Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 9thto 15th 27th January to 2nd February 2019 September 2018
Table of Contents
Awards & Honours ...... 2 Days & Events ...... 4 International Affairs ...... 4 National Affairs ...... 4 Personalities in News ...... 7 Government Policies & Schemes ...... 8 Science & Technology ...... 8 Committees & Recommendations ...... 9 Business & Economy ...... 9 Sports ...... 10 Defence ...... 10 Polity……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... 11
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Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
Table of Contents
Awards &Honours ...... 3 Days & Events ...... 4 International Affairs ...... 4 National Affairs ...... 5 Personalities in News ...... 8 Government Policies & Schemes ...... 9 Science & Technology ...... 9 Business & Economy ...... 10 Sports...... 11 Defence...... 13 Polity ...... 14
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Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
Awards &Honours • Kovind also awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal to 13 senior officers of the three armed forces. Awards II • He presented the Uttam Yuddh Seva Medal to 2 Army • A Brazilian Jewish physicist and astronomer Marcelo officers. Gleiser has won the 2019 Templeton Prize for his work • 26 officers of the three armed forces were also awarded blending science and spirituality. By this he became the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. first Latin American to win Templeton Prize. Gallantry awards I • Nexteer Automotive, has been recognized as a Manufacturing Leadership Awards winner for its • President Kovind awarded Kirti Chakras to Sowar Vijay outstanding achievement in Enterprise Integration and Kumar and Constable Pradip Kumar Panda. Technology Leadership. • Shaurya Chakras were awarded to soldiers for their role in counter-terror operations in Manipur and Jammu and Awards I Kashmir. • EcoEnergy Insights has been awarded this year's Frost • Kirti Chakra is awarded for “conspicuous gallantry Radar best practices award for Growth, Innovation and otherwise than in the face of the enemy” while Shaurya Leadership in the global building energy management Chakra is awarded for “gallantry otherwise in the face of system (BEMS) segment. the enemy“. • ColorTokens Inc., a pioneer in workload and endpoint • onomer Marcelo Gleiser has won the 2019 Templeton security was named Next Gen Security Company of the Prize for his work blending science and spirituality. By this Year at the 2019 Cyber Defense Magazine InfoSec Awards. he became the first Latin American to win Templeton Prize. Kane Williamson gets Sir Richard Hadlee Medal • Nexteer Automotive, has been recognized as a • Kiwi captain Kane Williamson got Sir Richard Hadlee Medal Manufacturing Leadership Awards winner for its for Men’s Player of the Year on 21 March 2019. outstanding achievement in Enterprise Integration and • Williamson also got the Test Player of the Year award and Technology Leadership. the Redpath Cup for First Class batting. Awards I • Kerr also bagged three awards — the Women’s ODI Player of the Year, Phyl Blackler Cup for women’s domestic • EcoEnergy Insights has been awarded this year's Frost bowling and the Venus Cup for Secondary Schools Female Radar best practices award for Growth, Innovation and Player of the Year. Leadership in the global building energy management system (BEMS) segment. Vymo won FICCI Award • ColorTokens Inc., a pioneer in workload and endpoint • Vymo was recognized by FICCI (The Federation of Indian security was named Next Gen Security Company of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry) at the recently Year at the 2019 Cyber Defense Magazine InfoSec Awards. concluded 2nd Edition of the FICCI PICUP Conference for Kane Williamson gets Sir Richard Hadlee Medal 'Innovation in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics'. • Vymo was earlier awarded the 'AI for All' award in the • Kiwi captain Kane Williamson got Sir Richard Hadlee Medal category 'Empowering Employees with AI' by Microsoft. for Men’s Player of the Year on 21 March 2019. • Williamson also got the Test Player of the Year award and Karen becomes 1st woman to win Abel Prize the Redpath Cup for First Class batting. • Mathematician Karen Uhlenbeck has become the first • Kerr also bagged three awards — the Women’s ODI Player woman to win the Abel prize. of the Year, Phyl Blackler Cup for women’s domestic • Sometimes called the Nobel prize of mathematics, is given bowling and the Venus Cup for Secondary Schools Female to her for the impact of her work on "analysis, geometry Player of the Year. and mathematical physics". Vymo won FICCI Award • She is also an advocate for gender equality in science and mathematics. • Vymo was recognized by FICCI (The Federation of Indian • Abel Prize is named after Norwegian mathematician Niels Chambers of Commerce and Industry) at the recently Henrik Abel. concluded 2nd Edition of the FICCI PICUP Conference for 'Innovation in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics'. Gallantry awards II • Vymo was earlier awarded the 'AI for All' award in the • In a rare occurrence, President also awarded a Shaurya category 'Empowering Employees with AI' by Microsoft. Chakra to 16-year-old Irfan Ramzan Sheikh who thwarted a militant attack on his home in 2017.
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Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
Karen becomes 1st woman to win Abel Prize • International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March. • Mathematician Karen Uhlenbeck has become the first • It focuses attention on the importance of freshwater and woman to win the Abel prize. advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater • Sometimes called the Nobel prize of mathematics, is given resources. to her for the impact of her work on "analysis, geometry • The theme for World Water Day 2019 is ‘Leaving no one and mathematical physics". behind,’ which is the central promise of the 2030 Agenda • She is also an advocate for gender equality in science and for Sustainable Development. mathematics. • Abel Prize is named after Norwegian mathematician Niels April: Delaware Sikh Awareness Month Henrik Abel. • Delaware Governor John Carney signed an executive Gallantry awards II proclamation naming April 2019 as the 'Delaware Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month'. • In a rare occurrence, President also awarded a Shaurya • This was done in recognition of the contribution of the Chakra to 16-year-old Irfan Ramzan Sheikh who thwarted a small but influential Sikh community in the economic and militant attack on his home in 2017. social milieu of the state. • Kovind also awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal to 13 senior officers of the three armed forces. Important Days • He presented the Uttam Yuddh Seva Medal to 2 Army • World Sparrow Day is observed every year on 20 March to officers. raise awareness to save sparrow and other common birds. • 26 officers of the three armed forces were also awarded • International Day of Happiness is observed every year on Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. 20 March. The theme for 2019 is 'Happier Together'. Gallantry awards I Global Recycling Day • President Kovind awarded Kirti Chakras to Sowar Vijay • Global Recycling Day is held on March 18 every year. Kumar and Constable Pradip Kumar Panda. • Global Recycling Day was created in 2018 to help • Shaurya Chakras were awarded to soldiers for their role in recognise, and celebrate, the importance recycling plays in counter-terror operations in Manipur and Jammu and preserving our precious primary resources and securing Kashmir. the future of our planet. • Kirti Chakra is awarded for “conspicuous gallantry • It is a day for the world to come together and put the otherwise than in the face of the enemy” while Shaurya planet first. Chakra is awarded for “gallantry otherwise in the face of • The theme of 2019 as ‘Recycling into the Future’. the enemy“.
Days & Events International Affairs Days and Events Islamic State group loses Syria • World Meteorological Day (WMD) is observed every year • The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) says the on 23 March. The theme for WMD 2019 is 'The Sun, the Islamic State's control is over after the militants were Earth and the Weather'. defeated in Syria. • Martyrs' day is observed in India on 23 March in the • IS retains a presence in the region and has affiliates in memories of three freedom fighters – Bhagat Singh, several other countries such as Nigeria, Yemen, Rajguru and Sukhdev. The day is also known as Shaheed Afghanistan, and the Philippines. Diwas. • The Kurdish-led SDF alliance began its final assault on IS in World Down Syndrome Day observed: March 21 March 2019. • Recognizing the need to support people suffering from Pak to receive a loan of $2.1 billion Down Syndrome, the WHO on 20th December 2007, • Pakistan will receive over US$ 2 billion loans from China by recognised March 21st as ‘World Down Syndrome Day’. 25 March 2019 to provide a boost to its ailing economy. • World Down Syndrome Day 2019 theme is “Leave no one • The funds will be deposited in the State Bank of Pakistan. behind”. • The loan facility will further strengthen foreign exchange • Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder causing delayed reserves and ensure the balance of payment stability. physical and mental growth in individuals. • Pakistan has received USD 1 billion each from Saudi Arabia • Children or adults suffering from Down Syndrome have and the UAE. lower IQ. European Union delays Brexit International World Water Day 4 | P a g e
Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
• The European Union has agreed to postpone Brexit from Hawaii to ban plastics at restaurants 29 March 2019. • Hawaii would be the first state in the US to ban most • EU leaders agreed to delay Brexit after the UK Parliament plastics at restaurants under legislation that aims to cut twice overwhelmingly rejected the deal that was agreed down on waste that pollutes the ocean. with the EU on how to withdraw from the bloc and voted • In the US, 500 million plastic straws are used and thrown against a no-deal exit. out every day. • More than 17 million Britons voted in favor of leaving the • 95 percent of plastic packaging worldwide is thrown out EU in a 2016 referendum. after being used once. US will recognise Israel's Golan Heights National Affairs • US President Donald Trump announced that the US will recognise Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Karnataka govt bans Ola Cabs for 6 months • Golan Heights was captured by Israel from Syria in 1967. • The Karnataka government's transport department • Previous US administrations have treated Golan Heights as suspended app-based Ola Cabs's aggregator license for 6 occupied Syrian territory, in line with UN security council months. resolutions. • The Ola is charged with running bike taxis in violation of Oxford Dictionary includes word 'chuddies' license conditions and violated government rules. • Aggregator means a person who is an aggregator or • Chuddies, the Indian English word for underwear, is among operator or an intermediary/market place who canvasses 650 new entries recognised as official English words by the or solicits or facilitates passengers for travel by taxi. definitive Oxford English Dictionary' (OED) in the latest update. President Kovind to visit Croatia • Chuddies made popular in the UK by the popular sitcom • President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Croatia, Bolivia, and starring British Indian actors. Chile from 25 March 2019. • It is defined as short trousers, shorts. • He will participate in India-Bolivia business forum meeting New Zealand Bans Assault Weapons and interact with students. • He will meet President and Prime Minister of Croatia and • New Zealand has imposed an immediate ban on assault discuss the issues of mutual interest. weapons following the Christchurch massacre that claimed • The capitals of Croatia, Bolivia, and Chile are Zagreb, Sucre, the lives of 50 mosque-goers. and Santiago. • Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern announced assault rifles and military-style semi-automatic weapons Intain Fintech to launch blockchain product would be banned with immediate effect. • Intain Fintech, an AI and block chain-based software • It is done to ensure that nothing like Christchurch products firm, will be launching 'eMulya', an intelligent massacre ever occurs in the nation again. block chain. UAE announced pan-Arab body • It facilitates efficient, secure and trustworthy asset securitisation transactions for NBFCs in India by end-2019. • 11 Arab states including Saudi Arabia, Algeria and • Intain has its global AI Lab in Pune with 10 people and it Morocco signed on to the first regional team to cooperate will hire 15 more staff in Chennai for this purpose. on a space programme. • The pan-Arab team's first project is 'a satellite that Arab Deepest shaft cave discovered in Meghalaya scientists will work on from here in the UAE'. • India's deepest shaft cave Krem Um Ladaw has been • The astronaut programme would make the UAE one of discovered in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district. only a handful of states in the Middle East to have sent a • The cave has a 105 m deep shaft entrance passage. person into space. • This comes a year after the world's longest sandstone cave Astana to be renamed as Nursultan Krem Puri was discovered in Meghalaya. • With all these discoveries, Meghalaya has become one of • Kazakhstan's Parliament voted to rename the country's the top caving regions of the world. capital Astana as Nursultan in honour of longtime ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev, a day after he resigned as 15th Finance Commission to visit Mizoram President. • The Fifteenth Finance Commission shall be visiting the • Kazakhstan's new interim President Kassym-Jomart State of Mizoram on 25-26 March 2019. Tokayev proposed renaming the capital. • This will be the 20th State that the Commission will be • Astana replaced Kazakhstan's largest city Almaty as the visiting. capital in 1997.
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Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
• As part of its visit, the Commission will be holding detailed • SpiceJet joined global airlines' grouping IATA as a member, meetings with Chief Secretary and Senior officers of the becoming the first Indian low-cost carrier to get the State and will be given a presentation by the State membership. Department of Finance, Urban Development, and Rural • The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Development. represents more than 290 airlines, including Air India, Jet Airways and Vistara. Gauri Sawant: 1st transgender ambassador • The IATA membership is significant on account of • The Election Commission appointed transgender social SpiceJet's plans for rapidly expanding its international activist Gauri Sawant as one of the 12 election footprint. ambassadors from Maharashtra. Conclaves concluded • Following the Supreme Court order, transgenders got the right to vote for the first time in 2014. • The 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project • There are 113, 184, and 123 registered transgenders in Partnerships concluded in New Delhi on 19th March constituencies of Bhiwandi, Kalyan, and East Mumbai 2019. The three-day conclave was organised by the respectively. Ministry of Commerce in association with Confederation of Indian Industry and EXIM Bank of India. • Ministry of Steel organised a two-day Vigilance Conclave in New Delhi which concluded on 19th March 2019. Military bands to perform in CSK-RCB opener • Military bands will perform at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium ahead of the opening fixture of the Indian Premier League (IPL). • BCCI will also contribute Rs. 20 crore for the welfare of the armed forces in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, where 44 CRPF personnel were killed. • Indian players had also paid their respects by sporting Army camouflage caps in the third ODI in Ranchi. Mizoram Assembly passed a bill • The Mizoram Assembly passed the Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers Bill, 2019 on 18 March 2019. • The bill seeks to detect foreigners illegally residing in the northeastern state, that shares an over 700-km border with Bangladesh and Myanmar. • The measures proposed under the legislation are intended to provide a credible individual identification system. Name change of Nagaland village • The Centre gave its consent for changing the name of Mangkhi village in Tuensang district of Nagaland to Mungankhun village. Ice Stupas created • The central government has given its 'no-objection' to • Over 12 villages in Ladakh have built Ice Stupas in various rename 22 villages, towns and railway stations across the villages. country since December 2017. • In each Ice Stupa, at least 30-50 lakh litres of water is • Some of the cleared proposals are Arikkod as Areekode in saved. This is apart from the naturally saved water in the Malappura, Kerala and Laxman Garh as Adawala in slopes of mountains. Rajasamand, Rajasthan. • With the technical and material support by the Himalayan i-help launched in Assam Institute of Alternatives Ladakh ( HIAL), village youths enthusiastically participated in building the ice • The ‘i-help’ initiative to promote digital electoral literacy in Stupas. Assam was launched in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll. Spicejet got IATA membership • It is a joint initiative of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and Common Service Centres (CSC).
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Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
• The CSCs are internet-enabled access points spread • The two-day ‘EarlyEd Asia 2019’ conference began on 12 throughout the country delivering various government and Feb 2019 at City Palace, Jaipur. non-government digital services to the citizens. • It is aimed at providing a platform for learning, networking and sharing the best practices of early childhood EC sets pre-poll deadline for manifestos education in Asia. • Election Commission barred political parties from releasing • This is Asia's biggest conference on early education being election manifestos 48 hours before both single and conducted in India. multiphase polling. Special National Standard Conclave held • In a multi-phased poll, the silence period of the last 48 hours may be on in certain constituencies while the • A Special National Standards Conclave was organised by campaign is ongoing in other constituencies. the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and • It also said that during the silence period, political leaders Industry, Government of India in Mumbai. should refrain from addressing the media. • It also saw the launch of voluntary certification and rating scheme for private security services developed by QCI. Conference on Unani Medicine concluded • Separation of roles for the avoidance of conflict of interest • The 2-day National Conference on Unani Medicine in regulatory framework was one of the organized by the Central Council for Research in Unani recommendations. Medicine (CCRUM) in New Delhi concluded on 12 Feb I&B Ministry organised 1st Annual Conference 2019. • It witnessed the exchange of MoU for scientific • Ministry of Information & Broadcasting organised the First collaboration in Unani Medicine between the CCRUM and Annual Conference of Media Units on 13th Feb 2019 at Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. • AYUSH Awards for Unani Medicine were also conferred • The opening session was chaired by Col. Rajyavardhan on the occasion. Rathore, Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports. 1st LAWASIA Human Rights Conference 2019 held • The Conference aims to strengthen synergy between the • LAWASIA, in association with the Bar Association of India, Media Units in order to ensure last mile delivery. hosted its 1st LAWASIA Human Rights Conference in New 5th Dam Safety Conference being held Delhi. • The theme of the conference was “State Power, Business • The 5th International Dam Safety Conference–2019 is and Human Rights: Contemporary Challenges”. being held from 13-14 February 2019 in Bhubaneswar. • The President of LAWASIA is Mr. Christopher Leong, while • It is a joint initiative of the Government of India, the President of Bar Association of India is Dr. Lalit Bhasin. Government of Odisha and the World Bank. • India ranks 3rd after China and the USA globally in terms of Government takes steps to revive Maithili the number of large dams with 5264 large dams in • The HRD Ministry asked to apply the recommendations of operation and 437 large dams under construction. a committee constituted in 2018 for the promotion and PM addressed CREDAI YouthCon-19 protection of Maithili language and its scripts. • Establishment of a Script and Manuscript Centre at • PM Narendra Modi addressed CREDAI YouthCon-19 on Darbhanga has been recommended. 13th Feb 2019 at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi. • Mithilakshar or Tirhuta is the script of broader cultural • YouthCon is the annual Youth Conclave of CREDAI which is Mithila. It is an ancient script and is one of the scripts of held to bring together the future of the real estate the broader North Eastern India. Industry in India. • CREDAI was established in 1999 and is the apex body National Cancer Institute inaugurated representing real-estate developers from over 200 cities in • PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation India. stones for 6 projects in Haryana on 12 Feb 2019. Outreach Programme to be organised • He inaugurated National Cancer Institute (NIC) at Badhsa in Jhajjar district, Haryana. • Ministry of Textiles will organise an outreach programme • He also laid foundation stones for National Institute of for Textiles Sector MSMEs on 13th February 2019 in New Ayurveda, Sri Krishna Ayush University, Battles of Panipat Delhi. Museum, and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay University of • Smriti Irani, Minister of Textiles, will preside over the Health Sciences in Karnal. function and Dr. Thawar Chand Gehlot will be the Chief Guest. 2-day EarlyEd Asia 2019 held in Jaipur
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Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
• The support and outreach 100 days programme for • Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation MSMEs was launched by PM Narendra Modi on 2nd stone of the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib Corridor at November 2018. an event at Mann village in Gurdaspur district on 26 November 2018. 8 new medical devices notified as drugs Light House Projects challenge launched • The Centre notified eight new devices as “drugs”. • They include - all implantable medical devices, CT scan • The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs instituted a equipment, MRI equipment, defibrillators, dialysis challenge for constructing the Lighthouse projects under machine, PET equipment, X-ray machine, and bone GHTC-India on 11th Feb 2019. marrow cell separator. • The challenge is for states/UTs and 6 sites which score the • Their import, manufacture, and distribution are now highest will be selected from the challenge. regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. • The MoHUA also already launched Global Housing • 27 types of devices were notified as drugs until last year. Technology Challenge-India. IAV inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram PM visited Kurukshetra • Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the • PM Narendra Modi visited Kurukshetra, Haryana on 12th Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV) in Feb 2019 to participate in Swachh Shakti 2019 and Thiruvananthapuram. distribute its awards. • It is first of its kind research institute linked to the Global • Swachh Shakti is a national event which aims to bring in to Virus Network (GVN) and will operate from the Bio 360 focus the leadership role played by rural women in Swachh Life Sciences Park at Thonnakkal in the capital city. Bharat Mission. • It can confirm the viruses causing infectious diseases and • The Swachh Shakti program was first launched in 2017 in detect new ones without any delay. Gandhinagar, 2nd in Lucknow, and 3rd edition in Kurukshetra. Personalities in News Jimmy is the longest-living U.S. President • Former President Jimmy Carter became the longest-living president in United States history on 22 March 2019. • Jimmy Carter is the USA’s 39th President. • He has broken the previous record held by the late President George H.W. Bush, who died in November 2018. Person in news • Radhika G.R., Superintendent of Police from the Andhra Pradesh clinched a peak in Papua New Guinea. • India cricketer Gautam Gambhir joined the BJP. Persons in news • China’s SAIC-owned British vehicle manufacturer Morris Garages announced the signing of actor Benedict Cumberbatch as the brand ambassador for its India operations. • AIADMK Sulur MLA R. Kanakaraj died of cardiac arrest. He was 64. Nirav Modi arrested by London Police • A UK court remanded the fugitive jeweller Nirav Modi, in Dera Baba Nanak land: Immigration check point custody till March 29, 2019. • Nirav was arrested in Holborn on 20 March 2019. He is the • The Centre designated Dera Baba Nanak land post in main accused in the 13,500 crore rupees PNB scam case. Gurdaspur district of Punjab as an immigration checkpost. • His arrest came days after a London court issued an arrest • It is now an authorised immigration checkpoint for entry warrant against him in response to a request by the and exit of Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan. Enforcement Directorate for his extradition in a money laundering case. 8 | P a g e
Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
Jagmeet Singh entered Canada Parliament • Mizoram assembly passed a bill to bring back total prohibition of liquor in the northeastern state after four • Indian-origin Jagmeet Singh created history in Canada by years. making debut in the House of Commons as the first non- • The state government decided to prohibit the white leader of a major opposition party in the country. manufacture, import, sale, and consumption of liquor for • Singh, the leader of the New Democratic Party, was the common people for their general health. elected in federal by-elections held on February 25, 2019. • Earlier total prohibition was in force in Mizoram from 1997 • His arrival coincided with the induction of a senior woman to 2015. member into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet. 'Conquer Exam, Be a Warrior' App launched Gauri Sawant: 1st transgender ambassador • Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar has • The Election Commission appointed transgender social developed a mobile application called as ‘Conquer Exam, activist Gauri Sawant as one of the 12 election Be a Warrior’. ambassadors from Maharashtra. • It is made in collaboration with the National Mental Health • Following the Supreme Court order, transgenders got the Program, Department of Health and Family Welfare, right to vote for the first time in 2014. Gujarat. • There are 113, 184, and 123 registered transgenders in • This application creates awareness as well as help students constituencies of Bhiwandi, Kalyan, and East Mumbai to analyze their weak points and overcome from the exam respectively. pressure by providing assistance. Kazakhstan President resigned Science & Technology • Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced his resignation after nearly 30 years in power. CBSE launches app Shiksha Vani • He had ruled the country since it emerged from the • Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) launched its collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. podcast app, 'Shiksha Vani'. Japan's Uncle Olympics passed away • It will be used to send out major announcements made by the board and is expected to be the quickest way to • Businessman Naotoshi Yamada, known as 'Uncle information. Olympics', passed away due to heart failure recently. • The first official circular on the app confirmed the • He attended all 14 summer Olympics from the 1964 Tokyo beginning of the evaluation process of the 2019 Board Games to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. Examinations. • He stood out among the audience as he often wore a traditional Japanese jacket and a golden hat while Bill for total liquor prohibition in Mizoram cheering loudly and waving the Japanese flag. • Mizoram assembly passed a bill to bring back total Persons in news prohibition of liquor in the northeastern state after four years. • AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes has • The state government decided to prohibit the quit Facebook following the live-streaming of terror attack manufacture, import, sale, and consumption of liquor for on two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch. the common people for their general health. • Former IAS officer Shah Faesal, who became the first IAS • Earlier total prohibition was in force in Mizoram from 1997 topper from J&K in 2009, has launched a political party to 2015. named 'Jammu and Kashmir Peoples' Movement' in Srinagar. 'Conquer Exam, Be a Warrior' App launched Government Policies & Schemes • Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar has developed a mobile application called as ‘Conquer Exam, CBSE launches app Shiksha Vani Be a Warrior’. • It is made in collaboration with the National Mental Health • Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) launched its Program, Department of Health and Family Welfare, podcast app, 'Shiksha Vani'. Gujarat. • It will be used to send out major announcements made by • This application creates awareness as well as help students the board and is expected to be the quickest way to to analyze their weak points and overcome from the exam information. pressure by providing assistance. • The first official circular on the app confirmed the beginning of the evaluation process of the 2019 Board Examinations.
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Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
Business & Economy • The disinvestment proceeds this financial year crossed Rs. 85,000 crore against Revised Estimate of Rs. 80,000 crore. Bank in News • In 2017-18, the government had earned a little more than • Canara Bank launched an issuance of 5-year senior Rs. 1 lakh crore from disinvestments against a target of Rs. unsecured bonds (Medium Term Notes) to the extent of 72,500 crore. US$ 400 million under Medium Term Note (MTN) Xiaomi launches 'Mi Pay' App programme, through its London branch on 21 March 2019. • The RBI rejected IDBI Bank's proposal to change its name • Xiaomi has launched the 'Mi Pay' App. following the transfer of controlling 51% stake to LIC from • The Mi Pay app will be available on Xiaomi devices that the government of India. run on the Android-based MIUI. • App is seamlessly integrated across SMS, contacts, RBI forms panel to make currency notes scanner, app vault and settings within the MIUI • The RBI informed the Bombay High Court that it environment. constituted a 4 member committee to look into the issue • Xiaomi has tied up with ICICI Bank for the role of the of currency notes, which will be helpful to blind people. payment service provider while the NPCI monitored • Bombay HC was hearing a petition filed by the National UPI will be the digital wallet interface. Association of the Blind. Vodafone Idea board approved rights issue • RBI said that it was in the process of developing a mobile application to help the visually impaired identify the • Shares of Vodafone Idea (VIL), tumbled after its board denomination of currency notes. approved Rs 25,000-crore rights issue, one of the largest in Indian markets. RBI defers launch of IndAs again • The stock recovered after falling as much as 7.6% to Rs • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has postponed the rollout 29.6 a piece (close to a 52-week low of Rs 28.8), ending at of the new accounting standards (IndAS) for the second Rs 33 a piece, up 3% from the previous close. time. • VIL shareholders would be able to buy 87 shares for a 60% • It is awaiting amendments to the banking laws before discount to the current stock price. adopting the norms. Exim Bank gave $ 83 million to Congo • The loan-loss provision under the IndAS is recognised based on the expected credit loss (ECL) model. • Exim Bank gave a loan of $ 83.11 million to Congo to • The IndAS will further add to banks’ compliance burden, finance three solar power projects in the central African especially for loan-loss provisions. country. • The loan will be utilised for financing 3 solar photovoltaic Banks and Business power projects with a total capacity of 35 MW in 3 • State Bank of India (SBI) raised Rs. 1,251.30 crore by provinces -- Karawa, Mbandaka, and Lusambo. issuing Basel III-compliant bonds. • Projects covered under the LOCs extended to Congo • State-owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC) will acquire include hydroelectric power projects, power transmission, the entire 52.63 percent shares of the government in REC and more. for Rs 14,500 crore by the month-end, a move that will EFIs can trade in commodity derivatives help the center to meet its disinvestment target. • Eligible Foreign Investors (EFIs) can participate in Employment generation in formal sector high commodity derivatives trading on stock exchanges located • According to the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). (EPFO) payroll data, net employment generation in the • This statement was released by SEBI on 18 March 2019. formal sector touched a 17-month high of 8.96 lakh in • The contracts would be cash-settled on the settlement January 2019. price determined on overseas exchanges. • The EPFO has been releasing payroll data from April 2018, • Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) is the 1st covering the period starting September 2017. IFSC in India. • The EPFO manages social security funds of workers in the Hyundai, KIA to invest $ 300 million in Ola organised and semi organised sector in India. • Hyundai Motor Co and KIA Motors Corp will together Government exceeds disinvestment target invest $300 million in Ola, playing catch-up in the global • According to the Ministry of Finance, the government has race to invest in mobility firms. overshot its disinvestment target for the second • Hyundai, Kia, and Ola will collaborate to develop fleet and consecutive year. mobility solutions, electric vehicles and infrastructure specific to the Indian market.
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Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
• Ola's other investors include SoftBank Group Corp and • India defeated Nepal in the final match. Tencent Holdings Ltd. • India's Indumathi Kathiresan and Sabitra Tamang of Nepal remained top scorer of the tournament, both scored four- Net direct tax collection crossed Rs10 lakh cr goal each. • The net direct tax collection figure crossed the Rs 10 lakh • This is India's 23rd straight victory in the championship crore mark as on March 16, 2019. since the inception of the tournament in 2010. • The net direct tax collection during April-January of this CCFC was crowned the I League champion fiscal stood at Rs 7.89 lakh crore as against Rs 12 lakh crore targeted for the entire fiscal of 2018-19. • Chennai City Football Club (CCFC) was officially crowned • The government in the interim Budget revised customs the I-League champion. collection target from Rs 1.12 lakh crore to Rs 1.30 lakh • Special awards were given to: crore. • Fair play award: Shillong Lajong • India’s first REIT Top goal scorer: Pedro Manzi (CCFC) and Willis Plaza (Churchill Brothers) (21 goals each) • India’s first real estate investment trust (REIT) is going to • Best goalkeeper: Bilal Khan (Real Kashmir) come up. • Best defender: Roberto Eslava (CCFC) • It is backed by Embassy Office Parks, a Bangalore-based • Best midfielder: Nestor Gordillo (CCFC) real estate developer. • Hero of the League: Manzi • The first REIT initial public offering (IPO) is open for investment between March 18 and 20, 2019. Special Olympics World Games • The Embassy Office Parks REIT plans to raise ₹4,570 crore • Special Olympics World Games concluded on 21 March through the IPO. 2019. • India has bagged 368 medals - 85 Gold, 154 Silver, and 129 Bronze at Special Olympic Games 2019 in Abu Dhabi. • The next Special Olympic Games are set to take place in Sweden in 2021. RR launched academy in England • Rajasthan Royals tied up with the Star Cricket Academy in Surrey, England to re-launch the facility as the 'Rajasthan Royals Academy'. • The centre has a state-of-the-art cricket centre named the Sports Jarrett Centre. • It is an indoor cricket training centre run by former Hockey India launches its Coaching Education professional batsman Siddharth Lahiri, along with his team • Hockey India launched its ambitious 'Hockey India of coaches. Coaching Education Pathway' on 22 March 2019. Tokyo 2020 Olympics torch unveiled • It aims to provide certification to those candidates who are already coaches or wish to pursue coaching as a career • Organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics unveiled a cherry- option. blossom shaped torch for the Games. • The program consists of a combination of web-based • The shiny rose-gold torch is 71 centimetres (28 inches) modules and face-to-face interactive courses. long and weighs 1.2 kilograms (2 pounds 10 ounces). • Fukushima was chosen as the starting point for the Sports Olympic torch relay. • According to the Chennai SuperKings' director, the entire • The passing of the flame is scheduled to start on March 26, ticket proceeds of the inaugural match will be given to the 2020. families of CRPF personnel killed in the February 14 terror Special Olympics World Games attack in Pulwama. • The International Cricket Council (ICC) has allowed Test- • In Judo, Sonu Kumar from Rohtak, Haryana won the gold playing nations to have the players sport their names and medal by winning all three bouts. numbers on their jerseys. • Muskan bagged a silver each in squat and bench press. She also won a gold in deadlifting. India won SAFF Women's C'ship for fifth time • India has sent a 378-strong contingent that is participating • On 22 March 2019, in football, India won the SAFF in the 15th edition of the Games. Women's Championship for the fifth time in a row. 11 | P a g e
Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
• The closing ceremony of Special Olympics World Games is • Gopi Thonakal qualified for the World Athletics scheduled for March 21. Championships in marathon, to be held in Doha in September-October 2019. Abu Dhabi to host T10 league for five years • He achieved it after finishing 11th in the Seoul • Abu Dhabi Cricket, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Sports International Marathon, clocking his personal best time of Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism-Abu 2 hours 13 minutes 39 seconds. Dhabi, has signed a five-year agreement with the • This was the 2nd best ever by an Indian after the 4-decade organisers of the T10 Cricket League. old national record of 2 hours 12 minutes held by Shivnath • The shortest form of the game will now be played Singh. exclusively at Zayed Cricket Stadium. Thiem won his Maiden Masters Title • The first match of the T10 League 2019 will be held on October 23. • Dominic Thiem claimed the biggest title of his career by defeating Roger Federer in the BNP Paribas Open final. BWF badminton rankings • He secured his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy in his third • Lakshya Sen and Riya Mookerjee broke into the top-100 final appearance. among Men’s and Women’s singles players in the latest • Thiem denied Roger Federer a record sixth BNP Paribas World Badminton Rankings. Open crown. • Lakshya Sen is placed 76th while Riya Mookerjee is placed Special Olympics at 94th. • In the women's singles rankings, P V Sindhu and Saina • In Special Olympics, in Roller Skating, Supreet Singh from Nehwal are at 6th and 9th position respectively. Haryana in 1000-meter, Rishabh Jain from New Delhi in • Kidambi Srikanth is the best placed Indian in the men's 1000-meter and Priya Prakash Gada from Maharashtra in rankings at 7th. 100-meter won a Gold Medal each. • Amanjot Singh won gold in the squat contest after lifting Prajnesh Gunneswaran rose to 84th position 385 kg. • In Tennis, India's Prajnesh Gunneswaran rose to career- • Indian roller skaters bagged 29 medals comprising nine high rank of 84 in the latest men's rankings of the golds, 13 silver, and two bronze. Association of Tennis Professionals(ATP). Kohli retains top spot in ICC ODI rankings • In the Women's Tennis Association rankings, Ankita Raina continues to be India's top-ranked player at 168. • Indian skipper Virat Kohli and pacer Jasprit Bumrah have • She was followed by Karman Kaur Thandi, who jumped retained top positions in the latest ICC ODI rankings. seven places to 203. • Kohli remained at the number one spot in the list of batsmen. McIlroy secured 15th title on PGA Tour • Rohit Sharma remained number two. • Rory McIlroy secured his 15th PGA Tour title by winning • In the team rankings, India is second, behind England. The Players tourney, coming in two under par at 70 at the India came second at Asian Youth C'ships TPC Sawgrass. • It was McIlroy's 23rd career title worldwide, earning him • In Asian Youth Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, the $2.25 million purse and getting him into the top slot of boys medley relay team won a gold medal for India. the FedEx Cup standings. • Indian youth team finished second in the overall medals • So far in his career, he has won four majors - the 2011 US tally with a total of 26 medals including eight gold, nine Open, the 2012 and 2014 PGA and the 2014 British Open. silver, and nine bronze medals. • China topped the overall medals tally with 31 medals that Military bands to perform in CSK-RCB opener included 12 gold, 11 silver, and 8 bronze medals. • Military bands will perform at the M. A. Chidambaram K T Irfan qualified for Tokyo Olympics Stadium ahead of the opening fixture of the Indian Premier League (IPL). • A 29-year-old Indian athlete from Kerala, K.T. Irfan • BCCI will also contribute Rs. 20 crore for the welfare of the qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. armed forces in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, • He finished fourth in the men’s 20-kilometer category at where 44 CRPF personnel were killed. the Asian Race Walking Championships in Nomi, Japan. • Indian players had also paid their respects by sporting • He got qualified for next year's Tokyo Olympics. Army camouflage caps in the third ODI in Ranchi. • The Two other Indian race walkers, who qualified for the Gopi Thonakal qualified for World Athletics World Championship are Devinder and Ganapati. Sports
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Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
• Diksha Dagar became only the second Indian woman • He presented the Uttam Yuddh Seva Medal to 2 Army golfer to win the Ladies European Tour. officers. • China's Badminton player Shi Yuqi won the Swiss Open • 26 officers of the three armed forces were also awarded Badminton tournament in Basel on 17 March 2019. Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. • Javelin thrower Annu Rani qualified for the Asian Championships to be held in Doha ne Defence Indian Air Force to participate in LIMA 2019 • Indian Air Force, for the first time, will participate in Langkawi International Maritime Aero Expo (LIMA-2019) in Langkawi, Malaysia from 26 to 30 March 2019. • It will showcase its indigenously developed LCA fighter aircraft. • Participation of IAF in LIMA-2019 will provide an opportunity to air-warriors to interact with their Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) counterparts. Indian Navy to provide aid to Mozambique • The Indian Navy was requested to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to the local population post-cyclone 'IDAI'. • INS Sujata, ICGS Sarathi and INS Shardul are providing necessary support to the local administration. • Cyclone 'IDAI' made landfall at Beira, causing widespread damage and loss of human life in the Central and Northern provinces. India- Sri Lanka joint exercise to be held • Exercise MITRA SHAKTI, between armies of India and Sri Lanka, will be conducted from 26 March-8 April 2019 in Sri Lanka. • Troops from 1st Battalion of the BIHAR Regiment of the Indian Army and Gemunu Watch Battalion of Sri Lankan Army would be jointly undertaking the exercise. • The aim of the exercise is to build and promote close relations between the armies of both countries. 33rd India-Indonesia Corpat commenced • The 33rd edition of the India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) is being held from 19 March- 4 April 2019 in Port Blair. • The ship and aircraft from both the countries would undertake patrolling on the respective sides of 236 nautical miles long International Maritime Boundary line. • The 33rd IND-INDO CORPAT is coinciding with 70 years of India-Indonesia diplomatic ties. Gallantry awards II • In a rare occurrence, President also awarded a Shaurya Chakra to 16-year-old Irfan Ramzan Sheikh who thwarted a militant attack on his home in 2017. • Kovind also awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal to 13 senior officers of the three armed forces.
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Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I Current Affairs Weekly Capsule I 23rdto 29th 17th March to 23rd March 2019 September 2018 September 2018 August 2018
Gallantry awards I • President Kovind awarded Kirti Chakras to Sowar Vijay Kumar and Constable Pradip Kumar Panda. • Shaurya Chakras were awarded to soldiers for their role in counter-terror operations in Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir. • Kirti Chakra is awarded for “conspicuous gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy” while Shaurya Chakra is awarded for “gallantry otherwise in the face of the enemy“. Operational Readiness Exercise reviewed • The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Sunil Lanba debriefed the recently concluded annual Theatre Level Readiness and Operational Exercise (TROPEX) in Kochi. • Commanders-in-Chief of all the three naval Commands, attended and participated in the discussions held at the Naval Base, Kochi. • The review of TROPEX 2019 was undertaken to assess operational readiness of the Indian Navy.
Polity Goa government passed floor test • The Goa government, under the new CM Pramod Sawant, passed the floor test in the legislative assembly by 20 to 15 votes. • The support of at least 19 MLAs was required to pass the test. • The BJP-led coalition government garnered support of 20 MLAs -- 11 from the BJP, three MLAs each from the MGP and the GFP and three independents. Goa CM Pramod Sawant to face floor test • Newly-appointed Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will face a floor test in the Assembly on 20th March 2019. • Governor Mridula Sinha has convened a special session of the Assembly for the government to prove its strength. • A floor test is primarily taken to know whether the executive enjoys the confidence of the legislature. Mizoram Assembly passed a bill • The Mizoram Assembly passed the Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers Bill, 2019 on 18 March 2019. • The bill seeks to detect foreigners illegally residing in the northeastern state, that shares an over 700-km border with Bangladesh and Myanmar. • The measures proposed under the legislation are intended to provide a credible individual identification system.
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