SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS Clerk 2018-19 / NIACL / LVB - Mains General Awareness ) | JULY-DECEMBER 2018 NATIONAL Odisha CM inaugurates 26th National Children’s Science Congress : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the 26th National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) at the SOA University in Bhubaneswar.It will conclude on December 31. This year’s theme is ‘Science, Technology and Innovations: For clean, green and healthy nation’. About 800 delegates from 15 countries are participating in the the 26th National Children’s Science Congress. The annual event, which provides a platform to children to showcase their creativity and ability to innovate, will showcase technical sessions, exhibitions and discussions. Tourism Ministry signed MoU to develop a mobile Audio Guide App for five iconic sites : The Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism, Shri. K J Alphonshanded over a Memorandum of Understanding under the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ project to M/s Resbird Technologies for development of a mobile Audio Guide App for five iconic sites. The five iconic sites for which the mobile Audio Guide App is to be developed are Amer Fort (Rajasthan), Kaziranga (Assam), Colva Beach (Goa), Kumarakom (Kerala) and Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar). India Announces INR 4,500 Crore Assistance To Bhutan : Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs. 4,500 crore financial assistance to Bhutan for its 12th five-year plan after holding wide-ranging talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering. The new five-year plan of Bhutan began in 2018 and will continue till 2022. Modi stated that the hydro power cooperation with Bhutan is a key aspect of bilateral ties and that work on the Mangdechhu project will soon be completed. Second Delta Ranking under Aspirational District Programme released by NITI: Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant released the Second Delta Ranking of the Aspirational Districts Programme. The ranking shows the incremental progress achieved by 111 aspirational districts (out of 115) during June 1, 2018 to October 31, 2018, across six key development sectors. The 6 developmental sectors are: Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Water Resources, Financial Inclusion, Skill Development, and Basic Infrastructure. The data has been received from household surveys conducted by NITI Aayog’s knowledge partners, namely, TATA Trusts and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (IDInsight). Central Railways introduces technology to eliminate manual examination of trains : The mechanical branch of Central Railways’ Nagpur division has introduced a new state-of-the-art technology called Automated Train Examination System (ATES) for the enhancement of train safety. ATES also checks every train passing through the track on which it is installed and immediately warns about hot axle and brake binding cases. VP Naidu confers ‘Champions of Change’ award to Manipur CM : BANKING / SSC / RRB / TNPSC /TET www.saleminstituteofbaning.in Page 1 SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh conferred the‘Champions of Change’ award by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu in Delhi. He was recognized for his leadership role in transforming the governance in the north-eastern state. At a programme to identify the progress made in 115 ‘aspirational’ districts, Manipur was chosen for its all-round development on various parameters in all its ‘aspirational’ districts. The award selection jury was led by former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishna and former Supreme Court judge Sudha Mishra. Railways Develops Robot USTAAD, To Check For Faults In Trains : To make trains more safe by eliminating human errors, Central Railway has developed an AI- powered robot which would clickpictures and record videos of the under-gears of trains and send them to engineers for repairs and maintenance. It is named as USTAAD (Undergear Surveillance through Artificial Intelligence Assisted Droid). Government Extends CLSS for MIG scheme till 31st march,2020 : The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs headed by Minister of State Hardeep S. Puri, extended the Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) for Middle Income Group (MIG) Scheme by another 12 months till March 31, 2020. Around 93, 007 beneficiaries have been covered till date and have already received Rs 1,960.45 crore of subsidy in the scheme under which the government provides a subsidy of up to Rs 2.67 lakh on home loans. The scheme covers two income segments in the MIG viz. Rs 6,00,001 to Rs 12,00,000 per annum for MIG-I and Rs 12,00,001 to Rs 18,00,000 per annum for MIG-II. Dharmendra Pradhan launched Ujjwala sanitary napkin initiative in Odisha : Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhanlaunched the Ujjwala Sanitary Napkin initiative in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. To provide access to hygiene products and employment to opportunities in every district of the state. Around 100 local manufacturing units will be set up by oil marketing companies at Common Service Centres (CSCs) across 93 blocks in all 30 districts of Odisha in the first phase. Deen Dayal Veterinary University, to set up first goat fertility lab in the state of Uttar Pradesh: The Deen Dayal Veterinary University in Uttar Pradesh proposed to set up the first goat fertility lab in the state under Rastriya Krashi Vikas Yojna at the cost of Rs 22 crore. The University has entered into a contract with Pradeshik cooperative Dairy Federation for marketing. It aims to achieve 4% annual growth in agriculture through development of Agriculture and its allied sectors. PM Modi inaugurated 6th International Rice Research Institute in Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Varanasi and Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. He dedicated the 6th International Rice Research Institute (IRRI),South Asia Regional Center (ISARC) to the nation in Varanasi. He also released a commemorative postal stamp on Maharaja Suheldev. The Institute is built at the campus of Na]tional Seed Research and Training Center (NSRTC) in Varanasi. During the visit, he laid the foundation stone of medical College in Ghazipur. BANKING / SSC / RRB / TNPSC /TET www.saleminstituteofbaning.in Page 2 SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING MNJ Institute becomes the first State-run hospital in Telangana to enter into Guinness Book of World Records: MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre has become the first State-run hospital in Telangana to enter into Guinness Book of World Records. The Guinness recognition to the hospital has come for conducting the largest men’s health awareness programme on prostate cancer, which was attended by 487 men in a single day. Government sets up export promotion cell for MSMEs: Giriraj Singh, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) informed the parliament that the MSME ministry has established an Export Promotion Cell with an aim to create a sustainable ecosystem for entire MSME development. Evaluation of readiness of MSMEs to export their products and services. Recognition of areas where improvements are required in order to be able to export effectively and efficiently. Panel suggests not to allow new Engineering colleges from 2020: A government appointed panel headed by IIT- Hyderabad chairman B V R Mohan Reddy has suggested to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to stop setting up new engineering colleges from 2020 and review the creation of new capacity every two years after that. In a 41-page report, the panel has also suggested that no additional seats should be approved in traditional engineering areas such as mechanical, electrical, civil and electronics. Centre approves renaming of Allahabad as Prayagraj: The Union Home Ministry (MHA) approved the Uttar Pradesh government’s proposal to rename Allahabad as Prayagraj. MHA had earlier approved the renaming of the British-era railway station Robertsgang as Sonbhadra, Farah Townrailway station near Mathura and iconic Mughalsarai junction after Deen Dayal Upadhyay — both in Uttar Pradesh. The Centre had also approved the renaming of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airportin Mumbai as Chhatrapati Shivaji ‘Maharaj’ International Airport, earlier. MP Govt bans purchase of new vehicles, ACs: Government of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath, banned the purchase of new vehicles and air conditioners (ACs) by the government departments due to huge debt of the state. Also, the expenditure incurred on office items has been limited on the basis of the difference between the allocated budget for these expenses in the financial year 2018-19 and the expenditure incurred in the financial year 2017-18. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launches Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA): Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik launches Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) Naveen Patnaik launched Rs 10,000 croreKrushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme. This scheme consists of a life insurance of Rs.2 lakh for 57lakh farmers and would grant them crop loans at zero percent interest. BANKING / SSC / RRB / TNPSC /TET www.saleminstituteofbaning.in Page 3 SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING Govt Releases 6-Crore LPG Connections under PMUY: The government gave out the 6-crore free cooking gas (LPG) connection as the scheme to make available cleaner fuel in every household kitchens under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu handed over papers for an LPG connection to Jasmina Khatoon from Shivpark, Khanpur in New Delhi to mark the 6 crore LPG connections under PMUY. Beneficiaries will receive direct LPG subsidy through PAHAL (Pratyaksha Hastaantarit Laabh) digital payment scheme. WB govt announces two initiatives for farmers: The West Bengal government announced two welfare initiatives for farmers.Both initiatives, which are part of the ‘Krishi Krishak Bondhu’ scheme came into effect fromJanuary 1,2019. The first of the two initiatives will provide Rs 2 lakh to the family of a deceased farmer(farmers aged between 18 to 60 years dies a natural or unnatural death, the state government will pay his family Rs 2 lakh).Under the second initiative, farmers would get Rs 2,500 twice a year for growing a single crop on one acre of land.