1. HRD Ministry Launches
Initiatives for Online Professional Development Using SWAYAM
i. Human Resource Development
Ministry has
launched a major and unique initiative of online professional development of
1.5 million higher education faculty using the Massive Open Online
Courses platform SWAYAM.
ii. In the first phase, 75 discipline-specific National Resource Centres (NRCs) have been identified. National Resource Centres (NRCs) are tasked to prepare online training material with the focus on new and emerging trends, pedagogical improvements and methodologies for transacting revised curriculum.
ii. In the first phase, 75 discipline-specific National Resource Centres (NRCs) have been identified. National Resource Centres (NRCs) are tasked to prepare online training material with the focus on new and emerging trends, pedagogical improvements and methodologies for transacting revised curriculum.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Prakash Javadekar is the present Human Resource
Development Minister of India.
2. 'Go to Village' Mission Launched in Manipur
i. Manipur Chief Minister N.
Biren Singh launched 'Go to Village' mission throughout
the state from Konuma ground. The mission was launched in 60 villages of all
the 60 Assembly constituencies.
ii. The mission is aimed at identifying the eligible and deserving beneficiaries in every corner of the state and delivering government services at their doorstep.
ii. The mission is aimed at identifying the eligible and deserving beneficiaries in every corner of the state and delivering government services at their doorstep.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam
2018-
·
Manipur CM- Nongthombam Biren Singh, Governor- Dr Najma
A. Heptulla.
3. 4th Regional Conference on ‘Futuristic, Resilient
and Digital Infrastructure’ Concludes in Bengaluru
i. The 4th
Regional Conference on ‘Futuristic, Resilient and Digital
Infrastructure’ organized by the Ministry of Finance in
collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and
Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) concluded
in Bengaluru.
ii. The 2-day Conference was a lead-up event to the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) which is going to be hosted by the Government of India in June 2018 in Mumbai.
ii. The 2-day Conference was a lead-up event to the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) which is going to be hosted by the Government of India in June 2018 in Mumbai.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President- Liqun
Jin.
·
AIIB Headquarters in Beijing, China.
4. NITI Aayog to Collaborate With IBM to Develop
Precision Agriculture Using AI
i. NITI Aayog and IBM have signed
a Statement of Intent (SoI) to develop a crop yield prediction model
using Artificial Intelligence to provide real-time advisory to farmers
in Aspirational Districts. The Intent was signed in presence of NITI
Aayog, CEO Amitabh Kant and IBM India, MD Karan Bajwa.
ii. The first phase of the project will focus on developing the model for 10 Aspirational Districts across the States of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
ii. The first phase of the project will focus on developing the model for 10 Aspirational Districts across the States of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
NITI- National Institution for Transforming India.
·
NITI Aayog Chairman- Narendra Modi, Vice-Chairman- Rajiv
Kumar, CEO- Amitabh Kant.
5. Government Announces
Project to Strengthen Namami Gange Programme
i. The 11th
Executive Committee meeting of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) recently
approved the project encompassing the use of Geographic Information
System (GIS) technology for Namami Gange programme with
a total budget of Rs 86.84 crore.
ii. In order to
facilitate the Ganga rejuvenation task through the GIS technology, the National
Mission for Clean Ganga has tied-up with the Survey of India.
iii. The National
Mission for Clean Ganga also approved the project to strengthen the State
Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) of five main stem Ganga basin states,
namely, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The
project was approved at an estimated cost of Rs 85.97 for 5 years.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Nitin Jairam Gadkari is the Minister of Water Resources,
River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
·
Survey of India is the oldest
scientific department in the country set up in 1767.
International
News
6. 12th Informal Meeting of SAARC Finance Ministers Held in Manila
i. The 12th informal meeting
of SAARC Finance Ministers was held in Manila, Philippines, on the
sidelines of the 51st Annual Meeting of Asian Development Bank (ADB).
ii. The meeting was attended by the Finance Ministers/Heads of Delegations from the SAARC member states. Finance Minister of Nepal Yuba Raj Khatiwada chaired the meeting.
ii. The meeting was attended by the Finance Ministers/Heads of Delegations from the SAARC member states. Finance Minister of Nepal Yuba Raj Khatiwada chaired the meeting.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
SAARC stands for South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation.
·
Its member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
·
President of ADB- Takehiko Nakao, ADB
Headquarters- Manila, Philippines, Opened on- 19th
December 1966.
7. Venkaiah Naidu On 5-Day Visit to South America
![]() |
M Venkaiah Naidu |
i. Vice President M Venkaiah
Naidu emplaned for a five-day visit to South America's
Guatemala, Peru and Panama. Bilateral trade and investments are expected to
be mainly discussed during the visit.
ii. This will be the Vice President's first overseas visit after assuming office. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Jasvantsinh Sumanbahi Bhabhor.
ii. This will be the Vice President's first overseas visit after assuming office. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Jasvantsinh Sumanbahi Bhabhor.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Guatemala Capital- Guatemala City, Currency- Guatemalan
quetzal.
·
Peru Capital- Lima, Currency- Sol.
·
Panama Capital- Panama City, Currencies- United
States Dollar, Panamanian balboa.
8. California Surpasses UK to
Become World's 5th Largest Economy
i. US state California's
economy has surpassed that of the UK to become the world’s
fifth largest, according to new federal data released. With a
GDP of $2.7 trillion, California is now only behind the US, China,
Japan and Germany.
ii. The UK and India are next on the list, followed by France, Brazil and Italy respectively. Despite having a population of only 40 million compared with the UK’s 65 million people, California’s gross domestic product of $2.7tn has overtaken the UK’s $2.6tn.
ii. The UK and India are next on the list, followed by France, Brazil and Italy respectively. Despite having a population of only 40 million compared with the UK’s 65 million people, California’s gross domestic product of $2.7tn has overtaken the UK’s $2.6tn.
9. No Nobel Prize In Literature This Year
i. The Swedish Academy has
decided to postpone the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature, with
the intention of awarding it in 2019.
ii. The decision has been taken in the wake of a sexual and financial scandal that has engulfed the Swedish Academy, the cultural institution responsible for awarding the prestigious prize. For the first time since 1949, the secretive jury will not unveil a winner this autumn.
ii. The decision has been taken in the wake of a sexual and financial scandal that has engulfed the Swedish Academy, the cultural institution responsible for awarding the prestigious prize. For the first time since 1949, the secretive jury will not unveil a winner this autumn.
Static/Current Takeaways
Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
·
Kazuo Ishiguro was the winner of Nobel Prize 2017.