First plastic-free Bollywood film • Varun Dhawan's 'Coolie No.1' first Bollywood film set to go plastic-free • The movie’s producer Deepshikha Deshmukh announced on twitter Qs: Which was the first Bollywood film to go plastic-free? 'Nuakhai' • Nuakhai, a major agrarian festival of western Odisha districts is being celebrated in every nook and corner collectively with much fanfare and religious fervour. • People offer the newly harvested crop called Nabanha to their respective presiding deities at a stipulated moment this morning. Qs: Nuakhai festival was celebrated in which state ? 4000th railway station to get WiFi • Tinsukia Junction in Assam has become the 4000th railway station in the country to have free public WiFi. • On average they have been rolling out WiFi in 83 stations everyday Qs: Tinsukia Junction which has become the 4000th railway station in the country to have free public WiFi was situated in which state? Association of World Election Bodies • 4th General Assembly of Association of World Election Bodies Concludes at Bengaluru • Chief Election Commissioner, Shri Sunil Arora today assumed Chairmanship of Association of World Election Bodies (AWEB) • India takes over the Chair from Romania • An AWEB Centre of Training, Research and Documentation to be set up at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management, New Delhi Qs: 4th General Assembly of Association of World Election Bodies held at _______________ Gorewada International Zoo • Government gives nod to set up Gorewada International Zoo in Nagpur, Maharashtra • Prakash Javadekar has announced the approval for the establishment of new International Standard Zoo and Biopark on 1914 hectares in the forest land Qs: Gorewada International Zoo to be setup in which state? ‘Angikaar campaign’ • ‘Angikaar campaign’ launched by HUA to bring PMAY(U) beneficiaries into Ujjawala and Ayushman Bharat schemes • Aims at reaching the beneficiaries of the PMAY(U) in a phased manner with the help of volunteers in visiting the beneficiaries and making them enrolled in the scheme • Launched by Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Qs: ‘Angikaar campaign’ launched by __________________ 2019 World’s Safe Cities Index • World’s Safe city index(SCI) for the year 2019 list was topped by Tokyo (Japan) followed by Singapore and Osaka in 2nd and 3rd spots respectively • Mumbai was ranked 45th safest city whereas Delhi stood at the 52nd position. • Report released by the Economist Intelligence Unit sponsored by NEC corporation’s (formerly Nippon Electric Company) Qs: World’s Safe city index(SCI) for the year 2019 list was topped by ____________ Ghaznavi test fired • Pakistan army successfully test-fired its 290km range surface to surface(SSM) name “Ghaznavi” during its night training launch • The missile was launched from Sonmiani flight test range of Balochistan Qs: Which country has tested its surface to surface (SSM) missile named “Ghaznavi”? Indonesia chooses new capital • Indonesia chooses Borneo Island of East Kalimantan province for its new capital • The current capital of Jakarta, overcrowded ( home to more than 10 million people), sits on watery land. • Parts of the city are sinking by as much as 25cm a year and almost half now sits below sea level. Qs: Indonesia chooses ____________ as its new capital India’s contribution to GFTAM • India has announced a contribution of 22 million US Dollars to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFTAM) for the 6th replenishment cycle (2020-22) • This is an increase of 10% over the amount contributed by us in the 5th cycle. • India has demonstrated strong political leadership and commitment to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria Qs: How much amount is India’s contribution to GFTAM for the 6th replenishment cycle (2020-22) ? Capital Infusion in IDBI Bank • Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Infusion of Rs 4,557 crore by Government in IDBI Bank. • It will help in Bank’s turnaround and enable it to return to profitability and normal lending, and giving Government the option of recovering its investment at an opportune time. Qs: How much capital infusion was announced by Government in IDBI Bank? ADB Pledges To India • ADB President Mr. Takehiko Nakao Pledges Over $12 Billion To India In Support Of New Flagship Initiatives over the next 3 years (2020-22) • Averaging annually over $3 billion for sovereign operations and $1 billion for nonsovereign operations. • Announced a $100 million investment in the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). Qs: How much ADB has announced to pledge India for the next 3 years? 10 PSBs to be merged • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made announcement about the formation of four large banks by merging 10 banks under the scheme of amalgamation • The decision aimed at making state-owned lenders global sized banks. • With this, the number of public sector banks will be 12 as against 27 in the year 2017. Qs: Who has made announcement regarding the merger of 10 banks under the scheme of amalgamation? India's most successful Test skipper • Virat Kohli has surpassed Mahendra Singh Dhoni to become India's most successful Test skipper. • It came after the Indian team recorded its 28th win under Kohli's leadership in the second and final test against the West Indies at Kingston. • The 28 wins have come from 48 matches for Kohli as captain. Qs: Who has become India's most successful Test skipper with 28 wins? 1st Indian cricketer to set rare record • Kerala all-rounder Jalaj Saxena has become the 1st Indian cricketer to set rare record in Indian first-class cricket history • He became the only cricketer to score 6044 runs in first-class cricket, as well as 305 wickets and still not have played for Team India. • The record was made during the 58th season of Duleep Trophy 2019–20 match between India Red and India Blue played at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Karnataka. Qs: Who has become the 1st Indian cricketer to set rare record in Indian first-class cricket history? U-14 Subroto Cup • Mizoram’s Saidan Secondary School clinched U-14 Subroto Cup International Football tournament title 2019 by beating Unique Model Academy, Manipur by 2-0 • Held at Dr. Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi • It is Asia’s largest youth football tournament. Qs: Who has clinched U-14 Subroto Cup International Football tournament title 2019? OBITUARY • Ex-South American Football Boss Nicolas Leoz passed away in Asuncion, Paraguay • Veteran comedian and four-time Emmy winner Valerie Harper passed away in US Qs: AWARDS & HONOURS • Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) bagged SKOCH Governance Gold Award for the year 2019 for its Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access (PAiSA) portal. Qs: AGREEMENTS • Health Ministry’s TB division signs MoU with Wadhwani Institute to explore AI based solutions for combating TB • Samsung India inks with Mastercard, RBL Bank for mobile payments through Samsung Pay for RBL Bank’s Mastercard credit card customers • Mou signed between Government e Marketplace (GeM), Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to enable growth of MSMEs, Start-ups and Women Entrepreneurs Qs: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS • Mithali Raj(ODI captain) – retires (from T20Is) • Pramod Chandra Mody - Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman - tenure extended by 1 year • Naresh Takkar - MD and Group CEO of ICRA - expelled • Parthasarathi Mukherjee - MD & CEO of LVB - resigns Qs: IMPORTANT EVENTS • Exercise Yudh Abhyas – 2019 (Indo-US defence joint military training) - Joint Base Lewis Mc Chord, Washington, USA • Amit Shah flags off the first fleet of eco-friendly e- buses in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and India’s 1st automated battery charging & changing station for e-buses there. • 26th Ladakhi-Kisan-Jawan-VigyanMela inaugurated by Rajnath in Leh Qs: India – Largest importer of coal • India will overtake China as the largest importer of coking coal by 2025 • China will remain dominant in terms of overall market share. • But India will become increasingly important in terms of seaborne demand. • Report by Fitch Solutions Macro Research Qs: By which year India would overtake China to become the largest importer of coking coal? AB-MGRSBY launched in Rajasthan • Rajasthan state government has launched a new health insurance scheme called Ayushman Bharat-Mahatma Gandhi Rajasthan Swasthya Bima Yojna (AB-MGRSBY) • By integrating the Bhamashah Health Insurance Scheme(BSBY) of the State Government and Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna Scheme(AB-PMJAY) of the Central Government. • The sum insured now is Rs. 30000 for general diseases and Rs. 3 lakh per year for serious diseases Qs: AB-MGRSBY launched by which state? India’s longest electrified rail tunnel • India’s longest electrified rail tunnel in Andhra Pradesh inaugurated by Vice president • Railway tunnel (6.7km) was between Cherlopalli and Rapuru costing Rs 437 crores • The electrified railway line (112km) between Venkatachalam (Krishnapatnam) and Obulavaripalli costing Rs 1,993 crores in Andhra Pradesh. Qs: India’s longest electrified rail tunnel was inaugurated at _____________ Global Happiness Survey • “Global Happiness Survey” conducted by market research firm Ipsos • Australia and Canada topped with 86% • India is ranked 9th with 77% on happiness index • Argentina is at the bottom with 34% Qs: What is India’s Rank in “Global Happiness Survey”?