SH- Current Affairs Update 05th, Feb 2018

Dear Aspirants,

National

Maharashtra to become first state to have Transgender Welfare Board

The long pending Transgender Welfare Board (TWB) will finally see light of the day with the Maharashtra government making a provision of Rs 5 crore for welfare of the community.

• Minister of State for Social Justice Dilip Kamble told that the Board will be set up in a month's time.
• It will look after education, employment, housing, and health schemes for transgenders and protect their Constitutional and human rights.
• Maharashtra will be the first such state to have such a Board, the minister said.

India’s biggest floating island released in Neknampur lake

On the occasion of World Wetland Day, city-based NGO Dhruvansh has introduced biggest floating island of India at Neknampur Lake, Hyderabad.

• The duo of Dhruvansh NGO, Madhulika and Neeraj Singh started Neknampur restoration programme in June 2016 adopting various cost effective methodologies to clean the lake.
• After successful introduction of 10×10 feet floating islands last year, the NGO introduced 2,500 square feet floating island with 3,500 wetland plants floating on this platform.

First defence industrial corridor between Chennai, Bengaluru

The first of the two defence industrial production corridors, as announced in the Union Budget, will link Chennai and Bengaluru.

• In his budget address, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government will develop two defence industrial production corridors.
• Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the first corridor will link Chennai and Bengaluru and will pass through Coimbatore and several other industrial clusters.

India's Super Computer Could Aid In Doubling Farmers' Income

The Union Budget saw much emphasis on doubling of farmers' income and accurate weather forecasts will play a major part in it.

• What could contribute to the doubling of farmers' income is India's most powerful Cray Super Computer - MIHIR - that will give more accurate weather forecasts.
• Built at a cost of Rs. 450 crore, MIHIR is housed in a badminton court-sized room at India's weather office near Delhi, and is capable of performing jobs equivalent to more than 2,500 high-end laptops, all working in tandem. 
• Dr Harsh Vardhan, Science Minister, says "MIHIR, named after the Sun God, will help in our weather forecasting capability and strength will increase tremendously and it will now become about eight petaflops." 
• Dr Vardhan said India will now also be ranked 4th, after Japan, UK and the US for dedicated HPC resources for weather/climate community.

Mukesh Khanna Quits as Chief of Children’s Film Society

Actor Mukesh Khanna said he has resigned as the chairperson of the Children's Film Society two months prior to the end of his term, alleging lack of support to take children's films to theatres and inadequate funding for the institution.

• His three-year term was scheduled to end in April.
• The actor is known for his portrayal in popular TV serial Shaktimaan.
• He made his debut on the small screen as Bhisham Pitamah in B R Chopra's Mahabharat.

SH- Current Affairs Update 04th, Feb 2018

Dear SH Aspirants,

International

World Cancer Day: 4 February

World Cancer Day is an international day marked on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.

• World Cancer Day was founded by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008.
• The primary goal of the World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by cancer by 2020.
• The theme for the World Cancer Day 2016-2018 is 'We can. I can.'

National

International Conference on 'Demetrios Galanos and His Legacy’

The International Conference on 'Demetrios Galanos and His Legacy’ was inaugurated at IGNCA in New Delhi.

• Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is organizing the 8-days International Conference.
• The 8-day long convention is being held in Delhi and Varanasi, in addition to organizing the exhibition and folk music of Greece.

Venkaiah Naidu to Inaugurate First International Kala Mela

The Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate the First International Kala Mela in New Delhi on February 4.

• The Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge) and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma will also grace the occasion.
• Lalit Kala Akademi, the premier institution for the promotion of Art and Culture is organizing it at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi (IGNCA).

Environment Ministry launches ‘Green Good Deeds’ campaign

Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has appealed to the teaching community to join the “Green Good Deeds” campaign, launched by his Ministry to sensitise the people about climate change and global warming.

• The Minister reminded the teachers of their “Green Social Responsibility similar to corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

SH- Current Affairs Update 03rd, Feb 2018

Dear Aspirants, 

INTERNATIONAL

India joins Ashgabat agreement

India has joined the Ashgabat agreement which envisages setting up of an international transport and transit corridor linking central Asia with the Persian Gulf to significantly ramp up trade and investment.

• Turkmenistan, as depository State of Ashgabat Agreement, informed on February 1 that all the four founding members have consented to the Accession of India.
• Turkmenistan, Iran, Oman and Uzbekistan signed the agreement on April 25, 2011.
• In October 2016, Pakistan had formally joined the project. Kazakhstan is also a part to this agreement.

NATIONAL

PM to address the inaugural session of Advantage Assam - Global Investors Summit

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will address the inaugural session of Advantage Assam - Global Investors Summit 2018, in Guwahati on February 3, 2018.

• The two-day Summit will be the largest ever investment promotion and facilitation initiative by the Government of Assam.
• The Summit aims at highlighting the geo-strategic advantages offered to investors by Assam.

Yogi Adityanath inaugurates Surajkund Mela in Haryana

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Surajkund Mela on 2 February, in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

• The 17-day-long event, which is in its 32nd edition, showcases India’s rich cultural diversity, crafts and handiworks.
• The Mela this year has the culture of Uttar Pradesh as its theme and focuses upon child rights violations across India.
• All of India’s states and 20 countries are participating in the festival.
• Surajkund is located in Faridabad in Haryana.

Centre sanctions Rs 1,500 cr for organic farming in Uttarakhand

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 1,500 crore for three years to promote organic farming in Uttarakhand.

• The amount was sanctioned by Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh when Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat met him in New Delhi.
• The Union minister also cleared a proposal worth Rs 2,600 crore for the co-operative sector in the state. Of which, Rs 200 crore is meant for the reorganisation of sugar mills.

Important Revolutions In India: Static Awareness

Dear Readers,

We are providing you the Static GK Material that will help you learn some important static facts in a slow and steady manner. Just go through the below table because it contains all the important dams of India and you may find question related to this in the upcoming exams.

Important Revolutions in India

New Pattern English for IBPS PO IBPS RRB IBPS CLERK RBI ASSISTANT

Dear Readers,

Directions (1-5): In each of the following questions, a statement and five choices are given. Select from among the choices, the most logical complement and mark its number as your answer:

Q1. There was no other means of coming to power than an alliance with like-minded parties.

(a) We will revamp the party by taking the support of the opposition

(b) We tried to please the leaders of other parties.

(c) We declared that we are going to rise to power.

(d) We enlisted the support of the opposition.

(e) So we convened an urgent meeting of our workers.

Q2. Facilities in the village hospital are insufficient and outdated.

(a) So we are going to take the patient back home.

(b) We will take our patient home and complain to the authorities.

(c) We will immediately take the patient to a better hospital.

(d) We will wait silently until the hospital gets improved.

(e) We will demand for a better hospital in the village.

Q3. The decision to reopen the old and closed-down liquor shops was resented by the people in the city.

(a) Some people took out protest march to the minister’s house.

(b) The liquor-sellers and contractors supported the government decision.

(c) The ruling party secretly convened a meeting of the most important leaders.

(d) The government succumbed to public opinion and withdrew the decision to open the liquor shops.

(e) The liquor barons will not allow the closure of the liquor shops.

Banking Awareness-IBPS PO/RRB/CLERK/SBI PO/UIICL

Banking Awareness for IBPS Exam 2017

Q1. Standard & Poor's (S&P) Global Ratings and its predecessor organizations have been in business for more than 150 years. (S&P) based in-
(a) New York, USA
(b) London, UK
(c) Paris, France
(d) Vienna, Austria
(e) Geneva, Switzerland
Sol. Standard & Poor’s Financial Services is an American (New York, USA) financial services company. It is a division of S&P Global that publishes financial research and analysis on stocks, bonds and commodities.

Q2. Which is a full service credit rating agency exclusively set up for micro, small and medium enterprises?
(a) CRISIL
(b) ICRA
(c) CARE
(d) ONICRA
(e) SMERA
Sol. SMERA Ratings Limited (formerly SME Rating Agency of India Ltd.) is a full service credit rating agency exclusively set up for micro, small and medium enterprises.

Q3. Which of the following is an independent banking industry watchdog that protects consumers of banking services in the country?
(a) BBB
(b) IBA
(c) BCSBI
(d) IBRD
(e) RBI
Sol. The Banking Codes and Standards Board of India (BCSBI) is an independent banking industry watchdog that protects consumers of banking services in India.

Q4. The Banking Codes and Standards Board of India (BCSBI) was registered as a society under the _____________ in February 2006.
(a) Companies Act, 1956
(b) Societies Registration Act, 1860
(c) Banking Regulation Act, 1949
(d) Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
(e) None of the given options is true
Sol. The Banking Codes and Standards Board of India was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in February 2006. It functions as an independent and autonomous body. Membership of BCSBI is voluntary and open to scheduled banks.  

Q5. Where is the head office of SMERA?
(a) Chennai
(b) Gurugram
(c) New Delhi
(d) Mumbai
(e) Bengaluru
Sol. SMERA has its Registered and Head Office in Mumbai, branches at 9 cities and representatives in more than 50 clusters across India.

Q6. Name the Private sector Bank, which has received $150 million funding from the US government and Wells Fargo to increase lending to support women entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises in India.
(a) Axis Bank
(b) ICICI Bank
(c) Yes Bank
(d) Kotak Mahindra Bank
(e) South Indian Bank
Sol. Private sector YES Bank has received $150 million funding from the US government and Wells Fargo to increase lending to support women entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises in India. 

Q7. What is the minimum amount to be remitted through RTGS-
(a) Rs.2 lakh
(b) Rs.10 lakh
(c) Rs.1 lakh
(d) Rs.5 lakh
(e) Rs.20 lakh
Sol. The minimum amount to be remitted through RTGS is Rs2 lakh. 

Q8. Which Bank has tied up with PFG Forex for remittance facility for the benefit of Indian expatriates from Australia. The new facility will leverage the bank to reach the Indian diaspora?
(a) Axis Bank
(b) ICICI Bank
(c) Bank of Baroda
(d) State Bank of India
(e) South Indian Bank
Sol. South Indian Bank has tied up with PFG Forex for remittance facility for the benefit of Indian expatriates from Australia. The new facility will leverage the bank to reach the Indian diaspora.

Q9. FINO Payments Bank has commenced operations as a payments bank with effect from 30th June 2017 according to the Reserve Bank of India. Where is the head office of FINO Payments Bank?
(a) Chennai
(b) Jaipur
(c) Bengaluru
(d) Mumbai
(e) Chennai
Sol. FINO Payments Bank has commenced operations as a payments bank with effect from 30th June 2017 according to the Reserve Bank of India. The Head Office of FINO PayTech Ltd. is in Mumbai and it was one of the 11 applicants which were issued in-principle approval for setting up a payments bank.