July 24, 2018

National:

• Government panel to check cases of mob lynching:

The Government has constituted a committee to check cases of mob lynching. The committee is headed by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba. The committee will submit its recommendations within four weeks.

A Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Sing will consider the report of the committee and submit its recommendations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• NCTE amendment Bill passed:

The Lok Sabha passed the National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill to grant retrospective recognition to Central/State institutions that are conducting teacher education courses without NCTE approval.

• Lok Sabha passes Bill on cheque bounce cases: 

The Lok Sabha passed the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill that allows a court hearing a cheque bounce case to direct the drawer to pay interim compensation to the person who filed the complaint.

The interim compensation not exceeding 20% value of the cheque may be paid under certain circumstances, including where the drawer pleads not guilty of the accusation within 60 days of the court’s order to pay the compensation.

The court may direct the payee to repay the interim compensation with interest, if the drawer is acquitted. The bill amends the Negotiable instruments Act 1881.

• PM leaves for five day Africa tour:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for a five day, three Nation tour to Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa.

Mr. Modi’s visit to Rwanda is the first by an Indian Prime Minister.

He will attend the BRICS Summit 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa held from            July 25-27.

International: 

• Annual World Santa Claus Congress:

More than 150 Santas from around the world gathered in Copenhagen for the annual World Santa Claus Congress. 

Business and Finance:

• Banks agree to resolve stressed assets quickly:

Leading lenders of the country signed an agreement known as Inter-Creditor Agreement (ICA) among themselves to grant power to the lead lender of the consortium to draw up a plan for stressed assets.

The ICA was framed under the aegis of the Indian Banks Association and follows the recommendations of the Sunil Mehta Committee on stressed asset resolution.

24 public, private and foreign banks have signed inter-creditor agreements under Sashakt to resolve stressed assets.

The ICA is applicable to all corporate borrowers who have availed loans for an amount of Rs 50 crore or more under consortium lending/ multiple banking arrangements.

The lender with a highest exposure to a stressed borrower will be authorised to formulate a resolution plan which will be presented to all lenders for their approval.

Dissenting lenders can either sell their exposure to another lender at a 15% discount or buy the entire exposure of all the banks involved, at a 25% premium.

This is primarily focussed on the Rs 50 crore –Rs 500 crore and the Rs500 crore – Rs2000 crore categories.

• India slips 3 ranks in AT Kearney’s FDI Confidence Index:

India ranks 11 in the 2018 AT Kearney FDI Confidence Index, down from 8 in 2017 and 9 in 2016.

 

 

 

 

July 23, 2018

National: 

• Malabar World Kayak Championship:

Malabar World Kayak Championship 2018  was concluded in Kozhikkode, Kerala. The Kayak Championship was conducted as part of the 6^th edition of the Malabar River Festival.

There were participants from around 20 countries. India had 53 participants, including the national kayak team.

• RISE Conference 2018:

Hong Kong successfully hosted RISE 2018, Asia’s biggest tech event bringing together start – up entrepreneurs from across the globe.

Around 200 start-ups from India had participated in the event.

• Kerala tops list of best governed States: 

Kerala State has topped the index for the third time, for being the best governed large state in the country.

Tamil Nadu and Telangana stood second and third respectively.

The index on the quality of governance, released by Bengaluru based think tank Public Affairs Centre.

• Indian Army to get Artillery guns:

The Army will be inducting two types of artillery guns into its arsenal from September. These will be the first induction of heavy artillery since the Swedish Bofors guns imported in the 1980s.

The Army will start taking delivery of the K9 Vajra –T tracked self-propelled artillery guns from South Korea. It will also receive four M777 ultra-light howitzers from the U.S.

Larsen and Toubro (L&T), the Indian engineering conglomerate and Hanwa Techwin of South Korea signed a contract to manufacture the K-9 Vajra –T guns.

K9 Vajra-T is a 155-mm, 52 calibre self-propelled artillery gun with a maximum range of 40km, customised from the original K9 Thunder gun.

• Federal Bank to enter 3 more nations:

South-based private sector lender Federal Bank has received the regulatory nod to open offices in Bahrain, Kuwait and Singapore.

Sports: 

• Molinari emerges victorious:

Francesco Molinari wins the British Open Championship 2018. He is the first Italian to win a Major.

• Lakshya wins Asian junior crown: 

Lakshya Sen became only the third Indian shuttler to secure a gold medal at the Badminton Asian Junior championship. He defeated World junior champion Kunlavut Vitidarsn of Thailand. The tournament was held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

• Lewis Hamilton wins German Grand Prix:

Lewis Hamilton won German Grand Prix 2018.  It was Hamilton’s fourth win this year and the 66^th of his career.

• Futuristic 2020 Olympic mascots christened:

Japan has unveiled the names of the mascot for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games.

The blue checked pointy-eared figure Olympic mascot was named Miraitowa.

The Paralympic Olympic mascot, who is pink-checked and wears a cape, was named Someity.

• Chhetri, Kamala get AIFF honours:

Sunil Chhetri has been declared 2017 Player of the Year by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

The Woman Player of the Year award was given to Kamala Devi.

The other categories of the AIFF 2017 awards are:

Best Grassroots Development Programme: Kerala Football Association

Long-time contribution to Indian Football: Hero Motocorp

Best Assistant Referee: Sumanta Datta

Best Referee: CR Srikrishna

Emerging Woman Footballer of the Year:  Anirudh Thapa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 17, 2018

•  BrahMos tested in extreme weather conditions:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test fired the BrahMos missile under extreme weather conditions.

With this, BrahMos missile has again proved its all weather capability, flying in state 7, with waves as high as 9 metres.

BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile developed by BrahMos aerospace, is a joint venture between Russia’s Mashinostroyena and India’s DRDO.

BrahMos missile has a strike range of around 290 km and is described as the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile.

• President clears Bill against witch-hunting:

President Ram Nath has given his assent to the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention, and Protection) Bill, 2015, converting into an Act.

Every offence under this Act as cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.

The Act prescribes a prison term of up to seven years and up to RS. 5 lakh in fine for calling a person witch.

• LIC nod for raising stake in IDBI Bank: 

The board of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India has approved the proposal to buy 51% shares in the IDBI Bank.

• Faster visas for minorities from three nations:

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has further liberalised the process for granting Long – Term Visas (LTVs) to minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The Home Ministry has  reduced the time limit for security clearance of visa applicants from 45 days to 21 days.

• Army to resume M777 trial:

The Army will resume the trials of the U.S. made M777 ultra height howitzer in the Pokhran firing range.

The trials were suspended after the barrel of a gun burst during firing.

India had signed a deal with the U.S. government under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme for 145 M777 guns at a cost of $737 million in November last year.

The M777 is a 155-mm, 39 calibre towed artillery gun made of titanium and aluminium alloys. It weighs just four tonnes.

 

 

 

 

 

July 16, 2018

National: 

• Aruna Sairam gets Sangita Kalanidhi Award:

Pominent Carnatic vocalist Aruna Sairam has been selected for this year’s Sangita Kalanidhi Award, instituted by the Music Academy at Chennai in Tamilnadu.

• Harriers decline as grasslands disappear:

Harrier birds, a migatory raptor species that regularly visits vast swathes of India are declining because of the loss of grasslands, either to urbanisation or to agriculture

Researchers are also citing the excessive use of pesticides in farms in and around the roosting sites as a reason for the decline in number of Harrier birds.

Researchers noted the most dramatic changes at the Rollapadu Bustard Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, one of the largest roosting site.

Every winter, several species of harrier birds travel thousands of kilometres to escape frigid Central Asia for the grasslands of the subcontinent.

India has one of the largest roosting sites in the world for Pallid Harriers and Montagu’s Harriers species.

• Online medicare for yatris soon:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) joined hands with Jammu and Kashmir’s Directorate of Health Services-Kashmir (DHS-K) to set up a telemedicine centre at an altitude of 12,700 feet to cater to pilgrims en route to the Amarnath shrine.

The telemedicine facility will enable the doctors posted at the hospital to connect in real time to the tertiary care institutions of the country.

International: 

• Helsinki summit:

The 2018 Russia – United States summit between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was held in Helsinki, Finland.

The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially titled the summit as the            #HELSINKI 2018 Meeting.

The summit was hosted by Finland President Sauli Niinisto.

Sports:

• France takes the cup home after 20 years:

France won the 2018 FIFA World Cup for the second time by defeating Croatia in the final match at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia.

The French team won its first World Cup title in 1998.

The FIFA World Cup 2018 took place in Russia from 14 June 2018 to 15 July 2018.

Winners of other individual award at World Cup 2018:

Golden Ball Award won by Croatia Captain Luka Modric.

Golden Boot Award won by Harry Kane of England.

Golden Glove Award won by Thibaut Courtois of Belgium.

Fair Play Award won by the Spain Team.

• Novak Djokovic wins Wimbledon crown: 

Novak Djokovic defeated Kevin Anderson to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title. This is the Djokovic’s first Major since the 2016 French Open and 13^th overall.

• Brij Bhushan to be Chef de Mission:

Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Saran Singh is set to be named the Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent for the upcoming 18th Asian Games to be held in Indonesia.

• Ankita Raina wins Thailand Open: 

Indian Tennis Player Ankita Raina lifted her second singles title of the year with a win at the ITF $25000 tournament in Thailand.

She is the current Indian No.1 in women’s singles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 15, 2018

National:

• India to help repatriate Rohingya :

Union Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh told that India would provide relief supplies for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and build homes for them in Rakhine state of Myanmar.

Mr. Rajnath Singh is in Dhaka to co-chair the sixth round of India – Bangladesh talks on Home Affairs.

He inaugurated the Bangladesh-India Friendship Building at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Rajshahi.

He also inaugurated the largest Indian visa centre in the world at about 18,500. sq.ft in Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka.

• Four nominated to Rajya Sabha: 

President Ram Nath Kovind nominated Ram Shakal, Sonal Mansingh, Rakesh Sinha and Raghunath Mohapatra as members of the Rajya Sabha.

Article 80(1) (a) of the Constitution, read with Article 80(3) , provides that the President can nominate to the Rajya Sabha 12 persons having special knowledge or practical experience in the field of literature, science, art and social service.

• Maharashtra to focus on exposing fake news:

The Maharashtra government will hire fact-checking agencies to curb spread of rumours and fake news on social media. The state government will also start a month-long drive to create more awareness rather than indulging in any regulatory mechanisms to control social media.

International:

• Eritrean President begins historic visit Ethiopia:

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki visited Ethiopia for the first time since the start of the two countries border war in 1998.

The three day visit aimed at to cement the relationship between two countries that recently put an end to twenty years of war between them.

Eritrea was once part of Ethiopia and comprised its entire coastline on the Red Sea until it voted for independence in 1993 after decades of bloody conflict.

Eritrea and Ethiopia are the countries in the Horn of Africa.

Capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa.

Capital of Eritrea is Asmara.

Business & Finance:

• IFC sells shares of AU Small Finance Bank worth Rs 201 crore:

World Bank arm International Finance Corporation (IFC) sold 32 lakh shares of AU Small Finance Bank for Rs. 201.6 crore through an open market deal.

Sports:

• Kerber wins it in style: 

Angelique Kerber has won the Wimbledon women’s singles title, beating Serena Williams in the final. She is the first German to win a Wimbledon singles title since Steffi Graf did so in 1996.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 14, 2018

National: 

• Modi to lay foundation of Purvanchal Expressway: 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the 340 km long Purvanchal Expressway as part of his two day visit to eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Purvanchal Expressway will connect State capital Lucknow with Ghazipur.

 

• Survey launched to rank States on rural cleanliness: 

The Centre government has launched the Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018,  a nationwide survey to rural India to rank the cleanest and dirtiest States and districts on the basis of qualitative and quantitative evaluation.

A total of 6,980 villages across 698 districts will be surveyed.

 

• RGUHs announces results 15 minutes after exam: 

Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) announces results fifteen minutes after students completed their practicals for the Master of Dental Surgery and Diploma in Dentistry examination.

This is a record for the varsity which adopted digital evaluation in May 2015.

 

Business & Finance:

• L&T to build tallest government office building:

Engineering and construction major Larson and Toubro bags contract to construct the tallest government building in India at Amaravati, the upcoming capital of               Andhra Pradesh.

• Verification of PAN must in FPI share allotment:

The Security and Exchange Board of India said that the allotment of shares to Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) in initial public offers would need to be verified with PAN to check against any breach of investment limit through multiple entities.

As per the rules, purchase of equity shares of each company by a single FPI or an investor group would have to below 10% of the total issued capital of the company.

At the time of the allotment of shares, Registrar and Transfer agents (RTAs) shall use PAN for checking compliance for a single FPI.

 

 

 

July 13, 2018

National: 

• Relief for guests from Bangladesh:

India will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh to ease visa restrictions for citizens from the neighbouring country.

The MoU will be signed during the visit of Union Minister of Home Affairs, Rajnath Singh three day visit to Dhaka in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has demanded to ease the travel restrictions for senior citizens and further concessions be given to Muktijoddhas- those who participated in the 1971liberation war.

Last year, India announced five year multiple entry visa to the 1971 war veterans from Bangladesh.

Citizens from over 150 countries can travel to India on e-tourist visas procured online. This facility is not extended to Bangladesh.

• Indian Navy Ship berths at Sabang:

In pursuance of India’s Act East Policy, INS Sumitra is on a visit to Sabang, Indonesia.

During the visit of Prime MInister Narendra Modi to Indonesia in the month of May 2018, Mr Modi and Indonesian President Joko Widodo had announced the shared vision of maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Business and Finance:

• Stock brokers can’t accept cash from clients, says SEBI:

The Security and Exchange Board of India has made it mandatory that the stock brokers can accept client funds only by way of banker electronic transfers such as cheques and mobile banking.

• Airtel’s bank can now add customers:

Airtel Payment Bank has received the requisite approval from the Reserve Bank of India to start onboarding customers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 12, 2018

National: 

• Adultery must remain a punishable offence, says Centre:

Ahead of the constitutional bench hearing on Section 497, Centre has objected to the dropping of adultery as an offence from the Indian Penal Code.

Section 497 mandates that if a man has sexual intercourse with another’s wife without the consent or connivance of that man, he is guilty of the offence of adultery and should be punished.

Centre held that men and women cannot be seen as equal partners in the crime of adultery.

The constitution bench to be headed by Chief Justice Deepak Misra is likely to consider whether section 497 treats the man as the adulterer and the woman as the victim.

• CM opens Anna Canteen: 

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched the Anna Canteens offering subsidised food for the poor in Urban Local Bodies (ULB) across Andhra Pradesh.

The Anna Canteens would serve breakfast, lunch and dinner for just Rs.5 a plate on week days.

• Centre upholds Net Neutrality proposals: 

In a move that will ensure open and free internet in India, the Government has approved the principle of Net Neutrality.

The Telecom Commission (TC), the highest decision making authority in Department of Telecom approved the recommendation made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

As per this, the telecom and internet service providers must treat all data on the internet equally, and not discriminate or charge differently by user, content, site, platform or application.

They cannot engage in practices such as blocking, slowing down or granting preferential speeds to any content.

• India refuses entry to Lord Carlile: 

India deported Alexander Carlile, a well -known British peer and the lawyer representing jailed former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, refusing him on entry on arrival to New Delhi from London.

Business and Finance:

• SEBI to float paper on fund raising via bonds: 

The Securities and Exchange Board of India will soon come out with a consultation paper on making it mandatory for large corporates to meet one fourth of their financial needs through the bond markets.

• Aurobindo Pharma gets USFDA nod for Azithromycin tablets:

Aurobindo Pharma has got final approval from USFDA to make Azithromycin tablets of 250 mg and 500 mg.

The tablets are used for treating mild to moderate infections.

Sports: 

• Hima Das scripts history, wins gold in 400m:

Hima Das made history by becoming the first Indian to win gold in a track event. She clinched gold medal in the 400 m final at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championship in Tampere, Finland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 11, 2018

National: 

• Andhra Pradesh tops ease of doing business again: 

For the second consecutive year, Andhra Pradesh topped the list of Ease of Doing Business (EoBD) among all States and UTs in the country.

• Nepal returns Dancing Bear to India: 

Nineteen year old sloth bear, Rangila which was smuggled into Nepal in December 2017 for use as a dancing bear is being sent back to India.

The Indian and Nepalese governments, Nepal’s Jane Goodall Institute, and Indian non-profit, Wildlife SOS facilitated the repatriation.

• India and South Korea pledge to double trade:

India and South Korea signed 11 MoUs and agreements in various area including trade and cultural  and scientific and technological cooperation during the visit of South Korean President Moon Jae -in to India .

The two countries issued a common vision statement titled; India and Republic of Korea – A Vision for People, Prosperity, Peace and our Future.

The two sides signed a statement on expanding the 2010 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to enhance trade between the two countries.

The two countries agreed to increase their bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030 from the current level $20 billion.

India and South Korea also have agreed to cooperate on tripartite basis in development assistance in third countries, beginning with a project in Afghanistan.

In addition to the agreements on upgrading their economic partnership CEPA, trade remedies, the two countries signed a joint vision statement on railway safety research, cyber strategy and cultural exchanges

• Eat Right Movement off to a healthy start:

Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) unveiled the Eat Right Movement which aims to engage and enable citizens to improve their health and well – being by making the right food choices.

• Rajasthan signs MoU with Microsoft:

Rajasthan has emerged as the first state to sign a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft to provide digital training to 9500 students of government colleges and will also train 500 faculty members.

• Indian Railways to introduce Shri Ramayana Express:

Indian Railways will start a special train Shri Ramayana Express which will cover important destinations related to the epic in a 16 day journey. The tour will be spread across India as well as Sri Lanka.

Business and Finance:

• Google to mentor local AI start – ups:

Google announced a mentorship programme called ‘Launchpad Accelerator India’ that would aim to support Indian start-ups that deploy artificial intelligence and machine learning to build solutions for local needs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 10, 2018

National:

• The six Institutions of Eminence:

The Ministry of Human Resource Development granted Institutions of Eminence status to three public and three private institutes enabling them to have full flexibility in fixing their curricula and syllabi.

These institutes can admit 30% foreign students with no restrictions on fees and will be free from the regulations of the AICTE, the UGC, or the HECI.

IIT-Delhi, IIT-Bombay, Bengalure based Indian Institute of Science (IISc) are the three public institutes got the status of institutions of Eminence.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education, BITS Pilani, Jio Institute by Reliance Foundation comes under the private sector.

• China to cut tariffs on Indian cancer drugs:

India and China have reached an agreement to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports of Indian medicines, particularly cancer drugs.

Indian drugs are in big demand in China as they are far cheaper than their western counterparts.

• Justice AK Goel appointed NGT Chairperson:

Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, who retired as a Supreme Court judge assumed charge as the National Green Tribunal(NGT) chairperson.

• World’s largest mobile factory now in Noida:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae –in jointly inaugurated Samsung’s 35 acres mobile plant in Noida.

• Change in visa rules to aid Indians marrying abroad:

The government is changing the visa rules to help Indians who got married on foreign country.

According to the current visa manual, a tourist visa can be converted into a X2 visa (dependent visa) only when a marriage takes place in India and gets registered within the validity of the present tourist visa.

The Union Minister of Home Affairs, Rajnath Singh now has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to amend the visa rules. This change will facilitate the conversion of tourist visa into X2 visa even the marriage takes place on foreign nation.

This facility will not be offered to the nationals of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan and Iraq and people of Pakistani origin and stateless person.

• 809 crore French loans for 15 smart cities project:

The centre has announced that, Agence Francaise Development (AFD), the French development bank signed a 100 million Euro loan agreement for Smart Cities Mission.

The loan will be given for projects in one of the four sectors; sustainable mobility, public open spaces, urban governance & ICT and organisational innovation in low income settlements.

Business and Finance:

• DoT okays merger of Idea, Vodafone:

The Telecom Ministry approved the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular that will create the country’s largest mobile services operator worth more than $23 billion with a 35% market share and a subscriber base of about 430 million.

Sports:

• Rahul moves to third in T20 rankings:

K.L Rahul has jumped nine places to reach a career -high third spot in the latest ICC T20 rankings.  Pakistan remains the top ranked team while India has overtaken Australia to take second place.

• Dipa Karmakar wins gold in Gymnastics World Challenge Cup:

Dipa Karmakar clinched gold in the event of FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup at Mersin, Turkey.