Vetrii IAS Study Circle The Best Academy for IAS & TNPSC Exams TT NN PP SS CC CURRENT AFFAIRS

JULY - 2018

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My Dear Aspirants, Greetings to all of you! “What we think we become” Gautama Buddha. We all have dreams. To make dreams come into reality it takes a lot of determination, dedication, self discipline and continuous effort.

We at VETRII IAS Study Circle are committed to provide the right guidance, quality coaching and help every aspirants to achieve his or her life’s cherished goal of becoming a civil servant.

The class room coaching at VETRII IAS Study Circle is meticulously planned to equip the aspirants with all the relevant facts and fundamentals of the subjects. Further the VETRII IAS Study Circle Study materials aim to support the candidate by providing the most relevant study material in a comprehensive manner.

Wishing You All The Very Best !!

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(M.Shunmugam) Vetrii IAS Study Circle.

CONTENT 1 - 2 Important Days 3 - 9 International Affairs 10 - 17 National Affairs 18 - 22 Indian Polity 23 - 27 Economy 28 - 33 Science and Technology 34 - 35 Appointments 36 - 37 Summit and Conference 38 Awards 39 - 46 Schemes 47 - 48 Places in News 49 - 51 Sports 52 Defence 53 - 55 General Knowledge 56 - 64 July Month Questions TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS IMPORTANT DAYS July -2018

IMPORTANT DAYS

july 1 : GST day 1st July 2018 will be celebrated as ‘GST day’, to commemorate the first year of the unprecedented reform of Indian taxation.

july 1 : National Doctors’ Day Theme for 2018 National Doctors’ Day is ‘Zero tolerance to violence against doctors and clinical establishment’, established by Central Government in 1991 to be recognized and celebrated every year on 1st of July i.e. on the birth and death anniversary of the most famous physician of India Dr. B C Roy

July 7: International Day of Cooperatives Theme: Sustainable consumption and production of goods and services

july 11 : World Population Day The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. World Population Day 2018 observes the theme, “Family planning is a human right.”

Vetrii IAS Study Circle  TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 IMPORTANT DAYS

July 12 : International Malala Day • Every 12th July is a UN observance called “Malala Day.” • The day is based upon the life and struggles of Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan, who advocates for equal access to education for women.

July 17 : World Day For International Justice Theme: Workers on the move: the quest for social justice

July 18: Nelson Mandela International Day Nelson Mandela International Day 2018 marks 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela (18 July 1918).

July 26: Kargil Vijay Diwas Kargil Vijay Diwas, named after the success of Operation Vijay. On this day, 26th July 1999, India successfully took command of the high outposts which had been lost to Pakistani intruders.

July 28 : World Nature Conservation Day World Nature Conservation Day is observed to create awareness on protecting and conserving natural resources.

July 28 : World Hepatitis Day Theme: “Eliminate Hepatitis”.

July 29 : International Tiger Day International Tiger Day has been held since 2010 when it was first created at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit to raise awareness of the decline of wild tiger numbers and to encourage the celebration around the important work of Tiger conservation.

 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS INTERNATIONAL July -2018

INTERNATIONAL

9th Meeting of EPG on Indo-Nepal relations Concludes in Kathmandu

The ninth and final meeting of Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on India-Nepal relations concluded in Kathmandu, capital city of Nepal. During this two day meeting, representatives from India and Nepal deliberated up on various bilateral issues including 1950 Peace and Friendship treaty, trade, transit and border.

5th RCEP inter-sessional ministerial meeting held in Tokyo, Japan The 5th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) inter-sessional ministerial meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle  TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 INTERNATIONAL

It was first RCEP ministerial gathering to be held outside ASEAN countries. It was co-chaired by Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing and his Japanese counterpart Hiroshige Seko. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) or comprehensive regional economic integration agreement between the 10-ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and its six FTA partners (Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Japan and Korea). Its negotiations were formally launched at 2012 ASEAN Summit in Cambodia.

Colombia’s Chiribiquete park declared World Heritage Site • The United Nations has placed Colombia’s Chiribiquete national park on its list of world heritage sites. • The park, which straddles the southern provinces of Caquetá and Guaviare, is the country’s largest and has one of the highest rates of plant diversity in the northern Amazon. • It is also famous for its table-top rock formations known as Tepui, which rise out of the forest. • It is the ninth site in Colombia to be given world heritage status. • Chiribiquete was declared a national park in 1989. It is located on one of the world’s oldest rock formations.

India invites US President Donald Trump to be Republic Day chief guest in 2019 • Union Government has invited United States President Donald Trump to be the chief guest at 2019 Republic Day celebrations. The invite was reportedly followed up with multiple rounds of diplomatic talks. • If President Trump accepts the invitation, he will be second serving US President after Barack Obama to be invited as chief guest of Republic Day Parade. It will indicate importance of the Indo-U.S. relationship.

 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS INTERNATIONAL July -2018 PM Modi and Moon Jae-in inaugurated world’s largest mobile factory in Noida

• PM Narendra Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited Noida and inaugurated the 35-acre New Mobile manufacturing plant of Samsung at Noida, Uttar Pradesh. It will be the world’s largest mobile factory. • With the beginning of this New plant, India’s Make in India will get a major push in the country. Samsung has invested close to Rs.5,000 crores in this plant and aims to manufacture 12 crore mobile handsets annually which will result in massive job creation.

China, India Signed A Deal To Reduce Tariffs On Indian Medicines, Anti Cancer Drugs

• Indian drugs, specially cancer curing medicines, are in big demand in China. About 4.3 million people are diagnosed with cancer annually in China, according to a report of the state-run China Central Television. • Beijing, which earlier announced a cut on import duties on over 8,500 Indian items, will relax taxes on more goods from India and other countries as its trade war with the US heats up. • There is a popular movie ‘Dying to Survive’ about zero tariff imposition on anti-cancer medicines in China. • The two countries slapped tariffs on each other’s products to the tune of $70 billion last week.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle  TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 INTERNATIONAL Global Innovation Index 2018 • This year, India ranked as the 57th most innovative nation in the world, and has improved its ranking from 60th position last year. • Since 2011, Switzerland has been ranked at the top every year.

Top 10 Countries in Global Innovation Index 2018 are: 1. Switzerland 2. Netherlands 3. Sweden 4. United Kingdom 5. Singapore 6. USA 7. Finland 8. Denmark 9. Germany 10. Ireland

Global Innovation Index (GII)

The GII global ranking is published by World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) – a specialized agency of United Nations in association with Cornell

University and graduate business school INSEA(D)

8TH BRICS HEALTH MINISTERS’ MEETING AT DURBAN • The 8th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting was held at Durban, South Africa. Indian deligation was led by Mr J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare. He stated that India is committed to eliminating TB by 2025.

 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS INTERNATIONAL July -2018

• India today is more firmly committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as articulated in its National Health Policy. • Recently launched an ambitious programme called ‘Ayushman Bharat’ i.e. Long Live India. • “The programme rests on the twin pillars of Health and Wellness Centres for provision of comprehensive primary healthcare services and National Health Protection Mission for secondary and tertiary care that aims to cover around 100 million families,. ANALYSIS • India’s achievement in reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by 77%, from 556 per 100000 live births in 1990 to 130 per 100 000 live births in 2016. • This achievement puts the country on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of MMR below 70 by 2030

UN Security Council adopted a resolution 2427 to protect children in armed conflict • The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted Resolution 2427. The resolution has won unanimous approval of the 15 members of the council. • The resolution is aimed at further crystalizing the protection of children in armed conflicts, including by combating their recruitment by non-State armed groups and treating formerly recruited children primarily as victims. • The Council strongly condemned attacks against schools and hospitals, which impede children’s access to education and health care, as well as violations involving the recruitment and use of children, rape, sexual violence and abductions, among other crimes.

About UN Security Council (UNSC): • UNSC is most powerful and one of the six principal organs UN. • It has 15 members, including five permanent members which are China, France, Russia, UK and US. • It’s primary responsibility is to maintain international peace and security.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle  TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 INTERNATIONAL INDIA - SOUTH KOREA TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE CENTRE INAUGURATED IN NEW DELHI The India-Korea Technology Exchange Centre was inaugurated at National Small Industries Corporation premises in New Delhi. It was inaugurated by Minister of State (I/C) MSME Giriraj Singh and Minister of SMEs and Start-ups of South Korea, Hong Jong- hak. PURPOSE • The purpose of centre is to create platform for MSMEs of India and South Korea where they can be assisted to identify and exchange latest technologies, share management expertise, product development and technology applications for product development. • The centre will work towards identifying Indian technologies which can be exported to Korea and find suitable Korean partners for the same. It will initiate various cooperative MSME projects complimenting each other’s strengths in MSME sector. • It will also create Technology Data Bank from each side to encourage technology transfers, production of high quality products in India. It will also encourage Joint Ventures (JVs) and business matching between Indian and South Korean SMEs, besides others.

Global Mobility Summit NITI Aayog, in collaboration with various ministries and industry partners, is organising ‘MOVE: Global Mobility Summit’ in New Delhi.

Significance: It will be the first Global Mobility Summit of its kind, with over 1,200 expected participants from across the world including Government leadership, Industry leaders, Research Organizations, Academia, Think Tanks and Civil Society Organisations.

Objectives of the summit: To help drive Government’s goals for vehicle electrification, renewable energy integration and job growth and also speed up India’s transition to a clean energy economy.

 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS INTERNATIONAL July -2018 ICELAND REPLACES US AND JOINS AS NEW MEMBER OF UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL • The U.N. General Assembly has elected Iceland for the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC), filling the seat vacated by the United States, which withdrew from UNHRC last month. • Iceland was nominated by the group of Western nations and received 172 votes. • Iceland’s term begins immediately and it will serve until December 31, 2019.

INDIA INAUGURATED WORLD’S LARGEST VISA CENTRE IN BANGLADESH • To reduce the waiting time for VISA applicants, Home Minister Rajanth Singh, who is in Dhaka on a three-day visit inaugurated the world’s largest visa centre along with his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan. • The new integrated state-of-the-art Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) spread in an 18,500 square feet commercial area at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka will replace all the existing centres (Motijheel, Uttara, Gulshan and Mirpur Road) in Dhaka in two phases. • Bangladeshis constitute one of the largest number of visitors from a single country to India. Last year, India issued 1.4 million visas to Bangladeshi nationals

Vetrii IAS Study Circle  TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 NATIONAL

NATIONAL

Income Tax department launches instant e-PAN card service • The Income Tax Department has launched instant Aadhaar-based e-PAN allotment service for individuals seeking PAN (Permanent Account Number) service for individuals seeking PAN (Permanent Account Number) service for the first time. • This facility is free of cost and is available for a limited period on first-come, first served basis for valid Aadhaar holders. • It was introduced because of increasing number of people applying for PAN.

e-PAN • The e-PAN will be allotted on basis of one-time password (OTP) sent on mobile number linked to Aadhaar number of a person. • It will have the same name,date of birth, gender, mobile number and address as in Aadhaar. • This facility is only for resident individuals and not for Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), firms, trusts and companies. • Once e-PAN is allotted to applicant through his electronic Aadhaar-based verification system in few seconds, the applicant will be sent the PAN card by post. The process can be done at the official portal of the department:

10 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS NATIONAL July -2018 Meghalaya Celebrates Behdienkhlam Festival Behdienkhlam, one of the most colourful festivals of the State, was recently celebrated in the Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya.

About the festival:

Behdienkhlam is a major festival of the people in the Jaintia Hills. It is celebrated to invoke the gods for a bumper harvest and drive away plague.

It is the ritualistic expression of the relentless struggle of mankind to overcome the destructive forces of nature, including diseases, since the dawn of civilization.

9TH HEADS OF MISSION CONFERENCE • The 9th Heads of Mission Conference was held in New Delhi from June 30- July 2, 2018. It was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. • The theme of the three-day annual conference was ‘Unprecedented Outreach: Unparalleled Outcomes’.

Chhattisgarh government to set up the tribal museum in Naya Raipur • The Chhattisgarh government will set up a tribal museum in the state’s upcoming new capital Naya Raipur with a view to exhibiting culture and tradition of scheduled tribes. • This decision was taken on July 1 during a meeting of Chhattisgarh State Tribal Advisory Council chaired by Chief Minister Raman Singh at New Mantralya in Raipur. • The tribal museum will be built at the cost of Rs 27 crore in an area of around 22 acres in Naya Raipur and will be named after Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh, a freedom fighter from the state who had made a tremendous contribution in the freedom struggle of 1857.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 11 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 NATIONAL Maharashtra will launch ‘One farmer one transformer’ scheme from 15th August

• In order to reduce electricity losses, the Maharashtra government will launch a new scheme allocating “one transformer per farmer”. • Two lakh farmers will be given electricity connection for high voltage distribution line which will ensure uninterrupted power supply. • Farmers who lose their cattle in attack by wild animals will now get Rs 40,000, up from Rs 25,000 earlier.

FIRST EVER ‘INDIA TOURISM MART’ TO BE HOSTED IN NEW DELHI First ever ‘India Tourism Mart’ will be hosted in New Delhi from 16th to 18th September by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH). India Convention Promotion Board (ICPB) shall coordinate the whole event. Objective • To boost the tourism sector in the country and to double the foreign tourist arrival in the next three years. • ITM will be the best platform for the States to showcase their products to international buyers, opinion makers and bloggers and attract more tourists to their respective states. • The Mart will provide a platform for all stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industries to interact and transact business

12 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS NATIONAL July -2018 INDIA TO HOST 19TH WORLD CONGRESS OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• India will host the “International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) 2018” in Navi Mumbai from October 23-27, 2018. • The 5-day event will bring together researchers, academicians, professionals, policy makers and industry leaders from across the globe to showcase innovation, exchange breakthrough ideas and drive policy issues • The focal theme for this 19th edition of the prestigious congress is “25 Billion Meals a Day by 2025 with Healthy, Nutritious, Safe and Diverse Foods”.

AGARTALA AIRPORT RENAMED AFTER BIR BIKRAM KISHORE MANIKYA • The Union Cabinet approved proposal of renaming Agartala Airport in Tripura as ‘Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Kishore Airport, Agartala. • The decision comes in the wake of a long-pending demand of the people of Tripura as well as the state government to rename the airport after Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya as a tribute to the last ruler of the princely state. Key facts: • After several hundred years of rule by 184 kings, Tripura merged with the Indian union in October 1949. • Agartala airport is the second busiest airport in the northeastern India. • In 1942, the king constructed the airport, which played a crucial role in the Second World War. • The Agartala airport, earlier known as Singerbill Airport, is located 20 km north of the capital city and sits along the Bangladesh border. About Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Kishore: • He was the king of Tripura from 1923 to 1947 before its merger with India. He was enlightened and benevolent ruler. • He is considered the father of modern architecture in Tripura, as entire planning of present-day Tripura was initiated during his rule.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 13 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 NATIONAL Indian Railways launches its first consolidated bridge management system • Indian Railways launched its first consolidated Bridge Management System (IR-BMS), a web- enabled IT application to store data on its 1.5 lakh bridges. • BMS aims to enable meaningful assimilation, analysis and dissemination of information related to various activities about its bridges. • The web-based platform will show the bridge master data, works data, information regarding inspection/monitoring and maintenance of the bridges and other essentials.

MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION launCHES SWACHH surveKSHAN GRAMEEN 2018 Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) has launched Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018 (SSG 2018) in New Delhi, a rural cleanliness survey to rank all states and districts on basis of qualitative and quantitative evaluation

Key Facts • The objective of SSG 2018 is to undertake ranking of states and districts on basis of their performance attained on key quantitative and qualitative Swachh Bharat Mission- Grameen (SBM-G) parameters. • The rankings will be based on taking into account set of comprehensive cleanliness parameters • The criteria of SSG-2018 include survey of public places, citizens’ perspective of cleanliness, their recommendations and data from SBM-G.

Aabhar-Aapki seva ka’ Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh launched an online portal and mobile app called ‘Aabhaar- Aapki seva ka’ for the online pensioners of the state. • This would be implemented by Online Pension Management System. • This online management system has been prepared by the Department of Finance for the pensioners by the Directorate of Funds, Accounts and Pension.

14 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS NATIONAL July -2018 SITES IN THE COUNTRY TO BE DEVELOPED AS ICONIC TOURIST SITES

• Ministry of Tourism has identified 17 sites in 12 clusters in the country for development under Iconic Tourist Sites Development Project, pursuant to Budget Announcements of 2018-19. • Following are the 17 sites: Uttar Pradesh- TajMahal & FatehpurSikri; Maharashtra- Ajanta & Ellora; DelhiHumayun’s Tomb, Red Fort & QutubMinar; Goa- Colva beach; Rajasthan- Amer Fort; Gujarat- Somnath & Dholavira; Madhya Pradesh- Khajuraho; Karnataka- Hampi; Tamil Nadu- Mahabalipuram; Assam- Kaziranga; Kerala- Kumarakom; Bihar- Mahabodhi. • The Ministry shall be developing the above sites in a holistic manner with focus on issues concerning connectivity to the destination, better facilities/experience for the tourists at the site, skill development, involvement of local community, promotion & branding and by bringing in private investment. • The monuments taken up for development under the above mentioned project fall under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and State Archaeology Departments.

ADB approves Lining Project of Son Canal in Bihar • Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $503-million for lining project of the Son canal in Shahabad-Bhojpuri region of Bihar. • The project would benefit the agriculture sector immensely in the region. • Ministry of Power has requested ADB and Ministry of Finance to expedite and tender for first phase of lining of the main canal and branches by October 2018. About ADB • ADB now has 67 members of which 48 from within Asia and Pacific while remaining 19 from outside. • It is headquartered at Manila, Philippines. • The bank admits the members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and non-regional developed countries. • ADB assists its members, and partners, by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development. Other Projects implemented by ADB - East coast economic corridor, solar rooftop investment program, Mechi river bridge project in Indo-Nepal border, TAPI gas pipeline, South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program, supporting fiscal reforms in West Bengal State.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 15 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 NATIONAL ANDHRA PRADESH GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES 60 ANNA CANTEENS

Andhra Pradesh Government has launched 60 Anna Canteens across the state in the first phase to provide subsidised food to urban poor. These canteens aim to tackle hunger in urban areas. They will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner at Rs 5 a meal. They will be run by Akshaya Patra Foundation.

Background The first Anna Canteen named former undivided Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N T Rama Rao was launched in March 2016. It was opened on pilot basis close to Government Transitional Headquarters at Velgapudi in Amaravati. Later, only three more canteens were opened at other places. Now State Government has come out with plan to set up 203 ‘Anna Canteens’ across the state.

Other States having subsidised food canteens are

Tamil Nadu is first state of launch ‘Amma’ canteens in February 2013 in Chennai. It success had inspired other states to adopt the concept of subsidised food canteens. Rajasthan (Annapurna Rasoi Yojana), Madhya Pradesh (Deendayal canteens), Delhi (Aam Aadmi canteens), Odisha, and Karnataka have started their own versions of subsidised food canteen.

PURANDARA MANTAP IN HAMPI SUBMERGED • Due to the heavy discharge of water from Tungabhadra river, the Purandara Mantap, one of the monuments in the world heritage site Hampihave been submerged. • Other monuments like Salu Mantap, Koti Linga, Vedic Mantap and Stone mantap where last rites are performed have also been submerged. The authorities have issued flood alerts to the people nearby to take precautionary measures.

16 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS NATIONAL July -2018 ANDHRA PRADESH CM LAUNCHED e - PRAGATI CORE PLATFORM

• Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu launched e-Pragati core platform, a forward-looking digital initiative, at Undavalli, Amaravati. It is aimed at connecting the citizen to 34 departments, 336 autonomous organisations and 745-plus services. • The Andhra Pradesh State government intends to realise the vision of ‘Sunrise AP 2022’. The e-Pragati authority will achieve the goals of the project by supporting the seven development missions launched in the areas of e-Governance, Social Empowerment, Skill Development, Urban Development, Infrastructure, Industrial Development and the Services sector. This platform would create a coordination between citizens and the government to solve several issues.

1. The Criminal Law Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on clearing the way to award death penalty to – Convicts of child rapes

2. Indian American has been appointed as the CEO of the Democratic National Com- mittee (DNC) - Seema Nanda

3. Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Government of India set a target of building 20 million affordable houses by - 31st March 2022

4. Indian Prime Minister had attended the concluding session of the two-day ‘Transforming Urban Landscape’ convention at – Uttar Pradesh

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 17 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 INDIAN POLITY

INDIAN POLITY

Census of India

According to an amended rule notified by the Registrar-General of India (RGI), the data collected during the 2021 Census will be stored electronically, the first time since the decennial exercise was conducted in 1951 in Independent India.

Census of India: • The decennial Census of India has been conducted 15 times, as of 2011. While it has been conducted every 10 years, beginning in 1872, the first complete census was taken in the year 1881. • Post 1949, it has been conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. • All the census since 1951 are conducted under 1948 Census of India Act.

18 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS INDIAN POLITY July -2018 Election Commission Of India Launches ‘c Vigil’ App Chief Election Commissioner of India Mr Om Prakash Rawat, along with the Election Commissioners Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavasa, launched an Android-based mobile application named ‘cVigil’ for citizens to report any violation of the model code of conduct during elections.

The app will help voters to share malpractice proof with the authorities. cVIGIL will allow anyone in the election-bound state to report violations of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) that comes into effect from the date of announcement of elections and goes on till a day after the polls.

Delhi launches ‘Happiness Curriculum’ for schools • The Delhi government launched ‘Happiness Curriculum’ for students of nursery to Class 8 in government schools. • The curriculum was launched in the presence of the Dalai Lama. • It was designed and prepared by a team of 40 Delhi government teachers, educators and volunteers over period of six months. Happiness Curriculum

The Happiness Curriculum focuses on holistic education by including meditation, value education, and mental exercises in conventional education curriculum. It was designed and prepared by a team of 40 Delhi government teachers, educators and volunteers over period of six months.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 19 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 INDIAN POLITY

It involves ‘Happiness’ period of 45 minutes for all students studying in nursery up to class

VIII at all Delhi government schools. Each class will begin with 5 minute meditation practice. The curriculum focuses on meditation, moral teachings, and mental exercises, with the aim of turning students into good human being.

Rajya Sabha - Nominated Persons by President Sachin Tendulkar, Actress Rekha, Anuhaa and Parasaran : Their term of office ended on 14th July 2018. On 14th July 2018, four new members were nominated to Rajya Sabha (the upper house of Indian Parliament) by The President of India.

Raghunath Mohapatra: Raghunath Mohapatra is an architect and sculptor from Odisha state in India.

Sonal Mansingh: Sonal Mansingh is an Indian classical dancer and Guru Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancing style.

Ram Shakal: Ram Shakal is an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Rakesh Sinha: Rakesh Sinha is a renowned author, RSS ideologue and professor in the University of Delhi. He was founder and honorary director of Delhi-based think tank India Policy Foundation (IPF), credited for establishing it as a reputed research organization (2008 onwards).

FSSAI launches Eat Right Movement to promote safe and healthy food • The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched national campaign ‘The Eat Right Movement’ to improve public health and combat lifestyle diseases. • FSSAI also launched Eat Right tool kit and Safe and Nutritious Food at Workplace campaign.

20 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS INDIAN POLITY July -2018

About the Eat Right Movement: • The movement is voluntary and collaborative built on two broad pillars – “Eat Healthy and “Eat Safe”. • Under this campaign, FSSAI has asked industry to voluntarily reduce salt, sugar and saturated fat in packaged food products and oil consumption by 30% in three years.

• It is collective effort to encourage people towards making right food and dietary choices. It focuses on both sides- demand and supply side to come together. • On demand side, it focuses on empowering citizens to make right food choices. • On supply side, it requests food businesses to reformulate their products, provide better nutritional information to consumers and make investments in healthy food as responsible food businesses. Eat Right tool kit • The kit aims serve as supplementary engagement resource to be mainstreamed in national nutrition and public health programmes at grassroots level. • It includes components on eating safe such as maintaining hygiene and sanitation and food adulteration. • It has simple message on eating healthy food and avoiding food with high fat, sugar and salt. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

FSSAI is a nodal statutory agency responsible for protecting and promoting public health in India through regulation and supervision of food safety. It was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and operates under aegis of Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

RIGHT OF TEMPLE ENTRY • The Supreme Court on July 18, 2018 observed that banning the entry of women in Kerala’s Sabarimala temple by the temple authorities is unconstitutional and questioned the authorities regarding the same. • The court stated that women have the right to enter and pray like men at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala as the fundamental right of freedom to practice religion is provided to all persons by the Constitution

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 21 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 INDIAN POLITY NATIONAL REGISTER FOR CITIZENS

• Supreme Court has extended deadline for publication of final draft of Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) from earlier June 30, 2018 to July 31, 2018. • This extension comes after Central Government and the state coordinator of NRC agreed to publish it within the new time limit. Background: • The first draft of the NRC, which was released in January, listed only 1.9 crore people as citizens out of the 3.9 crore people who had filed the NRC application. • The updated NRC will count only those as Assam citizens who can prove their residency on or before March 21, 1971. This means that all those not included in the list run the risk of being rendered illegal immigrants. National Register of Citizens (NRC) • The NRC was introduced to identify illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and recognise the Indian citizens in Assam. It was first prepared in 1951 and Assam is the only state having this arrangement.

HARYANA GOVERNOR TOOK ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH • Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki was given the additional charge of Himachal Pradesh by President Ram Nath Kovind. • He would carry the functions of the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, in addition to his own duties, during the absence of incumbent Himachal Governor Acharya Devvrat, who is on leave.

PAYMENTS COUNCIL OF INDIA

Payments Council of India (PCI), an apex body representing companies in payments and settlement system, has a new Chairman in Vishwas Patel

ABOUT PCI:

The Payments Council of India was formed under the aegis of IAMAI in the year 2013 catering to the needs of the digital payment industry.

22 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS ECONOMY July -2018

ECONOMY

Cabinet approves hike in MSP for Kharif Crops for 2018-19 Season

Giving a major boost for the farmers’ income, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all kharif crops for 2018-19 Seasons.

What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)? • MSP is form of agricultural market intervention undertaken by Central Government in order to insure agricultural producers are protected against any sharp fall in farm prices. • It is announced for certain crops by Government prior to the sowing season. • Its purpose is to incentivize cultivators to adopt modern technology and raise productivity and overall production in line with the emerging demand patterns in the country. • The prices are decided by CCEA on the basis of recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 23 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 ECONOMY BSNL launches first Internet telephony service in India India first telephony service app - Wings - was unveiled by BSNL, the state-owned telecom firm.

Key features : • The app allows users to place a call using an internet connection to any phone in India. • Wings comes with the unique feature of allowing users to call any phone number, from other mobile networks to even landlines. • The service provider will be required to comply with all interception and monitoring related requirements. • The calls will be charged by telecom operators and all rules related to standard calls will apply to them.

India pips France to become world’s 6th largest economy

India has now become world’s sixth-largest economy, pushing past France, according to the updated World Bank figures for 2017. Large economies: The US remains the world’s largest economy followed by China, Japan, Germany and Britain. India’s performance: India is reclaiming its place as a growth leader after a short slowdown. Just in the last decade, India has doubled the size of its economy outpacing that of France. While India’s GDP has risen by an average 8.3% over the decade, that of France’s actually declined by 0.01%. To add more perspective, in the past 10 years India’s GDP grew by 116.3% while France witnessed a 2.8% decline in GDP. Certainly, this tells us that India is gaining economic size consistently and is emerging as one of the powerhouses.

24 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS ECONOMY July -2018 KVIC LAUNCHES E-MARKETING SYSTEM • The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) today launched its, in-house developed,single-umbrella emarketing systemnamed Khadi Institution Management and Information System (KIMIS) in New Delhi. • The system can be accessed from anywhere in the country for the sale and purchase of Khadi and Village Industries products. • This software will give real-time data of sales and will also give the updated status of stocks of khadi bhawans and godowns, allowing better planning and control of inventory of the KVIC. • 480 Khadi institutions and showrooms are linked with this billing software and it will be useful in raising demand and supply of goods in high demand

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Haryana Top Rankers in Ease of Doing Business

• Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, released the final rankings of States in Ease of Doing Business in New Delhi today. • The top rankers are 1. Andhra Pradesh, 2. Telangana 3. Haryana 4. Jharkhand 5. Gujarat • DIPP, Ministry of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the World Bank conducted an annual reform exercise for all States and UTs • States and UTs have conducted reforms to ease their regulations and systems in areas such as labour, environmental clearances, single window system, construction permits, contract enforcement, registering property and inspections. States and UTs have also enacted Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act to enforce the timelines on registrations and approvals

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 25 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 ECONOMY AWARDS FOR BEAUTIFICATION OF STATIONS PREMISES • The Union Minister of Railways & Coal, distributed awards to winning stations of Station Beautification competition • Balharshah & Chandrapur Railway Stations of Central Railway have been awarded the first prize while Madhubani station of East Central Railway & Madurai station of Southern Railway were the co-winners of the second prize. • Gandhidham station of Western Railway, Kota station of West Central Railway & Secunderabad station of South Central Railway were joint winners of the third prize. About Bridge Management System (IR-BMS) This is a web-enabled IT Application for meaningful assimilation, analysis and dissemination of information related to various activities like Bridge Master Data, works Data, Inspection/Monitoring and Maintenance of the bridges of Indian Railways

PROMOTE ZERO-BUDGET NATURAL FARMING TO MAKE AGRICULTURE PROFITABLE: VICE PRESIDENT

• Himachal Pradesh Government has launched Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) project promote organic farming. • The project aims to increase agriculture produce and the income of farmers by the year 2022. Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) • Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a set of farming methods, and also a grassroots peasant movement, which has spread to various states in India. • The concept was developed by an agriculture scientist Subash Palekhar. • Zero Budget spiritual Farming means for all the crops, the production cost will be zero. • In the Zero Budget Natural Farming nothing has to be purchased from the outside. • All things required for the growth of the plant are available around the root zone of the plants. • Techniques involving conventional and natural procedures are being employed in the system.

26 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS ECONOMY July -2018

• It is a farming practice that believes in natural growth of crops without adding any fertilizers and pesticides or any other foreign elements. • The concept is different from organic farming. • The focus of the programme is the adoption of agricultural practices suitable to the soil in each area. • Cowdung is the main ingredient of the manure used in this type of agriculture. • The farmer is encouraged to raise cows of indigenous variety and use the dung of indigenous varieties of cow. • An environment conducive to the growth of ordinary earthworms in the soil is developed for the successful farming mode advocated by Mr. Palekar. • Farmers mainly use earthworms, cow dung, urine, plants, human excreta and such biological fertilizers for crop protection and growth.

1. The 3rd BRICS Film Festival took place at this place - Durban, South Africa

2. The World Day against Trafficking in Persons is observed every year on – July 30

3. Mudumalai Tiger reserve is in – Tamil Nadu

4. Eight core sector industries growth climbed to this percent in June 2018 – 6.7 percent.

5. Uttarakhand records second highest tiger count in India Dharam Singh, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, passed away

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 27 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ISRO conducts pad abort test

ISRO recently conducted the first ‘pad abort’ test critical for a future human space mission. The Pad Abort Test demonstrated the safe recovery of the crew module in case of any exigency at the launch pad.

What is PAT?

PAT (pad abort test) is the first in a series of tests to qualify a crew escape system technology of a manned mission in the future.

What is Crew Escape System?

It is an emergency escape measure to quickly pull the astronaut cabin along with crew out to a safe distance from launch vehicle during a launch abort.

Khan Prahari App • Union Minister of Coal, Railways, Finance & Corporate Affairs, Piyush Goyal launched the Coal Mine Surveillance & Management System (CMSMS) and Mobile Application ‘Khan Prahari’. • The app has been developed by CMPDI, Ranchi, a Subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL) and Bhaskarcharya Institute of Space Application and Geo-informatics (BISAG).

28 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY July -2018

• The CMSMS is a web based GIS application through which location of sites for unauthorised mining can be detected. • The basic platform used in the system is Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology’s (MeiTY) map which provides village level information. • Khan Prahari is a tool for reporting any activity taking place related to illegal coal mining like rat hole mining, pilferage etc.

First-ever colour X-ray on a human performed

• New zealand scientists have performed the first-ever 3-D, colour X-ray on a human, using a technique that promises to improve the field of medical diagnostics. • The new device, based on the traditional black-and-white X- ray, incorporates particle-tracking technology dubbed ‘Medipix’ developed for CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, which in 2012 discovered the elusive Higgs Boson particle. About Medipix: • Medipix works like a camera detecting and counting individual sub-atomic particles as they collide with pixels while its shutter is open. This allows for high-resolution, high- contrast pictures. • The machine’s “small pixels and accurate energy resolution meant that this new imaging tool is able to get images that no other imaging tool can achieve. The images very clearly show the difference between bone, muscle and cartilage, but also the position and size of cancerous tumours, for example.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 29 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Union Cabinet clears DNA profiling bill The Union Cabinet has approved The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2018.

Aim:

The Bill aims at expanding application of DNA-based forensic technologies to support and strengthen justice delivery system of the country.

Significance of the bill:

Bill will ensure that with proposed expanded use of DNA profiling technology in the country, there will be also assurance that DNA test results are reliable and data remain protected from misuse or abuse in terms of the privacy rights of our citizens.

It will also enable cross-matching between persons who have been reported missing on one hand and unidentified dead bodies found in various parts of the country on other, and also for establishing the identity of victims in mass disasters.

It will set in place, an institutional mechanism to collect and deploy DNA technologies to identify persons based on samples collected from crime scenes or for identifying missing persons.

Century’s Longest total Lunar Eclipse on July 27-28 A total lunar eclipse will occur on July 27-28, 2018 with a totality duration of 1 hour 43 minutes. The duration makes it the longest total lunar eclipse of this century (2001 AD to 2100 AD).

Key facts: • On July 27, the red planet Mars, will also be at opposition, meaning that the Sun and Mars will lie opposite to each other, keeping the Earth in the middle. • This will result in Mars coming close to the Earth, causing it to appear brighter than normal and it will be seen from evening to dawn towards the end of July. • The brighter Mars will remain very close to the eclipsed Moon in the sky on July 27-28 and can be spotted very easily with the naked eye. • However, the red planet will reach closest to the Earth on July 31, 2018. The planet Mars comes at opposition at an average interval of 2 years and 2 months when the planet comes close to the Earth and becomes brighter. • In this particular eclipse, the Moon will pass through the central part of the Earth’s umbral shadow. Furthermore, the Moon will be at apogee, means at farthest from the Earth in its orbit, on July 27 and will be moving at a slower speed in its orbit.

30 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY July -2018

• This slower moving full Moon will take longer time and greater distance of Earth’s umbral shadow cone to travel, making it the longest duration of total eclipse of this century. • Such long duration of total lunar eclipses had earlier occurred on July 16, 2000 for totality duration of 1 hour 46 minutes and another one on June 15, 2011 for totality duration of 1 hour 40 minutes.

Places Occurred: The entire eclipse will also be visible from all parts of India. The eclipse will also be visible in the region covering Australia, Asia, Russia – except the northern part, Africa, Europe, east of South America and Antarctica.

NATIONAL VIRAL HEPATITIS CONTROL PROGRAM

“With this initiative, Government is strongly committed to work towards elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030.” • “Programmes are now designed at the ground level and all stakeholders are taken into the consideration. Ministry has already launched a campaign to end TB by 2025, five years ahead of global target. • Hepatitis refers to an inflammation of the liver cells and damage to the liver. There are different types and causes, but the symptoms can be similar. • He liver’s functions include detoxifying the blood, storing vitamins, and producing hormones. Hepatitis can disrupt these processes and create severe health problems throughout the body. • At least five viruses can cause hepatitis. The three most common are hepatitis viruses A, B and C Infection with any of these three can be fatal

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 31 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY China launches two remote sensing satellites for Pakistan • China successfully launched two remote sensing satellites PRSS-1 and PakTes-1A of Pakistan on board of Long March-2C rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. • It was overall 279th mission for the Long March rocket series (mainly used to send satellites into low Earth or Sun-synchronous orbits) and first international commercial launch in nearly two decades after it carried Motorola’s Iridium satellites into orbit in 1999.

SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED 12 NEW MOONS AROUND JUPITER • Scientists have found 12 new moons orbiting around Jupiter, bringing its total number of moons to 79, the most for any planet in the solar system. One of the moons has been called a “real oddball” due to its tiny size. • Scientists think the vast number of objects orbiting the planet is probably the result of collisions earlier in its life, which have been captured by Jupiter and now continue to orbit it.

32 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY July -2018 NASA LAUNCHES TOOLKIT TO PROMOTE COMMERCIAL USE OF SATELLITE DATA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the ‘Remote Sensing Toolkit’ to promote commercial use of satellite data.

This toolkit was launched with an aim to make it easier for users to find, analyse and utilise the relevant satellite data for their research, business projects or conservation efforts.

It provides a simple system that quickly identifies relevant sources based on user input.

It helps to find the satellite data easier and to spark innovation among the entrepreneurial community and lead to further commercialization of NASA technology.

1. He was appointed as Executive Director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) - Arman Ali

2. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani has surpassed Alibaba Group’s Jack Ma to become Asia’s richest person.

3. The higher education department of Rajasthan has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to provide free digital training to students in Rajasthan

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 33 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 Appointments

Appointments

INDIAN COUNCIL OF WORLD AFFAIRS (ICWA)

Dr. TCA Raghavan is appointed as the new Director General (DG) of Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).

What is ICWA? • It was established in 1943 by group of Indian intellectuals as think tank. It was established as non-official, non-political and non-profit organisation under Registration of Societies Act 1860. • ICWA is devoted exclusively for the study of international relations and foreign affairs. Vice President of India is its ex-officio President. • It had conducted historic international conferences like Asian Relations Conference in 1947 under leadership Sarojini Naidu and United Nations and New World Order in 1994.

34 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS Appointments July -2018

aK goel • Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel assumed charge as chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Justice Goel, who retired as a Supreme Court judge on July 6, has been appointed for five years. • He is the third chairperson of the NGT since its inception in 2010. About NGT • The NGT was established on October 18, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act. • Its objective is to provide an effective and speedy disposal of cases pertaining to environment protection, conservation of forests and for seeking compensation for damages caused to people or property due to violation of environmental laws.

L. NARASIMHA REDDY The union cabinet has approved the appointment of Rtd Justice L. Narasimha Reddy (former chief Justice Patna HC) as the Chairman of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). Justice Reddy served as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court from 2nd January to 31st July 2015. He was the one- man judicial commission appointed by the Centre to look into the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.

NEW CHIEF JUSTICE FOR HYDERABAD HIGH COURT Justice Thottathil Bhaskaran Nair Radhakrishnan, presently Chief Justice of Chattisgarh High Court, will assume charge as Chief Justice of Hyderabad High Court for the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on or before July 16.

Key facts:

With this, the Hyderabad High Court will get a regular Chief Justice after nearly two years.

Justice Thottathil Bhaskaran Nair Radhakrishnan was born on April 29, 1959. Both his father and mother, late N. Bhaskaran Nair and late K. Parukutty Amma , were lawyers and practiced at Kollam.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 35 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 Summit and conference

Summit and conference

WORLD SANSKRIT CONFERENCE

The 2018 World Sanskrit Conference (WSC) is being hosted by the Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. It is 17th such conference. World Sanskrit Conference: • The World Sanskrit Conference is the premier international forum for professional researchers and educators of the Sanskrit language and its literatures, and of the history, religion, and cultures of pre modern South Asia. • It is convened every three years under the auspices of the International Association of Sanskrit Studies.

DELHI DIALOGUE 2018 10th edition of the Delhi Dialogue (DD X) was held in New Delhi. This is the first major event to be organized after the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, that was held in New Delhi in January 2018. Theme: “Strengthening India-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation”.

36 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS Summit and conference July -2018

Delhi Dialogue: • It is a premier annual track 1.5 event to discuss politico-security, economic and socio- cultural engagement between India and ASEAN. • It has been held annually since 2009 and political leaders, policy makers, senior officials, diplomats, think tanks and academicians from both sides participate in the discussions pertaining to ASEAN-India relations. • It is aimed at finding a common ground and expanding the scope of cooperation between India and ASEAN nations.

MINISTRY OF MINES ORGANIZED 4TH NATIONAL CONCLAVE ON MINES AND MINERALS AT INDORE • The Ministry of Mines organized the 4th National Conclave on Mines & Minerals at Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan was the chief guest of the conclave. • For the first time, the conclave had an exhibition in which States put up stalls to showcase their more than 100 mineral blocks which have been prepared to be put up on auctions during 2018-19. An app of NALCO–NAMASYA was also launched by the Ministers.

FOURTH BIMSTEC SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN KATHMANDU • The announcement of the 4th Bay of Bengal Initiatives for Multi-Sectoral, Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to be held in Kathmandu made by Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali. • The main focus of the summit will be to increase connectivity between the BIMSTEC nations including roads, airways and transmission lines. • The BIMSTEC is a regional economic bloc comprising seven member states lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 37 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 AWARD

AWARDS

Kalidas Samman • Noted artist Anjolie Ela Menon has received the National Kalidas Samman for visual arts INDIA’S ICZM PROJECT from the Madhya Pradesh government. WINS WORLD BANK’S • The award was conferred in recognition of her insightful and sensitive portrayal of the INTERNAL AWARD identity and spirit of women through her meaningful paintings in a variety of media India’s Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project has won the World Bank’s internal award for exceptional performance in Environment Ministry.

The ICZM project is among the eight projects awarded, selected out of 42 final nominations received from the World Bank Task Teams in • It is a prestigious arts award presented the South Asian Countries. annually by the government of Madhya Pradesh in India.

• The award is named after Kālidāsa, a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer of ancient India. The Kalidas Samman was first awarded in 1980.

• It was initially conferred in alternate years in the fields of Classical Music, Classical Dance, Theatre and Plastic Arts. From 1986-87 onwards, the awards were presented in all four fields every year

38 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SCHEMES July -2018

SCHEMES

Sambal scheme

It is a power bill waiver scheme and subsidised power scheme for labourers and poor families launched by the Madhya Pradesh Government.

Under the scheme, the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families would be provided electricity at a cost of 200 rupees per month.

Sambal Yojana The objective of scheme is to make sure that all households have power facility in the state. The beneficiaries will be provided with power free of cost connection.

INDIAN RAILWAYS LAUNCHES “MISSION SATYANISHTHA” A PROGRAM ON ETHICS IN PUBLIC GOVERNANCE • In first of its kind event held by any government organization, the Indian Railways organized a programme on Ethics in Public Governance and Launched “Mission Satyanishtha” at a daylong event held at National Rail Museum, New Delhi,

• The issue of Ethics, Integrity and probity in public life have been a matter of concern all over the government sector.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 39 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 SCHEMES

• In this context it is also extremely important that all railway servants adhere to impeccable conduct and integrity at all times. “Mission Satyanishtha” launched on 27th July 2018 aims at sensitizing all railway employees about the need to adhere to good ethics and to maintain high standards of integrity at work.

The objectives of the Mission are: 1. To train every employee to understand the need and value of ethics in Personal and Public life.

2. To deal with ethical dilemmas in life and Public Governance.

3. To help understand the policies of Indian Railways on ethics and integrity and the employee’s role in upholding the same.

4. To develop inner governance through tapping.

ATAL INNOVATION MISSION, NITI AAYOG & MYGOV LAUNCHES “INNOVATE INDIA PLATFORM”

• Launching the platform, Atal Innovation Mission, Innovate India MyGov -AIM portal creates the much-needed innovations platform for registering both grassroots and deep-tech innovators at a national level.

• Those searching for a critical innovation can leverage the portal advantageously for the benefit of the economy as well as national social needs.”

Some of the features of this platform are:

1. The platform is open to all Indian citizens

2. The users can View, comment, share, and rate the innovations crowd sourced on the #Innovate India platform.

3. View the leader board which is calculated based on the votes on each innovation.

4. Citizens can share their/organizations/someone else’s innovation on the platform by login to the MyGov website.

5. These innovations can also be shared on various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter.

40 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SCHEMES July -2018 SUKANYA SAMRIDDHI YOJANA • By amending Sukanya Samriddhi Account Rules, 2016, the Union Government has reduced minimum yearly deposit required under popular girl child savings scheme, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana to Rs 250 from Rs 1,000 earlier. This has been lowered to enable more people to enjoy benefits of this scheme.

• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a small deposit scheme for the girl child launched as a part of the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign.

Key features A Sukanya Samriddhi Account can be opened any time after the birth of a girl till she turns 10, with a minimum deposit of Rs 250 (Earlier it was Rs 1,000). In subsequent years, a minimum of Rs 250 and a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh can be deposited during the ongoing financial year.

• The account can be opened in any post office or authorized branches of commercial banks.

• The account will remain operative for 21 years from the date of its opening or till the marriage of the girl after she turns 18.

WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANISATION (WCO)

India has become the Vice-Chair (Regional Head) of the Asia Pacific Region of World Customs Organisation (WCO) for a period of two years, from July, 2018 to June, 2020.

Being the Vice Chair of AP Region of WCO will enable India to take on leadership role.

About WCO:

The World Customs Organization (WCO), established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.

The WCO represents 182 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 41 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 SCHEMES KANYA VAN SAMRUDDHI YOJANA • The Maharashtra government has introduced a new scheme called ‘Kanya Van Samruddhi Yojana’. The aim of the scheme is to empower women and promote tree plantation. The scheme was approved in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

• As per the scheme, farmers families with 2 girl children will be given 10 saplings of different varieties, including teakwood, mango, jackfruit, black plum, and tamarind for plantation.

• The income from these trees will be utilized for safeguarding the future of the girls. The beneficiaries will also be helped under the horticulture scheme. It is expected that at least two lakh farmers families will benefit from the scheme every year.

BRUS OF MIZORAM

• In a major breakthrough on repatriation laced Bru persons from Mizoram since 1997, an agreement has been signed by Government of India, Governments of Mizoram and Tripura and Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF).

• The central government will provide financial assistance for rehabilitation of Bru community members in Mizoram and address their issues of security, education, livelihood, etc. in consultation with the governments of Mizoram and Tripura.

• The Brus, also referred to as the Reangs, are spread across the northeastern states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur, and Mizoram

42 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS ENVIRONMENTAL / ECOLOGY July -2018

ENVIRONMENTAL / ECOLOGY

Volvo Eicher to receive first commercial BS VI Certificate

• International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) has completed the first BS-VI certification for a heavy-duty engine model for M/s Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicle Limited

• The engine has been developed and manufactured indigenously by Volvo Eicher in India.

• The successful completion of the compliance test of the engine, much ahead of the implementation date of 1 April 2020, gives sufficient time for product stabilization in terms of making it more robust and cost competitive for the end consumers.

About International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT): • ICAT is a division of NATRiP implementation society (NATIS), under the administrative control of the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Government of India.

• ICAT is the first of new world-class centers established under the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP) with the main objective of carrying out Research & Development besides extending homologation facilities in the field of Automotive Engineering.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 43 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 ENVIRONMENTAL / ECOLOGY

• ICAT is one of the prime testing agencies recognized by the Government of India as one of the accredited ‘Type Approval and Homologation’ agencies in India under Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR).

• It has also been recognized as Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), since Feb 2010, by BIS for Tyre Testing, Safety Glasses and by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for emission and noise testing of generator sets.

• ICAT is one of the prime testing agencies recognized by the Government of India as one of the accredited ‘Type Approval and Homologation’ agencies in India under Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR).

• It has also been recognized as Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), since Feb 2010, by BIS for Tyre Testing, Safety Glasses and by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for emission and noise testing of generator sets.

Bhitarkanika National Park became largest habitat of Endangered Estuarine Crocodiles • The Bhitarkanika national park has become the largest habitat of the endangered estuarine crocodiles in the country with a record number of their nesting sites spotted in it.

• The nesting spots had registered 25% rise this year.

At least 1698 crocodiles, including albino species, were counted this year along the water- bodies of Mahanadi delta region, while the gure recorded last year stood at 1682. A female crocodile lays 50 to 60 eggs and the hatchlings usually emerge from the nests after 70 to 80 days of incubation period Estuarine crocodiles are also found in West Bengals Sundarban areas having the country’s largest mangrove cover. Besides, the mangrove wetlands in the Andaman Islands are home to these species.

44 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS ENVIRONMENTAL / ECOLOGY July -2018 Climate change threatens the Nilgiri tahr

As per the latest studies, climate change is threatening the Nilgiri tahr. It is estimated that the endangered wild goat could lose approximately 60% of its habitat, starting from the 2030s.

Background: There are only around 2,500 tahrs left in the wild and their population - “small and isolated, making them vulnerable to local extinction” - shows a “decreasing” trend, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Nilgiri Tahr- IUCN status- It is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. Endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Southern India. It is the State animal of Tamil Nadu. Currently, the only populations with more than 300 individuals are in Eravikulam National Park and in the Grass Hills in Anamalai.

4 SPECIES ADDED TO RECOVERY PROGRAMME BY WILDLIFE BOARD • The standing committee of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has recently added four species into Centre’s Recovery Programme for Critically Endangered Species.

• They were added on the recommendation by Wildlife Division of Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

1. Northern River Terrapin (Sunderbans)

2. Clouded Leopard (Eastern and NE India , Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh)

3. Arabian Sea Humpback Whale

4. Red Panda (Sub-Himalayan areas of east and north east)

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 45 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 ENVIRONMENTAL / ECOLOGY

About National Board for Wildlife (NBWL): 1. National Board for Wild Life is a statutory body constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

2. The board is advisory in nature and advises the Central Government on framing policies and measures for conservation of wildlife in the country.

3. It serves as apex body to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries. Primary function of the Board is to promote the conservation and development of wildlife and forests.

4. It has power to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries.

5. No alternation of boundaries in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries can be done without approval of the NBWL.

6. The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister. It has 47 members including the Prime Minister.

7. Among these, 19 members are ex-officio members. Other members include three Members of Parliament (two from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha), five NGOs and 10 eminent ecologists, conservationists and environmentalists.

46 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS Places in News July -2018

Places in News

India gets 37th WORLD UNESCO World Heritage Site

The 42nd session of World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held in Manama.

These four cultural sites are

• Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai (India)

• Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars region (Iran)

• Hidden Christian Sites in Nagasaki Region (Japan) and Sansa

• Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea (South Korea)

Key facts: • This makes Mumbai city the second city in India after Ahmedabad to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. In the past 5 years alone, India has managed to get inscribed seven of its properties/sites on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

• India now has overall 37 World Heritage Inscriptions with 29 Cultural, 07 Natural and 01 Mixed sites.

• While India stands second largest in number after China in terms of number of World Heritage properties in ASPAC (Asia and Pacific) region, it is overall sixth in the world.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 47 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 ENVIRONMENTAL / ECOLOGY

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• The World Heritage Sites are selected by UNESCO, having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance and is legally protected by international treaties.

• The list is maintained by international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

• The committee comprises of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by UN General Assembly.

• Each World Heritage Site included in the list remains part of the legal territory of the state where it is located.

• Presently, Italy with 50 sites is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites.

A 216-foot-tall celebration of Ramanuja A 216-foot-tall statue of Ramanuja will be built at Hyderabad. When unveiled, it is set to become the world’s second tallest statue of a seated figure.

Key facts:

Currently, the Great Buddha of Thailand is the tallest statue, at 302-feet. Once the Ramanujacharya statue is unveiled, it will become the second tallest, a distinction now held by the Guanyin figure on Mount Xiqiao in China’s Guangdong region, at 203 feet

About Ramanujacharya:

• He was a Hindu theologian, philosopher, and one of the most important exponents of the Sri Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism.

• His philosophical foundations for devotionalism were influential to the Bhakti movement.

• He is famous as the chief proponent of Vishishtadvaita subschool of Vedāntd.

He wrote influential texts, such as bhāsya on the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita, all in Sanskrit

48 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SPORTS July -2018

sPORTS

2018 FIFA World Cup – France The 2018 FIFA World Cup was the 21st FIFA World Cup, an international football tournament contested by the men’s national teams of the member associations of FIFA once every four years.

It took place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018. It was the first World Cup to be held in Eastern Europe, and the 11th time that it had been held in Europe.

Who Won?

France defeats Croatia 4–2 to claim its second World Cup championshi

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 49 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 SPORTS SPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA SET TO BE RENAMED AS SPORTS INDIA

• The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is set to be renamed as Sports India, Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore announced on Wednesday after the sports body’s governing body meeting here. “Sports Authority of India is being renamed.

• The word authority is being removed. It wil¬l be known as Sports India now,” Rathore said after the meeting even as the press release issued by SAI had no mention of the change in name being approved. The sports body, established in 1984.

Aaron Finch: Australia captain hits 172 off 76 against Zimbabwe for new record T20 international score Australia captain Aaron Finch broke his own record for the highest Twenty 20 international score by hitting 172 from 76 balls against Zimbabwe in Harare. Finch beat the previous highest, which was his 156 against England in 2013. He just failed to beat Chris Gayle’s record score of 175 for all T20 cricket when he was out hit the wicket with two balls of Australia’s innings left.

DIPA KARMAKAR CLINCHES GOLD MEDAL AT GYMNASTICS WORLD CUP

Dipa Karmakar clinched the gold medal at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cupin Mersin, Turkey. She scored 14.150 to win the top prize. She had topped the qualification with a score of 13.400. Dipa has created a history and she is now the first Indian gymnast to win a gold in a world level event.

50 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SPORTS July -2018 Neeraj Chopra wins gold atSotteville Athletics Meet in France • India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal at the International de Sotteville-les-Rouen Meeting in France, beating a competitive field which included 2012 London Olympics gold-medallist Keshorn Walcott.

• He also won the gold at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast earlier this year before breaking the national record with a 87.43m effort at the Doha Diamond League, where he finished fourth.

• Neeraj is a part of India’s squad for the Asian Games 2018.

1. The Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (IIT-R) has inked an MoU with Switzerland-based multinational ABB to construct an operational smart electricity distribution network and management system (SDNMS) on its campus which will serve as a pilot project for the Centre’s Smart Cities Mission.

2. The Maharashtra government will implement India’s first plastic buyback scheme for PET bottles and milk pouches from July 11 to ensure recycling, The Times of India reported.

3. Maharashtra State government launched an online portal ‘Pavitra’ for recruiting teachers. The move aims to ensure that only meritorious candidates get jobs and education institute owners do not demand bribes from the aspirant.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 51 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 DEFENCE

DEFENCE

TEJAS: INDIGENOUS FIGHTER AIRCRAFT

Indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas of No 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers) of Indian Air Force (IAF) has formally commenced operations from Sulur Air Force Station in Tamil Nadu. With deployment of Tejas, its squadron ‘Flying Daggers’ took up active wartime role towards safeguarding national skies.

Key Facts

Southern Air Command (SAC) based at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala has been entrusted with responsibility of integrating Tejas fighter aircraft in IAF’s Concept of Operations.

It has been involved in training aircrew of fighter aircraft Tejas. Sulur Air Force Station will now undertake operations and maintenance of the indigenous fighter aircraft.

DRDO SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRED BRAHMOS MISSILE FROM ODISHA • Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO), and the Indian Army have test fired a supersonic BrahMos cruise missile under “extreme weather conditions”, in Balasore district in the eastern Indian state of Odisha.

• The missile - named after the Brahmaputra River in India and the Moskva River in Russia - is a derivative of the Russian-made P-800 Oniks over-the-horizon supersonic anti-ship cruise missile.

• The missile’s range is estimated at around 300 to 400 kilometers.

• BrahMos is considered one of the the world’s fastest cruise missile currently in operational use.

52 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS GENERAL KNOWLEDGE July -2018

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR HEADQUARTERS

International Organization Head quarters YEAR Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Rome, Italy 16, Oct. 1945 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Vienna, Austria 1957

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Quebec, Canada 4, Apr. 1947

International Labour Organization (ILO) Geneva, Switzerland 1919

United Nations (UN) New York City, USA 1945 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) New York City, USA Dec. 1946 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Paris, France 16, Nov. 1945 Organization (UNESCO)

United Nations Industrial Development Organization Vienna, Austria 1966 (UNIDO) World Food Programme (WFP) Rome, Italy 1961

World Health Organization (WHO) Geneva, Switzerland 7, Apr. 1948 World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Geneva, Switzerland 23, Mar. 1950 World Tourism Organization (WTO) World Tourism 1975 Organization (WTO)

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Singapore Nov. 1989

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Jakarta, Indonesia 8, Aug. 1976

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 53 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Commonwealth of Nations London, United 11, Dec. 1931 Kingdom Council of Europe Strasbourg North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Brussels, Belgium 4, Apr.1949 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Beijing, China 26, Apr. 1946 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Kathmandu, Nepal 8, Dec. 1946 (SAARC)

World Trade Organization (WTO) Geneva, Switzerland 1, Jan. African Development Bank (ADB) Abidjan, Ivory Coast 1995 Asian Development Bank (ADB) Metro Manila, 19, Dec. 1966 Philippines International Monetary Fund (IMF) Washington, (D)(C), 27, Dec. 1945 United States World Bank (WB) Washington (D)(C), United States Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) Athens, Greece 20, July 1924 Fédération Internationale de Football Association Zürich, Switzerland 21, May 1904 (FIFA)

International Cricket Council (ICC) Dubai, United Arab International Olympic Committee (IOC) Lausanne, 23, June 1894 Switzerland International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Bonn, Germany 22, Sep 1989 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Nyon, Switzerland International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Lyon, France International Maritime Organization London, United Kingdom International Organization for Migration (IOM) Geneva, Switzerland 1951 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Geneva, Switzerland 17, May 1865 Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical The Hague, 29, Apr. 1997 Netherlands Weapons (OPCW) Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Vienna, Austria Sep. 1960 (OPEC) Universal Postal Union Bern, Switzerland 19, Oct. 1874 World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Geneva, Switzerland 14, July 1967

54 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS GENERAL KNOWLEDGE July -2018

List of Joint Military Exercises Of India With Other Countries, 2017 India Partner Country Force Exercise Name India United States Naval Malabar

India United States Army Yudh Abhyas

India United States Air force Red Flag

India United States Army Cope India France Air Force Varuna

India United kingdom Army Ajeya Warrior India United kingdom Air Force Garuda India United Kingdom Air Force Indra Dhanush India Managolia Military Nomadic Elephant India China Military Hand in Hand India Sri Lanka Army Mitra Shakti India Thailand Military Maitree India Russia Army Indra India Australia Maritime Ausindex India Kazakishtan Army Prabal Dostyk India UK Maritime Konkan India Nepal Army Surya Kiran India Maldives Military Ekuverin India Japan Coast Guards Sahyog Kaijin India South Africa , Brazil Navy Ibsamar India Seychelles Military Lamitye

India Kazakashthan Military Prabal Dostyk – Nov 2017 India Australia Navy Navy Ausindex

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 55 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 JULY MONTH QUESTION

JULY MONTH QUESTION

1. Nelson Mandela International Day is 6. What is the theme of World Population Day observed on observed on 11 July 2018? (A) 19 September (B) 18 July (A) Family Planning is a Human Right (C) 07 July (D) 15 November (B) Family Planning- Nation Planning (C) Plan a Family 2. Neeraj Chopra who clinched a gold medal (D) Family Planning- Your Right at the Sotteville Athletics Meet in France belongs to which of the following sports? 7. Where is the headquarters of Asian (A) Javelin throw (B) Kick Boxing Development Bank situated? (C) High Jump (D) Gymnastic (A) Manila (B) Switzerland (C) Italy (D) Beijing 3. Who is appointed as new Chairperson of National Green Tribunal (NGT)? 8. Which of the following two districts were (A) Justice PM Mishra declared NIPAH Free by Kerala State (B) Justice KL Rahul Government? (C) Justic Satish Chandra (A) Kozhikode and Malappuram (D) Justice AK Goel (B) Pathanamthitta and Idukki (C) Palakkad and Ernakulam 4. Paralympic mascot of Tokyo 2020 is called (D) Alappuzha and Kollam (A) Someity (B) Somenity (C) Parameity (D) Paramirait 9. Who is the chairman of Payment Council of India? 5. In Global Innovation Index (GII) 2018, Top (A) Vipul Sharma (B) Vishal Sachdev 3 countries are (C) Vinod Kumar (D) Vishwas Patel (A) UK, Netherlands, Canada (B) Iceland, Norway, US (C) Switzerland, Norway, Sweden (D) Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden

56 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY MONTH QUESTION July -2018

10. Which airport renamed as ‘Maharaja Bir 15. Which of the following artist was conferred Bikram Manikya Kishore Airport? with National Kalidas Samman Award? (A) Agartala Airport (A) Anupam Kher (B) Bhubaneswar Airport (B) Zakir Hussain (C) Gaya Airport (C) Akbar Padamsee (D) Patna Airport (D) Anjolie Ela Menon

11. “cVIGIL” mobile application launched by 16. When was GST implemented in India? the central government is used for ? (A) July 01, 2017 (A) To inform police department about live (B) June 01, 2017 road accidents in highways. (C) July 16, 2017 (B) To inform election commission about (D) December 01, 2017 electoral malpractices. (C) To inform tax authorities regarding 17. The 19th World Congress of Food Science information on black money. and Technology was held at (D) To inform state govt.authorities (A) Navi Mumbai, India regarding cattle smuggling within its (B) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil boundary. (C) Maputo, Mozambique (D) Secunderabad, Telengana 12. The fourth edition of Bay of Bengal Initiatives for Multi-Sectoral, Technical 18. Where was the 17th World Sanskrit and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will Conference held? be held in (A) America (B) India (A) New Delhi (B) Kathmandu (C) Cambodia (D) Canada (C) Colombo (D) Thimphu 19. Which of the following states introduced 13. According to Public Affairs Index (PAI) ‘Annapurna milk distribution scheme’ 2018, ______tops the list as for the wellness of schoolchildren in the best-governed state in the country followed state? by Tamil Nadu. (A) Gujarat (B) Rajasthan (A) Goa (B) Kerala (C) Punjab (D) Telangana (C) Telangana (D) Andhra Pradesh 20. The International Mango Festival is held 14. Who are the two Indians that have been annually at declared winners of the 2018 Ramon (A) Varanasi (B) Salem Magsaysay Award? (C) Banganapalle (D) New Delhi (A) Harish Trivedi and Satish Dravid (B) Namit Shah and Soham Dave 21. The world’s largest mobile phone (C) Bharat Vatwani and Sonam Wangchuk manufacturing plant by production (D) Kartik Vyas and Vinod Bhave capacity is located at?

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 57 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 JULY MONTH QUESTION

(A) India (B) South Korea 27. The minimum support price of paddy been (C) China (D) America fixed for Kharif season of 2018-19 to (A) Rs. 1750 per quintal 22. Which India state was the first to release (B) Rs. 1550 per quintal ‘Tribal Atlas’? (C) Rs.1650 per quintal (A) Madhya Pradesh (B) Nagaland (D) Rs. 1850 per quintal (C) Manipur (D) Odisha 28. Which issue has the Sunil Mehta Committee 23. “Happiness Curriculum”, recently in news submitted is recommendations? is launched by which of the following (A) Selling Air India state/UT’s government ? (B) Increase disinvestment (A) Gujarat (B) Delhi (C) Employment generation in the informal (C) Maharashtra (D) Karnataka sector (D) NPA crisis 24. Which of the following statement(s) is/are true about “Project Sashakt”, recently in 29. Who has been appointed as the new news ? chairman of the Central Administrative (A) Project Sashakt proposes for creation of Tribunal (CAT)? a “Bad Bank” for Banks NPA. (A) Justice L. Narasimha Reddy (B) “Project Sashakt” is to ensure the (B) Justice Gita Mittal operational turnaround of the banks (C) Justice B.M. Shah and stressed companies. (D) Justice H. S. Sodhi (C) Both 1 and 2 (D) Neither 1 nor 2 30. Which place is Ramanujacharya’s 216 feet statue, the world’s second highest statue 25. Where is the two-day (9th and 10th being built? July, 2018) International Round Table (A) Kanyakumari Conference on Statistics is being (B) Kanchipuram organized? (C) Hyderabad (A) New Delhi (B) Bangalore (D) Chennai (C) Pune (D) Kolkata 31. Who among the following has been 26. Which of followings has launched the appointed as the Chairman of Central Sampoorna Bima Gram (SBG) Yojana, Indirect Tax and Tariff Board (CBIC)? which was recently in the news? (A) Ramesh Abhishek (A) Life Insurance Corporation of India (B) Ashok Chawla (B) Ministry of Rural Development (C) Mr. S. Ramesh (C) India post (D) Mr. B. Suresh (D) Ministry of Finance

58 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY MONTH QUESTION July -2018

32. Consider the following UNESCO World (A) Madhya pradesh Heritage Sites and their locations: (B) Utra pradesh Heritage Country (C) Odisha 1. Qualhat city : Oman (D) Telangana 2. Sansa monastery : South Korea 3. Thimlich Ohinga : Kenya 38. The First BS-VI engine certificate was Which of the above pairs are correctly released by matched? (A) Green Fort Engineering College (A) 1 and 2 only (B)1 and 3 only (B) International Centre for Automotive (C) 2 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3 Technology (C) Institute of Engineering and 33. What was the theme of International Co- Technology operative Day? (D) Vidya Jyothi Institute of Technology (A) Consumer Protection (B) Sustainable consumption and 39. Who won the first prize of National Human production of goods and services Rights Commission’s logo design contest? (A) Better Production and Useful (A) Prashant Mishra Consumption (B) Aayushi Garg (D) Growth of co-operative societies (C) Bansi Lal Ketki (D) Dharm Priya Singh 34. Which of the following states ranked top among in ease of doing business ranking 40. The International Round Table Conference released by World bank and DIPP? on “Data for New India” will be held in (A) Tamilnadu (B) Andhra Pradesh (A) New Delhi (B) Mumbai (C) Maharashtra (D) Bihar (C) Kolkata (D) Surat

35. Which of the following nations is replacing 41. Which of the following players has won the the United States in the United Nations most number of men’s Grand Slam titles Human Rights Council (UNHRC)? in Tennis? (A) Greenland (B) China (A) Roger Federer (B) Rafael Nadal (C) Iceland (D) Switzerland (C) Sampras (D) Novak Djokovic

36. Which state government recently launched 42. World Chocolate Day is celebrated every “one person one car” policy for ministers? year on (A) Gujarat (B) Jharkhand (A) July 8 (B) July 7 (C) Odisha (D) West Bengal (C) July 6 (D) July 6 43. Which novel won the Golden Man Booker 37. Which state’s police signed MoU with ISRO International prize 2018? for crime mapping? (A) Girls Burn Brighter (B) The English Patient

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 59 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 JULY MONTH QUESTION

(C) Children of Blood and Bone (A) Hamburg (B) Hangzhou (D) An American Marriage (C) Brisbane (D) St.Petersburg

44. 18th Asian Games is scheduled to be held 51. Who is Pakistan’s first woman chief justice at which place? of a high court? (A) Jakarta (B) London (A) Justice Tahira Safdar (C) Bangkok (D) Vienna (B) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar (C) Justice Majida Rizvi 45. Which state introduced a ‘One farmer one (D) Justice Anisa Rasooli transformer’ scheme to reduce electricity losses? 52. The term ‘SAFAR’ recently found in news (A) Punjab (B) Maharashtra is______(C) Telangana (D) Tamilnadu (A) Indigenously developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 46. Recently, Which team become first finalists (B) Central government scheme for of 2018 FIFA World Cup? empowerment of women (A) France (B) Belgium (C) Air quality and Weather forecast (C) England (D) Croatia system (D) Newly developed pesticide resistant 47. Which city to host the first-ever ‘India wheat variety Tourism Mart (ITM)’? (A) Lucknow (B) New Delhi 53. Which of the following organizations has (C) Pune (D) Agra recently launched in house e-marketing system? 48. Name of the mountainer who become the (A) SIDBI (B) LIC second Indian mountaineer to climb Mt (C) KVIC (D) NABARD Ojos del Salado after Malli Mastan Babu. (A) Raj Singh Dharmshaktu 54. Which state government launched ‘Anna (B) Arunima Sinha Canteens’, meals at just Rs 5? (C) Satyarup Siddhanta (A) Tamilnadu (B) Pondicherry (D) H. P. S. Ahluwalia (C) Telangana (D) Andhra Pradesh

49. Pakistan launched 2 indigenously built 55. 5th RCEP Intersessional Ministerial Meeting satellites named PRSS-1 and PAK-TES-1A held in which city? into the orbit from which country? (A) Beijing (B) Tokyo (A) China (B) Russia (C) New Delhi (D) New York (C) France (D) India 56. Which committee has been constituted 50. Which of the following was the venue of G- by the Central Government to review 20 summit held in July 2017? Companies Act 2013?

60 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY MONTH QUESTION July -2018

(A) Injeti Srinivas Committee (A) BSNL (B) Reliance Jio (B) Avinash K. Srivastava Committee (C) Vodafone (D) Idea (C) Raghvendra Singh Committee (D) Sanjay Mitra Committe 63. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched which 57. The United Nations Security Council movement for healthier FMCG food (UNSC) has adopted which resolution to products? protect children in armed conflict? (A) The Eat Right Movement (A) Resolution 2657 (B) The Eat Healthy Movement (C) The Eat Safe Movement (B) Resolution 2537 (D) The Eat Calculative Movement (C) Resolution 2347 (D) Resolution 2427 64. Which state government has recently granted religious minority status to Jews 58. India’s first private UAV factory will be set living in the state? up in ______(A) Manipur (B) Rjasthan (A) Bhopal (B) Noida (C) Gujarat (D) Goa (C) Kota (D) Surat 65. The Global Wind Summit 2018 will be 59. Which country has become the Vice-Chair held in September 2018 at which of the (Regional Head) of the Asia Pacific Region following cities? of World Customs Organisation (WCO)? (A) Hamburg, Germany (A) Malaysia (B) Singapore (B) Sydney, Australia (C) India (D) Japan (C) Tokyo, Japan (D) Amsterdam, Netherland 60. Who has won the 2018 women singles’ 66. India occupied which position in the latest Wimbledon tennis tournament? Men’s Hockey World Rankings? (A) Maria Sharapova (A) Sixth (B) Second (B) Simona Halep (C) Third (D) Fifth (C) Angelique Kerber (D) Serena Williams 67. India’s first Defense incubators will come up in 61. Which state government has given in- (A) Mumbai (B) New Delhi principle approval for ‘Seema Darshan’ (C) Hyderabad (D) Kolkata project for border tourism ? (A) Jammu & Kashmir 68. Who has become the first transgender (B) Rajasthan lawyer? (C) Gujarat (A) Sathyasri Sharmila (D) Sikkim (B) Ravi Thapar 62. Which telecom company has become the (C) Monti Rajkhowa India’s first Mobile operator to launch (D) Alka Tiwar Internet Telephony Services in India?

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 61 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 JULY MONTH QUESTION

75. Which city going to get India’s first 69. Which of the following state gets national government run e-Waste recycling plant? award for best performance under (A) New Delhi (B) Bangalore PMSMA? (C) Chennai (D) Kolkata (A) Jharkhand (B) Haryana 76. Where did the first meeting of the Cauvery (C) Himachal Pradesh Water Management Authority (CWMA) (D) Orissa held? (A) New Delhi (B) Chennai 70. Which of the following state has announced (C) Mumbai (D) Kolkata India’s the first ‘Khadi Mall’? (A) Jharkhand 77. Name the world’s first medicine made from marijuana? (B) Haryana (A) Epidiolex (B) Sativex (C) Himachal Pradesh (C) Dronabinol (D) Nabilone (D) Orissa

78. Which year Google aims to add 40 million 71. Bhitarkanika National Park became WiFi users in India? largest habitat of Endangered Estuarine (A) 2018 (B) 2019 Crocodiles, to which state Bhitarkanika (C) 2020 (D) 2022 National Park located? (A) Jharkhand 79. Which state government accorded the (B) Haryana status of ‘legal person or entity’ to the (C) Himachal Pradesh animals in the state? (D) Odisha (A) Haryana (B) Rajasthan (C) Uttarakhand (D) Gujarat 72. Who has won the Austrian Grand Prix? (A) Lewis Hamilton 80. Where did India’s first taxi ambulance (B) Max Verstappen services launched? (C) Nico Rosberg (A) Bangalore (B) New Delhi (D) Sebastian Vett (C) Mumbai (D) Kolkata

73. To which country India has exchanged the 81. When will NITI Aayog to conduct India’s lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen? first ‘Global Mobility Summit’? (A) China (B) Pakistan (A) July (B) August (C) Srilanka (D) Japan (C) September (D) October 74. Name the state that has to set up a tribal 82. Who wins gold in Gymnastics World Cup? museum? (A) Dipa Karmakar (A) Chhattisgarh (B) Goa (B) Georgia Bonora (C) Rajasthan (D) Orissa (C) Daria Joura (D) Emily Little

62 Vetrii IAS Study Circle TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY MONTH QUESTION July -2018

83. Who has awarded Knowledge Excellence 90. Which of the following scheme is for the Award? Conservation of Monuments? (A) T.K Chand (A) Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (B) Michael Ondaatjeu2019 (B) Janani Suraksha Yojana (C) Rita Teaotia (C) Swavalamban (D) Manoj Kumar Pingua (D) Adarsh Smarak Yojana

84. Which country plans to launch unmanned 91. DRDO successfully test fired BrahMos spacecraft to land on Moon in 2019? Missile in (A) USA (B) Russia (A) Assam (B) Odisha (C) India (D) Israel (C) Maharashtra (D) West Bengal

85. Who is the new brand ambassador of 92. Which state government has launched Tripura? ‘Poshan Abhiyan’ to eradicate (A) Dipa Karmakar malnutrition? (B) Sachin Tendulkar (A) Maharashtra (B) Tripura (C) PV Sindhu (C) Gujarat (D) Mizoram (D) MS Dhoni 93. Who has become the oldest Indian woman 86 . What is the rank of India in world’s largest to complete an Ironman Triathlon? economy? (A) Pooja Mishra (B) Anju Khosla (A) 1 (B) 6 (C) Anjali Jain (D) Priya Mukherjee (C) 3 (D) 5 94. India inaugurated World’s largest visa 87. Name the Indian state that has introduced centre in______world’s cheapest clean drinking water? (A) Bhutan (B) Sri Lanka (A) Assam (B) Bihar (C) Bangladesh (D) Nepal (C) Chhattisgarh (D) Rajasthan 95. Which country’s President has been invited 88. Which type of museum is to be opened in as chief guest in the 2019 Republic Day of Ariyalur? India? (A) Art museum (A) Japan (B) United States (B) Fossil museum (C) Maldives (D) Portugal (C) History museum (D) Mobile museum 96. Which place Tenth BRICS Summit 2018 89. Scientists from which country have began recently? performed the first-ever 3-D, colour X-ray (A) Johannesburg (B) Australia on a human? (C) New york (D) Denmark (A) China (B) Canada (C) New Zealand (D) Australia

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 63 TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS July -2018 JULY MONTH QUESTION

97. Which country has recently replaced India’s 99. World Cities Summit 2018 held in tag on ‘World’s largest poor population’? (A) Japan (B) China (A) Congo (B) Nigeria (C) Singapore (D) Germany (C) Burundi (D) South Korea 100. FSSAI is established under the Ministry 98. What is the scheme that is introduced by of the Maharashtra government to empower (A) Home Affairs women and promote tree plantation? (B) Consumer Affairs, Food and Public (A) Kanya Van Samruddhi Yojana Distribution (B) Swadhar Greh Scheme (C) Food Processing Industries (C) Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee (D) Health & Family Welfare Yojana (D) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 B A D A D A A A D A 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 B B B C D A A D B D 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 A D B B A C A D A C 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 C A B B C D B B C A 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 A B B A B A B C A A 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 A B C D B A D C C C 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 C A A C A D C A C A 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 D B B A B A A B C B 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 C A A D A B B B C D 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 B C B C B A B A C D

64 Vetrii IAS Study Circle