National News
1. Smriti Irani Launches GNFC’s Neem Project in UP
 |
| Smriti Irani |
i. State-run Gujarat Narmada Valley
Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited (GNFC) started its socio-economic Neem Project, inaugurated
by Union Minister Smriti Irani in Amethi District of Uttar Pradesh.
ii. Since 2015, GNFC, through
its Neem Project has collected over 45,000 tonnes of neem seeds by engaging 4.5
lakh rural women in over 60 districts of five states including Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,Karnataka and Rajasthan.
2. Gujarat Launches
Pocket Cop Project
i. The Gujarat police unveiled
the Pocket Cop project, which will enable quicker verification
of passport applicants, and search of accused persons, among others. The
project was inaugurated by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar.
ii. Under
the project, smartphones with data connectivity will be given to 4,900 police
personnel, including every police station in-charge, investigating officer, PCR
van, and those involved in passport verification.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Gujarat Capital- Gandhinagar, CM- Vijay
Rupani, Governor- Om Prakash Kohli.
·
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
is situated in Ahmedabad, Guajarat.
·
Kakrapar Atomic Power is located in Gujarat.
3. India Forms Committee to Reform Higher Defence Planning
i. The Union Government formed
a new integrated institutional mechanism, Defence Planning Committee
(DPC) to reform the process of higher defence planning. The permanent
body would be chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
ii. The committee is aimed at
driving the country’s military and national security strategy, draft capability
development plans and guide and accelerate defence equipment acquisitions.
International News
4. Swaziland King Changes
Country's Name to 'Kingdom of eSwatini'
i. Swaziland’s King Mswati III, Africa’s
last absolute monarch, officially changed the name of his country to the ‘Kingdom
of eSwatini’. Accordingly, the country, a member of the Commonwealth,
will now be known by its historic name of eSwatini.
ii. The announcement was made
during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the King’s 50th birthday as
well as the 50th anniversary of Swazi’s independence from British colonial
rule.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Swaziland King- Mswati
III, Capitals- Mbabane, Lobamba.
·
eSwatini in a Swazi language stands for ‘place
of the Swazi’.
5. Karan Johar, 1st Indian
Filmmaker in Madame Tussauds Collection
i. Karan Johar has
become the first-ever Bollywood filmmaker to get a place at
the famous Madame Tussauds.
ii. The process has begun in
London and it will take about six months for the wax figurine to be ready.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Madame Tussauds is a wax museum in London
with smaller museums in a number of other major cities.
·
It was founded by wax sculptor Marie Tussaud.
Ranks And Reports
6. Bangalore Emerges as Top City for
Office Expansion: CBRE
i. In India,
Bangalore has emerged as the most preferred city for
office expansion, according to a survey by real estate consulting
firm, CBRE South Asia.
ii. MNCs are focusing on
expanding in Bangalore and smaller cities across the country, but have limited
growth plans in the Delhi NCR and Mumbai, according to the CBRE Asia
Pacific Occupier Survey 2018.
7. SBI India's Most Trusted Bank, ICICI Tops in Private Sector: Report
i. According to the TRA Brand Trust Report
2018, the State Bank of India was the most-trusted
bank (both public and private sector) in the country and ICICI
Bank topped the chart among the private ones. This year, State Bank
of India tops the chart of BFSI (Banking and Financial Services
Institutions) super-category despite seeing a dip in its overall brand
trust index ranking.
ii. The leader among the private banks is
ICICI Bank, rising nine ranks in overall ranking, it ranked 38th overall in
2018. Fraud-hit PSB Punjab National Bank ranks sixth
among the PSB and is 297th in the overall ranking, according to the
survey.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD
Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
SBI Chairman- Rajnish
Kumar, Headquarters- Mumbai, Established on- 01st
July 1955.
Awards
8. BCCL Chairman Indu
Jain Gets Lifetime Contribution to Media Award
i. Indu Jain, chairman of Bennett, Coleman
& Co, India’s largest media house, has received the All
India Management Association’s (AIMA’s) annual award for lifetime
contribution to media.
ii. AIMA, which recognises
achievers who have made a fundamental difference to society through its annual
Managing India Awards, conferred on Jain the award for managing the Times
Group.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Indu Jain has received the Padma Bhushan in
2016.
Banking News
9. Yes Bank Gets RBI Nod to Open Offices
in London and Singapore
i. Private sector lender Yes Bank has
received the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) approval to open two
representative offices in London and Singapore.
ii. Yes Bank opened its first
representative office in Abu Dhabi in April 2015 and also launched IFSC banking
unit (IBU) at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, in the same year.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Yes Bank MD and CEO- Rana Kapoor.
·
Head office of Yes Bank- Mumbai.
·
YES BANK is India’s fifth largest private
sector Bank.
Appointments
10. Dilip Chenoy Takes Over
as FICCI Secretary General
i. Dilip Chenoy was
appointed as the Secretary-General of industry body Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). He has replaced Sanjaya
Baru.
ii. Chenoy was working as
Director General of the industry body.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Established in 1927, FICCI is the largest and
oldest apex business organisation in India.
11. US Senate Narrowly
Confirms Trump's New NASA Chief
i. Jim Bridenstine, a
congressman from Oklahoma, US Navy veteran, and former pilot,
was confirmed on a 50-49 vote and will become the 13th administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) seven months
after Trump named him to lead the agency.
ii. Bridenstine,
42, has expressed an interest in returning humans back to the moon, spoken of
closer ties between NASA and the commercial space industry.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
NASA is an independent agency of the
executive branch of the United States.
·
NASA founded on 29th July 1958.
·
Headquarters of NASA- Washington,
D.C., USA.
Sports News
12. Daniel Ricciardo Wins
Chinese Grand Prix 2018
i. The 2018 Chinese Grand Prix was
a Formula One motor race that took place at the Shanghai International
Circuit in Shanghai, China. Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo won
the race ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen.
ii. The race was the third
round of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship and marked the fifteenth
time that the Chinese Grand Prix has been run as a round of the Formula One
World Championship.
13. Official Mascot of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Unveiled
13. Official Mascot of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Unveiled
i. 'Son of Dreams' was
unveiled as official Mascot of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in
China. The selection of Son of Dreams as China 2019's Official Mascot was the
culmination of a unique process by FIBA.
ii. The
mascot finalists were Chinese dragon ('Son of Dream'), a
Siberian tiger ('Speed Tiger') and a lion ('Qiu Qiu'). The tournament will take
place in eight Chinese cities from August 31 until September 15.
Static/Current Takeaways Important
for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
China Capital- Beijing, Currency- Renminbi, President- Xi
Jinping.
Obituaries
14. Veteran Journalist T V
R Shenoy Passes Away
i. Veteran journalist and columnist TVR
Shenoy passed away at Manipal Hospital in Karnataka. Shenoy was
famous for his deeper analysis and narrative style writing in his illustrious
career.
ii. Shenoy was awarded the
prestigious Padma Bhushan award in 2003.
15. Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice
Rajinder Sachar Passes Away
i. Former Delhi High Court
Chief Justice Rajinder Sachar passed away. He was 94. Mr Sachar
has since his retirement been associated with the People’s Union for Civil
Liberties, a rights group.
ii. He was the chairperson of a committee
set up by the previous UPA government to look at the social, economic and
educational status of Muslims in India.
