Banking exam Special Classes

By: Kapil Kathpal

 Credit & Risk Analyst (S.O. Post) in a Public Sector Bank.
 7 years Banking experience.
 Selected as SBI PO and also cracked IBPS PO.
 Appeared in UPSC Civil Services Mains (2017).
Academics:
 Chartered Financial Analyst (C.F.A.)
 Masters in Commerce (Accounting & Business Statistics).
 Diploma in Treasury, Investment & Risk Management.
 JAIIB & CAIIB.

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Next Generation Biodegradable Metal Implants developed by ARCI
scientists

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• The scientists of Advanced Research Centre for powder metallurgy and new materials along
with Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences (SCTIMST) have developed new
biodegradable implant. The implants were developed from Iron-Manganese alloy.

• The alloy is highly applicable for making biodegradable orthopedic implant applications and
stents. These implants participate in the healing process and gradually degrade maintaining the
mechanical integrity. They do not leave out any residues in the human body. They are certainly
better alternatives to current implants.
 NMIS-National Migrant Information System developed by NDMA
• National Disaster Management Authority launched the National Migrant Information System. It is
a central online repository for the migrant workers.

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• The online portal will help in inter-state communication to facilitate smooth movement of migrant
workers. The portal also has added advantages such as contact tracing that will help in COVID-
19 response work.

• The repository will hold details such as name, mobile number, age, destination district, date of
travel and originating district.
 Centre approves modified DPR of in Jammu and Kashmir

• The Centre approved to modification of the Detailed Project Report of the Ujh multipurpose Project located

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on the river Ujh, main tributaries of river Ravi in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir at the estimated cost
of Rs.9,167 crore.

• The advisory committee of Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
approved the DPR of Ujh MPP project chaired by Union Secretary U P Singh.

• The DPR of Ujh project was declared as a national project in 2008 and was prepared by the Indus Basin
Organisation of the Central Water Commission in 2013

• The dam is proposed in the site in Barbari village which is about 1.6 Km downstream of Panchtirthi and the
power house site is 9.5 Km downstream of the dam site near Deoli village.
Centre approves modified DPR of in Jammu and Kashmir

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• Ujh Multipurpose Project is planned to fast track utilization of India's rights under Indus Waters Treaty

• The project will enhance the utilization of waters of Eastern Rivers allotted to India as per the Indus Water
Treaty.

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• The project is planned to be constructed in Kathua District of Jammu & Kashmir on the River Ujh.Ujh is
a tributary of the Ravi river.

• The Indus system comprises the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The basin is shared by India
and Pakistan.

• Under the Indus Waters Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, the waters of three rivers,
namely Ravi, Sutlej and Beas (Eastern Rivers) shall be available for the unrestricted use of India.

• While, the waters of Western rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab were allocated to Pakistan except for
specified domestic, non-consumptive and agricultural use permitted to India as provided in the Treaty.

• India has also been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run of the river (RoR) projects on
the Western Rivers which, subject to specific criteria for design and operation is unrestricted.

• India is also allowed to use 20% of water from Indus, Chenab and Jhelum (Western rivers) for irrigation,
power generation and transport purposes
 COVID-19 may cost global economy loss of up to $ 8.8 trillion
• According to a report “Updated Assessment of the Potential Economic Impact of COVID-19”
released by Asian Development Bank , global economy is expected to lose between $ 5.8 trillion

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to $ 8.8 trillion, which will be 6.4 % to 9.7 % of global gross domestic product due to the outbreak
of the novel Coronavirus

• About Asian Development Bank (ADB)

 Headquarters – Manila, Philippines

 Membership – 68 countries
 President – Masatsugu Asakawa
Zubair Iqbal appointed as MD of J&K Bank, Chibber to continue as
chairman
• The Jammu and Kashmir administration approved the appointment of senior vice president of

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HDFC bank Zubair Iqbal as the new Managing Director (MD) of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, for a
period of 3 years.

• In another order, Rajesh Kumar Chibber, who is currently MD and Chairman of J&K bank, has
been reappointed as the Chairman for the period of 3 years.
GoM proposes land pooling to corporatise agri, merging MNREGA
with skilling programmes

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• A Group of Ministers(GoM) panel headed by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand
Gehlot on employment and skill development has drafted a set of proposals that includes land pooling to
corporatize agriculture.

• This will open up Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)
for the unorganised sector, merging the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005
(MNREGA) with skill development programmes to create a wage subsidy programme.
• Panel’s Suggestions

 The land pooling model used to build greenfield airports can be used in agriculture so as to
enable corporatisation, which will create demand for skilled labourers.

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 Merge MNREGA with skill development programmes to create a wage subsidy programme,
where the MNREGA amount is extended to companies as a wage subsidy for Small and
Medium Enterprises (SME).

 Works in private enterprises such as factories, construction sites and shops can be
considered as eligible work under MNREGA, which will lower the cost of wages and make
industries competitive, creating a local employment wave.

 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) can cut the reverse repo rate to 0% for a few months, thus
encouraging banks to lend more. Banks can use Goods & Service Tax(GST) credits as
collateral and lend against them. Establish a venture capital fund for SMEs

 Develop & maintain the rental housing facilities at government and private levels so as to
provide rental accommodation to migrant workers
• Panel’s Suggestions (Contd..)

 Create a new Department of Hygiene to ensure hygienic practices, which should be made
mandatory in all organisations, government or private, and public places, which will have

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more employment potential.

 The food processing should be given “cottage industry” status, with the help of Pradhan
Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), a balance between farm and non-farm activities
could be managed.

 Besides from National Employment Policy (NEP), a National Electronic Employment

Exchange is proposed to help every worker who has migrated or is proposing to migrate. All
those workers shall register their skill and enterprises should register their requirement for
workers.

 Frame a standard operating procedure for migrant workers as a large part of the workforce is
unskilled. Proposed a Migrant Worker Welfare Fund with equal contributions from the
worker, employer and government, this fund can be utilised to address the requirements of
accommodation, health insurance and unemployment allowance in case of shifting of jobs.
“Wuhan Diary: Dispatches from a Quarantined City” => Fang Fang
• The book titled as “Wuhan Diary: Dispatches from a Quarantined City” authored by Chinese literary
writer Fang Fang is a compilation of online diary entries and social media posts that document 60 days of

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lockdown during COVID-19, captures the challenges of daily life and the changing moods and emotions of
being quarantined without reliable information & is a remarkable record of the extraordinary time.

• The book was released in India in an e-book format

• It is translated by Michael Berry, the book documents the author’s voice against social injustice, abuse of
power that impeded the response to the epidemic. The book will be translated into 15 languages.
 Rs. 1,500 crores sanctioned by NABARD for Punjab
• The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development(NABARD) has sanctioned Rs. 1,500
crores for Punjab to ensure continuous credit flow to farmers, through state cooperative banks,

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amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Out of the total amount Rs. 1,000 crores is sanctioned to Punjab State Cooperative Bank and
Rs. 500 crores to Punjab Gramin Bank.

• The Amount given is part of NABARD’s Rs. 25,000 crores nationwide special liquidity facility
(SLF), which has been made available to state cooperative banks, regional rural banks, and
microfinance institutions (MFIs)
• About NABARD • About Punjab

 Headquarters – Mumbai  Capital – Chandigarh

 Chairman – Harsh Kumar Bhanwala  CM – Capt. Amarinder Singh
 Governor – V. P. Singh Badnore
 Union HRD Minister e-Launches seven titles on “Psycho-Social
Impact of Pandemic & Lockdown and How to Cope With”

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• Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank e-Launched print as well as e-editions of the set of 7 titles
on “Psycho-Social Impact of pandemic & lockdown and how to Cope With” under the corona studies series
published by National Book Trust (NBT)

• These books will serve as guides to mental well-being of people at large.

• The Corona Studies Series has been especially conceptualized by NBT to document and to provide
relevant reading materials for all age-groups for the post-Corona readership needs prepared by a Study
Group comprising of seven psychologists and counsellors constituted by NBT.
• 7 books

1. Vulnerable in Autumn: Understanding the Elderly (Lead Researchers: Jitendra Nagpal and Aprajita
Dixit, Illustrator: Aloy Ghoshal).

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2. The Future of Social Distancing: New Cardinals for Children, Adolescents and Youth (Lead
Researchers: Aprajita Dixit and Rekha Chauhan, Illustrator: Partha Sengupta).

3. The Ordeal of Being Corona Warriors: An Approach to Medical and Essential Service Providers (Lead
Researchers: Meena Arora and Sonie Sidhu, Illustrator: Saumya Shukla).

4. New Frontiers At Home: An Approach to Women, Mothers and Parents (Lead Researchers: Tarun
Uppal and Sonie Sidhu, Illustrator: Arya Prahraj).

5. Caught in Corona Conflict: An Approach to the Working Population (Lead Researchers: Jitendra
Nagpal and Tarun Uppal, Illustrator: Fazruddin).

6. Making Sense of It All: Understanding the Concerns of Persons With Disabilities (Lead Researchers:
Rekha Chauhan and Harsheeta, Illustrator: Viky Arya).

7. Alienation And Resilience: Understanding Corona Affected Families (Lead Researchers: Harsheeta
and Meena Arora, Illustrator: Neetu Sharma).
• About NBT

 NBT functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Human Resource Development

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 Chairman – Govind Prasad Sharma.

 Headquarters – Vasant Kunj, Delhi.

 AP Govt. forms 5-member panel to probe Vizag gas leak
• The Andhra Pradesh State Government has formed a 5-member high-powered committee led by

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Neerabh Kumar Prasad (special Chief Secretary of Environment, Forests, Science and
Technology) to probe into the causes behind the leakage of styrene gas from the LG Polymers
India Ltd located in Visakhapatnam. The panel required to submit its final report within one
month.

• Other members of the panel includes Karikal Valaven, Special Chief Secretary (Industries),
Vinay Chand (Visakhapatnam district collector), RK Meena (Visakhapatnam Commissioner of
Police) as members and Vivek Yadav (Member Secretary, AP Pollution Control Board) as
member convenor.

• About Andhra Pradesh (AP)

 Capital – Amaravati
 CM – Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy
 Governor – Biswabhusan Harichandan
Godrej consumer products arm stake in Kenya’s Canon Chemicals
• Godrej East Africa Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of FMCG firm Godrej Consumer Products Ltd has

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acquired the balance 25% stake in Kenya-based Canon Chemicals Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

• Earlier on February 04, 2016,the Godrej group has acquired 75 % stake in Canon for an
undisclosed sum.

• About Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL)

 Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
 Managing Director – Vivek Gambhir

• About Canon Chemicals Ltd:

 Headquarters– Nairobi, Kenya.
 It manufactures & distributes products in the personal and home categories.
 World Hypertension Day : May 17th
• Every year, 17th May is dedicated to World Hypertension Day.

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• This is an initiative of the World Hypertension League an affiliated section of the International
Society of Hypertension

• The World Hypertension League has announced that it will postpone the celebration of World
Hypertension Day 2020 until October 17, 2020, due to global COVID-19 pandemic.

• The WHD was first celebrated on May 2005 and has become an annual event ever since.

• The purpose of the WHD is to promote public awareness of hypertension and to encourage
citizens of all countries to prevent and control this silent killer, the modern epidemic.

• The expanded theme for World Hypertension Day 2020 is "Measure Your Blood Pressure,
Control It, Live Longer", with a goal of increasing hypertension awareness in all populations
around the world.