158th), Somalia (159th), Afghanistan (160th), Iraq (161st), South Sudan (162nd) and Syria (163rd). Among the countries with the largest deteriorations were Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Poland, Burundi, Kazakhstan and India’s neighbours: Bhutan (13th), Nepal (78th), Brazil. Bangladesh (83rd), Sri Lanka (97th), China (120th) and Pakistan (153rd). The terrorism impact indicator had the greatest overall deterioration, with all but two regions recording an increase In year 2016, the economic impact of violence on the over the past decade. While still accounting for a small global economy was around US 13.6 trillion dollars (13.3 percentage of the total number of violent deaths, terrorism % of gross world product). In this year world became a has grown steadily over the past decade. The number of less peaceful mainly on account of increased terrorism and yearly incidents has almost tripled since 2011 and the higher levels of political instability. number of deaths has increased to over 30,000. About Global Peace Index (GPI) GPI is an annual report The majority of terrorist activity is highly concentrated published by the Sydney (Australia) based Institute for in five countries: Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Economics and Peace (IEP) since 2007. Syria. Between them these countries accounted for 78 per GPI uses 22 indicators to measure levels of world peace. cent of deaths from terrorism in 2014. However, there are Indicators range from a nation’s level of military expenditure signs that terrorism is becoming more common across the to its relations with neighboring nations and the percentage globe, with almost every region having an increase in its of prison population in 162 countries. terrorism impact score from 2008 to 2016. It also includes safety and security in society, extent India ranked 141 out of 163 countries on 2016 Global Peace Index June 11, 2016.No comments India was ranked 141 of domestic and international conflict. The IEP is an international and independent think tank dedicated to on a Global Peace Index (GPI) for year 2016 out of 163 draw the world’s attention towards peace as a positive, countries, making it less peaceful country. The GPI ranking achievable, and tangible measure of human well-being and of 163 countries was compiled by global think Institute development. for Economics and Peace (IEP). India has moved up two

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TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 96 NOVAK DJOKOVICAT2016 FRENCH OPEN ARTICLE The was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 115th edition of the French Open and the second Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the from 22 May to 5 June and consisted of events for professional players in singles, doubles and mixed doubles play. Junior and wheelchair players also took part in singles and doubles events. Novak Djokovic won the men’s singles in the 2016 edition. was the defending champion in men’s singles, but he lost to Andy Murray in the semifinals. Serena Williams was the defending champion in the women’s singles, but she lost to GarbiñeMuguruza in the final. withdrew before the tournament due to a knee injury, making this tournament the first Grand Slam The tournament is an event run by the International Tennis he missed since the 2000 Australian Open. Furthermore, Federation (ITF) and is part of the 2016 ATP World Tour nine-time champion withdrew during the and the 2016 WTA Tour calendars under the Grand Slam tournament due to injury, for the first time in his French category. The tournament consists of both men’s and Open career. women’s singles and doubles draws as well as a mixed doubles event. Novak Djokovic’s victory at this tournament in his 20th Grand Slam final completed his career Grand Slam (all There are singles and doubles events for both boys and girls four major tournaments), the eighth man to do so in singles (players under 18), which is part of the Grade A category of and only the fifth career Grand Slam since the start of the tournaments, and singles and doubles events for men’s and Open Era (after Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, women’s wheelchair tennis players as part of the UNIQLO and Rafael Nadal). Djokovic also achieved a non-calendar tour under the Grand Slam category. The tournament was year Grand Slam, where he is the first man since Rod Laver played on clay courts and took place over a series of 22 in 1969 to hold all four major titles at once. The victory courts, including the three main showcourts,Court Philippe by GarbiñeMuguruza was her first Grand Slam win in her Chatrier, Court Suzanne Lenglen and Court 1. second Grand Slam final. Prize money Court Philippe Chatrier, where the Finals of the French The total prize money for the tournament was €32,017,500, Open take place. an increase of 14% compared to the previous edition. The The 2016 French Open is the 115th edition of the French winners of the men’s and women’s singles title receive Open and is held at Stade Roland Garros in Paris. €2,000,000, an increase of €200,000 compared to 2015. A SHORT STORY: CABINET APPROVES SETTING UP OF INDIA POST PAYMENTS BANK The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime financial services like insurance, mutual funds, pensions and Minister NarendraModi has given its approval for setting up access to credit in tie-up with third party financial providers the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) as a Public Limited with special focus on rural areas and the unbanked and Company under the Department of Posts, with 100% under-banked segments. It will generate new employment Government of India (GOI) equity. The total expenditure opportunities for skilled banking professionals and will involved in this project is Rs 800 Crore. All citizens, generate opportunities for propagating financial literacy especially 40% of the country’s population that is outside across the country. It will create the largest bank in the the ambit of formal banking in the country will benefit world in terms of accessibility and in time, will encourage from this project. The project will be rolled out in the entire the move towards a less cash economy. country in a phased manner. Background The IPPB will obtain banking licence from RBI by March Setting-up of the IPPB to further financial inclusion was 2017 and by September 2017, its services will be available one of the budgetary announcements during 2015-16. across the country through 650 payments bank branches, The Department of Posts had obtained the “in-principle linked post offices and alternative channels riding on approval” of the RBI in September 2015 to set up the India modern technology including mobiles, ATMs, PoS/ m-PoS Post Payments Bank. The India Post Payments Bank will devices etc and simple digital payments. The proposal will leverage the Department’s network, reach, and resources further the cause of financial inclusion by providing basic to make simple, low-cost, quality financial services easily banking, payments and remittance services and facilitate accessible to customers all over the country. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 97 PM NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT ARTICLE The first-ever national plan for disaster management, which encompasses a blueprint for making the country disaster-resilient and significantly reducing loss of lives and livelihoods, was unveiled on Wednesday by Prime Minister NarendraModi. The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) provides a framework and direction to the government agencies for all phases of disaster management cycle -- prevention, mitigation, response and recovery. The NDMP is a dynamic document in the sense that it will be periodically improved keeping up with the emerging global best practices and knowledge bases in disaster management. The vision of the plan is to make India disaster- resilient, achieve substantial disaster risk reduction, and significantly decrease the losses of life, livelihoods, and assets disaster risk, managing risk by strengthening governance, economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental by investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience and maximising the ability to cope with disasters at all levels enhancing disaster preparedness. The Sendai Framework of administration as well as among communities, the for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, adopted at the statement said. 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in The NDMP provides a generalised framework for recovery Japanese city Sendai on March 18 last year, outlines seven since it is not possible to anticipate all the possible elements clear targets and four priorities for action to prevent new of betterment reconstruction. and reduce existing disaster risks. The Prime Minister said to prepare communities to cope The plan ensures that all phases of disaster management— with disasters, the plan emphasises on a greater need for preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery—are information, education and communication activities. covered by a horizontal and vertical integration among all agencies and departments of the government. The Plan also highlights that the disaster risk reduction will be achieved by mainstreaming the requirements into the The NDMA seeks to improve the plan periodically by developmental plans. keeping up with the knowledge base and global practices in disaster management. Globally, the approach towards post-disaster restoration and rehabilitation has shifted to one of betterment The plan also states that six areas, namely the Himalayas, reconstruction. coastal tracts, riverine areas, the northeast, arid and semi- arid regions, islands and marine assets located in one or The NDMP has been aligned broadly with the goals and more state or union territory, require special attention vis-a- priorities set out in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk vis disaster management. Reduction. In the Himalayan region, human activities are the prime India’s first disaster management plan in history hopes to cause of environmental degradation. Coastal areas are “make India disaster resilient, achieve substantial disaster constantly at risk of geological shoreline changes, cyclones, risk reduction and significantly decrease the loss of life, sea level rise, coastal flooding and tsunamis. Riverine livelihoods and assets.” The plan was released by Prime regions, which are primarily dependent on agriculture, are Minister NarendraModi on June 1, 2016. subject to extremes of rainfall conditions. Therefore, they Prepared by the National Disaster Management Authority, are most vulnerable to riverine flooding and food shocks the plan spells out the roles of all tiers of the government, during droughts. including panchayats and urban local bodies. It identifies The Northeast needs to be treated in an integrated manner for crucial parts of disaster management such as early disaster management. Union territories, islands and marine warning, information dissemination, medical care, fuel, assets are at risk from multiple hazards such as sea surges, transportation, search and rescue, evacuation, among high velocity winds, cyclones, earthquakes and tsunamis. others. Arid and semi-arid regions require special attention like The plan is in tandem with the four primary themes of monitoring of hydro-meteorological and agro-economic the United Nation’s Sendai framework—understanding conditions as well as accurate forecasting methods. Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 98 RLV-TD ARTICLE Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) is one of the most technologically challenging endeavours of ISRO towards developing essential technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle to enable low cost access to space. The configuration of RLV-TD is similar to that of an aircraft and combines the complexity of both launch vehicles and aircraft. The winged RLV- TD has been configured to act as a flying test bedto evaluate various technologies, namely, hypersonic flight, autonomous landing and powered cruise flight. In future, this vehicle will be scaled up to become the first stage of India’s reusable two stage orbital launch vehicle. RLV-TD consists of a fuselage (body), a nose cap, double delta wings and twin vertical tails. It also features symmetrically placed active control surfaces called Elevons # Evaluation of autonomous Navigation, Guidance and and Rudder. This technology demonstrator was boosted to Control (NGC) schemes Mach no: 5 by a conventional solid booster (HS9) designed # for low burn rate. The selection of materials like special Integrated flight management alloys, composites and insulation materials for developing # Thermal Protection System Evaluation an RLV-TD and the crafting of its parts is very complex and Achievements: demands highly skilled manpower. Many high technology machinery and test equipment were utilised for building RLV-TD was successfully flight tested on May 23, 2016 this vehicle. from SDSC SHAR Sriharikota validating the critical technologies such as autonomous navigation, guidance & Objectives of RLV-TD: control, reusable thermal protection system and re-entry # Hypersonic aero thermodynamic characterisation of mission management. wing body

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TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 99 Que TM GENERAL AWARENESS Q.1. According to Ernst and Young 1) U.R.Rao Q.12. What is the name of the person report, what is India’s rank in 2) A.S.Kiran Kumar who is going to head the panel to the Renewable Energy Country 3) C.N.Rao review the Fiscal Responsibility Attractiveness Index (RECAI)? 4) Ajit Mishra and Budget Management 5) Rakesh K Jain 1) 1 2) 2 (FRBM) Act of 2003? 3) 3 4) 4 Q.7. Which bank has approved $625 1) Ajit Rawal 5) 5 million loan to support India’s 2) N.K.Singh grid-connected rooftop solar Q.2. 3) Suresh Yadav The WPI Inflation in the month programme to generate clean of April is- 4)Vikram Bhatia energy? 5) Ankit Laal 1) -2.14 2) -3.66 1) World Bank Q.13. Which of the following Indian 3) -0.85 4) -1.99 2) IMF 5) 0.34 American entrepreneur has 3) Asian Development Bank been nominated by US senate Q.3. Who has been awarded with an 4) New Development Bank to the board of directors of the honorary fellowship by a UK 5) AIIB Overseas Private Investment student body to “celebrate and Q.8. Which of the following person Corporation? acknowledge his contributions has been appointed as Director 1) Vikas Tomar in shaping the present and in Prime Minister’s office? future of India” ? 2) Mahesh Dutta 1) P. K. Mishra 3) Deven Parekh 1) Virendra Paul 2) Nripendra Misra 4) Anil Gupta 2) S Y Quraishi 3) Namgya Khampa 5) Arvind Gill 3) A K Singh 4) Tarun Bajaj Q.14. Which of the following state has 4) Ajay Lal 5) Anurag Jain 5) Vijay Lokhania signed a pact to set up India’s Q.9. Which of the following Indian- first solar wind hybrid power Q.4. An Indian-origin pioneering American politician has been plant in the state? Tamil scholar and author, nominated by the US Senate to ______who was the post of Executive Director 1) Punjab instrumental in persuading the to the Asian Development 2) Himanchal Pradesh South African government to Bank? 3) Odisha introduce Tamil as a language 4) Bihar 1) Meera Khanvilkar 5) Uttar Pradesh at secondary schools, died. 2) Deepak Gupta 1) Cundasamy Kuppusami 3) Swati Dandekar Q.15. Justice (Retd) Mihir Kumar Jha 2) Lamjang Haokip 4) Namagya Khampa took oath as the Lokayukt of 3) S Rangaswammy 5) Rituparna Ghosh which state? 4) K Ranganathan Q.10. Which author has received 1) Punjab 2) Haryana 5) Venugopal Aiyyar PEN’s Literary Service 3) Odisha 4) Bihar Q.5. Who has won the Man Booker Award for her “extraordinary 5) Uttar Pradesh International Prize for fiction creativity” and other Q.16. Recently which Indian bank “The Vegetarian,” an unsettling humanitarian causes? suffered the biggest-ever novel in which a woman stops 1) Charles Dickenes quarterly loss reported by an eating meat and desires to 2) Danielle Steel Indian bank? become a tree? 3) Sidney Sheldon 1) PNB 2) SBI 4) Paulo Coelho 1) Amitabh Ghosh 3) IDBI 4) Dena Bank 5) J.K. Rowling 2) Han Kang 5) Indian Bank 3) Marlon James Q.11. According to the latest data 4) Julian Barnes released by the US Treasury Q.17. India along with which country 5) Aravind Adiga Department, which country has signed a Protocol amending the largest foreign holder of the the existing Convention and Q.6. Which Indian American US government securities? Protocol between the two scientist will receive the 1) China 2) India countries for avoidance of prestigious ‘National Medal double taxation and prevention of Science’ award from US 3) Pakistan 4) Nepal 5) Britain of fiscal evasion with respect to President Barack Obama? taxes on income in Ljubljana? Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 100 Que TM GENERAL AWARENESS 1) China Q. 24. J Jayalalitha sworn in as CM Q.30. Uttarakhand Governor K K 2) Afghanistan of Tamilnadu. She hails from Paul released which book for 3) Turkey which party ? teachers’? 4) Mauritius (1) DMK (2) PMK 1) The Professionals 5) Slovenia (3) AIADMK (4) TMC 2) Visual Disability Q.18. What is the new FDI limit for (5) None of these 3) The Headmaster well diversified companies in Q.25. India successfully tested its 4) Shikshak credit information companies first indigenously made RLV 5) Nation Builders (CICs)? from Sriharikota Space Centre Q.31. Tyre Maker _____ Tyres and 1) 26% 2) 46% in Andhra Pradesh. What does Wildlife Trust of India have 3) 51% 4) 76% RLV stands for? entered into a partnership to 5) 100% 1) Reusable launch vehicle restore a critical mangrove project Q.19. Recently Mr. Pranab Mukherjee 2) Readily launch vehicle in Kerala’s Kannur district. launched a Mobile App for 3) Radio launch vehicle 1) Apollo transformation of President’s 4) Remote launch vehicle 2) Bridgestone Estate into a smart township 5) Root launch vehicle 3) Ceat at a function to be held at Q.26. Which of the following CM has 4) MRF Rashtrapati Bhavan. What its been conferred with the “Yug 5) Good Year name? Kavi Siddhicharan Award”? Q.32. How many times has golfer 1) Guard 2) Supervisor 1) J Jayalalitha Dustin Johnson won the US 3) Leader 4) Monitor 2) Pawan Chamling Open Golf tournament? 5) Authority 3) Nitish Kumar 1) 1 2) 2 Q.20. Pakistan’s Prime Minister 4) Arvind Kejriwal 3) 3 4) 4 Nawaz Sharif inaugurated 5) Akhilesh yadav 5) 5 the Pakistan-China Optical Q.27. BJP leader and former IPS Fibre Cable Project, which is Q.33. Which of the following individual officer Kiran Bedi was ______long. appointed as lieutenant resigned from the post of Director 1) 220 Km 2) 920 Km governor of which state? and Non-Executive Chairman of Zee Media? 3) 820 Km 4) 720 km 1) Lakshadweep 5) 620 km 2) Chandigarh 1) Subhash K. Jha Q. 21. Who has been elected as the 3) Puducherry 2) Shriram Ghosh youngest president of BCCI ? 4) Daman and Diu 3) Ronni Tandon 4) S.P. Bose (1) Shashank Manohar 5) Delhi 5) Subhash Chandra (2) Sharad Pawar Q.28. Which Indian documentary (3) Anurag Thakur film has won the documentary Q.34. Which of the following Multi- (4) Jagmohan Dalmia award at the 69th Cannes Film lateral lending agency has made (5) None of these Festival? an agreement with India for 100 million $ for Urban Water Q.22. IPS officer Aparna Kumar 1) Being Bhaijaan who achieved fateh on Mount 2) An American in Madras Supply Modernisation Project? Everest belongs to which state 3) Court 1) World Bank cadre? 4) The Cinema Travellers 2) International Monetary Fund (1) Uttar Pradesh 5) India’s Daughter 3) World Trade Organsiation (2) Madhya Pradesh Q.29. Who has been appointed as 4) Asian Development Bank (3) Andhra Pradesh the Chairman and Managing 5) None of these (4) Himanchal Pradesh Director (CMD) of Nuclear Q.35. Which of the following cities (5) None of these Power Corporation of India has not been included in the Q. 23. Which of the following country Limited? second set of smart cities shall buy 100 Boeing Air Craft 1) V.K.Singh mission announced recently? Carrier from US? 2) Auroop Shah 1) Lucknow 2) Bhagalpur (1) Iraq (2) Iran 3) S.K.Sharma 3) Panji 4) Cuttack (3) China (4) Japan 4) Vikrant Singh 5) Raipur (5) None 5) Asif Ali Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 101 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS Que TM GENERAL AWARENESS Q.36. Which of the Following took 1) Arush 1. Mahesh Sharma oath as the Chief Minister of 2) INS Vikrant 2. Harsh Vardhan Assam? 3) INS Chakra 3. S.P. Tyagi 1) Tarun Gogai 4) INS Kalvari 4. Piyush Goyal 2) Tathagata Roy 5) Ganga 5. Harsh Sinha 3) Kaliko Pul Q.42. Who sworn-in as West Bengal’s Q.48. From which financial year 4) Sarbanand Sonowal chief minister for the second would the Indian Meterological 5) None of these time? Department provide state-wise Q.37. What is the name of the first 1) Goutam Deb Moonsoon Forecast? knowledge portal of India 2) Upen Biswas 1. 2015 2. 2016 which focuses on becoming a 3) Mamta Banerjee 3. 2017 4. 2018 single point source for multiple 4) Partha Chatterjee 5. 2019 language learning, content and 5) Amit Mitra technology? Q.49. Which country has become the Q.43. Which state government, third largest steel producer in 1) Bharatgyan UNICEF and the Rajendra the year 2015? 2) Bharatvani Agriculture University, Pusa 1) India 2) Russia 3) Bharatshakti entered into an agreement to 4) Bharatmoksh 3) USA 4) France reduce malnourishment among 5) Bharatbuddhi 5) Canada women and children in the Q.38. Which Bank has introduced a state? Q.50. With a view to strengthen “Positive Pay” feature in its security of women passengers 1) Sikkim 2) Bihar mobile banking application in trains, Central Railway (CR) 3) Odisha 4) Rajasthan which allows customers to has introduced which system 5) Uttar Pradesh transfer images of the cheques to alert officials in case of an they have issued to the bank? Q.44. Which of the following person emergency? 1) ICICI Bank has received this year’s Harvard 1) Alert Button 2) HDFC Bank Business School Alumni 2) Panic Call 3) Axis Bank Achievement Award? 3) Panic Button 4) Yes Bank 1) Mukesh Ambani 4) Emergency Call 5) Kotak Mahindra Bank 2) Aditya Birla 5) Emergency Button Q.39. CBT had decided to increase 3) Narayan Murthi Q.51. Who took charge as the Flag 4) Ratan Tata benefits under the Employees’ Officer Commanding-in- Deposit Linked Insurance 5) Sunil Bharti Mittal Chief of the Southern Naval (EDLI) scheme from Rs. 3.6 Q.45. Which of the following Command (SNC)? lakh to _____? Formula-one has won the 1) Dinesh Pandey 1) Rs 4 lakh 2) Rs 5 lakh Monaco Grand Prix? 2) Vishwajeet Rathore 3) Rs 6 lakh 4) Rs 7 lakh 1. Lewis Hamilton 3) Ashok Bhatt 5) Rs 8 lakh 2. Nico Rosberg 4) A.R.Karve Q.40. The Cabinet Committee on 3. Sebastian Vettel 5) Girish Luthra Economic Affiars (CCEA) 4. Mark Verstappen Q.52. Celebrated Italian theatre and gave ex post facto approval to 5. Kimi Raikonen film actor-director ______died. increase the foreign investment Q.46. Which Indian cricketer has limit in YES Bank to what 1) Alberto Sordi launched his clothing Brand percent in future? 2) Giorgio Albertazzi “True Blue” ? 3) Robert De Niro 1) 26% 2) 46% 1. Sourav Ganguly 4) Terence Hill 3) 49% 4) 74% 2. Sachin Tendulkar 5) Franco Nero 5) 76% 3. VVS Laxman Q.53. Who has been awarded Japan’s Q.41. Recently which ship was 4. Rahul Dravid Grand Fukuoka prize 2016 for commissioned at Kochi by 5. Sunil Gavaskar the Coast Guard Commander his outstanding contribution (Western Seaboard) Additional Q.47. Who is the Union Minister for to Asian culture through his Director General SPS Basra? Tourism in India? music?

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TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 102 Que TM GENERAL AWARENESS 1) Sajid Khan Q.60. The newly approved women have featured on the 2) Anu Mallik superannuation age for doctors is- Forbes’ annual list of America’s 3) Gulzaar 1) 60 years 2) 62 years 60 wealthiest and most 4) A.R.Rehman 3) 65 years 4) 67 years successful self-made women 5) Rahat Fateh Ali 5) 70 years entrepreneurs? Q.54. Which bank’s “Point of Sale” 1) 1 2) 2 Q.61. Who took charge as the first network, has become the 3) 3 4) 4 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) country’s largest POS network? of the Board of Control for 5) 5 1) PNB Cricket in India? Q.67. Which country along with 2) HDFC Bank 1) Manish Pathak India signed two MoUs on 3) Axis Bank 2) Atul Rai promotion of handicrafts and IT 4) ICICI 3) Rahul Johri and communication and digital 5) SBI 4) Alok Nanda economy? Q.55. According to the FICCI’s 5) Vivek Joshi 1) France 2) Mauritius Economic Outlook Survey, Q.62. According to Organisation for 3) Tunisia 4) USA India’s growth for the year Economic Cooperation and 5) Monaco 2016-17 will be- Development (OECD), the Q.68. Who has topped the list of 100 1) 7.5% 2) 7.6% expected growth rate of India global sports personalities by 3) 7.7% 4) 7.8% for the year 2016-17 would be- ESPN? 5) 7.9% 1) 7.4% 2) 7.5% 1) Serena Williams Q.56. Which actor has been appointed 3) 7.6% 4) 7.7.% 2) Sania Mirza as the goodwill ambassador 5) 8% 3) M.S.Dhoni against leprosy by LEPRA Q.63. The Rajasthan government 4) Virat Kohli India? signed a memorandum of 5) Cristiano Ronaldo 1) Shahrukh Khan understanding (MoU) with Q.69. How many agreements have 2) R Madhawan which bank to boost the start- been signed between india and 3) Salman Khan up ecosystem in the state? Qatar during the recent visit of 4) Farhan Akhtar 1) SBBJ 2) PNB Prime minister to bolster ties? 5) Ranbir Kapoor 3) SBI 4) Dena Bank 1) 2 2) 3 Q.57. According to the report by New 5) Indian Bank 3) 5 4) 6 World Wealth, what is India’s Q.64. The Union Cabinet approved 5) 7 position in the list of top 10 which payment bank as a Q.70. After how many years Caroline wealthiest countries in the Public Limited Company with Garcia and world? 100% equity by Government of came out the first French pair 1) First 2) Third India (GOI)? to win a Grand Slam women’s 3) Fifth 4) Seventh 1) National Securities Depository doubles tennis title creating a 5) Ninth 2) Aditya Birla Nuvo history? Q.58. As per the data released by 3) FINO PayTech 1) 20 years 2) 30 years Government, India’s per capita 4) India Post 3) 45 years 4) 60 years income rose by- 5) Prizm 5) 35 years 1) 6.4% 2) 7.4% Q.65. Recently which country Q.71. The Central Information 3) 8.4% 4) 9.4% joined global ballistic missile Commission has directed 5) 11% proliferation regime Hague which bank to disclose details Q.59. According to the Finance Code of Conduct (HCoC)? of alleged loan default by Ministry, the estimated GDP 1) Brazil Gurgaon-based entertainment group Kingdom of Dreams in growth for the current financial 2) North Korea year would be- 3) China “larger public interest”.? 1) 7.7% 2) 7.8% 4) India 1) SBI 2) IDBI 3) 7.9% 4) 8.0% 5) Japan 3) HDFC 4) ICICI 5) 8.2% Q.66. How many Indian-origin 5) AXIS

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TM @Mahendra’s 103 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS Que TM GENERAL AWARENESS Q.72. Name the Former Mr Universe 1) Dolphin outstanding contribution in and celebrated body-builder 2) Lion manufacturing? 3) White Shark who died at his home following 1) R. Kuttum 4) Star Fish old age-related health 2) Swapan Hembram complications. 5) Tortoise 3) Bishwajeet Acharya 1) Manohar Aich Q.78. According to the Forbes 4) Ajay Beniwal 2) Murli Kumar Magazine, world’s highest-paid 5) Kumar Bhattacharyya 3) Sangram Chougule sportswoman is- Q.84. Which of the following has 4) Suhas Khamkar 1) Serena Williams signed a $120 million loan 5) Rajendran Mani 2) Maria Sharapova agreement with India to Q.73. According to 2016 Global 3) Martina Hingis improve irrigation and water Retail Development Index 4) Sania Mirza management infrastructure in (GRDI), what is India’s 5) Li Na Odisha? position among 30 developing Q.79. Which company has announced 1) Brics Bank countries this year on ease of the launch of “Aarambh” – 2) World Trade Organisation doing business? a pan-India initiative aimed 3) World Bank at spearheading the use of 1) First 2) Second 4) Asian Development Bank personal computer (PC) for 3) Third 4) Fourth 5) International Monetary fund 5) Fifth education? Q.85. In a ranking of 163 countries, 1) Lenovo 2) Sony Q.74. According to a new study compiled by global think tank of Ambit Capital Research, 3) Acer 4) HP 5) Dell ‘Institute for Economics and India’s “black economy” stood Peace’ (IEP), which country over Rs 30 lakh crore which is Q.80. Who was crowned as the Miss ranked as the world’s most about _____ of total GDP? USA 2016? peaceful country? 1) Stacy Kiebler 1) 10% 2) 20% 1) Monaco 2) Serbia 2) Johnna Moss 3) 30% 4) 40% 3) Burundi 4) India 3) Mitchell Parry 5) 50% 5) Iceland 4) Pamela Harrison Q.75. The world’s largest food 5) Deshauna Barber Q.86. According to a report of ‘BP retailer ______and Chinese Statistical Review of World Q.81. Who has been named as E-commerce Company Alibaba Energy,which country holds announced their partnership to the International goodwill ambassador by the head the top position in terms of oil increase online selling. consumption? of the UN’s AIDS-fighting 1) Nestle organisation? 1) Israel 2) Russia 2) Wal-Mart 1) John Bennedict 3) India 4) China 3) Bharti retail ltd 5) US 4) Reliance fresh 2) David Kross 3) Kenneth Cole 5) Metro Q.87. What is the name of the joint 4) Angella Merkel maritime exercise between Q.76. Recently who has defeated 5) Hillary Clinton India, U.S.A. and Japan that Andy Murray of Britain to win Q.82. Who among the following took place in June 2016? his first men’s singles French has been conferred with the Open title and with this he has 1) Surya-Kiran-16 “National Order of the Republic become the third man in tennis 2) Trishool-16 of Ivory Coast” ? history to hold all four Grand 3) Malabaar-16 Slam titles at the same time? 1) Pranab Mukherjee 4) Garuda-16 2) Mukesh Ambani 5) Sahyog-Kaijin-16 1) Novak Djokovic 3) Narendra Modi Q.88. What is the full form of NSG? 2) Andre Agasi 4) Raghuram Rajan 3) Rafael Nadal 5) Ratan Tata 1) Nitrate Supervisor Group 4) Roger Federer 2) Nomadic Supplier Group Q.83. Who has been awarded 5) Stan Wowrinka 3) Nuclear Supplier Group the prestigious Regius 4) Neutron Supplier Group Q.77. Which animal was declared as Professorship in Manufacturing the Guwahati’s City Animal? by Queen Elizabeth II for his 5) Next Supreme Group Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 104 Que TM GENERAL AWARENESS Q.89. Who has been named by Time 1) Delhi 2) Bihar 1) Donald Carr magazine to its 2016 list of “10 3) Uttarakhand 4) Telangana 2) Jack White millennials who are changing 5) Jharkhand 3) Bob Wyatt 4) Gubby Allen the world” for building a Q.93. Who has been honoured 5) David Sheppard phone which can help people with the American Diabetes to interact and access critical Associations “Vivian Fonseca Q.97. Which of the following Bank services by communicating in Scholar Award 2016” for his launched its first Aadhaar- their native languages? contribution in the field of based ATM in Bengaluru? 1) Rajendra Jain gastric bypass surgery for 1) Kotak Mahindra bank 2) Vimal Rai diabetes? 2) Axis Bank 3) Rajiv Patel 1) R.K.Jain 3) ICICI Bank 4) Umesh Sachdev 2) Manohar Khurana 4) DCB Bank 5) Suresh Yadav 3) Rajeev Patil 5) HDFC Bank Q.90. Who has won the prestigious 4) Vikram Dutt Q.98. Which company will acquire 100,000 - euro International 5) Shashank Shah LinkedIn for $26.2 billion? Dublin Literary Award, the Q.94. According to global financial 1) Facebook world’s richest award for a services firm DBS, recovery 2) Microsoft single novel, for his second in the Indian economy will 3) Accenture novel ‘Family Life’? continue to be ‘uneven’ and 4) Tech Mahindra 1) Vinayak Gupta the GDP growth expected to 5) Orange 2) Akhil Sharma increase from 7.6 per cent to Q.99. India along with which 3) Jeetu Pal what per cent in the current country signed three MoUs 4) Rajesh Lal fiscal 2016-17? including the waiver of visa 5) Abhijeet Mukherjee 1) 7.7% 2) 7.8% for diplomatic and official Q.91. Which state was adjudged as 3) 7.9% 4) 8.0% passports, establishment of a the ‘top performing state’ under 5) 8.1% joint commission to periodically the Digital India Programme? monitor various aspects of Q.95. Recently which of the following multi dimensional relationship, 1) Delhi 2) Bihar satellite was launched by China and helping in training of their 3) Uttarakhand 4) Telangana to support its global navigation Foreign services? 5) Jharkhand and positioning network? 1) France 2) Mauritius Q.92. Which of the following state 1) 21st BeiDou 3) Ghana 4) Mexico achieves top position in terms 2) 22nd BeiDou 5) Switzerland of steps taken to improve 3) 23rd BeiDou Q.100. The whole sale price index for the ease of doing business 4) 24th BeiDou May 16 is- according to a ranking done 5) 25th BeiDou 1) -3.14 2) -2.14 on a real-time basis by the Q.96. Former England Cricket Department of Industrial Policy Captain ______died. 3) -1.99 4) 0.34 and Promotion (DIPP)? 5) 0.79 ANSWER - GENERAL AWARENESS Q.1.(3). Q.2.(5). Q.3.(2). Q.4.(1). Q.5.(2). Q.6.(5). Q.7.(1). Q.8.(3). Q.9.(3). Q.10.(5). Q.11.(1). Q.12.(2). Q.13.(3). Q.14.(2). Q.15.(4). Q.16.(1). Q.17.(5). Q.18.(5). Q.19.(4). Q.20.(3). Q.21.(3). Q.22.(1). Q.23.(2). Q.24.(3). Q.25.(1). Q.26.(2). Q.27.(3). Q.28.(4). Q.29.(3). Q.30.(2). Q.31.(1). Q.32.(5). Q.33.(1). Q.34.(1). Q.35.(4). Q.36.(4). Q.37.(2). Q.38.(1). Q.39.(3). Q.40.(4). Q.41.(1). Q.42.(3). Q.43.(2). Q.44.(5). Q.45.(1). Q.46.(2). Q.47.(1). Q.48.(3). Q.49.(1). Q.50.(3). Q.51.(4). Q.52.(2). Q.53.(4). Q.54.(5). Q.55.(3). Q.56.(2). Q.57.(4). Q.58.(2). Q.59.(4). Q.60.(3). Q.61.(3). Q.62.(2). Q.63.(1). Q.64.(4). Q.65.(4). Q.66.(2). Q.67.(3). Q.68.(5). Q.69.(5). Q.70.(3). Q.71.(2). Q.72.(1). Q.73.(2). Q.74.(2). Q.75.(1). Q.76.(1). Q.77.(1). Q.78.(1). Q.79.(5). Q.80.(5). Q.81.(3). Q.82.(1). Q.83.(5). Q.84.(4). Q.85.(5). Q.86.(5). Q.87.(3). Q.88.(3). Q.89.(4). Q.90.(2). Q.91.(5). Q.92.(2). Q.93.(5). Q.94.(2). Q.95.(3). Q.96.(1). Q.97.(4). Q.98.(2). Q.99.(3). Q.100.(5). Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com

TM @Mahendra’s 105 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS GRAPHIC FACTORY IMAGEOGRAPHY

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CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT IN GDP %

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MUHAMMAD ALI (1942 – 2016) Born On January 17, 1942 Born At Louisville, Kentucky, United States Full Name hammad Ali Old Name Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. Profession Boxing(Heavyweight192–236 lb.) Death On June 03, 2016 Death At Scottsdale, Arizona, United States Professional Summary Country Represented United States of America First International Match With Tunney Hunsaker on October 29, 1960 Matches/Wins/ Losses 61/56/5 Professional Career 1954 – 1981 Achievements # Olympic Gold Medal (Light Heavyweight) – 1960 at Rome Olympics

# Men’s Amateur Boxing Medal

# WBC and WBA heavyweight championships Awards & Accolades ## 5 time Ring magazine fighter of the year

## Sports Illustrated ‘Sportsman Of The Century’

## BBC ‘Sports Personality of the Century’

## Presidential Citizens Medal

## Presidential Medal of Freedom

## International Boxing Hall of Fame

## CSHL Double Helix Medal (2006) Last Match With Trevor Berbick on December 11, 1981, in Nassau, Bahamas. Nick Names The Greatest

The People’s Champion

The Louisville Lip

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TM @Mahendra’s 112 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS MUHAMMAD ALI THE LEGEND

Personal & Family Parents Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. ( father) Odessa Grady Clay (mother) Spouse Name Lonnie Ali (m. 1986–2016)

Veronica Porche Ali (m. 1977-1986)

Belinda Boyd (m. 1967-1976)

SonjiRoi (m. 1964-1966) Children , Rasheda Ali, Hana Ali, Asaad Amin, Maryum Ali, Jamillah Ali, Khaliah Ali, Muhammad Ali Jr., Miya Ali Sibling(s) (brother) Ethnicity African American Religion Sunni Islam Book, Music, etc. Album of spoken word music on Columbia Records titled “I Am the Greatest” in 1963

Recorded a cover version of the rhythm and blues song “Stand by Me” in 1964 Others “I Am the Greatest”, was nominated for a Grammy Award.

“Best Recording for Children”, with his 1976 novelty record, he received a second Grammy nomination. Muhammad Ali, a Superman: The Echelon of Confidence and Grit. An Unparalleled Player, not only in the Game but through it becoming a Legend and a Champion against racism.

Dignity and Liveliness can never be defined better in person other than Mohammad Ali.

To “The Greatest”, The Greatest Boxer Ever May his soul rest in peace – Mahendras Family.

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TM @Mahendra’s 113 AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS WHO’S WHO DESIGNATION WHO’S WHO S.No. DESIGNATION NAME 1. Chairman, Rajya Sabha Mohd.Hamid Ansari 2. Chairperson of Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan 3. Chairman of NITI Ayog Narendra D Modi 4. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Gulam Nabi Azad 5. Leader of House in Lok Sabha Narendra D Modi 6. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge 7. Chief Election Commissioner Syed Nasim Ahmed Zaidi 8. Election Commissioner 9. Election Commissioner Achal kumar jyoti 10. Chief Vigilance Commissioner K V chaudhary 11. Foreign Secretary Dr S jayshankar 12. Comptroller & Auditor General of India Shashi Kant Sharma 13. Chairman, National Commission for Backward Classes Jus. Vangala Eswaraiah 14. Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India R. S Sharma 15. CBI Director Anil Kumar Sinha 16. Chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Rameshwar Oran 17. Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities Naseem Ahmed 18. Chairman, UPSC Deepak Gupta 19. Director General, National Investigation Agency Sharad Kumar 20. Chairman, UGC Ved Prakash 21. Chairman, Space Commission and ISRO A S Kiran kumar 22. Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Sec. Deptt. of Atomic Energy Sekhar Basu 23. Chairman, SSC Ashim Khurana 24. Chairman,National Human Rights Commission Cyriac Joshep 25. Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner Sailesh 26. Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes AtuleshJindal 27. Chairman, Insurance Regulatory Development Authority T.S. Vijayan 28. Chairman, Securities & Exchange Board of India U.K. Sinha 29. Chairperson, State Bank of India Arundhati Bhattacharya 30. Chairman, LIC S.K. Roy 31. India’s permanent representative in UNO Syed Akbaruddin 32. Home Secretary Ratan P. Vatal 33. Chairperson of National Commission for Women Lalitha Kumaramanglam 34. Chairman, 14th Finance Commission Y.V. Reddy 35. Chairman, Competition Commission of India D.K. Sikri 36. Chairperson,CentralBoard of Film Certification Pahlaj Nihalani 37. President, ASSOCHAM Sunil kanoria 38. Chairman, NASSCOM C.P. Gurnani 39. President, NASSCOM R. Chandrasekhar 40. Director General, RAW Rajinder Khanna 41. Chairperson, Children Film Society of India Mukesh Khanna 42. Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Kamlesh Nilkanth Vyas 43. President, CII Sumit Majumdar 44. President, FICCI Harshavardhan Neotia 45. Chairman, National Knowledge Commission Sam Pitroda 46. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval 47. Chairperson, Prasar Bharati Surya Prakash 48. Chairman, Investment Commission Ratan Tata 49. Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa 50. Chairman, Indian Banks Association T.M.Basin Get Free Study Material On - www.mahendraguru.com TM AUGUST/2016/MASTER IN CURRENT AFFAIRS @Mahendra’s 114