Current Affairs 31st May 2018

National News

1. Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN-13 Begins in Uttarakhand

i. The joint military exercise SURYA KIRAN-13 between India and Nepal began at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand. The military exercise is a biannual event which is conducted alternatively in Nepal and India every six months.
ii. Over 300 soldiers from both the countries are taking part in the exercise. The aim of this exercise is to conduct battalion level joint training with emphasis on counterterrorism operations in mountainous terrain. 

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Bank of India Exam 2018-

·                     Nepal Capital- Kathmandu, Currency- Nepalese rupee, President- Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister- Khadga Prasad Oli. 

2. India Releases Rs33.10 Cr to Nepal for 2 Road Projects

i. India has released 33.10 Crore rupees to Nepal towards the cost of two road packages of Birgunj-Thori Road being implemented under Postal Highway Projects in Nepal with Government of India’s grant assistance.

ii. The amount has been released towards 25% of the tendered cost (including 10% mobilization advance) of the Postal Highway Projects.

3. Patanjali Launches New Messaging App 'Kimbho'

Baba Ramdev'

i. Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali launched a new swadeshi messaging application called 'Kimbho' to compete with WhatsApp.  Kimbho caters to private and group chats with free phone and video calling.
ii. The tagline of Kimbho is "Ab Bharat Bolega". Patanjali has recently tied up with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to enter the telecom sector by launching Swadeshi Samriddhi SIM cards.

4. India and World Bank Signs $500 Million Additional Financing for PMGSY

i. The Government of India and the World Bank signed a $500 million loan agreement to provide additional financing for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Rural Roads Project, implemented by Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India, which will build 7,000 km of climate resilient roads, out of which 3,500 km will be constructed using green technologies.
ii. The $500 million loan, from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a 3-year grace period, and a maturity of 10 years.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Bank of India Exam 2018-

·                     President of the World Bank- Jim Yong Kim.

·                     Headquarters of World Bank- Washington, DC.

5. 3rd Meeting of India-UK Home Affairs’ Dialogue Held in New Delhi

i. The Third Home Affairs’ Dialogue between India and U.K. was held in New Delhi. The Government of India Delegation was led by Mr Rajiv Gauba, Union Home Secretary and the Delegation from Home Office of the U.K. was led by its Second Permanent Secretary, Ms. Patsy Wilkinson.
ii. The Dialogue covered a wide range of issues including cybersecurity, women safety, organized crime, terror financing etc.

International News

6. World No Tobacco Day: 31 May

i. Every year, on 31 May, World Health Organization and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD).  The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2018 is "Tobacco and heart disease."
ii. The day highlights the health and other risks associated with tobacco use, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Bank of India Exam 2018-

·                     Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the present Director General of WHO.

·                     WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

7. World’s Largest International Maritime Exercise RIMPAC

i. As many as 26 countries, including India, will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific, RIMPAC military exercise, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The announcement was made by the Pentagon.
ii. It is the world’s largest international maritime exercise. The countries participating in the exercise include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom among others.

Business/Banking News

8. Indian Oil Most Profitable PSU For 2nd Straight Year

i. Indian Oil Corporation has emerged as India's most profitable state-owned company for the second consecutive year. Indian Oil posted a record profit of Rs21,346 crore in 2017-18, followed by ONGC, whose profit stood at Rs19,945 crore.
ii. Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries is the most profitable company for the third straight year, posting highest ever profit of Rs36,075 crore.

9. Infosys Acquires US-based WongDoody for $75 million

i. Infosys has completed the acquisition of WongDoody Holding Company, a US-based digital creative and consumer insights agency, for a total consideration of upto $75 million.
ii. Founded in 1993, WongDoody has clients across industries like telecommunications, consumer electronics, healthcare and consumer packaged goods.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Bank of India Exam 2018-

·                     Infosys CEO- Salil Parekh, Headquarters- Bengaluru, Karnataka.

10. SBI Hikes Interest Rate On Fixed Deposits

i. India's biggest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has revised its interest higher on retail fixed deposits or FDs below Rs. 1 crore. SBI has revision interest rates by up to 25 basis points in select maturities. The interest rate on SBI FDs with a maturity of one year to less than two years has been increased to 6.65% for the public, from 6.4% earlier.
ii. Senior citizens will get an interest rate of 7.15% as compared to 6.9% earlier. SBI fixed deposits with a maturity of two years to less than three years will fetch an interest rate of 6.65%, higher than 6.6% earlier.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Bank of India Exam 2018-

·                     SBI Chairman- Rajnish Kumar, Headquarters- Mumbai, Established on- 01st July 1955.

Awards

11. Kamaljit Bawa 1st Indian to Receive Linnean Medal

i. Indian botanist Kamaljit S. Bawa (president of Bengaluru-based non-profit Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment) received the prestigious Linnean Medal in Botany from the Linnean Society of London.
ii. Dr. Bawa is the first Indian to win the award ever since it was first constituted in 1888.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Bank of India Exam 2018-

·                     The Linnean Medal is awarded to a biologist every year by the Linnean Society of London.

·                     The world’s oldest active biological society founded in 1788 and named after famous Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus.

12. Kerala Cartoonist Thomas Antony Wins International Award

i. Kerala cartoonist Thomas Antony has won an international award, in the best caricature category. Antony is among the nine winners at the 13th edition of the World Press Cartoon awards, instituted by an organisation based in Lisbon, Portugal.
ii. The awards are given to the best works published in 2017 in newspapers and magazines from around the world.

13. Yuvraj Singh Awarded 'Most Inspiring Icon Of The Year For Social Welfare'

i. Indian star cricketer Yuvraj Singh has been awarded the 'most inspiring icon of the year for Social Welfare' award by the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (DPIFF) for his exemplary contribution in the field of social welfare.
ii. Yuvraj was diagnosed with cancer (mediastinal seminoma) shortly after the World Cup. After successfully completing his chemotherapy cycle in the United States, Yuvraj returned to India in 2012.

Obituaries

14. Former Himachal Pradesh Governor Urmila Singh Passes Away

i. Former Himachal Pradesh governor and Congress leader Urmila Singh died due to prolonged illness at a private hospital in Indore. She was 71.

ii. Belonging to a family of freedom fighters, Singh was appointed as the governor of Himachal Pradesh in 2010. Prior to that, she had served as the chairman of the National Scheduled Tribes Commission (NCTC).

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Bank of India Exam 2018-

·                     Himachal Pradesh CM- Jai Ram Thakur, Governor- Acharya Dev Vrat.