Published by VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE - vetriias.com · *UHHWLQJVWRDOORI\RX´: ... The visit marks an enormously significant milestone in our bilateral relations and ... WORLD ATM

$Page 1: Published by VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE - vetriias.com · *UHHWLQJVWRDOORI\RX´: ... The visit marks an enormously significant milestone in our bilateral relations and ... WORLD ATM$

Published by

VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE

F Block New No. 1, 9th Street,

1st Avenue main Road, Chinthamani,

Anna Nagar (E), Chennai – 102.

Phone: 044 – 26265326 / 9600124042 / 9840097666

www.vetriias.com

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

© All rights reserved with the publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the

publisher, will be responsible for the loss and may be punished for compensation under

copyright act.

My Dear Aspirants,

Greetings to all of you! “What we think we become” said Gautama Buddha. We all have dreams. To turn

dreams into reality it takes a lot of determination, dedication, self discipline and hard work.

We at VETRII IAS Study Circle are committed to provide the right guidance, quality coaching and help

every aspirant to achieve his or her life’s cherished goal of becoming a civil servant.

The class room coaching at VETRII IAS Study Circle is meticulously planned to equip the aspirants with

all the relevant facts and fundamentals of the subjects. Further the VETRII IAS Study Circle Study

material aim to support the candidate by providing the most relevant study material in a

comprehensive manner.

Wishing You All The Very Best !!

M. SHUNMUGAM

DIRECTOR

Vetrii IAS Study Circle.

TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS I March 2018

9600124042/ 9840097666

CONTENT

SL.NO TITLE PAGE NO

1. Important Days 1 – 2

2. International Affairs 3 – 11

3. Natioanl Affairs 12 – 31

4. Sports 32 – 34

5. Awards 35 – 37

6. Personality 38

7. Indian Polity 39 – 41

8. Defence 42

9. Tamil Nadu 43 – 44

10. Appointment 45 – 47

11. Honours and Awards 48

12. Committee 49

13. Science and Technology 50

14. Schemes 51 – 52

15. Economy 53 – 57

16. Summit 58

17. Books and Authors 59

18. General Knowledge 60 – 70

19. March Month Questions 71 - 74


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 1

IMPORTANT DAY MARCH 3 - WORLD WILDLIFE DAY

Established by : United Nations General Assembly

First Observed in : 1973

Theme : “Big cats: predators under threat"

MARCH 4 - NATIONAL SAFETY DAY

Established by : United Nations

First observed : 1966

MARCH 8 - INTERANTIONAL WOMENS DAY AND MOTHERS DAY



Theme : #PressforProgress and Rural and urban activitist

transforming women’s lives

MARCH 15 - WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY

Established by : United Kingdom


Theme : Making digital marketplaces fairer

MARCH 18 - ORDANCE FACTORIES DAY

Established by : Indian government organisation


MARCH 20 - WORLD SPARROW DAY

Established by : United Nations General Assembly


Theme : I love Sparrows


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 2

MARCH 21 - INTENATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL

DISCRIMINATION

Established by :United Nations General Assembly

First Observed :1960

Theme :Promoting Tolerance , Inclusion, Unity and respect for Diversity

MARCH 22 - WORLD WATER DAY



Theme : Nature for Water

MARCH 23 - WORLD METROLOGICAL DAY

Established by : International Meteorological Organisation


Theme : Weather – ready , Climate – Smart

MARCH 24 - WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY

Established by : World Health Organisation


Theme : ’Light up the World for TB

BIRAC CELEBRATES ITS 6TH FOUNDATION DAY

Established by : Science and Technology Ministers


Theme : ‘Sustaining Innovation-A Market Driven Pathway


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 3

INTERNATIONAL

CUBA’S CAPITOL REOPENS AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF RESTORATION

After eight years of restoration work, Cuba re-

opened to the public the doors of its Capital.

Built-in 1929 to house Cuba’s Congress and

inspired by Washington’s Capital,

INDIA, RUSSIA AND BANGLADESH SIGN MOU ON BUILDING THE

NUCLEAR PLANT

India, Russia and Bangladesh signed a

memorandum of understanding for

cooperation in building the Rooppur

nuclear power project in Bangladesh.

Indian companies can be involved in

construction and installation works and

supply of materials and equipment.

The MoU was signed in Moscow by

Rosatom’s deputy director

INDIA, JORDAN INK 12 PACTS TO BOOST DEFENCE TIES

Jordan and India signed a framework defence agreement which envisages a whole range of

possibilities from the defence.

India and Jordan signed 12 agreements after the high-level talks, covering areas as diverse

as mass media, health, culture and tourism. But the area of interest for both countries is

clearly defence and security.

Note: Most recently used for the Science and

Technology Ministry, its restoration was started in

2010 as part of the Office of City Historian’s revamp of

Havana.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 4

INDIAN-AMERICAN SCIENTIST AWARDED $1.1 MN GRANT

An Indian-American scientist has won a grant of $1.1 million (Rs. 7 Crore) for cancer

research. Navin Varadarajan of the University of Houston will work on improving T-cell

immunotherapy.

CHINA TO BUILD NUCLEAR-POWERED AIRCRAFT CARRIER LIAONING

WITHIN 7 YEARS

The China Ship building Industry Corporation

(CSIC) has announced to build its first

nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Liaoning by

the middle of the next decade.

It was announced as a part of its list of

ambitions hope to achieve in weaponry and

technical developments for People’s

Liberation Army (PLA)-Navy by 2025.

PAKISTAN’S LEGISLATURE GETS ITS FIRST DALIT WOMAN SENATOR PPP

CANDIDATE KRISHNA KUMARI KOHLI, 39, HAILS FROM SINDH

Krishna Kumari Kohli, a human rights activist

fielded by the Pakistan People’s Party, became

the country’s first Dalit woman Senator.

Kohli, 39, who hails from the remote village of

Dhana Gam in Nagarparka, Sindh, was elected

to a reserved seat for women.

IRAQ IS A CRUDE OIL SUPPLIER TO INDIA

Iraq has overtaken Saudi Arabia to become India’s

top crude oil supplier, meeting more than a fifth of

the current financial year.

Saudi Arabia traditionally has been India’s top oil

source but in the April- January period of 2017-18,

Iraq dethroned it, supplying 38.9 million tonnes.

Iran continued to be the third largest supplier,

selling 18.4 million tonnes during April-January.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 5

MARSHALL ISLANDS TO LAUNCH WORLD-FIRST DIGITAL LEGAL TENDER

Marshall Islands in Pacific Ocean is set to become first country in world to recognize

cryptocurrency as its legal tender and adopt transparent cryptocurrency as its legal

tender and adopt transparent crypto monetary system.

The parliament of island has passed law to create the digital currency called

“Sovereign” with symbol SOV to raise some hard cash to pay bills and boost economy.

U.S AIRCRAFT CARRIER MAKES A HISTORIC VISIT TO VIETNAM

A U.S. aircraft carrier arrived in

Vietnam for the first time since the end

of the Vietnam War, dramatically

underscoring the growing strategic tie

between the former foes at a time

when china’s regional influence is

rising.

The Marshall Islands is partnering with Israeli fintech startup Neema to launch its

SOV.

It will have equal status with US dollar as form of payment.

The island country will issue 24 million SOVs in Initial Currency Offering (ICO)


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 6

The imposing grey silhouette of USS Carl Vinson could be seen from the cliff top just

outside the central Vietnamese city of Danang, where the 1, 03,000-tonne carrier and

two other U.S. ship being a five- day visit.-

The visit marks an enormously significant milestone in our bilateral relations and

demonstrates U.S support for a strong, prosperous and independent Vietnam.

PAKISTAN ACCEPTS INDIA’S OFFER ON EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS

Pakistan accepted humanitarian proposals received from India for exchange of

prisoners over 70 years of age, facilitating the visit of medical experts from both sides

to examine the mentally challenged prisoners for their repatriation ;and revival of the

judicial committee mechanism.

AMBANI WORTH TOPS $40 BN; AMAZON’S BEZOS UNSEATS GATES TO

HEAD GLOBAL LIST

Mukesh Ambani’s net worth has making him the richest Indian for the 11th year in a

row, while Amazon founder Jeff Bezos toppled Bill Gates as the world’s wealthiest

person, says forbes.

Mr. Bezos, referred to as the “Centi-billionaire”, topped the list becoming the only

person to appear in the Forbes list with a 12-figure fortune.

WORLD ATM CONGRESS HELD IN SPAIN

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is participating in

World ATM Congress (WATMC) 2018 being held at IFEMA,

Feria de Madrid, Spain from March 6 to 8.

The Arrival of the Vessel Marks the Biggest U.S. Military Presence in Vietnam Since 1975-

But It Also Illustrates Hanoi’s Complex and Evolving Relationship with Beijing.

India adds 18 billionaires According to Forbes, India is home to 119 billionaires, 18 more

than last year.

World ATM Congress is the world's largest international

Air Traffic Management (ATM) exhibition and conference

attracting thousands of delegates each year. The AAI is

showcasing its achievements and initiatives, through a stall

at the conference.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 7

SAVITRI JINDAL RICHEST OF 8 INDIAN WOMEN

Eight Indian women have featured in Forbes list of the

world’s richest. Forbes’ 2018 ‘World’s Billionaires’ list

includes a total of 256 women an all time

Among the Indian women, Savitri Jindal and family is

the richest .She is ranked 176th globally.

Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is the second

richest. She is India’s richest self-made woman

TWO INDIANS ON LONGLIST OF U.K.’S WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION :

ARUNDHATI ROY AND MEENA KANDASAMY AMONG 16 AUTHORS

MEENA KANDASAMY ARUNDHATI ROY

Two Indian authors are among the 16 from around the world to make the cut for the

U.K.’s annual Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist released in London Arundhati Roy’s

second work of fiction.

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, and Meena Kandasamy’s tale of a violent marriage,

When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife, are in the running for the

£30,000 prize set up to celebrate excellence and originality in writing by women in English

throughout the world.

INDIA –UK JOINT TEAM HAS WON THE NEWTON BABA FUND

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) of

United Kingdom (UK) to find solutions to the water

challenges faced in the pervasively arsenic-affected

Ganga River Basin in groundwater Arsenic Research.

The Newton Bhabha Fund aims to bring together the UK and Indian scientific research

and innovation sectors to find joint solutions to the challenges facing India in economic

development and social welfare.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 8

CHINA DEVELOPS ARTIFICIAL HEART WITH ROCKET TECHNOLOGY

Chinese scientists have developed artificial heart using rocket technology and it is

currently undergoing through testing experiments on animals.

The heart was developed jointly by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology

(CALT) and Teda International Cardiovascular Hospital in North China’s.

INDIA RANKS 78TH ON WEF ENERGY TRANSITION INDEX

India was ranked at 78th among 114 countries on World Economic Forum’s (WEF)

Energy Transition Index (ETI) released as part of report titled Fostering Effective

Energy Transition.

The index ranks countries on how well they are able to balance energy security and

access with environmental sustainability and affordability.

LI KEQIANG RE-ELECTED AS CHINA’S PRIME MINISTER FOR HIS SECOND

TERM

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang re-elected for his second

term.

Zhang Youxia and Xu Qiliang were elected as the Vice

Charman of the Central Military Commission headed by Xi

VIENNA IS WORLD’S MOST LIVEABLE CITY

Quality of Living Survey by Mercer As per

20th annual Quality of Living survey by

Mercer, Austrian capital Vienna has been

named the world’s best city to live in for the

ninth consecutive year

BRICS Countries in ETI: Brazil (38th), Russia (70th) and China (76th).

USEFUL INFO

1. Vienna, Austria 2. Zurich, Switzerland

3. Auckland, New Zealand 4. Munich, Germany

5. Vancouver, Canada


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 9

NEW DELHI RANKED 22ND GLOBALLY AS TOP DESTINATION FOR 2018

New Delhi ranked 22nd globally as top destination for 2018

This awards by TripAdvisor recognises 402 outstanding destinations in 42 list throughout

the world

WORLD’S LONGEST SANDSTONE CAVE DISCOVERED IN MEGHALAYA

It was measured by the Meghalaya

Adventurers’ Association (MAA). It is 24,583

metres long

It has also become India’s second longest cave

in the general category.

The Longest India cave is the Krem Liat Prah-

Umim-Labit system in the Jaintia Hills in

Meghalaya

THREE DAY INTERNATIONAL YOGA FESTIVAL BEGINS IN DELHI

Four cities namely Jaipur, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Mysore have been shortlisted

for conducting the main function of International Yoga Day 2018

GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS HIT RECORD HIGH IN 2017

The rise in carbon emissions during 2017 has been largely attributed to higher energy

demand and the slowing of energy efficiency improvements.

PAKISTAN TESTS NUCLEAR CAPABLE

Pakistan has conducted a test of its nuclear-capable,

submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM), Babur, which

has a range of 450 km.

ABOUT TRIPADVISOR

Headquarters – Massachusetts, U.S. Country Manager India – Nikhil Ganju

32.5 gigatons carbon emissions in 2017 marks a 1.4% increment over previous year.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 10

About World Wide Fund for Nature

(WWF)

President & CEO – Carter Roberts

Formed – 1961

US LAUNCHES WTO CHALLENGE AGAINST CHINA OVER INTELLECTUAL

PROPERTY BREACHES

US has alleged that China is denying foreign patent holders (including US companies),

basic patent rights that prevent Chinese entity from using the technology after a

licensing contract ends.

US believes that China is giving unfair treatment to US companies and innovators

trying to do business in China

WORLD’S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP “SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS” SETS SAIL

It is 362 metres long and weighs nearly 228000 tonnes, being marginally bigger than

its sister ship, the ‘Harmony of the Seas’, which was too built by STX France and was

delivered to Royal Caribbean

EARTH HOUR 2018 OBSERVED ACROSS THE WORLD

India pledged “Give Up To Give

Back” on Earth Hour 2018. People all

over the world observed the Earth

Hour 2018 by switching off non-

essential lights for an hour

between 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

INDIA BECOMES FOURTH LARGEST AUTO MARKET IN THE WORLD :

India surpassed Germany to wind up the fourth

biggest vehicle advertise on the planet. Car deals,

including traveller and business vehicles, in Asia’s

third-biggest economy, grew 9.5%. It is the

quickest among major worldwide markets.

Quick Facts about World Trade Organisation (WTO)

Formed in – 1995

Task – Regulation of International Trade

Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland

Current Director General – Robert Azevedo

The main five nations on the run down are

1. China 2. USA 3. Japan 4. India 5. Germany


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 11

DR.ABIY AHMED BECOMES NEW PRIME MINISTER OF ETHIOPHIA

Ethiopia’s ruling coalition has elected a new leader in

the person of Dr. Abiy Ahmed. He will eventually

become Prime Minister of the country.

State-affiliated FANA Broadcasting Corporate (FBC)

reported that the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary

Democratic Front (EPRDF) had elected Abiy as its

chairperson.

RUSSIA TESTS NEW INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE

The Russian military says it has successfully tested

its latest intercontinental ballistic missile.

Sarmat is intended to replace the Soviet-designed

Voyevoda, the world’s heaviest ICBM known as

“SATAN” in the West.

TWO SATILITES LAUNCHED BY CHINA TO BOOST NAVIGATION SYSTEM

The BRI ( Basic rate Interface ) , previously known as

‘One Belt, One Road’, seeks to build rail, maritime

and road links from Asia to Europe and Africa.

By around 2020, when the BDS( BeiDou Navigation

Satellite) goes global, it is expected to have more than

30 satellites.

FANA Broadcasting Corporate S.C. (FBC) is a private news media company operating in

Ethiopia. Launched in 1994 it focuses mostly political, social and economical reports

about Ethiopia. It operates both radio and television stations within Ethiopia.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 12

NATIONAL

RASHTRIYA SANSKRITI MAHOTSAV ENDS ON A GRAND NOTE IN INDORE

‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (RSM) -2018’ a diversified cultural carnival organized by

Ministry of Culture in Madhya Pradesh ended in Indore with a dazzling closing

ceremony graced by the esteemed presence of the Loksabha Speaker, Smt. Sumitra

Mahajan as the Chief Guest.

CABINET APPROVES CONTINUATION OF PMEGP BEYOND 12TH PLAN

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister

Shri Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of Prime Minister's Employment

Generation Programme (PMEGP) beyond 12th Plan for three years from 2017-18 to

2019-20 with a total outlay of Rs.5,500 crore.

Dr.HARSH VARDHAN LAUNCHES MOBILE APP

In an effort to transform environment protection into a peoples’ movement, a digital

mobile application was launched by the Union Minister for Environment, Forests and

Climate Change. Earth Sciences and Science & Technology in New Delhi.

The App, named “Dr Harsh Vardhan”, focuses on his social & public activities and

involvement of citizens in “Green Good Deeds” movement, which urges people to

perform at least one Green Good Deed every day.

Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan is a Deemed University under the Ministry of Human

Resource Development, Govt of India in New Delhi, India. It was established in 1970.

Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan has been accredited by NAAC

PMEGP SCHEME:

Scheme will create sustainable estimated employment opportunities for 15 lakh

persons in three financial years.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 13

INDIA, ISRAEL JOINT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING ON HOMELAND

AND PUBLIC SECURITY HELD

The two-day meeting of the Joint Steering Committee on Homeland and Public

Security of India and Israel concluded in New Delhi.

INDIA’S FIRST AVIATION MULTI-SKILL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE OPENS IN

CHANDIGARH

An aviation multi-skill development centre (MSDC) was opened in Chandigarh by

aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

GANDHI’S LETTER ON CHRIST UP FOR SALE

A powerful and emotional letter by Mahatma Gandhi in

1926, in which he discusses Jesus Christ, is now on sale.

The letter, dated April 6, 1926, was sent by Gandhi from the

Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat to the U.S. “JESUS WAS ONE

OF THE GREAT TEACHERS OF MANKIND,” Gandhi

stated in the letter to Christian religious elder Milton

Newberry Frantz.

Gandhi Titles :

Mahatma by Rabindranath Tagore 1947

Rastitrapita by Subhash Chandra Bose 1944

Objectives:

The meeting follows the resolve of the Prime Ministers of both countries to combat

the grave threat that terrorism poses to peace and security.

The objectives of the meetings were capacity building and modernization in the

Police Forces besides border management.

A CSR initiative of Airports Authority of India (AAI), this first-of-its-kind centre has been

set up in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and is

supported by the Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill Council (AASSC) of India.

The Rs 5.2 crore project is housed at Chandigarh's old airport terminal building.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 14

CM SIDDARAMAIAH INAUGURATES WORLD’S ‘LARGEST’ SOLAR PARK IN

KARNATAKA.

Shakti Sthala hailed as the world’s largest solar

park by Karnataka government, was inaugurated

by CM Siddaramaiah.

ARUNACHAL EXPRESS BETWEEN NAHARLAGUN-ANAND VIHAR FLAGGED

OFF.

A new train between Naharlagun in Arunachal

Pradesh and Anand Vihar Terminal in the national

capital was flagged off by Union Ministers Kiren

Rijiju.

GOVERNMENT APPROVES RS 2,919 CRORE PROJECTS UNDER NIRBHAYA

FUND TO CREATE 8 SAFE CITIES.

The Union Ministry of Women and Child

Development has approved projects worth Rs

2,919 crore under Nirbhaya Fund for creating

Eight safe cities.

They are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and

Lucknow.

Currently, 600 MW of the total planned capacity is under operation. The remaining

capacity is expected to be ready by the end of this year.

This is the second direct train for Arunachal Pradesh

and 14th for North East to connect with the national

capital.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 15

AMA GAON, AMA VIKAS’ PROGRAMME, LAUNCHED BY ODISHA

GOVERNMENT

In hopes of reaching out to villagers of Odisha, the State

Government has launched the ‘Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas’

(our village, our development) programme.

The initiative aims to reach out to people in rural areas

and involve them in developmental activities.

FIRST MEGA FOOD PARK IN MAHARASHTRA AT SATARA INAUGURATED

The first Mega Food Park in the state of Maharashtra, M/s. Satara Mega Food Park Pvt.

Ltd. at Village Degaon, District Satarawas inaugurated on 1stMarch, 2018 by Smt.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of Food Processing Industries in the presence of

Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, of Maharashtra.

This is the 12th Mega Food Park operationalized in the country so far and the 10th

operationalized during the tenure of present government.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 16

TARINI REACHES CAPE TOWN IN THE LAST LEG OF ITS JOURNEY

An all-women crew leading the India Navy Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini docked at a

port in Cape Town in South Africa in the last phase of its maiden voyage to

circumnavigate the globe.

DR. BHAMRE INAUGURATES ANNUAL ARMY SEMINAR 2017-18

Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre inaugurated one-day Annual Army Seminar

for 2017-18 on ‘Contribution of the Army Towards Nation Building’ at Manekshaw

Centre New Delhi.

Objective of the seminar is to highlight the contributions of the Indian Army towards

Nation building and identify new spheres and areas for future participation.

AIR INDIA OPERATES ALL-WOMEN CREW FLIGHT FROM KOLKATA.

National carrier Air India has operated a

flight on the Kolkata-Dimapur-Kolkata

sector with an all-women cockpit and cabin

crew.

According to a release issued by the airlines,

the flight AI709, an Airbus 319, was

operated by Captain Akanksha Verma and

Captain Satovisa Banerjee in the cockpit.

Air India had operated the world’s first all-women crew flight from Kolkata to Silchar way

back in 1985.

This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman flagged off the expedition from Goa on

September 10.

The vessel has covered 1,75,00 nautical miles from Goa.

The indigenously-built INSV Tarini, a 56-foot sailing vessel, was inducted into

the Navy earlier this year.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 17

KARNATAKA GOVT LAUNCHED HEALTHCARE SCHEME 'AROGYA

KARNATAKA'

Karnataka government launched a

healthcare scheme “Arogya

Karnataka (Healthy Karnataka)”

aimed at benefitting about 1.43 crore

households in the state.

The scheme will provide quality

primary, secondary and tertiary

treatment to both BPL and APL

families in the state.

Rs. 1,000 CR. FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar that in a major boost for

research and innovation, the centre had sanctioned Rs. 1,000 crore for the Phase II of

the Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT) India Programme.

In a statement at the Visitor’s Conference in New Delhi, he said that under the

IMPRINT-II, a fund was being created by the Department of Science and Technology

and the HRD Ministry in which participation would come from the industry and

interested Ministries.

“Under the IMPRINT-I Programme, 142 projects at a cost of Rs.318.71 crore are

under implementation.

These projects cover crucial domains like security and defence, information

technology, energy, sustainable habitat, advance materials, health care, nano

technology, climate change, etc.,”

Under the scheme, all below-poverty-line (BPL) households will get free treatment

at government hospitals and for all above-poverty-line (APL) households; the

state will bear about 30 percent of the treatment cost.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 18

SUKHAD YATRA APP AND TOLL-FREE EMERGENCY NUMBER FOR

HIGHWAY USERS LAUNCHED.

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has launched Sukhad Yatra mobile

application and 1033 Toll-free Emergency number for highway users.

It also launched scheme for District Driving Training Centres and will provide grant

of financial assistance for Road Safety Advocacy and awards for outstanding work in

Road Safety.

40 PARTICIPANTS ATTEND 46TH KNOW INDIA PROGRAMME

40 participants of Indian Origin from 9 countries attended 46th edition of Know India

Programme (KIP).

Madhya Pradesh was partner state of this edition.

ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD OF INDIA HEADQUARTERS SHIFTED FROM

CHENNAI TO BALLABHGARH.

Government has shifted headquarters of Animal Welfare

Board of India (AWBI) to Ballabhgarh in Faridabad District of

Haryana from Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

It was shifted after consultation with AWBI for better

coordination between the Environment Ministry and AWBI for

carrying out the animal welfare activities.

KNOW INDIA PROGRAMMES (KIP).

KIP is initiative (scheme) of Ministry of External Affairs for Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)

between the age group of 18 to 30 years. The scheme was launched in 2004 and has so far

had 40 editions in which some 1,293 PIO youths have participated.

ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD OF INDIA (AWBI)

AWBI is a statutory advisory body established in 1962 under Section 4 of The

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

SUKHAD YATRA MOBILE APPLICATION

Sukhad Yatra mobile application it has been prepared by National Highways

Authority of India (NHAI) to empower Highway user.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 19

INDIA’S FIRST HELITAXI SERVICE LAUNCHED IN BENGALURU

India’s first helicopter shuttle service (HeliTaxi) was launched in IT capital Bengaluru,

Karnataka in a bid to provide last-mile connectivity

The maiden trip of helitaxi was between Electronic City and Kempegowda

International Airport in Bengaluru. It was provided by Thumby Aviation.

It has reduced travelling time between airport and Electronic City from two hours (by

road) to 15 minutes.

DELHI’S WOMEN’S DAY GIFT: PANIC BUTTONS

International Women’s Day, in a move to bolster

the security of women passengers, the Delhi

governments has announced a pilot project under

which state-run buses would be installed with

Panic Alarm System.

SWACHH SHAKTI 2018 TO BE HELD IN LUCKNOW

The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, in association with the Government

of Uttar Pradesh, is organizing a Women’s Convention – called Swachh Shakti 2018 –

on International Women’s Day, at Lucknow

RAJASTHAN PASSES BILL TO GIVE DEATH PENALTY FOR CHILD RAPE

Rajasthan became the second State, after Madhya Pradesh, to pass a bill providing for

death penalty to those convicted of raping girls of 12 years and below

Panic Alarm System

The panic alarm system consists of panic alarm buttons and sirens. These panic alarm

buttons located at rather, strategic locations inside a building premises. Moreover, high

volume siren receivers spread across the building.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s 2016 report, the cases of crimes

against children have seen a steady increase in Rajasthan.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 20

SUVIDHA: GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES 100% OXO-BIODEGRADABLE

SANITARY NAPKIN UNDER JANAUSHADHI PARIYOJANA.

The Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers has

launched ‘Suvidha’, a 100% Oxo-biodegradable

Sanitary Napkin, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya

Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

It was launched by Union Minister for Chemicals &

Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs Ananthkumar

on the occasion of International Woman’s day.

GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES UDYAM SAKHI PORTAL FOR WOMEN

ENTREPRENEURS

The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium

Enterprises launched Udyam Sakhi Portal

(www.udyamsakhi.org) for women

entrepreneurs on the occasion of

International Women’s Day.

It was unveiled by Minister of State (Independent Charge) of MSME, Giriraj Singh, in a

program held at Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi

INDIA’S TALLEST FLAG HAS BEEN UNFURLED IN KARNATAKA

India’s tallest national flag has been unfurled in

Belagavi (also known as Belgaum) in Karnataka.

The 9,600 sq.ft flag on a 110 m flag pole was

unfurled by Ramesh Jarkiholi, District in-charge

Minister.

Objective of the PMBJP Scheme:

Making quality medicines available at affordable prices for all, particularly the poor and

disadvantaged, through exclusive outlets “Jan Aushadhi Medical Store”, so as to reduce out

of pocket expenses in healthcare.

The 110 m tall flag post at Kote Kere is near the historic Belagavi fort in the city. It is taller

than the post in Pune (107 m) and the one at the India-Pakistan border at Attari (105 m) in

Punjab.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 21

THE JHANOR-GANDHAR THERMAL POWER STATION IS LOCATED IN

GUJARAT

The Jhanor-Gandhar Thermal Power Station is a gas-

based power plant located at Urja Nagar, in Bharuch

district of Gujarat. It is run by National Thermal Power

Corporation (NTPC).

THE BIGGHEST SOLAR POWER PLANT OF UTTER PRADESH HAS SET UP IN

MIRZAPUR

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President

Emmanuel Macron have jointly inaugurated the 75MW

solar power plant at Chhanvey block in Mirzapur

district of Uttar Pradesh

IMPAL- CITY TO HOST THE 105TH SESSION OF ISC

The 105th session of the Indian Science Congress

(ISC) will be hosted by Manipur Central University

in Imphal from 16 to 20 March 2018.

The focal theme of the ISC is “Reaching the

Unreached through Science & Technology”.

CCRAS HAS DEVELOPED A CODED DRUG AYUSH QOL-2C FOR CANCER

PATIENTS.

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences

(CCRAS) has developed a coded drug AYUSH QOL-2C

for improving the quality of life in cancer patients.

This information was given by the Minister of State

(Independent Charge) for AYUSH.

The CCRAS is an autonomous body under the Ministry

of AYUSH and is headquartered at New Delhi.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 22

FINLAND TOPS 2018 GLOBAL HAPPINESS INDEX

The World Happiness Report published ranked 156 countries by happiness levels,

based on factors such as life expectancy, social support and corruption.

PUNE TOPS IN IMPROVED QUALITY GOVERNANCE: SURVEY

Pune has emerged as the top city to show improvement in quality of governance,

according to a survey.

The other cities that came in the top five include Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram,

Bhubaneswar and Surat.

The survey was conducted by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy.

DELHI, BENGALORE, CHENNAI AMONG THE CHEAPEST CITY IN THE

WORLD

Three Indian cities New Delhi, Bengaluru and

Chennai are among the cheapest cities in the

world, according to an Economist Intelligence Unit

(EIU) survey.

JAIPUR TO WITNESS 8TH THEATRE OLYMPICS

Jaipur will co-host 8th Theatre Olympics, the largest international theatre festival being

held for the first time in India.

The Jaipur chapter of Theatre Olympics 2018 is organised by National School of Drama

(NSD) under the aegis of Ministry of Culture in collaboration with Ravindra Manch

Society and Art & Culture Department, Rajasthan Government.

8th Theatre Olympics.

The 8th edition of Theatre Olympics was inaugurated by Vice president Venkaih Naidu in New Delhi in February 2018.

The event was organised by National School of Drama (NSD).

The theme of festival is – “Flag of Friendship“ The 51-day long nationwide theatre extravaganza will cover 17 cities in India with more than 25,000 and 250 youth show.

30 countries participated in the festival from across the globe.

Finland is the happiest place to live. Norway and Denmark ranked second and third

respectively.

India ranked 133rd in the report. Burundi ranked last in the index.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 23

UNION MINISTER OF STATE R K SINGH DEDICATED 4,611 SMART AND

ENERGY-EFFICIENT LED LIGHTS TO ARA TOWN IN BIHAR

R K Singh, Union Minister of State for power and

New & Renewable Energy dedicated 4,611 smart

and energy-efficient LED lights to the people of

Ara town in Bihar’s Bhojpur district.

The lights have been installed in just three weeks

under the Street Light National

Programme (SLNP) of the Union Ministry of

Power

MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT BANS USE OF PLASTIC

Maharashtra Government has banned use of plastic in time-bound manner, citing

environmental and public health concerns.

The decision was taken at cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The ban will include plastic bags, thermocol, disposable cups and plates, cutlery, non-

woven polypropylene bags, plastic pouches and packaging.

PUNE TOPS IN URBAN GOVERNANCE: ASICS 2017 REPORT

Pune was ranked first among 23 cities across India in terms of quality of urban

governance in the fifth edition of Annual Survey of India’s City-System.

(ASICS) 2017 report released by Bengaluru-based non-profit organisation, Janaagraha.

Street Light National Programme is an initiative of the Government to promote energy

efficiency in the country. Government aims to replace 3.5 crore conventional street

lights with energy efficient LED lights. This would result in annual energy saving of

900 crore units and the total cost savings of municipalities every year will be Rs 5,500

crore.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 24

BHAWANA KANTH BECAME THE 2ND INDIAN WOMAN TO FLY A FIGHTER

AIRCRAFT SOLO

Flying officer Bhawana Kanth became the second

woman pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to fly a fighter

aircraft solo.

Kanth, who hails from Darbhanga in Bihar, flew a MiG-

21 “Bison” from Ambala Air Force Station at around 2

pm.

Avani Chaturvedi become the first-ever Indian woman to break the sound barrier with

resounding sonic booms in a supersonic fighter


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 25

THE INAUGURATION OF FIRST INDIA-JAPAN WORKSHOP ON DISASTER

RISK REDUCTION (DRR) IN NEW DELHI

Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog inaugurated the First India-Japan Workshop

on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster

Management Authority (NDMA) and Government of Japan

NITIN GADKARI INAUGURATES INLAND FERRY SERVICES IN GOA

Several dignitaries including Union Minister of

State for AYUSH (Independent Charge) Shripad

Naik were present at the inauguration.

CENTRE APPROVES TO SET UP A PLASTIC PARK IN DEOGHAR DISTRICT OF

JHARKHAND

The Plastic Park would be set up at a cost of Rs. 120 crores

over an area of 150 acres.

Range of polymer products including woven sacks, water

tanks, moulded furniture, bottles, pipes mosquito nets, etc

would be manufactured at this Plastic Park

QUICK FACTS ABOUT GOA

Capital – Panaji

Current Chief Minister – Manohar Parrikar

Current Governor – Mridula Sinha

Important River – Mondovi

QUICK FACTS ABOUT JHARKHAND

Capital – Ranchi

Current Governor – Draupadi Murmu

Current Chief Minister – Raghubar Das

Important Wildlife Sanctuary – Hazaribag Wildlife Sanctuary


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 26

INDIA POST RELEASES SPECIAL COVER ON STEPHEN HAWKING

The special cover on Stephen Hawking was jointly issued

by Chief Post Master General (CPMG) of Maharashtra and

Goa Circle, H C Agrawal and Director of the Tata Institute

of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Dr Sandip Trivedi at an

event held in the General Post Office (GPO), Mumbai

NITI AAYOG, PIRAMAL FOUNDATION INK AGREEMENT TO IMPROVE

HEALTH, EDUCATION IN ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS

Piramal Foundation will work in close conjunction

with the State Government, district administration,

and concerned Central ministries in improving the

identified indicators in the health and nutrition and

education sectors.

PUNJAB IMPOSES PERMANENT BAN ON HOOKAH BARS

Punjab cabinet approved an amendment to the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products

(Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production,

Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA), 2003 for the prevention and control of diseases

caused by the use of tobacco products

JACKFRUIT DECLARED AS KERALA’S OFFICIAL FRUIT

An official announcement on this regard was made by Kerala Agriculture minister V S

Sunil Kumar in the Kerala state assembly. This decision was taken based on a proposal

made by the Kerala Agriculture Department.

USEFUL INFO ABOUT PIRAMAL FOUNDATION

Founded in – 2006

Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

Philanthropic arm of – Piramal Group

Engaged in projects related to – healthcare, education, livelihood

creation and youth empowerment


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 27

GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES FREE WI-FI SERVICE FOR UDWADA IN VALSAD

DISTRICT OF GUJARAT

The facility was launched by Manoj Sinha, Minister of State for Communications and

Minister of State for Railways.

I&B (Information and Broadcasting) minister Smriti Irani selected Udwada village

under Saansad Adarsh Gram scheme

ANDHRA GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NAIPUNYA RATHAM OR WORLD ON

WHEELS

Andhra Pradesh (AP) State Government launched, NAIPUNYA RATHAM or World

on Wheels, a multi-utility vehicle aimed at taking technology to the remote corners of

the state

FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT HELD IN

NEW DELHI

This conference has been organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), under

Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

ALL INDIA POLICE SCIENCE CONGRESS KICKS OFF IN SHIMLA

All India Police Science Congress was organised by the Himachal Pradesh Police

Department and The Bureau of Police Research and Development. It was held for 2

days.

The first phase of the Naipunya Ratham launch will cover 13 districts and 28 smart

villages in collaboration with Hewlett Packard (HP), Entrepreneurship

Development Institute of India and Guide Foundation for Development March 30

Useful Info

Formed in – 1986

Headquarters – New Delhi

Parent Entity – Union Ministry of Home Affairs

Current Director General – Abhay


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 28

ISRO POSTPONES LAUNCH OF CHANDRAYAAN-2 MISSION

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that launch of India’s

second lunar mission ‘Chandrayaan-2’, which was to be launched in April 2018, has

been postponed to October 2018.

CHANDIGARH BECOMES NORTH INDIA’S 1ST CITY TO INSTALL DIGITAL

AUTOMATIC SPEED GUN CAMERAS

The cameras will record the speed of the oncoming vehicles in its vision area and issue

chalan to anyone driving above the stipulated city speed limit.

The chalan along with image of over speeding will be sent to vehicle owner’s

residential address.

SEVENTH INDIA-EGYPT JOINT COMMISSION MEETING HELD IN NEW

DELHI

Important people: Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj led the Indian

side. The Egyptian side was led by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

Development in the political, trade & investment, cyber security, capacity building,

security, space, culture sectors etc. were reviewed.

DELHI GOVERNMENT PRESENTS ‘GREEN BUDGET’ AIMS AT

CONTROLLING POLLUTION

Mr. Sisodia highlighted that, under Delhi Budget 2018-19, 26 programmes and

schemes of transport, power, environment and PWD will be threaded together for

devising a unified system of pollution control.

BENGAL RANKS TOP IN HIGHEST NO OF BEGGARS, LAKSHADWEEP LEAST

As per Census 2011 data, India is home to 413670 beggars. Among all state and Union

Territories, highest number of beggars resides in West Bengal (nearly 81000 beggars),

while Lakshadweep has only two beggars.

The green budget is one area where governments can influence human's

interaction with the environment by discouraging environmental destruction, and

encouraging beneficial behavior.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 29

AMBEDKAR JAYANTI TO BE CELEBRATED AS ‘SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY’

BJP national spokesperson Anil Baluni announced that, the birth anniversary of

Dr BR Ambedkar (14th April) will be celebrated as ‘Social Justice Day’.

‘NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DOWN SYNDROME’ HELD IN NEW DELHI

A ‘National Conference on Down Syndrome’ was held in New Delhi on March 26,

2018. This conference was organised by the National Trust under Union Ministry of

Social Justice and Empowerment.

ASSAM GOVT TO CONSTRUCT 1 LAKH TOILETS ACROSS STATE

Assam State Government launched a special programme to build one lakh toilets

across the state under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The programme was launched at Morigaon district, in presence of Assam Chief

Minister Sarbanand Sonowal.

1ST PRINT BIENNALE INDIA – 2018 EXHIBITION BEGINS IN NEW DELHI

The exhibition is being hosted by India’s National Academy of Art, the Lalit Kala

Akademi. Eminent Artist-Printmaker, Shakti Barman was the Chief Guest at the

inaugural ceremony

About Down Syndrome:

Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder associated with

intellectual and learning disabilities.

Children having Down syndrome face delayed development and behavioural

problems.

In 2011, United Nations declared to observe 21st March every years, as World

Down Syndrome Day (WDSD).

Quick facts about Lalit Kala Akademi

Established in – 1954

Located in – New Delhi

Parent entity – Union Ministry of Culture

This special programme is named ‘Mission Sambavh’ (Mission Possible ), under

which, construction works will be completed within 10 days.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 30

SURAT BECOMES FIRST DISTRICT TO HAVE 100% SOLAR POWERED

HEALTH CENTRES

This initiative will not only contribute in reducing the electricity bill by 40

percent but will also help in fighting global warming.

150 out of 572 gram panchayats in Surat are now powered by solar system.

WORLD’S OLDEST CITY VARANASI GOES ‘WIRELESS’

Under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) of Indian government,

Powergrid has laid 16 square kilometers of underground lines in Varanasi. This will be

utilized by nearly 50,000 consumers.

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS LAUNCHES COOL EMS SERVICE BETWEEN INDIA

AND JAPAN

Ministry of Communications has introduced the Cool EMS Service between Japan and

India with effect that will allow Indian customers to import Japanese food items for

personal use.

ASIA LARGEST TULIP GARDEN IN SRINAGAR OPENS FOR VISITORS :

Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden opened

for guests in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. It

perceived as the Asia’s biggest tulip plant. This

year, 12.5 lakh tulip knobs of 48 assortments

were sown in the garden by the horticulture

division. Aside from the tulips, 40,000 hyacinth

globules have additionally been planted.

About Ministry of Communications

Minister of state (Independent charge) for Communications – Manoj Sinha



9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 31

INDIA AND ADB SIGN 80 MILLION LOAN AGREEMENT

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government

of India signed $80 million loan agreement to help

modernize technical and vocational education and training

(TVET) institutions and improve the skills ecosystem in the

State of Himachal Pradesh.

KTM IS THE INDIA’S FASTEST GROWING MOTORCYCLE BRAND

KTM, Europe’s no. 1 motorcycle brand is also India’s

fastest growing brand for 2017

With over 271 and more world championship titles

every KTM is 100% ready to race. Launched in India in

2012.

SACHIN SANCTIONS RS.40 LAKH FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION IN

KASHMIR

Former cricketer and MP Sachin Tendulkar has

sanctioned 40 lakh from his Members of Parliament

Local Area Development Scheme fund for construction

of a school building in Drugmulla area in Jammu and

Kashmir.

GHAZIABAD BECOMES THE FIRST DISTRICT TO HAVE A 100%

ELECTRIFICATION

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath praised the Centre’s

Saubhagya scheme and said his government’s efforts

to augment the power infrastructure through it. In an

attempt to improve health infrastructure in the state,

the chief minister also launched the ‘Aarogyam’ app.

The project will support the skill initiatives of Government of Himachal Pradesh and help

the State step-up the reform and scale-up its skill development efforts.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 32

SPORTS ROGER FEDERER NAMED WORLD SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR 2017

Twenty-time tennis grand slam champion Roger Federer has

won the 2017 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and

Comeback of the Year awards.

The 36-year-old Swiss won the Australian Open and

Wimbledon titles in 2017 after nearly five years without a

major.

NAVJOT KAUR WINS 65KG ASIAN GOLD

Navjot Kaur became the first Indian woman to claim a gold

medal in the Asian wrestling championships when she

defeated Imai Miyu of Japan in the final to win the 65Kg

title in the Kyrgyzstan capital.

VISWANATHAN ANAND WINS THE RAPID EVENT AT TAL MEMORIAL

Viswanathan Anand won the rapid event at the 11th Tal Memorial chess in Moscow.

The World rapid champion finished the event with 6 points while Shakhriyar

Mamedyarov (with 5 points) came second.

AFGHANISTAN’S RASHID KHAN BECAME THE YOUNGEST CAPTAIN IN

INTERNATIONAL CRICKET

Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan became the youngest

captain in the history of international cricket.

The previous record was held by Rajin Saleh of

Bangladesh which was 20 years and 297 days.

Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the youngest

Indian to lead an ODI team in the age of 23 years and

126 days.

Serena Williams took the World Sportswoman of the Year award after winning her 23rd

grand slam in 2017.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 33

MANU & OM BAG GOLD

Manu Bhaker stuck gold yet again, winning the

mixed air pistol title with Om Prakash Mitharval,

with a 0.9 point margin over Germany’s Christian

Reitz and Sandra Reitz who had topped

qualification, in the shooting world cup.

ANJUM SHOOTS SILVER

Anjum Moudgil translated her fabulous form into a

silver medal in the women’s rifle 3-position event at

the shooting Wold Cup.

MARCOS ROJO SIGNS A NEW DEAL AT MANCHESTER UNITED

Jose Mourinho favourite Marcos Rojo has signed a new deal

at Manchester United that will keep him at the club until at least

2021

SHI YUQI DEFEATED LIN TO DAN WIN ALL ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIP

Seventh seed Shi Yuqi defeated Lin Dan to win the All England

Open badminton championships in Birmingham.

INDIA’S PURVA BARVE WON THE WOMEN’S SINGLES TITLE AT THE

ISRAEL JUNIOR 2018

Purva Barve won the Under-19 Women’s Singles title at

the Israel Junior 2018 Badminton Tournament at Israel.

She defeated Russian Anastasiia Pustinskaia in three sets


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 34

VIDARBHA HAS WON THE IRANI CUP IN NAGPUR, MAHARASHTRA

Vidharbha has grabbed their second title of the domestic

season by winning the Irani Cup in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

INDIA’S ELAVENIL VALARIVAN WINS GOLD IN ISSF JUNIOR WORLD CUP

Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan won gold medal in the junior women’s 10m air rifle

event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup

Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Sydney, Australia.

ROHTAK SET TO HOST FIRST WORLD SERIES OF BOXING CLASH

The National Boxing Academy in Rohtak, Haryana, is to host the World Series of

Boxing (WSB) clash between Indian Tigers and the Astana Arlans from Kazakhastan

on 31st March 2018.

PV SINDHU TO BE INDIA’S FLAG-BEARER AT CWG OPENING CEREMONY

PV Sindhu has been chosen by IOA (Indian Olympic Association) as Indian

contingent’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games (CWG)

2018 at Gold Coast, Australia.

SEBASTIAN VETTEL WINS F1 SEASON’S FIRST GRAND PRIX IN AUSTRALIA

Sebastian Vettel finished the race in the first position and won the 2018 Formula One

Grand Prix of Australia. Lewis Hamilton finished in the second position.

Kimi Raikkonen finished in the third position. This is Sebastian Vettel’s 48th career

victory.

17TH SUB JUNIOR NATIONAL WUSHU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

STARTED IN JAMMU & KASHMIR

The four-day 17th Sub-junior National Wushu

Championship began in Jammu today.

The national level sports event is being organised in the

winter capital city of Jammu by the the Wushu Association

of India in collaboration with J&K State Sports Council at

MA Stadium.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 35

AWARDS

AWARD FOR MANI RATNAM

Director Mani Ratnam will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at

the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES)

90TH ACADEMY AWARD (OSCARS 2018)

The 90th academy award commonly referred to as Oscars was held at the Dolby theatre

in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California (US).

The award presented in 24 categories by academy of motion picture arts and science

(AMPAS), honouring best films of year 2017.

The shape of water won the most number of awards totalling to four at the ceremony

after it was nominated into highest 13 categories.

WINNERS ARE

Best Picture: The Shape Of Water

Best Actress:France Mcdomand(Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, As

Mildred Hayes).

Best Director: Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape Of Water)

Best Animated Short Film: Dear Basketball

Best Animated Feature Film : Coco

Best Live Action Short Film: The Silent Child

Best Actor: Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour as Winston Churchill)

BALKRISHNA DOSHI WINS PRITZKER PRIZE: FIRST INDIAN TO RECEIVE

THE ‘ARCHITECTURE NOBEL’

Architect Balkrishna Doshi, a pioneer of low-cost housing design, won the prestigious

Pritzker Prize considered architecture’s Nobel equivalent.

He is the 45th Pritzker laureate and the first from India.

The international Pritzker prize, established by Chicago’s Pritzker family in 1979.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 36

THE INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH (ICMR) HAS BEEN

AWARDED THE INTERNATIONAL KOCHON PRIZE 2017

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the

research body of the health ministry, has been awarded

the International Kochon Prize 2017 for its contribution to

the national programme in Tuberculosis research.

CANADIAN MATHEMATICIAN ROBERT LANGLANDS WINS ABEL PRIZE

Robert Langlands will receive 6 million Norwegian kroner ($776,000) from Norway’s

King Harald V at an award function to be held in Oslo on 22 May 2018.

G.K. REDDY MEMORIAL NATIONAL AWARD FOR 2017 PRESENTED TO

JOURNALIST KARAN THAPAR

Karan Thapar is a senior journalist and television presenter. He has been awarded the

G.K. Reddy Memorial National Award for 2017 for his contribution to journalism.

BENGALURU AIRPORT WINS BEST AWARD IN REGIONAL CATEGORY

Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) announced this information and the place

Kempegowda International Airport is located at Devanahalli, Bengaluru.

AHMEDABAD AIRPORT RECEIVES AWARD FOR ‘MOST IMPROVED

AIRPORT’

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat has received

‘Most Improved Airport’ award in the Asia Pacific region, in Airport Service

Quality awards 2017 organised by the Airport Council International (ACI).

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – was awarded the International

Kochon Prize 2017 on March 13, 2018 in New Delhi for its contribution to the national

programme in Tuberculosis research

About Press Trust of India (PTI):

Head Office – New Delhi

Chairman – Mr Viveck Goenkaution to journalism


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 37

LONDON BASED ORGANISATION SACF WINS FREDERICK PINCOTT

AWARD FOR 2017

London-based South Asian Cinema Foundation (SACF) has received the Frederick

Pincott Award for 2017 from the Indian High Commissioner, Y K Sinha for

promoting Hindi cinema in Britain for the last 18 years.

CHATTISGARH BAGS ‘WATER DIGEST AWARD’ FOR BEST WATER

CONSERVATION AND IRRIGATION FACILITY

This award is presented in association with Central Water Resources River

Development and Ganga Cleaning Ministry, UNESCO, Central Water Board, Central

Water Commission and Ganga Purification National Mission.

ANISH BHANWALA WINS INDIA’S 3RD INDIVIDUAL GOLD IN ISSF JUNIOR

WORLD CUP

Anish Bhanwala won gold medal in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Junior event at the

ISSF Junior World Cup Rifle / Pistol / Shotgun in Sydney, Australia.

HOCKEY PUNJAB WINS 8TH HOCKEY INDIA SENIOR MEN NATIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 (A DIVISION)

Hockey Punjab won the 8th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2018 (A

Division) at the Padma Shri Mohammad Shahid Synthetic Hockey Stadium in

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

SREEKUMARAN THAMBI HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR THE J.C DANIEL

AWARD

Lyricist and director Sreekumaran Thampi has been

selected for the J.C. Daniel Award, the

Kerala government’s highest honour for lifetime

contribution to Malayalam cinema.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 38

PERSONALITY

STEPHEN HAWKING, THE LEGENDARY THEORETICAL PHYSICIST HAS

PASSED AWAY

Mr. Hawking was the author of several popular science books, including ‘A Brief

History of Time’ which sold more than 10 million copies and was translated into 40

different languages.

The physicist had won the Albert Einstein Award, the Wolf Prize, the Copley Medal,

and the Fundamental Physics Prize.

His life story was the subject of the 2014 film ‘The Theory of Everything’, starring

Eddie Redmayne.

CHIEF ETHICS OFFICER OF TATA SONS, MUKUND RAJAN QUITS

Mukund Rajan, chief ethics officer of Tata Sons, has quit from

the Tata group.

As per Tata Sons press release, Rajan has conveyed personal

reasons for his decision to leave the company and will be

evaluating certain entrepreneurial pursuits


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 39

Places where euthanasia is illegal

U.K.

Australia

New Zealand

Philipines

INDIAN POLITY

ARUNACHAL PRADESH ASSEMBLY PASSES BILL TO HAVE TWO-TIER

PANCHAYATI RAJ

Arunachal Pradesh Assembly passed Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill 2018 to do

away with the Anchal Samiti, the intermediate level of the three-tier panchayati raj

system and set up a two-tier system in the state.

Three-tier panchayati raj institutions were set up in state in 2003, 2008 and 2013, and

elections for next five-year term were due in April-May 2018.

SC UPHOLDS PASSIVE EUTHANASIA

The Supreme Court has upheld passive

euthanasia and the right to give advance

medical directives or ‘living Wills’ to

smoothen the dying process as part of the

fundamental right to live with dignity.

A five-judge Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice of

India Dipak Misra, in four separate and concurring

opinions, ruled that the fundamental right to life and

dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution includes

the “right to die with dignity”. Dignity is lost if a man

is allowed or forced to undergo pain and suffering

because of “unwarranted medical support.

This is being done as per 73rd Amendment of Constitution that enables state having less

than 20 lakh population not to have intermediate level and Arunachal has population of

13.84 lakh.

Passive euthanasia

Passive euthanasia is the act of withdrawing or withholding medical support to a dying

patient who has no hope for revival or cure.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 40

SRI LANKA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AMID VIOLENCE

Sri Lanka declared an island-wide state of emergency to curb growing anti-muslim

violence in the Central Province.

The emergency will lapse in two weeks unless Parliament votes to extend it, legal

experts.

Forms of euthanasia

Definitions of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) Vary across

countries. These can be narrowed down to three categories as below

Categories Definition

Voluntary active euthanasia When a physicial administers a

medication, such as a sedative and

neuromuscular relaxant, to intentionally

end a patient’s life with the mentally

competent patient’s explicit request

Involuntary or non – voluntary When a physician administers a

Active euthanasia medication to intentionally end a

patient’s life but without the patient’s

request. It is allowed in The Netherlands

Physician-assisted suicide When the physician provides medication

at the explicit request made by a patient

with the understanding that it will be

used to end life. Legal in Germany.

A state of emergency in India refers to a period of governance under an

altered constitutional setup that can be proclaimed by the President of India. Under the

advice of the cabinet of ministers and using the powers vested in him/her largely by

Part XVIII of the Constitution of India.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 41

PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL THAT LETS GOVT DOUBLE TAX-FREE

GRATUITY TO RS 20 LAKH

Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced by Labour Minister

Santosh Kumar Gangwar in the Lok Sabha during the winter session and was passed.

Under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, formal sector workers with five or more

years of service are eligible for maximum Rs. 10 lakh tax-free gratuity after leaving job

or at time of superannuation.

IRDAI EXTENDS AADHAAR LINKING DEADLINE FOR INSURANCE

POLICIES

This decision has been taken by IRDAI in accordance with Supreme Court of India’s

order to extend the deadline of linking Aadhaar indefinitely till the matter is finally

heard and the judgement is pronounced.

Quick facts about Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) :

Constituted by – Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999

Headquarters – Hyderabad, Telangana

Current Chairman – T.S.Vijayan


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 42

DEFENCE

INDIA, JORDAN INK 12 PACTS TO BOOST DEFENCE TIES

Jordan and India signed a framework defence agreement which envisages a whole range

of possibilities from the defence.

India and Jordan signed 12 agreements after the high-level talks, covering areas as diverse

as mass media, health, culture and tourism. But the area of interest for both countries is

clearly defence and security.

BRAHMOS SUPERSONIC CRUISE MISSILE SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRED

FROM POKHRAN IN RAJASTHAN

The BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile.

It was developed in a joint-venture between

India and Russia.

This missile has been named after the rivers

Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of

Russia.

GLOBAL FIREPOWER RANKS INDIA’S MILITARY AS FOURTH STRONGEST

India’s military is placed fourth on a

global index that has ranked 133 countries

on the basis of their global military

prowess.

The US, Russia and China were on top three positions respectively.

India’s western neighbour Pakistan ranks 13 on the Global Firepower (GFP) list 2017.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 43

TAMILNADU GOVERNMAENT LAUNCHES CLEAN INDIA MISSION IN THIRU -

VANAMALAI

Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit launched

the Swachh Bharat Mission programme in front of Sri

Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Interacting with the shopkeepers in front of the temple,

he urged them not to litter the street.

T.N. CONSTITUTES STATE FOOD COMMISSION

A six-member Tamil Nadu State Food Commission, with IAS officer R.Vasuki as its

Chairperson, was recently constituted by the State government, more than a year after

it decided to implement the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

As per Section 16 of the National Food Security Act, 2013 every State should constitute

a State Food Commission for the purpose of monitoring and reviewing implementation

of this Act.

K.SRINIVASAN POSTED AS ASSEMBLY SECRETARY

Tamilnadu governor Banwarilal Purohit appointed

K.SRINIVASAN, who previously served as the private

special secretary to speaker P.DHANAPAL as the assembly

secretary.

INDIA’S FIRST INSECT MUSEUM OPENED IN TAMIL NADU

The museum is fully dedicated to insects and claimed to be the first of its kind in

Tamil Nadu at Coimbatore.It has been set up over 6691 sqft area at the cost of Rs. 5

crore.

Insects preserved as specimens and also live ones, depicting different developmental

stages are displayed at this museum.

NFS Act, 2013, the Commission shall monitor and evaluate the implementation of

this Act in relation to the State, inquire into complaints of violations of entitlements,

give advice to the State government for the effective implementation of food and

nutrition related schemes.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 44

CHENNAI AIRPORT ADJUDGED THIRD BEST IN SIZE

Chennai airport has been adjudged the third best

airport in the world by Airport Council International’s

Airport Service Quality Awards 2017.

It has been selected third best in the category (Best

Airport by Size) in the airports handling 15-25 million

passengers a year.Bengaluru airport got the second best

airport in this category.

TNERC SUGGESTS 30% LOWER TARIFF FOR WIND, SOLAR POWER

A consultative paper of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC)

has suggested a benchmark tariff of Rs. 2.86 per unit for wind energy and Rs. 3.11 per

unit for solar energy, an over 30% fall from previously fixed tariffs.

SCHOOLS, COLLEGES TOLD TO PAY PROPERTY TAX

At least 2,000 schools and colleges in the city will have to pay property tax, generating

additional revenue of Rs. 40 crore per annum for the Chennai Corporation.

According to a press release, the civic body has passed a resolution to amend the

Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919,

DAILY FLIGHT TO SALEM FROM MARCH 25

Passengers will have the option to fly to Salem from Chennai in an hour.

Under the Regional Connectivity Schemed (RCS) introduced by the Civil Aviation

Ministry, there will be one flight a day to Salem and back

HIGH COURT TO SET UP STALL AT TRADE FAIR

In a first of its kind initiative, the Madras High Court Legal Services Authority

(MHCLSA) has decided to set up a stall at the 44th All India Tourism and Industrial

Trade Fair, conducted by the Stated government at the Island Grounds here, to create

awareness among people about the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children)

Act of 2015. The stall will be set up through the Social Welfare Department.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 45

APPOINTMENT

VINAY KUMAR APPOINTED INDIA’S AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANISTAN.

Senior diplomat Vinay Kumar has been appointed as India’s ambassador to

strategically key Afghanistan.

Kumar, a 1992 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently serving as Joint

Secretary (South) in the headquarters of the external affairs ministry.

VIRAT KOHLI NAMED UBER INDIA'S FIRST BRAND AMBASSADOR

Popular ridesharing app Uber has announced the

appointment of Indian skipper Virat Kohli as its first

brand ambassador in India.

This partnership will see Uber and Virat Kohli joining

hands to underscore the company's commitment to serve

billions in the country, in the years to come.

BIDYA DEVI BHANDARI IS A NEW ELECTED PRESIDENT OF NEPAL

Bidya Devi Bhandari has been re-elected as President of Nepal for

second term in office with an overwhelming majority. She defeated

her Nepali Congress rival Kumari Laxmi Rai in the election held on

March 13, 2018

RAVINDRA RAO APPOINTED AS THE NEW CEO OF RELIANCE ASSET

RECONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Reliance Asset Reconstruction Company (RARC) appinted its new Chief Executive

Officer named Ravindra Rao.

Ravindra Rao succeeds Asokan Arumugam, who is retiring after delivering four years of

commitment at the helm at RARC


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 46

RAKESH MAKKAR APPOINTED AS THE CEO OF FULLERTON INDIA HOME

FINANCE

Fullerton India Home finance appoints Rakesh

Makkar as the new Cheif Executive Officer.

He has been associated with the company from last

few years.

He was holding the Senior Management position

in Fullerton India Home finance

MYANMAR’S FIRST DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT HTIN KYAW

RETIRES

He is 71 years old. Myanmar President Office has announced that,

the President post which has become vacant will be filled within 7

working days. He was the first Myanmar president to visit India

in 2016.

MARTIN VIZCARRA SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT OF PERU

Martin Vizcarra replaces Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned on

21st March 2018 due to a corruption scandal.

BALESH SHARMA NAMED CEO OF VODAFONE-IDEA INDIA MERGED

ENTITY

Earlier, Balesh Sharma was the chief operating officer (COO) of Vodafone India. He

joined Vodafone in 2003.

Earlier, he was the business head of Gujarat Circle and the CEO of Vodafone Malta. He

served as the CEO of Vodafone Czech Republic.

Some UNESCO Cutural Heritage Sites in India

Churches and Convents of Goa – Goa

Ellora Caves – Maharashtra

Fatehpur Sikri – Uttar Pradesh


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 47

JS RAJPUT NOMINATED INDIA’S REPRESENTATIVE TO UNESCO’S EXECUTIVE

BOARD

J S Rajput has been nominated by the Ministry of Human Resource Development as

India’s representative to the Executive Board (EXB) of UNESCO (United Nations

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

INDU BHUSHAN APPOINTED CEO OF AYUSHMAN BHARAT MISSION

Indu Bhushan was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer

(CEO) of the Union Government’s ambitious Ayushman

Bharat National Health Protection Mission (ABNHPM).

Bhushan, the Director General of East Asia Department,

Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila, Philippines

appointed to the post for a period of two years.

LT.GENERAL HARPAL SINGH TAKES CHARGE AS DIRECTOR GENERAL

BORDER ROADERS

Lt Gen Harpal Singh an alumni of National Defence

Academy, Khadakwasla is appointed as Director General

Border Roads (DGBR).

He was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers on 24

December 1982. He later commanded a Border Roads Task

Force in Jammu & Kashmir valley.

GOVERNMENTS APPOINTS 13 NEW SECRETARIES

1992 batch IAS officer Vineet Joshi as director general of the National Testing Agency

(NTA).

Chandra Bhushan Kumar, a 1995 batch IAS officer, is new deputy election

commissioner.

Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey, a 1998 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer will be a joint

secretary in the department of revenue.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 48

CHINESE PREMIER LI KEQIANG WAS APPOINTED TO SECOND FIVE-YEAR

TERM

China’s legislature appointed Premier Li Keqiang, of the

ruling Communist Party, to a second five-year term.

National People’s Congress delegates voted 2,964 to 2 to

approve Li’s appointment

WIN MYINT ELECTED AS A NEW PRESIDENT OF MYANMER

Myanmar's Parliament elected Win Myint as the country's new

President. This comes after Myanmar's first democratically

elected President Htin Kyaw resigned from the position due to

health issues. Myint is considered a close aide of State

Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and has been a speaker in the

lower house since 2012.

HONOURS AND AWARDS

ICE-PRESIDENT VENKAIAH NAIDU HONOURS FORMER CJI KHEHAR,

MILKHA SINGH

Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu honoured several eminent

personalities, including former CJI Jagdish Singh Khehar and

legendary athlete Milkha Singh.

Khehar and three other people were conferred the ‘Honoris

Causa’ degrees during the 67th annual convocation of the

Panjab University (PU).


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 49

COMMITTEE

GOVERNMENT SETS UP SUBHASH CHANDRA GARG COMMITTEE TO

REGULATE FINTECH SECTOR

The Union Government has set up 8 member steering committee look into the

development and regulation of the financial technology (fintech) sector in India.

It will be headed by Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Garg.

The move follows an announcement by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Budget.

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE UNDER POSHAN ABHIYAAN HOLD ITS

FIRST MEETING TO DECIDE ON ROAD MAP FOR MISSION.

The Executive Committee, which is the apex body for

all nutrition related activities under the POSHAN

Abhiyaan, held its first meeting to decide on the road

map for the mission on March 14, 2018.

The Committee is headed by Rakesh Srivastava,

Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child

Development.

Notes:

POSHAN Abhiyaan under Innovation component, envisages undertaking

activities to be implemented intended to improve the service delivery system,

capacity building of front line functionaries and community engagement for

better nutritional outcomes. The successful pilots may be taken up later-on for

scaling up in similar contextual specificities on a broader platform.

Members:

Electronics and Information Technology Secretary,

Financial Services Secretary,

MSME Secretary, Chairperson of Central Board of Excise and Customs,

Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India,

Chief Executive Officer of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)

Joint Secretary Department of Economic Affairs.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 50

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

CHINA TO BUILD ‘WORLD’S FASTEST’ WIND TUNNEL

A Chinese researcher has said that, the 265 meter-

long tunnel would be used to test hypersonic

aircraft that can travel up to a speed of 30,625 kph.

This speed is 25 times the speed of sound.

GREECE LAUNCHES NEWLY ESTABLISHED SPACE AGENCY ‘HELLENIC

SPACE AGENCY’

Dr. Tom Krimigis, who is regarded as ‘Space

Exploration Pioneer’ has been appointed

Chairperson of the Board of Hellenic Space

Agency.

In the context of this news, it is to be noted that

Greece has been a member of European Space

Agency (ESA) since 2005 and has invested

millions of Euros in its research programmes.

A THIN FILM TO SAVE GREAT BARRIER REEF :

An ultra – fine biodegradable film some 50,000

times thinner than a human hair could be

enlisted to protect a great barrier reef from

environmental degradation. Scientist from

Australian Institute of Marine Biology have been

buoyed by test results of a floating sun shield

made of calcium carbonate that has been shown

to protect the reef from the effects of bleaching.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 51

SCHEMES

BENGAL TOPS IN RURAL JOB SCHEME, T.N. IS SECOND

West Bengal has become the best performing State both in terms of allotting jobs and

utilising funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

(MGNREGA).

Goa is ranked at the Bottom of the list with 94,000 work days and spent funds worth

2.47 crore.

CCEA APPROVES INTEGRATED SCHEME FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SILK

INDUSTRY :

The Central Government made a

major stride in making India

independent in silk creation.

The choices taken by the bureau will

prompt the development of a first-ever

between ecclesiastical board to

support R&D and innovation move in

the silk division with a 1,000 crore

rupee finance.

TOP PERFORMERS

State Work Days (Cr.) Fund spent (Cr.)

West Bengal 28.21 7,335.31

Tamil Nadu 22.17 5,981.75

Andhra Pradesh 18.16 5,054.17


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 52

INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

and then French President Francois Hollande at The U.N.

The ISA has set a target of 1 TW of solar energy by 2030,

121 prospective member countries

Only 56 countries have signed the ISA Frame work Agreement.

ROLE OF INDIA

India plays a significant role in the alliance in terms of being a host as well as a major

contributor to the achievement of the target.

India will provide assistance to 15 countries for $ 1.4 billion.

The founding ceremony of the International Solar Alliance was held in

New Delhi on March 11.

ISA is the first international body that will have a secretariat in

India.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 53

ECONOMY

INDIA’S GDP GROWTH FORECAST FOR FY 19 AT 7.3 % AS PER WORLD BANK

LATEST REPORT

According to the World Bank’s latest report “India Development Update – India’s

Growth Story”, India’s GDP growth has been projected at 7.3% for the financial year

FY 19 (2018-19) and it is expected to accelerate further to 7.5%

INDIA TO JOIN MULTILATERAL LENDER EBRO

India has got the go-ahead to join the European Bank of Reconstruction and

Development (EBRD), after shareholders of the London-based multilateral lender

agreed to the country becoming its 69th member, enabling Indian companies to

undertake join investments in regions in which the EBRD operates.

“This is an important step in the relationship between the EBRD and India, allowing us

to build further on already very close ties,”


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 54

GOOGLE LENS ROLLED OUT FOR IOS DEVICES

Google announced the official rollout of its on-demand object recognition tool, Google

Lens, for IOS devices.

The Google Lens is the company’s visual search engine that recognises images and scans

business cards.

MICROSOFT OFFERS $250,000 TO IDENTIFY CHIP BUGS

Microsoft is offering up to $250,000 for identifying

bugs that are similar to the “Meltdown” and

“Spectre” CPU flaws.

The offering is part of Microsoft’s new limited-

time bounty programme for “speculative

execution” side-channel vulnerabilities.

EDELWEISS CALLS OFF ACQUISITION DEAL WITH RELIGARE SECURITIES

Edelweiss group announced that it is calling off acquisition of religare enterprises’

securities business. Citing the seller’s inability to obtain clearances, edelweiss has

cancelled the deal.

The Edelweiss Group is a diversified financial services with headquarters in Mumbai,

India. It is not backed up by any major conglomerate


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 55

QUICK FACTS ABOUT

MYANMAR

Capital – Naypyidaw

Currency – Burmese kyat

Current President – Htin Kyaw

Important River – Irrawaddy

AMAZON INDIA LAUNCHES A SIX FULFILLMENT CENTERS IN INDIA

Amazon india is investing in six specialized fulfilment centers (fcs) in india.

The states include is pune, gurugram, bhopal, coimbatore, lucknow, and mumbai.

Now, Amazon india has a network of 15 fulfilment centers.

INDIA HANDS OVER 18 HIGH-END DIESEL LOCOS TO MYANMAR

These locomotives have been customised

for the Myanmar Railways and have

been built by Diesel Locomotive Works,

Varanasi.

The handing over ceremony was

attended by Minister of State for

Railways Rajen Gohain.

INDIAN OIL CORP STARTS DOORSTEP DELIVERY OF DIESEL ON A PILOT

BASIS IN PUNE

It became first company in India to provide such service after receiving clearance from

the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).

US SLAPS ANTI-DUMPING DUTY ON CHINESE, INDIAN STEEL FLANGES

The anti-dumping duty has been imposed based on a probe by US

Department of Commerce, through which, it was found that exporters from India and

China received subsidies on these products and were thereby able to sell it in US

market much below the fair value.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT IOC

Founded in – 1964


Current Chairman – Sanjiv Singh


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 56

MICROSOFT OPENS THE GARAGE IN HYDERABAD

The Garage was inaugurated at the Microsoft India Development Centre in Hyderabad

by Telangana IT Minister K T Rama Rao.

INDIAS RECEIVES MAIDEN US LNG SHIPMENT AT DABHOL

India received its first LNG cargo from the

US under a long-term supply deal, when a

ship carrying super-cooled natural gas

arrived at Dabhol in Maharashtra.

SWIGGY PARTNERS WITH ICICI BANK, LAUNCHES UPI-BASED DIGITAL

PAYMENT SERVICE

The first one is a Unified Payment Interface (UPI) based solution which enables instant

fund transfers while the other is a facility for depositing cash at automated Cash

Deposit Machines (CDM) available at ICICI Bank branches and ATMs across India.

About Microsoft India:

President, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. – Anant Maheshwari

MD, Microsoft India (R&D) Private Limited and Corporate Vice President,

Cloud & Enterprise, Microsoft India Development Center – Anil Bhansali

QUICK FACTS ABOUT ICICI BANK

• Founded in – 1994

• Headquarters – Mumbai

• Current MD & CEO – Chanda Kochhar


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 57

VENEZUELA TO ELIMINATE THREE ZEROS OFF CURRENCY

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro decided to remove three zeros of

the Venezuelan currency Bolivar fuerte with effect from June 4, 2018.

This decision is aimed at controlling the prevailing hyperinflationary situation across

Venezuela which witnessed 6147 percent price rise in last 12 months.

SWIFT INTRODUCES UNIVERSAL REAL-TIME PAYMENT TRACKING

SWIFT (Society for World Interbank Financial Telecommunication System

platform) has announced the extension of its GPI (Global Payment Innovation)

Tracker to cover all payment instructions sent across the network.

GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE FOR INDIAN RAILWAY FINANCE

CORPORATION (IRFC) BONDS

Union Ministry of Finance has approved Government guarantee of Rs. 5000 crore in

financial year 2017-18 for Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) bonds to be

subscribed by Life Insurance Corporation (LIC).

Quick Facts about Venezuela

Capital – Caracas

Currency – Bolivar fuerte

Current President – Nicolas Maduro

Important Rivers – Orinoco, Caroni


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 58

SUMMIT

GOVERNMENT LOOKS TO RESET CHINA TIES WITH A MODI-XI SUMMIT.

India and China are discussing the possibility of

an informal summit between Prime Minister

Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping.

It is a part of an effort to reset bilateral ties set

back by last year’s military standoff on the

Doklam plateau.

PRIME MINISTER INAUGURATES 105TH INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 105th session of Indian Science Congress

(ISC) at Manipur Central University in Imphal.

The focal theme of 5-day ISC is “Reaching the Unreached Through Science &

Technology”.

5TH INDIA MAIZE SUMMIT HELD IN NEW DELHI

The India Maize Summit 2018 was organized by Federation of Indian Chambers of

Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The India Maize Summit has been conducted

About Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

ISCA was started in the year 1914 at its headquarters in Kolkata. It organises Indian

ScienceCongress annually in the first week of January.

The first meeting of the ISCC was held in January 1914 in the Asiatic Society, Kolkata.

He 104th edition of ISC was held in Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) with the theme

“Science and Technology for National Development”.

Established – 1927

President – Rashesh Shah


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 59

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

INDIAN ARMY RELEASES BOOK ON PARAMVEER CHAKRA AWARDEES

Paramveer Parwane is a book on the bravery of Paramveer Chakra Awardees from

1947 to 1965. It has been authored by Dr Prabhakiran Jain

General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff, released a book on Paramveer Chakra

Awardees named ‘Paramveer Parwane’.

'EXAM WARRIORS'- A BOOK PENNED DOWN BY PM NARENDRA MODI

RELEASED

The book penned down by PM Narendra Modi named 'Exam Warriors' was launched

to reach out to the students across the country ahead of their exams.

SHYAM SARAN'S BOOK 'HOW INDIA SEES THE WORLD' LAUNCHED

The book of Former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran named “How India Sees the

World: Kautilya to the 21st Century” launched by former Prime Minister Dr.

Manmohan Singh.


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 60

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

CITIES AND ITS NICKNAMES

City State Nickname/Nicknames

Agra Uttar Pradesh Taj Nagari

Ahmedabad Gujarat Boston of India

Manchester of India

Allahabad Uttar Pradesh Abode of the God

Sangam City

City of Prime Ministers

Amritsar Punjab Golden City

Asansol West Bengal Land of Black Diamond

Bengaluru Karnataka Electronic City of India

Garden City of India

Silicon Valley of India

Pensioners Paradise

Space City

Science city of India

IT Capital of India

Bhagalpur Bihar The Silk City of India

Bhopal Madhya Pradesh City of Lakes

Indore Madhya Pradesh Mini Mumbai

Bhubaneswar Odisha Temple City of India

Chandigarh Chandigarh The City Beautiful

Chennai Tamil Nadu Gateway of South India

Detroit of Asia

Auto Hub of India

Health Capital of India

Coimbatore Tamil Nadu Textile City of India

Manchester of South India

The Pump City

Coorg Karnataka Scotland of India


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 61

Darjeeling West Bengal The Queen of the Hills

Dhanbad Jharkhand The Coal Capital of India

Shillong Meghalaya Scotland of East

Dibrugarh Assam Tea City of India

Durgapur West Bengal Ruhr of India

Gandhinagar Gujarat Green city

Guwahati Assam Gateway of North East India

Nilgiri Tamil Nadu Blue Mountains

Hyderabad Telangana City of Pearls

City of Nizams

World Capital of Biryani

HITECH City

Jaipur Rajasthan Pink City

Paris of India

City of Palaces

Jaisalmer Rajasthan Golden City of India

Jamshedpur Jharkhand Steel City of India

Pittsburgh of India

Kanpur Uttar Pradesh Leather City of the World

Manchester of North India

Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir Switzerland of India

Kochi Kerala Gateway to Kerala

Queen of the Arabian Sea

Kolkata West Bengal City of Joy

City of Palaces

Cultural Capital of India

Gateway of Eastern India

Heaven of the Aged

Kolhapur Maharashtra City of Wrestlers

Kollam Kerala Prince of Arabian sea

Cashew Capital of the World

Gateway to Backwaters

Lucknow Uttar Pradesh Shiraz-e-Hind

Constantinople of the East


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 62

The Golden City of India

City of Nawabs

Madurai Tamil Nadu Athens of the East

City of Festivals

City of Four Junctions

Temple city

Sleepless City

Malda West Bengal Mango City

Mangalore Karnataka Rome of the East

Cradle of Indian Banking

Gateway of Karnataka

Mumbai Maharashtra City of Seven Islands

Financial Capital of India

Maya Nagari

City of Dreams

Gateway of India

Hollywood of India

Maximum City

Mundi Madhya Pradesh Power Hub City

Mussoorie Uttarakhand Queen of the Mountains

Mysore Karnataka Heritage City

Green City

Nagpur Maharashtra Orange City

Nainital Uttarakhand City of Lakes

New Delhi Delhi City of Rallies

Patiala Punjab Royal City

Panipat Haryana City of Weavers

City of Handloom

Pondicherry Puducherry Paris of the East

Prayag Uttar Pradesh Abode of the God

Pune Maharashtra Queen of Deccan

Purulia West Bengal Manbhum City

Rishikesh Uttrakhand City of Sages

Yoga City


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 63

Siliguri West Bengal Gateway to the Dooars

City of Hospitality

Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir City of lakes

Tezpur Assam City of Blood

Thane Maharashtra City of Lakes

Tiruchirappalli Tamil Nadu Rock Fort City

Energy equipment and

fabrication capital of India

Tucker Trichy

Tirunelveli Tamil Nadu City of Paddy fields

Oxford city of South India

Halwa city of India

Udaipur Rajasthan White City

City of Lakes

Venice of the East

Varanasi Uttar Pradesh Spiritual capital of India

Religious capital of India

City of Lights

City of Temples

City of Learning

Oldest living city on Earth

Holy City

Jodhpur Rajasthan Blue City

Sun City

Nasik Maharashtra Wine capital of India

Grape city of India

California of India

Surat Gujarat Diamond City Of India

City Of Diamonds

Textile city Of India

Vadodara Gujarat Cultural City Of India

Sayaji Nagari

Banyan City

World Capital Of Garba


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 64

Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh City Of Destiny

Kakinada Andhra Pradesh Pensioners Paradise

City of Kaja

Vijayawada Andhra Pradesh The Place of Victory

Bhimavaram Andhra Pradesh Second Bardoli of India

City of Prawns

Rajahmundry Andhra Pradesh Cultural City

Guntur Andhra Pradesh City of Chillies

Vaniyambadi Tamil Nadu Leather city of South India

Warangal Telangana City of Lakes

City of Temples

Second city of Nizam

Zunheboto Nagaland Land Of Warriors

IMPORTANT PORTS IN INDIA

Name of the Sea Port Coast State

Kandla Western Coast Gujarat

Mumbai Western Coast Maharashtra

Jawaharlal Nehru Western Coast Maharashtra

Marmugoa Western Coast Goa

Manglore Western Coast Karnataka

Cochin Western Coast Kerala

Haldia Eastern Coast West Bengal

Paradip Eastern Coast Odisha

Vishakapatnam Eastern Coast Andhra Pradesh

Chennai Eastern Coast Tamil Nadu

Ennore Eastern Coast Tamil Nadu

Tutikorin Eastern Coast Tamil Nadu


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 65

RECIPIENTS OF THE BHARAT RATNA

Year Name of Recipient About him/her Image

1954 Shri Chakravarti

Rajagopalachari

Last Governor – General, Independence activist

Dr. Sarvapalli

Radhakrishnan

India’s 1st Vice President, Philosopher and India’s

2nd President

Dr. Chandrasekhara

Venkata Raman

Physicist

1955 Dr. Bhagwan Das Author, Independence activist, Kashi Vidya Peeth

Founder

Dr. Mokshagundam

Visvesvaraya

Diwan of Mysore, Civil engineer

Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Author, Independence activist, 1st Prime Minister

1957 Pt. Govind Ballabh

Pant

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Independence

activist, Home Minister

1958 Dr. Dhondo

Keshave Karve

Educator, social reformer


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 66

1961 Dr. Bidhan Chandra

Roy

Chief Minister of West Bengal and a Physician

Shri Purushottam

Das Tandon

Educator, Independence activist

1962 Dr. Rajendra Prasad Jurist, Independence activist, 1st President of India

1963 Dr. Zakir Hussain Scholar, Independence activist, 3rd President of

India

Dr. Pandurang

Vaman Kane

Sanskrit scholar and Indologist

1966 Shri Lal Bahadur

Shastri

(Posthumous)

2nd Prime Minister of India, Independence activist

1971 Smt. Indira Gandhi Knowns as the Iron Lady of India, 3rd Prime

Minister of India

1975 Shri Varahagiri

Venkata Giri

4th President, Trade unionist


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 67

1976 Shri Kumaraswami

Kamraj

(Posthumous)

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Independence activist

1980

Mother Teresa Founder of Missionaries of Charity and a Catholic

nun

1983 Shri Acharya

Vinobha Bhave

(Posthumous)

Independence activist and a Social reformer

1987 Khan Abdul Ghaffar

Khan

Independence activist, First non-citizen

1988 Shri Marudu

Gopalan

Ramachandran

(Posthumous)

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Film actor

1990

Dr. Bhim Rao Ramji

Ambedkar

(Posthumous)

Crusader against Untouchablity, Chief architect of

Indian Constitution, Social Reformer, Dalit Icon,

Historian, Economist, scholar, politician

Dr. Nelson

Rolihlahla Mandela

2nd non – citizen and non – Indian recipient, Leader

of Anti – Apartheid movement

1991 Shri Rajiv Gandhi

(Posthumous)

6th Prime Minister of India


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 68

Sardar Vallabhbhai

Patel (Posthumous)

Independence activist, 1st Home Minister

Shri Morarji

Ranchhodji Desai

4th Prime Minister and Independence activist

1992 Maulana Abul

Kalam Azad

(Posthumous)

1st Minister of Education and an Independence

activist

Shri Jehangir

Ratanji Dadabhai

Tata

Philanthropist and Industrialist

Shri Satyajit Ray Filmmaker

1997

Shri Gulzarilal

Nanda

Interim Prime Minster, independence Activist

Smt. Aruna Asaf Ali

(Posthumous)

Independence activist

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul

Kalam

Aeronautical Engineer and 11th President of India


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 69

1998 Smt. Maduari

Sanmukhavadivu

Subbulakshmi

Carnatic Classical Singer

Shri Chidambaram

Subramniam

Minister of Agriculture and an Independence

Activist

1999

Loknayak

Jayaprakash

Narayan

(Posthumous)

Politician, Independence Activist

Professor Amartya

Sen

Economist

Lokpriya Gopinath

Bordoloi

(Posthumous)

Chief Minister of Assam, Independence activist

Pandit Ravi Shankar Sitar Player

2001 Sushri Lata

Dinanath

Mangeshkar

Playback Singer

Ustad Bismillah

Khan

Hindustani classical Shehnai player


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 70

2008 Pandit Bhimsen

Gururaj Joshi

Hindustani classical Singer

2014

Sachin Tendulkar Indian Cricketer, First Sportsman and Youngest

Indian who got Bharat Ratna

Prof. C.N.R Rao Indian Scientist

2015 Atal Bihari

Vajpayee

Atal Bihari Vajpayee is an Indian statesman who

was the Eleventh Prime Minister of India from BJP

Madan Mohan

Malviya

The freedom icon and Educationist popularly known

as ‘Mahamana”


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 71

MARCH MONTH QUESTIONS 1. King Abdullah II of which country visited India on a three-day official visit from February

27, 2018 to March 1, 2018?

(A) UAE (B) 2. Iran (C) Saudi Arabia (D)Jordan

2. Cabinet approves Establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority. How many

members are there in NFRA?

(A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6

3. Name the Indian Navy Sailing Vessel (INSV) which had arrived at a port in Cape Town in

South Africa on 2nd March 2018?

(A) Tarini (B) Nandhi (C) Dhanvi (D) Varuna

4. Which Indian state’s women team won the interstate national tennis championship

2018 held in Chhattisgarh?

(A) Rajasthan (B) Madhya Pradesh (C) Maharashtra (D) Gujarat

5. Who won the rapid event at the 11th Tal Memorial chess in Moscow, Russia?

(A) Viswanathan Anand (B) Garry Kasparov

(C) Anatoly Karpov (D) Bobby Fischer

6. Name the first country of the World to launch its own crypto-currency as legal tender in

a bid to raise money?

(A) Solomon Islands (B) Marshall Islands

(C) Cook Islands (D) Pitcairn Island

7. Which state’s Buddhist Community celebrated the silver jubilee of the Losar Festival?

(A) Sikkim (B) Arunachal Pradesh

(C) Jammu Kashmir (D) Nagaland

8. Who has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ayushman Bharat –

National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM)?

(A) Suraj Gupta (B) Deepankar Singhvi

(C) Kirti Pal Saxena (D) Indu Bhushan


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 72

9. Which state has highest number of fully covered tribal habitations with the safe drinking

water?

(A) Madhya Pradesh (B) Odisha

(C) Rajasthan (D) Jharkhand

10. Which state government has signed pact with Airport Authority of India (AAI) to develop

villages in Kamrup?

(A) West Bengal (B) Mizoram (C) Nagaland (D) Assam

11. Which state government has signed pact with Airport Authority of India (AAI) to develop

villages in Kamrup?

(A) West Bengal (B) Mizoram (C) Nagaland (D) Assam

12. How much amount has been fixed by the Government of India as agriculture credit

target for the fiscal year 2018-19?

(A) Rs 11 lakh (B) Rs 9 lakh (C) Rs 12 lakh (D) Rs 10 lakh13

13. ISRO has tied up with which Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) company for the

production of space-grade lithium-ion cells?

(A) NTPC (B) BHEL (C) SAIL (D) GAIL

14. The first-ever National Conference on Drug Law Enforcement has started in which city?

(A) Chennai (B) New Delhi (C) Bangaluru (D) Jaipur

15. The Union Government has constituted which task force to draft new Direct Tax Law?

(A) Arun Jaitely (B) Arvind Subramanian

(C) Pritam Das (D) Arvind Modi

16. What is the theme of the 2018 International Day of Happiness?

(A) Share Happiness (B) Angry Birds Happy Planet

(C) Reclaim Happiness (D) Happy Heroes

17. Which state is hosting the 7th edition of the Women Science Congress (WSC-2018)?

(A) West Bengal (B) Punjab (C) Manipur (D) Haryana


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 73

18. Who has been elected as the new President of China?

(A) Li Keqiang (B) Xi Jinping (C) Wang Yang (D) Wang Qishan

19. Which among the following countries has recently unfurled world’s biggest flag

stretching over 200 km?

(A) Bolivia (B) Chile (C) Peru (D) Argentina

20. Who was invited as the chief guest, in the golden jubilee of independence celebrations of

Madagascar, the island nation?

(A) Sushma Swaraj (B) Smriti Rani

(C) Arun Jaitely (D) Ram Nath Kovind

21. Which of the following teams has won the Newton-Bhabha Fund for project on

Groundwater Arsenic Research in Ganga River Basin?

(A) India-Russia Joint Team (B) India-UK Joint Team

(C) India-Japan Joint Team (D) India-Israel Joint Team

22. The Jhanor-Gandhar Thermal Power Station is located in which state?

(A) Chhattisgarh (B) Karnataka

(C) Andhra Pradesh (D) Gujarat

23. Name the rakhi sister of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who passed away recently at

the age of 103.

(A) Sharbati Devi (B) Rajeshwari Devi

(C) Champa Rani (D) Bandhani Devi

24. In an effort to prevent bank fraud, the government has made passport detail mandatory

for loans above Rs _______ crore.

(A) Rs 75 crore (B) Rs 25 crore (C) Rs 50 crore (D) Rs 10 crore

25. In an effort to prevent bank fraud, the government has made passport detail mandatory

for loans above Rs _______ crore.

(A) Rs 75 crore (B) Rs 25 crore (C) Rs 50 crore (D) Rs 10 crore


9600124042/ 9840097666 Page 74

ANSWERS:

1 E 6 B 11 D 16 A 21 B

2 D 7 B 12 A 17 C 22 D

3 A 8 D 13 B 18 B 23 A

4 C 9 A 14 B 19 A 24 C

5 A 10 D 15 D 20 D 25 C

Documents

Published by VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE - vetriias.com · *UHHWLQJVWRDOORI\RX´: ... The visit marks an enormously significant milestone in our bilateral relations and ... WORLD ATM