GK Capsule Sbi Po

Facebook Page Facebook Group Telegram Group Telegram Channel
AMBITIOUSBABA.COM | MAIL US AT
1
CONTACT@AMBITIOUSBABA.COM
INDEX
Part-1 (CURRENT AFFAIRS)
1. Appointment (National/ International) (Covered Jan to 30june
2019)
2. Awards (64th Filmfare Awards 2019, Pulitzer Award 2019,
Bhart rattan, Padma Vibhsan, Pdma bhusan, Grammy award,
Nobel price 2018, 64th Filmfare Awards 2019, Oscar award,
Befta Award
3. Budget (2019)
4. India’s Ranking Index (Covered Jan to 30June 2019)
5. Web Portal/ App (Covered Jan to 30june 2019
6. Scheme (State gov/ Centre Gov) (Covered Jan to 30june 2019)
7. Important Loan (Covered Jan to 30June 2019)
8. Company Merger List (Covered Jan to 30June 2019)
9. Important Summit/Meeting (Covered Jan to 30June 2019)
10. Partnership and Agreement (Covered Jan to 30June 2019)
11. Defence News (Covered Jan to 30June 2019)
12. Important MoU (Covered Jan to 30June 2019)
13. Important Current Affairs in short (Covered Jan to 30June
2019)
14. Important Banking and finance in short (Covered Jan to 30June
2019
15. GDP FORCASTING
16. Payment Bank, Public bank, Private bank, Small Finacial bank
17. Obituary
18. Book and Author
19. Government Sponsored Socially Oriented Insurance Schemes
20 Sports Affaris (Jan to 30June)
21. Up coming Sport Event Venue
22. Important Days and Theme
Part 2 (Static GK)

1. Important Dam in India
2. Mojor Sea port
3. Lake (State –wise)
2
4. Importatnt National Park

5. Stadium Game Realted
6. Important Temple in India
7. Founder of Fomous Website
8. List of Countries –Capital and Currencies
9. Revolutions in the filed of Agriculture in India
10. International Boderline and Boundaries Line
11. Chief Ministers And Governors
12. States Festivels
13. International Orgnisations headquater
14. List of Important Airport
15. Flok Dance (State-wise)
16. International Stoke exchange list
17. Census-2011
Appointment
ORGANIZATION PERSON
 Ujjivan Small Finance banks as  Sachin Bansal
an independent director
 New brand “V-Nourish”  Shah Rukh Khan
 Director General (ADG level)  V.S. Kaumudi
of Bureau of Police Research and
Development (BPR&D)
 New Chief Justice Of Delhi High Court  Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel
 India Meteorological Department  Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra
(IMD) Chief
 Chairman of Axis Bank  Rakesh Makhija
 Vigilance Commissioner Interim  Sharad Kumar
Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC)
 Principal Secretary (PS) to Prime  Nripendra Misra (Re-appoint)
Minister Narendra Modi with cabinet
minister rank
 Additional Principal Secretary (Addl  Pramod Kumar Mishra (Re-appoint)
PS) to Prime Minister Narendra Modi
with cabinet minister rank
 7th Commandant of Indian Naval  Dinesh K Tripathi
Academy (INA).
3
 Hero MotoCorp new brand  Yerry Mina

ambassador
 New Lok Sabha Speaker  Om Birla

 Director of Power Finance  Mr. Ravinder Singh Dhillon
Corporation Ltd (PFC)
 Rbi Executive Director  Rabi Mishra
 India’s representative in the Council  Shefali Juneja
of International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO)
 NITI Aayog CEO  Amitabh Kant, 2-year extension
 New Chairman of Internet and Mobile  Amit Agarwal
Association of India (IAMAI)
 New Research and Analysis  Samant Kumar Goel
Wing(RAW) chief
 New IB head  Arvind Kumar
 New member of the International  Narinder Batra, (President of Indian
Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Association) (IOA)
 New President of FIEO (Federation of  Sharad Kumar Saraf
Indian Export Organisations )
 National Housing Bank (NHB)  Sarada Kumar Hota
Managing Director
 Governor of Manipur  PB Acharya
 Deputy Executive Director of UN  India’s Anita Bhatia
Women
 President of Badminton Asia  Anton Aditya Subowo(re-elected)
 Prime Minister of Thailand  Prayuth Chan-ocha
 FIFA President  Gianni Infantino (re-elected)
 United Nations General Assembly  Tijjani Muhammad-Bande
(UNGA) President
 External auditor of WHO  CAG Rajiv Mehrishi
 President of El Salvador  Nayib Bukele
 New Kazakhstan’s president  Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
 UNEP’s (United Nations Environment  Inger Andersen, Denmark’s Economist
Programme’s )Executive Director and Environmentalist
 First female president of Slovakia  Zuzana Caputova
 New Member of 15th Finance  Ajay Narayan Jha
Commission
 New Non-executive chairman of Bank  Ex-Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia
of Baroda
 Senegal’s President  Macky Sall (Second term)

 Chairman of National Commission for  Bhagwan Lal Sahni
Backward Classes
 President of Olympic Council of Asia  Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah
 New Chairman of Coordination  Randhir Singh
Committee for 2022 Asian Games
4
 New Prime minister of Estonia  Kaja Kallas (First Female)

 New Secretary-General of the Medical  Rakesh Kumar Vats
Council of India
 Chief Scientist at WHO  Soumya Swaminathan
 New Director of Bhabha Atomic  Ajit Kumar Mohanty
Research Centre
 Head committee on Comprehensive  Dr Alok Srivastava

Insurance Scheme for Advocates (5
members Committee)
 Citibank India New head  Ashu Khullar
 Goodwill Ambassador of UNDP  Padma Lakshmi

 New Finance Secretary  Subhas Chandra Garg
 New Prime Minister of Palestine  Mohammad Shtayyeh
 Special directors in the Enforcement  Anup Kumar Dubey and Sushil Kumar
Directorate (ED).
 OIC body’s deputy chairman  Pakistan
 New Agricultural Scientific  Aditya Kumar Misra

Recruitment Board (ASRB) Chief
 First Lokayukta Chairman of Mizoram  C Lalsawta sworn
 Non-executive Chairman of Axis Bank  Rakesh Makhija
 New chairman of LIC  M.R. Kumar
 Chief Minister of Goa  Pramod Sawant

 India’s first Lokpal  Ex-Supreme Court judge Justice PC
Ghose
 PhonePe Brand Ambassador  Aamir Khan
 Basketball Federation of India  Govindaraj re-elected
(BFI) President
 President of Comoros  Azali Assoumani re-elected
 New President of Slovakia  Zuzana Caputova (First Female)

 Chief Justice of Telangana HC  Justice T B N Radhakrishnan
 Chairman of Railway Board  VK Yadav
 Axis Bank MD & CEO  Amitabh Chaudhry
 New Brazil president  Jair Bolsonaro
 New LIC’s Acting Chairman  Hemant Bhargava
 Competition Commission of India  P K Singh
secretary (CCI)
 RBL Bank chief operations officer  Pankaj Sharma
 Executive Chairman of National Legal  Justice AK Sikri
Services Authority (NALSA)
5
 Chief Justice of Pakistan  Justice Asif Khosa

 Chief Economic Advisor  Krishnamurthy V Subramanian
 New JIPMER director (Jawaharlal  Dr Rakesh Aggarwal
Institute of Postgraduate Medical
Education & Research )
 GST panel headed  Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Sushil
Kumar Modi
 RBI set up 5-member panel for boost  Nandan Nilekani
digital payments head
 IMF as 1st woman and 11th Chief  India-born Gita Gopinath

Economist
 New Director General of the Sashastra  Rajesh Chandra
Seema Bal (SSB)
 Facebook India as VP and MD  Ajit Mohan
 New Venezuela President  Nicolas Maduro (2nd Term)

 New Taiwan PM  Su Tseng-chang
 New chief credit officer (CCO) of Axis  Deepak Maheshwari

Bank
 New independent directors of ICICI  B Sriram, Rama Bijapurkar
bank
 New ICC’s chief executive  Manu Sawhney
 New Women Team’s Coach  Mohammed Ali Qamar
 Supreme Court Justice  Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Dinesh
Maheshwari
 Ambassador of 16th Tata Mumbai  Mary Kom
Marathon
 New Director General (Investigation)  Prabhat Singh
in the National Human Rights
Commission.
 New Chief Justice of Pakistan  Asif Khosa
 MD, CEO of IDFC First Bank  V Vaidyanathan
 New Prime Minister of Sweden  Stefan Lofven
 New President of Madagascar  Andry Rajoelina
 Interim Finance & Corporate Affairs  Piyush Goyal
minister
 Yes bank’s MD and CEO  Ranveet Gill
 new Malaysian King  Sultan Abdullah
 New IndiGo CEO  Ronojoy Dutta
 MD of Lakshmi Vilas Bank  Parthasarathi Mukherjeet reappointed
for another two years
 Brand Ambassdor for Flamingo  Hrithik Roshan
 Regional Director WHO SOUTH  Dr Poonam Khetrapal
EAST Asia Singh (reappointed)
 Part time Chairman of Federal Bank  Dilip Sadarangani
6
 BARC (Broadcast Audience Research  Punit Goenka

Council) India chairman
 New director of the Central Bureau of  Rishi Kumar Shukla
Investigation (CBI)
 CEO of Corporation Bank  P V Bharathi
 New President of El Salvador  Former mayor Nayib Bukele
 New civil aviation secretary  Pradeep Singh Kharola

 Secretary, Ministry of Minority  Shri Sailesh
Affairs
 New Union Sports Secretary  Radheyshyam Julaniya

 New chairman of African Union  Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi
 New Election Commissioner  Sushil Chandra
 Chairman and Managing Director  Ashwani Lohani
(CMD) of Air India
 new chairman of the Central Board of  Pramod Chandra Mody
Direct Taxes (CBDT)
 German sports and lifestyle  6 times world champion woman M C
brand PUMA have appointed as Mary Kom
women’s training Ambassador
 CEO of PayU India  Anirban Mukherjee
 President of the Foundation Board for  Ajay Singh
Better Boxing of AIBA (International
Boxing Association)
 First ombudsman for the Board of  D.K. Jain
Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
 Brand ambassador of Swasth  Kareena Kapoor Khan

Immunised India
 President of the Wrestling Federation  Brij Bhushan Sharan
of India (WFI)
 Sudan’s Prime Minister  Mohamed Tahir Ayala
 Amazon’s Board of Directors  PepsiCo’s former CEO Indra Nooyi
 Non-Executive Chairman of IDBI Bank  Hemand Bhargava

 New Chairman of National Book Trust  Govind Prasad Sharma
(NBT)
 Nigeria’s President  Muhammadu Buhari
 New Managing Director of LIC  Vipin Anand
 Industry Head of Google India  Former Bollywood Actress, Mayoori

kango
 Indian Overseas Bank’s new MD &  Karnam Sekar
7
CEO
 52nd Controller General of Defence  Rajendra Kumar Nayak
Accounts (CGDA)
 Twitter New India Head  Manish Maheshwari
 New Chairman of Export Promotion  Ravinder Kumar Passi
Council for Handicraft (EPCH)
 Deutsche Bank head for India  Kaushik Shaparia
 New Executive Director of Punjab  Rajesh Yaduvanshi
National Bank
 New brand ambassador of redBus  Mahendra Singh Dhoni
 Goodwill Ambassador of Street Child  Mithali Raj

Cricket World Cup 2019
 New Secretary, Defence Finance  Gargi Kaul,
 Chairman cum Managing Director  Shiv Das Meena
(CMD) of National Buildings
Construction Corporation (NBCC)
 First Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh  Justice Vikram Nath
HC
 Algeria’s first new president  Abdelkader Bensalah
 Haiti’s New Prime Minister  Jean Michel Lapin
 Israel’s Prime Minister  Benjamin Netanyahu (5th Term)
 New President of ICC India  Vikramjit Sing Sahney
 First woman CMD of Pawan Hans Ltd  Usha Padhee
 president of Asian Football  Sheikh Salman
Confederation
 New Nasscom Chairman  Keshav Murugesh
 New president of Confederation of  Vikram Kirloskar
Indian Industry (CII)
 World bank’s new President  David Malpass
 New RBI Governor  Shaktikanta Das
 New Chief Election Commissioner of  Shri Sunil Arora
India [23rd Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC)]
 Finance Secretary  Shri A. N. Jha
 New Chief Economic Advisor  Krishnamurthy Subramanian
 Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh  Kamal Nath
 Chief Minister of Rajasthan  Ashok Gehlot
 Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh  Bhupesh Baghe
 Member of UPSC  Shri Bharat Bhushan Vyas
 Director, National Crime Records  Shri Ramphal Pawar
Bureau [NCRB]
 New Indian Ambassador to US  Harsh Vardhan Shringla
 Assumes charge of secretary, National  Shri Ashok Kumar Singh
Commission for Scheduled Tribes
(NCST)
 New president of Film and Television  Brijendra Pal Singh
8
Institute of India (FTII) Society and

Chairman of Governing Council.
 Technical Member in the Appellate  Shri Ravindra Kumar Verma
Tribunal for Electricity.
 Archery association president  B.V.P Rao
 India’s chief boxing coach  CA Kuttappa
 Mexico president  Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
 US Defense Secretary  Patrick Shanahan
 Asia Pacific seat on the UN’s  Preeti Saran
Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (CESCR).
 Bombay Stock Exchange appoints first  Jayshree Vyas
independent woman Director
 New Vice Chief of Indian Air Force  Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
 Officer on Special Duty in office of  Dilip Kumar
Lokpal
 New Member of 15th Finance  Dr. Krishnamurthy Subramanian will be
Commission’s Advisory Council the twelfth Member of the Council.
 Thailand new King  Maha Vajiralongkorn
 first brand ambassadors of Myntra.  Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma
 Chief Justice Of The Chhattisgarh HC  Justice PR Ramachandra Menon
 New Indian men’s volleyball team  Serbian Dragan Mihailovic
coach
 Committee headed by Aadhaar  Nandan Nilekani
architect
 New Navy Chief  Karambir Singh
 Malawi's President  Peter Mutharika (2nd term)
 Indian Army officer appointed the  Lieutenant General Shailesh Tinaikar
commander of UN Mission in South
Sudan
 Arunachal Pradesh’s CM  Pema Khandu (2nd term)
 New Sikkim‘s Chief Minister  P.S. Golay
 Odisha CM  Naveen Patnaik (Fifth Term)
 TAFE (Tractors and Farm Equipment)  Askhay Kumar
brand ambassador
 Supreme Court gets four new judges  Aniruddha Bose, A S Bopanna, B R Gavai
and Surya Kant.
 New Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh  Jagan Mohan Reddy
 New Chairperson of the News  Justice A. K. Sikri
Broadcasting Standards Authority
(NBSA)
 New CMD of ITC  Sanjiv Puri
 New CEO of LIC Mutual Fund  Dinesh Pangtey
 First woman to be inducted into ICC  India’s G.S. Lakshmi
match referee panel
 Brand ambassador of BharatPe  Salman Khan
 Japan’s new Emperor  Naruhito
9
 UN Re-Elects International Narcotics  Jagjit Pavadia

Board
 North Macedonia’s new president  Stevo Pendarovski
 Member Of Commonwealth  Former SC Judge K S Radhakrishnan
Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal, London
 New President of the United Nations  Professor Tijjani Mohammad Bande
General Assembly.
 President of Indonesia  Joko Widodo second term
 Ukraine’s new president  Volodymyr Zelenskiy
 South Africa’s President  Cyril Ramaphosa
 Walmart chief technology officer  Suresh Kumar
 Australia’s prime minister  Scott Morrison
 Nigeria’s President  Muhammadu Buhari
 New Papua New Guinea prime  James Marape
minister
 New Axis bank chairman  Rakesh Makhija
Awards
Awards Persons/Organization Purpose/ Field
 Mexico’s highest  Ex-President Pratibha  Former president of
civilian award Patil India, Pratibha Patil was
(“Orden Mexicana del honored with the highest
Aguila Azteca” (Order civilian award of Mexico
of the Aztec Eagle). termed “Orden Mexicana
del Aguila Azteca” (Order of
the Aztec Eagle).
 J C Daniel award  Veteran Actress Sheela  Veteran actress Sheela was
conferred with Kerala’s
highest J C Daniel award for
her contribution
to Malayalam cinema at the
Kerala state film award
function at Nisagandhi
auditorium in
Thiruvananthapuram. The
award consists of 5 lakh
cash prize, a citation, and a
plaque.
 Women’s Prize for  Tayari Jones Novel An  US Novelist Tayari
Fiction American Marriage Jones received Women’s
Prize for Fiction
worth $40,000 for her
novel An American
Marriage. The novel was
praised by Barack Obama
and Oprah Winfrey. This is
her fourth novel based on a
10
middle-class black couple

torn apart by injustice. She
also received Aspen Words
Literary Prize for the same
novel in April 2019.
 World Health  Rajasthan Health  Recognition of its
Organization’s Department achievements in the field of
(WHO) Tobacco tobacco control. It was
Control Award for presented on the occasion
2019 of World No Tobacco
Day(WNTD) celebrated on
May 31, 2019 in an event
held in New Delhi.
 2019 Global  Google’s India-born CEO  They were chosen by
Leadership award Sundar Pichai business advocacy group
and NASDAQ ‘s (National US-India Business Council
Association of Securities (USIBC) for “catalyzing
Dealers Automated growth in the US-India
Quotations) commercial corridor”.
President Adena
Friedman
 Gold Award in South  Mahindra Group  The automobile
Africa Giant Mahindra
Group won the Gold Award
in South Africa. It clinches
the top spot among 29
vehicle brands for the
award.
 Mahindra Group received
the Gold award
from National Automobile
Dealers Association
(NADA).
 54th Jnanpith Award,  Amitav Ghosh  Renowned English writer
2018
 Danny Kaye  Priyanka Chopra  Indian actress Priyanka
Humanitarian Award Chopra was selected for
“Danny Kaye
Humanitarian
Award” by United Nations
International Children’s
Fund’s (UNICEF) American
chapter for her contribution
to social causes and for
being a voice for children’s
education. She will be
presented with this award
at UNICEF American
11
chapter’s Snowflake
Ball which is to be held
in December 2019 in New
York.
 ‘Save Water Hero  Social activist Makarand  Social activist Makarand
Award’ Tilloo Tilloo was conferred
with ‘Save Water Hero
Award’. He received this
award for his efforts to raise
awareness about water
conservation in the city. The
award ceremony was held
in Pune, Maharashtra.
 BBC award  Akshay Patra’s school  The Akshaya Patra
meals Foundation (TAPF), a Non-
governmental organizations
(NGO) based in Bangalore
that runs school lunch
programme across India
has been awarded the BBC
(British Broadcasting
Corporation) “World
Service Global Champion
Award” for the mid-day
meal project. The award
was presented at the BBC
Food and Farming Awards
in Bristol in London, UK.
 Miss India 2019  Suman Rao  A 20-year-old
model, Suman Rao, a
resident of Rajsamand,
Rajasthan was crowned
Miss India 2019. The
ceremony was held at
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Indoor Stadium, Mumbai,
Maharashtra. She was
crowned by Miss India 2018
Anukreethy Vas from Tamil
Nadu.
 ‘Distinguished  Nirmala Sitharaman and  Jawaharlal Nehru

Alumni Award’ S Jaishankar University (JNU) will
honour Finance
Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman and External
Affairs Minister Dr S
Jaishankar with ‘Distingui
12
shed Alumni Award’. This

was decided by the
Executive Council of JNU.
They will be awarded on the
third convocation ceremony
of the university, which will
be held in August 2019.
They will be the first
recipient of this award.
 ‘Innovative Research  Dr Gaurav Nigam  A well-known educationist,
Excellence Award pediatrician and author, Dr
2019’ Gaurav Nigam was
conferred with
the ‘Innovative Research
Excellence Award
2019’ by Lyonpo Ugyen
Dorji, Minister for Labour
and Human Resources of
Bhutan at the Asian
Leadership Summit held
at Thimphu, Bhutan. The
event was organized by
Global Leaders Foundation.
 ‘Journalist of the  Rachna Khaira  The award was bestowed

Year 2019’ for her expose on the
functioning of the Unique
Identification Authority of
India (UIDAI) and its
Aadhaar data cache in 2018.
 Shanghai  Malayalam film  The 22nd Shanghai
International film ‘Veyilmarangal’ International Film Festival,
festival Director Bijukumar
Damodaran has received
the Outstanding Artistic
Achievement Award for the
film, Veyil Marangal
(Trees Under the Sun).
 Legion of Honour  French World Cup  Sport
champions
 World Memory  Dhruv Manoj  “names and faces” ,
Championships “random words
(Gold)
 African Football  Liverpool’s Mohamed  Sport
Player of the Salah
Year(2018)
 ‘Exhibitor of the  Defence Research and  Defence
13
Year Award’ Development

Organisation (DRDO)
 Sushila Devi  Namita Gokhale  Literature (“Things to
Literature Award Leave Behind)
 First-ever Philip  PM Narendra Modi  Politics

Kotler Presidential
award
 Gandhi Peace Prize  WHO Goodwill 
for 2018 ambassador Yohei
Sasakawa
 Gandhi Peace Prize  EkalAbhiyan Trust  Its work in the field of
for 2017 education for rural and
tribal children, rural
empowerment and
gender and social
equality.
 Gandhi Peace Prize  AkshayaPatra  Its work towards
for 2016 Foundation providing midday meals
to children across India,
and Sulabh
International for its
contribution towards the
improvement of
sanitation facilities in
India and the
emancipation of manual
scavengers.
 Sheikh Saud  Bharat Ratna CNR Rao  Eminent Scientist
International Prize
for Materials
Research
 Sansad Ratna  BJP MP Anurag  Politician
Award
 ICC Cricketer of the  Virat Kohli  Cricketer
Year
 ICC Men’s Test  Virat Kohli  Cricketer
Player of the Year
 ICC Men’s ODI  Virat Kohli  Cricketer
Player of the year
 “International  Rishabh Pant  Cricketer
Cricket Council’s
(ICC) Emerging
14
Player of the year”

 IRCTC’s Trains  Southern Railway 
Cleanliness Survey
Award
 Best Tableau in  ICAR- Indian Council of 
Republic Day Agricultural Research
Parade (ICAR) for its
representation
of Tableau on ‘Kisan
Gandhi’ with the
theme: “Mishrit Kheti,
Khushiyon Ki Kheti”
 Tripura- best state
tableau with the
theme: ‘Empowering
Rural Economy the
Gandhian
Way’whereas the
second position was
bagged by Jammu and
Kashmir and Punjab
was placed in the third
spot.
 Best marching  Gorkha Brigade 
contingent trophy
of the Republic Day
parade
 Australian literary  Manus Island ’s  Debut book “No Friends
prize refugee Behrouz But the Mountains”
Boochani
 K.Veeramani Award  P.S.Krishnan 
for Social Justice
 “Freedom of the  The State Bank of  Contribution in
City of London” India’s UK head promoting the bilateral
Shri Sanjiv Chadha relations
 France’s highest  Francois Laborde  Old Bengal Priest
civilian honour
 Aegis Graham Bell  Yes Bank  ‘Innovation in Data
Award 2018 Science’
 Israel’s  Sanjay  ‘Past time dimension’
prestigious Dan Subrahmanyam for his work in macro
David Prize history.
 EY Entrepreneur of  Siddhartha Lal  MD & CEO of Eicher
15
the Year 2018 Motors
 Swachhata  AMRUT cities and 

Excellence Awards Municipal
2019 Corporations of
Raigarh(1st),
Ambikapurand (2nd)
Kumbakonam(3rd)
 International  Eva de  Hockey Player
Hockey Goede from Netherla
Federation’s nds and Arthur van
Players of the Year Doren of Belgium
for 2018
 International  Abdul Aziz Muhamat,  Sudanese refugee
human rights prize a Manus Island
refugee,
 Laureus Sports for  Jharkhand’s NGO  Working for girl
Good Honour Yuwa empowerment
 “Football Ratna”  Sunil Chhetri  Indian Football Team

Captain
 Top Employers  Tata Consultancy  TCS the only firm among
Institute Services (TCS) the top 10 IT services
brands which has
received this certification.
 Gandhi Peace Prize  Vivekanand Kendra,  Kanyakumari, gets the
for 2015 Kanyakumari award for 2015 for their
contribution to rural
development, education,
development of natural
resources.
 Gandhi Peace Prize  Akshaya Patra  For 2016, it has been
for 2016 Foundation and Sulabh jointly given to Akshaya
International (jointly) Patra foundation for its
contribution in providing
mid-day meals to
children and Sulabh
International for its
contribution in improving
the condition of
sanitation and
emancipation of manual
scavengers.
16
 Gandhi Peace Prize  Ekal Abhiyan Trust  Ekal Abhiyan Trust has
for 2017 won the award for 2017
for their contribution in
providing education for
rural and tribal children
in remote areas, rural
empowerment, gender,
and social equality.
 Gandhi Peace Prize  Yohei Sasakawa  Yohei Sasakawa for
for 2018 2018, who is Goodwill
Ambassador of the World
Health Organisation for
Leprosy Elimination, for
his role in leprosy
eradication.
 Russia’s highest  PM Narendra Modi  Russia for exceptional
State Honour services in promoting
 “Order of Saint bilateral ties.
Andrew the
Apostle”
 “Global Slag  Tata Steel  For its innovative
Company of the practices in the
Year” development of new
applications for Steel by-
products (Slag).
 Presidential Award  Dr. Gyanaditya  Prize money of INR
of Maharshi Shakya 1,00,000 and a certificate.
Badrayan Vyas He accepted award from
Samman 2019 Vice- President of India M
Venkaiah Naidu.
 “Next Billion Edtech  Dost Education  ‘Dost Education’, which
Prize 2019” is India’s education
technology startup won
a $25,000 (Rs 17
lakhs)tech prize for its
ability to empower
parents to take charge of
their child’s early
education.
 UAE’s highest  PM Modi  For boosting the bilateral
civilian award, ties between both of the
Zayed Medal nations.
 World Summit on  “Utkarsh Bangla” and  The schemes under
the Information “Sabooj Sathi” the West Bengal
17
Society (WSIS) government,

awards of namely, “Utkarsh
the United Bangla” (Skill training of
Nations (UN). the youth) and“Sabooj
Sathi” (cycles for
students)
 “Best Digital Agency  Sudhanshu Kumar, 
Award” the founder of Digital
Sukoon
 Saraswati Samman  Telugu poet K Siva  Telugu poet K Siva
2018 Reddy Reddy has been
honoured with the
prestigious Saraswati
Samman, 2018with a
cash prize of 15 lakh
rupees for his collection
of poetry titled ‘Pakkaki
Ottigilite’.
 World Press Photo  “Crying Girl on the  An image of a little girl
award 2019 Border” crying, titled “Crying Girl
on the Border”, as she
and her mother have been
taken into custody by US
border officials in Texas,
won the prestigious
World Press Photo of the
Year.
 Veteran Getty
photographer John
Moore took the picture in
the Rio Grande Valley on
12th June 2018.
 Celent Model Bank  Fincare Small  Financial Inclusion

2019 Award Finance Bank category, for ‘Redesigning
Lending to Reach Small
Businesses’.
 UN Medal for their  150 Indian  For serving the mission
service in UN peacekeepers with extreme dedication
Mission in South and sacrifice.
Sudan (UNMISS)
 National  The Intellectual  Contributions in best

Intellectual Property Rights cell facilitation for
18
Property Award (IPR cell) of Kerala registration of

2019 Agricultural University Geographical Indications
(KAU) and promotion of
registered GI in the
country.
 Best  Malayalam film  Malayalam
cinematography “Bhayanakam” film Bhayanakam (Fear)
award at Beijing which was directed
International Film by Jayaraj won the best
Festival cinematography
award at the Beijing
International Film
Festival and had also won
the best cinematography
award at the 65th
National Film Awards.
 World Press  Dawn Journalist Cyril  Dawn editor and
Freedom Hero in Almeida Columnist Cyril Almeida
2019 from Pakistan has won
the IPI’s (International
Press Institute) World
Press Freedom Hero
award in 2019 for his
“critical” and “tenacious
coverage” of the civil-
military relations in
Pakistan.
 Deenanath  Madhur Bhandarkar,  Deenanath Mangeshkar
Mangeshkar Award Salim Khan, diva Helen Smruti Pratishthan
2019 charitable trust, Pune,
aims to encourage
legends from the fields of
music, drama, art and
social work.
 Rabindranath  Rana Dasgupta  For his 2010 novel “Solo”,
Tagore Literary deals with a tale of
Prize 2019 estrangement and the
ultimate failure of
material existence. The
Award included a Tagore
statue, a certificate for
contribution to literature
and a cash prize of
$10,000.
19
 ‘Public Water  National Mission for  Namami Gange which is

Agency of the Year’ Clean Ganga (NMCG) India’s flagship
or Namami Gange programme, was
presented, with the
‘Public Water Agency of
the Year’ award
by Global Water
Intelligence at the Global
Water Summit held
in London on 9th April,
2019.
 National Water  Madurai district  Rejuvenations and

Awards 2018 creating new water
bodies
 National Water  Maharashtra (State)  Resource management in
Awards 2018 India
 ‘Non-Life Insurer of  Bharti AXA General 
the Year Award Insurance
2019’
 Best Bank Award  Indian Bank  Successfully meeting the
from the state needs of women’s self-
government of help groups (SHGs).
Tamil Nadu
 International  TVS Motor  Awarded the ‘Green Era
Sustainability Award for
Award Sustainability’ at Lisbon,
Portugal.
 Swachh  Indore bagged award 
Survekhshan 2019 for cleanest city
Awards  New Delhi Municipal
Council area
gets cleanest small city
award
 ASQ (Airport  Bhubaneswar’s Biju  Award for being the best
Service Quality) Patnaik International airport in size and region
award 2018 Airport (2-5 million passengers
in Asia-Pacific) for the
year 2018.
 Golden Peacock  ACKO General  For their contextual

Award 2019 Insurance micro insurance product -
“Ola Ride Insurance“.
20
 Chameli Devi Jain  BBC Journalist  Outstanding women

Award Priyanka Dubey journalist.
 Yaswantrao Chavan  Ex-RBI Governor  Contribution towards

National Award Raghuram Rajan economic development
 Commonwealth  Padmanaban Gopalan  Social entrepreneur from
Youth Award for Tamil Nadu, Padmanaban
the Asian region Gopalan, founder of No
Food Waste
 SKOCH Award 2018  Odisha State Disaster  For its remarkable
Management Authority achievements in the field
(OSDMA) of disaster management.
 Nari Shakti  Kathak dancer Seema  Contribution towards

Puraskar Mehta women empowerment
over the last 15 years
 Vyas Samman 2018  Leeladhar Jagudi  Collection of poems “Jitne
Log Utne
Prem” published in
2013. He also authored
several poetry
anthologies.
 Abel Prize  American  first woman to win the
professor Karen prestigious math award
Uhlenbeck
 Global Teacher  Peter Tabichi  Peter Tabichi, a Kenyan
Prize for 2019 math and physics teacher
and a member of the
Franciscan religious
order has been conferred
with the prestigious $1
million Varkey
Foundation
 Oxford University’s  Amartya Sen  The highest honour
Bodley award bestowed by the
University of Oxford’s
world-famous Bodleian
Libraries for his
contribution in literature,
culture, science, and
communication.
 Martha Farrell  Delhi government  Promoting gender quality
21
Award 2019 school teacher Manu and women’s

Gulati empowerment.
 Pravasi Bharatiya  Dr. Rajendra Kumar 

Samman Award Joshi
 Amitav Ghosh  Jnanpith Award, 2018  Jnanpith Selection Board

 Shree Saini  Miss India Worldwide  New York-based India
2018 Festival Committee (IFC)
 Uttar Pradesh  Nations Climate Action  United Nation
based startup Award
HelpUsGreen
 Laxmikant  Mohammed Rafi  NGO Spandan Arts
Shantaram Award
Kudalkar
 Usha Timothy  Mohammed Rafi  NGO Spandan Arts
Award
 Manju Mehta  Tansen Samman, 2018  Madhya Pradesh
Government
 Luka Modrić  FIFA Ballon d'Or  FIFA and France Football
Award Association
 Eliud Kipchoge  IAAF Male Athlete of  International Association
the year of Athletics Federations
 Caterine Ibarguen  IAAF Female Athlete of  International Association
the year of Athletics Federations
 Rattan Lal  Glinka World Soil Prize  UN's Food and
2018 Agriculture Organization
(FAO)
 Vanessa Ponce de  Miss World 2018  Miss World Organization
Leon
 Prathamesh  Mister Supranational  World Beauty
Maulingkar 2018 Association, S.A.
 Salman Khan  Asian Academy  Asian Academy Creative
Creative Award 2018 Award(AAA)
 Anurag Kashyap  Asian Academy  Asian Academy Creative
Creative Award 2018 Award(AAA)
 Kanimozhi  Best woman  Indian Parliamentary
Parliamentarian Group
Award 2018
 A plaque on  Lt Gen JFR Jacob  Who negotiated the
Ammunition Hill historic surrender of
Wall of Honour Pakistani troops in Dhaka
after the 1971
22
Bangladesh’s liberation
war
 Goldman  Alfred Brownell from  Grassroots
Environmental Liberia, Bayarjargal environmental
Prize 2019 Agvaantseren from
 Also called the Mongolia, Ana Colovic
Green Nobel Prize Lesoska from North
Macedonia, Jacqueline
Evans from the Cook
Islands, Alberto
Curamil from Chile,
and Linda Garcia from
the United States.
 France’s highest  Former ISRO chief AS  for his contribution to
civilian award – Kiran Kumar India-France space
Chevalier of Order cooperation
of the Legion of
Honour
 27th PC Chandra  Dr Devi Prasad Shetty  He is one of India's top
Awards cardiac surgeon who has
an experience of more
than 35 years.
 Highest US civilian  Tiger Woods  Describing the golfer as
awards “one of the greatest
athletes in the history of
sports.”
 2018 BANK NOTE  Canada  The International Bank
OF YEAR AWARD Note Society (IBNS)
announces that its voting
membership has selected
the Bank of Canada
 V K Krishna Menon  G D Robert Govender  Indian–origin journalist
award 2019 in South Africa was
honoured with V K
Krishna Menon Award
2019 in United Kingdom
for his contribution as
pioneer of decolonised
journalism. He became
first person to be
honoured with this award
posthumously.
 McCain Institute  IPS officer Chhaya  Chhaya Sharma, who led
Award Sharma the investigation team of
23
the infamous Nirbhaya

gang-rape and murder
case, has been awarded
the 2019 McCain Institute
Award for Courage and
Leadership on Friday
 Sasakawa Award  Dr. Pramod Kumar  P. K. Mishra from India
2019 Mishra received the 2019
Sasakawa award in
recognition of his long-
term dedication to
improve the resilience of
communities most
exposed to disasters and
his personal commitment
to social inclusion as a
critical principle to
reduce inequality and
poverty, enhancing the
safety net of the socially
and economically
marginalized.
 World Book of  Kapil Sharma 

Records London
most viewed stand-
up comedians in
India
 Council of  Anil Kapoor  Promoting Children’s
European Rights
Chambers of
Commerce (CEUCC)
Award
 Japan’s ‘Order of  Former foreign  For his contributions to
the Rising Sun’ secretary Shyam Saran strengthen the strategic
award ties and enhancing
mutual understanding
between India and Japan.
 Man Booker  Jokha Alharthi  Jokha Alharthi, the first
International prize female Omani novelist to
be translated into
English, has won the Man
Booker International
prize, 2019 for her novel
24
Celestial Bodies. The

author will share the
prize money £50,000
(approximately Rs 45
lakh) equally with her
translator Marilyn Booth.
 Celestial Bodies, a
compelling tale of love
and heartbreak, written
in Arabic, is posited in the
Omani village of al-Awafi
and traces the lives of
sisters: Mayya, Asma and
Khawla.
 Nine Dots book  Indian writer Annie  Mumbai-based Zaidi, a
award Zaidi freelance writer whose
work includes reportage,
essays, short stories,
poetry and plays, won for
her entry ‘Bread, Cement,
Cactus’ – combining
memoir and reportage to
explore concepts of home
and belonging rooted in
her experience of
contemporary life in
India.
 Horticulture award  N kumar  N Kumar, Vice-

for TNAU V-C Chancellor, Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University,
has been conferred the
lifetime recognition
award by the
Confederation of
Horticulture Association
of India. The award has
been conferred for his
outstanding contribution
in the field of horticulture
and academic leadership
focussed on human
resource development in
agriculture.
25
64th Filmfare Awards 2019 was held at Jio Garden, BKC, Mumbai.
Category Winner
 Best Film  Raazi
 Best Actor in a Leading Role  Ranbir Kapoor (Sanju)
(Male)
 Best Actor in a Leading Role  Alia Bhatt (Raazi)
(Female)
 Best Director  Meghna Gulzar (Raazi)
 Best Actor in Supporting Role  Gajarj Rao (Badhaai Ho), Vicky
(Male) Kaushal (Sanju)
 Best Actor in Supporting Role  Surekha Sikhri (Badhaai Ho)
(Female)
 Best Music Album  Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Padmaavat)
Pulitzer Prize
Category Winner
 Public service  Staff of the South Florida Sun Sentinel
 Criticism  Carlos Lozada of The Washington Post
 Editorial writing  Brent Staples of the New York Times
 Breaking News Reporting  Staff of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 Investigative Reporting  Matt Hamilton, Harriet Ryan and Paul
Pringle of the Los Angeles Times
 Explanatory Reporting  David Barstow, Susanne Craig and Russ
Buettner of The New York Times
 Local Reporting  Staff of The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
 National Reporting  Staff of The Wall Street Journal
 International Reporting  Maggie Michael, Maad al-Zikry and
Nariman El-Mofty of Associated Press
 Staff of Reuters, with notable
contributions from Wa Lone and Kyaw
Soe Oo
 Feature Writing  Hannah Dreier of ProPublica
 Commentary  Tony Messenger of the St. Louis Post-
Dispatch
 Editorial Cartooning  Darrin Bell, freelancer
 Breaking News Photography  Photography Staff of Reuters
26
 Feature Photography  Lorenzo Tugnoli of The Washington Post
BOOKS, DRAMA, AND MUSIC
Category Winner
 Fiction  “The Overstory” by Richard Powers
 Drama  “Fairview” by Jackie Sibblies Drury
 History  “Frederick Douglass” by David W. Blight
 Biography or  “The New Negro” by Jeffrey C. Stewart
autobiography
 Poetry  “Be With” by Forrest Gander
 General  “Amity and Prosperity” by Eliza Griswold
nonfiction
 Music  “p r i s m” by Ellen Reid
 Special Citation  Aretha Franklin
Bharat Ratna
Name Filed
Pranab Mukherjee former President
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Musician (posthumously)
Shri Nanaji Deshmukh social activist (posthumously)
Padma Vibhushan
Name Field State/Country Intro
Ms. Teejan (Art-Vocals- Chhattisgarh 1st female Pandvani folk singer -

Bai Folk) promoting Chhatisgarh's 3,000
year old traditional art form
Shri Ismail (Public Affairs) Djibouti President of Djibouti- extended
Omar Guelleh support during Operation Rahat,
for rescuing Indians and
foreigners from war-hit Yemen
Shri (Trade & Maharashtra Group Chairman of engineering
Anilkumar Industry- conglomerate Larsen & Toubro
Manibhai Infrastructure)
27
Naik
Shri Balwant (Art-Acting- Maharashtra Marathi Theatre legend and

Moreshwar Theatre) historian - especially known for
Purandare his play 'Jaanta Raja' on
Chhatrapati Shivaji
Padma Bhushan
No. Name Field State/Country Intro

1. Shri John (Trade & USA American Technology
Chambers Industry- Business Leader –
Technology) Formal CEO of CISCO
System
2. Shri Sukhdev (Public Affairs) Punjab Formal Minister in
Singh Dhindsa Central and Punjab
Govt
3. Shri Pravin (Public Affairs) South Africa South African anti-
Gordhan Apartheid Leader and
current Minister
4. Shri Mahashay (Trade & Delhi Founder CEO and
Dharam Pal Industry-Food Iconic Face of MDH
Gulati Processing) Masala
5. Shri Darshan (Social Work) Haryana Social Worker
Lal Jain Providing Free
Education to poor
student- Founder
president of Saraswati
Nadi shodha Santhan
6. Shri Ashok (Medicine- Maharashtra Doctor and Founder of
Laxmanrao Affordable Vivekananda Hospital -
Kukade Healthcare) serving the needy in
the backward,
drought-prone Latur
region
7. Shri Kariya (Public Affairs) Jharkhand Veteran Tribal Leader
Munda and 8 times MP
8. Shri (Art-Music-Sitar) West Bengal Veteran Sitar and
Budhaditya Surbahar Artist
Mukherjee
28
9. Shri S Nambi (Science & Kerala

Narayan Engineering-
Space)
10 Shri Mohanlal (Art-Acting-Film) Kerala Malayalam Film
Viswanathan Superstar- acted in
Nair 350+ films
11. Shri Kuldip Literature & Delhi Veteran Journalist &
Nayar Education Author
(Posthumous) (Journalism)
12. Ms. Bachendri (Sports- Uttarakhand Woman mountaineer
Pal Mountaineering) who has lead multiple
mountaineering and
rafting expeditions -
first Indian woman to
climb Mount Everest
13. Shri V K (Civil Service) Delhi
Shunglu
14. Shri (Public Affairs) Bihar
Hukumdev
Narayan
Yadav
Grammy Award
Category Winner
 Album of the Year  Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves
 Record of the Year  “This is America”, Childish Gambino
 Best New Artist  Dua Lipa
 Best Rap Album  Invasion of Privacy by Cardi B
 Song of the Year  “This is America”, Childish Gambino
 Best Rock Album  From the Fires by Greta Van Fleet
 Best Rock Song  “Masseducation” by St. Vincent
 Dance/Electronic Album  Woman Worldwide, Justice
 Producer of the Year  Blanton Alspaugh
 Best Music Video  “This is America”, Childish Gambino
 Best Country Song  “Space Cowboy” by Kacey Musgraves
 Best Folk Song  All Ashore by Punch Brothers
 Best Comedy Album  Equanimity & the Bird Revelation by Dave
Chappelle
29
BAFTA 2019 Winners List
Category Winner
 Best Film  Roma
 Best Director  Alfonso Cuaron (Roma)
 Best Actress  Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
 Best Actor  Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)
 Best Supporting  Rachel Weisz (The Favourite)
Actress
Nobel Prize 2018

S.
Field Winner Description
No.
“for their discovery of cancer
Physiology or James P Allison (USA) and Tasaku
1. therapy by inhibition of
Medicine Honjo (Japan)
negative immune regulation”
Arthur Ashkin (USA), Gerard
"for groundbreaking inventions
2. Physics Mourou (France)
in the field of laser physics"
and Donna Strickland (Canada)
(a) one half to Frances H. Arnold
(a) "for the directed evolution of
(USA)
enzymes"
3. Chemistry (b) other half jointly to George P.
(b) "for the phage display of
Smith (USA) and Sir Gregory P.
peptides and antibodies"
Winter (UK)
“for their efforts to end the use
Denis Mukwege (Congo) and
4. Peace of sexual violence as a weapon
Nadia Murad (Iraq)
of war and armed conflict”
(a) “for integrating climate
change into long-run
macroeconomic analysis”
Economic (a) William D. Nordhaus (USA) (b)
5. (b) “for integrating
Sciences Paul M. Romer (USA)
technological innovations into
long-run macroeconomic
analysis.”
Oscar Awards 2019

30
Sl. Category Winner

No.
1. Best Picture Green Book
2.  Best Actress in a Leading Role  Olivia Colman for The Favourite
3.  Best Actor in a Leading Role  Rami Malek for Bohemian
Rhapsody
4.  Best Directing  Alfonso Cuarón for Roma
5.  Best Supporting Actor  Mahershala Ali for Green Book
6.  Best Supporting Actress  Regina King for If Beale Street
Could Talk.
7.  Best Foreign Language  Roma
8.  Best Documentary Feature  Free Solo
BUDGET
Scheme About
 PM Kisaan Samman Nidhi  75000 crs.
 MGNREGA  60,000 crs.Under PM gram sadak yojana
 Rural roads under Gram  19000 Crs.
 Sadak Yojana.
 Railways  64,587 Crs

 Mudra Yojana  7.23 Crs.
 Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi  launched to provide assured monthly
Mandhan pension of 3000 rupees per month, with
contribution of 100 rupees per month,
for workers in unorganized sector after
60 years of age.
 Pradhanmantri Shramyogi  500 Crs to be launched for poor people
Mandhan yogna
31
 Gokul Scheme  750 crs.

 The “Rashtriya Gokul Mission” has been
launched by the Government for
 conservation and development of
indigenous breeds in a focused and
scientific
 manner. The mission also envisages
establishment of integrated cattle
development
 centres „Gokul Grams to develop
indigenous breeds including upto 40%
nondescript
 breeds.
 Standard deduction limit  limit increased to INR 50, 000 from INR
40,000 earlier
 Food for all  1.7 lakhs crs
 Defence budget  3 lakhs crs
Ranking Index
Index Index released by India’s 1st Rank
Rank
Gender Equality Index UK-based Equal Measures 95 Denmark
2019
Traffic Index 2018 TomTom, an Amsterdam based 4th Delhi Mumbai
company
End of Childhood ‘Save the Children’, a United 113 Singapore
Index 2019 Kingdom (UK) based non-profit
organisation
global peace index Australian think tank Institute 141 Iceland
for Economics and Peace (IEP)
Global Corruption Transparency International 78 Denmark
Perception Index
Most Powerful Henley Passport Index 79th Japan
Passports
EIU Democracy Economist Intelligent Unit 41st Narway
Index 2018
global talent INSEAD business school in 80th Switzerland
competitiveness partnership with Tata
Communications and Adecco
Group
32
General Data CISCO 6th Italy

Protection
Regulation
(GDPR) readiness
index.
Bloomberg 2019 54th South Korea

Innovative Index
Online Companies Stripe, a San Francisco-based 11th Singapore/Hongkong

positioned online payment processing
firm
International IP US Chambers of Commerce 36th US
Index
‘Inclusive Internet ‘Economist Intelligence Unit 47th Sweden
Index 2019’ (EIU) for Facebook
2018 Global Go To Think Tank 1ST India
Think Tank Index
Report”
Most live able ECA international survey Singapore (14th
location for Asian consecutive year)
World’s most Swiss based company IQ Air Gurugram
polluted city in AirVisual and non profit
2018 organization Greenpeace
Forbes World’s Forbes Mukesh Amazon’s Jeff Bezos
Billionaires Ambani and family with USD
ranks 13th 131 billion
richest
person with
$50 bn
Gold holding World Gold Council (WGC) 11th US
Highest number of PLOS Biology 16TH Malaysia

impacted species in
hotspots
Quality of Living Mercer’s Austria’s capital

Survey 2019 city Vienna
World’s Most Economist Intelligence Unit Singapore, Paris and

Expensive Cities (EIU) survey Hong Kong shared
Survey top spot
World Happiness Sustainable Development 140th Finland
Report Solutions Network
33
World’s busiest Airports Council International 12th Hartsfield–Jackson

airports (ACI) Atlanta International
Airport (US)
Global Energy World Economic Forum 76th Sweden
Transition index (WEF)
World’s best 59th (Indira Singapore airport
aviation hub Gandhi
International
(IGI) Airport,
New Delhi)
World Press International NGO, Reporters 140th Norway
Freedom Index without Borders
2019
Startup Ecosystem StartupBlink. 17th United States
Ranking for 2019
2019 Index of Economist Intelligence Unit 19th Australia
Cancer (EIU)
Preparedness (ICP)
FIFA Rankings FIFA (The Federation 101st Belgium
Internationale de Football
Association)
Targeted nation by Akamai Technologies 2nd US
hackers in 2018
Passport Index UNDP human development 67th Singapore
index
Best airport 8th (rajiv Habad international
ranking gandhi airport ,Qatar
airport
hyderabad
Global World Economic Forum 43rd Singapore
Competitiveness
Index
WEB PORTAL/ APP
Web portal/App ORGANIZATION PURPOSE
34
‘Banglar Shiksha’ West Bengal West Bengal Education

Government Minister, Partha Chatterjee unveiled a
web portal, “Banglar
Shiksha“(banglarshiksha.gov.in), to
provide real-time data on state-run and
aided schools.
“Bolo App” Google Help children in India with reading,

comprehension skills
‘One Delhi’ App Delhi government Obtaining the estimated time of arrival
for buses and metros.
Providing information about their
fares.
Providing the best route and mode of
travel between two places.
List of tourist spots in Delhi.
e-Dharti App Hardeep S Puri, Allow the lessee of the property to see
Minister of Housing and the basic details of property along with
Urban Affairs its location on map.
“YONO Cash” SBI For its customers using which

customers can withdraw money from
ATMs without using debit cards.YONO
– You Only Need One.
“Observer App” Election Commission Electoral Observers can submit the

relevant document and material to
Election Commission directly.
‘Conquer Exam, Be Indian Institute of Reduce the exam pressure
a Warrior’ App Public Health
‘Mi Pay’ Xiaomi i Xiaomi launched Mi Pay, a UPI
(Unified Payments Interface) Based
mobile payment service in India to
send money from one bank account to
another or between UPI (Unified
Payments Interface) accounts.
The service provider of this application
is ICICI Bank
35
“My Circle” Airtel collaboration women’s safety

with FICCI Ladies
Organisation (FLO)
ETMONEY ETMONEY ETMONEY India’s largest app for
financial services has integrated
with UPI as a payment method.
ET Money has clocked Rs 2,000 crore
of mutual fund sales on its app
Voter Turnout App Election commission of People of India to watch realtime
India voter turnout.After collecting all the
information from officers, it will be
compiled and displayed in the app
e-AUSHADHI portal Minister of State (IC) for e-AUSHADHI portal for online
AYUSH, Shripad Yesso licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani
Naik and Homoeopathy drugs and related
matters.
RODRA website Army launched an online Army launched an online
platform platform, Retired Officers Digital Records
Archive
(RODRA), https://rodra.gov.in with an
aim to have a better connection with
armed forces veteran officers
and family pensioners.
The website provides facilities such
as updating records, registration, and
tracking of documents and pension-related
grievances and communicating regarding
various issues.
‘My Protection Max Life Insurance Max Life Insurance Company launched a
Quotient’ Company unique proprietary tool named ‘My
Protection Quotient’ (MyPQ) to ensure
financial protection in the country. Max
Life Insurance Company is one of the
fastest growing life insurance companies in
India.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
SCHEME PURPOSE
Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan – Vatavaran Anukool
fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana.
It will provide financial support integrated Bioethanol
projects using lignocellulosic biomass and other
36
renewable feedstock. The total financial outlay is of

Rs.1969.50cr for the period from 2018-19 to 2023-24.
Arun-3 Hydro Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project (Nepal portion) by Sutlej

Jal Vikas Nigam (SJVN) Limited. The project is on Arun
River in Sankhuwasabha district of Eastern Nepal.
Gram Samridhi Yojana The scheme is aimed at helping the cottage industry, farmer
(Ministry of Food Processing producers’ organisation and individual food
Industries ) processors to increase capacity, upgrade technology besides
skill improvement, entrepreneurship development and
strengthening the farm-to market supply chain.
Mukhyamantri Parivar It is primarily meant for farmers of the state who cultivate on
Samman Nidhi Yojana land with areas upto five acres and the families with an
2019 (Haryana) income of less than Rs. 15,000 per month.
The scheme would provide a sum of Rs. 6,000 yearly and
each family has to nominate a member who will be provided
with this amount.
‘Jal Amrutha’ (Karnataka For the purpose of inauguration of the scheme, a function was
Government organized by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj
department at Dr B R Ambedkar Bhavan in Bengaluru.
The scheme plans to make people aware about the
importance of conserving water and to prompt them to come
up with ways to avoid wastage of water.
STARS scheme (HRD Ministry) i)Funds worth Rs 250 crore have been approved by the HRD
ministry which will be utilised to sponsor about 500 science
projects, selected on the basis of competitions.
ii) The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is the coordinator
of the project, to whom the interested candidates would
submit their applications.
Transport and Marketing Government of India with a view to boost to export of farm
Assistance (TMA) scheme commodities to certain countries in Europe and North
America introduced a scheme for providing financial
assistance for transport and marketing of agriculture
products.
‘Mukhya Mantri Karigar The nodal department of the scheme is the Directorate of
Sahayata’ (Odisha) handicrafts.
i)Craftsmen with 10 years of experience and having annual
income below Rs.1 lakh are eligible to get an assistance
of Rs.800 per month.
ii) For craftsmen above 80 years of age would get Rs.1000
per month allowance for those has the same experience and
annual income as above.
37
Yuvashree Arpan scheme Yuvashree Arpan under which 50,000 youths will receive
(West Bengal) financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh for setting up an their own
business initiatives.
Mukhyamantri Anchal Amrit The scheme aims to provide 100 ml milk twice a week, free
Yojana (Uttarakhand) of cost, to 2.5 lakh children at 20,000 Anganwadi kendras of
Uttarakhand.
‘Atal Aahar Yojna’ The target is set to cover 20000 workers and provide them
(Maharashtra) with good quality food at a nominal cost of Rs.5 in the first
phase of the scheme.
The government is already providing a Subsidy of Rs.4.5 lakh
to labourers for house construction and is planning to
provide help in education, income and health as well.
Doorstep Banking (SBI) The State Bank of India has initiated a new ‘doorstep
banking’ service for senior citizens, differently-abled and
infirm account holders as well as visually impaired
customers.
‘Wings’ (Aviva Life Insurance) It will helps women dream about what they will become,
giving them a clearer picture of their future and their growth
prospects. The programme will give them an avenue to freely
communicate in a safe environment, allowing them to focus
on growth and improvement.
‘The Krushak Assistance for Chief Minister of Odisha,Naveen Patnaik, launched a Rs

Livelihood and Income 10,180-crore scheme,for overall development of small,
Augmentation (KALIA)’ marginal and landless farmers.
‘Krishi Krishak Bondhu’ (West (i)If a farmer aged between 18 to 60 years dies naturally or
Bengal) unnaturally,the state government will pay his family Rs 2
lakh.
(ii) Under the second initiative, farmers would get Rs
2,500 twice a year for growing a single crop on one acre of
land.
Atal Solar Krishi Pump Encouraging farmers to enrol farmers
Yojana(Maharashtra ) The things included: two LED bulbs, a DC fan and a mobile
charging socket.
Mission Shakti scheme Interest-free loans of up to Rs.3 lakh for six lakh women self-
(Odisha) help groups (WSHGs) benefitting about 70 lakh women in
Odisha.
‘Ama Ghare LED’ (Odisha) Under which about 95 lakh families in the State will each get
four LED bulbs free of cost.
‘One Family, One Job’ (Sikkim) Under which for every family one government job has been
allotted
‘Jai Kisan Rin Mukti Yojana “Jai Kisan Rin Mukti Yojana” scheme was launched by
(MP) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri. Kamal Nath.It is Rs
38
50,000 crore farm loan waiver scheme for farmers. The loan
waiver forms could be submitted till February 5 and farmers
would start getting the benefits from February 22.
UNNATI programme (ISRO) Unispace Nanosatellite Assembly and

Training programme.
It has been launched by ISRO as part of initiative by United
Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs to commemorate
the 50th anniversary of the first United Nations
Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space (UNISPACE-50).
Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced extension
(Odisha) of free health services to all medical colleges and hospitals of
Odisha from 1st February 2019.
“Yuva Swabhiman Yojana” For youths of the weak section in urban areas of Madhya
(Madhya Pradesh) Pradesh. Under this scheme, 100 days of employment will
be provided.
Jiban Sampark (Odisha) “Jiban Sampark” Project in partnership with UNICEF
India (United Nations International Children’s Emergency
Fund) while inaugurating Tribal Fair also known as “Adivasi
Mela” on Republic day.
The Adivasi Mela’ is an annual event to showcase the lifestyle,
artefacts, culture, tradition and music of the tribal people
community of Odisha.
Kalia scholarship scheme Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income

(Odisha) Augmentation (KALIA).
The beneficiaries will be provided scholarships to pursue
higher education in professional courses at free of cost.
Children of farmers who have taken admission at
Government Professional colleges on merit basis are eligible
for this scheme.
Shehri Samridhi Utsav Aim to extend the reach of Deendayal Antyodaya Mission –
(Ministry of Housing & Urban National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).
Affairs)
Mukhya Mantri Vriddha The scheme facilitates the amount of Rs. 400 monthly pension
Pension for all in the state above the age of 60 years who are not
Yojana (MMVPY), (Bihar) getting pension from the government.
‘Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Under this scheme, workers of unorganized sectors whose
Mandhan’ (Finance Minister) monthly income is less than Rs. 15,000 may avail the
benefits by contributing Rs. 100 per month to further get
Rs. 3000 per month after 60 year of age.
KALIA Chhatra Bruti’ (Odisha) It aims at providing financial assistance for technical and
professional education to farmers’ children by incurring all
expenses involved in various levels of education, such as
course fee, hostel fee, mess fee by state govt.
39
Khusi scheme (Odisha) Aimed at improving menstrual hygiene among adolescent girl
students in the state, with an outlay of Rs 466.08 crore over
a period of 5 years.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan (i)The scheme will provide Rs 6,000 per

Samman Nidhi scheme year to small and marginal farmer families having
combined land holding/ownership of upto 2 hectares.
(ii). The amount will be given in three installments of Rs
2,000 each and will be transferred directly to the bank
account of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit
Transfer, ensuring transparency in the entire process and
saving time for the farmers.
‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Guarantees 100 days of employment every year to urban
Swabhiman Yojana’ (MP) youth from Economically Weaker Sections(EWS).
Young Scientist Programme’ To get young school children interested in space science and
or ‘YUva VIgyani KAryakram’ technology
(YUVIKA 2019) The ISRO Young Scientist Programme YUVIKA 2019, which
received an astounding response from students across the
country, will be inaugurated on 13 May 2019. The Indian
Space Research Organisation, in a fresh announcement today,
stated that YUVIKA 2019, which is a two week summer
vacation residential programme, will be conducted from 13 to
26 May 2019.
SIDBI’s pilot scheme Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) launched
a pilot scheme to extend financial assistance of up to Rs 10
crore to new-age fintech non-banking finance companies
(NBFCs) engaged in financing small businesses and other
income-generating activities.
‘SMESuvidha’ State-owned Corporation Bank has launched ‘SMESuvidha’
scheme to provide loans to the GST-registered MSMEs at
affordable interest rates.
The product is designed as a part of the lender’s efforts to
improve service and provide best products to MSME sector
Chief Minister Old Age Pension Under this scheme, people in the age group of 60-79 will get
Scheme (Bihar) Rs 400 per month and people aged above 80 will get Rs 500
per month as pension with the total beneficiaries being 36.50
lakh.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan All eligible farmer families, irrespective of the size of their
Samman Nidhi Yojana landholding. Earlier, it was applicable to farmers having two
hectares of land. The extension will include additional of 2.5
crore farmers which will led to rise its coverage to 14.5 crore
farmers. The outlay of the revised scheme will be Rs
87,217.50 crore for 2019
Repo-linked home loan (Sbi) State Bank of India (SBI) announced to introduce repo-
linked home loan product from July 1, 2019. It has become
40
the first bank to offer this facility. It means any changes in the
key interest rate by the central bank would be passed on
directly to the customers.
Krishi Kiosk (Haryana) Om Prakash Dhankar, Haryana agriculture, and farmers’
welfare minister launched ‘Krishi kiosk’ for farmers at
Panchkula, Haryana.
The kiosk comes under state’s ’‘Digital Kisan Suvidha’ plan,
will give farmers the information about government schemes
and also help them file claims under the ‘Pradhan Mantri
Fasal Bima Yojana’ Scheme.
Bangla Shashya Bima (West West Bengal Government launched a crop insurance
Bengal) scheme, Bangla Shashya Bima (BSB) for the 2019 ‘Kharif’
season to protect farmers from losses due to natural disasters
and provide a steady income in case of unstable market
prices.
Loan
Bank Amount Purpose
ADB $350 Million Chhattisgarh Road
Improvement Project
ADB Rs 1,650cr The Asian Development Bank
(ADB) has approved a project
submitted by the Urban
Development Department
(UDD) of Tripura amounting to
Rs. 1650 crore for overall
infrastructure development of
seven districts headquarter
towns of Tripura.
Exim Bank $245 million loan agreement with Ghana &
Mozambique for agricultural
and railway projects
World Bank $147 Million To provide basic urban

services to the people and help
improve the management
capacity of the urban local
bodies (ULBs)
in Jharkhand, the World
Bank approved a $147
million loan agreement to the
state.
World Bank $31.58 mn loan for Uttarakhand Public
Financial Management
Strengthening Project
41
World Bank $ 400M The World Bank and

the Government of
India signed a loan agreement
of $400 Million for the
Program Towards Elimination
of Tuberculosis(TB), which
kills approximately half a
million people in India every
year. The program will cover
nine States of India.
World Bank $328M World Bank, Government of
India and State Government
of Andra Pradesh signed a
loan agreement worth of $328
million with the World Bank
(WB) for improving health
services of Andhra Pradesh.
World Bank $250 million Develop Rajasthan’s Roads and
Highways
World Bank $250-m The Government of India, State
Government of Kerala and
World Bank signed a loan
agreement of $250 million (Rs
1,725 crore) for the Kerala
Resilient Programme.
World Bank $287 Mn The Government of India,
Tamil Nadu, and the World
Bank signed a $287
million loan agreement for the
state’s Health System Reform
Programme in New Delhi. It is
aimed to improve the quality of
health care, reduce the burden
of non-communicable diseases
(NCDs) and fill equity gaps in
reproductive and child health
services.
Asian Infrastructure USD 455 Million Andhra Pradesh Rural Roads
Investment Bank (AIIB) Project
Asian Development Bank USD 926 Million Mumbai Metro Rail Project
(ADB)
ADB USD 26 million For improving drainage
infrastructure
in Dibrugarh town of Assam
Asian Development Bank USD50 million Invest in India’s renewable
(ADB) energy producer company
Avaada Energy Private Limited
(AEPL).
42
World Bank USD 25.2 Million Chhattisgarh Public Financial

Management and
Accountability Program
World Bank USD 96 Million Additional Financing for
Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery
Project
World Bank 250 Million For National Rural Economic

Transformation Project
(NRETP)
World Bank Rs. 2200 crores ($328-million) For Andhra Pradesh Health
Systems Strengthening Project
(APHSSP)
World Bank $137 Million For the Additional Financing of
the Dam Rehabilitation and
Improvement Project (DRIP),
Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya
Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu
and Uttarakhand.
ADB $750-mn loan to fund railway track

electrification in India
World Bank $35 million World Bank to invest $35
million in Manapurram Finance
ADB $350million State and District Roads in
Chhattisgarh
World Bank $287milliom Tamil Nadu Health System
Reform Programme
COMPANY MERGER LIST
Merge Company About

 Telecom Department sanctions merger of TTSL  The Telecom Department
and Bharti Airtel has sanctioned the merger
of TTSL (Tata Teleservices
Limited) consumer mobility
business with Bharti Airtel,
subject to the condition that
Sunil Mittal led firm
provides bank guarantees of
about Rs. 7,200 crore.
 Lakshmi Vilas Bank got merge with Indiabulls  The board of Lakshmi Vilas
Housing Finance Bank (LVB), has approved
the merger of private sector
lender with Indiabulls
43
Housing Finance Ltd,

mortgage financier in an all-
stock deal.
 IndusInd Bank and Bharat Financial Inclusion  National Company Law
Tribunal (NCLT) approved
merger of private sector
lender IndusInd Bank with
Bharat Financial Inclusion
(BFIL), a microfinance
company. Now, BFIL become
the subsidiary of IndusInd
Bank. Last year, IndusInd
Bank had received ‘No
Objection’ from Reserve
Bank of India, National Stock
Exchange and Bombay Stock
Exchange.
 Chatbot Making Startup Haptik and Reliance Jio  Reliance Jio Digital, a
Digital subsidiary of Reliance
Industries has acquired a
chatbot making startup
firm Haptik forRs.700
Crore.
 Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank,with Bank of  The government has decided
Baroda to infuse a capital of 5,042
crore rupees into state-
owned Bank of
Baroda ahead of its merger
with two other public sector
lenders Dena Bank and
Vijaya Bank,with Bank of
Baroda which would be
effective from 1st April
2019.
 Pallavan Grama Bank and Pandyan Grama Bank  Under the sponsorship of
merged Indian Bank, two regional
rural bank – Pallavan Grama
Bank and Pandyan Grama
Bank will be amalgamated to
form a single RRB i.e. Tamil
Nadu Grama Bank in Tamil
Nadu. The consolidation will
be effective from April 1,
2019.
44
 Airtel to merge broadband satellite business  Bharti Airte has decided to

with Hughes India unit merge its broadband satellite,
or VSAT, business with that of
market leader Hughes
Communications India, to
create a stronger no. 1 in the
space, in a bid to increase scale,
improve operational
efficiencies and target new
customers in areas such as in-
flight connectivity.
 Mukesh Ambani’s RIL buys out British toy-  Reliance Brands, a subsidiary
maker Hamleys of Reliance Industries Ltd.
(RIL), has signed a definitive
agreement with C Banner
International, a Hong Kong-
listed company, to acquire
100% shares of centuries-old
British toy retailer Hamleys for
£68 million.
 Govt to merge CSO with NSSO to create new stats  The government has approved
body the merger of National Sample
Survey Office (NSSO) with the
Central Statistics Office (CSO)
under the Ministry of Statistics
and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI).
 The restructuring is in line with
the proposed National Policy
on Official Statistics which was
floated last year. The policy
suggests discontinuing with the
role of the Chief Statistician of
India as secretary to the
National Statistical Commission
(NSC) and doing away with the
user of the terms CSO and NSSO
Instead, the two will be treated
as being under a single entity
called the National Statistical
Organisation (NSO).
 Airtel and Tata Tele merger  Telecom operator Bharti Airte
is learnt to have submitted a
bank guarantee of Rs 644 crore
in telecom tribunal TDSAT to
complete the merger of Tata
Teleservices consumer
business with the company.
45
 Merger of Indus Towers and Bharti  Bharti and Vodafone Group

Tuesday named Bimal Dayal as
the CEO of the mega tower
company proposed to be
formed from merger of Indus
Towers and Bharti Infratel and
said the merger process is in
“advanced stage of
completion”.
 Dayal will be responsible for
the combined business and
take forward integration of the
two companies in preparation
of the merger, a joint statement
said.
Merger of IndusInd Bank and Bharat Financial The boards of IndusInd and BFIL
Inclusion Ltd (BFIL) decided that on July 4, the
NCLT (National Company Law
Tribunal )Order will be filed by
BFIL and IFIL with the
Registrar of Companies.
On June 10, 2019, The NCLT
sanctioned the scheme of
arrangement about BFIL,
IndusInd, and IFIL (Induslnd
Financial Inclusion )and their
respective shareholders and
creditors.
In October 2018, IndusInd Bank
decided to merge with BFIL
which was previously known as
SKS Microfinance.
The Business Correspondent of
BFIL will operate under IFIL
and the Assets and liabilities of
BFIL will be merged with
IndusInd’s balance sheet.
46
Sundaram Finance to acquire stakes of its partner India’s leading Non-Banking

BNP Paribas Financial
Company(NBFC) Sundaram
Finance Ltd (SFL) has
announced that it set to acquire
the stakes held by BNP Paribas
in their two joint venture (JV)
companies for a total of around
Rs 1,000 Cr.
Summit/Meeting
Summit/Meeting Location About
 G20 Ministerial  Tsukuba city, Ibaraki  It is one of the eight
Meeting Prefecture, Japan Ministerial Meetings. Trade
and Economy Ministers of
the Group of 20 major
economies discussed the
ways to reorder trade rules
and finances in an era of
technological change and
protectionism.
 15th Finance  Meghalaya  15th Finance Commission
Commission held headed by the Chairman
a meeting Shri N.K. Singh held
meeting with the
representatives
of Autonomous
Development Councils
(ADCs) of Meghalaya as
part of its visit to the State.
There are 3 ADCs in
Meghalaya namely the
Khasi Hills Autonomous
District Council, the Garo
Hills Autonomous District
Council and the Jaintia Hills
Autonomous District
Council.
 14th OIC summit  Mecca, Saudi Arabia  14th Islamic
Summit organized
by Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) summit
was held in Mecca, Saudi
47
Arabia. It was hosted by

Saudi King Salman bin
Abdul Aziz Al Saud. The
summit, titled as “Mecca
Summit: Together for the
Future”, aimed at
developing a unified stance
on events in the Islamic
world.
 G20 Finance  Fukuoka, Japan  G20 Summit, to be held
Ministers in Osaka, Japan, from 28-29
meeting and June 2019, a G20 Finance
Central Bank Ministers and Central Bank
Governors meet Governors Meet was held
in Fukuoka, Japan on 8-9
June. It was one of the 8
ministerial meetings taking
place in Japan before 2019
G20 summit. This is for the
first time that Japan is
hosting the G20 Summit &
Ministerial Meetings at its
eight different locations.
 2nd Global  Aires,Argentina  The 2nd Global Disability
Disability Summit was held
Summit at Buenos Aires,
Argentina from June 6 to
June 8, 2019. The objectives
of the summit were to
deliberate on issues across
the world concerning
empowerment and
inclusion of Persons with
Disabilities (PwDs) and to
work out a mechanism for
enabling them to live an
independent and dignified
life.
 Second Edition of  New Delhi  Union Minister for Food
World Food India Processing Industries Smt
Harsimrat Kaur Badal
announced that World
Food India (WFI) 2019, a
biennial event, will be held
at Vigyan Bhawan and
Rajpath Lawns in New
Delhi from 1-4 November
2019. It will be the biggest
48
gathering of all global and

domestic stakeholders in
the Food Processing Sector.
This will be the second
edition of WFI, first was
held in 2017. The tagline of
the event will be “Forging
Partnerships for Growth”.
 G20 Ministerial  Karuizawa, Japan  G20 (Group of
Meeting on 20) Ministerial Meeting on
Energy Energy Transitions and
Transitions and Global Environment for
Global Sustainable Growth for the
Environment for year 2019 was held
Sustainable at Karuizawa Prince
Growth Hotel (Karuizawa Town,
Nagano), Japan on June 15-
16, 2019.
 3rd Indo-French  Paris, France  The third Indo-French
cyber dialogue cyber dialogue 2019 was
held in Paris, France. The
meeting was co-chaired by
Henri Verdier, French
Ambassador for Digital
Affairs, and Upender Singh
Rawat, Joint Secretary in
charge of e-Governance,
Information Technology
and Cyber Diplomacy at the
Ministry of External Affairs.
 Meeting of Expert  New Delhi  Meeting of Expert
Working Group Working Group on Paris
of Paris Pact Pact Initiative on Illicit
Initiative of Financial Flows deriving
UNODC from the trafficking of
Opiates originating in
Afghanistan was organised
in New Delhi from June 27-
28, 2019. It was hosted by
the Department of Revenue,
Ministry of Finance with the
support of United Nations
Office on Drugs & Crimes
(UNODC). It was
inaugurated by the
Additional Secretary,
Revenue Mr. Anil Kumar
Jha.
49
 17thedition of  Dead Sea,Jordan  Over 1000 representatives

World Economic from more than 50
Forum on the countries participated in
Middle East and the meeting.It is
North the 10th meeting in
Africa (MENA) Jordan .
 Global Water  London  National Mission for Clean
Summit Ganga (NMCG) or Namami
Gange which is India’s
flagship programme, was
presented, with the ‘Public
Water Agency of the
Year’ award by Global
Water Intelligence
 21st ASEAN-India  New Delhi  Improve the connectivity
Senior Officials and strengthen the
cooperation in the maritime
sector between Indian and
the ASEAN countries.
 G20 summit  Saudi Arabia 
 First edition of  New Delhi  The Hon’ble Defence
Naval Minister Nirmala
Commanders’ Sitharaman addressed
Conference of Naval Commanders
2019 Conference on the opening
day.
 It is the apex forum within
the Service for interaction
between the Naval
Commanders, Chief of the
Naval Staff, with the
Commanders-in-Chief. They
will review operational,
material, logistics, HR,
training and administrative
activities which were
undertaken during the
previous six months.
The themes of ‘Functional
Reorganization of Indian
Navy towards enhancing
Operational Efficiency’
and ‘Optimal Manning’
were the core of discussions
in this conference.
 5th Asia Pacific  Kathmandu, Nepal  The aim of this two day
50
Broadcasting summit was to address the

Union (ABU) key issue of utilizing
Media Summit on media’s full potential of
Climate Action accelerating climate action
and Disaster and disaster preparedness
Preparedness and connect different
stakeholders to media
professionals for
collaboration and joint
practical projects.
 4th Session of  New Delhi  India and Ukraine have

India-Ukraine discussed bilateral trade
working group on featuring the importance of
Trade and exports and imports
Economic between the 2 countries.
Cooperation
 ‘Indian Ocean Rim  New Delhi  Collaboration of Ministry of
Association’ Home Affairs with the
Ministry of External Affairs
and National Disaster
Management Authority
(NDMA) solely based on
Disaster Risk Management.
IORA has set Disaster Risk
Management its priority to
enhance resilience in IORA
countries according to its
‘2017-2021’ Action plan.
 2nd ASEAN – India  Guwahati  Which was conducted to

Youth Summit strengthen the mutual
cooperation among ASEAN
countries. It was
inaugurated by Assam
Chief Minister
Sarbananda Sonowal and
Union Minister of State for
Tourism K J Alphons.
 World  Dubai  The seventh session of
Government the World Government
Summit’s seventh Summit began on
session Sunday, 10th February
2019, in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates (UAE). More than
4,000 people from 140
countries participated in
the event.
51
 5th International  Bhubaneshwar, Odisha  State Water Resources

Dam Safety minister Niranjan
Conference 2019 Pujari and Union Water
Resources & Ganga
Rejuvenation Secretary U.P.
Singh inaugurated
the 5th International Dam
Safety Conference
2019 in Bhubaneshwar, O
disha.
 55th Munich  Munich, Germany  55th Munich Security
Security Conference (MSC), an
Conference (MSC) annual meeting that brings
together leaders and
security experts from
across the world, was held
from 15th to 17th February
2019.
Deputy National Security
Adviser Pankaj Saran
attended the conference
and participated in
various events
besides holding bilateral
meetings with several
countries.
 4th Agri  Sonipat district, Haryana  Union Minister of
leadership Agriculture and Farmer’s
Summit 2019 Welfare, Radha
MohanSingh, inaugurated
the 4th Agri Leadership
Summit 2019 at the India
International
Horticulture Market
(IIHM) in Ganaur, Sonipat
district, Haryana. It was a
3-day summit which took
place from 15th February
2019 to 17th February
2019.
 Global Business  New Delhi  Prime Minister Narendra
Summit Modi addressed the Global
Business Summit in New
Delhi.
 i)He announced that India
would be a 10 trillion-
dollar economy-
52
the third largest in the

world.
ii)He highlighted the role of
his government’s policies in
establishing a high growth
rate and controlling
inflation.
iii) The government would
provide conducive
environment for start-ups
and promote renewable
sources of energy.
 4th India-ASEAN  New Delhi  Union Minister of

Expo and Summit Commerce & Industry and
Civil Aviation, Suresh
Prabhu, inaugurated
the 4th India-ASEAN Expo
and Summit, held
from 21st to 23rd February,
2019, in New Delhi.
 It flagship event
of Department of
Commerce, being
organised with Federation
of Indian Chambers of
Commerce & Industry
(FICCI) to carry forward the
momentum and to further
strengthen India-ASEAN
relationsunder the Act-
East Policy.
 4th Global Digital  New Delhi, India  Union Minister of Health

Health and Family Welfare, Shri J P
Partnership Nadda, inaugurated the
Summit ‘4th Global Digital Health
Partnership Summit ’, the
global intergovernmental
meeting on digital health,
hosted by the Ministry of
Health and Family
Welfare in collaboration
with World Health
Organization (WHO) and
the Global Digital Health
Partnership (GDHP).The
summit held in New Delhi.
53
 International  Hyderabad  International Spice

Spice Conference Conference is considered as
2019 platform for all business
houses, the spice
associations, the policy
makers, the farmers and the
users, to connect and
interact.
 The fourth edition of this
conference was held in the
City of Pearls and the
capital city of Telangana-
Hyderabad. The theme for
the conference 2019
is ‘Challenges of Change,
Redefining the Value
Chain’.
 16th Ministerial  Qatar, Doha  The meeting is taking place
Meeting of the when the world is
Member States of undergoing complex
the Asian changes and developments
Cooperation at all political, economic and
Dialogue (ACD) financial spheres, stressing
the need to deepen
cooperation among Asian
countries to meet the
challenges of the future.
 G-7  France  7 industrialised nations
(France, Japan, United
States, Canada, Italy,
Germany, United Kingdom)
meet organised by France.
 India will be attending the
Group of 7 industrialised
nations meet organised by
France in Biarritz in August
along with Australia, Chile
and South Africa, in a sign of
the recognition of India’s
growing economic heft in
the international arena.
 IBSA (India, Brazil  Cochin from May 3-5, 
& South Africa) 2019.
Sherpas’ Meeting
 the 15th Finance  Mumbai 
Commission with
the Reserve Bank
of India
54
 Central Board of  Kochi  India is hosting this meeting

Indirect Taxes in its capacity as Vice Chair
and Customs of the Asia Pacific region
(CBIC) is that it assumed on 1st July,
organising a 2018 for a two-year period.
meeting of the  The meeting will take stock
Regional Heads of of the progress being made
Customs in carrying forward the
Administration of programmes and initiatives
Asia Pacific of WCO to promote,
Region of the facilitate and secure the
World Customs cross-border trade in the
Organisation region and the capacity
(WCO) building and technical
assistance required to
achieve this goal.
 World Trade  New Delhi  The meeting is being held at
Organisation, a time when the multilateral
WTO, ministerial rule-based-trading system
meeting is facing serious and grave
challenges.
 It will provide an
opportunity to the Ministers
to discuss various issues
and the way forward. On
the first day, there will be a
meeting of senior officers of
the participating countries.
On the 2nd day, the
Ministerial Meeting will be
held.
 UN to hold 2020  Portugal’s Lisbon  The UNGA “decides to
ocean conference convene the high-level 2020
United Nations Conference
to Support the
Implementation of
Sustainable Development
Goal 14: Conserve and
sustainably use the oceans,
seas and marine resources
for sustainable
development in Lisbon,
from June 2 to 6, 2020,”
according to a resolution
adopted by the 80th plenary
meeting of the UNGA 73rd
session
 Meeting of  Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek  The meeting will exchange
55
Council of Foreign views on issues of

Ministers of international and regional
Shanghai Co- importance. It will also
operation review the preparations for
Organization the forthcoming SCO
(SCO). Summit in Bishkek which
commences on the 13th of
next month.
 2019 Urban 20  Tokyo, Japan  First U20 Summit in Buenos

Mayors Summit Aires, U20 cities continue to
engage with G20 and call on
their national governments
to work together to address
the most pressing
challenges our world is
facing. The Summit will be
two-days event that will
address issues like climate
action, circular economy,
social inclusion, sustainable
economic growth, and
gender equality, as well as
their linkages with the 2030
Agenda.
 SWIFT India and  Mumbai  The conference saw the
South Asia participation of 500
Conference delegates representing
financial institutions,
regulators, market
infrastructure experts,
multinational corporations,
and other industry
professionals, to discuss the
most pertinent issues
concerning the nation’s
financial market.
 The theme of the
conference was
“Digitisation in transition:
The future of innovation
and cyber security.
 North Korea – United  Hanoi, Vietnam
States Hanoi Summit has
abruptly concluded
 Inaugural Space Dialogue  New Delhi, India
of India and Japan
56
 Indo-Pacific Regional  Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi

Dialogue – 2019  Countries of the Indo-Pacific, namely Australia,
organised Bangladesh, Canada, China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan,
Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, the United
Kingdom, and the United States of America participated in
the event.
 Indo-Japan workshop on  New Delhi, India

Disaster Risk Reduction
 FinTech Conclave  New Delhi
commenced
 Langkawi International  Langkawi, Malaysia
Maritime Aero Expo
(LIMA-2019)
 US-India Counter-  Washington, DC, US
terrorism Joint Working
Group Meeting
Partnership/ Agreement
Partnership/ Agreement Aims
 Bajaj Finserv &Motherhood  Indian financial services company Bajaj Finserv
hospitals ink partnership inked partnership with Motherhood hospitals,
a national network of women &child hospital to
provide Lifecare finance facility.
 Through this partnership, patients at all
motherhood hospitals can avail Life Care
Finance (LCF) from Bajaj Finserv that converts
their medical bills into an EMI loan without
interest.
 Ashok Leyland partnered with  Ashok Leyland, Hinduja Group flagship firm,
Suryoday Small Finance Bank partnered with Suryoday Small Finance
Bankto provide vehicle loans.
 Under this partnership, Suryoday Small Finance
Bank will provide end-to-end financial solutions
to the customers of Ashok Leyland for auto loans
across India. The strategic financing partnership
agreement was signed for 3 years.
 Agreement signed between  A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was
MCA and SEBI signed between Ministry of Corporate
Affairs (MCA) and Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI) for automatic data
exchange in order to tackle the rising instances
of fraud. It was signed by Shri KVR Murty, Joint
Secretary, MCA, and Smt. Madhabi Puri Buch,
Whole Time Member, SEBI in the presence of
57
senior officers from both the organizations.

 IRSDC signed a Tripartite  Indian Railway Station Development
Agreement with SNCF and AFD Corporation (IRSDC) entered into a Tripartite
Agreement with French National Railways
(SNCF)and French Development Agency
(AFD). Under this agreement, a grant up to 7
lakh euros will be provided to boost capacity
building for railway station development
program in India.
 IDBI Bank and Max Bupa  Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI)
Bank and Max Bupa, a Standalone Health
Insurer (SAHI) signed a Bancassurance
corporate agency agreement. For the first
time, IDBI Bank became an on-boarded
corporate agent for Max Bupa under open
architecture.
 IDBI Bank is focused to increase the Fee Income
through Third Party distribution.
 The products are IDBI Max Bupa Suvidha Health
Plus, IDBI Max Bupa Loan Secure and IDBI Max
Bupa Sehat Suraksha.
 ZestMoney in partnership with  ZestMoney, a Bengaluru based digital lending
Digit Insurance startup, in partnership with Digit
Insurance announced to offer EMI (Equated
Monthly Installment) insurance to the
company’s five million customers. The aim of the
partnership is to relieve its customers of debt in
case of unforeseen circumstances.
 DGT partnered with Cisco &  Directorate General of Training (DGT), under
Accenture the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE) joined hands
with Cisco and Accenture, private sector
companies, to skill the youth for digital economy
through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The
implementation partner is Quest Alliance.
 Edelweiss and Bank of Baroda  Bank of Baroda (BoB) and ECL Finance, the
flagship non-banking financial company of
Edelweiss Group, signed an agreement to form a
strategic partnership to explore co-lending
opportunities.
 They will offer loans and expertise for the
growing needs of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSME), self-employed and priority
sector groups.
 NHA and ICICI Foundation  The National Health Authority (NHA)
signed a MoU to train 15,000 and ICICI Foundation for Inclusive
personnel under Ayushman Growth signed a Memorandum of
58
Bharat Scheme Understanding (MoU) to train 15,000 state and

district personnel and Pradhan Mantri Arogya
Mitras to provide the delivery of health services
under Ayushman Bharat Scheme over a period
of one year. It is aimed at capacity building of
health personnel at state. The state personnel is
assigned the responsibility to implement the
scheme in their respective states and Arogya
Mitras, the health service professionals, are
present at each empanelled hospital.
 IDBI Bank and Tata AIG  Industrial Development Bank of India
(IDBI) has signed a bancassurance agreement
with Tata AIG General Insurance Company
Ltd to provide Tata AIG’s suite of P&C (Property
and Casualty (insurance) products to its
customers.
 Maruti Suzuki inks  Automobile manufacturer in India, Maruti
partnership with BOB Suzuki signed ‘Preferred Financier’
MoU(Memorandum of understanding) with
public sector Bank, Bank of Baroda (BOB) to
improve credit for dealership inventory
financing.
 NTPC and PGCIL  National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
and PowerGrid Corporation of India
Limited (PGCIL) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) to set up a Joint Venture
(JV) the National Electricity Distribution
Company Limited (NEDCL). It will undertake
the business for distribution of electricity in
distribution circles in various states and Union
Territories (UTs) and other related activities.
 MobiKwik partnered with Max  MobiKwik, a mobile payments service provider,
Bupa partnered with health insurer Max Bupa to
launch “shampoo-sachet” concept in the
insurance sector. It will offer mini medical
insurance products with premiums as low as Rs
20. The partnership enables financial inclusion
by making pocket size health insurance
solutions available through the Mobikwik
platform.
 NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation  Statement of Intent (SOI) to collectively drive the
Mission partners with Adobe charter of developing creative skills and spreading
digital literacy across all Atal Tinkering Labs
(ATL) in India.
 ATLs are being established in more
than 5,000 schools in India where students of
class 6th to class 12th acquire problem solving
and innovation skills, developing innovative
59
solutions leveraging Tinkering technologies like

3D printers, robotics, miniaturised electronics, IOT
and programming, do it yourself kits with support
from teachers.
 ICICI Lombard partnered with  Provide insurance cover to its lenders and
ATL (AnyTimeLoan.in) borrowers
 Bancassurance Agreement  As part of the agreement, IDBI Bank will become
signed by IDBI Bank and LIC the preferred bank for LIC premium
payments and also function as premium point to
boost sale of LIC products, thereby gaining from
fees and float income.
 Ayushman Bharat and Uber ink  A ride-hailing app to provide free healthcare
partnership services to Uber drivers.
 Life Insurance Corporation  Offer home buyers enhanced loan eligibility and
Housing Finance Ltd easy loans and it will now be in a position to offer
(LICHFL) partnered with India extended loan tenure for borrowers till the age
Mortgage Guarantee of 75 years, increasing the loan quantum and
Corporation (IMGC) reducing the burden of monthly EMIs for
borrowers.
 SBI and Hitachi Payment  For establishing a digital payments platform

Services launched SBIPSPL (SBI for India and other countries in the region,
Payment Services Pvt Ltd) in Mumbai.
 Bancassurance deal signed  United Bank of India aims to provide the facilities
between United Bank of India of life insurance products to its customers through
and HDFC Life HDFC Life.
 India & Russia Deals  India entered into a deal with Russia for leasing
of a nuclear – powered attack submarine for
Indian Navy worth USD 3 billion for a period of
10 years.
 AU Small Finance Bank  AU Small Finance Bank is working on offering

partnered with Acko General customers access to financial services and
Insurance products directly through their digital channels
and building a robust digital banking platform to
offer best in class products in Digital Loans,
Deposits, and Investment segments.
 IBBI inks cooperation deal with  The cooperation agreement provides a technical
International Finance assistance by IFC to IBBI (Insolvency and
Corporation (IFC) Bankruptcy Board of India ) until 30th June,
2021.It will provide training of insolvency
professionals and trainers by the IFC to IBBI.
IBBI provides a platform for re-organization and
insolvency resolution of corporate persons,
60
individuals and partnership firmsin a time bound

manner for maximization of the value of assets.
 Hinduja Global Solutions  launch a centre of excellence in Bengaluru for

(HGS) partnered with NASSCOM training differently-abled persons (PwDs) which
Foundation will train a minimum of 100 PwDs making them
industry-ready over the next 12 months with a
goal to place at least 50% of them in companies
already sensitised for hiring them.
 US – India  U.S.-India Strategic Security Dialogue held in

Washington DC, United States. Foreign Secretary
Vijay Gokhale led the Indian delegation and Under
Secretary of State for Arms Control and
International Security Andrea Thompson led the
US delegation.
 Article 3 of the Agreement  The Union Cabinet approved Amendment to

the Article 3 of the Agreement
between India and Bhutan regarding Mandechh
u Hydro Electric Project (MHEP) in order to
extend the loan repayment tenure by two
years extended by India to Bhutan, for
implementation of the said Project in Bhutan from
15 to 17 years.
 ISRO and IIT Roorkee  Aim to strengthen institutional interactions and
thereby enhance the scope of the activities
pursued under STC commensurate with the
programmatic goals of ISRO.
 ICICI Lombard partnered with  ICICI Lombard and digital financial services
MobiKwik company MobiKwik entered into a partnership to
provide cyber insurance cover of Rs. 50000.
 IBBI(Insolvency and Bankruptcy  The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India

Board of India) and SEBI (IBBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(Securities and Exchange Board (MoU) with the Securities and Exchange Board
of India) of India (SEBI) seeking effective implementation
of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
(Code) and its allied rules and regulations, which
have redefined the debt-equity relationship and
aims to promote entrepreneurship and debt
market,at Mumbai.
61
 eBay joined hands with google  US-based e-commerce platform eBay has
partnered with Google to offer Google Pay as a
form of payment option in its new “managed
payments” plan. The collaboration will enhance
customer experience tailored to their personal
preferences.
 Ola and Telangana Govt.  Ola and the Government of Telangana to
support the government’s initiative to implement
smart solutions to enhance mobility experience
further strengthening traffic infrastructure
in Hyderabad.
 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on  Three day 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on
India-Africa Project India-Africa Project Partnerships concluded in
Partnerships New Delhi. The Conclave will enhance the
partnership between India and Africa in economic
as well as business terms.
 SBI signed MoU with Bank of  State Bank of India (SBI) signed a pact with the
China for business opportunities third largest Bank in the world by capital
size,Bank of China (BoC) to boost business
opportunities. It will enhance the business
cooperation between both the banks.
 Apple partnered with Goldman  The Tech Giant Apple has partnered with Goldman
Sachs and Mastercard Sachs and Mastercard to launch a new credit card
called Apple Card.
 GAIL and BHEL Sign an  GAIL India Ltd joined hand with Bharat Heavy
agreement Electricals Ltd (BHEL) to cooperate in the
development of solar power projects.
 Canara Bank and its life  Canara Bank and its life insurance
insurance partner Canara HSBC partner Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of
OBC Life Commerce Life
Insurance launched ’Webassurance’ to enable its
customers to purchase life insurance in a
convenient and hassle-free way.
 NITI Aayog , UNICEF signed a LOI  United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) India
and NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission
(AIM) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to
provide an open platform to promote
participation, skill and empowerment among
young children across different communities.
 Aegon Life Insurance  Mobikwik, digital financial services company
collaborated with MobiKwik collaborated with pioneer of digital insurance in
India, Aegon Life Insurance to launch a Rs 20
smart digital insurance product in order to protect
its wallet users from death and accident related
disability cover for up to Rs 2 lakh.
62
 
 Airtel Payments Bank joined  Airtel Payments Bank joined hands with Bharti
hands with Bharti AXA General AXA General Insurance for a two-wheeler
Insurance insurance product offering which is available on
MyAirtel App and at over 40,000 Airtel Payments
Bank points across India.
 Bank of Maharashtra and  State-owned Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has

M1Xchange join hands partnered with M1Xchange TReDSplatform for
Micro,Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) bill
discounting.Trade Receivables Discounting
System (TreDS) is a digital platform to assist
MSMEs to get their bills financed at a competitive
rate through a vendue where multiple registered
financiers can participate.
 India join hands with Japan and  India joined hands with Japan and the United
UAE Arab Emirates (UAE) to implement two
projectsin Africa as it seeks to extend its footprint
on the continent as a counter to China’s ambitious
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
 i. India will build a cancer hospital in Kenya in
collaboration with Japan and will to set up
an information and communications
technology (ICT) center in Ethiopia in
partnership with the UAE.
ii. Through this partnership, India has undertaken
many projects like the ambitious Pan African e-
network project on tele-education and tele-
medicine which provides “integrated” satellite,
fiber optics and wireless network between
educational and medical institutes in Africa and
India.
 Tata Trusts and Microsoft  A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been
India for jointly collaborating signed by Tata Trusts and Microsoft
India forjointly rejuvenating the handloom clust
ers in the eastern and north-eastern parts of India
in order to build a digitally-inclusive society.
 Google Pay partners with  Google Pay has partnered with Bullion refiner
MMTC-PAMP MMTC-PAMP India to initiate buying and selling of
gold through the app to make Google Pay more
useful for Indian customers. MMTC-PAMP is
India’s only London Bullion Market
Association (LBMA)-accredited gold refinery.
 RBL Bank partners with  RBL Bank has partnered with CreditVidya to
CreditVidya enhance the lender’s customer experience (by
offering them relevant credit products) and
construct customised offerings for over 15 lakh
63
customers.
 PFS in a joint venture with  PTC India Financial Services (PFS) an

USICEF finances Infrastructure finance company has partnered
with the US-India Clean Energy
Finance (USICEF) to leverage funds for solar
projects in India.
PFS Managing Director and CEO Pawan Singh
stated that this innovative venture can contribute
to achieve India’s distributed energy target of 40
GW (gigawatt) by 2022.
 BSE signed an agreement with  Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Asia’s oldest
HDFC Bank exchange has signed an agreement with HDFC
Bank to spread more awareness about the
benefits of listing startups as well as to strengthen
BSE startup platform.
 NIIF and ROADIS on a joint  The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund
venture (NIIF) and global private infrastructure operator
ROADIS (owned by Public Sector Pension
Investment board abbreviated as PSP investment)
have jointly set up a platform for investing up to
$2 billion in road projects in India.
 Karnataka Bank Signs  Karnataka Bank has signed a pact with Bharti Axa
agreement With Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company Ltd to distribute the
latter’s life insurance products to provide
insurance solutions to the customers of Karnataka
Bank.
 Tata Power joined hands with  Tata Power has signed an agreement
Indraprastha Gas ink with Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) for green
energy solutions including rooftop solar projects,
setting up of commercial-scale EV
charging/battery swapping stations.
 India-Africa Institute of  India has signed an agreement with National
Agriculture and Rural Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development (IAIARD) Development Consultancy Service
in Malawi, India signed an (NABCONS) for setting up India-Africa Institute
agreement of Agriculture and Rural
Development (IAIARD) in Malawi to enhance
capacity in the areas of agro-financing and
entrepreneurship development for African
countries
 Reliance Mutual Fund  Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management
partnering with Google (RNAM) has joined hands with Google to enable
the customers of Reliance Mutual Fund to carry
out voice-based financial transactions.
 Syndicate Bank and SBI Life  Syndicate Bank and SBI Life Insurance signed
Insurance a bancassurance pact aiming to offer a
64
comprehensive financial planning solution to its

customers.
 Through the pact, Syndicate Bank will provide
penetration in the market with its 3,000 branches
and SBI Life’s diverse range of protection, wealth
creation and savings insurance products will be
brought to the table to the customers.
 ICICI Bank and Small Business  ICICI Bank, in a first-of-its-kind programme,
FinCredit signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with Small Business FinCredit India Pvt. Ltd.
(SBFC), a systemically important Non-Banking
Finance Company for entrepreneurs, to jointly
provide credit worth up to Rs 1 crore to MSMEs
for a tenure of 15 years.
 SBI Card & Etihad Guest  SBI Card, the country’s second largest credit
card issuer and Etihad Guest, the loyalty
programme of Etihad Airways have weld their
hand together for a specific visa credit card to
come into play for members and Indian travellers.
Etihad Guest SBI Card, Etihad Guest SBI
Premier Card
 It has been launched in order to confront the
constraints of international travel.
 Bharat Heavy Electricals  For cooperation on various projects related to e-
Limited (BHEL) and Automotive mobility.
Research Association of India  BHEL’s scope of work in the project includes
(ARAI)Sign MoU design, engineering, manufacturing, supply and
installation of the EV charging stations along with
a central monitoring system with a user-friendly
mobile app.
 Income Tax Department and the  For sharing data to prevent anomalies.
Goods and Services Tax Network  States that the GSTN can ask for and be provided
(GSTN) are all set to sign an MoU data relating to an assessee’s status of filing
income tax returns, turnover, gross total income,
financial ratios, and any other data with the I-T
Department to be decided at a later date. The
order also provides for the automatic exchange of
such data, and not just based on requests, the
modalities of which will be decided.
 NIOS has signed a Memorandum  For imparting skill education in Paramedical

of Understanding with Indian Courses to the learners.
Medical Association  The MoU is initially for period of three years for
the paramedical courses all over the country
through its Accredited Vocational Institutions
(AVIs).
 e-Governance Services India ties  Common Service Centre’s (CSC) e-Governance
65
up with IIT-Kanpur Services India Limited, a special purpose vehicle

under the Ministry of Electronics & IT, on Friday
said it has tied up with Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT)-Kanpur to upscale ‘Unnat Bharat
Abhiyan’.
 ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ is an initiative of the
Ministry of HRD. It aims to find solutions to
accelerate sustainable growth in rural India.
 Commerce ministry organises  Commerce Ministry and Indian High Commissions
interaction to boost India-Africa and embassies of eleven African countries to
trade ties strengthen the India-Africa trade ties.
 The interaction was arranged over Digital Video
Conference (DVC) over two days, on May 3rd and
May 6th with the Indian business community in
Africa.
 In order to build an effective engagement with the
Indian Diaspora in Africa, the interactions with
Indian Diaspora were held in Tanzania, Uganda,
Kenya, Zambia, and Mauritius, Nigeria,
Mozambique, Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, and
Madagascar.
 TAFE, PCRA ink pact  Tractor maker TAFE and Petroleum Conservation
Research Association (PCRA), signed an MoU to
jointly conduct agriculture workshops by
involving TAFE’s extensive dealership network in
spreading awareness and sensitising farmers on
the advantages of maintenance and upkeep of
their tractors, thereby helping them maximise
their productivity and profitability, according to a
statement.
 This joint CSR effort by TAFE and PCRA is aimed at
helping the farmers to minimise costs through
conservation, recycling and use of alternate
energy.
 Doordarshan partners with  DD Souvenir gallery was started on 21 June 2018.
Amazon India The online store will sell branded articles like
cups, T-shirts and water bottles.
 The development makes Doordarshan India’s first
broadcaster to start a souvenir store. The
pubcaster believes that the online souvenir store
will not only strengthen the relationship with
viewers but also help in establishing Doordarshan
brand value.
 Agreement signed between  Taking up a project of ‘Plantation of Rudraksh
National Mission for Clean Trees in Uttarakhand’ under the ‘Namami Gange’
Ganga (NMCG), HCL Foundation Programme.
and INTACH  While the project aims at planting 10,000
66
Rudraksh trees in the catchment area of river

Ganga in Uttarakhand in association with the local
community and other stakeholders, it will also
help in generating income for people residing in
those areas.
 Housing finance major HDFC  The partnership aims to make it possible for HDFC
Limited has partnered with to further penetrate home loan market and access
India Mortgage Guarantee an enlarged customer base, helping them to own a
Corporation (IMGC) home of their choice.
 This product will help HDFC to offer more loan to
a home loan customer on an enhanced eligibility.
It also helps customers to avail loans beyond their
retirement period. The finer details of the product
are being worked out and will be known to market
soon.
 Ola partners with Visa, SBI to  Homegrown ride-hailing platform Ola has
launch credit cards launched a credit card in partnership with SBI and
Visa, the company said in a statement. Ola users
will be able to apply, view and manage their credit
cards directly on the Ola app and will get instant
cashbacks, which can be redeemed against Ola
rides, flight and hotel bookings.
 BSNL Partners With Google  State-run telecom major BSNL has partnered with
Google to increase access to its WiFi footprint in
the country. With the launch of this service, people
across the country will be able to enjoy BSNL’s
free WiFi services. This initiative will allow
customers use BSNL’s high speed internet services
on WiFi.
 Indian Hotels Co. (IHCL) and  Indian Hotels Co. (IHCL) and Singapore’s
Singapore’s sovereign wealth sovereign wealth fund GIC will set up a three-year,
fund GIC Rs 4,000-crore investment platform to acquire
hotels in the luxury, upper-upscale and upscale
segments, the company said on Friday.
 National Small Industries  The MOU was signed by Ram Mohan Mishra, AS &
Corporation Limited (NSIC) DC(MSME) and CMD (NSIC) with Dr. Arun Kumar
signed a Memorandum of Panda, Secretary, MSME, in the presence of Alka
Understanding (MOU) with Nangia Arora, Joint Secretary, SME, Mercy Epao,
Ministry of Micro, Small and Director (SME), P. Udaya kumar, Director -P&M
Medium Enterprises (MSME) (NSIC) and A.K. Mittal, Director-Finance (NSIC).
 The MOU envisages provision of enhanced
services by NSIC under its marketing, financial,
technology and other support services schemes
for MSMEs in the country.
67
 Indian Institute of Technology  Stating the MoU was signed on May 24, an IIT-G
(IIT), Guwahati has signed an press release on Wednesday said the IITG-ISRO
MoU with The Indian Space STC would be first of its kind in the North-east
Research Organisation (ISRO) region to augment research and capacity building
processes in the field of space-technology.
 The STC will constitute faculty members from IIT
Guwahati, visiting scientists/ experts from ISRO,
research students and technical staff, the release
said.
DEFENCE NEWS
Military Exercise Countries Purpose
 ‘Sampriti-2019’  India and  Which aimed to increase mutual
Bangladesh cooperation and camaraderie
with an impressive ceremony
in Tangail, Bangladesh.
 “Mainamati  Border Security  The main objective of this
Maitree Exercise Force exercise was to plan and
2019” (BSF) and Border conduct anti-smuggling and
Guards Bangladesh anti-criminal activity related
(BGB) operations with an aim to
achieve better joint operational
efficiency and border
management in the area.
 Held in Tripura
 “Foal Eagle 2019”  U.S. and South  This is being done to ease
and “Key Resolve” Korea tensions with North Korea
 Al Nagah III  India and Oman  Where both the armies will be
exchanging expertise in tactics,
weapon handling and firing, in
order to enhance inter
operability in counter-terrorist
operations in semi urban
mountainous terrain.
 Held in Jabel Al Akhdar
Mountains in Oman
 US-India security  US army and NSG  The aim of these exercises is to

partnership in Hyderabad enhance preparedness and
tackle any crisis that affects the
public health and safety.
68
 AFINDEX-19  India–Africa  Between the Indian Army and

16 African nations was
commenced in Pune,
Maharashtra on March 18, 2019
for training the participating
contingents in Humanitarian
Mine Assistance (HMA) and
Peace Keeping Operations (PKO)
under the United Nations
Charter.
 MITRASHAKTI –  Indian and Sri  Between Indian and Sri Lanka

VI Lanka Army is being held
at Diyatalawa in Sri Lanka to
strengthen interoperability,
mutual understanding and built
a better relationship between
both the armies.
 ‘Bold  India and  Started in Jhansi’s Babina
Kurukshetra– Singapore Cantonment, Uttar Pradesh to
2019’ strengthen cooperation against
terrorism, develop defence
technology and boost maritime
security.
 ‘IN – VPN BILAT  Indo-Vietnam  The Indian Navy held the 2nd
EX’ edition of the bilateral maritime
exercise between the Indian
Navy and Vietnam Peoples’
Navy, (IN – VPN BILAT EX) at
Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam during
13th to 16th April, 2019.
 AFRICAN LION  Morocco –US  It was conducted from March 16
2019 to April 7,2019. The annual
Military exercise materialized in
the region of Agadir,Tifnit,Tan-
Tan, Tata and Ben Guerir with
the participation of thousands of
military personnel.
 ‘Varuna’ (Naval)  India and France  The first phase of a mega naval
exercise off the coast of Goa
which is aimed at developing
inter-operability between the
the two forces in dealing with
various security challenges.
 IMDEX 19  India- Singapore  The annual bilateral exercise

saw its progression from
69
traditional anti-submarine
exercises to more complex
maritime exercises such as
advanced air defence
operations, anti air/ surface
practice firings, tactical
exercises, etc.
 8th Indo-  India-Myanmar  Navy ships from Myanmar
Myanmar reached Port Blair to attend the
Coordinated opening ceremony of the 8th
Patrol (IMCOR) Indo-Myanmar Coordinated
Patrol (IMCOR) which will be
held from May 20-28. “Myanmar
Navy Ship UMS King
TabinShweHtee (773) and UMS
Inlay (OPV-54) have arrived at
Port Blair on May 20 for the
‘Opening Ceremony’ of the 8th
Indo-Myanmar coordinated
patrol (IMCOR), at Andaman and
Nicobar Command.
 India’s defence satellite EMISAT Naval Commands under the COMCASA pact
successfully launched by ISRO at New Delhi,India.
ISRO’s workhorse launch vehicle Polar i. The Indo-US military-information sharing
Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C-45), in pact, COMCASA was signed at the 2+2
its 47th mission, has successfully launched bilateral summit on 6th September, 2018.
the 436 kg Electronic intelligence ii. By implementing the path-breaking
satellite EMISAT and 28 co-passenger agreement, COMCASA the US has initiated the
satellites into their designated orbits from Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module
Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, GPS System in some of C-130 and C-17
Andhra Pradesh. This was the 71st launch transport aircraft.
vehicle mission for Sriharikota. iii. US has given assurance of not disclosing
 COMCASA: First secure link India’s data with another country and
between India, US navies set up without prior permission US couldn’t access
India and the US have structured the first it.
reliable communication link between the
Indian Navy & US Central as well as Pacific
70
 US has consented the sale of 24  Indian Navy’s warships- INS

“MH-60R Seahawk” helicopters to Kolkata and INS Shakti at Busan, South
India for $2.6 bn Korea to participate in ADMM-PLUS
At an estimated cost of $2.6 billion, the INS Kolkata and INS Shakti arrived at Busan,
United States has approved the sale of 24 South Korea to participate in ADMM-PLUS
multi-mission Lockheed Martin-built MH- (ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting).
60 “Romeo'”Seahawk helicopters to India.  By SIPRI report, India’s military
These choppers designed for targeting ships, expenditure rises by 3.1% to reach $66.5
hunting submarines and conducting search- billion and Pakistan’s by 11% to reach
and-rescue operations at sea, would replenish $11.4 billion in 2018
the age-old fleet of British-made Sea King According to the
helicopters, used by India. report from the
 Indian Navy inked a pact with Stockholm
CSIR International
On 5th April, 2019, Indian Navy and Council Peace Research
of Scientific and Industrial Research Institute (SIPRI),
(CSIR) have signed Memorandum of a think-tank, the
understanding to tackle joint research and world’s military
development of advanced technologies for expenditure has
the Indian Navy. risen by 2.6% to
 India, Sri Lanka agree to reach 1.82 $
Strengthen Bond in Security and trillion in
2018. This shows that military expenditure
Defence Spheres
has increased for the 2nd consecutive year to
India and Sri Lanka have agreed to enhance
the highest level since 1988 and is 76%
collaboration in security and defence
higher than it was in 1998. In this total share,
spheres in several fields, including regional
India, United States, China, Saudi Arabia and
security, controlling drug smuggling and
France altogether contributed to 60% per
human trafficking.
cent of the amount, with US and China being
Defence Secretary of India Sanjay Mitra and
the 2 biggest spenders.
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena‘s
meeting in Colomboresulted in this  Indian, US navies conduct Anti-
agreement. Submarine Warfare drill in Indian
 Debrief of Indian Navy coastal Ocean
defence exercise “Sea Vigil” was Recently, Indian and the US navies conducted
joint submarine hunting exercise near Diego
chaired by Vice Admiral MS Pawar in
Garcia in the Indian Ocean in which India’s
New Delhi
P8I Neptune Aircraft and US P-8A Poseidon
The debrief of the Indian Navy exercise
maritime patrol aircraft along with the USS
termed as ‘Sea Vigil’ (held from January 22
Spruance have participated. The objective of
to 23) was conducted. The meeting was
this exercise is to lay the groundwork for
chaired by Vice Admiral MS Pawar, AVSM,
coordinating maritime patrol and
VSM, the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
reconnaissance.
(DCNS). It was conducted at the Naval
 Indian Army inks MoU with NHPC
headquarters, New Delhi.
to build tunnels on China, Pakistan
71
borders and means to confront common threat at

Recently, Indian Army signed a sea.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)  Indian Army carried out the
with National Hydroelectric Power annual exercise named ‘Exercise
Corporation (NHPC) Limited, to build four
Topchi’
underground tunnels along China and
Indian army demonstrated its artillery
Pakistan borders for storage of ammunition
firepower, aviation and surveillance
and other war-related equipment.
1)Three tunnels will be built along Chinese capacity at the annual ‘Exercise Topchi’ at
border and one tunnel will be build along Deolali Camp near Nashik.
the Pakistan border. i. The latest ultra-light Howitzer M-777,
2) The tunnel can store 175-200 metric self-propelled gun K-9 Vajra and
tonnes of ammunition and the cost of this indigenous Swathi weapon-locating radar
pilot project is around Rs 15 was demonstrated.
 Macedonia inked agreement ii. The aviation assets showcased were
to join NATO Military Alliance the indigenous advanced light helicopter,
On February 6,2019, Macedonia signed an light combat helicopter, Cheetah & Chetak
accord, to become the 30th member of the helicopters
NATO military alliance.  IAF carried out ‘Vayu Shakti’
The historic agreement was signed exercise at Pokhran
between Macedonia’s Foreign Minister On 16th February 2019, Indian Air Force
Nikola Dimitrov and NATO conducted mega exercise ‘Vayu Shakti’
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. in Pokhran, Rajasthan. The exercise was
 Multinational Maritime conducted two days after 40 CRPF
Exercise ‘Aman 19’ commenced in personnel killed in a suicide attack in
Karachi Kashmir’s Pulwama.
The 5-day multinational maritime After 36 years, Indian Navy’s frontline
exercise ‘AMAN-19’ in which 46 missile destroyer INS Ranjit to be
nations participated from all over the decommissioned
world was formally commenced at INS Ranjit, the Indian Navy’s frontline
Pakistan Navy Dockyard, with a colorful missile destroyer, will be
flag hosting ceremony.Pakistan’s Naval decommissioned at the naval dockyard in
Chief, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Visakhapatnam on May 6 after having
Abbasi welcomed the participations of served for 36 years.
Exercise AMAN-19, the 6th episode of the INS Ranjit was the third of the five
AMAN initiative,with motto “Together for Kashin-class destroyers built by erstwhile
Peace”. USSR, and was commissioned in 1983, a
Principal aim to conduct this exercise is to statement issued by the navy Thursday
facilitate a forum of understanding of said.
 Launch of Fourth Scorpene Class
each other’s maritime concepts and
Submarine – VELA
operation cultures and to produce ways
72
Vela, the fourth Scorpene class submarine schemes and help resolve pension related
being constructed by Mazagon Dock problems.
Shipbuilders Limited for the Indian Navy, The issue gains importance in light of most
was launched today, on 06 May 2019, by next of kin of deceased soldiers being
unaware of the financial benefits that are
Mrs Veena Ajay Kumar, wife of Dr Ajay
entitled to them. Incorrect and incomplete
Kumar, IAS, Secretary Defence
documentation is a common problem for
Production, who was the Chief Guest on most of the next of kin, which aggravates
the occasion. their plight.
VAdm AK Saxena, CWP&A was also  First Apache Helicopter formally
present during the launching ceremony. handed over to The IAF
This event reaffirms the steps taken by First AH-64E (I) – Apache Guardian
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in helicopter was formally handed over to
the ongoing ‘Make In India’ programme, the Indian Air Force at Boeing production
which is being actively implemented by facility in Mesa, Arizona, USA on 10 May
the Department of Defence Production 19. Air Marshal AS Butola, represented
(MoD). the Indian Air Force and accepted the first
 IN Ships Kolkata and Shakti Apache in a ceremony at Boeing
undertake Group Sail with Naval Ships of production facility, representatives from
Japan, Philippines and the USA US Government were also present.
IN Ships Kolkata and Shakti carried out Group
 DRDO Successfully Conducts Flight
Sail with naval ships of Japan, Philippines and
Test of ABHYAS
the United States of America in the South
Defence Research and Development
China Sea from 03 May to 09 May 19. The six-
day long Group Sail had participation of six Organisation (DRDO) conducted
combatants from the four participating successful flight test of ABHYAS – High-
countries and included the Guided Missile speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT)
Destroyer INS Kolkata and Fleet Support Ship from Interim Test Range, Chandipur in
INS Shakti of India, Helicopter Carrier JMSDF Odisha today. Theflight test was tracked
Izumo and Guided Missile Destroyer JMSDF by various RADARS & Electro Optic
Murasame of Japan; Frigate BRP Andres Systems and proved its performance in
Bonifacio of Philippines and Arleigh Burke fully autonomous way point navigation
Class Destroyer USS Williams P Lawrence of mode.
USA. The Group Sail was aimed to deepen the
 Army to shift its Training
existing partnership and foster mutual
Command Headquarters to Meerut
understanding among participating navies.
In a bid to save funds and ensure better
 Indian Army to commemorate
2019 as ‘Year of next of kin’ connectivity with the Army headquarters,
The Indian Army is commemorating this year the Indian Army is planning to shift its
as the ‘Year of Next of Kin’ and plans to reach training command headquarters from
out to the next of kin of battle casualties, ex- Shimla in Himachal Pradesh to Meerut,
servicemen and serving soldiers to inform Uttar Pradesh in the near future.
them of entitled financial benefits, welfare “The Training Command is now planned
to be shifted from Shimla to Meerut to
73
save costs and man-hours spent in maritime event being held here,
travelling from the headquarters to the according to an official statement.
hill location,” senior Army sources said The International Maritime Defence
here. Exhibition Asia (IMDEX Asia-2019)
 Jaisalmer gets Ready to Host commenced on May 14 and will also
International Army Scout Masters witness the participation of some of
Competition 2019 India’s leading engineering and ship
International Army Scout Masters building firms, including Larsen & Toubro
Competition as a part of International and BrahMos, which makes the state-of-
Army Games will be organised under the the-art air, sea and ground launch cruise
aegis of Konark Corps at Jaisalmer from missiles.
24 July to 17 August 2019. The event will “Vice-Admiral M S Pawar, Deputy Chief of
witness participation of the Mechanised Naval Staff led the delegation to the Asia
Infantry Scout Teams of eight countries Pacific gathering of naval and maritime
including Russia who is the founding event,” the Indian High Commission here
member of this format of International said in a statement .
Army Games.  Indian Coast Guard Ship Vigraha
The Russian Delegation, Senior Military Decommissioned
and Diplomatic dignitaries from Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Vigraha, a
participating countries visited Jaisalmer frontline offshore patrol vessel, sailed
Military Station on 14 and 15 May 2019. into history at the sunset on Wednesday.
The delegates were shown and briefed on After 29 glorious years of service from
the special training facilities created at 1990 to 2019, the ship was
Jaisalmer and Pokhran. decommissioned at the coast guard jetty
 Indian Navy’s Service Selection here.
Board Inaugurated At Kolkata  Brief on SIMBEX-19
Admiral Sunil Lanba, the Chief of Naval On successful completion of IMDEX 19, IN
Staff inaugurated Indian Navy’s first full- ships Kolkata and Shakti are continuing
fledged Service Selection Board (SSB) their stay at Singapore to participate in
today at Diamond Harbour, near Kolkata. the annual Singapore India Maritime
The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Bilateral Exercise SIMBEX-2019
Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral scheduled from 16 May to 22 May 19.
Karambir Singh, was also present at the Since its inception in 1993, SIMBEX has
venue. grown in tactical and operational
 Indian warships take part in complexity. the annual bilateral exercise
international maritime defence exhibition saw its progression from traditional anti-
in Singapore
submarine exercises to more complex
Two warships of the Indian Navy–INS maritime exercises such as advanced air
Kolkata and INS Shakti–are participating defence operations, anti air/ surface
in a three-day Asia Pacific naval and practice firings, tactical exercises, etc.
Over the years SIMBEX has stood the test
74
of time in demonstrating the nation’s “She is the first woman fighter pilot to be
commitment to enhance maritime qualified to undertake missions on a
cooperation between the two navies and fighter aircraft by day.
bolster bonds of friendship between the  Assam Rifles and Coast Guard
two countries. personnel to train together
 Successful Firing of Brahmos Air In a first, the Assam Rifles (AR) would be
Launched Missile from Su-30 MKI Aircraft training together with the Indian Coast
Today, IAF successfully fired the BrahMos Guard to enhance inter-forces
air version missile from its frontline Su- cooperation and interoperability.
30 MKI fighter aircraft. The launch from The charter of affiliation, in this regard,
the aircraft was smooth and the missile was signed by the Director General (DG)
followed the desired trajectory before of the Indian Coast Guard, Rajendra Singh
directly hitting the land target. and DG, Assam Rifles Lt Gen Sukhdeep
The air launched BrahMos missile is a 2.5 Sangwan on Wednesday.
ton supersonic air to surface cruise  DRDO successfully test fires
missile with ranges of close to 300 km, AKASH – MK -1S
designed and developed by BAPL. Defence Research and Development
 Tech Mahindra signs Rs 300 crore Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test
defence contract with Indian Navy fired AKASH-MK-1S missile from ITR ,
Tech Mahindra today announced its Chandipur, Odhisa on 25 and 27 May
biggest defence order worth over Rs 300 2019. Akash Mk1S is an upgrade of
crore with the Indian Navy. As part of the existing AKASH missile with indigenous
‘Armed Forces Secure Access Card’ Seeker.
(AFSAC) Project, Tech Mahindra will AKASH Mk1S is a surface to air missile
implement RFID (Radio Frequency which can neutralize advanced aerial
Identification) based Access Control targets. The Akash weapon system has
System across all naval bases and ships. combination of both command guidance
 Bhawana Kanth Is India’s First and active terminal seeker guidance.
Woman Pilot to Qualify for Combat Seeker and guidance performance have
Missions been consistently established in both the
Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth, who missions.
was commissioned into the Indian Air  Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa
Force as one of the first women fighter receives Baton of Chairman COSC
pilots in 2016, has created history by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal
becoming the first woman to qualify for Birender Singh Dhanoa received the
combat missions on a fighter jet. She has baton of Chairman, Chiefs of Staff
successfully completed the operational Committee from outgoing Chairman COSC
syllabus for carrying out combat missions and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil
on MiG-21 Bison aircraft, during the day. Lanba, here today. Air Chief Marshal
Birender Singh Dhanoa will be the
Chairman COSC with effect from May 31,
75
2019 consequent to relinquishment of Government of India announced that it

charge by Admiral Sunil Lanba upon will join hands with Portugal to set up
superannuation. maritime museum near ancient
Harappans civilization at Lothal
 Cabinet approved hike in rates in Gujarat. It will be a similar model of
of scholarship under National Defence the museum which is at Lisbon, Portugal
Fund administered by the Portuguese Navy.
In the first meeting of Cabinet, chaired by  India successfully launched new
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has Technology Demonstrator Missile in
approved major changes in the PM’s Odisha
Scholarship Scheme under the National India successfully launched
Defence Fund. The Cabinet has increased new Hypersonic Technology
the rates of scholarship from Rs 2,000 per Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) off the
month to Rs 2,500 per month for boys coast of Odisha by using Agni 1 missile
and Rs 2,250 per month to Rs 3,000 per platform. Defence Research and
month for girls. Development Organisation (DRDO) had
 Flight Lieutenant Mohana carried out the trials from Dr. Abdul
Singh became the first IAF woman pilot Kalam Island in the Bay of Bengal.
to fly Hawk jets HSTDV will help DRDO to develop
Flight Lieutenant Mohana technologies for futuristic missions. With
Singh became the first IAF woman pilot this launch, India has joined
to become completely operational by day the US, Russia, and Chinathat possess
on Hawk advanced jet aircraft. She landed this technology.
the grueling 4 aircraft combat sortie at  Indian Navy executes Operation
the Kalaikunda Air Force Station in Sankalp in the Gulf of Oman to
West Bengal.. undertake maritime security
 India signed Rs 300-crore deal India Navy launched “Operation
with Israel to buy more 100 Sankalp” in the Gulf of Oman. It is to
SPICEbombs recheck Indian flagged vessels operating
The Indian Air Force (IAF) inked Rs through the Persian Gulf and Gulf of
300-crore deal with the Israeli Oman following the maritime incidents in
government to buy more than 100 SPICE the region.
bombs (Balakot bombs). The newly  India successfully test-fired
ordered SPICE bombs are an advanced indigenously developed nuclear-
version of SPICE-2000 bombs, that were capable missile Prithvi-II
used to attack the Madrasa of Jaish-e- India successfully test-fired indigenously
Mohammed in Balakot, Pakistan, on developed nuclear-capable
February 26, 2019. missile Prithvi-II, a surface-to-surface
 India & Portugal to set up missile, from a test range off
National Maritime Heritage Museum in the Odisha coast. Prithvi is the first
Lothal missile developed by the Defence
76
Research Development Organisation Missile Development Programme

(DRDO) under the Integrated Guided (IGMDP).
Important MoU
MoU Between Two Countries
 MoU on Health & Family Welfare  India and Kyrgyzstan
 MoU on Research Work on Biology  India -Kyrgyzstan
and Medicine
 MoU on Astronomy / Astrophysics /  India and Thailand

Atmospheric Science
 MoU on Research Designs and  India and Russia
Standards Organisation, under the
Ministry of Railways, India and
Railway Research Institute
 MoU on Bioceanic Railway  India and Bolivia
Integration Corridor Project
cooperation.
 MoU on cooperation in the area of  India and Finland

Cyber Security
 MoU on field of Biotechnology  India and Costa Rica
 MoU on Exchange of Information  India and Marshall Islands

notified
 MoU on set up Centre for Inland &  Ministry of Shipping and IIT Kharagpur
Coastal Maritime
Technology(CICMT)
 MoU on Tax info exchange  India and Brunei
 MoU on field of food and agriculture  Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) and Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR)
 MoU on Cooperation in the field of  India and Tajikistan
Renewable Energy
 MoU on Cooperation in Weather and  India and the UK

Climate Sciences
 MoU on Undertaking non-intrusive  India and Norway

Geological Surveys and
Investigations
77
 MoU on Cooperation in the field of  India and Argentina

Medical Products Regulation
 MoU on reports on Missing and  India and USA

Exploited Children
 MoU on Cancer Research Initiative  India and UK
 MoU on Cooperation in the field of  India and Germany

Occupational Safety and Health
 MoU on Technology Cooperation in  India and Austria

the Road Infrastructure Sector
 MoU on Mutual Legal Assistance  India and Belarus

(MLAT) in Civil and Commercial
Matters.
 MoU on Collaborate On Digital  India and Afghanistan

Education Initiatives
 MoU on Cooperation on youth affairs  India and Morocco
 MoU on Exchange of information and  India and Morocco

technical cooperation cooperation in
the field of Housing and Human
Settlement.
 MoU on Antarctic Cooperation  India and Argentine
 MoU on Cooperation in the field of  India and Saudi Arabia
Housing
 MoU on Startup Cooperation  India and Republic of Korea
 MoU on Combating illicit trafficking  India and Indonesia
in narcotic drugs, psychotropic
substances and its precursors
 MoU on strengthen cooperation in  India and African
the healthcare sector
 MoU in the field of coal mining and  signed between India and Poland
clean coal technologies
 Mutual Cooperation in the field of  MoU between India and Malaysia
company secretaryship
 MoU for cooperation in the field of  India and the Electoral Commission of
electoral management and Namibia (ECN) & Electoral Tribunal of
administration Panama (ETP)
 Ocean Dialogue to promote  between India and Norway
cooperation in the areas of mutual
78
interest pertaining to the

development of blue economy.
 MoU on cooperation in the field of  between India and Brazil
medicine and homeopathy
 Establishing mutual cooperation to  between India and Maldives
improve the ecosystems for
agriculture
 MoU on development cooperation in  between India and United Arab
Africa Emirates.
 Cooperation in agriculture and food  between India and Ukraine
industry
 MoU on field of biotechnology  between India and Finland
 MoU on promoting bilateral  between India and Uzbekistan
cooperation in the area of e-
Governance
 MoU on establishing ISRO’s TTC  Between India and Indonesia
station
 MoU on agreement for digital  Between Sikkim and Microsoft
learning
 MoU on Marine Pollution Initiative  between India and Norway
 MoU on Security Protection  between India and Sweden
Agreement
 MoU on strategic partnership  Edelweiss and Bank of Singapore
 MoU on Reciprocal Facilitation of  Between India and Morocco

procedures for issue of Business
Visa
 Facilitate Mutual Recognition of  between India and Morocco
Academic Qualifications
 MoU on Cooperation in the field of  between India and Vietnam
Communications
 MoU on simplification of visa  between India and South Africa
requirements
 MoU on combating Transnational  between South Korea and India
Crime and developing Police
Cooperation
 MoU on establish business centre for  Between India and Sri Lanka
ICT incubators in Jaffna
 MoU on Renewable Energy  India and Denmark

 MoU on area of Biotechnology  between India and Brazil
 MoU on field of Communications  India and Cambodia
 MoU on Traditional Systems of  India and Bolivia
Medicine and Homoeopathy
79
 MoU on issue jointly Postage Stamp  India and Republic of Korea

 MoU on Geology and Mineral  India and Bolivia
Resources
 MoU on smart cities, clean tech  India and Sweden
 MoU on bilateral cooperation in  India and Netherlands
various fields, including political,
economic scientific and cultural
 MoU on joint research and  Indian Navy and Council of Scientific
development of advanced and Industrial Research (CSIR)
technologies for the Indian Navy.
 MoU to conserve smaller wetlands to  Indian Space Research
combat effects of climate change Organisation (ISRO) has partnered with
the Central Marine Fisheries Research
Institute (CMFRI)
 MoU on research and education  Ministry of Ayush and Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR)
 MoU on Cyber Security Services  Network Intelligence and Bombay
Stock Exchange (BSE)
 MoU on Standardisation and  Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and
Conformity Assessment IIT Delhi
 India-Vietnam  Observing that Indian companies were
increasingly looking to invest in
emerging sectors like renewable
energy and energy conservation,
infrastructure, agriculture, agro-
products, textiles, pharma and oil and
gas, Shri Naidu informed him of India’s
commitment to address various issues
relating to market access and trade
barriers.
 Konkan Railways signs agreement  Konkan Railways Corporation Ltd
with Nepal (KRCL) on Friday signed an agreement
with Nepal’s Department of Railways
under which the former will supply two
1600 HP DEMU train sets.
 The agreement was signed in
Kathmandu in the presence of Indian
Ambassador to Nepal, Manjeev Singh
Puri, and Nepalese Ministry of Physical
Infrastructure and Transport Secretary,
Madhusudan Adhikari.
 The said trains will run on the 34 km
long stretch between Jayanagar in India
80
and Kurtha in Nepal.

 India and the United States  Agreed to strengthen economic co-
operation and bilateral trade by
ensuring greater collaboration amongst
stakeholders, including government,
businesses and entrepreneurs.
 A bilateral trade meeting was held
between the two countries in New
Delhi on Monday. Commerce and
Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu and
US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
co-chaired the meeting.
Current Affairs in Short

 Delhi Metro is India’s first project Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit devotees
to receive power from waste-to-energy assembled and prayed at the famous Ragnya
Delhi Metro became India’s the first ever Devi temple in Ganderbal district in J&K. It is
project to receive power from a waste-to- one of the biggest religious functions of the
energy plant. The Delhi Metro Rail Kashmiri Pandits.
Corporation (DMRC) started receiving 2 MW  Gandhi peace rally held in Saudi
power from a 12 MW capacity waste-to- Arabia
energy plant set up in Ghazipur, Uttar On Jue 7,2019, To mark the 150th birth
Pradesh. anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Indian
 Dr Harsh Vardhan reviewed the Embassy organized the ‘Gandhi Cycle Rally
status of Nipah virus disease in Kerala for Peace’, in Saudi Arabia. The rally was
Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health organized in association with the Diplomatic
and Family Welfare(MoHWF), reviewed the Quarter Authority and Saudi Cycling
status of Nipah Virus Disease (NVD) in Kerala Federation.
along with Ms. Preeti Sudan, Secretary (HFW)  Amazon beats Apple and Google to
and the Ministry officials. As of now, 15 become the world’s most valuable brand:
people are under observation in the state. Survey
 Rihanna named as world’s richest According to the report, “BrandZ Top 100
female musician with $600 million wealth Most Valuable Global Brand ranking
Singer Rihanna of age 31 is named as the 2019”, compiled by WPP research agency
world’s richest female according to Kantar states that American multinational
the Forbes magazine with an estimated technology company, Amazon has
fortune of $600 million. She overtook overtaken Apple and Google to become the
Madonna and Beyonce who topped the list world’s most valuable brand at $315.5 billion.
previously. She is from Barbados.  Central India got its First Sikh
 Annual festival of Kheer Bhawani Museum in Raipur, Chhattisgarh
Mela celebrated in J&K On June 7, 2019, Central India got its First
On June 10, 2019, Annual festival of Kheer Sikh Museum in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The
Bhawani Mela on Zeasht Ashtami was museum Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Sikh
celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Museum is located at Gurudwara Gurusingh
81
Sabha in Guru Nanak Nagar. It was Ambassador of Thailand to India, H.E

inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Chutintorn Gongsakdi.
Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Bagel on the ‘Shahidi  IIT-Bombay secured top position
Divas’ of the fifth Sikh Guru, Arjun Dev. among Indian institutions in QS World
 El Salvador Legislative Assembly University Ranking 2020
Declares “Forests as Living Entities” In the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World
The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador has University Ranking 2020, The Indian
recognized forests as living entities on Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-
the World Environment Day (5th June Bombay) emerged as India’s best institution.
2019). Its citizens will now be required to For the past three years, it has been securing
preserve forests and respect them as more the top position among Indian institutes. It
than just property. was followed by IIT Delhi and Indian
 PM Modi to attend the G7 Summit Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore. These
in France as a special invitee are the only three universities in India that
French President, Emmanuel Macron has made it to the top 200 universities in the
invited Prime Minister Mr. Narendra world.
Modi to attend the 45thsession of the G7  World’s largest multi-stage, multi-
Summit in Biarritz in France as a special purpose scheme Kaleshwaram Lift
invitee. The summit of the G7 group of Irrigation Project inaugurated in
countries scheduled to take place Telangana
from August 24 to August 26. The first phase of the world’s largest multi-
 Government reduced the ESI stage, multi-purpose scheme Kaleshwaram
contribution rate to 4% from 6.5% Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) worth Rs 80,000
On June 13, 2019, the Government reduced crore was inaugurated by the Chief Minister
the Employees State Insurance of Telangana Chandrashekar Rao at
(ESI) contribution rate to 4%from 6.5%. This Medigadda in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally
will benefit 36 million workers and 1.28 district near the borders with Maharashtra
million employers and will lead to an and Chhattisgarh.
estimated annual saving of around Rs 5,000  Saudi Arabia became the first Arab
crore for firms. The reduced rates will be country to get FATF membership
effective from July 1, 2019. The Central Saudi Arabia became the first Arab
government through the Ministry of Labour & country to get full membership of
Employment decides the rate of contribution the Financial Action Task Force(FATF).
under the ESI Act. With this, the number of permanent members
 3rd edition of Namaste Thailand in the group accounted to 39.
Festival 2019 concludes in New Delhi  An Entrepreneur Viral Sudhirbhai
A two-day event of Namaste Thailand Film Desai Changed Udhana railway station
Festival 2019 concluded its third edition at into India’s first Green Railway Station
Select Citywalk in New Delhi. It was Viral Sudhirbhai Desai, a young
organized by Royal Thai Embassy with an entrepreneur from surat launched an
aim to strengthen bilateral ties and increase initiative to change Udhana railway station
cultural exchange between India and in Gujarat into India’s first green and clean
Thailand. The festival was inaugurated by the railway station like Mumbai’s Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus.
82
 Government of Bihar bans tree- in Leh

felling A four-day event of 23rd Sindhu Darshan
Under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, The Festival 2019 celebrated at Sindhu Ghat
State Government of Bihar recently issued an Shey in Jammu and Kashmir’s Leh from 24 to
order banning felling of trees, citing 27 June 2019.
increasing pollution and heatwave.  AP gets separate HC from January 1
 UAE’s Financial Intelligence Unit Andhra Pradesh got a separate high court
launches UN-developed anti-money which will temporarily function from the
laundering platform ‘goAML’ Chief Minister’s camp office in Amravati, the
On June 23, 2019, The United Arab new capital of the state till a permanent
Emirates’ Central Bank in Abu Dhabi building for the High Court is being set up at
announced that it’s Financial Intelligence the ‘Justice City’in Amaravati.
Unit (FIU) launched a new reporting  U.S., Israel quit UNESCO citing bias
platform ‘goAML’ (global operations Anti- The United states of America
Money Laundering). It is developed by the (USA) and Israel officially quit the United
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
(UNODC) to curb organised financial crimes. Organization (UNESCO) amid concerns that
 Japan gifts Imphal Peace Museum the organization fosters anti-Israel bias.
to Manipur, built on WWII memories UNESCO was established in 1945 after the
On June 22, 2019, Japan gifted Imphal Peace end of world war II to foster peace and it is
Museum to Manipur to mark the best known for its World Heritage programs
75th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal, one which designates cultural sites and aims to
of the fiercest battles of the Second World preserve traditions.Both the countries filed
War, at Maibam Lokpa Ching popularly the notice to withdraw from the organization
known as Red Hill (about 20 km southwest in 2017. The United states, one of the
of Imphal). The inauguration was attended by founding member of UNESCO has
Manipur Revenue minister Karam Shyam, demanded “Fundamental Reform” in the
Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji organization.
Hiramatsu, High Commissioner of United  Govt Releases 6-Crore LPG
Kingdom Dominic Asquith and TNF Connections under PMUY
Chairman Yohei Sasakawa among others. Government gave out the 6-crore free
 Government schools to introduce cooking gas (LPG) connection as the scheme
Self Defence Training for girls under to make available cleaner fuel in every
Samagra Shiksha household kitchens under the Pradhan Mantri
Integrated Scheme for School Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
Education ‘Samagra Shiksha’ was launched Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu handed
by the Department of School Education and over papers for an LPG connection
Literacy which comes under the Ministry of to Jasmina Khatoon from Shivpark, Khanpur
Human Resource Development, effective from in New Delhi to mark the 6 crore LPG
the academic year 2018-19. The activity of connections under PMUY Under the scheme,
Self Defence training for girls comes under the government provides a subsidy of Rs
Samagra Shiksha. 1,600 to state-owned fuel retailers for every
 23rd edition of 4-day Sindhu free LPG gas connection that they give to poor
Darshan Festival held at Sindhu Ghat Shey households.
83
 ISRO launches ‘Samwad’ with India that were considered for the
students to engage them on space science ranking,While Maharashtra and Delhi came in
Indian Space Research Organisation second and third place, respectively.
(ISRO) launched a new platform named  Cyclonic Storm ‘PABUK’ over
“Samwad with Students” (SwS) as part of Andaman Sea & neighbourhood
the enhanced outreach programme and to On 5th January 2019, a warning was issued
engage youngsters across India to capture by The India Meteorological Department
their scientific temperament in Bengaluru. (IMD) that a Cyclonic storm
The first SwS event saw interaction of 40 “PABUK” over Andaman Sea and
students and 10 teachers from select schools neighbourhood is moving towards west-
with ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan during which northwestwards with a speed of 21
the students were briefed about Indian space kmph.Cyclone warning for Andaman Islands
programme and their benefits to the common is “ORANGE MESSAGE”.
man at the Anthariksh Bhavan, Bengaluru.  Cabinet approved 10 pc quota for
The Q&A session that followed saw Dr Sivan economically weaker sections in general
engaging students on a series of topics category
ranging from rockets, satellites, Chandrayaan, On January 7, 2019, the Union Cabinet
Gaganyaan and various space applications. chaired by Prime Minister Narendra
 Hundred percent household Modi approved 10 % quota in jobs and
electrification achieved in 25 states under educational institutions for economically
SAUBHAGYA scheme: Ministry of Power weaker sections in general category.
On December 31, 2018, the Minister of State For the implementation of the quota, Articles
(IC) for Power and New & Renewable 15 and 16 of the Constitution will have to be
Energy Shri RKSingh announced that 25 amended.
states have achieved 100 percent household This would be availed by those whose annual
electrification unde Centre’s ‘Pradhan Mantri income is below Rs 8 lakh and have up to five
Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana’ (Saubhagya). acres of land. The quota will be over and
The Government with the support of State above the existing 50 per cent reservation.
Power Departments and DISCOMs have  Union Cabinet cleared the redrafted
already connected about 2.39 Citizenship Amendment Bill
Crore households since launch of scheme On January 7, 2019, the Union Cabinet
Only about 10.48 Lakh households are left to chaired by Prime Minister Narendra
be electrified in 4 States viz., Assam, Modi cleared the redrafted Citizenship
Rajasthan, Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh. The Amendment Bill thus providing Indian
highest volume of electrification was done in citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh,
the State of Uttar Pradesh with 74.4 Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Lakh willing households being electrified in Focus:
all of its 75 districts.  First introduced in Parliament
 Andhra tops ACI’s Ease of Doing in 2016,the bill seeks to amend
Business index the Citizenship Act 1955.
In the latest ranking of Singapore’s Asia  It enables grant of Indian nationality
Competitiveness Institute’s (ACI), Ease of to people from minority communities —
Doing Business (EDB) index 2018, Andhra Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and
Pradesh emerged on top of the 21 states of Christians— from Afghanistan, Bangladesh
84
and Pakistan after six years of residence in On 9th January 2019, World Bank projected
India instead of 12 even if they don’t possess India’ GDP, expected to grow at 7.3% in the
any proper document. fiscal year 2018-19, and 7.5% in the following
 This would, however, nullify the two years. The Bank said India will continue
1985 Assam Accord under which any to be the fastest growing major economy in
foreign national, irrespective of religion, who the world. In India, the growth has
had entered the state after 1971 should be accelerated, driven by an upswing in
deported. consumption, and investment growth has
 Andaman to be First Island to firmed as the effects of temporary factors
operate seaplanes under UDAN-3 wane, the World Bank said in its latest report.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has approved  352nd Prakash Utsav of Guru
operations of seaplanes in the Andaman Gobind Singh celebrated on January 13
Islands under UDAN-3 (Ude Desh ka Aam On January 13, 2019, the 352nd birth
Nagrik) making Andaman the first island of anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru
India to operate seaplanes. Govind Singh ji, was celebrated as Prakash
The Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Suresh utsav at Patna Sahib, in Bihar, the birth
Prabhu has approved operations on 13 water place of Guruji.
aerodrome routes out of five are from PM released commemorative coin on Sikh
Andaman islands which others are from dams Guru Gobind Singh in New Delhi
in Gujarat and coastal areas in Kerala. The On January 13, 2019, Prime Minister
Islands of Andaman that would be connected Narendra Modi released a commemorative
through seaplanes are Campbell Bay, Car coin of 350 rupees on Guru Govind Singh
Nicobar, Havelock, Hutbay, Neil, Long island ji in New Delhi on the eve of 352nd birth
and Diglipur. anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru.
 Indian Army and Punjab National  DD Science and India Science: 2
Bank (PNB) singed MOU for updated National Level initiatives launched by DST
salary packages and Prasar Bharti in field of Science
On January 8, 2019, Indian Communication
Army and Punjab National Bank On January 15, 2019, Union Science &
(PNB) signed a Memorandum of Technology Minister, Dr. Harsh
Understanding (MoU) on the Defence Salary Vardhan inaugurated 2 national level
Package. initiatives in the field of Science and
 IRCTC tied up with Bharti AXA Communications.These initiatives are the first
General insurance company to offer free step in creating a national science channel for
travel insurance for air travelers the country.
On 9th January 2019,IRCTC tied up with  India-Myanmar bilateral army
Bharti AXA General insurance company to exercise, IMBEX 2018-19 held in
provide free travel insurance to the air Chandimandir
travellers. This insurance is applicable to only On January 14, 2019, India-Myanmar bilateral
those who book ticket in the official website army exercise, IMBEX begun at
of air ticketing irctc,IRCTC Air – air.irctc.co.in. Chandimandir , headquarters of the Western
 India’s GDP expected to grow at Command in Chandigarh.
7.3% in 2018-19: World Bank It is the second edition of the
IMBEX EXERCISE. The motive of IMBEX 2018-
85
19 are: .To train the Myanmar delegation for Jugnauth was the chief Guest of Convention.
participation in United Nations peace keeping The theme of this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya
operations under the UN flag. Diwas (PBD) convention was “Role of Indian
 Indian universities move up in Diaspora in building New India”.
global ranking with 49 institutions  Prime Minister launches Pravasi
On 15th January 2019, the London- Teerth Darshan Yojana
based, Times Higher Education On 22nd January 2019, Prime Minister
(THE) released the Emerging Economies Narendra Modi launched Pravasi Teerth
University Rankings 2019 report which Darshan Yojana in New Delhi. Under this
shows that India has improved its ranking scheme a group of Indian origin currently in
and secured a higher position different nations will be taken to all religious
with 49 institutions making it to the list. places in India twice a year.
According to this year’s report 25 Indian Focus
institutions figure in the top 200 institutes, a i. Eligibility criteria for the scheme is the
rise from 17 last year. The report stated that person should be Indian origin and aged
the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), between 45 to 65. The group will be selected
Bangaluru retains the highest spot for India out of them with first preference given to
(14th), followed by the Indian Institute of people from ‘Girmitiya Countries’ such as
Technology Bombay (27th). Last year India Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad
had 42 institutions in the overall list. and Tobago and Jamaica.
 Mukesh Ambani in Top Global ii. First batch with 40 members are at Pravasi
Thinkers List of Foreign Policy Bharatiya Divas and will begin their tour from
Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance there.
Industries, Mukesh Ambani who is also the iii. Religious places of all major religious in
Richest Indian, has been featured in the India are included in the scheme and
Top “Global Thinkers 2019”ranking Government will bear all the expenses
released by the prestigious Foreign Policy including the airfare from their country of
publishing. residence.
 Arunachal govt declares Pakke  Nari-Shakti’ is the Oxford
Paga Hornbill Festival as ‘state festival’ Dictionaries Hindi Word of the year for
On 20th January 2019, Arunachal Pradesh 2018
Chief On 26th January 2019,
Minister, Pema Khandu declared Pakke the Oxford Dictionaries announced that the
Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) as the “State word ‘Nari Shakti’ which is derived from
Festival” during a valedictory ceremony of Sanskrit has been chosen as the Hindi Word
the fourth edition of the festival at Seijosa in of the year for 2018.
East Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh.  Train 18 named Vande Bharat
 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Express: Piyush Goyal
Convention held in Varanasi, Uttar On 27th January 2019, Union Minister of
Pradesh Railways, Piyush Goyal announced
On 21st January 2019, the celebration that Train 18 which is India’s first
of 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was indigenously developed engineless semi
commenced in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Prime high speed train has been named as Vande
Minister of Mauritius, Mr. Pravind Bharat Express.
86
 Civil aviation ministry launched Tourism and Civil Aviation for Sikkim Ugen T
Country’s first GI store in Goa Gyatso in Zero Point, Gangtok, Sikkim.
On January 29, 2019,Civil Aviation minister  Pakistan Appoints Its First Ever
Suresh Pabhu launched the country’s first Female Hindu Civil Judge
Geographical Indication (GI) store On January 29, 2019,Suman
at Dabolim International Airport in Goa. Kumari became the first Hindu woman to
The GI stores will promote local products be appointed as a civil judge in Pakistan after
made by the artisans and handicrafts at the passing an examination for induction of
airport . judicial officers. .
ii. The store is set up by Airports Authority of The first judge from the Hindu community
India in partnership with The Cashew Export was Justice Rana Bhagwandas,who served
Promotional Council of India.The Plan of in pakistan from 2005-2007.
implementing 101 more stores are in  ISRO launched Human Space Flight
cards,which may extend to 201 stores in near Centre in Bengaluru
future. On 30th January 2019, Indian Space
 World Economic Forum Annual Research Organization (ISRO) launched
Meeting held in Davos the Human Space Flight Centre
From 22nd January 2019, the flagship event of (HSFC) which will act as the hub of ISRO’s
World Economic Forum, The World future manned missions at the headquarters
Economic Forum Annual Meeting- of ISRO in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
2019 was held in Davos-Klosters, India’s first manned mission was announced
Switzerland. The theme of the event was on 15th August 2018 and it is set to happen
“Globalization 4.0: Shaping a Global by 2022 which is going to be the 75th year of
Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Independence. Former ISRO chairman K.
Industrial Revolution”. The event concluded Kasturirangan unveiled the full scale model of
on 25th January 2019. Gaganyaan’s crew module in the presence of
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) ISRO’s chairman K. Sivan.
released its World Economic Outlook  Kala ghoda festival 2019 was held
Update in Davos, Switzerland. The report in Mumbai
stated that India’s gross domestic product On 2nd February 2019, the Kala ghoda
(GDP) is poised to grow by 7.5% in the 2019- festival-KAGF, India’s largest multi-cultural
20 fiscal and 7.7% in 2020-2021. street festival begins in Mumbai to celebrate
 Dubai Airport retains top position it’s 20 years of art and culture through
as world’s Busiest Airport cinema, theatre, dance, literature and
On 28th January 2019,Dubai International sculpture.
(DXB) airport became the world’s busiest  World heritage centre to be set up
airport for international passengers for the at Mayapur in West Bengal
fifth consecutive year in 2018. International Society for Krishna
 K J Alphons Inaugurated first Consciousness (ISKCON) has decided to set
Swadesh Darshan Project in Sikkim up a “World Heritage Centre” housing
On 28th January 2019, Union Tourism “spiritual camps” of 45 countries, at its
Minister K J Alphons Inaugurated first headquarter, Mayapur in Nadia district of
Swadesh Darshan Project in Sikkim. It was West Bengal. The camp of each country would
inaugurated in the presence of Minister of
87
reflect its culture, dress, lifestyle, food and Intelligence(AI) capabilities, Facebook has
ambiance. acquired US-based virtual search start-
 Words Count Festival 2019 was up, GrokStyle, at an undisclosed amount.
held in Pune GrokStyle was founded in 2015 and is based
On February 4, 2019, second edition of World in San Francisco, USA.
Count festival 2019 was held in Pune,  Meghalaya government to rename
Maharashtra, with an aim to bring together Dikki Bandi stadium after P A Sangma
speakers from several socio-political spheres On February 9,2019,The Meghalaya Cabinet
and share their insights on various issues. decided to rename the Dikki Bandi
 India’s 40th Communication stadium in Tura town after former Lok
Satellite, GSAT-31 has been successfully Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma.
launched from French Guiana Purno Agitok Sangma served as the Chief
On 6th February 2019, Indian Space Research Minister of Meghalaya from 1988 to
Organization (ISRO) successfully launched its 1990.Conrad K Sangma and James K Sangma
40th communication satellite “GSAT-31” from are sons of Purno A Sangma.
French Guiana by Arianespace launch vehicle.  `Exercise Rahat´ concluded in
It will replace the InSAT satellite. Jaipur on 12th February
 Boori Boot Yollo festival celebrated On 12th February 2019, Joint Humanitarian
Nyishi tribe in Arunachal Pradesh Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise
Nyishi tribe celebrated ’52nd Boori Boot `Exercise Rahat´ concluded in Jaipur,
Yollo festival’ with great enthusiasm to Rajasthan. It was demonstrated in Jaipur,
welcome spring and a successful harvest.It is Kota and Alwar in Rajasthan.
celebrated in the month of feb. Indian Army was represented by Jaipur based
Nyishi is the largest community Sapta Shakti Command. Representatives from
in Arunachal Pradesh,found in Daporijo, Armed Forces, National Disaster
Upper Subansiri Locale and Raga and Management Response Mechanism
Dollungmukh ranges of Lower Subansiri (NDMRM), SDMA Rajasthan and DLMAs
Region of Arunachal Pradesh. participated in the exercise. With a view to
 Hindi becomes the third high court cooperate efforts for humanitarian assistance
language in Abu Dhabi and Disaster Relief operations NDMA
Hindi is included as the third official coordinated the exercise.
language in the Abu Dhabi court  Nation’s first Aqua Mega Food Park
system with a motive to improve access to commissioned in AP by Harsimrat Kaur
justice for foreign workers . Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park, first aqua
Authorities have created bilingual language mega food park was commissioned
guides to explain complex legal terms in an by Secretary of Ministry of Food
effort to help people understand court Processing Industries (MoFPI), Pushpa
process. The other two official languages are Subrahmanyam on behalf of Food
Arabic and English. Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat
 Facebook acquires GrokStyle Kaur Badal via video conferencing in
virtual search start-up to boost AI Bhimavaram of West Godavari District
capabilities ,Andhra Pradesh.
In an attempt to enable users shop better The park is set up on 57.81 acre of land and
using Artificial the facilities at its Central Processing Centre
88
(CPC) includes pre-processing line, freezing worship the presiding deity of Attukal
and cold storage of fish and shrimp, an ice Bhagavathy temple.
plant and food testing laboratory..  Tele-law mobile app, Nyaya
 13th edition of International Oil & Bandhu launched by Department of Justice
Gas Conference & Exhibition ‘PETROTECH- On 19th February 2019, a tele-law mobile
2019’ held in New Delhi application ‘Nyaya Bandhu’ was launched by
The 13th edition of PETROTECH-2019 was the Union Minister for Law and Justice and
held at India Expo Mart in Greater IT Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Noida,National Capital Region,New  Union Minister of State Sadhvi
Delhi from 10th to 12th February 2019. It Niranjan Jyoti inaugurated first Mega Food
was organised by Oil and Natural Gas Park of Tripura
Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) in association with Union Minister of State for Food Processing
the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industries Industries,Sadhvi Niranjan
under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum Jyoti,inaugurated Tripura’s first mega food
and Natural Gas. The theme of PROTECH- park named Sikaria Mega Food Park Pvt
2019 was “Shaping the New Energy World Ltd at Village Tulakona in Agartala.
through Innovation & Collaboration”.  National War Memorial to the
 $40 million loan agreement signed nation dedicated to the nation by PM Modi
between Centre, Himachal Pradesh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to
World Bank for Shimla water supply the nation the National War
A loan agreement of $40 million (4 crore INR) Memorial(NWM) near India Gate in New
was signed between the Government of India, Delhi which commemorates the soldiers who
Government of Himachal Pradesh and World participated and made the supreme sacrifice
Bank, for bringing clean and reliable drinking in Peacekeeping Missions and Counter
water to the citizens of Greater Shimla area, Insurgency Operations.
who have been facing severe shortages of The complex includes a central obelisk,
water and water-borne epidemics in the last an eternal flame and six bronze
few years. murals depicting famous battles fought
Shimla Water Supply and Sewerage by Indian Army, Indian Air
Service Delivery Reform Programmatic Force and Indian Navy. Busts of
Development Policy Loan 1 is expected to the 21 awardees of Param Veer Chakra have
improve Water Supply & Sanitation been installed at Param Yoddha Sthal.
(WSS) services in and around Shimla.  Piyush Goyal initiated Rail Drishti
 Thiruvananthapuram to host Dashboard for passengers to promote
Attukal Pongala festival, world’s largest transparency
religious congregation of women Union Minister Piyush Goyal launched Rail
Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala shall host Drishti Dashboard, an online portal
the AttaukalPonkala festival-one of the containing information related to passenger
largest religious gathering of women on a and freight trains and links to live feeds
single day. of IRCTC kitchens.It has been developed by
The festival involves preparation the Centre for Railway Information System
of ‘Pongala’- a mixture of rice, jaggery and (CRIS).
scraped coconut cooked in fresh earthen or The URL of the dashboard
metal pots,by lakhs of women, in order to is raildrishti.cris.org.in and it is very well
89
optimized and user friendly so that those in  Prayagraj Kumbha Mela 2019
remote villages can also access and know makes it to the Guinness World Records
everything about railways. It can be accessed Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019 organised
using desktop/laptop or a mobile from 15th January 2019- 4th March 2019
device such as phone or tablet. in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), Uttar
 Southern Coast Railway: Piyush Pradesh has made it to the Guinness World
Goyal Announces New Railway Zone For Records in three sectors.
Andhra Pradesh These sectors are:
Union Railway Minister Piyush  The largest traffic and crowd
Goyal announced a new railway zone management plan.
for Andhra Pradesh, that is the Southern  The biggest painting exercise of public
Coast Railway and it will be headquartered sites under “Paint My City” scheme.
in Visakhapatnam.  The biggest sanitation and waste
it will be the 18th zone in the country. The disposal mechanism.
new zone will comprise the  Piyush Goyal dedicated NTPL’s
existing Guntakal, Guntur and Vijayawada d 1,000-MW thermal power project to the
ivisions that currently fall under the South country
Central Railway. The cost of creating Coal Minister Piyush Goyal dedicated to the
infrastructure for a new zone is around Rs. nation a 1,000-megawatt (MW) thermal
205 crore. power project of Neyveli Tamil Nadu
 Commemorative notes to be Power Ltd (NTPL) at Thoothukudi and
released to mark Gandhi’s 150th birth a 150-MW solar power projects of Neyveli
anniversary Lignite Corporation India
On 27th February 2019, a UAE based Limited (NLCIL) at Ramanathapuram and V
company will release 12 bank notes of irudhunagar districts in Tamil Nadu.
zero value which is the first ever limited  Malaysia joined the International
edition commemorative series to mark the Criminal Court
150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Malaysia became a member of
Gandhi. the International Criminal Court (ICC), the
 Mukesh Ambani becomes first world’s only permanent war crimes court
Indian to join top 10 richest list of Hurun which aims to prosecute the worst abuses
Research when national courts are unable or unwilling.
Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Malaysia is the 124th member of the court
Director Mukesh Ambani became the first since its establishment in 2002.
Indian and the only Asian to enter  A series of visually impaired
the Global top 10 richest billionaire list friendly Re 1, Rs 2, Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 20 coins
compiled by Hurun Research, China after unveiled by PM Modi
a USD 9 billion or 20% surge in his wealth Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the
to USD 54 billion. new series of visually impaired
India is at 5th spot with 104 billionaires. friendly coins of in the denominations of Re
Last year, the country had added 32 1, Rs 2, Rs 5, Rs 10 and Rs 20 at an event
billionaires, but this year it lost 28. held in New Delhi where visually impaired
Mumbai and New Delhi are the billionaire children were specially invited. All the new
capitals of the country. series coins will be issued for circulation only
90
through the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in Jomart Tokayev sworn in as president of
terms of the RBI Act. The exact date of Kazakhstan.The new president will serve
issuance of new series coins is yet to be till April 2020.
announced.  India becomes the 4th country to
 Saudi Arabia became the world’s conduct A-SAT missile test “Mission
largest importer of weapons, the position Shakti” successfully
held by India for a decade: SIPRI On 27 March 2019, India has proved its
India lost its position as the world’s largest capability of defending its outer space assets
importer of weapons, which it held for over a after Defence Research and Development
decade, with Saudi Arabia topping the global Organisation (DRDO) has conducted a
share of arms imports successful Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile
between 2014 and 2018, as per the data test “Mission Shakti” from the Dr APJ Abdul
published by the Stockholm International Kalam Island (earlier, Wheeler island) in
Peace Research Institute (Sipri), the Odisha. It took just 3 minute.This is India’s
leading Stockholm-based think tank that first successful Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile
measures weapons imports over five- test.
year periods. The target was hit by the DRDO
 India provides financial support of developed Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD)
USD 250 million to Nepal for Interceptor Missile, in Low Earth Orbit
reconstruction of infrastructures after (LEO) in a “Hit to Kill” mode at a height of 300
earthquake km from the earth’s surface. The satellite
India has provided a financial support worth used as target in the mission was one of
USD 250 million to Nepal, to reconstruct India’s existing satellites.
infrastructure in fields of housing, education, Mission Shakti is a joint programme of DRDO
health and cultural heritage, which had been and the Indian Space Research
ruined by the earthquake that took place on Organisation (ISRO). There are many
April 2015. countries which have A-SAT capability but it
 Brazil hosted first BRICS Sherpa has been demonstrated by only 4 countries:
Meeting United States, Russia, China and India.
On 15th March 2019, the first BRICS (Brazil,  South Korea unveils 5G networks
Russia, India, China and South Africa) early to secure world first
Sherpa meeting held in Curitiba, South Korea has unveiled the world’s first
Brazil under the Presidency of Brazil. Indian nationwide 5G mobile networks. This has
delegation was led by Secretary in the made South Korea to be the first providers of
Ministry of External Affairs T S Tirumurti. the super-fast wireless technology.
 Kazakhstan renames its capital  NITI Aayog & Rocky Mountain
Astana as Nursultan after ex-president Institute (RMI) ensures success of the
On 20th March 2019,Kazakhstan has FAME II Scheme
renamed its capital as Nursultan from its Under the Faster Adoption and
previous name Astana in order to recognize Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles II (FAME
its outgoing leader Nursultan II) scheme, the NITI Aayog and Rocky
Nazarbayev(78), who has served nearly 30 Mountain Institute (RMI) have released a
years as president of Kazakhstan. report titled ‘India’s Electric Mobility
The name was changed after Kassym- Transformation: Progress to Date and
91
Future Opportunities’. The report is based Dhabi International Book Fair, ADIBF 2019,
on opportunities for the automobile sector to attract a significant increase in the number
and government. of visitors with various events and activities.
 Around 5000 Konyak women  Union Territories and Twenty
dance to set a Guinness World Record at states join pan-India Single Emergency
Mon, Nagaland helpline Number ‘112’
On 8th April 2019, in the programme On 19th April 2019, To get immediate
organized at Mon (Nagaland) during assistance to the people who are in trouble,
the Aoleang Monyu festival (usually held Union territories and Twenty states have
between 1st April to 3rd April every year) joined in a pan-India network of single
around 5000 Konyak Naga women in their emergency helpline number ‘112’, which is
traditional attire attempted to set a Guinness implemented by central government’s
World Record for the ‘Largest Traditional Nirbhaya Fund( 2012 Delhi gangrape case).
Konyak Dance’. Police (100), women(1090) and fire(101)
 Guwahati Railway station becomes helpline numbers are amalgamated in this
the first to get ISO certification in India and is similar to ‘911’ in the US.
The Guwahati Railway Station has become Kerala, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar
the first ever railway station in the Indian Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal
Railways to get an ISO (International Pradesh, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu,
Organisation for Nagaland, Gujarat, Telangana, Lakshadweep,
Standardisation) certification from Andaman, and Nicobar Islands, Dadar and
the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Jammu and
 London becomes first city to Kashmir are the joined states and UTs.
implement 24×7 pollution charge zone  Indonesia releases Ramayana
On 8th April, 2019, London became the first stamp
city in the world to implement a Ultra Low On 23 April 2019, Indonesia released a
Emission Zone (ULEZ) for 24×7 hours a special stamp on the theme of Ramayana at
week, inside which vehicles will have to meet the 70th anniversary of the establishment of
tough emissions standards. diplomatic ties between India and Indonesia
This zone aims to reduce toxic air pollution event in the presence of India’ Ambassador
and protect public health. Pradeep Kumar Rawat and Indonesia’s
 Between 2010-’19, India’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abdurrahman
population grew at 1.2% average annual Mohammad Fachir.
rate: UN report  First Global Conference on
According to the United Nations Population Synergies between the 2030 Agenda and
Fund, India’s population grew to 1.36 Paris Agreement in Copenhagen, Denmark
billion at an average annual rate of 1.2% The first global multi-stakeholder conference
between 2010 and 2019 which stands more on synergies is summoned by (UN DESA)
than double the annual growth rate of China. the UN Department of Economic and Social
 India to be Guest of Honour Affairs and the (UN FCCC) United Nations
Country at Abu Dhabi International Book Framework Convention on Climate
Fair (ADIBF) 2019 Changebetween the 2030 Agenda for
On 12th April 2019, UAE selected India as Sustainable Development and the Paris
the Guest of Honour country at the Abu Agreement on climate change, was held
92
in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was hosted by According to World Bank’s Migration and

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Brief; with the Indian diaspora
the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate. sending 79$ billion back to their home
 India retains top spot with largest country, India retained its position as the
remittances globally, amounting to $79 in world’s top recipient of remittances in 2018.
2018: World Bank
Banking and Financial

RBI Fined on banks and Organization list
Banks/Organization Penalty Amount Reasons Penalty Date
 Citibank  Rs 3 crore  For non-  January
compliance in 11, 2019
criteria for
directors of the
bank.
 Bank of  Rs 1cr.  For non-  January

Maharashtra compliance of 16, 2019
Know Your
Customer
(KYC)
guidelines
and fraud-
classification
norms.
 Axis Bank, UCO  Total of  Axis Bank and  5th
Bank and Rs.5.2 UCO Bank has February
Syndicate Bank Crore been imposed with 2019
a Penalty of Rs.2
Crore each for
their not
commiting with
the norms related
to payment
through cheques.
 Further Axis Bank
has also imposed a
Penalty of 20
Lakhs for the
detection and
impounding of
counterfeit notes.
 SBI  Rs 1cr.  For not  7th
93
monitoring the February

end use of 2019
funds in
respect of one
of its
borrowers.
 Allahabad Bank  Rs 1.5 crs.  For not  8th
monitor February
ing end 2019
use of
funds,
delay in
classific
ation
and
reporti
ng of
fraud
and
non-
adhere
nce
with
RBI
guidelin
es
during
restruct
uring of
account
s in
respect
of one
of its
borrow
ers.
 PNB, OBC and  Rs 3.5  Due to deficiencies  14th
Bank of India crore in regulatory February
compliance with 2019
the directions
issued by RBI on
monitoring end
use of funds,
information
94
exchange with
other banks and
on restructuring of
accounts.
 OBC- 1.5Crs
 PNB-1cr.
 Bank of India-
1cr.
 Union Bank,Dena  Rs.11crs  Banks for non-  20 March
Bank strengthening of 2019
 IDBI Bank, ‘SWIFT’ related
Karnataka Bank controls
 PNB  Rs.2crs  For violation of  25 March
SWIFT norms 2019
 Nanital Bank  Rs. 2crs  Reason behind this  June
monetary penalty
was because of
Nanital Bank’s
failure to fully
automate the non-
performing asset
(NPA)
identification
process, despite
specific directions
issued in this
regard.
 Kotak Mahindra  Rs 2 crore  For not furnishing  10 June
Bank details about the 2019
shareholding of its
promoter and its
plans for
complying with
stake dilution
norms.
 ‘Yes Bank’ and  Rs.11.25  For violating PPI  On 12
Online lakh (prepaid payment June
Wallet Service, ’Zi instrument) norms 2019.
pCash Card pertaining to
Services’ issuance and
operation of PPIs.
 United India  5lakhs  For violating  4th jan
Insurance Co motor settlement 2019
norms
95
RBI BI-Monthly List

 6th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Released By Reserve Bank Of India (RBI)
On 7th February 2019,Reserve Bank of India(RBI)’s six-member monetary policy committee
chaired by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das released its 6th Bi-Monthly Monetary
Policy.This is the First Bi-Monthly Policy for Shaktikanta Das after he took charge as the RBI
Governor.
 RBI had reduced 0.25 basis points in the Policy Rates with immediate effect.The Change in
Policy rates are as follows:
Policy Rates 6th Bi-Monthly Monetary 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary
Policy(Feb 2019) Policy(Dec 2018)
Repo Rate 6.25% 6.50%
Reverse Repo Rate 6.00% 6.25%
Marginal Standing Facility 6.50% 6.75%
Rate
Bank Rate 6.50% 6.75%
Reserve Ratios 6th Bi-Monthly Monetary 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary
Policy(Feb 2019) Policy(Dec 2018)
Cash Reserve Ratio(CRR) 4% 4%
Statutory Liquidity 19.25% 19.5%
Ratio(SLR)
 First Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement for 2019-20-RBI cuts repo rate by 25
basis points
On 6th April 2019, Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s six-member monetary policy committee
chaired by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das released its 1st Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy for 2019-
20
Policy Rates 1st Bi-Monthly Monetary 6th Bi-Monthly Monetary
Policy 2019-2020(Apr- Policy(Feb 2019)
2019)
Repo Rate 6.00 % 6.25%
Reverse Repo Rate 5.75 % 6.00%
Marginal Standing 6.25 % 6.50%

Facility Rate
Bank Rate 6.25 % 6.50%
Reserve Ratios 1st Bi-Monthly Monetary 6th Bi-Monthly Monetary
Policy 2019-2020(Apr 2019) Policy(Feb 2019)
96
Cash Reserve 4% 4%
Ratio(CRR)
Statutory Liquidity 19.25% 19.25%
Ratio(SLR)
 Second Bi-Monthly Monetary  The interest rate on small-saving

Policy Of RBI 2019-20 schemes are kept unchanged by the
The Reserve Bank of Government
India (RBI) announced its second Bi- The interest rates on small-saving schemes
including Public Provident Fund (PPF) and
Monthly Monetary Policy Rates for
National Savings Certificate (NSC) have been
2019-20 in Mumbai on June 6, 2019.
kept unchanged by the Government for the
The three-day policy review meeting by April-June quarter of the financial year 2019-
the six members of Monetary Policy 20.
Committee (MPC) was headed by RBI The interest rate for Public Provident Fund
Governor Shaktikanta Das with (PPF) and National Savings Certificate (NSC)
the members Dr Chetan Ghate, Dr Pami will continue at 8 percent, while the interest
Dua, Dr Ravindra H. Dholakia, Dr Michael rate of Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) will be at 7.7
Debabrata Patra, Dr Viral V Acharya. The percent as against 7.3% earlier and mature
next monetary policy statement is in 112 months.
scheduled from August 5-7, 2019.  Average base rate to be charged by
NBFC and MFI is set at 9.21% by RBI
In a rare 6-0 majority, Repo rate was
Reserve Bank of India set the average base
reduced by 25 bps under the liquidity
rate to be charged by Non- Banking Financial
adjustment facility (LAF) to 5.75 per cent Companies (NBFC) and Micro Finance
for third time in a row. It fell below 6% institutions (MFI) at9.21% for the first
for the first time in 9 years since quarter (April to June).
September 2010.  Reserve Bank of India received a
huge response for introducing a $5-billion
Repo Rate 5.75% swap facilityfor the banks to facilitate
Reserve Repo Rate 5.50 permanent liquidity
To ease the liquidity crunch, Reserve Bank
Marginal Standing Facility(MSF) 6.0%
of India will buy dollars from banks for three
Rate
years and offer them rupees in return, which
Bank Rate 6.0%
will bulk up the central bank’s foreign-
exchange reserves while injecting cash into
Cash reserve Ratio(CRR) 4% the banking system.
Statutory Liquidity Ratio(SLR) 19% Banks offered $16.31 billion at the auction
 Manappuram Finance withdrew a against the notified amount of $5 billion for
release which had issued earlier regarding the rupee-dollar swaps and out of this $16.31
securing debt funding from NABARD billion received via 240 offers by market
Manappuram Finance, a Non-banking participants, the RBI accepted $5.02 billion
finance company withdrew a release which via 89 offers.
had issued earlier regarding securing Rs 695
crore debt funding from NABARD.
97
 Govt decides to infuse Rs 5042 Cr appointment of LIC as a corporate agent

into Bank Of Baroda ahead of the merger under bancassurance channel.
The government has decided to infuse a iii) The appointment of MR Kumar as the
capital of 5,042 crore rupees into state- Chairman of Life Insurance Corporation of
owned Bank of Baroda ahead of its merger India (LIC), Hemant
with two other public sector lenders Dena Bhargava ceases to be the Non-Executive
Bank and Vijaya Bank,with Bank of Baroda chairman of IDBI Bank as he no longer heads
which would be effective from 1st April the parent company LIC.
2019.  SBI, ICICI and HDFC named as
 Bank of Baroda inked MoU with 6 Systemically Important Banks by RBI
firms to develop “Baroda Kisan” Reserve Bank of India named State Bank of
Bank of Baroda has signed memorandum of India, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank as
understanding (MoU) with six firms namely Domestic Systemically Important Banks
Skymet Weather Services, Weather Risk (D-SIBs). The banks which are too big to fail
Management Services, BigHaat, Agrostar are named by the RBI annually since 2015.
India, EM3 Agri Services and Poorti Agri  SBI introduced “YONO Cash” for
Services to develop “Baroda Kisan”. It will cardless ATM withdrawal
provide solutions for all major agricultural The State Bank of India has launched a new
requirements through its holistic approach. service called ‘YONO Cash’ for its customers
 RBI notifies 2% interest subsidy using which customers can withdraw money
through “Interest subvention scheme” for from ATMs without using debit cards.YONO –
short-term crop loans You Only Need One.
The Reserve Bank of India notified a 2%  PNB ranks highest in
interest subvention or Subsidy for short- implementation of ‘Reforms agenda’
term crop loans during 2018-19 and 2019- According to BCG-IBA Report on EASE
20. Reforms index released by Union Minister
 IDBI Bank categorized as Private of Finance & Corporate Affairs, Punjab
Sector Lender by RBI National Bank (PNB) which is fraud hit
The Reserve Bank of India categorized IDBI bank, secured the top spot among all public
Bank as a Private Sector Bank with effect sector banks in the implementation of
from January 21, 2019 following Life ‘Reforms agenda’.
Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is  Commemorative notes to be
acquiring 51 per cent of the total paid-up released to mark Gandhi’s 150th birth
equity share capital of the bank. anniversary
Important Point: UAE based company will release 12 bank
i)IDBI Bank has been under the Prompt notes of zero value which is the first ever
Corrective Action (PCA) framework of RBI limited edition commemorative series to
which bans it from corporate lending, branch mark the 150th birth anniversary of
expansions, salary hikes and other regular Mahatma Gandhi.
activities.  DCB Bank launches Open Banking
ii) IDBI has charted out a revival strategy to Platform for next generation banking
bring banking and insurance under one roof solutions
along with LIC. The bank also informed about As part of efforts towards creating a
collaborative ecosystem with enterprises,
98
fintechs and app developers, and enhancing boost the trade between India and Iran
customer-service delivery, Development amidst US sanctions on Iran.
Credit Bank (DCB) Bank announced the  National Housing Bank proposes
launch on its Open Banking Platform. stricter regulations for Housing Finance
 India’s first policy to protect bank Companies
locker launched by IFFCO Tokio General National Housing Bank (NHB), a mortgage
Insurance sector regulator and a fully owned subsidiary
IFFCO Tokio General Insurance launched of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
‘bank locker protector policy’, the first decided to impose stricter regulations on the
stand-alone bank locker cover offered by Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) to
any insurance company with a plan to protect prevent them from falling prey to liquidity
the contents of a bank locker such as jewelry, and credit risks.
title documents, and other valuables.  SBI and Hitachi Payment
 PSBloansin59minutes.com Services launched SBIPSPL to
emerged as the largest fintech establish digital payments platform
lending platform in India
PSBloansin59minutes.com has State Bank of India (SBI) and Hitachi
become the largest fintech online Payment Services Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned
lending platform, as quoted by a subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd, launched their
merchant-acquiring joint venture, SBI
report from Credit Suisse. The portal Payment Services Pvt Ltd (SBIPSPL), for
was launched in November 2018 by establishing a digital payments platform for
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India and other countries in the region, in
It provides loans amounting up to Rs 1 crore Mumbai.
to micro, small and medium enterprises  Rise in Banks’ reliance on bulk
(MSMEs) in just 59 minutes. deposits predicted by India Ratings and
 Lowering of fees for Brokers, Research
exchanges approved by SEBI board India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra)
SEBI board with a view to making more predicted that the dependence of Scheduled
cost-effective trade in Indian stock market commercial banks on bulk deposits shall
approved lowering of fees charged from witness an increase if credit growth is higher
brokers, stock exchange and the companies than deposit growth.
seeking to get listed. The system level credit growth of 12.9%
The fees payable to brokers is reduced by year-on-year continues to be greater than
33.33% from Rs.15 per crore of 9.3% deposit growth and thus banks are keen
transactions to Rs.10. In case of agri- on harnessing more deposits.
commodity derivative transactions, the fee  Bank of Baroda becomes one of the
would be reduced sharply by 93.33% from first PSBs to launch creche/day-care
Rs.15 to just Re.1 facility for employees’ children
 IDBI Bank gets govt nod to handle Bank of Baroda has become one of the first
import and export transactions with Iran public sector banks to launch a crèche/child
The government has given a nod to the IDBI day-care facility for children of its employees.
Bank to handle import and export The day-care facility has been launched at its
transactions with Iran. This has been done to Mumbai corporate office in Bandra Kurla
99
Complex and is being mulled further on The State Bank of India has initiated a new
being implemented at the head office in ‘doorstep banking’ service for senior
Vadodara, Gujarat. citizens, differently-abled and infirm account
 114th Foundation Day celebrated holders as well as visually impaired
by Corporation Bank customers.
Corporation Bank celebrated its 114th Cost for availing these services would be Rs
Foundation Day at various centres of the bank 100 for each financial transaction and Rs
across the nation and undertook 114 60 for each non- financial transaction.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Those aged above 70 years would be treated
activities to mark the day. as senior citizens for the facility.
 HDFC just becomes the third Indian  SBI signed MoU with Bank of China
company to achieve a market value of for business opportunities
more than Rs.6 trillion State Bank of India (SBI) signed a pact with
HDFC Bank became the third Indian the third largest Bank in the world by capital
company after Reliance Industries (Rs. size,Bank of China (BoC) to boost business
8.52trillion) and TCS (Rs. 7.49 trillion) to opportunities. It will enhance the business
achieve a market value of Rs. 6 trillion, owing cooperation between both the banks.
to a sudden upsurge in its share prices. Note
 A new 50p ‘black hole’ coin in i)It will facilitate the two major banks to
honour of Stephen Hawking’s work provide its clients access to banking
unveiled by Royal Mint products and services of each other. It will
The Royal Mint has honoured Stephen be mutually beneficial for both the banks and
Hawking’s legacy by issuing a new 50 the two largest and fastest growing
pence piece. economies.
The coin has drawn its inspiration from ii)India’s largest lender SBI already has a
Hawking’s work on black holes discussed in branch in Shanghai and Bank of China, one
his bestselling book- A Brief History of of the major players in the Chinese banking
Time. The coin has his name engraved along sector is planning to open its branch in
with an illustration of concentric circles that Mumbai.
represent a black hole.  ICICI Prudential Bharat
 India provides financial support of Consumption Scheme was launched by
USD 250 million to Nepal for ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund
reconstruction of infrastructures after ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund launched
earthquake ICICI Prudential Bharat Consumption
India has provided a financial support worth eScheme to get advantage from the Indian
USD 250 million to Nepal, to reconstruct consumption market, which is considered as
infrastructure in fields of housing, education, one of the fastest growing consumption
health and cultural heritage, which had been markets globally.
ruined by the earthquake that took place on  Bank of Baroda inked MoU with 6
April 2015. firms to develop “Baroda Kisan”
 Doorstep Banking for Senior Bank of Baroda has signed memorandum of
Citizens, Differently-Abled And Infirm understanding (MoU) with six firms namely
Persons introduced by SBI Skymet Weather Services, Weather Risk
Management Services, BigHaat, Agrostar
100
India, EM3 Agri Services and Poorti Agri of Swift transaction logs with effect from
Services to develop “Baroda Kisan”. It will February 20, 2018 at 226 “low intensity
provide solutions for all major agricultural branches” of the bank.
requirements through its holistic approach.  India’s Unemployment Rate
 RBI will infuse Rs. 37,500 shot up to 7.2% in Feb’19: CMIE
Crore into the system through OMO
On 26th February 2019, The Reserve Bank of The unemployment rate in India rose
India announced that in order to increase to 7.2% in February 2019, the highest
liquidity, it will infuse Rs. 37,500 crore into since September 2016, and up
the system through purchase of government from 5.9% in February 2018, according to
securities under Open Market Operations data compiled by the Centre for Monitoring
(OMOs) in February. Indian Economy (CMIE).
The infusion will be made through three The number of employed persons in India
auctions of Rs 125 billion each during the was estimated at 400 million in February
2nd, 3rd and 4th week. The aggregate amount 2019 compared with 406 million last year.
will be Rs 375 billion.  HDFC becomes the third Indian
 Cabinet approvedRs.1450 company to achieve a market value of
crore for share capital of RBI in more than Rs.6 trillion,
NHB HDFC Bank became The third Indian
company after Reliance Industries (Rs. 8.52
trillion) and TCS (Rs. 7.49 trillion) to
Cabinet approved Rs.1450crfor the share
achieve a market value of Rs. 6 trillion, owing
capital of RBI in National Housing Bank
to a sudden upsurge in its share prices.
(NHB), which operate as the principal agency
 RBI has given its approval to
to promote housing finance institutions in
Bandhan Bank to acquire Gruh Finance
India. The decision is the resultant of the
Reserve Bank of India provided a no objection
amendments made to the NHB Act, 1987 in
to Kolkata headquartered Bandhan Bank for
2018..
the proposed acquisition of Gruh Finance.
 RBI constituted a panel under Gruh Finance Limited,a Ahmedabad
Usha Thorat on Offshore Rupee headquartered Subsidiary of HDFC
markets Limited, is a Housing Finance Company
Reserve Bank of India has constituted a (HFC) recognized by the National Housing
task force which will be headed by its former Bank (NHB) and it was taken over in January
deputy governor, Usha Thorat to examine by Kolkata-based Bandhan Bank in a share-
issues related to offshore rupee swap deal.
markets and recommend policy measures.  Exim Bank agreed to grant $83
The 8-member task force will aim to ensure million line of credit to Congo for
stability of the external value of the domestic financing 3 solar power projects
currency. Export-Import Bank of India (Exim
The motive behind this is to develop deep and Bank) signed a loan agreement on behalf of
liquid on-shore financial markets that will act the government of USD 83.11
as a price setter of the Rupee globally. million (approx Rs.5,72,08,76,850) to Congo
State Bank of India- Rs. 1 crore for delaying for financing three solar power projectsin
the implementation of the daily reconciliation the central African country.
101
It aims to provide support for financing three report of banks under the Right to
solar photovoltaic power projects with a total Information (RTI) Act until and unless they
capacity of 35 megawatts in the three are exempted under law. The bench has also
provinces — Karawa, Mbandaka, and directed the RBI to review its policy to
Lusambo.. disclose information relating to banks under
 India extends Rs. 35.5 million RTI.
financial grant to Nepal  IRDAI set up Suresh Mathur
India extended a financial grant of 35.5 Committee comprising of 13 members to
million Nepalese rupees to Nepal for the review regulatory framework on micro-
construction of an educational campus to insurance
boost the learning environment of the The Insurance Regulatory and
students. The educational campus was jointly Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
inaugurated by District Coordination set up a 13-member committee in order to
Committee and Campus management review regulatory framework on micro
committee on 22nd March 2019. insurance, and suggest the steps to be taken
 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has to raise demand for such products in India by
appointed a five-member committee recommending product designs with
under the chairmanship of Nandan customer-friendly underwriting, example,
Nilekhani to strengthen digital payments easy premium payment methods and simple
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed claims settlement procedures.
5-member committee under the Note-
chairmanship of Nandan i)The committee was formed because of less
Nilekani to strengthen digital payments as than desired offtake of microinsurance
well as to boost financial inclusion through products in spite of their immense benefits in
Financial Technology.It will provide India.
recommendations in 3 months. ii)It will also give recommendations about an
i. The decision regarding the formation of alteration in distribution structure, that is,
committee was taken during the first event of creating effective awareness programmes
Financial Technology (Fintech) Conclave, and making web-based technology-driven
which was organized by NITI Aayog in New solutions.
Delhi.  State Bank of India (SBI) launched
ii. The purpose of the event was to shape India’s first ‘Green Car Loan’ (Electric
India’s predominance in FinTech, build the Vehicle) to encourage customers to buy
future strategy and policy to uplift the electric vehicles
financial inclusion. On World Earth Day- April 22, 2019 the State
iii. With the revolution in the FinTech sector Bank of India (SBI) has launched India’s first
India’s aim is to emerge as a 10 trillion ‘Green Car Loan’ (Electric Vehicle) to
dollar economy. encourage customers to buy electric vehicles.
 SC gave ultimatum to RBI to The new scheme ‘Green Car Loan’ will offer
disclose information under RTI Act loan at 20 basis points lower than the
Recently, Supreme Court bench headed by interest rate on the existing car loan schemes.
Justice L Nageswara Rao has directed the  Bank of Baroda becomes the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to disclose 3rd largest bank after its merger
information related to its annual inspection
102
with Dena Bank & Vijaya Bank After the Capital infusion, the shareholding of
government in Bank of Maharashtra has
On April 1, 2019, the merger of Dena Bank increased to 87.74 % from 87.01%.
and Vijaya Bank into Bank of Baroda has  World Bank estimates India’s GDP
come into effect. With this grow to 7.5% in Fiscal Year 2019-20
amalgamation, Bank of Baroda becomes The World Bank notified that India’s
the India’s second largest public sector consistent hold in investment sector,
bank and third largest commercial mainly private-improved export
bank after State Bank of India performance and resilient consumption,
(SBI) and HDFC Bank. has led its GDP growth forecast to mount
to 7.5 per cent for fiscal year 2019-20.
 Consulting arm of Infosys will  India’s growth rate to increase
buy 75% stake in Dutch Bank from 7.3% in 2019 to 7.5% in 2020
Subsidiary According to the World Economic Outlook
(WEO) report released by International
Consulting arm of Global IT Services Monetary Fund (IMF), India’s growth rate is
major, Infosys will buy 75% stake in Starter estimated to rise from 7.3% in 2019 to
NV which is a subsidiary of Dutch based ABN 7.5% in 2020 provided it receives impetus
AMRO Bank for $144 million (approx. Rs from the fiscal policy and is backed by the
999 crore) in an all-cash deal. ongoing recovery of investment and
This move is aimed at strategic partnership in consumption within expanded approach
Netherlands. ABN Amro which is the third of monetary policy.
largest bank of Netherland will hold the  HDFC Bank ranked No. 1 in India by
remaining 25 per cent stake in Starter NV. the survey of Forbes
 One97 Communications- On 12th April 2019, as per the first edition
owned Paytm Money Gets SEBI of Forbes World’s Best Bank survey, HDFC
Bank has been recognized as number 1
Approval for Stock Broking bank by customers in India.
One97 Communications-owned Paytm  DBI Bank launches NRI-Insta
Money, the wealth management arm of Online, A paperless account opening
Paytm, has got approval from the Securities facility for NRIs
and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to start IDBI Bank has launched ‘NRI-Insta Online’
offering a stock broking service such as the account opening process for NRIs residing in
ability to trade in equities and cash segments, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) member
derivatives, and exchange-traded funds countries to open an account in the Bank
(ETFs) among other exchange-traded without visiting the branch or submitting
products. paper documents such as physical documents
 Government infused Rs 205 as well as KYC proofs. This online facility is
crore into Bank of Maharashtra available in IDBI Bank’s website.
 Bandhan Bank got the approval
Government infused a capital of Rs. 205 from CCI to acquire Gruh Finance
crore into the state owned Bank of On 16th April 2019, Kolkata-
Maharashtra in lieu of preferential allotment based Bandhan Bank has received the
of shares. approval of the Competition Commission
103
of India (CCI) for the acquisition of Gruh the first co-origination loan agreement
Finance which is the affordable housing (designed at Rs.10,000 to 2 lakh) with State
finance arm of HDFC Ltd in a share-swap Bank of India (SBI). The company expects to
deal. The approval has been given under the pay out 200,000 loan applications in FY20.
sub-section (1) of Section 31 of  NTPC Inked Term-Loan Agreement
the Competition Act, 2002. of Rs.2,000 crore with Canara Bank
 BSE, India INX- the first ever Indian On 5th April 2019, National Thermal Power
exchanges to sign MoU with MOEX Corporation(NPTC) has signed a term- loan
BSE (earlier called Bombay Stock Pact of Rs.2,000 crore with Canara Bank.
Exchange) and INX (India International The Loan facility prolonged at an interest rate
Exchange) are the first Indian exchanges to linked to 3-Month MCLR of Bank. The lent
sign MoU (Memorandum of amount would be utilized to part finance
Understanding) with MOEX (Moscow Exch company’s capital expenditure.
ange) in order to allow capital formation  ADB agreed to grant highest-ever
platform and connect investor community USD 3 billion in sovereign loans to India
and companies in both India and Russia. On 16th April 2019, Asian Development
 RBI is going to issue new Rs 20 Bank (ADB) agreed to provide a total of USD
denomination banknote with greenish- 3.88 billion in sovereign loans to India in
yellow colour 2018, which is the highest ever loan amount
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will issue since sovereign operations began in the
new Rs 20 denomination banknotes having a country in 1986.
base colour of greenish -yellow with size of 1) With this total USD 21.6 billion in loans,
63 X 129 mm. The first Rs 20 notes were granted from ADB’s own resources, which
issued in the Mahatma Gandhi Series in exceeded the target of USD 19.71 billion and
August 2001. up 10 percent from 2017.
 Kotak Mahindra Bank becomes the 2) ADB committed several projects like a USD
first Destination Bank to launch debit card 100-million loan to Ostro Kutch Wind,
based e-mandates On NPCI’s E-Mandate which is a renewable energy company for
API Platform constructing and operating a 250-megawatt
Kotak Mahindra Bank (Kotak) has launched wind power project in Gujarat, also
the first debit card-based authentication provided USD 30 million in equity and USD
solution on NPCI’s (National Payments 20 millionin debt security to Annapurna
Corporation of India) e-Mandate (electronic Finance, a microfinance company.
mandate) API (Application Program 3) In 2018, ADB signed an arrangement with
Interface) platform, thus being the first ever the International Solar Alliance for
Destination Bank to go live with both Net promoting solar energy deployment across
Banking and Debit Card-based e-mandate Asia, the Pacific, and South Asia.
authentication. 4). ADB continued to deliver climate
 SBI signs its first ever co- financing to USD 3.6 billion in 2018 and has
origination loan agreement with PAISALO a target to double its annual climate
Digital Limited financing to USD 6 billion in approvals by
With the profound vision of empowering the 2020.
‘Agri’, ‘MSME segment’ and small  Exim Bank gives loans worth 267$
businesses, PAISALO Digital Limited signed million for projects in Rwanda
104
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notified existing plans, namely, Health Guard policy
that Exim Bank has proffered soft loans by Bajaj Allianz General Insurance and
worth 266.6$ million to Rwanda for various iSecure policy by Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance.
projects.  SBI General launched cyber
 for supporting agricultural projects defence insurance
 for the development of Special SBI General Insurance has launched its new
Economic Zones (SEZs) product – cyber defence insurance to
 for financing road projects in Rwanda. protect businesses from financial and
 Wirecard joined hands with RBL reputational losses due to cyber attacks.
Bank to drive financial inclusion  Indiabulls General gets preliminary
Germany-based global provider of digital nod to foray into non-life business
payments and commerce solutions Indiabulls General Insurance has received R1
Wirecardentered into a partnership with approval to its proposed general insurance
RBL Bank to promote financial inclusion in business and preliminary to approval foray
India. into the non-life business from the Insurance
i)The move will make digital payment and Regulatory and Development Authority of
banking transactions easily accessible to all India (IRDAI) respectively.
Indian citizens.  Bank of Maharashtra and
ii)With this partnership with RBL, Wirecard’s M1Xchange join hands for MSME bill
customer service representatives will be able discounting
to access basic payment and banking services State-owned Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has
which include cash withdrawals and deposits partnered with M1Xchange TReDSplatform
as well as balance inquiries. They also can for Micro,Small and Medium
offer an even broader range of digital Enterprises(MSMEs) bill discounting.Trade
financial services. Receivables Discounting System (TreDS) is a
 BEML joined hands with Syndicate digital platform to assist MSMEs to get their
Bank for financing Earth Moving and bills financed at a competitive rate through a
Construction Equipment vendue where multiple registered financiers
Syndicate Bank and BEML Limited (Bharat can participate.
Earth Movers Limited) have signed an  Canara Bank: India’s First Public
agreement for financing Earth Moving and Sector Bank To Meet RBI’s EMV Mandate
Construction Equipment which is Global provider of real-time electronic
manufactured by BEML. Also, it will facilitate payment and banking solutions, ACI
the availability of loans and address the Worldwide, notified that India’s public
growing demand for higher capacity sector bank, Canara Bank has successfully
equipment in the Mining Industry. rolled out new functionality that supports
 Bajaj Allianz General Insurance in a EMV (Europay, MasterCard and Visa) card
partnership with Bajaj Allianz Life acquiring across its ATM (Automated Teller
Insurance launched their 1st product: Machine) network and Aadhaar
‘Total Health Secure Goal’ Authentication, thus becoming the 1st in the
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance collaborated market to leverage ACI’s UP Retail Payments
with Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance to launch solution and the 1st public sector bank to
their 1st product titled ‘Total Health Secure shift to EMV chip and PIN for card based
Goal’.The product is a combination of 2 transactions across the country’s vast ATM
105
network. ii)After 12 years LIC has to decrease stake in

 RBI sets WMA Limit for IDBI Bank by 10 per cent to 40 per cent.
Government at Rs 75000 crore for the first  The RBI issued Rs. 50
half of the FY 2019-20 denomination bank notes in Mahatma
The Reserve Bank of India has set the limits Gandhi (New) Series bearing the
for Ways and Means Advances (WMA) to Rs. Governor’s signature
75000 crore for the first half of the financial The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued Rs. 50
year 2019-20 (April 2019 to September denomination banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi
2019). As and when the government of India (New) Series that bore Shri Shaktikanta Das’
utilises 75% of the WMA limit, the central (Governor of RBI) signature.
bank would activate fresh floatation of i)The design of these notes is exactly similar
market loans. to the ‘Rs 50 banknotes’ in Mahatma Gandhi
The rate of interest issued on the Ways and (New) Series.
Means Advances (WMA) will be Repo Rate ii)The RBI notified that all bank notes in the
while the overdraft will exceed the Repo Rate denomination of Rs. 50 issued by the Central
by flat 2%. The WMA needs to be vacated Bank in the past will continue to be legal
after 90 days. tender.
 Fitch kept India’s rating unchanged  RBI gives HDFC’s proposal for
at BBB- with Stable outlook holding 9.9% stake in Bandhan Bank
Fitch Rating affirms India’s sovereign rating The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) has
at the lowest investment grade of BBB-with a granted approval to HDFC Ltd for holding
stable outlook. The growth rate of India up to 9.9% stake in Bandhan Bank
forecasted by Fitch is 6.8% in financial year following the Gruh Finance deal.
2019-20 and 7.1% in FY 2020-21. Gruh Finance is the housing finance arm of
 RBI grants 12 years to LIC for HDFC Ltd and was taken over in January by
reducing stake in IDBI Bank Bandhan Bank in a share-swap deal.
Life Insurance Corporation(LIC), the largest  RBI becomes the first APAC (Asia-
insurance company in India, got 12 years Pacific) central bank to begin interest rate
from RBI for cut down stake in IDBI Bank.LIC easing cycle
is the lender’s major shareholder, and it has a The Fitch ratings notified that the Reserve
51 per cent stake in the Bank. It means that Bank of India (RBI) becomes the first central
no obligation to sell its stake in the following bank in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC) to
years or would probably spend higher money begin an interest rate easing cycle floated by
to keep its stake in any future fund raising by benign food inflation and easier global
the bank. financial condition.
Note-  RBI gives approval for e-mandates
i)Insurance Regulatory and Development to facilitate Internet Banking, Debit Cards
Authority (IRDAI) claimed that LIC can take to NPCI
up to 15 percent stake in any bank,which can The National Payments Corporation of India
stretch up to 30 percent as per the board (NPCI) has received approval from the
approval.But the insurance regulator has Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to implement e-
authorised LIC to hold up to 51 percent in mandates (electronic mandates) for internet
IDBI Bank in 2018. banking and debit cards, which will allow the
users to automatically deal with their
106
recurring payments.  Kotak Mahindra Bank becomes the

The limit for each mandate is set at Rs 1 Lakh, first Destination Bank to launch debit card
and depending on the usage, the organisation based e-mandates On NPCI’s E-Mandate
will review the limit from time to time. API Platform
 RBI extends the previous Kotak Mahindra Bank (Kotak) has launched
ombudsman scheme to non-deposit taking the first debit card-based authentication
NBFCs having asset size of Rs.100 crore or solution
higher on NPCI’s (National Payments Corporation of
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended India) e-Mandate (electronic mandate) API
the ombudsman scheme coverage to non- (Application Program Interface) platform,
deposit taking (NBFCs) Non-banking thus being the first ever Destination Bank to
Financial Companies having an asset size of go live with both Net Banking and Debit Card-
Rs.100 crore or higher. based e-mandate authentication.
This was notified in the Statement of  Emirates Islamic, a bank in Dubai,
Developmental and Regulatory Policies under becomes the world’s first Islamic bank to
the Monetary Policy statement. launch banking via WhatsApp
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Emirates Islamic bank launched a chat
has proposed strict rules on opening and banking facility for its customer via
running of current accounts of corporate Whatsapp and become the world’s 1st bank
borrowers in order to tackle fund in the Islamic banking sector to give such
diversion. facility.
India’s Central Bank, the Reserve Bank of  Indian Overseas Bank
India (RBI) would tighten rules on opening introduced “Bank on Wheels” for door-
and operating current accounts of corporate
step banking facility
borrowers to prevent the diversion of funds.
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has launched a
RBI had notified that the banks with
mobile van facility named “Bank on Wheels”
collection accounts will have to transfer funds
in 14 districts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the
to the current account and the current
Vijayawada region of Andhra Pradesh to
accounts could be opened only with the lead
provide door-step banking facility, especially
bank of a lending association.
for senior citizens.
 A quasi-cryptocurrency called as
“Learning Coin,” launched by The World
 Srei Equipment Finance ties up
Bank and the International Monetary with Oriental Bank of Commerce to
Fund (IMF) offer loans for purchase of equipment
Two international financial institutions the under a co-lending arrangement
World Bank and the International Srei Equipment Finance tied up with
Monetary Fund (IMF) have launched a Oriental Bank of Commerce to offer loans
private blockchain and quasi-crypto currency for the purchase of equipment under a co-
called as “Learning Coin” for better lending arrangement. Srei Equipment Finance
understanding of blockchain technology and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Srei
the function of crypto assets. Infrastructure Finance.
 Standard Chartered launched
Trade AI Engine in partnership with IBM
Standard Chartered in partnership with IBM
has launched the Trade AI Engine which will
107
automate the high- risk process of trade  SBI has joined hands with FMCG
documentation. It will enhance client Arm of The Art of Living — Sri Sri Tattva
experience through increased operational State Bank of India (SBI) has tied up with the
efficiency and strengthened operational FMCG arm of The Art of Living, Sri Sri Tattva
control. This newly launched Trade AI Engine under which SBI’s YONO users can avail a
will replace the Traditional documentary discount of 15% on the entire range of
trade consisting of millions of data elements products offered by Sri Sri Tattva such as
in paper-based that are reviewed through a food, personal care, healthcare, homecare,
largely manual process. BYOGI apparels and Shankara skincare
 SEBI constituted panel suggested products. YONO is an integrated digital
significant changes to FPI Regulations banking platform of SBI.
Securities and Exchange Board of India  Karnataka Bank introduced
(SEBI) constituted panel suggested Savings Bank product named “KBL SB
significant changes to Foreign Portfolio Salary” for salaried class
Investors (FPI) Regulations including Karnataka Bank has launched a customized
simplified registration requirements for product for the salaried class. The new
certain categories and barring entities that savings bank product, KBL SB Salary has
fail to furnish beneficial ownership details. It been designed with three variants namely SB
has sought the comments from the public on Salary Executive, SB Salary Prime, and SB
this regard till June 14, 2019. Salary Classic to cater the financial needs of
 Corporation Bank launches ‘Corp the ‘employer-employee ecosystem’.
SME Suvidha’ for GST- registered MSMEs  Mutual funds get SEBI nod to invest
Corporation Bank has launched a new in exchange-traded commodity
product named ‘Corp SME Suvidha’ for GST- derivatives
registered Micro, Small and Medium The Securities and Exchange Board of India
Enterprises (MSME). It was launched by PV (SEBI) has given its consent for the
Bharathi, Managing Director and Chief participation of mutual funds
Executive Officer of Corporation Bank in (MF) in Exchange-Traded Commodity
Mangaluru in the presence of Gopal Murli Derivatives (ETCD) except sensitive
Bhagat, Executive Director and general commodities. The participation of MFs is
managers. allowed through hybrid schemes, which
 SEBI & IRDAI to introduce include the multi-asset scheme and gold ETFs
Regulatory Sandbox Framework for (Exchange-traded fund).
Fintech Startups
On the lines of the initiative taken by Reserve
Bank of India (RBI), regarding the setting up
of the regulatory sandbox (RS) in its draft
“Enabling Framework for Regulatory
Sandbox” in April for fintech innovations; the
market watchdog Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI) and insurance
watchdog Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
have also introduced the similar RS.
108
 World Bank and CBA joined hands  RBI directs banks to enhance
for World’s first Blockchain Bond housing loan limits for eligibility under
Transaction priority sector lending
International Bank for Reconstruction and To include the RRBs (Regional Rural Banks)
Development (IBRD, World Bank) in and SFBs (Small Finance Banks) in the same
partnership with Commonwealth Bank of level as the
Australia (CBA) enabled recording of other Scheduled Commercial Banks, (RBI)
secondary market bond trading using Reserve Bank of India has notified them to
blockchain technology. With this, Bond-i enhance housing loan limitsto individuals
become the first bond whose issuance and up to Rs 35 lakh in metropolitan centres
trading is recorded on a blockchain platform. (which would have a population of over 10
lakhs) and Rs 25 lakh in other centres,
 Ola launches Ola Money SBI Credit under Priority sector Lending (PSL).
Card  RBI has published ‘Payment and
Transport Company, Ola Cabs has launched Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019 –
Ola Money SBI Credit Card in partnership 2021’ to promote innovation, cyber-
with SBI Card to provide a flexible and security, financial inclusion
convenient payment system to its customers. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its
The credit card is powered by Visa. statement on ‘Payment and Settlement
 Tripura Gramin Bank among top Systems in India: Vision 2019–2021’, which
RRB performer in the country notifies the steps that RBI will take to
Tripura Gramin Bank is among India’s top promote innovation, cyber-security,
three Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) out of financial inclusion, customer protection,
45 Regional Rural Bank in terms of profit, and competition through which the vision
business, and growth. Tripura Gramin Bank looks forward to achieve a ‘highly digital’
has emerged as one of the top performers in and ‘cash-lite’ society.
the banking sector in the 2018-19 financial The report consists of 36 specific action
year across the country, investing heavily to points with 12 specific outcomes, based on
promote entrepreneurship. different inputs from stakeholders and
 HDFC Capital Advisors launched an guidance of the Board for Regulation and
initiative termed as HDFC Affordable Real Supervision of Payment and Settlement
Estate and Technology Programme Systems.
(HeART)  Nandan Nilekani-led panel
HDFC Capital Advisors, (a wholly-owned submitted report to RBI regarding the
subsidiary of HDFC Ltd) launched an promotion of digital payments
initiative termed as HDFC Affordable Real The Central Bank notified that the (Reserve
Estate and Technology Programme Bank of India) RBI-appointed committee
(HeART), the objective of which is to mentor, chaired by Nandan Nilekani, Aadhaar
partner and invest in real estate technology architect, submitted the panel’s suggestions
companies which produce innovative on promoting digital payments to
products that aim at lowering costs and Shaktikanta Das, the Governor of RBI.
creating efficiencies in every stage of the  Bank credit has increased by
development cycle of the affordable housing 18.5% to infrastructure sector in FY19
system. In accordance with the data compiled by
109
Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the bank credit  RBI formed two separate 6
has been mounted member panels to strengthen the sale of
by 18.5% to Rs 10.55 lakh crore for stressed corporate assets and housing
infrastructure in financial year 2018-19. It is loan portfolios
highest since 2012-13 fiscal. Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has formed two
 RBI publicized draft circular on separate 6 member panels to strengthen the
“liquidity risk management for NBFCs “ sale of stressed corporate assets and housing
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has loan portfolios. The six-member task force on
introduced the “Liquidity Risk Management the development of the secondary market is
Framework for Non- Banking Financial headed by its chairperson, T. N. Manoharan,
Companies and Core Investment Chairman of Canara Bank and will submit its
Companies” for public comments by June 14, report by the end of August 2019. Panel for
2019. The eligible entities for this draft housing loan securitization is headed by
framework are all deposit-taking NBFCs; non- Bains and Co. advisor, Harsh Vardhan.
deposit taking non-banking financial  ICICI Bank along with online travel
companies (NBFCs) with an asset size of over booking portal Goibibo launched co-
Rs 100 crore and all core investment branded multi-currency card
companies (CICs) registered with RBI. Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation
 RBI modified the norms on VRR of India (ICICI) Bank along with online travel
investment by FPIs booking portal Goibibo launched co-branded
Reserve Bank of India has modified the multi-currency card- Goibibo ICICI Bank
norms on Voluntary Retention Route (VRR) Travel Card. Customers can use one card for
investment by Foreign Portfolio Investors multiple currencies and enjoy discounts on
(FPIs) by fixing the investment limit at Rs. flights and hotel bookings.
54,606.55 crores. Now FPIs can invest up to  Paytm collaborated with Citibank
Rs 54,606.55 crore under the VRR, which to launch its 1st credit card called ‘Paytm
allows parking funds in both government First Card’
securities as well as corporate debt. The digital payments company Paytm has
 RBI has increased the transfer collaborated with Citibank and launched its
timings of RTGS from 4.30 pm to 6 pm 1st credit card called ‘Paytm First Card‘. This
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended is the first card of its kind launched in India
the time window of Real Time Gross by the American card company, which has
Settlement (RTGS) for customer transactions similar exclusive partnerships across sectors
from 4.30 pm to 6 pm. The move has been in the US.
taken due to the increase in the number of  ADB (Asian Development Bank)
transactions by 8% to Rs 1,335 crore in launched $5 Billion Healthy Oceans Action
March 2019. There has been 12% rise in an Plan at its 52nd Annual Meeting
aggregate amount of transactions, year-on- Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched 5$
year, which amounted to Rs 1,255.51 crore. billion Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and
It will come into effect from June 1. Sustainable Blue Economies for the Asia
and Pacific region. This will support ADB’s
developing member countries’ efforts for
achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
110
(SDGs), inclusive of the SDG 14: Life Below  HDFC ERGO and IBM to jointly setup
Water. data lab in India to improve business efficiency
 Bank Credit up by 13.24% and and profitability HDFC ERGO, General Insurance
Deposit up by 10.03% in FY19 Company and IBM, technology giant, announced
to jointly setup data lab in India to improve
According to Reserve Bank of India data, the
business efficiency and profitability. It will analyze
bank credit grew by 13.24 percent in the customer data and develop customized
financial year 2019 (FY19) to Rs 97.67 lakh solutions.
crore as compared to 10.3 percent in FY18  Rs 70,000 crore NPA recovered via
and the deposits up by 10.03 percent in IBC in FY19
FY19 to Rs125.72 lakh crore as compare to According to Crisil Ratings (formerly Credit
6.7 percent in FY18. Rating Information Services of India Limited)
 Bharti Airtel and HDFC Life tied up report, in the year 2018-19, Rs 70,000 crore
to offer insurance for prepaid customers bad loans were recovered through the
Bharti Airtel and the Housing Development Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) with a
Finance Cooperation (HDFC) Life had tied recovery rate of 43 percent in 94 cases. The
up to offer life cover for customers at a IBC has recovered bad loans two times the Rs
prepaid recharge of Rs 249. This new Rs 35,500 crore through previous resolution
249 prepaid recharge will include 2 GB data, mechanisms like Debt Recovery Tribunal and
unlimited calls across all the networks and Lok Adalat.
100 SMS per day with an insurance cover of  Repo-linked home loan (Sbi)
the worth of Rs 4 lakh from HDFC Life. The State Bank of India (SBI) announced to
recharge validity is for only 28 days. introduce repo-linked home loan
 HDFC collaborated with IMGC product from July 1, 2019. It has become the
(India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation) first bank to offer this facility. It means any
for a mortgage guarantee-backed home changes in the key interest rate by the central
loan bank would be passed on directly to the
Mortgage guarantee is a financial product customers.
which compensates lending institutions for  Government Met The Fiscal
the losses that may occur when a home
Deficit Target Of 3.4% For FY 2018-19
owner defaults on a mortgage loan.
Government has met the fiscal deficit
 SIDBI’s pilot scheme for fintech
NBFCs to give financial assistance up to Rs. target of 3.4% for the Financial Year
10 crore to boost digital lending 2018-19. The fiscal deficit stood
Small Industries Development Bank of at 3.39% against the estimated rate of
India (SIDBI) has launched a pilot scheme 3.4%. The data was released by the
for fintech Non Banking Financing Controller General of Accounts (CGA). It
Companies (NBFCs) to give financial was met through a reduction in
assistance up to Rs. 10 crore in order to government spending, which also
boost digital lending. contributed to GDP growth slowing to
SIDBI has set the credit exposure limit to a 5.8% in the fourth quarter of FY19.
new fintech NBFC to 30% of the Net-Owned
Fund(NOF) of the new fintech NBFC, with the
maximum capital of Rs. 10 crores.
111
 ONGC overtakes IOC to become a  RBI formed panel led by Nandan

most profitable PSU Nilekani recommended to rope in local
India’s top oil and gas producer, ONGC retailers to act as cash points
(Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) has The Reserve bank of India(RBI) formed
become India’s most profitable Public panel led by Nandan Nilekani has
sector Undertaking after surpassing recommended to rope in local retailers
Indian Oil Corp (IOC). and business correspondents to act as
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, cash points in semi-urban centers. These
ONGC reported a 34 percent jump its net will act as the primary source of cash in
profit to Rs 26,716 crore. This profit is semi-urban centers and will replace ATMs
much higher than IOC’s (Indian (Automated Teller Machines).
Oil Corporation) reported a profit of  RBI removed charges for RTGS
Rs 17,274 crore. and NEFT transactions
 IOCL, BPCL and HPCL to form a The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has
Joint Venture for Kandla-Gorakhpur removed the charges levied on Real Time
LPG pipeline project Gross Settlement (RTGS)and National
On June 3, 2019, Indian Oil Corporation Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)
Limited(IOCL), Bharat Petroleum transactions to boost digital payments.
Corporation Limited (BPCL)  RBI to create foreign exchange
and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation trading platform for retail participants
Limited(HPCL) signed an agreement to On June 6, 2019, the Reserve Bank of
form a Joint Venture(JV) in New Delhi for India (RBI) announced to set up
laying the world’s longest Liquefied a foreign exchange trading platform
petroleum gas(LPG) for retail participants. This is to create a
pipeline from Kandla, Gujarat to market infrastructure that ensures fair
Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. and transparent pricing for users of
 AAI (Airports Authority of India) foreign exchange like Small and Medium
signs technical assistance pact with Enterprises (SME) exporters & importers
Boeing and individuals.
The National Airports body Airports  RBI relaxed leverage ratio for
Authority of India (AAI) signed technical banks to 3.5%
assistance agreement with American On June 6, 2019, The Reserve Bank of
multinational corporate, Boeing to India (RBI) relaxed the Leverage
jointly develop a 10-year Ratio (LR) for banks to 3.5%. This is
roadmap which will improve flexible use done to help them in order to expand
of airspace, enhance communication, their lending activities. The LR is reduced
surveillance and help to maintain efficient to 4% for Domestic Systemically
aircraft operations. Important Banks (D-SIBs).
LR is defined under Basel-III norms, Tier
1 Capital as a percentage of the bank’s
exposure. It was introduced for banks
112
post-financial crisis of 2008. The  Kazakh-Indian Investment

minimum requirement for LR set by the Forum held in Ahmedabad
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision Kazakh-Indian Investment Forum was
(BCBS) is 3%. Banks have been required held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on June 7,
to publicly disclose their Basel III leverage 2019, to attract investments. It was
ratio on a consolidated basis from 1 April organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan
2015 quarterly. LR is one of the 4 in India with the support of the Honorary
indicators under the RBI’s Prompt Consulate of Kazakhstan in the state of
Corrective Action (PCA) framework and Gujarat Dilip Chandan, the National
an important supplement to the risk- Company- Kazakh Invest and Jain
based capital requirements. International Trade Organization.
 RBI eased regulations for BSBD  RBI formed a committee headed
Accounts by VG Kannan, IBA Chief to review ATM
Nation’s apex bank Reserve Bank of India pricing
(RBI) has relaxed the regulations The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
for Basic Savings Bank Deposit constituted 6-member
(BSBD) Accounts aka “no-frills” accounts committee headed by VG Kannan, Chief
as a part of the financial inclusion drive. Executive of Indian Banks’ Association
Now, the BSBD account holders will get a (IBA) to review ATM pricing.
cheque book and certain minimum i. It will review the existing interchange
facilities, free of charge by the bank. fee and pricing structures to reduce
Also, there will be no requirement of prices for customers on Automated Teller
maintaining a minimum balance in lieu of Machines (ATM) transactions with a
such additional facilities. Previously broader objective to improve rural
additional facilities for these accounts penetration of teller machines.
attract the requirement of maintaining a  Japan will invest Rs 13,000
minimum balance and other charges. crore in North-East in infrastructure
Kotak Mahindra Bank was penalized projects
with Rs 2 crore by Reserve Bank of India On June 12, 019, The Government of
for not meeting ownership rules Japan has decided to invest an amount
Reserve Bank of India has penalized Kotak of 205.784 billion Yen, nearly Rs 13,000
Mahindra Bank with Rs. 2 crores for crore in several ongoing as well as new
not furnishing details about the infrastructure projects in the North-East
shareholding of its promoter and its plans Region. This was announced after a
for complying with stake dilution norms. meeting of Development of North-East
Region (DoNER) Minister Dr Jitendra
Singh with the Japanese delegation led by
Ambassador Mr Kenji Hiramatsu.
113
 A penalty of Rs.11.25 lakh (RBI) in January 2019, headed by the

imposed on ZipCash, Yes Bank by RBI former Securities and Exchange Board of
On June 12, 2019, The Reserve Bank of India (SEBI) Chairman U K
India slapped a monetary Sinha submitted its report to RBI
penalty Rs. 11.25 lakh each on Private Governor Shaktikanta Das on June 17,
sector lender ‘Yes Bank’ and Online 2019. The panel was formed to suggest
Wallet Service, ’ZipCash Card long-term measures for the economic and
Services’ for violating PPI (prepaid financial sustainability of the MSME
payment instrument) norms pertaining to sector.
issuance and operation of PPIs. The Committee suggested doubling
The fine imposed in exercise of powers collateral-free loans for MSMEs to Rs 20
vested under Section 30 of the Payment lakh from Rs 10 lakh. This is also
and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, for applicable to Micro Units Development
non-compliance of regulatory guidelines. and Refinance Agency (Mudra) and Self-
 Dell tops the list of most trusted Help Groups (SHGs).
brand in India, while Amazon is most  BDC under EAC-PM headed by
trusted Internet Brand: TRA Research Professor Bibek Debroy submitted its
2019 report
According to the report “Brand Trust Beekeeping Development
Report, 2019”, by Trust Research Committee (BDC) under the Economic
Advisory (TRA), Dell tops the list as the Advisory Council to the Prime
most trusted brand for 2019 in India. It is Minister(EAC-PM) headed by Professor
followed by automobile Bibek Debroy submitted its report to the
brand Jeep, and LIC (Life Insurance Prime Minister on June 26, 2019. It was
Corporation of India). framed with the objective to identify ways
 Facebook confirmed the launch of advancing beekeeping in India.
of cryptocurrency ‘Libra’ in 2020 To recognize honeybees as inputs to
On June 8, 2019, Facebook confirmed agriculture and consider landless
that it will launch a blockchain-powered Beekeepers as farmers.
stable-coin ‘Libra’ in 2020 through the  RBI panel led by U.K. Sinha
release of white paper. It will be a form of suggests Rs.5,000 crore stressed asset
digital money backed by a reserve of fund for MSMEs
assets. It will be governed by the On June 25, 2019, The Reserve Bank
independent Libra Association, released the report of the expert
headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. committee under former SEBI (Securities
 RBI panel on MSMEs headed by and Exchange Board of India) chairman U
U K Sinha recommended to double K Sinha on measures for the economic
collateral-free loans limit to Rs 20 lakh and financial sustainability of the MSMEs
The 8 member panel on Micro, Small and (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises).
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),  RBI recommends Commercial
constituted by the Reserve Bank of India Banks to adopt Education Loan Scheme
114
On June 24, 2019, India’s central banking  High-Level Group headed by Dr.
institution, The Reserve Bank of Surjit S. Bhalla recommendations for
India (RBI) has advised all Scheduled Trade and Policy
Commercial Banks to adopt Education The Union ministry of commerce had
Loan Scheme which is formulated constituted a high-level advisory group
by Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). headed by economist Dr. Surjit S. Bhalla,
Model Education Loan Scheme: The IBA member of the Prime Minister’s Economic
scheme circulated to all member Banks Advisory Council on Foreign trade policy
including State Bank of India (SBI) for for ways to boost India’s share and
providing financial support to importance in global merchandise and
meritorious students for pursuing higher services trade.
education in India and abroad.  RBI relaxed the leverage ratio
Note (LR) for banks to help
i) Loan up to Rs 10 lakh for study in India banks expand lending
and upto Rs 20 lakh for study abroad. The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) relaxed
ii) Collateral free loans upto Rs 7.5 Lakh the leverage ratio (LR) for banks in a bid
under the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme to help them expand their lending
for Education Loans (CGFSEL). activities. The leverage ratio (LR) reduced
iii) No Margin for a loan up to Rs 7.50 to 4% for Domestic Systemically
Lakh. Important Banks (DSIBs) and 3.5% for
iv) Repayment period of 15 years. other banks with effective from October
1, 2019.
GDP FORCASTING
Organization 2018-19 2019-20
 Fitch 7.2% 6.6%
 UN report 7.4% 7.1%
 Government of India 7.2% 7.5%
forecasted
 Moody 7.3%
 ADB 7.2%
 World Bank 7.3% 7.5%
 World Economic 7.3%(2019) 7.5%(2020)
Outlook released by
International
Monetary
Fund (IMF)
 FICCI 7.1%
 Organisation for 7.5%
Economic Co-
115
operation and
Development
(OECD)
 DBS Bank 6.8%
 Goldman Sachs 7.2%
 Central Statistics 7%
Office (CSO)
Payment Bank & Headquarter & Tagline & their Heads
Chairma
Payment Bank Headquarter Tagline MD/ CEO/ CMD
n
Banking Is Now At
Airtel Payment Bank Sunil
Your Fingertips
(1st Payment Bank, New Delhi Anubrata Vishwas Bharti
India’s First Payment
April 1 2016) Mittal
Bank
Mahendra
Qadar Aapki Mehnat
FINO Payment Bank Mumbai Rishi Gupta Kumar
Ki
Chouhan
Indian Post Payment Aapka Bank Aapka Suresh

New Delhi Suresh Sethi
Bank Dwar Sethi
YOUR EVERYDAY
BANK For all of your Vivek
Jiyo Payment Bank Mumbai H Srikrishnan
payments, banking Bhandari
and financial needs
Vijay
Simplifying Payments
Paytm Payment Bank Noida Satish Kumar Gupta Shekhar
For India
Sharma
Aditya Birla Payment Get To Know Us Sudhakar Himanshu

Mumbai
Bank Better Ramasubramanian Kapania
116
Technology Trust and Mr. B. A.

NSDL Payment Bank Mumbai Mr. G. V. Nageswara Rao
Reach Prabhakar
Vodafone M-Pesa Suresh

Mumbai -- Sunil Sood
Payment Bank Sethi
Bank Name & CEO of Bank & Headquarter & Tagline

S.No. Bank Name CEO of Bank Headquarter Tagline
1. Allahabad Bank S. S. Mallikarjuna Kolkata A tradition of

Rao trust
2. Andhra Bank J Packirisamy Hyderabad Where India
Banks
3. Bank of Baroda P. S. Jayakumar India’s
Vadodara International
Bank
4. Bank of India Dinbandhu Mumbai Relationships
Mohapatra beyond
Banking
5. Bank of A. S. Rajeev Pune One Family One
Maharashtra Bank
6. Canara Bank Rakesh Kumar Bangalore Together we
Sharma (lying vacant can
after his term
completed)
7. Central Bank of Pallav Mahapatra Mumbai Central To you
India Since 1911,
Build A Better
Life Around Us
8. Corporation Bank P.V. Bharathi A Premier
Mangalore Public Sector
Bank,
Prosperity for
all
117
9. Dena Bank Karnam Sekar Mumbai Trusted Family

Bank
10. Indian Bank Padmaja Chunduru Your Tech-
Chennai friendly bank
11. Indian Overseas Karnam Sekar Good people to

Bank Chennai grow with
12. Oriental Bank of Mukesh Kumar Jain Gurugram Where every

Commerce individual is
committed
13. Punjab & Sind S. Hari Shanker New Delhi Where Service
Bank Is A Way Of Life
14. Punjab National Sunil Mehta New Delhi The Name you
Bank can Bank Upon
15. State Bank of Rajnish With you all the
India Kumar (Chairman) Mumbai way, Pure
Banking
Nothing Else,
The Nation’s
banks on us
16. Syndicate Bank Mrutyunjay Manipal Faithful.
Mahapatra Friendly
17. UCO Bank Atul Kumar Goel Kolkata Honors Your
Trust
18. Union Bank of Rajkiran Rai G. Mumbai Good people to
India bank with
19. United Bank of Ashok Kumar Kolkata The Bank that
India Pradhan begins with “U”
20. Vijaya Bank R. A. Sankara Bangalore A Friend You
Narayanan Can Bank On
Private Sector Banks and their CEOs & MDs

Bank CEO / CMD / Head Headquarter Tagline
Axis Bank Chairman of Axis Bank Mumbai Badhti Ka Naam
Rakesh Makhija Zindagi
118
Bandhan Bank Chandra Shekhar Kolkata, West Aapka Bhala, Sabki

Ghosh (MD & CEO) Bengal, India. Bhalai
Anup Kumar Sinha
(Part time Chairman)
Catholic Syrian S. Anantharaman Thrissur Support all the way
Bank (Chairman) C. VR.
Rajendran (MD & CEO)
City Union Bank Mahalingam (Non- Tamilnadu Trust and Excellene
Executive Chairman) since 1904
Dr. N. Kamakodi (MD &
CEO)
Dhanalakshmi T Latha (MD & CEO) Thrissur,Kerela Tann. Mann. Dhan
Bank
Federal Bank Shyam Srinivasan (MD Kerala Your perfect banking
& CEO) partner
HDFC Bank Aditya Puri (MD) Mumbai We understand your
world
ICICI Bank Girish Chandra Mumbai Khayaal Apka
Chaturvedi (Chairman)
Mr. Sandeep Bakhshi
(MD & CEO)
IDFC First Bank Vaidhnathan Mumbai Banking Hatke
IndusInd Bank R Seshasayee Mumbai We make money
(Chairman) Romesh simple
Sobti (MD & CEO)
Jammu & Kashmir Parvez Ahmed Srinagar Serving to Empower
Bank (Chairman & CEO)
Karnataka Bank Jayarama Bhat (Non- Mangalore Your family bank
Executive Chairman) across India
Mahabaleshwara M. S
(MD & CEO)
Karur Vysya Bank Swaminathan (Non- Tamilnadu Smart way to bank
Executive Chairman) P.
R. Seshadri (MD & CEO)
Kotak Mahindra Dr. Shankar Acharya Mumbai Lets make money
Bank (Non-Executive simple
Chairman) Uday Kotak
(MD & CEO)
Lakshmi Vilas Parthasarathi Tamilnadu The Changing Face of
Bank Mukherjee (MD & CEO) prosperity
119
Nainital Bank Mukesh Sharma Nainital Banking with personal

(Cahirman & CEO) touch
RBL Bank Prakash Chandra (Non- Maharashtra Apno ka Bank
Executive Chairman)
Vishwavir Ahuja (MD &
CEO)
South Indian Bank Salim Gangadharan Kerala Experience next
(Non-Executive generation banking
Chairman) V. G.
Mathew (MD & CEO)
Yes Bank Ltd. Ravneet Singh Gill Mumbai Experience our
(frontrunner for MD & expertise
CEO) Brahm Dutt (Non-
Executive Chairman)
DCB BANK Mumbai We Value You
Small Finance Banks and their Headquarters, Heads and

Taglines:
Name of Small Finance Headquarters MD & CEO Taglines
Bank
AU small finance Bank Jaipur ,Rajasthan Sanjay Agarwal ‘Chalo Aage
Limited Badhe’
Equitas small Finance Chennai,Tamilnadu P N Vasudevan ‘Its Fun Banking’
Bank Arun
Ramanathan(Chairman)
Capital Lab Small Jalandar,Punjab Sarvajit Singh Samra Viswas se Vikas
Finance bank Inder Krishan tak’
sardana(Chairman)
ESAF Small Finance Thrissur,Kerala K Paul Thomas Joy of Banking’
Bank Raveendranathan
Prabha (chairman)
FINCARE small finance Bengaluru,Karnataka Rajeev Yadav ‘a new era in
Bank smartbanking
begins’
120
Janalakshmi small Bengaluru,Karnataka Ajay Kanwal Likho Apni

Finance Bank (Jana SFB) Kahaani
North East Small Guwahati,Assam Rupali Kalita Your Door step

Finance Bank Banker’
Suryodaya Small Navi R Bhaskar Babu A bank of smiles
Finance Bank Mumbai,Maharashtra
Utkarsh Small Finance Varanasi,U.P Raghvendra Singh Aapki Umeed Ka
Bank Khata’
Ujjivan Small Finance Bengaluru,Karnataka Samit Ghosh We belive in
Bank your belief
Obituary
Persons About
 Ruma Guha  Bengali singer-actress
 Dinyar Contractor  Actor and Padma Shri awardee
 Malcolm John Rebennack  Six-time Grammy-winning musician
 Girish Karnad  Veteran actor and playwright (1998
Jnanpith award, 1974 Padma Shri and
1992 Padma Bhushan award for
literature.)
 Lalrinchhana  Former Mizoram minister and MNF
(Mizo National Front) leader passed
away after battling with cancer.
 Mohan Ranade  Veteran freedom fighter Mohan
Ranade passed away in Pune,
Maharashtra at the age of 90. He
participated in the Goa Liberation
Movement.
 Vijaya Nirmala  Veteran Telugu actor-film Maker G
Vijaya Nirmala passed away following a
brief illness in Hyderabad.
 Kader Khan  Veteran actor-writer

 
 CH Loknath  Veteran Kannada actor
 Dibyendu Palit  Bengali writer and Sahitya Akademi
awardee
121
 Ramakant Achrekar  Dronacharya awardee and cricketer

 Lenin Rajendran  Malayalam Director
 Sir Michael Atiyah  Fields Medal-Winning Mathematician
 Vishnu Hari Dalmia  Vishwa Hindu Parishad
 Mary Oliver  Pulitzer Prize-winning
 Sitanshu Yashaschandra  Gujarati poet awarded Saraswati
Samman (‘Vakhar)
 Krishna Sobti  Jnanpith awardee , Hindi fiction writer
 George Fernandes  Former defence minister
 Albert Finney  Actor (five time oscar nominee)
 Mahesh Anand  Bollywood actor
 Manfred Eigen  German Nobel Prize winning Chemist
 Andrea Levy  Best-selling British Author
 Namwar Singh  Hindi author and literary
 Zhores Alferov  Russian Nobel Prize winner for physics in
2000
 Bill Playle  Former New Zealand batsman
 V. Dhananjaya Kumar  Former Union minister
 Jerry Merryman  co-inventor of the World’s First
Handheld Electronic Calculator Dies at 86
 Kane Tanaka  116-year-old Japanese woman The
world’s oldest living person by Guinness
World Records.
 Manohar Parrikar  Goa CM

 L V Sharada Rao  Veteran Kannada actress
 Ashita  Veteran Malayalam writer and poet
 Valery Bykovsky  Russian cosmonaut, who made the first
of his three flights to space in 1963,
passed away at the age of 84 years.
 Viharidas Gopaldas Patel  Padma Shri awardee, Noted economist

and ‘Father of Entrepreneurship
Movement’
 Sydney Brenner  Biologist ,Nobel Prize in 2002
in Physiology
 Nadja Regin  James Bond Actress
 SK Shivakumar  Former Director of Indian Space
Research Organisation Satellite
Centre (ISAC).
 Jerrie Cobb  NASA’s first female astronaut candidate
 Amar Paul  Famous Bengali Folk Singer
 Negasso Gidada  Former Ethiopian president
122
 Justice Subhashan Reddy  Former chief justice of the Kerala and

Madras High Courts
 Hirannaiah  Kannada theatre personality Master
 Dr.NR Madhava Menon  Father of modern legal education in India
 Y.C. Deveshwar  Industry leader and ITC Chairman
 Bob Hawke  Former Australian Prime Minister
 Veeru Devgan  father of Ajay Devgn, Action Director
 Murray Gell-Mann  Nobel prize winner for physics
BOOK- AUTHOR
Books Author
 Cricket World Cup: The Indian  Ashis Ray
Challenge
 ‘My Life, My Mission’  Yoga guru Baba Ramdev to release an
Autobiography
 “Lessons Life Taught Me,  Veteran Actor Anupam Kher pens an
Unknowingly” Auto-Biography
 “A Prime Minister to Remember,  Former Navy Chief Admiral Sushil
Memories of a Military Chief” Kumar
 ‘Game Changer’  Shahid Afridi Released His
Autobiography
 ‘Every Vote Counts’  Navin Chawla Launched
 ‘Mann Ki Baat – A Social Revolution  Arun Jaitley
on Radio’
 ‘Quality, Accreditation & Ranking’  Dr. H Chaturvedi’s
 ‘Simplicity & Wisdom’  Mr. Dinesh Shahra
 “Undaunted: Saving the Idea of India”  P Chidambaram’s
 ‘We Are Displaced: My Journey and  Malala Yousafzai
Stories from Refugee Girls Around the
World,’
 ‘Changing India’  Formal PM Manmohan Singh
 “The Republican Ethic” in English and  Vice President of India Shri M.Venkaiah
“Loktantra ke Swar” in Hindi Naidu
 ‘Blue Waters Ahoy!’  Admiral Sunil Lanba
 “Making of New India”  Arun Jaitley
 “Law, Justice and Judicial Power –  Mool Chand Sharma
Justice P N Bhagwati’s Approach”
 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, ‘Khooni  Abu Dhabi, UAE
Vaisakhi’
 “Indian Fiscal Federalism”  Dr. Y.V. Reddy and G.R. Reddy
 "Timeless Laxman"  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
Tuesday released a book "Timeless
123
Laxman", based on the life and times of

legendary cartoonist, the late R.K.
Laxman.
 "I am very happy to be part of Laxman's
journey in time," the PM remarked and
added that he is also happy that
Laxman's cartoons are being made
available to all.
GOVERNMENT SPONSORED SOCIALLY ORIENTED

INSURANCE SCHEMES
 Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)
 Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)
 Life Cover under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
 Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana
 Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
 Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY)
 Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS
 Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti

Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)  Pradhan Mantri Suraksha
The PMJJBY is available to people in the age Bima Yojana (PMSBY)
group of 18 to 50 years having a bank account The Scheme is available to people in the age
who give their consent to join / enable auto- group 18 to 70 years with a bank account
debit. Aadhar would be the primary KYC for who give their consent to join / enable auto-
the bank account. The life cover of Rs. 2 lakhs debit on or before 31st May for the coverage
shall be for the one year period stretching period 1st June to 31st May on an annual
from 1st June to 31st May and will be renewal basis. Aadhar would be the primary
renewable. Risk coverage under this scheme KYC for the bank account. The risk coverage
is for Rs. 2 Lakh in case of death of the under the scheme isRs.2 lakh for accidental
insured, due to any reason. The premium is death and full disability and Rs. 1 lakh for
Rs. 330 per annum which is to be auto- partial disability. The premium of Rs. 12 per
debited in one installment f rom the annum is to be deducted from the account
subscriber’s bank account as per the option holder’s bank account through ‘auto-debit’
given by him on or before 31st May of each facility in one installment. The scheme is
annual coverage period under the scheme. being offered by Public Sector General
The scheme is being offered by Life Insurance Insurance Companies or any other General
Corporation and all other life insurers who Insurance Company who are willing to offer
are willing to offer the product on similar the product on similar terms with necessary
terms with necessary approvals and tie up approvals and tie up with banks for this
with banks for this purpose. purpose.
124
senior citizens. Under the scheme a total no.

 Life Cover under Pradhan of 3.16 lakh annuitants are being benefited
and the corpus amounts to Rs. 6,095 crore.
Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana For the benefit of citizens aged 60 years and
(PMJDY) above, the Hon'ble Finance Minister in his
The Hon’ble Prime Minister in his Budget Speech for the year 2014-15 proposed
Independence Day Speech announced a to revive the scheme for a limited period from
comprehensive program of Financial 15 August, 2014 to 14 August, 2015.
Inclusion targeting a large number of Accordingly, the revived Varishtha Pension
people who are currently deprived of BimaYojana (VPBY) was formally launched by
even rudimentary financial services. In the Finance Minister on 14.08.2014 and has
been opened during the window stretching
this direction, the Pradhan Mantri Jan
from 15th August, 2014 to 14th August, 2015.
DhanYojana (PMJDY) sets out to provide a Thus all those who subscribe to the VPBY
basic Bank account to every family who during this period will receive an assured
till now had no account. The bank account guaranteed return of 9% under the policy.
comes with a RuPay debit card with a The scheme is administered through Life
built-in accidental insurance cover of Rs. Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). Under
1 lakh. During the launch on 28.08.14 in the Scheme the subscribers on payment of a
New Delhi, Hon’ble Prime Minister also lump sum amount get pension at a
announced a life cover of Rs. 30,000/- for guaranteed rate of 9% per annum (payable
those subscribing to a bank account with monthly). Any gap in the guaranteed return
a RuPay debit card before 26th January, over the return generated by the LIC on the
fund is compensated by Government of India
2015 to complement the Rs. 1 lakh
by way of subsidy payment in the scheme.
accident insurance cover. This life
The scheme allows withdrawals of deposit
insurance cover of Rs. 30,000/- under amount by the annuitant after fifteen years of
Pradhan Mantri Jan DhanYojana, gives life purchase of the policy.
insurance cover on death of the life
assured, due to any reason, to the  Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima
deceased’s family. The scheme aims to
Yojana (PMFBY)
provide security to families from
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna was
economically weaker sections who cannot
launched on 18th February 2016 by
afford direct purchase of such insurance.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. 21
The premium subscription for the life
states implemented the scheme in Kharif
cover under PMJDY is borne by the
2016 whereas 23 states and 2 UTs have
Government of India.
implemented the scheme in Rabi 2016-
17. Approximately 3.7 Crores farmers
 Varishtha Pension Bima have been insured in the Kharif 2016 for
Yojana 3.7 crore ha of land at premium of Rs
The NDA Government during its last term in 16212 crore for a sum insured of Rs
office had introduced the Varishtha Pension
128568.94 crore as per figures available
BimaYojana (VPBY) as a pension scheme for
on 31.03.2017.
125
PMFBY provides a comprehensive month to a maximum purchase price of Rs. 7,

insurance cover against failure of the crop 50,000/- for maximum pension of Rs. 5,000/-
thus helping in stabilising the income of per month, subscribers will get an assured
the farmers. The Scheme covers all Food pension based on a guaranteed rate of return
of 8% per annum, payable monthly.
& Oilseeds crops and Annual
Commercial/Horticultural Crops for  Restructured Weather Based
which past yield data is available and for Crop Insurance Scheme
which requisite number of Crop Cutting (RWBCIS)
Experiments (CCEs) are conductedbeing The RWBCIS was launched on 18th February
under General Crop Estimation Survey 2016 by Hon’ble Prime Minister 12 states
(GCES). The scheme is implemented by implemented the scheme in Kharif 2016
empanelled general insurance companies. whereas 9 states have implemented the
Selection of Implementing Agency (IA) is scheme in Rabi 2016-17. Approximately 15
lakhs farmers have been insured in the Kharif
done by the concerned State Government
2016 for 16.95 lakh ha of land at premium of
through bidding. The scheme is Rs983.96 crore for a sum insured of
compulsory for loanee farmers availing Rs8536.53 crore as per figures available on
Crop Loan /KCC account for notified 31.03.2017.
crops and voluntary for other others. The Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme
scheme is being administered by Ministry (WBCIS) aims to mitigate the hardship of the
of Agriculture. insured farmers against the likelihood of
 Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana financial loss on account of anticipated crop
loss resulting from adverse weather
Yojana (PMVVY) conditions relating to rainfall, temperature,
Based on the success and popularity of
wind, humidity etc. WBCIS uses weather
Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana 2003 (VPBY-
parameters as “proxy‟ for crop yields in
2003), Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana 2014
compensating the cultivators for deemed
(VPBY-2014) schemes, and to protect elderly
crop losses. Pay-out structures are developed
persons aged 60 years and above against a
to the extent of losses deemed to have been
future fall in their interest income due to the
suffered using the weather triggers.
uncertain market conditions, as also to
Weather Station (RWS) or Backup Weather
provide social security during old age, it is
Station (BWS) as the case may be, and the
decided to launch a simplified scheme of
claims process shall commence once the
assured pension of 8% called the
weather data is received. Claims processing
‘प्रधानमं त्रीवयवन्दनायोजना’. are strictly as per the insurance term sheets,
‘प्रधानमं त्रीवयवन्दनायोजना’ is being implemented payout structure and the Scheme provisions.
through Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of All standard Claims are processed and paid
India. As per the scheme, on payment of an within 45 days from the end of the risk
initial lump sum amount ranging from a period. The scheme is being administered by
minimum purchase price of Rs. 1, 50,000/- Ministry of Agriculture.
for a minimum pension of Rs 1000/- per
 Ayushman Bharat
126
 About Pradhan Mantri Jan (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goal - 3

(SDG3).
Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
India has achieved significant public health
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-
gains and improvements in health care access
JAY) will provide financial protection
and quality over the last three decades. The
(Swasthya Suraksha) to 10.74 crore poor,
health sector is amongst the largest and
deprived rural families and identified
fasting growing sectors, expected to reach
occupational categories of urban workers’
US$ 280 billion by 2020. At the same time,
families as per the latest Socio-Economic
India’s health sector faces immense
Caste Census (SECC) data (approx. 50 crore
challenges. It continues to be characterized
beneficiaries). It will have offer a benefit
by high out-of-pocket expenditure, low
cover of Rs. 500,000 per family per year (on a
financial protection, low health insurance
family floater basis).
coverage amongst both rural and urban
population. It is a matter of grave concern
PM-JAY will cover medical and hospitalization
that we incur a high out-of-pocket
expenses for almost all secondary care and
expenditure on account of health and medical
most of tertiary care procedures. PM-JAY has
costs. 62.58% of our population has to pay for
defined 1,350 medical packages covering
their own health and hospitalization expenses
surgery, medical and day care treatments
and are not covered through any form of
including medicines, diagnostics and
health protection. Besides using their income
transport.
and savings, people borrow money or sell
their assets to meet their healthcare needs,
To ensure that nobody is left out (especially
thereby pushing 4.6% of the population
girl child, women, children and elderly), there
below the poverty line. The Government of
will be no cap on family size and age in the
India is committed to ensuring that its
Mission. The scheme will be cashless &
population has universal access to good
paperless at public hospitals and empanelled
quality health care services without
private hospitals. The beneficiaries will not be
anyone having to face financial hardship
required to pay any charges for the
as a consequence.
hospitalization expenses. The benefit also
includes pre and post-hospitalization
Under the ambit of Ayushman
expenses. The scheme is an entitlement
Bharat, a Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
based, the beneficiary is decided on the basis
Yojana (PM-JAY) to reduce the financial
of family being figured in SECC
burden on poor and vulnerable groups
database. When fully implemented, the PM-
arising out of catastrophic hospital episodes
JAY will become the world’s largest
and ensure their access to quality health
government funded health protection
services was conceived. PM-JAY seeks to
mission.
accelerate India’s progress towards
achievement of Universal Health Coverage
 Benefits of PM-JAY
 Beneficiary Level  Government provides health
insurance cover of up to Rs. 5,00,000 per
family per year.
127
 More than 10.74 crore poor and  1,350 medical packages covering
vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore surgery, medical and day care treatments,
beneficiaries) covered across the country. cost of medicines and diagnostics.
 All families listed in the SECC  All pre-existing diseases covered.
database as per defined criteria will be Hospitals cannot deny treatment.
covered. No cap on family size and age of  Cashless and paperless access to
members. quality health care services.
 Priority to girl child, women and and  Hospitals will not be allowed to
senior citizens. charge any additional money from
 Free treatment available at all public beneficiaries for the treatment.
and empaneled private hospitals in times of  Eligible beneificiares can avail
need. services across India, offering benefit of
 Covers secondary and tertiary care national portability. Can reach out for
hospitalization. information, assistance, complaints and
grievances to a 24X7 helpline number -
14555
 Health System
 Help India progressively achieve  Enhanced used to of evidence based
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health care and cost control for improved
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). health outcomes.
 Ensure improved access and  Strengthen public health care systems
affordability, of quality secondary and through infusion of insurance revenues.
tertiary care services through a combination  Enable creation of new health
of public hospitals and well measured infrastructure in rural, remote and under-
strategic purchasing of services in health care served areas.
deficit areas, from private care providers,  Increase health expenditure by
especially the not-for profit providers. Government as a percentage of GDP.
 Significantly reduce out of pocket  Enhanced patient satisfaction.
expenditure for hospitalization. Mitigate  Improved health outcomes.
financial risk arising out of catastrophic  Improvement in population-level
health episodes and consequent productivity and efficiency
impoverishment for poor and vulnerable  Improved quality of life for the
families. population
 Acting as a steward, align the growth
of private sector with public health goals.

SPORTS
 Indian junior women Hockey team Hockey team clinched Cantor

clinched Cantor Fitzgerald U21 by Fitzgerald U21 International 4-
beating Ireland Nationstitle by beating Ireland 1-0 in
On June 4, 2019, Indian Junior Women the final.
128
 The match was held at Dublin, Ireland. Kingdom won 2019 Canadian Grand
 China to host 2023 Asian Cup Prix officially named as theFormula 1
confirmed by Asian Football Pirelli Grand Prix du Canada 2019. It
Confederation (AFC) was held in Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in
Asian Football Confederation Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
(AFC), confirmed that China will host the  French Open 2019
2023 Asia Cup. This will be the second The 123rd Edition of French Open 2019,
time China is hosting the quadrennial a Grand Slam Tennis Tournament was
continental tournament, after the 2004 held from May 26- June 9, 2019, at the
edition. Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. The
 Lewis Hamilton won 2019 Canadian prize money of the tournament was
Grand Prix €42,661,000 and comprised singles,
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) of United doubles and mixed doubles play.
Event Winners Runners

Men’s Singles Rafael Nadal (Spain) Dominic Thiem (Austria)
Women’s Ashleigh Barty (Australia) Marketa Vondrousova (Czech
Singles Republic)
Men’s Doubles Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies Fabrice Martin and Jeremy Chardy
(Germany) (France)
Women’s Kristina Mladenovic (France) Duan Yingying and Zheng Saisai
Doubles Timea Babos (Hungary) (China)
Mixed Doubles Latisha Chan (Taiwan) Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada)
Ivan Dodig (Croatia) Mate Pavic (Croatia)
 Sourav Kothari wins 2019 Pacific  Joshna claims her 17th national title at
International Snooker Championship the 76th Senior National Squash
Indian billiards player Sourav Championship, 2019
Kothari won the 2019 Pacific Indian professional squash player, Joshna
International Snooker Championship, Chinappa won the national squash title
held in the Reventon for the record 17th time at the 76th
Classic, in Melbourne, Australia. He Senior National Squash Championship,
defeated Tyson Crinis of Australia to win 2019 held in Pune, Maharastra.
the title. Chinappa overcame her Tamilnadu rival,
 India beats South Africa to win FIH Sunayna Kuruvilla in the final with 11-5,
Series Finals 2019 11-4, 7-11, 11-5 scores.
 In the FIH (Federation Internationale de  PU Chitra and Sreeshankar strikes
Hockey) Men’s Series Finals hockey Gold & Johnson wins silver at Folksam
tournament 2019, India thrashed South Grand Prix 2019
Africa with 5-1 in a summit clash at Asian champion PU Chitra (Palakkeezhil
the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Unnikrishnan Chithra) of India won a gold
Odisha. The goals were scored in the 2nd, medal in women’s 1500m at Folksam
11th, 25th, 36th and 50th minutes. Grand Prix 2019 held in Sollentuna,
Sweden. She ran her season best by
129
clocking 4 minutes 12.65 seconds Association (AIBA) and took over the
(4:12.65s). responsibilities of the qualifying and final
 India’s ace cueist Pankaj Advani tournaments for the 2020 Tokyo Games.
clinched the 35th men’s Asian Snooker In May 2019, IOC members had voted to
Championship in Doha support the executive board’s
India’s ace cueist Pankaj Advani won recommendation to suspend AIBA’s
the 35th men’s Asian snooker Olympic status.
championship in Doha, Qatar.He defeated  Italy to host 2026 Winter Olympics
Thai’s Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon. In the final round of voting at
 Indian women’s Rugby team scripted the 134th session of the International
history in Manila Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne,
The 26-member squad of Indian women’s Switzerland, Italy’s Milan and Cortina
Rugby team created a historic first d’Ampezzo won the right to host
international 15s rugby match win at the 2026 Winter Olympics, defeating
Southern Plains Sports Field Sweden’s capital Stockholm. Milan and
in Manila, Philippines. The victory came Cortina d’Ampezzo received 47 votes
against Singapore to finish third in from the IOC members and Stockholm
the Asia Rugby Women’s Division 1 secured 34 votes.
Rugby XVs Championship 2019 as India  Hopman Cup: Roger Federer &
won 21-19 scores. Belinda Bencic retain title for Switzerland
 Lewis Hamilton won French Grand From 29 December 2018, the Hopman
Prix 2019 Cup which is an annual international eight-
Five-time Formula one (F1) world team indoor hard court tennis
champion, Lewis Hamilton of tournament was held
Mercedes won the French Grand Prix in Perth, Western Australia. It is a mixed
2019 held in Circuit Paul Ricard, Le competition in which male and female players
Castellet, France with 187 points. Hailing are on combined teams and represent their
from England, the United Kingdom, this countries. The Event was concluded on
was his sixth win from eight Grand Prix of 5th January 2019.
the season 2019 and 79th of his career.  Maharashtra to host Khelo India
 Indian women’s hockey team won FIH Youth Games 2019
Series 2019 by beating Japan From 9th January 2019, Maharashtra is going
Indian Women’s Hockey team won the to host the second edition of the Khelo India
FIH ( Fédération Internationale de Youth Games which includes completions in
Hockey) Women’s Series Finals 18 different disciplines at Balewadi Sports
Hiroshima 2019 after defeating the Complex in Pune. The event will conclude on
host Japan by 3-1 in the finals held at the 20th January 2019.
Hiroshima Hockey Stadium, Japan.  Egypt to host 2019 Africa Cup of
 IOC suspends Olympic status from Nations
AIBA On 08th January 2019, Confederation of
International Olympic African Football’s (CAF) Executive
Committee (IOC) suspended Committee announced that Egypt will
the Olympic status from host African Cup for the fifth time in 2019.
the International Boxing
130
South Africa was the other country who made number one Kento Momota of Japan
a bid to host the event. On 27th January 2019,Anders
 Mary Kom attained number one Antonsen of Denmark won his maiden
position in AIBA rankings Indonesia Masters title by
On 10th January 2019, 36 years old boxer, M C defeating Japanese top-seeded Kento
Mary Kom attained the first position in the Momota in men’s single final in Jakarta,
latest women ranking released by Indonesia.
the International Boxing Association  ICC roped in Coca-Cola as official
(AIBA) in the Light Fly 45-48 sponsor
kilograms category with 1700 points. On January 31, 2019,The International
 80th National Table Tennis Cricket Council (ICC) signed a five-year
Championship begins in Cuttack global partnership deal with beverage
On 4th January 2019, 80th National Table manufacturer Coca-Cola Company.ICC and
Tennis Championship organized by Odisha Coco-cola’s partnership will be continue
State Table Tennis Association till 2023
(OSTTA) began at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor  Mithali becomes first female to
Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha. The event play 200 ODIs
concluded on 9th January 2019. On 1st February 2019, 36 years old India’s
 Khelo India Youth Games: Hosts Women Cricket team captain, Mithali
Maharashtra finish top with 228 medals Raj became the first female player to
On 20th January 2019, the Khelo India Youth play 200 ODIs during the 3rd and Final ODI
Games concluded at the Shiv Chhatrapati against New Zealand.
Sports Complex, Balewadi in Pune with the  Qatar won their First-ever Asian
host Maharashtra leading the medals table Cup Title In Football by defeating Japan
by winning a mammoth 85 gold, 62 On 2nd February 2019,Qatar won its first
silver and 81 bronze for a total of 228 major soccer title by beating four-time
medals in the Games. champion Japan 3-1 in the 17th edition of the
 India’s Saina Nehwal AFC Asian Cup held in United Arab
Won Indonesia Masters Title 2019 Emirates(UAE).
against Spain’s Carolina Marin  Smriti Mandhana topped in
2019 Indonesia Masters,officially known Women’s ODI cricket batswomen ranking
as DAIHATSU Indonesia Masters 2019, On February 3,2019,India’s Smriti
held in Istora Gelora Bung Mandhana topped in the ICC ODI
Karno,Indonesia batswomen rankings ,she grabbed the first
From 22nd January 2019, the Indonesia position after the match against New
Masters 2019 Title,a badminton Zealand,whereas Ellyse Perry followed her in
tournament which is officially known the second position and Indian ODI skipper
as DAIHATSU Indonesia Masters 2019,took Mithali Raj in fifth position.
place at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta,  Vidarbha clinched second
Indonesia. The event concluded on successive Ranji Title defeating
27th January 2019. Saurashtra
 (Men’s Single) Danish player On 7th February 2019,Defending champions
Anders Antonsen won his first ever Vidarbha won the Ranji Trophy 2018-
Indonesia Masters after defeating world 19,which is 85th season of the Ranji Trophy
131
by defeating Saurashtra.This victory is their Norway, England, France, Malaysia,

Successive victory since they won the Trophy Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, Bahrain, and India.
last year.The Ranji Trophy is played from the
month of November,2018 to 7th February  Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary
2019, in which 37 Teams won gold in 10m Air Pistol Mixed Category
Participated.Vidarbha won Rs.5 Crore Saurabh Chaudhary and Manu
Rupees. Bhaker claimed gold medal in 10m Air
 Railways win Senior National Men’s Pistol Mixed team event on ISSF World Cup
Hockey Title by defeating Punjab in New Delhi.
The Railway Sports Promotion Board i. The duo finished top in the 10m Air Pistol
(RSPB)won the 9th Hockey India Senior Men Mixed Team Final with 483.4 points on the
National Championship 2019 (A final day of the World Cup.
Div),defeating Punjab by 3-2 at Gwalior, ii. Both of them had earlier equaled
Madhya Pradesh. Qualification World Record and also set a new
 Vidarbha clinches the Irani Cup qualification world record junior by shooting
title 778 points.
On 16th February, 2019, Vidarbha became  Saurabh Chaudhary won gold in
the only 3rd team Bombay and 10m Air Pistol
Karnataka in Indian Domestic Cricket history Saurabh Chaudhary finished top of the
to defend their Irani cup titles at Jamtha 10m Air Pistol category and brought
Stadium in Nagpur by defeating Rest of an Olympic quota for Tokyo 2020 in the
India(RoI). category.
 83rd edition of the Senior National i.He secured Olympic Quota with a world
Badminton Championship begins in record score of 245.0 after some
Guwahati phenomenal shooting.
The 83rd Yonex Sunrise Senior Badminton ii.He is the 1st Indian shooter to win gold at
Nationals was held at Guwahati, Assam. the youth Olympic, Asian Games, Junior ISSF
Saina Nehwal retained her women’s singles World Championship and Asian Air gun
crown after defeating PV Sindhu. championship
Sorabh Verma defeated Lakshya Sen to win  Apurvi Chandela bags gold in
the men’s singles crown for the third time women’s 10m Air Rifle
(after 2011 and 2017). Indian shooter won women’s 10m Air
 India Win Team Event At Rifle and bagged India’s first gold medal by
Mallakhamb World Championship in breaking the world record in the Shooting
Mumbai World Cup 2019. She was the only Indian
First Mallakhamb World Championship was shooter to qualify for the final round.
held in Shivaji Park in central Mumbai in i. Apurvi secured a total score of 252.9 to
which India became the winner. finish on the top of podium in the women’s
This sport involves athletes performing 10m Air Rifle event. She was at the fourth
various yogic and gymnastic poses while spot in the qualification round.
hanging from a rope or on a pole. 15 ii. Apurvi Chandela had won a bronze medal
countries participated in the event- Spain, along shooter Ravi Kumar in the 2018 Asian
Germany, Czech Republic,Italy, USA, Iran, Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia in the 10m
Mixed Rifle event.
132
 Oceania Nations will participate in  Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas wins

2022 Asian Games Australian F1 Grand Prix 2019
Olympic Council of Asia decided to Mercedes Formula One (F1) driver Valtteri
invite Oceania Nations to compete in 2022 Bottas has clinched his first championship in
Asian Games for the first time after a the Australian Grand Prix held in Melbourne.
meeting held in Bangkok. He was followed by Lewis Hamilton of
 38th GeeBee Boxing Tournament at Mercedes and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Helsinki in Finland  Asian Youth Athletes
38th GeeBee Boxing Tournament was Championship: India finishes second in
organized by European Boxing medal tally
Confederation from March 7, 2019 to March India finishes second in Asian Youth
10, 2019 in Helsinki, Finland.The Athletes Championship held in Hong
tournament title has been clinched Kong with a gold added to the medal tally on
by England after claiming 6 gold medals. the final day of the championship.
 Argentina and Colombia will co- India secured second position in the overall
host Copa America 2020 medals tally with 26 medals including 8
On 14th March 2019, After South America’s gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze medals.
ruling body CONMEBOL once again ruled out China topped the championship with 31
a US proposal to host the medals including 12 gold, 11 silver and 8
tournament, Argentina and Colombia are bronze. Japan ranked third in the
poised to co-host the 2020 Copa America. Championship with 20 medals. Japan got 6
 Special Olympics World Games gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze medals.
2019 kick off at Abu Dhabi  India defeated Nepal, won SAFF
Special Olympics World Games 2019 began Women’s championship
at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on On 22nd March 2019, India clinched South
14th Match 2019 and made history by Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s
welcoming a record-breaking 200 nations at Championship 2019 by defeating
the Games comprising 195 participating and Nepal for 3-1 in Biratnagar, Nepal. It was
5 observing. for the fifth time in a row that India won the
 Karnataka defeated Maharashtra championship.
to clinch their first Syed Mushtaq Ali  Saina Nehwal named as TSJA sports
Trophy person of the year
Karnataka cricket team On 20th March 2019,Telangana Sports
defeated Maharashtra to win their Journalist Association (TSJA) named
maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at the London Olympics Bronze medalist Saina
Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. Nehwal as sportsperson of the year, Pullella
 K T Irfan named as first Indian Gopichand as Coach of the Year and PV
athlete to be chosen for Tokyo Olympics Sindhu as Outstanding Performer in women’s
2020 section. Badminton Association of
29-year-old Indian athlete from Kerala, K.T. Telangana received Association of the
Irfan has qualified for the Tokyo Year award at the Annual Telangana Sports
Olympics as he finished fourth in the men’s Journalist Association Awards 2018 held at
20 kilometer category at the Asian Race Hyderabad.
Walking Championships in Nomi, Japan.
133
 South Korea won Azlan Shah  Virat Kohli and Smriti Mandhana
Hockey Cup by defeating India named Wisden’sleading cricketers of the
On 30th March, India was defeated by year 2019
the South Korea in the penalty shootout of On 10th April 2019, Wisden Cricketers’
the final 28th edition of Sultan Azlan Shah Almanack 2019 has named Virat
Cup 2019. 17th Ranked South Korea defeated Kohli and Smriti Mandhana as the Leading
World number 5, India to won the Sultan male and female cricketer of the year
Azlan Shah Cup which was held at Azlan Shah 2019 respectively.
Stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia.  Lewis Hamilton clinched Formula
 Lewis Hamilton grabs Bahrain One’s 1000th race title
Grand Prix 2019 British racing driver, Lewis Hamilton has
Five times world champion Lewis achieved his 75th career victory in Formula
Hamilton of Mercedes captured Bahrain One’s 1000th race at the Chinese Grand Prix
Grand Prix 2019 title by beating Mercedes on 14th April, 2019. He has delivered a
Valtteri Bottas of Finland who secured crushing performance to win this title.
second position. Charles Leclerc was  ICC partners with UNICEF to deliver
finished with third position and became ‘#OneDay4Children’ at Men’s Cricket
Ferrari’s youngest ever race winner at the age World Cup 2019
of 21. On 16th April 2019, International cricket
 India Clinches 25 Medals In 12th council (ICC) cricket for good in partnership
Asian Airgun Championship 2019 Held In with UNICEF (United Nations International
Chinese Taipei Children’s Emergency Fund),
India topped the medal tally by winning 25 launched #OneDay4Children, a tournament-
medals viz, 16 gold, 5 silver and 4 wide campaign to help construct a better
bronze medals. Republic of Korea followed world for all children, at the ICC Men’s
the India by winning 16 medals while Chinese Cricket World Cup 2019.
Taipei won 11 medals and attained 3rd spot.  Services bags the 6th Santosh
 India wins ICC Test Championship Trophy Football Tournament title against
Mace for 3rd straight year Punjab at Guru Nanak Stadium
India has retained ICC Test Championship With a second-half strike by Bikash Thapa at
mace for the third year in a row after the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana,
finishing at the top of ICC Test team rankings Services won their 6th Santosh Trophy
on the cut-off date of April 1. It has also won Football Tournament title with a 1-0 victory
the purse of USD 1 million. over Punjab. The Services football team
 Australian Olympian,Graham Reid represents the Indian defense services in the
Appointed as Indian Men’s Hockey Team Santosh Trophy.
Chief Coach  USA secure ODI status for the first
On 8th April 2019, former Australia time
Coach, Graham Reid was appointed as On 24th April 2019, United States Cricket
the Chief Coach of Indian men’s hockey Team won their first one-day international
team. Reid’s occupancy as the coach of Indian status with a third straight victory at the
men’s hockey team is till the end of 2020.He, World Cricket League Division Two event in
54, is succeeding Harendra Singh,former Namibia. The Americans defeated Hong Kong
Indian Hockey player. by 84 runs.
134
 Pankaj Advani, India’s cueist  Bajrang Punia became First Indian

defeated Ehsan Heydari Nezhad of Iran to Wrestler to fight at New York’s Iconic
clinch Asian Snooker Tour title Madison Square Garden
India’s Pankaj Advani, the 21-time world On 27th April 2019, 25 years old Indian
snooker and billiards champion has defeated wrestler Bajrang Punia became the first
Ehsan Heydari Nezhad of Iran by 6-4 to clinch Indian wrestler to fight at New York’s iconic
the inaugural Asian Snooker Tour title, Madison Square Garden.
in Bengaluru.  Valtteri Bottas grabs Azerbaijan
 Australia’s Claire Polosak became Grand Prix 2019
first female umpire to stand in men’s ODI On 28th April 2019, Valtteri Viktor
The 31-year-old, Australia’s Claire Polosak Bottas (Finland) of Mercedes
became the first womanumpire to stand in captured Formula 1 State Oil Company of
a men’s ODI in the final match of ICC World Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) Azerbaijan
Cricket League 2 on April 27. Previously, she Grand Prix 2019 by beating Mercedes team-
stood in 15 women’s ODI matches, the first mate Lewis Hamilton at the Baku City Circuit
one played between Australia and South in Baku, Azerbaijan. Bottas finished the race
Africa in November 2016. 1.5 seconds ahead of Hamilton.
Up-comping Sport Event

8th FIFA women's World Cup [2019] France
(AFC) Asian Football Cup [2019] UAE
IWF World championship [2019] Pattaya (Thailand)
30th Southeast Asian Games [2019)] Philippines (Manila)
13th SAG Games (South Asian Games) [2019] Nepal (Kathmandu)
12th Cricket World Cup (Men) (2019] England
18th Fina World Aquatics (Swimming) Championship [2019] South Korea (Gwangiu)
18th FIBA Basket Ball World Cup [2019] China
Japan (Tokyo)
32 Olympic games [2020]
Motto -Discover Tomorrow
16th Summer Paralympic [2020] Japan (Tokyo)

3rd Winter Youth Olympic [2020] Switzerland (Lausanne)
7th T-20 women World Cup [2020] Australia
13th Under-19 Cricket World Cup [2020] South Africa
4th Youth Asian Games (2021] Indonesia (Surabaya)
135
31th Southeast Asian Games [2021] Vietnam (Hanoi)

12th Cricket World Cup (Women) [2021] New Zealand
19th Fina World Aquatics (Swimming) Championship [2021] Japan (Fukuoka)
22th FIFA (Men) World Cup football [2022] Qatar (Doha)
34 Winter Olympics [2022] (China, Bejing)
Note: Beijing is the only city to host both winter and Summer Motto -A pure passion for Ice &
Olympic games Snow
19th Asian games [2022] China (Hangzhou)
22nd Commonwealth games [2022]
[Motto of commonwealth games: Humanity Equality Destiny]
Head Quarter of Common Wealth GamesEngland (London) Note: South Africa (Durban)
Paralympics game is for athletes with a range of Physical
Disabilities
IVth Asian Para Games [2022] China (Hangzhou)
8th T-20 women World Cup [2022] South Africa
14th Under-19 Cricket World Cup [2022] West Indies
32th Southeast Asian Games [2023] Cambodia (Phnom Penh)
13th Cricket World Cup (Men) [2023] India

20th Fina World Aquatics (Swimming) Championship [2023] Qatar (Doha)
1st Asian games [1951] New Delhi
11th Winter Paralympic [2014] Russia (Sochi)
1st Youth Asian Games [2009] Singapore
Important Date and Theme

Dates Day Theme
1st January Defence Research and Development
Organisation(DRDO) Day
4th January World Braille Day
9th January Bharatiya Pravasi Day or Non Resident 'role of Indian diaspora
Day in building new India'
136
10th January World Hindi Day

10th January 26th Army Air Defence Day
12th January National Youth Day Be The Voice of New
India”
14th January Armed Forces Veterans Day
15th January 71st Army Day
24th January National Girl Child Day “Empowering Girls for a
Brighter Tomorrow”.
24th January International Day of Education
25th January National Voters Day ‘No voter to be left
behind’
26th January 70th Republic Day Chief Guest South
Africa’s President Cyril
Ramaphosa
26th January International Customs Day “SMART borders for
seamless Trade, Travel
and Transport.”
30th January National Martyr’s Day or Sarvodaya
Day
2nd February World Wetlands Day Wetlands and Climate
Change
4th February World Cancer Day “I Am and I Will.”
6 February International Day of Zero Tolerance for #EndGFM.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
10th February, World Pulses Day
11th February International Day of Women and Girls
in Science
13th February “World Radio Day” “Dialogue, Tolerance
and Peace”.
20TH February World Day of Social Justice ‘If you want Peace and
Development, Work for
Social Justice’
21st February International Mother Language day “Indigenous languages

matter for
development, peace
building and
reconciliation”.
28th February National Science day

1st March World civil defence day “Children’s safety, our
responsibility”.
1st March Zero Discrimination day “Act to change laws that
137
Discriminate”.
3rd March World Hearing Day “Check your Hearing”

3rd March World Wildlife Day ‘Life below water: for
people and planet’,
4th March National Safety Day – “Cultivate and Sustain

a safety culture for
building nation”.
8th March International Women’s Day Think equal, build

smart, innovate for
change.
14th March World Kidney Day Kidney Health for

Everyone Everywhere.
15th March World Consumer Rights Day “Trusted Smart
Products”
18th March Global Recycling Day “Recycling into the

Future”.
20th March World Sparrow day “I love sparrows”.

20th March International Day of Happiness International Day of
Happiness 2019 is
‘Happier Together’.
21st March World Poetry Day

21st March International Day of Forests observed “Forests and Education
– Learn to Love
Forests”.
22nd March World Water Day (WWD) “Leaving no one

behind”.
23rd March World Meteorological Day “The Sun, the Earth and
the Weather”.
24th March World Tuberculosis Day ‘Its time’
26th March World Purple day
27th March World Theatre Day
2nd April World Autism Awareness Day “Assistive Technologies,
Active Participation”.
5th April National Maritime Day “Indian Ocean- An
Ocean of Opportunity”.
7th April World Health Day “Universal health
138
Coverage: Everyone,
Everywhere”
10th April World Homoeopathy Day “Linking Education and
Clinical Practice with
Research: Advancing
Scientific
Collaborations”.
11th April “National Safe Motherhood Day” ‘Midwives for Mothers’
12th April World Aviation and Cosmonautics Day
17th April World Haemophilia Day Outreach and
Identification’
18th April World Heritage Day “Rural Landscapes”
19th April World Liver day
21st April National Civil Service Day
22nd April Earth Day ‘Protecting Our Species’
22nd April International Mother Earth Day
23rd April World Book and Copyright Day
25th April World Malaria Day “Zero malaria starts
with me”.
24th April National Panchayati Raj Day
26th April World Intellectual Property Day “Reach for Gold: IP and
Sports”
28th April World Day for Safety and Health “Safety and Health and
the Future of Work”
29th April International Dance Day “Dance and
Spirituality”.
1 May Labour Day/May day (Sustainable partner for
all: The Role of social
partner)
1 May Maharashtra/Gujarat day
2 May World Password Day
3 May World Press Freedom Day Theme 2019- “Media
for Democracy:
Journalism and
Elections in Times for
Disinformation.”
7 May World Athletics Day
8 May World Red Cross Day Theme 2019- #Love
8 May World Thalassemia Day “Universal access to
quality Thalassemia
healthcare services:
Building bridge with
and for patient”.
139
6-12 May Fifth United Nations Global Road Safety ‘Leadership for Road
Week Safety’
8 May World Thalassemia Day Theme2019-
“Universal access to
quality Thalassemia
healthcare services:
Building bridge with
and for patient”.
11 May National Technology Day
11 May World Migratory Bird Day ‘Protect Birds: Be the
Solution to Plastic
Pollution.’
15 May International Day of Families International Day of
Families is “Families
and Climate Action:
Focus on SDG 13″.
18 May International Museum Day Theme- “Museums as
Cultural Hubs: The
Future of Tradition”
18 May World AIDS Vaccine Day

20 May World Metrology Day Theme 2019- The
International System of
Units – Fundamentally
better.
21 May Anti-Terrorism Day Death anniversary of
former Prime Minister
Rajiv Gandhi
29 May International Everest Day Theme 2019- “Save the
Himalayas”
31 May Anti-Tobacco Day / No Tobacco Day "Tobacco and lung

health."
1 June World milk day “Drink Milk: Today &

Everyday”.
3 June World Bicycle Day
5 June World Environment Day ‘Beat Air
Pollution’
7 June World Food Safety Day “Food Safety,
everyone’s business”.
8 June World oceans day ‘Gender and the Ocean’.
12 June World Day against Child Labour “Children shouldn’t
work in fields, but on
140
dreams!”
14 June World Blood Donor Day
20 June World Refugee Day Observed #Step With Refugees —
Take A Step on World
Refugee Day.
21 June International Day of Yoga “Yoga for Climate
Action”
21 June World Music Day “Music at the
intersections”.
23 June International Widows Day
23 June United Nations Public Service Day ‘Achieving the
Sustainable
Development Goals
through effective
Delivery of Services,
Innovative
Transformation, and
Accountable
Institutions’.
23 June International Olympic Day
29 June National Statistics Day Sustainable
Development Goals
(SDGs)
July 1 National Doctors’ Day
July 1 Goods And Services Tax Day
July 2 World Sports Journalists Day
July 6 World Zoonosis Day
July 7 International Day of Cooperatives
July 11 World Population Day
July 12 International Malala Day
July 15 World Youth Skills Day
July 17 International Justice Day
July 18 International Nelson Mandela Day
July 26 Kargil Vijay Diwas
July 28 World Hepatitis Day
July 29 International Tiger Day
July 30 World day against trafficking in
persons
August 6 73rd Hiroshima day
August 7 National Handloom Day
August 9 International Day Of The World’s
Indigenous Peoples
August 12 18th International Youth Day
141
August 13 International left handers day

August 20 World Mosquito Day
August 20 National Sadbhavana Day
August 21 World senior citizen day
September 2 World Coconut Day
September 1-7 National Nutrition Week
September 8 World Literacy Day
September 14 Hindi Diwas
September 21 International Day of Peace
September 21 World Alzheimer’s Day
September 23 International Day of Sign Languages
September 29 World Heart Day
September 27 World Maritime Day
September 27 World TOURISM day
October 1 International Day For Older Persons
October 2 International Day Of Non Violence
October 5 World Teachers Day
October 9 World Post Day
October 11 International Day Of Girl Child
October 15 International Day For Rural Women
October 15 Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas
October 20 National Solidarity Day
October 24 World Polio Day
October 24 United Nation’s Day
October 31 Ekta Diwas
November 1 World Vegan Day
November 5 Ayurveda Day
November 5 World Tsunami Awareness Day
November 7 National Cancer Awareness Day
November 11 National Education Day
November 12 World Pneumonia Awareness Day
November 14 Children’s Day
November 14 World Diabetes Day
November 16 National Press Day
November 18 The World Day For Remembrance Of
Road Traffic Victims
November 19 World Toilet Day
November 21 World Television Day
November 26 National Constitution Day/National
Law Day
December 1 World AIDS Day
December 2 National Pollution Control
December 3 World Day of Handicapped
142
December 4 Indian Navy Day

December 10 Human Rights Day
December 11 International Mountain Day
December 14 World Energy Conservation Day
December 16 Vijay Diwas
December 22 National Mathematics Day
December 23 Kisan Divas
December 24 National Consumers Day
PART -2
STATIC AWARENESS
Dam
Dam River State
Idukki Dam Periyar Kerala
Tehri Dam Bhagirathi Uttarakhand
Sardar Sarovar Dam Narmada Gujarat
Nagarjun Sagar Dam Krishna Telangana
Bhakra Dam Satluj Himachal Pradesh
Lakhwar Dam Yamuna Uttarakhand
Srisailam Dam Krishna Telangana
Pakal Dul Dam Marusudar J&K
Salal Dam Chenab J&K
Madupetty Dam Palar Kerala
Indira Sagar Dam Narmada Madhya Pradesh
Rihand Dam Rihand Uttar Pradesh
Pong Dam Beas Himachal Pradesh
Ranjit Sagar Dam Ravi Punjab
Baglihar Dam Chenab J&K
Supa Dam Kali Nadi Karnataka
Koteshwar Dam Bhagi Rathi Nadi Uttra Khand
Pillur Dam Bhavani Tamil Nadu
Parbati Dam Parbati himachal Pradesh
ukai Dam Tapi Nadi Gujarat
143
Chakra Dam Chakra Karnataka
MAJOR SEA PORTS

Major Sea Ports Location
Kandla Port Gujarat
Nhava Sheva Port Maharashtra
Marmugao Port Goa
Mangalore Port Karnataka
Madras Port Tamil Nadu
Cochin Port Kerala
Visakhapatnam Port Andhra Pradesh
Paradip Port Odisha
Haldia Port West Bengal
Mumbai Port West Mumbai
Port Blair Andaman Islands
Tuticorin Port Tamil Nadu
Mundra Port Gujarat
Ennore Port Chennai
LAKES
Name of the State Name of the Lake

 Andhra Pradesh  Kolleru Lake
 Pulicat Lake
 Assam  Chandubi Lake
 Chapanala Lake
 Haflong Lake
 Son Beel Lake
 Bihar  Kanwar Lake
 Gujarat  Hamirsar Lake
 Kankaria Lake
 Lakhota Lake
 Sursagar Lake
 Thol Lake
 Vastrapur Lake
144
 Himachal Pradesh  Brighu Lake

 Dashair and Dhankar Lake
 Kareri and Kumarwah lake
 Khajjiar Lake
 Macchial Lake
 Manimahesh Lake
 Nako Lake
 Pandoh Lake
 Prashar Lake
 Renuka Lake
 Rewalsar Lake
 Seruvalsar and Manimahesh Lake
 Haryana  Badkhal Lake
 Beauty lake
 Blue Bird Lake
 Brahma Sarovar
 Current lake
 Karna Lake
 Sannihit Sarovar
 Surajkund
 Tilyar Lake
 Jammu and Kashmir  Dal Lake
 Manasbal Lake
 Mansar Lake
 Pangong Tso
 Sheshnag Lake
 Tso Moriri
 Wular Lake
 Karnataka  Agara Lake
 Bellandur Lake
 Byrasandra Lake
 Hebbal Lake
 Kempambudhi Lake
 Lalbagh Lake
 Madiwala Lake
 Puttenahalli Lake
 Sankey Lake
 Ulsoor Lake
 Dalavai Lake
 Devanoor Lake
 Karanji lake
 Kukkarahalli lake
 Lingambudhi Lake
145
 Honnamana Kere
 Pampa Sarovar
 Kerala  Ashtamudi Lake
 Kuttanad Lake
 Maanaanchira, Kozhikode
 Manakody Kayal
 Padinjarechira, Thrissur city
 Paravur Kayal
 Punnamada Lake
 Shasthamkotta lake
 Vadakkechira, Thrissur city
 Vanchikulam, Thrissur
 Vellayani Lake
 Vembanad Lake
 Madhya Pradesh  Bhoj Wetland
 Lower Lake
 Moti lake
 Sarang pani lake
 Shahpura lake
 Tawa Reservoir
 Upper Lake
 Maharashtra  Gorewada Lake
 Khindsi Lake
 Lonar Lake
 Mehrun Lake
 Pashan Lake
 Powai Lake
 Rankala Lake
 Salim Ali Lake
 Shivasagar lake
 Talao Pali
 Upvan Lake
 Venna Lake
 Meghalaya  Umiam Lake
 Manipur  Loktak Lake
 Mizoram  Palak dïl
 Tam Dil
 Odisha  Anshupa Lake
 Chilika Lake
 Kanjia lake
 Punjab  Harike Lake
 Kanjli Lake
 Ropar Lake
146
 Rajasthan  Ana Sagar Lake

 Balsamand lake
 Dhebar Lake
 Jaisamand Lake
 Jal Mahal, Man Sagar lake

 Kaylana Lake
 Nakki Lake
 Pushkar Lake
 Rajsamand Lake
 Ramgarh Lake
 Talwara Lake
 Sambhar Salt Lake
 Fateh Sagar Lake
 Rangsagar lake
 Uday sagar Lake
 Sikkim  Gurudongmar Lake
 Khecheopalri Lake
 Lake Tsongmo
 Lake Cholamu
 Telangana  Alwal Cheruvu Lake
 Durgam Cheruvu (Secret Lake)
 Himayat Sagar
 Hussain Sagar
 Osman Sagar
 Safilguda Lake
 Saroornagar Lake
 Shamirpet Lake
 Tamil Nadu  Berijam Lake
 Chembarambakkam Lake
 Kaliveli Lake
 Kaveripakkam Lake
 Kodaikanal Lake
 Ooty Lake
 Perumal Eri
 Red Hills Lake
 Sholavaram Lake
 Singanallur Lake
 Veeranam Lake
 Uttar Pradesh  Amakhera Lake
 Barua Sagar Tal
 Belasagar Lake
147
 Bhadi Tal
 Chando Tal Lake
 Keetham Lake
 Nachan Tal
 Ramgarh Tal Lake
 Sheikha Jheel
 Uttarakhand  Skeleton Lake (Roopkund Lake)
 Bhimtal Lake
 Dodital
 Nainital Lake
 Naukuchiatal
 Sat Tal
 West Bengal  Debar Lake
 East Calcutta Wetlands
 Jore Pokhri
 Mirik Lake
 Rabindra Sarobar
 Rasikbil
 Santragachhi Lake
 Senchal Lake
NATIONAL PARK
Name State
1. Bandhavgarh National Park Madhya Pradesh
2. Kanha National Park Madhya Pradesh
3. Panna National Park Madhya Pradesh
4. Pench National Park Madhya Pradesh
5. Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary Kerala
6. Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala
7. Eravikulam National Park Kerala
8. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Kerala
9. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala
10. Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary Rajasthan
11. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary Rajasthan
12. Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan
13. Nagarhole National Park Rajasthan
14. Ranthambore National Park Rajasthan
15. Sambhar Wildlife Sanctuary Rajasthan
16. Rajaji National Park Uttarakhand
148
17. Corbett National Park Uttarakhand

18. Manas National Park Assam
19. Kaziranga National Park Assam
20. Sanjay Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary Maharashtra
21. Mahim Nature Park Maharashtra
22. Dachigam National Park J&K
23. Hemis High Altitude Park J&K
24. Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary Odisha
25. Nandankanan Zoo Odisha
26. Similipal National Park Odisha
27. Bandipur National Park Karnataka
28. Dandeli National Park Karnataka
29. Dudhwa National Park Uttar Pradesh
30. Gir National Park Gujarat
31. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary Tamilnadu
32. Nagarjunasagar Wildlife Sanctuary Telangana
33. Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary Himachal Pradesh
34. Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary Haryana (Gurgoan)
35. Sunderbans Tiger Reserve West Bengal
STADIUM
Stadium Name Location Associated

Sport Game
 Wankhede Stadium  Mumbai, Maharashtra Cricket
 HPCA Stadium  Dharamshala, Himachal Cricket
Pradesh
 Feroz Shah Kotla Ground  Delhi Cricket
 M.A. Chidambaram  Chennai , Tamil Nadu Cricket
Stadium
 Eden Gardens  Kolkata , West Bengal Cricket
 Gymkhana Ground  Mumbai , Maharashtra Cricket
 Jsca Stadium  Ranchi, Jharkhand Cricket
 Khanderi Cricket Stadium  Rajkot , Gujarat Cricket
 Subrata Roy Sahara  Pune , Maharashtra Cricket
Stadium
 Dr. D.Y. Patil Stadium  Navi Mumbai , Football &
Maharashtra Cricket
149
 New Vca Stadium  Nagpur, Maharashtra Cricket

 Maharani Usharaje Trust  Indore, Madhya Pradesh Cricket
Cricket Ground
 Rajiv Gandhi  Hyderabad , Andhra Cricket
International Stadium Pradesh
 Apca-Vdca Stadium  Visakhapatnam , Andhra Cricket
Pradesh
 Indira Gandhi Stadium  Vijayawada, Andhra Cricket
Pradesh
 Barkatullah Khan  Jodhpur, Rajasthan Cricket
Stadium
 Jawahar Lal Nehru  Kochi, Kerala Multipurpose
Stadium
 IPCL Sport Complex  Vadodara, Gujarat Cricket
 K.D. Singh Babu Stadium  Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh Multipurpose
 Fatorda Stadium  Margao, Goa Football &
Cricket
 Maulana Azad Stadium  Jammu , Jammu & Cricket
Kashmir
 Indira Priyadarshini  Visakhapatnam , Andhra Cricket
Stadium Pradesh
 Roop Singh Stadium  Gwalior , Madhya Cricket
Pradesh
 Nahar Singh Stadium  Faridabad, Haryana Cricket
 Madhav Rao SC India  Rajkot, Gujarat Cricket
Ground
 Sector 16 Stadium  Chandigarh Cricket
 Nehru Stadium  Pune, Maharashtra Cricket
(Multipurpose)
 University Stadium  Thiruvananthapuram, Football
Kerala (Multipurpose)
 Jawahar Lal Nehru  Delhi Multipurpose
Stadium
 Keenan Stadium  Jamshedpur , Jharkhand Cricket And
Football
 Sardar Patel Stadium  Ahmedabad , Gujarat Cricket
 Moti Bagh Stadium  Vadodara , Gujarat Cricket
 Sher-I-Kashmir Stadium  Srinagar, Jammu & Cricket
Kashmir
150
 Sawai Mani Singh Stadium  Jaipur , Rajasthan Cricket

 Gandhi Sports Complex  Amritsar , Punjab Cricket
Ground
 Barabati Stadium  Cuttack, Orissa Cricket
 M. Chinnasawami  Bangalore , Karnataka Cricket
Stadium
 Vca Ground  Nagpur , Maharashtra Cricket
 Lal Bahadur Shastri  Hyderabad , Andhra Cricket
Stadium Pradesh
 Green Park Stadium  Kanpur , Uttar Pradesh Cricket
 Brabourne Stadium  Mumbai , Maharashtra Cricket
 Guru Gobind Singh  Nanded, Maharashtra Cricket
Stadium
 Fort Maidan  Palakkad, Kerala Football
 Dilip Tirkey Stadium  Ranchi, Jharkhand Hockey
 Birsa Munda Stadium  Ranchi, Jharkhand Hockey
 Kalinga Stadium  Bhuvaneshwar, Odisha Hockey
 Mahindra Stadium  Mumbai, Maharashtra Hockey
 Dhyan Chand Astroturf  Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Hockey
 Dadaji Kondadev Stadium  Thane, Maharashtra Football
 Guru Nanak Stadium  Ludhiana, Punjab Football
TEMPLE
S. No. Temples States

1.  Kamakhya Temple  Guwahati, Assam
2.  Sukresvara temple  Assam
3.  Mahabalipuram Temple  Tamil nadu
4.  Meenakshi temple  Madurai, Tamil Nadu
5.  Brihadeeswarar Temple  Tamil Nadu
6.  Kanchipuram Temple  Tamil Nadu
7.  Srisailam Temple  Andhra Pradesh
8.  Tirupathi Temple  Andhra Pradesh
9.  Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple  Kerala
10.  Shabarimala ayyappa temple  Kerala
151
11.  Gomateshwra Temple  Karnataka

12.  Virupaksha Temple  Bangalore (Karnataka)
13.  Golden temple –  Amritsar, Punjab
14.  Somnath temple  Gujarat
15.  Siddhivinayak Temple  Maharashtra
16.  Mahabodhi Temple  Gaya, Bihar
17.  Amarnath Temple  Jammu & Kashmir
18.  Markandeshwar Temple  Haryana
19.  Konark Sun Temple  Odisha
20.  Birla Mandir  Jaipur
WEBSITES FOUNDER
Websites Name Founders
Blogger Evan Willam Belli
Email Shiva Ayyadurai
Ebay Pierre Omidyar
Facebook Mark Zuckerberg
Flipkart Sachin and Binny Bansal
Google Larry Page & Sergey Brin
Gtalk Richard Wah kan
Hi5 Ramu Yalamanchi
Hotmail Sabeer Bhatia
Ibibo Ashish Kashyap
Internet Tim Berners Lee
Kosmix Venky Harinarayan and Anand Rajaraman
Linkdin Reid Hoffman, Allen Blue& Koonstantin
Guericke
Mozilla Firefox Dave Hyatt & Blake Ross
Myspace Chris Dewolfe & Tom Anderson
Nimbuzz Martin Smink & Evert Jaap Lugt
OLX Alec Oxenford & Fabrice Grinda
Orkut Buyukkokten
Opera Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner & Geir lvarsoy
Paypal Max Levchin and Peter Thiel
152
Paytm Vijay Shekhar Sharma

Rediffmail Ajit Balakrishnan
Skype Niklas Zennstrom, JanusFriis & Reid
Hoffman
Twitter Jack Dorsey & Dick Costolo
Yahoo David Filo & Jerry Yang
YouTube Steve Chen, Chad Hurley & JawedKarim
WhatsApp Laurel Kirtz
Wikipedia Jimmy Wales
Wikileaks Julian Assange
WordPress Michel Valdrighi
LIST OF COUNTRIES, CAPITALS, CURRENCIES

List of Countries having Rupee/Rupiah as their Currency
Country Capital Currency

India New Delhi Rupee
Indonesia Jakarta Rupiah
Nepal Kathmandu Nepalese Rupee
Sri Lanka Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Sri Lankan Rupee
Seychelles Victoria Seychellois Rupee
Pakistan Islamabad Pakistani Rupee
Maldives Male Maldivian Rufiyaa
Mauritius Port Louis Mauritian Rupee
List of Countries having Dinar/Dirham as their Currency

Algeria Algiers Algerian Dinar
Bahrain Manama Bahraini Dinar
Iraq Baghdad Iraqi Dinar
Jordan Amman Jordanian Dinar
153
Kuwait Kuwait City Kuwaiti Dinar

Libya Tripoli Libyan Dinar
Macedonia Skopje Macedonian Denar
Serbia Belgrade Serbian Dinar
Tunisia Tunis Tunisian Dinar
UAE Abu Dhabi UAE Dirham
List of Countries having Euro as their Currency
Country Capital Country Capital

Andorra Andorra la Vella Latvia Riga
Austria Vienna Luxembourg Luxembourg
Belgium Brussels Malta Valletta
Cyprus Nicosia Monaco Monaco
Estonia Tallinn Montenegro Podgorica
Finland Helsinki Netherlands Amsterdam
France Paris Portugal Lisbon
Germany Berlin San Marino San Marino
Greece Athens Slovakia Bratislava
Ireland Reykjavik Slovenia Ljubljana
Italy Rome Spain Madrid
Lithuania Vilnius Vatican City Vatican City
List of Countries having Dollar as their Currency

Antigua and Saint John’s Eastern Caribbean Dollar
Barbuda
Australia Canberra Australian Dollar
Bahamas Nassau Bahamian Dollar
Barbados Bridgetown Barbadian Dollar
Belize Belmopan Belize Dollar
Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei Dollar
Bermuda Hamilton Bermudian Dollar
154
Canada Ottawa Canadian Dollar

Dominica Roseau Eastern Caribbean Dollar
Fiji Suva Fijian Dollar
Grenada Saint George's Eastern Caribbean Dollar
Guyana Georgetown Guyanese Dollar
Jamaica Kingston Jamaican dollar
Kiribati Tarawa Kiribati dollar
Liberia Monrovia Liberian dollar
Namibia Windhoek Namibian Dollar
Nauru Yaren District Australian Dollar
New Zealand Wellington New Zealand Dollar
Palau Ngerulmud United States Dollar
Panama Panama City United States Dollar
Singapore Singapore Singapore Dollar
Taiwan Taipei New Taiwan Dollar
Trinidad and Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago Dollar
Tobago
Tuvalu Funafuti Australian dollar, Tuvaluan dollar
United States Washington, D.C. United States Dollar
Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe Dollar
Countries having Peso as their Currency

Argentina Buenos Aires Argentine peso
Chile Santiago Chilean peso
Colombia Bogotá Colombian peso
Cuba Havana Cuban convertible peso
Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Dominican peso
Mexico Mexico City Mexican peso
Philippines Manila Philippine peso
Uruguay Montevideo Uruguayan peso
Countries having Rial/Riyal as their Currency
155

Cambodia Phnom Penh Riel
Iran Tehran Rial
Oman Muscat Rial
Qatar Doha Riyal
Saudi Arabia Riyadh Saudi Riyal
Countries having Pound as their Currency

United Currency Pound sterling
Kingdom
Egypt Cairo Egyptian pound
Lebanon Beirut Lebanese pound
South Sudan Juba South Sudanese pound
Sudan Khartoum Sudanese pound
Syria Damascus Syrian pound
Countries having Currency same as their Country name

Afghanistan Kabul Afghan Afghani
Bangladesh Dhaka Bangladeshi taka
Georgia Tbilisi Georgian lari
Israel Jerusalem Israeli new shekel
Japan Tokyo Japanese yen
Kazakhstan Astana Kazakhstani Tenge
Kyrgyzstan Bishkek Kyrgyzstani Som
Laos Vientiane Lao kip
Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Malaysian ringgit
Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mongolian Togrog
Myanmar (Burma) Naypyidaw Burmese kyat
North Korea Pyongyang North Korean won
South Korea Seoul South Korean won
Tajikistan Dushanbe Tajikistani Somoni
156
Thailand Bangkok Thai baht

Turkey Ankara Turkish lira
Turkmenistan Ashgabat Turkmenistan Manat
Uzbekistan Tashkent Uzbekistani Som
Nicaragua Managua Nicaraguan Cordoba
Bolivia Sucre La Paz Bolivian boliviano
Paraguay Asunción Paraguayan Guarani
Venezuela Caracas Venezuelan bolivar
Albania Tirana Albanian Lek
Belarus Minsk Belarusian Ruble
Bulgaria Sofia Bulgarian lev
Croatia Zagreb Croatian Kuna
Czech Republic Prague Czech koruna
Denmark Copenhagen Danish krone
Hungary Budapest Hungarian forint
Iceland Reykjavik Icelandic krona
Norway Oslo Norwegian krone
Poland Warsaw Polish zloty
Romania Bucharest Romanian Leu
Russia Moscow Russian Ruble
Sierra Leone Freetown Sierra Leonean Leone
Rwanda Kigali Rwandan Franc
Madagascar Antananarivo Malagasy Ariary
Kenya Nairobi Kenyan shilling
Ghana Accra Ghanaian cedi
Gambia Banjul Gambian dalasi
Ethiopia Addis Ababa Ethiopian birr
Angola Luanda Angolan kwanza
Countries having Different Currencies

China Beijing Renminbi
Peru Lima Sol
Mozambique Maputo Metical
157
Mali Bamako West African CFA franc

Bhutan Thimphu Bhutanese ngultrum
IMPORTANT STOKE EXCHANGES IN WORLD

Stoke Exchange Country
 New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)  New York City, US
 NASDAQ OMX  New York City, US
 Tokyo Stock Exchange  Tokyo, Japan
 London Stock Exchange  London, UK
 Shanghai Stock Exchange  Shanghai, China
 BM&F Bovespa  Sao Paul, Brazil
 Deutsche Börse  Frankfurt, Germany
 JSE Limited  Johannesburg, South Africa.
 Borsa Italia  Milan, Italy
 Montreal Exchange (MSE)  Montreal, Canada
 Nordic: Baltic market (OMX)  Stockholm, Sweden
 Bolsa de Madrid (Madrid Stock  Madrid, Spain
Exchange)
 Royal Securities Exchange of  Bhutan
Bhutan
 NIKKEI  Japan
 National Stoke Exchange  India
CENSUS 2011
1) The population of the country as per the provisional figures of Census 2011 is
1210.19 million of which 623.7 million (51.54%) are males&586.46 million (48.46%) are
females.
The major highlights of the Census 2011 (Provisional figures) are as under:
*The population of India has increased by more than 181 million during the decade 2001-
2011.
2) %age growth in 2001-2011 is 17.64; males 17.19&females 18.12.
3) *Uttar Pradesh (199.5 million) is the most populous State in the country followed by
Maharashtra with 112 million.
Slogan Our census, Our Future
158
 India's 1st Census  1872

 2011 Census is  15th Census
 Total Population  1,21,01,93,422
 India's Rank in population  2nd with 17.5% (1st China with 19%)
 Most Populous State  Uttar Pradesh
 Least Populous State  Sikkim
 Most Literate State  Kerala (93.9%)
 Least Literate State  Bihar (63.82%)
 National Sex Ratio  Female : Male (940 : 1000)
 Highest Sex Ratio (State)  Kerala (1084 : 1000)
 Lowest Sex Ratio (State)  Haryana
 Highest Sex Ratio (UT)  Puducherry
 Least Sex Ratio (UT)  Damn & Dayyu (61 : 1000)
 Literacy of Male  82.14%
 Literacy of Female  65.46%
 Population Growth Rate  17.64%
 Highest fertility Rate  Meghalaya
 Most literate union territory  Lakshadweep (92.2%)
 Least literate Union Territory  Dadra Nagar & Haweli
 Least literate Union Territory  Dadra Nagar & Haweli
 Highest Density of Population  Bihar (1102 sq.km)
 Lowest Density of Population  Arunachal Pradesh (17)
 Total number of districts  640
 Density of Population in India  382 sq. km
 Increase in population (during  181 million
2001-2011)
REVOLUTIONS IN THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA
Black Revolution Petroleum Production

Blue Revolution Fish Production
Brown Revolution Leather/Non-conventional (India)/Cocoa
production
159
Golden Fiber Revolution Jute Production

Golden Revolution Fruits/Overall Horticulture
development/Honey Production
Green Revolution Food grains
Grey Revolution Fertilizer
Pink Revolution Onion production/Pharmaceutical (India)/
Prawn production
Red Revolution Meat & Tomato Production
Round Revolution Potato
Silver Fiber Revolution Cotton
Silver Revolution Egg/Poultry Production
White Revolution (In India: Operation Milk/Dairy production
Flood)
Yellow Revolution Oil Seeds production
Evergreen Revolution Overall development of Agriculture
INTERNATIONAL BORDERS/BOUNDARY LINES
Borders/Boundary Lines Between two Countries

 Durand Line  Afghanistan & Pakistan
 Hindenburg Line  Germany & Poland.
 Mason-dixon Line  Line of demarcation between four
states in the United States.
 Mannerheim Line  Russia-Finland border.

 Macmahon Line  India & China
 Medicine Line  Canada & the United States
 Order-neisse Line  Poland & Germany
 Radcliffe Line  India & Pakistan.
 Siegfried Line  Germany on its border with France.
 17th Parallel  North Vietnam & South Vietnam
160
 26th Parallel south  Africa, Australia & South America

 30TH PARALLEL  Equator & the North Pole
 38th Parallel  Separates North Korea&South Korea.
 42nd Parallel north  New York - Pennsylania Border.
 49th Parallel  USA&Canada
STATE CHIEF MINISTERS AND GOVERNORS

S. State and U.T. Chief Minister Governor
NO
Jagan Reddy
1 Andhra Pradesh Shri E.S Lakshmi
Narasimhan
2 Andaman & Nicobar U.T Admiral (Retd) Devendra
(UT) Kumar Joshi
3 Arunachal Pradesh Shri Pema Khandu Retired Brigadier BD Mishra
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal

4 Assam Shri Jagdish Mukhi
5 Bihar Shri Nitish Kumar Shri Lalji Tandon
6 Chandigarh (UT) U.T Shri V.P. Singh Badnore

7 Chhatisgarh Shri Bhupesh Baghel Anandi Ben Patel
Dadra and Nagar

8 Haveli (UT) U.T Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, IAS
9 Daman and Diu (UT) U.T Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, IAS
10 Delhi (NCT) Shri Arvind Kejriwal Anil Baijal

11 Goa Shri Pramod Sawant Smt. Mridula Sinha
12 Gujarat Shri Vijaybhai Shri Om Prakash Kohli

R. Rupani
13 Haryana Shri Manohar Lal Satyadev Narayan Arya
161
14 Himachal Pradesh Shri Jairam Thakur Shri Acharya Dev Vrat
15 Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed Shri Satya Pal Malik
16 Jharkhand Shri Raghubar Das Smt. Draupadi Murmu
17 Kerala Shri Pinarayi Vijayan Shri Justice (Retd.)

Palaniswamy Sathasivam
18 Lakshadweep (UT) U.T Shri Vijay Kumar IAS
19 Madhya Pradesh Shri Kamal Nath Anandi Ben Patel
20 Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis Shri Chennamaneni

Vidyasagar Rao
Shri Nongthombam Biren
21 Manipur Singh PB Acharya
22. Jharkhad Shri Raghubar Das Smt. Draupadi Murmu
23 Meghalya Conrad Sangma Shri Tathgata Roy
24. Mizoram Zoramthanga Shri Kummanam

Rajasekharan
25. Nagaland Shri. Neiphiu Rio Shri Padmanabha
Balakrishna Acharya
26. Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik Shri Ganeshi Lal
27. Puducherry (UT) Shri. V. Narayanasamy Dr. Kiran Bedi
28. Punjab Capt. Amrinder Singh Shri V.P. Singh Badnore
29 Rajasthan Shri Ashok Gehlot Shri Kalyan Singh
Shri P S GOLAY
30 Sikkim Shri Ganga Prasad
31 Tamil Nadu Edappadi K Palaniswami Shri. Barnwarilal Purohit
32. Telangana Shri K Chandrasekhar Rao Shri E.S Lakshmi

Narasimhan (Add. Charge)
33. Tripura Biplab Kumar Deb Shri Kaptan Singh Solanki
34 Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Aadityanath Shri Ram Naik
162
35 Uttarakhand Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat Baby Rani Maurya
36 West Bengal Km. Mamata Banerjee Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi
STATES FESTIVELS
State Festival
Andhra Pradesh Brahmotsavam, Ugadi or the Telugu New
Year, Dasara, Sri Rama Navami, Deccan
festival, Durga festival.
Arunachal Pradesh Solung, Losar Festival, Murung, Reh, Mopin,
Boori Boot, Monpa festval.
Assam Ambubasi festival, Bohag Bihu, Baishagu
festival, Majuli festival, Dehing Patkai festival,
Pragjyothi dance festival.
Bihar Bihula, Chhath Puja, Madhushravani, Rajgir
Dance festival.
Goa Fontainhas Festival of Art, sunburn festival,
Ladainha, Mando Festival, Ghumot fest,
Chikalkalo.
Gujarat Kite Festival, Holi, Modhera Dance Festival,
Saptak Music Festival.
Haryana Baisakhi festival.
Jammu and Kashmir Dosmuchey festival, Matho Narang, Gemis
Festival, Galdan Namchot.
Jharkhand Sarhul, Dansi, Karma, Hal Punhya, Rohin,

Bandna.
Karnataka Pattadakal Dance festival, Gudi Padwa.
Kerala Onam, Nishagandhi festival, vaikathashtami
festival.
Madhya Pradesh Tejaji Fair, Khajuraho festival.
Maharashtra Kalidas festival, Chikoo Utsav.
Manipur Yaoshang, Chavang Kut.
Nongkrem Dance Festival,
Meghalaya Wangala Festival, Bob Dylan festival, Ahaia
festival.
163
Mizoram ChapcharKut Festival

Nagaland Hornbill Festival, Moatsu festival, Hornbill
festival.
Odisha Konark festival, International sand art
festival.
Punjab Lohri.
Gangaur Festival, Bundi Utsav, Desert festival,
Rajasthan Braj festival, Shekhawati festival, Matasya
festival.
Sikkim Saga Dawa
Pongal, Thaipoosam, Jallikattu festival,
Tamil Nadu Natyanjali festival.
Telangana Bonalu
Tripura Kharchi Puja
Uttar Pradesh Kumbh Mela, Ram Leela.
Uttarakhand Ganga Dusshera
West Bengal Durga Puja, Nandikar National Theatre
festival.
International Organizations & Headquater

International Organizations Headquarter
 United Nations Organization  New York, US
 (UN)
 United Nations Children’s  New York, US
 Fund (UNICEF)
 United Nations Populations  New York, US
 Fund (UNFPA)
 United Nations Conference on Trade & 
Development  Geneva, Switzerland
 (UNCTAD)
 World Health Organization  Geneva, Switzerland
 (WHO)
164
 World Economic Forum  Geneva, Switzerland
 International  Geneva, Switzerland

 LabourOrganisation (ILO)
 World Trade Organisation  Geneva, Switzerland
 World Meteorological  Geneva, Switzerland

 Organisation
 World Intellectual Property  Geneva, Switzerland
 Organisation
 International Committee of  Geneva, Switzerland
 the Red Cross
 United Nations Education Scientific & 
Cultural  Paris, France
 Organisation (UNESCO)
 Organisation for Economic Cooperation 
& Development  Paris, France
 (OECD)
 United Nations Industrial Development 
Organisation  Vienna, Austria
 (UNIDO)
 International Atomic Agency  Vienna, Austria
 Organisation of Petroleum  Vienna, Austria

 Exporting Countries (OPEC)
 Amnesty International  London, UK
 International Maritime  London, UK

 Organisation
 
 Commonwealth of Nations  London, UK

 South Asian Association for  Kathmandu, Nepal
 Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
 Association of South East  Jakarta, Indonesia
 Nations (ASEAN)
 Asia Pacific Economic  Singapore
 Cooperation (APEC)
 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation  Brussels, Belgium
(NATO)
165
 International Cricket Council  Dubai, UAE

 (ICC)
 Food & Agricultural  Rome, Italy
 Organisation (FAO)
 International Court of Justice  The Hague, The Netherland
 International Olympic  Lausanne, Switzerland
 Committee
 The Fédération Internationale  Zurich, Switzerland
 de Football Association (FIFA)
 The Organization for the 
 Prohibition of Chemical Weapons  The Hague, The Netherlands
(OPCW)
 World Wide Fund for Nature  Avenue du Mont-Blanc, Gland,
 (WWF)  Vaud, Switzerland
 Asian Infrastructure  Beijing, China
 Investment Bank (AIIB) 

 New Development Bank  Shanghai, China
 (BRICS Development Bank)
 Asian Development Bank  Manila, Philippines
 (ADB)
 International Monetary Fund  Washington DC, US
 (IMF)
 
 World Bank  Washington DC, US
LIST OF IMPORTANT AIRPORTS IN INDIA
Airport City State/UT

 Kempegowda International  Bangalore  Karnataka
Airport
 Netaji Subhash Chandra  Kolkata  West Bengal
Bose Intl.Airport
 Rajiv Gandhi International  Hyderabad  Telangana
Airport
 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel  Ahmedabad  Gujarat
International Airport
 Chaudhary Charan Singh  Lucknow  Uttar Pradesh
166
Intl. Airport
 Lokpriya Gopinath  Guwahati  Assam
Bordoloi Intl. Airport
 Srinagar Airport  Srinagar  J&K
 Biju Patnaik International  Bhubaneswar  Odisha
Airport
 Visakhapatnam Airport  Visakhapatnam  Andhra Pradesh
 Devi Ahilyabai Holkar  Indore  Madhya Pradesh
Airport
 Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar  Nagpur  Maharashtra
Intl. Airport
 Lok Nayak Jayaprakash  Patna  Bihar
Airport
 Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee  Amritsar  Punjab
International Airport
 Swami Vivekananda  Raipur  Chhattisgarh
Airport
 Bagdogra Airport  Bagdogra  West Bengal
 Veer Savarkar  Port Blair  andaman&Nicobar
International Airport Islands
 Birsa Munda Airport  Ranchi  Jharkhand
 Maharana Pratap Airport  Udaipur  Rajasthan
 Raja Bhoj International  Bhopal  Madhya Pradesh
Airport
 Jolly Grant Airport  Dehradun  Uttrakhand
 Rajahmundry Airport  Rajahmundry  Andhra Pradesh
 Silchar Airport  Silchar  Assam
 Lengpui Airport  Aizwal  Mizoram
 Zaruki International  Shillong  Meghalaya
Airport
 Daporijo Airport  Daporijo  Arunachal Pradesh
 Tezu Airport  Tezu  Arunachal Pradesh
 Kandla Airport  Kandla  Gujarat
 Sonari Airport  Jamshedpur  Jharkhand
 Birsa Munda Airport  Ranchi  Jharkhand
 Agatti Aerodrome  Agatti  Lakshadweep
FOLK DANCE
167
States/UT Folk Dance

 Jharkhand  Chhanu, Sarahul, Jat-Jatin, Karma, Danga, Bidesia, Sohrai.
 Uttarakhand  Gadhwali, Kumayuni, Kajari, Jhora, Raslila, Chappeli.
 Andra Pradesh  Kuchipudi (Classical), Ghantamardala, (Ottam Thedal,
Mohiniattam, Kummi, Siddhi, Madhuri, Chhadi.
 Chhattisgarh  Goudi, Karma, Jhumar, Dagla, Pali, Tapali, Navrani, Diwari,
Mundari.
 Arunachal  Mask dance (Mukhauta Nritya), War dance.
Pradesh
 Himachal  Jhora, Jhali, Chharhi, Dhaman, Chhapeli, Mahasu, Nati, Dangi,
Pradesh Chamba, Thali, Jhainta, Daf, Stick dance etc.
 Goa  Mandi, Jhagor, Khol, Dakni etc.
 Assam  Bihu, Bichhua, Natpuja, Maharas, Kaligopal, Bagurumba, Naga
dance, Khel Gopal, Tabal Chongli, Canoe, Jhumura Hobjanai etc.
 West Bengal  Kathi, Gambhira, Dhali, Jatra, Baul, Marasia, Mahal, Keertan etc.
 Kerala  Kathakali (Classical), Ottam Thulal, Mohini-attam, Kaikottikali,
Tappatikali, Kali Auttam.
 Meghalaya  Laho, Baala etc.
 Manipur  Manipuri (Classical), Rakhal, Nat Rash, Maha Rash, Raukhat etc.
 Nagaland  Chong, Khaiva, Lim, Nuralim etc.
 Orissa  Odissi (Classical), Savari, Ghumara, Painka, Munari, Chhau,
Chadya Dandanata etc.
 Maharashtra  Lavani, Nakata, Koli, Lezim, Gafa, Dahikala Dasavtar or Bohada,
Tamasha, Mauni, Powara, Gouricha etc.
 Karnataka  Yakshagan, huttar, Suggi, Kunitha, Karga, Lambi
 Gujarat  Garba, Dandiya Ras, Tippani Juriun, Bhavai.
 Punjab  Bhagra, Giddha, Daff, Dhaman etc.
 Rajasthan  Ghumar, Chakri, Ganagor, Jhulan Leela, Jhuma, Suisini, Ghapal,
Panihari, Ginad etc.
 Mizoram  Khanatm, Pakhupila, Cherokan etc.
 Jammu &  Rauf, Hikat, Mandjas, kud Dandi nach, Damali.
Kashmir
 Tamil Nadu  Bharatnatyam, Kumi, Kolattam, Kavadi,
 Uttar Pradesh  Nautanki, Raslila, Kajri, Jhora, Chappeli, Jaita.
 Bihar  Jata-Jatin, Bakho-Bakhain, Panwariya, Sama-Chakwa, Bidesia,
Jatra etc.
168
 Haryana  Jhumar, Phag Dance, Daph, Dhamal, Loor, Gugga, Khor, Gagor
etc.
Online Mock Test Available on App as well as Web:
How to Access on App:-

1. Go to Playstore search Ambitious Baba or Click here to Install App
2. After Install Login with Google Account or Facebook Account
Related Links:
 More Daily Current Affairs Click here
 Get Free PDFs
 Banking Awareness Study Notes
 WhatsApp Group Join here
 Telegram Group:- Click Here
 Telegram Channel: Click here
 Like & Follow our Facebook Page:- Click here
 Join our Facebook Group:- Click Here
169
170

GK Capsule Sbi Po

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

You might also like

GK Capsule Sbi Po

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

GK Capsule Sbi Po

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Facebook Page Facebook Group Telegram Group Telegram Channel

Part 2 (Static GK)

4. Importatnt National Park

 Hero MotoCorp new brand  Yerry Mina

 New Lok Sabha Speaker  Om Birla

 Senegal’s President  Macky Sall (Second term)

 New Prime minister of Estonia  Kaja Kallas (First Female)

 Head committee on Comprehensive  Dr Alok Srivastava

 Goodwill Ambassador of UNDP  Padma Lakshmi

 OIC body’s deputy chairman  Pakistan

 New Agricultural Scientific  Aditya Kumar Misra

 Chief Minister of Goa  Pramod Sawant

 President of Comoros  Azali Assoumani re-elected

 New President of Slovakia  Zuzana Caputova (First Female)

 Chief Justice of Pakistan  Justice Asif Khosa

 IMF as 1st woman and 11th Chief  India-born Gita Gopinath

 New Venezuela President  Nicolas Maduro (2nd Term)

 New chief credit officer (CCO) of Axis  Deepak Maheshwari

 BARC (Broadcast Audience Research  Punit Goenka

 CEO of Corporation Bank  P V Bharathi

 New President of El Salvador  Former mayor Nayib Bukele

 New civil aviation secretary  Pradeep Singh Kharola

 New Union Sports Secretary  Radheyshyam Julaniya

 Brand ambassador of Swasth  Kareena Kapoor Khan

 Non-Executive Chairman of IDBI Bank  Hemand Bhargava

 New Managing Director of LIC  Vipin Anand

 Industry Head of Google India  Former Bollywood Actress, Mayoori

 Goodwill Ambassador of Street Child  Mithali Raj

Institute of India (FTII) Society and

 UN Re-Elects International Narcotics  Jagjit Pavadia

middle-class black couple

 ‘Distinguished  Nirmala Sitharaman and  Jawaharlal Nehru

shed Alumni Award’. This

 ‘Journalist of the  Rachna Khaira  The award was bestowed

Year Award’ Development

 First-ever Philip  PM Narendra Modi  Politics

Player of the year”

the Year 2018 Motors

 Swachhata  AMRUT cities and 

 “Football Ratna”  Sunil Chhetri  Indian Football Team

Society (WSIS) government,

 Celent Model Bank  Fincare Small  Financial Inclusion

 National  The Intellectual  Contributions in best

Property Award (IPR cell) of Kerala registration of

 ‘Public Water  National Mission for  Namami Gange which is

 National Water  Madurai district  Rejuvenations and

 Golden Peacock  ACKO General  For their contextual

 Chameli Devi Jain  BBC Journalist  Outstanding women

 Yaswantrao Chavan  Ex-RBI Governor  Contribution towards

 Nari Shakti  Kathak dancer Seema  Contribution towards

 Martha Farrell  Delhi government  Promoting gender quality

Award 2019 school teacher Manu and women’s

 Pravasi Bharatiya  Dr. Rajendra Kumar 

 Amitav Ghosh  Jnanpith Award, 2018  Jnanpith Selection Board

the infamous Nirbhaya

 World Book of  Kapil Sharma 

Celestial Bodies. The

 Horticulture award  N kumar  N Kumar, Vice-