National News
1. Maharashtra Becomes 1st to Provide Digitally-Signed Documents
Devendra Fadnavis |
i. Maharashtra became
the first state to provide digitally-signed land record receipts (also
known as 7/12 receipts), which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed
would check irregularities and bring in transparency.
ii. The 7/12 receipt is the most important document which establishes the ownership of the land and is primarily used by farmers while applying for loans.
ii. The 7/12 receipt is the most important document which establishes the ownership of the land and is primarily used by farmers while applying for loans.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
C Vidyasagar Rao is the
present Governor of Maharashtra.
·
The Jayakwadi Dam built over Godavari River
is located in Maharashtra.
2. India Rises to 5th Spot in World's
Top Five Defense Spenders
i. India has surpassed France to
become one of the world's five largest military spenders, Swedish
arms watchdog Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Report.
ii. India spent $63.9 billion on its military in 2017, an increase of 5.5% compared with 2016. The other countries in top five include the US, China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.
ii. India spent $63.9 billion on its military in 2017, an increase of 5.5% compared with 2016. The other countries in top five include the US, China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.
International News
3. World Press Freedom Day: 3rd May
i. Every year, 3 May is a
date which celebrated as the World Press Freedom Day to evaluate press freedom
around the world. This year’s global theme for WPFD is ‘Keeping
Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law’.
ii. In 2018, UNESCO will lead the 25th celebration of World Press Freedom Day. The main event, jointly organized by UNESCO and the Government of the Republic of Ghana, will take place in Accra, Ghana.
ii. In 2018, UNESCO will lead the 25th celebration of World Press Freedom Day. The main event, jointly organized by UNESCO and the Government of the Republic of Ghana, will take place in Accra, Ghana.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
France's Audrey Azoulay- 11th
DG of UNESCO, Headquarters- Paris, France.
4. Cambridge Analytica Shuts Down All
Its Operations
i. The controversial UK
marketing analytics firm Cambridge Analytica, which has been at the heart
of the Facebook data scandal, has announced to cease all its operations
immediately and filing for insolvency in Britain and the United States.
ii. Cambridge Analytica, also said, its British parent firm SCL Elections Ltd is to shutting down immediately. The firm is currently facing allegations of improper use of data on 87 million Facebook users which was hired by President Donald Trump’s 2016 US election campaign.
ii. Cambridge Analytica, also said, its British parent firm SCL Elections Ltd is to shutting down immediately. The firm is currently facing allegations of improper use of data on 87 million Facebook users which was hired by President Donald Trump’s 2016 US election campaign.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Cambridge Analytica is an analytics firm
based in the United Kingdom.
·
SCL Elections Ltd is the parent firm of
Cambridge Analytica.
Appointments
5. Justin Langer
Appointed Head Coach of Australian Cricket Team
i. Former Australian cricketer Justin Langer has
been appointed as Australian cricket team's head coach for all three
formats. Langer replaces Darren Lehmann, who had stepped
down after Australia's tour of South Africa amid the ball-tampering
controversy.
ii. The 47-year-old, who represented Australia in 105 Tests, will begin his four-year term ahead of limited-overs series against England in June.
ii. The 47-year-old, who represented Australia in 105 Tests, will begin his four-year term ahead of limited-overs series against England in June.
6. ICICI Bank Names Radhakrishnan Nair as Independent Director
i. ICICI Bank's board
has appointed Radhakrishnan Nair as an additional (independent)
director of the bank for five years.
ii. The appointment is subject to the approval of shareholders. Mr Nair is also an independent director of three subsidiaries of the bank - ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company, ICICI Prudential Trust and ICICI Securities Primary Dealership.
ii. The appointment is subject to the approval of shareholders. Mr Nair is also an independent director of three subsidiaries of the bank - ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company, ICICI Prudential Trust and ICICI Securities Primary Dealership.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
ICICI Bank stands for Industrial
Credit and Investment Corporation of India.
·
Chanda Kochhar is the MD and CEO of
ICICI Bank.
·
Headquarters of ICICI Bank: Mumbai.
7. Subhash Chandra Khuntia Appointed New
IRDAI Chairman
i. Subhash Chandra Khuntia, a
1981-batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer who was a former
Karnataka Chief Secretary, has been appointed as Chairman of Insurance
Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
ii. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved Khuntia's appointment for a period of three years. The post was vacant for more than two months after TS Vijayan’s tenure came to an end.
ii. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved Khuntia's appointment for a period of three years. The post was vacant for more than two months after TS Vijayan’s tenure came to an end.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
The head office of IRDAI is in Hyderabad.
·
In 1999, IRDA was constituted as an
autonomous body to regulate and develop the insurance industry.
Banking/Business News
8. SEBI Tightens KYC Norms
for FPIs
i. Stepping up its crackdown on money
laundering and round-tripping, SEBI recently came out with a
detailed framework for risk-based Know Your Customer (KYC)
documentation of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs).
ii. Among other things, the market regulator made it clear that non-resident Indians (NRIs), overseas citizens of India (OCI) and resident Indians cannot be beneficial owners of FPIs.
iii. NRIs and OCIs can only obtain an FPI licence on condition that they limit their roles to investment advisors and do not invest their money.
ii. Among other things, the market regulator made it clear that non-resident Indians (NRIs), overseas citizens of India (OCI) and resident Indians cannot be beneficial owners of FPIs.
iii. NRIs and OCIs can only obtain an FPI licence on condition that they limit their roles to investment advisors and do not invest their money.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
SEBI- Securities and Exchange
Board of India.
·
SEBI Chairman- Ajay
Tyagi, Headquarters- Mumbai.
9. Cognizant Acquires
Belgium-Based Hedera Consulting
i. IT firm Cognizant has
acquired privately-held Belgium based Hedera Consulting, a
move that will strengthen the former’s consulting and digital transformation
capabilities for clients in Belgium and the Netherlands.
ii. Founded in 2009, Hedera specialises in business advisory and data analytics services across sectors, helping clients in areas like growth strategy, innovation, marketing, sales and customer service.
ii. Founded in 2009, Hedera specialises in business advisory and data analytics services across sectors, helping clients in areas like growth strategy, innovation, marketing, sales and customer service.
Obituaries
10. Renowned
Artist-Philosopher Ravinder Sharma Passes Away
i. Ravinder Sharma, fondly
called Guruji, the founder of Adilabad's Kala Ashram died at the age of 65
years.
ii. A trained artist, Guruji had been awarded Kala Ratna by the Andhra Pradesh State government in 2014. After bifurcation of the State, the Telangana government awarded him the Ugadi Puraskaram in 2015.
ii. A trained artist, Guruji had been awarded Kala Ratna by the Andhra Pradesh State government in 2014. After bifurcation of the State, the Telangana government awarded him the Ugadi Puraskaram in 2015.