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GK Tornado for IBPS Clerk Mains 2017-18 Exam

Dear readers,
This GK Tornado is a complete docket of important news and events that occurred in last 6 months (1st July–31st Dec 2017). Tornado
is important and relevant for all competitive exams like Banking, Insurance, SSC and UPSC Exams.

Banking & Financial Awareness


1. RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6% - On 6th December 2017, RBI in its fifth Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement
decided to keep the policy Repo rate unchanged at 6%. Therefore, the reverse repo rate under the LAF remains at 5.75 per
cent, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 6.25 per cent. However, RBI cut the Statutory
Liquidity Ratio (SLR) by 0.5 percent to 19.5 percent.
New Policy & Reserve Rates
1. Repo Rate 6% (unchanged)
2. Reverse Repo Rate 5.75% (unchanged)
3. CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) 4.00% (unchanged)
4. SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio) 19.50% (changed)
5. MSF (Marginal Standing Facility) 6.25% (unchanged)
6. Bank Rate 6.25% (unchanged)

2. NPAs of Public Sector Banks reach Rs 7.34 lakh 5. RBI retains economic growth projection at 6.7% for
crore - RBI data – According to the Reserve Bank of 2017-18.
India data - Bad loans of Public sector banks (PSBs) Also, the projection of the Gross Value Added (GVA)
growth for 2017-18 retained at 6.7%.
stood at Rs 7.34 lakh crore by the end of second
RBI raised the inflation forecast for the remainder of the
quarter this fiscal, a bulk of which came from current financial year to 4.3-4.7 per cent.
corporate defaulters. 6. RBI sets up task force on Public Credit Registry
• "The gross non-performing assets of public (PCR) - The Reserve Bank of India constituted a 10-
sector and private sector banks as on member ‘High Level Task Force on Public Credit
September 30, 2017 were Rs 7,33,974 crore, Rs Registry (PCR) for India’. The task force will be headed
1,02,808 crore, respectively. by YM Deosthalee, ex-CMD of L&T Finance Holdings.
• Among the major public sector banks, State 7. Legal Entity Identifier mandatory for all large
corporate borrowers: RBI - The Reserve Bank of India
Bank of India (SBI) had the highest amount of
(RBI) has made 20-digit Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)
NPAs at over Rs 1.86 lakh crore followed by compulsory for companies having aggregate fund-
Punjab National Bank (Rs 57,630 crore), Bank based and non-fund based exposure over Rs 5 crore.
of India (Rs 49,307 crore), Bank of Baroda (Rs The move is aimed at improving risk management in
46,307 crore), Canara Bank (Rs 39,164 crore) wake of huge stressed assets in banking system. Before
and Union Bank of India (Rs 38,286 crore). this, RBI had made LEI mandatory for transactions in
• Among private sector lenders, ICICI Bank had interest rate, forex and credit derivative market
the highest amount of NPAs on its books at Rs Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)
44,237 crore by the end of September, followed ➢ LEI is a 20-digit unique code to identify
by Axis Bank (Rs 22,136 crore), HDFC Bank (Rs parties to financial transactions worldwide.
7,644 crore) and Jammu and Kashmir Bank (Rs ➢ It is a global reference number that uniquely
5,983 crore). identifies every legal entity or structure that is
party to a financial transaction, in any
3. Uma Shankar appointed RBI Executive Director.
jurisdiction.
4. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will open an office in ➢ LEI code has been conceived as key measure to
the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. improve quality and accuracy of financial data
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systems for better risk management post the Note: The higher capital requirements applicable to D-
global financial crisis. SIBs will be applicable from April 1, 2016, in a phased
➢ The LEI system was developed by G20 in manner and would become fully effective from April 1,
response to inability of financial institutions to 2019.
identify organisations uniquely, so that their 8. P2P platforms will now act as NBFCs: Govt. -
financial transactions in different national According to the gazette notification issued by the
government, all Peer-to-peer lending (P2P) platforms
jurisdictions can be fully tracked. The first LEIs
will now considered as Non-Banking Financial
were issued in December 2012.
Companies (NBFCs) and will be regulated by Reserve
➢ Legal Entity Identifier India Limited (LEIL), a Bank of India (RBI).
wholly-owned subsidiary of Clearing About Peer-To-Peer Lending (P2P) - Peer-to-peer
Corporation of India (CCI), acts as a local lending (P2P) is a method of bulk funding that enables
operating unit (LOU) for issuing globally individuals to borrow and lend money - without the use
compatible legal entity identifiers (LEIs) in of any official financial institution or bank as an
India. intermediary. Peer-to-peer lending removes the
4. Banks to Provide Funds at 7% to Women SHGs middleman from the process and matches lenders with
under DAY-NRLM: RBI - The RBI has issued borrowers online, but it also involves more time, effort
guidelines to banks will provide funds to women self and risk than the general lending process.
help groups, SHGs, in rural areas at 7 per cent under 9. RBI issues guidelines for Peer to Peer lending
the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural platform – Following are the guidelines -
● Unless an NBFC has received the Certificate of
Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) in the current fiscal
Registration, it cannot start the the business of a
(2017-18). P2P lending platform.
Note: ● New companies who are looking for registration
➢ National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) is a with the bank as an NBFC-P2P must have a net
poverty alleviation project implemented by owned funds of not less than 20 million rupees or
Ministry of Rural Development, Government of such higher amount as the RBI may specify.
India. ● The existing NBFC-P2Ps have to apply for
➢ NRLM is focused on promoting self- registration as NBFC-P2Ps within 3 months.
employment and organization of rural poor. Functions of NBFC-P2P – Following are the functions of
➢ Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana or DAY is a NBFC-P2P –
Government of India scheme for the helping the (i) It is necessary to provide online platform to members
poor by providing skill training. involved in P2P lending.
(ii) Cannot lend on its own.
5. RBI Slaps Rs2-cr Penalty on IDFC Bank - The
(iv) Cannot hold its own balance sheet of funds received
Reserve Bank of India has imposed a monetary
from lenders or funds given to borrowers
penalty of Rs 2 crore on IDFC Bank for contravention (v) NBFC-P2P can’t cross-sell products.
of regulatory restrictions pertaining to loans and Guidelines for lenders and borrowers –
advances. (1) A lender can’t lend more than Rs 10 lakh to all
The penalty has been imposed in the exercise of borrowers at any point of time across all P2Ps
powers vested in RBI under the Banking Regulation (2) Borrowers can’t borrow more than Rs 10 lakh from
Act, 1949, taking into account failure of the bank to all lenders at any point of time across all P2Ps
adhere to certain directions issued by RBI. (3) Not more than Rs 50,000 can be borrowed from
6. RBI opens branch in Dehradun – RBI had opened its single lender to the same borrower, across all P2Ps.
new branch in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The branch was (4) The maturity of the loans shall not exceed 36 months.
inaugurated by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Fund transfer mechanism – Bank account is mandatory
Singh Rawat. Earlier, the state government had to do for transfer of funds. The transfer of funds between lenders
financial transactions through the Kanpur branch of the & borrowers on the P2P platform will be done through
RBI. escrow account mechanisms. Cash transactions are not
7. Reserve Bank of India recently acknowledged HDFC allowed in P2P platform.
Bank Ltd as a Domestic-Systemically Important Bank 10. RBI to conduct financial literacy drive in 9 states –
(D-SIB). With this, HDFC Bank joins State Bank of India The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to launch
and ICICI Bank in the elite D-SIB list. a financial literacy drive in 80 blocks in 9 states.

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The nine states include - Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, printing on the left, and the Swachh Bharat logo with the
Bihar, Odisha, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, slogan.
Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. ● Colour – The colour of the bank note is Bright
Objective – Yellow.
● The main objective of the financial literacy drive ● Design: It has a motif of Sanchi Stupa on the
is to educate people on e-transactions, formal reverse, depicting the country’s cultural heritage.
● Dimension - The dimension of the bank note will
sector borrowings and insurance purchases.
be 66mm X 146mm.
● Also, to create awareness among people on - e-
● Latent image with denominational numeral 200.
transactions through electronic means such as
● Windowed security thread with inscriptions ‘भारत’
NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, Internet Banking, Mobile
Banking and UPI (Unified Payment Interface). and RBI with colour shift. Colour of the thread
changes from green to blue when the note is tilted.
Key points –
● Denominational numeral with Rupee Symbol, ₹
● Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF) 200 in colour changing ink (green to blue) on
will implement the pilot project in collaboration bottom right.
with banks and six non-governmental organisations ● Ashoka Pillar emblem on the right.
(NGOs) ● Mahatma Gandhi portrait and electrotype (200)
● Six NGOs include - CRISIL Foundation, Dhan watermarks
Foundation, Swadhaar Fin Access, Indian School of Features of 50 Rs bank note – The note will carry the
Micro Finance for Women (ISMW), Samarpit and the signature of RBI governor Urjit Patel, the year of
PACE Foundation. printing on the left, and the Swachh Bharat logo with
● The total cost of the project over a period of three the slogan and language panel.
years would be around Rs 18.40 Cr. ● Colour: The bank note is fluorescent blue in colour.
11. Masala Bonds to be treated as ECB: RBI - Masala ● Design: The note bears the motif of ‘Hampi with
Chariot’ on the reverse that depicts India’s cultural
bonds were treated by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI)
heritage.
till 3rd October 2017. Now, The Reserve Bank of India
● Ashoka pillar emblem on the right side.
(RBI) announced that it is free from FPI and being ● Mahatma Gandhi portrait and electrotype (50)
treated by External Commercial Borrowings (ECB). watermarks.
Note: Masala bonds are rupee-denominated overseas ● Dimension - Dimension of the banknote will be 66
bonds. Currently, the limit for investment by Foreign mm x 135 mm.
Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in corporate bonds is Rs ● Windowed demetalised security thread with
2,44,323 crore and this includes masala bonds of inscriptions ‘भारत’ and RBI,
Rs.44,001 crore. ● Note: Till now, India has currency denominations
12. Two regional rural banks record Over Rs 150-cr of Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 2,000.
Profit in FY17: According to the Reserve Bank of 15. RBI identified 12 accounts with 25% of bank bad
India’s ‘Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in loans - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had identified
India’ - Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank and 12 accounts which represents 25% of the gross bad
Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank recorded net profit loans in the banking system. RBI had ordered the banks
of more than ₹150 crore during 2016-17. to implement the insolvency and bankruptcy code on
13. RBI to pay Rs 30,659 cr dividend to Govt. - The these 12 accounts to recover the dues. These accounts
Reserve Bank has to pay Rs 30,659 crore to the are overdue of above Rs 5,000 crore each.
government for the fiscal ended June 2017. It is a less Name of some accounts include - Lanco Infratech Ltd,
Essar Steel, Bhushan Steel, Electrosteel Steel, Alok
than half of what it paid in 2016. Previous year in 2016
Industries, Jyoti Structures, Monnet Ispat and Jaypee
RBI had paid Rs 65,876 crore dividend to the
Associates. Note: IDBI Bank has initiated insolvency
government. proceeding against Lanco Infratech ltd.
14. RBI issues new Rs 200, Rs 50 banknotes - After 16. RBI initiates PCA against six banks as NPA mounts -
demonetization, Rs 200 is the fourth note introduced by The Reserve Bank of India has initiated prompt
the apex bank. corrective action (PCA) against six banks in view of
Features of Rs. 200 bank note – The note will carry the high level of bad loans.
the signature of RBI governor Urjit Patel, the year of Six banks include – Bank of Maharashtra, Central Bank
of India, IDBI Bank, UCO Bank, Dena Bank and Indian
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Overseas Bank. The move will restrict the bank from Increase in compensation amount: The RBI has
announcing the dividend, opening branches, hiring and increased the compensation limit from Rs10 lakh to
giving loans to companies rated below investment Rs20 lakh. The compensation excludes the amount
grade. involved in the dispute. For case, if you have a complaint
17. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up Supervisory about a transaction amount of, say, Rs15 lakh. The
Colleges for six Scheduled Commercial Banks which compensation will be over and above this amount.
have sizeable international presence. The banks include 20. RBI limits Customer liability in Online Banking – As
- - State Bank of India, ICICI Bank Ltd., Bank of India, per the RB guidelines on customer liability –
Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank Ltd. and Punjab National
● The full amount will be credited to the account
Bank. - If the customers report to the banks regarding the
The objectives of the colleges are to enhance loss they suffer through online banking
information exchange and cooperation among
transactions within 3 days, then the amount
supervisors, to improve understanding of the risk involved will be credited to their accounts within a
profile of the banking group and thereby facilitate more
time period of 10 days.
effective supervision of internationally active banks. ● Only Rs. 25,000 will be credited to the account
18. RBI fined Rs. 3 cr penalty on UBI - The RBI has
- In case the third-party fraud is reported with a
imposed a penalty of Rs. 3 crore on state-owned Union
delay of 4 to 7 working days, a customer will face
Bank of India for “non-compliance” with the directions liability of up to Rs. 25,000.
on Know Your Customer (KYC) norms. This action is
● Only Rs. 10,000 will be credited to the account
based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is - If the fraud is report after 7 days, the customer
not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any
liability will be determined as per the bank’s Board
transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with
approved policy. The maximum liability of a
its customers.
savings bank account customer will be Rs10,000 in
19. RBI broadens scope of Banking Ombudsman such cases.
Scheme – With the amendment, from 1 July 2017, the 21. RBI’s notification related to Interest Subvention
banking ombudsman scheme will include –
Scheme for Short Term Crop Loans during the year
i. sale of insurance, mutual funds and other third-party 2017-18 – A farmer can avail loans up to Rs. 3 lakh at
investment products by banks an interest rate of 7% p.a. during the year 2017-18.
ii. mobile and online banking services. ● This interest subvention of 2 per cent will be
Now, a bank customer also files a complaint to Banking calculated on the crop loan amount from the date
Ombudsman on following issues – of its disbursement up to the date of actual
i. Mutual Fund & Insurance policy - wrongly sold repayment by the farmer or up to the due date of
third party products such as mutual fund schemes & the loan fixed by the banks, whichever is earlier,
insurance policies. subject to a maximum of one year.
ii. mobile and online banking services - delay or ● Aadhaar card mandatory - To ensure hassle-free
failure of online payments or fund transfers and benefits to farmers under the Interest Subvention
unauthorized electronic payments or fund transfers. Scheme, the banks are advised to make Aadhaar
Key points - linkage mandatory for availing of short-term crop
● So far, the banking ombudsman only accepted loans in 2017-18.
complaints about banking products and services. ● Note: The Cabinet has approved the total
● Third-party products sold by banks, such as
expenditure of Rs 20,339 crore for this financial
insurance and mutual fund products, were kept
year (FY) as interest subsidy on short-term crop
out of its ambit.
loans.
● RBI has included in its amended scheme that in
case of any grievance, you can lodge a complaint
against the bank for its non-adherence to RBI’s
instructions on mobile banking and electronic
banking services in India.

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India’s GDP Growth Rate Projected by Different Org. – 2017

1. The Reserve Bank of India - 6.7% in 2017-18. ● UN projected India’s GDP growth rate at 7.2% in
Note: Also, the projection of real GVA (Gross Value 2018.
Added) growth for 2017-18 has been retained at 6.7 ● UN projected India’s GDP growth rate at 7.4% in
per cent 2019.
• RBI Governor – Dr. Urjit Patel ● UN Secretary‑General - António Guterres
● RBI headquarter – Mumbai, India ● UN headquarter – New York, US
2. The credit rating agency Fitch lowers India’s GDP ● Members countries - 193
growth rate to 6.7% for 2017-18. 6. World Bank - 7% in 2017-18.
● Fitch CEO – Paul Taylor ● World Bank projected India’s GDP growth rate at
● Fitch Ratings headquarter – New York, US 7.5% in 2018-19.
3. India's GDP Growth to rise to 7.5 % in 2018: Morgan ● World Bank projected India’s GDP growth rate at
Stanley 7.5% in 2019-20.
• Headquarter of Morgan Stanley- New York, US ● World Bank projected World GDP growth rate at
• CEO - James P. Gorman 2.7% in 2017-18.
4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) - 6.7% in 2017- ● World Bank President – Jim Yong Kim
18. ● World Bank headquarter – Washington, D.C. (US)
● IMF projected India’s GDP growth rate at 7.4% in ● Members countries - 189
2018-19. 7. Asian Development Bank (ADB)- 7% in 2017-18.
● IMF projected World GDP growth rate at 3.5% in ● Asian Development Bank (ADB) projected India’s
2017 and 3.6% in 2018. GDP growth rate at 7.5% in 2018-19.
● IMF Chief – Christine Lagarde ● ADB President: Takehiko Nakao
● IMF headquarter – Washington, D.C. (US) ● ADB headquarter –Mandaluyong, Philippines
5. United Nation (UN) – 6.7% in 2017-18. ● Members countries - 67
Digital Banking

1. National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) – It is a ● Timing: The RTGS service window for customer's
payment system which facilitates one-to-one funds transactions is available to banks from 9.00 hours
transfer. Under this facility, any customer can to 16.30 hours on week days and from 9.00 hours
electronically transfer funds from any bank branch to to 14:00 hours on Saturdays for settlement at the
any individual, firm or corporate having an account
RBI end. However, the timings that the banks follow
with any other bank branch in the country.
● Transaction Limit: There is no minimum & may vary depending on the customer timings of the
maximum limit of amount. bank branches.
● Note: For cash-based remittance and remittance to 3. Indian Financial System Code (IFSC) – It is a 11-digit
Nepal - the maximum amount per transaction is alpha-numeric code which identifies a bank-branch
limited to Rs 50,000. participating in the NEFT & RTGS system. IFSC is used
● Timing: At present, NEFT operates in hourly by the NEFT system to identify the originating /
batches - there are twelve settlements from 8 am destination banks / branches and also to route the
to 7 pm on week days (Monday through Friday)
messages appropriately to the concerned banks /
and six settlements from 8 am to 1 pm on
Saturdays. branches.
2. Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) – Under this Note: IFSC code represent –
facility the transfer of funds is done individually on an ● First 4 alpha characters indicate – bank name
order by order basis (without any delay). The RTGS ● Fifth characters is – 0
system is primarily meant for large value transactions. ● Last 6 characters indicate – bank branch.
● Transaction Limit: The minimum amount is Rs. 2 ● For ex - SBIN0000125 – Here – SBIN indicates –
lakh. There is no upper ceiling for RTGS State Bank of India. 0124 represent the Lucknow
transactions.
Main Branch name.

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4. About NPCI - National Payments Corporation of India Communications) network. It is used to send text
(NPCI) is an umbrella organization for all retail message between a mobile phone and application
payments system in India. It was set up with the program in the network. At present, it is one of the best
guidance and support of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accessible communications technology to deliver
and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). mobile financial services to low-income customers.
● NPCI – Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra 10. Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) – It is an
5. About Unified Payments Interface (UPI)- It is an Indian payment system which is based on unique
instant payment system to transfer money between two identification number, the AADHAAR. The system
parties bank accounts. It is a similar to NEFT or RTGS
allows a person holding an Aadhaar number to carry out
transfers in that way. It is developed by the National
Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). financial transaction on a Micro-ATM provided by the
6. Immediate payment service (IMPS) – It is an instant Banking correspondent. It is developed by National
real-time payment service which help customer to Payments Corporation of India.
transfer money anytime and anywhere in India. This 11. Aadhaar Payments Bridge System (APBS): It is a
service is similar to NEFT & RTGS and available 24/7 payment gateway platform used for Aadhaar schemes.
throughout the year including bank holidays. This Under this facility - Aadhaar number used as a central
service is offered by National Payments Corporation of
key for electronically channelizing the Government
India (NPCI).
● Transaction limit – There is a maximum limit of 2 subsidies and benefits in the Aadhaar Enabled Bank
lakhs. Accounts (AEBA) of the intended beneficiaries. It is
7. Interbank Mobile Payment Service (IMPS) – It is an developed by National Payments Corporation of India.
instant interbank fund transfer service in which mobile It was used for the first time on 1 January 2013 when
phones are used as channel through which transaction Direct Benefit Transfer was launched by Government of
happens with the use of Mobile Money India.
Identifier(MMID). For each account, MMID is generated
12. BHIM APP – Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) is an
by bank and it is linked with registered mobile number.
Now, account details are fetched from MMID and via instant payment application which allow users to
registered mobile number transaction occurs. transfer fund with the help of mobile phone. It is based
● **Only MMID and Registered Mobile Number of on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) and developed
Payee are needed. Mobile Money Identifier is a 7 by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
digit number, issued by banks. ● The Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched BHIM
● Transaction Limits - RBI has defined the app for Android and iOS devices on 30th Dec 2016
maximum limit per day transaction. If transaction at the Digi Dhan Mela event in New Delhi.
happens in encrypted format (from net banking) Features of BHIM App -
then limit is 50,000 rupees per day whereas if ● Maximum limit- User can transfer maximum
transaction happens in unencrypted messaging amount upto Rs 20,000 in a day.
● You can send upto Rs. 10,000 in a single transaction.
formats (from mobile instrument via text message)
● Transaction Charges – There is no transaction
then limit is 1,000 rupees per day. charges.
8. *99# Service – It is a mobile banking facility which is ● UPI PIN – It is a four or six digit number which is set
based on Unstructured Supplementary Service Data by the users itself on BHIM after the registration
(USSD). With the help of this service a bank customer process. UPI PIN is used for authenticating all
can perform financial activities by just dialing *99# transactions done on UPI platform (BHIM or *99#
from his/her mobile registered with the bank. *99# is a or UPI apps).
● VPA - Virtual Payment Address (VPA) is a unique
common number across all Telecom Service Providers
identifier which you can use to send and receive
(TSPs). The service works across all GSM service money on UPI.
providers and handsets. Note: You can use two VPA’s. First one is the default
9. About Unstructured Supplementary Service Data VPA (mobile number@upi). The second one, you
(USSD) – USSD allows transmission of information can create on “My Profile” page.
through a GSM (Global System for Mobile

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Important news related to digital banking -

1. State Bank of India has launched an Artificial Note: Airtel Payments Bank (APB), a joint venture
Intelligence powered chat assistant to help customers in between Bharti Airtel Ltd and Kotak Mahindra Bank
various banking activities. The chat assistant is known Ltd.
as SBI Intelligent Assistant (SIA). This chatbot is made 4. Paytm Payments Bank join hands with NPCI for
by an Artificial intelligence banking platform - Payjo. RuPay digital card - Paytm Payments Bank (PPB)
‘SIA’ is considered as a revolution in the digital banking joined with the National Payments Corporation of India
field. It can resolve and handle about 10,000 queries per (NPCI) for RuPay digital card. With this debit card
second. customer will get free insurance cover of up to Rs 2 lakh
2. Canara Bank has launched its first digital Banking in the case of death or permanent total disability.
branch in Bengaluru. This branch is named as ‘CANDI’. 5. Google Tez – The new payment app for India by Google.
3. Airtel Payments Bank has become the first payment It is a mobile wallet app which is based on the Unified
bank in India to merge the UPI (Unified Payment Payments Interface (UPI) platform. This works similar
Interface) on its digital platform. With this initiative, the to the BHIM app.
bank customers can now link their bank accounts on
Bhim app and make UPI payments.
Important points related to digital banking

1. DCB Bank launches first iris-based ATM in Telangana 5. RBL Bank launches India’s first credit card exclusively for
- ATM dispense cash without a debit card as the machine GOLF LOVERS.
verifies the customer from the Aadhaar details like the iris 6. India’s first cash giving app ‘CASHe’ launched by Tslc Pte
and fingerprint. Ltd.
Headquarter of DCB Bank – Mumbai, Maharashtra 7. First Digital State - Kerala declared first digital state in
2. DCB Bank launched first Aadhaar-based ATM in India.
Bengaluru - The ATM accepts Aadhaar number and 8. First Digital District – Nagpur declared first digital
Aadhaar fingerprint (biometric) instead of ATM / debit district in India.
card and PIN to dispense cash from the bank account. 9. First Digital Village - Akodara village in Sabarkantha
3. Country’s first banking robot - Lakshmi launched by district of Gujarat became India’s first Digital village. The
City Union Bank in Chennai. village was adopted by ICICI Bank under its digital village
Headquarter of City Union Bank - Kumbakonam, Tamil project 2015.
Nadu. 10. First cashless island - Karang, a small lake island in
4. RBL Bank becomes the first Indian bank to launch Manipur, has become the country’s first cashless island.
Aadhaar Payment Bridge System for small ticket micro- 11. First ‘digital’ tribal colony - The Nedumkayam tribal
finance loan disbursements. colony at Nilambur in Malappuram lacks basic facilities
Headquarter of RBL Bank – Mumbai, Maharashtra including toilets. However, the colony has now become a
role model to the country by becoming the first 'digital'
tribal colony in India.

List of committees on Digital Banking -


● Committee for accelerating growth of Digital Payments in India is headed by Ratan P. Watal.
● Committee to study financial technology and digital banking issues in India is headed by - Sudarshan Sen

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Banking & Financial terms

1. AEPS – Aadhar Enabled Payment System 43. PSPs - Payment Support Providers
2. APBS – Aadhar Payment Bridge System 44. RTGS – Real Time Gross Settlement
3. ATM – Automated Teller Machine 45. USSD - Unstructured Supplementary Services Data
4. ALM - Asset Liability Management 46. UIDAI - Unique Identification Authority of India
5. BBPS – Bharat Bill Payment System 47. VPA - Virtual Payment Address.
6. BHIM - Bharat Interface for Money 48. GDR – Global Depository Receipt
7. CBS – Core Banking System 49. GAAR - General anti avoidance rule
8. CIDR - Central Identities Data Repository 50. PAN – Permanent Account Number
9. CTS – Cheque Truncation System 51. PLR – Prime Lending Rate
10. CDR - Corporate Debt Restructuring 52. SLR – Statutory Liquidity Ratio
11. CASA – Current Account Saving Account 53. SDR – Special Drawing Rights
12. CAD – Capital Account Deficit 54. DTAA – Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement
13. CRR – Cash Reserve Ratio
14. ECS – Electronic Clearing Service 55. TIEA – Tax Information Exchange Agreement
15. DNS - Domain Name System 56. EFSF – European Financial Stability Facility
16. DEAF - Depositor Education and Awareness Fund
17. EFTPOS - Electronic funds transfer at point of sale 57. PPP – Purchasing Power Parity
18. EFT – Electronic Fund Transfer. 58. PPP – Public Private Partnership
19. FRBM - Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management 59. NPS – New Pension Scheme
20. LGD - Loss Given Default 60. EEFC - Exchange Earner's Foreign Currency
21. LTV- Loan To Value 61. FII – Foreign Institutional Investor
22. GNFV - Gross Negative Fair Value
62. DII – Domestic Institutional Investor
23. SFTs: Securities financing transactions
24. HCE - Host Card Emulation 63. GST – Goods and Services Tax
25. PFE - Potential Future Exposure 64. DTC – Direct Tax Code
26. ICAAP - Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process 65. FCNRA – Foreign Currency Non- Resident account
27. IFSC - Indian Financial System Code
28. IMPS - Immediate Payment Service 66. MFI - Micro Finance Institutions
29. IMPS - Interbank Mobile Payment Service 67. MFDC – Micro Finance Development Council
30. MMID - Mobile Money Identifier 68. TRAI - Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
31. MPIN - Mobile Personal Identification Number 69. MSF – Marginal Standing Facility
32. NPA – Non- Performing Assets
70. IDF – Infrastructure Debt Fund
33. NPCI - National Payment Corporation of India
34. NFS – National Financial Switch 71. CRIS – Comparative Rating Index for Sovereign
35. NACH – National Automated Clearing House 72. LIBOR – London Inter Bank Operation Rate
36. NEFT – National Electronic Fund Transfer 73. MIBOR – Mumbai Inter Bank Operation Rate
37. NFC - Near field communication 74. MICR – Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
38. NDTL – Net Demand and Time Liabilities. 75. SARFAESI - Securitization and Reconstruction of
39. OTC – Over the Counter Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest
40. PIN – Personal Identification Number 76. BCBS - Basel Committee on Banking Supervision
41. PAC - Personal Access Code 77. NPCI - National Payments Corporation of India
42. PCA - Prompt Corrective Action

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Agreement
India’s agreement with other countries

1. India and UK signed agreement in transport- India Cuba Currency – Peso


and UK has signed a Memorandum of Understanding Cuba President – Raúl Castro
(MoU) in transport sector. 8. India & Poland – India & Poland signed MoU for the
2. India and Switzerland signed agreement in tax promotion of Civil Aviation Cooperation.
related information- India has signed an agreement Note:
with Switzerland to allow automatic sharing of tax- • Poland Capital – Warsaw
related information. • Poland Currency – Polish zloty
3. India & Cuba – India and Cuba signed a Memorandum • Poland President - Andrzej Duda
of Understanding (MoU) in the field of Health and • Poland Prime Minister - Mateusz Morawiecki
Medicine. 9. India and Philippines - The Union Cabinet approved
4. India has announced the financial assistance of $25 the signing and ratifying of an agreement between
million to Myanmar for development projects in India and Philippines on cooperation and mutual
Rakhine state. assistance in customs matters.
5. U.P. & South Korea - The Uttar Pradesh government Note:
has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with • Philippines Capital – Manila
South Korea on to enhance cooperation in the field of • Philippines Currency – Peso
tourism, skill development, culture and farming.
• Philippines President – Rodrigo Duterte
• It was signed after a delegation from South
Korea’s Gimhae city met Chief Minister Yogi 10. India & Russia – India and Russia agreement on
Adityanath in Lucknow and discussed ways to cooperation in combating terrorism to combat all
improve cooperation between the two countries. forms of terrorism and organised crime.
6. India & Germany sign Govt. to Govt. Umbrella Note:
Agreement – India and Germany signed an Russia Capital – Moscow
agreement on the Government to Government Russia Currency – Rubble
Umbrella Agreement concerning the Financial Russia President – Vladimir Putin
Cooperation in 2016 (II) under the Indo-German 6. India & Hong Kong - The Union Cabinet Approved
Development Cooperation. Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of
Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income
Note:
between India & Hong Kong.
• The agreement was signed to formalize an 7. India & Colombia - The Union Cabinet approved
amount up to Euro 200 million for the signing of Joint Interpretative Declaration (JID)
Financial Cooperation in form of loan for the between India and Colombia regarding existing
project ‘Climate Friendly Urban Mobility III’ Agreement for Promotion and Protection of
and Euro 11 million Accompanying measures Investments.
in form of a grant for four projects. Note:
Note: • Capital of Colombia – Bogotá
Germany Capital – Berlin
• Currency of Colombia - Peso
Germany Currency – Euro
• President - Juan Manuel Santos.
Germany Chancellor –Angela Merkel
8. India & Philippines agreement on Agriculture &
7. India & Cuba – India and Cuba have signed
related fields - The agreement provides cooperation in
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for enhanced
fields of rice production and processing, dryland
cooperation in the health sector. The main areas of
farming systems, multi cropping system, bio-organic
cooperation under MoU include –training of medical
farming, solid and water conservation and
doctors, officials, other health professionals and
management, soil fertility, Agro forestry, sericulture,
experts.
livestock improvement etc.
Note:
Cuba Capital – Havana
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Note: India in Tunisia and Festival of Tunisia in India in 2018


• Capital of Philippines – Manila. to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the establishment
• Currency of Philippines - Peso of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
• President - Rodrigo Duterte. Note:
9. India and Kyrgyz - The Union Cabinet approved • Capital of Tunisia – Tunis.
protocol amending Agreement between India and • Currency of Tunisia - Dinar.
Kyrgyz for avoidance of double taxation and • President - Beji Caid Essebsi.
prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on • Head of Govt. - Youssef Chahed.
income. 12. India & Italy - India and Italy have signed six
Note: agreements to boost cooperation in the fields of
• Capital of Kyrgyz – Bishkek. railways safety, energy and to enhance counter-terror
• Currency of Kyrgyz - Som. cooperation.
• President - Almazbek Atambayev. Note:
• PM - Sapar Isakov. • Capital of Italy – Rome
10. India & Armenia – The Union Cabinet approved • Currency of Italy - Euro.
signing and ratifying agreement between India and • President - Sergio Mattarella.
Armenia on cooperation and mutual assistance in • PM - Paolo Gentiloni.
customs matters. 13. India & Sri Lanka - India and Sri Lanka signed a
Note: Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build 1200
• Capital of Armenia – Yerevan. houses in Hambantota, a southern port city of Sri
• Currency of Armenia - Dram. Lanka.
• President - Serzh Sargsyan. Note:
• PM - Karen Karapetyan. • Capital of Sri Lanka –Sri Jayawardenepura
11. India & Tunisia - India and Tunisia jointly agreed to Kotte.
enhance cooperation in various sectors including in the • Currency of Sri Lanka - Rupee.
fields of renewable energy, infrastructure, transport • President - Maithripala Sirisena
and automobiles, textiles, agriculture, drugs & • PM - Ranil Wickremesinghe.
pharmaceuticals, healthcare, ICT, SMEs and energy.
Note: Besides this, the Foreign Ministries of the two
nations have decided to hold a year-long Festival of

India’s agreement with Financial Institutions


4. India & World Bank - India signed USD 100 million
1. India inks Financing Agreement with World Bank - loan agreement with the World Bank for Shared
India has inked Financing Agreement with World Bank Infrastructure for Solar Parks Project.
of US $125 million (equivalent) for Skills Strengthening 5. ADB & Karnataka - Asian Development Bank (ADB)
for Industrial Value Enhancement Operation (STRIVE) has approved $346 million loan for highways
Project. upgradation project in Karnataka.
• The objective of project is to improve access to
6. ADB & Reliance’s Bangladesh power plant project -
quality and market-driven vocational training and
apprenticeships. The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) has approved
2. Tamil Nadu Government and World Bank have debt financing and partial risk guarantees totalling
signed $318 million-dollar loan agreement for the $583 million to develop the Reliance Bangladesh
Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Power Project.
Project. Note:
3. The Union Government has inked Loan agreement • The project will increase power generation and
with World Bank for $40 Million for “Uttar Pradesh improve energy infrastructure in Bangladesh.
Pro-Poor Tourism Development Project”.

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• The power plan is located in Meghnaghat, near 10. India & ADB sign agreement to promote fiscal
Dhaka, and an LNG Terminal, near Kutubdia reforms in West Bengal - The Union Government and
Island south of Chittagong. Asian Development Bank has signed USD 300 million
7. India & World Bank - India and World Bank signed a loan to promote a series of fiscal reforms in West
financing agreement for loan of USD 119 million for Bengal to improve the quality of public service
the Odisha Higher Education Programme for delivery.
Excellence & Equity (OHEPEE) Project. 11. Nepal & ADB - The Asian Development Bank
Note: The loan will be provided by the International (ADB) will provide a USD 152 million to Nepal for the
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), implementation and enhancement of its power
subsidiary of World Bank. transmission and distribution. ADB and Nepal’s
Objective of the OHEPEE Project – Ministry of Finance signed the loan agreement in
• To improve the quality of student’s equitable Kathmandu.
access to selected institutions in Odisha through 12. The Finance Ministry & World Bank ink pact of $24
Institutional Development Plan (IDP) Grants. million to improve India’s Forest Ecosystem Services.
• It will enhance governance of the higher 13. NABARD sanctioned loan of Rs 1,350-cr to
education system by improving governance in Rajasthan Government for the creation of rural
colleges and through improvement of financial infrastructure in the state under the Rural
and procurement management in all government Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).
and government-aided colleges.
14. World Bank to provide $250-million loan to train India's
• The project is expected to be completed by 30
job seekers - The World Bank has cleared a USD 250-
November 2022.
million loan for making Indian youth more employable
8. Andhra Pradesh & Asian Infrastructure Investment
through reskilling, in a move that is seen to aid the Skill
Bank (AIIB) – The AIIB has approved USD 2 million
India Mission. Under the program, adults in 15-59 years
loan (Rs. 13,000 crores) for five projects in Andhra
of age, underemployed or unemployed, will get the skill
Pradesh. The five projects include – Two roads and
training.
buildings department, one each for rural safe drinking
15. ADB & Himachal Pradesh – The Asian Development
water department, municipal and urban development
Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of $80 million (about
department and Panchayat Raj department.
Rs 524 crore) for the modernization of Himachal
9. India & World Bank sign agreement for Assam
Pradesh’s technical and vocational education and
Rural Transformation Project - India and the World
training (TVET) institutions.
Bank signed USD 200 million loan agreement for the
Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project.

Financial & Economy News


Note: Greece has the highest NPA which is followed by
1. J&K bank launches ‘Sahafat Finance Scheme’ - Italy, Portugal and Ireland.
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) bank’s chairman & CEO 3. Govt. inject Rs. 7,577 cr into Six public sector
Parvez Ahmad has launched a special financial scheme banks- The government has injected Rs. 7,577 cr into
"J&K Bank Sahafat Finance Scheme" for journalists of various six public sector banks to improve the financial
the state. conditions of the weaker banks.
• It will enable journalists to buy cameras, • Bank of India received capital of ₹2,257 crore.
laptops, tablets, and books. • IDBI received ₹2,729 crore.
• The minimum loan under the scheme is fixed • Central Bank of India got ₹323 crore, Dena
at Rs 50,000 while maximum limit is Rs 3 lakh. Bank has got ₹243 crore and UCO Bank got
2. India ranked at 5th position among the countries ₹1,375 crore and Bank of Maharashtra has
with highest NPA – India has the highest level of non- received the capital support of ₹650 crore.
performing assets (NPA) among BRICS countries and is 4. Sebi recommends 10% cross-shareholding cap in
ranked fifth on a list of countries with the highest rating agencies - Market regulator, Securities and
levels of NPAs, a report by CARE Ratings revealed. Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed cross-

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holding in credit rating agencies (CRAs) will be capped 9. UPI transactions cross 10 crores in November - The
at 10 percent number of transactions on the Unified Payment
• The regulator also decided to raise the minimum Interface (UPI), has crossed 10 crores mark in
net-worth requirement to Rs 25 crore from the November 2017.
current Rs 5 crore. Note:
5. Small savings schemes’ interest rates cut by 20 bps
• UPI is a mobile-digital payment interface
- The union government has slashed the interest rates
which is introduced by the National Payments
on small savings schemes, including NSC and PPF (by
Corporation of India (NPCI).
0.2 % point) for the January-March period from the
• In August 2017, the transactions on UPI
rates applicable in the previous quarter.
platform is around 1.66 crore. In September it
• Interest rate in Public Provident Fund (PPF) is
crossed up to 3 crores and which increased to
now at 7.6%
7.67 crores in October.
• Interest rate in National Saving Certificates (NSC) 10. Paytm launched Paytm FASTag Across India –
will fetch a lower annual rate of 7.6% Paytm Payments Bank has launched the Paytm FASTag
• Interest rate in Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) is 7.3%. across the India.
• Senior Citizens Savings Scheme has been retained
Note:
at 8.3%
• The girl child savings scheme Sukanya Samriddhi • As per the government directions, it is
Account will offer 8.1% (existing 8.3%) annually. mandatory to use of FASTag on every new
6. SEBI hikes FPI investment limit - Capital market vehicle sold from December 1.
regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India • FASTags are simple and reusable tags based on
(SEBI) has raised the investment limit for foreign radio-frequency identification technology
portfolio investors in central government securities to (RFID) that can be placed on a vehicle’s
over 1.91 lakh crore from next month. windscreen and enables electronic toll fee
• Currently, investment limit for foreign portfolio collection on highways across the country.
investors is 1.89 lakh crore rupees. • The FASTtag project is run in partnership with
• The move is part of an effort by Securities and the National Highways Authority of India
Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to push inflow (NHAI) and NPCI.
from overseas investors in the country's capital 5. Government announces Bank Recapitalisation Plan
markets. to infuse Rs. 2.11 lakh crore capital in PSBs - The
7. Niti Aayog to set up Methanol Economy Fund - The Union Government has announced Bank
Recapitalisation Plan to infuse Rs. 2.11 lakh crore (
‘Niti Aayog’ is planning to set up a Methanol Economy
$32.4 billion) capital over next two years into public
Fund with a corpus of Rs 4,000-5,000 crore to promote
sector banks (PSBs) and prioritised financing support
production and use of the clean fuel through this fund. for MSMEs in 50 clusters. The capital infusion will be
• The Objective of Methanol Economy Fund to accompanied by a series of banking sector reforms that
promote the use of methanol fuel, which is safer, will be revealed in the coming months.
cheaper, and pollution free. Note:
8. The 14th Inclusive Finance India Summit held at ➢ Under this plan, PSBs will get Rs 1.35 lakh
Hotel Ashok, New Delhi. crore from the sale of Recapitalisation Bonds,
• Objective of the summit - to discuss strategies to Rs 18,000 crore from Budgetary provisions
achieve universal financial inclusion, Financial and remaining Rs 58,000 crore will be raised
Education and Financial Stability in India. through sale of share of banks.
• A book- 'Talking financial inclusion in liberalized 6. Govt. constitutes Alternative Mechanism Panel for
India: Conversations with Governors of the RBI', PSBs consolidation - The Union Government has
edited by Prof. MS Sriram was released during the constituted Alternative Mechanism Panel headed by
summit. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to oversee
• This book presents a set of conversations with five merger proposals of public sector banks (PSBs). The
former Governors of Reserve Bank of India (from other members of the panel include Railway and Coal
1992 onwards) on the topic of financial inclusion.

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Minister Piyush Goyal and Defence Minister Nirmala 13. Nestle set up a first food safety institute in Manesar,
Sitharaman. Gurugram to help develop standards in food safety and
7. Core sector growth hits 6-month high of 5.2% in quality. It will provide guidance and training on food
September 2017 - According to index of eight core safety. While this is the first such institute in India,
industries released by the Union Ministry of Commerce Nestle already runs a similar Institute each in China and
and Industry, Core sector growth has hit six-month Lausanne, Switzerland.
high in September 2017. 14. India becomes 1st country to give to UN Tax Fund
with $100000 contribution - India has contributed
Note: The core industries comprising of coal, crude oil,
$100,000 to a UN fund to help developing countries
natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement,
actively participate in the discussion of tax
and electricity was up 5.2% in September 2017 issues, becoming the first country to make the
compared with 4.4% in August 2017 and 5.3% in contribution. The UN Tax Trust Fund aims to support
September 2016. Besides, August 2017 core sector the work of the Committee of Experts on International
growth was revised downwards from 4.9%. Cooperation in Tax Matters.
8. PFRDA increases maximum age of joining under 15. WTO estimated World Trade to grow at 3.6% in
NPS-Private Sector to 65 years - The Pension Fund 2017. According to revised estimates circulated by
Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) the World Trade Organisation, the World trade in goods
increased the maximum age of joining under National is estimated to grow at a higher 3.6 percent in 2017.
Pension System (NPS)-Private Sector (All Citizen and Earlier growth was projected at 2.4 percent in 2017.
Corporate Model) from the existing 60 years to 65 16. US shut down Pakistan’s Habib Bank - The US
years of age. banking regulators has shut down the Pakistan’s Habib
Note: Bank office in New York for constantly failing to
With this, any Indian Citizen, resident or non-resident, attention concerns over possible terrorist financing and
between the age of 60- 65 years can now join NPS and money laundering.
continue up to the age of 70 years in NPS. Note: Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan is a Karachi
9. GIC Re launched India’s 3rd largest IPO - General based multinational bank. It is the largest bank by assets
Insurance Corp of India (GIC Re) launched its mega Rs in Pakistan. Sultan Ali Allana is a Chairman and Nauman
11,370 crore initial public offer (IPO). This is India's Dar is a President & CEO of HBL.
third biggest IPO ever after Coal India's Rs 15,200 crore 17. India’s Forex reserves cross $400 billion for first
and Reliance Power's Rs 11,700 crore issues. time - According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s
10. Wholesale inflation rose to a four-month high of 3.24 foreign exchange (Forex) reserves have crossed $400
per cent in August as prices of food articles, led by billion mark for the first time. The increase was due
onions and vegetables, soared. Inflation based on the
sharp rise in foreign currency assets.
Wholesale Price Index was 1.88 per cent in July 2017
and 1.09 per cent in August 2016. Note: India is now at sixth position in forex reserves
11. First regional centre of New Development Bank ranking behind China (3,053 billion reserves), Japan
opened in Johannesburg, South Africa. ($1,188 billion), Switzerland ($743 billion), Saudi
Note: Arabia ($489 billion) and Taiwan ($441 billion).
● The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly 18. Air India Ties up with PNB, IndusInd - Air India has
referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a tied up Punjab National Bank and IndusInd Bank to
multilateral development bank established by the secure loans to the tune of over Rs 3,000 crore for
BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South meeting working capital requirements.
Africa) with an initial authorised capital of the 19. Core sector growth rises to 4.9% in August 2017 -
bank is USD 100 billion. According to Ministry of Commerce & Industry, eight
● The headquarter of NDB is in Shanghai, China. core sectors grew by 4.9% in August 2017, the highest
● K.V. Kamath is the first President of NDB. growth rate since April 2017. It was higher than 3.1% in
12. BSNL Launches digital wallet bespoke - BSNL went August 2016 and 2.6% in July 2017
digital by launching a bespoke mobile wallet (mobile 20. IIP rises to 9-month high of 4.3% in August 2017-
payment App) that would enable its existing 100 million
According to data released by Central Statistics Office
customers to make Bill payments. The wallet has been
(CSO), factory output measured in terms of Index of
developed and issued by MobiKwik on behalf of BSNL.
Industrial Production (IIP) has grown nine-month high
to 4.3% in August 2017.
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About Index of Industrial Production (IIP) - The IIP ● Bharat 22 comprise of 22 stocks including those of
is composite indicator that measures short-term central public sector enterprises (CPSEs), public
changes in volume of production of basket of industrial sector banks (PSBs) and its holdings under the
products during given period with respect to chosen Specified Undertaking of Unit Trust of India
base period. It is compiled and published monthly by (SUUTI).
Central Statistical Organization (CSO), Ministry of ● Bharat 22 is a well-diversified ETF spanning six
Statistics and Programme Implementation. sectors — basic materials, energy, finance,
industrials, FMCG and utilities.
Note:
● The sector wise weightage in the Bharat 22 Index
● The CSO had revised base year of IIP from 2004-05
is basic materials (4.4%), energy (17.5%), finance
to 2011-12 in May 2017 to capture structural
(20.3%), FMCG (15.2%), industrials (22.6%), and
changes in economy and improve quality and
utilities (20%).
representativeness of indices.
About Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
● The revised IIP (2011-12) reflects changes in
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are essentially index
industrial sector and also aligns it with base year of
other macroeconomic indicators like Wholesale funds that are listed and traded on exchanges like
Price Index (WPI) and Gross Domestic Product stocks. They are basically basket of stocks with
(GDP). assigned weights that reflects the composition of an
● The IIP covers 407 item groups. Sector wise these index. They are similar to mutual funds in a certain
items falls into 3 categories viz. Manufacturing manner but are more liquid as they can be sold
(405 items), Mining (1 items) & Electricity (1 item). quickly on stock exchanges like shares. The ETFs
The weights of three sectors are 77.63%, 14.37%, trading value is based on the net asset value of the
7.9% respectively. underlying stocks that it represents
21. ICEX launches world’s first diamond futures 23. MCX gets SEBI approval to launch India’s first gold
contracts - The Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX) as options contract – Commodity derivatives bourse
launched world’s first diamond futures contracts to Multi Commodity Exchange Ltd (MCX) has received
provide exporters with a hedging tool. ICEX has markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of
received approval from market regulator Securities India’s (SEBI) approval to launch India’s first gold
Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to commence trading options contract.
with diamond futures contracts. Note: The MCX is the country’s largest metals and
Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX) – energy commodity bourse. It is country’s first listed
● ICEX is deemed recognized Stock exchange commodity futures exchange that facilitates online
providing a nation-wide on-line trading platform in trading, and clearing and settlement of commodity
commodity derivative. futures transactions, thereby providing a platform for
● It is a public-private partnership with Reliance risk management.
Capital, MMTC Ltd, Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd,
24. CCEA approves implementation of Dairy Processing
Indian Potash Ltd, KRIBHCO and IDFC Bank as
& Infrastructure Development Fund scheme - The
major shareholders.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has
● It was established under the SCRA, 1956 in terms of
approved implementation of Dairy Processing &
Section 131(B) of Finance Act, 2015 pursuant to
Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) scheme with
central Government notification issued in August
an outlay of Rs 10881 crore.
2015.
Note:
22. Union Government launches Bharat 22 ETF to sell
● The Dairy Processing & Infrastructure
stakes in 22 firms - The Union Finance Ministry has
Development Fund will be set up as a corpus of Rs
launched second exchange-traded fund (ETF),
8004 crore with National Bank for Agriculture and
named Bharat 22. It will help to speed up
Rural Development (NABARD).
Government’s disinvestment programme budgeted to
● The scheme will be implemented during the period
raise a record Rs 72,500 crore in the FY 2018.
from 2017-18 to 2028-29.
Note:
● The project will be implemented by National Dairy
Development Board (NDDB) and National Dairy
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Development Corporation (NCDC) directly through and Universal commodity exchange (UCX) apart
the End Borrowers. from numerous regional exchanges.
25. New Development Bank (NDB) - has approved USD ● Government had established regulatory body is
470 million loan for Madhya Pradesh’s Multi-Village Forward Markets Commission (FMC) in 1953. It
Rural Drinking Water Supply Scheme Project. was merged with the Securities and Exchange
26. Telecom giant Verizon has acquired Yahoo’s core Board of India (SEBI) in September 2015.
business for $4.48bn (£3.51m), thus ending Yahoo’s 31. Union Government launches new tax payer service
two-decade long run as an independent company. module Aaykar Setu - Aaykar Setu, a new tax payer
Verizon is the No.1 wireless operator in the US. service module - The module was launched in a mobile
27. Union Government restricts import of gold, silver items responsive android version along with the desktop
from South Korea. India is the world's biggest gold version to enhance mobile access experience.
consumer after China and it imposes a 10 percent 32. India’s Largest Municipal Bond Programme
import duty on gold and silver. launched - Union Urban Development Minister
28. India to import crude oil from US for first time – Venkaiah Naidu has launched India’s largest municipal
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, for the first bond programme. The Pune Municipal Corporation
time will import crude oil from the United States. The (PMC) became the first municipal corporation in the
purchase comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s country to tap money through municipal bonds in 14
visit to the US in June 2017 when President Donald years. The AA+ rated PMC’s municipal bonds raised Rs
Trump had assured that US looks forward to export 200 crore at 7.59 per cent rate at the Bombay Stock
more energy products to India. Exchange (BSE).
29. DIPP to set up India’s first TISC in Punjab – Note:
Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) ● This is the first-ever mobilisation of debt capital by
will establish India’s first Technology and Innovation a municipal corporation on the BSE BOND
Support Center (TISC) at Patent Information Centre of platform. This will also be the first issuance since
Punjab. TISC will be established in Punjab under the the publication of ‘Issue and Listing of Debt
World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) TISC Securities by Municipalities Regulations, 2015’ by
program. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
30. NMCE, ICEX to merge to create India’s third biggest ● Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) was assisted by
commodity exchange - National Multi Commodity the US Department of Treasury to create a debt
Exchange (NMCE), India’s first demutualised online policy.
national multi-commodities exchange will merge with About Municipality Bonds - Municipality bonds can be
Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX). The merged entity issued by the city corporations to fund developmental
will create India’s third biggest commodity exchange. projects. Institutional investors, as well as the public, can
Note: buy these bonds. The corporations can use the revenues
● The largest commodity exchange by volume is the earned from the developmental projects like Metro rail
Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) followed by network to repay the interest and principal on these bonds.
National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange
These municipal bonds have now been permitted for public
(NCDEX).
offering by SEBI.
● At present, India has six national commodity
Municipal bonds have been in existence in India from the
exchanges namely, Multi Commodity Exchange
year 1997. Cities such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Nashik
(MCX), National Commodity and Derivatives
Exchange (NCDEX), National Multi-Commodity and Madurai have already issued them. These bonds will
Exchange (NMCE) and Indian Commodity help the city corporations to directly raise funds without the
Exchange (ICEX), ACE Derivatives exchange (ACE) help of grants from the state governments or agencies such
as World Bank.

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SBI Bank in News

1. SBI Sanctions Rs2,317 crore for Financing Solar 5. SBI launches first paperless Banking services
Power Projects - State Bank of India announced sbiINTOUCH in Nepal – SBI has launched its fully
sanction of credit facilities amounting to Rs2,317 automatic digital banking services in the Nepalese
crore to corporates for financing Grid Connected capital Kathmandu.
Rooftop Solar projects under an SBI-World Bank 6. SBI, World Bank finance ₹400-cr solar projects – SBI
program. and the World Bank had financed 100 MW of rooftop
solar projects worth Rs. 400 crore in India.
2. SBI launched India’s first bond index in London - SBI
7. SBI tops share of Wilful Default to PSBs - SBI,
along with FTSE Russell, global index and data provider
accounts for over 27 per cent of the total amount owed
launched FTSE SBI Bond Index series at London Stock
to public sector banks by wilful defaulters. As many as
Exchange (LSE). It is India’s first bond index series for
1,762 wilful defaulters owed SBI Rs 25,104 crore.
overseas investors.
Punjab National Bank (PNB) is next on the list with
3. SBI launched SME Assist for MSME Clients – SBI has
1,120 wilful defaulters having outstanding non-
launched a new initiative ‘SME Assist’ to provide
performing assets (NPAs) of Rs 12,278 crore. Together
a short-term working capital demand loan to its MSME
these two banks account for Rs 37,382 crore or 40 per
clients. It offers loans to MSME customers on the basis
cent of the total outstanding loans.
of their input credit claims under Goods and Services
8. SBI Tops Trust and Popularity Charts - According to
Tax (GST). The loan processing fee under the scheme is
Rs 2,000. a survey conducted by Brand Finance, a business
4. SBI to set up India’s largest Innovation Centre in valuation and strategic consultancy, SBI is India’s most
Mumbai – SBI will set up a 15,000-sqft innovation trusted and most popular bank.
centre at its Global IT Centre in Belapur in Navi Mumbai.

Other Bank in News

1. Yes Bank sets up $1 billion debt programme to major MobiKwik to launch a co-branded virtual Visa
raise money - Yes Bank Ltd’s has approved the setting prepaid card for customers of MobiKwik.
up of a $1 billion medium-term note (MTN) 5. Federal Bank Gets RBI Nod to Open Offices in
programme, enabling the bank to raise funds in one or Kuwait, Singapore - Federal Bank has obtained RBI
more tranches, an exchange filing by the lender approval to open representative offices at Kuwait and
showed. Singapore.
• Under the MTN programme banks can sell debt Note: The bank already has its representative offices
securities, usually maturing between 5 and 10 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and it has tied up with 110+
years, in the overseas market and secure cheaper overseas banks/remittance partners. It has already
funding, according to analysts. received approval from RBI for opening a branch in
2. IPPB Bank to become operational in 650 districts DIFC, Dubai and a representative office in Bahrain, the
by April 2018 - The Union Government has setting up of which is under process.
announced that India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) will 6. Yes Bank Unveils Bhim Yes Pay - Yes Bank, unveiled
become operational in all 650 districts of the country a superior payment wallet service, BHIM Yes Pay by
by April 2018 to facilitate financial inclusion. fully integrating the application with all the IndiaStack
Note: IPPB has been set up as a Public Limited APIs and NPCI Products.
Company under Department of Posts with 100% 7. AU Small Finance Gets Scheduled Commercial Bank
Government of India (GOI) equity. Status - AU Small Finance Bank has received Reserved
3. HDFC Bank Launched SmartUp Zone in Kochi - Bank of India (RBI) approval to operate as Scheduled
HDFC Bank has announced the launch of its SmartUp Commercial Bank. This bank's name has now been
Zone in Kochi, an exclusive area inside the branch included in the Second Schedule of Reserve Bank of
dedicated for start-ups. India Act, 1934.
4. IDFC Bank Partners with MobiKwik - IDFC Bank has Note: Now AU Small Finance Bank will be able to do
entered into a “strategic alliance” with mobile wallet borrowing and lending with RBI under Liquidity

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Adjustment Facility (LAF) and Marginal Standing Note: Rajeev Yadav is the CEO of Fincare Small
Facility (MSF). It will also enable AU Small Finance Finance Bank. Its headquartered is in Bengaluru,
Bank to issue Certificate of Deposits (CDs) on Karnataka.
competitive interest rates in the market to get 14. PNB & BSNL ties up for mobile wallet “Speedpay” -
liquidity. Punjab National Bank (PNB) & BSNL has joined hands
8. AU Small Bank, SIDBI Launch Rs 200 crore Fund for to roll out open mobile wallet Speedpay across 10 states
MSMEs - AU Small Finance Bank tied up with Small in the country. Under the agreement, BSNL will expand
Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to Speedpay services in Punjab, Chandigarh(UT), Haryana,
launch a Rs200 crore fund for providing loans to micro, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand.
9. EEPC India Signs Pact with Punjab National Bank - 15. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank receives scheduled
The Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) of bank status from RBI - Ujjivan Small Finance Bank
India has signed an MoU with Punjab National Bank to Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ujjivan Financial
provide easy access to finance for SMEs and merchant Services Ltd, has been given scheduled bank status by
exporters of the council. RBI. Ujjivan SFB commenced its operations as a Small
10. ICICI Bank Teams with Apple to Launch Voice- Finance Bank with effect from February 1, 2017.
Based International Remittance Service - ICICI Note: Samit Ghosh is the MD & CEO of Ujjivan SFB.
Bank announced the launch of India's first voice-based It headquartered is in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
international remittance service to enable non- 16. Fino Payments Bank has launched its mobile banking
resident Indians (NRIs) to send money to any bank in app called “BPay”.
India. 17. Canara Bank has launched its first ‘Digital Banking
Note: With this new feature in the ICICI Bank's Branch’ named 'CANDI' in Bengaluru. The most
Money2India app, an NRI customer can instantly attractive feature of the digital branch is a humanoid
initiate a remittance to his/her existing payees in India robot that addresses basic queries of customers on
with just a simple voice command to Apple's virtual banking products and services. This is a first-of-its
voice assistant, Siri, on their iPhone/iPad. kind initiative by a public-sector bank in the country.
11. IDBI Bank only PSB to get ‘high’ rating for code 18. Karur Vysya Bank opens its first Aadhaar
compliance - According to the Code Compliance Rating Enrolment Centre in Chennai. KVB is the first private
of banks done by the Banking Codes and Standards sector bank to provide this service in India.
Board of India (BCSBI) 2017, only one (IDBI Bank) out 19. Corporation Bank has bagged the best performance
of 26 public sector banks and eight out of 17 private awards for Self Help Groups bank linkage program for
sector banks got ‘high’ rating for their adherence to Karnataka for 2015-16 and 2016-17 from National
code compliance. Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
The eight private sector banks that got ‘high’ rating (Nabard).
are- Axis Bank, DCB Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, 20. KVGB Bags Best Performer Award - National Bank
IndusInd Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, RBL Bank and for Agriculture and Rural Development
YES Bank. The three foreign banks are Citibank, HSBC (NABARD) has conferred the ‘best performance award’
and Standard Chartered Bank, that were surveyed got for 2015-16 and 2016-17 to Karnataka Vikas Grameen
‘high’ ranking. Bank (KVGB) for its work in the field of credit-linking
12. Kotak Bank launched ‘Kotak Remit’ an Aadhaar- joint liability groups (JLGs).
based integrated outward forex remittance solution for 21. IDBI Bank has launched ‘Project Nishchay’ in
both customers and non-customers. partnership with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to
13. Fincare Small Finance Bank starts banking accelerate its turnaround program and improve
operations - Fincare Small Finance Bank financial performance.
(previously known as Disha Microfin Limited) kick- 22. HDFC Life Insurance Company has launched 'Neo', a
started its banking operations with about 25 servicing bot for Twitter that uses artificial
operational branches across Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, intelligence for customer service. This is the second bot
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The bank was given put in operation by HDFC Life, after the launch of SPOK,
which was an email bot to answer customer queries.
final small finance bank (SFB) licence from the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) in May 2017.

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Rank of India in Global Indexes: 2017

1. Global Business Optimism - India ranked at 7th ● India’s Previous year ranking – 97th
position among 36 countries. The repost is published by ● Most hunger countries in the list– The Central
Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR). African Republic (CAR), Chad and Sierra Leone.
Note: Top three countries – Indonesia, Finland & ● IFPRI headquarter – Washington D.C., US
Netherlands. ● Director General - Shenggen Fan
2. Doing Business Report 2018 – India ranked at 100th 8. Global Retail Development Index 2017 – India
position among 190 countries. The repost is published ranked at the top position among 30 countries. The
by World Bank. repost is published by - A.T. Kearney's.
Note: ● India’s Previous year ranking – 2nd
• India has jumped over 30 ranks to attain 100th ● The countries ranked on second & third spot –
spot from 130th position in 2017 Ease of Doing China and Malaysia.
Business Index. ● A.T. Kearney Headquarter – Chicago, Illinois,
• Top three countries –New Zealand, Singapore & United States
Denmark. ● CEO - Johan Aurik
3. Global Gender Gap Report 2017 - India ranked at 9. World Human Development Index 2017 – India
108th position among 144 countries. The repost is ranked at 131st positions among 188 countries. The
published by World Economic Forum. report is published by United Nations Development
Note: Programme (UNDP).
• India’s previous rank – 87th in 2016. ● India’s Previous year ranking – 130
• Top three countries – Iceland, Norway & Finland. ● Top three countries are - Norway, Australia and
4. Global Passport Power Rank 2017: India ranked at Switzerland.
75th position among 94 countries. The repost is ● UNDP Headquarter – New York
published by Canada based global financial advisory ● Director General - Achim Steiner
firm Arton Capital. 10. Global Connectivity Index 2017 – India ranked at
Note: 43rd positions among 50 countries. The report is
• Top three countries – Singapore, Germany & compiled and published by Huawei a leading global
Sweden. information and communications technology.
5. India tops list of new TB cases in 2016: WHO ● India’s Previous year ranking - 44
Report - According to the Global TB Report 2017 ● Top three countries are – US, Singapore and
released by World Health Organisation (WHO), India Sweden.
has topped list of seven countries, accounting for 64% ● Huawei headquarters– Shenzhen, China
of the over 10 million new tuberculosis (TB) cases ● CEO - Ren Zhengfei (CEO)
worldwide in year 2016. 11. Word Press Freedom Index 2017 – India ranked at
Note: India was followed by Indonesia, China, 136th positions among 180 countries. The report is
Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria and South Africa. compiled and published by Reporters Without
6. Global Financial Centres Index 2017 – India’s Borders.
financial capital Mumbai was ranked at 60th position ● India’s Previous year ranking - 133
among 92 financial centres. The repost is published by ● Top three countries are – Norway, Sweden &
the Z/Yen and China Development Institute. Finland.
● London has topped the index followed by New York ● Reporters Without Borders Headquarters– Paris,
& Hong Kong. France
● The GFCI is released twice a year in March & ● Director General - Christophe Deloire
September. 12. Ease of Doing Business 2017 – India ranked at 130th
7. Global Hunger Index 2017: India ranked at 100th positions among 190 countries. The report is published
positions among 119 countries. The report is published by World Bank Group.
by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). ● India’s Previous year ranking - 131

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● Top three countries are – New Zealand, Singapore & 18. World Happiness Index 2017 - India ranked at 122nd
Denmark. positions among 155 countries. The report is published
● World Bank Group Headquarters– Washington, by United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions
DC, USA Network.
● President - Jim Yong Kim ● India’s Previous year ranking – 118
13. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Confidence Index ● Top three countries are – Norway, Denmark &
2017 – India ranked at 8th positions among 25 Iceland.
countries. The report is published by A.T. Kearney. ● UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
● India’s Previous year ranking – 9th Headquarter – New York, USA
● Top three countries are -US, Germany & China. ● Director - Jeffrey Sachs
● A.T. Kearney Headquarter – Chicago, Illinois, United 19. Global Resilience Index 2017 - India ranked at 60th
States positions among 130 countries. The report is published
● CEO - Johan Aurik by FM Global.
14. Global Competitiveness Index 2017 – India ranked at ● India’s Previous year ranking – 107
40th positions among 137 countries. The report is ● Top three countries are – Switzerland, Luxembourg
published by World Economic Forum (WEF). & United Kingdom.
● India’s Previous year ranking – 39th ● FM Global Headquarter – Johnston, (US)
● Top three countries are – Switzerland, US & ● Chairman & CEO - Shivan S. Subramaniam
Singapore. 20. Economic Freedom Index 2017 – India ranked at
● World Economic Forum Headquarter – Cologny, 143rd positions among 186 countries. The report is
Switzerland published by ‘The Heritage Foundation’.
● Founder & CEO - Klaus Schwab ● India’s Previous year ranking – 123
15. Global Human Capital index 2017 – India ranked at ● Top three countries are – Hong Kong, Singapore &
103rd positions among 130 countries. The report is New Zealand.
published by the World Economic Forum. ● The Heritage Foundation headquarter –
● India’s Previous year ranking – 105 Washington, D.C
● Top three countries are – Norway, Finland & ● President - Edwin Feulner
Switzerland. 21. International Intellectual Property Index 2017 –
● World Economic Forum Headquarter – Cologny, India ranked at 43rd positions among 45 countries. The
Switzerland report is published by US Chamber of Commerce’s
● Founder & CEO - Klaus Schwab Global Intellectual Property Centre (GIPC).
16. Global Innovation Index 2017 - India ranked at 60th ● India’s Previous year ranking – 37
positions among 130 countries. The report is published ● Top three countries are – United States, United
by Cornell University, INSEAD, and the World Kingdom & Germany.
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). ● US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual
● India’s Previous year ranking – 66 Property Centre (GIPC) headquarter – Washington,
● Top three countries are – Switzerland, Switzerland D.C
& the Netherlands. ● President & CEO- David Hirschmann
● World Intellectual Property Organization 22. Sustainable Development Goal Index 2017 - India
Headquarter – Geneva, Switzerland ranked at 116th positions among 157 countries. The
● CEO - Francis Gurry report is published by Sustainable Development
17. Global Peace Index 2017 - India ranked at 137th Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Bertelsmann
positions among 163 countries. The report is published Stiftung.
by the Institute for Economics & Peace. ● India’s Previous year ranking – 110
● India’s Previous year ranking – 141 ● Top three countries are – Sweden, Denmark &
● Top three countries are – Iceland, New Zealand & Finland.
Portugal. 23. Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2017– India
● Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) headquarter ranked at 79th positions among 176 countries. The
– Sydney, Australia. report is published by Transparency International (TI).
● Chairman - Steve Killelea ● India’s Previous year ranking – 76
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● Top 3 countries - New Zealand and Denmark in Adecco Group and the Human Capital Leadership
joint first place followed by Finland and Sweden. Institute of Singapore (HCLI).
● Counties bottom of the index: Somalia was ranked ● India’s Previous year ranking – 89
the most corrupt country. Other countries with ● Top three countries are – Switzerland, Singapore,
lower rankings were Syria, South Sudan, North United Kingdom
Korea. 21. Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) 2017
● Transparency International (TI) Headquarter – - India ranked at 40th positions among 130 countries.
Berlin, Germany The report is published by the World Economic Forum.
● Chairman - José Ugaz • India’s Previous year ranking – 52
24. Global Index of Talent Competitiveness 2017 – India • Top three countries are – Spain, France & Germany.
ranked at 92th positions among 118 countries. The • World Economic Forum Headquarter – Cologny,
report is published by INSEAD in partnership with The Switzerland
• Founder & CEO - Klaus Schwab

Govt. Schemes & Policy

1. UP govt launches free household power connection ‘DARPAN’ (The Digital Advancement of Rural Post
scheme 'Prakash hai to Vikas hai' - The Uttar Office for A New India) in New Delhi.
Pradesh Govt. has launched a free household power • DARPAN offers core banking services to the
connection scheme 'Prakash hai to vikas hai' for the account holders.
poor in to mark former prime minister Atal Bihari • The IT modernization project aims at realizing
Vajpayee's birth anniversary. financial inclusion of un-banked rural
• Under the scheme, the government will cover 16 population.
million households by the end of 2018. • The project has an-outlay of 1400 crore rupees
• Initially, the two villages Lohban and Gausana of and intends to provide a low power technology
Mathura district have been covered for 100% solution to each branch postmaster.
electrification. 4. Andhra Pradesh cabinet approves pension for
• The state govt. has also introduced Kisan Uday State's Transgenders - The Andhra Pradesh (AP)
Yojana scheme for farmers in which existing 5 Cabinet has approved a scheme to provide a pension of
HP/7.5 horse-power submersible and coupling Rs. 1500 to transgenders community above 18 years of
sets of farmers will be replaced free of cost. age in the state.
2. Govt launch 'Ganga Gram' project at Ganga Under this scheme, the transgenders will be provided
Gram Swachata Sammelan - The Drinking ration cards, plots, scholarships and skill development
for financial stability.
Water and Sanitation Minister Uma Bharti has
5. PENCIL portal launched for No Child labour - The
launched the 'Ganga Gram' project at the Ganga
Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched the
Gram Swachata Sammelan in New Delhi.
Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour
(PENCIL) Portal to stop Child Labour in the country.
• The Ganga Gram project is an integrated
6. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana extend till 2019-20 –
approach for the holistic development of
villages situated on the banks of the holy river The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has
with the active participation of villagers. extended the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as
• Earlier, union govt. declared all 4,470 villages Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative
on the banks of the Ganges, located in Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) for three years i.e.
and West Bengal, open defecation-free (ODF). 2017-18 to 2019-20.
Objective of RKVY-RAFTAAR - To make farming
3. Govt launches Project Darpan to improve level of remunerative economic activity by strengthening
postal services for rural customers - The Minister farmer’s effort, risk mitigation and promoting
of communications Manoj Sinha has launched agri-business entrepreneurship. The financial
allocation of scheme is Rs. 15,722 crore.
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Note: coal through road mode. The app is launched in


Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana is launched in 2007 as a Kolkata.
part of the 11th Five Year Plan by the Government of Key points –
India. It is a State Plan Scheme of Additional Central • The main benefits of the App for the customers
Assistance launched under the aegis of the National include easy accessibility of the information at
Development Council, it seeks to achieve 4% annual the click of the button.
growth in agriculture through development of • The app will monitor whether the dispatches
Agriculture and its allied sectors. are made on the fair principle of ‘First in First
7. Kerala govt. launched ‘She Pad’ Scheme for School Out’ basis.
Girls – The Kerala government launched “She Pad,’’ a • It will keep a track on all the activities from
scheme to distribute free sanitary napkins to girl issuance of Sale Order to physical delivery of
students from classes VI to XII in government and coal by road.
aided private schools affiliated to the state school 10. ‘Sampoorna Bima Gram Yojana’ – Communications
board. Kerala became the first state to launch such Minister Manoj Sinha has launched the Sampoorna
schemes. Bima Gram (SBG) Yojana in New Delhi.
8. Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana - Union Minister of Key points -
Communications Manoj Sinha has launched the Deen • It is an initiative for expansion of client base of
Dayal SPARSH yojana which aims to increase the reach Postal Life Insurance.
of Philately. • To provide affordable life insurance services to
Here SPARSH means - Scholarship for Promotion of people living in rural areas of the country.
Aptitude & Research in Stamps as a Hobby. • All villages under the Saansad Adarsh Gram
Key points – Yojana will be brought under its ambit.
• Under the scheme, it is proposed to award • At least one village (having a minimum of 100
annual scholarships to children of Standard VI households) will be identified in each of the
to IX having good academic record and also revenue districts of the country, wherein
pursuing Philately as a hobby through a endeavour will be made to cover all
competitive selection process in all postal households of that identified village with a
circles. minimum of one RPLI (Rural Postal Life
• Every Postal Circle will select a maximum of Insurance) policy each.
40 scholarships representing 10 students each Note:
from Standard VI, VII, VIII & IX. ➢ Postal Life Insurance (PLI), introduced in 1884, is
• The amount of Scholarship will be Rs. 6000/- one of the oldest life insurance schemes for benefit of
per annum @ Rs. 500/- per month. Government and semi-Government employees.
About Philately ➢ Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI), introduced on
• Philately is the hobby of collection and study of March 24, 1995 on recommendations of Malhotra
Postage stamps. Committee, provides insurance cover to people
• It also entails the collection, appreciation and residing in rural areas, especially weaker sections and
research activities on stamps and other related women living in rural areas.
philatelic products. ➢ Low Premium and High Bonus is the unique feature of
• Philately is called the king of hobbies because PLI and RPLI schemes.
Stamp collection as a hobby has lot of ➢ As on March 31, 2017, there were 46.8 lakh PLI and
educational benefits - it teaches a lot about the 146.8 lakh RPLI policies across the country.
socio economic political reality of the period in 11. 'Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana’ (BBY) launched in MP
which the stamp is issued or the theme on – The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
which it is issued. Chouhan launched the 'Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojna' for
9. 'Grahak Sadak Koyla Vitaran' App - Union Minister the farmers of the state and to provide financial
of Railways & Coal Piyush Goyal has launched the support in case of losses in crops.
‘Grahak Sadak Koyla Vitaran App’ which aims to Key points
benefit customers of Coal India Limited (CIL) lifting ➢ The scheme is also called the ‘Price Deficit
Financing Scheme’.
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➢ At first, the scheme will cover 8 crops which administrative control of Ministry of Power,
includes oil seeds and some pulses etc. would procure energy efficient Powerlooms,
Soybean, Groundnut, Til, Ramtil. Maize, Moong, motors and Rapier kits in bulk and provide them
Urad, Tuar Daal. to the small and medium Powerloom units at no
➢ The farmers are supposed to register upfront cost.
themselves with mandis to leverage the ➢ The SAATHI initiative of the Government will be
benefits of Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana. jointly implemented by EESL and the office of the
➢ The aim of the scheme is to encourage the Textile Commissioner on a pan-India basis.
farmers to cultivate more oil seeds and pulses ➢ To kick start the implementation, cluster wise
products in the state. demonstration projects and workshops will be
12. 'Prerna' project for Women Farmers launched in organized in key clusters such as Erode, Surat,
Odisha - Mahindra & Mahindra has launched a Ichalkaranji, etc.
‘Prerna’ programme to empower women working in 14. Ministry WCD launches campaign on 'women for
the agriculture sector by promoting efficient and women': #IamThatWoman - In an attempt to end
ergonomic farm tools and equipment. Gender bias in women against women, the Ministry of
Key points Women and Child Development is undertaking an
➢ The project is launched in the state of Odisha, online campaign #IamThatWoman.
with the intention to positively impact the lives of Key points –
over 1,500 families across 30-plus villages. ➢ The campaign aims to highlight the various
13. Union Ministries of Power & Textiles Jointly aspects of women standing 'by' and 'for' women.
launched 'SAATHI' Initiative - The Union Ministries ➢ Ministry of WCD has urged people to shun
of Power and Textiles have jointly launched an stereotypes associated with women harming
initiative 'SAATHI'. other women.
SAATHI stands for - Sustainable and Accelerated ➢ Twitter and Facebook users have been
Adoption of efficient Textile technologies to Help small encouraged to tag and share stories of women
Industries. helping women with a photograph and post online
Key points – with the hashtag #IamThatWoman.
➢ Under this initiative, Energy Efficiency Services
Limited (EESL), a public sector entity under the
Schemes under Ministry of Finance

1. Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY)- (iii) Atal Pension Yojana-
• For the senior citizens aged 60 years and above • Launched in 2015
• The Scheme provides an assured return of 8% p.a. • Focussed on all citizens in the unorganised sector
payable monthly (equivalent to 8.30% p.a. • Age- min 18 years, Max- 40 years
effective) for 10 years. • The Union Govt. would also co-contribute 50% of
• The scheme will be operated by LIC. the subscriber’s contribution or Rs. 1000 per
2. Jan Suraksha Yojana- annum, whichever is lower.
(i) PRADHAN MANTRI JEEVAN JYOTI BIMA YOJANA- • Subscribers would receive the fixed pension at the
• PMJJBY is a one-year life insurance scheme. age of 60 years, depending on their contributions.
• Renewable from year to year, offering coverage for 3. PRADHAN MANTRI MUDRA YOJANA (PMMY)-
death due to any reason and is available to people • Launched in 2015
in the age group of 18 to 50 years • In this scheme, Mudra (Micro Units Development
• Premium of Rs.330/- per annum per member and Refinance Agency) bank has been opened to
• life cover of Rs. 2 lakhs fund all MFI (Micro Financial institutions) which
(ii) PRADHAN MANTRI SURAKSHA BIMA YOJANA- provide loans to the MSMEs.
• Premium of Rs.12 per year • The lending priority will be given to SC/ST
• Age group 18 to 70 years enterprises.
• Under it, risk coverage available will be Rs.2 lakh • MUDRA Bank has launched three loan instruments:
for accidental death and permanent total disability (i) Shishu- loans up to Rs 50,000 (ii) Kishor- loans
and Rs. 1 lakh for permanent partial disability above Rs 50,000 and up to Rs. 5 lakhs

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(iii) Tarun- loans above Rs 5 lakh and up to Rs 10 • Any human being up to the age of 18 years is
lakh recognised as a child under the POCSO Act.
4. Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana- 4. SHe-box’ (sexual harassment electronic box) portal-
• To provide social security to the persons who are • Launched in July 2017.
above or equal to 60 years. • Online platform to enable women employees of the
• Implemented through LIC. central govt. to file complaints related to sexual
• It will provide an assured pension based on a rate harassment at the workplace.
of return of 8% per annum for ten years. 5. ‘SABLA’ Scheme-
Schemes under Ministry of Women and Child • Launched in 2010, also known as Rajiv Gandhi
Development – Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls.
1. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)- • Development of adolescent girls of 11-18 years by
• Launched by the PM on January 22, 2015 at making them ‘self-reliant’.
Panipat, Haryana. • Focus areas- Nutrition, Skill development and
• Objective- Improve Child Sex Ratio, Protection and Health.
education of girl child. 6. Tejaswini Project-
• Current brand ambassador-Olympic Bronze • Initially the project has been implemented in 17
medallist Sakshi Malik. districts in Jharkhand.
2. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana- • Tejaswini Socio-Economic Empowerment of
• Launched by the Prime Minister on January 21, Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW)
2015. Project.
• Under Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Women • Project is financed by World Bank.
and Child Development. 7. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
• It is a part of BBBP (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao). • Launched in October 2, 1975.
• Only for girls whose age are equal or below 10 • Provides food, education, and primary healthcare
years. to children under 6 years of age and their mothers.
• Tenure- 21 years from the date of opening or girl’s • Anyone can visit to the Aanganwadi centre and
marriage enroll these services.
• Current interest rate- 8.3 Percent. 8. Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahayog Yojana-
• Account can be opened via post offices or • Provide financial aid of Rs 6,000 to pregnant
commercial banks. women who undergo institutional delivery for
3. POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) hospital admission.
e-Box- • The scheme provided cash transfer to pregnant
• Online complaint management system women above the age of 18 years for up to two live
• Action against the offenders under the POCSO Act, births.
2012.

Other programs and schemes-

1. ‘Saubhagya’ (Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana) Scheme- • The diseases being targeted are diphtheria,
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 'Power whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis,
for all' scheme today to mark the birth anniversary tuberculosis, measles and Hepatitis B.
of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. • Later Japanese Encephalitis and Haemophilus
• The scheme will be named ‘Saubhagya’ and will influenzae type B, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis,
provide subsidy on equipment like transformers, Injectable Polio Vaccine Bivalent and Rotavirus
meters and wires. also added.
2. Mission Indradhanush 3. Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)
• It was launched by Union Health Minister J. P. • Prime Minister Modi launched the Intensified
Nadda on 25 December 2014. Mission Indradhanush (IMI) at Vadnagar in
• It aims to immunize all children under the age of 2 Gujarat on October 8, 2017.
years, as well as all pregnant women, against seven • Through this programme, Government of India
vaccine preventable diseases. aims to reach each and every child under two
years of age and all those pregnant women who

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have been left uncovered under the routine • Recently UJALA scheme launched in Melaka,
immunisation programme. Malaysia.
4. Udaan 7. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
• Udaan provides exposure to the youth of J&K to • Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched by
the best of corporate India and corporate India to Prime Minister on May 1st, 2016 in Ballia, Uttar
the rich talent pool available in the State. Pradesh.
• The scheme not only provides skill enhancement • It is an ambitious social welfare scheme which
and job opportunity but also connects these aims to provide free LPG connections to BPL
bright youths from the J&K with the vibrant households in the country.
corporate sector of India. 8. Sagarmala project
5. UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) • Sagar Mala project is a strategic and customer-
• is a regional airport development and "Regional oriented initiative of the Government of India to
Connectivity Scheme (RCS)" modernize India's Ports so that port-led
6. UJALA Scheme- development can be augmented and coastlines can
• Prime Minister of India Sh. Narendra Modi on be developed to contribute in India's growth.
January 5, 2015 had launched the world's largest 9. ‘Himayat’ Programme
and most extensive LED distribution programme, • It is a training-cum-placement programme for
UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable Lighting for unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir.
All). 10. DIKSHA Portal
• For teacher training by HRD Ministry

Obituaries
1. B.L. Joshi passes away – Former Governor of Uttar 13. Saraswati Tripathy passes away - Eminent
Pradesh
freedom fighter
2. Robbie Malinga passes away - Music legend (South
14. Sreerupa Mukherjee passes away - former woman
Africa)
3. Bobs Givens passes away - one of the animators cricketer
behind designing the iconic characters Bugs Bunny and 15. Manu Sharma - Noted author and Padma Shri
Elmer Fudd passed away in Burbank, California. awardee Manu Sharma died in Varanasi, Uttar
4. Partha Mukhopadhyay passes away - Veteran Pradesh following a prolonged illness.
Bengali film actor Note: His famous book was Krishna Ki Atmakatha.
5. Jatileswar Mukhopadhyay passes away - Bengali singer He was nominated as one of the navratna of the
6. Neeraj Vora passes away - Actor and filmmaker Swachha Bharat Abhiyan by Prime Minister
7. Ashok Mattoo passes away - Veteran sports Narendra Modi. He donated his lifetime savings of
administrator Ashok Kumar Mattoo was the former Rs 20 lakh for the renovation of a ghat in Varanasi to
head of the the national boxing and hockey federations. carry out a cleanliness campaign.
8. Kirti Nidhi Bista - Former Nepal Prime Minister. 16. Dr. M.V. Sridhar – Ex BCCI General Manager &
9. Lalji Singh Passes Away – Lalji Singh, a pioneer of Former Hyderabad Cricket Team Captain. Originally
DNA fingerprinting technology in India and former a doctor, MV Sridhar was considered one of the best
Vice-Chancellor of Benares Hindu University, BHU batsmen ever from Hyderabad.
(2011 to 2014), passed away at the age of 70. 17. Punathil Kunjabdulla Passes Away - Renowned
10. Sukharanjan Sengupta Passes Away – Veteran Malayalam writer. He is regarded as one of the
Journalist from Bengal. major figures of modernism in Malayalam literature.
11. Johnny Hallyday Passes Away – France's biggest 18. Girija Devi - Eminent classical singer and Padma
rock star Johnny Hallyday has died after a battle Vibhushan awardee Girija Devi passed away in
with lung cancer. Kolkata.
12. Pandit Narayanrao Bodas Passes Away - Eminent Note: She was considered as the "Queen of Thumri"
exponent of Gwalior gharana of Hindustani classical and fondly called Appa Ji. She was from the "Benaras
music passed away in Maharashtra. Gharana". She received the Padma Shri in 1972, the

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Padma Bhushan in 1989 and the Padma Vibhushan 20. Shamsher Khan - India's First Olympic Swimmer
in 2016. passed away. He had represented India in 1956
19. I V Sasi - Veteran Malayalam director I V Sasi, best Melbourne Olympics. He was the first swimmer to
known for his films “Avalude Ravukal” and represent India in Olympics.
“Devasuram” passed away.

Important Committees

1. Amitabh Kant Committee - to address the problem of 6. Justice (Retd.) G. Rohini Committee - to examine the
Non-performing assets (NPAs) or stressed assets in sub-categorization of the Other Backward Classes
India’s power sector. (OBCs).
2. YM Deosthalee Committee – task force on Public Credit 7. Dr Hasmukh Adhia Committee - The Union
Registry (PCR). The committee will review the current government has constituted a GST Committee on Exports
availability of information on credit in India.
headed by Dr Hasmukh Adhia.
3. B C Khanduri Committee - parliamentary standing
committee on defense. The committee will examine the Note: The panel is mandated to recommend to the GST
operational preparedness of armed forces and review Council a suitable strategy for helping the export sector
accidents involving strategic defence assets and also in the post-GST set-up.
assess the procurement policy relating to defence 8. Dr. Rajiv Kumar Committee - With an aim to create
equipment. new jobs by enhancing India’s export, the NITI Aayog
4. Arun Jaitley Committee - The union govt. has constituted an Expert Task Force. The task force will be
constituted a ministerial panel headed by Finance chaired by the NITI Aayog Vice Chairman, Dr. Rajiv
Minister Arun Jaitley to oversee merger proposals of Kumar.
9. Dr V. Kamakoti Committee - The Union Government
state-owned banks.
constituted a task force on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
5. Rina Mitra Committee - The Union govt. has set up a for the country's Economic Transformation. The 18-
study group under Special secretary in the home member panel, headed by Dr V. Kamakoti of IIT
ministry to examine the problems of people along IB, Madras.
LOC in J&K. 10. K Kasturirangan Committee - to prepare National
Education Policy

New Appointments
National

1. New Foreign Secretary of India - Vijay Keshav Gokhale. 8. New President of ICCR (Indian Council of Cultural
He has succeeded S Jaishankar. Relations) - Vinay Sahasrabuddhe
2. New Deputy National Security Adviser - Rajinder Note: He is the BJP's national Vice President and a
Khanna Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra.
3. New Managing Director of India Infrastructure Finance 9. New acting Chairman of National Green Tribunal
Company Ltd (IIFCL) – Pankaj Jain (NGT) - Justice U.D. Salvi. He replaced Justice
4. New Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh - Jai Ram Swatanter Kumar.
Thakur. He replaced Virbhadra Singh. 10. New Director of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) -
• Jai Ram Thakur became the 6th Chief Minister of R Hemalatha
the HP. 11. New Chairman of BARC India - Nakul Chopra. He
5. New Chief Minister of Gujarat – Vijay Rupani succeeds Sudhanshu Vats (Viacom18 Group CEO).
6. New BCCI General Manager - Saba Karim 12. New Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau –
7. New Director-General of National Cadet Corps (NCC) - Abhay
Lt Gen B S Sahrawat 13. New Congress President – Rahul Gandhi.

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14. New Chairman & Managing Director of Air India - Note: Vikram Singh currently posted as a senior
Pradeep Singh Kharola. He succeeds Rajiv Bansal. director in the Traffic Commercial directorate in the
15. Uma Shankar Appointed RBI Executive Director Railway Board.
16. New President Para Sports Foundation – Sarvesh 23. New First Woman Police Chief of Karnataka -
Kumar Tiwari Neelmani N. Raju has been appointed as Karnataka’s
17. New India’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan - Azar first woman Director General and Inspector General of
A.H.Khan Police. She succeeds Rupak Kumar Dutta.
18. Re-appointed Prasar Bharati Chairman - A Surya 24. New Director General of National Investigation
Agency (NIA) - Yogesh Chander Modi. He succeeds
Prakash. He was re-appointed for the second
Sharad Kumar.
consecutive term till February 8, 2020.
25. New MD & CEO of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) -
19. Chairman of 15th Finance Commission – NK Singh.
Suresh Sethi.
20. New CEO & MD of Infosys - Salil S. Parekh
Note: Hew was the former MD of Vodafone M-Pesa Ltd.
21. UN Environment's Goodwill Ambassador for India - He succeeds AP Singh.
Dia Mirza 26. New Special Director of Central Bureau of Investigation
22. Chairman of National Anti-Profiteering Authority (CBI)- Rakesh Asthana.
under GST – BN Sharma. 27. New CEO & MD of Tata Steel – T. V. Narendran.
23. New Director-General of Police (DGP) of Andhra 28. New CEO of Bharti AXA Life Insurance - Vikas Seth.
Pradesh - N Sambasiva Rao 29. Union Government appoints Dineshwar Sharma as its
24. First woman Pilot in Indian Navy - Shubhangi Representative in Jammu & Kashmir. The Union
Swaroop. She became the first woman to be Government appointed Dineshwar Sharma, former
inducted as Pilot in Indian Navy. Director of Intelligence Bureau, as a representative of
25. India’s G20 Sherpa - Shaktikanta Das the government to initiate and carry forward a
26. New Madras High-Court judge - Justice Satrughana dialogue with the elected representatives, various
Pujahari. organizations and concerned individuals in the state of
27. President of Institute for Defence Studies and Jammu and Kashmir.
Analysis (IDSA) - Nirmala Sitharaman (Union 30. New AIBA Women's Youth World Championships
Defence Minister) Ambassador - MC Mary Kom
28. SEBI Executive Director - Anand Rajeshwar Baiwar Note: The event will be held in Guwahati, Assam from
29. New Chairman of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) – S. November 19 to 26.
31. New Vice Chief of Naval Staff – Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar.
Ravi. He succeeds Dhirendra Swarup.
32. New CEO of Association of Mutual Funds in India
30. President of 36th Intl Geological Congress - Vijay
(AMFI) – N.S. Venkatesh.
Prasad Dimri (Scientist)
33. New as Additional Director General of CISF - Alok
Note: Kumar Pateria.
• International Geological Congress (IGC), a 34. New Lokayukta of Madhya Pradesh - Naresh Kumar
global platform for the advancement of earth Gupta. He is a retired judge of Madhya Pradesh High
science, to be held in 2020. Court.
• Pakistan won the bid to host the 36th IGC in the 35. New Chief of Film and Television Institute of India
National Capital Region from March 2 -8, 2020. (FTII) - Anupam Kher (Veteran actor). He succeeds
19. First woman President of NASSCOM in 2018 - Debjani Gajendra Chauhan.
Ghosh. 36. New HSBC India CEO - Jayant Rikhye. He succeeds
Note: She will succeed R Chandrashekhar after his Stuart Milne. Mr. Rikhye
tenure ends in March 2018. With this appointment she 37. New SBI Chairman - Rajnish Kumar. He succeeds
will become first female president of NASSCOM. Arundhati Bhattacharya.
20. New Secretary (security) in Cabinet Secretariat – S.K. 38. New President of US-India Business Council - Nisha
Sinha. Desai Biswal.
21. New Finance Secretary – Hasmukh Adhia. He Note: The US-India Business Council is the premier
succeeds Ashok Lavasa. business advocacy organization that was formed in
22. New Private Secretary to President - Vikram Singh. 1975 at the request of the US and Indian governments.

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It is the largest bilateral trade association in the United 52. Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education
States and has presence in New York, Silicon Valley (CBSE) - Anita Karwal. She succeeds ‘Rajesh Kumar
and New Delhi. Chaturvedi’.
39. New CMD of Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) Ltd - P. 53. New Home Secretary - Rajiv Gauba.
Alli Rani. 54. New Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India -
40. New CMD of National Hydroelectric Power Rajiv Mehrishi
Corporation (NHPC) Ltd. - Balraj Joshi. 55. New Defence Minister of India - Nirmala Sitharaman.
41. The first Chairman of the five-member Economic 56. New Director General (DG) Railway Protection Force
Advisory Council (EAC- PM) --Bibek Debroy. (RPF) - Dharmendra Kumar.
Note: The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime 57. New Chairman of Railway Board -- Ashwani Lohani.
Minister (PMEAC) is a non-constitutional, non- 58. New Executive Director of the Insolvency and
permanent and independent body constituted to give Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) -- Mamta Suri.
economic advice to the Government of India, 59. New Chairman of the Central Board of Film
specifically the Prime Minister. Certification(CBFC) - Prasoon Joshi
42. New Chairman & Managing Director of ONGC (Oil and 60. New Vice President of India -- Muppavarapu
Natural Gas Corporation) - Shashi Shanker. Venkaiah Naidu
43. New CMD of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism 61. New Chief Justice of India (CJI) -- Justice Dipak Misra.
Corporation (IRCTC) Ltd. - Mahendra Pratap Mall. 62. New CMD of Small Industries Development Bank of
44. New CMD of the United India Insurance Co. Ltd. - M. India (SIDBI) -- Mohammad Mustafa.
Nagaraja Sarma. 63. New Chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) -
45. New Director General (DG) of the Sashastra Seema Bal Dhirendra Swarup.
(SSB) - Rajni Kant Misra.
64. New Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog - Dr. Rajiv Kumar.
46. NPCI’s (National Payments Corporation of India)
65. New secretary general of the Federation of Indian
interim Chairman - B Sambamurthy
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) - Sanjaya
47. New interim GSTN Chairman - A.B Panday
Baru
48. New Brand Ambassador of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in
66. Re-appointed as Managing Director (MD) & Chief
Uttarakhand -- Akshay Kumar.
Executive Officer (CEO) of Axis Bank - Shikha Sharma
Note: In August 2017, he was also appointed as the
67. New Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar - Sushil Kumar
brand ambassador for the cleanliness campaign in
Modi.
Uttar Pradesh
68. New Chief Minister of Nagaland - TR Zeliang.
49. Chairman of Press Trust of India (PTI) - Viveck Goenka.
69. New MD & CEO of Oriental Bank of Commerce -
50. New Union Minister of Railways - Piyush Goyal.
Mukesh Kumar Jain.
51. New Election Commissioner of India - Sunil Arora.
70. New Director General (DG)of Goods and Services Tax
Intelligence (GSTI) - John Joseph

New Governor Appointed


1. New Governor of Assam - Jagdish Mukhi.
2. New Governor of Arunachal Pradesh - B. D. Mishra
3. New Governor of Bihar - Satya Pal Malik.
4. New Governor of Tamil Nadu - Banwarilal Purohit.
5. New Governor of Meghalaya - Ganga Prasad.
6. New Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands - Devendra Kumar Joshi.

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International Appointment

1. New UNICEF Chief - Henrietta Holsman Fore. She (ICMR). She is a paediatrician and an internationally-
replaced Anthony Lake recognized researcher on TB (Tuberculosis) and HIV.
2. Secretary General of Amnesty International - Kumi 16. New President of ‘Angola’ - Joao Lourenco. He
Naidoo (South Africa). He replaced Salil Shetty. succeeds Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
3. New President of Chile - Sebastian Pinera. He has 17. New Chairman of Ethics Commission of the
replaced Michelle Bachelet. International Olympic Committee (IOC) -- Ban Ki-
4. New New Liberia's president - George Weah (Ex- moon.
football superstar). He replaced Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Note: Mr. Moon was the 8th Secretary-General of
5. Global Goodwill Ambassador for UN Environment
the United Nations (Jan 2007 - Dec 2016).
- Ellie Goulding (British singer-songwriter) 18. First special envoy for the Oceans - Peter Thomson.
6. New President of Zimbabwe - Emmerson Note: Peter Thomson played a leading role at the
Mnangagwa. first-ever UN conference on oceans in June. The 193
7. Britain's Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) - UN member states issued an urgent call for action to
Karen Pierce. She became the first woman to be reverse the decline in the health and productivity of
appointed on this post. the world's oceans.
8. UNAIDS Special Ambassador for Adolescents and 19. New President of Singapore - Mdm Halimah Yacob.
HIV - South African Indian-origin Professor 20. Re-elected as President of Kenya - Uhuru Kenyatta.
Quarraisha Abdool Karim 21. New Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea - Peter
9. Re-elected to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) O’Neill
- Dalveer Bhandari 22. India’s alternate Governor on the Board of
10. RBI Governor Urjit Patel appointed to the Financial Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) --
Stability Institute Advisory Board of the Bank of Subhash Chandra.
International Settlement (BIS) 23. New UNICEF’s Global Goodwill Ambassador -- Lilly
11. Ambassador of World Packaging Organisation - Singh.
AVPS Chakravarthi.
24. New Prime Minister of Mongolia - Ukhnaa
12. Re-elected Slovenia President - Borut Pahor
Khurelsukh
13. New UNESCO Chief - Audrey Azoulay. She succeeds
25. Newly elected President of Mongolia -
Irina Bokova (Bulgaria)
Khaltmaagiin Battulga
Note: Audrey Azoulay is a France's former culture
26. First female Prime Minister of Serbia -- Ana
minister. Ms Azoulay is the 11th Director-General of
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Brnabic.
Organization (UNESCO). 27. First woman Chief Executive of Hong Kong - Carrie
14. New Prime Minister of New Zealand - Jacinda Lam.
Ardern. Note: The Chief Executive of Hong Kong (CE) is the
Note: She (37-year-old) is the youngest female PM of highest office of the Hong Kong Special
New Zealand in 150 years. Administrative Region (HKSAR).
15. New Deputy Director-General of World Health 28. President of the International Economic Association
Organization (WHO) - Soumya Swaminathan. (IEA) - Kaushik Basu.
Note: This position is the second-highest at the UN’s 29. New Prime Minister of Romania -- Mihai Tudose.
health agency. Soumya Swaminathan is the present 30. New India International Centre (IIC) - N N Vohra
director general of Indian Council of Medical Research 31. New Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia by King Salman --
Mohammed bin Salman

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New Ambassador Appointed –


1. Next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Peru - M. Subbarayudu
2. New India’s Ambassador to Pakistan – Ajay Bisaria. He succeeds Gautam Bambawale.
Note: He is currently ambassador to Poland.
3. New India’s Ambassador to Republic of Zambia - N.J.Gangte.
4. New US Ambassador to India - Kenneth Juster. He succeeds Richard Verma.
5. New India's Ambassador to China - Gautam Bambawale. He succeeds Vijay Gokhale.
6. New Ambassador of India to Switzerland - Sibi George. He succeeds Smita Purushottam.
7. New Pakistan’s Ambassador to India - Sohail Mahmood. He succeeds ‘Abdul Basit’.
8. New Russia's Ambassador to India - Nikolay Kudashev.
9. New Ambassador of India to the Republic of Kazakhstan - Prabhat Kumar.

Books & Author

14. Book titled “I am HIV positive, so what?” authored by


1. Novel ‘Two’ authored by - Gulzar (Veteran lyricist) – Jayanta Kalita (The book is based on the life of an
2. Book 'Bollywood: The Films! The Songs! The international bodybuilding champion Khundrakpam
Stars!, launched by the Amitabh Bachchan Pradipkumar Singh hailing from Manipur, who was
The book is co-authored by S.M.M. Ausaja, Karan diagnosed HIV-positive.)
Bali, Rajesh Devraj and Tanul Thakur. 15. Book titled “Cryptocurrency for Beginners” authored
3. Book titled “The Coalition Years” authored by – by – Amit Bhardwaj.
Pranab Mukherjee (Former President of India) 16. Book titled “Making of a legend” authored by –
4. Book titled “The Golden House” authored by – Salman Bindeshawr Pathak.
Rushdie. 17. Book titled “Dalhousie Through My Eyes” authored by
5. Book titled “India 2017 Yearbook” authored by – Rajiv – Kiran Chadha.
Mehrishi 18. Book titled “Playing With Fire” authored by – Katie
6. Book titled “I Do What I Do” authored by – Raghuram Price.
Rajan (former RBI Governor) 19. Book titled “Future of Indian Universities:
7. Book titled “Immortal India” authored by – Amish Comparative and International Perspectives” authored
Tripathi. by – C. Raj Kumar.
8. Book titled “A Horse Walks into a Bar” authored by - 20. Book titled “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness”
David Grossman (Winner - Man Booker International authored by – Arundhati Roy.
Prize 2017) 21. Book titled “The Crisis Within” authored by – Ganesh
9. Book titled “How India Sees the World” – Shyam Devy.
Saran. 22. Book titled “Indira Gandhi – A life in Nature” authored
10. Book titled “Hit Refresh” – Satya Nadella. by – Jairam Ramesh.
11. Book titled “Unstoppable: My Life So far” authored by 23. Book titled “Beren And Luthien” authored by – J.R.R.
– Maria Sharapova. Tolkien.
12. Book titled “The Shershah of Kargil” authored by - 24. Book titled “Yug Purush, Bharat Ratna, Atal Ji”
Deepak Surana (Biography of Kargil war hero – Late authored by – Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank”.
Captain Vikram Batra) 25. Book titled “Matoshree” authored by - Lok Sabha
13. Book titled “Kadve Vachan” authored by – Tarun Sagar Speaker Sumitra Mahajan
Maharaj.

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Honors & Awards


National Awards
• The novel 'Dukkham Sukkham' depicts the
1. Sahitya Akademi Award 2017 – In English story of grandmother Vidhyawati and
Mamang Dai has been awarded for her novel ‘The granddaughter Manisha's relation.
Black Hill’. • The book, 'Dukkham Sukkham' was published
• In Hindi - Ramesh Kuntal Megh has been in 2010.
awarded for his literary criticism ‘Vishw • Currently, she is the editor of Mahatma Gandhi
Mithak Sarit Sagar’. International Hindi University's quarterly
• In Sanskrit –‘Niranjan Mishra’ won the magazine ‘Hindi’.
award for his Sanskrit novel • Vyas Samman was instituted in 1991 by the KK
‘Gangaputravadanam’ Birla Foundation and carries a cash award of
• In Punjabi - ‘Nachhattar’ won the award for Rs 3.50 lakh, a citation, and a logo.
his Punjabi novel ‘Slow Down’ • She is also known for her works in Hindi and
Note: English including "Beghar", "Janch Abhi Jaari
Hai", "Nirmohi", and "Bolne Wali Aurat".
• Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary award.
• She was born in Vrindavan, Mathura.
• This year award given in 24 different languages.
8. 3rd Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)
• The award is established in 1954 and comprises
Distinguished Indologist Award for the year 2017 -
a plaque and a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh. Professor Hiroshi Marui of Japan.
2. Golden Peacock Innovation Award - Joda East
Note: He spent over 40 years working on Indian
Iron Mine (JEIM) of Tata Steel has been honored
with the Golden Peacock Innovation Management philosophy and Buddhist Studies.
Award for the year 2017 for driving innovation in 9. Ruskin Bond conferred with Lifetime Achievement
mines. Award by the Chandigarh Literary Society.
10. 2017 Tata Literature Live Lifetime Achievement Award
• Joda East Iron Mine of Tata Steel is one of the
- Girish Karnad (Actor-playwright)
fully mechanized captive iron mines of Tata
11. Most Visited Place of the World’ - Golden Temple
Steel.
(Amritsar). The award is presented by ‘World Book of
3. 31 Moortidevi Award 2017 - Joy Goswami.
st
Records’ (WBR), a London-based organisation.
• He will get the award for his poetry 12. Big Little Book Award for year 2017 - Nabaneeta
collection titled ‘Du Dondo Phowara Matro’. Dev Sen (Sahitya Akademi awardee Bengali writer).
• ‘Du Dondo Phowara Matro’ is an
Note: The award, given out by Parag initiative of Tata
autobiographical account of the poet’s life
Trusts to recognise and honour authors and illustrators of
featuring his close ones including a pet cat.
children's literature.
• It is the first time the award will be given to
13. Indira Gandhi Peace Prize - Manmohan Singh
a Bengali poet.
(Former PM of India) will receive the Indira Gandhi
4. PETA’s Person of the Year 2017 - Anushka Sharma Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development this
5. Mr. India 2017 - Jitesh Singh Deo bagged the title of year for his leadership of the country between 2004
‘Peter England Mr. India 2017’ (ninth edition). and 2014.
6. Mrs. India Pride of the Nation Award – Mayanka 14. International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Awards –
Patel The 48th International Film Festival of India held this
7. Mamta Kalia Selected for Vyas Samman 2017 - year in Goa.
Eminent Hindi litterateur & playwright Mamta Kalia Here is the list of winners at IFFI 2017 –
has been selected for ‘Vyas Samman-2017’ for her 1. Best Film Award at IFFI 2017 - 120 Beats Per
novel ‘Dukkham Sukkham’. Minute (A French film on fight against indifference
Note: towards AIDS)
Note: The film is directed by - Robin Campillo

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2. Indian film personality of the year award - Amitabh Note: The award is conferred in memory of Vishnudas
Bachchan Bhave, the founder of Marathi theatre.
3. Best Female Actress Award – Parvathy Thiruvoth 19. Tata Literature Lifetime Achievement Award 2017
Kottuvatta for the film ‘Take Off’ - Girish Karnad (Veteran actor).
Note: The film is directed by - Mahesh Narayanan 20. 2017 Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award - Javed Akhtar
4. Best Male Actor Award – Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, (Veteran writer-lyricist).
Beats Per Minute 21. ‘General Insurance Company of the Year’ - Apollo
5. Best Director Award – Vivian Qu, Angels Wear Munich Health Insurance.
White 22. Green Platinum Award - The Govardhan Eco Village,
6. Lifetime Achievement Award – Atom Egoyan set up by the International Society for Krishna
7. Best Debut Film of a Director Award – Kiro Russo, Consciousness (ISKCON) in Palghar district won the
Dark Skull ‘Green Platinum Award’ by Indian Green Building
8. ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal - Marathi Film Kshitij- Council (IGBC) of Confederation of Indian Industry
A Horizon, directed by Manoj Kadam. (CII).
15. 53rd Jnanpith award 2017- Krishna Sobti (eminent 23. Indira Gandhi National Integration award for
Hindi writer). 2015-16- T M Krishna (Carnatic music vocalist). He is
Note: being awarded for his services in promoting and
➢ She was born in 1925 in Gujrat, in Pakistan’s preserving national integration in the country.
Punjab Province.
24. Cleartrip Named 'Best Mobile App for Travel' at
➢ Some of her popular works include Daar se
Mobexx Awards.
Bichhudi, Dil-o-Danish, Badalom ke Ghere,
25. Ezhuthachan Puraskaram 2017 - K Satchidanandan
Yaaron Ke Yaar, Mitron Marjani, and
(Noted Malayalam Poet and literary critic) has been
Zindaginama.
selected for Ezhuthachan Puraskaram 2017. This is
➢ She is most known for her 1966 novel Mitro
Kerala government's highest literary honour.
Marajani, an unapologetic portrayal of a 26. UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage
married woman's sexuality.
Conservation - Mumbai’s The Royal Opera House.
16. UNESCO Asia Pacific Award of Merit 2017 - The Sri
27. Lifetime Achievement Award - Sharmila Tagore
Ranganathaswamy Temple of Srirangam in Tamil Nadu
(Veteran actress)
won UNESCO Asia Pacific Award of Merit 2017 for
Note: She was bestowed with the recognition by the
cultural heritage conservation programme.
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi
Note: It is the first temple from Tamil Nadu to win the
for her contribution in the field of cinema.
prize from the UN body.
28. Golden Peacock Award - N Chandrababu Naidu
17. Best Urban Transport Practices’ of the Union
(Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister) has received the
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs awards -
Golden Peacock Award under the category 'Global
i. Best City Bus Services Award 2017 - Surat
Leadership in Public Service and Economic
Municipal Corporation awarded with the ‘Best City Bus
Transformation' at a convention in London at 17th
Services Award’ by the Union Ministry of Housing and
London Global Convention.
Urban Affairs for attracting 87 per cent of the private 29. Mathrubhumi Literary Award - Eminent critic,
vehicle and auto rickshaw users to use city buses.
biographer and orator M K Sanu has been chosen for
ii. ‘Best Non-Motorised Transport’ Award - Mysuru’s
the Mathrubhumi Literary Award for 2016 in
Public Bicycle Sharing won the Best Non-Motorised recognition of his rich contribution to the Malayalam
Transport’ Award.
literature.
iii. ‘Best Urban Transport Initiative’ Award - Kochi
30. Asia Game Changers Award- 2017--Dev Patel.
(Kerala) was chosen for the for completing its Metro
31. First Kesari Media Award - T J S George. (Veteran
Rail Project in a quick time.
journalist)
iv. Best Intelligent Transport Project’ - The H-TRIMS
32. Prem Nazir Award 2017 – Sharada (Veteran actress)
of Hyderabad, the Traffic Integraged Management
initiative was awarded with the award. . 33. East Bengal football club’s highest honour 'Bharat
Gaurav' - Dhanraj Pillay
18. Vishnudas Bhave award - Mohan Joshi (Veteran
actor)

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34. 2018 Times Higher Education (THE) World university 39. Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader has
ranking, Indian university has been names the top received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his
university in India -- IISc-Bangalore. contributions as a Lok Sabha member -- LK Advani.
40. Indian city has been declared as a World Heritage City
35. First lifetime achievement award for his contribution to
(WHC) by UNESCO -- Ahmedabad.
Badminton -- Prakash Padukone. 41. Indian film Best Foreign Film category at the Oscars
36. Bollywood star has received the ‘Global Diversity 2018 -- Newton.
Award’ at Britain’s House of Commons - Salman Khan Note: Newton is a 2017 Indian Hindi-language black
37. Best film award at 18th IIFA Awards 2017-- Neerja. comedy film directed by Amit V Masurkar and Produced
38. JD(U) leader has also received the Lifetime
by Drishyam Films.
Achievement Award as a Rajya Sabha MP -- Sharad
Yadav.

International Awards

1. BBC's sports personality of the year award – Four- • He received the prize from Malala Yousafzai,
time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah has been voted who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2017. work for children's rights.
2. BBC overseas sports personality of the year 2017 - 5. Miss Universe 2017 - Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (Miss
Roger Federer has been voted BBC overseas sports South Africa). The event was held at the AXIS theatre at
personality of the year for a record fourth time. Earlier, Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, US.
Federer won the award in 2004, 2006 and 2007. 6. Miss World 2017 - Manushi Chhillar (Miss India). The
3. The Silence Breakers' named Time’s Person of the event was held in Sanya City Arena in China.
Year for 2017 – Time magazine has named 'the Note: She was born in Rohtak, Haryana.
silence breakers' its Person of the Year for 2017 7. European Golden Shoe Award - Lionel Messi
mentioning to those women and men who have raise a 8. 2017 Cervantes Prize - Sergio Ramirez Mercado. It is
voice to sexual assault and harassment by powerful the Spanish-speaking world's highest literary honor.
public figures in America. 9. Miss International 2017 - Kevin Lilliana (Indonesia)
Note: 10. Abu Dhabi Award - The Andhra Pradesh Mineral
• The women featured on the cover include Development Corporation (APMDC) has bagged an
actress Ashley Judd, singer Taylor Swift, international award from Abu Dhabi.
former Uber engineer Susan Fowler, Visa 11. Mother Teresa Award 2017 - United Nations High
lobbyist Adama Iwu, Mexican agricultural Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been named
worker Isabel Pascual. as the recipient of the Mother Teresa Memorial Award
for Social Justice, 2017.
• The #MeToo movement which has seen many
Note: The Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social
people come forward with allegations of
Justice was instituted by Harmony Foundation.
harassment and abuse.
12. Jewish Nobel Prize - Natalie Portman (actress) has
• The runner-up for this year’s Person of the
been awarded Israel’s 2018 Genesis Prize in
Year was US President Donald Trump, who
recognition of her commitment to social causes and
was Time’s Person of the Year in 2016.
deep connection to her Jewish and Israeli roots.
4. Children's Peace Prize 2017 – Mohamad Al Jounde
Note: 2018 Genesis Prize is a $1 million award, known
Mohamad Al Jounde (16 years old) from Syria was
as “the Jewish Nobel Prize.
awarded the International Children's Peace Prize for
13. Best Short Film Award - Indian short film ‘The
his efforts to ensure the rights of Syrian refugee
School Bag’ won the ‘Best Short Film Award' at the
children.
South Asian Film Festival of Montreal (SAFFM). It tells
Note: a story based in Pakistan.
• He set up a school with the help of his family in Note: The movie is directed by Dheeraj Jindal.
a Lebanese refugee camp which provides
education to the 200 children.
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14. 2017 Man Booker Prize - George Saunders (US Note: Indian-origin South African researchers were
author). honored with a prestigious award for their exceptional
Note: contributions in the field of HIV/AIDS.
➢ He won the award for fiction for his first full- 16. 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist
length novel 'Lincoln in the Bardo. Challenge - Indian-American Gitanjali Rao won the
➢ With this, Saunders became second American 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist
writer to win the award. In 2016, Paul Beatty Challenge for inventing a quick, low-cost test to detect
became the first American to win the award for lead-contaminated water.
his novel The Sellout. 17. 2017 Blue Planet Prize - Prof Hans Joachim
➢ Lincoln in the Bardo is an extended national Schellnhuber from Germany won 2017 Blue Planet
ghost story. It chronicles the death of Abraham Prize, world’s most prestigious award for pioneers in
Lincoln’s 11-year-old son Willie using the environmental science.
accounts of hundreds of narrators. The book Note: He was awarded for establishing new field of
describes the night President Lincoln visited science ‘Earth System Analysis’ and introducing most
his son’s body in a Washington graveyard. influential concepts including the notion of tipping
15. US Award For AIDS Research - Professors Salim elements in the climate system in Tokyo.
Abdool Karim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim received
the award from the Institute for Human Virology (IHV)
in Baltimore, US.

List of Nobel Prize 2017 – ● Michael Rosbash – He is from Missouri, US and


currently Professor at Brandeis University.
1. Nobel Prize in Peace ● Michael W. Young – He is from Miami, Florida, US
● Winner - International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear and Professor at Rockefeller University, University
Weapons (ICAN) of Texas at Austin, Stanford University School of
● Field - ICAN for its work to draw attention to the Medicine.
catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use 5. Nobel Prize in Physics
of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking ● Winner - Rainer Weiss, Barry C. Barish and Kip S.
efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such Thorne.
weapons. ● Field - Their decisive contributions to the LIGO
● ICAN headquarter at – Geneva, Switzerland. (Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave
● ICAN Executive Director - Beatrice Fihn Observatory) detector and the observation of
2. Nobel Prize in Literature gravitational waves.
● Winner - Kazuo Ishiguro. ● Rainer Weiss born in Berlin, Germany. He is a
● He is a British author and best known for his novel Professor at Massachusetts Institute of
“The Remains of the Day”. Technology.
● He was born in Nagasaki, Japan. ● Barry C. Barish born in Nebraska, U.S. He is a
3. Nobel Prize in Economics professor at California Institute of Technology.
● Winner - Richard Thaler ● Kip S. Thorne born in Utah, U.S. He is a professor
● Field – for his work in behavioral economics. at California Institute of Technology.
● Richard Thaler born in New Jersey, United States.
6. Nobel Prize in Chemistry
He is a professor of behavioural sciences and
economics at University of Chicago. ● Winner - Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and
4. Nobel Prize in Medicine Richard Henderson.
● Winner - Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and ● Field - They developed cryo-electron microscopy
Michael W. Young for the high-resolution structure determination of
● Field - for their discoveries on how plants, animals biomolecules in solution. It’s a method of
and humans adapt their biological rhythm so that simplifying and improving the imaging of
it is synchronized with the Earth's revolutions.
biomolecules.
● Jeffrey C. Hall – He is from New York, US and
currently Professor at Brandeis University. ● Jacques Dubochet born in Aigle, Switzerland. He
is a professor at University of Lausanne.

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● Joachim Frank born in Siegen, Germany. He is a ● Richard Henderson born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
professor at Columbia University. He is a professor at Laboratory of Molecular
Biology.

concise

About Global Entrepreneurship Summit


The 8th edition of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit held at the International Convention Centre (HICC) in Hyderabad,
India. The summit was co-hosted by the US and India. It is the first time when summit was held in South Asia.
Ivanka Trump, adviser to and daughter of US President Donald Trump, headed the US delegation at the event.
Theme of the Summit - 'Women First, Prosperity for All'.
The 2017 summit focuses on four innovative, high-growth industries –
(i.) healthcare and life sciences (ii.) digital economy and financial technology (iii) energy and infrastructure and (iv) media
and entertainment.
'Mitra' robot - greeted PM Modi and Ivanka Trump at the summit- Mitra, an indigenously-built robot greeted Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and Ivanka Trump with a ‘Namaste’.
About ‘Mitra robot’ –
• Mitra is an indigenous robot made of fibre-glass developed by a two-year old startup Invento Robotics in Bangalore in
2015.
• The robot was designed by Balaji Viswanathan (founder of Invento Robotics).
• The 5-foot-tall Mitra robot is also serving humans in a few Canara Bank branches as well as PVR Cinema outlets in
Bengaluru.

Summits & Conference 2017


• Theme "Powering Digital and Physical
1. India to host meeting of WTO member countries Linkages for Asia in the 21st Century".
on food security in February 2018.
2. The 105th Indian Science Congress (ISC) will be 8. 11th Ministerial conference of the World Trade
held at Manipur University in Imphal. Organization (WTO) – Buenos Aires, Argentina.
3. The 25th edition of National Children Science 9. International Conference on Climate change
Congress (NCSC-2017) was held in Gandhinagar, held in - Nepal
Gujarat Note:
4. The theme was ‘Science and Innovation for • The main objective of the conference is to
Sustainable Development’ with the special focus explore holistic solutions for adaptation to
on persons with disabilities. change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region.
5. First SAICON 2017 held in –New Delhi. • President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari has
Note: inaugurated the event.
• The theme of the conference was ‘Scoring 10. 6th International Tourism Mart 2017 held in -
Goals in Sports with Science and Technology’. Guwahati, Assam.
• The first International Conference on Sports Note:
Medicine & Sports Sciences “SAICON 2017” • The International Tourism Mart is
was held in New Delhi. inaugurated by the Jagdish Mukhi,
• It was inaugurated by the Minister of State Governor of Assam.
(I/C) Youth Affairs and Sports Col. • The main objective of the mart is to
Rajyavardhan Rathore. highlight the tourism potential of the
6. Russia-India-China Foreign Ministers Meet held in region in the domestic and international
Delhi –Foreign Ministers of Russia, India, and China markets.
(RIC) trilateral meeting held in New Delhi. 11. The 3rd edition of the Dialogue between the NITI
7. Asean-India Connectivity Summit – New Delhi. Aayog and the Development Research Council of
China was held in Beijing, China.

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Note: Note:
• The meeting was co-chaired by Vice • CMS COP is a global wildlife conference.
Chairman NITI Aayog, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, and • UN wildlife summit CMS COP13 in 217 held
Mr Li Wei, President (Minister), DRC. in Manila, Philippines.
• The MoU was signed during the visit of • The theme of the Conference was ‘Their
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to
Future is Our Future - Sustainable
China in May 2015.
Development for Wildlife and People’.
• The 2nd Dialogue was held in New Delhi in
November 2016. • CMS COP is held once in three years.
• The next 4th NITI Aayog - DRC Dialogue 17. World Youth Forum - Egypt.
will be held in India in 2018. Note: The Minister of State (Independent Charge)
12. 16th Meeting of the SCO Heads of Government Youth Affairs and Sports Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore
Council held in Sochi, Russia. attend the meeting
18. 38th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing – New
Note:
Delhi.
• In 2018, the next SCO Council of Heads of
Government Meeting will be held • The main theme of the conference is Space
in Tajikistan. Applications: Touching Human Lives.
13. The first International Exhibition and Conference 19. 21st World Congress of Mental Health - New Delhi.
on AYUSH and Wellness sector- AROGYA 2017 20. Global Clubfoot Conference – New Delhi.
held in New Delhi. Note:
Note: • President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated Global
• The conference was inaugurated by the MoS Clubfoot Conference organised by CURE India in
(Independent charge), Ministry of Ayush Shripad partnership with Union Ministry of Health and
Naik. Family Welfare in New Delhi.
• The theme of the conference is ‘Enhancing the • About Clubfoot - It is one of the most common
global potential of Ayush’. orthopaedic birth defects where one or both feet
• AYUSH is the acronym of - Ayurveda, Yoga and are rotated inwards and downwards. It
Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy. describes range of foot abnormalities usually
14. World Food India 2017 - New Delhi. present at birth in which your baby’s foot is
• The theme of WFI 2017 is ‘Transforming the Food twisted out of shape or position. In clubfoot,
Economy’. tissues connecting muscles to the bone
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated (tendons) are shorter than usual.
World Food India 2017 (WFI) at the India Gate 21. 11th India-US Trade Policy Forum Meeting -
Lawns in New Delhi. Washington D.C
• Germany, Japan and Denmark are partner Note: The meeting was chaired by Union Minister for
countries to World Food India. Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu and US Trade
• This is first time India is hosting such an event for Representative Robert Lighthizer.
the Food processing sector. 22. First International Conference on Consumer
15. 'India Disaster Response Summit' – New Delhi. Protection - New Delhi
Note: • The theme of the conference was
• Kiren Rijiju has inaugurated the ‘India Disaster “Empowering Consumers in New Markets”.
Response Summit’ in New Delhi. • It was inaugurated by Prime Minister
• The summit was organised jointly by the Narendra Modi.
National Disaster Management Authority 23. First BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine
(NDMA) and Facebook. meeting - New Delhi.
16. India to host UN wildlife summit CMS COP13 in Note:
2020 - United Nations Environment Programme • The first-ever meeting of BIMSTEC Task Force
(UNEP) announced that India will host the next CMS on Traditional Medicine (BITFM) was held at
Conference of the Parties 13 (CMS COP13) in the year Parvasi Bhartiya Kendra in New Delhi.
2020. • It was organized by Union Ministry of AYUSH.

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24. India-UAE Partnership Summit 2017 – Dubai. is the second-largest in the world after China. India
• The theme of the summit was - Investment has a total subscriber base of over 1.18 billion
Implementation. subscribers.
• The objective of India-UAE Partnership 20. 19th UN Climate Change Summit 2017- Bonn,
Summit is to accelerate bilateral trade and Germany.
● Note: The United Nations Climate Change
investment between the two countries.
Conferences are yearly conferences held in the
12. 3rd International Conference on Yoga 2017 – New framework of the United Nations Framework
Delhi, India. Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
● Theme of the conference is – “Yoga for Wellness”. ● 18th UN Climate Change Summit 2016 - Marrakech,
● Conference was organised by – Ministry of Ayush. Morocco.
● Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the 21. 9th BRICS Summit 2017 - Xiamen, China.
conference. ● Theme of the Summit - “BRICS: Stronger
13. 5th Global Conference on Cyber Space 2017 – New Partnership for a Brighter Future”.
Delhi, India. ● The Summit was attended by –
● Theme of the conference – ‘Cyber4All: An Inclusive, ● President of Brazil – Michel Temer
Sustainable, Developmental, Safe and Secure ● President of Russia – Vladimir Putin
Cyberspace’ ● Prime Minister of India – Narendra Modi
● President of China – Xi, Jinping
● The 4th GCCS conference held in The Hague,
● President of South Africa – Jacob Zuma
Netherlands.
● Note: BRICS comprises 5-member countries:
14. India – ASEAN Youth Summit 2017 – Bhopal, Madhya Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Pradesh ● Venue of 10th BRICS Summit 2018-
Theme of the summit - “Shared Values, Common Johannesburg, South Africa.
Destiny” ● Venue of 8th BRICS Summit 2016- Goa, India.
15. First ASEAN – India Music Festival held in New Delhi, 22. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit
India. 2017 – Astana, Kazakhstan.
● Note: Theme – ‘Shared Values, Common Destiny’. ● Note:
16. 14th India - European Union (EU) 2017 Summit – ● SCO General Secretary – Rashid Alimov.
New Delhi, India. ● SCO Headquarter - Beijing, China.
● President of European Union (EU) – Donald Tusk. ● Official Language – Chinese, Russian.
● Member countries – 28 ● SCO comprises 8-member countries: China,
● European Union (EU) headquarter - Brussels, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Belgium. Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.
● The 15th India-EU Summit will be held in Brussels, ● India and Pakistan became full members of
Belgium. the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
● The 13th India-EU Summit was held in Brussels, on 9 June 2017.
Belgium. ● Venue of SCO Summit 2018- China.
17. 8th Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) 2017 - ● Venue of SCO Summit 2016- Tashkent,
Hyderabad, India. Uzbekistan.
● Theme of the Summit – ‘Women First, Prosperity 23. ASEAN (30th & 31st) 2017 Summit – Manila,
for All’. Philippines.
● 7th Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) 2016 – ● Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Silicon Valley, USA. organisation comprising 10 South east Asian
18. 3rd India International Science Festival (IISF) 2017 countries - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
– Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore,
● The 2nd IISF held in New Delhi in 2016. Thailand and Vietnam.
● The 1st IISF was held at Indian Institute of ● Its motto is - “One Vision, One Identity, One
Technology (IIT) New Delhi in 2015. Community.
19. India Mobile Congress 2017 - New Delhi.
● Note: ASEAN Summit held twice a year.
● Note: This is the first time India is all set to host its
own mobile mega show. The Indian telecom market ● Secretary General – Le Luong Minh.
● Chairman - Philippines Rodrigo Duterte
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● ASEAN headquarter – Jakarta, Indonesia. ● Venue of G-20 2016 Summit – Hangzhou,


● Venue of ASEAN (32nd & 33rd) 2018 Summit - China
Singapore. 27. 43 G-7 Summit 2017 - Sicily, Italy.
rd

● Venue of 28-29th ASEAN Summit 2016 – ● Theme of the summit - “Building the foundations of
Vientiane, Laos renewed trust.”
24. 29th APEC 2017 Summit – Danang, Vietnam ● The G-7 comprises 7 countries – Canada, France,
● Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United
(APEC)organisation comprising 21 members States.
countries – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, ● Venue of 42nd G-7 2016 Summit – Shima,
Chile, People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Japan
Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, ● Venue of 44th G-7 2018 Summit – Canada
Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, The 28. NATO Summit 2017 – Brussels, Belgium.
Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, ● Note:
Thailand, United States, Vietnam.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
● Chairman - Trần Đại Quang comprises 29 countries – Albania, Belgium,
● Executive Director - Alan Bollard Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark,
● APEC headquarter – Singapore Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
● Venue of 30th APEC 2018 Summit - Port Moresby, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherland,
Papua New Guinea. Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,
● Venue of 28th APEC Summit 2016 – Peru, Lima Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United
25. 4th BIMSTEC 2017 Summit – Kathmandu, Nepal States.
● Note: ● NATO headquarter - Brussels, Belgium.
● Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral ● NATO Secretary General - Jens Stoltenberg
Technical and Economic Cooperation ● NATO 2018 Summit – Brussels, Belgium.
(BIMSTEC)organisation comprising 7 members ● NATO 2016 Summit -Warsaw, Poland
countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, ● Note: Turkey’s offer to host the 2018 NATO summit
Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand. is rejected by Canada and 18 European NATO
● Chairmanship – Nepal (since 2014) members. Hence, 2018 NATO Summit will be held in
● BIMSTEC headquarter – Dhaka, Bangladesh Brussels, Belgium.
● Venue of 3rd BIMSTEC Summit 2014 - Nay Pyi 29. 14 th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBS) 2017 –
Taw, Myanmar. Bengaluru, Karnataka.
26. G-20 Summit 2017 – Hamburg, Germany. ● Theme of 2017 PBS is “Redefined Engagement
● Theme of the summit – “Shaping an Inter- With Indian Diaspora”.
connected World” ● Note:
● The G20 comprises 19 countries plus the ● Chief Guest at 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2017
European Union. These countries are Argentina, is - H.E. Dr. Antonio Costa, Prime Minister of the
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Republic of Portugal.
India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi ● The PBS convention is held on January 9th each year
Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi
United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of from South Africa in 1915. It is celebrated to mark
America (USA). the contribution of the overseas Indian community
● Meeting of G20 Labour Ministers 2017 – Bad to the development of the country.
Neuenahr, Germany. ● Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBS) 2016 was cancelled.
● Meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and ● 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBS) 2015 –
Central Bank Governors 2017 – Baden, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Germany. ● Singapore to Host Regional Pravasi Bharatiya
● Venue of G-20 2018 Summit - Buenos Aires, Divas in 2018.
Argentina 30. 104th Indian Science Congress 2017 – SV University,
Tirupati.

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● Focal theme - Science & Technology for National Cyclone Pam, it was decided to be held in United
Development. Kingdom in 2018.
● 105th Indian Science Congress 2018 to be hosted ● Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held
by Osmania University, Hyderabad. after a gap of every two years.
● Focal Theme - Reaching the Unreached Through ● Total member countries – 52.
Science & Technology ● Headquarter – London, United Kingdom.
31. 25 CHOGM 2018 Summit– The next 25th meeting of
th
● CHOGM 2015 Summit – Malta.
the heads of government of the Commonwealth of
32. 3rd World Conference on Environment 2017 – New
Nations will be held in the London, United Kingdom.
Delhi, India.
● Note: In 2017, Vanuatu was selected to host 25th
● It was organized by the National Green Tribunal
CHOGM Summit but due to the damage done by
(NGT) and inaugurated by the President Pranab
Mukherjee.

National Affairs

1. Bengaluru becomes the first Indian city to have its grown high purity gold reference standard. The BND-
own logo - “Be U”. The logo, ‘Be U’ is a mix of typography 4201 is reference material for gold of ‘9999’ fineness
in English and Kannada. The objective of the logo to (gold that is 99.99% pure with impurities of only 100
make every person coming to the city to spend on parts-per-million). It will be beneficial to the consumers
memorabilia. The logo was designed by Nammur, a and public at large to ensure purity of gold.
design start-up. 7. Blue Flag pilot project launched for beach clean-up
2. Bengaluru to host 7th International Coffee festival - and development - The Union Ministry of Environment,
The seventh edition of the India International Coffee Forest and Climate Change has launched pilot project
Festival (IICF) will be held in Bengaluru from January 16- ‘Blue Flag’ to develop and enhance standards of
19. cleanliness on beaches.
3. India's first design University Opens in Haryana - 8. Paytm becomes India’s first payments app to cross
India's first design university 'World University of 100 million downloads on Play Store - India’s largest
Design' opened its campus at Sonipat, Haryana. mobile-first financial services platform, Paytm
Note: announced that its app has crossed the 100 million
➢ The University is promoted by Om Parkash milestones on Google Play Store. This makes Paytm the
Bansal Educational and Social Welfare Trust of country’s first payments app to cross the 100 million
Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab. downloads mark.
➢ WUD is India's first university dedicated to 9. Maharashtra tops in GST collection in first five
education in the creative domain. months - Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are top
➢ WUD has International Collaborations with contributors among states and Union Territories in the
foreign Universities like UWS University of West first five months since the rollout of the Goods and
Scotland, VFS the Vancouver Film School, and Services Tax (GST) regime in July 1, 2017. The data was
IAAD the Italian University of Design. revealed by Minister of State (MoS) for Finance Shiv
4. India to get its first runway on sea-bridge at Pratap Shukla in reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
Lakshadweep - India is all set to get its first runway on a 10. The Union Government has made an action plans for
‘sea bridge’, as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has backward district programme to improve socio-
been given a nod to extend Lakshadweep’s Agatti economic profiles of 115 identified “most-backward”
Airport. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 1,500cr. districts including 35 affected by left-wing extremism.
5. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has 11. e-HRMS portal launched by Dr Jitendra Singh
created National Highways Investment Promotion (Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
Cell (NHIPC) for attracting domestic and foreign (DoNER) – The Electronic-Human Resource
investment for highways projects. Management System (e-HRMS) portal will bring all
6. India’s first home-grown high purity gold reference employees of Government of India on employee portal so
BND-4201 standard launched - The Bharatiya that all processes of personnel management from hiring
Nirdeshak Dravya (BND-4201) is India’s first home- to retiring will be on digital platform and manual system

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of handling personnel management will be dispensed 17. Indian Railways plans to make all stations 100% LED lit
with. by March 2018.
12. SAMEEP initiative launched by Ministry of External 18. Patanjali ranked India's most trusted FMCG Brand -
Affairs – The aim of this initiative to bring Indian foreign Indian FMCG company, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. has been
policy to students across the country. Under this, MEA ranked as India's most trusted Fast-Moving Consumer
officials will talk to students to help them better Goods (FMCG) Brand by the Brand Trust Report India
understand foreign policy. The main purpose of SAMEEP Study 2017.
is to take Indian foreign policy and its global 19. The Union Cabinet has approved proposal of Ministry of
engagements to students across the country. Railways to set up first ever National Rail and Transport
SAMEEP stands for - Students and MEA Engagement University (NRTU) in Vadodara, Gujarat.
Programme 20. Noted writer Ramendra Kumar felicitated in Sri
13. Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated Start-up Incubation Lanka - Noted writer Ramendra Kumar, whose stories
Centre in Mangalore - Defence Minister of India feature in Sri Lankan text books, has been felicitated in
Nirmala Sitharaman has inaugurated a modern the neighbouring country Sri Lanka for his contribution
development centre - the Centre for Entrepreneurship to children's literature.
Opportunities and Learning - for budding entrepreneurs Note:
in Mangalore. • He is an award-winning writer with 32 books to his
The aim of this centre is to promote Startup India credit.
initiative in the country. • His book Dilemma and other stories, translated into
14. Mumbai gets country's first AC suburban train - Sinhala, was also released at the felicitation
Mumbai Railway Service (Western Railway) started the ceremony. This is his fourth book in Sinhala.
first ever Air-Conditioned local train has been flagged off 21. HAL's Dornier228 planes made under 'Make in India'
from Borivali station in Mumbai. set for commercial flights - The 19-seater Dornier 228
The AC local will operate only on the Churchgate-Borivili aircraft is manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics
section. Limited (HAL) under licence from Swiss technology
15. PM Modi launched Tuirial Hydropower project in company RUAG for the defence forces and European
Mizoram - PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 60- markets. Recently it was successfully tested at Kanpur
megawatt Tuirial hydroelectric power project in Aizawl, Airport. Well, the HAL of Kanpur has been transport
Mizoram. aircraft division since 1960.
➢ Now, the Mizoram had become the third power- 22. A new LIGO gravitational wave detector to be built in
surplus state in the north-east after Sikkim and India by 2025 – The new Laser Interferometer
Tripura. Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detector to be
➢ Prime Minister also inaugurated the Shillong - built in India by 2025. This will be the third detector the
Nongstoin Rongjeng Tura road. two already operational in the US.
➢ The hydropower project would produce ‘251 Note: The LIGO detectors discovered the first
million units’ of electrical energy every year. gravitational waves produced by two giant merging
➢ The Tuirial hydropower project has been built on blackholes last year. The research won a Nobel Prize in
Tuirial River, a tributary of Barak River. Physics this year.
16. Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates eastern India’s 23. Air Deccan gets DGCA nod for UDAN (Ude Desh ka
First CNG Stations – The Minister for Petroleum & Aam Naagrik) scheme - The aviation regulator
Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted
eastern India’s first compressed natural gas (CNG) flying permit to Air Deccan, a move that will enable the
stations for scooters in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. airline to operate flights under the regional connectivity
He has also inaugurated CNG-run scooters and CNG scheme called UDAN.
stations for three-wheelers at Chandrasekharpur and 24. Odisha recognised as 'Champion State' for exports -
Patia area in Bhubaneswar. The Centre has recognised Odisha as a 'Champion State'
The CNG stations were part of GAIL’s Pradhan Mantri for recording the highest growth in exports during 2016-
Urja Ganga and City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects in
17.
Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
• The exports from the state have increased from Rs
19,082 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 40,872 crore in 2016-
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17 with merchandise exports from Odisha • The vehicle is equipped to conduct on-the-
registering the highest growth rate of 114 per cent spot tests to check food quality and curb
among all the states, adulteration.
25. UNESCO names Kumbh Mela in list of Intangible • It will also check hygiene level of water
Cultural Heritage – The Intergovernmental and the results can be received within 15
Committee for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural minutes.
Heritage under UNESCO has inscribed ´KumbhMela´ 30. Mt Hope new tallest mountain in British Antarctic
on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Territory – As per new discovery from cartographers
Heritage of Humanity. surveying Antarctica, Mt Hope is the tallest mountain
Note: in the British Antarctic Territory (BAT). Its height is
• The inscription of Kumbh Mela in list was measured at 3,239 meters above sea level.
undertaken following recommendation by Note: Earlier, maps showed Mt Jackson with the
expert body which examines nominations height 3,184 meters as the tallest mountain in the
submitted by member countries of UNESCO territory according to researchers at British
during its 12th session of Committee held at Antarctic Survey (BAS).
Jeju, South Korea. 31. Uttarakhand government makes LED bulbs
• KumbhMela is the 14th intangible cultural compulsory in all government offices – The state
heritage from India to be listed in UNESCO’s government of Uttarakhand has taken a new initiative
list. for energy conservation by making it compulsory for
26. Uttar Pradesh first State to approve Centre’s triple all government offices to install LED bulbs.
talaq draft bill – Uttar Pradesh became first state to 32. Kerala’s Alappuzha in top UN clean city list - The
approve Union Government’s draft law — Muslim
waste management system was being implemented in
Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act that Kerala’s coast town of Alappuzha has been recognised
makes practice of instant “triple talaq” or talaq-e- by the United Nations Environment Programme
biddat. a cognisable and non-bailable criminal offence. (UNEP) as one of the five models across the world for
The draft law was endorsed by the state cabinet fighting the pollution menace.
meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Note:
Background • Alappuzha called “the Venice of East” has
27. India and Israel open centre for floriculture in been listed in the UNEP environment
Tamil Nadu – India and Israel have jointly set up a report.
centre for excellence in floriculture at Thally in • PM Narendra Modi Swachh Bharat
Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. It is first agro- Abhiyan ranked Alappuzha at 380 among
technology development centre to be set up with the 500 cities in the country in the Swachh
Israel’s assistance in Tamil Nadu. Survekshan Survey 2017.
33. Farmer engagement app ‘Jai Kisaan’ launched in
28. Bodhi Parva: BIMSTEC Festival of Buddhist
Goa – The Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar
Heritage held in New Delhi – India hosted “Bodhi
launched a farmer engagement app named ‘Jai Kisaan’
Parva: BIMSTEC Festival of Buddhist Heritage” at New
which aims to fulfil the needs of the farmer's
Delhi as part of celebrations of 20th Anniversary of
community in India.
BIMSTEC. The Festival was inaugurated by Minister of
34. PM Narendra Modi launches UMANG App – Prime
State (IC) for Culture Dr. Mahesh Sharma.
Minister Narendra Modi launched the UMANG App
29. India’s first mobile food testing lab unveiled in Goa
(Unified Mobile Application), a platform that brings
– India’s ‘first’ mobile food testing laboratory enabling
more than100 government services on a single mobile
on-the-spot food safety tests was launched in Goa. It
app.
was launched by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
35. PM Modi inaugurated Dr. Ambedkar International
Note:
• This is the first ever ‘Food Safety on Wheel’ Centre in New Delhi - Prime Minister Narendra
mobile laboratory in the country. Modi inaugurated the B.R Ambedkar International
Centre in the New Delhi.
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36. Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh has been included • All the States and districts will be covered
in the National Capital Region (NCR). Now there are in a phased manner i.e. 315 districts in
total 23 districts which come under the National 2017-18, 235 districts in 2018-19 and
Capital Region. remaining districts in 2019-20.
37. Kacheguda becomes first energy-efficient rail • It is an apex body under Ministry of
station – Kacheguda railway station (South Central Women and Child Development.
Railway) has earned the unique distinction of being 41. Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium held in
the First Energy Efficient ‘A1 Category’ Railway New Delhi - The 22nd meeting of the Small Farmers’
Station on Indian Railways. The station has achieved Agri-Business Consortium held in New Delhi. The
100% energy efficiency replacing 1,312 conventional meeting was chaired by Union Agriculture and
lights with light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh.
About Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium
38. India’s largest floating Solar Power Plant opened in • The Small Farmers Agribusiness
Kerala by the State power minister MM Mani in Kerala. Consortium (SFAC) is an autonomous
The total budget for the project is Rs. 9.25 crore. The society established in 1994 and is
plant is built at Banasura Sagar dam Kerala. registered under Societies Registration Act
About Banasura Sagar Dam 1860.
• The Banasura Sagar Dam is located in • It is promoted by Union Ministry of
Wayanad District of Kerala in the Western Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers’
Ghats. It is built over Kabini River. Welfare.
• It is the largest earthen dam in India and the • SFAC is also registered as Non-Banking
second largest in Asia. Financial Institution (NBFC) by Reserve
• The Dam is named after the Banasura, the son Bank of India (RBI).
of Mahabali who was a very respected king of 42. 'Kathakar - International Storytellers Festival’
Kerala. held in New Delhi - The 7th edition of the Kathakar -
39. Core sector grows 4.7% in October 2017 - The International Storytellers Festival’ held at the Indira
growth of Core sector has grown till 4.7% in the Gandhi National Centre for the Arts ( IGNCA), New
month of October 2017. The data is shared by the of Delhi.
eight core industries released by Ministry of Note:
Commerce and Industry. • The festival was inaugurated by the
Note: Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri
• This is the highest core sector growth since Kiren Rijiju.
March 2017. • The festival was started under the aegis of
• The eight core sectors include - coal, UNESCO in 2010.
natural gas, crude oil, refinery products, • It is the only oral storytelling festival in
cement, fertilizers, steel, and electricity. India and is a part of Ghummakkad Narain-
40. National Nutrition Mission approved by Union the Travelling Literature Festival.
• The festival this year will be hosted in the
Cabinet - The Union Cabinet has approved the setting
cities of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida and
of National Nutrition Mission (NNM) with an outlay of
Mumbai.
9046.17 crore rupees for three years. It will be rolled 43. BSF celebrated 52nd formation - The Border
out in three phases from 2017-18 to 2019-20. Security Force is celebrating its 52nd formation day on
Note: 1st December 2017.
• The function of NNM is to monitor various Note:
schemes contributing towards addressing • India's Border Security Force was formed on
malnutrition. December 1 in 1965 after the Indo-Pak and
• More than 10 crore people will be India-China wars.
benefitted by this programme.

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• The KF Rustamji, from the Indian police Note: Executive board is UNESCO’s top decision-
service, was the first Director General of BSF. making body. The election was held at 39th session of
• Krishan Kumar Sharma is the General Conference of UNESCO in Paris, France.
present Director General of BSF. 50. Facebook launches Disaster Maps in India - The
• BSF headquartered in New Delhi. social networking giant Facebook Inc. has rolled out
44. One Rupee note turns 100 - The one rupee note turns Disaster Maps for India in a bid to help communities
100 years old on 30th November 2017. recover and rebuild faster in aftermath of natural
Note: disasters. It was launched at Facebook’s first Disaster
• The first one-rupee note was introduced Response Summit in India along with National Disaster
on November 30, 1917, with the photo of Management Authority (NDMA) to improve disaster
King George V. response and disaster management in India.
• In 1926, the RBI discontinued issuance of Note: Government has claimed that India will be the
one-rupee note but it got reintroduced in first country to partner with Facebook on disaster
1940. In 1994 again, the note get response.
discontinued which got back reintroduced 51. India’s second Technology & Innovation Support
in 2015. Centre established at Centre for Intellectual Property
• The One Rupee note is issued by Ministry Rights (CIPR), Anna University, Chennai.
of Finance and it bears the signatures of Note:
Finance Secretary.
• The objective of TISC is to stimulate dynamic,
45. Cyclone Ockhi strikes in the Tamil Nadu & Kerala - The
vibrant and balanced Intellectual Property Rights
cyclone Ockhi strikes in the southern districts of Tamil
(IPRs) system in India to foster creativity and
Nadu and some parts of Kerala state.
innovation.
46. PM Narendra Modi launches Hyderabad Metro Rail
Project – Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated • It will thereby help to promote entrepreneurship
the first phase of the 72-km elevated Hyderabad Metro and enhancing social, economic and cultural
Rail project. development by establishing network of TISCs in
Moreover, PM Modi also launched the mobile app India.
named 'T Savari' for Metro passengers. The first 52. Supreme Court refuses to ban Kambala - The
phase of Hyderabad Metro Rail project has 24 Supreme Court has refused to pass an interim order to
stations in 30-km stretch between Miyapur and stay Ordinance allowing kambala, the traditional
Nagole. buffalo slush track race in Karnataka. People for
47. ‘Project Saksham’ launched by Railways Ministry - Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), a non-
‘Project Saksham’ is a complete training programme, governmental organisation, had challenged the
which aims to train all employees of Indian Railways Ordinance.
with a view to upgrade their skill and knowledge. It Note: Kambala is traditional slush track buffalo race
was launched by Union Minister of Railways & Coal that is held annually in coastal districts of Karnataka
Piyush Goyal. to entertain rural people of the area. The sports season
48. 5th Global Conference on Cyber Space held in New generally starts in November and lasts till March.
Delhi. 53. Govt. to provide financial assistance of Rs 2302.05
Note: The theme of the conference is Cyber for all, crore for Sagarmala projects - The Union Ministry of
a secure and inclusive cyberspace for sustainable Shipping undertook projects worth Rs 2302 crore for
Development. financial assistance under the Coastal Berth Scheme of
49. India re-elected member of UNESCO’s executive the Sagarmala Programme. The Ministry also extended
board - India was re-elected as member of executive the period of the scheme for three years up to 31
board of United Nations educational, scientific and March 2020 and expanded its scope to cover capital
cultural organization (UNESCO). dredging at Major Ports and preparation of DPR for
coastal berth project.
Key points-

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➢ The 47 projects under Coastal Berth Scheme are producing clusters, infrastructure, and potential
distributed over eight states with the highest areas of investment in the food processing sector.
number of projects in Maharashtra (12 projects), 58. India sends first wheat shipment to Afghanistan
Andhra Pradesh & Goa (10 projects), Karnataka (6 via Chabahar port - India has flagged off shipment of
projects), Kerala and Tamil Nadu (3 projects), wheat for Afghanistan through Iran’s Chabahar port.
Gujarat (2 projects) and West Bengal (1 project). Note: Chabahar port is strategically located in Sistan-
➢ The most recent beneficiaries of the scheme were Balochistan province on energy-rich Iran’s southern
Jawahar Lal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and coast in Gulf of Oman near its border with Pakistan
Karnataka Government respectively for and can be easily accessed from India’s western coast.
developing coastal infrastructure at Jawahar Lal 59. Govt. launched MSME Samadhaan Portal - The
Nehru Port, Karwar Port and Old Manglore Port. Union Government has launched MSME (Micro, Small
About Coastal Berth Scheme of Sagarmala and Medium Enterprise) delayed payment portal
Programme 'MSME Samadhaan'.
➢ The Coastal Berth Scheme aims to provide Key points –
financial support to ports or state governments ➢ The portal will give information about the
for creation of infrastructure for movement of pending payments of MSEs with individual
cargo and passenger by sea or national CPSEs, Central Ministries, State Governments,
waterways. etc.
➢ The total financial assistance from Central ➢ The portal will help in monitoring the delayed
Government is 50 per cent of the total cost of the payments in a more effective manner.
project subject. ➢ It will also empower the MSEs to access the
54. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) portal and monitor their cases.
approved implementation of Special Banking 60. Indian Railways to get its first set of solar plants -
Arrangement (SBA) for Rs. 10,000 crore for Indian Railways’ first set of solar plants having a total
payment of outstanding claims on account of fertilizer capacity of 5 megawatt peak (MWp). The plants built
subsidy in year 2016-17. on the roof tops of Hazrat Nizamuddin, New Delhi,
55. Railways launch main arch on world's highest Anand Vihar and Delhi railway stations would be
bridge on Chenab - The Indian Railways has generating 76.5 lakh units of solar power cumulatively
commenced the main arch of the world's highest every year and are expected to meet about 30 per cent
bridge on the River Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir's of the energy requirement of these stations.
Reasi district. 61. BharatMala Pariyojana: The Union Government has
56. BRO builds world's highest motorable road in approved mega highway projects to build 83677 km of
Ladakh - The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has highways over the next five years at a cost of Rs 7 lakh
constructed the world's highest motorable road in crore.
Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, passing Note:
through Umlingla Top at a height of over 19,300 feet. ➢ These highway projects include the ambitious
The feat was achieved under 'Project Himank' of the Bharatmala project which is the second-largest
organisation. highway project after National Highways
57. Govt. launched Food Regulatory & Nivesh Bandhu Development Project (NHDP) that saw
portal - Union Minister of Food Processing Industries development of about 50000 km of roads.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal announced the launch of the ➢ The Bharatmala Pariyojana or Project will
Food Regulatory Portal and Investor Facilitation subsume all the existing highway projects,
Portal “Nivesh Bandhu”. including the flagship National Highways
About Nivesh Bandhu Portal – Development Project (NHDP).
➢ “Nivesh Bandhu” portal will assist investors to ➢ Bharatmala project is an umbrella programme for
make informed investment decisions. roads under which 34800 km of highways will be
➢ It will provide information on Central and State constructed at a cost of Rs 5.35 lakh crore.
Governments’ investor friendly policies, agro-
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➢ Bharatmala Project will include 9000 km of ➢ This is a first of its kind of services in India. The
economic corridors, 6000 km of inter- RO RO ferry service will be able to bear up to
corridor and feeder routes, 5000 km of national hundred of vehicles (cars, bus, truck etc.) and
corridors efficiency improvement, 2000 km of 250 passengers linking the two ports.
border road connectivity, 800 km of ➢ The ro-ro ferry services will take wheeled cargo
expressways and 10000 km of balance on and off the ferry on their own wheels or
NHDP projects. using a platform vehicle. The wheeled cargo
➢ A study under the Bharatmala project by global includes, cars, trucks, semi-trailer trucks,
consultancy firm AT Kearney identified 44 trailers, and railroad cars.
economic corridors for development. The 64. Jaipur & Srinagar Airport ranked first and second
corridors included Mumbai-Cochin-Kanyakumari, in ACI-ASQ Survey - The Jaipur and Srinagar Airport
Bengaluru-Mangaluru, Hyderabad-Panaji and were ranked first and second respectively in ACI
Sambalpur-Ranchi among others. (Airports Council International)-ASQ (Airport Service
➢ The government has assigned NHAI, National Quality) Survey in the category of 2-5 million
Highway and Industrial Development Corporation passengers.
(NHIDCL) and state Public Work Departments 65. Times Higher Education Rankings: IISC & IIT
(PWDs) for the Bharatmala Project. Bombay among world’s top 200 for engineering -
62. India’s first Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra for The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore and
Skilling in Smart Cities Inaugurated - Union Home Indian Instituted of Technology (IIT) Bombay were
Minister Rajnath Singh along with Skill Development ranked among world’s top 200 institutions for
Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated India's engineering and computer science in Times Higher
first Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) for Education subject-wise rankings.
Skilling in Smart Cities in New Delhi. The main aim Note: IISc was placed at the 89th spot, while IIT
behind the development is to bring momentum in Bombay was placed in the 126 spot.
skilling through collaborative efforts. 66. JP Nadda has launched 15 medical outlets of ‘AMRIT
Note: The PMKK Centre for Smart Cities will provide Deendayal’ in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab
skill training for unemployed youth through its short- through Video Conference from Shimla.
term training (STT) module and contribute to capacity 67. PM dedicated first All India Institute of Ayurveda
building of municipal employees through Recognition of to nation - Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
Prior Learning (RPL) program. dedicated first All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in
63. PM Modi launches 'Ro-Ro' ferry service in Gujarat - New Delhi to the nation on the occasion of National
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Phase 1 Ayurveda Day.
of the RO RO (Roll on, Roll off) ferry service between Note:
Ghogha in Saurashtra and Dahej in south Gujarat. This ➢ The first ever All India Institute of Ayurveda
is the first of its kind project not only in India but also (AIIA)is an apex institute under Ministry of
in South-East Asia,” AYUSH.
About RO RO Ferry Service ➢ It aims to bring synergy between the traditional
➢ The term ro-ro is generally taken for large wisdom of Ayurveda and modern diagnostic tools
ocean-going vessels. This is in opposite to the lo- and technology. It has been set up on lines of
lo (lift-on and lift-off) vessels, which apply a AIIMS
crane to load and unload cargo.
68. India’s first micro forest being built in Chhattisgarh. 71. Country’s first ‘Videsh Bhavan’ launched in Bandra Kurla
69. The union minister Harsh Vardhan has launched SECURE Complex (BKC), Mumbai by External Affairs Minister
Himalaya project in association with UNDP at the Global ‘Sushma Swaraj’.
Wildlife Programme (GWP) conference in New Delhi. 72. India’s first Hyperloop project will come up in Andhra
70. The National Highways Authority of India has launched a Pradesh.
mobile app for smooth functioning of electronic toll 73. The ‘Kandla Port’ has been renamed as -- Deendayal Port.
collection --MyFASTag.

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Note: Kandla Port is the largest sea port of India (by


volume of cargo handled) located in Kutch District of
Gujarat.

States News
Indian dance heritage as well as the popularity of
1. Meghalaya launches India’s first social audit law - Konark Temple and Odisha as a tourist destination.
Meghalaya state has become the first Indian state to 10. Death for rape of girls aged 12 or less: MP - The
operationalize The Meghalaya Community Assembly of Madhya Pradesh has passed a bill
Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act, awarding death to those found guilty of raping girls
2017, a law that makes a social audit of government aged 12 and below.
programmes and schemes a part of government Note:
practice.
• The Bill will now be sent to the President
It was launched by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma at a
for his assent, after which it will become
national convention in Shillong.
a law.
2. GAIL commissions India’s second largest rooftop
solar plant in UP - GAIL India Ltd has commissioned • If President approved the bill, then
India’s second largest rooftop solar power plant in Madhya Pradesh will become the first
Uttar Pradesh. It is 5.76 MWp (Mega Watt peak) solar state where those convicted of such
plant installed at GAIL’s petrochemical complex at Pata rapes will face the death penalty.
in UP. • The bill introduced a section--376 (A)
Note: India’s largest rooftop solar plant was (A)--to the Indian Penal Code (IPC)
commissioned in December 2015 by Tata Power Solar under which a person convicted of
in Amritsar, Punjab. It is 12 MWp solar rooftop project, raping a girl aged 12 years or below may
which produces more than 150 lakh units of power be awarded death penalty, life
annually. imprisonment or a minimum
3. Vaikunta Ekadasi festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu imprisonment of 14 years with a fine.
4. The Losar festival celebrated in Ladakh region to 11. Nagaland celebrated 54th formation Day –
mark the new year. Nagaland state celebrated its 54th formation day. On
5. Rajasthan becomes the first state to offer e-mail
1 December 1963, Nagaland became the 16th state
IDs in Hindi - Rajasthan has become the first Indian
of India.
state to launch free email addresses in Hindi (in
Note:
Devanagari script) for its residents.
➢ The objective of this initiative aims to ensure • The key economic activity of the state is
maximum participation of people towards e- Agriculture and the main crops include –
governance and ensure those maximum rice, corn, millets, pulses, oilseeds, etc.
government facilities in vernacular language. • The state shares its borders with the
➢ Soon Rajasthan’s state personnel will have an state of Assam to the west, Arunachal
email id in Hindi too. Pradesh to the North, Manipur to the
6. International Sweet Festival' to be held in Hyderabad, South and Burma to the east.
Telangana • The capital of Nagaland is Kohima.
7. An International Festival of Poetry Mystic Kalinga held Dimapur is the largest city in Nagaland.
in Bhubaneswar Odisha • TR Zeliang is the present Chief Minister
8. Hot Air Balloon Festival held in Varanasi, UP. of the state.
9. Konark festival held in Odisha – The 31st edition • Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya is the
of the Konark festival held in Odisha. The festival Governor of the Nagaland.
held every year from 1st to 5th December. The
objective of the festival is to promote the diverse

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12. Hornbill festival held in Nagaland - The 18th permanent residents of all categories at district
Hornbill festival held in Nagaland. The festival is level.
celebrated from 1-10 December every year in 19. Goa to host Nobel Prize Event in February 2018 -
Nagaland. It is also called the 'Festival of Festivals'. The state government of Goa signed a trilateral
13. Telangana Govt: Urdu as Second Official memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the
Language - Telangana Chief Minister K Department of Biotechnology, Union Ministry of
Chandrashekar Rao declared Urdu as the state's Science and Technology and Nobel Media, Sweden to
second official language. Every office in the state will host the Nobel Prize Series - India event during 1-28
now have an Urdu speaking officer. First official February 2018.
language is Telugu. The event will be jointly organized by Department of
14. PM lays Foundation Stone for Infrastructure Bio-Technology, Union Ministry of Science and
Projects in Bihar - The Prime Minister Narendra Technology in collaboration with Department of
Modi has laid the foundation stone for four Science and Technology and Nobel Media AB,
sewerage projects under the Namami Gange Sweden.
programme; and four National Highway projects, at 20. Goa tops Gender Vulnerability Index – Goa has
Mokama in Bihar. The total outlay of these projects topped the Gender Vulnerability Index (GVI). The
is over Rs. 3700 crore. index was prepared by Child development NGO Plan
The projects include - The four sewerage projects India. Kerala and Mizoram secured second & third
include Sewage Treatment Plant at Beur, Sewerage rank respectively.
System with Sewer Network at Beur, Sewage Bihar ranked at the bottom which is followed by
Treatment Plant at Karmalichak and STP and Sewer Uttar Pradesh. Delhi was placed near bottom at the
Network at Saidpur. 24th place
15. Aerospace Park to be set up in Tamil Nadu – The 21. Lifetime pensions for 'Hindi Satyagrahis':
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Edapaddi K Palaniswami, Haryana Govt. - The state government of Haryana
laid the foundation stone for an aerospace park at announced the lifetime monthly pension of Rs
Kanchipuram district to be set up by the State 10,000 for 'Hindi Satyagrahis' and those from the
Government in 245 acres and at an estimated cost of state who were jailed during the Emergency.
Rs 198 crore. 22. Vrindavan, Barsana declared as Sacred Sites -
16. Maharashtra to build 210m World’s Tallest The Uttar Pradesh government issued an order
statue of Shivaji – Maharashtra government has notifying Vrindavan and Barsana towns in Mathura
decided to build the 210-metre-high statue of district as 'sacred pilgrimage sites' ('pavitra teerth
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the sea off the sthals'). With this, Vrindavan and Barsana became
Mumbai coast. the first two places to be notified as teerth sthal in
Currently, the Spring Temple Buddha statue, which government records. No meat and liquor shops will
stands at 208 metres in China, is the world’s tallest be allowed in these towns anymore.
statue. 23. Madras HC bans photographs of living persons
17. Allahabad to get India’s First Black Buck on sign-boards and banners - The Madras High
Conservation Reserve - Uttar Pradesh cabinet Court banned the use of photographs or pictures of
decided to make India's first conservation reserve living persons on banners, flex boards and sign-
for blackbuck in Allahabad's Meja. The decision boards across the state of Tamil Nadu.
taken for the protection of black deer will also help 24. Meghalaya Election department to feature in Limca
in wooing tourists. Book of Records - The Election department of
18. Haryana became the first State in India to treat Meghalaya state has won an entry in the Limca Book
Hepatitis-C Patients with Oral Medicine - Haryana of Records for forming a human logo with newly-
has emerged as the first state in the country to treat enrolled young voters of Meghalaya on 1 July 2017.
Hepatitis-C patients through oral medicine. This The information was shared by Limca official
medicine would be provided free of cost to Garima Manon with the office of Meghalaya Chief
Electoral Officer on 24 October 2017.
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25. Assam to host Global Investors Summit in 2018 - 33. Himachal Pradesh became the first Indian state to
Assam would be hosting its first Global Investors launch electric bus service.
Summit in Guwahati from 3- 4 February 2018. 34. Jharkhand state government has launched Shaheed
26. The state government of Chhattisgarh has reduced Gram Vikas Yojana to provide houses to freedom
the rate of interest on loan given to women and their fighters.
35. Tripura became the first Indian state to set up family
self-help groups under Saksham Yojna. The rate of
welfare district committees to examine the complaints
interest on loans has been cut from 6.5 per cent to 5 of women against their husbands and in-laws and find
per cent to benefit more women and their SHGs an amicable solution.
under the Yojna. 36. Jammu & Kashmir government has inaugurated the
27. India’s first-ever Industrial Training Institute for the second International Yoga Festival and International
Divyangans will come up in the state-- Assam. Yoga Sports Championship 2017.
Note: The foundation stone for the institute was laid at
37. India’s first-ever railways disaster management centre
Dibrugarh ITI Complex at Borboruah in Assam.
28. Prime Minister ‘Narander Modi’ laid the foundation will come up near Bengaluru, Karnataka by 2018.
stone of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) 38. India’s first-ever aviation university Rajiv Gandhi
at Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. National Aviation University (RGNAU) will come up in
29. Uttar Pradesh state govt. has launched a mass Fursatganj in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh.
marriage scheme ‘Mukhyamantri Samoohik Vivaah 39. The 2017 Aadi Perukku festival is celebrated in Tamil
Yojana’ for BPL families. Nadu.
30. Karnataka. state govt has launched 'Vision-2025' 40. India’s biggest Global Skill Park will be set up in the
project across the state. Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Note: The project aimed at evolving a draft policy for 41. India’s first automatic coastal warning for disasters
development of the state for the year 2025 by will set up in Odisha.
seeking the opinion of the general public. 42. India’s first freight village will be developed by the
31. Odisha state Govt. has launched a Sampurna Yojna Inland waterways authority of India (IWAI) in --
scheme for pregnant women. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
32. The Union Minister Dr. Harshvardhan has launched 'Pt
Deen Dayal Upadhayay Vigyan Gram Sankul
Pariyojana' in Uttarakhand.

International Affairs

3. Saudi Arabia, UAE introduce VAT for first time -


1. Six countries enter UN Security Council – Equatorial Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) became
Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kuwait, Peru, Poland and the first countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to
Netherlands formally joined the ranks of the non- introduce Value Added Tax (VAT) for the first time to
permanent members of the United Nations Security increase their revenue away from oil reserves. The
Council. other members of 6 member GCC– Bahrain, Kuwait,
Note: Oman and Qatar — have also committed to introduce
➢ The UN Security Council has 15 members, VAT, though some have delayed plans until at least
including five with permanent seats who have 2019.
the power to veto resolutions - Britain, China, 4. Norway becomes 1st Nation to shut national
France, Russia and the United States. broadcasts on FM - Norway has become the world's
➢ The six countries who left the UN Security first country to shut down national broadcasts of its
Council on December 31 are Egypt, Italy, Japan, FM network by completing its transition to digital
Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay. radio.
2. India to set up IT center in Egypt's Al Azhar 5. China successfully tested its first Photovoltaic road
University - India will be establishing a Centre of - The first photovoltaic (solar) highway based on
Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT) at Al
Azhar University in Egypt.
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home-grown technology was successfully tested in 10. Google launches artificial intelligence research
Shandong province of China. center in China –
Note: Alphabet Inc's Google is opening an artificial
intelligence (AI) research center in China to target the
➢ The photovoltaic highway is constructed using
country's local talent.
solar panels which have a thin sheet of
transparent concrete on top of them, The research center is the first of its kind in Asia and
protecting the surface. will comprise a small team operating out of its existing
➢ With this, China became the second country in office in Beijing.
the world to construct a photovoltaic highway. Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence displayed by
➢ Earlier, in 2016 France had introduced world’s machines, in contrast with the natural intelligence (NI)
first photovoltaic road fitted with solar panels. displayed by humans and other animals.
6. Guatemala to move its embassy in Israel to 11. India to Become the Fifth Largest Economy in
2018: Cebr Report – According to the Centre for
Jerusalem - Guatemala’s President Jimmy Morales
Economics and Business Research (Cebr) report-
has announced that it would be moving its embassy in India's economy is expected to overtake that of Britain
Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. and France to become the fifth largest in the world in
Guatemala was one of the 9 nations that had voted dollar terms in 2018, and third largest in 2032.
against the United Nations resolution that rejected US Note:
President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize ➢ China is likely to overtake the United States as
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. the world's No.1 economy in 2032, Cebr said.
7. WHO Certifies Gabon as Polio-Free - The World ➢ India is currently seventh in the top world
Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Gabon economies with $ 2 trillion.
(central African country) "polio-free country", given ➢ According to the World Economic Forum, the
the lack of new reported or suspected cases world's top 3 economies are-
The UN health agency nonetheless recommended ➢ USA ($ 18 trillion),
taking the necessary steps to continue monitoring for ➢ China (11 trillion dollars),
possible signs of the disease. ➢ Japan (4.4 trillion dollars)
Since 1988, Cases of polio have decreased by 99%, 12. World's longest glass bridge opens in China at 755
when polio was endemic in 125 countries and 350,000 feet high - The 488-metre-long bridge at Hongyagu
cases were recorded worldwide. Scenic Area in Hebei, is the world’s longest glass-floor
8. Saudi Arabia to host World Chess - Saudi Arabia will bridge.
soon host a world chess tournament for the first time 13. Russia has signed an agreement to build a nuclear
nearly two years after the country’s top cleric issued a power plant in Sudan
religious edict against playing the board game 14. Belgium becomes the first country to appoint
9. India selected as Chair of Ad Hoc Committee of female ambassador to Saudi Arabia - Dominique
Kimberley Certification Scheme - India was selected Mineur, who is currently posted in the United Arab
as Chair of Ad Hoc Committee on Review & Reforms to Emirates, will join the Belgium embassy in Saudi
look into various issues pertaining to the Kimberley capital Riyhad in summer 2018.
Process Certification Scheme (KPSC) at recently held 15. Saudi Arabia lifts 35 years ban on cinemas, movie
KP Plenary Session in Brisbane, Australia. theaters.
16. Taj Mahal named second-best UNESCO world
Angola will be the Vice Chair of this Adhoc Committee heritage site – According to a survey, the Taj Mahal
and will work with India and other members of of Agra, India is the second-best UNESCO world
Committee on reform issues related to changes in core heritage site in the world.
document, expansion of scope of KP.
Note:
• Angkor Wat of Cambodia named as the
India was appointed as the Kimberly Process (KP) Vice
Best UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Chair for 2018 & Chair for 2019 in the last plenary of
KP held in Dubai in November, 2016. The EU will be KP • Angkor is one of the most important
Chair for 2018. archaeological sites in South-East Asia.

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• The survey was conducted by the • Till now, 46 countries have signed and
world’s largest travel portal TripAdvisor 19 ratified Framework Agreement of
which lists the UNESCO Cultural and International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Natural heritage sites which are rated by • It is the first treaty-based international
travellers around the globe. government organisation to be based in
• Taj Mahal is followed by Great Wall, India.
China; Machu Picchu, Peru; Iguazu Falls, • Its headquarter is located on the campus
Argentina/Brazil; Sassi of Materia, Italy; of National Institute of Solar Energy
Auschwitz, Poland; Old City of Jerusalem, (NISE), Gwalpahari, Gurgaon, Haryana.
Israel; Historic areas of Istanbul, Turkey; About ISA
and Historic Krakow, Poland. • The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is
17. Venezuela Airlines banned from European Union jointly launched by the Prime Minister
skies - The Airline of Venezuela Avior has been Narendra Modi and French President
barred from European Union skies after a committee Francois Hollande on the sidelines of
determined it no longer meets international safety COP-21 of UN Climate Conference in
standards. Paris in November 2015.
18. Donald Trump recognise Jerusalem as Israel's • The ISA is an alliance of more than 121
capital – Donald Trump has announced that the U.S. countries. The institutional structure of
will recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. ISA consists of an Assembly, a Council
19. Wassenaar Arrangement decides to admit India and a Secretariat.
as its new member – The elite export control • The alliance is also called International
regime Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) has decided Agency for Solar Policy and Application
to admit India as its new member at the two-day (IASPA).
plenary meeting of the grouping in Vienna. 21. PM Modi emerges as most tweeted about world
It would enhance its credentials in the field of leader after Trump - According to the
non-proliferation despite not being a signatory microblogging site Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra
to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Modi has emerged as the most tweeted about world
The Wassenaar Arrangement plays a significant leader after US President Donald Trump this year.
role in promoting transparency and greater Note:
responsibility in transfers of conventional arms • With 44.1 million followers, Donald
and dual-use goods and technologies. Trump top the “most tweeted about
Note: world leaders” for the year 2017.
India will become the Arrangement's 42nd • Narendra Modi ranked on the second
participating state as soon as the necessary spot with 37.5 million followers about
procedural arrangements for joining the WA are the world leader, after Donald Trump.
completed. 22. Iran President opened the first phase of
The Wassenaar Arrangement participating Chabahar port which is known as the Shahid
states reviewed the progress of the number of Beheshti port. Iran President Hassan Rouhani
current membership applications and agreed at inaugurated the port. The Shahid Beheshti Port of
the plenary meeting to admit India. Chabahar is now the only and largest port in Iran on
20. ISA become Treaty-based International the Indian Ocean and will significantly help in
Intergovernmental organization –The regional development with the rest of world
International Solar Alliance (ISA) has become the countries.
treaty-based international intergovernmental 23. US withdraws from UN Migrant & Refugee pact. –
organization one month after Guinea became the The United States has withdrawn itself from a
15th country to ratify it. United Nations Migrant & Refugee pact. to improve
Note: the handling of migrant and refugee situations.

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24. Venezuela to launch new cryptocurrency ‘Petro’ amount of USD 100 million towards the UN
- According to the Venezuelan President Nicolas partnership fund, scaling up its support to sustainable
Maduro, the country is set to launch a digital development projects across the developing world.
currency called the “petro” to combat US -led 31. ICIJ releases Paradise papers - The International
financial "blockade,". Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has
The ‘Petro’ a cryptocurrency will be backed by released ‘The Paradise Papers’, a global investigation
Venezuela’s oil, mineral and gold reserves. It that reveals the offshore activities of some of the
would help Venezuela to make financial world’s most powerful people and companies.
Note: Among 180 countries represented in the data,
transactions and overcome the financial
India ranks 19th in terms of number of names. In all
blockade.
names of 714 Indians have figured in this largest ever
25. India re-elected to International Maritime
black money data leak.
Organisation Council. YK Sinha, India’s
International Consortium of Investigative
ambassador to the UK, represented India at the Journalists (ICIJ) - The ICIJ is global network of more
assembly in London. India joined the International than 200 investigative journalists in 70 countries who
Maritime Organisation Council as a member in 1959. collaborate on in-depth investigative stories. It was
Note: founded in 1997 by respected American journalist
• The International Maritime Organization Chuck Lewis. It is headquartered in Washington DC,
(IMO) is the agency of United Nation which US. Earlier in 2016, it had released Panama Papers.
plays an important role in relation to the 32. Guinea ratifies International Solar Alliance
global shipping industry. Framework Agreement - The Republic of Guinea
• It was established in 1959. ratified the International Solar Alliance (ISA)
• The IMO has 172 Member States and three Framework Agreement. The instrument of ratification
Associate Members. was handed over to External Affairs Minister Sushma
• Headquarter of IMO – London, United Swaraj by Guinea’s Foreign Minister Mamady Toure,
Kingdom who was on his 4 day visit to India from 3-6 November
2017.
• Head - Kitack Lim
Note:
26. Bank of China Begins Operations in Pakistan - Bank
➢ With this, Guinea became the 15th country to
of China has formally launched its operations in
ratify the agreement.
Pakistan, with its first branch inaugurated in Karachi.
➢ With the ratification of ISA pact by 15
27. Priti Patel resigned from UK Cabinet - Priti
countries, ISA will now be an international
Patel, Britain’s first Indian-origin Cabinet Minister
legal body.
resigned as International Development Secretary.
About International Solar Alliance Pact
Note: This was the second Cabinet resignation within a
➢ The International Solar Alliance was launched
week. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has also
resigned recently over sexual harassment allegations. jointly by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and French President Francois Hollande on the
28. EU Launches Election Observation Mission for
Nepal Polls - The European Union Election first day of the COP-21 summit at Paris in 2015.
Observation Mission was officially launched to monitor ➢ The ISA headquartered in India.
➢ The alliance was conceived as a coalition of solar
the general and provincial polls in Nepal which are
scheduled for November 26 and December 7. resource rich countries to collaborate on meeting
their energy needs through a common and agreed
29. Hong Kong, World's Top City for International
approach.
visits - Hong Kong remains the world's most visited
➢ The alliance will become a legal entity once at least
city by international travellers in spite of strained
15 countries ratify and deposit the framework
relations with neighbouring China. The report is
published by Euromonitor International. agreement.
33. Saudi Arabia to allow women into sports stadiums
Top 3 Countries in the list are - Hong Kong, Bangkok &
London. from 2018 - Turki Al-Asheikh, Chairman of the
30. India to contribute USD 100 million to UN General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia announced
that Saudi women will now be able to attend sports
partnership fund - India has pledged an additional
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events in stadiums starting from 2018. The move is ➢ United Nations Educational, Scientific and
aimed at empowering and engaging women in the Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recently
society as an integral part of the development process. announced Sharjahas as the ‘World Book
34. WHO removes Robert Mugabe as Goodwill Capital 2019’.
Ambassador for NCDs in Africa- The World Health 39. World’s First Hydrogen Tram Begins Operation in
Organisation (WHO) cancelled the appointment of China - The world’s first hybrid electric tram powered
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's appointment as by hydrogen fuel cells has started running in China,
its Goodwill Ambassador for Non-Communicable marking a big step in the application of green energy in
Diseases (NCDs) in Africa. public transport.
35. Nicaragua signs Paris Climate Agreement - Central 40. Burundi, first Nation to leave International
American country Nicaragua signed the Paris Criminal Court - Burundi became the first nation ever
Agreement on climate change, leaving the United to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), set up
States and Syria as the only two countries holing out to 15 years ago to prosecute those behind the world’s
sign this global climate pact. worst atrocities.
Note: As per Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, Note:
the Paris Agreement is the only international ➢ Bujumbura is the capital of Burundi and
mechanism that offers the conditions to face global Burundian franc is its currency.
warming and its effects. ➢ International Criminal Court established in
➢ US withdrawal from Paris agreement - 2002. Its head office is located in the Hague,
President Donald Trump on 1 June 2017 the Netherlands.
withdrew the United States from the landmark 41. Peru approves medicinal use of marijuana - The
2015 Paris agreement to fight climate change. Peru government = has approved a bill to authorises
Trump stated that the Paris accord will the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis
undermine the US economy, cost US jobs, weaken (marijuana) in the country.
American national sovereignty and put the Note: With this Peru became sixth country in Latin
country at a permanent disadvantage to the other America to legalise cannabis. Uruguay was first in
countries of the world. 2013, allowing sales of cannabis any purpose. It was
36. 14th SAARCLAW Conference held in Colombo, Sri followed by Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Chile.
Lanka - The 14th South Asian Association for Regional 42. Chile named Best Country to Visit in 2018 - The
Co-operation in Law (SAARCLAW) Conference was travel guide company Lonely Planet has ranked Chile
held in Colombo, capital city of Sri Lanka along with as the number one country to visit in 2018 in its Best
11th SAARC Chief Justices Conference. in Travel 2018 list.
37. China Unveils Asia's Largest Island-Building Vessel Note:
- China unveiled Asia's largest artificial island-building ➢ The guide has published the 13th edition of its
ship. The 140-metre-long vessel, which has been annual list of the top 10 countries every traveller
dubbed as"magic island maker", is capable of digging should have on their bucket list for 2018.
6,000 cubic metres an hour, which is equivalent to ➢ Chile was the only South American country to earn
three standard swimming pools. The boat named Tian the top spot on the list.
Kun Hao is equivalent of three standard swimming ➢ Top 3 Countries in the list are – Chile, South Korea
pools. & Portugal
38. World’s Third Largest Book Fair Opens in Sharjah - 43. Gina Miller Named UK’s Most Influential Black
With more than 1.5 million book titles and 1,650 Person of the Year - Indian origin campaigner Gina
publishing houses from 60 countries, Sharjah Miller was named UK’s most influential black person of
International Book Fair (SIBF) opened its doors to the year. She won a legal challenge seeking
public and trade visitors. It is the third largest book fair Parliamentary approval for triggering Brexit.
in the world. Note: Gina Miller (52-year-old) ranked on top in the
Note: 2018 'Powerlist' of 100 people of African and
➢ The book fair was held under the theme ‘A African Caribbean inheritance published in London
World in My Book’. The event has been by Powerful Media.
organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA).

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44. Saudi Arabia lift its ban on internet calling 30. British scientists developed the world’s smallest
applications, easing restrictions online as the surgical robot named -Versius, which could transform
conservative kingdom faces new criticism over daily operations for tens of thousands of patients.
censorship. 46. China launched its first cyber court specializing in
45. The world’s highest sandcastle has built in the handling Internet-related cases in the e-commerce hub
Germany. of Hangzhou.
Note: According to the Guinness World Records, the 47. Montenegro Officially joined North Atlantic Treaty
world's highest sandcastle is now standing 16.68 Organization (NATO) and become the 29th member
meters tall in the German city of Duisburg. country.
28. Two-day Indian Ocean Conference 2017 being 48. The world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge has
organized by India Foundation in Temple Trees in -- opened in Switzerland.
Colombo. 49. Peggy Whitson (an Astronaut) returned to Earth,
Note: The theme of this year’s conference is Peace, wrapping up a record-breaking flight that catapulted
Progress and Prosperity and will involve participants her to first place for U.S. space endurance.
from more than 35 countries. This will be second IOC Note: Whitson’s 665 days off the planet 288 days on this
conference (first edition-Sep16 in Singapore). mission alone exceeds that of any other American and
28. Kenya imposed the world's toughest law against plastic any other woman worldwide.
bags in the country to reduce plastic pollution.
29. Google has launched the latest version of its mobile
operating system -- Android Oreo.

Sports News

1. 61st National Shooting Championships in • This is the first South Asian title for
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Bangladesh in women's football.
• Jitu Rai has clinched the Men's 50-metre • India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan
pistol national title 2017. participated in this South Asian Football
• He set a record of 233 at the 61st National Federation tournament.
Shooting Championships in
Thiruvananthapuram. 5. Indian boxers win 5 medals (3 gold, 1 silver & 1
• Note: bronze) at Galym Tournament at the Galym
• Jai Singh secured bronze with an effort of Zharylgapov Boxing Tournament in Karaganda,
198.4. Kazakhstan.
• Arjun Singh Cheema of Punjab won the 6. Birmingham to host Commonwealth Games in
junior men's 50m pistol event.
2022 - Earlier, the 2022 Commonwealth Games were
2. Anisa Sayyed of Haryana won the gold at 25m
originally given to Durban (South African city) in 2015,
pistol category in 61st National Shooting
but the city was stripped of the event because of
Championships. She set a record of 33.
financial difficulties.
• In the junior women's 25m pistol, another
Note: Shooting game is excluded from Commonwealth
Haryana shooter Chinki Yadav won gold
Games 2022.
with another final national record score of
7. India has won 10 medals (5-Silver and 5 Bronze) in
31.
the first Wushu Sanda Asian Cup in Guangzhou, China.
8. Sushil Kumar & Sakshi Malik win gold at
3. World Rapid Chess Championship 2017 - Indian
Commonwealth Wrestling Championships - India’s
Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand has won the World
Sushil Kumar (freestyle wrestler) clinched the gold
Rapid Chess Championship in Riyadh.
medal at the Commonwealth Wrestling
4. Bangladesh won SAFF U-15 Women's
Championships, in South Africa.
Championships title – Bangladesh defeated India in
He defeated Akash Khullar (New Zealand) with a
the final to won the SAFF Under-15 Women's
pinfall in the final of the 74kg freestyle category.
Championships.
• Sakshi Malik won the gold medal in the 62kg
women's freestyle category
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• India’s Parveen Rana won a bronze medal in Ronaldo previously won the award in 2008, 2013,
the same category. 2014 and 2016.
9. Dubai World Badminton Superseries– Akane 19. IOC banned Russia from 2018 Winter Olympics
Yamaguchi of Japan defeated P V Sindhu in the final Games - The International Olympic Committee (IOC)
10. Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic named USA
has banned Russia from the 2018 Winter Olympics
Player of Year - Midfielder Christian Pulisic (19-year)
Games.
has been named as the U.S. male Player of the Year.
11. Sachin Siwach named ABC’s best youth boxer - The Note:
World youth champion Sachin Siwach has been named • The decision was announced by the IOC
the Asian Boxing Confederation’s best youth boxer of president Thomas Bach and his board
the year 2017. members on the findings and
12. Hockey World League winner – Australia beat recommendations of a 17-month investigation
Argentina by 2-1 in the final to retain their Hockey on the state-sponsored doping at the 2014
World League title. The final was played in Games hosted by Russia in Sochi.
Bhubaneswar, Odisha. • The 2018 Winter Olympics Games will be held
Note: India defeated Germany by 2-1 to grab the in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
bronze medal at the event. 20. India win first-ever South Asian Regional Badminton
13. FIFA Lifts Kuwait Football Ban – The international Team Championship - India defeated Nepal by 3-0 to
football federation, FIFA, has lifted a two-year
win the first-ever South Asian Regional Badminton
suspension against Kuwait’s football association that
Team Championship.
has prevented the country from participating in
The final match was played at Tarun Ram Phookan
international tournaments.
Indoor Stadium in Guwahati.
14. Kanchanmala Pande wins India’s 1st World Para
21. Jason Holder, captain of West Indies suspended for
Swimming Championship Gold – Kanchanmala
2nd test –
Pande of Nagpur has created history as she became the
The Captain of the West Indies team Jason Holder has
first Indian to secure pole position at the World Para-
been suspended for the 2nd test against New Zealand
Swimming Championship in Mexico.
because of his team's slow over-rate in the opening
Note: She won the gold in the 200-meter medley
fixture.
event in the S-11 category and was also the only Indian
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC),
to qualify for the women’s category.
the sentence was forced after the West Indies were
15. Mujeeb Zadran From Afghanistan Becomes First
ruled to be three overs short of their target in the
Cricketer Born in 21st Century - Mujeeb-ur-Rehman
Wellington Test, which they lost by an innings and 67
Zadran, the 16-year-old off-spinner, became the
runs.
youngest ever from Afghanistan to play International
22. Virat Kohli became the first captain to hit six
cricket and overall, he is the 9th youngest to make
double centuries in Test cricket. He scored his
debut in ODI cricket.
record sixth Test double hundred in 238 balls on the
16. Gurdeep creates three national records in IWF
second day of the ongoing third Test against Sri Lanka
C'ships – Lifter Gurdeep Singh has created three new
at the Feroz Shah Kotla.
senior national records in +105 Kilogram weight
Note: Also, Virat Kohli became the second Indian
category in IWF World Weightlifting Championships at
cricketer to score back-to-back double hundreds after
Anaheim in USA.
Vinod Kambli.
17. Sushil Kumar quits as National Sports Observer for
wrestling –The Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar has
resigned from the post of a National Sports Observer
23. Prithvi Shaw to lead in 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket
for wrestling. Earlier, Boxing Champion Mary Kom had
World Cup – The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup will be
resigned as the national observer for boxing. held in New Zealand from 13th January to 3rd
18. Cristiano Ronaldo wins fifth Ballon d'Or award – February 2018.
The Real Madrid forward ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’ (32-year) 24. Deepika Kumari of India has won the bronze medal at
has won the Ballon d'Or for a fifth time to move level the Indoor Archery World Cup which was concluded in
with rival Lionel Messi at a ceremony in Paris. Bangkok.
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25. Mirabai Chanu becomes the second Indian to win the 30. FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 – For the first time, India
Gold medal in World Weightlifting Championships at hosted the 17th edition of FIFA U-17 World. Nicolai
Anaheim, USA. Adam is the coach of Indian team. Amarjit Singh Kiyam
Note: (Manipur) is the captain of U-17 FIFA Indian team.
• She won the Gold medal in the women’s 48kg Key Facts –
category. ➢ Winner – England won the title by defeating
• She became the second Indian after Karnam Spain by 5-2 in the final.
Malleswari to achieve the feat. ➢ Best Player Award - Phil Foden of England has
• Karnam Malleswari won the Gold medal in been adjudged tournament’s best player and has
World Weightlifting Championships in 1995 in been awarded ‘Golden Ball’.
China. ➢ Golden Glove’ Award - Gabriel Brazao the
• Chanu belongs from Manipur state. goalkeeper of Brazil’s national football team has
26. Gopi Thonakal became the first Indian man to win won the ‘Golden Glove’.
Asian Marathon Championship held at Dongguan in ➢ Brazil has won the Fair Play Award.
China. He belongs from Kerala state. ➢ Jeakson Singh (Manipur) creates history by
27. Ankushita wins 'Best Boxer' title in World Youth scoring India’s first ever goal in FIFA U-17
Women's Boxing Championship World Cup against Colombia.
• Ankushita Boro, of Assam, has won the Best Boxer' ➢ FIFA U-17 WC in India becomes most attended
title in World Youth Women's Boxing in event’s history for the first time.
Championship held in Guwahati. ➢ USA-Based Namit Deshpande becomes the
• She clinched the fifth gold for India after defeating First NRI to Play for India’s U17 World Cup
Russia’s Ekaterina Dynnik in the 64kg final. Team.
• She belongs from Megaai Gairrani village in Assam ➢ Esther Staubli (Switzerland) became the first
and began boxing in 2012. female football referee to officiate a match.
28. Pankaj Advani wins World Snooker Championship ➢ The official Mascot for the FIFA U-17 World
- Pankaj Advani defeated Amir Sarkhosh of Iran 8-2 to Cup 2017 was clouded leopard named ‘Kheleo’.
➢ The official ball for Under-17 football World Cup
win the 15-frame IBSF World Snooker Championship is called ‘Krasava’.
in Doha ➢ The final match of the event was held in Salt
It was the Indian star’s 18th world title. Lake Stadium, Kolkata.
Advani had won his 17th world title at the same venue 31. Asian Boxing Championship 2017: Indian boxer MC
when he won the IBSF World Billiards Championship Mary Kom won Gold in 48 kg category. She defeated
defeating Mike Russell of England. North Korea’s Hyang Mi Kim by 5-0. The tournament
29. AIBA Youth Women’s World Boxing Championship held in Vietnam.
2017 - India's first youth world boxing championship 32. Badminton Men’s National Champion – H.S.
will be held from 19 to 26 November 2017 in Prannoy. He defeated Kidambi Srikanth at 82nd
Guwahati, Assam. Senior National Championship, in Nagpur,
• The official mascot, named - Guppy, is a Maharashtra.
female version of Assam's one-horned rhino. 33. Badminton Women’s National Champion – Saina
• The logo infuses two key elements-- the Nehwal. She defeated P.V. Sindhu at 82nd Senior
strength of an Indian woman in the form of a National Championship, in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
female boxer and the culture of Assam Note: World Senior Badminton Championship held in
through the 'gamosa', a hand-woven piece of Kochi.
cloth in the state. 34. Jasprit Bumrah (bowler) ranked at top spot in ICC
• The World Championship's official anthem T20 Rankings.
is 'Make Some Noise'. It is composed by Shaan 35. Puducherry becomes an Associate Member of BCCI
and rendered by renowned singer Sunidhi - The Cricket Association of Puducherry (CAP) was
Chauhan. chosen by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) as
• Mary Kom named ambassador of the AIBA an associate member of the Board of Control for
Youth Women’s World Boxing Championship. Cricket in India (BCCI). Now Puducherry will be
allowed to play the Ranji Trophy in 2018.
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36. International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup ➢ Hingis was inducted into the International
2017 (ISSF) – Host country – India. Heena Sidhu and Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013.
Jeetu Rai won the Gold medal at 10m Air Pistol event. ➢ She also won the Women’s Doubles and Mixed
Note: doubles of US Open 2017.
• The ISSF headquarters is located in Munich, 46. Aditi Ashok (golfer) won third Ladies European Tour
Germany. Olegario Vazquez Rana has been serving title in Abu Dhabi.
as the President of the organisation since 1980. 47. Shiv Kapur (golfer) won the Panasonic Open Title.
37. Heena Sidhu wins Gold at 10m Air Pistol event in 48. Women’s Asia Cup Hockey 2017 - Indian women's
Commonwealth Shooting Championships held in hockey team defeated China by 5-4 to win the Asia Cup
Brisbane, Australia. 2017 title. The final was held in Kakamigahara city in
38. Roger Federer wins ATP World Tour 8th Basel Title by southern Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
defeating Juan Martin del Potro in the final. Note:
39. Yonex French Open Badminton 2017: The ➢ With the victory, Team India has secured a
tournament was held in Paris, France. berth for itself at the 2018 Hockey World Cup.
List of Winners – This is the second time that India has claimed
• Men’s Singles - Kidambi Srikanth (India) beat the top spot in the history of the tournament.
Kenta Nishimoto (Japan). ➢ The first time was 13 years ago in the year
• Women’s Singles - Tai Tzu Ying (Chinese Taipei) 2004.
beat Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) 49. Men’s Asia Cup Hockey 2017 - India beat Malaysia in
Note: the final to clinch Asia Cup 2017 title. The final was
➢ Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth became the played in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
first Indian to win the men’s singles title at Note: It last clinched the trophy in 2003 and 2007 in
French Open badminton tournament. Kuala Lumpur and Chennai respectively.
40. Scott Fleming joined National Basketball Association 50. Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth achieves career-
(NBA) India as Head of Basketball Operations. best World No 2 ranking. He won back-to-back titles
41. Amjyot Singh becomes third Indian in National at Indonesia and Australia and then at Denmark and
Basketball Association (NBA) league. Amjyot France.
Singh became the third Indian after Satnam Singh and Note:
Palpreet Singh Brar to walk into the National ➢ Kidambi Srikanth wins Men's Singles Title in
Basketball Association (NBA) league. French Open. He defeated Japan's Kenta
42. Gokul Natesan, second Indian-Origin Player to be Nishimoto in the final.
Signed by NBA G-League side. He was picked by Canton ➢ Kidambi Srikanth wins Men's Singles Title in
Charge, a minor league affiliate team of Cleveland Denmark Open. He defeated Hong Kong's
Cavaliers. Wong Wing Ki Vincent in the final.
43. Patna Pirates beats Gujarat Fortunegiants to clinched ➢ Kidambi Srikanth wins Men's Singles Title in
Third Pro Kabaddi Successive Title. Indonesia Open. He defeated Japan's
44. 2017 Sultan of Johor Cup Hockey: The tournament Kazumasa Sakai in the final.
was held in Malaysia. ➢ Kidambi Srikanth wins Men's Singles Title in
Key points Australia Open. He defeated China’s Chen
➢ Australia won the title by defeating Great Britain Long in the final.
in the final. 51. Virat Kohli & Mithali Raj top the ICC ODI Rankings -
➢ Indian won the Bronze medal by defeating Indian cricket team captains Virat Kohli and Mithali Raj
Malaysia. became number one at ICC ODI rankings for batsman
45. Martina Hingis announces retirement from Pro and batswomen.
Tennis. Key points –
Key facts – ➢ Indian captain Virat Kohli reclaimed the top
➢ Martina Hingis is from Switzerland. spot of the ICC ODI rankings for batsmen with
➢ She is the youngest Grand Slam champion in 889 rating points.
history, having won the Wimbledon doubles ➢ Mithali Raj was ranked number with 753
title when she was just 15 yrs. old. rating points.

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52. Virat Kohli becomes fastest batsman to score 9000- 56. Ashish Nehra retired from all format of Cricket –
run mark - Indian skipper Virat Kohli became the Ashish Nehra has announced his retirement from all
sixth Indian and fastest to complete 9000 ODI runs formats of Cricket during the third T-20 match against
during India’s third and final one-day international India and New Zealand in Delhi.
against New Zealand in Kanpur. Kohli has played his Note:
202nd innings, has become the 19th batsman to break ➢ Ashish Nehra made his cricket debut in 1999
the 9000-run mark, making him the fastest to get under Mohammed Azharuddin in India.
there. ➢ He made his international debut in a Test
53. Delhi Olympic Games to be held in December - The match against Sri Lanka in Colombo in
Delhi State Olympic Association has announced to February 1999.
organise Delhi Olympic Games in the capital city. The ➢ He has taken 44 Test wickets, besides 157 ODI
sporting events will be held from 9 December 2017- 18 and 34 T20.
December 2017. The announcement to conduct a 57. FIFA suspends the Pakistan Football Federation -
sporting event of Olympic level came in order to The Fédération Internationale de Football Association
promote Olympics and also the spirit of sports and (FIFA) has decided to suspend the Pakistan Football
sportsmen in Delhi. Federation (PFF) with immediate effect in accordance
Note: Olympic wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt was with the verdict of the Bureau of the FIFA Council on
confirmed as the brand ambassador of Delhi Olympic 10 October 2017 on account of undue third-party
Games 2017. interference. Following its decision to suspend the PFF,
54. Cristiano Ronaldo wins the Best FIFA Men's Player the Pakistan Football Federation loses all its
Award - Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo won the membership rights as per FIFA Statutes.
Best FIFA Men's Player Award for the second year in 58. Iceland makes history to Qualifies for FIFA 2018
London. World Cup - Iceland created history by qualifying for
Note: the 2018 World Cup. This is the first time that Iceland
➢ Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi and Brazil’s qualified for the World Cup.
forward Neymar were runners up for the Note:
award. ➢ Iceland became the smallest country to clinch a
➢ Ronaldo got 43.16 per cent of the total votes, position at the 21st FIFA World Cup.
while Lionel Messi and Neymar fetched 19.25 ➢ The previous smallest country to have reached
and 6.97 per cent votes respectively. the World Cup was Trinidad & Tobago which
➢ Best FIFA Men's Coach - Zinedine Zidane had a population of 1.3 million.
➢ Best FIFA Goalkeeper - Gianluigi Buffon ➢ The 21st edition of FIFA World Cup 2018 will
➢ Best FIFA Women's Player - Lieke Martens be held in Russia.
➢ Best Women's Coach - Sarina Wiegman ➢ This is the first time when Iceland and Panama
➢ FIFA Fan Award - Celtic will be participants.
55. Kavita Devi becomes first Indian Woman to sign 59. Gaganjeet Bhullar Clinches Macao Open Golf Title
with World Wrestling Entertainment - Kavita Devi 2017 – With this win Gaganjeet Bhullar has lifted
became the first Indian woman to tie-up with the his eighth Asian Tour title at the Macau Open.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). 60. India to host Junior Asian Wrestling Championship
Note: (JAWC) 2018.
➢ Shadia Bseiso became the first Arab woman 61. Sivalingam Sathish Kumar and Ragala Venkat Rahul
from the Middle East to sign a WWE qualified for next year’s Commonwealth Games after
developmental contract. winning a gold medal each in their respective weight
➢ Kavita Devi hails from Haryana and was an divisions at the Commonwealth Senior (men & women)
accomplished kabaddi player in high school. Weightlifting Championships in Gold Coast, Australia.
➢ In 2016, she won gold in the 75kg weightlifting 62. India's Pooja Kadian has won the first ever gold medal
at Wushu World Championships in Kazan, Russia.
division at the South Asian Games.
Note: Pooja defeated Evgeniya Stepanova in the final.
➢ She is the first Indian woman to compete in a
63. Maharashtra won the Chief Minister's cup with 45
WWE ring.
gold medals at the National kickboxing championship
held in Raipur.
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64. India has lost the World Group Play-off tie of Davis 75. India will host the Men's World Boxing Championship
Cup Tennis Tournament to the host Canada 2-3. for the first time in 2021.
65. India finishes 5th in medals tally with one gold and two 76. Rahul Yadav Chittaboina (shuttler) has won the
silver medals at Moscow Shotgun World men’s singles Lagos International 2017
Championships. 77. Boxer Sachin Siwach wins gold at Commonwealth
Note: Italy topped the tally with nine gold medals for a Youth Games held in Bahamas.
total of 17 medals in all and USA (12 medals) -2nd. 78. Real Madrid won the 2017 UEFA Champions League
66. India will host the 2019 edition of the Commonwealth trophy by defeating Manchester United in the final.
(Youth, Junior and Senior) Weightlifting 79. Los Angeles (USA) will host the 2028 Olympics and
Championships. Paris will host 2024 Olympic Games.
67. Ankur Mittal has won silver in senior men’s double 80. US Open Title 2017 – List of Winners –
trap at 2017 ISSF World Shotgun Championship in • Men’s single – Rafal Nadal (Spain) defeated Kevin
Moscow. Anderson (South African)
68. Star India has won the coveted Indian Premier League • Women’s single - Sloane Stephens (American)
(IPL) media rights for 2018-23. defatted Madison Keys (American)
69. Para Athlete & Hockey player have been selected for 81. Lewis Hamilton won the 2017 Italian Formula One
this year's Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award_-- Sardar Grand Prix tournament.
Singh & Devendra. 82. Lewis Hamilton won the 2017 Belgian Grand Prix of
70. Lakshya Sen (shuttler) clinched the Bulgaria Open Formula.
International Series title in Sofia, Bulgaria
83. Australian fast bowler retired from Test Match and
71. PV Sindhu won the 2017 BWF Korean Open Super
ODIs --John Hastings.
Series Women’s Singles title.
84. Usain Bolt (legendary sprinter) retires from the
72. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has
Athletics world.
nominated Mahendra Singh Dhoni for Padma
85. FIBA Asia Championship (Asia’s biggest basketball
Bhushan award for his contribution to the game.
tournament) 2017 held in Lebanon.
73. Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become the first
wicketkeeper in world cricket to effect 100 stumpings 86. Rafael Nadal won 6th ATP title of 2017 – Rafael
in One Day Internationals(ODI). Nadal beats Nick Kyrgios of Australia in straight sets of
Note: Mr. Dhoni achieved the feat in his 301st ODI in 6-2, 6-1 in the China Open final to win his sixth ATP
Colombo (Sri Lanka), when he whipped off the bails to title of 2017.
remove batsman Akila Dananjaya (Sri Lankan) off leg- Note: In the women’s event, France’s Caroline Garcia
spinner Yuzvendra Chahal's bowling. defeated world no.1 Simona Halep (Romania) in
74. ICC has chosen captain of the ICC Women’s World Cup straight sets of 6-4, 7-6 (3) to clinch the China Open.
2017 team -- Mithali Raj.

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List of Upcoming Sports Venue

1. Asian Games - The Asian Games, also known as Asiad 4. ICC World Cup Cricket - The ICC Cricket World Cup is
is a Pancontinental multi-sport event held every four the international championship of One Day
years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games International (ODI) cricket. The event is organised by
were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF). the International Cricket Council (ICC), every four
Note: First Asian games were held in New Delhi, India years.
in 1951. Note: The first World Cup was held in England in June
● Venue of Asian Games 2014 – Incheon, South 1975. West Indies won the title by defeating Australia
Korea. in the final.
● Venue of Asian Games 2018 - Jakarta-Palembang, Australia has been the most successful team in the
Indonesia. World Cup, with 5 titles and 2 runners up.
● Venue of Asian Games 2022 – Hangzhou, China. India won the first World Cup title in 1983 by
● Venue of Asian Games 2026 – Nagoya, Japan. defeating West Indies in the final.
2. Commonwealth Games (CWG) - The Commonwealth Australia won the World Cup title in 2015 after
Games is an international multi-sport event involving defeating New Zealand in the final.
athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations held every ● International Cricket Council (ICC) headquarter -
four years. Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Note: The first Commonwealth Games held in 1911 in ● President of ICC – Zaheer Abbas.
London, England. ● Chairman of ICC – Shashank Manohar.
● Venue of CWG Games 2010 – New Delhi, India. ● CEO – David Richardson.
● Venue of CWG Games 2014 – Glasgow, Scotland. ● Venue of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 – India, Sri
● Venue of CWG Games 2018 – Gold Coast, Lanka, Bangladesh.
Australia. ● Venue of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 – Australia &
● Venue of CWG Games 2022 – Birmingham, New Zealand.
England. ● Venue of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 – England,
Note: The 2022 Commonwealth Games will no Wales.
longer take place in Durban, South Africa as the ● Venue of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – India.
South African government failed to give financial 5. ICC World Cup T20 – The ICC World Twenty20 is the
guarantees for the event. international championship of Twenty20 cricket. It is
3. Olympics Games - The Olympic Games are held every organised the International Cricket Council (ICC).
four years, with the Summer and Winter Games Note:
alternating by occurring every four years but two ● The first T20 World Cup was held in Johannesburg,
years apart. South Africa in 2007.
Note: ● India won the first T20 world cup title after
● The first modern Olympics games were held in defeating Pakistan in the final.
Athens, Greece, in 1896. ● West Indies won the T20 World Cup title two
● International Olympic Committee (IOC) times.
headquarter - Lausanne, Switzerland. West Indies wont the title in 2016 after defeating
● IOC President - Thomas Bach England in the final.
Summer Olympic - ● Venue of World Cup 2014 – Bangladesh.
● Venue of Summer Olympic Games 2016 – Rio de ● Venue of World Cup T20 2016– India.
Janeiro, Brazil ● Venue of World Cup 2020 – Australia.
● Venue of Summer Olympic Games 2020 – Tokyo,
Japan 6. ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup – The ICC Women's
● Venue of Summer Olympic Games 2024 – Paris, Cricket World Cup is the oldest and most prestigious
France international women's cricket tournament.
Winter Olympic – Note:
● Venue of Winter Olympic Games 2014 – Sochi, The first Women’s World Cup was held in England in
Russia. 1973, two years before the inaugural men's
● Venue of Winter Olympic Games 2018 – tournament. England won the title by defeating
Pyeongchang, South Korea. Australia in the final.
● Venue of Winter Olympic Games 2022 – Beijing, Australia has been the most successful team in the
China. Women’s World Cup, with 6 titles and 3 runners up.
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England won the Women’s World Cup in 2017 by Note: The first Women’s Hockey World Cup was held
defeating India in the final. in 1974 in Mandelieu, France. Netherlands won the
● Venue of ICC Women Cricket World Cup 2013 – title after defeating Argentina in the final.
India. Netherlands has been the most successful team in the
● Venue of ICC Women Cricket World Cup 2017 – World Cup, with 7 titles from 11 appearances in the
England. final.
● Venue of ICC Women Cricket World Cup 2021 – Netherlands won the title in 2014 after defeating
New Zealand. Australia in the final.
7. ICC Women’s World Cup T20 - The ICC Women’s ● Venue of Hockey Men’s World Cup 2010 – Rosario,
World Twenty20 is the international championship for Argentina.
Women’s Twenty20 cricket. It is organised the
● Venue of Hockey Men’s World Cup 2014 – The
International Cricket Council (ICC).
Hague, Netherlands.
Note:
● The first Women’s T20 World Cup was held in ● Venue of Hockey Men’s World Cup 2018 – London,
England in 2009. England.
● England won the first T20 world cup title after 10. FIFA (Football) World Cup – The FIFA World Cup is
defeating New Zealand in the final. an international association football competition
● Australia has been the most successful team in the contested by the senior men's national teams of the
Women’s World Cup, with 3 titles and 1 runners members of Fédération Internationale de Football
up. Association (FIFA). It is held every four years.
● West Indies won the title in 2016 after defeating Note: The first FIFA World Cup was held in 1930 in
Australia in the final. Uruguay. Uruguay won the title after defeating
● Venue of World Cup 2014 – Bangladesh.
Argentina in the final.
● Venue of World Cup T20 2016– India.
● Venue of World Cup 2020 – Australia. Brazil has been the most successful team in the World
8. Hockey Men’s World Cup – The Hockey World Cup is Cup, with 5 titles from 7 appearances in the final.
an international field hockey competition organised by Germany won the title in 2014 after defeating
the International Hockey Federation (FIH). It is held Argentina in the final.
every four years, bridging the four years between the Note:
Summer Olympics. ● Fédération Internationale de Football Association
Note: The first Men’s Hockey World Cup was held in
(FIFA) headquarter - Zürich, Switzerland.
1971 Barcelona, Spain. Pakistan won the title after
● President of FIFA - Gianni Infantino.
defeating Spain in the final.
Pakistan has been the most successful team in the ● Venue of FIFA World Cup 2014 – Brazil.
World Cup, with 4 titles from 6 appearances in the ● Venue of FIFA World Cup 2018 – Russia.
final. ● Venue of FIFA World Cup 2022 – Qatar.
Australia won the title in 2014 after defeating 11. FIFA Women's World Cup – The FIFA Women's
Netherlands in the final. World Cup is an international football competition
Note: contested by the senior women's national teams of the
● International Hockey Federation (IHF) members of Fédération Internationale de Football
headquarter - Lausanne, Switzerland. Association (FIFA). It is held every four years.
● President of IHF - Narinder Batra. Note: The first FIFA Women’s World Cup was held in
● Venue of Hockey Men’s World Cup 2010 – New 1991 in China. United States won the title after
Delhi, India.
defeating Norway in the final.
● Venue of Hockey Men’s World Cup 2014 – The
Hague, Netherlands. USA is the most successful nation in the tournament's
● Venue of Hockey Men’s World Cup 2018 – history, with 3 titles and 1 runners up.
Bhubaneswar, India. USA won the title in 2015 after defeating Japan in the
9. Hockey Women’s World Cup - The Women’s Hockey final.
World Cup is an international field hockey competition ● Venue of FIFA World Cup 2015 – Canada.
organised by the International Hockey Federation ● Venue of FIFA World Cup 2019 – France.
(FIH). It is held every four years, bridging the four
12. FIFA (U-17) World Cup – The FIFA U-17 World Cup,
years between the Summer Olympics.
founded as the FIFA U-16 World Championship, later

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changed to its current name in 2007, is the world Nigeria is the most successful nation in the
championship of association football for male players tournament's history, with five titles and three runners
under the age of 17 organized by Fédération up.
Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). It is held Nigeria won the title in 2015 after defeating Mali in the
every two years. final.
Note: The first FIFA (U-17) World Cup was held in ● Venue of FIFA (U-17) World Cup 2015 – Chile.
1991 in Italy. Ghana won the title after defeating Spain ● Venue of FIFA (U-17) World Cup 2017 – India.
in the final.

Science & Defense

Military Exercise -

1. ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ or ‘Sea Breeze’ - Naval exercise 8. Indra-2017 – India & Russia. First mega tri-services
between India & Oman held in Oamn. war game involving their armies, navies and air forces
2. Ekuverin’ - Indo-Maldives joint military exercise with an aim to boost their operational coordination
conducted at Vladivostok in Russia.
held at at Belagavi, Bengaluru.
9. 'Sampriti' 2017 – India & Bangladesh Joint Military
3. 'Hamesha Vijayee' - The Indian Army's Southern Combat Exercise held in Meghalaya and Mizoram.
Command had conducted exercise 'Hamesha Vijayee' 10. 'MITRA SHAKTI 2017' – India & Sri Lanka Joint
in the deserts of Rajasthan Training Exercise conducted at Aundh Military Station,
4. 'Ajeya Warrior- Indo-UK military exercise 2017' held Pune.
in Bikaner, Rajasthan 11. ‘Blue Flag-17’ – India & Israel bi-annual multilateral
5. ‘Vigilant Ace’ - Largest Air exercise between United exercise held at Uvda Air Force Base in Israel.
States & South Korea held in Seoul, South Korea. 12. CORPAT (Coordinated Patrol) – The bilateral exercise
6. “Flag4” - UAE Armed Forces along with the UK, US between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy
and French armies conducted a joint exercise in Abu conducted at Belawan Indonesia.
Dhabi.
7. PRABAL DOSTYK 2017: India & Kazakhstan Joint
Exercise held at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.
Defense News –
The state-of-the-art indigenous missile targeting an
1. India's submarine ‘INS Kalvari’ inducted in Indian UAV 'Banshee', was fired from the launch complex-III
Navy - Prime Minister Narendra Modi has of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.
commissioned India's modern conventional submarine Akash is Surface to Air Missile (SAM) with a range of
‘INS Kalvari’ into Navy's fleet in Mumbai, Maharashtra. 25 km and carries a 55- kg fragmentation warhead that
2. China launches remote sensing satellites - China has is triggered by proximity fuse.
successfully launched remote sensing satellites This was the first supersonic surface-to-air missile
designed to conduct electromagnetic probes and other (SAM) with indigenous seeker that has been test fired.
experiments. The Akash missile is developed by Defence Research
3. India successfully test-fired its indigenously and Development Organisation (DRDO) under
developed Advanced Air Defence (AAD) supersonic Integrated Guided-Missile Development Programme
interceptor missile, capable of destroying any (IGMDP).
incoming ballistic missile at low altitude, from a test 5. Godrej Aero gets new contract for BrahMos Missile
range in Odisha. airframes –
4. Akash missile successfully tested – The Akash • Godrej Aerospace has won the deal from
missile was successfully tested with indigenous radio BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. (BAPL) for supply
frequency seeker from a test range in Odisha. of additional 100 units airframe fuel
management systems for BrahMos Air-
Launched Cruise Missile.

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• Godrej Aerospace had recently completed the 7. First offshore patrol vessel ‘Vikram’ handed to
supply of its 100 th airframe for the missile. Indian Coast Guard - Larsen and Toubro (L&T)
• Since 2000, it has been associated with handed over offshore patrol vessel (OPV) named
BrahMos. It is a unit of Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. “Vikram” to the Indian Coast Guard. It is country’s first-
Ltd. ever such defence vessel to be built in a private
BrahMos missile shipyard. It will be inducted into service by April 2018
• Brahmos is supersonic cruise missile
after completion of extensive trials of equipment and
developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint-
machineries.
venture between Russia’s Mashinostroyenia
and India’s Defence Research and 8. ‘INS Kiltan’ commissioned into Indian Navy –
Development Organisation (DRDO). Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has
• It is capable of carrying a warhead of 300 commissioned an indigenously-built anti-submarine
kilograms (both conventional as well as warfare stealth corvette INS Kiltan into the Indian
nuclear). Navy at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.
• It is hailed as world’s fastest anti-ship cruise Note: INS Kiltan is the latest indigenous warship after
missile in operation. Shivalik class, Kolkata class and sister ships.
• It is a two-stage missile, the first one being 9. India successfully tests its first fully indigenous
solid and the second one ramjet liquid ‘Glide bomb’ in Chandipur in Odisha.
propellant. Note:
6. Defence Research and Development Organisation ➢ The bomb - SAAW (Smart Anti Airfield
(DRDO) successfully conducted flight test of NIRBHAY Weapon) - was dropped from an Indian Air
Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile at Chandipur, Odisha. Force aircraft at the Integrated Test Range
About NIRBHAY Missile (ITR) in Chandipur.
➢ It is India’s first indigenously designed and ➢ The bomb has been developed by the Research
developed Long Range Sub-Sonic Cruise Centre Imarat (RCI), Defence Research and
Missile. Development Organisation (DRDO), along with
➢ It has operational range of 1000 km and can other laboratories of the DRDO and the Indian
carry warheads of up to 300 kg including Air Force.
nuclear warheads. It can be launched from
various kind of platforms.

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