Current Affairs
Showing posts with label Current Affairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Current Affairs. Show all posts

Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi becomes 1st Indian woman to fly fighter aircraft solo

  • Flying officer Avani Chaturvedi scripted history by becoming the first  Indian woman to fly a fighter aircraft solo. 
  • She flew a MiG-21 bison in her first solo flight from Jamnagar base of Indian Air Force (IAF) in Gujarat.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for Syndicate Bank PO 2018 Exam-
  • Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa is the 25th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force.

Agriculture Ministry Adds Six New Features in e-NAM Platform

The Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Radha Mohan Singh launched six new features of National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) Platform to make it more users friendly.

e-NAM is one of the major and important flagship schemes of the Government of India which is being implemented by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare with the objective of providing competitive and remunerative price to farmers for their produce through online competitive bidding process.

The six new features are e-NAM Mobile App includes-

1. MIS dashboard for better analysis,
2. BHIM payment facility by traders,
3. Mobile payment facility by traders,
4. Enhanced features on mobile app such as gate entry and payment through mobile,
5. Integration of farmer’s database, and
6. e-Learning module.
 
The objective was to bring more transparency and competition and provide remunerative prices to farmers. Keeping in view the need of making marketing of commodities easier for farmers.

e-NAM was envisioned and launched in 21 Mandis on 14th April 2016 which has now reached 479 Mandis across 14 states and 1 Union Territory. e-NAM website is now available in eight different languages (Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Odia) while the live trading facility is available in six different languages (Hindi, English, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi & Telugu).

India's ranking in corruption perception index falls to 81


  • India has been ranked 81st in the global corruption perception index for 2017, released by Transparency International. The index ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. In the 2016 India was in the 79th place among 176 countries. 
  • The index uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. In the latest ranking New Zealand and Denmark were placed the highest, with scores of 89 and 88, respectively. On the other hand, Syria, Sudan and Somalia were ranked lowest with scores of 14, 12 and 9, respectively.

India Ratifies 2nd Commitment Period of Kyoto Protocol

  • India has ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that commits countries to contain the emission of greenhouse gases, reaffirming its stand on climate action. With this, India became the 80th country to accept the amendment relating to the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, the international emissions reduction treaty.
  • The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets.

India Ranks 43rd in Global Retirement Index

  • India ranked 43rd position in 2017 Global Retirement Index (GRI). It is published by French asset management company Natixis Global.
  • The 43 countries include members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Monetary Fund (IMF) advanced economies and the BRIC countries. The top three countries in 2017 GRI are Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland.

Gujarat First State to Implement Coal Utilisation Between Power Units

  • The Gujarat government has issued a tender for power developers to receive cheap coal marked for the state in return for selling coal-based power at less than Rs 2.82 a unit.
  • Through the auction, Gujarat will transfer the coal allocated to power generating stations owned by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation (GSECL) to more fuel-efficient private power plants. The aim is to reduce the cost of fuel for financially ailing distribution companies and ensure effective distribution of domestic coal.

NCERT launches Web Portal for supply of NCERT Textbooks

  • Minister of State for Human Resource Development Upendra Kushwaha launched the NCERT’s Web portal for supply of textbooks to schools and individuals at a function in New Delhi.
  • The portal will ensure better distribution of textbooks across the country and address the concerns of schools and parents, regarding unavailability of textbooks. The Web Portal can be accessed at www.ncertbooks.ncert.gov.in.
  • They can place their orders by login in onto the portal, and books will be delivered at their doorsteps with nominal postal charges. The NCERT textbooks can also be downloaded, free of cost, from its website.

Qatar scraps visit visa requirements for 80 nationalities

  • Qatar has announced scrapping of visa requirements for visitors from 80 countries including India to host the Football World Cup 2022.
  • Under the new policy announced by Qatar Airways and authorities, citizens of 33 mostly European countries can enter without a visa for 90 days in single or multiple trips during a 180-day period.
  • Qatar's economy has taken a hit since Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain moved to isolate it two months ago over allegations it supports extremists.
  • This will be the first time the World Cup will be held in the West Asia. This tournament will be the last one to involve 32 national teams, including the host nation, as the next one will have 48 teams.

Oxford Launches Tamil, Gujarati Online Dictionaries

  • After the Hindi version, Oxford University Press (OUP) has launched online dictionaries in Tamil and Gujarati as part of its special focus on Indian languages.
  • Launched in September 2015 Oxford Global Languages (OGL) is a major initiative from Oxford Dictionaries which aims to build dictionaries and lexicographical resources for around 100 of the world's languages and to make them available online.

Ravindra Jadeja tops ICC ranking among all-rounders in Test Cricket

  • India's Ravindra Jadeja edged out Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan to claim the top-rank among all-rounders apart from maintaining top position in the bowlers' chart in the latest ICC test match rankings.
  • Jadeja currently has 438 points among the all-rounders while Shakib has 431 points.
  • Cheteshwar Pujara gained a place to be third among batsmen while Virat Kohli maintained his fifth position.
  • Steve Smith and Joe Root are still at No 1 and 2 position in batsmen rankings.

Justice Dipak Misra to be next Chief Justice of India

  • Justice Dipak Misra will be the next Chief Justice of India. The Law Ministry notified the appointment of Justice Misra.
  • He will replace Chief Justice J S Khehar, who will retire on the 27th of this month. Justice Misra is the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court after Justice Khehar.
  • He will have tenure of nearly 13 months. Justice Misra will be sworn in as the 45th Chief Justice of India by President Ram Nath Kovind on August 27.

75th anniversary of Quit India Movement

  • The nation is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement today. A number of events are being planned to mark the occasion.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon countrymen to start a new India movement “SANKALP SE SIDDHI"- Attainment through Resolve.
  • Mr Modi, termed the month of August as a month of revolution as the non-cooperation movement was launched on 1st of August 1920, Quit-India movement on 9th of August 1942 and on 15th August 1947 India became independent.
  • The National Archives of India is organizing a special exhibition in New Delhi from today to mark the 75th year of Quit India Movement and Azad Hind Fauj. The two big events of the Indian history will be displayed through thousands of declassified files and documents.

SEBI Allows MCX to launch Gold Options

  • The Multi Commodity Exchange Ltd (MCX), the country’s largest commodity exchange has received capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (Sebi) approval to launch options trading in gold.
  • It will allow investors and hedgers to minimise their price risk at a fraction of cost compared to currently available futures trading.

Parliament special session marking 75th anniversary of Quit India movement

  • Both the Houses of the Parliament today will hold a special session to mark the 75th anniversary of the Quit India movement. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will hold the treasury bench of the Lower House while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will lead the treasury bench of the Upper House. 
  • The Parliament will suspend the Question Hour and Zero Hour to make way for this special session. All the parties are also expected to express their views on the same, with the discussion culminating into a resolution that will be passed in order to reaffirm their commitment to the nation. The Quit India Movement also known as the India August Movement in August 1942, during World War II, demanding an end to British Rule from India.

8th Meeting of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process held in New Delhi

  • India, along with 17 countries under the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process, is seeking to make transit and trade agreements among them more inclusive and comprehensive by expanding them both northwards and southwards, to connect South Asia with Central Asia.
  • At a meeting held in New Delhi, the participants, besides viewing Afghanistan as a natural bridge in promoting regional connectivity and economic integration, also reviewed steps taken for development of transit and transport through Chabahar Port involving India, Afghanistan and Iran, TAPI gas pipeline, CASA-1000, TAT railway line and Lapis Lazuli corridor.
  • Representatives of 17 participating countries and supporting international organisations, including Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the UAE, Australia, Egypt, Germany, the UK, the US, the EU and the UN, attended the meet.

RAPID GK SERIES 76

  1. In Windows XP operating system, what is the `XP' short for ?
  2. What is the common name of Indian national tree `Ficus Bengalensis' ?
  3. In which city is the Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports situated ?
  4. What is the retirement age of Supreme Court judges ?
  5. Which religious teacher established four maths in four corners of country at Badrinath (North),  Dwarka (West), Puri (East) & Sringeri (South) ?
  6. From which country's constitution, the concept of the Directive Principles of State Policy has been adopted in Indian constitution ?
  7. Which sector is the biggest contributor to India's GDP ?
  8. Bubonic, Pnuemonic and Septicemic are the forms of which deadly infectious disease caused by Yersinia Pestis bacterium ?
  9. Who is the Chairman of the National Knowledge Commission ?
  10. Who among the following is considered as the father of Mobile Phone ?
Answers :
  1.     Experience
  2.     Bargad (Banyan)
  3.     Patiala
  4.     65 years
  5.     Adi Shankaracharya
  6.     Ireland
  7.     Services
  8.     Plague
  9.     Sam Pitroda
  10.     Martin Cooper

Aparna appointed as Executive Director of World Bank

  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed senior IAS officer from Gujarat S. Aparna as Executive Director of the World Bank. 
  • At the World Bank, she will represent the constituency of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka for three years. She will replace Subhash Garg, who was recently appointed Economic Affairs Secretary, Union Ministry of Finance. Aparna is 1988-batch IAS officer, currently prinicipal Secretary to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Besides, she also has senior positions in Gujarat such as Economic Affairs, Surat Municipal Commissioner and Joint secretary, Urban Development at centre.

IIT Delhi researchers develops new nanotechnology-based drug delivery system

An all-women team of researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has developed a new drug delivery platform using nanoparticles. The nanotechnology-based drug delivery system has ability to boost the efficacy of antibiotics at the cellular level and improve chances of recovery from cancer-related bacterial infections. The nanoconjugate was able to kill 50% of bacteria at much lower concentration (400 nM) while the free peptide’s antibacterial activity was not significant at the same concentration.

Usain Bolt Finishes 3rd in 100 Meters at World Athletics Championship

  • Justin Gatlin tore up Usain Bolt's farewell script as he stole world 100m gold with the run of his long and controversial career. Bolt was left with only a bronze in his final individual 100m race as 21-year-old Christian Coleman made it a USA one-two.
  • The 35-year-old Gatlin, twice banned for doping, came through almost unnoticed in lane seven in 9.92 seconds, with Coleman's 9.94 holding off the greatest sprinter of all time.

Vijender Singh wins WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title

  • The legend of Vijender Singh continued to grow as the Indian boxing star outslugged his Chinese opponent Zulpikar Maimaitiali in a close bout to retain the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title in Mumbai.
  • It was double delight for the fans as Singh also snatched the WBO Oriental Super Middleweight title from the Chinese.
  • It was the 32-year-old Beijing Olympic bronze medallist’s ninth successive win in his professional career.
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