Current Affairs July 13, 2017

1. Delhi government to start online RTI portal

Delhi became the second state to launch e-RTI portal that will enable citizens to file online Right to Information (RTI).

• The Central government had launched its own online RTI application portal in 2013, which allowed users to file queries, pay application fee and submit requests for appeal.
• The Central government had urged the States to set up their own online application portals. Maharashtra had followed suit in 2015 with its own RTI portal.

2. Revamped NHB RESIDEX launched

Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu  released the new version of NHB RESIDEX on the occasion of the National Housing Bank entering its 30th year. 

• This component of RESIDEX, called Housing Price, Prices is based on actual market information.
• The other component of RESIDEX called as Prices based on the information furnished by banks and other lending agencies showed that prices have increased in 27 of the 50 cities surveyed.

IMPORTANT

• RESIDEX, the country’s first official housing price index (HPI) was launched in 2007 covering 26 cities and was published till March, 2015 on a quarterly basis. 
• Base year for the new RESIDEX has been moved from 2007 to 2012-13.

3. Varanasi to have an international center for research on rice varieties

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the establishment of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Center (ISARC) at campus of National Seed Research and Training Center (NSRTC) in Varanasi.

• This will include a modern and sophisticated laboratory with capacity to determine quality and status of heavy metals in grain and straw.
• The Centre will help in utilizing the rich biodiversity of India to develop special rice varieties and achieve higher per hectare yields and improved nutritional contents.

4. Cabinet approves SASEC Road Connectivity Investment Program  

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister has given its approval for upgradation and widening of 65 kms of Imphal-Moreh Section of NH-39 in Manipur.

• The project is being developed with ADB's loan assistance under the South Asian Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Road Connectivity Investment Program which aims at upgradation of road infrastructure in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India (BBIN) in order to improve the regional connectivity among BBIN nations.
• The project corridor is also a part of the Asian Highway No. 01 (AH01) and acts as India's Gateway to the East.

5. India to host 8th international Theatre Olympics in 2018

Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Culture and Tourism has announced that 8th edition of the greatest carnival of Theatre in the World will take place in India for the first time ever from February 17 – April 08, 2018 simultaneously in various cities across the country. 

• The Theatre Olympics, being held in India for the first time, is being organised by National School of Drama, under the aegis of Ministry of Culture.
• Points  to Remember:-
• The Theatre Olympics was established in 1993 in Delphi, Greece, as the first international theatre festival.
• In 2016 the 7th Theatre Olympics were held in Wroclaw, Poland. 

6. National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination in India (2017-22)

Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched the National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017-22) at a function.

• The Strategic Plan gives year wise elimination targets in various parts of the country depending upon the endemicity of malaria in the next 5 years.
• Highlighting the salient features of the NSP, Shri Nadda stated that the strategies involve strengthening malaria surveillance, establishing a mechanism for early detection and prevention of outbreaks of malaria, promoting the prevention of malaria by the use of Long Lasting Impregnated Nets (LLINs), effective indoor residual spray and augmenting the manpower and capacities for effective implementation for the next five years. 

7. Axis Bank ties up with IIC

Axis Bank has entered into collaboration with Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) to facilitate trade with Latin America and the Caribbean.

• The private sector bank, in a statement, said it is the first Indian bank to participate in the Trade Finance Facilitation Programme as a confirming bank. IIC, a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, is a multilateral development bank committed to supporting the private sector in Latin America and the Caribbean.

8. NABARD celebrates 36th Foundation Day

Self Help Group Bank Linkage Programme (SHG BLP), the pioneering initiative of Financial Inclusion by NABARD completed 25 years during this year and is well poised to deliver the savings and credit services at the doorstep of rural poor especially women through their self-managed institutions called SHGs.

• Commemorating this occasion, NABARD has dedicated its 36th Foundation Day to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of SHG Bank Linkage Programme. 
• With more than 8.5 crore rural women as the direct participants in this mass movement, NABARD celebrated the Silver Jubilee of SHG BLP at Vigyan Bhavan in national capital on 11th July, 2017.

9. Subhash Garg takes charge as DEA Secretary

The former Executive Director of the World Bank Subhash Chandra Garg on Wednesday assumed office as the new Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) in the Ministry of Finance.

• Garg, a 1983 batch IAS officer, has also worked in the central government in various capacities.
• He succeeds Shaktikanta Das, who retired after an extended tenure on May 31. Corporate Affairs Secretary Tapan Ray was given additional charge of DEA secretary after Das’ exit.

10. Mithali Raj becomes all-time leading run-getter in women's ODIs

India captain Mithali Raj scripted history on Wednesday as she became the all-time leading run-getter in women's one-day internationals.

• Mithali, who is leading India at the ICC Women's World Cup in England, overtook Charlotte Edwards (5992) after scoring her 34th run against Australia in Bristol.
• Incidentally, it's an Indian bowler Jhulan Goswami, with 189 wickets, who is the all-time leading wicket-taker in women's ODIs.

11. RSS CHIEF RELEASES BOOK ON LIFE OF MODI

The book on the life of Modi, titled "Narendra Damodardas Modi: The Making of a Legend", was unveiled in Delhi in the presence of Bhagwat and Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah.

• The book, penned  by Bindeshwar Pathak, a Padma Bhushan recipient  known for work in Sanitation (founder of Sulabh International), is all about Modi and the journey of his life.

Current Affairs July 12, 2017

1. 22nd World Petroleum Congress:Istanbul

Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a Ministerial Session on the subject “Current Economic Strategies in Indian Oil & Gas Sector”.

• He also chaired a Plenary Session on ‘Supply and Demand Challenges for Oil, Gas and Products’ at the 22nd World Petroleum Congress at Istanbul, Turkey.
• The Minister launched an event on Hydrocarbon Exploration & Licensing Policy (HELP) as a part of process of promoting the upcoming oil & gas bidding rounds in India.

2. Railways has launched  RailCloud

The Indian Railways has launched RailCloud, a virtual server with an inbuilt security system that will enable faster connectivity at a reduced cost.

• Developed by rail PSU RailTel at an estimated cost of about Rs 53 crore, RailCloud is aimed at optimising server resources and its management.
• RailCloud technology enables maximising the usage of available server and storage resulting in accommodation of bigger data and more applications within same server space. This makes the system suitable to meet higher demand.

3. Saint Teresa’s blue-bordered sari an Intellectual Property now

The famous blue-bordered sari of Mother Teresa, who has been canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta by the Vatican, has been recognized as an Intellectual Property of the Missionaries of Charity.

• The Trade Marks Registry, Government of India, has granted the registration of the trade mark for that pattern of blue border of sari.

4. Uttrakhand Government launches the Super 30 coaching

The Uttrakhand government has launched its own version of 'Super 30', which is an innovative educational programme. The aim is to improve the standard of higher education in the state.

• Another similar scheme, sponsored by the state government, is also being introduced for civil services aspirants,
• Announcing a third scheme for postgraduates, CM said 100 such meritorious students will also be selected every year for doing PhD and will be provided with financial assistance by the government.

5. Shri J P Nadda launches new family planning initiatives

Shri J P Nadda launches new family planning initiatives ‘Mission Parivar Vikas’ on World Population Day (11 July) to focus on 146 districts in 7 states with high TFR.

• Shri Nadda stated that Mission Parivar Vikas is a new initiative conceived by the Ministry with a strategic focus on improving access through provision of services, promotional schemes, commodity security, capacity building, enabling environment and intensive monitoring.

6. A.P., Telangana and Gujarat top in ease of doing business

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Gujarat are the three best-performing states in "ease of doing business" NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said.

• One the other hand, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam fare worst in the rankings.
• The World Bank, along with the Centre's Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) was involved in the process of reviewing the evidence submitted by states/UTs regarding implementation of reforms for the rankings.

7. RBI amends order on bankruptcy action

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has amended its earlier order asking banks to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against 12 companies which have outstanding loans amounting to over Rs 5,000 crore as on March 2016.

• "The Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) noted that under the recommended criterion, 12 accounts totaling about 25 per cent of the current gross NPAs of the banking system would qualify for immediate reference under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC)”.

8. SEBI amends guidelines for eligible foreign investors

Markets regulator SEBI amended the guidelines for eligible foreign investors looking to operate at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).

• In case of participation of an EFI, not registered with SEBI as an FPI, but desirous of operating in IFSC, a trading member of the recognised stock exchange in IFSC may carry out the due diligence on its own or it may rely upon the due diligence carried out by a bank, which is permitted by RBI to operate in IFSC, during the account opening process of an EFI.

9. RuPay to tap renew deals with Visa, Mastercard

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is looking at increased uptake of its RuPay debit cards among premium customers, as deals signed between banks and its global competitors Visa and Mastercard expire over the next few years.

• Though RuPay controls 42 per cent of the Indian debit card market, the share of its cards is only 16 per cent of total Point of Sale (PoS) and e-commerce transactions.
• This is largely due to the fact that the majority of RuPay cards — around 220 million— are held by benefactors of the Jan Dhan Yojana scheme.

10. Maya wins Asia Pacific App of the Year award

Maya, a Bangalore-based mobile app won the Asia Pacific App of the Year at FbStart Apps of the Year awards announced by Facebook.

• Maya was founded in India in 2014. It's now available in 14 languages and has been downloaded across 190 countries.

11. Ravi Shastri named head coach, Zaheer Khan new bowling coach

On Cricket Advisory Committee's recommendation, BCCI have decided to appoint Ravi Shastri as the chief coach while Zaheer Khan will be appointed bowling coach for a period of two years.

• It will be third stint with the national team for 55- year-old Shastri, who was earlier a Cricket Manager during 2007 tour of Bangladesh and then Team Director from 2014 August to 2016 June during which India won Test overseas series versus Sri Lanka, reached the semi-finals of 2015 World Cup and World T20 semi-finals in 2016.

12. Forensic expert Prof P Chandra Sekharan passes away

Renowned forensic expert and Padma Bhushan awardee Prof Dr P Chandra Sekharan died following a brief illness.

• Chandrasekaran, 83, served for over three decades as director of the Department of Forensic Sciences, Government of Tamil Nadu, and played a key role in numerous sensational cases including the assassination case of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
• He was the author of many books including "The first human bomb," based on the Rajiv Gandhi case and other scientific publications.

Current Affairs July 11, 2017

1. Okinoshima island gains UNESCO World Heritage status

A men-only island in Japan where women are banned has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• The tiny landmass of Okinoshima is permanently manned by a Shinto priest who prays to the island’s goddess, in a tradition that has been kept up for centuries.
•  Limited numbers are permitted to land on the island in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

2. Extension of NPS Fortnight

To promote and create awareness about the National Pension System (NPS) and improve the quality of services provided to the subscribers, PFRDA is observing NPS fortnight from 27th June, 2017 to 11th July, 2017 successfully.

•  NSDL has developed a link which encapsulates all the information and functionalities related to NPS subscriber, including ‘NPS Mobile App’.

3. Finance Minister Launches 'Aaykar Setu'

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley launched a new tax payer service module called Aaykar Setu.

•  It compiles various tax tools, live chat facility, dynamic updates, and important links to various processes within the Income Tax Department in a single module.
• This e-initiative would help in reducing physical interface between assesses and tax assessing authorities and thereby minimizing the chances of any tax harassment.

4. Health ministry, signs MoU with WB

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Government of West Bengal to set up a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence in Transfusion Medicine at Kolkata.

• Government of India has approved this important initiative with an outlay of approximately Rs.200 Crores towards equipment, manpower and running costs.
• The move intends to strengthen the blood transfusion services in the State and the surrounding region.

5. Odisha to set up international standard sports city

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced to set up the Kalinga International Sports City in the state capital to organize mega international events in future.

• "The proposed sports city would make eligible to bid for most international competitions including Commonwealth and Asian Games.
• With an aim to provide best of the sports infrastructures in other parts of the state, CM also announced to set up four satellite stadiums with world class infrastructures in four other municipal corporations-- Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela.

6. Gujarat government to take out Narmada Rath Yatra

The Gujarat government has decided to celebrate the completion of Sardar Sarovar dam work on river Narmada by taking out a 'Narmada Rath Yatra' covering 10,000 villages across the state under the 'Maa Narmada Mahotsav' programme.

• Gujarat CM launched a website having all the information related to the entire project, such as Narmada river basin, Sauni scheme, Sujalam Sufalam irrigation scheme and canal network.

7. President launches three digital initiatives in education sector

President Pranab Mukherjee launched two programmes and 'National Academic Depository' to take education to the remotest corners of the country with the help of technology. The programmes Swayam and Swayam Prabha -- for making education more accessible -- and the depository were conceived and executed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

• Under Swayam, courses would be offered through digital classrooms with online study material available free of cost in videos.
• Swayam Prabha would tap into the potential of Direct to Home Service wherein a person can install a dish antenna for about Rs 1,500 and have access to 32 digital educational channels run by the HRD Ministry.
• 'National Academic Depository' verified educational records would be digitally stored by universities or a board to counter forgery.

8. First Edition of WINGS 2017 – “Sab Uden, Sab Juden” Hosted in New Delhi

The First edition of WINGS 2017 – “Sab Uden, Sab Juden”- Expanding Regional Connectivity was hosted in New Delhi by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

• The Plenary session was chaired by the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju and the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Shri Jayant Sinha was also present on this occasion.
• India is one of the fastest growing aviation markets and currently the ninth largest civil aviation market in the world.It is projected to be the third largest aviation market by 2020.

9. India to import US crude for first time

India, the world's third-largest oil importer, has sealed a first deal to import crude oil from the US.

•  IOC have bought 2 million barrels of crude oil from North America comprising 1.6 million barrels of US Mars crude and 400,000 barrels of Western Canadian Select.
• US Mars is a heavy, high-sulphur grade which will be processed at IOC's newest refinery at Paradip in Odisha.

10. GMR gets Rs. 1,330 cr loan from Axis Bank

GMR Goa International Airports Limited (GGIAL), subsdiary of GMR Airports has successfully executed a debt facility arrangement for the development of the greenfield project at Mopa in north Goa by signing a common loan agreement with Axis Bank.

• The bank will provide the company with Rs 1330 crore. The Greenfield airport will be developed in stages and will be scaled up as per traffic growth demands.
• This airport will be a full service airport catering to domestic and international passenger besides freight services.

11. IROAF won Golden Peacock Award 2017

Indian Railways achieves a major landmark in the field of Eco friendly fuel technologies at Indian Railways Organization for Alternate Fuel (IROAF) which has been awarded the coveted National level “Golden Peacock Award for the Year 2017 for Eco-Innovation” for substitution of fossil fuels (Diesel) by environment friendly CNG in DEMU passenger train services.

• Use of CNG in Train Sets for passenger transportation has been done for the first time in the world.
•  The CNG based dual fuel 1400 HP engine used in DEMU trains developed by IROAF has successfully substituted diesel fuel with CNG upto 20%.

12. Harinder wins South Australian Open title

India's Harinder Pal Sandhu beat Rhys Dowling of Australia 11-8 12-10 11-4 in the final to lift South Australian Open squash title.

• It was Sandhu's eighth title at the PSA level and the third this season after winning two in Malaysia in the month of May.

Important Notice by IBPS: Regarding Fake Advertisement

"Official Release"

Circular Seating Arrangement: Reasoning Quiz

Direction (Ques 1 - 5) - Study the following information carefully to answer the given questions:

Eight persons Puja, Queen, Rani, Sunita, Tanu, Uma, Vice, and Wami are born in different years 1986, 1997, 1985, 1980, 1993, 1995, 1987 and 1981. All of them live in eight different floors. Ground floor numbered one and the above floor numbered two and so on.

The one who lives on the fourth floor was born on 1993. Puja lives on odd numbered floor but above 3rd floor. 

The number of person between Puja and one who was born on 1995 is same as the number of person between Puja and Uma.  

The one who was born in 1997 lives in the lowermost floor. Wami lives on the even numbered floor and she was born on 1987. There are two floors between Tanu and Queen, who lives above Tanu. Queen was born on 1980. Vice lives just above the one who was born on 1980. 

The number of floors between one who was born on 1980 and 1993 is two. The one who was born in 1981 lives in odd numbered floor. The number of floor between Vice and one who was born on 1986 is four. 

The one who was born on 1980 is lives odd numbered floor. The number of floor between one who was born on 1981 and Rani lives is same as the number of floors between Rani and Sunita. Uma lives below the floor on which Puja lives. Vice was not born on 1985.

1) The one who lives on 2nd floor born on which of the following year? 

1. 1983

2. 1981

3. 1997

4. 1985

5. 1993

2) Four of the five are like in a certain way based form the group finds which of the different from the group?

1. Vice

2. Queen

3. Puja

4. Tanu

5. Uma

3) Which of the following combination is true?

1. Wami - 7th floor - 1987

2. Rani - 3rd floor - 1985

3. Tanu - 4th floor - 1993

4. Sunita - 5th floor - 1981

5. None of these

4) Who among the following person lives on 1997?

1. Vice

2. Queen

3. Sunita

4. Rani

5. None of these

5) Which of the following statement is true?

1. Puja lives on 4th floor

2. One who was born on 1981 is immediately below 4th floor

3. Two floors between Uma and Puja

4. Four floors between Queen and Wami

5. None of these

Direction (Ques 6 - 10) Study the following information carefully to answer the given questions:

Elli, Fazal, Ganesh, Honey, Irub, Jackson, Kanu and Lucky are seated in a straight line facing north. All of them having different ages 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 25 and 32 not necessarily in the same order. 

Fazal sits one of the extreme ends of the line. Three peoples sit between Fazal and the one whose age is 15. The one whose age is 22 sits second to the left of Jackson. Jackson sits right of 15 years old person but not an immediate right. 

Two persons sit between 22 years old person and Honey. Three people sit between 25 years old person and Ganesh. Ganesh sits right of the person whose age is 25. 

Neither Fazal nor Honey is 25 years old. The difference between the ages of the immediate neighbours of Honey is 5 years. 

The eldest person is not an immediate neighbour of Honey. Honey is not the oldest person. Irub sits immediate right of the person whose age is 32. 

More than one people sit between 32 and 18 years old persons. Elli sits second to the right of Kanu. Elli is older than Jackson. The difference between Elli and Jackson is two years.

6) Which among the following is the age of Fazal? 

1. 25

2. 32

3. 15

4. 22

5. 18

7) Who among the following is an immediate neighbour of the one whose age is 20?

1. Kanu and Elli

2. Irub and Honey

3. Honey and Kanu

4. Jackson and Ganesh

5. Kanu and Ganesh

8) Which of the following combination is true? 

1. Honey - 15

2. Ganesh - 18

3. Irub - 32

4. Elli - 20

5. None is true

9) Who among the following sits at the extreme end of the line?

1. Honey

2. Jackson

3. The one whose age is 22

4. The one whose age is 16

5. Both b and d

10) How many persons sit between Lucky and the one whose age is 18?

1. One

2. Two

3. Three

4. Four

5. None

Answer 

1. 2    

2. 3   

3. 5    

4. 5    

5. 2

Floor	Persons	Year
8th	Vice	1995
7th	Queen	1980
6th	Wami	1987
5th	Puja	1981
4th	Tanu	1993
3rd	Rani	1986
2nd	Uma	1985
1st	Sunita	1997

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