ACE Engineering Publications (A Sister Concern of ACE Engineering Academy, Hyderabad) Hyderabad Delhi Bhopal Pune Bhubaneswar Bengaluru Lucknow Patna Chennai Vijayawada Visakhapatnam Tirupati Kolkata Ahmedabad ESE (Prelims) Current Issues (January - September 2019) ACE is the leading institute for coaching in ESE, GATE & PSUs Address: Sree Sindhi Guru Sangat Sabha Association, # 4-1-1236/1/A, King Koti, Abids, Hyderabad-500001. Ph: 040-23234418 / 19 / 20 / 21, 040 - 24750437 11 All India 1st Ranks in ESE 48 All India 1st Ranks in GATE Copyright © ACE Engineering Publications All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, digital, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. Published at: ACE Engineering Publications Sree Sindhi Guru Sangat Sabha Association, # 4-1-1236/1/A, King Koti, Abids, Hyderabad – 500001, Telangana, India. Phones: 040- 23234419 / 20 / 21 Website: www.aceenggacademy.com Email: [email protected] [email protected] Authors: Subject experts of ACE Engineering Academy, Hyderabad While every effort has been made to avoid any mistake or omission, the publishers do not owe any responsibility for any damage or loss to any person on account of error or omission in this publication. Mistakes if any may be brought to the notice of the publishers, for further corrections in forthcoming editions, to the following Email-id. Email : [email protected] Foreword Dear Students, This book is intended to help students, prepare current affairs on a monthly basis. The topics covered give a comprehensive understanding on issues related to Socio, Economic, Industrial Development, Energy and Environment and ICT based tools. Apart from technical knowledge, current affairs help an aspirant to understand issues in a multi- dimensional approach and contributes to a holistic personality development. The coverage of news and events given are the most pertinent for ESE Revised pattern. The key to master current affairs is a ‘piece-meal preparation’ over a period of time and this material is an endeavor to help students prepare in a systematic manner. With best wishes to all the Students Y.V. Gopala Krishna Murthy, M Tech. MIE, Chairman & Managing Director, ACE Engineering Academy, ACE Engineering Publications. CONTENTS ECONOMY Industry Economic Growth 26. Department For Promotion Of Industry And 9 1. GDP Estimation In India 1 Internal Trade (DPIIT) 2. World Economic Outlook 1 9 3. Slowdown In Indian Economy 1 27.28. DraftNational National Minimum Logistics Wage Policy 10 29. National Investment And Manufacturing Zones 1 30. Solar Manufacturing In India 11 Banking 4. 50 Years Of Bank Nationalization 2 12 5. Ombudsman Scheme For Digital Transactions 31. Government E-Marketplace 12 2 (OSDT) 32.33. KabilCircular - Khanij Economy Bidesh India Ltd 12 6. RBI's 'Vision 2021' Document on Payment Systems 2 34. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) 13 7. Bimal Jalan Committee 3 35. Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana 14 8. Bank Merger 3 9. Digital Payment Abhiyan 4 Infrastructure 10. Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) 4 14 11. Development Bank 4 36. Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project 15 38. 2880 MW Dibang MPP In Arunachal Pradesh 15 4 37. Kosi-Mechi Interlinking Project: 12. Mfin And Sa-Dhan Launches ‘Code For 15 Responsible Lending’ 39.40. SelaVande Tunnel: Bharat Express 16 Taxation 41. Project Sampark 17 13. Direct Tax Code 5 17 14. Capital Gains Tax 5 42. India’s Longest Electrified Train Tunnel 18 15. New Angel Tax Rules 5 43. Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal 16. Automatic Exchange Of Information (AEOI) 6 Energy 44. UNNATEE 18 Financial Markets 45. Hydro Power(Unlocking Sector National Energy Efficiency Potential) 19 17. Elephant Bonds 6 46. Strategic Petroleum Reserves 19 18. Social Stock Exchange 6 47. Wind Power 20 19. Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2019 7 48. National Policy On Biofuels – 2018 20 20 Agriculture 49. Pradhan Mantri Jl-Van Yojana: 21 20. MSP For Minor Forest Produce 7 50. Ethanol Bio-Refineries 21 21. GEF Assisted Green – Ag Project 7 51.52. High-TemperatureOcean Energy Fuel Cell System 22 22. Smart Food Executive Council 7 53. KUSUM 22 23. Rashtriya Gokul Mission 8 54. Interdisciplinary Centre For Energy Research 22 8 23 25. Market Intervention Price Scheme 8 56. National Centre For Clean Coal Research And 24. Artificial Intelligence In Agriculture 55. Motihari-Amlekhgunj Oil Pipeline 23 Development (NCCCR & D) SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 34 Health 86. US-China Trade War 34 57. Road Safety 24 87.88. India-FranceMekong Ganga Cooperation 35 58. State Of Food Security And Nutrition In The 24 World, 2019 Defence 59. Golden Rice 24 35 60. National Genomic Grid (Cancer) 25 89.90. IndianStrategic Tri-Services Partnership Commando Policy Unit 35 25 36 61. Electronic-Cigarettes 91.92. 11thNational Defexpo Intelligence India- 2020 Grid (NATGRID) 36 Water & Sanitation 37 62. Swachh Survekshan 2019 25 93. Apache Ah-64E Helicopters 37 63. National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey 26 94. Rustom- 2 64. Swachh Shakti 2019 26 Miscellaneous 65. Darwaza Band Campaign 26 95. Bharat Ratna 37 66. Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan 26 96. International Gandhi Peace Prize 38 67. Jal Shakti Abhiyan 27 97. Abel Prize 38 68. Jal Shakti Ministry 27 98. Prayagraj 38 27 99. Monuments Of National Importance 39 69. Legal Rights To Rivers 39 Under-Previleged & Weaker Sections 100.101. Women’sJnanpith Award Wall 39 70. One Nation, One Ration Card 28 102. Jaipur Gets World Heritage Status 39 103. GI Tag 40 Women & Children 104. KAZAKHSTAN Renames Its Capital 41 71. Emergency Response Support System 28 (ERSS – Dial 112) 105. REIWA 41 106. Un Awards 41 Education 107. Ramon Magsaysay Award 2019 41 72. Yuva Vigyani Karyakram 28 108. Khelo India Youth Games 2020 41 73. Study In India 29 109. World Capital Of Architecture 42 74. Institutions Of Eminence Scheme 29 Bills & Acts International Issues 110. Changes In Reservations 42 75. Us Sanctions On Iran 29 111. The Muslim Women (Protection Of Rights On 43 76. India And CTBT 30 Marriage) Act, 2019 77. Asia Reassurance Initiative Act 30 43 Bill, 2019 78. Generalised System Of Preferences (GSP) 30 112. Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) 31 113. Removal Of Article 370 And 35A 43 114. Article 370 And Article 35A – A Brief Background 43 79.80. BolivianAgriculture Lithium Institute Reserves In Malawi 31 81. World Reconstruction Conference (WRC 4) 31 115. Consumer Protection Act 2019 44 32 44 117. Environmental And Social Management 82.83. BOLD–QITShanghai Cooperation Project Organization 32 116. National Resource Efficiency Policy 45 Framework 33 118. National Medical Commission Act 2019 45 85. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership 84. G-20 33 119. Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 46 (RCEP) Environment 152. India Enterprise Architecture (INDEA) 59 Framework 46 Importance 153. Cyber Security Policy 59 120. Indian Sundarbans - A Wetland Of International 47 154. Common Service Centers (CSC) 60 121.122. ElephantAtmospheric Corridors: Water Generator (AWG) 47 155. 300 Drones for Mapping Country 60 123. India Cooling Action Plan 47 st 61 48 156.157. India’sBhabha 1 Kavach 3-D Smart Traffic Signal 61 158. Mission Shakti 61 124. India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative 48 Challenge 125. Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) And Bonn 159. Samudrayaan Project 61 49 160. Project Netra (Network For Space Object 62 126. Indian Army In Partnership With EESL Employs Tracking And Analysis) 127. Hydro Thermal Carbonization Technology For E-Cars To Combat Pollution. 49 62 Waste Management 128. Electric Buses Sanctioned For 65 Cities 50 161. Smart Fencing on Indo-Bangladesh Border Indices 129. Fame II 50 63 130. Bharat Stage Emission Standards 50 63 51 162. Democracy Index: 163. Corruption Perception Index: 64 131. Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency 51 164. World Happiness Report: 64 132.133. AllDecline India In Tiger Population Estimate-2018 Of Great Indian Bustard 52 64 52 165. Purchasing Managers Index (PMI): 166.167. WorldMultidimensional Press Freedom Poverty Index Index 2019: (MPI) 65 134.135. StateEarth Butterfly Overshoot Of Day Tamil Nadu 52 168. Global Innovation Index 65 136. Deep Ocean Mission 53 66 53 169.170. FiscalGlobal Performance Peace Index 2019Index (FPI) Launched by CII 66 137.138. Single-UseRussia Joins Plastic Paris AgreementBan 54 171. Climate Change Performance Index CCPI 67 139. Un Climate Action Summit 54 172. Highlights Of The Report 67 140. United Nations Convention To Combat 55 68 68 Desertification (UNCCD) 56 173. Major Global Indices In 2018: India’s Ranking 141. UNCCD COP 14: Drought Toolbox Launched 174. Global Liveability Index Technology & Digital Initiatives Union Budget (2019 - 20) 142. River Information System 56 69 - 79 56 System 143. LADIS - Least Available Depth Information 144. PARAM Shivay 57 145. EMISAT Mission 57 146. PARIVESH 57 58 147.148. MEGHDOOTFASTag Lanes App 58 149. INAPH Project 58 150. SHAGUN 59 59 151. ‘E-Saathi’ App Current Issues (January – September 2019) ECONOMY 2. WORLD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its update ECONOMIC GROWTH to the World Economic Outlook (WEO) has cut annual growth forecast for India, as it expects 1. GDP ESTIMATION IN INDIA weaker domestic demand to limit an economic Recently, there has been a controversy over recovery. India’s new GDP series and its estimation The economy is now expected to expand 7% in methodology. In 2015, the Central Statistics the year ending 31 March 2020, 0.3 percentage Office came up with a revised methodology for point slower than IMF’s April projection. the calculation of GDP of the country. However, India will still be the fastest growing Change of base year to 2011-12 (from 2004-05) major economy of the world and much ahead of Valuation of Gross Value Added (GVA) & Net China. Value Added (NVA) at basic prices Also, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Economic Considering GDP at market prices as headline Survey and the Asian Development Bank have cut GDP instead of GDP at factor cost, to make the their growth outlook for India to 7%.