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Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Table of Contents
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 1
JANUARY 2018
NATIONAL AFFAIRS 34
SCHEMES 63
Iceland became the first country to legalise
BANKING & FINANCE 88 Equal Pay at workplace
BUSINESS & ECONOMY 103 ● The law seeks to eliminate the current
pay gap of around 5.7 per cent between
JANUARY 2018 103
men and women. In fact, the country
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 119 aims to eradicate gender pay inequality
DEFENCE 131 by the year 2022.
● According to World Economic Forum,
BILLS & ACTS 140
Iceland already ranks first in terms of
AGREEMENTS & MoU 146
global gender equality index. In 2017, it
BUDGETS/TAXES 168 bagged the first place for the ninth
SUMMITS & CONFERENCE 183 Israel signaled its intention to withdraw from
SPORTS 201 UNESCO
● Israel Prime Minister Benjamin
ENVIRONMENT 219
Netanyahu instructed Israel's
AWARDS & HONOURS 248
ambassador to the United Nations
APPOINTMENTS/ RESIGNATIONS 267 Educational, Scientific and Cultural
and, in 2014, both countries lost their ● The six countries which left the Security
voting rights. Council on December 31, 2017 were
● Israel was the member of UNESCO Egypt, Italy, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine
since 1949. and Uruguay.
● Both Israel and the US have filed its
China becomes Nepal’s second Internet
own withdrawal notice in October 2017.
Service Provider
Saudi Arabia and UAE introduce VAT for ● China Telecom Global (CTG), a
first time company founded in 2012 located in
● These are the first two countries in the Hong Kong and Beijing has formed a
Gulf which have introduced the value- group with Nepal Telecom to provide
added tax (VAT) system. alternative cyber-connectivity for Nepal.
● The 5% levy is being applied to the ● Nepal had been linked to the global
majority of goods and services. internet network through Indian
● Petrol and diesel, food, clothes, utility telecom operators, using optical fiber
bills and hotel rooms all now have VAT connections in Biratnagar, Bhairahawa
applied. and Birgunj, among others.
● But some outgoings have been made
Malta's Valletta became Europe's Capital of
exempt from the tax, or given a zero-tax
Culture 2018
rating, including medical treatment,
● Valletta, the capital city of Malta, has
financial services and public transport.
been officially inaugurated as the
● In Saudi Arabia more than 90% of
European Capital of Culture. Over 140
budget revenues come from the oil
projects and 400 events have been
industry while in the UAE it is roughly
planned in 2018 around three main
80%.
themes: island stories, future baroque
Six countries enter the UN Security Council and voyages.
● Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, ● In 2018, Valletta shared European
Kuwait, Peru, Poland and the Capital of Culture status with
Netherlands formally joined the ranks Leeuwarden in the Netherlands.
of the non-permanent members of the ● With about 6,000 inhabitants, Valletta is
United Nations Security Council. the smallest capital in the European
● The UN Security Council has 15 Union. It is a UNESCO World Heritage
members, including five with Site.
permanent seats who have the power to
veto resolutions - Britain, China,
France, Russia and the United States.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● President Donald Trump falls to the ● The United Nations Human Rights
No. 3 spot. Council consists of 47 member states,
with a specific number of seats given to
each region of the world.
Nobel prize in literature 2018 cancelled after
● Members are elected by the U.N.
sexual assault scandal
General Assembly for three-year terms
● The Nobel Prize in literature will be
and cannot serve more than two terms
not awarded this year following sex-
in a row.
abuse allegations and other issues
within the ranks of the Swedish
Academy that selects the winner. UK Queen approved Brexit Bill, allowed UK to
● For the first time since 1949, the leave European Union
secretive jury that hands out the world’s ● Britain's Queen Elizabeth II granted
most prestigious literary prize will not royal assent to Prime Minister Theresa
unveil a winner this autumn, instead May's flagship Brexit legislation, that
revealing two laureates in 2019. will formally end the country's
European Union membership.
● The EU withdrawal bill repeals the 1972
JUNE 2018
European Communities Act through
which the UK became a member of the
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos became the Richest
bloc.
Person in the World
● Brexit is an abbreviation for "British
● Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos
exit," referring to the UK's decision in a
has become the richest man in the
June 23, 2016 referendum to leave the
world with a net wealth of USD 141.9
European Union (EU).
billion, as per the Forbes World's
Billionaires list.
● Bill Gates, the principal founder of India And Nepal agreed to have Four New Air
Microsoft Corporation, is the second- Gateways
richest man in the world with USD 92.9 ● India has agreed to open four new air
billion. entry points to Nepal in the eastern and
● Warren Buffet ranked third place with western parts of the country.
a total of wealth of USD 82.2 billion. ● This aims at facilitating movement of
international traffic.
● The four routes that India agreed to
United States withdrew from the United
make two-way are
Nations Human Rights Council
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
♦ More than 20 people were killed in a people every minute, while it continues
suicide bomb blast near a polling station to fall in India.
in Quetta.
● The summit will be held together with ● This year, India ranked as the 57th
the Singapore International Water Week most innovative nation in the world, and
and the CleanEnviro Summit Singapore. has improved its ranking from 60th
position last year.
● Since 2011, Switzerland has been
Iceland replaced US and joined as new
ranked at the top every year.
member of UN Human Rights Council
● Top 10 Countries in Global Innovation
● The U.N. General Assembly has elected
Index 2018 are:
Iceland for the U.N. Human Rights
Council (UNHRC), filling the seat 1. Switzerland,
vacated by the United States, which 2. The Netherlands,
withdrew from UNHRC last month. 3. Sweden,
● Iceland was nominated by the group of 4. The United Kingdom,
Western nations and received 172 votes. 5. Singapore,
● Iceland’s term begins immediately and 6. United States of America,
it will serve until December 31, 2019. 7. Finland,
8. Denmark,
9. Germany,
Forbes released 2018 List of America's Richest
10. Ireland.
Self Made Women
Diane Hendricks, co-founder and chairman of
Mukesh Ambani set to become Asia's richest
ABC Supply, reclaims the top position on Forbes
person, Now Jack Ma is at Second Spot
2018 list of America's most successful women
● According to Bloomberg Billionaires
entrepreneurs, with a net worth of $4.9 billion.
Index, Reliance Industries Ltd chairman
● 20-yr-old Kylie Jenner youngest among
Mukesh Ambani overtakes China's
US richest self-made women, with a net
Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma to
worth of $900 million.
become Asia's richest person.
● Two Indian-origin women featured on
● Ambani's net worth now stands at $44.3
this list are Computer networking
billion as compared to Jack Ma's $44
company Arista Networks CEO,
billion wealth.
Jayshree Ullal (ranked 18th with a
● Ambani has added $4 billion to his
fortune of $1.3 billion) and IT consulting
fortune this year as Reliance doubled its
firm Syntel Co-Founder Neerja Sethi
petrochemicals capacity.
(ranked 21st with $1-billion).
● By the terms of resolution 2427 (2018), (West End), Beijing (Finance Street) in
the 15‑ member UN Security Council China, Hong Kong (Kowloon) and
committed to taking concrete action in Beijing (CBD) in China.
response to serious abuses and ● Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex
violations of human rights - including (BKC) slipped to 26th position with an
those of children - which could annual prime rent of USD 96.51 per sq ft
constitute early indications of descent from 16th rank.
into conflict.
● The Council strongly condemned
Boxer Mayweather tops Forbes' list of World's
attacks against schools and hospitals,
highest paid celebrity
which impede children’s access to
● American Boxing champion Floyd
education and health care, as well as
Mayweather has been named the
violations involving the recruitment and
world's highest paid celebrity by Forbes
use of children, rape, sexual violence
with earnings of $285 million in the last
and abductions, among other crimes.
12 months.
● About UN Security Council (UNSC):-
● Actor George Clooney take the No. 2
○ UNSC is most powerful and one
spot with the highest annual pay of his
of the six principal organs UN.
career.
○ It has 15 members, including
● Reality star Kylie Jenner, 20, came in
five permanent members which
third on the annual Forbes Celebrity 100
are China, France, Russia, UK
list.
and US.
● Lionel Messi (ranked 8th with $111
○ It's primary responsibility is to
million) and Cristiano Ronaldo (ranked
maintain international peace
10th with $108 million) were the only
and security.
other athletes in the top 10.
● Hollywood star George Clooney tops PV Sindhu is the only Indian to feature
the list of 'World's Highest-Paid Actors in Forbes' list of top 10 highest-paid
2018' with $239 Million. female athletes of 2018.
● Placed seventh, Sindhu is the only
badminton player in the list, which
Rank Actor features eight tennis players and one
race car driver- Danica Patrick.
● Twenty-three-time Grand Slam
1 George Clooney
champion Serena Williams tops the
list, with $18.1-million total earnings.
2 Dwayne Johnson
Rank Sportswomen
3 Robert Downey Jr
1 Serena Williams
4 Chris Hemsworth
2 Caroline Wozniacki
5 Jackie Chan
3 Sloane Stephens
6 Will Smith
4 Garbine Muguruza
7 Akshay Kumar
5 Maria Sharapova
8 Adam Sandler
6 Venus Williams
9 Salman Khan
7 P.V. Sindhu
10 Chris Evans
8 Simona Halep
9 Melissa McCarthy
World’s Top 10 Highest Paid Actresses
● Scarlett Johansson’s role as Marvel
10 Gal Gadot
superhero Black Widow catapulted her
to the top of Forbes’ annual list of the
world’s highest-paid actresses, with
$40.5 million. Scott Morrison elected as New Prime Minister
● With $28 million, Angelina Jolie ranked Of Australia
second and is followed by Jennifer ● Scott Morrison was sworn in as
Aniston. Australia's seventh prime minister in 11
● Indian actress Deepika Padukone and years after a stunning party revolt
Priyanka Chopra are also renowned against Malcolm Turnbull.
names in the west.
4 Jennifer Lawrence
3 Republic of 0.9010
Korea NASA selects Indian origin Sunita Williams
among 9 astronauts for human spaceflight
4 The United 0.8999
● Williams has been named for the
Kingdom
Boeing programme to the ISS
5 Sweden 0.8882 (International Space Station), the first
test flight scheduled to take place in the
6 Finland 0.8815 middle of 2019.
● The eight active NASA (National
Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Apple becomes First $1 Trillion Company in astronauts and one former astronaut-
History turned-corporate crew member will
● Apple Inc. became the first U.S.-based launch on Boeing CST-100 Starliner
company with a market value of $1 and SpaceX Dragon Capsule to the
trillion, four decades after it was co- International Space Station beginning in
founded by Steve Jobs in a Silicon 2019.
Valley garage and later revolutionized ● The Eight other astronauts are:
the worlds of computing, music and ○ Victor Glover,
mobile communications. ○ Robert Behnken,
● The iMac desktop computer, the iPod, ○ Michael Hopkins,
iPhone, and iPad were smash hits. ○ Douglas Hurley,
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Japan overtakes China as World's 2nd biggest Oscar Academy is adding a New Category for
stock market Popular Films
● As a result of China's trade war with the ● The new Oscar will be awarded for
US and its campaign to cut debt, the "Outstanding Achievement in Popular
value of China's stock market fell to Film" and will be introduced this
$6.09 trillion, losing its position as the coming year, at the 91st Oscars.
World's second biggest stock market to ● The Academy of Motion Picture Arts
Japan ($6.17 trillion). and Sciences, which awards the Oscars,
● The U.S. has the world's largest stock has added a new category after 17 years
market at just over $31 trillion. to recognise popular films.
● China's stock market overtook Japan's ● The last category to be added was 'Best
in 2014 and soared to an all-time high Animated Feature Film'.
of over $10 trillion in 2015. ● President of Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences - John Bailey.
made the top 10 places expected to be ● Osaka in Japan came third followed by
the world’s wealthiest by 2020, while the Calgary in Canada while Sydney is fifth.
US came in at No.12. ● Syrian city Damascus was placed at the
bottom of the list.
1. Marie Curie
2. Rosa Parks Mario Abdo Benitez sworn in as the 50th
3. Emmeline Pankhurst President of Paraguay
4. Ada Lovelace ● Benitez clinched the top spot after
5. Rosalind Franklin defeating his closest rival, Efrain Alegre
6. Margaret Thatcher from the liberal opposition alliance, by
7. Angela Burdett-Coutts four percentage points in the nation’s
8. Mary Wollstonecraft elections.
9. Florence Nightingale ● 46-year-old Benitez replaces Horacio
10. Marie Stopes Cartes. Both are from the conservative
Colorado Party.
Vienna named world's most liveable city, ● About Mario Abdo Benítez:
Melbourne at 2nd
♦ Got involved in politics in
● For the first time, Austria's capital
2004.
Vienna has topped the Economist
♦ Founded a political faction
Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability
with the grandson of Paraguay's
Index for 2018, beating Australian city
former dictator Alfredo
Melbourne, which had topped the list
Stroessner.
for the past seven years.
♦ Opposes same-sex marriage
and the legalisation of abortion.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
elected as the State’s first woman ● The world’s longest sea-crossing bridge
Governor in 2010. will be at the heart of an integrated
● She was offered the job of Ambassador Greater Bay Area (GBA) covering 11
to the UN by President Donald Trump. major neighbouring cities, which
● Ms.Haley has carved out a space for include Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou
herself in the Republican politics in and Shenzhen.
America. She raised her voice against ● The giant GBA comprises of 68 million
racism and on issues of gender. people.
● Her tenure at the UN has been marked ● The bridge has been built to withstand
by her strident campaign against Russia, super-typhoons, a magnitude 8
Iran and Syria. Mr.Trump appreciated earthquake, as well as hits by super-
her service. sized cargo ships.
● A 6.7 km underground sea tunnel to
allow the uninterrupted flow of shipping
Clear Sky 2018: Ukraine Launches Air
above, along with the super-busy Pearl
Exercises With NATO Countries
River Delta, is also part of the bridge’s
● Ukraine began a series of large-
design. In the end, it will cut the travel
scale air force exercises with the
time between the three cities from three
United States and other NATO
hours to just 30 minutes.
countries.
● It took about a decade to build the $20
● The "Clear Sky 2018" war
billion bridge.
games are being held in western
Ukraine.
Seychelles launches World’s First Sovereign
● The main aim is to enhance regional
Blue Bond
capabilities to secure air sovereignty and
● The Republic of Seychelles has launched
promote peace and security through
the world’s first sovereign blue bond - a
cooperation.
pioneering financial instrument
designed to support sustainable marine
Xi inaugurated world’s longest sea bridge and fisheries projects.
● The Seychelles blue bond is partially
● Xi Jinping, Chinese President
guaranteed by a US$5 million
inaugurated a 55-km, world’s longest
guarantee from the World Bank (IBRD)
sea-crossing bridge Hong Kong-Macau-
and further supported by a US$5
Zhuhai Bridge (HMZB).
million concessional loan from the
● It will deepen the integration of Hong
GEF which will partially cover interest
Kong and Macao with the rest of China.
payments for the bond.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● The members of the G20 consist of 19 ● Overall 25 cities across the world have
individual countries plus the European been selected in five categories by the
Union (EU) UN Global Sustainable Development
● The 19 member countries of the forum Goals (SDG) cities initiative
are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, ● In September 2015, the UN General
China, France, Germany, India, Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for
Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Sustainable Development that includes
Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, 17 SDGs, otherwise known as the Global
Turkey, United Kingdom and the Goals, a universal call to action to end
United States poverty, protect the planet and ensure
that all people enjoy peace and
prosperity
Global Wage Report 2018 Released,
Bangladesh's gender wage gap lowest in the
globe Ohio becomes the first US state to accept taxes
in Bitcoin
● According to the report the global ● Ohio will become the first US state to
average monthly gender pay gap was accept payment of taxes by businesses in
21.2% in 2017, while Bangladesh gender Bitcoin, beginning this week
pay gap was only 2.2%, the lowest in the ● Businesses can pay 23 different taxes
world with Bitcoin, from employee
● Pakistan topped the gap chart by 43.8% withholding tax to fuel and sales tax,
● Nepal topped the low income group through an online cryptocurrency portal
with 26.7% gap and the average gender ● The state will use BitPay, a
pay gap is 21.2% cryptocurrency global payment system,
to complete the process
UNSC agreed to lift sanctions against Eritrea remaining 21 percent was provided by
after nine years Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United
Arab Emirates
● The United Nations Security Council ● Morocco bought 12 high speed trains
(UNSC) lifted a range of sanctions from French train manufacturer Alstom
against Eritrea four months after that
country and Ethiopia signed a peace
IISc, IIT-Delhi among top 100 in Global
agreement that UN chief António
University Employability Ranking 2018
Guterres described as 'a wind blowing
● The Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
in the direction of peace'
in Bangalore (28th position) , Indian
● An arms embargo, asset freeze, and
Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
travel ban were imposed in 2009 amid
(53rd position) and Bombay are among
claims that Eritrea supported militancy
the top education institutions from
in Somalia
India that have made it to the top 150
● The resolution was drafted by the
list of the 'Global University
United Kingdom and backed by the
Employability Ranking'
United States and its allies
● The Harvard University topped the list,
followed by the California Institute of
Morocco unveils Africa's first ever high speed Technology and Massachusetts Institute
train line of Technology
1,40,000 Indian soldiers took part in Myanmar, citing her defense of the
World War I in France and Belgium military’s deadly crackdown against
● The main motif of the Indian War Rohingya Muslims and growing
Memorial at Villers Guislain is the restrictions on free speech
Indian national emblem which consists ● The international human rights group
of Ashoka lions along with a bronze 'Amnesty International' named Ms Suu
wreath, plaque, and lances which have Kyi as its 2009 Ambassador of
been designed in India Conscience Award recipient when she
● Brief About World War I: was still under house arrest for her
○ World War I (or the First World opposition to Myanmar's oppressive
War) was a global war which military junta
began on July 28, 1914 and
lasted until November 11, 1918.
U.S. suspended USD 1.66 billion assistance to
The war lasted exactly four
Pakistan
years, three months and 14 days
● The U.S. suspended $1.66 billion in
○ 135 countries took part in World
security assistance to Pakistan. This
War I, and nearly 10 million
happened days after President Donald
people died while fighting
Trump said the country does not do “a
○ The war was ended by the
damn thing” for America alleging that
signing of many different
its government had helped al-Qaeda
treaties, the most important
chief Osama bin Laden hide near its
being the Treaty of Versailles
garrison city of Abbottabad
● Ties between the US and Pakistan
World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) is
strained after Trump, while announcing
observed from Nov 12 to Nov 18
his Afghanistan and South Asia policy
● The main aim is to increase global
in August last year, hit out at Pakistan
awareness of antibiotic resistance and
for providing safe havens to "agents of
to encourage best practices among the
chaos" that kill Americans in
general public
Afghanistan and warned Islamabad that
it has "much to lose" by harboring
Amnesty International withdraws Human terrorists
Rights Award from Myanmar's Aung San Suu ● In September, the Trump administration
Kyi cancelled $300 million in military aid
● Amnesty International had withdrawn to Islamabad for not doing enough
its highest human rights honor from against terror groups like the Haqqani
Aung San Suu Kyi, the civilian leader of
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Network and the Taliban active on its ○ HCL Tech Vice Chairperson
soil Roshni Nadar Malhotra
(ranked 51st)
○ Biocon Chairperson Kiran
DECEMBER 2018
Mazumdar-Shaw (ranked 60)
○ HT Media MD Shobhana
Vanessa Ponce de Leon crowned as Miss
Bhartia (ranked 88th)
World
○ Actress Priyanka Chopra
(placed at 94)
● Miss Mexico Vanessa Ponce de Leon,
26, a Mexican model and volunteer, has have been named in Forbes' World's 100
been crowned Miss World at a glitzy Most Powerful Women list 2018
event on the tropical Chinese island of ● The list, which featured four Indians,
Hainan. She holds a degree in has been topped by German Chancellor
international business, volunteers for Angela Merkel for the eighth
“Migrantes en el Camino” and is on the consecutive year
board of directors of a rehab centre for ● Others in the list include Serena
girls Williams and Melinda Gates
● She was crowned as the 68th Miss
World by last year’s winner, Manushi
As many as 164 countries adopted first-ever
Chhillar of India, in the coastal city of
global migration agreement in Morocco
Sanya
● First runner-up was Thailand’s
● The UN's Global Compact for Safe,
Nicolene Pichapa Limsnukan, a 20-
Orderly and Regular Migration aims to
year-old studying business
enhance international cooperation on
administration. Miss Belarus Maria
migration issues
Vasilevich, Miss Jamaica Khadijah
● The US, Australia, Austria, Chile,
Robinson and Miss Uganda Quiin
Hungary and Poland are among the
Abenakyo were among the final five
nations that have pulled out from the
● It is the eighth time the Miss World
non-binding pact
final has been held in Sanya, which first
● It comprises 23 objectives for better
hosted the pageant in 2003
management of migration at local,
national, regional and global levels
World's 100 Most Powerful Women List 2018
US, Mexico and Canada sign new trade deal to
by Forbes
replace NAFTA
● Four Indian women namely
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
○ Currency: Euro
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
○ President:Frank-Walter
JANUARY 2018
Steinmeier
○ Language: Kirundi, French, and Women & Child Development Ministry Inaugurated
stations have been earmarked to not doubling the farmer’s income and ‘Make
only serve passengers but also local in India’ initiative of the government.
people in rural and remote areas.
● Railway stations in rural areas will have
Chhattisgarh bags 'Water Digest Award' for
kiosks with Wi-Fi that will become
best water conservation and irrigation facility
digital hot spots offering services like
● Chhattisgarh bagged the National
digital banking,
'Water Digest Award' for Water
● Aadhaar generation, issuing
Conservation-Diversion and for
government certificates, including birth
increasing the irrigation capacity in the
and death certificates, and filing taxes
State.
and paying bills, among others.
● This is the first time that Chhattisgarh
Water Resources Department had been
FEBRUARY 2018 given national Award during the past 17
years.
Maharashtra gets its very own first ever Mega ● The Union Minister of State for Water
Food Park in Satara Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal
● Maharashtra got its own 1st ever Mega presented the award to Chhattisgarh
Food Park in Satara Mega Food Park Water Resources Department Secretary
Pvt. Ltd was inaugurated at Village Sonmani Bora.
Degaon in Satara district. ● The Award is presented every year by
● Minister of Food Processing Industries the globally renowned magazine 'Water
Harsimrat Kaur Badal unveiled the Digest'-which focuses mainly on water
Satara Mega Food Park in the presence resources.
of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. ● Chhattisgarh State bagged the award for
Satara Mega Food Park, first in increasing the irrigation capacity,
Maharashtra, is the 12th Mega Food community participation, water
Park operationalized in the country so management -water diversion, water
far and the 10th operationalized during conservation, efforts towards inter-
the tenure of present government", linking of rivers, better techniques
Ministry of Food Processing Industries utilized in irrigation facilities.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal
● The Ministry is focusing on boosting
South Central Railway Becomes 1st Rail Zone
the food processing industry so that
With 100% LED Lighting At Stations
agriculture sector grows exponentially
and become a major contributor to
● The South Central Railway (SCR)
become the first railway zone in the
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Avani Chaturvedi Became 1st Indian Woman IRCTC introduced Billing Through Point Of
To Fly Fighter Aircraft Solo Sale In Trains
● Flying officer Avani Chaturvedi scripted ● Indian Railway Catering and Tourism
history by becoming the first Indian Corporation (IRCTC) introduced billing
woman to fly a fighter aircraft solo. through Point of Sale (POS) hand-held
● She flew a MiG-21 bison in her first solo machines in trains to check
flight from Jamnagar base of Indian Air overcharging by vendors.
Force (IAF) in Gujarat. ● This move will help not only making
passengers aware of relevant
information but also in improving the
MARCH 2018
passenger satisfaction.
● The POS billing machines will be
Maharashtra gets its very own first ever Mega
introduced in trains in a phased manner.
Food Park in Satara
● IRCTC has already introduced POS
● Maharashtra got its own 1st ever Mega
machines in New Delhi -Karnataka
Food Park in Satara Mega Food Park
Express on a pilot basis.
Pvt. Ltd was inaugurated at Village
Degaon in Satara district.
● Minister of Food Processing Industries Kerala Declares Jackfruit as Official Fruit Of
Harsimrat Kaur Badal unveiled the State
Satara Mega Food Park in the presence ● Jackfruit attained a respected status
of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. with the state government declaring it
Satara Mega Food Park, first in as the official fruit of Kerala.
Maharashtra, is the 12th Mega Food ● Kerala has been producing around 30 to
Park operationalized in the country so 60 crore jackfruits every year.
far and the 10th operationalized during ● As per the officials, the state can
the tenure of present government", generate a revenue of around Rs 30,000
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● India's largest state-owned bank, which dollar mark, making it the first Indian
celebrated the new subsidiary with a company to achieve the mark.
special event in London, becomes the ● TCS shares rose by 2% to Rs. 3476.75,
first foreign bank in the UK to ring pushing the market capitalization of
fence its retail division from its India's biggest outsourcer to Rs. 6,64,918
wholesale business. crore.
● Shares of TCS had surged by nearly 7%
recently, making investors richer by
Deepika Padukone, Virat Kohli Among
over Rs. 40,000 crores in a day.
TIME's 100 Most Influential People
● The TIME Magazine released the 100 Google Ranked As Most Trusted Internet
Most Influential People List of 2018 Brand In India: Report
designating individuals whose time is
● Online search engine Google is the most
now.
trusted Internet brand in India, followed
● The 2018 list features the names of four
by Facebook, as per the TRA Brand
self-made Indians- Bollywood actress
Trust Report 2018.
Deepika Padukone, Indian cricket
● With 1.2 trillion searches per year,
captain Virat Kohli, Ola co-founder
Google has become the first port of call
Bhavish Aggarwal and Microsoft’s CEO
for all things on the Internet. Google
Satya Nadella.
was followed by Facebook, Amazon and
● The list also features the US President
eBay.
Donald Trump. The list of 100 Most
● The biggest falls in trust were seen by
Influential People of 2018 includes the
Snapdeal, who fell by 142 ranks over last
names of actress Nicole Kidman,
year.
'Wonder Women' starring Gal Gadot,
● The top trust gainers this year were
Prince Harry and his fiance Meghan
Netflix (up 506 ranks over last year).
Markle and singers Rihanna and
Jennifer Lopez.
TRA’s Brand Trust Report 2018 report covers
2488 consumer-influencers across 16 cities in
TCS is the first Indian Company With 100 India and generated 5 million data points.
Billion Dollar Market Value
MAY 2018
● Tata Consultancy Services created the
history as the market capitalization of
the company has hit the 100 billion 'Go To Village' Mission Launched In Manipur
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Karnataka To Become 2nd State In Country Singapore's 33-year old Network for
To Unveil Its Own Flag Electronic Transfers (NETS).
● Holders of Singapore NETS will be able
● Karnataka government unveiled the
to make an online purchase on any
State flag (nada dhwaja ) for the state.
National Payment Corporation of
● If approved by the Centre, Karnataka
India (NPCI) e-commerce merchant
will be the second State to have a flag
website in India, using 2.8 million
after Jammu and Kashmir.
RuPay point of sale terminals in India.
● The yellow-white-red flag has the State
emblem at the center.
● The proposal will be now sent to the
India’s first national sports university to be set
Union Home Ministry for approval since
up in Manipur:
a State has no powers to announce its
● President Ram Nath Kovind gave his
own flag.
assent to an ordinance to set up the
country’s first national sports university
BHEL Secures Order Worth Rs 736 Crore
in Manipur.
From NPCIL
● National Sports University Ordinance,
● The public sector Bharat Heavy
2018 will be on the lines of the National
Electricals Limited (BHEL) secured
Sports University Bill, 2017 which was
significant orders worth 736 crores after
introduced in Lok Sabha in 2017.
competitive bidding, for supplying
Steam Generators for the Nuclear Power
Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
Andhra Pradesh Got Its Own Symbols:
● The generators will be manufactured at
● Neem is declared as the state tree of
the Tiruchirappalli plant of BHEL and
Andhra Pradesh.
will be installed at the Pressurized
● Black buck is declared as the state
Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR),
animal.
Gorakhpur, Haryana.
● The rose-ringed parakeet will be the
state bird
JUNE 2018
● while jasmine will be the state flower.
18th June, 2018 at the Siri Fort ● Addressing the governing council of
Auditorium. NITI Ayog in New Delhi, Puducherry
● The festival is organised in 11 Indian Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy has
cities: New Delhi, Chennai, Port Blair, renewed the demand for Statehood with
Pune, Puducherry, Kolkata, Jaipur, special status for the Union Territory.
Visakhapatnam, Thrissur, Hyderabad ● He claimed Puducherry faces the same
and Goa from 18th June till 31st August. issues as Delhi.
● The Festival was inaugurated by the ● Puducherry Lieutenant Governor -
Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Kiran Bedi
Information and Broadcasting, Mr.
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
States have collected taxes worth Rs.10,000
crore since the rollout of Transport Mission
Mode Project (MMP):
Union Minister inaugurated three 100 MW
solar power projects erected at Virudhunagar ● Over 19 crore vehicles and 10 crore
and Tirunelveli districts: driving license records have come under
● Union Minister for Railways, Coal, the National Register.
Finance & Company Affairs, Shri ● Two flagship applications under
Piyush Goyal inaugurated Neyveli Transport MMP -- "Vahan" and
Lignite Corporation India Limited "Sarathi" are implemented.
(NLCIL)’s three 100 MW Solar Power ○ Vahan -- deal with vehicle
Projects which are situated at registration, taxation, permit,
Thoppalaakkarai and Sethupuram in fitness and associated services;
Virudhunagar District and Sellaiya ○ while Sarathi is related to
Sezhiyanallur in Tirunelveli District of driving licence, learner licence,
Tamil Nadu. driving schools and related
● These projects were erected at a cost of activities.
Rs.1300 Crores, which includes
Operation & Maintenance cost for 15
World’s first International Centre for
Years.
Humanitarian Forensics (ICHF) launched in
Gujarat:
● ICHF is launched by the Gujarat
Puducherry demanded full statehood, after Forensic Sciences University (GFSU) in
Delhi Assembly passed the resolution for full collaboration with the International
statehood: Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj ● The state cabinet headed by Chief
launched the “mPassport Seva” mobile Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
application: approved the Bijli Bill Mafi Yojana
2018 (Power Bill Waiver Scheme) which
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Bengaluru to get India's first government run Kong, Israel, Malta, Singapore, South
e-Waste recycling plant: Africa and Taiwan.
hospitals. Initiative
● Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union
Hyderabad Metro becomes India's 2nd largest Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas
migrants from Asia rose 3.9 percent bronze, 1,850 tonnes of bronze cladding,
from 83.6 million in 2015 to 86.9 million 70,000 metric tonnes of cement and
DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh laid ● Mr.Conte’s visit is the first since he took
foundation stone of Technology Facility charge in June 2018. He also showed his
Center at Jorhat, Assam support for India’s quest for
membership in the Nuclear Suppliers
Group and underlined Rome’s support
● Union Minister of State (Independent
to India’s membership in the global
Charge) Development of North Eastern
technology export groups.
Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh laid
the foundation stone of new Science
Uttar Pradesh Ayodhya Deepotsav 2018 enters
Centre, the “Technology Facility
Guinness Book of World Records: Over 3 lakh
Centre” (TFC) in Jorhat, Assam.
diyas lit
● For setting up the new Science Centre,
● A Guinness certificate was issued to UP
the Ministry of Development of North
government's tourism department and
Eastern Region (DoNER) had allocated
Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Avadh
Rs.40 crore for its construction.
University, Faizabad, for over 3,01,152
● It would be institutionalized by
earthen lamps illuminated on the bank
Department of Science & Technology
of River Sarayu on Chhoti Diwali as
(S&T) and CSIR.
part of Deepotsava
● The feat was achieved in the presence of
India invited Italy to invest in defence sector
Adityanath and South Korean first lady
Kim-Jung Sook
● India invited Italy to participate in the
defence sector under the “Make in
India” scheme. The invitation also World Bank and Centre and Andhra govt
included an agreement to counter signed an MOU to USD 172 million loan to
terrorist financing and state sponsors of make farming viable in Andhra Pradesh
terrorism ● Features of the project are:
● This latest announcement was the first ● To work with 1000 Small-Scale
time when the two countries have Community-Based Irrigation (SSCBI)
agreed on joint defence production systems spread over an area of 90,000
since the AugustaWestland case hectares (ha), covering over 1000 villages
exploded in 2013 across 12 most climate vulnerable
● During the 9th Military Group Meeting districts of Andhra Pradesh
that was held between India and Italy, ● The project will improve the capacity of
both the countries agreed on Farmer Producers Organizations to
cooperation in 2019 operate as sustainable, market-oriented,
agri-enterprises
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● This will benefit the Andhra Pradesh ● As per survey conducted by the World
Integrated Irrigation and Agriculture Bank, the student dropout rate in
Transformation Project (API ATP) and Nagaland's upper primary (VI-VIII) and
over 200,000 families of poor and the secondary (IX-X) class stood at 17.7
marginalized farmers. percent and 35.1 per cent respectively
● The student dropout rate in Nagaland's
primary schools, in Grades I-V, stood at
Mo bus service launched in Odisha
19.4%, four times above the national
● Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
average of 4.3%, making it the state with
launched the technology-driven and
highest school dropout rate in the
citizen-friendly ‘Mo bus’ service in
country
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
● This data was presented by Community
● The bus has some facilities such as free
Avenue Network (CAN) Youth of
wifi, CCTV surveillance, public
Nagaland Chief Functionary Jenpu
information display system and on-
Rongmei during the launching
board announcements
programme of "My Scholarship
● It will cover 9 routes in Bhubaneswar in
Foundation" at Tourist Lodge in
the first phase
Dimapur.
● Mo Bus mobile app will also be
launched through which passengers can
book tickets and find the locations of Gujarat to introduce new digital platform for
the vehicle. Agriculture land
● Gujarat government decided to launch a
digital platform for the conversion of
Gujarat to introduce new digital platform for
agricultural land to Non-Agriculture
Agriculture land
(NA).
● Gujarat government decided to launch a
● Under the scheme of Digital India, all
digital platform for the conversion of
district collector offices and District
agricultural land to Non-Agriculture
Panchayats will be covered and
(NA).
monitored through a dedicated online
● Under the scheme of Digital India, all
system.
district collector offices and District
Panchayats will be covered and
monitored through a dedicated online India celebrates the 130th birth anniversary of
system. Pt Nehru
● The nation celebrates the 130th birth
anniversary of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru,
Nagaland records highest school dropouts in
India
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
the first prime minister of independent first trial run on tracks at Moradabad-
India Rampur section of Northern Indian
● Pt Nehru was born on November 14, Railways.
1889. He was known for his love for ● The train comprises of as many as 16
children and was fondly called Chacha coaches including the driving coach.
Nehru ● According to Railways, the train was
● Before 1964, Children’s day was made to run at three different speeds of
celebrated in India on November 20. It 30 kilometers per hour (Km/hr), 50
was observed as the Universal Km/hr and 60 Km/hr respectively. The
Children’s Day by the United Nations. maximum speed of the "Train 18" is 220
But after Nehru’s death in 1964, the Km/hr.
nation decided to celebrate his birthday ● Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in
(November 14) as Bal Diwas (Children’s Chennai rolled out Train 18, a semi-
Day) to honor his memory high speed train on October 29 to
replace the classic Shatabdi Express.
● Team India captain Virat Kohli has reasons for witnesses turning hostile is
featured as the highest-earning that they are not given security by the
sportsperson in the 2018 Forbes India State
Celebrity 100 list with ₹228.09-crore ● It also announced that the Witness
earnings Protection Scheme, 2018 will come
● Kohli was also the top-paid into effect immediately across all
sportsperson in 2016 and 2017 with States. This scheme is aimed at
₹134.44 crore and ₹100.72 crore earnings enabling a witness to depose fearlessly
respectively and truthfully, would be the law of the
● Former captain MS Dhoni follows Kohli land till Parliament enacted suitable
as the second highest-paid sportsperson legislation
in the 2018 list with ₹101.77-crore ● Under the scheme, the witness
earnings. protection may be as simple as
providing a police escort to the witness
up to the courtroom or, in more complex
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate
cases involving an organized criminal
India's longest railroad bridge on December 25
group, taking extraordinary measures
such as offering temporary residence in
● Prime Minister Narendra Modi will
a safe house, giving a new identity, and
inaugurate the Bogibeel Bridge, India's
relocation at an undisclosed place
longest rail-cum-road bridge, falling in
the eastern part of Assam and
Arunachal Pradesh on December 25 India is the third-highest contributor of CO2
● This project was first cleared by former
Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda in ● Researchers at the University of East
1997 Anglia (UEA) and the Global Carbon
● The bridge spans over the Brahmaputra Project said that Global carbon
river in the north eastern state of Assam emissions are set to hit an all-time high
between Dhemaji district and Dibrugarh of 37.1 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2018
district. ● India has projected to see emissions rise
by 6.3% from 2017
● Limiting global warming to the 2015
SC introduced Witness Protection Scheme,
Paris Agreement goal of keeping the
2018 in India
global temperature increase this century
to well below 2°C, would need carbon
● The Supreme Court (SC) introduced a
dioxide emissions to decline by 50% by
witness protection regime in the
2030 and reach net zero by about 2050
country noting that one of the main
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for the implementation of the ERSS
inaugurated the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland project across the nation. Nagaland
alone has been allocated Rs 4.88 crore
● Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for the project
inaugurated the 10-day-long Hornbill ● The Justice Verma Committee, in the
Festival of Nagaland at Naga Heritage backdrop of the unfortunate Nirbhaya
Village Kisama on 1st December 2018. incident in December 2012, suggested
More than 60,000 people have visited for the implementation of the
the Hornbill Festival ‘Emergency Response Support System’
● The assistant director of Tourism (ERSS) across India
department (Statistics) T. Khakihe Sumi
said that altogether 63,032 visitors with
Punjab cabinet approves international airport
780 foreigners have visited the
near Ludhiana
picturesque venue. The inaugural day
● The Punjab Cabinet approved the
had 19,953 visitors. The count increased
setting up of a new international civil
up to 43,079 on the second day of the
terminal at Indian Air Force (IAF)
festival
Station, Halwara 32 kms from Ludhiana
● The visitors were treated with cultural
● The terminal will be jointly developed
performances from across the country
by the state government and Airports
including Odisha, Assam, Manipur,
Authority of India (AAI). While AAI
Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya and Jammu
would have majority stake of 51 per
and Kashmir
cent, the Punjab Government, through
the Greater Ludhiana Development
Nagaland becomes second state to adopt pan- Authority (GLADA), will have 49 per
India women helpline cent stake in the project
● The state already has two international
● Nagaland became the first state in the
airports at Mohali and Amritsar.
Northeast and second in the country,
● The state Government would provide
after Himachal Pradesh, to launch a
135. 54 acres of land free of cost to the
pan-India single emergency number
JVC by way of its equity in the project.
‘112’ under the Emergency Response
Support System (ERSS).
TN government approved Rs.7.60 crore for
● The launch coincided with the state’s
clearing fallen trees
formation day and the inaugural day of
the 2018 edition of the Hornbill Festival.
● The Tamil Nadu State government has
● The Union Government has allocated Rs
approved Rs.7.60 crore for procuring
321.69 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
heavy duty chainsaws, winch machines, off the maiden Air India Express flight
shredders, and wood splitter machines to Abu Dhabi
to clear trees that were felled by Cyclone ● International flights to the UAE, Oman
Gaja in delta districts and Qatar will be operated from Kannur
● The government would be procuring 500 airport. For regional connectivity,
chainsaws and 20 winches, 20 wood flights to Hyderabad, Bengaluru and
splitters, 20 shredder-cum-pulverizers Mumbai will be available
and 20 wood chipper machines with ● Kerala already has three international
trolley and rent them to farmers at airports, at Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram
nominal rates or lent to them to clear and Kozhikode
their farmlands ● Kochi, also built under PPP model, is
● The proposal is to pulverize leaves and one of the fastest growing airports of
small branches and convert them into the country
organic manure, drag trunks out of
fields and place them on the boundary
so that they can be chopped later. Used
India’s first underwater museum to open off
the wood chipper machine, the trunks
Puducherry coast in INS Cuddalore
can be pulverized.
● Indian Navy agreed to gift INS
Cuddalore, a decommissioned
India opposes move to declare Gilgit-Baltistan Pondicherry-class vessel, to the Union
as fifth province territory of Puducherry for the creation
● India voiced strong opposition to of country’s first underwater museum
Pakistan's reported move to declare ● The 60 m long and 12 m wide vessel was
Gilgit-Baltistan as its fifth province decommissioned in March 2018 after
● The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir sailing 13000 nautical miles
has been and shall remain part of India ● It would be sent to the seabed at a depth
● India called upon Pakistan to vacate all of 26 m and 7 km off the Pondicherry
occupied territory coast to act as an underwater marine
museum for scuba diving and snorkeling
activities
Kerala gets its 4th international airport in
● This would enhance tourism in the UT.
Kannur
● Kerala’s fourth international airport at
Kannur (north Kerala) was inaugurated Shi Yomi becomes 23rd district of Arunachal
jointly by Union Civil Aviation Pradesh
Minister Suresh Prabhu and Chief
Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by flagging
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● The number of districts in Arunachal Fresh bill introduced in Lok Sabha to make
Pradesh increased to 23 with the formal triple talaq penal offence
inauguration of Shi Yomi district by
Chief Minister Pema Khandu in ● The Muslim Women (Protection of
presence of Union Minister of State for Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018,
Home Kiren Rijiju commonly known as the Triple Talaq
● Two more districts would be formally Bill, was introduced in the Lok Sabha
inaugurated in the state within this on December 17
week taking the total to 25 ● Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar
● The state Assembly on August 29 this Prasad introduced the Bill, despite
year passed a bill for the creation of opposition from Congress member
three new districts, Pakke-Kesang, Shashi Tharoor
Lepa Rada and Shi Yomi, in the state. ● Under the proposed law, giving instant
triple talaq will be illegal and void and
will attract a jail term of three years for
Allahabad University to be renamed as
the husband
Prayagraj State University
● The introduced bill seeks to replace the
● In October 2018, the Uttar Pradesh
Triple Talaq ordinance that was passed
government had officially renamed
by the government in September 19
Allahabad as Prayagraj
● A formal proposal has now been sent to
the state's Governor seeking his Assam government approved Rs 600 crore
approval to rename Allahabad farm loan waiver
University as Prayagraj State University ● According to the Assam government
scheme, it will write off 25 per cent
loan of farmers up to a maximum of Rs
India’s first private UAV factory inaugurated
25,000 of all farm debts
in Hyderabad
● The waiver will be for all the loans taken
● India‘s first private sector unit for
through Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and
manufacturing unmanned aerial
from PSU banks
vehicles (UAVs) was inaugurated by
● The cabinet also approved subsidy up to
Telangana Home Minister Mohammad
Rs 10,000 to incentivise farmers if they
Mahmood Ali at Adani Aerospace Park
take loan from KCC
in Hyderabad, Telangana.
● Assam is the third state to waive farm
● The 50,000 square feet facility has been
loans in the last few days after the newly
built by the Adani Group and Israel-
formed Congress governments in
based Elbit Systems.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Indian Railways launches new EMU train with commemorative coin in the memory of
130 kmph speed the former premier
● Railway passengers will soon get ● The front of the Rs 100 coin features the
another high-tech train from the stable National Emblem of India along with
of the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) ‘Satyamev Jayate’ in Devanagari script
● The new train –Electrical Multiple inscribed below
Unit (EMU) – commonly known as an ● The reverse side of the Rs 100 coin
electric train, running at a speed of 130 features a portrait of Atal Bihari
Kmph is ready for its trial launch Vajpayee. The former PM’s name is
● The EMU train with higher passenger written in both Hindi and English
capacity already set off for Delhi ● The new Rs 100 coin is an alloy of silver,
(December 19), Sudhanshu Mani, copper, nickel and zinc
General Manager
Jharkhand CM announced Rs 2,250 crore ● The other two of the Trinity are
scheme for farmers Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama
● Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das Sastri
announced a ₹2,250 crore scheme to ● The Tyagaraja Aradhana Music Festival
help 22.76 lakh small and marginal which is held annually in January in
farmers of the state Thiruvaiyaru attracts musical talents
● Named Mukhyamantri Krishi from all over the world.
Ashirwad Yojana, the scheme will
provide farmers with a yearly financial
SCHEMES
assistance of ₹5,000 per acre for Kharif
JANUARY 2018
crops
● The scheme will start from 2019-20 Govt relaxes norms for Atal Pension Yojana
(MGSVY) aimed at the inclusive growth attaining the age of 50 years (earlier it
of the distressed sections of the society. was 60 years) and female artist can get it
at age of 40 years (earlier it was 50
Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Yojna years).
● This scheme was launched by
Maharashtra state government. The National Programme for Control of Viral
scheme aims at promoting the climate- Hepatitis scheme
resilient agriculture in the state. ● The scheme will be launched by the
● The budget allotted for this is scheme is Union Ministry of Health and Family
Rs.4,000 crore. Welfare
● The scheme will be rolled out in 2018-19 ● It will focus on anti-viral treatment of
and continue till 2023-24. Hepatitis C which will be provided free
● The Scheme has been named after social at all government health set-ups.
activist Nanaji Deshmukh who has ● The budget allotted for the program is
worked in fields of education, health, Rs.600 crore for the next three years.
and rural self-reliance, and has been
honoured with Padma Vibhushan.
elements such as Bio-CNG and Bio-Gas and culture, besides providing training
that are needed in agricultural sector. in sports and skill development.
● The State Government of West Bengal RPLI policies at Branch Post Offices
had earlier initiated a scheme called anywhere in India.
Kanyashree Scheme to promote ● DARPAN stands for - Digital
education among women. Advancement of Rural Post Office for a
New India.
Atal Amrit Abhiyan
● Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu MAY 2018
launched an ambitious health assurance
scheme Atal Amrit Abhiyan in Assam Samagra Shiksha scheme:
state. ● Human Resource Development Minister
● The scheme will offer free medical care Prakash Javadekar launched 'Samagra
of up to 2 lakh rupees for every Shiksha scheme' for school education.
individual from Below Poverty Line ● The scheme focuses on improving
(BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) quality of education, enhancing the
families. Learning outcomes and using
● The scheme will cover 92% of the state's technology to empower children and
population with annual income below 5 teachers.
lakh rupees. ● An annual grant of 5,000 to 20,000
● The Assam govt. earmarked 400 crore rupees will be provided for
rupees for the scheme in the financial strengthening libraries in schools.
year 2018-19. ● The scheme will be focused on digital
Ganga Haritmala Scheme (Ganga Hariyali education. Samagra Shiksha is a
Yojana) program that unifies learning from the
● This scheme was launched by the state pre-school to class 12 levels and
of Uttar Pradesh. encapsulates elements of the Sarva
● The main objective of this scheme is to Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamk
increase the green cover in the Shiksha Abhiyan, and teacher
catchment areas of Ganga river and to education.
control the erosion of land.
Union Ministry of Power launched PRAAPTI
App
DARPAN-PLI App ● The app will bring transparency in
● Minister of Communications Manoj electricity payments to Generators.
Sinha launched the DARPAN-PLI App Note:
in New Delhi. ● The Union Ministry of Power launched
● The DARPAN-PLI App will help in the web portal (www.praapti.in) and app
collection of a premium for PLI and namely PRAAPTI (Payment Ratification
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
And Analysis in Power procurement for Hybrid Policy to promote new projects
bringing Transparency in Invoicing of as well as hybridization of the existing
generators). ones.
● The webportal and app aims to bring ● Note:
transparency in power purchase ● The objective of the policy is to provide
transactions between Generators and a framework for the promotion of large
Discoms. grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid
system for efficient utilization of
The union minister Shri Suresh Prabhu transmission infrastructure and land.
launched the Intellectual Property (IP) mascot ● These projects can be set up anywhere
IP Nani at the conference in New Delhi across the country depending on
● Mascot IP Nani is a tech-savvy feasibility and land availability with
grandmother who helps the government bidders.
and enforcement agencies in combating ● The MNRE is also in the process of
IP crimes with the help of her grandson launching a scheme for new hybrid
“Chhotu” aka Aditya. projects under this policy.
● The IP mascot will spread awareness
about the importance of Intellectual Digital India Internship Scheme
Property Rights (IPRs) among people, ● In May 2018, Union Minister Ravi
especially children, in an interesting Shankar Prasad launched the website of
manner. Digital India Internship Scheme in New
Delhi.
Gujarat govt. launch free treatment scheme for ● Under this scheme, 25 interns will be
the road accident victims. inducted for a period of three months,
● Note: Under this scheme, the state govt. paid a stipend of 10 thousand rupees per
will bear medical expenses of up to month.
50,000 rupees for each victim of road ● The internship is an opportunity for a
accident in the state for the first 48 student to secure first hand and
hours. practical work experience under the
● Free treatment includes dressing of guidance of qualified and experienced
wounds, Xray, blood transfusion, Supervisor and Mentor.
treatment in ICU and MRI, and all other ● It also aims at active participation in the
treatment available in a hospital. learning process through
experimentation and putting into
National Wind-solar Hybrid Policy practice the knowledge acquired in the
● Ministry of New and Renewable Energy classrooms.
(MNRE) launched National Windsolar
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● Age limit: The Sukanya Samriddhi ● The programme aims to build bridge
Account scheme is meant for girl between Police and larger community
children below the age of 10 years. through school students by inculcating
● The account matures in 21 years before values and ethics in them through
which it is in a lock-in period where classes in school and outside.
funds cannot be withdrawn.
● Also, the interest rate for the July- Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018
September quarter is 8.1%. ● Union Ministry of Drinking Water and
● Flexible deposit amounts: Sanitation (MDWS) has launched
(i)The account can be opened with a Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018 (SSG
minimum deposit of Rs.250 and in 2018) in New Delhi.
multiples of Rs.100 thereafter. ● It is a rural cleanliness survey to rank all
(ii)A maximum of Rs.1.5 lakhs can be states and districts on basis of
deposited per account every year. qualitative and quantitative evaluation.
MP Government launched Subsidised Power Govt. selects 734 athletes for Khelo-India
Scheme ‘Sambal’ scholarships
● The Madhya Pradesh State Government ● Sports Authority of India (SAI) under
launched an outstanding power bill Union Ministry of Sports and Youth
waiver scheme and subsidised power Affairs has cleared 734 athletes for the
scheme called ‘Sambal’ for labourers and scholarship under the Khelo India
poor families. Talent Development Scheme.
● Under Sambal Yojana, the Below ● They will be provided with annual
Poverty Line (BPL) families would be stipend of Rs. 1,20,000 on quarterly basis
provided electricity at a cost of Rs 200 to meet their out of pocket expenses,
per month. treatment of injuries and other
● expenses. Khelo India Talent
Govt. launches Student Police Cadet Development Scheme
Programme ● The scheme was introduced by Ministry
● Ministry of Home Affairs sponsored of Sports and Youth affairs to revive
Student Police Cadet sports culture in India at grass-root
● (SPC) Programme was launched level.
nationally in Gurugram, Haryana. ● Its objective is to build strong
● It was launched by Union Home framework for all sports played in our
Minister Rajnath Singh in the presence country and establish India as great
of Union Human Resources Minister sporting nation.
Prakash Javadekar.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● It aims to help scout young talent from ● Smart India Hackathon is world’s
schools in various disciplines and groom biggest open innovation model which
them as future sports champions aims to provide students with platform
to solve some of pressing problems
AUGUST 2018 faced by people in their daily lives.
●
Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna: Petroleum Minister to launch ‘SATAT’
● The Employees’ State Insurance initiative
Corporation (ESIC) has approved a new ● Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister
scheme- Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Skill
for Insured Persons covered under the Development and Entrepreneurship
Employees’ State Insurance Act. launched SATAT initiative to promote
● This scheme is a relief payable in cash Compressed Bio-Gas as an alternative,
directly to their Bank Account in case of green transport fuel.
unemployment and while they search for ● Titled SATAT, the initiative is aimed at
new engagement. providing a Sustainable Alternative
● The eligibility for availing Super Towards Affordable Transportation
Specialty treatment for dependents of (SATAT) as a developmental effort that
Insured Person has now been relaxed to would benefit both vehicle-users as well
insurable employment of one year with as farmers and entrepreneurs.
156 days of contributions.
● The ESIC also approved the proposal for Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM)
increasing the funeral expenses from scheme
existing 10 thousand rupees to 15 ● Union Government has approved Rs
thousand rupees being paid on the death 8,606 crore for 60 projects being
of Insured Person. implemented under umbrella scheme of
Border Infrastructure and Management
Swayangsiddha scheme (BIM).
● In an attempt to combat human ● The projects are being implemented in
trafficking, the West Bengal government 111 border districts in 17 states having
rolled out a scheme, Swayangsiddha, in the international borders with Pakistan,
different districts of the State. As the China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and
per the NCRB data, West Bengal has Bangladesh.
highest recorded case of trafficking ● The scheme include construction of
among the States. roads, schools, primary health centres,
● The scheme aims to empower young promotion of rural tourism, border
boys and girls to make informed choices tourism, cleanliness mission, promotion
so that they are less vulnerable to of sports activities, supply of drinking
trafficking and child marriage. water, protection of heritage sites,
● Swayangsiddha means self-reliance and community centres, connectivity,
it will be executed by the West Bengal drainage, to enable sustainable living in
Police. border areas.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
pressing urban challenges. It was ● RBI has notified rate of interest of 2.50%
announced by per annum on SGB bonds is payable on
● Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish half yearly basis.
Sisodia.
● The fellows will be paid remuneration of Digi Yatra:
Rs 1.25 lakh per month and Rs 75,000 Govt. releases policy on biometric based digital
per month to Associate Fellows. processing of passengers at airports
● Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has
Government opens new series of sovereign released policy on biometric based
gold bonds scheme for subscription digital processing of passengers at
● Union Government has opened new airports called Digi Yatra.
series of sovereign gold bonds scheme ● The initiative seeks to promote
for subscription paperless and hassle-free air travel.
● Under this scheme, sovereign gold ● It will be operational by end of
bonds will be issued every month from February, 2019 at Bengaluru and
October 2018 to February 2019. Hyderabad airports.
● This bond will be sold through Stock ● In later phase, Airports Authority of
Holding Corporation of India Limited, India (AAI) will roll out this initiative at
Post Office, Stock Exchange (NSE and Kolkata, Varanasi, Pune and Vijayawada
BSE). Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) airports by April 2019.
Scheme ● Under Digi Yatra, there will be one-time
● It is aimed at providing alternative to verification at departure airport while
buying physical gold. travelling for first time using ID.
● Under it, bonds are denominated in ● After successful verification, facial
units of one gram of gold and multiples recognition biometric will be captured
thereof. and stored in Digi Yatra ID.
● These gold denominated bonds are ● With this initiative, ticket booking,
restricted for sale to resident Indian airport entry and boarding pass security
entities, including individuals, Hindu check-in will be made digital.
undivided families (HUF), trusts, ● For this system, passengers will be
universities and charitable institutions. registered through centralized system
● The minimum subscription for and will be given Digi Travel ID.
individual and HUF is 1 gram and
maximum is 4 kg. Udyam Abhilasha
● For trusts and similar entities, ● SIDBI launches national level
maximum subscription is 20 kg per entrepreneurship awareness campaign
fiscal.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● Small Industries Development Bank of ● A total of 1,878 students will get benefit
India (SIDBI) has launched Udyam from the programme.
Abhilasha a national level
entrepreneurship awareness campaign. Odisha govt. launch Food Security Scheme
● It was launched in 115 Aspirational ● Odisha government launched the State’s
Districts identified by NITI Aayog in 28 own food security scheme to cover the
States. poor people.
Objectives ● As per the provisions of the scheme, 25
● To inspire rural youth in aspirational lakh poor people left out from the
districts to be entrepreneurs by assisting benefits of the National Food Security
them to set up their own enterprise. Act, will get rice of 5 kg per month for
● To impart trainings through digital one rupee.
medium across the country
● To create business opportunities for Wage Compensation Scheme for pregnant
CSC-VLEs. women:
● To focus on women aspirants in ● Assam Government has become the first
aspirational districts to encourage Indian state to offer a Wage
women entrepreneurship. Compensation Scheme for pregnant
● To assist participants to become women working in the tea gardens of
bankable and avail credit facility from the state.
banks to set up their own enterprise. ● Under the scheme, an amount of Rs
12,000 will be given to the pregnant
Odisha govt. launched 'Nirman Kusuma' women so that they can take care of
scheme themselves and the unborn baby.
● Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ● The compensation of wages to pregnant
launched 'Nirman Kusuma' programme women will be given in 4 instalments -
for providing financial assistance to the Rs 2,000 in the first trimester, Rs.4,000
children of the construction workers for in the second trimester, Rs.3,000 for
their technical education in the state. institutional delivery and Rs.3,000 for
● The children of construction workers registration of the child's birth.
would get financial assistance for their
education in Industrial Training NOVEMBER 2018
Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics.
● While an ITI student will be entitled to Ministry of HRD launches faculty
get financial assistance of Rs.23,600, a development programmes - LEAP & ARPIT
diploma student to get Rs.26,300 per ● A unique initiative of online
annum. professional development of 15 lakh
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
higher education faculty using the ● There are built-in assessment exercises
MOOCs platform SWAYAM, Annual and activities as part of the academic
Refresher Programme in Teaching progression in the course.
(ARPIT) was launched on 13th Nov.
● The ministry of human resource Eight States achieve 100% household
development also launched Leadership electrification under Saubhagya scheme
for Academicians Programme (LEAP) ● 8 States which achieved 100% household
which will be implemented through 15 electrification under Pradhan Mantri
top institutions like IITs, TISS, DU, Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana - Saubhagya
JNU and IISERs and also include a week scheme are Madhya Pradesh, Tripura,
training in a foreign campus of the likes Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram,
of Harvard University, Oxford Sikkim, Telangana and West Bengal.
University, Purdue University and NTU ● With this, total 15 States in India have
Singapore, among others. 100% household electrification. Prime
● LEAP is a three-week flagship Minister Narendra Modi launched Rs
leadership development training 16320-Crore ‘Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli
programme (two-weeks domestic and Har Ghar Yojana'- Saubhagya on
one-week foreign training for second September
level academic functionaries in public ● 25, 2017 to mark the birth anniversary
funded higher education institutions. of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
● LEAP programme will be offered by 15 ● The scheme aims to achieve the goal of
NIRF top ranked Indian Institutions universal household electrification in
namely, IIT Roorkee, IIT Kanpur, NIT the country by March 31, 2019.
Trichy, Indian Institute of Science
Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Gujarat tops in implementing Ayushman
Jawaharlal Nehru University, University Bharat
of Delhi, IIT Bombay and TISS Mumbai, ● Gujarat has emerged as the top
among others. performer of the Centre’s ambitious
Objective of LEAP health financing scheme - Ayushman
● The objective is to prepare second tier Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
academic heads who are potentially Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which was
likely to assume leadership roles in the launched on September 23, promises
future. About ARPIT programme health coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family
● ARPIT is a 40-hour module with 20 to over 10 crore poor families.
hours of video content offered in a ● Over 3.4 lakh beneficiaries have been
highly flexible format and can be done treated under the scheme since its
at one’s own pace and time.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
launch until November 24, according to ● The schemes aim for attracting youth to
the National Health Agency. cooperative business ventures.
● Tamil Nadu ranked second at 54,273 ● The scheme will be linked to Rs 1000
hospital and Chattisgarh third at 53,180. crore ‘Cooperative Start-up and
Innovation Fund
Health Ministry launches Integrated Disease ● (CSIF)’ created by the National
Surveillance Programme (IDSP) Cooperative Development Corporation
● Ms. Preeti Sudan, Union Health (NCDC).
Secretary did soft-launch of the
Integrated Disease Surveillance CCEA approves ACROSS scheme
Programme (IDSP) segment of the ● Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired
Integrated Health Information Platform Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs
(IHIP) in seven states. (CCEA) has approved continuation of
● The path-breaking initiative will nine sub-schemes of umbrella scheme
provide near real-time data to “Atmosphere & Climate Research-
policymakers for detecting outbreaks, Modelling Observing Systems &
reducing the morbidity and mortality Services (ACROSS)” during 2017-2020.
and lessening disease burden in the ● The scheme aims at improving skill of
populations and better health systems. weather and climate forecast through
sustained observations, intensive
Gau Samridhi Scheme launched by Kerala Research & Development.
govt. ● The scheme refers to the atmospheric
● Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan science programs of the Ministry of
launched the ‘Cow Samridhi Plus Earth Sciences (MoES). 8. Government
Scheme’ to provide insurance coverage Launches Bhasha Sangam initiative
to dairy farmers in the state. ● The government has launched a unique
● The government subsidized scheme, as initiative called Bhasha Sangam to
proposed, will give insurance coverage introduce school students to 22 Indian
to dairy farmers at low premium rates. languages.
● The initiative, under Ek Bharat
Yuva Sahakar Scheme launched by Agriculture Shreshtha Bharat, was active for the
Ministry period between 22nd November 2018 –
● Union Minister of Agriculture and 21st December 2018.
Farmers’ Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh ● Bhasha Sangam is a programme for
launched the ‘Yuva Sahakar-Cooperative schools and educational institutions to
Enterprise Support and Innovation provide multilingual exposure to
Scheme. students in Indian languages.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
now be reserved for women the first phase of the FAME India
entrepreneurs. scheme to promote mass adoption of
electric vehicles, having extended the
Saura Jalnidhi scheme launched by the scheme four times, according to an
Odisha Govt. official notification.
● This scheme has been launched by the ● The phase-I of the Faster Adoption and
Odisha Government only for Former for Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric
their field irrigation. Vehicles (FAME India) scheme was
● Under this scheme, farmers will be supposed to be implemented over a two-
given 90% subsidy and 5,000 solar year period commencing from April 1,
pumps. 2015.
● This scheme is only for those who have
farmer identical and minimum land DECEMBER 2018
should be 0.5 acres.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme: SC introduced Witness Protection Scheme,
2018 in India
● Two North East Circuit Projects ● The Supreme Court (SC) introduced a
inaugurated in Arunachal Pradesh witness protection regime in the
● Union Ministry of Tourism has country noting that one of the main
inaugurated two important projects as reasons for witnesses turning hostile is
part of Development of North East that they are not given security by the
Circuit under Swadesh Darshan Scheme State.
in Arunachal Pradesh. Swadesh Darshan ● It also announced that the Witness
scheme Protection Scheme, 2018 will come into
● It was launched by Union Tourism effect immediately across all States.
Ministry in 2015 with objective to ● This scheme is aimed at enabling a
develop theme-based tourist circuits in witness to depose fearlessly and
the country. truthfully, would be the law of the land
● These tourist circuits developed will be till Parliament enacted suitable
developed under on principles of high legislation.
tourist value, competitiveness and ● The Witness Protection Scheme 2018
sustainability in integrated manner. was framed by the Central government
based on the inputs received from 18
Govt hikes outlay for first phase of FAME States/Union Territories, 5 States Legal
India scheme to Rs 895 crore Services Authorities and open sources
● The government has increased the including civil society, three High
outlay by Rs 100 crore to Rs 895 crore for Courts and police personnel, as well.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
New Rs 10 Banknote in Mahatma Gandhi loans last year & USD three billion more
Series in the pipeline.
● Reserve Bank of India has announced to ● Indonesia has emerged as the second
issue Rs 10 denomination banknotes in largest borrower with about USD 600
the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, million loans.
bearing the signature of Dr. Urjit R.
Patel, Governor, RBI.
Paytm Money Ltd started its operation
● The new denomination has motif of Sun
● Paytm set up a new entity called Paytm
Temple, Konark on the reverse,
Money Ltd that will offer investment &
depicting the country's cultural
wealth management products & will
heritage.
invest close to $10 million upfront in
● The base colour of the note is Chocolate
the new entity.
Brown. The dimension of the banknote
● Paytm Money is the fourth product from
will be 63 mm x 123 mm.
One97’s stable after Paytm Mall, Paytm
RIL become 1st Indian company to cross Rs 6- Payments Bank & Paytm wallet.
lakh crore Market Cap
● Reliance Industries (RIL) become the
World Bank projected India’s growth rate at
first Indian company to cross the Rs 6-
7.3 percent in 2018
lakh crore mark in market
● World Bank projected India’s growth
capitalization.
rate at 7.3 percent in 2018 & 7.5 for the
● RIL is owned 40% by its chairman
next two years. India’s economy is
Mukesh Ambani, making him the
estimated to have grown at 6.7 percent
richest Indian as per Bloomberg’s
in 2017.
billionaire index.
● As per the HSBC report, India's growth
HDFC Bank Ltd sets record rate is expected to accelerate at around
● India’s most-valued lender HDFC Bank 6.5 percent in 2017-18 & is likely to
Ltd crossed Rs.5 trillion market improve further to 7.6 percent by 2019-
capitalisation for the first time, making 20.
it only the third Indian company to
FEBRUARY 2018
achieve this milestone.
(more than Rs. 3,847 crore) bond issue in Exim Bank Extends $500 Million Loan
the international debt markets. Facility To 15-Nation Group in Africa
● The Bond issuance is for a tenor of 5 ● The Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank)
years. It is listed on the London Stock announced that it will provide a USD
Exchange International Securities 500 million credit facility to Economic
Market (LSE ISM), the Singapore Community of West African States
Exchange Securities Trading (SGX), and (ECOWAS) to fund various development
the India International Exchange IFSC projects in western-south Africa.
at GIFT City, Gandhinagar. ● The line of credit (LoC) of USD 500
million is an umbrella limit for
MARCH 2018
financing developmental projects in 15-
member countries.
ICICI Bank announced instant overdraft
facility for MSME FPI Investment Limit In Government
● Private banking major ICICI Bank Securities Hiked
announced the launch of an instant ● In a move that could temporarily soften
overdraft facility for the Micro, Small bond yields, the Reserve Bank of India,
and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in consultation with the Government,
customers in a completely online and hiked the foreign portfolio investors
paperless manner. (FPI) investment limit in Central
● Titled 'InstaOD', this first-of-its-kind government securities (G-Sec) from 5%
offering in the Indian banking industry of outstanding stock now to 5.5% in FY
enables a few lakhs of prequalified 2019 and 6% in FY 2020.
current account customers of the bank ● The hike comes in the wake of 99.31% of
to instantly avail the facility without the upper FII investment limit in G-Secs
visiting a branch and submitting of Rs1,91,300 crore getting utilized.
physical documents. ● The FPI investment in State
Development Loans (SDLs) has been left
RBI imposed a penalty on Airtel Payments
unchanged at 2% of outstanding stock of
Bank
securities.
● Reserve Bank has imposed a penalty of
Rs 5 crore on Airtel Payments Bank for State Bank of India Launches UK Subsidiary
violating operating guidelines and With 225 Millions Pounds Capital
Know Your Customer (KYC) norms. ● State Bank of India SBI announced the
launch of its UK subsidiary, SBI (UK)
APRIL 2018
Limited, with an initial capital
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
nurture indigenous innovation, foster million with the World Bank for the
bridging critical skill and infrastructure ● The loan would help India in achieving
● The closing date of Innovate in India for Abhiyaan involves gradual scaling-up of
Sudha Balakrishnan appointed the first ever World Bank approved $700 mn to improve
CFO of RBI primary education in Bangladesh
● NSDL executive Sudha Balakrishnan ● It will also finance implementation of
has been appointed the first ever chief the government's Fourth Primary
financial officer (CFO) of the Reserve Education Development Program
Bank of India (RBI), in what is the (PEDP4).
biggest organisational change since ● This project will build about 95,000
Urjit Patel took over as RBI governor. classrooms, teachers rooms, and
multipurpose rooms.
JUNE 2018
● It will also build 80,000 Water,
Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) blocks
India and World Bank Signed $500 Million
and 15,000 safe water sources.
Additional Financing For PMGSY
● The projects will provide recruitment to
● The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
about 100,000 teachers.
Yojana (PMGSY) Rural Roads Project,
implemented by Ministry of Rural Government panel selected 22 general
Development, Govt. of India. managers for Executive Director post at PSU
● It will build 7,000 km of climate resilient Banks
roads, out of which 3,500 km will be
The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) has
constructed using green technologies.
recommended 22 candidates from different
State Bank of India Hiked Interest Rate On banks for the Executive Director (ED) positions
Fixed Deposits in PSU Banks.
● The interest rate on SBI FDs with a
● The four general managers from PNB
maturity of one year to less than two
includes
years has been increased to 6.65% for
○ Manas R Biswal,
the public, from 6.4% earlier.
○ Gopal Gusain,
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● 22 public sector banks (including India money, as it shows that over 99.3
Post Payments Bank), 19 private sector percent of the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000
banks, 32 foreign banks and financial notes were returned.
institutions like LIC, HUDCO, PFC and ● Demonetised notes worth Rs 15.31 lakh
REC signed the Inter-Creditor crore, out of a total of Rs 15.41 lakh
Agreement (ICA) framework, which is crore, were returned.
part of project 'Sashakt', to take
concerted efforts towards resolving dud
RBI approved to transfer 50,000 crore surplus
loans under Rs. 500 crore.
to government
● This Project is proposed by a committee
● The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will
headed by Sunil Mehta (non-executive
transfer ₹50,000 crore of its surplus
chairman of PNB).
money to the government, for the year
● The new framework is applicable to
ended June 30, 2018.
accounts with exposures of over ₹2,000
● The RBI follows July-June accounting
crore where lenders must implement the
year.
resolution plan within 180 days.
● The RBI had transferred a surplus of
₹30,659 crore to the government for the
AUGUST 2018 fiscal ended June 2017.
● During the tenure of former governor
DBS named World's Best Bank in nod to its Raghuram Rajan, RBI transferred over
Digital Innovation ₹65,800 crore to the government for two
● DBS (Development Bank of Singapore) is consecutive years.
the first Asian bank to receive the
accolade from the New York-based
RBI increased the policy repo rate by 25 basis
publication ie, Global Finance
points to 6.5%
magazine.
● The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
● Headquarters: Marina Bay, Singapore
increased the repo rate by 25 basis
● DBS chief executive officer - Piyush
points to 6.5% and the reverse repo rate
Gupta.
to 6.25%.
● This is the third bi-monthly policy
As per RBI’s annual report 2017-18, 99.3 review of the 2018-2019 financial year.
percent of demonetised currency returned ● The marginal standing facility rate and
● The Reserve Bank of India's annual the bank rate have been adjusted to
report for 2017-2018 indicates that 6.75%.
demonetisation didn't curb black
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
vehicle sales, which rose by a modest entities, in a bid to take on its rival
2.8% in the same period. Amazon.
● Flipkart Limited had put 4472.4 crores
The top 5 countries on the list are-
into the marketplace unit of Flipkart
India, Another Singapore-based unit
1. China
Flipkart Marketplace Private Limited
had invested₹370.9 crore into Flipkart
2. USA
Internet Private Limited, which owns
and operates an online shopping portal
3. Japan
in India.
● The funding is expected to help Flipkart
4. India
build its war chest in the battle against
Amazon.com Inc., which is rapidly
5. Germany
gaining share in India’s online retail
market.
IRCTC Ties Up With Ola
● The investment comes at a time when
the company had raised about $4 billion
● With an aim to providing first-and-last-
last year in two funding rounds from
mile connectivity, railway PSU IRCTC
investors including Chinese Internet
announced a partnership with cab
giant Tencent, U.S.-based e-commerce
aggregator Ola, giving commuters an
firm eBay, software maker Microsoft
option book taxi on its app.
and Japan’s SoftBank Group.
● The tie-up, a six-month pilot project,
● Last August, SoftBank, led by CEO
will give customers access to Ola
Masayoshi Son announced an
booking services when they visit the
investment in Flipkart through its $100
IRCTC Rail Connect App and on its
billion technology-focused fund Vision
website.
Fund. Flipkart, which had in excess of
● The Ola cab facility will provide all the
$4 billion of cash on the balance sheet
services offered.
after that round, is now penetrating
deeper into the Indian market.
● Briefing media in New Delhi yesterday, India Becomes Fourth Largest Auto Market In
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, the The World
NFRA will act as an independent
regulator for the auditing profession ● India overtaken Germany to become the
which was one of the key changes fourth largest automobile market in the
brought in by the Companies Act 2013. world, According to the latest global
● The jurisdiction of NFRA for data. Automobile sales, including
investigation of Chartered Accountants passenger and commercial vehicles, in
and their firms will be extended to the Asia’s third-largest economy, grew 9.5%.
listed companies and large unlisted ● It is the fastest among major global
public companies. markets, last year to more than 4 million
units, outpacing Germany’s 3.8-million
India nods to export all edible oils in bulk
vehicle sales, which rose by a modest
2.8% in the same period.
● Cabinet Committee on Economic
● The top 5 countries on the list are- 1.
Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister
China 2. USA 3. Japan 4. India 5.
Narendra Modi has approved the
Germany.
proposal of Ministry of Commerce &
Industry for removal of the prohibition Flipkart Limited invests 4843.4 crore into its
on this export The CCEA also approved India units to take on Amazon
empowering the Committee, chaired by
Secretary, Department of Food & Public ● Singapore-based holding firm of Indian
Distribution and comprising Secretaries online retailer Flipkart had invested
of Department of Commerce, 4843.4 crores into two of its India
Department of Agriculture, Cooperation entities, in a bid to take on its rival
& Farmers Welfare, Department of Amazon.
Revenue, Department of Consumer ● Flipkart Limited had put 4472.4 crores
Affairs and DGFT, to review the into the marketplace unit of Flipkart
export/import policy on all varieties of India, Another Singapore-based unit
edible oils and consider measures such Flipkart Marketplace Private Limited
as quantitative restrictions, prior had invested₹370.9 crore into Flipkart
registration, imposition of Minimum Internet Private Limited, which owns
Export Price (MEP) and changes in and operates an online shopping portal
import duties depending on domestic in India.
production and demand, domestic and ● The funding is expected to help Flipkart
international prices and international build its war chest in the battle against
trade volumes. Amazon.com Inc., which is rapidly
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
gaining share in India’s online retail ● To make payments, users can add
market. money from their Paytm account by
● The investment comes at a time when scanning the QR code on the Tap Card
the company had raised about $4 billion and by authenticating it at any of the
last year in two funding rounds from add value machines (AVM).
investors including Chinese Internet
Google Ranked As Most Trusted Internet
giant Tencent, U.S.-based e-commerce
Brand In India: Report
firm eBay, software maker Microsoft
and Japan’s SoftBank Group. Last
● Online search engine Google is the most
August, SoftBank, led by CEO
trusted Internet brand in India, followed
Masayoshi Son announced an
by Facebook, as per the TRA Brand
investment in Flipkart through its $100
Trust Report 2018.
billion technology-focused fund Vision
● With 1.2 trillion searches per year,
Fund.
Google has become the first port of call
● Flipkart, which had in excess of $4
for all things on the Internet. Google
billion of cash on the balance sheet after
was followed by Facebook, Amazon and
that round, is now penetrating deeper
eBay.
into the Indian market.
● The biggest falls in trust were seen by
Snapdeal, who fell by 142 ranks over last
APRIL 2018
year.
Paytm Introduces 'Tap Card' Offline Payments ● The top trust gainers this year were
Solution Netflix (up 506 ranks over last year).
TRA’s Brand Trust Report 2018 report
● One97 Communications Limited, the covers 2488 consumer-influencers across
owner of digital payment major, Paytm, 16 cities in India and generated 5
announced the launch of its offline million data points.
payments solution - the Paytm Tap
Bloomberg Billionaires Top 100 Index
Card, in line with the company's vision
Released
to provide seamless payments solutions
for non-internet customers.
● Reliance Industries Chairman and
● This card uses Near Field
Managing Director Mukesh Ambani
Communication (NFC) technology to
have been ranked 19th on Bloomberg
enable safe and convenient digital
Billionaires Top 100 Index as he
payments, completely offline at Paytm-
becomes the third richest Asian on the
issued, NFC PoS terminals, in under a
list.
second.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● With a net worth of approximately $38.3 proposing certain changes in terms and
billion, Ambani’s wealth is pegged at conditions for operators to seek fresh
about over 1.5 percent of India’s GDP. call connect ports from other telcos.
● While Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has ● The 'draft Telecommunication
added $21.8 billion to his fortunes this Interconnection (Amendment)
year and takes the top spot, Microsoft Regulations 2018' proposed that a
founder Bill Gates was ranked 2nd. service provider can ask another
● From Asia, Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma operator for additional ports, in case the
(ranked 13th) is the richest with a net projected utilization of the capacity is
worth of $47.2 billion and is followed by likely to exceed 85% over 60 day period.
Tencent co-founder and CEO Pony Ma
JUNE 2018
(17) with a $41.1 billion net worth.
MAY 2018 India will get Black Money Data from Swiss
Bank by 2019
China's Alibaba Buys Pakistan E-Commerce ● As part of a bilateral treaty signed
Firm Daraz between the India and Switzerland,
● Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba India would start getting data on
purchased leading Pakistani online deposits made by Indians this year in
retailer 'Daraz', continuing its overseas Swiss Banks from 2019.
expansion by gaining a foothold in the ● Strong action would be taken against
growing South Asian consumer market. those found guilty of wrongdoing.
● China is seeking closer economic ties ● Under Liberalised Remittance Scheme
with Asian neighbors including (LRS) which was introduced by former
Pakistan through its Belt and Road Finance Minister P Chidambaram, an
initiative, a strategy to increase trade individual could remit up to USD
links that are led primarily by 2,50,000 per year.
infrastructure projects.
Tata to re enter fridge, washing machine
● Daraz, founded in 2012, was purchased
business after 20yrs
from Rocket Internet, a Berlin-based
● Through a joint venture between Voltas,
incubator of online startups.
a Tata company and Turkey's Arcelik,
TRAI Releases Draft Of Telecom Tata Group is re-entering the home
Interconnection Regulations appliances market after 20 years.
● Telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory ● The joint venture will manufacture
Authority of India (TRAI) issued a draft refrigerators, microwave ovens, washing
to amend interconnect regulations, machines and dishwashers under the
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Infosys Foundation and Bangalore Metro ● Iran has overtaken Saudi Arabia to be
signed MoU For Constructing Station the second largest supplier of crude oil
to Indian public sector firms during
● Infosys Foundation signed with the April-June quarter. Iraq remains India's
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation No:1 supplier of crude.
Limited (BMRCL) for the construction ● State firms that buy oil from Iran
of a station at Konappana Agrahara in include Mangalore Refinery and
Electronics City. Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), Indian Oil
● The station is under the second phase of Corp (IOC) and Hindustan Petroleum
Bangalore Metro expansion plans and Corp Ltd (HPCL). New Delhi shipped in
the Foundation has committed to 7.27 million tonnes of oil from Iraq,
maintaining it for the next 30 years. while shipments from Saudi Arabia
● Infosys would contribute 200 crores to totalled 5.22 million tonnes.
the Bangalore Metro Rail for the
YES Bank gets SEBI nod to launch mutual
construction of Konappana Agrahara
fund business
Metro Station and railway track.
● India's fourth largest private sector
About Infosys
lender, YES Bank received final
● Founder:N. R. Narayana Murthy
regulatory approval from the Securities
● Founded:7 July 1981
& Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to
● Head Quarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
start mutual fund business, named "YES
Asset Management India Limited
Amazon is the second company To Hit $900
(YAMIL)".
Billion Valuation After Apple
● YES Bank Director & chief executive
● Amazon company crossed $900-billion
officer:- Rana Kapoor
market cap for the first time in its
history becoming only the second
Kawasaki launches India assembled Ninja ZX
company after Apple to achieve this
10R bike
milestone.
● India Kawasaki Motors, a subsidiary of
● Amazon sold over 100 million products
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Japan, has
during its Prime Day sale.
launched the ₹12.8 lakh Ninja ZX-10R
● Apple is currently the world's most
bike, which will be assembled in the
valuable company with a market cap of
country.
$935 billion.
● At the revised price of about Rs. 6.0
lakh, the 2018 Kawasaki ZX-10R is now
Iran becomes India's second largest oil
the most affordable 1000cc superbike in
supplier
India.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● Weighing around 206 kg, the bike offers Japan overtakes China as World's 2nd biggest
a top speed of 299 kmph. stock market
● As a result of China's trade war with the
AUGUST 2018
US and its campaign to cut debt, the
value of China's stock market fell to
India’s Largest Business Incubator
$6.09 trillion, losing its position as the
Bhamashah Techno Hub Launched In Jaipur
World's second biggest stock market to
Japan ($6.17 trillion).
● The main aim of the Techno Hub is to
● The U.S. has the world's largest stock
strengthen the startup ecosystem in
market at just over $31 trillion.
Rajasthan.
● China's stock market overtook Japan's
● The incubator will provide end-to-end
in 2014 and soared to an all-time high of
support to startups, ranging from
over $10 trillion in 2015.
infrastructure, technology, angel
funding, access to venture capitalists,
Apple becomes First $1 Trillion Company in
mentorship, exposure to national and
History
international organizations and experts.
● Apple Inc. became the first U.S.-based
company with a market value of $1
HUL agreed to acquire Adityaa Milk ice
trillion, four decades after it was co-
cream business
founded by Steve Jobs in a Silicon Valley
● Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) garage and later revolutionized the
announced that it has signed an worlds of computing, music and mobile
agreement with Vijaykant Dairy and communications.
Food Products Limited (VDFPL) and it's ● The iMac desktop computer, the iPod,
group company to acquire Adityaa Milk iPhone, and iPad were smash hits.
ice cream business, its ice cream and ● Apple CEO - Tim Cook.
frozen desserts business.
Reliance Beats TCS and became India's Most
● The acquisition aimed at strengthening
Valued Company
its position in the rapidly-growing ice
● India's richest person Mukesh Ambani-
cream and frozen dessert market in
led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)
India.
beat Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to
● According to the terms of the
become the most valued company in
agreement, until the completion of
India.
transaction VDFPL will manage the
● RIL's market capitalisation during the
business and will continue to
day was Rs7.44 trillion as compared to
manufacture for HUL for an agreed
TCS' Rs7.39 trillion.
period of time.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● RIL had recently reported its highest ● Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for
ever quarterly net profit of Rs9,459 Health and Family Welfare released the
crore, for the April-June quarter. user manual for NCD application under
Comprehensive Primary Health Care
SEPTEMBER 2018
(CPHC) IT Solutions.
● Despite its other products like air Amazon hits USD 1 trillion market
purifiers, vegetable and fruit purifiers capitalisation after Apple
and water softeners besides a few home ● World's richest man Jeff Bezos-led e-
appliances, the water purifiers commerce major Amazon became the
contribute more than 85% of the total 2nd publicly traded US company to hit
revenue of the company. $1 trillion in market capitalisation after
iPhone maker Apple.
Reliance Infrastructure wins Rs 200 crore
● Amazon stock has more than doubled in
arbitration against NHAI
the last 12 months and has gained more
● Billionaire Anil Ambani-led Reliance
than 70% in 2018.
Infrastructure (RInfra) has won a ₹200
crore arbitration award against the Wipro signed a USD 1.6 billion with Illinois
National Highway Authority of India based Alight Solutions LLC
(NHAI). ● Wipro signed a $1.6 billion 10-year
● RInfra claimed that delay by NHAI in contract with Illinois-based Alight
providing land to it resulted in cost Solutions LLC.
overrun during construction and change ● This is the largest deal to date.
in location of a toll plaza in Tamil Nadu. ● The contract is to provide digital
● NHAI will have to pay interest at 12 per solutions to the company. Alight is a
cent per annum on the amount if they provider of benefits administration and
do not pay Rs 1.5 billion by the deadline. cloud-based human resources and
financial solutions.
Facebook to open its 1st ever Asian data
● It will be built through the strategic
centre in Singapore
investments in Wipro Digital, cloud
● Facebook will invest over $1 billion to
platforms and cognitive platform Wipro
build its first Asian data centre in
HOLMES.
Singapore, which is expected to open in
● It has 12 global centres.
2022.
● The deal will enable the digital
● The new site is at Tanjong Kling,
transformation of Alight’s offerings
located in the western part of Singapore,
across health, wealth, HR and finance
and in an area formerly known as Data
solutions, and enhance the employee
Centre Park.
experience of Alight’s clients by
● Facebook runs 15 other data centres
leveraging Wipro’s industry-leading
worldwide, mostly in the US and
strengths in digital technologies,
European markets such as Ireland and
cognitive automation, and data
Sweden.
analytics.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
OCTOBER 2018
VMware to invest USD 2 billion in India
Maruti Suzuki net reduces to 9.8 percent on ● U.S.-headquartered VMware, a
rising oil prices subsidiary of Dell Technologies,
● Maruti Suzuki Chairman R.C. Bhargava announced plans to invest $2 billion in
said that the overall demand for cars, India over the next five years. The
festival demand, in particular, has taken investment would enable VMware to
a hit due to rising oil prices and the new expand to new offices in Bangalore and
regulations on insurance. Pune.
● While announcing the company’s Q2 ● The investment will increase headcount,
financial results he said Maruti Suzuki invest in R&D and support growing
saw the number of vehicles it sold in Q2 sales operations in India.
fall by 1.5% to 4,84,848 compared with ● India is a key cornerstone of our overall
the same period of the previous year, global investment strategy, providing
and net profit falls 9.8% to Rs. 2,240.4 outstanding engineering talent for our
crore over the same period. global R&D operations that are helping
● Over the first half of the financial year to drive innovation across our entire
(April to September), the company saw product portfolio.
its net profit grow 4.3% to Rs. 4,215.7 ● VMware has also partnered with
crore and a 10% increase in the number Women Who Code, India, to train 15,000
of vehicles it sold. women over the next two years in
diverse technology areas.
TCS is the only Indian Firm Among Top 10 To
Get Foreign Labour Certification Google To Shut Down Google+ For
● Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is the Consumers Over The Security Lapse
only Indian company among top 10
● After a bug exposed the personal data of
firms to get foreign labor certification
up to 5 lakh users, Google stated that it
for the H-1B visas for the fiscal year
discovered and immediately patched"
2018, according to data from the US
the bug in March 2018 but found "no
Department of Labour. London-
evidence" that any data was actually
headquartered Ernst and Young, a
misused.
multinational professional services firm,
● Google company reportedly disclose the
has emerged as the top employer to have
security breach because it feared
received the certification.
regulation.
● The H-1B visas are the most sought-
● According to Google, Google+ currently
after among Indian IT professionals.
has “low usage and engagement” and
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
and Shapoorji Pallonji Investment ● The firm recently entered into an MOU
Advisors Pvt. Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of with CSIR – CECRI (Central
Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private Electrochemical Research Institute),
Limited. Karaikudi to explore collaborative
● The SP Infocity is spread over 2.7 technology for scaling up of
million sq. ft., SP Infocity, an IT park on manufacturing cathode materials for
MGR Salai, houses some of the big lithium-ion cells.
corporate names from across the globe.
DECEMBER 2018
● Automobile firm Ford runs its global
business services from its premises.
Pakistan Cabinet approved to issue 'Panda
Other tenants include Amazon, HSBC
bond' in Chinese currency
and BNP Paribas.
● Freshworks, a start-up, has over 1,000
● The federal cabinet approved the
employees working out of the facility.
issuance of Pakistan’s first renminbi-
● As on 31 March, Mapletree owns and
denominated bonds to raise loans from
manages Singapore $46.3 billion worth
Chinese capital markets, as the country
properties.
gradually moves towards giving the
● It also manages four real estate
Chinese currency a status at par with
investment trusts and six private real
that enjoyed by the US dollar.
estate funds, which hold a diverse
● The interest rate may range above 5.5%
portfolio of assets.
but the final price can only be
determined at the time of launching the
Tata Chemicals Limited plans capital
bond.
expenditure of Rs.2400 crore
● The Philippines has also raised
● The board of Tata Chemicals Ltd. has
RMB1.46 billion through renminbi-
approved a capital expenditure of
denominated bonds at an interest rate of
Rs.2,400 crore which would be deployed
4.75%.
towards debottlenecking of Mithapur
● In the Long-term Plan of the China-
facility.
Pakistan Economic Corridor (2017-30)
● The investment would enhance the
both countries had decided to use
company’s soda ash capacity by about
renminbi as the second international
1,50,000 MT, salt production by 4,00,000
currency to lessen Pakistan’s reliance on
MT and upgrade turbines for higher
dollar.
efficiency. Tata Chemicals is
● Current Finance Minister of Pakistan -
considering entry into the lithium-ion
Asad Umar
battery sector to develop cell
chemistries to meet Indian applications.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
L&T construction arm bagged orders worth ● Coal India and Power Grid Corporation
Rs.2,357 crore occupied the fourth and fifth spot in the
● Larsen & Toubro (L&T) said that its list of top 10 profit making CPSEs
construction arm bagged orders worth (Central Public Sector Enterprises) in
Rs.2,357 crore from APCRDA and the 2017-18 fiscal.
MPJNM. ● BSNL, Air India and MTNL incurred
● L&T’s water and effluent treatment and the highest losses for the second
transportation infrastructure business consecutive year.
had secured an order worth Rs.1,281
GST Council cuts rates on 17 items, 6 services;
crore from Andhra Pradesh Capital
rationalises 28% slab
Region Development Authority
(APCRDA). The order is for activities
The GST rate on cinema tickets above ₹100 was
including investigation, design and
cut from 28% to 18% and on tickets up to ₹100
construction of roads, bridges, storm
from 18% to 12%.
water drains, culverts, water supply
systems, sewerage systems for the
Seven items that saw tax rates being slashed
villages of Kurugalla, Nidamarru in
from the 28% bracket are:
Zone 12A area at Amaravati Capital
City, Andhra Pradesh.
♦ certain vehicle parts used in agriculture,
● The firm’s water and effluent treatment
business had also secured orders worth
♦ monitors and TVs up to 32 inches,
Rs.1,076 crore from the Madhya Pradesh
Jal Nigam Maryadit (MPJNM). The
♦ retreaded tyres,
order is for the execution of multi
village rural water supply schemes in
♦ power banks,
Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Seoni and
Damoh districts of Madhya Pradesh.
♦ digital cameras,
Cox & Kings Ltd. started a new business called GlaxoSmithKline merges with HUL
Tour to Feast
● GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
● Cox & Kings Ltd. has started a new Ltd. is to merge with Hindustan
business called ‘Tour to Feast’ to Unilever Ltd. (HUL), India’s biggest
promote food-related travel across consumer goods company, in a deal
India’s popular culinary destinations. worth Rs.31,70 0 crore.
● Tour to Feast will offer journeys across ● Because of this transaction HUL’s
the most popular culinary destinations parent, Unilever will gain control of
in India like Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, popular health drink brand Horlicks
Varanasi, Jaipur, Agra, and Goa. while other brands from GSK CH, such
● Travellers can choose from an array of as Boost, Maltova, and Viva, will be a
customized culinary holidays. part of the merged entity in India. GSK
● Each of these journeys has been CH had acquired Maltova and Boost
designed to be accompanied by hand- from Jagatjit Industries in 2000.
picked experts who will take travellers ● On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE),
through the evolution of the indigenous HUL shares gained 4.12%, or Rs.72.30, to
cuisines of each region. close at Rs.1,825.90. Shares of GSK CH
closed the day at Rs. 7,542.85, rising
Paisabazaar.com launches India's first chance
3.75% or Rs.272.90.
of approval feature for lending products
'GSTVerify' developed by B.Raghu Kiran, Joint letters of the alphabet. ♦ Android 1.5 Cupcake
commissioner GST Hyderabad. ● It is an android (April 2009)
app to verify if the person collecting GST from ♦ Android 1.6 Donut (September 2009)
the consumer is eligible to collect it or not. ♦ Android 2.0/2.1 Éclair (October 2009, January
2010)
AUGUST 2018 ♦ Android 2.2 Froyo (May 2010)
♦ Android 2.3 Gingerbread (December 2010)
NASA launched Parker Solar Probe to touch ♦ Android 3.0/3.1/3.2 Honeycomb (February 2011,
Sun: May 2011, July 2011)
● National Aeronautics and Space ♦ Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (October
Administration (NASA) launched off a $1.5 2011)
billion spacecraft toward the Sun to protect the ♦ Android 4.1/4.2/4.3 Jelly Bean (July 2012,
Earth by unveiling the mysteries of dangerous November 2012, July 2013)
solar storms. ♦ Android 4.4 KitKat (October 2013)
● The probe is designed to plunge into the Sun's ♦ Android 5.0/5.1 Lollipop (November 2014,
mysterious atmosphere, known as the corona. March 2015)
● It is the first major mission under NASA’s ♦ Android 6.0 Marshmallow (October 2015)
Living With a Star program with 1.5 billions. ♦ Android 7.0/7.1 Nougat (August 2016,
● It is also the first NASA mission to be named December 2016)
after a living person, a scientist called Eugene ♦ Android 8.0/8.1 Oreo (August 2017, December
Parker. In 1958, he published a paper about the 2017)
existence of solar wind, which this mission will
be investigating. Chandrayaan-I data confirms presence of ice
on Moon:
Google officially launches Android 9.0 named ● Using data from the Chandrayaan-I spacecraft,
'Pie': Scientists have found frozen water deposits in
● Google announced 'Pie' as the name for the the darkest and coldest parts of the Moon’s polar
latest version of the Android operating system, regions.
succeeding Android Oreo. ● M3, aboard the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft,
● The Android P or 'Pie' version has begun launched in 2008 by the Indian Space Research
rolling out to Pixel phones and will be available Organisation (ISRO), was uniquely equipped to
to other devices later this year. confirm the presence of solid ice on the Moon.
● Other Important Highlights:
● Since Android 1.5, Google has named each NASA introduced two apps to take space
version of its mobile operating system after a selfies:
sweet food - moving sequentially through the ● NASA has introduced two virtual reality
apps which will allow users to take
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
World's 1st Hindi-Speaking Robot Rashmi: ISRO to launch its heaviest satellite GSAT-11
● Ranchi-based software developer Ranjit on November 30:
Srivastava is developing the world's first
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● India and France inked an agreement to ISRO plans to set up its First Overseas Ground
collaborate on Gaganyaan, ISRO's first Station at North Pole:
human space mission. ● The ground station will augment the
● ISRO and CNES, the French space Indian Remote Sensing (Indian Remote
agency, will be combining their Sensing (IRS) operations crucial not just
expertise in fields of space medicine, for civilian needs like disaster
astronaut health monitoring, life management but also for the armed
support, radiation protection, space forces.
debris protection and personal hygiene ● However, ISRO has already two ground
systems. stations - IMGEOS at Shadnagar and
● These two space agencies also plan to AGEOS in Antarctica.
work on Mars, Venus and asteroids.
● India plans to send three humans to UAE revealed the names of its first 2
space before 2022. It would make India astronauts for the space mission:
one of the four countries in the world ● The United Arab Emirates has disclosed
after Russia, US and China to launch a its first two astronauts to go on a
manned space flight. mission to the International Space
Station.
ISRO to launch 19 missions in just 7 months: ● Prime Minister of the United Arab
● Indian Space Research Organisation Emirates - Sheikh Mohammed bin
(ISRO) will conduct 19 missions, Rashid al-Maktoum named the new
including 10 satellites and nine launch astronauts as:
vehicles, in the next seven months ○ Hazza al-Mansouri, 34-year-old
between September and March. ○ Sultan al-Neyadi, 37-year-old.
● It will include the launch of India's ● The UAE has its sights set on space
second moon mission Chandrayaan-2. with a programme worth 20 billion
ISRO planned to launch two satellites dirhams i.e, $5.4 billion.
within 30 days consecutively for months. ● UAE has announced its plans to become
● The services would be resumed on the first Arab country to send an
September 15 with the PSLV C42 unmanned probe to orbit Mars by 2021.
mission, which will carry UK satellites - The probe is named as “Hope”.
Novasar and S1-4 as the main payload.
● Then, ISRO will launch GSLV Mk III- World's first lion cubs born via artificial
D2, also known as ‘Bahubali’. insemination:
● ISRO Chairman - K Sivan. ● In a world first achievement, a lioness at
the Ukutula Conservation Center and
Biobank in South Africa's North West
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
province has given birth to two cubs ● Three scientists, Arthur Ashkin of the
conceived via non-surgical artificial U.S., Gerard Mourou of France and
insemination, using fresh semen from Donna Strickland of Canada, won the
an adult male lion at the same facility. Nobel Physics Prize for inventing
● The research is a breakthrough for optical lasers that have paved the way
saving endangered species like tiger and for advanced precision instruments used
snow leopard. in corrective eye surgery
● Arthur Ashkin won one half of the 9
OCTOBER 2018 million Swedish kronor (about $1.01
million) prize, while Gerard Mourou of
Scientists found 59 Indian plant species under France and Donna Strickland of Canada
IUCN threat categories shared the other half
● Scientists have found that 59 Indian ● Mr.Ashkin invented optical tweezers
plant species are under threat status that grab particles, atoms, viruses and
based on criteria used by the other living cells with their laser beam
International Union for Conservation of fingers
Nature (IUCN) ● He made this discovery while working at
● Dr.S.K.Barik, Director of Lucknow's AT&T Bell Laboratories from 1952 to
CSIR- National Botanical Research 1991
Institute and experts from several ● Mr.Mourou and Ms.Strickland won for
institutes selected 59 plant species that helping develop a method to generate
are at risk of elimination if the threat ultra-short optical pulses that are the
levels they face are not assessed soon shortest and most intense laser pulses
● Based on their assessment they assigned ever created by mankind. Their
each species a threat status based on technique is now used in corrective eye
IUCN criteria surgery
● This included the extent and area of ● Ms.Strickland is the only the third
each plant's geographical range, which woman to win the Physics Prize
revealed that 10 species are critically
endangered, 18 endangered, 6 DST boosts solar cooking
vulnerable, 5 near threatened and one ● In order to commemorate the 150th
species each are data deficient and least birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,
concern the Department of Science and
Technology (DST) introduced a project
Three scientists, laser pioneers, won Nobel to boost the solar cooking
Physics prize ● DST has instituted Grand Challenge
Awards for the design of solar cooking
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
its Neighbourly app in Delhi and November 2017 by Vega rocket from
Bangalore Kourou space center
● The full-fledged app offers services in 8 ● Mohammed VI-B is the second satellite
vernacular languages and is a of Morocco’s ambitious space program-
targeted app with a geographic radius the first in Africa
between 1 to 5 km ● The satellite is named after Mohammed
● The initial phase was tested in Mumbai, VI, King of Morocco who launched this
followed by Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mysore, ambitious space program in 2013
Vizag, Kochi and Coimbatore
DECEMBER 2018
NASA picked ancient Martian river delta for
Mars 2020 rover landing First manned Soyuz mission to ISS was
● NASA has pickedJezero Crater, an launched successfully
ancient river delta, as the landing site ● After the October launch failure, a
for its Mars 2020 rover Soyuz rocket carrying Russian,
● The Mars 2020 mission is to hunt for American and Canadian astronauts took
evidence of past life on the earth’s off from Kazakhstan and reached orbit
neighboring planet on 3rd December in the first manned
● Even though the Red Planet is now cold mission
and dry, the landing site was filled with ● Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko,
a 500-meter deep lake that opened to a Anne McClain of NASA and David
network of rivers some 3.5 to 3.9 billion Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space
years ago Agency were launched off for a six-and-
● Mars 2020 has been designed to land a-half month mission on the
inside the crater and collect samples International Space Station(ISS).
that will eventually be returned to Earth
for further analysis, perhaps by the later ISRO's heaviest satellite GSAT-11 launched,
2020s will increase internet speed
● The Mars 2020 will look at rocks on a ● France-based Arianespace successfully
finer scale to see what biosignatures are launched GSAT-11, the heaviest satellite
preserved built by ISRO from its port in French
Guiana
Mohammed VI-B: Morocco launches its ● Weighing 5,854 kg, the GSAT-11 will
second earth observation satellite boost broadband speeds and provide
● Morocco’s first satellite named high bandwidth connectivity with up to
MohammedVI-A was launched on 8th 14 gigabit per second (GBPS) data
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
transfer speed.The satellite’s designed ● The satellite was launched from a Long
lifetime is more than 15 years March 11 carrier rocket from the
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in
India successfully test-fired nuclear-capable north-western China
Agni-5 missile from Odisha coast ● The satellite is the first in the Hongyun
● Indigenously-developed surface-to- project planned by China Aerospace
surface missile Agni-5 has a strike range Science and Industry Corp (CASIC)
of 5,000 km. Agni-5 is a three-stage ● The Hongyun project, started in
missile and is 17 metre tall and 2 metre September 2016, aims to build a space-
wide. It is capable of carrying 1.5 tonne based communications network to
of nuclear warheads provide broadband internet connectivity
● The Agni-5 is the latest and most to users around the world, especially
advanced variant in terms of navigation those in the underserved regions
and guidance, warhead and engine
● India has in its armoury the Agni Russia successfully tested hypersonic missile
missile series: Agni-1 with a range of ‘Avangard’
700 km, Agni-2 with a range of 2,000 ● The hypersonic missile could fly at 20
km, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2,500 km to times the speed of sound and manoeuvre
more than 3,500 km range. up and down, meaning that it could
breach defence systems
India successfully test-fired Nuclear-Capable ● Russia's Avangard system would be
Agni-IV Missile ready for use from 2019
● India on 23rd December successfully ● The missile was launched from the
test-fired nuclear strategic ballistic Dombarovsky missile base in the
missile Agni-IV from Dr.Abdul Kalam southern Ural Mountains and hit its
Island off the Odisha coast as a part of target on a test site in Kamchatka, about
user trial by the Army 6,000km away
● The surface-to-surface missile has a ● Avangard is designed using new
4,000-km strike range and is equipped composite materials to withstand
with advanced avionics, 5th generation temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees
on board computer and distributed Celsius that come from a flight through
architecture the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds.
● This is the seventh trial of Agni-IV
missile. USTAAD: Railways develops AI-powered
robot to check for faults in trains
China launched first satellite for space-based ● The mechanical branch of Central
broadband to rival Google Railway Nagpur division developed a
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
new AI-powered robot named USTAAD first military exercise between the two
(Undergear Surveillance through countries.
Artificial Intelligence Assisted Droid) ● The six-day-long military exercise (from
which examines parts of the coach in January 29 to February 3, 2018) was
real time with an HD camera and conducted as part of joint training
transmits them over WiFi. undertaken with friendly foreign
● The new Artificial Intelligence (AI) countries by Indian Army.
powered robot will click photos and ● VINBAX-2018 was Table Top Exercise
record videos of the train, under the to carry out training for Peace Keeping
gears and then transmits them over Operations under United Nations (UN)
WiFi to engineers for maintenance and mandate.
repair. ● The Defence ties between India and
● Since USTAAD can watch and examine Vietnam have been on an upswing with
areas which cannot be seen and the primary focus being cooperation in
approached by humans usually, due to the maritime domain.
the narrow spaces between under-gear
Defence Ministry clears Rs.2420 Crore worth
parts, it will reduce chances of human
contracts for Navy, Army
error while examining undergear
equipment on Indian Railways trains.
● Union Ministry of Defence (MoD)
● The special features of the robot include
approved procurement of P-8I Training
HD (high-definition) camera that can be
Solution for Indian Navy and Low-
rotated in any direction as per
Intensity Conflict Electronic Warfare
commands are given by the engineer
System (LICEWS) for Indian Army at a
and can capture video as well as still
total cost of Rs 2419.32 crore.
photographs with zoom in or out
● These contract proposals were earlier
facility.
cleared by Defence Acquisition Council
(DAC) and now final approval has now
DEFENCE been given by Defence Minister Nirmala
JANUARY 2018 Sitharaman.
● This system will be procured from
VINBAX: India and Vietnam hold first Bharat Electronics Limited for Rs. 470
military exercise in Jabalpur crore. It will equip Indian Army with
● India-Vietnam Bilateral Army Exercise upgraded communications
(VINBAX-2018) was conducted at infrastructure.
Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. It is the
FEBRUARY 2018
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
DAC Approves Proposals Worth Rs. 15,935 ● It has an operational range of 500m to
Crore 4km (Land version).
● Defense ministry of India approved ● It also possesses advanced passive
capital acquisition proposals worth homing guidance system.
Rs.15,935 crore which included the ● It has been designed mainly to destroy
purchase of 7.40 lakh assault rifles, 5,719 modern main battle tanks.
sniper rifles, and light machine guns to
Navy Chief Sunil Lanba To Be On A 5-Day
bolster the strength of the armed forces.
Visit To USA
● The long-pending proposals were
● Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba is on a
cleared at a meeting of the Defence
five-day visit to the USA.
Acquisition Council (DAC), the defense
● The visit aims to consolidate relations
ministry's highest decision-making
between the Armed Forces of both the
body on procurement.
nations and to explore new avenues of
● The meeting was chaired by Defence
defense cooperation.
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
● During the visit, Admiral Lanba will
● For the Indian Navy, the DAC also
hold bilateral discussions with US
approved the procurement of Advanced
Defence Secretary James Mattis,
Torpedo Decoy Systems (ATDS) at a cost
Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer
of Rs.850 crore.
among others.
MARCH 2018 ● The Admiral will also visit the Pacific
Command Headquarters at Pearl
ATGM Nag successfully test fired in desert Harbour in Hawaii, the Naval Surface
conditions Warfare Centre Dahlgren, the Pentagon
● Indigenously developed Anti-Tank and Arlington National Cemetery.
Guided Missiles (ATGM) Nag was
APRIL 2018
successfully test-fired in desert
conditions against two tank targets at
Coastal Security Exercise 'Sagar Kavach' Held
different ranges and timings.
In Kerala
● It is one of five missile systems
● Exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’ is being
developed indigenously by DRDO under
conducted to strengthen and assess the
integrated guided missile development
loopholes in the coastal security
programme (IGMDP).
mechanism along Kerala shores. Along
● The Nag missile is third generation
with Coastal Police and Marine
ATMG which works on “fire and forget”
Enforcement wing, Indian Coast Guard
principle.
and Indian Navy is also participating in
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
World’s Largest Multilateral Naval Exercise aircraft that could be gifted to the
RIMPAC begun off Hawaii Indian Ocean Region.
● Twenty Sixth edition of two month long ● An Indo-French-Seychelles trilateral
exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) cooperation may safeguard India’s
begun off Hawaii in the Western Pacific strategic interests in the key Indian
Ocean. Ocean country amid China’s growing
● Navies of 26 countries including India is interests in the region.
participating in this exercise, which is
JULY 2018
scheduled off Hawaii from June 27 to
August 27.
MiG 21 fighter Jet crashed in Himachal
● INS Sahyadri, Commanded by Captain
Pradesh
Shantanu Jha, reached the Pearl
● Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 fighter
Harbour, Hawaii, to participate in
jet which was on a routine sortie,
RIMPAC 2018.
crashed in Patta Jattian village in
● Subsequently, the 25th edition of the
Himachal Pradesh Kangra district after
exercise was attended by INS Satpura in
taking off from Pathankot air base.
2016.
● Squadron Leader Meet Kumar, who was
U.S. and South Korea agree to suspend joint flying the MiG-21 aircraft died in the
military exercise scheduled for August accident.
● South Korea and the United States have ● The MiG-21 jets were inducted into IAF
agreed to suspend all planning activities in 1963 and many of these planes were
regarding the "Freedom Guardian" lost in crashes.
military drill scheduled for August.
● Last year, 17,500 American and more
International Army Games 2018 will be
than 50,000 South Korean troops
conducted from July 28 to August 11
participated in the Ulchi Freedom
Army games are organised annually by Russia
Guardian drills, although the exercise is
and this year 28 competitions will be held in
mostly focused on computerized
seven countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan,
simulations rather than live field
Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan and Russia.
exercises that use weapons, tanks or
This year the Games will bring together 181
aircraft.
teams from 32 countries. Military servicemen
India is planning to gift a Dornier aircraft to from Algeria, Vietnam, Myanmar, Pakistan,
Seychelles Sudan and the Philippines will demonstrate
● India plans to gift Seychelles a Dornier their skill for the first time. The Indian Army
aircraft this month -- second such will be participating in two team competitions -
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
the Tank Biathlon and Elbrus Ring - being held There are 60 similar firing ranges
in Russia. The army will also be participating as existing across India.
observers in two events in Russia and three
events in China. The events in China would be Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra Gets
the ‘Suvorov’, ‘Seaborne assault’- an amphibious Additional Charge Of DRDO Chairman
operation, and ‘Safe Route’.
● Eminent scientist S Christopher
completed his term as the chief of the
DRDO successfully test fired BrahMos Missile
Defence Research and Development
from Odisha
Organisation (DRDO), and Defence
Secretary Sanjay Mitra was given
● Defense Research Development
additional charge of the post. Mr.
Organization (DRDO), and the Indian
Christopher was in May 2015 appointed
Army have test fired a supersonic
as Director General of the DRDO for a
BrahMos cruise missile under "extreme
two-year term.
weather conditions", in Balasore district
● He was then working as Distinguished
in the eastern Indian state of Odisha.
Scientist and Programme Director
● The missile - named after the
(airborne early warning and control
Brahmaputra River in India and the
system) and Director, Centre for
Moskva River in Russia - is a derivative
Airborne Systems in the DRDO.
of the Russian-made P-800 Oniks over-
the-horizon supersonic anti-ship cruise
AUGUST 2018
missile.
● The missile’s range is estimated at
India to participate in SCO Peace Mission
around 300 to 400 kilometers. BrahMos
2018 exercise at Russia
is considered one of the the world’s
● India will participate for the first time in
fastest cruise missile currently in
the joint SCO Peace Mission Exercise, a
operational use.
part of Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) initiatives, being
Defence ministry approves 17 'baffle' shooting
conducted by Central Military
ranges for Indian Army
Commission of Russia from August 22-
● At a cost of Rs 238 crore, defence
29 at Chebarkul.
ministry has approved the construction
● India became a full member of the SCO
of 17 new "baffle" firing ranges to
in June 2017. The Shanghai Cooperation
prevent accidents due to stray bullets,
Organization (SCO) is an eight-member
for the Army.
multilateral organization, established on
● The proposed baffle shooting ranges can
15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China.
facilitate firing from 300 to 500 meters.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● This effort for building a state-of-the-art ● The upgraded version will have the
BVRAAM by Defence Research and seeker technology and the coverage will
Development Organisation (DRDO) be of 360-degree.
together with IAF completed the ● It will have a compact configuration.
development phase of the weapon ● To provide protection to vital assets, the
system successfully. Hindustan operation of the missile has been made
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) played a role critical.
in modifying the aircraft for weapon
About Akash Missile:
integration.
● It is a twin-jet multi-role air superiority ● He passed out from the Indian Military
aircraft developed by Russia’s Sukhoi Academy (IMA) with the Sword of
and built under licence by India’s Honour in 1981.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
INS Tarangini returned after 205-day world
Website for Aero India 2019 launched by tour
Minister of Defence The sail training ship of Indian Navy,
● The Website for Aero India 2019 is: INS Tarangini based at Kochi, returned
https://aeroindia.gov.in/Aero-India after a seven-month sail across the
● The portal facilitated payment of world.
registration fee online for business The ship sailed over 22000 nautical
visitors. miles across 15 ports in 13 countries in
● Furthermore, it has been integrated 205 days.
with multi-currency Payment Gateway
where Indian companies would be able
DECEMBER 2018
to pay in Indian Rupees using Credit
Card/DebitCard/NetBanking/UPI/
India successfully test-fired Nuclear-Capable
NEFT /RTGS and foreign companies
Agni-IV Missile
would be able to pay in US dollars using
● India on 23rd December successfully
credit card/debit card.
test-fired nuclear strategic ballistic
missile Agni-IV from Dr Abdul Kalam
NOVEMBER 2018 Island off the Odisha coast as a part of
user trial by the Army.
Lt General PC Thimmaya assumed charge as ● The surface-to-surface missile has a
General Officer Commander-in-Chief of 4,000-km strike range and is equipped
ARTRAC with advanced avionics, 5th generation
● Lieutenant General PC Thimmaya took on board computer and distributed
charge as the 21st General Officer architecture.
Commander-in-Chief of Shimla-based ● This is the seventh trial of Agni-IV
Army Training Command (ARTRAC) missile.
facility.
IAF tested military aircraft using blended bio
● He was earlier posted as the
jet fuel
Commandant of Army War College in
● An An-32 transport aircraft of the
MHOW, Madhya Pradesh.
Indian Air Force (IAF) flew with
blended bio-jet fuel produced from
Jatropha oil, unlocking the possibility of
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● Out of the 2,554 total bills passed in the The Insolvency July 31, August 10,
parliament, 33 bills have been passed in and Bankruptcy 2018 2018
the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in Code Bill
2018.
The Commercial August 1, August
Here is a list of 16 important bills that have been Courts, 2018 10,2018
amended in 2018: Commercial
Division and
Bills passed in Passed in Passed in
Commercial
2018 Lok Sabha Rajya
Appellate
Sabha
Division of High
The High Court January 4, Courts Bill
and the Supreme 2018
The National August 3, August 9,
Court Judges
Sports University 2018 2018
(Salaries and
Bill 2018
Conditions of
Service) Bill, 2017 The Scheduled August August 9,
Castes and the 6,2018 2018
The Specific March 15, July 23,
Scheduled Tribes
Relief Bill, 2017 2018 2018
(Prevention of
atrocities) bill
The Payment of March 15, March 22,
Gratuity Bill 2017 2018 2018 The Goods and August 9,
Services Tax bill, 2018
The Fugitive July 19, July 25,
2018
Economic 2018 2018
Offenders Bill, The Union August 9,
● Minister Prakash Javadekar tweeted ● The Lok Sabha had passed the bill in
that the Central University of Andhra December last year.
Pradesh will start its academic session ● Aim:- To amend the regulations
on 5th August. Also, this will result in governing the compensation payable
more facilities for Andhra Pradesh in for acquisition of immovable property
higher education. by the Centre for defence and security
purposes.
AUGUST 2018
Rajya Sabha passed the SC and ST (PoA)
Supreme Court clarified second marriage is Amendment Bill 2018
valid even if plea against divorce is pending ● Rajya Sabha passed the Scheduled
● Interpreting section 15 of Hindu Castes and Scheduled Tribes
Marriage Act, SC bench observed that (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment
restriction placed on the second Bill, 2018. The Bill will reverse the
marriage in Section 15 of the Act till the Supreme Court order that provides the
dismissal of an appeal would not apply provision for the immediate arrest of the
to a case where parties have settled and accused booked under the SC/ST law.
decided not to pursue the matter. Now the Bill rules out any provision for
● Section 5(1) of the Hindu Marriage Act anticipatory bail for a person accused of
places a bar on marriage by a person atrocities against people from SC and
who has a spouse living at the time of ST communities.
the marriage. ● It states that there will be no need for a
● Section 11 makes such a marriage null preliminary enquiry to register a
and void. criminal case. An arrest under this
● Section 15 tells when a divorcee can proposed law would not be subject to
marry again. any approval. An FIR will be filed based
on complaints of crimes against people
from Dalit and tribal communities
Rajya Sabha passes Immovable Property
without any questions, it entails.
Amendment Bill
● The Requisitioning and Acquisition of
Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill, Lok Sabha passed The Muslim Women
2017 which was moved by Union Urban (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill
Development Minister Hardeep Singh ● Lok Sabha passed the Muslim Women
Puri, was adopted by a voice vote. (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill,
outlawing talaq-e-biddat. According to
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
the Bill, talaq-e-biddat has been made a Lok Sabha with more than a two-thirds
cognizable and non-bailable offence. majority on 2nd August 2018.
● Three provisions of the Bill: ● It was recommended that the
● Instant triple talaq is illegal government should make public the
● It imposes a jail term of up to three caste census findings, based on which
years and fine the reservation policy should be
● It provides additional safeguards from formulated.
the Act being misused ● The demand for having a woman
● It also provides for subsistence member in the NCBC would be
allowance to Muslim women and considered and the other demand that
custody of minor children as may be one member in the five-member body
determined by the magistrate. must be from the minority community
was dropped.
provide a framework for Co-operation camps and also I-League side Indian
between the two authorities to promote Arrows.
FinTech in their respective markets. ● The training and connected
● The MoU is in line with the EDB’s aims infrastructure like gymnasiums,
of exploring greater synergies between swimming pool, etc, will be housed at
Bahrain and India in the financial the Kalinga Stadium Complex.
technology space and will last for an
initial period of three years.
November
● India and Malawi signed three MoUs on
Extradition Treaty, cooperation in the
Odisha government signed MoU with AIFF
field of Atomic Energy for peaceful
● Odisha government signed a
purposes and VISA Waiver for
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Diplomatic and Official Passports.
with the All India Football Federation
● The MoU was signed during Vice
(AIFF) at the Kalinga Stadium complex,
President Venkaiah Naidu visit in
Bhubaneswar, Odisha in the presence of
Malawi.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
● As per the agreement, the State
government will host National team
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
India and Japan signed a Loan Agreement ● To provide the beneficiaries the above
worth Rs. 1,817 crore for Hydel power project OMCs service near to their home,
in Bengal accessing through Digital Seva Portal.
India and Bangladesh etch pacts enhancing ● The MoUs were signed by Mr. Taranjit
inland and waterways connectivity Singh Sandhu, High Commissioner of
India to Sri Lanka, and Mr. Bernard
● India and Bangladesh signed several Vasantha, As per the new MoUs, 600
milestone agreements today, for houses will be constructed in the
enhancing inland and coastal waterways Southern and Northern Provinces.
connectivity between the two countries
for trade and cruise movements.
The two sides also signed agreements
NSE Signs Pact With Uttarakhand
to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports in
Govt To Fuel SMEs Growth In State
Bangladesh for movement of goods to
and from India.
· National Stock Exchange
signed a pact with the
Uttarakhand government to
India and Tanzania sign 2 MoUs in New Delhi
provide access to capital to
MSMEs, which will fuel the
● The MoUs were signed following India-
growth of such entities in
Tanzania 9th Session of Joint
the state.
Commission on Economic, Technical
· The bourse play an active
and Scientific Cooperation in New
role in nurturing the SMEs
Delhi.
and start-ups by increasing
● They were signed in the presence of
awareness along with the
Indian External Affairs Minister
government on the
Sushma Swaraj and Tanzanian Foreign
opportunities to raise
Minister Dr. Augustine Mahiga.
capital, SME exchange
● The MoUs are signed between Foreign
guidelines, listing
Service Institute of India and Centre for
processes, compliances with
Foreign Relation, Tanzania and
listing agreement among
National Research Development
others.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
India and Morocco Signed MoU To Enhance Bangladesh govt approved India to use the
Cooperation In MSME Sector Chittagong and Mongla seaports
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
also to provide training to Nepali ● Invest India and Business France signed
entrepreneurs. a MoU to promote investment
facilitation and cooperation between
startups of India and France. The main
Health Ministry signed MoU With Ministry
goal is to facilitate direct foreign
Of Electronics And Information Technology
investment by providing practical
investment information to enterprises
● National Health Agency (NHA) under
and support the companies.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
● Invest India and Business France will
the apex body for the implementation of
collaborate to promote business and
Ayushman Bharat-National Health
startup ecosystem cooperation through
Protection Mission (AB-NHPM), and
joint activities and exchange
Common Service Centres (CSC) scheme
experiences to strengthen institutional
under the Digital India Programme,
knowledge and identify opportunities
have signed a MoU to provide
between businesses in the French and
information and eligibility validation
Indian private sector, creating a
services to beneficiaries, especially in
dedicated support structure to facilitate
remote areas.
inbound companies and startups.
● JP Nadda, Minister of Health and
● About Invest India ♦ Invest India is the
Family Welfare and Ravi Shankar
National Investment Promotion and
Prasad, Union Minister for Law and
Facilitation Agency of India and acts as
Justice & Information Technology
the first point of reference for investors
presided over the MoU signing
in India. ♦ Deepak Bagla is the MD and
ceremony.
CEO Invest India. ♦ It is a non-profit
● The main benefits under AB-NHPM are
venture under the Department of
based on entitlement and not on
Industrial Policy and Promotion,
enrolment, over 3 lakh CSCs spread
Ministry of Commerce and Industries,
across rural India can become the key
Government of India.
point of information for potential
beneficiaries and help in validating their
entitlement. India signed 4 MoUs with Uganda, agreed 2
LOC worth nearly $200 million
● India and Ghana signed two agreements Electronics Ltd, Tata Advanced Systems
in an effort to enhance the bilateral Ltd, Hyderabad.
cooperation between the two countries. ● A URSC official signed the agreements
● The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) with the three entities in the presence of
spokesperson Raveesh Kumar URSC Director M. Annadurai.
announced that two MOUs on Cultural
Exchange Programme and on
cooperation between Bureau of Indian
Indian Army signed MoU with SBI on the
Standards and Ghana Standards
Defence Salary Package
Authority.
● The nodal satellites division U.R. Rao India and UK signed an agreement on
Satellite Centre (URSC) of Indian Space exchange of experience by legal professionals
Research Organisation (ISRO) has
signed with three partners, two private
and one government-run firm, to help it
assemble 27 satellites at a quick pace
over the next three years.
● The partners are Alpha Design
Technologies P Ltd and its six
consortium members, Bharat
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
June
● Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) ● Details of the six agreements are yet to
signed the Technology Collaboration be disclosed.
Agreement (TCA) with Korean firm
Nano Co Ltd. for design and
manufacture of emission controlling
equipment for coal-based power plants.
● To comply with the norms of SOx and
NOx emission, issued by the Ministry of
Environment and Forest (MoEF) for
thermal power plants, BHEL is up to
provide solution known as SCR
(Selective Catalytic Reduction) Catalysts.
● It will be commissioned or retrofitted
with high capacity emission control
equipment for De-NOx application in
coal-fired power plants. Following this,
BHEL will be the first Indian company India and Tajikistan agree to enhance mutual
to possess technology and cooperation for sustainable water development
manufacturing capabilities for Plate
type SCR Catalysts as part of the ‘Make
in India’ initiative. ● India and Tajikistan have reaffirmed
their commitment to promote bilateral
relations and agreed to enhance
economic cooperation, particularly in
sustainable water development.
● Tajikistan President - Emomali Rahmon
● Tajikistan currency - Somoni
Seychelles President Danny Faure signed ● Tajikistan capital - Dushanbe
MoUs on his first bilateral visit to India
May
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
NSIC signed MoU With MSME Ministry For narcotics, drugs and psychotropic
Financial Year 2018-19 substances and related matters in New
Delhi.
● National Small Industries Corporation
Limited (NSIC) signed a MoU with
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium
April
Enterprises (MSME) for the year 2018-
19.
● The MoU envisages provision of
enhanced services by NSIC under its
marketing, financial, technology, and India signed Loan Agreement With World
other support services schemes, for Bank For USD 48 Million For Meghalaya
total business by 21.30% from Rs. 22,258 USD 48 million for the “Meghalaya
L&T, BEL Ink MoU For Defence Products the project cost is estimated at around
Rs3 lakh crore ($44 billion).
● In line with the efforts to indigenize the ● The refinery will be capable of
defense sector under the 'Make in India' processing 1.2 million barrels of crude
initiative, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and oil per day (60 million tonnes per
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed annum). The plan is to finish the project
a MoU to cater to the needs of evolving by 2025.
domestic and export markets for defense
products and systems.
● The MoU seeks to leverage the
capabilities of both the firms for
meeting the growing requirements of
the Indian Armed Forces.
● The MoU also intends to leverage the
well-developed supply chain, vast
experience and expertise of BEL and
L&T to synergize and enhance exports India and Morocco Sign Pact To Promote
in the defense sector. Mineral Exploration
● The contract provides for the setting up ● India and Azerbaijan have inked two
of India pavilion at Expo 2020 on an documents for the visa waiver for
extra large plot (about one acre) in the diplomatic, official and service
‘Opportunity’ segment. passports holders and cooperation
between diplomatic training institutes.
● The agreements were signed during the
ongoing visit of External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj to that country.
Ms. Swaraj is there to be part of 18th
NAM Ministerial Conference in Baku.
India and Azerbaijan signed two agreements was signed by Indian Ambassador to
China Gautam Bambawale and Hong
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Kong Finance Secretary Paul Chan Mo- (APSPDCL) will use the programmes to
Po in Hong Kong. evaluate its benefits to the utility as well
as to the consumers in the state.
· Telangana Government
signed an MOU with
Cochin Shipyard Limited Signs MoU With
Taoyuan City of Taiwan for
Russian Firm USC
better technology
partnership in the state.
● Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and
· The agreement was signed
Joint Stock Company United
after the World Congress on
Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), Russia
Information Technology
have signed an MoU to collaborate and
(WCIT) 2018 in Hyderabad.
engage in Design, Development and
· IT Minister K T Rama Rao
Execution of contemporary, State-of-Art
and principal secretary
vessels for Inland and Coastal
Jayesh Ranjan signed the
Waterways. The MoU will give a push to
agreement with Robert
the Government’s Make-in-India
Huang, Director of the
programme, as also its plans to develop
Board of Taiwan company
eco-friendly and economic
at World IT Congress 2018.
transportation along India’s inland
waterways and coastal shipping routes
under SAGARMALA.
● Indian Overseas Bank signed a MoU ● The MoU for cooperation was signed by
with National Housing Bank for the Union minister for Information
Rural Housing Interest Subsidy Scheme Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad with
(RHISS) of the Ministry of Rural his Sri Lankan counterpart, during his
Development. visit to Colombo.
● The main aim of the RHISS is to prove a
subsidy for housing loans taken by those
India and Israel sign 9 agreements in space,
living in rural areas for construction and
defence, cybersecurity
modifications of their dwelling units.
● India and Israel have signed nine
● The interest subsidy under the scheme
agreements to boost cooperation in the
is 3 per cent for a loan amount of Rs2
areas of space, cyber security and oil and
lakh for 20-year tenure.
gas between both countries.
● Indian Overseas Bank has become one
● The agreements were signed following
of the first public sector banks to
delegation-level talks headed by Prime
implement the scheme.
Ministers Narendra Modi and his Israeli
● The subsidy is offered at three per cent
counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in
for a loan amount of Rs. 2 lakh and with
New Delhi.
a loan tenure of 20 years.
● Netanyahu is first Israeli Prime Minister
to visit India in the span of last 15 years
India and Sri Lanka Sign 4 Agreements for and second one overall.
Collaboration in ICT Sector ● Agreement on Film-co-production.
Protocol on Amendments to Air
Transport Agreement MoU on Cyber
● India and Sri Lanka signed four
Security Cooperation between India and
agreements for collaboration in the
Israel Memorandum MoU between the
Information and communication
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
technology (ICT) sector, setting up of an
and the Ministry of Energy on
e-office system and connecting of
Cooperation inOil and Gas Sector LoI
National Knowledge Network (NKN) for
between IOCL and Yeda Research MoU
collaboration among universities and
between Central Council for Research in
academics.
Homeopathy and Ministry of AYUSH
● With the move, Sri Lanka has become
and Centre for Integrative
the first country to be connected to
Complementary Medicine, Shaare Zedek
India’s NKN through a Gigabyte optical
MoU between Indian Institute of Space
fiber network.
Science and Technology (IIST) and
Technion- Israel Institute of
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Technology for cooperation in the field India and Myanmar Land Border Crossing
of space. Agreement approved
● As per the FM, India is a Rs2.5 trillion ● Jaitley proposes to increase the target of
economy. providing free LPG connections to 8
● Minimum Support Price (MSP) of all crore to poor women.
crops shall increase to at least 1.5 times ● Ujjwala Yojana, the free LPG
that of the production cost. connection scheme expanded to eight
● The government will set up a fund of Rs crore households.
2,000 crore for developing agricultural ● Six crore toilets have been built already,
markets. and in the next year, two crore
● Our focus is on productive and gainful additional toilets will be constructed.
on-farm and non-farm employment for ● The government will provide 4 crore
farmers and landless families, says electricity connections to the poor under
Jaitley. Saubhagya Yojana.
● MSP for Kharif cost will be 1.5 times the ● Kisan credit card to be extended to
cost of production.As per the FM, fisheries,animal husbandry farmers.
APMCs will be linked with ENAM. ● The government will establish a
● The government will develop 22,000 dedicated affordable housing fund.
Gramin agricultural markets. ● Loans to self-help groups will increase
● The cluster-model approach will be to Rs.75,000 crore.
adopted for agricultural production. ● Govt. allocated Rs5,750 crore to
● Allocation in food production sector National Livelihood Mission and
doubled to Rs 1400 crore. Rs2,600 crore to the groundwater
● Operation Green will be launched for irrigation scheme.
agriculture and the Minister allocates ● 24 new government medical colleges.
Rs500 crore for this. ● Government is implementing a
● Agricultural corpus worth Rs 2000 crore comprehensive social security scheme.
will be set up. 470 APMCs have been ● Govt. will initiate an integrated B-Ed
connected to eNAM network, the rest to programme for teachers.
be connected by March 2018. ● Government proposes to launch the
● A fund for the fishery, aquaculture Revitalising of Infrastructure and
development and animal husbandry will Systems of Education (RISE) by next
be set up with a total corpus to be Rs year.
10,000 crore. We will also allocate Rs ● Govt. proposed to set up two new full-
1290 crore for a bamboo mission, as it is fledged schools of planning and
green gold. architecture.
● In all, we are providing Rs 10 lakh crore ● 18 new schools of planning and
to Rs 11 lakh crore as credit for architecture will be set up in the IITs
agricultural activities. and NITs.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● Rs. 1 lakh crore over 4 years for ● The government increased allocation for
initiative for Infrastructure Devt. in SC-ST earmarked programmes:
education. Rs.56,000 crore for SCs and Rs 39,000
● 2 major initiatives as part of Ayushman crore for STs.
Bharat program. ● By 2022, every block with more than 50%
● National health protection scheme to ST population and at least 20,000 tribal
cover 10 cr poor families. Health cover people will have 'Ekalavya' school at par
of up to 5 lakh per family per year for with Navodaya Vidyalas.
poor & vulnerable. National health ● The government will announce
protection scheme to benefit 50 crore measures to address non-performing
people. assets of MSMEs.
● 24 new govt medical college & hospitals. ● As per the FM, Rs.3 lakh crore for
● Rs. 600 crore for nutritional support to lending under is being allocated in FY
all TB patients. 19 for PM's MUDRA Yojana.
● Rs. 1200 crore for health and wellness ● Smart city Mission and AMRUT
centres. discussed.
● Loans to women self-help groups of ● Smart city command control centre
women to be increased to 75,000 cr by discussed.
March 19. ● Govt to contribute 12% of wages of new
● Govt. is launching a new national health employees to EPF for 3 yrs.
protection scheme – Rashtriya Samaj ● Rs.7148 crore allocation for the textile
Beema Yojana. This will have 50 crore sector.
beneficiaries and 10 crore families will ● Govt. will launch a scheme for
get 5 lakh per year for their families to Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro
cover secondary and tertiary hospital Resources Dhan (GOBARDHAN).
expenses. This is the world's largest ● Under the Smart City mission, 99 cities
government-funded healthcare selected with the outlay of Rs. 2.04 lakh
program. crores.
● A Rs.600 crore corpus is being set up to ● EPF contribution has been reduced to
help Tuberculosis patients. This will 8% for the first 3 years of employment
build a new India in 2022 and enhance and 12% government contribution to
productivity and will also generate lakhs EPF in sectors employing a large
of jobs for women. number of people, however, there will be
● PM Jeevan Beema Yojana benefitted no changes in employer contribution.
more than 2 crore families. ● 10 tourist cities to be developed into
● Jan Dhan Yojana will be extended to all iconic tourist destinations.
60 crore bank accounts. ● 600 railway stations to be redeveloped.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● Over 3600 km railway track renovation ● 5 lakh WiFi spots to be installed for
targeted in the current year. benefit of 5 crore rural citizens.
● Scheme for revitalizing school ● As per the FM, The Airport Authority of
infrastructure, with an allocation of 1 India has 124 airports.
lakh crore rupees over four years. Called ● The government announced AMRUT
RISE - Revitalizing Infrastructure in program to focus on water supply to all
School Education. households in 500 cities. Water supply
● The Bharatmala project has been contracts for 494 projects worth 19,428
approved and we are confident of core will be awarded.
completing 9000 km of highway ● Proposal for Railway University in
construction. Vadodara.
● In Railways, 18,000 kms of doubling of ● Niti Aayog to establish a national
tracks would eliminate capacity program to direct efforts in artificial
constraints. intelligence.
● We are moving towards optimum ● Department of Science will launch a
electrification of the railway. Over 3,600 national program for cyberspace.
km of track renewal is being targeted in ● Allocation of Digital India has been
2018-19. doubled and the government proposes
● 150 km additional suburban railway to set up 5 lakh WiFi hotspots.
network at the cost of Rs.40,000 cr. ● Government does not consider
● Regional air connectivity scheme shall cryptocurrency as legal tender and will
connect 56 unserved airports. work towards eliminating illicit
● Airport capacity to be hiked to handle 1 transactions going on through crypto
billion trips per year. assets.
● Training for 50 lakh youth by 2020. ● Disinvestment target of Rs. 80,000 crore
● Govt. to eliminate over 4,267 unmanned for 2018-19.
level crossings in the next two years. ● Bank recap to help banks lend
● All railway stations and trains will have additional Rs. 5 lakh crores.
WiFi and 150 kilometres of additional ● 24 Public Sector Units to be divested.
suburban corridors in being planned. ● The government will involve a scheme
● Rs. 17,000 crore is being set aside for to assign every enterprise a unique ID
Bengaluru Metro. just like Aadhaar.
● UDAN will connect 56 unserved ● The Department of Investment and
airports and 36 unserved heliports. Public Asset Management will come up
● Rs 11,000 crore is being allocated for with debt Exchange Traded Fund.
Mumbai Suburban Railways. ● Gold monetisation scheme to be
revamped.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● Govt revised fiscal deficit for 2017-18 ● Government to set up two industrial
was Rs 5.95 lakh crore or 3.5% of GDP. defence industrial development
Jaitley projects deficit of 3.3% of GDP corridors in 2018-19.
next fiscal. ● 100% tax deduction for farmer
● National Logistics Portal as a single production firms with 100 cr turnover.
online window will link all stakeholders, ● 100% tax deduction for the first five
to be developed by Department of years to companies registered as farmer
Commerce. producer companies with a turnover of
● Government insurance companies to be Rs 100 crore and above.
merged into a single entity, and ● 12.6% growth in direct taxes in 2017-
subsequently listed in the stock 18.
exchange, as part of the disinvestment ● 18.7% growth in indirect taxes in
programme. 2017-18.
● Target for 2017-18 has been exceeded ● Employment-based tax incentives will
and will reach Rs 1 lakh crores. be extended to footwear and leather
● Salaries of President, VP and industry.
Governors will be increased. Rs. 5 lakh ● The benefits of corporate tax by
for President, Rs 4.0 lakh for VP and bringing down the tax rate to 25% for
Rs 3.5 lakh for governors. Salaries of firms that reported turnover up to Rs
Members of Parliament will also be 250 crores.
raised. ● No change in income tax slabs, but
● A new law will be introduced that will assesses can avail of a standard
automatically revise MPs' emoluments deduction of Rs40,000.
every five years, indexed to inflation. ● Long term capital gains over Rs. 1 lakh
● Govt. announced a Rs 150 crore fund to to be taxed at the rate of 10%.
celebrate the 150th anniversary of ● Railway Capital Expenditure is set at Rs.
Mahatma Gandhi. 1.48 lakh crore.
● Rs 11,000 crores will be allocated to ● All stations and trains to have WiFi.
Mumbai rail network. ● Relief on tax for senior citizens from
● GST revenue for only 11 months, income coming from bank interest
instead of the usual 12 months, is 21.5 increased from 10,000 to 30,000.
lakh crore. ● Fixed Deposit/Post office interest to be
● Tax buoyancy for 2017-18 is at 2.11%. exempt till Rs 50,000 {80D benefit
● Number of tax payers has increased enhanced to Rs 50,000 (from 30,000)}.
from 6.47 lakh crores to 8.27 lakh crores. ● Short-term capital gains taxed at 15% to
continue for a one-year hold period.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● Standard deduction of Rs 40,000 with The GST Council headed by finance Minister
respect to transport reimbursements. Arun Jaitley has finalised tax rates and has
● Standard deduction is in lieu of travel approved all the seven rules for the GST regime
and medical expense reimbursement, that is scheduled to be implemented from July 1.
which amounts to Rs 30,000. So the The remaining two rules of the GST pertaining
actual tax benefit would Rs 10,000 for to transition and return is under the
each taxpayer. examination of the legal committee. In total, the
● Customs duty increased on mobile council has fixed the rates of 1211 items. It will
phones from 15% to 20%. decide rates of some other items an services In
● 4% health and education cess; currently the coming days.
it's 3%. Salient Highlights
● Estimates 1.38 trillion rupees ● Out of 1211 items, 81% of the items will
expenditure on health, education and attract tax of 18% or less. Only the
social security. Railway capital remaining 19% of items will attract a
expenditure set at 1.49 trillion rupees for highest rate of 28%
2018/19. ● Household items like Sugar, Tea, Coffee
President Ram Nath Kovind Inaugurates President of India Inaugurates World Hindi
Festival of Innovation And Entrepreneurship Secretariat In Mauritius
● President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurates ● President Ram Nath Kovind
a Festival of Innovation and inaugurated World Hindi Secretariat in
Entrepreneurship and present Gandhian Mauritius capital, Port Louis.
Young Technological Innovation awards ● The Secretariat is fully financed by India
at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. and a grant of 33 crore rupees was
● The five-day festival is an initiative to provided. The land was provided by the
recognize, respect, showcase, reward Mauritius government. Prime Minister
innovations and to foster a supportive Narendra Modi had laid the foundation
ecosystem for innovators. stone of this building in 2015.
● It is being organized by Rashtrapati ● Hindi played an important role in
Bhavan in association with the culture and society building in both
Department of Science and Technology India and Mauritius.
and the National Innovation
Foundation-India.
APRIL 2018
Prime Minister inaugurates 105th Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Launches Van
Science Congress Dhan Scheme To Help Increase Tribal Income
● Prime Minister Narendra Modi ● Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi
inaugurated 105th session of Indian launched the Van Dhan Scheme of
Science Congress (ISC) at Manipur Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED,
Central University in Imphal. during the celebrations of Ambedkar
● The focal theme of 5-day ISC is Jayanti at Bijapur, Chattisgarh. The Van
“Reaching the Unreached Through Dhan scheme along with others like Jan
Science & Technology". Dhan and Gobar-Dhan schemes had the
● The ISC 2018 was organized by the potential to change the tribal-rural
Indian Science Congress Association economic system.
(ISCA), a premier scientific organization ● Under Van Dhan, 10 Self Help Groups
of India. Approximately, 5,000 delegates of 30 Tribal gatherers would be
from all over the country and 2,000 constituted.
scientists along with four Nobel
Laureates are participating in this year Vice President Venkaiah naidu Inaugurates
mega event. Civil Services Day Event In New Delhi
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
first leg of his visit, Mr. Modi will arrive get development projects worth 25,000
in Indonesia. crore rupees.
● He said these projects will have a
positive impact on the people of the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates
states.
330-MW Kishenganga hydel power project in
● There is great scope for agricultural
Srinagar
growth across the state.
● Prime Minister Narendra Modi
● Jammu and Kashmir can play a key role
inaugurated the 330-MW Kishenganga
in holistic healthcare.
hydel power project in Srinagar. Jammu
and Kashmir Governor, Chief Minister
Mehbooba Mufti and Union Ministers President Ram Nath Kovind to inaugurate
Nitin Gadkari and Jitendra Singh were Global Exhibition on Services-2018
present on the occasion. ● President Ram Nath Kovind will
● The project has been built by the inaugurate the Global Exhibition on
National Hydroelectric Power Services-2018 in Mumbai this morning.
Corporation in north Kashmir’s ● He will also launch 12 champion sectors
Bandipora district. in services. 25 Indian states and around
● It has been constructed at a cost of 5200 100 countries are expected to participate
crore rupees. It is expected to generate in Global Exhibition on Services, this
1,713 million units of electricity per year, with 625 exhibitors and 500
annum. Jammu and Kashmir would get overseas delegates.
12 percent of power from the project. ● The event will also feature roundtables
● He also laid the foundation stone of the and seminars, state investment summits,
ring road project in Srinagar. This will Business-to-business meetings, an
boost connectivity with Bandipora, Uri, exhibition of key services sectors,
and Ganderbal. cultural activities, country and
● Earlier, PM Modi laid the foundation international pavilions, among others.
stone of Zojila Tunnel, providing all- ● He will also visit the Bhabha Atomic
weather connectivity between Srinagar, Research Centre, where he will be
Kargil, and Leh. The Zojila pass will be attending an exhibition on Department
Asia's longest bi-directional tunnel. of Atomic Energy technologies and
● It is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet inaugurate DAE facilities in Trombay,
on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Mumbai.
Highway which remains closed during
winters. Jammu and Kashmir is going to
JUNE 2018
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Prince William becomes first British royal to for diplomatic and official passport
visit Israel and Palestine holders, ♦ cultural exchange programme,
● UK’s Prince William became the first and ♦ material testing laboratory. The
member of the royal family to visit Israel Indian government has also decided to
on an official visit. Prince William met gift a cancer therapy machine to the
Holocaust survivors, Israeli President Uganda cancer institute in Kampala.
Reuven Rivlin and PM Benjamin ● The Prime Minister Modi was accorded
Netanyahu as part of his three-day visit. a ceremonial reception in Uganda's
● Prince William will also meet Entebbe town.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ● He is on a three-nation tour to the
which will mark the first royal visit to African countries including Rwanda,
the West Bank. Uganda and South Africa. Important
Points About Uganda: ♦ President -
Yoweri Museveni ♦ Prime Minister -
China unveils 4 point vision for future
Ruhakana Rugunda ♦ Currency -
cooperation with India
Ugandan shilling ♦ Capital - Kampala
● On June 18, 2018, Chinese envoy to
India Luo Zhaohui unveiled a four-point
vision for future cooperation with India. India extended Rs. 1,378 crore Lines of Credit
● This is followed by the informal summit to Rwanda
between PM Narendra Modi and ● PM Narendra Modi and Rwanda's
Chinese President Xi Jinping. The four- President Paul Kagame signed
point vision are: 1) Sign a Treaty of agreements on industrial and
Friendship and Cooperation 2) agricultural development.
Negotiate a bilateral Free Trade ● PM Modi is the first Indian Prime
Agreement 3) Enhance connectivity 4) Minister to visit Rwanda and also
Work for early harvest on boundary announced that India will soon open its
issues. mission in Rwanda.
● India extended two lines of credit - one
of $100 million for development of
JULY 2018
industrial parks and Kigali special
economic zone (SEZ) in Rwanda and
India signed 4 MoUs with Uganda, agreed 2
another one for $100 million for
LOC worth nearly $200 million
agriculture.
● As part of Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's visit to Uganda, India
and Uganda signed four agreements on PM Modi to gift 200 cows to a village in
♦ defence cooperation, ♦ visa exemption Rwanda
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● Modi will travel to Rweru model village Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates
in Rwanda eastern province and gift the Various Projects In Junagadh, Gujarat
cows to mark India's contribution to ● The scheme includes the Government
Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s Civil Hospital, a milk processing plant
flagship programme named 'Girinka'. and some buildings of the Junagadh
Girinka is the Rwandan government’s Agriculture University.
“one cow for one poor family” ● There are nine initiatives, worth over Rs
programme, launched in 2006. 500 crore, which are either being
● PM Modi will also visit Uganda and dedicated today, or their foundation
then South Africa, which is organising stones are being laid.
the 10th BRICS leaders' Summit under
the theme "BRICS in Africa:
President Ram Nath Kovind to inaugurate
Collaboration with Developing
International Buddhist Conclave in New Delhi
Countries for Inclusive Growth and
● The theme of the conclave is Buddha
Shared Prosperity in the Fourth
Path - The Living Heritage.
Industrial Revolution".
● The main aim is to showcase Buddhist
Heritage in India and boost tourism to
South Korean President Moon Jae-in visits the Buddhist sites in the country.
India
● South Korean President Moon Jae-in
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address
arrived in Delhi, India for his four-day
World Biofuel Day conference
visit.
● World Biofuel Day is observed every
● He will visit the Prime Minister
year on August 10 to create awareness
Narendra Modi to hold a discussion on
about the importance of non-fossil fuels
key issues such as the situation on the
as an alternative to conventional fossil
Korean peninsula, and ways to boost
fuels.
trade and defence cooperation.
● Prime Minister Narendra Modi will
● The discussion would also include
address a diverse gathering consisting of
India’s expectation to open new avenues
farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs,
for expanding the bilateral partnership,
students, government officials and
particularly in the economic domain.
legislators in New Delhi to mark the
● The two leaders will address an India-
World Biofuel Day 2018.
Republic of Korea CEO's roundtable.
● The event will take place at the capital's ● The 21st century is being called the
Talkatora stadium. Asian century and India will certainly
● The government is planning to utilize have an important role in it.
650 branches as controlling offices for ● The Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis
servicing and monitoring post offices. will call on President Ram Nath Kovind.
● These branches will be linked to IPPB
by the end of this year.
President Ram Nath Kovind on a 3-nation tour
● There are 370 million different types of
● On September 2, President Ram Nath
accounts at post offices, which will be
Kovind embarked on a 8 day three-
linked to IPPB gradually.
nation tour to Europe - Cyprus, Bulgaria
and the Czech Republic.
President Ram Nath Kovind to inaugurate ● Cyprus is the eighth largest investor in
centenary celebrations of St Thomas College India with a cumulative investment of
Thrissur over $9.2 billion.
● President Ram Nath Kovind meet Chief
♦Cyprus President - Nicos Anastasiades
Justice and other Judges of Kerala High
♦Bulgarian president - Radev and Prime
Court at Kochi before proceeding to
Minister - Boyko Borissov.
Thrissur.
♦Czech President - Milos Zeman and Prime
● President will return to New Delhi this
Minister - Andrej Babis.
evening after a 3-day visit to Kerala.
SEPTEMBER 2018
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches India
Post Payments Bank
Government sets up Ayush Information Cell in
● India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) like
Romania
any other banks but its operations will
● To encourage practice of ayurveda, India
be on a smaller scale without involving
has set up an 'Ayush Information Cell'
any credit risk.
at its embassy premises in Romania to
● It will carry out most banking
create awareness about the traditional
operations like accepting deposits but
Indian system of medicine.
won’t advance loans or issue credit
● The cell was digitally inaugurated by
cards.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu during
● The payments bank will accept deposits
his visit to Romania earlier this month.
of up to Rs 1 lakh, offer remittance
services, mobile
payments/transfers/purchases and other
President Ram Nath Kovind to meet Czech
banking services like ATM/debit cards,
republic President Milos Zeman in Prague
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Nguyen Phu Trong, President of the the first convocation of the AIIMS,
Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Rishikesh.
● In Hanoi, President will address the ● He will also inaugurate the first Gyan
Indian community and the Vietnam- Kumbh.
India Business Forum. India and
Vietnam have robust trade and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu embarked on
economic relations with bilateral trade a 7 day visit to Botswana, Zimbabwe and
of US$ 12.8 billion in 2017-18. Malawi
● The President's second leg of the visit ● He will inaugurate the 13th Annual
will be in Australia from November 21 Global Expo Botswana 2018.
to 24. ● He will also inaugurate the Jaipur Foot
● This is the first visit by an Indian Camp in Malawi to mark the 150th
President to Australia. Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
● He will unveil a statue of Mahatma ● About Botswana:
Gandhi in Parramatta, a prominent ♦ President: Mokgweetsi Masisi
suburb of Sydney, in the state of New ♦ Capital: Gaborone
South Wales. ♦ Currency: Botswana pula
● About Zimbabwe:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate ♦ President: Emmerson Mnangagwa
several projects in Varanasi on Nov 12 ♦ Capital: Harare
● The newly constructed Multi-Modal ● About Malawi:
Terminal on River Ganga to the nation. ♦ President: Peter Mutharika
● This is built as part of the Government’s ♦ Capital: Lilongwe
Jal Marg Vikas project that aims at ♦ Currency: Malawian kwacha
developing the stretch of River Ganga
between Varanasi to Haldia for
DECEMBER 2018
navigation of large vessels.
● The Prime Minister will also receive
President Ram Nath Kovind to begin a 5 Day
India’s first container vessel that sailed
Tour of Myanmar from December 10
from Kolkata on 30th of last month.
● President Ram Nath Kovind will visit
Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon and will
President Ram Nath Kovind to address first
interact with his host, President U Win
convocation of AIIMS in Uttarakhand
Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi.
● President Ram Nath Kovind will visit
● Several agreements are expected to be
Uttarakhand on Saturday and address
signed during the visit.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
The first-ever Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) 4th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on
Parliamentary Conference was held in the Agriculture & Forestry held in New Delhi.
Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra (PBK) in New Delhi on 5th Bilateral Technical Meeting on
the occasion of Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas (PBD). cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems
• This year’s PBD celebrated ASEAN-Indian of Medicine India and Malaysia held in New
partnership and was themed Ancient Route, Delhi.
New Journey: Diaspora in the Dynamic ASEAN
INDIA Partnership. 4th International Dharma Dhamma
• The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is Conference held in Rajgir in Bihar.
celebrated every year on January 9 to mark the
contribution of Overseas Indian community in The 105th Indian Science Congress (ISC) will
the development of India. be held from March 16 to 20 at Manipur
University in Imphal.
7th International Coffee festival – Bengaluru.
FEBRUARY 2018
World Future Energy Summit held in - Abu
Dhabi. Global Investment Summit held in - Assam
India-Israel Business Summit held in Mumbai. 7th India Energy Congress – New Delhi
• The theme of the summit is 'Energy 4.0:
India for the first time took part in a meeting of Energy Transition Towards 2030'.
the international military cooperation
departments of the Shanghai Cooperation 7th Asia Steel International Conference –
Organisation (SCO) in Beijing, China. Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
3rd edition of the Geo-Political conference, International Bird Festival will be held at the
'Raisina Dialogue' held in New Delhi. Dudhwa National Park, Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar
• This year's topic of Raisina Dialogue is Pradesh in February 2018.
'Managing Disruptive Transitions - Ideas,
Institutions and Idioms.' MARCH 2018
• The conference was inaugurated Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The first G20 meeting of finance ministers and
central bank governors held in Buenos Aires,
International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Argentina
Infrastructure (IWDRI) held in New Delhi. Note:
• The 2018 G20 summit will be the 13th meeting
of Group of Twenty (G20).
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
• The summit will be held on 30 Nov – 1 Dec The India Mobile Congress will be held from
2018 in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. 25th – 27th October 2018 in New Delhi • The
• It will be the first-ever G20 summit to be theme of the 2018 India Mobile Congress is -
hosted in South America. • G 20 Summit in 2017 “NEW DIGITAL HORIZONS: Connect. Create.
was held in Hamburg, Germany. Innovate”.
106th edition of the Indian Science Congress The first ‘Happy Cities’ Summit - Amaravati,
will be held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh
Note:
• The event will be from January 3-7, 2019 at 7th edition of Home Expo India 2018 - Greater
Barkatullah University Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Noida
• The theme for 2019 ISC will be “Future India:
Science & Technology”. The 10th edition of “DefExpo India- 2018” -
• 105th Indian Science Congress was held at Tamil Nadu
Manipur University, Imphal. • The theme of the expo is “India: The Emerging
• The theme for 2018 ISC is “Reaching the Defence Manufacturing Hub”.
Unreached Through Science & Technology”.
• 104th Indian Science Congress 2017 was held The World Expo 2020 - Dubai
in Tirupati (S. V. University), Andhra Pradesh.
• 103rd Indian Science Congress 2016 was held First International conference on ‘Water,
in Mysore. Environment and Climate Change: Knowledge
Sharing and Partnership’ - Nepal
APRIL 2018
The 18th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Mid-
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019 - Varanasi Term Ministerial conference - Baku,
Explanation: Azerbaijan • The theme of the conference is -
• The next Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held “Promoting International Peace and Security for
on 21-23 January 2019, in the holy city of Sustainable Development”.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. ● External Affairs Minister Sushma
• The theme of the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Swaraj attended the meeting.
is “Role of Indian Diaspora in building a New
India”. International Buddhist Conference 2018
• Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth Lumbini, Nepal
will be the Chief Guest at Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas 2019. First meeting of BRICS Finance Ministers and
Central Bank Governors - Washington D.C.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
• Ministry of Finance, Government of India was 9th edition of ‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav’ -
represented in the meeting by Shri Subhash Tehri, Uttarakhand.
Chandra Garg , Secretary , Department of • Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav’ was held to
Economic Affairs (EA). promote India’s rich cultural Heritage which
was organised by the Ministry of Culture.
The 2018 Global Malaria Summit - United • Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of Culture -
Kingdom Minister of State (Independent Charge)
• The 2018 Global Malaria Summit was held
alongside the 25th Commonwealth Heads of The 71st World Health Assembly was held in:
Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, Geneva, Switzerland.
United Kingdom. • The Union Health Minister Mr. J P Nadda led
the Indian Delegation at World Health
25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Assembly.
Meeting (CHOGM) 2018 - United Kingdom • The Event was held under the theme "Health
• The 25th Commonwealth Heads of for All: Commit To Universal Health Coverage".
Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018 is being
hosted by United Kingdom from 16-20 April The 3rd Mission Innovation Ministerial
2018. meeting was held at -Malmo, Sweden.
• The theme of the CHOGM 2018 is "Towards a • The Indian delegation was led by Dr.Harsh
Common Future". Vardhan, Union Minister for Science,
• Rwanda has been selected as host of the next Technology and Earth Sciences.
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting • The ‘Mission Innovation’ is a global platform
(CHOGM), to be held in 2020. of 23 countries and European Union aimed at
accelerating clean energy innovations through
MAY 2018 enhanced Government funding, greater public
private sector partnership and enhanced global
Global Wind Summit 2018: Hamburg, cooperation.
Germany.
• The first edition of the Global Wind Summit Climate summit 2019 – New York
will be held in Hamburg, Germany in September • Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
2018. announced to hold a climate summit in
• The conference on wind is the largest and September 2019 in New York to review the
most important meeting of the wind industry commitments of the 2015 Paris Agreement on
worldwide. Climate Change.
• India is fourth largest country, after China, the
US and Germany, in terms of wind energy
installation capacity.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
• The SCO is consisting of China, Russia, 1st Nepal-India Think Tank Summit –
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kathmandu, Nepal.
India and Pakistan.
10th BRICS Summit 2018 - Johannesburg,
44th G7 Summit 2018 – Canada South Africa.
• The 44th G7 summit was held on June 8–9, Note:
2018, in Quebec, Canada. The theme for this summit is ‘BRICS in Africa:
• This was the sixth time since 1981 that Canada Collaboration for inclusive growth and shared
has hosted the meetings. prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution'.
• The 45th G7 summit or next G7 summit will be • 11th BRICS Summit 2019 - Brazil
held in 2019 in France. ● First BRICS Summit was held in June 2009 in
• The Group of Seven (G7) is a group consisting Yekaterinburg, Russia.
of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the ● BRICS is a grouping acronym that refers to the
United Kingdom, and the United States. countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and
South Africa.
An International Conference on Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) - The 6th India-UK Science & Innovation
Kathmandu, Nepal Explanation: Council (SIC) meeting - New Delhi, India.
• The International Conference on Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) was held Global Disability Summit 2018 – London, UK
in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• The Theme of the two-day conference is The 8th BRICS Health Ministers’ meeting -
“Sustainable Development Goals for Smart Durban, South Africa.
Society”.
• The conference is organised by the Federation India and Japan fourth round of Maritime
of Computer Association Nepal (CAN). Affairs Dialogue - New Delhi, India
11th World Hindi Conference - Mauritius 8th India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting -
• The 11th World Hindi Conference will be held Muscat
in Mauritius in August 2018 with an aim to
increase the popularity of Hindi globally. 17th World Sanskrit Conference - Vancouver,
• The main theme of the Conference is ‘Hindi Canada.
Vishwa Aur Bhartiya Sanskriti’.
6th edition of biennial World Cities Summit –
JULY 2018 Singapore.
Note:
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
The theme was “Liveable & Sustainable Cities: • Sri Lanka has become the new chair of the
Embracing the Future through Innovation and BIMSTEC. Hence, Sri Lanka will host the fifth
Collaboration“ summit of the BIMSTEC.
International Union of Food Science and International Buddhist Conclave 2020 - India
Technology 2018 – India to host 19th edition of will host the Conclave in August 2020.
its prestigious global event to be held in Navi
Mumbai, India in October 2018. First SAARC Agri Cooperative Business
Forum Begins – Kathmandu, Nepal
17th World Sanskrit Conference held in
Canada: Human Resource Development G20 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting -
Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurated the Salta, Argentina.
17th World Sanskrit Conference held at ● The theme of the meeting was 'Building
Vancouver, Canada. consensus for fair and sustainable
development'.
6th edition of biennial World Cities Summit
held in Singapore: The sixth edition of biennial The 8th meeting of India-Kenya Joint Trade
World Cities Summit was held in Singapore Committee - Nairobi, Kenya.
from July 8 to 12, 2018. Its theme was “Liveable
& Sustainable Cities: Embracing the Future Fourth Asian electoral stakeholders forum
through Innovation and Collaboration“. (AESF-IV) – Colombo, Sri Lanka
The 5th Regional Comprehensive Economic India Banking Conclave 2018 - New Delhi.
Partnership (RCEP) Intersessional ministerial Note: The India Banking Conclave 2018 was
meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan. It was first organized by Centre for Economic Policy
RCEP ministerial gathering to be held outside Research (CEPR)
ASEAN countries.
International Buddhist Conclave 2018 – New
Delhi, India Note:
• The theme of the conclave is 'Buddha Path –
The Living Heritage'
AUGUST 2018 • This year Japan is the partnering country for
the Buddhist conclave.
4th BIMSTEC Summit - Kathmandu, Nepal
• The theme of the summit is 'Towards a 11th World Hindi Conference - Port Louis,
peaceful, prosperous and sustainable Bay of Mauritius.
Bengal region' Note:
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Indo-US Military Cooperation Meeting – New India's first Global Mobility summit 'MOVE' -
Delhi, India New Delhi.
• It was inaugurated Prime Minister Narendra
SEPTEMBER 2018 Modi.
• The summit was organised by NITI Aayog.
Conference on Academic Leadership on • The main focus of the summit is to make cities
Education for Resurgence - New Delhi of India pollution free.
• The Summit includes three designated
High Level Meeting on Tuberculosis at 73rd components – The Conclave, Digital Exhibition,
session of United Nations General Assembly and Featured Events.
(UNGA) at New York’.
87th Izmir International trade show – Izmir,
India-Morocco Tourism Bilateral Meeting Turkey. Note: India is the partner country in the
held in New Delhi tradeshow.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Defence & Homeland Security Expo & 25th DST – CII Technology Summit 2019
Conference – New Delhi. • The Kingdom of Netherlands will be the
Partner Country 25th DST – CII Technology
India and the US hold the first edition of the Summit to be organized in 2019 in India.
two-plus two talks in New Delhi.
5th National Summit on Public Health Care
International Women Entrepreneurs Summit held at Kaziranga in Assam.
2018 - Kathmandu, Nepal. Note: The theme is
“Equality begins with Economic The 22nd National Level Meeting between
Empowerment”. India and Myanmar was held in New Delhi.
International Aviation Summit - New Delhi, Gandhian Thought and Swachhata Seminar
India. Organized in Wardha
• The Ministry of Drinking Water and
6th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Sanitation has organised a seminar on Gandhian
Meeting - Singapore thoughts and Swachhta to make India a Swachh
Bharat by 2019 -150 the birthday celebration of
15th India-ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Mahatma Gandhi.
Meeting - Singapore • It was being organized in the Wardha district
of Maharashtra with a focus on achievement of
4th International Ayurveda Congress - the objectives of sanitation and Gandhian
Netherlands thoughts via Swachh Bharat Mission. About
● Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA)
Yesso Naik inaugurated the event. • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) was launched
on 2 October 2014 with two submissions, SBA
(gramin) and SBA (urban).
OCTOBER 2018 • The mission is jointly managed Ministry of
Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) (for
India Mobile Congress 2018 held in New Delhi gramin) and the Ministry of Urban Development
• The second edition of India Mobile Congress (for urban).
(IMC-2018) was held New Delhi.
• It was organised by Department of North East Festival and Experiencing the
Telecommunications (DoT) and Cellular North East held in New Delhi
Operators Association of India (COAI). The • The sixth edition of North East festival is
theme was “New Digital Horizons. Connect. organized in New Delhi and the 15th edition of
Create. Innovate”.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Indian International Centre festival is also held • The conference is a collective initiative of
in New Delhi. Government of Kazakhstan, WHO and UNICEF.
• The festival is organised by Indian • From India J P Nadda, Union Minister for
International Centre as 15th anniversary of its Health and Family Welfare addressed the
annual festivals. conference.
• The theme for this year is “Experiencing the
North East”. 7. 7th Meeting of Education 20th Edition of WETEX 2018 held in Dubai
Ministers of SCO Member States held in Astana, • The 20th Water, Energy, Technology, and
Kazakhstan 8. 12th ASEM Summit held in - Environment Exhibition (WETEX) 2018 was held
Brussels, Belgium at Dubai International Convention and
• The theme of summit was ‘Global Partners for Exhibition Centre, in Dubai, United Arab
Global Challenges’. Emirates.
• It was chaired by European Council President • WETEX is organized by Dubai Electricity and
Donald Tusk. Water Authority (DEWA) every year.
• The summit was attended by heads of state of • WETEX 2018 is the largest edition in the 20
51 European and Asian countries, year history of WETEX.
representatives of European Union and
Secretary General of Association of Southeast India hosts the highest number of outward
Asian Nations (ASEAN). international migrants in 2017
• India was represented by Vice President M. • The Asian Economic Integration Report 2018
Venkaiah Naidu. was presented by Asian Development Bank.
• The report is an annual publication of ADB
13th India-Japan Annual Summit – Tokyo, with a focus on progress in cooperation and
Japan migration.
• The annual bilateral summit of India –Japan • The report revealed that India hosts the
held on 28, 29 October 2018 in Japan. highest number of outward international
• The Indian prime minister visited Japan to migrants in 2017.It was followed by China and
attend the summit. Bangladesh.
• Japan-India Investment Promotion Roadmap • About one third of international migrants were
enhanced the contribution of Japan in India’s from Asia in 2017.
Make in India initiative with establishment of
Business Support Centre in Ahmedabad. 2018 UN Day Concert Held in New York
• The 2018 United Nations Day Concert was
2nd International Conference on Primary held in the General Assembly Hall at United
Health Care, Kazakhstan Nations Headquarters in New York.
• The second conference on PHC inaugurated • The theme of this year’s concert is “Traditions
on 25 October 2018 in Astana, Kazakhstan. of Peace and Non-violence”.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
PM Modi Inaugurated Krishi Kumbha in 27th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference held in
Lucknow Gandhinagar, Gujarat • The 27th IAEA Fusion
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Energy Conference (FEC 2018) was held in
farmers’ conclave ‘Krishi Kumbh 2018’ in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. • The Chair of the Board of IAEA for 2018-2019
• The Kumbh witnessed two of the world’s top is Ambassador Leena Al-Hadid of Jordan.
economies, Israel and Japan, as official partners
while Haryana and Jharkhand as partner states. 4th Edition of Global Partners' Forum in
December 2018
10th Nuclear Energy Conclave held in New • India will host the fourth edition of Global
Delhi Partners' Forum in December 2018 in New
• The Union Minister of State (Independent Delhi.
Charge) for Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. • The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn &
Jitendra Singh inaugurates 10th Nuclear Energy Child Health (PMNCH) will unite over 100
Conclave in New Delhi. countries' representatives to discuss issues,
• The theme: ‘Nuclear Power- Towards a Clean strategies and solutions to women's, children's
& Base Load Energy’. and adolescents' health.
• It will be co-hosted by the Ministry of Health
Global Agriculture Leadership Summit 2018 and Family Welfare and PMNCH. Dr Michelle
held in New Delhi Bachelet, former President of Chile is the chair
of PMNCH.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Sushma Swaraj Co-Chairs 9th Meeting of 49th International Film Festival of India
India-Lao PDR Joint Commission concludes in Goa
• External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj co-
chaired the 9th Meeting of India-Lao PDR Joint Sustainable Blue Economy Conference held in
Commission on Bilateral Cooperation with her Nairobi, Kenya
counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith in Vientiane,
Capital of Laos. 7th International Tourism Mart 2018 being
organised in Agartala
India to host 50th Union World Conference on
Lung Health in 2019 9th Annual Defence and Security Dialogue
• The 50th Union World Conference on Lung between India and China held in Beijing
Health will be held in Hyderabad.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
• India Mobile Congress is one of the biggest ● The announcement was made by Prime
marquee Mobile, Internet, and Technology event Minister Narendra Modi at the closing
for South-East Asia organized by COAI and ceremony of the 13th G20 summit in the
DoT. Argentinian capital on 1st December 2018. The
• IMC 2018 was held in Aerocity, New Delhi. Prime Minister thanked Italy for allowing India
• The congress was held under the theme of to play the host as it was to host the summit in
NEW DIGITAL HORIZONS. 2022.
G – 20 Summit 2018 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Netherland to be partner Country for 25th DST- • The theme of the G20 summit is ‘Building
CII Technology Summit 2019 Consensus for a Fair and Sustainable
• The Kingdom of Netherlands will be the Development.’
Partner Country 25th DST – CII Technology G – 20 Summit 2019 – Osaka, Japan
Summit to be organized in 2019, announced Dr. • The 2019 G20 summit will be held on 28–29
Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science & June 2019 in Osaka, Japan.
Technology, Earth Sciences, Environment, • Japan will host its first ever G20 Summit.
Forest and Climate Change. G – 20 Summit 2020 – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia •
The 2020 G20 summit will be held in Riyadh,
4th NITI Aayog- DRC Dialogue Held in Saudi Arabia.
Mumbai G – 20 Summit 2021 – Italy
• The Fourth Dialogue of the NITI Aayog – • The 2021 G20 summit will be held in Italy.
Development Research Centre (DRC) of the G – 20 Summit 2022 – New Delhi, India
State Council, Peoples’ Republic of China was • India will host the G-20 summit in 2022.
held in Mumbai. About G-20
• The G-20 is a grouping of the world’s 20 major
World Tolerance Summit held in Dubai, UAE economies.
• The theme of the Summit was ‘Prospering • G-20 members comprise Argentina, Australia,
from Pluralism: Embracing Diversity through Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union,
Innovation and Collaboration’. France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan,
Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa,
DECEMBER 2018 South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the U.S.
• Collectively, the G-20 economies account for
India to host G20 summit in 2022 nearly 90% of the gross world product, 80% of
● India is to host the annual G20 summit in world trade, two-thirds of the world population,
2022 as it will be celebrating its75th anniversary and approximately half of the world land area.
of Independence. This will be India’s first time • Spain is a permanent guest invitee.
to host the G20 summit • In 2008, the first G20 Leaders’ Summit was
held in Washington DC, US.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● India defeated Australia to lift the Haryana emerges as first champion of Khelo
Under 19 World cup for the fourth time. India School Games with 38 gold medals
● The Men in Blue defeated the three- ● The sports powerhouse won 102 medals
time champions Australia at Bay Oval, including 38 gold medals, 26 silver
New Zealand. medals, 38 Bronze medals.
● Manjot Kalra was the Hero of the ● Maharashtra (110) finished second
match with his brilliant century. overall while Delhi (94) came third.
● Neeraj Chopra from Haryana became 8. Anish BHANWALA Men's 25m Rapid
the first Indian javelin thrower to claim Fire Pistol
a Gold medal at the Games. 9. Sanjeev RAJPUT Men's 50m Rifle 3
● Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who Positions
claimed India's first Gold, in the
10. Heena SIDHU Women's 25m Pistol
Women's 48 kg, broke three Games
11. Tejaswini SAWANT Women's 50m Rifle
records in the ‘snatch’ section, the ‘clean
3 Positions
and jerk’ and the overall Games record.
12. Shreyasi SINGH Women's Double
Trap
Shooting Badminton
6. Manu BHAKER Women's 10m Air 24. Saina NEHWAL Women's Singles
South Korea Won Asian Champions (Hockey) Mithali Became First Indian to Score 2,000
Trophy 2018 T20I Runs
● South Korea has lifted the title for the ● Indian cricketer Mithali Raj become the
third time after having won it in 2010 first batter from the country to score
and 2011. 2,000 runs in T20I cricket.
● India, on the other hand, finished ● She achieved the feat during India's
second best for the second time after Women's T20 Asia Cup match against
having lost to Japan in the final of the Sri Lanka in Kuala Lumpur.
2013 edition. ● Mithali has now scored 2015 runs in 74
● Indian striker Vandana Katariya was T20Is with the help of 14 half centuries.
declared player of the tournament ● Mithali is the seventh woman batter to
while youngster Lalremsiami was score 2,000 runs in T20Is, a list which is
named as the upcoming player of the topped by Charlotte Edwards (2,605),
tournament. followed by Stafanie Taylor (2,582) and
Suzie Bates (2,515).
● When it comes to men's T20I, the list is
AB De Villiers Retired from International
led by Martin Guptill (2271) followed by
Cricket
Brendon McCullum (2140) and Virat
● Star South African batsman AB de
Kohli (1983).
Villiers announced his decision to retire
from international cricket with
immediate effect. Tennis Player Roger Federer returns to No.1
● In his 14-year career, he played 114 ranking after winning his 98th career singles
Tests, 228 One-Day Internationals (ODI) title
and 78 T20 Internationals. ● Twenty-time Grand Slam champion
● Some of the Phenomenal Records of Roger Federer clinched his 98th career
ABD are: The World Record for the singles title by defeating Milos Raonic
fastest ODI 50 (16 balls), 100 (31 balls) in the Stuttgart Open final and reached
and 150 (64 balls), the second highest the world number one ranking.
individual Test score for South Africa ● Now Rafael Nadal is in World No:2
(278*), the highest points (935) by a South ranking.
African on the ICC Test rankings and ● Roger Federer is 36 years old, born at
has claimed the coveted SA Cricketer of Basel, Switzerland.
the Year award twice (2014 and 2015).
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Kidambi Srikanth wins “Sportsperson Of The Indian shooter Manu sets world record, wins
Year award” 8th gold of year
● The Commonwealth Games 2018 gold- ● 16-year-old Manu Bhaker won gold
medal winning shuttler Kidambi medal in 10m air pistol event at ISSF
Srikanth, was adjudged as the Junior World Cup in Germany.
"Sportsperson of the Year for 2017" by ● This was Manu's seventh ISSF
the Sports Illustrated India magazine. individual gold in the year, third with a
● Here are the award categories in which world record.
the athletes were felicitated:
○ Team of the Year: Women’s
JULY 2018
Cricket Team
○ Coach of the Year: Stephen
FIFA WORLD CUP 2018:
Constantine
● FIFA Full Form - Fédération
○ Young Sportsperson of the
Internationale de Football Association
Year: Manav Vikas Thakkar
● FIFA 2018 Host country - Russia
○ Lifetime Achievement Award:
● France defeated first-time finalists
Dhanraj Pillay
Croatia 4-2 in the final match and won
○ Special Award Living Legend:
FIFA World Cup after 20 years.
Balbir Singh Sr.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
India clinched the Kabaddi Masters Dubai into the ICC Hall of Fame.
2018 title:
● The Indian kabaddi team beat Iran 44-
Vikram Dogra become the first Indian Army
26 and lifted the "Kabaddi Masters
officer to complete world's toughest Ironman
2018" title in Dubai.
Triathlon:
● India's captain - Ajay Thakur
● Ironman Triathlon comprises three
● Iranian captain - Mohammad Maleki.
consecutive events: a 3.8-km swim, 180-
km cycling and 42.2-km marathon, to be
● The team comprises of V Jyothi cherry blossoms and also sounds a bit
Surekha, Trisha Deb, P Lily Chanu, like the English words "so mighty".
Muskan Kirar, Divya Dhayal, and ● The next Olympic Games will be held in
Madhumita. Tokyo between July 24 and August 9,
● Recurve archer Deepika Kumari had 2020 and Paralympic Games from
been a former world number one. August 25 to September 6, 2020.
Deepika and Abhishek Verma are the
only Indians in top-10 in the individual
All India Football Federation (AIFF) Awards
categories.
2017 Announced:
● India and Bengaluru FC Captain Sunil
Youngest Indian girl scales Kilimanjaro in 3 Chhetri named as the AIFF Player of
days: the Year 2017.
● Shivangi Pathak, the 17-year-old from ● Kamala Devi bagged the AIFF Woman
Haryana, who became the youngest Player of the Year 2017.
woman from India to reach the peak of
Mount Everest from Nepal side, has now
AUGUST 2018
scaled Africa's highest peak, Mount
Kilimanjaro, in three days.
Asian Games 2018 - Important Highlights:
● Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro measures
5,895 metres in height.
Asian Games 2018 Jakarta Palembang
Also known as 2018
Tokyo introduced mascots for 2020 Olympic
Games:
Edition 18th
● The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organising
Committee launched the official
Host Country Indonesia
Olympic Game mascot named
'Miraitowa' and Paralympic Game
Motto “Energy of Asia”
mascot christened 'Someity'.
● A big-eyed, blue-checked character
Opening ceremony 18 August
"Miraitowa" name was a combination of
the Japanese words for future and
Closing ceremony 2 September
eternity, expressing "hope for a bright
future stretching off forever."
Nations 45
● The pink, pointy-eared "Someity" name
participating
comes from the word for Japan's iconic
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
long jump, javelin throw and 800m race. Jinson Johnson Athleti Men's 1500
cs metres
Pranab Bardhan, Bridge Men's pair ● She beat P.V.Sindhu of India by 21-19,
Shibhnath Sarkar (Card Game) 21-10.
● Here is the complete list of the winners
of World Badminton Championship
Kho-Kho gets recognition from Olympic 2018:
Council of Asia (OCA): ○ Men's Singles - Kento Momota
● Kho-Kho will be included as an (Japan)
exhibition game in Asian Indoor Games ○ Women's Singles -Carolina
by this decision. Marin (Spain)
● Also, it has the possibility to be included ○ Men's Doubles - Li Junhui
as a discipline in the next Asian Games. (China) and Liu Yuchen (China)
● Secretary General of Indian Olympic ○ Women's Doubles - Mayu
Association (IOA) - Rajeev Mehta Matsumoto (Japan) and Wakana
● Union Sports Minister - Rajyavardhan Nagahara (Japan)
Singh Rathore. ○ Mixed Doubles - Zheng Siwei
(China) and Huang Yaqiong
Pacer Jhulan Goswami announced her
(China)
retirement from Women's T20 Internationals:
● Goswami is currently the leading Karman becomes 6th Indian woman to enter
wicket-taker in the women's ODI top 200 Tennis rankings in Singles:
format and also the first woman to pick ● Karman Kaur Thandi, 20-year-old Delhi
up 200 ODI wickets. girl, jumped 32 places and now ranked
● She played 68 T20 Internationals and 200th in the WTA (Women's Tennis
took 56 wickets at an economy rate of Association) list.
5.45. ● In April, India's top singles player
Ankita had broken into the top-200 and
is now ranked 195 (-4).
Carolina Marin won gold in BWF World
● Earlier, Sania Mirza, Nirupama
Championships 2018, P.V. Sindhu won Silver:
Vaidyanathan, Shikha Uberoi and
● Spanish badminton ace Carolina Marin
Sunitha Rao had made it to the top-200.
won gold in Badminton World
● In the men’s singles, Yuki Bhambri was
Federation (BWF) World
unchanged at 86 while Ramkumar
Championships 2018, in Nanjing. Ramanathan climbed four places to a
● She created history by becoming the career-best 111.
first woman to win three badminton
World titles with an emphatic victory.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Germany's Mario Gomez retires from Triple jumper Arpinder Singh creates history
International Football: by becoming first Indian to win a medal in
● Veteran German striker Mario Gomez IAAF Continental Cup:
(33-year-old), who made his debut for ● He clinched a bronze with a modest
Germany in 2007, scored 31 goals in 78 effort of 16.59m.
international appearances. ● Arpinder had won a gold in the Asian
● He represented his country at the FIFA Games in Jakarta
World Cup in 2010 and 2018 and the
Euro Cup in 2008 and 2012.
Sajan Bhanwal becomes first Indian to win
● He is now looking to pay his full
back-to-back medal at World Junior Wrestling
attention to the domestic football
● 20-year-old Haryana wrestler won the
league, Bundesliga.
silver medal in 77kg category in Greco-
Roman style at the Junior World
India improved to World No: 96 in FIFA ● Championships in Trnava, Slovakia.
rankings: ● He had won a bronze medal in the same
The Top five positions in the latest Fédération category at the Tampere World
Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Championships last year.
rankings are: ● He also clinched the gold at Junior Asia
Championship in July
Rank Country
OCTOBER 2018
1 France
SEPTEMBER 2018
listed below:
NOVEMBER 2018
Awards Name
India win eighth consecutive ODI series
Sportsman of the year Rahul Aware against Windies
● Windies Team Captain - Jason Holder Windies at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal
Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket
Stadium in Lucknow. He now has 2,196
Pankaj Advani becomes first Indian to win
runs in the format
Asian Snooker Tour title
● He also overtook Virat Kohli (2,102
runs) to become India's leading run-
● The 33-year-old from Pune, Pankaj
getter in T20Is, and ended up second on
Advani became the first Indian to win
the list of the highest run-getters in the
an Asian Snooker Tour event after
world, just behind New Zealand's
defeating China's Ju Reti 6-1 in the final
Martin Guptill
in Jinan, China
● He also became the first captain to score
● Pankaj is Nineteen-time world
two T20I hundreds
champion
● He won Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri,
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award Australia won the ICC Women's World T20
for Billiards & Snooker title for the fourth time
● Belgium have 1,727 points by FIFA's 2003 and 2007), Ponting did a lap of
calculations to 1,726 for France. Brazil honor as part of his induction during the
are third on 1,676 tea break on Day-1 of the Boxing Day
● FIFA rankings 2018: Test between India and Australia at
○ 1. Belgium, MCG
○ 2. France, ● In February 2018, he was also inducted
○ 3. Brazil, into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame
○ 4. Croatia, ● Ponting is the highest run scorer for
○ 5. England, Australia in both Tests and ODIs, with
○ 6. Portugal, 13,378 runs in the longest format and
○ 7. Uruguay, 13,704 runs in the 50-over format
○ 8. Switzerland,
○ 9. Spain,
○ 10. Denmark
ENVIRONMENT
Mithali, Harmanpreet retained as India
captains for New Zealand tour
● Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur MARCH 2018
were named as Indian women's ODI
and T20I captains respectively for the Third Edition of National Conclave On Mines
tour of New Zealand And Minerals
● India will play three ODIs in New The Ministry of Mines organized the 3rd
Zealand beginning January 24 as part of National Conclave on Mines & Minerals in New
the ICC Women’s Championship before Delhi. The event was inaugurated by the
playing three T20 Internationals Minister of Mines, Narendra Singh Tomar.
Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI)
has agreed to partner in the event. A portal on
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting
Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojna
inducted into ICC Hall of Fame
(PMKKKY) scheme was also launched on the
● Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting
occasion.
became the 25th Australian cricketer to
be officially inducted into the
JUNE 2018
International Cricket Council’s Hall of
Fame at the iconic Melbourne Cricket
Orange colored crocodiles found in Gabon,
Ground (MCG)
West Africa
● A three-time World Cup winner
Scientists have recently found orange colored
(including two World Cups as captain in
crocodiles in the Omboue region, West African
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
State of Gabon. The reason for the change in in European countries. Essential nutrients like
color is because of their food. In the total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium from the soil in
darkness, the animals survive on a diet of bats exchange for carbon from the tree is provided by
and crickets, unlike above-ground crocodiles of Mycorrhizal fungi which are hosted by the tree
the same species which feed on fish and in its roots. High level of nutrition elements like
crustaceans. This has caused a specific ‘genetic nitrogen and phosphorus in the mycorrhizae
signature’ in the cave-dwelling crocodiles. changes them to act as pollutants rather than
nutrients.
Rare Nevada toad species may get endangered
species tag JULY 2018
discovered in 2007 in the Dixie Valley. It is 2- A team of wildlife scientists from the Wildlife
inch-long with flecks of gold on its olive-colored Institute of India (WII) have collared a dhole, the
body. Conservationist produced scientific shreds Indian wild dog, with a satellite transmitter. It is
of evidence that the Dixie valley toads could be a measure taken to study and track the habits of
at a risk of extinction. the endangered species. It took over 10 days for
the scientists to track down a pack of 14 dholes
UNESCO may drop the Mesoamerican Reef, in Bishanpura meadow in the Mukki range of
Belize from threatened sites list the Kanha National Park. An adult female was
tranquilised and tested for its health. The
scientists then fixed a tracking collar around its
The Mesoamerican Reef was marked as a World
neck. Conservation ecologists believe such
Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1960. It was placed
efforts can help protect dholes.
on endangered status in 2009 because of Belize’s
plans to allow oil exploration. To protect the
Harrier birds visit to India declined as
site a number of measures were taken by the
grasslands disappears
Belizean government and the activists. Now, UN
body is considering to remove the reef from the Harrier birds, a migratory raptor species that
UNESCO’s list of threatened World Heritage regularly visits vast swathes of India, are
Toxic air is causing malnutrition in trees Montagu’s Harriers. The researchers focused on
six of the 15 major roosting sites in six States,
Researchers found that air pollution is affecting
where consistent observations had been made
trees by causing malnutrition in the form of
for over five years. The study observed that there
discolored leaves and excessive falling of leaves
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
India’s Western Ghats, could be losing their Seven new wasp species discovered in the
footing with increasing climate change. Amazon forests
Scientists have predicted that even under From Peru, Venezuela and Colombia in the
moderate scenarios of future climate change, Amazon forests, 7 new wasp species of the genus
tahrs could lose approximately 60% of their Clistopyga were discovered.
habitats from the 2030s. As per the The new wasp species are:
International Union for Conservation of Nature, · Clistopyga crassicaudata
their population shows a decreasing trend as · Clistopyga kalima
there are only around 2,500 tahrs left in the wild. · Clistopyga panchei
· Clistopyga taironae
Nepal returns the dancing bear to India · Clistopyga nigriventri
Nineteen-year-old sloth bear Rangila which was · Clistopyga splendida
smuggled into Nepal in December 2017 is being · Clistopyga isayae
sent back to India. The Indian and Nepalese
governments, Nepal’s Jane Goodall Institute, Tamil Nadu CM allotted Rs.150 crore for
and the Indian non-profit, Wildlife SOS, preventing pollution of Noyyal river
facilitated the repatriation. Wildlife SOS also Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami
launched a campaign requesting Nepalese announced in the Assembly that a sum of Rs.150
authorities to help the bear. Eventually, a crores would be allocated for preventing
Cabinet decision by the government of Nepal pollution of Noyyal river within Tirupur
approved the bear’s repatriation to India. Corporation limits. The river was polluted
Fossils of the first giant dinosaur species primarily due to effluents discharged by
found in Argentina industrial units and residential houses in
A team of excavators in Argentina discovered Tirupur Corporation.
the remains of a 200-million-year old giant
dinosaurs species. The species, Ingentia prima, Fungus causing fatal skin disease to frogs in
was about three times the size of the largest western ghats
Triassic dinosaurs from its era. It was discovered ‘Scientific Reports’ revealed that the chytrid
in the Balde de Leyes dig site in San Juan fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium
province, 1,100 km west of the Argentine capital dendrobatidis, which causes the infectious and
Buenos Aires. Excavators found several fatal skin disease chytridiomycosis, is present in
vertebrae from the neck and tail as well as fore frogs across the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats,
and hind leg bones. It’s believed that the species Himalaya, northeastern hill ranges, and the
grew to eight to 10 meters tall and weighed Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Seven years ago,
around 10 tonnes. Indian scientists discovered a dreaded chytrid
fungus, which is notorious for causing frog
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declines and extinctions worldwide, in the around 300 milliliters of semen from the last
Western Ghats. Now, a team has detected that four bull rhinos. They hope to re-establish the
the pathogen is spread in all major biodiversity species population by In Vitro Fertilization
hotspots in India. In Maharashtra, scientists (IVF) technique. It is also hoped that this
studied 21 of the frog species and 14 species of method will lead to a northern white rhino calf
them are tested positive for the pathogen, these being born in 3 years.
included the critically endangered endemic
Amboli toad and four species of caecilians. Four critically endangered species has been
added in recovery programme by NWBL
MoEFCC declared the area around Mudumalai National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has recently
as an ESZ added four critically endangered species. The
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests species are Northern River Terrapin, Clouded
and Climate Change (MoEFCC) declared 438 Leopard, Arabian Sea Humpback Whale and Red
sq.km. of the area around the Mudumalai Tiger Panda. They were added into the center’s
Reserve in the Nilgiris as an eco-sensitive zone recovery Programme on the recommendation by
(ESZ). This is to prohibit construction and Wildlife Division of Ministry of Environment
commercial mining activities and restrict hotels and Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
and resorts near the reserve. The reserve, The programme is one of the three components
comprising the wildlife sanctuary and the of the centrally funded scheme, Integrated
national park, extending over an area of 321 Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH). It
sq.km, was declared a tiger habitat in 2007. was started in 2008-09. So far, 17 species were
Besides the tiger habitat, 367 sq. km. is the identified under this recovery programme.
buffer area for a total of 688 sq. km. reserve area.
The reserve is a critical part of the Nilgiris Tenth endangered rhino died in Kenya after
Biosphere Reserve spread over 5,500 sq. km. transfer
Delhi Development Authority to plant 10 lakh Sumatra triggered a tsunami that killed 2,30,000
saplings people in many countries.
planting nearly 10 lakh saplings across various than 1000 species at risk
green spaces in Delhi including parks and the Scientists said that more than 1,000 species of
Yamuna flood plains. animals are severely endangered due to the
Some of the DDA parks having rich green cover construction of the wall along the U.S.-Mexico
include border. The wall reduces the available area and
· Japanese Park in Rohini quality of land. The construction would severely
· Coronation Park in Burari hinder movement, thus fragmenting
· Astha Kunj Park in south Delhi. populations, and affecting food cycles and
mating patterns. The Peninsular Bighorn sheep,
Karnataka Chief Minister seeks Wipro's help Mexican gray wolf and the Sonoran pronghorn
to fight air pollution antelope would be among the species most at
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy risk. Sixty-two of the 1000 species are already
met Wipro Chairman Azim Premji to propose a listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or
partnership to combat issues like air pollution in Vulnerable by the International Union for
record shows that the corals are 160 million Arunachal Pradesh is threatened by the high
years old. water discharge from China. The government
has been asked to take immediate measures to
NGT asked UP government to pay the price prevent yet another state from flooding post the
for contaminating the underground water devastating Kerala floods.
that the groundwater is highly contaminated. It · The Brahmaputra enters India in the
has been alleged that consumption of polluted state of Arunachal Pradesh, where it is
has developed several diseases including liver · It makes a very rapid descent from its
damage, cancer and kidney failure to the original height in Tibet and finally appears
residents. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the plains, where it is called Dihang.
said that the State government and the polluting · It flows for about 35 km (22 miles) and
industries should bear the cost to treat the is joined by the Dibang River and the Lohit
people who have been affected because of the River at the head of the Assam Valley.
schemes. It also said that the State may consider A recent census has revealed that the population
giving employment to a dependent of the of the Nilgiri tahr, an endangered mountain
affected victims. goat, at the Mukurthi National Park has grown
by 18% from 480 to 568 in the last two years. The
Delhi vehicles to get blue sticker for petrol and population estimation exercise was conducted
orange for diesel by the Forest Department and the Department
For better tackling of air pollution related issues of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, Government
in the Delhi, Supreme Court has approved the Arts College, Udhagamandalam. Nilgiri tahr
central government's proposal to use hologram- also faces several threats. The continuing spread
based colour-coded stickers for vehicles in Delhi of invasive species of flora, such as wattle and
based on the fuel used. The vehicles that run on pine, and exotic weeds like the scotch broom
petrol and CNG will have light blue stickers, (Cytisus scoparius) and gorse diminish the
while the diesel vehicles will have orange grazing land for the tahrs. The Forest
stickers. The scheme is based on a model used in Department is stepping up efforts to eliminate
Maharashtra's Mahabaleshwar has become the sludge/septage and sewage in drains, water
wettest place in India this year, leaving behind bodies or open areas.
Meghalaya's Cherrapunji. India Meteorological
Department (IMD) data revealed that the hill NGT directed UP government to submit an
station in the state of Maharashtra received a action plan on e-waste management
staggering 5661.6 mm rainfall this season till The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed
now, much more than Cherrapunji's 4735 mm. the Ministry of Environment and Forests
Cherrapunji holds two Guinness world records (MoEF), the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control
for receiving the maximum amount of rainfall in Board and the Central Pollution Control Board
a single year, 26,471mm (1,042.2 in) of rainfall to submit an action plan on e-waste
between August 1860 and July 1861 and the management within three months. NGT stated
maximum amount of rainfall in a single month that as a measure to combat pollution and
(9,300mm) in July 1861. protect the environment the scientific disposal
of e-waste is an important factor. NGT, while
SBM-U added elimination of public urination disposing of a plea against unauthorised
in its agenda recycling, collection, dismantling, burning,
Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) has officially selling of e-waste and other solid waste on
included the elimination of public urination in roadsides directed the State and riverbanks in
its agenda. Under new norms, if any city or town violation of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
wants to be declared Open Defecation Free Plus and E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016. NGT
(ODF+), then it must be free of public urination, said that electronic waste accounted for 40% of
not just open defecation. The original ODF lead and 70% of all heavy metal found in
protocol which was issued in March 2016 said a landfills. It also states that burning and selling
city/ward can be declared as ODF city/ward if no of e-waste and other solid waste has resulted in
person is found defecating in the open at any groundwater contamination and air pollution.
point of the day. So far, 2,741 cities have been
certified as ODF, based mostly on third-party Centre ruled out the ban on fire crackers on
verification of toilet construction. As per the Diwali
new ODF+ protocol, which was issued last week, The Centre announced a national ban on
a city could be declared ODF+ if no person is firecrackers in order to combat pollution during
found defecating and/or urinating in the open Diwali. It also suggested an alternative measure
and also all community and public toilets are as the production of green crackers community
functional and well-maintained. It also added fireworks events in major cities and to freeze the
that faecal sludge/septage and sewage must be production of series crackers or laris. The
safely managed and treated, with no discharging Supreme Court announced the blanket ban on
and/or dumping of untreated faecal fireworks in its reply to the plea sought by the
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people for a complete nationwide ban on the nearby. It also recommended the Kerala
use, manufacture, licensing, sale, resale or government to provide it sincere efforts in the
distribution of firecrackers and sparklers to rescue mission for the people trapped in floods.
fight pollution on an emergency basis. The
Tamil Nadu government asked for the restrained India's first Humboldt penguin was born at
use of firecrackers but not a total ban on the Mumbai's Byculla zoo
firecrackers for Diwali. After an incubation of 40 days, India's first
Humboldt penguin was born on 15th August at
India banned petroleum coke import for use as Mumbai's Byculla zoo. As it was born on
fuel Independence Day, it was named as “The
Among polluting fuels, petroleum coke (Petcoke) Freedom Baby”. The zoo authorities will be
remains one of the most polluting ones as it conducting DNA test to find out its gender. The
emits 11% more greenhouse gas compared to chick weighed 75 gm and was reported to be
coal. India is the world's biggest consumer of healthy.
Petcoke. Industries use pet coal because it's Humboldt penguin:
much cheaper than coal and is easier to handle · The Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus
as fuel. Import of Petcoke is allowed for only humboldti) is a South American penguin
cement, lime kiln, calcium carbide and that breeds in coastal Chile and Peru
gasification industries, when used as the · The penguin is named after the cold
feedstock or in the manufacturing process on water current it swims in, which is itself
actual user condition. This is in an effort to named after Alexander von Humboldt, an
tackle India’s severe air pollution. explorer
· The species is listed as Vulnerable by
SC asked NCMC to find ways to reduce the the IUCN
water level in the Mullaperiyar dam
Mullaperiyar dam to find ways to reduce the India has introduced a quit-line number, 1800-
water level in the reservoir to 139 feet as it hit 11-2356, on tobacco products. The Union Health
141.5 feet. The court directed that Kerala should Ministry has already been creating awareness
follow any instructions given by the NCMC on among people by making mandate display of
rescue and rehabilitation and Tamil Nadu must pictorial health warning on both sides of packets
comply with any instructions to bring down the containing cigarettes, bidis, and chewing
level of the dam without disturbing the people tobacco. The quit-line number is to be printed
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on all tobacco products that will be Climate Action Summit at San Francisco. The
manufactured after September 1, 2018. India is goal of carbon neutrality is to achieve a zero
the first country among the SAARC countries to carbon footprint. M&M is to work along with
have introduced such a helpline. India is the the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), an
fourth country in Asia after Thailand, Malaysia international non-profit organization, to fulfil
and Singapore to have this government helpline the carbon neutrality commitment. EDF works
for those looking at quitting tobacco. with leading companies to raise the bar for
corporate sustainability leadership.
Lions died in Gir forest
Around 11 lions died within a week in Dalkhania IWC defeated the proposal to create Whale
It has been eight lions died owing to infections, The International Whaling Commission (IWC)
one due to food poisoning and three due to defeated a proposal to create a whale sanctuary
infighting. Upon seeing the carcasses of the 11 in the South Atlantic at a meeting in Brazil. The
dead lions in Gujarat’s Gir forest, the state proposal received support from 39 countries but
government has ordered to conduct an inquiry. was opposed by 25. Brazil first introduced the
The probe is on. According to the 2015 census, proposal in 2001. Japan and few other nations
Gir is home to 520 lions. argued that there is no need for sanctuary
because countries are not currently doing
Philippines hit by world's strongest storm this commercial whaling in the South Atlantic.
year Other environmental groups and
Super Typhoon Mangkhut, the world's strongest conservationists argued that the sanctuary
storm this year, hit the northern coast of the would protect whales from being hunted,
Philippines, brought winds of up to 200 kmph trapped in fishing gear or struck by ships.
Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. The United Nations said that the number of
hungry people in the world is growing again. In
Mahindra & Mahindra to become a carbon much of the developing world, it is due to
neutral company by 2040 climate change that causes havoc on crop
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) announced that it production. South America and Africa face acute
aims to become a carbon neutral company by food insecurity and malnutrition. UN agencies
2040 with focus on energy efficiency and usage said in an annual report that the number of
of renewable power. This decision was stated by hungry people facing chronic food deprivation
Chairman Anand Mahindra at the Global increased to 821 million in 2017 from 804 million
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in 2016. The analysis in the report found that in Faridabad district of Haryana. The Court
climate variability, extreme drought and floods instructed to raze down the structures by
are the reasons that affect the production of December 31, 2018. The Bench accused the State
wheat, rice and maize in tropical and temperate town and country planning department for
regions. UN is to target groups that are most supporting the illegalities and completely
vulnerable to malnutrition, including infants, vitiating the efforts of the forest department as
children, adolescent girls and women. It called well as the orders of the Supreme Court.
for greater efforts to promote policies that help Aravallis Range:
communities build resilience. · The Aravalli Range is the oldest range
of fold mountains in India
Haryana govt signs MoU with Indian Oil to set · It was formed when the Indian Plate
up Ethanol plant was separated from the Eurasian Plate by an
Panipat with an outlay of over Rs.900 crore. The · It is a range of mountains that runs
MoU will be valid for one year. The proposed approximately 692 km in the in a southwest
producing 100 kilolitres of ethanol per day. · It passes through Delhi, Haryana,
Bioethanol can be easily blended with petrol or The Singphan Elephant Reserve which is the
diesel, thus making it sustainable transport fuel. 30th elephant reserve in India, is located in Mon
It also reduces air pollution. district of Nagaland and spreads over an area of
5825 acres (2357 hac). As per recent census
SC orders to demolish structures that report (2017) Nagaland has around 446
threatens the Aravallis elephants. The creation of new Elephant Reserve
The Supreme Court ordered to demolish the will result in protection and conservation of the
hills. A Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Jebi, Japan's most powerful storm in 25 years,
Deepak Gupta ordered to demolish all the has killed at least 10 people. It recorded winds of
structures that were built after August 18, 1992, up to 216km/h (135mph). In a separate incident, a
in the area known as ‘Kant Enclave’ at Anangpur
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6.6 magnitude earthquake caused a landslide on Scientist warns that the trapped heat below
Japan's northern island of Hokkaido. Arctic surface could melt ice in the entire
♦ Japan Prime Minister - Shinzo Abe. region
In Kerala, the Health Department has phytoplankton, fish and marine mammals,
announced warning about the spread of birds, land animals, plants and human
syndrome disease in the post-flood period. · The Arctic consists of the Arctic
People have been asked to approach a hospital Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Alaska
in case of any symptom of fever or myalgia (pain (United States), Northern Canada (Canada),
leptospirosis deaths in the State since August 24. Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden
The Health Department has suggested that · Arctic Polar desert is the second-
people who have been exposed to flood waters largest desert in the world by area
prophylaxis every week. Current measures by · The Arctic land is bordered by the
that even when lakhs were exposed to flood · Arctic sea ice decline has been caused
As the air quality in the National Capital Region registering their opposition to the infrastructure
(NCR) and adjoining areas are likely to project.
deteriorate further in the coming weeks, the Air
purifier makers are looking at a big spike in Seven snake eggs were incubated and released
their sales. There is a rise in demand for air into the wild
purifiers from smaller and tier-II cities, other A clutch of seven tiny snakes was released into
than metros. Although the air purifier industry the wild after spending nearly 80 days in an
is small in size and limited to metro cities, incubator at the civic body’s Wildlife
makers are witnessing a high double-digit Paramedical Centre, Karnataka. While
growth in the segment due to increased incubating the snakes resembled no more than
awareness among the people who are willing to little worms. A BBMP wildlife rescue volunteer
spend money to improve the quality of air rescued the clutch of seven snake eggs from a
around them. The overall Air Quality Index sump in Hegde Nagar. The mother, a common
(AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 337 last week, Kukri species, was also rescued. While common
which falls in the very poor category and is the Kukri is found widespread across the sub-
highest for this season, creating hazy conditions, continent, it's sighting in the city has become
said data from the Central Pollution Control rare owing to habitat loss. The mother was
Board (CPCB). rescued and released in a nearby garden, while
the eggs were taken to BBMP Forest Cell’s
Save Bandipur activists protested against the wildlife centre. When snakes lay their eggs, they
elevated highways through national parks choose a variety of factors including predators
Activists protested against the proposed and temperature (25 to 26 degrees Celsius). It is
elevated highways through national parks. difficult to replicate this process in gardens.
Around 150 activists protested at Hence the eggs were artificially incubated. After
Melkamanahalli gate, Karnataka. The Save all seven eggs hatched, it was released into
Bandipur drive gained traction against the gardens of the city.
proposed elevated highways through national
parks. Earlier, the Ministry of Road Transport Climate warming threatens Pacific Walrus
and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India, Center for Biological Diversity petitioned U.S.
proposed that it wanted to develop five stretches Fish and Wildlife Service to list Pacific Walrus
of 1 km each, of elevated roads, through the as a threatened species because of diminished
national park to ensure that there was the 24x7 sea ice brought on by climate warming. Pacific
movement of vehicles along the National walrus prefers sea ice for moulting, mating,
Highway 212 (renamed as NH 766). The activists nursing and resting between dives for food.
of Bandipur Ulisi or Save Bandipur campaign Pacific walrus males grow to 12 feet long and up
submitted a memorandum to the authorities to 1,815 kg. Females reach half that weight.
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Walruses dive and use sensitive whiskers to find metre-deep net to trap floating plastic under the
clams and snails in dim light on the seafloor. water’s surface. A boat will visit the spot every
Fish and Wildlife Service said that few months to remove the debris.
inaccessibility protected walruses for decades,
but a rapid decline in summer sea ice has made Aussie same sex penguin couple incubate egg
them vulnerable. In the Chukchi Sea between Two Aussie male penguins, gentoo penguins
Alaska and Russia, where Pacific walrus females Sphen and Magic, who have paired up as a same-
and juveniles spend their summer, ice could be sex couple have become so good at nesting that
absent during that season by 2060 or sooner. they have been given a real egg to look after.
Such an incident has happened in 2009. Two
Study says climate change threatens World male penguins, Z and Vielpunkt, successfully
Heritage sites hatched and reared a chick that was rejected by
A study published in the journal Nature its heterosexual parents at a zoo in Berlin.
presented a risk index that ranks the sites Penguin:
according to the threat they face from today · Kingdom: Animalia
until the end of the century. It stated that the · Phylum: Chordata
UNESCO World Heritage sites in the · Class: Aves
Mediterranean such as Venice, the Leaning · Order: Sphenisciformes
Tower of Pisa and the Medieval City of Rhodes · Family: Spheniscidae
are under severe threat of coastal erosion and · Penguins are a group of aquatic,
flooding due to rising sea levels within the next flightless birds
100 years. It also included Venice and its · Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid
Lagoon, Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its and other forms of sea life
Po Delta and the Patriarchal Basilica of · They live almost exclusively in the
Aquileia. Heritage sites face many challenges to Southern Hemisphere, with only one
adapt to the effects of sea-level rise as it changes species, the Galapagos penguin, found north
the value and spirit of place for each site. of the equator
The Ocean Cleanup Foundation has launched a R.R.Sonde, Fellow of National Academy of
project to collect the plastic in the middle of the Engineers (FNAE) and Executive Vice-President
Pacific Ocean. Wilson, a 2,000-foot-long floating of THERMAX Ltd. said that the development of
pipe has begun its mission to collect the plastic methanol and hydrogen-based technology for
in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The pipe is green energy production could turn energy-
constructed in U shape. It features a three- importing India into the energy-exporting
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CDV is responsible for the death of Gir lions KAU initiated a mission to rejuvenate hill
said ICMR garlic
The Indian Council for Medical Research The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has
(ICMR) confirmed that the reason for the death initiated a study on the farming practices of
of lions that happened in between the month of garlic followed in the hills of Kanthalloor and
September and October 2018, in the Gir forest of Vattavada areas of Idukki district of Kerala. This
Gujarat is the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). It move is to promote the variety Malai poondu or
also recommended that the remaining Gir lions hill garlic that is on the verge of extinction.
should be vaccinated to prevent further Malai poondu or hill garlic are known for its
outbreaks. The wildlife biologists are against the unique flavour, pungency, taste, medicinal
lions being vaccinated. The Pune-based ICMR- properties and longer shelf life, that is 180 days.
NIV compared the available CDV sequences Due to long duration of cultivation the tribal
with the East African strains and found that the farmers of the area started to cultivate hybrid
genetic sequence of the virus is related. Thus it varieties or short duration, 90 to 120 days,
made sure that CDV is responsible for the death varieties. The study by KAU said that the major
of the Gir lions. problems faced by the hill garlic cultivation are
the small size of the bulb, lack of awareness on
scientific cultivation practices and wild animal
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attack. KAU also suggested that by following Organization (PESO), which is the nodal agency
scientific practices, the crop duration can be for safety requirements in manufacture, storage,
reduced. transport of all types of explosives.
but the world produced a record amount of the betterment of air quality and related
carbon emissions in 2017. health issues.
AQI of Delhi remains very poor FAO report says climate change puts food
National Capital Region has been tested with air security at risk
quality still at very poor range. The Centre-run The U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization
System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (FAO) said that climate change and depletion of
(SAFAR) recorded the Capital’s Air Quality land and other resources that undermine food
Index at 368, which denotes a very poor range. It systems increase the risk of feeding the hungry
also said if it is maintained so, then there are planet. UNFAO renewed its appeals for better
chances that the next three days will see little policies and technologies to reach zero hunger.
improvement. It stated that about 12% of The report also said that the population growth
pollution by PM 2.5 (presence of particles in the requires supplies of more nutritious food at
air with a diameter of fewer than 2.5 affordable prices, but increasing farm output is
micrometres) was caused due to stubble burning. hard given the fragility of the natural resource
System of Air Quality Forecasting and base as the humans have outstripped Earth’s
Research (SAFAR): carrying capacity in terms of land, water, and
● SAFAR functions under the planning climate change. About 820 million people are
scheme “Metropolitan Advisories for malnourished. The FAO and International Food
Cities for Sports, Tourism (Metropolitan Policy Research Institute released the report at
Air Quality and Weather Services), the outset of a global conference aimed at
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), speeding up efforts to achieve zero hunger
Govt. of India around the world.
● The SAFAR system is developed by
Indian Institute of Tropical Brazil lost forests equal to 1 mn football
Meteorology, Pune, along with ESSO pitches due to deforestation
partner institutions namely India In Brazil, the deforestation has reached its
Meteorological Department (IMD) and height that an area equivalent to one million
National Centre for Medium Range football pitches was lost in just one year.
Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) According to the governmental institution of
● The objective of the project is to special investigations said that between August
increase awareness among the general 2017 and July 2018, deforestation increased by
public regarding the air quality in their almost 14%, with an area of 7, 900 sq km, it’s
cities well in advance so that more or less one million football fields, of forest
appropriate mitigation measures and cleared. Between 2004 and 2012, deforestation in
systematic action can be taken up for
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Brazil was slowed through controls imposed at a the migratory season has already begun. From
government level as well as by the private sector. Pulicat to Pallikaranai marshland, all the
Brazil: migratory birds that arrive at a particular date
· Capital: Brasília have arrived. About 400-500 pelicans are also
· President: Michel Temer there and nesting has started. At Pulicat, Oyster
· Official language: Portuguese Catchers, Plovers and Flamingoes were seen this
· Currency : Real (R$) (BRL) year.
NGT imposed Rs.5 crore fine on West Bengal Jammu and Kashmir’s civil secretariat to
government become plastic free
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has Jammu & Kashmir’s Civil Secretariat would soon
imposed a fine of Rs.5 crore on the West Bengal be made plastic-free and its use would be
government as it failed to take steps to improve discarded absolutely in the secretariat premises.
the air quality of Kolkata and Howrah. Subhas The Chief Secretary of J&K assured that
Datta, the petitioner, said that the cost has been Secretariat would soon be made free from plastic
imposed for failing to comply with an earlier and a notification to that effect will be issued
order of the NGT in August 2016. The NGT soon. The announcement was made by the
directed that the cost should be paid within two Secretary during the celebrations of World
weeks to the Central Pollution Control Board Toilet Day, 2018. He also assured that Estates,
(CPCB). If the government failed to do so, it Hospitality, and JKTDC shall be directed not to
would have to pay an additional Rs.1 crore as use plastic bottles, cups etc. in meetings or
fine for every month’s delay. The 2016 order otherwise in the Secretariat. The move of the
included taking steps like augmentation of air J&K’s secretariat appeals to all the government
monitoring network, traffic management, departments to shun the use of plastic in their
streamlining of efficiency auto emission training respective meeting halls so that an example is
centres, and phasing out of commercial vehicles set for the public to emulate.
more than 15-years-old.
Environment Ministry approved to induce
Despite rain the migratory birds arrived in artificial rain via cloud seeding to clear smog
Chennai, Tamil Nadu in Delhi
Despite the rain, migratory birds have started The Environment Ministry approved a project
arriving this year in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. With led by scientists at the Indian Institute of
water levels low in many lakes and reservoirs, Technology (IIT) Kanpur to induce artificial rain
their numbers have been low in some places, but via cloud seeding in Delhi. The objective is to
nevertheless, the birds have kept their date with clear smog in Delhi. The success of the project
the city. The arrival of the birds indicates that depends on the presence of a minimum quantity
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of rain-bearing clouds over Delhi. In the project, more than one continuous monitoring system.
an aircraft has been planned to fly into the Experts say that a single Continuous Ambient
clouds and inject silver iodide, which will lead to Air Quality Monitoring System would make a
the formation of ice crystals that will make the solution to this problem. But such a device
clouds denser, cause them to condense into rain cannot represent an accurate picture of air
and settle atmospheric dust enough to clear the pollution for the entire city. And this, according
sky. Researchers at IIT-Kanpur will use an to them, becomes a problem when emergency
aircraft of the National Remote Sensing Agency, measures need to be taken.
an ISRO-affiliated body for the exercise. The
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) will IKEA to launch Better Air Now initiative
provide forecasts on the likelihood of conducive IKEA, the Swedish home furnishing company,
clouds. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) on 20 announced its ‘Better Air Now’ plan to turn rice
November was in the very poor category. straw into a new renewable material source for
its products. The initiative aims at reducing
Odisha CM cancelled brewery project in global air pollution. This project of IKEA will
Dhenkanal begin from India and is focussed on New Delhi,
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik cancelled Gurugram and Faridabad, which are among the
the setting up of a brewery plant in Dhenkanal world’s most air-polluted cities. Earlier IKEA
district. The cancellation is due to the protests was developing air purifying curtains and air
made by the villagers. Mr. Patnaik took the purifiers.
decision based on the recommendations of
Revenue Divisional Commissioner D.V. Swamy, NGT imposed Rs.50 crore fine on Odisha
who probed the felling of trees in Jhinkargadi government
forest. The government went back on its The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the
decision following a massive public outcry. The Punjab government to submit a penalty of Rs.50
brewery plant was to come up on 12 acres of crore as environmental compensation for
forestland in Jhinkargadi. polluting rivers Sutlej and Beas due to industrial
discharge. The bench, headed by Justice AK
Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Goyal, has asked the Punjab government to
System for an entire city recover the fine from industries in two weeks.
Indian cities are finding it difficult to monitor The bench considered several similar cases,
the air pollution for the entire city using a single including the one dealing with the death of fish
monitoring system. Nowadays real-time due to untreated discharge from sugar
monitoring of air quality has become absolutely Industries and passed the penalty to the State
necessary for the timely intervention to check government.
pollution levels. Most Indian cities do not have
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Rise in Indian AC units increases risks in World leaders marked the centenary of the
Climate change Great War Armistice
A report says, by 2022, India is expected to have World leaders gathered to lead global
a fourth of the world’s air conditioning units. commemorations marking 100 years since the
This could immensely affect the climate change end of First World War in Paris. Around 70
and increase the risk rate. Hydrofluorocarbons leaders, including U.S. and Russian Presidents
(HFC) are a family of gases that are largely used Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, marked the
in refrigerants at home and in car air- centenary of the 1918 Armistice in the French
conditioners. This greenhouse gas substantially capital at 11 a.m. local time (10:00 GMT). The
worsen global warming. India, China, the leaders paid homage to the fallen soldiers at the
United States and Europe have committed Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de
themselves to reducing the use of HFC by 85% Triomphe. The memorial ceremony included
by 2045. An estimation says, that about 4.5 classical music and the reading aloud of letters
billion room air-conditioners are to be installed by the First World War soldiers.
by 2050, under a business growth trajectory.
SC scans the ecological damage caused in Adeeb quit KSMDFC
Nainital K.T.Adeeb, a relative of Kerala’s Minister for
Jilling Estate of Nainital district in Uttarakhand Minority Welfare K.T.Jaleel, has resigned from
has come under the scanner of the Supreme the post of General Manager, Kerala State
Court for ecological damage. Jilling estate is a Minorities Development Finance Corporation
home to the threatened species of leopards. It (KSMDFC). This is after the Muslim Youth
had recently shaken under the heavy thuds of an League (MYL) accused the Minister of nepotism
earth mover. Birendra Singh, a resident, filed an in Mr. Adeeb’s appointment. The opposition
appeal in the apex court saying the earth mover alleged that Adeeb was posted without giving
was laying the ground for the construction of at any advertisement and qualifications diluted to
least 44 massive villas and other huge structures, favour him. Mr. Adeeb, a senior manager with
including a helipad, resort cottages and South Indian Bank, has expressed his wish to
hospitality zone. On October 1, a bench of return to his parent organisation.
Justices Rohinton F. Nariman and Indu
Malhotra acknowledged the seriousness of the IMD alerted Tamil Nadu that the Cyclone
issue. The Bench issued a notice to the Gaja will bring rain for 2 days
respondents, including the Ministry of India Meteorological Department (IMD), Under
Environment and Forests. It ordered status quo. the Ministry of Earth Sciences Government of
The case is now due to come on November 16 India, officials said that the deep depression
for hearing. over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into
Cyclone. It has been named ‘Gaja’ by Sri Lanka.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
The cyclone lay 840 km east of Chennai and 880 layout” that is being built on the lake land.
km east of Nagapattinam. North Tamil Nadu Residents and civic body officials scrambled to
and Puducherry are likely to get good rain on stop construction of concrete houses on the lake
November 14 and 15. bund of the encroachment-prone Mestripalya
lake in Koramangala, Bengaluru.
Scientists found microplastics in marine life
Scientists at the Integrated Coastal and Marine Plans for Antarctic sanctuary was shot down
Area Management Project Directorate at The plan to create the world’s largest marine
Chennai’s National Institute of Ocean sanctuary in Antarctic waters was shot down as
Technology recorded fluorescent blue and green the environmentalists denounced a lack of
microplastic particles and fibres are found in scientific foresight and hence the key
species of marine worms. Research says that conservation summit failed to reach a
Microplastics are practically everywhere. consensus. Member states of the organisation
Microplastics are an issue because once inside tasked with overseeing the sustainable
the bodies of marine life forms, they can cause exploitation of the Southern Ocean failed at an
internal lesions. Apart from accumulating annual meeting to agree over the 1.8 million sq
toxins, microplastics can threaten microfauna km maritime protection zone. The proposed
such as plankton (tiny, single-celled creatures sanctuary is around five times the size of
that fish and even whales feed on) that thrive in Germany. The proposed sanctuary would ban
oceans. Now, scientists have recorded these tiny fishing in a vast area in the Weddell sea,
plastic particles, less than one millimetre in protecting key species including seals, penguins
length, closer home, in the marine life off the and whales. A consensus is needed from all 24
Kochi coast. Invertebrates dwelling on the ocean members of the Commission for the
floor as well as fish now house microplastics. Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living
Species found with microplastics are: Resources (CCAMLR) and the European Union.
♦ Marine worms (Sternaspls scutata & Magelona
cinta) Delhi AQI falls to moderate level
♦ Bivalve (Tellina) The National Capital Region’s air quality
♦ Sardines (Mathi) (All fished off Kochi coast) improved significantly and fell to moderate
♦ Anchovies (Natholi) - Punnapra levels. The Delhi Police seized over 800 kg of
banned firecrackers during raids in the north
Bengalurus Mestripalya lake faces a threat and west Delhi. This move is after the order by
again Supreme Court which said only ‘green crackers’
A Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike will be sold in Delhi-NCR during Diwali.
Regional (BBMP) engineer filed a complaint According to the Central Pollution Control
with the Koramangala police against the “illegal Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
(AQI) on 4th November was 171. This range falls greenhouse gas emissions. But shifting to plant-
in the moderate category. Earlier, the AQI based plastics could have less positive effects
ranged 336 on 3rd November. than expected. An increased consumption of
bioplastics in the following years is likely to
DECEMBER 2018 generate increased greenhouse gas emissions
from cropland expansion on a global scale.
NGT appointed committee to look into Plastics cause fossil fuel depletion and climate
hazardous units in Sarita Vihar change. It is estimated that by 2050, plastics
could already be responsible for 15% of the
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) appointed a global CO2 emissions. On the other hand,
joint committee to look into a plea alleging bioplastics are in principle climate-neutral since
operation of hazardous industries in south-east they are based on renewable raw materials such
Delhi’s Sarita Vihar. The instructions came as maize, wheat, and sugarcane. These plants get
after a plea moved by the Aali Vihar Vikas the CO2 that they need from the air through
Manch, which alleged that hazardous dyeing their leaves. The study found that it takes a lot of
units were operating in Bhim Colony, Aali time for the switch to bioplastics to pay off.
Study says Bioplastics may not be a viable China plans to increase green coverage rate to
alternative to plastic 30 percent
Researchers at the University of Bonn in China is planning to increase its green cover by
Germany found that Bioplastics, often promoted building 20,000 national forest villages by 2020
as a climate-friendly alternative to petroleum- in the country. As the country has been facing
based plastics, may lead to an increase in the problem of severe pollution, it has spent over
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
$100 billion on trees and its total forest cover to see emissions rise by 6.3% from 2017.
area is almost 22%. Liu Dongsheng, Deputy Representatives from more than 190 countries
Director of China’s National Forestry and have begun discussions at the U.N. Climate
Grassland Administration said that the country Change Conference (COP 24) in Katowice,
will continue to enhance the ecological Poland. The discussion is to set ways to
environment in villages across the country. It equitably cut carbon emissions. Limiting global
also plans to bring the green coverage rate in warming to the 2015 Paris Agreement goal of
rural areas to 30%. keeping the global temperature increase this
century to well below 2°C, would need carbon
TN government approved Rs.7.60 crore for dioxide emissions to decline by 50% by 2030 and
clearing fallen trees reach net zero by about 2050.
wood splitter machines to clear trees that were Researchers from the University of Exeter and
felled by Cyclone Gaja in delta districts. The Plymouth Marine Laboratory, London working
government would be procuring 500 chainsaws with the Greenpeace Research Laboratories
and 20 winches, 20 wood splitters, 20 shredder- conducted tests on over 100 sea turtles, spanning
cum-pulverizers and 20 wood chipper machines 3 oceans and all 7 species. The test revealed
with trolley and rent them to farmers at nominal microplastics in the guts of every single turtle.
rates or lent to them to clear their farmlands. Synthetic particles were found, the most
The proposal is to pulverize leaves and small common being fibres, which can come from
branches and convert them into organic manure, clothing, tyres and cigarette filters, and
drag trunks out of fields and place them on the equipment such as ropes and nets. Out of the
boundary so that they can be chopped later. studied 102 turtles, more than 800 synthetic
Used the wood chipper machine, the trunks can particles were found. As the researchers only
be pulverized. tested part of each animal’s gut, the total
number of particles is estimated to be about 20
Researchers found that the CO2 levels has times higher. It is not known how synthetic
been increased particles are ingested by turtles, but the likely
Researchers at the University of East Anglia sources are polluted seawater and sediments and
(UEA) and the Global Carbon Project said that eating via prey or plants.
Among all the countries India is the third- Three electric vehicles have been launched at
highest contributor of CO2. India has projected the hilltop of Nandi Hills, Karnataka. These
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
electric vehicles are being maintained by a government failed to comply with the orders, a
private company in association with the State sum of Rs.10 crore per month will be levied. The
government. It will take visitors on a 2 km tour tribunal further, said that a performance
of the historic sites as well as sight-seeing of guarantee of Rs.25 crore has to be provided by
flora and fauna of the area. Currently, the the State government and in case of non-
department runs four electric vehicles in compliance of orders, the amount will be
Lalbagh Botanical gardens. The response has forfeited. The Chief Secretary has been directed
encouraged the department to attempt this in to file a compliance affidavit by March 31, 2019.
other tourist spots.
IMD announced that winter will be warmer Kashmir touched minimum temperature of
than normal this year minus 7 degree Celsius
India Meteorological Department (IMD) The Meteorological Department said that the
announced that winter is likely to be warmer Kashmir Valley has touched the minimum
than average, with fewer ‘cold wave’ days temperature of minus 7° Celsius in Srinagar for
between December and February. The forecast the first time in 28 years. Several waterbodies,
suggested that ‘above normal’ seasonal including the Dal Lake, were covered in sheaths
minimum temperatures (>0.5° C) are most likely of ice. Srinagar’s minimum temperature, which
over most of the subdivisions of the country. was five degrees below normal, plummeted to a
However, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, record minus 7° Celsius for the first time since
Uttarakhand, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and December 7, 1990, when it was minus 8.8°
Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Celsius. The day temperature hovered around 8°
Chhattisgarh in central India, would most likely Celsius.
see ‘normal’ (between 0.5°C and -0.5°C) seasonal Meteorological Department:
minimum temperatures prevailing. The forecast ● Established on: 1875
report was delivered by K.J. Ramesh, Director- ● Type: Government agency
General, IMD. ● Headquarters: New Delhi
● Ministers incharge: Harsh Vardhan,
NGT instructed Delhi government to pay a Union Minister of Earth Sciences
fine of Rs.25 crore ● Agency executive: K.J. Ramesh, Director
A recent study covering 100 km of rivers and Delhi records 2nd Highest Pollution Level in
channels around the Sunderbans found that an 2018
increase in salinity in the water system has While the Central Pollution Control Board
resulted in a decrease in population of the (CPCB) data showed the overall air quality index
Ganges River Dolphins in the region. It also said (AQI) at ‘severe’ level of 450, the Centre-run
that the national aquatic animal is no longer System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting
sighted in the central and eastern parts of the (SAFAR) showed a higher level at 471. This is the
archipelago. The species are available only in the second highest pollution level this year. The
western part of Sunderbans, where the salinity is highest was recorded on November 8, a day after
lower. Ganges River Dolphins has been Diwali, when the AQI touched 571. An AQI
classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List. between 100 to 200 comes under the 'moderate'
The species was once found in tributaries of the category, 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301
Ganga in West Bengal. Researchers and experts and 400 'very poor', while that between 401 and
said the sighting of the dolphin has dipped over 500 is 'severe'.
the years in the 534-km stretch from Farakka
Barrage to Sunderbans.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Genetically Modified plant that cleans indoor agreement, which commits countries to keeping
air a limit on rising global temperatures.
Researchers have Genetically Modified (GM) a Researchers found Global warming causes
ivy (Epipremnum aureum), to remove pollutants Researchers at the University of Exeter in the
inside the house. It has been modified to U.K. and the Marine and Environmental
produce a liver enzyme called cytochrome p450 Sciences Centre in Portugal found that up to
2e1, which is taken from rabbits, that breaks 93% of green turtle hatchlings could be female
down a wide range of pollutants. The by 2100, as climate change causes “feminisation”
researchers put the modified plant and normal of the species. The figures are specific to the
pothos ivy in glass tubes and added either study site in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. The
benzene or chloroform gas into each tube. They sex of turtle hatchlings is determined by
found that the concentration of either gas did temperature, and at present about 52% of
not change for normal plants. However, for the hatching green turtles, one of seven species of
modified plants, the concentration of sea turtle, are female. It has been found that in
chloroform dropped by 82%, and it was almost warmer temperatures predicted by the
undetectable by day six. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
scenarios, 76-93% of hatchlings would be female.
Blind amphibian is named after US President Ridleys gathered for mating in Berhampur,
Donald Trump Odisha
♦ These turtles, along with the related Kemps project was initiated by Natuurmonumenten, a
ridley turtle, are best known for their unique Dutch non-governmental organization working
mass nesting called arribada, where thousands for the preservation of nature. The project cost
of females come together on the same beach to around 60 million euros (USD 68 million).
lay eggs
♦ It falls under Vulnerable Category in the Scientists create bee vaccine to fight off
IUCN Red list microbial disease
A new artificial archipelago of five islets was fungus, or some combination of these factors.
Cabinet approved the submission of India’s Pankaj Advani have been conferred
● Producer of the Year, Classical: David PM Narendra Modi conferred Grand Collar of
Frost Palestine by President Mahmoud Abbas
● This award is granted for recognising
his key contribution to promote
Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards
relations between India and Palestine.
● Indian Parliamentary Group (IPG)
● Modi is the first Indian PM to make an
headed by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra
official visit to Palestine.
Mahajan announced that five members
of parliament (MPs) selected for the
Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards. Umang App named winner of the Best M-
● This includes, Government Service Award
India’s Umang App was named winner of the
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad (2015),
Best M-Government Service Award in the
Trinamool Congress’ Dinesh Trivedi (2016),
Accessible Government category while Aadhar
Manipur’s governor Najma A Heptulla (2013),
won the best emerging technology award at the
BJP’s Lok Sabha member Hukumdev Narayan
World Government Summit 2018 in Dubai,
Yadav (2014) &
where India had the status of ‘Guest of Honour’
five-time Rajya Sabha member Bhartruhari
country.
Mahatab of the Lok Biju Janata Dal (BJD) (2017).
The Aadhaar project was recognized as the
world’s largest biometric enabled identification
MAS Chief Ravi Menon named Best Central
programme which provides access to service
Bank Governor in Asia-Pacific 2018
income tax, passport services, bank accounts,
● MD of the Monetary Authority of
social services benefits aimed at providing 1.2
Singapore (MAS), Ravi Menon, named
billion citizens unique identification card with
the best central bank governor in Asia-
fingerprint, eye-print and other vital data.
Pacific for 2018 by UK-based magazine,
The Banker.
● Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat was
MARCH 2018
also given this award in 2011 when he
was then MAS's managing director.
Oscar Awards 2018: Complete List Of Winners
● Over the last three years, the award
● The 90th Annual Academy Awards
went to the central bankers of Vietnam,
(also known as Oscar Awards) were held
India, and Bangladesh.
at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the
USA.
● The Shape Of Water won the top prize
FEBRUARY 2018
of the night - Best Picture. Jimmy
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Kimmel hosted the ceremony for the ● 19. Best Production Design - The
second year in a row. Shape Of Water
● He has become the first host since Billy ● 20. Best Cinematography - Blade
Crystal to do. Runner
● 1. Best Picture - The Shape Of Water ● 21. Best Makeup And Hair - Darkest
● 2. Best Director - Guillermo del Toro, Hour
The Shape Of Water ● 22. Best Costume Design - Phantom
● 3. Best Actress - Frances Thread
McDormand, Three Billboards Outside ● 23. Best Film Editing - Dunkirk
Ebbing, Missouri ● 24. Best Visual Effects - Blade Runner
● 4. Best Actor - Gary Oldman, Darkest
Hour
BV Doshi becomes first Indian to win Pritzker
● 5. Best Supporting Actress - Allison
Prize
Janney, I, Tonya
● Indian architect, urban planner, and
● 6. Best Supporting Actor - Sam
educator Balkrishna Vithaldas (BV)
Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside
Doshi has won the 2018 Pritzker Prize
Ebbing, Missouri
for ‘deeply personal, responsive, and
● 7. Best Original Screenplay - Get Out
meaningful’ architecture.
● 8. Best Adapted Screenplay - Call Me
● Born in Pune in 1927, Doshi is the oldest
By Your Name
ever recipient of the prize, which is
● 9. Best Animated Feature Film - Coco
regarded as the highest accolade in
● 10. Best Foreign Language Film - A
international architecture and is worth
Fantastic Woman, Chile
$100,000 (£72,000). He is also the first
● 11. Best Original Score - The Shape
winner from India.
Of Water
● 12. Best Original Song - Remember
Me, Coco
Canadian mathematician Langlands wins Abel
● 13. Best Documentary Feature -
Prize
Icarus
● Canadian mathematician Robert
● 14. Best Documentary Short - Heaven
Langlands on March 20 won the
Is A Traffic Jam On The 405
prestigious Abel Prize for developing a
● 15. Best Live Action Short - The
programme connecting representation
Silent Child
theory to number theory.
● 16. Best Animation Short - Dear
● Named after the 19th century
Basketball
Norwegian mathematician Niels
● 17. Best Sound Editing - Dunkirk
Henrik Abel, the prize was established
● 18. Best Sound Mixing - Dunkirk
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Arjuna Awards
2018
S.N Name of the Discipline
S. Name of the Discipline
o Sportsperson
No. Sportsperson
Chemistr a) one half to (a)for the directed Prema Gopalan won Social Entrepreneur of
y Frances H. evolution of enzymes the Year (SEOY) award 2018
Arnold (USA) (b) for the phage
(b) other half display of peptides ● She was awarded for her work in
jointly to and antibodies promoting women’s entrepreneurship
George P. and rural livelihood. She is the founder
Smith (USA) of Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP).
and Sir ● SEOY awards was founded by Schwab
Gregory P. Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
Winter (UK) and Jubilant Bhartia Foundation in 2010.
● She said her books took a long time to ● Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave
complete, and she has often struggled awards to top Ranked State, District and
financially since her first novel, No State with maximum citizen
Bones, was released in 2001. participation based on the National
Swachh Survekshan Gramin 2018
commissioned by Ministry of Drinking
Haryana girl Nishtha Dudeja won Miss Deaf
Water and Sanitation.
Asia 2018 crown
● Overall Ranking:
2. Rewari, Haryana,
● Prime Minister Narendra Modi was
presented the UN's Champions of the 3. Peddapalli, Telangana.
Earth Award by United Nations
Secretary General Antonio Guterres in (C) States with maximum citizen
Darr (1993) and Dilwale Dulhania Le those honored at the ‘Asian of The
Jayenge (1995) Year’ awards at Singapore on 28th
November
● The two were acknowledged for their
N Ram chosen for Raja Ram Mohan Roy
selfless service and bravery in rescue
Award by Press Council of India (PCI)
operations during the Kerala floods.
● The award was presented on November
They were awarded for their death-
16, 2018, on the occasion of the National
defying rescue flying during the floods
Press Day
in Kerala earlier this year
● Award winners under various categories
● Others awarded included the ASEAN
are listed below:
Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian
○ Rural Journalism: Ruby Sarkar,
Assistance on Disaster Management
Chief Correspondent,
(AHA Centre), and Singapore NGO
Deshbandhu, Bhopal & Rajesh
Mercy Relief, who operated amid large-
Parshuram Joshte,Daily
scale flooding, earthquakes and a variety
Pudhari, Ratnagiri
of other disasters
○ Developmental Reporting: VS
Rajesh, Deputy Editor, Kerala
Kaumudi DECEMBER 2018
○ Photojournalism-Single News: Ada Hegerberg won the first ever women's
Subhash Paul, Rashtriya Sahara, Ballon d'Or
Delhi ● Olympique Lyonnais striker Ada
○ Photojournalism-Photo Hegerberg became the first woman to
Feature: Mihir Singh of the be awarded a Ballon d’Or at a grand
Punjab Kesari, Delhi ceremony in Paris
● The 23-year-old was announced the first
ever winner of the Women’s Ballon d’Or
ATP World Tour Awards 2018 announced
by former France international player
David Ginola before she gave an
● The Complete list of Winners of
inspiring speech encouraging more girls
Association of Tennis Professionals
to play football
(ATP) World Tour Awards 2018:
● She has won four league and three
Champions League titles with Lyon
Vijay Varma and P. Rajkumar were awarded
the Asian of The Year awards
named Time magazine’s “Person of the ● Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha
Year” alongside several other journalists Ghulam Nabi Azad and BJP MP
● The magazine also honored Philippine Nishikant Dubey were selected for the
journalist Maria Ressa, Reuters Best Parliamentarians award
reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, ● Four women MPs from both Houses
currently imprisoned in Myanmar and were also be awarded for their
the staff of the Capital Gazette in contribution
Annapolis, Maryland, including five ● While actor-turned-politician Hema
members killed in a June shooting Malini was awarded for her outstanding
work inside and outside Parliament as a
first-time MP, Lok Sabha MP Rama
Manika Batra was awarded ITTF
Devi was selected as the Best Woman
Breakthrough Star Award 2018
Parliamentarian
● DMK leader Kanimozhi was presented
● Manika Batra, India’s star paddler, was
the award for the Best Woman
awarded the International Table Tennis
Parliamentarian in the Rajya Sabha
Federation’s (ITTF) Breakthrough Star
● The Best Debut Woman
Award 2018 during a ceremony at the
Parliamentarian award was be presented
Grand Hyatt Hotel
to Chhaya Verma. The Lokmat
● In the Commonwealth Games 2018 at
Parliamentary Awards is the brainchild
Gold Coast, Manika won four medals
of Lokmat Media group chairman Vijay
including a historic women’s singles
Darda
gold, team gold, women’s doubles silver
(with Mouma Das) and mixed doubles
bronze (with G.Sathiyan) Deepika Padukone named top Indian star of
● She had also bagged the bronze in mixed 2018 by IMDb
doubles (with A. Sharath Kamal) at the ● The '2018 Top 10 Stars of Indian
2018 Asian Games Cinema' list, based on global film and
TV website Internet Movie Database’s
(IMDb) 'StarMeter' stats and page
Eight parliamentarians were honoured by
views, was released
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu
● Shah Rukh Khan was second on the
list, followed by Aamir Khan and
● NCP chief and Rajya Sabha MP Sharad
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Pawar and veteran BJP leader Murli
Manohar Joshi were presented the
Lifetime Achievement award
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Pakistani activist Asma Jahangir wins UN ● The state's Kanyashree scheme for the
Human Rights Prize for 2018 girl child has earned Banerjee much
● Late Pakistan lawyer and human rights acclaim and the highest public service
activist Asma Jahangir was announced honour from the United Nations
as one of the four winners of the UN ● In the field of agriculture, West Bengal
Human Rights Prize for 2018. Her has won five consecutive Krishi
daughter Munizae Jahangir received Karman awards and bagged the IPPAI
the prestigious award on behalf of her Award for rural electrification in the
mother state
● Other winners included: ● Besides Banerjee the Skoch Group, has
also awarded Andhra Pradesh Chief
Women’s rights activist in Tanzania - Rebeca
Minister N Chandrababu Naidu with
Gyumi;
the 'SKOCH Sprinter of the Year' and
Activist for the rights of indigenous Brazilian
Commerce and Industry and civil
communities - Joenia Wapichana and
aviation minister Suresh Prabhu as the
Ireland’s human rights organisation Front Line
'Steady Reformer'
Defenders.
● United Nations Human Rights Prize, an Indian Railways Bags 17 Awards For Energy
award given every five years since 1968. Conservation
● President of the UN General Assembly -
María Fernanda Espinosa. ● Indian Railways bagged 17 awards at
the ‘National Energy Conservation
Awards (NECA) 2018’ held in New Delhi
Mamata Banerjee awarded the Skoch Chief
Minister of the Year 2018 Award ● Under ‘transport‘ category, Indian
● West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Railways obtained 10 awards for the
Banerjee has been chosen as the best subsector railway station. Vidisha
chief minister of the country by the railway station in Madhya Pradesh won
Skoch Group the first prize
● The chief minister of Bangla was given
● Under ‘building‘ category, Indian
the award on the basis of the State’s
Railways got three awards for subsector
performance as measured on five
Railway hospitals. Railway hospitals of
parameters – governance, culture,
Izzatnagar division won the first prize
finance, urban development and rural
development
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
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Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
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Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Director Offshore
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Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
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Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Chief Appoint Chief Justice She is the Rishi CEO & Tata AIA His
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2018. IRDAI
(Insurance
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Financial
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Group Sharma ed Bajaj Auto Bajaj Auto
(FIG) for Ltd. MD, said
Asia- that the
Pacific. He post of
has been CCO was
working created to
with complemen
HSBC’s t the offices
Indian of the
operations Executive
since 1991. Director
(ED) and
Chief
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Subhash Appoint New IRDAI Subhash Martin Appoint Peru's New Martin
Chandra ed Chairman Chandra Vizcarra ed President Vizcarra
Khuntia Khuntia, a was sworn
1981-batch in as the
Indian country's
Administra new
tive president
Services of Peru.
(IAS) Before the
officer who appointme
was a nt, he was
former Peru's first
Karnataka vice
Chief president
Secretary and
appointed ambassador
as to Canada.
Chairman He has
of replaced
Insurance Pedro
Regulatory Pablo
and Kuczynski
Developme who has
nt resigned
Authority from the
of India post
(IRDAI). recently.
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
consultant Indian
of High
Vizhinjam Commissio
Internation ner to
al container Malaysia in
terminal the past.
company
and Indian
Maritime
Association
Co-
President.
Nightingale of Assam singer Dipali Borthakur Former US President George HW Bush passed
passed away at 77 away at 94
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
● His Gandhian mission was viewed as a ● He was conferred with the Padma
front for espionage by New Delhi and he Bhushan in 2008 and was bestowed with
was often told, at gunpoint, to leave the the honour of Rajasthan Ratna in 2014.
Naga domain. The Naga Hoho, the apex
body of all tribes in Nagaland, mourned
Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang dies aged
Mr.Thakkar’s death.
61
● Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio
● Before being appointed Vietnam's
conveyed his condolence and said that
President in 2016, Quang served as the
Mr.Thakkar made significant
Public Security Minister.
contributions towards the betterment of
● He was also a member of the
society.
Communist Party of Vietnam's
Politburo, the party's top decision-
Jasdev Singh, an eminent commentator, making body.
passed away ● Vice-President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh
● Jasdev Singh, the renowned Hindi will take over as acting president until a
commentator, passed away 26th new president is chosen by the
September due to prolonged illness. communist party's Central Committee
● He was 87 and is survived by a son and and voted on by the National Assembly.
daughter. Jasdev grew up in Jaipur. He
started his career with All India Radio’s
Anna Rajam Malhotra, first Indian woman
(AIR) Jaipur station in 1959.
IAS officer, passed away
● He was impressed by the renowned
● Anna Rajam Malhotra, first Indian
Melville de Mello’s non-stop seven-hour
woman IAS officer after Independence,
English commentary during Mahatma
died in Mumbai on 17th September.
Gandhi’s funeral. He decided to be a
● She was 91 years old. The officer worked
Hindi commentator.
under seven Chief Ministers and at the
● His career spanned five decades. Jasdev
Central government.
covered nine Olympics, eight hockey
● Rajaji had cited Ms.Malhotra as an
World Cups and more than 45 Republic
example of progressive women. The
Day and Independence Day celebrations
officer served in the Madras State under
for All India Radio and Doordarshan.
then Chief Minister C.Rajagopalachari.
● Jasdev received the Padma Shri in 1985
● She also served with Rajiv Gandhi, when
and the Olympic Order in 1988 for his
as an MP in 1982.
contribution to the Olympic movement.
● She also accompanied former Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi on an eight-
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
JULY 2018
Five time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi passes away
World's Oldest Person, Chiyo Miyako, died at
● DMK chief, Muthuvel Karunanidhi,
age 117 in Japan
passes away at 94. He was made Chief
Minister of Tamil Nadu for the first
● Miyako, born on May 2, 1901, became
time in 1969.
the world’s oldest person in April after
● His five reigns as chief minister spanned
Nabi Tajima, a fellow Japanese national
from 1969-1971, 1971-1976, 1989-1991,
from the southern Kikai island, died at
1996-2001 and 2006-2011.
age 117.
● He also became a popular screenwriter
● Guinness World Records has confirmed
for Tamil films.
that she was the world’s oldest person.
● After independence, Periyar’s
● Her replacement is yet to be announced
movement split into two. Karunanidhi
by Guinness, but according to media
followed Annadurai, establishing the
reports, the new oldest person is Kane
Davidar Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in
Tanaka, a 115-year-old woman who lives
1949.
in a nursing home in Fukuoka, a city in
● He was the party’s first treasurer and
southern Japan. ♦ The world’s oldest
was elected to the assembly in 1957.
man, Masazo Nonaka, 113-year-old lives
in Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.
♦ Jeanne Louise Calment from France
Former PM Indira Gandhi's aide RK Dhawan
holds the Guinness World Record for
passes away aged 81
the oldest person ever. Born in 1875, she
● Senior Congress leader and long-time
was 122 when she died in 1997.
aide of former Prime Minister Indira
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
only player since the turn of the 20th to prolonged illness at a private hospital
century to win golf's oldest major in Indore.
championship three times in a row. ● She was 71.
● He passed away at home in Melbourne ● Belonging to a family of freedom
surrounded by family on 20 June. fighters, Singh was appointed as the
governor of Himachal Pradesh in 2010.
Veteran journalist Adiraju Venkateswara Rao
● Prior to that, she had served as the
passes away
chairman of the National Scheduled
Tribes Commission (NCTC).
● 80 year Old Veteran journalist and
author Adiraju Venkateswara Rao
MAY 2018
passed away in Hyderabad, Telangana.
● His native is Khammam district. In a
Alan Bean fourth man To Walk On The Moon
career spanning over five-and-a-half
Died
decades, he worked for several Telugu
● Former US astronaut Alan Bean, who
and English dailies and news agencies
was the fourth man to walk on the Moon
including Andhra Jyothi, Udayam,
died in Texas, United States.
Deccan Chronicle, Indian Express,
● He was 86.
Himachal Times and Hindustan
● Bean went into space twice, the first
Samachar at Hyderabad and Delhi.
time in November 1969 as the lunar
module pilot on the Apollo 12 moon-
landing mission.
'Rasaraj' Narayan Prasad Singh Passed Away
● In 1973 he was commander of the
● Odisha's most popular lyricist, Narayan
second crewed flight to Skylab-
Prasad Singh was popularly known as
America's first space station.
'Rasaraj' passed away at his residence in
● Bean retired from NASA in 1981 and
Bhubaneswar. Singh was 86.
carved a successful career as an artist.
● Born on May 28th, 1933 at Koeli village,
● His paintings, inspired by space travel,
Singh earned his name in the world of
featured lunar boot prints as well as
Odia music.
small pieces of his mission patches
● He was the lyricist of several popular
which were stained by Moondust.
melodious songs in Odia cinema.
● Bairagi, a Lok Sabha member between ● Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice
1984 and 1989 and also a former Rajya Rajinder Sachar passed away. He was 94.
Sabha MP. ● Sachar, who was Chief Justice from
● He was 87. August 6, 1985, to December 22, 1985,
● He wrote several Hindi poems, among has since his retirement been associated
which, "Jhar gaye paat, bisar gayi tehni" with the People’s Union for Civil
is considered a gem by many Hindi Liberties, a rights group.
poets. He was the chairperson of a committee
set up by the previous UPA government
Eminent Economist Ashok Mitra Passes Away
to look at the social, economic and
● The first Finance Minister in the Left
educational status of Muslims in India.
Front government in West Bengal
Ashok Mitra passed away in Kolkata. Veteran Journalist S Nihal Singh Passes Away
● He was 90.
● Veteran journalist S Nihal Singh passed
● Besides serving the State Government,
at the age of 88 following an illness.
he also worked with the Central
● He was suffering from kidney-related
Government as the Chief Economic
ailments.
Adviser and was a member of Rajya
● Nihal Singh had worked with several
Sabha.
leading newspapers including The
APRIL 2018 Indian Express, The Statesman and
Khaleej Times.
Veteran Journalist T V R Shenoy Passes Away
● Veteran journalist and columnist TVR MARCH 2018
Shenoy passed away at Manipal Hospital
Pulitzer Prize Winner Les Payne Dies
in Karnataka.
● Shenoy was famous for his deeper ● Les Payne, a Pulitzer Prize-winning
analysis and narrative style writing in journalist, and columnist for Newsday
his illustrious career. who fiercely championed racial equality
● Shenoy was awarded the prestigious passed away.
Padma Bhushan award in 2003. ● He was 76.
● He won Pulitzer Prize for “Heroin Trail”
series in 1974.
Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice
FEBRUARY 2018
Rajinder Sachar Passes Away
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
29 International Day of UN
May Peacekeepers;
The theme is ‘UN Peacekeepers: 70 23 International Widows' Day
June Theme for 2018 is 'Beat Plastic The 2018 theme of the Day is the
July Persons
14 Hindi Divas
AUGUST 2018 Septe
mber
7 National Handloom Day
15 Engineer's Day - Mokshagundam
Augu
Septe Visvesvaraya's birthday is celebrated;
st
mber
9 International Day of the World's International Day of Democracy.
Augu Indigenous Peoples ;
st The theme was ‘Indigenous peoples’
migration and movement’. 21 International Day of Peace;
Septe Theme is “The Right to Peace - The
10 World Biofuel Day
mber Universal Declaration of Human
Augu
Rights at 70”.
st
27 World Tourism Day
19 World Humanitarian Day;
Septe
Augu The campaign launched on World
mber
st Humanitarian Day is "#NotATarget".
28 World Rabies Day
Septe
29 National Sports Day
mber
Augu
st
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
INDEX/LIST
Inclusive India’s rank - 47;
Internet
Index by the
INDEX/LIST Remarks
Economist
Intelligence
JANUARY 2018
Unit (EIU)
the 81st rank with visa-free or Business Narayen, the Chief Executive
Index for the Bangalore tops and Mumbai Forbes India Salman Khan has been
most in the second position. Celebrity 100 named the highest-earning
congested List 2018 celebrity in India for the third
city in India time in a row by Forbes, with
earnings of ₹253.25 crore.
World Bank's India’s Rank - 77 out of 190
The second spot was captured
Ease of countries in 2018.
by Indian cricket team
Doing
skipper Virat Kohli, with Rs
Business New Zealand topped the list,
228.09 crore.
Index 2019 followed by Singapore,
Denmark, and Hong Kong.
Deepika Padukone was
World's 100 Merkel tops for the eighth 2018 Singapore and Germany ranks
Powerful
Women list Indian’s in the list are:-
● HCL Tech Vice
Chairperson Roshni FESTIVALS
Nadar Malhotra
(ranked 51st), JANUARY 2018
● Biocon Chairperson
Kiran Mazumdar- Goa to Host 3rd Edition of Science Film
Shaw (ranked 60), Festival
● HT Media MD
Shobhana Bhartia
● Goa will be hosting the third edition of
(ranked 88th), and
the Science Film Festival of India in
● actress Priyanka
January 2018.
Chopra (placed at 94)
● The festival, titled SCI-FFI Goa, is being
organized by the state-based Vidnyan
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
MAY 2018
Popularly known as the ‘Festival of Chariots’, The Kandy Esala Perahera also known as 'The
Rath Yatra festival in honour of Puri’s Lord Festival of the Tooth' is a grand festival
Jagannath is one of the most awaited festivals of celebrated in July or August in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Orissa and is falling on July 14. This yatra is This historical procession is held annually to pay
conducted from Jagannath temple to Gundicha homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord
temple. Apart from Indian, this festival attracts Buddha, which is housed at the Sri Dalada
a large number of international tourists in Puri. Maligawa in Kandy.
Festival, "Behdienkhlam", held every year at the A 10-day pineapple festival showcasing different
small peripheral town of Jowai, Meghalaya. varieties of the fruit has been organised in
Union Minister of State for Development of Manipur's Thayong village, which produces 20-
North Eastern Region (I/C), Dr. Jitendra Singh 30 tonnes of pineapple in a year. The Thayong
attended the Festival. The festival witnessed a village has a population of approximately 750
colourful display of 12 rots or ‘rath’ at the sacred people with more than 90 percent of their major
pool, Aitnar. sources of income lying in farming of pineapple.
AUGUST 2018
SEPTEMBER 2018
International Water Colour Festival in Ranchi
Five-day long 'International water colour Eight-day long Indra Jatra festival begins in
promote the rich art and culture of Jharkhand. Indra Jatra festival is one of the most exciting
This is the first time in the country that and revered festivals of the Newari community
international artists will paint together. In this of the Kathmandu Valley. During the
program 24 countries of the world, 25 states of celebrations of this festival dedicated to Indra,
India and 24 districts of the state are the god of rain and king of heaven, Lakhe
participating. On this occasion, the artist dances are performed on the streets of
Victoria from Ukraine and artist Uttam Kathmandu.
Karmakar from Italy did the live painting and
presented it to the Chief Minister Raghubar Das. Jaipur Literature Festival Begins In Houston
and writer Shashi Tharoor discuss his book About Gwalior State: Madhya Pradesh
“Why i am a Hindu” with writer Namita Region:Gird
Gokhale. District:Gwalior
Founded by:Suraj Sen (according to a legend)
New Website for 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
2019 Inaugurated Kati Bihu festival celebrated across Assam
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj, Assam celebrated its 3rd Bihu festival known as
along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi the ‘Kati Bihu’ festival across the state. The
Adityanath inaugurated the website for the 15th name of the other 2 Bihu festivals is: Rongali
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019, and Bohagi Bihu. The festival derives its name
www.pbdindia.gov.in. The online registration from the Assamese month of Kati.
for participation has started for this biennial
event. Seventh edition of Old World Theatre festival
will commence from October 20th
Festival of Nuakhai celebrated in Odisha It is organized by India Habitat Centre. It is
Nuakhai Bhetghat is the reap celebration of being recognized by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece
individuals of Western Odisha. The festival of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of
bears significance among the farmer community Humanity”. Also for the first time, a National
as they perform puja on their farmland to thank Theatre Live Broadcast of “Julie” by British
‘Mother Earth’ for being so bountiful. theatre director Carrie Cracknell will be seen. It
On Ganesh Chaturthi, 580-kg laddu prepared will showcase 15 plays on a pan-Indian
in Hyderabad constellation of original scripts from Chennai,
The sweetmeat was prepared by Suruchi Food at Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai,
flour, 25 kg cashew, going into its making The National Khadi Festival 2018 is being
besides other ingredients. organised by Khadi and Village Industries
Commission (KVIC) to promote Khadi products.
OCTOBER 2018 The festival was inaugurated by Union Minister
for Micro Small & Medium Enterprises, Giriraj
Gwalior Hosts 4-Day International Dance Singh in Mumbai on the occasion of Gandhi
Festival Jayanti 2018. The main aim of the festival is to
Dance troupes from Bulgaria, Turkey and Sri promote the products of cottage industry and
Lanka, apart from 25 teams from India, create awareness regarding the art of states.
The International Gita Festival, 2018, will be the members of Hima Khyrim, a sub-tribe of the
About 200 famous painters from across the The 15-day Aadi Mahotsav festival is beginning
country would reach Kurukshetra to draw in the national capital Delhi. Briefing media,
paintings on the walls of Kurukshetra on the Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram more than 600
theme of the Mahabharata under the 'paint-the- artisans from 23 states will participate in the
wall' competition. The objective behind this event. The theme of the festival is 'celebration
event is to spread the message of Gita to the of the spirit of tribal culture, craft, cuisine and
world. commerce'. It will feature exhibition-cum-sale
of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric,
Open Forum at International Film Festival of jewelry and much more through one hundred
India to begin in Goa stalls. The highlights of the festival will be a
It provides a platform to filmmakers, actors, jury fashion show for tribal textiles and tribal
organizers of film festivals from India and The 4th edition of annual “Aadi Mahotsav”, a
abroad to exchange their views in a free and National Tribal Festival organized by Ministry
frank manner. The topic for today’s Open Forum of Tribal Affairs in association with TRIFED
is the role of film festivals in promoting film and Ministry of Culture to celebrate and cherish
culture and the need for spreading film festivals the spirit of tribal culture, craft, cuisine and
across the country. The Speakers include veteran commerce held at Dilli Haat, Shri Aurobindo
filmmaker Rahul Rawail, IFFI Head Chaitanya Marg, INA, Delhi. This year, more than 600
Prasad, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) Vice tribal artisans from 23 states, 80 tribal chefs
Chairman Rajendra Talak, OSD to IFFI Senthil hailing from 20 States besides 14 cultural
Rajan and Karnataka Chalchitra Academy troupes comprising more than 200 artists are
The UN Postal System has issued two stamps year, boosting the local economy by 300 per cent.
with diyas in celebration of Diwali as "the quest Meghalaya Chief Minister - Conrad K Sangma
for the triumph of good over evil". The stamps
are in the $1.15 denomination, which is the basic DECEMBER 2018
rate for international air mail letters.
International Camel festival to be held at
New York's Empire State Building lit up for Bikaner from 12 Jan 2019
Diwali for 1st time The 26th International Camel Festival will be
held in Bikaner, Rajasthan on January 12 and 13,
New York's iconic Empire State Building was lit 2019. On the second day of the festival, heritage
in orange for the first time to celebrate Diwali. It walk will be organized from the Rampuriya
was organised by the Federation of Indian Haveli to Bikaji's Tekri, in which the tourists
Associations in cooperation with the Empire will be welcomed by the city's architecture, art,
State Realty Trust. Miss America 2014 Nina culture, customs and recipes.
government's tourism department and Dr Ram dignitaries. Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal
Manohar Lohia (RML) Avadh University, will attend the event. Adventure sports, food
Faizabad, for over 3,01,152 earthen lamps mart, cultural events, traditional games are
illuminated on the bank of River Sarayu on being organized in the 12-day long event.
Chhoti Diwali as part of Deepotsava. The feat Karavali Utsav to be inaugurated on 21st
South Korean first lady Kim-Jung Sook. The Karavali Utsav to be inaugurated on 21st
December in Mangaluru. A host of cultural
Shillong to host Indian Cherry Blossom activities are set to enthral people during the
Festival from Nov 14 festival. The district in-charge Minister U.T.
Shillong is set to host the second edition of the Khader will inaugurate the exhibition at a
India International Cherry Blossom Festival formal function at 6 p.m., music director
between November 14 and 17. This is the world’s Gurukiran will inaugurate the festival at 6.30
only autumn cherry blossom festival. This p.m. at Karavali Grounds. Utsav cultural
festival attracted more than one lakh visitors last committee president Narendra L. Nayak a
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
variety of cultural programmes are slated for 2) Which country joined as 43rd Member of
nine days from Saturday at the Karavali Australia Group?
Exhibition Grounds and Kadri Park between 6
p.m. and 9.15 p.m. Cultural programmes, the A. India
main attraction of the festival, will be organized B. Indonesia
at Karavali Grounds as well as Kadri Park. C. Albania
D. South Africa
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
inaugurated the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland Answer A
Nagaland at Naga Heritage Village Kisama on draft of Supreme Court monitored National
1st December 2018. More than 60,000 people Register of Citizens (NRC)?
Pradesh, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir. second state in the Northeast to be declared
Open Defecation Free (ODF)?
Festival? C. Nagaland
D. Arunachal Pradesh
A. Pakistan
B. Iran Answer D
C. Australia
D. China 5) Who won the Ranji Trophy title for the first
time by defeating Delhi in the final match?
Answer D
A. Salil Mishra
B. Vijay Hazare
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Answer C A. Assam
B. Manipur
6) Uttarayan festival is celebrated in which C. Mizoram
state? D. Nagaland
A. Gujarat Answer A
B. Rajasthan
C. Uttar Pradesh 10) To make political funding more transparent,
D. Punjab electoral bonds scheme was introduced by the
government. These bonds would be valid for
Answer A how many days?
Answer D
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Answer A
Answer D
22) The UIDAI launched 'Virtual ID' to reduce
19) According to All India Survey on Higher privacy issues, which an Aadhaar-card holder
Education (AISHE), which Indian state topped can generate from UIDAI website. This Virtual
in terms of Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in ID will have how many digits?
higher education?
A. 6-digits
A. Kerala B. 9-digits
B. Tamil Nadu C. 15-digits
C. Karnataka D. 16-digits
D. Andhra Pradesh
Answer D
Answer B
23) Which is the first railway station in the
20) Which is the first State in India to launch country to have Sanitary Napkin Vending
High Risk Pregnancy (HRP) Portal which helps Machine?
in early identification of high-risk pregnant
cases, ensures timely referral of such cases to the A. Mumbai Station
civil hospitals for further management and B. Bhopal Station
delivery by specialists? C. Kolkata Station
D. Pune Station
A. Punjab
B. Assam Answer B
C. Kerala
D. Haryana 24) China had set up the world’s first 3D-printed
bus stop in which of its city?
Answer D
A. Shanghai
21) Which company launched the world’s B. Beijing
thinnest laptop? C. Chongqing
D. Anshan
A. Acer
B. Apple Answer A
C. Toshiba
D. HP 25) Who was appointed the new chairman of
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)?
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
D. Assam
A. Dr. Aadharsh
B. Dr. Shankar Answer D
C. Dr. Sivan K
D. Dr. Bala 29) What is the rank of India on Global
Manufacturing Index, released by World
Answer C Economic Forum (WEF)?
A. Russia Answer A
B. India
C. Argentina 30) What is the contribution of India to the
D. South Africa United Nations’ youth mission?
Answer A
A. 75th
39) What is the rank of India on the annual B. 81st
‘Inclusive Development Index 2018’ released by C. 84th
World Economic Forum (WEF)? D. 91st
A. 60th Answer B
B. 62nd
C. 65th 43) Who has become the first female
D. 70th cinematographer to be nominated for Oscar
awards?
Answer B
A. B R Vijayalakshmi
40) Which city of Malta was officially B. Deepti Gupta
inaugurated as the European Capital of Culture? C. Anjuli Shukla
D. Rachel Morrison
A. Mosta
B. Birgu Answer D
C. Mdina
D. Valletta 44) When is the National Voters’ Day was
observed all over India?
Answer D
A. 25th January
41) Japan has sanctioned the Official B. 22th January
Development Assistance loan for Yen 45 billion C. 26th January
for which Indian state’s Water Supply and D. 24th January
Sewerage Project (Phase 3)?
Answer A
A. Andhra Pradesh
B. Karnataka 45) India with which country launched the first
C. Telangana ever set of commemorative postage stamps to
D. Gujarat highlight the bilateral ties between them with
the theme of ‘ancient architecture’?
Answer B
A. Thailand
42) What is the position of India in 2018 Global B. Poland
Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI)? C. Vietnam
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
A. Karnataka Answer B
B. Uttar Pradesh
C. Maharashtra 57) When is the World Cancer Day observed all
D. Punjab over the world?
59) Which State Government, in association with 62) Who was re-elected as the Bangladesh
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) President for another five-year term?
launched ‘DASTAK’, a door to door campaign to
eradicate deadly Acute Encephalitis (AE) A. Mohammad Shafiul Alam
Syndrome and Japanese Encephalitis (JES) B. M. Morshed Khan
disease from the state? C. Abdul Hamid
D. Saifur Rahman
A. Gujarat
B. Odisha Answer C
C. Maharashtra
D.Uttar Pradesh 63) Who became the first Indian female cricketer
to score 200 ODI (One Day International)
Answer D wickets?
61) Which is the first country in the world to A. Sohini Roy Chowdhury
legalise and then repeal same-sex marriage, as B. Angeline Jerald
Legislation replacing same-sex marriage with C. Simran Nia Roy
domestic partnerships? D. Suhaelina Suresh
A. Cuba Answer A
B. Jamaica
C. Haiti 65) According to a report by New World Wealth,
D. Bermuda which city of India holds a place in the top 15
wealthiest cities globally?
Answer D
A. Pune
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
A. NELCO Answer C
B. Huawei
C. Aplab 85) In which state, the world’s largest solar park
D. Valiant ‘Shakti Sthala’ was inaugurated?
Answer B A. Kerala
B. Rajasthan
82) Which country was banned by International C. Karnataka
Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2014, to which, D. Madhya Pradesh
now the membership was restored in 2018?
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Answer C
A. Rs 2500 crore
86) Which state government launched 'Khushi', a B. Rs 2000 crore
scheme that offers free sanitary pads to 17 lakh C. Rs 1500 crore
girl students in the state? D. Rs 1000 crore
A. Goa Answer D
B. Bihar
C. Punjab 90) As per a survey by Airports Council
D. Odisha International (ACI), which Airport has been
rated as the world number one among airports
Answer D handling more than 40 million passengers per
annum?
87) When is the “World Wildlife Day” celebrated
all over the world? A. Bilbao Airport, Spain
B. Carrasco International Airport, Uruguay
A. 28th February C. Changi International Airport, Singapore
B. 3rd March D. Indira Gandhi International Airport, India
C. 2nd March
D. 1st March Answer D
Answer C A. Poverty
B. Tuberculosis
94) Which country won the "Best Exhibitor C. HIV/AIDS
Award" at 2018 ITB – Berlin? D. Diabetes
A. Canada Answer B
B. India
C. Malaysia 98) After implementation of 7th Central Pay
D. Australia Commission recommendations, ceiling of
gratuity amount for central government
Answer B employees was increased from Rs 10 lakh to
Rs_____________?
95) Which country won the Sultan Azlan Shah
Cup 2018 title, in Malaysia? A. 1B.5 lakh
B. 15 lakh
A. Australia C. 20 lakh
B. Libya D. 30 lakh
C. Switzerland
D. USA Answer C
Answer A
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
Answer A A. Hansa-2
B. Hansa-3
100) Which country informed the UN Secretary- C. Hansa-4
General its withdrawal from the International D. Hansa-13
Criminal Court (ICC)?
Answer B
A. Bahrain
B. Kuwait 104) Which fruit was declared as official fruit of
C. Oman Kerala?
D. Philippines
A. Apple
Answer D B. Orange
C. Papaya
101) KUSUM scheme is related to which of the D. Jackfruit
following?
Answer D
A. Solar Power Plants and Farmers
B. Oil Seed Production and Petroleum 105) BJP has won how many Rajya Sabha seats
C. Cotton Production out of the 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh in the Rajya
D. Fish Production Sabha elections held on 23rd March 2018?
Answer D A. 5
B. 6
102) Which is the most expensive city in the C. 9
world as per Worldwide Cost of Living 2018 D. 8
report by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)?
Answer C
A. Paris
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Answer D Answer B
115) Which country has become the world’s 118) Who has been appointed as Nasscom
second largest producer of crude steel in chairman for 2018-19?
February 2018, according to Steel Users
Federation of India (SUFI)? A.Azim Premji
B.Vinay Mittal
A.India C.Rishad Premji
B.China D.Riaz Khan
C.United States
D.Japan Answer C
121) What was the official motto for the 2018 A.Indu Bhushan
Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, B.Indu Malhotra
Queensland, Australia? C.Roshini Malhotra
D.Seethalaxmi Parida
A.Dream High as the stars
B.Share the Dream Answer B
C.Reach the stars
D.Set new highs 125) What is the rank of India out of 180
countries in the 2018 ‘World Press Freedom
Answer B Index’ released by Reporters Sans Frontières
(RSF), also known as Reporters Without
122) _____ Smart City has become the first city Borders?
in India to function on 100% renewable energy
during daytime? A.133
B.147
A.Noida Smart City C.138
B.Diu Smart City D.115
C.Bangalore Smart City
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Answer C Answer: A
A.Mohamed Salah
B.Eden Hazard Answer: A
C.N'Golo Kante
D.Stanley Matthews 139) Which state Chief Minister Yogi
Adityanath cut shorts Karnataka campaign to
visit storm affected ?
Answer: A
A.Uttar Pradesh
136) Whom Cultural Festival In Egypt To B.Kerala
Commemorate 157th Birth Anniversary? C.Tamil Nadu
D.Andhra Pradesh
A.Rabindranath Tagore
B.Arundhati Roy Answer: A
C.Kiran desai
D.Amrita Pritam 140) Which person On 5-Day Visit To South
America recently?
Answer: A
A.Shri Venkaiah Naidu
B.Shri Ramesh Gupta
C.Shri Dinesh Gupta
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B.Shri Suresh Gupta 151) Who was honoured at Cannes Film Festival
C.Shri Vijay Kumar recently?
D.Shri Dharmendra Pradhan
A.Smt Late Sridevi
Answer: D B.Smt Madhuri Diskidhi
C.Shri Vivek misra
148) Which country is the Largest Remittance- D.Shri Nitya Bhaskar
Receiving Country In World ?
Answer: A
A.India
B.Pakistan 152) Under which scheme First Para-National
C.Iran Games recently?
D.Indonesia
A.Khelo India Scheme
Answer: A
B.Jan Dhan Yojana
149) Whom to Serve second term as ICC C.Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
Chairman recently? D.Suraksha Scheme
A.Shivangi Pathak
Answer: A B.Bachendri Pal
C.Nungshi & Tashi Malik
150) Which place President Ram Nath Kovind D.Anshu Jamsenpa
visits exhibition on DAE at BARC ?
Answer: A
A.Mumbai
B.Chennai 154) Which state to Build India's Next
C.Hyderabad Generation Defence Aircraft recently?
D.Secunderabad
A.Tamil Nadu
Answer: A B.Kerala
C.Andhra Pradesh
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162) Which place Islamic State attacks kill 22 C.Space Applications Centre (SAC)
pro-regime fighters ? D.Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)
A.Syria Answer: A
B.Pakistan
C.Indonesia 166) Who scores 1st hat-trick of FIFA World
D.India Cup 2018 ?
A.Norway Answer: A
B.Pakistan
C.Indonesia 167) How many states Sign MoU For
D.South Arabia Implementing Ayushman Bharat - NHP Mission
?
Answer: A
A.20
164) Which state Government takes number of B.18
initiatives to preserve, promote cultural heritage C.16
? D.25
A.Tripura Answer: A
B.Indonesia
C.Iran 168) Which company was Honoured With
D.Saudi Arabia Japan's Nikkei Asia Prize?
A.Punjab Answer: D
B.Haryana
C.Gujarat 174) Which Company acquired Social Learning
D.Bihar Platform “Flipgrid”?
Answer: A A.Cognizant
B.Infosys
171) Who has been appointed as Uber’s new C.Dell
President of India and South Asia region? D.Microsoft
A.Aaron Finch
B.James Hopes 188) Piyush Goyal launched the 'Khan Prahari'
C.Michael Hussey App, which is related to
D.Stuart Clark
A.reporting illegal coal mining
Answer: A B.strengthen and empower women and child
C.providing information on education and
185) A conference of Power Ministers of States & offering guidance to students D.providing clean
Union Territories was held at drinking water
A.Shimla Answer: A
B.Vadodara
C.Bhubaneswar 189) Under Reliance Jio’s 'Monsoon Hungama'
D.Amritsar offer, customers can now exchange their
existing old feature phones for a new JioPhone
Answer: A by paying
A.SAAB Gripen
190) The 67th Plenary meeting of the North B.Eurofighter Typhoon
Eastern Council held in C.Dassault Rafale
D.Boeing F-18
A.Shillong
B.Agartala Answer: A
C.Lucknow
D.Patna
194) As of now, India has how many operational
Answer: A satellites in space?
A.Afghanistan Answer: A
B.Pakistan
C.China 195) FIFA World Cup 2018 is currently ongoing
D.Nepal in
Answer: A A.Argentina
B.Germany
192) How many countries will take part in the C.France
RIMPAC drill this year? D.Russia
A.23 Answer: D
B.26
C.20 196) Scientists recently discovered world's oldest
D.25 colours from
A.Iran Answer: A
B.Turkey
C.China 206) Which free software has been launched by
D.Sri Lanka the Union IT Ministry for converting scanned
printed Indian Language documents into a fully
Answer: B editable text format?
Answer: A A.Punjab
B.Bihar
204) What is NASAMS-II? C.Assam
D.West Bengal
A.An advanced air defence system
B.A new technology to treat cancer Answer: A
C.Government's step for blockchain technology
D.Cyber technology 208) Which of the following firm makes history
by becoming first US company to reach $1
Answer: A trillion market value?
Answer: B A. 400
B. 540
225) Which among the following state C. 730
governments does not qualify for the special D. 600
scheme that the government is going to
introduce to tackle air pollution? Answer: D
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Delhi 229) The government would be setting up an
C. Punjab institute to train manpower for high-speed
D. Haryana railway project in which city?
Answer: A
A. Ahmedabad
226). How much fund has the Union B. Surat
Government allocated for its new ‘Operation C. Pune
Green’ mission ? D. Vadodara
A.1000 crore
B. 680 crore Answer D
C. 500 crore
D. 1300 crore 230) What is the salary of President as per
Union Budget 2018?
Answer: C
A.Rs 5 lakh
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B. Rs 4 lakh
C. Rs 3 lakh Answer C
D. Rs 2 lakh
234) Which scheme will be launched this year as
Answer A per Budget 2018 to improve the Health Sector of
the country?
231) As per Union Budget 2018, the Customs
duty on mobile phones and parts of televisions A. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana
will be increased to what per cent? B. National Health Policy 2018
C. Swasth Bharat
A.20 per cent D. National Health Protection Scheme
B. 25 per cent
C. 30 per cent Answer D
D. 35 per cent
235) As per Budget 2018, which three firms will
Answer A be merged and then listed?
A. Rs 50000 Answer C
B. Rs 75000
C. Rs 100000 237) Recently, the Centre launched SATAT
D. Rs 125000 initiative to promote Compressed Bio-Gas as an
Fresherslive.com Current Affairs Annual Edition 2018
A. Sufficient Alternative Towards Affordable 240) Which of the following countries hosted the
Transportation 6th East Asia Summit- Economic Ministers’
B. Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Meeting (EAS-EMM)?
Transportation
C. Service Assistant To Affordable A.USA
Transportation B.Singapore
Transportation D.Vietnam
Answer B Answer A
Answer D C. Mumbai
D. Bengaluru
245) .Who among the following will be honoured
with the Sarala Award-2018? Answer A
A.Dr Gaurav Singh 249) How much amount has been provided by
Prafulla Das Germany to India for Clean Ganga Mission?
Satrughna Pandav
Achyutananda Pati A. Rs.800 crore
B. Rs.870 crore
Sweden
A. Dollar
Japan
B. Peso
China
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Answer B A.Russia
B.China
251) The 22-year old Indian Amit Panghal C.Japan
defeated reigning Olympic champion Hasanboy D.USA
Dusmatov to claim the gold medal in _______.
Answer C
A. 49kg boxing
B. 52kg boxing 255) Which of the following is India's 2nd largest
C. 55kg boxing metro rail network?
D. 57kg boxing A.Mumbai
B.Hyderabad
Answer A C.Chennai
D.Kolkatta
252) Who is appointed as the CEO of Vedanta
Resources Plc.? Answer B
located?
256) U.N. declared _______ as the Nelson
Mandela Decade of Peace.
A.Assam
A.2017-2026
B.Manipur
B.2018-2027
C.Odisha
C.2019-2028
D.Nagaland
D.2016-2025
Answer D
Answer C
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A.Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana 262)Kolkata launched India’s first flood forecast
B.Pradhan Mantri Saubhagya Yojana system, FFEWS, with USD 1 mn assistance from
259) Which of the following government D.Flood Forecasting and Early Warning System
Answer B D.Assam
C.Eastern Bridge II
D.SHINYUU Maitri 2018 A.97th
B.103rd
Answer B C.116th
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A.Mumbai
B.Kolkata
C.New Delhi
D.Hyderabad
Answer C
273)Su-30MKI is a ________.
A. Transport
B. Tanker
C. Combat Aircraft
D. Electronic Warfare
Answer B
Answer B