CONTENTS

S. No. Chapter Name Page Nos.

1. Issues in Focus 1-4

2. Economy and Banking 5-12

3. International and Bilateral 13-18

4. National News 19-33

5. Persons in News 34-37

6. Reports and Indices 38

7. Science and Technology 39-44

8. Sports 45-48

9. Awards 49-50

10. Books and Authors 50

11. Committees and Heads 50

12. Miscellaneous 51-52

Practice Bits (Current Affairs) 53-62

MAGAZINE
Current Affairs
1. ISSUES IN FOCUS
KERALA FLOODS
An extraordinary southwest monsoon in Kerala has
unleashed floods and landslides in the state, the magnitude
of which has rarely been observed in recent memory.
However change in land use patterns and climate change
could have contributed to the situation on the ground.
What happened?
 According to the India Meteorological Department,
from June 1 to August 16, Kerala has received
cumulative rainfall of 2227.26 mm, projecting an
excess of 37.49% rainfall this monsoon.Idukki in
central Kerala, a hilly terrain, received a cumulative
rainfall of 3211.06 mm, pointing to excess rainfall of
83.59%. Six other districts, Ernakulam, Palakkad,
Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam and
Malappuram have all recorded excess rainfall of over
40% from normal course.
 It has killed around 370 people,78000 people and
thousands of crores property.
 A total of 37 out of the states 42 dams and reservoirs
have been opened to drain out excess water from the
catchment areas. Shutters of dams like Cheruthoni,
one of the largest arch dams on the continent, were
opened for the first time in 26 years, releasing lakhs of
litres into the Periyar which continues to remain
swollen.
Reasons for Recent Floods:
 Besides nature’s fury, the situation in Kerala is also a
man-made problem.Increasing stone quarrying
activity in Kerala, along with largescale construction.
Unregulated growth of illegal constructions, and
creation of real estate all over.
 Development activity can increase the chances of
landslides. Vested interests that do not want any
environmental laws to be implemented. Many
reservoirs in the Western Ghats states are silting up
prematurely due to massive encroachment and
deforestation of catchment areas.
 An overflowing Idukki reservoir. Idukki dam is a case
wherein the entire catchment was encroached along
the dam construction. Had the dam reservoirs in
Kerala been emptied ahead of the onset of monsoon
rains, damages from the floods would have been
lower, shows analysis.
 Upstream-downstream conflicts in many river basins.
Diversion of flows into another river basin after power
generation is creating problems of daily flood in the
recipient basin and drought in diverted basins.
 Geography (10 per cent of the land in the state lies
below sea level).
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 High population density compared to the all-India
density.
 The state does not have a single battalion of the state
disaster response force (SDRF), which is mandatory
as per the rules to tackle natural calamities.
 Large scale of deforestation.
Past Experiences:
 According to the data base compiled by the Centre for
Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, the
instances of extreme weather have gone up from 71 in
the 1970s to about 224 in the 1990s and 350 in the
first decade of the millennium.
 Since the Uttarakhand flooding, such extreme rainfall
events have led to disaster-like situation in India every
year.
 The recent disaster that hit Kashmir when the Jhelum
river overflowed.
 Odisha bore the brunt of the cyclonic storm Phailin,
the worst since 1999.
 In 2010 there was a cloudburst in Leh.
Madhav Gadgil Committee Report:
Environment Ministry set up the Western Ghats
Ecology Expert Panel under Gadgil Madhav in 2011 to
suggestt measures to conserve, protect and rejuvenate the
entire Western Ghat ranges that stretches to over 1500 km
along the coast, with its footprints in Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu..
Major Recommendations:
 It defined the boundaries of the Western Ghats for the
purposes of ecological management.
 It proposed that this entire area be designated as
ecologically sensitive area (ESA).
 Within this area, smaller regions were to be identified
as ecologically sensitive zones (ESZ) I, II or III based
on their existing condition and nature of threat.
 It proposed to divide the area into about 2,200 grids,
of which 75 per cent would fall under ESZ I or II or
under already existing protected areas such as wildlife
sanctuaries or natural parks.
 The committee proposed a Western Ghats Ecology
Authority to regulate these activities in the area.
 Ban on the cultivation of genetically modified in the
entire area
 Plastic bags to be phased out in three years
 No new special economic zones or hill stations to be
allowed
 Ban on conversion of public lands to private lands,
and on diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes
in ESZ I and II
 No new mining licences in ESZ I and II area
 No new dams, thermal power plants or large-scale
wind power projects in ESZ I
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Current Affairs
 No new polluting industries in ESZ I and ESZ II areas
 No new railway lines or major roads in ESZ I and II
areas
 Strict regulation of tourism
 Cumulative impact assessment for all new projects
like dams, mines, tourism, housing
 Phase-out of all chemical pesticides within five to
eight years in ESZ I and ESZ II
None of the six concerned states agreed with the
recommendations of the Gadgil Committee.
81% were not in favour of the Gadgil
recommendations. In particular, Kerala had objected to
the proposed ban on sand mining and quarrying,
restrictions on transport infrastructure and wind energy
projects, embargos on hydroelectric projects, and inter-
basin transfer of river waters, and also the complete ban
on new polluting industries.
Kasturirangan Committee:
In August 2012, then Environment Minister
constituted a High-Level Working Group on Western
Ghats under Kasturirangan to “examine” the Gadgil
Committee report.
Recommendations of Kasturirangan
Committee:
 A ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining
 No new thermal power projects, but hydro power
projects allowed with restrictions
 A ban on new polluting industries
 Building and construction projects up to 20,000 sq m
was to be allowed but townships were to be banned
 Forest diversion could be allowed with extra
safeguards
What Needs to be Done now-A Way
forward:
 Kerala flood is a lesson worth of learning for India’s
disaster management system. India, having more than
7500 km of coastline, should have a strong disaster
early warning and management system.
 Union govt. has introduced Dam Safety Bill in
Parliament to develop uniform, countrywide
procedure for ensuring safety of dams.
 According to Union govt. data- India ranks third after
USA and China in the number of large dams. 5254
large dams are in operation in the country currently
and another 447 are under construction .In addition to
this, there are thousands of medium and small dams.
 The Madhav Gadgil Report and The Sendai
Framework for disaster risk reduction(2015-2030)
must be consider while planning and implementing
and completely involving adopting integrated and
inclusive institutional measures.
 Sustainable and long-term development that would
involve minimal intervention in natural processes.
 There are unjustified human interventions in natural
processes which need to be stopped.
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 Afforestation programmes should be taken up in large
scale.
 While dams can help control floods, they need to be
managed properly.
 A flood management strategy will need to cover flood
warnings, flood mitigation, any necessary evacuation
and post-flood recovery.
 Special programmes will be needed to help address
the trauma of loss of homes and property.
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR
BACKWARD CLASSES (NCBC)
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha passes bill to
give constitutional status to National
Commission for Backward Classes
The Lok Sabhaand Rajya Sabha has passed the
Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill 2017 giving
constitutional status to the National Commission for
Backward Classes (NCBC).
The NCBC bill was passed unanimously with over
two-third majority in the Lok Sabha. The bill provides
constitutional status to the National Commission for
Backward Classes.
Imp Provisions of the Bill:
 The Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 seeks
to provide constitutional status to the National
Commission on Backward Classes (NCBC), on a par
with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes
(NCSC) and the National Commission for Scheduled
Tribes (NCST).
 It makes NCBC a panel with full powers to safeguards
the rights and interests of the Other Backward Classes
(OBCs).
 After this legislation, the National Commission for
Backward Classes will have the powers of a civil
court while probing any complaint.
 The Bill seeks to ensure that at least one of the five
members of the National Commission for Backward
Classes would be a woman and the power of the state
governments for identification of backward classes in
their respective region is not taken away.
 Powers of President:
 The Bill states that the President may specify
the socially and educationally backward
classes in the various states and union
territories.
 He may do this in consultation with the
Governor of the concerned state.
 However, a law of Parliament will be
required if the list of backward classes is to
be amended.
 The NCBC is a body set up under the National
Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
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Current Affairs
 It has the power to examine complaints regarding
inclusion or exclusion of groups within the list of
backward classes and advise the central government in
this regard.
 The Bill seeks to establish the NCBC under the
Constitution and provide it with the authority to
examine complaints and welfare measures regarding
socially and educationally backward classes.
 Under the Constitution Amendment Bill, the NCBC
will have the powers of a civil court while
investigating or inquiring into any complaints. These
powers include:
 Summoning people and examining them on
oath
 Requiring the production of any document or
public record
 Receiving evidence.
 The OBCs were found to comprise 52% of the
country's population by the Mandal Commission
report of 1980, a figure which had shrunk to 44% in
National Sample Survey Organisation(NSSO) 2011-
12 survey.
What is Constitutional Status?
 Constitutional status means that the NCBC will have a
more grievance redressal mechanism and can function
with civil court powers.
 It can make recommendations and oversee their
implementation for the upliftment of OBCs.
 After receiving the constitutional status, NCBC will
have all the powers of a civil court trying a suit.
NATIONAL REGISTER OF
CITIZENS- ASSAM
What is Assam’s National Register of Citizens
updation and how it will impact illegal
immigrants
Assam first National Register of Citizens has been
published with names of 1.9 crore people as state’s legal
citizens. The NRC, for which a total of 3.29 crore people
had filed an application, is aimed at identifying illegal
immigrants in the state.
The NRC will be now updated to include the names of
those persons (or their descendants) who appear in the
NRC, 1951, or in any of the Electoral Rolls up to the
midnight of 24th March, 1971 or in any one of the other
admissible documents issued up to midnight of 24th
March, 1971, which would prove their presence in Assam
or in any part of India on or before 24th March, 1971.
What is NRC, 1951?
National Register of Citizens, 1951 is a register
prepared after the conduct of the Census of 1951 in respect
of each village, showing the houses or holdings in a serial
order and indicating against each house or holding the
number and names of persons staying therein. These
registers covered each and every person enumerated during
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the Census of 1951 and were kept in the offices of Deputy
Commissioners and Sub Divisional Officers according to
instructions issued by the Government of India in 1951.
Later these registers were transferred to the Police in the
early 1960s.
Why is the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is
being updated in Assam?
National Register of Citizens (NRC) updation
basically means the process of enlisting the names of those
persons (or their descendants) whose names appear in any
of the Electoral Rolls up to 1971, 1951 NRC or any of the
admissible documents stipulated.
The demands to update the NRC of 1951 were first
raised by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and
Assam Gana Parishad more than three decades ago. The
organisations had submitted a memorandum to the Centre
on January 18, 1980, two months after launching the anti-
illegal foreigners Assam Movement.
On November 17, 1999, at an official-level tripartite
meeting to review the implementation of the Assam
Accord, a decision was taken that the NRC would be
updated and the Centre sanctioned Rs 20 lakh for the
purpose and released Rs 5 lakh of it to start the exercise.
Later, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led government
took the final decision to update NRC on May 5, 2005.
Thereafter, the government created a directorate for
updating the NRC and the process of computerization of
the voters’ list up to 1971 and the NRC of 1951 began.
How will it impact the illegal immigrants – The
Assam accord?
The Assam accord was signed between the leaders of
AASU-AAGSP and the Government of India in 1985
marking an end to a six-year-long agitation. The parties
agreed that all foreigners who had entered Assam between
1951 and 1961 would be given full citizenship. However,
those who entered the state after March 24th 1971 will be
deported.
What is the background of NRC updation?
A National Register of Citizens was prepared in 1951
after the conduct of the Census of that particular year. The
Register included particulars of all the persons enumerated
during that Census.
As per statutes governing NRC updation that are
1. The Citizenship Act, 1955, and
2. The Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of
National Identity cards) Rules,2003. NRC updation
process has started in Assam in 2015.
How will the NRC be updated?
As per the above two statutes, the eligibility status
would be ascertained based on the NRC, 1951, Electoral
Rolls upto 1971 and in their absence the admissible
documents upto 24th March (midnight) 1971. The updated
NRC shall contain names of persons eligible for inclusion
in updated NRC by virtue of being original inhabitants of
Assam.
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Current Affairs
ARTICLE 35A ISSUE
Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra orally observed
that the Supreme Court will consider whether Article 35A,
giving special status to the State and people of Jammu and
Kashmir, is violative of the basic structure of the
Constitution.
What is the challenge before the Supreme Court?
One of the main writ petitions was filed by NGO We the
Citizens, which challenges the validity of both Article 35A and
Article 370. It argues that four representatives from Kashmir were
part of the Constituent Assembly involved in the drafting of the
Constitution and the State of J&K was never accorded any
special status in the Constitution.
Article 370 was only a ‘temporary provision’ to help bring
normality to J&K and strengthen democracy in that State. The
Constitution makers did not intend Article 370 to be a tool to bring
permanent amendments, like Article 35A, in the Constitution.
The petition said Article 35 A was against the “very spirit of
oneness of India” as it created a “class within a class of Indian
citizens.” Restricting citizens from other States from getting
employment or buying property within Jammu and Kashmir was a
violation of fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the
Constitution.
Basic structure is a collective term coined by a 13-judge
Bench in the historic Keshavananda Bharati case to include a
catena of fundamental rights, including right to equality, non-
discrimination, liberty, life and dignity, enshrined and preserved in
the Constitution.
About Article 35(A) of Indian Constitution:
Article 35A of the Indian Constitution is an article that
empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define
“permanent residents” of the state and provide special rights and
privileges to those permanent residents.
When was Article 35A introduced?
It was added to the Constitution through a Presidential
Order, i.e., The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir)
Order, 1954 - issued by the President of India on 14 May 1954,
exercising the powers conferred by the clause (1) of the Article
370 of the Indian Constitution, and with the concurrence of the
Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Which Means:
 Person who is not a Permanent Resident of Jammu and
Kashmir cannot own property in Jammu and Kashmir.
 Person who is not a Permanent Resident of Jammu and
Kashmir cannot obtain job within Jammu and Kashmir
Government.
 Person who is not a Permanent Resident of Jammu and
Kashmir cannot join any professional college run by
government of Jammu and Kashmir or get any form of
government aid out of government funds.
Who are Permanent Residents?
The Jammu and Kashmir Constitution, which was adopted
on November 17, 1956, defined a Permanent Resident (PR) of
the state as a person who was born or settled in the state before
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May 14, 1954, or who has been a resident of the state for 10
years and has “lawfully acquired” immovable property in the
state.
WHAT IS A TRADE WAR OR
TARIFF WAR?
A trade war is when a nation imposes tariffs on
imports and foreign countries retaliate with similar forms
of trade protectionism. As it escalates, a trade war reduces
international trade.
A trade war is a side effect of protectionism that
occurs when one country (Country A) raises tariffs on
another country’s (Country B) imports.In response
Country B also raises tariffs on Country A's imports.
 In January 2018,U.S president Donald Trump imposed
tariffs on solar panels and washing machines, and in March
2018, he imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium.
 According to Trump they are imposed to protect American
Industries and businessmen.
 The president said he would exempt Canada and Mexico as
“a special case” while negotiating for changes to the North
American Free Trade Agreement. The European Union has
responded by warning that it will retaliate with tariffs on a
range of US imports.
 On March 7, US President Donald Trump announced 25%
tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium from China.
 China responded by announcing tariffs on $3 billion in U.S.
fruit, pork, recycled aluminum, and steel pipes.
 America is the world's largest steel importer. Trump believes
the tariffs would protect the 147,000 workers in the U.S.
steel and aluminum industries.
 In justifying the measure, the administration invoked a
national security law, departing from an international
consensus not to impose trade barriers.
 Countries are allowed to this kind of recourse under the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT) in times of
war and other emergencies.
 Safeguard tariffs are legal under World Trade Organization
(WTO) rules, but the checks and balances on them are
weak.
 If the complainants go to the WTO and litigate, they may
lose their right to compensation and simply open up years of
legal battling.
 A tit-for-tat trade war may begin, as they impose
unsanctioned measures to even up the score.
 The same thing can be seen in European Union’s response
which warned that it will retaliate with tariffs on a range of
US imports.
What are Tariffs?
 Tariff is a tax or duty to be paid on imports or exports.
 Money collected under a tariff is called customs duty. Tariffs
are used by governments to protect domestic industries
from international competition.
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Current Affairs
2. ECONOMY AND BANKING
ADB accords approval for lining project of
the Son canal in Shahabad – Bhojpur region
of Bihar.
 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved
USD 503-million lining project of the Son canal in
Shahabad-Bhojpur region of Bihar.
 Out of total cost USD 503 million (Rs 3272.49 crore)
USD 352 million is being provided by ADB.
Govt. to park shares of PSUs in investment
fund to meet public float rule
 The finance ministry is planning to transfer
government shares of 10 PSUs, including MMTC,
ITDC, MRPL, Hindustan Copper, to a fund to meet
Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI)
minimum public shareholding norms.
 As per the norms, PSUs were mandated to achieve the
minimum 25% public shareholding by 21 August
2017, which was later extended by a year.
 The proposal, being prepared by the finance ministry,
would be placed before the Union cabinet for approval
soon.
 The 10 PSUs in which government shareholding has
to be brought down to 75% also include Coal India,
NLC (formerly Neyveli Lignite) , SJVN, State
Trading Corporation (STC), Kudremukh Iron Ore
Company (KIOCL) and Madras Fertilisers.
 As per the note prepared by the ministry, Alternate
Mechanism (AM) for disinvestment would be
empowered to decide on shares of which PSUs could
be transferred to SNIF. The AM will help the ministry
in taking quick decisions in view of the changing
market conditions.
 AM was set up in august 2017 comprising finance
minister, road transport minister and the concerned
administrative minister, to decide on modalities of
stake sale in PSUs.
 SNIF was set up in 2013 with the specific objective of
meeting the minimum public shareholding of 10% as
was then mandated by the SEBI.
Five more airports allow tag-free hand
baggage
 Five more airports have done away with the practice
of stamping and tagging passengers’ hand baggages.
 With this, 42 airports in the country, out of the total 60
under the CISF security cover, are now tag-free.
 The airports at Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), Raipur
(Chhattisgarh), Jorhat (Assam), Dimapur (Nagaland)
and Shillong (Meghalaya) have recently been included
under the hand baggage tag-free security regime that
was initiated by the Central Industrial Security Force
(CISF) last year.
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 The new travel regime for air passengers was
launched in April 2017 by the Federal Civil Airports
Guarding Force in consultation with the Civil
Aviation ministry and the Bureau of Civil Aviation
Security (BCAS).
 The operators of these airports were asked to increase
the length of the output roller of the x-ray machine so
that the hand bags were checked easily.
 By having the stamped tags on the hand baggage, the
security personnel assures of no weapon or
ammunition-like material enters the aircraft.. All these
procedures have now been replaced by smart gadgets
and hence the procedure to tag and stamp the bags has
been done away with.
 CISF director general Rajesh Ranjan
Centre imposes 25% safeguard duty on
import of solar cells
 The Centre issued a notification putting into effect a
safeguard duty of 25% on import of solar cells from
China and Malaysia between July 30, 2018, and July
29, 2019.
 The duty reduces to 20% for six months from July 30,
2019, and further to 15% in the subsequent half year.
 This move is aimed at helping the domestic solar cell
manufacturing sector, it could affect existing projects
dependent on cheap imports.
RIL wins arbitration case against Govt.'s
claim of illegal gas production
In the gas migration dispute between Reliance
Industries (RIL) and state-owned ONGC, an international
arbitration tribunal ruled in favour of a consortium of RIL
and its partners, British Petroleum and Niko Resources led
by Mukesh Ambani’s RIL.
Allegation Was:
 The penalty was slapped on the companies by the
government in November 2016. This was based on the
findings of the US-based consultant DeGolyer and
MacNaughton (D&M), which submitted its report in
November 2015.
 The report stated that 11.122 billion cubic metres of
natural gas had migrated from ONGC’s 98/2 area to
RIL’s adjoining KG-D6 block from April 2009 to
March 2015.
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Current Affairs
The tribunal rejected the government’s claim of illegal
gas production by the consortium from the neighboring
block of ONGC in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin. In
addition, it awarded costs of $8.3 million (Rs 564.40
million), to be paid by the government to the consortium.
The three-member tribunal, led by Singapore-based
arbitration chambers’ head Lawrence Boo. The other two
members in the panel were government representative and
former Supreme Court Judge G S Singhvi and RIL
arbitrator former English High Court Justice Bernard Eder.
Banks collect Rs. 5,000 crore in FY18 as
minimum balance penalty
21 public sector banks and three major private sector
lenders collected Rs. 5,000 crore from customers as
minimum balance penalty in 2017-18, according to
banking data.
State Bank of India, which suffered a staggering net
loss of Rs. 6,547 crore during 2017-18 topped the list
accounting for nearly half the amount collected as
minimum balance penalty.
After SBI, the largest amount of minimum balance
penalty during 2017-18 was collected by HDFC Bank Ltd.
It charged its customers Rs. 590.84 crore, which is lower
than Rs. 619.39 crore in 2016-17.
Axis Bank collected Rs. 530.12 crore in the last fiscal
while ICICI Bank charged Rs. 317.6 crore.
SBI was charging the penalty on failure to maintain
monthly average balance requirement till 2012 and re-
introduced it on 1 April 2017 and reduced the charges with
effect from 1 October 2017.
According to norms set by the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI), banks are permitted to levy service/miscellaneous
charges.
Govt. to seek new bids for Pawan Hans
 The government will soon invite fresh bids for 100%
stake sale in Pawan Hans and also ONGC is ready to
sell its entire stake in the company.
 Helicopter services provider Pawan Hans is a joint
venture between the government, which holds 51%
stake, and state-owned ONGC, which owns the
remaining 49% shareholding. Pawans Hans has a fleet
of 46 choppers.
 On April 13, the government had issued the
information memorandum for the 51% strategic stake
sale in Pawan Hans and had sought Expression of
Interest (EoI) from interested bidders by June 18.
About half a dozen bidders are believed to have
submitted bids.
Ceat plans to invest Rs. 2,000 cr. in new
plant
Tyre major Ceat plans to invest about Rs. 2,000 crore
over the next 3-5 years to set up a manufacturing facility in
Chennai. The first phase of the plant is expected to start
production in 2019.
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PNB fraud: Centre dismissed ex-MD Usha
Ananthasubramanian and allows
prosecution
 The government dismissed Usha Ananthasubramanian,
who was three months ago divested of her powers as MD
and CEO Allahabad Bank, following the country’s biggest
bank fraud allegedly carried out by diamond merchant Nirav
Modi and associates at the Punjab National Bank (PNB).
 It also gave sanction for her prosecution.
 MD and CEO of PNB before moving to Allahabad Bank, Ms.
Ananthasubramanian was named in the CBI chargesheet in
connection with the Rs. 14,000 crore fraud through fake
Letters of Undertaking in connivance with some PNB
employees.
Tata remains most valuable brand
According to Brand Finance, a brand valuation and
strategy consultancy based in UK , ‘Tata’ brand continues
to be India's most valuable brand, valued at $14.2 billion in
2018.
2. Airtel $6.6 billion.
3. Infosys (brand value: $6.03 billion)
4. LIC ($5.96 billion)
5. HCL ($4.6 billion)
6. SBI ($4.4 billion)
7. Indian Oil ($4.2 billion)
8. HDFC Bank ($4.07 billion)
9. Reliance($4.03 billion)
10. ITC ($4 billion)
HDFC Bank is India’s strongest brand this year.
A brand’s strength is evaluated through a balanced
scorecard of factors such as marketing investment,
stakeholder equity, and business performance and used to
determine what proportion of a business’ revenue is
contributed by the brand.
Cabinet approves New Bill to ban
Unregulated Deposit Schemes and Chit
Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018
In a major policy initiative to protect the savings of
the investors, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to
introduce the following bills in the Parliament:-
1. Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill,
2018 in parliament &
2. Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018
1. Banning of Unregulated Deposit
Schemes Bill, 2018 in parliament:
Objective and Aim: Tackling the menace of illicit
deposit taking activities in the country.
Salient Features:
 The Bill contains a substantive banning clause
which bans Deposit Takers from promoting,
operating, issuing advertisements or accepting
deposits in any Unregulated Deposit Scheme.
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Current Affairs
 The Bill creates three different types of offences,
namely,
1. running of Unregulated Deposit Schemes,
2. fraudulent default in Regulated Deposit
Schemes, and
3. wrongful inducement in relation to
Unregulated Deposit Schemes.
 The Bill provides for severe punishment and
heavy pecuniary fines.
 The Bill has adequate provisions for
disgorgement or repayment of deposits in cases
where such schemes nonetheless manage to raise
deposits illegally.
 The Bill provides for attachment of properties/
assets by the Competent Authority, and
subsequent realization of assets for repayment to
depositors.
 Clear-cut time lines have been provided for
attachment of property and restitution to
depositors.
 The Bill enables creation of an online central
database, for collection and sharing of
information on deposit taking activities in the
country.
The Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018
Objective:
In order to facilitate orderly growth of the Chit Funds
sector and remove bottlenecks,amendmentsare made to
Chit Funds Act, 1982:
National Bio-Fuel Policy
Salient Features:
1. The Policy categorises biofuels as "Basic Biofuels"
viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel and
"Advanced Biofuels" - Second Generation (2G)
7 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
Salient Features:
 Bill mandates video-conferencing while the opening
of bids and seeks to hike commission of foremen, who
act on behalf of the chit fund management company .
 Increasing the ceiling of foreman's commission from a
maximum of 5% to 7%,
 Allowing the foreman a right to lien for the dues from
subscribers, so that set-off is allowed by the Chit
company for subscribers who have already drawn
funds, so as to discourage default by them; and
 Remove the ceiling of one hundred rupees set in 1982
at the time of framing the Chit Funds Act, which has
lost its relevance. The State Governments are
proposed to be allowed to prescribe the ceiling and to
increase it from time to time.
Rajasthan First State to Implement Biofuel
Policy:
 Rajasthan has become the first State in the country to
implement the national policy on biofuels which was
recently approved in May 2018.
 It will lay emphasis on increasing production of
oilseeds and establish a Centre for Excellence in
Udaipur to promote research in the fields of
alternative fuels and energy resources.
 A biodiesel plant of the capacity of 8 tonnes a day has
already been installed in the State with the financial
assistance of the Indian Railways.
 The State government would promote marketing of
biofuels and generate awareness about them.
ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in
fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc. to
enable extension of appropriate financial and fiscal
incentives under each category.
2. The Policy expands the scope of raw material for
ethanol production by allowing use of Sugarcane
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Current Affairs
Juice, Sugar containing materials like Sugar Beet,
Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing materials like
Corn, Cassava, Damaged food grains like wheat,
broken rice, Rotten Potatoes, unfit for human
consumption for ethanol production.
3. Policy allows use of surplus food grains for
production of ethanol for blending with petrol with the
approval of National Biofuel Coordination
Committee.
4. The Policy encourages setting up of supply chain
mechanisms for biodiesel production from non-edible
oilseeds, Used Cooking Oil, short gestation crops.
RBI Hikes Repo Rate by 25 bps to 6.5%-
New Changes in Monetary Policy:
In 3rd Bi-monthly Policy Statement, the Reserve bank
of India’s (RBI’s) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)
raised policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.5% on
account of inflationary pressures arising due to hike in
minimum support price.
Accordingly other adjusted rates are:
 Repo Rate : 6.50%
 reverse repo :6.25%
 Marginal Standing Facility Rate(MSFR): 6.75%
 Bank Rate :6.75%
 CRR : 4%
 SLR: 19.5%
 Base Rate: 8.75% - 9.45%
BEML, HEC sign MoU to make equipment
for mining sector
 Two public-sector undertakings – Bharat Earth
Movers Ltd (BEML Ltd) and Heavy Engineering
Corporation Ltd (HEC) -- have signed an MoU to
meet the growing requirement of the mining sector.
 Both the companies have synergies in their product
profiles and are to manufacture and supply products
such as rope shovels and walking draglines for the
mining industry.
 The MoU will result into additional Rs 150-200 crore
revenue for both PSUs. The collaboration will entail
re-entering rope shovels and walking draglines
manufacturing with higher indegenisation The joint
effort would help the country attain ‘self-reliance’ in
such equipment, saving foreign exchange.
8 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
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 The mining products manufactured will come under
‘Make in India’ initiative.
 Coal India is a major client for these mining
equipment and its chairman and managing director A
K Jha was present on the occasion.
 BEML
 CMD- Deepak Kumar Hota
 HQ: Bengaluru, KN
 Estd.: 1964
 HEC
 CMD: Avijit Ghosh
 HQ : Ranchi, Jharkhand
 Estd: 1958
Sembcorp’s India unit wins Bangladesh
power tender
 Singapore based Sembcorp Industries said its power
plant in India won a tender to supply 250 megawatts
of power to Bangladesh’s Bangladesh Power
Development Board (BPDB) for 15 years i.e., till July
31, 2033.
 Sembcorp’s Gayatri Power Ltd. power plant, wholly
owned by Sembcorp Energy India Ltd., has received
letters of intent from Bangladesh Power Development
Board,
 Gayatri Power operates a 1,320-megawatt coal-fired
power plant in Andhra Pradesh and Sembcorp India’s
combined thermal and renewable energy assets have a
total capacity of 4.37 gigawatts.
 Supply will be through the Bohrompur Substation in
Murshidabad, India and will be transferred to the
Bheramara Grid Substation in Kushtia, Bangladesh.
Coal use to rise on power uptick: Crisil
 Consumption of non-coking coal is forecast to climb
to 1,076 million tonnes in fiscal 2023, from 826
million tonnes in fiscal 2018, Crisil Research said in a
report.
 In a sectoral study, Crisil Research also said that non-
coking coal imports would decline to 145 million
tonnes in fiscal 2023 from 162 million tonnes in fiscal
2018. Overall, the power sector, with improved plant
load factors, has driven domestic coal consumption.
 On coking coal, the report said that imports would
remain high as domestic supply of metallurgical
coking coal is estimated at 19 million tonnes against a
demand of 65 million tonnes in FY23.
 It said that Coal India is expected to increase its output
through increased production from large blocks.
 Domestic non-coking coal prices would be governed
by linkage prices, auction of linkages and spot
auctions.
What is non-coking coal?
 Non Coking Coal does not have any caking properties
and it is mainly used as thermal coal for power
generation.
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Current Affairs
 Coal which forms a cake of high carbon with high
heat value , when heated in absence of air, that is
called COKING COAL or Metallurgical coal if not
then it will be Non-coking. This is the coal used in
thermal power plant to generate electricity. So it is
also known as steam coal or thermal coal.
About Crisil:
 CRISIL (formerly Credit Rating Information Services
of India Limited) is a global analytical company
providing ratings, research, and risk and policy
advisory services.
 CRISIL’s majority shareholder is Standard & Poor's, a
division of McGraw Hill Financial and provider of
financial market intelligence.
 Headquarters :Mumbai.
 Chairman: John L.Berisford
 MD&CEO: Ashu Suyash
 In Feb 2018, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has
launched CriSidEx, India's first sentiment index for
micro and small enterprises (MSEs) developed jointly
by credit rating body CRISIL and Small Industries
Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
Southern States outshine rest of India in
mobile banking
 Southern States are outshining the rest of India in
mobile banking adoption in savings accounts,
according to a report by The Boston Consulting Group
(BCG).
 The report was prepared in association with FICCI
and Indian Banks’ Association(IBA).
 The theme of the report is “Providing financial
services to SMEs in an increasingly digital
ecosystem.”
 Telangana tops the table with 10% of savings bank
accounts having at least one mobile banking
transaction in the last six months of FY18.
 This is followed by Andhra Pradesh (6.30%),
Karnataka (5.50%), Puducherry (5.80%), Tamil Nadu
(5%) and Kerala (4.70%).
 The all-India average is 3.40%.
 The report had a sample size of more than 2,600
respondents and BCG factored in 34 banks across four
segments — 15 medium PSU banks; six large PSU
banks and five new private banks.
 Mobile banking activation stood at 21% for private
banks and 3% for PSU banks for FY18, the consulting
firm said in the report.
 BCG also said that eastern and southern States were
leading the charge as India continued on the digital
journey.
 More than 20% of the active savings banks accounts
in Telangana, Manipur and Mizoram had at least one
Internet banking financial transaction in the last six
months of FY18 compared with the national average
of 11.30%.
9 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
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 The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is an American
multinational management consulting firm with 90
offices in 50 countries.
 Founder :Bruce Henderson
 Headquarters :Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
 President & CEO :Rich Lesser
 The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI) is an association of business
organisations in India. Established in 1927, on the
advice of Mahatma Gandhi by GD Birla and
Purushottam Das Thakurdas, it is the largest, oldest
and the apex business organisation in India.
 FICCI draws its membership from the
corporate sector, both private and public, The
chamber has an indirect membership of over
250,000 companies.
 HQ- New Delhi
 President Rashesh Shah
 Director General : Dilip Chenoy
 Secretary General : Sanjaya Baru
 Indian Banks' Association (IBA), formed on 26
September 1946 as a representative body of
management of banking in India operating in India -
an association of Indian banks and financial
institutions.
 India Financial Institutions
 HQ:Mumbai
 Members: 237 (PSBs , Pvt Banks,Foreign
banks, Cooperative banks,RRBs,other
financial institutions)
 Chief Executive: Mr. V.G. Kannan (retired
MD of SBI-Associate & Subsidiaries)
Paytm parent company One97
Communicationsunveils cloud platform
 One97 Communications, that owns the Paytm brand,
introduced ‘Paytm AI Cloud for India’ — a cloud
computing platform aimed at developers, start-ups and
enterprises partnering with Chinese technology giant
Alibaba.
 The cloud computing platform will offer a suite of
business-centric apps for organisations that need
solutions for cloud computing, ready-to-use services
to automate their workflow, easy to integrate
payments, messaging and customer engagement.
RBI bars Fino Payments Bank from
enrolling new customers
 Fino Payments Bank, one of India’s first payments
banks, has been barred by the Reserve Bank of India
from adding new customers since the end of May.
 The central bank in its auditing of payments banks in
May found Fino Payments non-compliant with the
operational guidelines laid down by it.
 It was observed that a few Fino Payments Bank
accounts had deposits in excess of the stipulated
amount, by RBI
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Current Affairs
 According to RBI’s operating guidelines for payments
banks, a customer can make deposits of up to Rs.1
lakh per account in a year. Such banks cannot accept
deposits beyond this limit.
 The payments bank was asked to immediately stop
enrolling new customers until it takes corrective
actions.
 It didn’t say whether the RBI has set any deadline for
the upgradation.
 The payments bank said, however, that it continues to
operate accounts of all its existing customers.
 Fino, which was a remittance service provider,
received the RBI nod to operate as a bank in March
2017. It started operations in September after its
launch in July last year. It claims to have a customer
base of close to 1 million.
 Payments bank is a differentiated bank providing a
limited range of products, such as acceptance of
demand deposits and remittances of funds. These
banks cannot issue loans and credit cards.
Mauritius’s SBM gets RBI approval for
subsidiary
 Mauritius-based SBM Group has received Reserve
Bank of India’s approval to operate in the country
through a wholly-owned subsidiary route — the first
foreign lender to receive such a licence after local
incorporation was introduced in 2013.
 Singapore’s DBS Bank is another lender which is
awaiting final approval from the RBI to convert its 12
branches into a wholly owned subsidiary.
 The new structure will provide for SBM in its branch
expansion strategy. The bank will soon operate as a
banking subsidiary of SBM Group in India under the
name of SBM Bank (India) Ltd.,
 SBM, which has been in India since 1994, currently
operates through four branches, in Mumbai, Chennai,
Hyderabad and Ramachandrapuram.
 It plans to open six new branches in Delhi, Bangalore,
Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad and Jaipur by next year.
 Moses Harding John, CEO, India & East Africa, SBM
Holdings Ltd.
TRAI suggests Rs 492 cr per Mhz for 5G
spectrum
 The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
recommended the auction of spectrum for offering 5G
services for the first time in the country at a pan-India
reserve price of about Rs. 492 crore per MHz.
 In its recommendations, the regulator has also called
for over 43% reduction in the reserve prices of 700
MHz band spectrum — sought-after for high speed
services
 It had no takers in the 2016 auctions due to high
pricing. The recommended pan-India reserve price for
700 Mhz now is Rs. 6,538 crore per MHz as opposed
to Rs. 11,500 crore last time.
10 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
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 Recommending that the entire available spectrum be
put to auction in the forthcoming sale, the regulator
suggested that “it may not be prudent to either delay
the auction or hold back the spectrum.”
 Based on these recommendations submitted to the
government, the base prices and timing for the next
round of auctions will be finalised.
Govt. to take action against 2.25 lakh
companies for not filing financial
statement
 The government will take action against over 2.25
lakh companies as they have not filed requisite
financial statement for 2015-16 and 2016-17.
 The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has already
struck off over 2.26 lakh companies for non-filing of
financial statements or annual returns for a continuous
period of two years or more.
 During the financial year 2018-19, a total of 2,25,910
companies have also been identified for action under
section 248 of the (Companies) Act for non-filing of
due returns for the financial year 2015-16 and 2016-
17.
 Due procedure shall be followed by Registrars of
Companies (ROCs) before striking off names of the
companies.
 Section 248 of the Companies Act – which is
implemented by the corporate affairs ministry –
provides powers to strike off names of companies
from the register on various grounds, including for
being inactive for long.
Registrar Of Companies:
 Registrars of Companies (ROC) is vested with the
primary duty of registering companies and Limited
Liability Partnership(LLPs) floated in the respective
states and the Union Territories and ensuring that such
companies and LLPs comply with statutory
requirements under the Act.
 These offices function as registry of records, relating
to the companies registered with them, which are
available for inspection by members of public on
payment of the prescribed fee. The Central
Government exercises administrative control over
these offices through the respective Regional
Directors.
 AP & Telangana: Sh R.C.Mishra (ROC
Hyderabad)
NHAI to Sign MoU with SBI Tomorrow for a
Long Term, unsecured Loan of Rs 25,000
Crore
 National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is
getting an unsecured loan of Rs. 25,000 crore from
State Bank of India for 10 years with 3 years of
moratorium on repayments. This is the largest amount
of loan to have been sanctioned to NHAI in one stroke
by any institution.
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Current Affairs
 This is also the largest long term unsecured loan
sanctioned by SBI at a time to any entity.
 SBI offered to fund the entire requirement of Rs.
25000 Crore based on one month Marginal Cost of
funds based Lending Rate (MCLR).
 MCLR is minimum interest rate of a bank
below which it cannot lend, except in some
cases allowed by the RBI. It is an internal
benchmark or reference rate for the bank.
 The repayment would be done in 14 equal half yearly
instalments. The total loan tenure is 10 years. NHAI
can repay/ prepay it at any time without any
prepayment penalty.
 Interest accrued on the amount actually outstanding
will be paid on monthly basis. NHAI can draw the
amount in any number of tranches, starting on 31st
March 2019.
France’s IDEMIA gets NPCI stamp for
RuPay cards
 French company IDEMIA, a global leader in augmented
identity, said it has become the first company to be given
the certification to manufacture and personalise RuPay chip
contact and contactless cards on the qSPARC v2 platform.
 The qSPARC is a dual interface open loop payment
specification, with the option of loading multiple payment
applications – up to 20 payment applications – on a single
card.
 The certification is issued by the National Payments
Corporation of India, after testing all payment scenarios, and
thus ensuring that the cards manufactured by IDEMIA will
work seamlessly at all payment acceptance devices. With
this, cardholders can usea single card for multiple payment
options such as for the Metro, bus, parking, toll, loyalty, and
at retail outlets.
 The first version of this card was deployed in Kochi Metro,
Bangalore Bus Transport, Ahmedabad Smart City, and will
soon be delivered to prospective customers in Nagpur,
Noida Metro and Navi Mumbai bus transport ticketing.
Government Free LPG Connections Target
Government achieves 5 crore Free LPG Connections
target 8 months ahead of schedule.
Most number of LPG connections were given in Uttar
Pradesh, where 87 lakh connections were released,
followed by West Bengal (67 lakh), Bihar (61 lakh),
Madhya Pradesh (45 lakh), Rajasthan (37 lakh) and Odisha
(30 lakh).
About 47 per cent of the beneficiaries are from the
weaker sections of the society -- SC/STs.
PM Modi to launch India Post Payments
Bank on Sept 1
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sept. 1 will launch
the India Post Payments Bank(IPPB) that will have at
least one branch in every district and focus on
financial services in rural areas.
11 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
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 IPPB will link all 1.55 lakh post office branches to
provide banking and financial service by the end of
this year.This will create the country’s largest banking
network with direct presence at village level.
 The bank will go live with 650 branches in addition to
3,250 access points co-located at post offices and
around 11,000 postmen in rural and urban areas will
provide doorstep banking services.
 IPPB has the permission to link around 17 crore postal
savings bank accounts with its account.
 With IPPB in place, people in rural area will be able to
avail digital banking and financial services, including
money transfer, to any bank account either with the
help of mobile app or by visiting a post office.
 IPPB was the third entity to receive payments bank
permit after Airtel and Paytm. Payments banks can
accept deposits of up to Rs 1 lakh per account from
individuals and small businesses.
 IPPB has the permit to carry RTGS, NEFT, IMPS
transactions that will enable IPPB customers to
transfer and receive money from any bank account.
With the third party tie-ups, account holders in IPPB
will be able to avail financial services as in case of a
regular banking customer.
 IPPB will be used by government to distribute
MGNREGA wages, subsidies, pension etc.
 The IPPB app which is expected to be launched on
same day will enable customers to pay for services of
around 100 firms including phone recharges and bill,
electricity bill, DTH service, college fees etc that are
present on Bharat Bill payments system of National
Payments Corporation of India(NPCI).
 IPPB CEO Suresh Shetty
Storing copies of foreign payment firms'
data a likely solution
 Foreign payment firms could keep copies of customer
data in India while retaining offshore storage
operations, the government said, as a way to resolve a
row with MasterCard, Visa and American Express
over the localisation of such information.
 A decision by India’s central bank in April that all
payments data should, within six months, be stored
only in the country for “unfettered supervisory access”
has led to furious lobbying by global firms that worry
it would cost them millions of dollars.
 The RBI’s directive comes as more people in India are
switching to plastic, partly driven by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi government’s decision to replace
high-value currency notes in November 2016, since
when the government has aggressively discouraged
cash transactions.
 In March, Indians clocked up transactions worth $52
billion using their 900 million credit and debit cards,
nearly double the amount recorded in November
2016,according to RBI data.
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Current Affairs
Telangana, Tech Mahindra ink MoU for
India’s first Blockchain District:
 The Telangana State Information Technology, Electronics
and Communication department (ITE&C) has signed an
MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Tech Mahindra
to Launch India’s first Blockchain District in Telangana
 It is signed as a part of International Blochain Congress
2018 held in Hyderabad.
 The Blockchain District will be a Center of Excellence for
Blockchain, an incubator for technology and process
development with innovative infrastructure and facilities to
foster growth of Indian blockchain start-ups and companies.
 The Blockchain District will provide an opportunity for the
Blockchain ecosystem in India to collaborate and work
towards building a Blockchain District in the State of
Telangana and transforming India as the Blockchain capital
of the world.
Reliance Jio partners with SBI to launch
Yono financial platform
 Reliance Jio and SBI have partnered to launch SBI
Yono, an omni channel platform that will offer digital
banking, commerce and financial superstore services
to customers.
 Yono’s financial services will be enabled through the
MyJio platform. Jio Prime will offer exclusive deals
from Reliance Retail, Jio, partner brands and
merchants. In addition, SBI customers can avail
additional opportunities to earn loyalty reward.
 SBI will take advantage of Jio’s network in rural and
urban areas to design as well as provide customers
solution such as video banking and other on-demand
services. Jio Phones will be available on special offers
for SBI customers.
RBI must resume issuing LoUs, LoCs, says
parliamentary panel
 After the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, the
Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) decided not to the issue
the Letters of Undertaking (LoU) and Letters of Credit
(LoC) for trade credit.
 The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce
in Rajya Sabha said that the facility should soon be
restored.
 The Committee is of the considered opinion that
discontinuation of the practice of issuance of
LoU/LoC for trade credit by the RBI was a knee-jerk
reaction.
 The Committee also noted that all the stakeholders are
consulted, representing trade and industry,
unanimously said that the discontinuation of the LoU
and LoC facility had resulted in a 2-2.5% increase in
the cost of credit.
 The Committee said that RBI should have engaged in
more consultations with stakeholders on the matter
before resorting to discontinuation of LoUs and LoCs.
12 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
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HDFC Life inks pact with Vijaya Bank to
sell insurance products
 HDFC Life Insurance Company inked an agreement
with Vijaya Bank to tap customers of the state-owned
lender.
 Vijaya Bank's network of 2,129 branches across the
country will further strengthen HDFC Life's presence,
thereby enabling the insurer to reach out to a wider
and diverse section of the population with need-based
life insurance solutions.
 Vijaya Bank MD & CEO: Sankara
Narayanan
 HQ: Bengaluru
 HDFC Life MD & CEO Amitabh Chaudhry;
 HQ: Mumbai
Blockchain: Exim Bank signs MoU with
BRICS development banks
 Exim Bank of India has signed a multilateral
cooperation agreement with member development
banks of BRICS to undertake “collaborative research”
in distributed ledger/blockchain technology.
 Exim Bank of India is the nominated member
development bank under the BRICS Interbank
Cooperation Mechanism.
 Other nominated member development banks from
BRICS nations are: Banco Nacional de
Desenvolvimento Economico e Social – BNDES,
Brazil; State Corporation Bank for Development and
Foreign Economic Affairs – Vnesheconombank,
Russia; China Development Bank Corporation, and
Development Bank of Southern Africa.
 Exim Bank MD : David Rasquinha
President of India inaugurates ‘One District
one Product’ Summit
 To give a major push to Uttar Pradesh's micro, small
and medium enterprises (MSME) and cottage
industries, the Yogi Adityanath government will
exchange memorandums of understanding (MoUs)
with top companies such as Amazon, Wipro and GE.
 It is aimed at showcasing its traditional cottage
industries and crafts.
 On the occasion, the government will exchange MoUs
with e-commerce major Amazon, Wipro, GE
Healthcare, Quality Circle of India (QCI) and India's
leading bourses -- the BSE and National Stock
Exchange (NSE). These entities would help the
MSMEs and cottage industries by providing training,
branding, marketing and other institutional support.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will
transfer Rs. 50,000 crore surplus to the
government
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will transfer Rs.
50,000 crore surplus to the government for the year ended
June 30, 2018.
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Current Affairs
3. INTERNATIONAL & BILATERAL
4th BIMSTEC Summit: Kathmandu
Declaration adopted
The 4th BIMSTEC Summit concluded in Kathmandu
on August 31, 2018 with the signing and adoption of
the Kathmandu Declaration by all the seven
members. The Summit began on August 30, 2018 in
Kathmandu, Nepal.
Theme 2018: 'Towards a Peaceful Prosperous, and
Sustainable Bay of Bengal Region'.
The 18-point Kathmandu Declaration is expected to
enhance the effectiveness of BIMSTEC Secretariat
by engaging it in various technical and economic
activities in the region.
During the Summit, foreign ministers of BIMSTEC
member countries signed a Memorandum of
Understanding on the Establishment of BIMSTEC
Grid Interconnection.
Kathmandu Declaration
 The Declaration stresses on ending poverty from the
region by 2030 in line with the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals.
 The declaration includes issues such as agricultural
technology exchange, fight against terrorism, gradual
reduction of the impact of climate change, increase
trade and investment, and ease the visa processing for
the people of BIMSTEC member states.
 It strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations and stressed that there can be no
justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism.
 It underlines the importance of multidimensional
connectivity as a key enabler to economic integration
for shared prosperity of the region.
 It highlights the importance of trade and investment as
one of the major contributing factors for fostering
economic and social development in the region.
India announced the establishment of the Centre
for Bay of Bengal Studies at Nalanda University for
research on arts, culture, maritime laws and other
subjects.
India invited all the BIMSTEC member countries
to participate in the International Buddhist Conclave
2020 as the Guests of Honor. India will host the
Conclave in August 2020.
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical
and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
 Establishment : 6 June 1997
 Purpose: technological and economic cooperation
among south Asian and southeast Asian countries
along the coast of the bay of Bengal
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 Members- 7 (The BIMSTEC member states—
Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal)
 Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh
 Chairmanship: Sri Lanka
What is a trade war or tariff War?
A trade war is when a nation imposes tariffs on
imports and foreign countries retaliate with similar forms
of trade protectionism. As it escalates, a trade war reduces
international trade.
A trade war is a side effect of protectionism that
occurs when one country (Country A) raises tariffs on
another country’s (Country B) imports.In response
Country B also raises tariffs on Country A's imports.
 In January 2018,U.S president Donald Trump imposed
tariffs on solar panels and washing machines, and in
March 2018, he imposed tariffs on steel and
aluminium.
 According to Trump they are imposed to protect
American Industries and businessmen.
 The president said he would exempt Canada and
Mexico as “a special case” while negotiating for
changes to the North American Free Trade
Agreement. The European Union has responded by
warning that it will retaliate with tariffs on a range of
US imports.
 On March 7, US President Donald Trump announced
25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium from
China.
 China responded by announcing tariffs on $3 billion in
U.S. fruit, pork, recycled aluminum, and steel pipes.
 America is the world's largest steel importer. Trump
believes the tariffs would protect the 147,000 workers
in the U.S. steel and aluminum industries.
 In justifying the measure, the administration invoked a
national security law, departing from an international
consensus not to impose trade barriers.
 Countries are allowed to this kind of recourse under
the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT)
in times of war and other emergencies.
 Safeguard tariffs are legal under World Trade
Organization (WTO) rules, but the checks and
balances on them are weak.
 If the complainants go to the WTO and litigate, they
may lose their right to compensation and simply open
up years of legal battling.
 A tit-for-tat trade war may begin, as they impose
unsanctioned measures to even up the score.
 The same thing can be seen in European Union’s
response which warned that it will retaliate with tariffs
on a range of US imports.
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Current Affairs
What are Tariffs?
 Tariff is a tax or duty to be paid on imports or exports.
 Money collected under a tariff is called customs duty.
Tariffs are used by governments to protect domestic
industries from international competition.
Venezuelan President Maduro survives
apparent drone assassination attempt
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro survived an
apparent assassination attempt Saturday after several
drones armed with explosives flew toward him during a
speech at a military parade.
Dozens of soldiers are also seen scattering during the
event to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the
Venezuelan national guard in the capital of Caracas.
New Zealand to remove ‘sexist’ road signs
New Zealand’s transport authority is going adopt
gender-neutral signs after a 7-year-old girl said it was
“wrong and unfair” to suggest only men could work on
roadside power lines.
U.K. to have new organ donation law
 The U.K. government on Sunday announced new
plans to change the law for organ and tissue donation
to address the urgent need for organs within Indian-
origin community in the country.
 The proposed new system of consent for organ and
tissue donation, which will presume that people have
agreed to transplants unless they have specifically
opted out, is expected to come into effect in England
in 2020 as part of a drive to help Black, Asian and
Minority Ethnic (BAME) people.
 Under the new presumed consent system, those who
do not want to donate their organs will be able to
record their decision on the state-funded National
Health Service (NHS) Organ Donor Register (ODR).
 Legislation to introduce the new framework will be
debated in Parliament later this year.
 The announcement came after a report called on the
NHS to take more proactive action to address the high
death rate among Indian-origin people in Britain due
to low levels of organ donation within the community.
 According to NHS records, only 7% of donors last
year were from BAME backgrounds, with Indians
accounting for just 1.9%. Further, 21% of people who
died on the organ donation waiting list in the U.K. last
year were from a BAME background.
Russia appoints movie star as special U.S.
envoy
Russia has appointed movie star Steven Seagal as a
special envoy to the U.S. The Foreign Ministry announced
the move on Saturday, saying Mr. Seagal’s role would be
to “facilitate relations... including cooperation in culture,
arts, public and youth exchanges.”
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China tests hypersonic aircraft
 China successfully tested its first hypersonic aircraft
which could carry nuclear warheads and penetrate any
current generation anti-missile defence systems.
 The Xingkong-2 or Starry Sky-2, was launched in a
target range located in northwest China , the state-run
China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics said.
The U.S. and Russia have carried out similar
experiments.
 The flight vehicle reached 30 kms in altitude at Mach
5.5-6.
Google launched the latest version of its
Android
 Google on Monday launched the latest version of its
Android operating system — Android Pie, which
promises to make smartphones ‘smarter’.
 An update to Android 9 will begin rolling out to
Google’s Pixel phones. The devices that participated
in the Beta programme will receive the update soon.
Smart Settings:
The Android 9 comes with features like adaptive
battery, which learns the apps users’ use most and
prioritises battery use for them, and adaptive brightness,
which learns how users like to set the brightness in
different settings.
Australia lifts ban on adoptions from India
 The Government of Australia has decided to
recommence the Adoption Programme with India, as
per Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption.
 The adoptions from India had earlier been put on hold
in 2010 by the Government of Australia eight years
ago, on the reported charges of trafficking of children
for Inter-country adoption by some of the recognized
Indian placement agencies (the Adoption agencies
mandated to place children in Inter-country adoption
at that point of time).
 The regulation ofInter-country adoptions have been
made strict by the Government of India with the
enactment of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and
notification of Adoption Regulations, 2017.
 The Ministry of Women & Child Development along
with Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)
have been constantly engaging with Australian
Government for recommencement of the Adoption
Programme.
 The recommencement of the adoption programmes
will now enable large number of prospective adoptive
parents including those of Indian origin settled in
Australia in fulfilling their desire of adopting a child
from India.
India-Thailand Conclude ‘Maitree’ Military
Exercise
 The Indian and Thailand's armed forces concluded a
two-week long platoon level military exercise called
‘Exercise Maitree 2018’ in Thailand
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Current Affairs
 The exercise was an annual event designed to
strengthen the partnership between armies of the two
countries.
 The exercise will emphasize to hone the tactical and
technical skills in joint counter insurgency and counter
terrorist operations in rural and urban scenario under
UN mandate.
Sunita Williams among nine astronauts
named by NASA for new human space
programme
 Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is among the
nine astronauts named by NASA for its first human
spaceflight programme from the US soil since the
retirement of the space shuttle in 2011.
 The astronauts will fly on the spacecraft developed by
Elon Musk-owned SpaceX's Crew Dragon and global
aviation firm Boeing's CST-100 Starliner, as part of
the US space agency's Commercial Crew programme
to send humans to the ISS on private US spacecraft.
 Other 8 are-Josh Cassada, Robert Behnken,Douglas
Hurley,Eric Boe, Nicole Mann, Victor Glover,
Michael Hopkins.
 Williams has been named for the Boeing programme
to the ISS, the first test flight scheduled to take place
in the middle of 2019.
 In 2014, Boeing and SpaceX were awarded a
combined $6.8 billion in contracts from NASA to
develop spacecraft capable of flying crews to the
space station.
 SpaceX is targeting November 2018 for Crew
Dragon's first uncrewed demonstration mission
(Demo-1), three months later than the previous
schedule released by NASA early this year.
 Additional crew members will be assigned by NASA's
international partners at a later date.
India elected president of Asia-Pacific
Institute for Broadcasting Development
 India has been elected as the President of the Asia-
Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development
(AIBD) for a period of two years.
 India got elected by defeating Iran in the election that
took place in Sri Lanka Iran during voting which took
place at the 44th annual gathering of AIBD in
Colombo.
 Director General of All India Radio F. Sheheryar was
re-elected as chair of the executive board while Sri
Lanka was elected as vice-chair.
 Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development
(AIBD) was established in 1977 under the auspices of
UNESCO.
 It is hosted by Malaysia and its secretariat is located in
Kuala Lumpur.
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 26 member countries, represented by 34 organisations,
and 67 affiliate member organisations with a total
membership of 101 representing 48 countries and
regions and over 50 partners
NASA's Curiosity Rover Completes 6 Years
on Mars
 NASA’s Curiosity rover — a mission that has spotted
evidence of liquid water as well as potential signs life
and habitability on Mars — has completed six years
on the red planet.
 The Mars Science Laboratory mission’s Curiosity
rover landed on the red planet’s Gale Crater on
August 6 2012, using a series of complicated landing
manoeuvres never before attempted. Curiosity’s
mission purpose is to determine whether the red planet
ever was, or is, habitable to microbial life.
 The rover, which is about the size of a car, is equipped
with 17 cameras and a robotic arm containing a suite
of specialised laboratory-like tools and instruments.
 The rover discovered evidence of sulphur, nitrogen,
oxygen, phosphorus and carbon — key ingredients
necessary for life — in the powder sample drilled
from the “Sheepbed” mudstone in Yellowknife Bay of
Mars.
Japan replaced China as world's No. 2
stock market
 China's stock market has been overtaken as the
world's second-biggest by Japan's, having been swiped
this year by the threat of a trade war with the United
States and slowing economic growth, according to
Bloomberg data.
 The figures showed Chinese stocks were worth $6.09
trillion, compared with $6.17 trillion in Japan. The US
market is worth $31 trillion.
Foundation stone laid for new college
building in Sri Lanka with aid from India
 In Sri Lanka, the foundation stone was laid to start the
construction of new buildings at Saraswathy Central
College in Pusselaw of Kandy district.
 The renovation of the college is being done using a
grant of around Rs. 4 crore from the Government of
India.
 The foundation stone was laid by Taranjit Singh
Sandhu, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka
jointly with Sri Lankan State Minister for Education
Mr. V. Radhakrishnan.
 The new buildings will accommodate science labs,
lecture halls and teachers’ quarters.
 This project is in continuation of Government of
India’s efforts to partner with Government of Sri
Lanka in peoples oriented development projects
especially in the field of education. India’s overall
commitment of development assistance to Sri Lanka
stands at a total of around 3 billion US dollars, out of
which 550 million is pure grant assistance.
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Current Affairs
India, Vietnam to boost trade, maritime,
defence cooperation
 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is on a
two-day visit to Vietnam, co-chaired the 16th meeting
of the Joint Commission, along with Vietnam's foreign
minister Pham Binh Minh, in Hanoi.
 Issues discussed measures to strengthen trade,
investment, maritime and defence cooperation
between the two countries.
 Sushma Swaraj is in Vietnam on the first leg of her
four-day two-nation tour which aims at deepening
India's strategic cooperation with Vietnam and
Cambodia the key countries in the ASEAN region.
"Deepening our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership!
 India and Vietnam have agreed to further strengthen
cooperation in the maritime domain, including on anti-
piracy, security of sea lanes and exchange of white
shipping information. And also agreed on the
importance of the early conclusion of an ASEAN-
India Maritime Transport Cooperation Agreement.
 Accelerate the establishment of direct shipping routes
between the sea ports of India and Vietnam.
Imran Khan becomes 22nd Prime Minister
of Pakistan
 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief Imran Khan took over
as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan on 26 Aug
2018.
 The swearing-in ceremony was held at the President
House in Islamabad.
 The PTI had emerged as the single largest party with
116 seats in the July 25 elections.
 President of Pakistan: Mamnoon Hussain
 Khan was born to an upper-middle class Pashtun
family in Lahore, Punjab, in 1952.
 His outstanding achievement was, he led Pakistan to
victory at the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
 In total he made 3,807 runs and took 362 wickets in
Test cricket, and is one of eight world cricketers to
have achieved an 'All-rounder's Triple' in Test
matches.
 In April 1996, Khan founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-
Insaf (lit: Pakistan Movement for Justice).
 His Books:
 West and East
 Imran: The autobiography of Imran Khan
 Imran Khan's cricket skills
 Indus Journey: A Personal View of Pakistan
 Pakistan: A Personal History
 All Round View.
India releases 470 million Nepali rupees
grant for Terai roads project in Nepal
 The Government of India has released 470 million
Nepali rupees grant for Terai roads project in Nepal.
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 The amount has been released to maintain fund
liquidity for the ongoing construction of 14 road
packages under Postal Highway Project.
 With this payment, 2.35 billion Nepali rupees have
been released so far out of total grant assistance of 8
billion Nepali rupees committed by the Government
of India for implementing 14 packages under Postal
Highway Project.
 Since 1950, the Government of India has been
supporting infrastructure development of Nepal and
has provided financial assistance for construction of
various Highways, Roads, Bridges, Airports, etc. as
part of its multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional India-
Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme.
Japan, Sri Lanka to further boost maritime
security cooperation
 Boosting Maritime affairs was decided at the meeting
between visiting Japanese Defence Minister Mr.
Itsunori Onodera to Srilanka and Sri Lankan President
Maithripala Sirisena.His visit assumes significance as
Japan has begun playing an active role in the region.
 The meeting also decided to give special attention
towards strengthening the security and cooperation of
Indian Ocean region while Japan will provide
assistance to develop Sri Lanka’s maritime security.
 This is the first time that a Japanese Defence Minister
is visiting Sri Lanka, during which he will also visit
Hambanthota and Trincomalee ports.
 Japan is contributing for several economic projects in
Sri Lanka in a purported bid to remove its reliance on
Chinese loans and investments.
 The visit of defence minister also coincided with
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ship
'Ikazuchi' arrival at the Port of Trincomalee.
Indonesia hit by TWO huge earthquakes in
five minutes with tremors in Bali and
Australia
 In Indonesia next to holiday hotspot Bali was hit by
two deadly quakes on Jul 29 and Aug 5.
 It was started with 6.2 magnitude and the strongest
measuring 7.0..
 Some 2,70,000 people are homeless or displaced, and
damage and destruction of about 68,000 homes.
 Scientists say the powerful Indonesian earthquake that
killed more than 300 people lifted the island it struck
by as much as 25 centimetres (10 inches).
 Using satellite images of Lombok from the days
following the August 5 quake, scientists from NASA
and the California Institute of Technology's joint rapid
imaging project measured changes in the island's
surface.
 In the northwest of the island near the epicentre, the
ground lifted a quarter of a metre. In other places it
dropped by 5-15 centimetres (2-6 inches).
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Current Affairs
Nepal, Bangladesh sign MoU to enhance
cooperation in power sector
 Nepal and Bangladesh have signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in
power sector.
 Nepal's Minister for Energy, Water Resources and
Irrigation, Barsha Man Pun and Minister of State for
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh,
Nasrul Hamid signed the MoU in Kathmandu.
 It aims to increase collaboration in electricity
generation, grid connectivity, energy efficiency,
renewable energy and development of hydro power
for mutual and regional benefit.
 It also envisage to encourage industrialists of Nepal
and Bangladesh to invest in power sector and tap huge
hydro power potential of South Asia by regional and
sub regional cooperation to uplift the living standard
of people in the region.
India Building a new college in Srilanka
 The foundation stone was laid to start the construction
of new buildings at Saraswathy Central College in
Pusselaw of Kandy district of Srilanka.
 The renovation of the college is being done using a
grant of around Rs. 4 crore from the Government of
India.
 Several Members of Parliament and Central Provincial
Council, senior Officials along with a large number of
public participated in the event.
 The new buildings will accommodate science labs,
lecture halls and teachers’ quarters.
 The project also involves repair and renovation of
existing buildings as well as full renovation of the
school playground.
 This project is in continuation of Government of
India’s efforts to partner with Government of Sri
Lanka in peoples oriented development projects
especially in the field of education.
 India’s overall commitment of development assistance
to Sri Lanka stands at a total of around 3 billion US
dollars, out of which 550 million is pure grant
assistance.
Japan's defence minister Itsunori Onodera
visit to India
 The visit is aimed at strengthening military
cooperation between the two countries, particularly in
the sphere of maritime space, especially with China's
growing influence in the Indian Ocean.
 Both defence ministers shared the recognition that it is
important for the two countries to further strengthen
defence and security cooperation under the ‘Japan-
lndia Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ that
aligns Japan’s ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy’
with India’s ‘Act East Policy’ to work together in
achieving common objectives.
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First draft of Sri Lanka's proposed new
constitution submitted to Parliamentary
committee
 In Sri Lanka, the first legal draft for proposed new
constitution has been submitted to Parliamentary
steering committee for further discussions.
 The committee headed Prime Minister Ranil
Wickremesinghe will prepare a draft constitution
which needs to be approved by constituent assembly
formed by a Parliament resolution in 2015.
 The legal draft also called zero draft is based on
recommendations of report of six sub committees
which submitted their reports last year.
 Political parties representing minority ethnic Tamils
have demanded greater powers to govern themselves
with a section of them demanding a federal
constitution.
 The 13th amendment introduced as part of India Sri
Lanka accord in 1987 had helped establish provincial
councils to be elected directly. However, the powers
of these councils have been gradually reduced through
various central legislations which minority Tamil
groups are opposed to.
 The new constitution making process was a key
promise of new government elected in 2015 under
President but it has been delayed as it was supposed to
be completed by 2016.
US reimposes tough, unilateral sanctions
against Iran
 The United States re-imposed a wave of tough,
unilateral sanctions against Iran on August 7th 2018,
bringing back into effect harsh penalties that had been
lifted under a historic, multi-party nuclear agreement
that President Donald Trump abandoned in May.
 Iran's access to US banknotes and key industries,
including cars and carpets. Iranians are already seeing
the effects of the sanctions, with Iran's rial currency
losing around half its value since Trump announced
the US would withdraw from the 2015 nuclear accord.
 The unilateral withdrawal came despite other parties
to the agreement -- Britain, China, France, Germany,
Russia and the EU -- pleading with Trump not to
abandon the pact aimed at blocking Iran from
acquiring a nuclear weapon.
 The second phase of US sanctions, which takes effect
November 5 and will block Iran's oil sales, is due to
cause more damage, though several countries
including China, India and Turkey have indicated they
are not willing to entirely cut their Iranian energy
purchases.
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Current Affairs
Pacific Endeavor-2018 under MCIP starts in
Kathmandu
 Pacific Endeavor-2018, a communication exercise
under the Multinational Communications
Interoperability Program (MCIP) started in
Kathmandu on 6-8-2018.
 The basic objective of 12 day exercise is to develop
common communications operating procedures to
enable military forces in the Asia Pacific region to
collectively work in the wake of disaster.
 Around 270 personnel from 20 Asia-Pacific Countries
are participating in the exercise, which is jointly
organised by the Nepali Army and United States
Pacific Command.
 Focusarea was to contribute in sustainable reduction
of disaster risk and losses of life.
 Pacific Endeavor began in 2005 and it focuses on
establishing rapid and effective interoperable
communication systems to jointly act in disaster relief
operations.
Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in as new
president of Zimbabwe
 Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken the oath as
Zimbabwe's president, after winning last month's
bitterly contested election that marked the country's
first vote since Robert Mugabe was removed from
power.
 He won election by defeating opposition leader
Nelson Chamisa.
 Capital: Harare
 Currency: United States dollar (official for
government), South African rand, and many other
currencies
Indian Embassy camp office in
Biratnagar,Nepal closed down
 The camp office of Indian Embassy in Biratnagar,
Nepal has been closed down from August 1st .
 All the services including issuing of motor vehicle
permits, registration certificates for Indian nationals,
attestation of documents and birth or death
registrations rendered by Biratnagar Camp Office now
can be availed from the Embassy of India, Kathmandu
office.
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 The Biratnagar Camp Office was opened in 2008 to
deal with the situation arising out of devastating Kosi
floods. The purpose of this Camp Office has been
fulfilled and Government of India had decided to wind
up the Camp Office and re-locate the personnel.
ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meet Held In
Singapore
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong chaired
the 51st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Foreign Ministers meeting in Singapore.
The main aim of the meeting is to meet the need for
ASEAN countries and also trade union setup between
United States and its long-time trading partners, including
China, the EU and Canada.
About ASEAN:
 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
is a regional intergovernmental organization for
Southeast Asian countries that promotes
intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates
economic, political, security, military, educational,
and sociocultural integration amongst its members and
other Asian states.
 Members: 10 (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam,
Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma),
Cambodia, Laos, Brunei)
 Founded in: 8 August 1967
 HQ: Jakarta, Indonesia.
 Secretary General: Lim Jock Hoi.
PHDCCI and CNI sign MoU to set up Indo-
Nepal Centre
 PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI)
and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has
signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to
establish India-Nepal Centre.
 It will further strengthen economic engagement
between the two countries.
 The MoUaims to promote Indian investment in Nepal,
Work with Indian ventures in Nepal to resolve
problems being faced by them,
Promoteindustrialization in Nepal and provide training
to Nepali entrepreneurs.
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Current Affairs
4. NATIONAL NEWS
Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu becomes first
Chairman of Rajya Sabha to sign an MOU
Rajya Sabha has, for the first time in 76 years since it
came into being, entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with a foreign counterpart for
promoting inter-parliamentary dialogue.
Shri Venkaiah Naidu become the first Chairman of
Rajya Sabha to sign such an agreement when he signed an
MOU with the visiting President of the Senate of the
Republic of Rwanda, Mr. Bernard Makuza.
The MOU with 6 articles of cooperation seeks to
promote
1. Inter-Parliamentary dialogue,
2. Capacity building of parliamentary staff,
3. Organisation of conferences, forums, seminars, staff
attachment programmes,
4. workshops and exchanges,
5. Collaboration in mutual interest in regional and
international multilateral parliamentary bodies in
furtherance of bilateral relations and
6. friendship between the two countries.
Rwanda was elected as chair of African Union (AU)
in January this year and hoste assembly in Kigali. It
resulted in the signing of the African Continent Free Trade
Agreement.
Facts about Rwanda:
Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda
is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Capital :Kigali
Currency :Rwandan Franc
President :Paul Kagame
Linguistically, Nagaland is the most
diverse state
According to linguistic data from the 2011 census
Nagaland is the most linguistically diverse state in India,
with Kerala being the least diverse.
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 2011 census gives language at two levels, which the
census describes as “language” and “mother tongue”,
but which can also be described as “major language”
and “minor language” or “language” and “dialect”
(bringing to mind the old adage that a language is a
dialect with an army and a navy).
 Based on the 2011 census data, Nagaland effectively
has 14 languages and 17 dialects with the largest
language (Konyak) having only a 46% share. At the
other extreme, Kerala only has 1.06 effective
languages, with 97% of the state’s residents (in 2011)
identifying Malayalam as their mother tongue.
 Himachal Pradesh, for example, has only 1.3 effective
languages with 86% of the population identifying
Hindi as their mother tongue. Breaking it up into
dialects, though, it turns out the state has nearly 6
effective languages, with the largest being Pahari (a
dialect of Hindi), which is spoken by 32% of the
population.
 Similarly, 78% of Bihar’s population speak Hindi
(when measured at the language level), giving it 1.6
effective languages, but broken down to the dialect
level, Hindi is only spoken by 26% of the population
(the other prominent dialect in the state being
Bhojpuri).
 In Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while Hindi dominates
at the language level, its dialects Rajasthani and
Chattisgarh dominate respectively if we measure at
the dialect level.
Chhattisgarh: No-confidence motion
against Raman Singh government
successfullydefeated
After a 14-hour debate, a no-trust motion moved by the
Congress against the Raman Singh-led BJP government was
defeated by a voice vote in the Chhattisgarh Assembly.
What is No-Confidence motion?
Article 118 of the Constitution permits each house of
Parliament to make its own rules for conduct of business. Rule
198 of the Lok Sabha specifies the procedure for a motion of no-
confidence. The motion needs the support of 50 members to be
admitted..
If it is passed in the Lok Sabha, the council of ministers
must resign from office.
Konkan Railway to begin work on
Kolhapur-Vaibhavwadi route soon; to have
10 New Stations
Work on the 103 kilometreKolhapur-Vaibhavwadi
section of Konkan Railway will begin soon. This decision
was taken at a review meeting of Konkan railway chaired
by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil
Aviation, Suresh Prabhu..
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Current Affairs
The Kolhapur-Vaibhavwadi line has already been
sanctioned by the Railway Ministry. Indian Railways will
bear 50% of the cost and rest will be borne by the
Government of Maharashtra.
Startup India’s Academia Alliance
Programme
 To fulfill the Governmentof India’s mission to
promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country,
Startup India launched the Startup Academia Alliance
programme, a unique mentorship opportunity between
academic scholars and startups working in similar
domains.
 Aim: to reduce the gap between scientific research and
its industrial applications in order to increase the
efficacy of these technologies and to widen their
impact. i.e., Industry Academia Partnerships and
Incubation.
 The first phase of Startup Academia Alliance was
kickstarted through partnering with Regional Centre
for Biotechnology, The Energy and Resources
Institute (TERI), Council on Energy, Environment and
Water, and TERI School of Advanced Studies.
 Renowned scholars from these institutes, in fields
such as renewable energy, biotechnology, healthcare
and life sciences were taken on board to provide
mentorship and guidance to startups working in
relevant arenas.
Third Party Survey Report on Station
Cleanliness by QCI
 The Third Party Survey has Been Conducted by
Quality Council of India(QCI)
 Minister of Railways, Coal, Finance & Corporate
Affairs, Shri Piyush Goyal has released a report on
Station Cleanliness conducted by Quality Council of
India (QCI).
20 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
Three northeastern States emerge as new
HIV hotspots
The good news is that there has been a steady decline
in the number of HIV cases in India. The bad news is that
Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura have emerged as the
new hotspots for HIV, according to the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare.
The Ministry attributed the reason for the rise in the
incidence of HIV in the three northeastern States to the
high-risk behaviour of Injecting Drug Users (IDUs), and
unsafe sexual practices.
The HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS), a biennial study
conducted by the National AIDS Control Organisation
(NACO), is one of the largest regular studies in the world
dealing with HIV in high risk groups of the population.
The HSS had referred that HIV prevalence in the
context of ANCs in the northeastern States of Mizoram
(1.19%), Nagaland (0.82%), Meghalaya (0.73%), Tripura
(0.56%) and Manipur (0.47%) were among the highest.
Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART)’s efficacy
Interestingly, ART leads to effectively suppressing the
virus and reducing the transmission of HIV from the
infected person, Dr. Panda said.
In terms of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) who are
on ART, Maharashtra has the highest number (with 2.03
lakh persons) followed by A.P.(1.78 lakh ) and Karnataka
(1.58 lakh persons).
Samiran Panda, Director of the National AIDS
Research Institute (NARI)
 This is the third such audit cum survey which has been
conducted by Railways to increase level of cleanliness
by identifying unclean spots/gaps and to improve
cleanliness standards and also to propel healthy
competition among railway stations.
 The third report of Third Party Audit-cum-Survey of
ranking of cleanliness covers 407 stations which
includes 75 station in A1 and 332 station in A
category stations. The top scorers are as under:
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Current Affairs
A1 category stations (out of 75)
 1st:Jodhpur/North-Western Railway
 2nd:Jaipur/North-Western Railway
 3rd:Tirupati/South-Central Railway
‘A’ category stations (out of a total of 332)
 1st: Marwar/North Western Railway
 2nd: Phulera/North -Western Railway
 3rd: Warangal/South-Central Railway
Zonal Railway rankings are:
 1st: North Western Railway
 2nd: South Central Railway
 3rd: East Coast Railway
Quality Council of India (QCI)
 is an autonomous body that works to assure quality
standards across all spheres of economic and social
activities.
 Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion(DIPP),
along with other key industry associations like
FICCI,ASSOCHAM,CIIformed QCI in 1997 to
provide accreditation services in the fields of
education, healthcare, industries, institutions,
professionals, quality promotion and quality
assessment.
 Headquarters - New Delhi
 It is neither funded nor controlled by the government
and is a non-profit organization with its own
Memorandum of Association.
 Non-Executive Chairman -Adil Zainulbhai
 Secretary General -Dr R P Singh.
Facebook declares Bengaluru traffic police
pages as top in India
 Famous for their quirky campaigns and replies, the
Facebook pages of the Bengaluru traffic police and the
Hyderabad traffic police are a big hit on social media.
And now, both pages have been ranked in the top
three ‘Politics and Government Top Pages’ by
Facebook.
 The social media platform released the rankings based
on the traffic generated between January 1 and
December 31, 2017. Bengaluru traffic police emerged
on top with Hyderabad traffic police bagging the third
spot. Kolkata traffic police grabbed the second spot.
 The Bengaluru traffic police is famous for their
memes as well as their efficiency, and they often
undertake campaigns offline to create awareness about
traffic rules.
Mahadayi tribunal allows Karnataka to
divert water
 Karnataka has been allowed to divert 2.18 tmcft of
water at the proposed Bhandura dam and 1.72 tmcft at
the Kalasa dam for providing water to North
Karnataka, according to a recommendation by the
Mahadayi Water Tribunal (MWT). Goa has
historically been opposed to such a diversion.
21 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
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 The three-member body, headed by Justice J.M. Panchal,
submitted its report to Union Water Resources Minister Nitin
Gadkari The tribunal was constituted in 2010 to equitably
allot Mahadayi water among Karnataka, Goa and
Maharashtra.
 Maharashtra has been allowed to use 1.33 tmcft — for
drinking water and irrigation — and Goa, a maximum of 24
tmcft for 59 proposed projects.
 So far only 5% of the water of the Mahadayi is being
utilised. The MWT has also allowed Karnataka to utilise an
additional 1.5 tmcft for “in-basin consumptive use” but asked
it to pare down the scope of the Kotni Hydro Project to
ensure that it utilises no more than 8 tmcft.
 Facts on Mahadayi/Mandovi River:
 is described as the lifeline of of Goa.
 Source: Bhimgad(Belgavi dist.),Karnataka.
 Falls into: Arabian Sea
 Total length: of 77 kilometers.
 Passes through: Karnataka ,Goa.
 Catchement Area: Karnataka,Goa &
Maharashtra.
 Waterfalls: Dudhsagar, Varapoha
EME Ultra Cycling
 The Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers
of Indian Army is undertaking an Ultra Cycling
Expedition, as part of celebration for its Platinum
Jubilee. The Expedition was flagged off on 15 August
2018 on the occasion of Independence Day from
Military College of Electronics and Mechanical
Engineering (MCEME) Secunderabad.
 The team will cover a distance of 25000 km within
120 days and pass through all the states. The
expedition will be completed in three phases.
 In first phase the team will cover Secunderabad to
Leh and Leh to Kanyakumari.
 Second phase- Kanyakumari to Tezu and then
Tezu to Koteshwar.
 In third phase- Koteshwar to Delhi and thus
complete Golden Quadrilateral.
 The team will attempt Guinness World Record for
longest distance cycling in a single country, Guinness
World Record for fastest Golden Quadrilateral route
by cycle, Limca Book of Records for Fastest North-
South Cycling and Limca Book of Records for Fastest
East West Cycling.
International Conference on Recent
Advances in Food Processing Technology
(iCRAFPT) gets underway at IIFPT,
Thanjavur
International Conference on Recent Advances in Food
Processing Technology (iCRAFPT) was held at Indian Institute of
Food Processing Technology, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu. The
conference was inaugurated by Sh. Jagadish Prasad Meena,
Secretary,Min of Food Processing Industries.
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Current Affairs
Nationwide ‘State Energy Efficiency
Preparedness Index’ released
 NITI Aayog and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
along with Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy
(AEEE), under Ministry of Power released the ‘State
Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index’(SEEPI).
 Objective and Aim: It is released as a part of its
commitment to create awareness about energy
efficiency as a resource and also to develop an action
plan for energy conservation initiatives.
 The Index examines states’ policies and regulations,
financing mechanisms, institutional capacity, adoption
of energy efficiency measures and energy savings
achieved.
 The required data was collected from the concerned
state departments such as DISCOMs, Urban
Development Departments, etc., and from various
central government sources such as: Central
Electricity Authority (CEA) General Review; Ministry
of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH),Ministry
of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) etc ; and
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).
 The State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index has
63 indicators across Building, Industry, Municipality,
Transport, Agriculture and DISCOM with 4 cross-
cutting indicators.
 States are categorised based on their efforts and
achievements towards energy efficiency
implementation, as ‘Front Runner’, ‘Achiever’,
‘Contender’ and ‘Aspirant’.
 The ‘Front Runner’ states in the inaugural edition of
the Index are:
 Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra,
Punjab, and Rajasthan based on available
data.
 Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE):
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency is an agency of the
Government of India, under the Ministry of Power created
in 1st March 2002 under the provisions of the nation's 2001
Energy Conservation Act.
Purpose:
 The mission of BEE is to assist in developing policies
and strategies of reducing energy intensity of the
Indian economy within the overall framework of the
Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
HQ:Sewa Bhawan, New Delhi
Director General: Shri Abhay Bakre
Works Under: Min of Power. (current Union
Minister of State (Independent charge) is R.K. Singh.)
 Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE):
AEEE is not-for-profit private organisation which
helps in adivising policies on energy efficiency market . It
advocates for data driven and evidence-based energy
efficiency policies that will help in innovation and
entrepreneurship within the country to create an energy-
efficient economy.
22 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
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1.07 crore rural houses constructed over
the last four years under Pradhan Mantri
Awaas Yojana
 The re-structured rural housing scheme Pradhan
Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) which has
the objective of “Housing for All by 2022” was
launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 20th
November, 2016 from Agra.
 2.95 crore houses are set to be constructed by 2022 to
achieve the set objective of PMAY-G which has been
decided to achieve in phases. In the first phase the
target is construction of one crore pucca houses by
31st March, 2019.
 A total of 1.07 crore rural houses have been completed
over the last four years (2014-15 to 2017-18) which
include completion of 38.20 lakh Pradhan Mantri
Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY- G) houses and
68.64 lakh IAY houses that were sanctioned in 2014-
15 and 2015-16 and prior to that.
 If the figures of the current financial year are also
added to this achievement under the rural housing
scheme the achievement from 2014-15 till date
becomes 1.13 crore completed rural houses.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) was
launched in June 2015 with an objective to provide
affordable housing to urban and rural poor. This scheme
has two components viz. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
(Urban) (PMAY-U) for the urban poor and Pradhan Mantri
Awaas Yojana (Gramin) (PMAY-G or PMAY-R) for the
rural poor.
Launchedby Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty
Alleviation (MoHUPA)
Beneficiary:
 The beneficiaries of this scheme include Economically
Weaker Section (EWS), low-income groups (LIGs)
and Middle Income Groups (MIGs).
 The annual income cap is up to Rs. 3 lakh for EWS,
Rs. 3-6 lakh for LIG and Rs. 6 + -18 lakhs for MIG.
 EWS category of beneficiaries is eligible for
assistance in all four verticals of the Missions whereas
LIG and MIG categories are eligible under only Credit
linked subsidy scheme (CLSS) component of the
Mission.
 The beneficiary family should not own a pucca house
either in his name or in the name of any member of his
family.
The key components of this programme are as
follows:
 In-situ as well as ex-situ slum rehabilitation with
participation of private developers.
 Credit linked subsidy for affordable housing to poor
 Affordable housing in partnership with private sector
 Subsidy for individuals for construction of house
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Current Affairs
Rs. 2,919.55 Crores under the Nirbhaya
Fund for eight major cities to make them
safer for women
The Government has recently appraised projects on
safe city worth Rs. 2,919.55 Crores under the Nirbhaya
Fund for eight major cities of the country to make them
safer for women.
Cabinet approves Policy Framework for
exploration and exploitation of
Unconventional Hydrocarbons
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi has approved the policy to permit
exploration and exploitation of unconventional
hydrocarbons such as Shale oil/gas, Coal Bed Methane
(CBM) etc. It will be carried out under the existing
Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs), CBM contracts and
Nomination fields to encourage the existing Contractors in
the licensed/leased area to unlock the potential of
unconventional hydrocarbons in the existing acreages.
Unconventional hydrocarbons means:
 Unconventional hydrocarbons are sources of oil and
gas which extracted using techniques other than the
conventional (oil well) method i.e., Horizontal drilling
and hydraulic fracturing (or fracing / fracking)..
 Sources of unconventional oil and gas include: Shale
gas, shale oil, tight sands, clathrates (gas hydrates),
coal bed methane (CBM).
Benefits:
 help to explore unexplored and unexploited reserves.
 finding new hydrocarbon discoveries and resultant
increased domestic production..
 boost new investment, impetus to economic activities,
additional employment generation.
 induction of new, innovative and cutting-edge
technology to exploit unconventional hydrocarbons.
Indian Unconventional Hydrocarbons
scenario:
 Presence of Shale oil/gas has a strong possibility in
basins such as Cambay, Krishna- Godavari (KG),
Cauvery,Assam Basins.
 State-wise distribution of CBM Resources in India
 Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises- Shri Giriraj Singh
23 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
Mission Solar Charkha and Udyam Sangam-2018:
 President Of India Ramnath Kovind has launched the
Mission Solar Charkha on June 27 2018 on the
occasion of UN SME Day.
 It was launched during the event of Udyam Sangam
(National MSME Conclave) on the occasion of World
MSME Day (observed on 27 June).
“UdyamSangam2018” is a step forward towards
consolidating the convergence and synergy of all the
government initiatives relating to MSME Sector.
 Solar Charkha Mission will cover 50 clusters and
every cluster will employ 400 to 2000 artisans with a
budget of Rs.550 crore for the year 2018-19 and 2019-
20.
 The scheme will generate direct employment to nearly
1 lakh persons.
 Solar Charkha Units have been classified as village
industries.
 The Ministry is also implementing a project to
establish 15 new Tool Rooms and Technology
Development Centres and upgrade the existing 18
Centres in the country, at an estimated cost of Rs.2200
crore which includes World Bank Loan of USD 200
Million.
 A portal of the Ministry of MSME called
“Sampark”was also unveiled by the President. This
portal will act as a bridge between the talent pool and
those enterprises seeking trained man power.
Other portals of MSME are:
 UdyamSakhi- for Women Entrepreneurs
 Samadhan- Delayed Payment Monitoring System
 Sambandh- for Public Procurement Portal for
MSMEs
What are Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises?
Definitions of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises In
accordance with the provision of Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006 the Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) are classified in
two Classes:
1. Manufacturing Enterprises- The Manufacturing
Enterprise are defined in terms of investment in Plant
& Machinery.
2. Service Enterprises:-The enterprises engaged in
providing or rendering of services and are defined in
terms of investment in equipment.
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Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest
“The Walled City of Jaipur, Rajasthan, treaties. The sites are judged important to the
India” is the next proposed site for collective interests of humanity.
 The program began with the Convention Concerning
UNESCO World Heritage recognition the Protection of the World's Cultural and Natural
Heritage,which was adopted by the General
Conference of UNESCO on 16 November 1972. And
the Convention came into force on 17 December
1975.
 As of May 2017, it has been ratified by 193 states
parties, including 189 UN member states plus the
Cook Islands, the Holy See, Niue, and the State of
Palestine.( Only four UN member states have not
 The site namely “The Walled City of Jaipur, ratified the Convention: Liechtenstein, Nauru,
Rajasthan, India” has been proposed for World Somalia and Tuvalu.)
Heritage. As per Operation Guidelines 2017, only one  As of July 2018, a total of 1,092 World Heritage sites
site can be nominated by the state party each year. (845 cultural, 209 natural, and 38 mixed properties)
 A World Heritage site is a landmark or area which is exist across 167 countries. Italy, with 54 sites, has the
selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific most of any country, followed by China (53), Spain
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as having (47), France (44), Germany (44), India (37), and
cultural,historical, scientific or other form of Mexico (35).
significance, and is legally protected by international
There are a total of 37 World Heritage sites in India at Present. A list of these sites, State wise, is given below,
CULTURAL SITES:
Under Protection of Archaeological Survey of India
S.No Name of Site State
1 Agra Fort (1983) Uttar Pradesh
2 Ajanta Caves (1983) Maharashtra
3 Ellora Caves (1983) Maharashtra
4 Taj Mahal (1983) Uttar Pradesh
5 Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984) Tamil Nadu
6 Sun Temple, Konarak (1984) Odisha
7 Churches and Convents of Goa (1986) Goa
8 Fatehpur Sikri (1986) Uttar Pradesh
9 Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986) Karnataka
10 Khajuraho, Group of Temples (1986) Madhya Pradesh
11 Elephanta Caves ( 1987) Maharashtra
Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and
12 Tamil Nadu
Darasuram (1987 & 2004)
13 Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987) Karnataka
14 Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989) Madhya Pradesh
15 Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi (1993) Delhi
16 Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993) Delhi
17 Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003) Madhya Pradesh

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Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest
18 Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park (2004) Gujarat
19 Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007) Delhi
Hill Forts of Rajasthan
(Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and
20 Gagron Forts) (2013) Rajasthan
(Amber and Gagron Forts are under protection of Rajasthan State
Archaeology and Museums)
21 Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan (2014) Gujarat
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda
22 Bihar
(2016)
Under Protection of Ministry of Railways

Mountain Railways of India ( Darjeeling,1999), Nilgiri (2005),

23 West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh
Kalka-Shimla(2008)

24 Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004) Maharashtra

Under Protection of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee

25 Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, (2002) Bihar
Under Protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums
26 The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010) Rajasthan
Under Protection of Chandigarh Administration
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding
27 Chandigarh
Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016)
Under Protection of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
28 Historic City of Ahmedabad (2017) Gujarat
Under Protection of Government of Maharashtra
29 Victorian and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018) Maharashtra
NATURAL SITES:
Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes
30 Kaziranga National Park (1985) Assam

31 Keoladeo National Park (1985) Rajasthan

32 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985) Assam

33 Sunderbans National Park (1987) West Bengal

34 Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005) Uttarakhand

35 Western Ghats (2012) Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu

36 Great Himalayan National Park (2014) Himachal Pradesh

MIXED SITE:
Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes
37 Khangchendzonga National Park (2016) Sikkim

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Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest
Govt. of India unveils Geographical discrimination and other grievances. The government
Indication (GI) logo, tagline has modified this and removed the limit of 100
persons to include to all organisations and institutions.
India successfully test-fires supersonic
interceptor missile off Odisha's coast

 Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP)

under Ministry of Commerce and Industry has
unveiled tricolour logo and tagline for Geographical
Indications (GI) to increase awareness about
Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) in the country.
 The logo has tagline “Invaluable Treasures of
Incredible India” printed below it.
 The Ministry had launched a contest for designing a  Defence Research and Development Organisation
logo and tagline for GIs. Winninglogo was designed (DRDO) conducted successful tested supersonic endo-
by Adri Chatterjee and winning tagline was coined by atmospheric interceptor missile developed under
Akancha Tripathi. Ballistic Missile Interceptor Advanced Air Defence
 A GI product is primarily an agricultural, natural or a (AAD) System from Abdul Kalam Island (earlier
manufactured product (handicraft and industrial known as Wheeler Island) Odisha.
goods) originating from a definite geographical  Developed as part of efforts to have a multi-layer
territory. ballistic missile defence system, it is capable of
 Darjeeling Tea, Tirupati Laddu, Kangra Paintings, destroying incoming hostile ballistic missiles.
Nagpur Orange and Kashmir Pashmina are among the  The interceptor is a 7.5-metre-long, single-stage solid
registered GIs in India. rocket propelled guided missile equipped with a
 Recent updates: navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electro-
 Kadaknath chicken meat from Jhabua district mechanical activator. The interceptor missile had its
of Madhya Pradesh gets GI tag own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception,
 GI tag for Telangana’s Adilabad dokra, independent tracking and homing capabilities and
Warangal Dhurries sophisticated radars.
Cabinet passes reworked Transgender Bill  Range: The endo-atmospheric missile, capable of
 Two years after it introduced a Bill on transgender intercepting incoming targets at an altitude of 15 to 25
rights in Lok Sabha, the government has reworked the km.
definition and several crucial clauses and is set to re- India ranks 56th in early initiation of
introduce it in Lok Sabha next week. breastfeeding, say UNICEF, WHO
 The Cabinet on Wednesday cleared 27 amendments to
the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill
and accepted nine of the 11 major suggestions of a
parliamentary standing committee, which had
examined the Bill. The definition, which had received
a lot of flak from social rights activists and the
parliamentary panel, has been changed.
 It has “modified the definition and has defined a
transgender as “whose gender does not match with the
gender assigned at birth and includes trans-men, trans-
women, gender-queers, and other sociocultural
identities.
 A person would have the right to choose to be
identified as a man, woman or transgender,
irrespective of sex reassignment surgery (SRS) and
hormonal therapy.
 The Bill had earlier made it mandatory for any
organisation employing 100 or more persons to
designate an official to examine complaints of

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Current Affairs
 A new report released by UNICEF and the World
Health Organization (WHO) has ranked Sri Lanka at
the top of the list of countries with early initiation of
breastfeeding.
 India ranks 56th among the 76 countries that were
analyzed. The report, released ahead of World
Breastfeeding Week (August 1 to 7), says that only
two in five newborns are breastfed within the first
hour of life across the world.
 Countries like Kazakhstan, Rwanda, Bhutan and
Uruguay have fared much better than India, making it
into the top 10. Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Montenegro
are at the bottom.
 Whether delivery takes place in a hut in a village or a
hospital in a major city, putting newborns to the breast
within the first hour after birth gives them the best
chance to survive, grow and develop to their full
potential,” says the report, which emphasizes on
exclusive breastfeeding.
 The data for India was taken from the fourth National
Family Health Survey (NFHS-4). The early initiation
period has doubled as compared to NFHS 3.
 Breastfeeding in the first hour of life is significantly
important for survival. The first feed, or colostrum, is
termed as the baby’s first vaccine and is extremely
rich in nutrients and antibodies. Continuous and
exclusive breastfeeding thereafter is also important.
Centre imposes 25% safeguard duty on
import of solar cells
 The Centre on Monday issued a notification putting
into effect a safeguard duty of 25% on import of solar
cells from China and Malaysia between July 30, 2018,
and July 29, 2019.
 The duty reduces to 20% for six months from July 30,
2019, to January 29, 2020, (both days inclusive), and
further to 15% in the subsequent half year i.e., during
the period from January 30, 2020, to July 29, 2020
(both days inclusive).
Madhya Pradesh’s Kadaknath chicken gets
Geographical Indication tag
 The famous Kadaknath chicken meat from Jhabua
district of Madhya Pradesh has now got a
Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
 The tag denotes that the product comes from a
particular geographical area, and often enhances its
commercial value.
 The Gramin Vikas Trust of Krishak Bharati
Cooperative (KRIBHCO) had sought GI tag for the
protein-rich and black coloured meat of Kadaknath
variety of chicken, which is mainly reared in Jhabua.
 Geographical Indications Registry is responsible for
the administration of laws relating to Geographical
Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act,
1999.
 HQ- Chennai
27 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
 It is under Controller General of Patents, Designs &
Trade Marks, Department of Industrial Policy and
Promotion(DIPP), Ministry of Industry and
Commerce.
 Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade
Marks-- Shri. O P Gupta, IAS
SAATHI Initiative Launched
 Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Power have
joined hands under the initiative SAATHI(Sustainable
and Accelerated Adoption of efficient Textile
technologies to Help Small Industries) in order to
sustain and accelerate the adoption of energy efficient
textile technologies in thepowerloom sector and cost
savings due to use of such technology.
 Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a Public
Sector entityunder the administrative control of
Ministry of Power, will replace old inefficient electric
motors with energy efficient IE3 motors which will
result in energy and cost saving up to 10-15% in the
first phase.
 The use of these efficient equipments will result in
energy savings and cost savings to the unit owners at
no upfront cost. Power loom clusters at Ichalkaranji,
Bhiwandi, Erode, Surat, Bhilwara and Panipat have
been identified for pilot study.
 Min of Power: Smriti Zubin Irani
 Min of Power: R.K.Singh
Lok Sabha passes Bill to set up varsity in
Manipur to train athletes
 A bill seeking to establish a National Sports
University in Manipur to provide sports education,
research and coaching was passed in the Lok Sabha.
 University will be set up at a cost of Rs. 524 crore. A
sportsperson will be the vice-chancellor, and the
university’s academic council will also consist of
sportspersons.
 The legislation empowers the university to set up
outlying campuses throughout the country and also
abroad. The university and its outlying campuses aims
to impart training to athletes, sports officials, referees,
and umpires and evolve as centres of excellence.
 The government has signed an agreement with
University of Canberra and Victoria University for
development of curriculum, research facilities and
laboratories.
 The government had increased stipend and food
allowances of sportspersons by 100 per cent, and
salary of the staff has also been raised.
Centre withdraws social media hub policy
 The Centre told the Supreme Court it will undertake a
complete review of its social media policy and has
withdrawn its notification proposing a social media
hub, which some alleged could become a tool to
monitor online activity of citizens.
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Current Affairs
 The Bench was hearing a petition filed by Trinamool
Congress MLA Mahua Moitra alleging that the
Centre’s social media hub policy was to be used as a
tool to monitor social media activities of citizens and
sought the quashing of the same.
 The Social Media Communication Hub is a proposed
project which seeks to monitor social media platforms
and analyse the data to provide feedback to the
government.
 The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting.
Paryatan Parv organized across the
country to promote “Tourism for All”
 The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in
collaboration with other Central Ministries, State
Governments and stakeholders organized “Paryatan
Parv” across the country, from the 5th to 25th
October 2017.
 The event was organized with the objective of
drawing focus on the benefits of tourism, showcasing
the cultural diversity of the country and reinforcing
the principle of “Tourism for All”..
 The major activities organized during Paryatan Parv
included Cultural Programmes; Sensitisation &
Awareness Programmes; Competitions (essay, quiz,
painting & drawing, photography, video, poster, etc.);
Tourism/Heritage Walks/Runs; Cycle Rallies; Nukkad
Natak; Yoga Sessions; Exhibitions (tourism,
handicrafts, handlooms); Food Festivals; Workshops
and Seminars etc.
Defence India Startup Challenge launched
by Defence minister
 The India Startup challenge was launched with a
vision to build an ecosystem of innovation and
entrepreneurship in defence sector and make India
self-reliant for meeting defence requirements.
 The highlight of the event was launch of 11 challenges
by MoD now thrown open to provide solutions by the
start up ecosystem.
 Taking forward the IDEX scheme ( Innovation for
defence excellence ) launched earlier by the Prime
Minister in April this year the ministry of defence
launched package of policy and framework for the
incubators and partners to empower India and give a
thrust to indigenisation in defence sector.
 The 11 challenges thrown open to the prospective
startups include individual protection system with
built-in sensors, see-through armour, carbon fibre
winding, active protection system, secure hardware
based offline encrypt or device for graded security and
development of 4G/LTE based tactical local area
network, among others.
 Recognising the first set of incubators for these
challenges the ministry has also signed an MoU with 5
incubators. IIM Ahmedabad, IIT Mumbai, Forge IIT
28 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
Madras, and T hub who will work in tandem to
provide solutions for defence requirements in
Airforce, Navy and for Army.
 Raksha Mantri launched SPARK - Support for
Prototype and Research Kickstart in defence ,
framework for Idex partners, and promotion of start-
ups under Make II procedure.
 The launch of challenges will provide filip to the
innovation potential in the country, partnering with the
best minds nationally and internationally.
 Under the SPARK the ministry has invited
applications from start up, individual innovators, who
fulfill the criteria listed on the website. They will be
provided grants upto 1.5 crores under the framework.
Government approves 122 research
projects under ‘IMPRINT-2’ scheme
 The Union Government has approved 122 new
research project proposals worth Rs 112 crore for
funding under its Impacting Research Innovation and
Technology ‘IMPRINT-2’ scheme.
 The proposals were approved on August 4, 2018 at the
IMPRINT 2 Apex Committee meeting held in New
Delhi. The initiative aims to advance research in
energy, healthcare, security and defence domains in
the high education institutions.
Key Highlights
 Among 2145 proposals, 122 best proposals were
selected for funding under IMPRINT-2. Of the
selected 122 new projects, 81 are sponsored by the
industry.
 The selected proposals include 35 (ICT),18
(Advanced Materials), 17 (Healthcare Technology),
12 (Energy Security), 11 (Security &Defence), 9
(Sustainable Habitat), 7 Water Resource & River
Systems, 5 (Environment & Climate), 4
(Manufacturing) and 4 (Nano Technology).
 The implementation of 142 projects under IMPRINT-
1 has got underway. These projects have received
support from several ministries, councils and
departments in addition to the Ministry of Human
Resource Development.
 The knowledge portal for monitoring the progress of
these research projects and to disseminate findings
will be launched in October 2018.
 The Central Government has sanctioned a sum of Rs.
1000 crore for the IMPRINT-II India programme.
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Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest
 Under the IMPRINT-II, a fund is being created by the which is expected as this is the global trend. However,
Department of Science and Technology and Ministry this is not the case with under-five mortality,
of Human Resource Development together. indicating gender discrimination.
About Imprint: 7. The state-level mortality rate does not reflect the inter-
 Impacting Research Innovation and Technology district variation in neonatal or under-five mortality
(IMPRINT) India IMPRINT India Programme is joint rates.While some districts of a particular state may
initiative of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and already have achieved the Sustainable Development
and Indian Institute of Science (IISc). It seeks to Goal 3 (SDG3) target 15 years in advance, some
develop road map for research to solve major districts will not achieve this even by the 2030 target
engineering and technology challenges in 10 time. Mortality rates vary enormously across the
technology domains relevant for country. districts.
 These domains include health care, information and 8. Almost all districts in the most populous states of
communication technology, energy, sustainable Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and
habitat, nano‐technology hardware, water resources Chhattisgarh will fail to achieve the SDG3 goal on
and river systems, advanced materials, manufacturing, neonatal mortality. In Uttar Pradesh, the research
security and defence, and environment and climate. showed that not a single district would meet the target
These domains are distributed among IITs Kharagpur, for under-five mortality.
Kanpur, Bomaby, Rookree, Madras and IISC, Yoga classes now a must in all Karnataka
Bengaluru. colleges, universities
India’s performance on Sustainable Starting this academic year, it will be mandatory for
Development Goal-3 on Child mortality all colleges and universities across the Karnataka state to
 Study was conducted by Jayanta Bora and Nandita ensure that yoga is taught in their institutions. This will
Saikia from Austria-based non-profit International apply to private colleges too.
Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.It is the first to A committee has been formed to oversee the
evaluate neonatal and under-five mortality at a district modalities of implementing the initiative.
level in India, as well as a state level. Death Penalty for Rape of Girls Below 12
 Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3), all Years: The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill,
countries should aim to reduce neonatal mortality 2018
to 12 deaths per 1,000 live births per year, and The Criminal Law(Amendment) Bill, 2018 has been
under-five mortality to a maximum of 25. passed by the Lok Sabha on 30.07.2018 and by the Rajya
 Researchers used data from the National Family
Sabha on 06.08.2018.
Health Survey, a survey of the full birth history of
women aged 15-49, carried out most recently in 2015-
16, and used the data from the previous round
conducted in 2005-06 to model future trends.
Key Points:
1. India still has the world’s highest number of deaths
among children under five and newborns, around 1.1
million per year.
2. The number of neonatal deaths remains around 2.4
times higher than the target
3. various measures employed in India have cut the
number of deaths of under-fives by around half in in
the past 23 years, from 109 deaths per 1,000 live
births in 1990 to around 50 in 2013, but this is still
double the target.
4. The number of neonatal deaths remains around 2.4
times higher than the target, at around 29 deaths per
1,000 live births.
5. The researchers found that just nine per cent of
districts in India overall have so far reached the SDG3
targets for neonatal mortality, with 14 per cent
reaching the targets for under-five mortality.
6. There is also some variation between genders. The
female neonatal mortality rate is below that of males,

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Current Affairs
Highlights of the Bill:
 The Bill amends the IPC, 1860 to increase the
minimum punishment for rape of women from seven years
to ten years.
 Rape and gang rape of girls below the age of 12 years will
carry minimum imprisonment of twenty years and is
extendable to life imprisonment or death.
 Rape of girls below the age of 16 years is punishable with
imprisonment of twenty years or life imprisonment.
Key Issues and Analysis:
 The Bill amends the IPC, 1860 to increase the
punishment for rape of girls. However, punishment
for rape of boys has remained unchanged. This has
resulted in greater difference in the quantum of
punishment for rape of minor boys and girls.
 The Bill imposes death penalty for rape of girls below
the age of 12 years. There are differing views on
death penalty for rape. Some argue that death penalty
has a deterrence effect on the crime and therefore
helps prevent it. Others argue that death penalty
would be disproportionate punishment for rape.
Uttarakhand to issue ID cards to
gaurakshaks, call them ‘cow guardians’
Uttarakhand will soon become the first state to issue
identity cards to gau rakshaks (protectors of cows) who
will now be known as gau sanrakshaks (guardians of
cows).
The initiative has been taken to distinguish genuine
gau rakshaks from fake ones who resort to violence in the
name of cow protection.
Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana was
launched in Bihar
 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched
‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana’, a scheme for
the girl child. The scheme will provide Rs.54,100 for a
girl child from her birth until she graduates.
 Over 3.12 lakh girls will be covered under the scheme
this year in the state.
 The scheme, which will cover a girl child's life from
her birth to clearing graduation.
 And the ‘scheme will be run by three departments
namely education, health and social welfare.
 The Chief Minister also said that the amount under the
‘Bicycle Yojna’ will be increased from Rs.2500 to
Rs.3000.
Islands of Andamans Opened to foreigners.
 Foreigners no longer need a Restricted Areas Permit
to visit 29 inhabited islands in the Andaman and
Nicobar chain. The Union Home Ministry decided to
lift restrictions as the government intends to boost
tourism.
 The 29 inhabited islands have been excluded from the
restricted area permit (RAP) notified under the
Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963, till
December 31, 2022, subject to certain conditions.
30 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
 However, citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan and
foreign nationals having their origin in these countries would
continue to require RAP to visit the Union Territory.
Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve
enters UNESCO list
The Khangchendzonga (Kanchanjunga) Biosphere Reserve
(KBR) of Sikkim, the highest biosphere reserve in the country
that includes the third highest mountain peak in the world,
Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), has been included in the UNESCO’s
World Network of Biosphere Reserve (WHBR).
The decision was taken at the International Coordinating
Council of Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme, UNESCO,
in its 30th Session held at Palembang, Indonesia.
The last biosphere reserve to be included was the
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in Kerala in 2016. The Nilgiri
Biosphere Reserve was the first reserve from the country to be
included in the WNBR. India has 18 biospheres reserves, of
which 11 have been included in the WNBR.
Man and the Biosphere Programme
Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is an
intergovernmental scientific programme, launched in 1971 by
UNESCO, that aims to establish a scientific basis for the
improvement of relationships between people and their environments.
The MAB programme provides a unique platform for
cooperation on research and development, capacity-building and
networking to share information, knowledge and experience on
three interlinked issues: biodiversity loss, climate change and
sustainable development. It contributes not only to better
understanding of the environment, but also promotes greater
involvement of science and scientists in policy development
concerning the wise use of biological diversity.
World Network of Biosphere Reserves
 The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves
(WNBR) covers internationally designated protected areas,
each known as biosphere reserves, that are meant to
demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature.
 Myanmar had its first biosphere reserve inscribed in 2015.
 World Network of Biosphere Reserves currently counts 686
sites in 122 countries all over the world, including 20
transboundary sites.
Biosphere reserves in India:
 The Indian government has established 18 biosphere
reserves in India, (categories roughly corresponding to
IUCN Category V Protected areas).
 It protect larger areas of natural habitat (than a National Park or
Animal Sanctuary), and often include one or more National Parks
or preserves, along with buffer zones that are open to some
economic uses.
 Protection is granted not only to the flora and fauna of the
protected region, but also to the human communities who
inhabit these regions, and their ways of life. Animals are
protected and saved here.
 India has 18 biospheres reserves, of which 11 have been
included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves
(WBNR), based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere
(MAB) Programme list.
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Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest
Biosphere reserves of India (area wise)
Area
Year Name State Key fauna
(km2)
Tamil Nadu,
Nilgiri Biosphere
1 1986 Kerala Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque 5520
Reserve
and Karnataka
Nanda Devi National
2 1988 Park & Biosphere Uttarakhand Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear 5860
Reserve
3 1989 Gulf of Mannar Tamil Nadu Dugong 10500
4 1988 Nokrek Meghalaya Red panda 47.48 km
5 1989 Sundarbans West Bengal Royal Bengal tiger 9630
Asiatic Elephant, Tiger, Assam roofed turtle, hispid
6 1989 Manas Assam 2837
hare, Golden Langur, pygmy hog
7 1994 Simlipal Odisha Gaur, royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant 4374
Arunachal
8 1998 Dihang-Dibang Mishmi Takin, Musk Deer 5112
Pradesh
Pachmarhi Biosphere
9 1999 Madhya Pradesh Giant squirrel, flying squirrel 4981.72
Reserve
Achanakmar- Four-horned antelope, Indian wild dog, Sarus
Madhya Pradesh,
10 2005 Amarkantak Biosphere crane, White-rumped vulture, Philautus (Sacred 3835
Chhattisgarh
Reserve grove bush frog)
11 2008 Great Rann of Kutch Gujarat Indian wild ass 12454
Himachal
12 2009 Cold Desert Snow leopard 7770
Pradesh
13 2000 Khangchendzonga Sikkim Snow leopard, red panda 2620
Agasthyamalai Kerala, Tamil
14 2001 Nilgiri tahr, elephants 3500.08
Biosphere Reserve Nadu
Andaman and
15 1989 Great Nicobar Saltwater crocodile 885
Nicobar Islands
white-winged wood duck, water buffalo, black-
16 1997 Dibru-Saikhowa Assam 765
breasted parrotbill, tiger, capped langur
17 2010 Seshachalam Hills Andhra Pradesh Slender Loris 4755
18 2011 Panna Madhya Pradesh Tiger, chital, chinkara, sambhar and sloth bear 2998.98
11 Biosphere Reserves which are included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WBNR)

Name States Year

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka 2000
Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu 2001
Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve West Bengal 2001
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve Uttarakhand 2004
Nokrek Biosphere Reserve Meghalaya 2009
Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve Madhya Pradesh 2009

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Current Affairs
Name
Simlipal Biosphere Reserve
Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve
Khangchendzonga National Park
Govt. to set up 25,000 MW solar project in
Ladakh
India will soon call bids to set up a 25,000 mega watt
(MW) solar power project in the Ladakh region of J & K
as part of efforts to make the economy greener.
Power from the project will be delivered to Una in
Himachal Pradesh.
World’s first thermal battery plant to be
unveiled in Andhra Pradesh
 The world’s first-ever facility to create thermal batteries was
inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh.
 The thermal battery facility, to be owned by Bharat Energy
Storage Technology Private Limited (BEST).
 These batteries are based on alternative sources of energy
production, and their presence is expected to reduce the
dependence on fossil fuels.
 Thermal batteries,use thermal energy to operate, i.e., the
energy created by temperature differences. Therefore, the
energy transfer in thermal batteries helps store heat when
heat travels from one part of the battery setup to the other.
For that to happen, a thermal battery consists of two parts: a
cool zone known as sink, and a hot source called source.
Both these sides consist of compounds known as phase-
changing materials (PCMs), which can change their state of
matter on the basis of a physical/chemical reaction.
Magic rice’ from Assam gets the GI tag
Boka saul — an indigenous variety of rice produced
exclusively in lower regions of Assam — is the latest
product from Assam to get the Geographical Indications
tag, commonly called the GI tag. First sown by June end,
this special variety of Assamese rice is often referred to as
‘magic rice’.
It is called ‘Magoic Rice’ because Well, it requires no
cooking, unlike every other variety of rice. Yes! Magic
rice is a one-of-its-kind ‘zero fuel’ variety of rice.
Lok Sabha passes NRI proxy voting Bill
 The Lok Sabha passed the Representation of
People(Amendment Bill), which seeks to amend the
provisions of Representation of People Act 1950 and
Representation of People Act 1951.
 The Amendment Bill seeks to enable Non-Resident
Indians to cast votes through their proxies in the
constituency.
32 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
States Year
Odisha 2009
Great Nicobar 2013
2012
Kerala and Tamil Nadu 2016
Sikkim 2018
 Overseas Indians, who are entitled to vote in India, could
now appoint a proxy voter to cast their votes.
 As of now, overseas Indians were free to cast their votes in
the constituencies where they were registered. The Bill
seeks to give them the option of proxy voting, which till now
was only available to service personnel.
 According to estimates of the Ministry of External Affairs,
there are about 31 million NRIs living in different countries
across the world.
Government, NABARD and NWDA Sign
Revised MoA For Funding Of Projects
Under PMKSY
 The Union Ministry of Water Resources, the NABARD and
the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) on
August 6, 2018 signed a revised Memorandum of
Agreement (MoA) for funding of central share of 99
prioritised irrigation projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi
Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
 The funding will be done through the Long Term Irrigation
Fund (LTIF).
 Under PMKSY, 99 ongoing irrigation projects were identified
for completion in mission mode by December 2019.
 The total requirement of funds for completion of these
projects was estimated at Rs 77,595 crore (Rs 48,546 crore
for project works and Rs 29,049 crore for Command Area
Development works) with Central Assistance of Rs 31,342
crore.
 The Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana was launched
by the Union Cabinet in July 2015 with an outlay of Rs
50000 crore with implementation period of over five-year till
April 2020.
Nod for three changes to triple talaq Bill-
Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on
Marriage) Bill
 The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved three crucial
amendments to the triple talaq Bill:
 police would lodge FIR only if approached by the
victim (wife), her blood relations or people who
become her relatives by virtue of her marriage.
 Allows a magistrate to grant bail to the accused is
also welcome for mitigating the stridency of the
original legislation — it had made triple talaq a
completely non-bailable offence. Under a non-
bailable law, bail cannot be granted by police at
the police station itself.
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Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest
 Makes the offence of instant triple talaq Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) , Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha
"compoundable". Now, a magistrate can use his Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education, from the year 2018-19.
powers to settle the dispute between a husband
Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra
and his wife. Under a compoundable offence, both
Shiksha, Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
parties have the liberty of withdrawing the case.
component envisages covering all Government and Government
 Giving instant triple talaq will continue to be illegal and void
Aided schools from classes VI to XII, subject to the availability of
and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.
budgetary provision.
 The proposed law would only be applicable on instant triple
talaq or 'talaq-e-biddat' and it would give power to the victim So far, about 88994 secondary & senior secondary schools
to approach a magistrate seeking "subsistence allowance" (both government and government aided schools) were approved
for herself and minor children. under the ICT component of erstwhile RMSA and about 92,886
 A woman can also seek the custody of her minor children upper primary schools have been approved to be covered under
from the magistrate who will take a final call on the issue. Computer Aided Learning (CAL) component of erstwhile SSA.
Further, the government has undertaken various initiatives for
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 2.0 successfully launched with the
providing education through digital means such as:
vision of transformational change in rural development processes
 ICT in Education Curriculum for School System - ICT
 The Government has successfully launched Unnat Bharat
curriculum for teachers and students has been developed
Abhiyan 2.0. The UBA 2.0 was officially launched on 25th
by NCERT. Students’ curriculum was piloted in 588
April, 2018 in AICTE, Vasantkunj.
Navodaya Vidyalayas for one year. 805 MRPs/ KRPs of
 Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is a flagship programme of the
thirty states were oriented on roll-out of ICT curriculum for
Ministry of HRD, it aims to link the Higher Education
students and teachers in the respective states.
Institutions with set of atleast (5) villages, so that these
 e-pathshala – e-pathshala has been developed by NCERT
institutions can contribute to the economic and social
(National Council for Educational Research and Training) for
betterment of these village communities usingtheir
showcasing and disseminating all educational e-resources
knowledge base. It is a significant initiative where all Higher
including textbooks, audio, video, periodicals and a variety
Learning Institutes have been involved for participation in
of other print and non-print materials. So far, 3311 audios
development activities, particularly in rural areas.
and videos, 650 e-books (e-pubs) and 504 flip books have
 Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is inspired by the vision of
been made available on the portal and mobile app.
transformational change in rural development processes by
 SWAYAM: A Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
leveraging knowledge institutions to help build the
platform popularly known as SWAYAM (Study Webs of
architecture of an Inclusive India. It also aims to create a
Active learning for Young Aspiring Minds) has been
virtuous cycle between the society and an inclusive
launched for classes IX-XII.
university system, with the latter providing knowledge base;
 SWAYAM PRABHA:A programme for utilization of satellite
practices for emerging livelihoods and to upgrade the
communication technologies for transmission of educational
capabilities of both the public and private sectors.
e-contents through 32 National Channels i.e. SWAYAM
 Objective of the scheme are (i) To engage the faculty and
PRABHA DTH-TV has been launched. CIET-NCERT is the
students of Higher Educational Institutions in understanding
national coordinator for one DTH TV channel i.e., Kishore
rural realities; (ii) Identify and select existing innovative
Manch (#31) and has started feeding a 24x7 educational TV
technologies, enable customization of technologies, or
channel w.e.f. 09.07.2018. Everyday four hour fresh slot is
devise implementation methods for innovative solutions, as
telecast and repeated six times in 24 hours to provide
required by people; and (iii) To allow Higher Educational
learning opportunities for the stake holders.
Institutions to contribute to devising systems for smooth
 CBSE initiatives:SARANSH is a tool for comprehensive
implementation of various Government Programs.
self review and analysis for CBSE affiliated schools and
 Currently 748 Institutions are participating under the
parents. It enables them to analyse students’ performance..
scheme. In the phase -2 of the scheme 605 institutions are
 Operation Digital Board:An initiative has been taken by
selected. Out of these 313 are Technical Institutions and
Government of India to provide interactive digital boards to
292 are Non-Technical Institutions. Also, the number of
nearly 15 lakh classrooms across the country for 9th
institutions which took part in phase-1 are 143.
standard to post graduate level, where they can receive
 This information was given by the Minister of State (HRD),
lectures from best teachers/professors and access quality e-
Dr. Satya Pal Singh today in a written reply to a Lok Sabha
content, in order to enhance overall learning process and
question.
experience of the students.
Samagra Shiksha  The Committee to Draft National Education Policy
constituted under Dr. K. Kasturirangan to prepare the Draft
The Central Government has launched an Integrated National Education Policy is due to submit its report by
Scheme for school education- Samagra Shiksha, which 31.08.2018.
subsumes the three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of

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Current Affairs
5. PERSONS IN NEWS
U.S. teacher swam across Atlantic Ocean
Sets record for west-to-east crossing:
Bryce Carlson a high school science teacher in USA
swam solo across the Atlantic Ocean, setting a record for a
west-to-east crossing.
He crossed it from St. John’s, Newfoundland(Canada)
to St. Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly, (UK) in 38 days, six
hours and 49 minutes .
Escorts group chairman Rajan Nanda died
Escorts Group chairman Rajan Nanda,76, passed away
on Sunday after a brief illness, the company said in a
statement on Monday. Mr. Nanda joined Escorts in 1965 at
the age of 23, and in 1994, he took over as the chairman of
Escorts Group. He was an active member of several apex
trade and industry bodies.
Escorts is a leading manufacturer of tractors and
construction equipment. It also caters to the Railways with
its various products.
Somnath Chatterjee passes away at 89
 Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee
passed away on 13 aug 2018 at a private hospital in
Kolkata .
 He was 89. He is survived by his wife, son and two
daughters.
 Somnath Chatterjee (25 July 1929 – 13 August 2018)
was an Indian politician who was associated with the
Communist Party of India (Marxist) for most of his
life. He hails from West Bengal.
 He was the 13th Speaker of the 14th Lok Sabha from
2004 to 2009.
 His Auto biography:- Keeping The Faith : Memoirs
Of A Parliamentarian
Film Actor Akshay Kumar Becomes Brand
Ambassador for Road Safety Campaigns
 Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar launched a road
safety awareness campaign by releasing a series of
videos in New Delhi. Akshay Kumar is also the brand
ambassador of Indian government’s road safety
campaign.
 Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin
Gadkari launched 3 short films for generating public
awareness towards road safety. Film actor Shri
Akshay Kumar has featured in these films, which are
directed by Shri R.Balki.
 India has the world’s deadliest roads, with almost
150,000 people killed in accidents in 2015, the latest
government data shows.
Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee passes
away
 Former Prime minister & BJP stalwart Atal Bihari
Vajpayee (25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018)
34 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
passed away in AIIMS, New Delhi at 93 years.
Vajpayee was cremated with full state honours at
Rashtriya Smriti Sthal near Raj Ghat.
 Vajpayee was referred to as the Bhishma Pitamah of
Indian politics by former Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh during a speech in the Rajya Sabha.
 He served three terms as the Prime Minister of India:
 first for a term of 13 days in 1996,
 second for a period of 13 months from 1998 to
1999, and
 finally, for a full term from 1999 to 2004.
 He was the first Indian prime minister who was not a
member of the Indian National Congress party to have
served a full five-year term in office.
 He was a member of the Indian Parliament for over
four decades, having been elected to the Lok Sabha,
the lower house, ten times, and twice to the Rajya
Sabha, the upper house.
 He served as the Member of Parliament for Lucknow,
Uttar Pradesh until 2009 when he retired from active
politics due to health concerns.
 Vajpayee was among the founding members of the
erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh which he also headed
from 1968 to 1972. He was the Minister of External
Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Morarji Desai.
 As foreign minister, Vajpayee became the first person
in 1977 to deliver a speech to the United Nations
General Assembly in Hindi.
 Vajpayee remained a bachelor his entire life because
he preferred nation serving over married life. He
adopted and raised as his own child Namita
Bhattacharya, the daughter of longtime friend
Rajkumari Kaul and BN Kaul. His adopted family
lived with him.
 Imp events under his prime ministership
 Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998
 Lahore summit- In February 1999 Vajpayee
sought to improve diplomatic relations with
Pakistan, travelling to Lahore by bus to meet with
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and iissued Lahore
declaration.
 Launched the National Highway Development
Project in 1998, with the first phase being the
Golden Quadrilateral connecting the four major
cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata
through road of total length 5,846 km.
 NHDP represents 49,260 km of roads and
highways work and construction
 The government has planned to end the NHDP
program in early 2018 and consume the ongoing
projects under a larger Bharatmala project
(83,677 km).
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Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest
 The New Telecom Policy started the telecom revolution in Eminent Bengali author Ramapada
India by replacing fixed license fees for telecom firms with a Chowdhury passes away at 95
revenue-sharing arrangement and Bharat Sanchar Nigam
 Acclaimed Bengali writer Ramapada Chowdhury died
Ltd was born in 1 oct 2000( present CMD: Anupam Shrivastava) at a city hospital in Kolkata.He was 95 and has left
 Launch of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in 2003 behind his wife and two daughters.
 Kargil War 1999
 He was an Indian novelist and short story writer who
 Indian Airlines hijack in December 1999- Indian Airlines
wrote in Bengali. For his novel Bari Badle Jay, he
flight IC 814 from Kathmandu to New Delhi was hijacked by
received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1988.
five terrorists and flown to Taliban-ruled
 He became famous for his story of Abhimanyu was
Afghanistan.Notorious terrorist Masood Azhar was released
made into a Hindi movie Ek doctor ki maut.
in exchange of passengers.  Chowdhury started writing during the Second World
 2001 attack on Parliament War. He was associated with Anandabazar Patrika for
 After the 11 September 2001 attacks, India provided much
many years, and edited its Sunday supplement.
strategic assistance to the U.S. in its war against the Taliban
and Al-Qaeda. Some of his works:
 2002 Godra Riots in Gujarat  Pratham Prahar (1954)
 Dwiper Nam Tia rang
Awards:
 Banpalashir Padabali (1960)
 1992, Padma Vibhushan  Je Jekhane Danriye
 1993, D. Lit. from Kanpur University  Ekhoni (1969)
 1994, Lokmanya Tilak Award  Kharij
 1994, Outstanding Parliamentarian Award
Films based on Ramapada Chowdhury's
 1994, Bharat Ratna Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant Award
 2015, Bharat Ratna works:
 2015, Bangladesh Liberation War honour (Bangladesh  Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1992), directed by Tapan Sinha
Muktijuddho Sanmanona) (based on Abhimanyu)
 Dwiper Nam Tiarang (1963), directed by Gurudas
As a Poet:
Bagchi
He was a noted poet, writing in Hindi.  Ekhoni (1970), directed by Tapan Sinha
Vajpayee authored several works of both prose and
Awards and Honours:
poetry. Some of his major publications are listed below. In
 Sahitya Akademi Award 1988
addition to these, various collections were made of his
 Rabindra Puraskar 1971
speeches, articles, and slogans.
 Ananda Puraskar 1963
Prose:  Rabindranath Tagore Memorial International Prize
 National Integration (1961) 2011
 New Dimensions of India's Foreign Policy (1979) Paytm shifts payments bank CEO Renu
 Gathbandhan Ki Rajneeti
Satti to new COO role
 Kucha Lekha, Kucha Bhashana (1996)
 Bindu-Bindu Vicara (1997) Renu Satti, an old hand and CEO of Paytm Payments
 Decisive Days (1999) Bank resignes and now will be the new chief operating
officer (COO) of ‘New Retail’ which essentially will help
 Sankalp-Kaal (1999)
consumers discover groceries, pharmacies and shops for
 Vicara-Bindu (Hindi Edition, 2000)
instant deliveries.
 India's Perspectives on ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific Region
(2003) Now Paytm is a headless organisation without new
 Na Dainyam Na Palayanam CEO.
 Nayi Chunouti : Naya Avasar Nestle’s Chandrasekar Radhakrishnan
Poetry: Joins Coca-Cola India As Vice President
 Kaidi Kaviraj Ki Kundalian Chandrasekar Radhakrishnan has been appointed to
 Amar Aag Hai (1994) the position of Vice President - Strategy & Insights, Coca-
 Meri Ikyavana Kavitaem (1995) Some of these poems were Cola India & South West Asia.
set to music by Jagjit Singh for his album Samvedna. Israeli peace activist Uri Avnery dead
 Kya Khoya Kya Paya: Atal Bihari Vajapeyi, Vyaktitva Aur  Uri Avnery, a left-wing peace activist who in 1982
Kavitaem (1999) became the first prominent Israeli to meet in public
 Values, Vision & Verses of Vajpayee: India's Man of Destiny with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, died in a Tel
(2001) Aviv hospital. He was 94.
 Twenty-One Poems (2003)  He was an Israeli writer, politician, and founder of the
 Chuni Hui Kavitayein (2012) Gush peace movement(to end wars and violence).

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Current Affairs
 Avnery sat for two terms in the Knesset(Israel Parliament)
from 1965 to 1974 and from 1979 to 1981. He was also the
owner of the news magazine HaOlam HaZeh from 1950
until it closed in 1993.
 He was famous for crossing the lines during the Siege of
Beirut to meet Yassir Arafat on 3 July 1982, the first time the
Palestinian leader ever met with an Israeli.
 Avnery was the author of several books about the Israeli–
Palestinian conflict, including
 1948: A Soldier's Tale, the Bloody Road to
Jerusalem
 Israel's Vicious Circle
 My Friend, the Enemy
 In the Fields of Philistia
Changes in Governors:
The President is pleased to make the following
appointment/changes:
1. Shri Lal Ji Tandon as the Governor of Bihar.
2. Shri Satyadev Narayan Arya as the Governor of Haryana.
3. Smt. Baby Rani Maurya as the Governor of Uttarakhand.
4. Shri Satya Pal Malik, Governor of Bihar is transferred and
appointed as Governor of Jammu & Kashmir.
5. Shri Ganga Prasad, Governor of Meghalaya is transferred
and appointed as Governor of Sikkim.
6. Shri Tathagata Roy, Governor of Tripura is transferred and
appointed as Governor of Meghalaya.
7. Shri Kaptan Singh Solanki, Governor of Haryana is
transferred and appointed as Governor of Tripura.
Indra Nooyi to step down as PepsiCo CEO
 Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi will step down as the CEO of
PepsiCo after 12 years in the position, the company
announced on Monday. Taking over the reins of the global
giant in 2006, Ms. Nooyi steered the company through the
2008 financial crisis and was in the spotlight as one of the
most powerful women in the world.
 Ramon Laguarta-54yrs will succeed Ms. Nooyi as CEO on
October 3. Ms. Nooyi will remain Chairman until early 2019
to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.
 Ms. Nooyi, 62, grew up in Chennai, where she studied at the
Madras Christian College. She went to the Indian Institute of
Management, Kolkata, before leaving for the U.S. in 1980
for a second master’s degree at the Yale School of
Management.
 In India, she played cricket and was lead guitarist in an all-
girl rock band.
Ajay Data elected ICANN ccNSO council
member
 Ajay Data, Founder and CEO of Data XGen Plus, has
become the first Indian to be appointed a member of the
Country Code Names Supporting Organisation (ccNSO).
 The ccNSO of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names
and Numbers (ICANN) is a policy-development body for
global issues regarding country code top-level domains
(ccTLD) within the ICANN structure.
36 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
 Ajay Data will take up the position at ICANN’s 63rd Annual
General Meeting in Barcelona, Spain, in October. He will be
representing India at a global level. He will be the custodian
of Asia, Australia and Pacific Islands as a member of
ccNSO.
ICANN:
 The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
Numbers(ICANN) is a nonprofit organization
responsible for coordinating the maintenance and
procedures of several databases related to the
namespaces and numerical spaces of the Internet,
ensuring the network's stable and secure operation.
 Founded in 1989
 Purpose: Manage Internet Protocol numbers and
Domain Name System root
 HQ: Los Angeles, California, US
 CEO and President: Göran Marby
Veteran Journalist Kuldip Nayar passes
away
 Veteran Journalist Kuldip Nayar passed away at a Delhi
hospital at the age of 95 years. The veteran journalist had
started his career with an Urdu newspaper. During his long
career as a journalist, he had worked with various media
organisations like Deccan Herald, The Daily Star, The
Sunday Guardian, The News, The Statesman, Prabha,
Sakshi and many more.
 Kuldip Nayar born in Aug 14,1923 was a veteran Indian
journalist, syndicated columnist, human right activist, author
and ex-High commissioner of India to United kingdom noted
for his long career as a left-wing political commentator. He
was also nominated as a Member of the Upper House of the
Indian Parliament in 1997.
 He also authored 15 books
 Beyond the Lines,
 Distant Neighbours: A Tale of the Subcontinent,
 India after Nehru
 India House
 Without Fear: The Life and Trial of Bhagat Singh
 In Jail
 The Judgment:Inside story of the emergency in
India etc.
Govt. appoints Swaminathan Gurumurthy,
Satish Marathe as part-time directors of
RBI
Central government on Tuesday said Satish Kashinath
Marathe and Swaminathan Gurumurthy have been
appointed as part-time, non-official directors on the central
board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Both appointments are for a four-year term.
With the two appointments, RBI’s board now has 10
government-appointed members.
Central Board of Directors of RBI:
 The Central Board of Directors is at the top of the
Reserve Bank’s organizational structure and the
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Current Affairs
affairs of the RBI are governed by it. Important
decisions of the RBI are taken by the Central Board as
it is the apex authority of the RBI.
 The CBD members are appointed by the Central
Government. Section 8 of the RBI Act 1934 instructs
about the composition of the Central Board. Members
of the Board are appointed for a period of four years.
 The Central Board has the primary authority and
responsibility for the oversight of the Reserve Bank.
General superintendence and direction of the Bank’s
affairs is the core function of the CBD. It delegates
specific functions to the Local Boards and various
committees. The other wings of the RBI like Board for
Financial Supervision and other technical committees
derive their power from the CBD.
 Members
 Official Directors: The governor and four
deputy governors are automatically members
of the CBD and they are known as the
official directors.
 Non-official Directors: Besides the official
directors, the RBI Act empowers the
government to nominate non-official
directors comprised of:
 10 Directors from various fields and
Two Government Officials
 4 Directors – one each from four
local boards
Amit Sahai Topped IQ World Competition
 A 43-year-old Amit Sahai from Kolkata has topped the IQ
world competition of IQ World LLC (IQ World) and cracked
the number one position.
 He is a senior IT and sales professional has joined the
coveted list and attained the numero uno position by getting
an IQ of 148. He shares the spot with two others, both
Americans.
 He is a member of the International High IQ Society.
 IQ World LLC (IQ World) is a leading intelligence
measurement test development company which
provides services to individuals, HR and recruiting
companies mainly in the USA. In addition, they
also work side by side with partners in most of the
countries across the world.
 An interesting fact is that their global competitive
ranking for high IQ individuals features a mix of
people from around the world. They have more
than 1,55,000 registered members from the USA,
India, Canada , Middle east and Europe.
Marie Curie tops BBC History poll of
women who changed the world
 Marie Curie, the pioneering scientist who was the first
person to win two Nobel prizes, has topped a poll
asking which woman has had the most significant
impact on world history.
37 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
 The list of “100 women who changed the world” compiled by
the BBC History magazine asked its readers to help decide.
 Top 5 from the BBC History Magazine's '100 Women Who
Changed The World':
1. Marie Curie,
2. Rosa Parks,
3. Emmeline Pankhurst,
4. Ada Lovelace,
5. Rosalind Franklin
 Mother Teresa 20thrank .
Harivansh Narayan Singh elected as Rajya
Sabha Deputy Chairman
He is MP of Rajyasabha from Bihar.
Indian-American Avi Goel Wins
International Geography Bee World
Championship
Indian-American high school student Avi Goel has won the
world championship at the International Geography Bee’s junior
varsity division which was held in Berlin, Germany.
14-year old Avi is a tenth grader at Silver Creek High
School in Evergreen, San Jose, California.
Scott Morrison is new Australian Prime
Minister
 Scott Morrison has become Australia's new prime minister
after emerging victorious in a leadership contest for the
Liberal Party following a political coup against Malcolm
Turnbull, ending days of political chaos in the country.
 Mr. Morrison, 50, who has been serving as the country's
treasurer, defeated former Home Affairs Minister, Peter
Dutton by 45 votes to 40 at the closed- door leadership vote.
 Mr. Morrison is the sixth prime minister of Australia in just
over past ten years.
 The Governor-General, Peter Cosgrove, sworn-in Morrison
as the 30th prime minister of Australia.
Former U.N. chief and Nobel peace
laureate Kofi Annan passes away
 Kofi Annan, from Ghana, died in hospital in Bern,
Switzerland.
 He served as the 7th Secretary-General of the United
Nations, from January 1997 to December 2006.
 Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel
Peace Prize.
 He was the founder and chairman of the Kofi Annan
Foundation, as well as chairman of The Elders, an
international organization founded by Nelson Mandela.
 Some of his books were:
 Interventions: A Life in War and Peace
 Confronting Anti Semitism
 We the Peoples: A UN for the Twenty-First
Century
 Long Walk to Freedom: Autobiography of Nelson
Mandela
 The Media and the Rwanda Genocide
 Interventions
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Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest

6. REPORTS AND INDICES

UN E-Government Index: India Ranks 96th
The 2018 edition was titled as 'Gearing E-Government to Support Transformation towards sustainable and resilient
societies'.
India has jumped 22 places to 96th rank to break into the top 100 of the United Nation’s E-
Government Development Index (EGDI) 2018.
Research surveys carried out across 193 UN Member States
The EGDI is a composite index based on the weighted average of three normalised indices:
1. Telecommunications Infrastructure Index (TII) OF ITU,
2. Human Capital Index (HCI) of UNESCO,
3. Online Service Index (OSI) of United Nations Department of Economic Affairs (UN DESA).
The Top 6 Countries in the list along with the Score are:
S. No. Country Index
1. Denmark 0.9150
2. Australia 0.9053
3. Republic of Korea 0.9010
4. The United Kingdom 0.8999
5. Sweden 0.8882
6. Finland 0.8815

Delhi tops in Investment Potential Index pushing Gujrat down

 Delhi has emerged the most-attractive State for investors, improving its position on the think-tank National Council
for Applied and Economic Research (NCAER)’s 2018 -State Investment Potential Index (N-SIPI).
 Gujarat, previously No 1, slipped two places to the 3rd position.
 N-SIPI, now in the third edition, ranked 21 major States, including Delhi, on various parameters.It was first launched
in 2016.
 N-SIPI was constructed with six pillars that were classified under four broad categories: Factor-driven (land and
labour), efficiency driven (infrastructure), growth-driven (economic climate, political stability and governance), and
perceptions-driven (responses to the survey). Researchers at NCAER contacted 1,049 business enterprises of different
sizes in manufacturing and services sector for the survey.
 In the overall rankings, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra and Kerala emerged the most attractive
States to do business, while Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand and Bihar were at the bottom.

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Current Affairs
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AIIMS-led team develops highly sensitive,
portable test for TB meningitis
 A diagnostic test for TB meningitis (the most severe
form of TB) with nearly 100% sensitivity and about
91% specificity has been developed by a multi-
institutional team led by Prof. Jaya Sivaswami Tyagi
from the Department of Biotechnology at AIIMS.
 The performance of the diagnostic test was evaluated
in 87 cerebrospinal fluid samples obtained from
paediatric subjects (39 TB meningitis patients and 48
controls). The results of the study were published
recently in the journal Tuberculosis.
 The currently used diagnostic methods — microscopy
and culture of cerebrospinal fluid — suffer from huge
limitations in terms of poor sensitivity and long
turnaround time of up to eight weeks.
Tuberculous meningitis:
 Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious, airborne disease
that typically affects the lungs. TB is caused by a
bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If the
infection is not treated quickly, the bacteria can travel
through the bloodstream to infect other organs and
tissues.
Scientists at IIT Madras develop new
biodegradable diaper
Scientists from the Department of Chemistry at Indian
Institute of Technology, Madras have developed a
biodegradable superabsorbent polymer using chitosan (a
kind of sugar extracted from seafood waste), citric acid
and urea. This superabsorbent has capacity – it can absorb
1250 gm of water for each gram of the polymer.
The researchers used chitosan obtained from seafood
waste source, and two easily available sustainable
chemicals - citric acid and urea. Water absorbing material
from a commercial baby diaper was used for comparison.
The research team included Prof Raghavachari
Dhamodharan, Abathodharanan Narayanan, Ravishankar
Kartik, and Elanchezhian Sangeetha (Indian Institute of
Technology, Madras).
Italy-based firm launches products to
improve row crops’ yield
Valagro, an Italy-based company engaged in the
production and commercialisation of plant biostimulants
and speciality nutrients, launched two new products for the
Indian market to help improve the quality and productivity
of row crops, particularly paddy and cotton.
39 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
Launching the two products – Opifol, a combination
of macro and micro nutrients such as nitrogen,
phosphorous, potassium and zinc characterised by rapid
intake, and YieldOn, a biostimulant with plant and algae
extracts that stimulates specific biological activity to spur
yield.
The two products are particularly designed to increase
the yield of paddy and cotton, although they are highly
useful for soyabean, maize, wheat and sunflower as well.
Stating that the products were already released in
Brazil, France and the U.S.A.
Product development managers of Valagro explained
that the average productivity of paddy was 40% lesser
compared to China and 20% less worldwide as it was 3.7
tonnes per hectare in India against 6.9 tonnes in China and
4.6 tonnes worldwide. Similarly, cotton yield was 70%
below China and 40% less compared to the world average
as it was 0.5 tonnes per hectare in India against 1.7 tonnes
in China and 0.8 tonnes worldwide.
Mars closest to earth in 15 years
On July 31,2018 Mars was at its closest point to Earth
in 15 years. It will be at a distance of around 57.6 million
km from Earth, which is the closest since 2003 when it
came within 55.7 million km of Earth.
Mars will come closer to Earth again on August 29,
2287.
Facts about Mars:
 Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-
smallest planet in the Solar System after Mercury.
 In English, Mars carries a name of the Roman god of
war, and is often referred to as the "Red Planet"
because the reddish iron oxide prevalent on its surface
gives it a reddish appearance..
 Mars's average distance from the Sun is roughly 230
million kilometres (143,000,000 mi).
 Its revolution period is 687 (Earth) days.
 The solar day (or sol) on Mars is only slightly longer
than an Earth day: 24 hours, 39 minutes, and 35.244
seconds.
 A Martian year is equal to 1.8809 Earth years, or 1
year, 320 days, and 18.2 hours.
 Mars has two relatively small (compared to Earth's)
natural moons,
 Phobos
 Deimos
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Current Affairs
NBRC researchers decipher how Zika virus
causes microcephaly
National Brain Research Centre(NBRC)-led team of
researchers has successfully identified the molecular and
cellular mechanisms by which Zika virus causes
microcephaly.
Babies born with microcephaly have significantly
smaller head size compared with normal babies.
The researchers found the envelop protein (E protein)
of the virus, which is responsible for the entry of the virus
into brain stem cells, was responsible for arresting the
proliferation of human foetal neural stem cells and also
killing the cells that were becoming neuron-like. The
combined effect reduces the pool of foetal brain cells
leading to smaller size of the brain.
IIT-Madras developed Microprocessor:
Computer scientists and a student team from the IIT-
Madras have developed the first of a family of six
industry-standard microprocessors.
The initial batch of 300 chips named RISECREEK,
produced under “Project Shakti”(started in 2014) , have
been fabricated free at Intel’s facility at Oregon, U.S., to
run the Linux operating system.
The IIT team says its microprocessors can be adapted
by others, as the design is open source. They optimise
power use and compete with international units such as the
Cortex A5 from Advanced RISC Machines (ARM).
On the test bench, the IIT design fared better than the
A5, measured in terms of the DMIPS per megahertz rating,
scoring 1.68 against the competition’s 1.57. At a frequency
of 350 MHz, RISECREEK can meet the demands of
defence and strategic equipment such as NAVIC (Indian
Regional Navigation Satellite) and Internet of Things
(IoT)electronics, its developers say.
The team, led by Dr. Neel Gala, an alumnus of IIT-
Madras, is thrilled, not just because it developed a viable
industry-grade chip, but also because the process can be
tapped for future efforts in semiconductors.
E-tattoos to help Monitor Health:
Chinese scientists have developed skin-like electronic
tattoos, that can be used to monitor health parameters such
as blood pressure and body temperature in real time.
The graphene-based electronic tattoo, developed by
scientists from the Tsinghua University in China, can be
easily transferred onto various surfaces such as the human
skin, leaves and silk. Graphene, a super thin material with
excellent flexibility and conductivity, is an ideal material
for electronic skin, researchers said.
It could also be attached to masks and throats to
measure body signals such as breathing, heartbeat and
voice.
40 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
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Vigyan Prasar launches Internet-based
channel to highlight India’s achievements
Vigyan Prasar, under the guidance of the Department
of Science and Technology (DST) has launched India
Science (indiascience.in), an Internet-based science
channel, to showcase developments in science and
technology, particularly from research institutions and
laboratories based in India.
The intent is to make science done in India accessible
to a larger audience. It will soon be available as a mobile
App.
It will have live content every day and a library of
theme-based programmes related to science and
technology.
The bilingual channel (Hindi and English) will offer
scheduled programming as well as video-on-demand
facility.
Vigyan Prasar(VP) is an autonomous organisation
under Department of Science and Technology.
Objectives of VP are to take up large-scale science
popularization tasks/activities, to promote and propagate
scientific and rational outlook, to act as a resource-cum-
facility centre for S&T communication.
VP was established in 1989
Director: Shri Chander Mohan
E-Aksharayan in 7 Indian languages
launched by IT ministry
 The IT ministry launched a desktop software e-
Aksharayan in 7 Indian Languages in conference for
Indian Languages Technology Industry ‘Bhashantara’,
in New Delhi.
 7 Languages are: Hindi, Bangla, Malayalam,
Gurmukhi, Tamil, Kannada& Assamese.
 Objective: to enable editing and printing of text in
scanned documents.
 E-Aksharayan is desktop software for converting
scanned printed Indian Language documents into a
fully editable text format in Unicode encoding.
 Along with E-Aksharayan Mobile Testing Data in all
22 Indian languages useful in testing the display as
well as inputting in mobile handsets IS standard 16333
(Part 3) was also released at the symposium. It defines
the requirements for mobile handset for inputting of
text in English, Hindi and at least one additional
Indian official language along with facility of message
readability in the phones for all 22 Indian official
languages.
 Ravi Shankar Prasad is the present Minister of
Electronics and Information Technology of India.
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Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest
Health Ministry signs MoU with Ministry of India Successfully Tests Helinaand Smart
Electronics and Information Technology to Anti Airfield Weapon
facilitate access of AB–NHPM to the last
mile
 National Health Agency (NHA) under Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare, the apex body for the
implementation of Ayushman Bharat-National Health
Protection Mission (AB-NHPM), and Common
Service Centres (CSC) scheme under the Digital India
Programme, have signed an MoU to provide
information and eligibility validation services to
beneficiaries, especially in remote areas.
 AB-NHPM targets approximately 10.74 crore poor,
deprived families and has identified occupational
category of urban workers’ families as per the latest
Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data, for both
rural and urban India. CSC will be provided access to
Beneficiary Identification System (BIS), which helps
in confirming application from ‘entitled’ beneficiaries
using SECC and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana
(RSBY) databases.
 Dr. Indu Bhushan, CEO, National Health Agency
(NHA) and
 Dr. Dinesh Tyagi, CEO of Common Service Centres-
Special Purpose Vehicles (CSC-SPV). Indigenously designed and developed guided bombs
 Union Health Minister: J.P.Nadda Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW) and anti-tank guided
Chhattisgarh launched Mobile Distribution missile Helina were successfully tested at separate firing
Scheme 'Mobile Tihar' ranges at Chandan range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
Chief Minister Raman Singh along with actress Helina:
Kangana Ranaut launched the ‘Mobile Tihar’ (Mobile  HeliNa, (Helicopter-launched Nag) with a range of 7–
Festival) under the Sanchar Kranti Yojna (SKY). 8 km, launched from twin-tube stub wing-mounted
The scheme is for distribution of smart-phone to launchers on board the armed HAL Dhruv and HAL
women and students in the station covering 45 lakh women Light Combat Helicopter produced by state-owned
and 5 lakh students and setting up of 556 new mobile Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
towers.  The Helicopter-Launched NAG (HELINA) missile is
Gaofen 11: China launches high-resolution the helicopter launched version of the NAG Missile.
 Its range : of 7–8 km
Earth observation satellite  It has been designed and developed indigenously for
 China on launched Gaofen-11, an optical remote Indian Army under Integrated Guided Missile
sensing satellite, as part of its high-resolution Earth Development Programme (IGMDP).
observation project. It will aid in the Belt and Road  It can be fired from Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter
Initiative. (ALH), HAL Rudra and HAL Dhruv and HAL Light
 The Gaofen-11 satellite was launched on a Long Combat Helicopter produced by Hindustan
March 4B rocket at from the Taiyuan Satellite Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
Launch Centre in northern Shanxi Province.  It works on “fire and forget” principle and operates in
 It was the 282nd flight mission by a Long March Lock on Before Launch mode.
carrier rocket.  The Missile is guided by an Infrared Imaging Seeker
 The satellite can be used for land survey, urban (IIR) along with integrated avionics.
planning, road network design, agriculture, and  It is one of the most advanced Anti-Tank Weapons in
disaster relief. the world.

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Current Affairs
‘Smart Anti Airfield Weapon’ (SAAW):
 The DRDO Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) is a
long-range precision-guided anti-airfield weapon
currently being developed by India's Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
along with Indian Air Force (IAF) and Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
 It is India's first fully indigenous anti-airfield weapon,
being designed and developed wholly by DRDO.
 Operational Range: 100 km
 Launch Platform : SEPECAT Jaguar and Su-
30MKI
 Weight: 120 kg (260 lb)
Paul Allen's space company details plans
for rockets, cargo vehicle
 The space company of billionaire Microsoft co-
founder Paul Allen on Monday unveiled details of
medium-lift rockets and a reusable space cargo plane
it is developing, injecting more competition into the
lucrative launch services market.
 His vehicles will have to compete domestically with
other space entrepreneurs and industry stalwarts such
as Elon Musk’s SpaceX and United Launch Alliance -
a partnership between Boeing (BA.N) and Lockheed
Martin (LMT.N).
 Stratolaunch’s plane is designed to carry a rocket and
payload with a combined weight of up to 550,000
pounds (250,000 kg), on par with what a SpaceX
Falcon 9 rocket can launch from the ground.
 Its new medium-lift rocket with a capacity of about
3,400 kg (7,500 pounds) would fly as early as 2022. It
said it was in the early stages of developing a variant
with a payload capacity of 6,000 kg.
 Rather than blasting off from a launch pad,
Stratolaunch’s rockets will drop at high altitude from
underneath the company’s six-engine, twin-fuselage
airplane - the largest ever built by wingspan.
Chandrayaan-I data confirm presence of
ice on moon: NASA
 Scientists have confirmed the presence of frozen water
deposits in the darkest and coldest parts of the moon’s
polar regions using data from the Chandrayaan-I
spacecraft, that was launched by India 10 years ago.
The ice deposits are patchily distributed and could
possibly be ancient.
 At the southern pole, most of the ice is concentrated at
lunar craters, while the northern pole’s ice is more
widely, but sparsely spread.
 Scientists used data from NASA’s Moon Mineralogy
Mapper (M3) instrument to identify three specific
signatures that definitively prove there is water ice at
the surface of the moon.
42 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
 M3, aboard the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, launched in
2008 by the Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO), was uniquely equipped to confirm the
presence of solid ice on the moon.
 Most of the newfound water ice lies in the shadows of
craters near the poles, where the warmest temperatures
never reach above minus 156 degrees Celsius.
 Due to the very small tilt of the moon’s rotation axis,
sunlight never reaches these regions.
FICCI Ladies Organisation launches
wellness app
 FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), the women’s wing
of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI), has launched Wellness for Women
(WOW), a mobile app, in tie-up with Apollo
Hospitals.
 The member only application powered by ‘Ask
Apollo’, is a web and mobile enabled patient centric
service that will offer daily health tips, health records
of patients, doctor appointments, order wellness
products and medicines online.
 This app is for busy women who have no time to care
about their health and fitness
 An exhibition titled ‘Chola Collection’, to showcase
traditional South Indian textiles, artistry, jewellery and
heritage was held to commemorate the silver jubilee
celebration of FLO Chennai chapter.
 FLO is providing services to women empowerment
such as legal awareness programme, health and safety
awareness and mentoring women entrepreneurship
through ‘Swayam’ programme.
 National President FLO: Pinky Reddy.
World's 1st Hindi-Speaking Robot 'Rashmi'
 Ranchi-based software developer Ranjit Srivastava is
developing the world's first Hindi-speaking humanoid
robot.
 It is named Rashmi, the AI-powered robot can also
speak Bhojpuri, Marathi, and English, and is equipped
with facial expressions and recognition systems. He
was inspired to create Rashmi after seeing Hong
Kong-made humanoid 'Sophia' in 2016.
 The developer claimed it as world’s first Hindi
speaking realistic humanoid robot and India’s first lip-
synching robot. Rashmi uses linguistic interpretation
(LI), artificial intelligence (AI), visual data and facial
recognition systems.
 A master of business administration (MBA),
Srivastava, who has expertise in software
development of more than 15 years, has developed the
speaking robot in two years at a meager cost of Rs
50,000.
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Current Affairs
NITI Aayog launches Move Hack, global
mobility hackathon
 NITI Aayog has launched Move Hack, a global
mobility hackathon to crowdsource solutions aimed at
the future of mobility in India. Envisaged to be one of
the largest hackathons globally, Move Hack is focused
on 10 themes and structured over three legs: online,
followed by Singapore leg, and the finals in New
Delhi.
 It is first platform in the world that has enmeshed
public transport, private transport, road safety,
multimodal connectivity and new age transport
technologies such as zero emission vehicles and intra
city aerial transport spearheaded by Government.
 MoveHack aims to bring about innovative, dynamic
and scalable solutions to problems pertaining to
mobility. The hackathon has two-pronged campaign
approach: (a) “Just Code It”: aimed at solutions
through innovations in technology / product / software
and data analysis, and (b) “Just Solve It”: innovative
business ideas or sustainable solutions to transform
mobility infrastructure through technology.
 The winners will be announced during the Move
Summit 2018, which is also organized by NITI Aayog
on 7 and 8 Sep 2018 in New Delhi and is being
inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
Awards for the hackathon include recognizing top 10
winners, with total prize of more than Rs. 2 crores.
Bengaluru Tech Summit to focus on
Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence
 The Department of IT and BT will organise the 21st
edition of its flagship technology event ‘Bengaluru
Tech Summit’ from November 29 to December 1 this
year at Bengaluru Palace.
 The theme is ‘Innovation and Impact’, and the event
will include multi-track conference, business-to-
business expo, thought leaders conclave as well as
opportunity for startups to showcase their innovations.
 The conference will have over 250 experts addressing
more than 3,500 delegates. Over 300 exhibitors would
also showcase their services, products and
technologies to more than 11,000 visitors.
IIT-Madras powers up a desi chip
 Computer scientists and a student team from the IIT-
Madras have developed the first of a family of six
industry-standard microprocessors.
 The initial batch of 300 chips named RISECREEK
and produced under Project Shakti has been fabricated
free at Intel’s facility at Oregon, U.S., to run the Linux
operating system.
43 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
 The IIT team says its microprocessors can be adapted
by others, as the design is open source.
 They optimise power use and compete with
international units such as the Cortex A5 from
Advanced RISC Machines (ARM).
 On the test bench, the IIT design fared better than the
A5, measured in terms of the DMIPS per megahertz
rating, scoring 1.68 against the competition’s 1.57.
 At a frequency of 350 MHz, RISECREEK can meet
the demands of defence and strategic equipment such
as NAVIC (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite) and
the Internet of Things (IoT) electronics.
 The team, led by Dr. Neel Gala, an alumnus of the
IIT- Madras.
 The plan includes a family of six types of
microprocessors.
1. C class- RISECREEK.
2. E class – smart cards, IoT devices, fan/motor
controls, etc, is almost ready and the
3. I class- mobile phones, desktops and mobile
phones is soon to follow.
4. S - enterprise class servers is underway, and
5. H class- building High Performance computers
with a massive parallel processing capacity.
6. The H Class is part of the next phase of
development, which the team calls the Para-
SHAKTI (parallel SHAKTI) project. Para-
SHAKTI will make microprocessors for
indigenous high-performance computers with
over 32 SHAKTI cores.
HAL tests rotary drone co-developed with
IIT-K
 A 10 kg rotary drone co-developed by Hindustan
Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and IIT-Kanpur was recently
flown for the first time in Bengaluru.
 The 10-minute flight of the helicopter-like RUAV or
the Rotary Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle was
powered by a 2-stroke petrol engine.
 The RUAV can carry a 2.5-kg payload or instrument
including a live-streaming video camera. It can
operate for an hour and travel 8-10 km.
 Apart from military and civil helicopters, the centre is
designing and developing rotary UAVs for defence,
paramilitary forces and homeland security. The
RUAV is the first outcome of HAL’s R&D tie-ups
with academic institutions such as IITs of Madras,
Roorkee, Kharagpur, Bombay, Kanpur and the Indian
Institute of Science, Bengaluru
 HAL chairman and managing director T. Suvarna
Raju.
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Current Affairs
Mobile App Niryat Mitra Launched:
 Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Aviation
Suresh Prabhu launched Niryat Mitra – mobile App in
New Delhi.
 The app developed by the Federation of Indian Export
Organisations (FIEO) is available both on Android
and on IOS platforms.
 It provides wide range of information required to
undertake international trade right from the policy
provisions for export and import, applicable GST rate,
available export incentives, tariff, preferential tariff,
market access requirements – Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT) measures.
 Presently the app comes with the data of 87 countries.
 Federation of Indian Export Organisations
(FIEO): It is apex and largest trade promotion
organisation in India. It was jointly established in
1965 by Ministry of Commerce and private trade and
industry. It is responsible for representing and
assisting Indian entrepreneurs and exporters in foreign
markets.
 HQ: New Delhi
 President: Ganesh Kumar Gupta,
 DG & CEO: Dr. Ajay Sahai
Google launched its new OS Android
version called “Pie”
Indian telescope discovers most distant
radio galaxy ever
 A team led by PhD student Aayush Saxena from
Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands just broke a
20-year-old record of the most distant radio galaxy
ever discovered.Initially using the Giant Meter-wave
Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Khodad (near Pune),
Maharashtra, the astronomers identified a galaxy from
a time when the universe was only seven percent of its
current age.
 The distance to the galaxy, located 12 billion light-
years away, was later determined using Hawaii's
Gemini North telescope and the Large Binocular
Telescope in Arizona.
44 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
Trai integrates DND 2.0 and MyCall apps
with Umang platform for Android
 Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has
integrated its MyCall and DND 2.0 apps on the
Umang (Unified mobile application for new-age
governance) platform for Android users. It will be
available for iPhone users in future but no timeframe
has been given by the regulator for that.
 Umang is a single platform for all citizens to access
pan India e-governance services. Currently, Umang
has over 5 million downloads and Trai apps
individually have more than 400,000 downloads.
 TRAI Estd : 20 February 1997
 Trai Chairman: RS Sharma
Only 19% Use Internet In India, Says Study
A mere 19 per cent of people in the 15-65 age group
use Internet in India according to a report.
About 35 per cent of those in the age group are aware
of Internet, said the report named “AfterAccess: ICT
access and use in India and the Global South”. It was
published by Lirneasia, a policy and regulation think tank
in collaboration with the Cellular Operators Association of
India (COAI).
The lack of Internet awareness is a considerable
problem in India, with just 35 per cent of the 15-65 (years)
population aware of what the Internet is. The level of use
is thus even lower at 19 per cent.
The report further showed that out of the total Internet
users in the age group of 15-65 years, around 27 per cent
mostly spend time on social media.
First Global Robotics Olympics 2018 in
Mexico City
 Over 150 teams featuring the brightest young minds
gathered in Mexico City on August 17,2018 for the
First Global Robotics Olympics.
 This international competition aims to ignite youth
passion for science, technology, engineering and
mathematics in the field of robotics.
 International teams made up of 14 to 18 year olds are
competing in a series of games that show off the
prowess of their robotic creations.
 The theme of the Mexico event is 'Energy Impact'.
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Current Affairs
8. SPORTS
Indian women's chess team bags gold in
blitz event of Asian Nations Cup 2018
Asian Nations Cup _ Chess 2018 held in
Hamadan,Iran
 Indian women made the country proud by clinching
the gold in the blitz event of the Asian Nations Cup
Chess Tournament in Hamadan, Iran on August 3.
 women bagged a silver in the rapid event
 and a bronze in the classical category.
 Indian team consists of Swapnil Dhopade (coach),
Aakanksha Hagawane, R. Vaishali, Dronavalli Harika,
Eesha Karvade and Padmini Rout.
Vaibhav Suri wins Biel Masters
Grandmaster Vaibhav Suri won the Biel Masters chess
title held at Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.
Germany’s Dennis Wagner topped an eight-way tie
for the second spot at 6.5 points. Top seed Pavel Eljanov
(Ukraine) took the third spot.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar wins Fiji
International golf
Bhullar fired a sizzling six-under 66 in the final round
to claim the Fiji International title, his first win on the
European Tour.
India's Gaganjeet Bhullar won Fiji International title,
his first win on the European Tour against Anthony
Quayle of Australia.
Neeraj Chopra chlinches Gold Medal at
Savo Games
Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won a gold
in the Savo Games where the event held at Lapinlahti in
Finland with an impressive performance. He threw
85.69m.
He beat his Chinese Taipei rival Chao-Tsun
Cheng(82.52m) ended up with Silver.
Dustin Johnson Won 2018 RBC Canadian
Open Golf Title
 2018 RBC Canadian Open Golf Title was won by
Dustin Johnson(USA)
 Tournament was held at Glen Abbey Golf Club in
Oakville in Canada.
 He is the World Number 1 in the Official World Golf
Ranking.
 After Tiger Woods (2005-09) he has become the first
player with at least three wins in three consecutive
seasons.
45 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
Novak Djokovic makes history with
Cincinnati Masters victory over Roger
Federer
 Novak Djokovic(Serbia) won over Roger
Federer(Switzerland) in the final of Cincinnati
Masters Cup 2018. Federer, a seven-time champion in
Cincinnati, lost a final in the hardcourt US Open
tuneup for the first time.
 Novak Djokovic became the first player to win all
nine of the ATP’s elite Masters 1000 events since the
ATP was formed in 1990,with victory over Roger
Federer in Cincinnati.
 Federer, a seven-time champion in Cincinnati, lost a
final in the hardcourt US Open tuneup for the first
time.
 The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) was
formed in September 1972 by Donald Dell, Bob
Briner, Jack Kramer, and Cliff Drysdale to protect the
interests of male professional tennis players. Drysdale
became the first President. Since 1990, the association
has organized the worldwide tennis tour for men and
linked the title of the tour with the organization's
name.
 In 1990 the organization was called the ATP Tour,
which was renamed in 2001 as just ATP and the tour
being called ATP Tour.
 HQ: London
 Chairman & CEO: Chris Kermode
Sports should be made a fundamental right
 The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to
respond on a PIL filed by a law student to make sports
a fundamental right.
 A Bench of Justices S.A. Bobde and L. Nageswara
Rao gave the government a four-week deadline to
provide a reply to a petition filed by Kanishka Pandey
of the NGO ‘Sports: A Way of Life’, represented by
advocates Siddharth Dave and Rajiv Kumar Dubey.
 The petition submitted that sports should be made a
fundamental right under Article 21A (right to
education).
 It argued that academics and sports should go hand-in-
hand so that a child would be better prepared to cope
with the challenges and pressures of life in the modern
world.
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Current Affairs
Draw for Vishwanathan Anand.
India’s Viswanathan Anand played out a draw with
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France in the second round of
Sinquefield Cup chess
Magnus Carlsen joined Levon Aronian of Armenia
and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan in the lead
with 1.5 points out of a possible two. Anand shares the
fourth spot with four other with one point.
Facial recognition system set to be used in
Olympic security
 A facial recognition system will be used across an
Olympics for the first time as Tokyo organisers work
to keep security tight and efficient at dozens of venues
during the 2020 Games.
 The NeoFace technology developed by NEC Corp.
will be customised to monitor every accredited person
including athletes, officials, staff and media at more
than 40 venues, games villages and media centres.
 Tokyo will be the first Olympic host to introduce the
face recognition technology at all venues. The system
is expected to effectively eliminate entry with forged
IDs, reduce congestion at accredited waiting lines and
reduce athletes’ stress under hot weather.
Netherlands won 8th Women’s Hockey
World Cup 2018
Ireland’s first Women’s World Cup field hockey final
ended in defeat as the Netherlands retained the title with an
emphatic 6-0 victory over Ireland.
World cup was held from 21 July to 5 August 2018 at
the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London,
England.
Top scorer(s):Kitty van Male (8 goals),Neth
Best player:Lidewij Welten,Neth
Jaisalmer to host India Baja 2018
 India Baja 2018, the Indian edition of the greatest
challenge of all extreme motorsport competitions in
INDIA’S MEDAL LISTS AT ASIAN GAMES 2018
(As of 1st September, 2018)
GOLD MEDAL LISTS
Bajrang Punia : Wrestling (Men’s
freestyle 65kg)
Vinesh Phogat : Wrestling (Women’s
freestyle 50 kg)
Saurabh Chaudhary : Shooting (Men’s 10
metre air pistol)
Rahi Sarnobat : Shooting (Women’s 25
metre pistol)
46 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
the world, will be organised from August 17-19
among the dunes of Jaisalmer.
 In its third consecutive run, the race will comprise
over 400 kilometres of gruelling 'Special Stages' and
over 150 km of 'Transport Stages', covering some of
the toughest off-road terrain in India.
 The distinguishing factor about the India Baja 2018
comes from the fact that the top Indian contender will
get a direct entry to the pinnacle of all off-road races
in the world -- the Dakar Rally of 2020.
Asian Games 2018:
 Officially known as the 18th Asian Games and also
known as Jakarta Palembang 2018.
 It is a pan-Asian multi-sport event being held from 18
August to 2 September 2018 in the Indonesian cities
of Jakarta and Palembang. And it is the first time, the
Asian Games are being co-hosted in two cities.
 Also for the first time, eSports and canoe polo will be
contested as demonstration sports. eSports is expected
to be a medal event at the 2022 Asian Games.
 Motto: "Energy of Asia"
 Nations participating: 45
 The opening and closing ceremonies of the Games
will be held at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in
Jakarta.
 Three animal Mascots chosen for the 2018 Asian
Games are
 bird of paradise "Bhin Bhin",
 single-horned rhinoceros "Kaka" and
 Bawean deer "Atung".
Sawarn Singh,
Dattu Baban Bhokanal,
Om Prakash,
Sukhmeet Singh : Rowing (Men’s
quadruple sculls)
Rohan Bopannam,
Divij Sharan : Tennis (Men’s doubles)
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Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest
Tajinderpal Singh Toor : Athletics (Men’s shot Sudha Singh : Athletics (Women’s
put) 3000 metres
Neeraj Chopra : Athletics (Men’s javelin steeplechase)
throw) Neena Varakil : Athletics (Women’s long
Manjit Singh : Athletics (Men’s 800 jump)
metres)
Muskan Kirar,
Arpinder Singh : Athletics (Men’s triple
Madhumita Kumari,
jump)
Jyothi Surekha Vennam : Archery (Women’s team
Swapna Barman : Athletics (Women’s
compound)
heptathlon)
Jinson Johnson : Athletics (Men’s 1500 Abhishek Verma,
metres) Rajat Chauhan,
Aman Saini : Archery (Men’s team
M. R. Poovamma, compound)
Saritaben Gaikwad,
Hima Das, PV Sindhu : Badminton (Women’s
Vismaya Athletics : Athletics (Women’s 4 x singles)
400 m relay) Jinson Johnson : Athletics (Men’s 800
metres)
Amit Panghal : Boxing (Men’s Light Fly Pincky Balhara : Kurash (Women’s 52 kg)
49kg)
Rajiv Arokia,
SILVER MEDAL LISTS Muhammed Anas,
Deepak Kumar : Shooting (Men’s 10 Hima Das,
metre air rifle) M. R. Poovamma : Athletics (Mixed 4 x 400
Lakshay Sheoran : Shooting (Men’s trap) metres)
Sanjeev Rajput : Shooting (Men’s 50
Dutee Chand : Athletics (Women’s 200
metre rifle three
metres)
positions)
Shardul Vihan : Shooting (Men’s double Dharun Ayyasamy,
trap) Kunhu Mohammed,
India women’s national kabaddi team Rajiv Arokia,
Fouaad Mirza : Equestrian (Individual Muhammed Anas : Athletics (Men’s 4 x 400
eventing) m relay)

Fouaad Mirza, Shweta Shervegar,

Rakesh Kumar, Varsha Gautham : Sailing (49er FX
Ashish Malik, Women)
Jitender Singh : Equestrian (Team India women’s hockey team
eventing) India women’s squash team
Hima Das : Athletics (Women’s 400
BRONZE MEDAL LISTS
metres)
Ravi Kumar,
Muhammed Anas : Athletics (Men’s 400
Apurvi Chandela : Shooting (10 metre air
metres)
rifle mixed team)
Dutee Chand : Athletics (Women’s 100
metres) Abhishek Verma : Shooting (Men’s 10
Dharun Ayyasamy : Athletics (Men’s 400 metre air pistol)
metres hurdles) India men’s national sepak takraw team

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Current Affairs
Divya Kakran : Wrestling (Women’s
freestyle 68 kg)
Roshibina Naorem : Wushu (Women’s
sanda 60 kg)
Santhosh Kumar : Wushu (Men’s sanda
56 kg)
Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh : Wushu (Men’s sanda
60 kg)
Narender Grewal : Wushu (Men’s sanda
65 kg)
Ankita Raina : Tennis (Women’s
singles)
India men’s national kabaddi team
Dushyant Chauhan : Rowing (Men’s
lightweight single
sculls)
Rohit Kumar,
Bhagwan Singh : Rowing (Men’s
lightweight double
sculls)
Heena Sidhu : Shooting (Women’s 10
metre air pistol)
Prajnesh Gunneswaran : Tennis (Men’s singles)
Dipika Pallikal : Squash (Women’s
singles)
Joshna Chinappa
Saurav Ghosal
India men’s Bridge Team
India mixed team Bridge
Saina Nehwal
India men’s team table tennis
Malaprabha Jadhav
Achanta Sharath Kamal,
Manika Batra
PU Chitra
Seema Punia
Harshita Tomar
Varun Thakkar,
Ganapathy Chengappa
India Men’s Team squash
Vikas Krishan Yadav
September 2018 - Digest
: Squash (Women’s
singles)
: Squash (Men’s
singles)
: Badminton (Women’s
singles)
: Kurash (Women’s 52
kg)
: Table tennis (Mixed
doubles)
: Athletics (Women’s
1500 metres)
: Athletics (Women’s
Discus Throw)
: Sailing (Open Laser
4.7)
: Sailing (49er Men)
: Boxing (Men’s
Middleweight (75kg))

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Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest

9. AWARDS
Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award 2018 Earlier Awards:
 Former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi Name of MP receiving award Year
has been chosen for this year’s Rajiv Gandhi Indrajit Gupta 1992
Sadbhavana Award for promoting communal harmony Atal Bihari Bajpayee 1994
Pranab Mukherjee 1997
and peace.
Lal Krishna Advani 1999
 Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award (English: Manmohan Singh 2002
Rajiv Gandhi National Communal Harmony Award) Sushma Swaraj 2004
is an Indian award given for outstanding contribution P. Chidambaram 2005
towards promotion of communal harmony, national Murli Manohar Joshi 2009
integration and peace. Arun Jaitley 2010
 The award was instituted by All India Congress Karan Singh 2001
Sharad Yadav 2012
Committee of the Indian National Congress Party
Indian-origin mathematician Akshay
(INC), in 1992 to commemorate the lasting
Venkatesh gets prestigious Fields Medal
contribution made by the former Prime Minister Rajiv
2018
Gandhi.
 Akshay Venkatesh, a renowned Indian-Australian
 It carries a citation and a cash award of Rs. 10 lakhs.
mathematician, is one of four winners of mathematics’
 It is given on 20 August, the birth anniversary of Rajiv
prestigious Fields medal, known as the Nobel prize for
Gandhi, which is celebrated as Sadbhavna Diwas
math.This year it was awarded to total 4
(Harmony Day). mathematicians.
 Former recipients of the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana  He was awarded “for his synthesis of analytic number
Award: theory, homogeneous dynamics, topology, and
 Mother Teresa, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Mohammed representation theory, which has resolved long-
Yunus, Lata Mangeshkar, Sunil Dutt, Dilip Kumar, standing problems in areas such as the equidistribution
Kapila Vatsyayan, Teesta Setalvad, Swami Agnivesh, of arithmetic objects.”
K.R. Narayanan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Muzaffar  New Delhi-born Venkatesh, 36, who is currently
Ali and Shubha Mudgal. permanent Faculty of the Institute for Advanced Study
Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards- (IAS) School of Mathematics, Stanford University.
 It was awarded at the International Congress of
2018:
Mathematicians(ICM) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Parliamentary Group has decided to confer
 The other three winners are:
Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards to five Members of
 Caucher Birkar, a Cambridge University
Parliament for the years 2013-2017.
professor of Iranian Kurdish origin;
President Ram Nath Kovind presented the awards.
 Germany’s Peter Scholze, who teaches at the
Winners of the Award are Listed Below: University of Bonn and
1. Dr Najma Heptullah (for year 2013),  Alessio Figalli, an Italian mathematician at
2. Hukum Dev Narayan (for year 2014), ETH Zurich.
3. Ghulam Nabi Azad (for year 2015),  The medal belonging to Caucher Birkar, was stolen
4. Dinesh Trivedi (for year 2016), shortly after the awards ceremony.
5. Bhartruhari Mahtab (for year 2017). About Fields Medal:
The Outstanding Parliamentarian Award was  The Fields Medal is a prize awarded to two, three, or
established in 1992 by Shivraj Patil who was then the four mathematicians under 40 years of age at the
Speaker of Lok Sabha. The Indian Parliamentary Group International Congress of the International
selects an outstanding sitting Member of Parliament after Mathematical Union (IMU), a meeting that takes place
considering his/her overall contribution in Parliament. every four years.

49 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams) www.iace.co.in Toll Free: 1800-270-9975, Ph: 9533200400
Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest
 Its purpose is to give recognition and support to Javed Akhtar bestowed with Shalaka
younger mathematical researchers who have made Samman:
major contributions. The Fields Medal is regarded as  Eminent personalities from different fields, including
Bollywood song writer Javed Akhtar, were presented
one of the highest honors a mathematician can
the Delhi government's "Hindi Sahitya Academy
receive, and has been described as the mathematician's Samman" .
"Nobel Prize".  Akhtar was awarded the 'Shalaka Samman' for his
 Prize Money: CA$15,000 (Canadian Dollars). contribution to the world of films and poetry.
 Veteran theatre director M K Raina received the
 The name of the award is in honor of Canadian 'Shikar Samman'.
mathematician John Charles Fields.  Other recipients of the awards included cartoonist
 The medal was first awarded in 1936 to Finnish Abid Surti, journalists Shaji Jama and Abhisar
Sharma.
mathematician Lars Ahlfors and American
 The award includes a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh.
mathematician Jesse Douglas, and it has been awarded Annie Zaidi wins The Hindu Playwright
every four years since 1950. Award 2018
 In 2014, the Iranian mathematician Maryam  The Hindu Playwright Award 2018 went to Annie
Mirzakhani became the first woman Fields Medalist. Zaidi for her play “Untitled-1”.
 The award, instituted in 2008, carries a prize of Rs. 2
 In all, sixty people have been awarded the Fields lakh for the best original, unpublished and
Medal. unperformed play script in English.
 Other major awards in mathematics are the Abel Prize  The award is open to writers above 18 years of age
who are Indian citizens or have been residents of India
and the Chern Medal.
for the last five years.

10. BOOKS AND AUTHORS

 Intertwined Lives: P. N. Haksar And Indira Gandhi – Jairam Ramesh
 Sakuntala: Texts, Readings, Histories- Romila Thapar
 Sponge: Leadership Lessons I Learnt From My Clients -Ambi Parameswaran
 The Disobedient Indian: Ramin Jahanbegloo
 The Beauty of All My Days: A Memoir- -Ruskin Bond

11. COMMITTEES AND HEADS

Rita Teaotia Chairs First Task Force Meeting on e-commerce Policy:
Taking a step forward towards national e-commerce policy framework, the first task force meeting was held under the
chairmanship of Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia in the national capital.
Panel to Monitor Ganga Rejuvenation Project:
The National Green Tribunal on Monday constituted a committee, to be headed by a former Allahabad High Court
judge, for monitoring the rejuvenation project of Ganga from Haridwar to Unnao in Uttar Pradesh.
National Statistical Commission (NSC) constituted a Committee on Real Sector Statistics under the Chairmanship of
Dr. Sudipto Mundle in April, 2017 for improvement and modernisation of real sector database. The Committee submitted
its report to the NSC in July, 2018.

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Current Affairs September 2018 - Digest

12. MISCELLANEOUS
Dog finishes Australia half-marathon, wins 1. Maruti Suzuki Dzire 25,647
medal 2. Alto 23,371
A dog called Stormy has been awarded a medal after 3. Maruti Suzuki’s Swift (19,993 units),
completing a half-marathon in Australia and winning the 4. Baleno (17,960 units)
hearts of its human competitors. 5. WagonR (13,738 units)
The crossbreed diligently ran the 21-kilometre 6. The Vitara Brezza 14,181.
Goldfields Pipeline Marathon near the West Australian Goa to host India’s first blockchain
town of Kalgoorlie this month in two-and-a-half hours, the Congress
average time of participants.
Apple drops illegal lottery apps in China
Biggest king penguin colony shrinks by
 Apple Inc has pulled illegal lottery apps from its App
90%
Store in China amid tightening regulation and a
 The planet’s largest colony of king penguins has
declined by nearly 90% in three decades, researchers barrage of criticism from State media.
have warned. The last time scientists set foot on  According to state media, the company has recently
France’s remote Ile aux Cochons — roughly half way pulled around 25,000 apps from its Chinese store in an
between the tip of Africa and Antarctica — the island effort to cooperate with regulators.
was blanketed by two million of the flightless birds,  Apple confirmed it has recently removed gambling
which stand about a metre tall. apps from its store, but did not confirm the number of
 But recent satellite images show the population has apps or a timeline for the removals.
collapsed, with barely 2,00,000 remaining, according
Mughalsarai railway station in UP to be
to a study published in Antarctic Science. While
renamed as Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
adults will set to sea for days at a time foraging for
food, the species does not migrate. Junction
 The over century-old Mughalsarai railway station has
 Climate change may play a role. In 1997, a
particularly strong El Nino weather event warmed the been renamed after RSS ideologue Deen Dayal
southern Indian Ocean, temporarily pushing the fish Upadhyaya.
and squid on which king penguins depend south,  The state government had in June last year decided to
beyond their foraging range. rename Mughalsarai Junction in Chandauli district
 Other factors may be contributing to the decline of the after Upadhyaya, who was found dead near the station
Ile aux Cochon colony, including overcrowding. in mysterious circumstances in 1968.
Maruti Suzuki Dzire overtook Alto as First-ever festival for insects that help
India’s best selling car maintain ecosystem
 Six Maruti Suzuki cars featured among India’s 10 best
selling cars for July, with the Dzire compact sedan
overtaking the Alto as India’s best selling car.
 According to data from the Society of India
Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), 25,647 Dzire cars
were sold in July as compared to 14,703 in the year-
ago period. Alto moved to the second spot with
23,371 units sold in July from 26,009 units last year.
 Hyundai Motor India Ltd, meanwhile, lived up to its
tag as India’s second largest carmaker as three of its
cars—the Elite i20 (10,822 units), Grand i10 (10,775
units) and Creta (10,423 units)—made it to the Top 10
list. Honda Cars India’s newly launched compact
sedan Amaze brought up the rear shipping 10,180
units.

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Current Affairs
First-ever dragonfly festival will be celebrated in New
Delhi. The festival — jointly being organized by WWF
India and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) —
will have fun events on both dragonflies and damselfly
species, and will culminate towards a dragonfly census on
August 19.
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind,
inaugurated the ‘Festival of Democracy’ in
Thiruvananthapuram today (August 6, 2018) to mark the
conclusion of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the
Kerala legislative assembly.
Joint Military Exercise (MILEX-18)
 The Indian army conducted the final co-ordinating
conference for the Joint Military Exercise (MILEX-
18) in Pune .
 The armies of all seven Bay of Bengal Initiative for
Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
(BIMSTEC) countries — India, Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand and Myanmar
— will be participating in the exercise
 MILEX-18 will be held at the Foreign Training Node
at Aundh Military Station in Pune in September. The
exercise will focus on the need to counter and prevent
*****
52 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams)
September 2018 - Digest
spread of terrorism and radicalisation, especially in
semi-urban areas of the..
 The aim of the exercise is to create synergy, better
understanding and evolve an institutionalised military
forum for regional cooperation in the field of
counterterrorism among member states.
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals
Ltd to set up floating solar power plants
The floating solar power plants being set up by the
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd on the three
water storage reservoirs on its premises.
They would generate around 6 MW of energy and also
minimise water evaporation from the reservoirs.
MRPL:
Founded : 1988
Headquarters : Mangalore, Karnataka, India
Chairman : Shashi Shankar
M.D : M. Venkatesh
Mexico's Popo volcano bursted out
Mexico's mighty Popocatepetl volcano lit up the night
sky early on Tuesday, spewing ash over nearby
communities
www.iace.co.in Toll Free: 1800-270-9975, Ph: 9533200400
Current Affairs September 2018 – Digest

PRACTICE BITS (CURRENT AFFAIRS)

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch India 10. Which state recently released a mobile app named
Post Payment Bank (IPPB) on Aug 21. It is being “Shor Nahin” to report cases of noise pollution?
launched with atleast one branch in every district (a) Delhi (b) Maharashtra
with ……… branches initially? (c) Himachal Pradesh (d) Uttarakhand
(a) 550 (b) 650 (c) 750 (d) 850 11. Hindi Academy of Delhi has given its highest
2. According to the official banking data 21 PSBs & honour Shalaka Samman Award to lyricist and poet
three pvt. Sector lenders had collected ……… from ………?
customers as minimum balance penalty in 2017- (a) Gulzar (b) Javed Akhtar
(c) Tanvir Naqvi (d) Piyush Mishra
2018?
12. ………state govt. has made yoga mandatory for all
(a) 1000 cr (b) 3000 cr (c) 2500 cr (d) 5000 cr
colleges & universities in the state?
3. Recently many rumours spread regarding sudden
(a) Karnataka (b) Gujarat
appearance of ……… organization’s toll free no. in
(c) Madhya Pradesh (d) Uttarakhand
all Android Mobiles?
13. For advanced research in higher education
(a) Election Commission institutions, govt. has approved …… new research
(b) NITI Aayog projects under IMPRINT-II?
(c) UIDAI (a) 112 (b) 97 (c) 122 (d) 210
(d) Police control room 14. Which of the following companies introduced a
4. First ever International Blockchain congress (IBC) new logo to mark its centenary year?
is being hosted in ………? (a) Parle. G. (b) Dabur
(a) Panaji (b) Beijing (c) Wipro (d) Britannia
(c) Tokyo (d) Washington 15. Telangana govt. singed MoU with ……… company
5. Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana-scheme for to launch India’s first Blockchain district?
girls empowerment was launched by ……… state? (a) Tech Mahindra (b) TCS
(a) Haryana (b) Bihar (c) Cognizant (d) Microsoft
(c) Rajasthan (d) U.P 16. ……… had launched Digital Literacy Library to
6. PV. Sindhu got silver medal in 2018 BWF world help young people build the skills they need to
Championships which was held at ………? safely enjoy online technology?
(a) Spain (b) Germany (a) Google (b) Facebook
(c) China (d) Thailand (c) Microsoft-Bing (d) Apple-Safari
7. India’s first tourism guide and mobile app ……… 17. According to Bloomberg news … overtook China
was launched to view information and explore to become world’s second-largest stock market?
(a) USA (b) Germany
spots?
(c) India (d) Japan
(a) Incredible India
18. Gaganjeet Bhullar who recently won Fiji
(b) Enjoy Leisure
International belongs to which sport?
(c) Adventure & Education
(a) Badminton (b) Golf
(d) GoWhatsThat (c) Shooting (d) Billiards
8. Swachamev Jayate Campaign for cleanliness & 19. …… country won Women’s Hockey World Cup
hygiene is launched by ……… state? 2018?
(a) Andhra Pradesh (b) Karnataka (a) Ireland (b) England
(c) Jharkhand (d) West Bengal (c) Netherland (d) France
9. Who among the following won Biel Masters Chess 20. Recently which state banned commercial use of
Title held in Switzerland? elephants in the state?
(a) Vaibhav Suri (b) Prithu Gupta (a) Uttarakhand (b) Kerala
(c) Dennis Wagner (d) Pavel Eljanov (c) Tamil Nadu (d) Assam
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Current Affairs September 2018 – Digest
21. Google launched the latest version of its Android 31. Who among the following cannot file Right to
operating system ……… to make smart phones Information (RTI) applications Information (RTI)
more smarter. applications to seek governance related
(a) Android X (b) Android Tap information?
(c) Android Pie (d) Android Id (a) NRIs
22. GDPR stands for? (b) Convicted Criminals
(a) Gross Domestic Product Rural (c) Naturalised citizens
(d) Dismissed govt. officials
(b) General Data Protection Regulation
32. China’s Postal department designed stamp of
(c) Gross Domestic Production Regulation
……… family to be released in 2019?
(d) General Data Production Regime
(a) Horse (b) Snake (c) Pig (d) Dragon
23. What is the name of Sivaji Ganesan’s debut 33. RBI is going to transfer Rs. …… cr of its surplus
movie’s screenplay written by M. Karunanidhi? money to the govt.?
(a) Parashakti (b) Andha Naal (a) 1 lakh crores (b) 75,000 crores
(c) Navarathri (d) Thiruvilayaadal (c) 25,000 crores (d) 50,000 crores
24. Under newly introduced Fugitive Economic 34. Pakistan and ………. signed an agreement to train
offenders Act, 2018 which of the following is the in Pakistani military training Institutes?
implementing agency? (a) USA (b) Russia
(a) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) (c) China (d) Saudi Arabia
(b) Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) 35. In which of the following refineries did recently fire
(c) National Investigating Agency (NIA) broke out?
(d) Enforcement Directorate (ED) (a) BPCL, Mumbai (b) HPCL, A.P
25. Which international organization joined hands with (c) IOCL, Bihar (d) Numaligarh, Assam
IIM-A. to start a financial inclusion lab to help 36. As per Global TB Report 2017, estimated no. of
Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) TB patients in India
early stage fin-tech startups to achieve scale?
are ………?
(a) Golman Sachs (b) Standard Charter
(a) 2 lakhs (b) 59,450
(c) J. P. Morgan (d) Citi Finance
(c) 1,22,641 (d) 1,47,000
26. Joint military exercise of all seven BIMSTEC 37. “Project Mausam” which aims to explore Indian
countries called ……… was held at Pune? Ocean countries collating archaeological and
(a) MILAN (b) MILEX historical research is implemented by ………
(c) BIMSTEX (d) VIVAN agency?
27. … Refinery is going to set up floating solar power (a) Indian Council of Cultural Affairs
plants? (b) Indian Nation Institute for Ocean Information
(a) Numaligarh (b) Tatipaka Services (INCOIS)
(c) Mathura (d) Mangalore (c) Archeological Survey of India
28. Indo-Thailand military exercise ……… will be (d) Ministry of Environment
conducted from 6-19 Aug, 2019 in Thailand 38. Ministry of HRD constituted a committee to make
(a) Maitree (b) Indo-Thai Corpat recommendation on Yoga education in Universities
(c) Garuda (d) SIMBEX is headed by ………?
29. Mughal sarai junction which was renamed as Deen (a) H. R. Nagendra (b) Hemwati Nandan
(c) Satya Pal Sigh (d) D. P. Singh
Dayal Upadhyay Junction of railways is located in
39. ……… no. of students are selected in Prime
……… state/UT?
Ministers Research Fellowship (PMRF) scheme in
(a) Delhi (b) Uttar Pradesh 2018-19 to pursue PHD
(c) Haryana (d) Bihar (a) 245 (b) 509 (c) 350 (d) 135
30. China successfully test-fired its first hypersonic 40. Govt. of India set up a taskforce headed by ………
aircraft …… that can avoid anti-missile defence to build a strategy for developing an early warning
systems? system of Air Pollution?
(a) XingKong-2 (b) Chengdu-2 (a) Arvind Pandey (b) Madhvan Nair Rajeevan
(c) Shenyang-27 (d) Xian-Y7 (c) Radhakrishnan (d) B. Anand
54 IACE (Indian Academy of Competitive Exams) www.iace.co.in Toll Free: 1800-270-9975, Ph: 9533200400
Current Affairs September 2018 – Digest
41. Reliance Money and …… entered into partnership 52. V. S. Naipaul, Indian-origin author recently died
to offer instant app-based personal loans? born in which of the following country?
(a) PayU (b) Paypal (a) England (b) South Africa
(c) Phonepe (d) Juspay (c) Jamaica (d) Trinidad
42. Who is the author of the book “Bebak Baat” 53. What is the name of the rocket with which NASA is
recently released by Mr. Venkaiah Naidu? launching its sun mission called Parker Solar
(a) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Probe?
(b) Anant Geete (a) Saturn V (b) Delta IV
(c) Dr. Jitendra Singh (c) Falcon 9 (d) Atlas V
54. Infosys Ltd. decided to setup a software
(d) Vijay Goel
development centre with an investment of Rs. 100
43. National Commission for Women (NCW) in
cr in ……….. state?
collaboration with … will train 6000 women across
(a) Telangana (b) Andhra Pradesh
the country through Digital Literacy Programme? (c) West Bengal (d) Delhi
(a) Google (b) Facebook 55. Somnath Chatterjee who recently passed away
(c) Microsoft (d) Apple belongs to which field?
44. “One District One Product” Summit was held in … (a) Business (b) Writer
city? (c) Parliamentarian (d) Singer
(a) New Delhi (b) Bhopal 56. According to government of India’s Ease of Living
(c) Lucknow (d) Bhubaneswar in Indian Cities report ……… city is the top most
45. Which of the following state announced schemes to livable city of India?
provide financial assistance for jobs and education (a) Pune (b) Mumbai
to economically backward classes? (c) Delhi (d) Hyderabad
(a) Gujarat (b) Madhya Pradesh 57. ISRO announced to celebrate centenary celebration
(c) Jharkhand (d) Odisha in Aug 2019 of ……… space scientist?
46. PM. Narendra Modi announced …... no. of modern (a) Satish Dhawan (b) H. J. Bhabha
biofuel refineries worth Rs. 10,000 cr in the country (c) Vikram Sarabhai
during the event of “World Biofuel Day”? (d) Venkatraman RadhaKrishnan
(a) 10 (b) 11 (c) 12 (d) 13 58. …… bank has become the first bank in the country
47. ……… bank has signed with member development to introduce Iris scan Authentication feature for
banks of BRICS to undertake collaborative research Aadhar-based transactions through its micro ATM
tablets?
in blockchain technology?
(a) ICICI (b) Axis (c) HDFC (d) Yes
(a) RBI (b) SBI (c) EXIM (d) PNB
59. Govt. of India has launched ………, a single
48. According to the report “After Access: ICT access
window integrated Environment Management
and use in India & Global South”, ………% of 15- system for forest, wildlife clearances?
65 age group in India use Internet? (a) ANVESH (b) SAMANVESH
(a) 50 (b) 21 (c) 36 (d) 19 (c) PARYAVARAN (d) PARIVESH
49. India Baja 2018 – challenge of all extreme 60. SCO Peace Mission Exercise, 2018, a joint military
motorsport competitions in the world will be exercise of SCO member was held in ………?
organized in ………? (a) Russia (b) China
(a) Dehradun (b) Shimla (c) India (d) Kazakhstan
(c) Jaisalmer (d) Gangtok 61. According to Global Livability Index which city is
50. Ivan Duque recently became new President of …… the most livable?
country? (a) Melbourne (b) Vienna
(a) Argentina (b) Chile (c) Sydney (d) London
(c) Paraguay (d) Colombia 62. According to Report on station cleanliness of
51. Recently Indian govt. celebrated which of the Railways … railway station topped in A-1 category
following Sikh guru’s 550th birth anniversary? stations?
(a) Guru Nanak (b) Guru Gobind Singh (a) Jodhpur (b) Tirupati
(c) Guru Amar Das (d) Guru Angad (c) Jaipur (d) Secunderabad

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Current Affairs September 2018 – Digest
63. Who is the author of the book “The Unending 74. India govt. unveiled a major plan recently to
Game”? connect north-eastern states with ……… port of
(a) Arvind Subramaniyam Bangladesh?
(b) Amartya Sen (a) Mongla (b) Chittagong
(c) Ajit Doval (c) Dhaka (d) Narayanganj
(d) Vikram Sood 75. What is name of the messaging app. Which is being
64. India recently built 404 houses for Indian-origin planned for a re-launch by Patanjali Ayurved?
people in ……… country? (a) Kemcho (b) Kimbho
(a) Maldives (b) Fiji (c) Kaise ho (d) Kaiho
(c) Sri Lanka (d) Malaysia 76. What the name of one of the top Singapore
65. Special meeting of Senior officials of Bay of executive who fired himself from the company?
Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral, Technical and (a) Koh Boon Hwee (b) Allen Lew
Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was recently (c) Desmond Keuk (d) Kuok Khoon Hong
held in ………? 77. …… has been appointed as CEO of Pradhan Mantri
(a) Colombo (b) Katmandu Fasal Bima Yojana?
(c) Jakarta (d) New Delhi (a) C. K. Mishra
66. Israel recently opened a Visa Application centre in (b) Preeti Saran
……… city to encourage more Indians to visit their (c) Kewal K. Sharma
country? (d) Ashish Kumar Bhutani
(a) Kolkata (b) Guwahati
78. Recently ……… company became first in India by
(c) Bhubaneshwar (d) Ranchi
announcing to offer high-end mobile phones on
67. Nepal-India Literature Festival 2018 is being held
rent?
in ……… city?
(a) RentoMojo (b) Mobrent
(a) Biratnagar (b) Pokhara
(c) Rent a Mobile (d) Mobile on Rent
(c) Birgunj (d) Patna
79. P.M. Narendra Modi in his Independence Day
68. ……… has launched Lite Android app in India &
speech said that India’s first manned space mission
20 other countries that will minimize data usage?
“Gaganyaan” will be launched by ……… year?
(a) Snapchat (b) Instagram
(a) 2020 (b) 2022 (c) 2025 (d) 2030
(c) Facebook (d) Twitter
80. Mahadayi river dispute is between which states?
69. According to recent FICCI survey, Indian GDP
growth rate for 2018-19 would be ………? (a) Goa, Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra
(a) 7.4% (b) 7.3% (c) 7.1% (d) 7.0% (b) Karnataka and Maharashtra
70. Recently which of following countries is hit by a (c) Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra
massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake? (d) Goa and Karnataka
(a) Philippines (b) Indonesia 81. Muslim Uighur minority which was in news
(c) Malaysia (d) Japan recently belongs to ……… country?
71. Which of the following countries recently lifted ban (a) Mongolia (b) Vietnam
on adoption of children from India, which was (c) China (d) Russia
imposed 8 years ago? 82. Apollo Hospitals partnered with ……... software
(a) UK (b) Russia company and launched the first-ever Artificial
(c) Australia (d) South Africa Intelligence (AI) powered cardiovascular disease
72. Who has become India’s 53rd chess grandmaster risk score Application Programme Interface (API)?
after winning in Abu Dhabi Master? (a) Microsoft (b) TCS
(a) Nihal Sarin (b) Harika Dronavals (c) Google (d) Oracle
(c) Bhaskaran Adiban (d) Abhijeet Gupta 83. Which online travel company is going to deploy
73. On India’s Independence Day 12th Century. stolen Artificial Intelligence, Chatbots etc to reach out to
Buddha statue was returned ……… country? smaller towns?
(a) Portuguese (b) French (a) Yatra (b) Make My Trip
(c) Dutch/Netherlands (d) England (c) Travel Yaari (d) Clear trip

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Current Affairs September 2018 – Digest
84. Which of the following Maharatna Company is 95. Which of the following state announced to observe
planning to invest in start-ups, build solar power September as “Month of Nutrition”?
plants and set up battery charging stations for (a) Madhya Pradesh (b) Uttar Pradesh
electric vehicles? (c) Rajasthan (d) Assam
(a) BHEL (b) GAIL (c) NTPC (d) SAIL 96. Who is the first Indian Cyclist to with a medal
85. ……… Indian wine maker has become first non- (Silver) at UCI Junior Track Cycling World
Chinese winery in Asia to cross 1 million case mark Championships held in Switzerland?
in sales? (a) Esow Alben (b) Bikram Singh
(a) Grover (b) Charosa (c) Amrit Singh (d) Deborah Herold
(c) Sula (d) Four seasons 97. Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of
86. Which of the following country’s flag along with India (IRDAI) directed all insurance companies to
Indian national flag were flown half most in honour include ……… under medical insurance?
of Late Sri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee? (a) HIV-AIDS
(a) Pakistan (b) Maldives (b) Mental Illness
(c) Mauritius (d) Sri Lanka (c) Attempt Suicide
87. To promote tourism, Indian govt. extended e-visa (d) Non Allopathic Treatments
facility for citizens of ……… countries? 98. 18th edition of Asian Games started in ………
(a) 193 (b) 110 (c) 130 (d) 165 country?
88. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (a) Malaysia (b) Thailand
(FSSAI) constituted an expert panel to review food (c) China (d) Indonesia
labeling standards which will be headed by ……? 99. Which Pakistani cricketer recently banned for 10
(a) Sesikeran (b) Nikhil Tandon years for spot fixing?
(c) Hemalatha (d) Pawan Kumar Agarwal (a) Shadab Khan (b) Sami Aslam
89. Albany Prize is given for which of the following (c) Nasir Jamshed (d) Tanvir Ahmed
field? 100. Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) plans
(a) Medicine (b) Physics to launch “Understanding India” programme in
(c) Sports (d) Journalism ……… country?
90. Railway Ministry launched “Digital Screens” at 22 (a) Pakistan (b) China
stations to spread awareness about ………? (c) Russia (d) Saudi Arabia
(a) UNESCO’s Indian Heritage sites 101. First Global Robotics Olympics was recently held
(b) Incredible India promotion at ……… country?
(c) Indian Railway Heritage (a) USA (b) Canada
(d) Famous Tourist Sports of India (c) Japan (d) Mexico
91. Who among the following won Boys U-19 title of 102. India won its first gold medal in Asian Games 2018
Indian Classic Junior Open Squash Tournament by Bajrang Punia. He belongs to ……… Sport?
held in Mumbai? (a) Shooting (b) Wrestling
(a) Chaitanya Shah (b) Yash Fadte (c) Athletics (d) Long Jump
(c) Ramit Tandon (d) Harinder Pal Sandhu 103. Basking shark, the second largest fish in the world
92. Kofi Annan who recently died served as Secretary was recently spotted off ……… coast?
General of ……… International Organization? (a) India (b) Canada
(a) UNICEF (b) UNO (c) Greenland (d) France
(c) WHO (d) IMF 104. According to the recently released India Wage
93. 11th World Hindi Conference started in ……… Report of International Labour Organisation (ILO)
country? average wage in India in 2011-12 was Rs. ………
(a) Maldives (b) Bangladesh per day?
(c) Sri Lanka (d) Mauritius (a) Rs.247 (b) Rs.320 (c) Rs.156 (d) Rs.445
94. Which of the following IIT, is going to set up a Re- 105. Who is appointed as new Vice President of Coca-
water Research Centre to replenish & rejuvenate Cola India unit?
water resources? (a) Sundeeb Bajoria
(a) IIT-Kharagpur (b) IIT-Chennai (b) Chandrasekhar Radhakrishan
(c) IIT-Mumbai (d) IIT-Delhi (c) T. Krishnakumar (d) K. Vishwanath

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Current Affairs September 2018 – Digest
106. According to society of India Automobile 116. Which of the following country announced of its
Manufactures (SIAM) ……. car replaced “Alto” as coming out of Eurozone bailout programme?
India’s best selling car? (a) Greece (b) Portugal
(a) Maruti Suzuki Dzire (c) Italy (d) U.K
(b) Tata Indica 117. A parliamentary committee headed by ……... on
(c) Toyota’s Innova Non-performing Assets (NPAs) recent asked former
(d) Maruti’s Baleno. RBI governor Raghuram Rajan to appear & brief on
107. Airtel signed partnership with …….. on a strategic it?
content on a partnership? (a) Murali Manohar Joshi
(a) Star (b) Zee (b) Piyush Goyal
(c) Sony (d) Reliance (c) Narendra Modi
108. HRD Ministry set up a 5 member committee to (d) Dharmendra Pradhan
suggest changes to JEE (Advanced) entrance test. It 118. Which of the following country unveiled its first
is headed by ……….? domestic fighter jet “Kowsar”?
(a) D. P Singh (b) S. K. Varma (a) Kyrgyzstan (b) Afghanistan
(c) Deenbandhu Chaturvedi (c) Iran (d) Uzbekistan
(d) Bhaskar Rammurthy 119. First ever joint air exercise Elang Shakti was held
109. Indigenously developed Helicopter launched ……. between India and ………?
HELINA missile has been successfully test-fired (a) Malaysia (b) UAE
recently? (c) Indonesia (d) Mongolia
(a) Short range ballistic missile 120. T.P. Sharma was recently appointed as new chief of
(b) Inter Continental Ballistic Missile Lokayukta of ……… state?
(c) Anti-Tank Guided Missile (a) Gujarat (b) Maharashtra
(d) Heavy Artillery Gun (c) Jharkhand (d) Chattisgarh
110. Cash will not be put in ATM’s after ……… From 121. ……… is going to invest $ 20 million in India’s
Feb, 9 2019-according to Union Home Ministry? Rural Electrification Program?
(a) 8 P.M (b) 4 P.M (c) 9 P.M (d) 6 P.M (a) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
111. Panini Language lab was recently inaugurated India (b) Rockfellers Foundation
govt. in country? (c) Open Society Foundations
(a) Mauritius (b) Nepal (d) Ford Foundation
(c) Bhutan (d) Sri Lanka 122. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has
112. Former India army chief ……… has been awarded announced to set up new cyclone warning centre in
U.S. Legion of Merit (LOM) award? Kerala, along with its 6 existing centres. Which is
(a) Gen. J.J. Singh not one among them?
(b) Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag (a) Visakhapatnam (b) Kolkata
(c) Gen. Bikram Singh (c) Mangalore (d) Ahmedabad
(d) Gen. V. K. Singh 123. Which of the following state’s new capital will be
113. This year marked the 150th anniversary of discovery named as Atal Nagar?
of ……… element of Mendeleev’s periodic table? (a) Chattisgarh (b) Jarkhand
(a) Hydrogen (b) Helium (c) Odisha (d) Andhrapradesh
(c) Uranium (d) Selenium 124. ……… is the highest paid athlete according to
114. Kerala flood was classified as ……… category Forbes?
calamity of severe nature? (a) P.V. Sindhu
(a) L1 (b) L2 (c) L3 (d) L4 (b) Dane Caroline Wozniacki
115. In recent shuffle of state governors. Tathagata Roy, (c) Solane Stephens (d) Serena Williams
governor of Tripura was now made new governor 125. Divya Kakran who recently won bronze in Asian
of …… state? games 2018, represents ……….. sport?
(a) Assam (b) Haryana (a) Badminton (b) Shooting
(c) Bihar (d) Meghalaya (c) Wrestling (d) Tennis

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Current Affairs September 2018 – Digest
126. Which of the following companies topped 136. Kuldeep Nayar who passed away recently belongs
Fortune’s change the World list? to ……… field?
(a) Alibaba (b) Reliance Jio (a) Civil Servant (b) Journalism
(c) Merck (d) Bank of America (c) Sports (d) Classical Music
127. Indian govt. recently rejected Rs. 700 cr assistance 137. Aeolus – Satellite to track global winds & weather
to Kerala floods offered by ………… country? forecasts was recently launched by ………?
(a) Saudi Arabia (b) Bahrain (a) NASA (b) ESA
(c) Rockosmos (d) Jaxa
(c) Iran (d) UAE
138. Indian recently asked for revision of gas pipe line
128. Renewable energy firm Seimens Gamesa
“TAPI”. P represents?
announced commissioning of its first hybrid project (a) Project (b) Procedure
for NTPC in ……… state? (c) Pakistan (d) Petroleum
(a) Tamil Nadu (b) Telangana 139. Food Safety & Standards Authority of India
(c) Karnataka (d) Maharashtra (FSSAI) recently issued food safety standards for
129. Finance Ministry issued strict warning to all CEO’s ……… products?
of all public sector banks to check all NPA’s (a) Honey (b) Potato
exceeding ……. Cr or else face criminal charges? (c) Cereals (d) Fish
(a) 50 cr (b) 25 cr (c) 100 cr (d) 75 cr 140. According to State Bank of India’s (SBI) report
130. ‘No Spin’ is the autobiography of ………? India’s GDP growth rate in April-June is ………?
(a) Anil Kumble (a) 7.4% (b) 7.5% (c) 7.6% (d) 7.7%
(b) Muthiah Muralidharan 141. According to report of Indian Computer Emergency
(c) Shane Warne Response Team (CERT-In) ……% of cyber attacks
(d) Abdul Qadir on Indian sites are from China?
(a) 35% (b) 45% (c) 55% (d) 25%
131. Which of the following International court is going
142. “2GUD” – first ever independent platform for
to hear Pakistani held Indian national Kulbhushan
refurbished goods was launched by __ e-commerce
Jadhav case? site?
(a) International Criminal Court (a) Amazon (b) Myntra
(b) International Court of Justice (c) Flipkart (d) Snapdeal
(c) International Supreme Court 143. International water colour festival will be held at
(d) European Court of Human Rights ……… city of India?
132. According to 2016-17 survey of Ministry of (a) Raipur (b) Ranchi
Women & Child Development more than ………… (c) Bhubaneswar (d) Panaji
lakh children are missing from child care homes? 144. Bhamashah Techno Hub, a startup hub is launched
(a) 2 Lakhs (b) 3 Lakhs by ……… state?
(c) 4 Lakhs (d) 5 Lakhs (a) Maharashtra (b) Rajasthan
133. Supreme Court recently observed that ……… (c) Haryana (d) Gujarat
fundamental right is not above right to save lives in 145. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has recently
the country? launched …………. Operation to rehabilitate
Kerala flood victims?
(a) Right to Privacy
(a) Operation Madad (b) Operation Rehab
(b) Right to shelter
(c) Operation Sahayata (d) Operation Rescue
(c) Right to healthy environment 146. To increase security against misuse of Aadhar,
(d) Right to Retire UIDAI has instructed all telecom operators for a
134. According to Adobe’s 2018 consumer Email ……… verification as must?
Survey consumers aged 25-34 years spend ……… (a) Documentation (b) Passport Photograph
per day checking their emails? (c) Self-certification (d) Facial recognition
(a) 5.2 hrs (b) 3.8 hrs (c) 4.6 hrs (d) 6.4 hrs 147. …… country is planning to make flying cars with a
135. Rahi Sarnobat won gold medal in ……… event of government-led group of 21 companies consisting
Asian Games 2018? of Airbus, Toyota, Uber, Boeing etc.
(a) Shooting 25 mts (b) 400 mts Running (a) USA (b) Germany
(c) Wrestling (d) Swimming (c) Japan (d) China

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Current Affairs September 2018 – Digest
148. Kama: The Riddle of Desire book was authored by 158. 6 years after tracking down the Higgs Boson
……….? particle, physicists observed a decay of the particle
(a) Gurucharan Das (b) Amitav Ghosh at LHC observatory? ‘H’ refers to in LHC?
(c) Vikram Seth (d) Devdutt Pattanaik (a) Hadron (b) Hydron
149. National Logistics Portal is being developed to (c) Hydrogen (d) Higgs
ensure ease of trading in International & domestic 159. Pincky Balhara won a silver medal in Asian Games
markets, will link all stake holders of ………? 2018 in ______sport?
(a) WTO (b) EXIM bank (a) Athletics (b) Jevelin Throw
(c) IMF (c) Kurash (d) Swimming
(d) Scheduled Commercial Banks 160. Central govt. recently allowed ___ departments to
150. ……… country signed an agreement with UK and hold banned currency notes?
United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) to (a) Scheduled commercial banks
implement climate–resilient development projects? (b) NBFCs & MFIs
(a) India (b) Myanmar (c) Law enforcement departments
(c) Sri Lanka (d) Nepal (d) Regulatory bodies like SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA
151. Who won Bronze medal is Men’s Lightweight etc.
single sculls at Asian Games 2018? 161. What do you mean by the term “Watermelon Effect
(a) Rohit Kumar (b) Dushyant Chauhan “in business & economy?
(c) Bhagwan Singh (d) Shardul Vihan (a) Looking strong from outside but actually weak
152. India won gold medal in men’s doubles Tennis inside
event in Asian Games 2018 by defeating ……… (b) Having more liquid than assets
country? (c) More assets than liabilities
(a) Japan (b) Malaysia (d) Expanding very fast till a point where it can’t
(c) Singapore (d) Kazakhstan hold its own weight
153. ……… has announced her retirement from T20 162. Govt. of India recently scrapped two Scientific
recently? Advisory committees (SAC) and replaced them
(a) Jhulan Goswami (b) Mithali Raj with a 9 member Prime Minister’s Science,
Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-
(c) Poonam Raut (d) Harmanpreet Kaur
STIAC). It will be headed by ______?
154. A new type of ……... batteries are developed which
(a) Dr. K. Vijay Raghavan
avoids catching fire & causing injuries to users?
(b) Dr. V.K. Saraswat
(a) Zinc-Bromine (b) Cadmium
(c) A.S. Kiran kumar (d) Manjul Bhargava
(c) Thermal powered (d) Lithium ion
163. Recently Minister of railways announced that
155. Oldest & thickest sea ice of Arctic region broke up?
around _____no. of railway stations will be WiFi-
(a) Siberian Shelf (b) Greenland
enabled in next 6-8 months?
(c) Axel Heiberg (d) Lambert Glacier
(a) 5000 (b) 4000 (c) 8000 (d) 6000
156. Which of the following Warren Buffet led
164. SBI recently announced its proposal to sell ____ of
companies has recently made its first investment in
its stake in NSE as a part of capital raising
India in payment’s parent company one 97
exercise?
communications?
(a) 5.19% (b) 5% (c) 3.89% (d) 4.33%
(a) Wells Fargo (b) Kranft Heinz
165. Director General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) for the
(c) Bank of America (d) Berkshire Hathaway first time released set of rules to fly ___for civil
157. RBI cancelled the license of ______ company to use?
issue pre-paid cards for voluntarily surrendering the (a) Drones (b) Demo Robots
authorization of the company as Payment System (c) Toy airplanes & helicopters
Operator (PSO)? (d) UDAN flights
(a) Moneygram Payments Inc 166. 2019 is 110th Birth Anniversary of which Legendary
(b) Tech Mahindra Ltd Cricketer?
(c) Airtel smart Money (a) Jim Laker (b) Don Bradman
(d) Amazon pay (c) Godfrey Evans (d) Bill O’ Reilly
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Current Affairs September 2018 – Digest
167. Fouaad Mirza won silver medal in Asian Games 177. According to RBI’s annual data 2017-18, RBI spent
2018 in _________ event? Rs. _______ for printing new Rs. 500 and Rs. 2000
(a) Archery (b) Equestrian & other denomination notes?
(c) Kurash (d) Squash (a) Rs. 8567 cr (b) Rs. 7965 cr
168. _________ state govt. is seeking union govt. to (c) Rs. 5235 cr (d) Rs. 6646 cr
revive Project Cheetah? 178. Govt. of India and ________ signed a $ 375 million
(a) Madhya Pradesh (b) Odisha loan agreement to expand network’s & system
(c) Karnataka (d) Gujarat
efficiency of M.P?
169. Which of the following NASA’s space Telescope
(a) World Bank
completed 15 years recently?
(b) IMF
(a) Hubble (b) Chandra X-ray
(c) Spritzer (d) Compton Gama ray (c) ADB
170. Match the following in Asian Games-2018 (d) New Development Bank
Sports Person Sports 179. Union cabinet approved the revision outlay of
1. Swapna Barman A. Athletics-Men’s 800 settling up of India Post Payments Bank IPPB from
2. Saurav Ghoshal B. Rowing Rs. 800 cr to ___________ cr?
3. Jinson Johnson C. Squash (a) Rs. 1435 cr (b) Rs. 1045 cr
4. Dushyant D. Athletics Heptathlon (c) Rs. 1265 cr (d) Rs. 1355 cr
(a) 1-D; 2-A; 3-B; 4-C (b) 1-D; 2-C; 3-B; 4-A 180. Union Cabinet approved additional Dearness
(c) 1-A; 2-B; 3-C; 4-D (d) 1-D; 2-C; 3-A; 4-B Allowance of ________ to central govt. employees
171. Google’s UPI payments platform ‘Tez’ has been and Dearness relief to pensioners?
renamed as __________? (a) 1.5% (b) 3% (c) 4% (d) 2%
(a) Google Payments (b) Google Money 181. ________ state has extended Armed Forces Special
(c) Google Fin (d) Google Pay Powers Act AFSPA for another 6 months?
172. Govt. constituted committee on mob lynching
(a) Arunachal Pradesh (b) Assam
issues recently submitted the report was headed by
(c) Manipur (d) Meghalaya
_____?
(a) Pradeep Kumar Sinha 182. Indian Navy worship INS Teg during patrolling of
(b) Rajiv Gauba Gulf of Aden helped in rescuing a ship of ________
(c) Dr. Satish Raghavan country?
(d) Arvind Subramanian (a) Finland (b) Norway
173. Govt. of India signed _________ loan agreement to (c) Italy (d) Oman
boost energy efficiency program? 183. First SAARC Agri Cooperative Business Forum
(a) $ 100 million (b) $ 200 million held in __________?
(c) $ 300 million (d) $ 400 million (a) Nepal (b) Bhutan
174. _______ state signed an MoU with American Based (c) Pakistan (d) Sri Lanka
agency-Malaria no more to make the state malaria 184. ____ became first Indian to win gold in heptathlete
free? in Asian games 2018?
(a) Haryana (b) Odisha (a) Dutee Chand (b) Swapna Barman
(c) Telangana (d) Assam (c) Seema Punia (d) P.U. Chitra
175. Alibaba Cloud India (ACI) signed on MoU with
185. Smart Railway conclave which was held in New
_______ state for best usage of Chinese Companies
Delhi was organized by _______?
technologies in various sectors?
(a) Railway Ministry (b) ASSOCHAM
(a) Andhra Pradesh (b) Delhi
(c) Maharashtra (d) Tamil Nadu (c) CCI (d) FICCI
176. China recently started sea trials of its 2nd aircraft 186. ADB & Govt. of India signed a $ 346 million loan
carrier ship called ______? to finance 400 kms of state highways of ____ state?
(a) Liaoning (b) Chalming (a) Madhya Pradesh (b) Karnataka
(c) Type 002 (d) Type 009 (c) Odisha (d) Rajasthan

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Current Affairs September 2018 – Digest

ANSWER KEY
1 b 2 d 3 c 4 a 5 b 6 c 7 d 8 b 9 a 10 c
11 b 12 a 13 c 14 d 15 a 16 b 17 d 18 b 19 c 20 a
21 c 22 b 23 a 24 d 25 c 26 b 27 d 28 a 29 b 30 a
31 a 32 c 33 d 34 b 35 a 36 d 37 c 38 a 39 d 40 b
41 a 42 d 43 b 44 c 45 a 46 c 47 c 48 d 49 c 50 d
51 a 52 d 53 b 54 c 55 c 56 a 57 c 58 b 59 d 60 a
61 b 62 a 63 d 64 c 65 b 66 a 67 c 68 d 69 a 70 b
71 c 72 a 73 d 74 b 75 b 76 a 77 d 78 a 79 b 80 c
81 c 82 a 83 b 84 b 85 c 86 b 87 d 88 a 89 a 90 c
91 b 92 b 93 d 94 a 95 c 96 a 97 b 98 d 99 c 100 b
101 d 102 b 103 d 104 a 105 b 106 a 107 b 108 d 109 c 110 c
111 a 112 b 113 b 114 c 115 d 116 a 117 a 118 c 119 a 120 d
121 b 122 c 123 a 124 d 125 c 126 b 127 d 128 c 129 a 130 c
131 b 132 a 133 d 134 d 135 a 136 b 137 b 138 c 139 a 140 d
141 a 142 c 143 b 144 b 145 c 146 d 147 c 148 a 149 b 150 d
151 b 152 d 153 a 154 d 155 b 156 d 157 b 158 a 159 c 160 c
161 a 162 a 163 d 164 c 165 a 166 b 167 b 168 a 169 c 170 d
171 d 172 b 173 c 174 b 175 a 176 c 177 b 178 c 179 a 180 d
181 b 182 b 183 a 184 b 185 d 186 b

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