National News
1. India and UK Sign 10 Agreements in Several Sectors
i. India and the UK have
signed 10 agreements in several sectors including cyber-relationship, rejuvenation
of Ganga and skill development.
ii. The Important agreements signed between
the 2 countries are as follows:
1. The
two countries have agreed to an overarching cyber-relationship framework that
among others enables the development of a common and shared understanding of
the international cyber activity.
2. An MoU on the
rejuvenation of River Ganga, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the
UK-based Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC).
3. An MoU on Skill
Development, Vocational education and Training and seek to promote greater
collaboration in domains such as strengthening skill delivery in high demand
sectors where UK has technical and skilling expertise.
4. A Statement of Intent
between NITI Aayog and UK’s Department of Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy (BEIS) has also been signed.
5. Inked the deal on
cooperation in the field of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Sectors
seeking to strengthen collaboration in livestock health and husbandry,
breeding, dairying and fisheries.
6. An MoU on Exchange of Information
for the Purposes of Combating International Criminality and Tackling Serious
Organised Crime has been signed.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
The United Kingdom Capital- London, Currency- British
pound, Prime Minister- Theresa May.
2. Government Launches
‘Study in India’ to Attract Foreign Students
i. The Indian Government has launched
the ‘Study in India’ initiative to attract international
students to study in India. The website of Study in India can be accessed
at www.studyinindia.gov.in. External Affairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj and Minister of State for Human Resources Development Satya Pal Singh
jointly launched the initiative in New Delhi.
ii. The portal will enable
students from 30 countries across South Asia, Africa and West Asia to select
and apply for different courses from 150 select Indian institutions which are
high on NAAC and NIRF ranking.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
NAAC stands for National Assessment and
Accreditation Council.
·
NIRF stands for National Institutional
Ranking Framework.
3. Venkaiah Naidu
Launches Assam Govt’s Cashless Health Scheme
i. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has
launched a health scheme of the Assam government named Atal Amrit
Abhiyan that offers free medical care of up to 2 lakh rupees
for every individual from Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty
Line (APL) families.
ii. The state government has
earmarked 400 crore rupees for the scheme in the financial year 2018-19. The
cashless scheme Atal Amrit Abhiyan will cover 92 percent of the state’s
population with annual income below 5 lakh rupees.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
CM of Assam: Sarbananda Sonowal.
·
Governor of Assam: Jagdish Mukhi.
4. 1st Meeting of
National Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges under POSHAN Abhiyaan Held
i. The first meeting of National Council on
India’s Nutrition Challenges under POSHAN Abhiyaan was
held today in New Delhi. The meeting was chaired by Dr
Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog.
ii. The Council which has been
set up under POSHAN Abhiyaan is the apex body to formulate overall policies,
guide and monitor all nutrition based schemes. Some of the important decisions
taken in the meeting are :
1. 235 Additional Districts
have been confirmed as part of Phase II of POSHAN Abhiyaan in the financial
year 2018-19.
2. Provision of Smartphones
instead of Tablets to Lady Supervisors.
3. Direct
transfer of Funds to States/UTs for Cash Award to Frontline Functionaries,
instead of Creation of Corpus Fund.
Ranks And Reports
5. India, World’s 6th Largest Economy at $2.6 trillion: IMF
i. India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),
the worth of the economy, clocked in at $2.6 trillion for 2017, according
to the database of the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic
Outlook (WEO) for April 2018.
ii. India is now the
world’s sixth largest economy, displacing France. The
Top 3 economies of the world are:
1. The United States,
2. China,
3. Japan.
2. China,
3. Japan.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Managing Director of IMF- Christine
Lagarde, Headquarters in- Washington DC, USA.
6. Commonwealth Innovation Index 2018: India Ranked 10th
6. Commonwealth Innovation Index 2018: India Ranked 10th
i. As per the 2018 Commonwealth Innovation
Index, India fetched 10th position in the index topped by the
United Kingdom, Singapore and Canada. The index was launched on the
sidelines of the ongoing Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
(CHOGM) as part of a new Commonwealth Innovation Hub.
ii. The Commonwealth Innovation
Index has been created in partnership with the United Nations World
Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and its annual Global
Innovation Index (GII).There are total 53 Commonwealth nations.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
The Secretary-General of Commonwealth is
Patricia Scotland.
Awards
7. Madhya Pradesh
Conferred Most Film Friendly Award
Shri Ramesh Sippy. |
i. The Most Film Friendly State Award
was announced by the Chairman of the Jury, Shri Ramesh Sippy. State
of Madhya Pradesh was conferred the award for the Most Film Friendly
State for its efforts towards easing filming in the State by creating
a well-structured website and film-friendly infrastructure. Total 16 states have
participated in this award.
ii. The State of Uttarakhand is
given a Special Mention Certificate to recognize the efforts made by the
Uttarakhand towards creating a film-friendly environment. The award will be
conferred by the President of India in May 2018.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Madhya Pradesh CM- Shivraj
Singh Chauhan, Governor- Anandiben Patel.
·
Kanha National Park (famous for Tiger
Reserve) is situated in Madhya Pradesh.
Banking News
8. SBI Allows Cash Withdrawal Through PoS
Machines
i. The country’s biggest
lender, State Bank of India (SBI) has come up with an
alternate and convenient method of cash withdrawal for its customers. The bank
is now providing facilities of cash through ‘Cash@POS’ initiative.
ii. Under this, the debit card holders of SBI and all other banks can withdraw cash from PoS machines installed by SBI across various merchant locations. A customer can withdraw Rs 1000 in Tier I and Tier II cities whereas Rs 2000 can be withdrawn in Tier 3 to Tier 6 cities per day per card.
ii. Under this, the debit card holders of SBI and all other banks can withdraw cash from PoS machines installed by SBI across various merchant locations. A customer can withdraw Rs 1000 in Tier I and Tier II cities whereas Rs 2000 can be withdrawn in Tier 3 to Tier 6 cities per day per card.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD
Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
SBI Chairman- Rajnish
Kumar, Headquarters- Mumbai, Established on- 01st
July 1955.
9.
NABARD Approves Rs 14,690 cr Funding to Rajasthan
i. National Bank for
Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has extended total
credit support of Rs 14,690 crore to Rajasthan for 2017-18.
ii. Rajasthan has been one of
the biggest beneficiaries under the Rural Infrastructure Development
Fund (RIDF) of NABARD, under which NABARD disbursed concessional loan
of Rs 1,851.29 crore to the state government during 2017-18.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Harsh Kumar Bhanwala is the Chairman of
NABARD.
·
NABARD came into existence on 12 July 1982.
·
It headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
10. Former US 1st Lady Barbara Bush Passes
Away
i. Former US first lady
Barbara Bush passed away at the age of 92. She was the first lady of the
USA from 1989 to 1993.
ii. She was the mother of
another President, George W. Bush and one-time presidential aspirant and former
Florida governor Jeb Bush.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
The USA 45th President- Donald
Trump, Currency- US Dollar, Capital- Washington
DC.