National News
1. India Signs Loan Agreement with World Bank for USD 48 million for Meghalaya
i. A Loan Agreement for IBRD loan of USD 48
million for the “Meghalaya Community - Led Landscapes
Management Project (MCLLMP)” was signed with the World Bank.
ii. The Objective of the Project is to
strengthen community-led landscapes management in selected landscapes in the
State of Meghalaya.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Meghalaya CM- Conrad
Sangma, Governor- Ganga Prasad.
2. Government Revises
Target to Complete PMGSY from Year 2022 to 2019
i. The Union
Government has stated that the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojana or PMGSY is well on its way to achieving the
target by March 2019. The scheme, since its inception
in 2000, has been able to provide connectivity to more than One
lakh 50 thousand habitations.
ii. Sensing the importance and
urgency of rural roads for national development, the target date for completion
of PMGSY-I has been preponed from 2022 to 2019.
3. Bengaluru Highest Paying
City For Talent: Report
i. The garden city of Bengaluru is found to
be the highest paying city in the country, with an average annual
cost to company (CTC) for talent across all levels and functions standing at
about Rs 11 lakh, according to Randstad Insights, the research and
analysis division of Randstad India.
ii. Pune stands second at
around Rs 10 lakh, followed by Delhi NCR and Mumbai with an
average annual CTC figure of a little under Rs 10 lakh and around Rs 9 lakh,
respectively.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD
Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Bengaluru is the capital city of Karnataka.
·
CM of Karnataka- Siddaramaiah.
·
Governor of Karnataka- Vajubhai Rudabhai
Vala.
International News
4. World Bank Projects India’s Growth Rate at 7.3% for 2018-19
i. The World Bank has
projected a growth rate of 7.3% for India this year and 7.5% for
2019 and 2020. The bank also noted that Indian economy has recovered
from the effects of demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax.
ii. The World Bank in its
twice-a-year South Asia Economic Focus report in Washington stated that growth
is expected to accelerate from 6.7% in 2017 to 7.3% in 2018 and
to subsequently stabilise supported by a sustained recovery in private
investment and private consumption.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
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President of the World Bank- Jim Yong
Kim.
·
Headquarters of World Bank: Washington,
DC.
5. UK Joins International Solar Alliance to Mark Narendra Modi Visit
Narendra Modi |
i. The United Kingdom joined
the India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA) ahead of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s four-day visit to Britain.
ii. At an event held at the London Stock Exchange as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 (CHOGM), Britain formally announced its membership of the alliance.
ii. At an event held at the London Stock Exchange as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 (CHOGM), Britain formally announced its membership of the alliance.
iii. This alliance aims to raise
$1 trillion of private and public finance to provide affordable and sustainable
energy for all by 2030.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
The United Kingdom Capital- London, Currency- British
pound, Prime Minister- Theresa May.
6. World Haemophilia Day- 17 April
i. Every April 17 World Haemophilia Day is
recognised worldwide to increase awareness of haemophilia and other inherited
bleeding disorders. The theme of WHD 2018 is 'Sharing Knowledge Makes Us
Stronger'.
ii. World
Haemophilia Day was started in 1989 by the World Federation of
Hemophilia (WFH) which chose to bring the community together on April
17 in honour of WFH founder Frank Schnabel’s birthday.
Appointments
7. Lt Gen PP Malhotra Takes
Over as Director-General of NCC
i. Lieutenant General PP
Malhotra assumed charge as Director General of National Cadet
Corps (NCC), the largest uniformed youth organization in the world.
ii. Prior to assuming his
present appointment, he was the Chief Engineer of the Army’s premier Northern
Command.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
NCC was established on 16 April 1948.
·
NCC headquarters in New Delhi.
Awards
8. Pulitzer Prizes
2018 Announced
i. The Pulitzer Prizes
for 2018 has been announced in the USA.
ii. Following are the winners of the Pulitzer Prize 2018.
ii. Following are the winners of the Pulitzer Prize 2018.
1. Fiction- Andrew
Sean Greer’s “Less” has won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Greer’s
novel tells the comic story of a middle-aged novelist.
2. Drama- Cost
of Living, by Martyna Majok.
3. History- The
Gulf: The Making of an American Sea, by Jack E. Davis (Liveright/W.W. Norton).
4. Biography- Prairie
Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, by Caroline Fraser
(Metropolitan Books).
5. Poetry- Half-light:
Collected Poems 1965-2016, by Frank Bidart (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
1917 was the first year when the Pulitzer
Prizes were awarded.
·
Pulitzer Prize has been named after
Joseph Pulitzer.
Banking/Economy News
9. Bandhan Bank Among Top 50 Most
Valuable Brand in India
i. Kolkata-based Bandhan Bank Ltd became
one of the top 50 most valuable publicly traded firms in
India. The market capitalization of Bandhan Bank was at Rs64,000 crore,
claiming 50th rank, according to BSE data.
ii. Tata Consultancy
Services Ltd is the most valuable company in India,
followed by Reliance Industries Ltd and HDFC Bank Ltd. Bandhan Bank had raised Rs4,500
crore through a successful initial public offering (IPO) in March after setting
the pricing at Rs375 per share.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD
Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
MD and CEO of Bandhan Bank is Chandra
Shekhar Ghosh.
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It headquarters in Kolkata, West
Bengal.
10. Yes Bank Launches
GST Backed Over Draft Facility for MSMEs
i. Yes Bank has
announced the launch of ‘Yes GST’, an OD (over draft)
facility for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Through
this, an MSME can avail OD up to Rs 1 crore, based on their annual turnover,
backed by GST returns.
ii. Any
additional assessment of balance sheet or bank statements will not be required.
This OD facility can be availed by an MSME against mortgage of residential or
commercial property. The sanctioned amount can be utilised by the MSME either
fully or in tranches.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
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Yes Bank MD and CEO- Rana Kapoor.
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Head office of Yes Bank- Mumbai.
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YES BANK is India’s fifth largest private sector
Bank.
Obituaries
11. Veteran Journalist
S Nihal Singh Passes Away
i. Veteran journalist S Nihal Singh passed
at the age of 88 following an illness. He was suffering from kidney-related
ailments.
ii. Nihal Singh had worked with
several leading newspapers including The Indian Express, The Statesman and
Khaleej Times.