National News
1. India Signs USD200 million Loan Deal with World Bank for National Nutrition Mission
i. India has signed a loan deal worth $ 200
million with the World Bank for the National Nutrition
Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan). The loan would help India in achieving its
goal of reducing stunting in children 0-6 years of age from
38.4% to 25% by the year 2022.
ii. A large component of POSHAN Abhiyaan involves gradual scaling-up of the interventions supported by the ongoing World Bank assisted Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Systems Strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project (ISSNIP) to all districts in the country over a 3-year period.
ii. A large component of POSHAN Abhiyaan involves gradual scaling-up of the interventions supported by the ongoing World Bank assisted Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Systems Strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project (ISSNIP) to all districts in the country over a 3-year period.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
The POSHAN (PM’s Overarching Scheme for
Holistic Nourishment) Abhiyaan was launched by the Prime Minister in March
2018 at Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
·
President of the World Bank- Jim Yong
Kim.
·
Headquarters of World Bank: Washington,
DC.
2. ‘1st Apex Conference for CEOs of
Smart Cities’ in Bhopal Inaugurated
i. Mr Hardeep Puri, Minister of State (I/C)
for Housing & Urban Affairs inaugurated the 'First Apex
Conference for the CEOs of Smart Cities' in Bhopal, Madhya
Pradesh. Since its launch in June 2015, the Smart Cities
Mission (SCM), has been one of the most transformational urban
missions.
ii. The two-day conference is being organised for providing a platform for cross-learning and knowledge sharing among the Smart City CEOs.
ii. The two-day conference is being organised for providing a platform for cross-learning and knowledge sharing among the Smart City CEOs.
3. NITI Aayog, Google Sign SoI to Help
Grow AI Ecosystem in India
i. Aiming to foster growth for
India’s nascent Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine
Learning (ML) ecosystem, NITI Aayog and Google have
signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to work on a range of initiatives to help
build the AI ecosystem across the country.
ii. The NITI Aayog has been entrusted to set up a national programme to conduct research and development in frontier technologies such as AI.
ii. The NITI Aayog has been entrusted to set up a national programme to conduct research and development in frontier technologies such as AI.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD
Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
NITI- National Institution
for Transforming India.
·
NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman- Rajiv
Kumar, CEO- Amitabh Kant.
·
Google CEO- Sundar
Pichai, Parent organization- Alphabet Inc., Headquarters- the
USA.
4. India to Host 15th Asia Media Summit
i. India would
be hosting the 15th Asia Media Summit (AMS-2018) in
New Delhi. The theme of this summit is “Telling our Stories Asia
and More”.
ii. The summit mainly aims to provide a unique opportunity to the broadcasters in Asia to share their thoughts on broadcasting and information. The annual summit will be organised by Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) in collaboration with its partners and international organisations.
ii. The summit mainly aims to provide a unique opportunity to the broadcasters in Asia to share their thoughts on broadcasting and information. The annual summit will be organised by Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) in collaboration with its partners and international organisations.
5. ISRO Develops Atomic Clock for
Indigenous Navigation Satellites
i. The Indian Space Research
Organization has developed an atomic clock to be
used in navigation satellites. It is supposed to measure precise location
data.
ii. Once it successfully clears all tests, the desi atomic clock will be used in an experimental navigation satellite to test its accuracy and durability in space.
iii. At present, ISRO imports atomic clocks from European aerospace manufacturer Astrium (EAMA) for its navigation satellites.
ii. Once it successfully clears all tests, the desi atomic clock will be used in an experimental navigation satellite to test its accuracy and durability in space.
iii. At present, ISRO imports atomic clocks from European aerospace manufacturer Astrium (EAMA) for its navigation satellites.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Dr. K Sivan is
Chairman of ISRO.
·
ISRO stands for Indian Space Research
Organization.
·
Headquarters of ISRO- Bengaluru.
6. India Ranks 4th in Asia-Pacific On Power
Index
i. India has ranked fourth out of 25
nations in the Asia-Pacific region on an index that
measures their overall power. The US has topped the list. India
has been pegged as a “giant of the future”.
ii. The Lowy Institute Asia Power Index measures power across 25 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region, reaching as far west as Pakistan, as far north as Russia, and as far into the Pacific as Australia, New Zealand and the US.
iii. India is ranked fourth on the parameters economic resources, military capability, diplomatic influence and fifth on resilience.
ii. The Lowy Institute Asia Power Index measures power across 25 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region, reaching as far west as Pakistan, as far north as Russia, and as far into the Pacific as Australia, New Zealand and the US.
iii. India is ranked fourth on the parameters economic resources, military capability, diplomatic influence and fifth on resilience.
7. NSIC Inks MoU with MSME Ministry for FY 2018-19
i. The National Small Industries Corporation
Limited (NSIC) signed an MoU with Ministry of Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) for the year 2018-19.
ii. The MoU envisages provision of enhanced services by NSIC under its marketing, financial, technology and other support services schemes, for MSMEs in the country. The corporation projects to increase its total business by 21.30% from Rs. 22,258 crore in the year 2017-18 to Rs. 27,000 crore in the year 2018-19.
ii. The MoU envisages provision of enhanced services by NSIC under its marketing, financial, technology and other support services schemes, for MSMEs in the country. The corporation projects to increase its total business by 21.30% from Rs. 22,258 crore in the year 2017-18 to Rs. 27,000 crore in the year 2018-19.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Dr A.K. Panda is the Secretary of MSME.
·
Ravindra Nath is the CMD of NSIC.
8. 3rd Edition of UNPCAP Inaugurated in New
Delhi
i. The third edition of
the United Nations Peacekeeping Course for African Partners
(UNPCAP) was inaugurated in New Delhi. The course is being conducted
by the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping in India (CUNPK) in
partnership with the United States.
ii. The main aim of the course is to build and enhance the capacity of the African Troop Contributing Countries to the UN and to further train the trainers from these countries.
ii. The main aim of the course is to build and enhance the capacity of the African Troop Contributing Countries to the UN and to further train the trainers from these countries.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD
Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
The first and second editions of the course
were held in New Delhi in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
International News
9. World Red Cross Day: 8th May
May 8 is celebrated globally as the
World Red Cross Day. The day is celebrated on this day because it
marks the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, founder of the
Red Cross and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
ii. The day is celebrated annually in order to commemorate principles of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The day was first celebrated in 1948 when it was officially named as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.
ii. The day is celebrated annually in order to commemorate principles of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The day was first celebrated in 1948 when it was officially named as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.
10. Venkaiah Naidu 3-Nation Visit: India, Guatemala Sign Agreement in Education Sector
i. A pact has been signed
between India and Guatemala for strengthening diplomatic cooperation
through Respective Foreign Service Institutes in the educational field.
ii. The agreement was inked after a meeting between Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and his Guatemala counterpart, Jafeth Cabrera Franco in Guatemala city. The main focus of the meeting was on core sectors such as; pharmaceutical, cooperation in education, technology, conservation of wildlife, Yoga, Tourism and Automobiles.
ii. The agreement was inked after a meeting between Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and his Guatemala counterpart, Jafeth Cabrera Franco in Guatemala city. The main focus of the meeting was on core sectors such as; pharmaceutical, cooperation in education, technology, conservation of wildlife, Yoga, Tourism and Automobiles.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD
Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Guatemala Capital- Guatemala
City, Currency- Guatemalan quetzal.
·
Jimmy Morales is the present President
of Guatemala.
11. New York Attorney General Eric
Schneiderman Resigns
Schneiderman |
i. New York Attorney General Eric
Schneiderman announced that he would be resigning from office hours after
four women accused him of physical violence.
ii. He had taken on high-profile roles as an advocate for women’s issues and an antagonist to the policies of President Donald Trump.
ii. He had taken on high-profile roles as an advocate for women’s issues and an antagonist to the policies of President Donald Trump.
12. Israel Withdraws From Race for UN Security Council Seat
i. Israel withdrew from
a race against Germany and Belgium for two seats on the United
Nations Security Council in 2019-20. Israel, Germany and Belgium were
competing for two seats allocated to the Western European and Others Group.
ii. Germany and Belgium are now running uncontested, but they still need to win more than two-thirds of the overall General Assembly vote to be elected.
ii. Germany and Belgium are now running uncontested, but they still need to win more than two-thirds of the overall General Assembly vote to be elected.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD
Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Presently, there are 193-member countries in
the UN General Assembly.
·
Israel Capital- Jerusalem, Currency- Israeli
new shekel, President- Benjamin Netanyahu.
Economy News
13. Finished Steel Exports Increased by
16.7% in 2017-18
i. India’s total export of finished steel
increased by 16.7% to 9.6 million tonnes, in 2017-18. The country
exported 8.2 million tonnes finished steel during 2016-17 fiscal, according
to the Joint Plant Committee report.
ii. Empowered by Ministry of Steel, Joint Plant Committee is the only institution which collects data on the Indian iron and steel industry.
ii. Empowered by Ministry of Steel, Joint Plant Committee is the only institution which collects data on the Indian iron and steel industry.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD
Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Chaudhary Birender Singh is the Cabinet
Minister of Steel.