National Affairs PDF

Yearly National Affairs Capsule I 2019
Yearly Review of National Affairs 2019
AAI to Set Up 3 Water Aerodromes

 Airports Authority of India (AAI) will be setting up three, first-of-its-kind in the country, water aerodromes
in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
 It intends to develop water aerodromes in Long Island, Swaraj Island and Shaheed Island with a total
investment of Rs 50 crore.
 It is in the process of seeking environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change for it.
Arun Jaitley Memorial Lecture in March 2020
 The Finance Ministry will organise a conference 'Arun Jaitley Memorial Lecture' on 20 March 2020 to pay
tribute to the former finance minister.
 Jaitley, who as the Finance Minister ushered in India's biggest tax reforms.
 He passed away in August 2019.
 He served as the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs of the Government of India from 2014 to 2019.
Indian Science Congress to be held
 The University of Agricultural Sciences in Bengaluru is gearing up to host the 107th Indian Science Congress
from 3-7 Jan 2020.
 PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the conference to be attended by over 15,000 delegates.
 The Pride of India exhibition will see over 130 participants exhibiting technologies, machineries, equipments
and science models.
CACS & e-BCAS launched
 Centralised Access Control System (CACS) and ‘e-BCAS Project Training Module’ was launched on 30 Dec
2019.
 The two projects aim to enhance security and ease of doing business at airports.
 The CACS project is aimed to digitize the employee movement process at the airports.
 e-BCAS Project: Training Module aims at making all the activities in the BCAS transparent, user-friendly,
& efficient.
1,12,000 cr paid as IGST refunds to exporters
 Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, CBIC said that over 1,12,000 crore rupees have been paid as
Integrated Goods and Services Tax-IGST refunds to exporters.
 Over 83,000 exporters have been benefited by these refunds.
 As of now, refunds of only 3,604 crores are pending with Customs.
 CBIC is using data analytics to identify risky exporter entities.
Govt took initiatives for safety of workers
 Labour and Employment Ministry has taken several initiatives for strengthening the safety and social
security for every worker.
 More than 39 lakh beneficiaries were enrolled in Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana.
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 2 pension schemes were also launched which are Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana and
National Pension Scheme for Traders, Shopkeepers and Self-Employed Persons.
1st transit oriented project to come up
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the country's first transit-oriented
development (TOD) project in New Delhi recently.
 Under the project, a state-of-the-art infrastructure zone, including the national capital's tallest tower, will
be built in east Delhi.
 The project 'East Delhi Hub' at Karkardooma, spread over 30 hectares, will come up in next 3-and-a-half
years.
Earliest Sanskrit inscription found
 The Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently discovered earliest epigraphic
evidence of the Saptamatrika cult.
 It is the earliest Sanskrit inscription discovered in South India as on date and was discovered in Chebrolu
village in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh (AP).
 This discovery predates the evolution of the language by almost 200 years.
Rabung bridge in Siang district inaugurated
 The Rabung bridge in Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Siang district was inaugurated by state Health and Family
Welfare Minister Alo Libang.
 The bridge has been constructed by Border Road Task Force of Project Brahmank under Border Roads
Organisation (BRO).
 The bridge is strategically important for the Indian Army and ITBP-Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
Foundation stone laid of CRPF Headquarters
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of CRPF Headquarters on 29 Dec 2019.
 Central Reserve Police Force, CRPF had played an important role in wiping out terrorism from Punjab and
Tripura in the decades of 1980 and 1990.
 He also launched a new logo “Garud” for those engaged in providing security to the common man and VIPs
and said that it would give them a new identity.
पहले ध्वज फहराने की 76 वी ीं वर्षगाीं ठ
 A function was organized to commemorate the 76th Anniversary of First Flag Hoisting by Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose at Port Blair on 30 Dec 2019.
 Lt. Governor Admiral D.K. Joshi, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey
hoisted the National Flag at Flag Point, Port Blair.
 Subhash Mela Committee Swarajdweep organised bike rally on 30 Dec 2019.
Miscellaneous News
 Bihar CM Nitish Kumar unveiled a statue of former Union Minister Arun Jaitley in Patna on his birth
anniversary on 28 Dec 2019. His birth anniversary will be celebrated as a state function every year.
 The second premium Tejas train is ready to run between Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The inaugural run of
this second Tejas Train will be flagged off from Ahmedabad on 17 Jan 2020.
Vice President arrived in Kerala
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 Vice President Venkaiah Naidu arrived in Kerala on 30 Dec 2019 on a day-long visit.
 He inaugurated the 87th Sivagiri pilgrimage meeting in Sivagiri Theerthadana Mutt in Varkala.
 Later, he inaugurated the silver jubilee celebration of Sree Satyasai Orphanage Trust, Saigramam in
Thiruvananthapuram.
 He attended the valedictory function of National Children's Science Congress in Nalanchira.
CSIR Institute created new technology
 Scientists from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow have developed a new low-cost technology to prepare Geranium saplings
and make this available for the farmers too.
 Geranium plant has huge medicinal value and its essential oil works as an anti-inflammatory and anti-septic
agent.
BSNL got 770 cr from Bharat Broadband Nigam
 Bharat Broadband Nigam Limited has paid around ₹770 crore in advance to BSNL to help the telecom firm
clear dues of vendors involved in the project.
 Bharat Broadband Nigam Limited (BBNL) had allocated around 70 per cent of rural broadband network roll-
out work to BSNL.
 BBNL is a state-run infrastructure firm that is setting up optical fibre network under BharatNet Project.
MyGov reached 1 crore registered users
 Central government's citizen engagement platform, MyGov has reached one crore registered users.
 Five years ago, @mygovindia began its journey with a vision to offer a platform for the voice and views of
the people of India.
 It promotes the active participation of Indian citizens in their country's governance and development.
GeM Samvaad took off in 4 States
 A national outreach Programme, GeM Samvaad, was launched on 17 Dec 2019 to reach out to stakeholders
across the country.
 The outreach programme began from 19th December 2019 and during the launch week the States of
Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh were covered.
 The outreach programme will be on till 17th February 2020 and will cover all the States and UTs.
India's first Transgender University in UP
 India’s first university for the transgender community will be opened in Fazilnagar block of Kushinagar
district in Uttar Pradesh.
 It is the first of its kind University in the country, where transgender community members will be able to
get the education.
 The university is being built by Akhil Bhartiya Kinnar Siksha Seva Trust (All-India transgender education
service trust).
BMTC launched a new app
 The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has launched its new official mobile app titled
‘My BMTC’.
 The app, which is currently in its beta stage, has been developed by Bengaluru school student Nihar
Thakkar.
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 The new app provides the estimated time of arrival of buses at a specific bus stop and shows the nearby bus
stops along with route-based search options.
ONGC got green nod for Rs 3,500 cr project
 ONGC has received environment clearance for carrying out onshore exploration, development and
production of oil and gas in 100 locations in the non-forest area of Assam.
 It would entail an investment of Rs 3,500 crore.
 The company proposes to carry out drilling in 100 locations to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of 21
different onshore Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) blocks in Assam.
Dr Jitendra Singh chaired a review meeting
 The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region Dr.Jitendra Singh chaired a review meeting
for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), on 27 Dec 2019.
 The North Eastern Council (NEC), in collaboration with Govt of J&K will organise a workshop on 'Bamboo - A
wonder grass: Opportunity for Sustainable Development in Jobs' in Jammu in January 2020.
HRD Minister inaugurated the National Workshop
 HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurated the the 'Social Media Outreach & Communication:
National Workshop on Management and Best Practices'.
 It was organised by Ministry of HRD for various educational institutions and organisations in New Delhi on
27 Dec 2019.
 Nearly 200 Social Media Champions from various Centrally funded educational institutions participated in
the workshop.
India's 1st lignite based 500 MW thermal unit
 Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has commissioned the first lignite-based 500 MW thermal unit of the
2x500 MW Neyveli New Thermal Power Project in Tamil Nadu.
 This is not only the country’s first lignite-fired 500 MW power plant but also its highest-rated pulverised
lignite-fired thermal unit commissioned so far.
 Located in Cuddalore district, the project is owned by NLC India Ltd.
Alliance Air started flights from Kalaburagi
 Alliance Air started daily direct flight operations from Kalaburagi to Bengaluru and Mysuru under the
Regional Connectivity Scheme - UDAN.
 The development of Kalaburagi airport has paved a way for direct connectivity to Bengaluru.
 With the commencement of the Kalaburagi-Bangalore-Mysuru route, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has
operationalized a total of 238 routes under UDAN scheme.
AIR organized National Symposium of Poets-2020
 National Symposium of Poets - 2020 was organized by All India Radio on 27 Dec 2019.
 This poet symposium was attended by select poets of all 22 languages recognized in the constitution.
 It is being held continuously every year since 1956.
 National Symposium is organized every year and broadcast on the eve of Republic Day.
Rajnath Singh launched a mobile app
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the mobile app on 27 Dec 2019 of the forthcoming DefExpo 2020
to be held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
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 The app provides detailed information about the day-to-day events, participating exhibitors, guest speakers
of seminars, maps and directions of the venues.
 A record number of over 880 exhibitors, including foreign companies, have registered so far.
Convergence of activities for 'Fit India'
 To give a thrust to the national ‘Fit India’ movement, it has been decided that there will be a convergence
of activities of Ministry of Health and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
 Fit India Movement was launched by PM Narendra Modi earlier in 2019 to encourage people to remain
healthy and fit by including physical activities and sports in their daily lives.
Nirmala Sitharaman released a postage stamp
 Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released a postage stamp to commemorate the service and
contribution of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), on 26 Dec 2019.
 DRI was constituted on December 4, 1957, to function as an apex intelligence agency of the Central Board
of Indirect Taxes and Customs to counter smuggling.
 It has established itself as a premier intelligence agency.
MoH&UA to Organise consultative workshop
 Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission under Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs will be organising a consultative meeting at New Delhi on 30 Dec 2019 with all States and UTs.
 This would be done to set out the framework for Shehri Samrddhi Utsav (SSU) 2020.
 The workshop will also take up the issue of skill development of urban beneficiaries in plumbing sector.
125 crore residents of India have Aadhaar
 The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) announced a new milestone achieved by the Aadhaar
project – crossing the 125 crore mark.
 This means that over 1.25 billion residents of India have the 12-digit unique identity.
 At present UIDAI receives about 3 crore authentication requests every day.
 UIDAI recorded close to 331 crore successful Aadhaar updates till date.
Tech Mahindra: New policy for LGBTQ employees
 Tech Mahindra has announced that the same-sex couples will be able to avail 12 weeks of paid adoption
leave as per the new policies.
 The three-day bereavement leave would also be allowed to the same-sex partners.
 The new policies are aimed at expanding the company's diversity; inclusion policy, especially those from the
LGBTQ community, new parents, cancer patients and survivors.
Govt proposed BS VI emission norms
 The government has proposed to make BS VI emission norms mandatory for quadricycles from April 1,
2020.
 The Road Transport and Highways Ministry in a draft notification has proposed amendment of Rule 115 to
mandate the next level emission norms for quadricycles.
 Currently, quadricycles are covered under Bharat Stage IV emission norms.
War Room to be set up in Maharashtra
 A 'war room' will be set up to ensure effective implementation of tribal welfare schemes in remote areas of
Maharashtra.
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 Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray made the announcement in Mumbai on 26 Dec 2019 at a review
meeting of the tribal development department.
 A task force will be set up for tackling malnutrition in these areas.
District Hospitals to have Dialysis Centres
 All District Hospitals of J&K would have functional Dialysis Centres by July 2020.
 Dialysis Centres have been established in 13 districts, including Rajouri, Kathua, Poonch, Kishtwar,
Baramulla, Pulwama and Kupwara.
 70 dialysis machines have been provided free of cost by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
 In 2019, 11,689 dialysis sessions were held and 273 patients availed services.
LPG bottling plant of BPCL to be inuagurated
 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will visit Balangir district of Odisha on 27 Dec 2019 to inaugurate an LPG
bottling plant of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.
 He will also and to attend the platinum jubilee function of Rajendra College in Balangir.
 The bottling plant has been established at an expenditure of 103 crore rupees and has a capacity of
manufacturing 42 lakh cylinders annually.
HRD Minister launched five documents
 HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched the five documents developed by University Grants
Commission, UGC covering the 5 verticals of Quality Mandate in New Delhi on 26 Dec 2019.
 These five documents cover evaluation reforms, eco-friendly and sustainable university campuses, human
values and professional ethics, faculty induction and academic research integrity.
NTPC to add 10GW solar capacity
 NTPC is planning to add 10GW of solar energy generation capacity by 2022, which entails an investment of
around Rs 50,000 crore.
 At present, NTPC has installed renewable energy capacity of 920 MW, which includes mainly solar energy.
 It has formulated a long term plan to become a 130 GW company by 2032 with 30 per cent non-fossil fuel
or renewable energy capacity.
Andhra Pradesh government proposed seaport
 The Andhra Pradesh govt is proposing to set up a Greenfield seaport at Ramayapatnam in Prakasam district
at an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore.
 It is proposed to be developed as a non-major state port at Ramayapatnam along Andhra Coast.
 It will be developed over an area of 802 acres during the first phase and 3,437 acres for the ultimate
projected traffic, for the creation of marine facilities.
Rohtang tunnel in Himachal Pradesh renamed
 PM Narendra Modi named Rohtang passageway in Himachal Pradesh as Atal Tunnel to mark the 95th birth
anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
 The tunnel has been named as a tribute to the former Prime Minister who took the historic decision of
constructing this strategic tunnel.
 It will provide all weather connectivity to remote areas of Lahaul and Spiti Valley.
Retirement age of RTC staff raised
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 Telangana government has decided to raise the retirement age of employees of the Road Transport
Corporation, RTC to 60 from the current 58 years.
 The decision will be applicable to all cadres of employees of the state-owned RTC.
 Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao also asked RTC management to launch cargo and parcel services to all
destinations wherever an RTC bus could reach in the state.
All villages to have free WiFi by March 2020
 Free WiFi services will be provided to all villages across the country through Bharatnet till March 2020
 This was announced by Communication and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad while inaugurating Digital
Village Gurawara in Rewari in Haryana.
 The Ministry has already connected one lakh 30 thousand gram panchayats through Bharatnet.
 The target is to take this to 2,50,000 gram panchayats.
75 hospitals to be converted into colleges
 The Centre is planning to convert 75 hospitals in aspirational districts across the country into medical
colleges in a phased manner.
 A target has been set to convert 49 hospitals, including six in Odisha, into medical colleges within the next
five years.
 Centre has planned to set up 1 lakh 50 thousand health and wellness centres across the country under the
Ayushman Bharat scheme.
DNA Analysis Centre inaugurated
 Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, inaugurated a State-of-the-Art DNA Analysis Centre at
CFSL, Chandigarh on 23 Dec 2019.
 This new Advanced Forensic DNA Analysis Lab has been set up under the Nirbhaya Fund scheme, with an
allocation of Rs.99.76 crores.
 This Advanced Forensic DNA Analysis facility has a capacity of examining 2000 cases per year.
1st Annual Meet for Ecoclub
 First Annual Meet of the State Nodal Agencies implementing the National Green Corps ‘Ecoclub’
programme was held from 20-21 Dec 2019 in Kevadia, Gujarat.
 It was organized by the Ministry’s Environment Education Division, in collaboration with the GEER
Foundation, Gujarat.
 Senior officers from 22 States and UTs implementing the programme and 200 Ecoclub students from
Gujarat participated.
Centre approved Rs 453 cr loan to Tamil Nadu
 The Centre approved a Rs 453-crore loan at a subsidised interest rate of 5% to the Tamil Nadu government
for setting up three fishing harbours.
 The funds will be released from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) that
has a corpus of Rs 7,522 crore.
 An agreement was signed between the Union fisheries Ministry, Tamil Nadu government and NABARD.
Mumbai: CSMT got 'Eat Right' certificate
 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway station in Mumbai has been conferred with 'Eat Right
Station' certification.
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 It has been given a five-star rating by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for food
safety and hygiene.
 CSMT is the first station on the Central Railway to get this certification.
 The initiative is a part of the 'Eat Right India' movement.
Sign boards in Chinese put up at 5 ASI sites
 Sign boards in Chinese language have been put up at five ASI protected archaeological sites located in Uttar
Pradesh.
 They include Sarnath, the Buddhist relics at Chaukhandi Stupa, Kushinagar and the Mahaparinirvana
Temple, Piparahwa and Sravasti.
 The sign boards of foreign languages will be installed where more than one lakh tourists from a particular
country visit those places every year.
Digital Radio to be launched in 2024
 NDA government is bringing Digital Radio in 2024.
 This was announced by Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar while addressing the
annual Akashvani awards function in New Delhi on 24 Dec 2019.
 The audio of digital radio will be more clear and its reach will be higher.
 Akashvani has one of the largest news gathering and dissemination apparatus in the world.
Statue of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow
 PM Narendra Modi unveiled a statue of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow on 25 Dec 2019.
 He unveiled the 25-feet bronze statue at Lok Bhawan, the secretariat of Uttar Pradesh government.
 He also laid the foundation stone of Atal Bihari Medical University.
 Apart from this, many other functions have also been organised to mark the birth anniversary of Vajpayee.
Govt approved conduct of Census 2021
 Union Cabinet approved the conduct of Census of India 2021 and updation of National Population Register.
 Cabinet approved expenditure of over 8 thousand 754 crore rupees for the exercise of Census of India
2021.
 The House listing and Housing Census will be carried out from April to September, 2020 and Population
Enumeration from 9th February to 28th February, 2021.
Cabinet Approvals
 The Cabinet approved the creation of post of Chief of the Defence Staff, CDS which was announced by
PM Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address.
 It also approved Atal Bhujal Yojana, a Central Sector Scheme with total outlay of six thousand crore rupees.
 Cabinet also approved Promulgation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance,
2019.
2nd edition of SDG India Index to be launched
 NITI Aayog will launch the second edition of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG India Index on 30 Dec
2019 in New Delhi.
 The SDG India Index documents the progress made by India’s States and Union Territories towards
implementing the 2030 SDG targets.
 The SDG India Index was the first tool developed by any large country to monitor the progress towards
achieving SDGs.
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India's first long distance CNG bus unveiled

 Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unveiled India's first long-distance CNG bus fitted
with CNG cylinders at a function in New Delhi on 24 Dec 2019.
 It can travel around one thousand kilometre in a single fill.
 This is a revolutionary step which help reduce vehicular pollution.
 The first long-range interstate CNG bus will ply from Delhi to Dehradun.
‘Oxygen Parlour’ at Nashik Railway Station
 In a unique initiative to battle rising air pollution in cities, an ‘Oxygen Parlour’ has been opened at Nashik
railway station to provide an experience of breathing clean air to the commuters.
 The initiative comes with the efforts of Airo Guard in collaboration with the Indian Railways.
 The concept of Oxygen Parlour is based on the recommendation of NASA.
J&K police organized 'Run for Unity' in Jammu
 J&K police organised a 'Run for Unity' in Jammu to spread the message of peace and unity, on 22 Dec 2019.
 DGP Dilbag Singh flagged off the run for various categories.
 The event was divided into five categories; half Marathon for both men and women, 10 km race for women,
eight kms for boys under 14, six kms for girls under 14, and four kms 'run for fun' open for all categories.
35 lakh passengers have flown under UDAN: Govt

 About 35 Lakh passengers have flown under the regional air connectivity scheme - Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik
(UDAN) till date.
 The scheme was launched in October 2016, to provide connectivity to un-served and under-served regions
through the revival of existing airstrips and airports.
 The travelling time has reduced drastically and the public at large is benefited for different purposes.
Rules for fixation of microdots identifiers
 The govt has notified rules for fixation of microdots identifiers on motor vehicles and their parts.
 The invisible microdots will now come affixed on vehicles and their parts to prevent theft as well as to check
fake spare parts.
 Microdot technology involves spraying the body and parts of the vehicle or any other machine with
microscopic dots, which give a unique identification.
10th pre-Budget consultation meeting held
 Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur held 10th and final Pre-Budget
Consultation meeting in New Delhi on 24 Dec 2019.
 The main areas of discussion in the meeting were related to improving efficiency in the delivery of health
services and devising innovative ways to reach primary health care facilities for marginalised sections.
Urban India declared Open defecation free
 Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban has achieved its target of creating Urban India Open Defecation Free.
 Urban areas of 35 states and Union Territories have become ODF.
 In all, 4,320 cities out of 4,372 have declared themselves ODF.
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 This has been achieved by the construction of nearly 65.81 lakh individual household toilets against Mission
target of 59 lakhs.
Govt approved projects under Nirbhaya fund
 Under the NIRBHAYA Fund, projects of Rs 7,000 crore, including setting up of 1,023 fast-track courts, have
been approved by the govt.
 The Nirbhaya Fund Framework provides for a non-lapsable corpus fund for safety and security of women to
be administered by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) in the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
 The fund was set up in February 2013.
Chennai ICF set to remake Vande Bharat rakes
 The Indian Railways is set to procure 44 rakes of Vande Bharat trains from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF)
in Chennai.
 The procurement process promotes transparency, accountability and speed of delivery.
 It ensures compliance with RDSO specifications and vendor neutrality to allow maximum potential bidders
to ensure competitive rates.
President Kovind released mobile app
 President Ram Nath Kovind released the mobile app of the Red Cross Society of India in Hyderabad on 22
Dec 2019.
 He is in Hyderabad on his Southern Sojourn.
 Developed by the Telangana Centre for Good Governance in less than three months, the mobile app is
accessible in all languages.
 The access to blood bank and Red Cross membership will become easy with the launching of the mobile
app.
Foundation stone laid for two IPUs
 The foundation stone of 2 Integrated Processing Units of Sikkim Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative
Organics Limited, SIFFCO was laid down by CM Prem Singh Tamang.
 Sikkim IFFCO is a joint venture between the world's biggest fertilizer Cooperative, IFFCO and Government of
Sikkim.
 Its aim is to promote and market the organic produce of the country especially from Sikkim.
Nitin Gadkari addressed regional conference
 Union Minister Nitin Gadkari addressed a valedictory session of the regional conference organized in
Nagpur on 22 Dec 2019 on ’Improving Public Services Delivery - Role of Government'.
 The 2-day conference was organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances
(DARPG).
 The conference was attended by delegates from 19 states and 7 UTs.
NITI Aayog to include eggs, fish, in PDS
 Niti Aayog plans to include eggs, fish, chicken, and meat, possibly through its public distribution system.
 The aim of the proposal is to improve India's low nutrition ranking at the global level.
 This is expected to be part of Niti Aayog's 15-year Vision Document.
 The document will be in place by early 2020 with effect from 1 April 2020.
Centre to extend 2 years for AMRUT scheme
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 The Centre has decided to extend the mission period of the flagship initiative Atal Mission for Rejuvenation
and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) by 2 more years.
 The government was unable to meet the set targets for urban renewal in 500 cities.
 AMRUT was launched on 25 June 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 The initiative aimed to provide 139 lakh water connections by March 2020.
CM Gehlot inaugurated first Janta clinic
 CM Gehlot inaugurated the first Janta clinic at Valmiki Basti to provide free primary health care to people
living in slums.
 In its first phase, 12 Janta Clinics will be opened in Jaipur where people would get free medicines, and free
medical examination in some cases.
 Later, in the second and third phases of this scheme, Janta Clinics will be opened in other areas.
EChO Network launched
 EChO Network was launched on 19 Dec 2019 in New Delhi by Prof. K VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific
Adviser to the Govt of India.
 It is a national program to provide a template for cross-disciplinary leadership in India with the specific
focus of increasing research, knowledge, and awareness of Indian ecology and the environment
Central govt to organize 100 'Hunar Haats'
 Government has decided to organize 100 Hunar Haat across the country in the next five years.
 These Haat aim to provide market exposure and employment opportunities to artisans, craftsmen and
traditional culinary experts.
 More than two lakh 65 thousand artisans and craftsmen have been provided employment through Hunar
Haat in the last two years.
ICF produced 3000 Coaches in record 215 days
 Integral Coach Factory (ICF) of Indian Railways has produced its 3000th coach of the year in less than
9 months.
 The number of working days to achieve the above figure has been reduced from 289 days in the last year to
215 days in the current year.
 Till the year 2014, the same amount of time was being taken for the production of only 1000 coaches.
India’s 1st vaccination clinic launched
 IIT Hyderabad’s Center for Healthcare Entrepreneurship (CfHE) Fellow Mr. Jignesh Patel has launched in
Pune a Vaccination on Wheels Clinic, a first-of-its-kind service in India.
 This is being done in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
 Called ‘VaccineOnWheels.com’ this clinic will go to schools, colleges and corporates to conduct vaccination
camps at their doorsteps.
3 combinations got automatic approval
 The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has received 3 Green Channel combinations for automatic
approval under the competition law.
 One of the combinations is related to 100 per cent acquisition of both IDBI Asset Management Ltd (IAML)
and IDBI MF Trustee Company Ltd (IMTL) by Muthoot Finance Ltd (MFL).
 A green channel combination has also been filed in respect of Green Rock.
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ECI organized National Workshop

 The Election Commission of India organized a National Workshop on Accessible Elections on19 Dec 2019.
 It was organized with the purpose of reviewing steps taken as yet by ECI for making Elections PwD and
Senior Citizens friendly.
 The Commission also released a booklet titled, ‘Crossing the Barriers – I Got Inked’.
PM Modi addressed ASSOCHAM Annual Conference
 PM Narendra Modi addressed the annual general meeting of Associated Chambers of Commerce and
Industry of India in New Delhi on 20 Dec 2019.
 The theme of the event was 'New India Aspiring for a USD 5 trillion economy'.
 The event was organised on the completion of 100 years of ASSOCHAM.
 The President of ASSOCHAM is B K Goenka and it is headquartered in New Delhi.
India top performer in Paris agreement
 India is a top performer in Paris agreement and will achieve the carbon emission target soon.
 The emission intensity reduction target for India was 35 per cent and it has already achieved 21 per cent of
it.
 India's efforts to mitigate climate change was appreciated at the recently held 25th session of the
Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate change.
Miscellaneous News
 Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry finalized a plan for setting up 500 skill hubs and labs in
government schools. It has taken several initiatives to impart skill training to the youth of the country.
 America's legendary Civil Rights leader Congressman John Lewis introduced a bill in the House of
Representatives to promote the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
The 11th RQC held at Rudrapur
 Quality Council of India (QCI) and PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) organized 11th
Regional Quality Conclave (RQC) on 20th December 2019 at, Rudrapur, Uttarakhand.
 The theme of the Rudrapur RQC is “Advance Manufacturing with Quality, Innovation & Technology
Interventions.”
 The objective of the Conclave is to create awareness about significance of quality culture in businesses.
Conference of Presiding Officers held
 Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla in Dehradun inaugurated the 79th Conference of Presiding Officers of
Legislative Bodies on 18 Dec 2019.
 He was also conferred the guard of honour during the conference.
 The presiding officers of all state legislatures participated in the two-day conference.
 Among the items on the agenda is the 'Tenth Schedule to the Constitution and the role of the Speaker'.
Infosys launched 3 applications
 Infosys has announced the launch of three blockchain-powered distributed applications.
 The applications will be dedicated for government services, insurance, and supply chain management
domains.
 The applications are equipped with predictive return on investment (ROI) analytics for business investments
that can be tailored to meet numerous industry-specific needs.
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India’s first waste exchange platform launched

 Chennai Corporation launched India’s first waste exchange platform named “Madras Waste Exchange” to
buy and sell municipal solid waste online.
 It will run on a pilot basis for the first three months.
 The Madras Waste Exchange, which is both a web portal and an application, has been conceptualised by
the Smart City Mission, with support from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Meghalaya Assembly passed a resolution
 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, on 19 Dec 2019, passed a resolution to bring the state under the Inner
Line Permit, ILP.
 Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document issued by the Govt to allow inward travel of an Indian
citizen into a protected area for a limited period.
 The document regulates the movement to certain areas located near the international border of India.
President Kovind on annual southern sojourn
 President Ram Nath Kovind arrived at the Rastrapathi Nilayam, at Bollaram in Secunderabad on 20 Dec
2019 on his annual southern sojourn.
 The president’s office will be functioning from the Rastrapathi Nilayam during his visit.
 He will be taking part in various programmes during the sojourn including launching a mobile app of the
Indian Red Cross Society, Telangana state Branch in Hyderabad.
India had successfully test-fired two missiles
 India had successfully test-fired two missiles from Chandipur in Odisha on 19 Dec 2019.
 The missiles were the upgraded version of Pinaka guided rocket system and the all-weather tracked-chassis
Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QR-SAM).
 Pinaka system has a maximum range of 75 km for Mark-II variant and can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in less
than 45 seconds.
5th Pre-Budget Consultation held
 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held her 5th Pre-Budget Consultation on 19 Dec 2019 with the
representatives of various Trade Unions and Labour Organisations in New Delhi.
 It is in connection with the forthcoming General Budget 2020-21.
 Discussions were held on skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling of the existing labour force.
 Ensuring minimum wages of workers was also discussed.
A 2-day national conference held in MP
 In Madhya Pradesh, a two-day National Conference on ‘Uniformed Women in Prisons Administration’
begins a Central Academy for Police Training in Bhopal began on 19 Dec 2019.
 For the first time, the conference is being held in Madhya Pradesh, outside Delhi.
 At present, there are more than 900 uniformed women government servants working in the state jail
department.
Rs 436 crore outlay for 4 lakh persons
 The Govt has announced 436 crore rupees outlay for skilling four lakh professionals in artificial intelligence,
blockchain, and cybersecurity areas over the next three years.
 The 'Future Skills PRIME' programme will seek to position the initiative as India stack for digital talent.
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 The programme will increase employability and will add digital value to the talent pool.
Initiatives taken for women's safety
 The government has taken several initiatives for the safety of women.
 Completion of investigation and trial in cases of sexual offence within two months has now been made
mandatory.
 An online analytics tool for police called Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences was launched.
 A pan-India single number 112 has been launched for all emergencies.
Over 1,000 fast track courts to be set up
 The Govt is setting up over 1000 fast track special courts for expeditious trial and disposal of rape cases,
including that of minors.
 The scheme will cost 767.25 crore rupees to the Centre and States.
 A fast-track court in Telangana’s Warangal district in August 2019 sentenced a 28-year-old man to death for
committing the heinous act.
India expanded Indo-Pacific Policy
 India is increasing the area covered by its Indo-Pacific policy to include the western Indian Ocean and the
Arabian Sea.
 This move by the country will include the Gulf states and Africa along with ASEAN.
 The decision was made at the end of the joint Indian Ocean Dialogue held in New Delhi.
 The announcement was made by the External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
ATP to host the 5th annual conference in Delhi
 The Association of Test Publishers (ATP) will host the fifth annual India-ATP conference in Delhi on 20
December 2019.
 It is titled 'Global Standards for Assessment in a Digital First World: A Future Perspective'.
 The ATP is an association of test publishers representing providers of tests, assessment tools, and related
services.
Haryana Police: 1st to introduce ‘Trakea’
 Haryana police has introduced a unique barcoding software “Trakea” to enable foolproof security of the
samples collected in Forensic reports.
 Haryana became the first state in the country to introduce this unique barcoding system.
 Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister of Haryana inaugurated the TRAKEA barcoding system of Forensic
Science Laboratory (FSL) at Madhuban, Haryana.
Congress released 'Vision Document 2020-25'
 In MP, former PM Dr Manmohan Singh released 'Vision Document 2020-25' to mark the completion of one
year of the Congress government in the state, on 17 Dec 2019.
 The document aims to make the state a prosperous one.
 Industrial growth, agriculture and allied sectors, education, public health and nutrition, inclusive growth,
culture, heritage and tourism, etc. are focus areas.
Three capitals for Andhra Pradesh
 Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Jaganmohan Reddy indicated that the State could have three capitals following the
decentralisation concept.
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 The existing Capital Amaravati could become the Legislative Capital, Visakhapatnam the Executive
Capital and Kurnool the Judiciary Capital.
 A final call would be taken only after the Expert Committee constituted to look into the issue submitted its
report.
India successfully conducted trial of BrahMos
 India successfully conducted a developmental trial of the land-attack version of BrahMos supersonic cruise
missile off Odisha coast on 17 Dec 2019.
 The nine-meter-long missile can travel at thrice the speed of sound and carry a conventional warhead
weighing up to 300 kg.
 The missile flew in the designated complex trajectory meeting all mission parameters.
GEM launched national outreach programme
 Government e-commerce portal GeM has launched a national outreach programme, GeM Samvaad, to
bring on-board more local sellers.
 The programme was launched by Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan in New Delhi on 17 Dec 2019.
 The programme will take place from 19 Dec 2019 to17 Feb 2020 and will cover all the States and Union
Territories of the country.
GST Council met in New Delhi
 The GST Council met in New Delhi on 18 Dec 2019.
 The meeting reviewed the taxation structure for enhancing the revenue collections.
 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the meeting.
 GST revenue collection witnessed an impressive recovery with a positive growth of 6% in November 2019.
 The gross GST revenue collected in Nov 2019 is one lakh three thousand 492 crore rupees.
ITBP launched matrimonial site
 In a unique approach, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has started a dedicated matrimonial site for its
staff.
 This is the first-ever dedicated and well-managed matrimony portal among the Central Armed Police Forces
(CAPF).
 The ITBP was raised on October 24, 1962, for reorganizing the frontier intelligence and security set up along
the Indo-Tibetan border.
CII organized the 2019 Steeling India
 On Dec 16, 2019, the Confederation of Indian Industry organized “Steeling India 2019” conference, a drive
to increase metal intensity in key sectors.
 Union Minister for Steel, Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan participated in the conference.
 The session focused on key industries namely automobile, infrastructure, railway, water, irrigation and
housing.
J&K admin nominated 6 liaison officers
 In J&K, the govt has nominated 6 liaison officers in various states for students studying outside the UT to
redress their grievances or to ease out their difficulties.
 The step has been taken to ensure safety and welfare of the J&K students pursuing higher education
outside the UT.
 They are in constant touch with the local and college administrations to reach out to the students.
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5th EAC meeting of 15th Finance Comm. held

 The 5th meeting of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) of the 15th Finance Commission was held in New
Delhi on 16 December 2019.
 In the meeting, possible macro assumptions related to real growth, inflation, ongoing structural reforms,
tax revenue including GST, were discussed.
 Recently, the fifteenth Finance Commission submitted its report for the period 2020-21 to President Ram
Nath Kovind.
Set up two designated courts in districts: SC
 The Supreme Court has said that states would have to set up two designated courts in districts where the
number of pending cases of child abuse under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act
is more than 300.
 In case there is less number of cases under the POCSO Act in a particular district, the special court might
also deal with other cases such as rape.
CPSEs got two Coking Coal Mines
 The Ministry of Coal has allotted two Coking Coal mines, Rohne and Rabodih, to the Steel Central Public
Sector Enterprises.
 These mines located in Jharkhand will add about more than 10 MT per annum and boost the coking coal
production in the country.
 This allotment is in addition to 5 coal mines which have been allocated to successful bidders and 6 coal
mines allotted to PSU’s.
National Ganga Council held in Kanpur
 PM Narendra Modi chaired the first meeting of the National Ganga Council in Kanpur, UP on 14 Dec 2019.
 It was aimed at reinforcing the importance of a ‘Ganga-centric’ approach in all departments of the
concerned states as well as relevant Central Ministries.
 The Council has been given overall responsibility for superintendence of pollution prevention and
rejuvenation of River Ganga Basin.
Govt invoked DPCO, 2013 for the 1st time
 The government has for the first time invoked the Drug Price Control Order, 2013, (DPCO, 2013) to raise the
prices of 21 medicines that are under price regulation to ensure their availability.
 This would be a one-time increase of 50% above the present ceiling prices.
 The prices of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) have gone up in the range of 5-88%, depending on
the products.
WDO to launch World Design Protopolis
 The World Design Organization is all set to launch its new global programme World Design Protopolis in
Bengaluru.
 It is aimed at implementing holistic progress in megacities across the world and thus making them
sustainable.
 The project also aims to measure the progress of the city, attract investments and solve problems so that
the city becomes a better place for citizens.
Over 7700 cases settled by National Lok Adalat
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 Over 7,700 cases were settled on 15 Dec 2019 at the day-long National Lok Adalat across the twin union
territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
 A total of 11,461 cases were taken up by 128 benches at various courts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
 7,728 cases were disposed of and an amount of over 15.87 crore rupees was awarded as compensation and
settlement in various cases.
Initiatives for Ease of Doing Business
 The Corporate Affairs Ministry has taken several initiatives for providing Ease of Doing Business to law-
abiding corporates.
 They include the creation of an institution of a robust Insolvency and Bankruptcy framework.
 India has improved its ranking on the World Bank’s Doing Business 2020 report moving up 14 positions to
63rd position as compared to 77th position in 2018.
Coal Ministry to establish a Cell
 Coal Ministry has decided to establish a Sustainable Development Cell, SDC, to promote environmentally
sustainable coal mining in the country.
 It will address environmental concerns during the decommissioning or closure of mines.
 The Cell will advise, mentor, plan and monitor the mitigation measures taken by the coal companies for
maximizing the utilization of available resources.
Automatic weather stations to be installed
 The government has proposed to set up more Automated Weather Stations across the country.
 They include 200 each for North East India and District Agriculture Meteorological Units and 100 each for
tourism places and Kerala.
 80 Automated Weather Stations will be set for measurement of snowfall and snow depth along the
Himalayas and North East.
National Level ‘Business Meet’ by CPWD held
 The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) organized a Business Meet with the Clients and stakeholders
on 11 December 2019.
 It aimed to share and familiarize the important activities and achievements of the Department.
 CPWD caters to the infrastructure requirement of most of the Government Ministries, Departments, Public
Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and Autonomous Bodies.
IREDA plans to set up Green Window
 Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) is planning to set up a dedicated Green Window
with an aim to serve the unserved segments of renewable energy.
 This was announced by Anand Kumar, Secretary for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
 IREDA is India’s leading financial institution dedicated to clean energy expansion.
AYUSH organized a Symposium
 The Ministry of External Affairs, in association with the Ministry of AYUSH organized a Symposium on
"Scope of Science of Ayurveda in Global Health”, on 11 December 2019, in New Delhi.
 The objective of the symposium was to create awareness on the potentials & efficacy of Ayurveda and
other systems of AYUSH and to promote AYUSH at a global level.
Assam Govt launched anti depredation squads
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 Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched 15 Anti-Depredation Squads of the State Forest
department recently to deal with human-wildlife conflicts in the state.
 The squads will operate in 15 major human-wildlife conflict districts to ensure the safety of both humans
and wildlife.
 The state forest department has engaged specially trained 50 frontline staff for it.
Xiaomi launched service “Mi Credit” in India
 Xiaomi has formally launched its lending platform “Mi Credit” in India for Android phones.
 Individuals can avail up to Rs 1 lakh loan through it.
 Xiaomi has roped in Aditya Birla Finance Ltd, Money View, EarlySalary, Zestmoney and CreditVidya as the
current lending partners for the service.
 Mi Credit app will come pre-loaded on all MIUI phones, and can be downloaded from Google Play Store.
37th National Symposium held
 The 37th National Symposium of Heads of Police Training Institutions was held in New Delhi on 12-13 Dec
2019.
 It was organized by Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D).
 The theme of the Symposium was ‘Optimal Utilization of Resources-Through Sharing and Networking’.
 A Directory of Indian Police Training Institutions (DIPTI) was also released during the event.
University heads' conference held
 Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted a conference of 46 Heads of Central Universities and Institutes of Higher
Learning in several fields including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, etc. on 14 Dec 2019.
 During the conference, different sub-groups comprising of heads of various institutes made presentations
on issues such as the promotion of research, promotion of innovation, etc.
1 crore 65 lakh farmers registered on e-NAM
 Over 1 crore 65 lakh farmers across the country have been registered on National Agriculture Market (e-
NAM) platform.
 585 wholesale regulated markets have already been integrated with e-NAM platform and additional 415
markets have been approved for integration with it.
 Till November 2019, 2 crore 99 lakh metric tonnes of agri-commodities have been recorded on e-NAM
platform.
2nd phase of farm loan waiver announced in MP
 Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath announced the second phase of farm loan waiver which will benefit more
than 12 lakh farmers by writing off debts of Rs 11,675 crore.
 The government claims that in the first phase, more than 20 lakh farmers were benefitted with a loan
waiver of Rs 7,154 crore.
 The first phase was over in March 2019.
International workshop organised by BEE
 Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) conducted an International Workshop on 12-13 December 2019 on
“Energy Efficient Cooling” in New Delhi.
 It was conducted as a part of Energy Conservation Week, being celebrated from 9-14 Dec 2019.
 The objective of the workshop was to chart out steps towards accelerating the development and
deployment of efficient cooling appliances, equipment and systems.
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Amazon’s Audible launched an app in India

 Amazon’s audiobook company Audible has launched a new app “Audible Suno” in India.
 This app features original audio series which aims to expand Audible’s reach in India’s highly competitive
digital entertainment and streaming space.
 The platform features hundreds of hours of Audible’s original audio series across a plethora of genres,
steered by entertainers such as Amitabh Bachchan, etc.
FASTag compulsory from 15 December
 From 15 December 2019, traffic across various toll plazas will get reduced as the government will
implement FASTag.
 The government has made it mandatory for all vehicle owners to adopt electronic toll payment using
FASTags and not cash payment.
 FASTags can be bought through Amazon.in or certain banks like State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, ICICI
Bank, to name a few.
Venkaiah Naidu on 2-day visit to Gujarat
 Vice President Venkaiah Naidu is on a two-day visit to Gujarat from 14 Dec 2019.
 He visited the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) campus at Anand.
 He will confer President’s Police Colours to Gujarat police at Gujarat Police Academy at Karai in
Gandhinagar on 15 Dec 2019.
 Later, Mr Naidu will proceed for Dhordo in Kutch where he will participate in the ongoing Rann Utsav.
India, Indonesia to strengthen cooperation
 India and Indonesia resolved to strengthen cooperation in areas of defence and security, connectivity and
trade.
 Talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi were
held in New Delhi on 13 Dec 2019.
 The two sides reviewed the entire gamut of ties at the 6th India-Indonesia Joint Commission Meeting (JCM).
Puducherry government unveiled start-up policy
 The Puducherry government on 11 Dec 2019 unveiled a start-up policy.
 The policy aims to create a corpus fund of ₹10 crore to support the setting up of start-up incubators and to
develop co-working spaces.
 The corpus fund will be utilised to provide infrastructure support such as a work station, cloud services,
laboratory and marketing facilities.
Virtual police station in Andhra Pradesh
 The ‘Virtual Police Stations’ was inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at
Andhra University on 13 Dec 2019.
 Now, students of the Andhra University will be able to report violence or any other crime online at
the virtual police station.
 The concept of a virtual police station was initially proposed by AU vice-chancellor Prasad Reddy in August
2019.
India Design Council launched two initiatives
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 The India Design Council (IDC) launched the Chartered Designs of India (CDI) and the Design Education
Quality Mark (DEQM) in New Delhi on 12 Dec 2019.
 The two initiatives will aid and support the profession of design and help in growing the profession and to
establish professional standards.
 India Design Council is involved in the promotion of design to make India a design enabled country.
ISRO to set up third rocket launchpad
 ISRO has begun preparatory works for setting up a 3rd rocket launchpad in Kulashekhrapattinam in the
Thuthukudi district of Tamil Nadu.
 At present, ISRO has two launch pads at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh
 The demand for additional launch pads arose as a result of the increase in the number of satellite launches
from India, both for domestic and international customers.
Inner Line Permit regime extended to Manipur
 The Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime has been extended to Manipur.
 President Ram Nath Kovind signed an order in this regard.
 Manipur is the fourth state after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram where the ILP regime has been
made applicable.
 To visit the ILP-regime states, outsiders, including people from other states of the country, need to take
permission.
6th Indian Ocean Dialogue began
 The 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue and Delhi Dialogue XI was held in New Delhi on 13 Dec 2019.
 For the first time, these two dialogues are being held consecutively and on similar Indo-Pacific themes.
 The theme for Indian Ocean Dialogue is Indo-Pacific: Re-imagining the Indian Ocean through an Expanded
Geography.
 The theme for Delhi Dialogue is Advancing Partnership in Indo-Pacific.
ASI identified 138 monuments as “Must See”
 Archaeological Survey of India has identified 138 monuments as Must-See Monuments.
 There are 38 World Heritage Sites in India, out of which 22 Cultural Sites including monuments/ buildings
and caves are under the protection of ASI.
 The ‘Must See’ list of ASI features first-class Indian monuments and archaeological sites including those that
feature on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
KVIC sponsored 2,320 PMEGP units
 In Jammu and Kashmir, Ministry of MSME, has disbursed subsidy of 50.85 crore rupees through Khadi and
Village Industries Commission (KVIC) to 2,320 units set up under Prime Minister’s Employment Generation
Programme (PMEGP) Scheme during the current financial year.
 The units set up under PMEGP have provided employment to 16,240 persons in J&K.
Bridge inaugurated in Rajouri
 J&K Lt Governor Girish Chandra Murmu inaugurated the 72-metre long Multi-Cell Box Type Load Class 70
bridge in Rajouri.
 The bridge spans over Draj nallah and connects Draj Area to Tehsil Kotranka area under District Rajouri.
 It has been built by Border Roads Organisation.
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 It is an important bridge for the military as well as for socio-economic development of the Rajouri District as
a whole.
West Bengal govt organizing Business Conclave
 The West Bengal govt is organizing 2-day Business Conclave at Digha in East Midnapore District to attract
more industrial investments in the State.
 CM Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the Conclave on 11 Dec 2019.
 Leading industrialists from the country and 35 foreign nations will be present at the meet.
 A number of MOUs are likely to be signed for spreading industrial growth in the State.
Odisha to set up 45 new fast track courts
 To expedite the trial of cases relating to women and children, 45 new fast track courts will be set up in
Odisha.
 21 courts would be dedicated for cases of rape and sexual harassment of women.
 The remaining 24 fast track courts will specifically deal with Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
(POCSO) cases.
Workshop on Bamboo cultivation to be held
 In Jammu and Kashmir, a first of its kind workshop on Bamboo cultivation will be held on 19-20 December
2019 in Jammu.
 Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh will inaugurate the exhibition.
 The workshop will focus on promotion of Bamboo cultivation in the potential Kandi areas of Jammu and its
value addition as an economic activity and to generate entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.
6th Indian Ocean Dialogue to be held
 External Affairs Ministry will host the 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue and Delhi Dialogue XI at the Pravasi
Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi on 13-14 Dec 2019.
 For the first time, these two tracks 1.5 dialogues will be held consecutively and on similar Indo-Pacific
themes.
 The theme for 2019 Delhi Dialogue is "Advancing Partnership in Indo-Pacific”.
KVIC distributed 500 Bee Boxes
 Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) organized an event on 8 Dec 2019, in which Om Birla, the
Speaker of Lok Sabha distributed 500 Bee Boxes, 500 Electric Pottery Wheels and 200 Leather Tool Kits.
 The event was organized to commemorate 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and to support the
weaker section of the society in Boondi District, Rajasthan.
NMR conducted special service for foreigners
 The UNESCO-recognized Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) conducted a special service on 9 Dec 2019 for
foreign tourists.
 71 tourists from several countries, including the USA, UK and France travelled by a special steam engine
service from Coonoor to Ooty.
 They were presented with special mementoes and gift hampers as well as served with the replica of the
original Edmonton type cardboard ticket.
UP Police to deploy women police in PRV
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 In UP, State Police have decided to deploy women police personnel in Police Response Vehicle of Dial 112
Emergency Services and women can also take the help of the service to reach their homes safely.
 Police Response Vehicles will drop women travelling alone late at night to their destination to ensure their
safety.
 The PRV will also escort women driving scooters if the need arises.
UP govt to set up 218 fast-track courts
 The UP govt has decided to set up 218 fast track courts to hear rape cases and crimes against children.
 144 fast track courts will be set up to hear rape cases and 74 POCSO courts for matters related to crimes
against children.
 For these fast-track courts, 218 posts of additional sessions judges have been created.
 Around 63 lakh rupees will be incurred on each of the new fast-track courts.
Rural areas are Open Defecation Free
 Rural areas in all the States and Union Territories have become Open Defecation Free in the country.
 This was informed by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Rattan Lal Kataria.
 Urban areas of all the States and Union Territories except West Bengal have been declared Open
Defecation Free.
 Over 10 crore individual household latrines were constructed under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin).
Human Library event in Mysuru held
 In Karnataka, Human Library, a concept which seeks to replace books with humans, was held in the City of
Palaces, Mysuru on 8 Dec 2019.
 The notion of Human Library was initially launched in the year 2000 and currently exists in more than 85
countries.
 In India, Human Library is spread across various metropolitan cities including Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi,
Bengaluru.
Misellaneous News
 Manipur CM N. Biren Singh inaugurated Imphal to Dimapur direct flight service on 7 Dec 2019 at Imphal
Airport. The flight service which is being operated by Alliance Air would be operational thrice a week.
 Telangana CM K.Chandrasekhar Rao released a book in Telugu on ‘Kaleswaram Project — Telangana’s
chariot of Progress’ authored by Officer on Special Duty Sridhar Rao Deshpande, recently.
Haryana CM inaugurated ICCC
 Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated Gurgaon's Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC).
 It has been developed as the nerve centre to provide multifaceted online smart services to people.
 It will serve as the nodal point for all online data related to the Smart City applications, including CCTV-
based public safety and adaptive traffic management system, smart parking system, etc.
Paika Rebellion memorial to be made
 In Odisha, President Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone for a memorial to mark the completion of
200 years of Paika Rebellion, on 8 Dec 2019.
 It was a valiant uprising of Paikas in 1817 against the British Rule which is often termed as the First War of
Independence.
 The proposed project will come up at the foothills of Barunei hills in Khurda district.
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TCS introduced new insurance benefits

 TCS has become one of the first Tata Group companies to announce changes in its health insurance policy in
order to provide benefits to LGBT employees.
 The change in health insurance policy would now benefit all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender or LGBT
employees in the company.
 The new insurance policy will cover up to 50% cost of sex or gender reassignment surgery.
Punjab government partnered with WEF
 The Punjab Government has partnered with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to design a Public-Private
pilot on shared, clean and electric mobility.
 Punjab is also set to get India’s first Auto Shredding Plant, with capacity to handle two lakh cars per annum
in an 8- hour shift.
 The plant has been set up in technical collaboration with German technology.'
NDMA Heat Wave 2020 Workshop held
 The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) conducted a 2-day national workshop on
preparedness, mitigation and management of heat wave in Bengaluru on 5-6 Dec 2019.
 Heat wave has emerged as a major severe-weather event around the globe in recent years.
 India too is experiencing increased instances of heat waves every year – 23 States were affected by heat
waves in 2019.
Kerala Bank launched by CM Vijayan
 The Kerala Bank, an amalgamation of district co-operative banks in the state, was formally launched by
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on 6 Dec 2019.
 It will provide "unlimited opportunities" for the state and also facilitate transactions in other countries with
considerable population of Keralites.
 13 district co-operative banks (DCBs) were merged for forming the Kerala Bank.
Fourth India Water Impact Summit concluded
 The Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga) led by IIT
Kanpur organised the fourth India Water Impact Summit from 5-7 Dec 2019.
 It discussed water-related issues and steps taken to save the planet's most precious resource.
 'Valuing Water - Transforming Ganga' was the theme of this year's summit.
Bengaluru Airport: 1st o get parallel runways
 The Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru commenced operations on the new South Runway
with the landing of the first flight on the 4,000-metres long and 45-metres wide airstrip on 6 Dec 2019.
 This makes the BLR Airport the first in the country to operate independent parallel runways, enabling
aircraft to land or take-off simultaneously on both runways.
J&K govt approved Leave Travel Concession
 J&K Govt approved the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) in favour of its employees.
 The move is going to benefit more than 3.5 lakh regular government employees.
 A notification prescribing the mandatory rules has already been issued by General Administrative
department.
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 The rules as per the notification had been entitled as Jammu & Kashmir Civil Services (Leave Travel
Concession) Rules, 2019.
Rs 156-crore development plan for Omkareshwar
 MP government sanctioned a sum of 156 crore rupees for the development of Omkareshwar, a famous
pilgrimage centre which houses one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva.
 The government had earlier sanctioned 300 crore rupees for development of Mahakaleshwar, also a
Jyotirlinga shrine located in Ujjain.
 MP has the distinction of housing two of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines in the country.
Diabetic population in India to hit 69.9 mn
 The diabetic population in the country is close to hitting the alarming mark of 69.9 million by 2025, which is
expected to witness an increase of 266%.
 This was stated by Minister of State for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy Shripad Naik.
 The Centre of Research in Ayurveda Sciences has been engaged in extending research-oriented Ayurveda
based health care services for its management.
Govt approved setting up of 7 FM transmitters
 The government has approved setting up of 7 FM transmitters at premises of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to
strengthen FM coverage along Indo-Nepal border.
 FM transmitters are for Bathnaha (Araria), Narkatiaganj (West Champaran) and Sitamarhi in Bihar, Gadaniya
(Lakhimpur Kheri), Nanpara (Bahraich) and Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh and Champawat in Uttarakhand.
Ganga: One of 10 cleanest rivers in the world
 River Ganga has become one of the 10 cleanest rivers in the world among the major rivers category.
 This was stated by Jalshakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat while addressing 4th India Water Impact
Summit, 2019 in New Delhi on 6 Dec 2019.
 India has only 4 per cent of the world's potable water while 18 per cent of the world's human and
equivalent livestock population.
Aberdeen police station best in country
 Aberdeen Police station in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands ranks first in the list of the best-performing
police stations in the country.
 Home Ministry released the list of ten best-performing Police stations in the country.
 Balasinor police station in Gujarat secured the second rank while and Ajk Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh got
the 3rd position.
Plogging programme at 400 locations organised
 Defence Ministry organised a massive plogging programme at more than 400 locations throughout the
country on 7 Dec 2019 as part of the activities of Swachhta Pakhwada.
 The aim of this exercise is to raise awareness amongst the community, collect plastic waste and make the
surroundings clean.
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the main event from Delhi Cantt.
Fit India School Rating System launched
 Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Kiren
Rijiju jointly launched the Fit India School Rating System.
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 It has been launched as part of the Fit India Campaign.

 Fit India program is an innovative initiative launched by the Prime Minister to increase the awareness
among the masses and to encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyle.
Odisha launched ‘Madhu’ app
 Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has launched ‘Madhu’ app.
 It is an e-learning mobile phone application which will help school students to understand their subjects in a
better and most efficient way.
 The app is named after ‘Utkal Gourab’ Madhusudan Das.
 Through this app, the students will be able to access the video explanation of the topics they were taught in
their classroom.
Avantee mega Food Park inaugurated in Dewas
 In MP, Union Minister for food processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated Avantee mega Food Park in
Dewas.
 This first food park of central India is spread over 51 acres and has been constructed at a cost of about 150
crore rupees.
 Processing of soyabean, gram, wheat, and vegetables will be done in the park.
 Warehouses will also be opened in Indore, Ujjain, Dhar and Agar in the next phases.
DGP, IGP conference began in Pune
 A three-day national conference of Director General and Inspector General of Police began in Pune from 6
Dec 2019.
 Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the inaugural session of the conference.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the valedictory session of the conference.
 The theme of the conference is scientific and forensics-based investigation apart from technology-enabled
policing.
ESIC approved creation of speciality posts
 The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has approved the creation of additional new super
speciality posts at its medical colleges at Sanathnagar in Telangana, KK Nagar in Chennai and Faridabad in
Haryana.
 The proposal to start 3 Year DNB courses in Super-Speciality disciplines at ESIC Super Speciality Hospital,
Sanathnagar has also been approved.
Miscellaneous News
 President Ram Nath Kovind is on a two-day visit to Rajasthan from 6 Dec 2019. He inaugurated the National
Convention on Empowerment of Women for Social Transformation at Brahma Kumaris's HQ in Sirohi
district.
 President Ram Nath Kovind led the nation in paying tributes to Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar on his 64th
Mahaparinirvan Diwas on 6 December 2019.
Sewage treatment plant in Haridwar inaugurated
 Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh
Rawat inaugurated a Sewage Treatment Plant in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.
 Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia were also present at the occasion.
 34 STP stations are to be set up in the state out of which the 23 plants are almost complete.
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 STPs are the target under Namami Gange Yojna.

HRD Ministry launched a competition
 HRD Ministry has launched a short essay competition for students of Class 9 to 12 for the third edition of
Prime Minister’s Interaction Programme with school students 'Pariksha Pe Charcha- 2020'.
 The programme will be held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi in January 2020.
 Selected winners will get a chance to attend 'Pariksha Pe Charcha-2020' and interact with PM Narendra
Modi.
Rs 100 cr sanctioned for women help desks
 Union Home Ministry has sanctioned 100 crore rupees from Nirbhaya Fund for setting up and strengthening
of Women Help Desks in Police Stations.
 This scheme would be implemented by the States and Union Territories.
 These help desks would have enlisted panel of experts like lawyers, psychologists and NGOs to facilitate
legal aid, counselling, shelter, rehabilitation and training.
National Public Procurement Conclave held
 Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the third edition of National Public Procurement
Conclave in New Delhi on 5 Dec 2019.
 The two-day conclave has been organized by Government e-Marketplace, GeM in association with
Confederation of Indian Industry.
 GeM has become a symbol of true market player in the country's commerce sector since its inception in
2016.
VP Naidu launched new Rotavirus vaccine
 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched the new Rotavirus vaccine: ROTAVAC-5D designed and
developed by Bharat Biotech in New Delhi on 3 Dec 2019.
 India is firmly committed to ending morbidity and mortality in children caused due to diarrhoea by 2022.
 The first generation, Rotavirus vaccine, ROTAVAC has been developed under a Public-Private Partnership
with the Department of Biotechnology.
‘Eat Right Station’ certification for Mumbai
 The Mumbai Central station of Railways was conferred with the ‘Eat Right Station’ certification.
 It has got four stars rating by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), as a part of ‘Eat Right
India’ movement launched in 2018.
 The Mumbai Central Railway Station is the country’s 1st Eat Right Station.
 It was judged on the basis of compliance of food safety and hygiene, etc.
1st maritime museum to come up in Gujarat
 A National Maritime Heritage Museum at Lothal, a Harappan site on the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat will be
set up soon.
 The museum will also be an independent research centre of underwater archaeology for the reconstruction
of maritime history, archaeology of boat building and materials traded.
 The museum is being set up with technical help from the Portuguese Maritime Heritage Museum.
MoU signed between Film Div. and BookMyShow
 National Museum of Indian Cinema, NMIC tickets will now be available on BookMyShow.
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 A MoU for online ticketing of NMIC was signed between Films Division and BookMyShow in New Delhi on 4
Dec 2019.
 NMIC, the only museum in India dedicated to the cinema is an institution of national importance and was
inaugurated by the PM Narendra Modi in January 2019 at Films Division complex, Mumbai.
Meghalaya: 3-day North East Food Show began
 In Meghalaya, the 3-day-long North East Food Show which is the biggest ever food show of the region,
began on 4 Dec 2019 at Polo Grounds, Shillong.
 The Show is a platform for entrepreneurs of the North-East to meet and interact with National and global
majors of the Food & Beverage Industry.
 It is being jointly organized by the Meghalaya Government in association with SIAL India.
Govt launched independent directors' databank
 The government launched a databank of independent directors under the companies law.
 It is a move aimed at providing a platform for registration of existing as well as those aspiring to be
independent directors.
 The databank portal would be maintained by the Indian Institute for Corporate Affairs (IICA), which comes
under the Corporate Affairs Ministry.
25% subsidy for defence industry
 Uttar Pradesh government has decided to provide 25% subsidy and 100% stamp duty waiver for setting up
the defence industry in the state.
 It will also provide all facilities including power, road and fencing of land to the companies that will set up
defence industries.
 The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on 3 December
2019.
EC to implement a system
 The Election Commission will implement Political Parties Registration Tracking Management System.
 It will be implemented through an online portal to facilitate tracking of status of application by applicants.
 The applicant who is applying for party registration from 1 January 2020 onwards will be able to track the
progress of his or her application and will get status through SMS and email.
19 lakh DIN deactivated
 Individuals are required to have a DIN issued by the Ministry in order to servto file KYC details under the
companies law.
 The Corporate Affairs Ministry has deactivated more than 19 lakh Director Identification Numbers (DIN) as
the individuals concerned failee as a board member of a company.
 In the last 2 financial years, over 4 lakh 24,000 directors were disqualified by the Ministry.
TRAI revamped mobile number portability rules
 Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has revamped mobile number portability rules, making the
entire process faster and simpler.
 The TRAI has prescribed 3 working days timeline for port out requests within a service area.
 Similarly, 5 working days have been prescribed for requests for port out from one circle to another.
 The new rules will come into effect from Dec 16, 2019.
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Bharatiya POSHAN Anthem launched

 The Bharatiya POSHAN Anthem was launched by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi on 3
December 2019.
 More than 12 crore women, over six crore men and 13 crore children were reached through various
activities undertaken during POSHAN Maah in September 2018.
 POSHAN Abhiyaan is a government scheme which aims at making India malnutrition free by the year 2022.
Defence Minister addressed a conclave
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Armed Forces Flag Day-CSR Conclave in New Delhi on 2 Dec
19.
 The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conclave was a unique initiative of the Department of Ex-
Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence.
 It created awareness about the challenges faced by the Ex-Servicemen and how the corporate sector can
play an important part in their resettlement.
35th anniversary of Bhopal Gas Tragedy
 In MP, several programmes were organized on 3 Dec 2019 in Bhopal to mark the 35th anniversary of the
Bhopal Gas Tragedy, one of the worst industrial disasters of the world.
 A large number of people were killed due to the leak of Methyl Isocyanate gas from Union Carbide Plant in
Bhopal on the intervening night of 2nd and 3rd December in 1984.
 Millions of people are still affected due to it.
Multi Media Exhibition organised in Nagaland
 For the first time in the history of Hornbill festival, Bureau of Outreach & Communication, organised a Multi
Media Exhibition commemorating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
 Nagaland CM, Neiphiu Rio officially inaugurated the Multi Media Exhibition on 1 Dec 2019 at World War II
museum, Kisama in Nagaland.
 The focus is to present Gandhian values and principles to the people.
Nationwide vaccination drive launched
 Nationwide vaccination drive to prevent 8 diseases under Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 was
launched on 2 Dec 2019.
 It is aimed at immunizing children under the age of 2 years and pregnant women against eight vaccine
preventable diseases.
 The IMI covers vaccines for diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, measles,
meningitis and Hepatitis B.
India to make entire Haj process digital
 India has become the first country to make the entire process for pilgrims going on Haj completely digital.
 An online application, e-visa, Haj mobile app, 'e-MASIHA' health facility, "e-luggage pre-tagging" providing
all information in India regarding accommodation and transportation in Mecca and Madina will be given to
2 lakh Indian Muslims going for Haj in 2020.
President to Visit UP from Nov 30 to Dec 1
 The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, will visit Uttar Pradesh from November 30 to December 1,
2019.
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 The President will inaugurate a conference on recent advancements in computer, communication and
information technology at PSIT College of Higher Education, Kanpur.
 He will also attend the first alumni meet of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur.
President of India hosts President of SriLanka
 The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind received His Excellency Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the President
of the Democratic Socialist Republic of SL at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
 He also hosted a banquet in his honour.
 The President said that India has always been keen to strengthen the economic pillar of our bilateral
relationship and promote greater trade and investment links between India and SL
No Pegasus sypware is used for UA interception
 IT minister Ravi responded to the Oppositions’ queries that the govt didn't negotiate any deal or did any bus
transaction with the Israel-based tech firm NSO.
 He said that the govt didn't use Pegasus spyware for the unauthorized interception of WhatsApp.
 He also mentioned that the Centre is conducting cyber auditing, training for officials and skilling of
cybersecurity team at CERT-IN
Alok urges pvt hospitals to run in small towns
 NITI Aayog advisor Alok Kumar says to cater to Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY demand, the large private
hospitals should manage govt hospitals in smaller cities.
 Alok also mentioned that the govt is willing to listen to hospitals and other private entities and make
changes to the policy.
 PM Modi is the chairman and Amitabh Kant is the CEO of NITI Aayog(National Institution for Transforming
India)
Guru Ghasidas Park now a tiger reserve
 The Chhattisgarh government has decided to declare Guru Ghasidas National Park in the state’s Korea
district as a tiger reserve.
 The decision was taken at a meeting of Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board chaired by Chief Minister Bhupesh
Baghel.
 Presently the state has three tiger reserves, namely Indravati in Bijapur district, Udanti-Sitanadi in
Gariaband and Achanakmar in Bilaspur.
Logo, motto introduced for Lokpal
 Lokpal Chairman Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose launched the new logo and motto for the apex anti-
corruption ombudsman.
 A new motto, “Ma Gridhah Kasyasvidhanam (Do not be greedy for anyone’s wealth)”, was also adopted.
 A logo designed by Prashant Mishra, a resident of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, was finally selected out of
2,236 entries.
47th All India Police Science Congress began
 In UP, the 47th All India Police Science Congress (AIPSC) began in Lucknow on 28 Nov 2019.
 The two-day event was inaugurated by Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi.
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be the chief guest at the valedictory function.
 It is the second time since the inception of the Annual Mind Churning exercise in 1960 that Lucknow is
organizing this event.
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IFFI concluded at Panaji in Goa

 The International Film Festival of India, IFFI, came to an end at Panaji in Goa on 28 Nov 2019.
 The 50th edition of Asia's biggest film festival began on the 20 November 2019.
 The theme of the event was Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat.
 More than 30 Masterclass and In Conversation sessions were conducted this time at IFFI.
 Filmmakers like Imtiaz Ali and Priyadarshan held such sessions.
Andhra Pradesh govt launched helpline
 Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched ‘14400’, a citizen helpline number.
 It will enable people to complain about corruption in government departments.
 Citizens could directly call the helpline and lodge a complaint against corruption in any government
department.
 The Chief Minister made the first call on the occasion to the call centre and enquired about its functioning.
National Tribal Craft Mela 2019
 CM of Odisha Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the National Tribal Craft Mela – 2019 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha
recently.
 The objective of the Mela is to preserve, promote and popularise traditional tribal art and craft and help the
artisans to find better opportunities.
 More than 240 tribal artisans from 18 states including Sikkim, Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, etc. are
participating in the Mela.
Devi Ahilya University gets A grade from NAAC
 The Indore-based Devi Ahilya University has become Madhya Pradesh's first varsity to be accorded A grade
by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
 The Centre of higher learning is now entitled to several other facilities.
 It may introduce courses recognised by the University Grants Commission without its permission besides
commencing open distance-learning courses.
UP to set up state's 1st vulture conservation
 The Uttar Pradesh government will set up state's first vulture conservation and breeding centre in Farenda
area of Maharajganj district.
 It will be set up on the lines of Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre at Pinjore in Haryana, which is also the
first in the country.
 There has been a sharp decline in the population of vultures from 40 million to 19,000 in a span of over
three decades.
'She Shuttle' for women launched
 An exclusive bus service for women passengers in Hyderabad has been launched.
 The initiative by Infosys, called 'She Shuttle', was inaugurated by the police at Infosys, Pocharam Village,
Ghatkesar on 25 Nov 2019.
 'She Shuttle' is equipped with a well-monitored surveillance system with CCTV cameras, a lady security
guard and a smartphone app for every passenger with a panic button.
Etawah Lion Safari inaugurated in UP
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 The Etawah Lion Safari was thrown open for public in Uttar Pradesh without the lion segment, on 24
November 2019.
 It is one of the biggest safari parks in Asia with an area of 350 hectares.
 It has been developed as an educative tourist destination for children as well as youths.
 The safari is expected to attract tourist and make Etawah a major tourist centre in the country.
5 medical colleges to be set up in Rajasthan
 The Central government has approved the proposal of setting up five new medical colleges in different
districts of Rajasthan.
 Medical colleges will come up in Hanumangarh, Dausa, Tonk, Sawaimadhopur and Jhunjhunu districts of
the state.
 With the approval of these medical colleges, the state will have medical colleges in 30 out of its 33 districts.
Anti-corruption helpline launched in Prayagraj
 The Prayagraj police have launched an anti-corruption helpline.
 People can lodge complaints against police personnel on this number.
 The identity of the complainant is kept confidential.
 A complaint can also be posted with an audio or video proof against the cops on the WhatsApp number
that is monitored directly by the SSP.
 9369887221 is the helpline number.
Amaravati included in India's political map
 The Survey of India released a new political map of India with Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
 Amaravati was missing from the new map, which was released by the Survey of India on November 2, 2019.
 Telangana has Hyderabad as its capital and it is the capital for Andhra Pradesh too for a period of 10 years
from the date of bifurcation from 2014.
3-day Commonwealth Youth Parliament began
 Delhi Assembly is hosting a three-day Commonwealth Youth Parliament which began on 25 November
2019.
 Around 47 participants from 24 Commonwealth countries will participate in the event along with eleven
participants from India.
 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will be the Chief Guest of the event.
 It is for the first time that an Indian Legislature is hosting the Commonwealth Youth Parliament.
Miscellaneous News
 Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari released a booklet titled 'Convergence of National Highway
improvement/construction with water conservation and groundwater recharge' at Agro Vision-2019 in
Nagpur.
 The two-day Air Force Commanders' Conference began in New Delhi on 25 November 2019. Defence
Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the meet.
172nd Defence Pensioners Adalat inaugurated
 Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 172nd Defence Pensioners Adalat in Lucknow on 23 Nov 2019, becoming the
first Defence Minister to be a part of the event.
 The two-day Adalat aims at redressal of pension related grievances of veterans of Armed Forces and their
Next of Kin residing in all districts of UP.
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 It has been organised by Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj.

Digital Gurukul partnered with Certif-ID
 Digital Gurukul, awarded Asia's best digital marketing institute from Indore partnered with Germany based
company - Certif-ID to issue blockchain-powered Certificates to its students.
 It has become India's first institute to do so.
 All students graduating from Digital Gurukul will now be able to share the credential of their diplomas with
future employers around the world without any hassle.
5th AIEC meeting held
 Union Minister for Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' co-chaired the 5th Australia-
India Education Council (AIEC) meeting along with Australian Education Minister Dan Tehan in New Delhi.
 The meeting was held on 22 November 2019.
 On the sidelines of the meeting, the two ministers inaugurated the India-Australia International Education
and Research Workshop.
Uttarakhand CM launched a project
 Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat launched a project that will connect 500 secondary schools to
virtual classrooms.
 Schools facing a shortage of teachers will benefit from the new technology.
 Virtual classes are attended through video conferences where students can meet the teacher on a real-time
basis and ask questions.
 Around 1.90 lakh students will benefit from the project.
Kalaburagi Airport inaugurated under UDAN
 The 1st flight from Kalaburagi Airport to Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru took off on 22 Nov
2019 after its inauguration by the CM of Karnataka.
 The airport has been built under the UDAN-RCS Scheme of Govt. of India.
 Kalaburagi Airport will act as a gateway for tourist destinations including Buddha Vihar, Sharana
Basaveshwara Temple, Khwaja Banda Nawaz Dargah, and Gulbarga Fort.
J&K achieves highest road length under PMGSY
 Jammu and Kashmir has achieved the highest road length in the country in 2019 so far under the centrally-
sponsored scheme Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
 The scheme is a mega flagship programme with the main objective of providing connectivity to rural areas.
 The Union Territory has completed around 11,400 kilometres covering 1,838 habitations.
Indian Army dedicated Goodwill Park
 As a mark of tribute to Late Naib Subedar Chuni Lal, an Army Goodwill Park was dedicated at Bhara in Doda
on 22 November 2019 by GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh.
 The Army Goodwill Park has a statue of the martyred soldier, beside a Children park and open Gym for the
villagers.
 Late Naib Subedar Chuni Lal was one of the most decorated soldiers of the Indian Army.
2-day Conference began at Rashtrapati Bhavan
 A 2-day Conference of Governors, Lieutenant Governors began on 23 Nov 2019 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
 President Ram Nath Kovind presided over the conference.
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 It is the 50th such Conference to be held in Rashtrapati Bhavan and the third Conference to be presided
over by President Kovind.
 The Conference will discuss important thematic issues including tribal issues, Jal Jeevan Mission, etc.
Short documentary film on Water Conservation
 Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat released a short documentary film on Water
Conservation named 'SHIKHAR SE PUKAR' in New Delhi on 22 Nov 2019.
 The film has been made to promote 'Jalshakti Abhiyan' and is based on the Journey of an IAS Officer
Ravindra Kumar.
 It gives a glimpse of the significance of Himalaya as the main source of water needs of India through rivers.
Tax department launched web portal
 The Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), P C Mody inaugurated the Web Portal for
Exchange of Information on Income Tax Website in New Delhi on 22 Nov 2019.
 The Web Portal consolidates all the relevant Automatic Exchange of Information related information at one
place for financial institutions, officers and public.
11th edition of Agro Vision inaugurated
 Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the 11th edition of Agro Vision- 2019, an Agricultural exhibition at
Reshimbag Ground of Nagpur on 22 Nov 2019.
 The 4-day event will comprise of national Agri exhibition workshop for farmers and seminars.
 A Pavilion dedicated to Micro Small Medium Enterprise and display of livestock will be a special attraction in
Agro Vision 2019.
7 cr farmers benefited under PM-KISAN scheme
 Over seven crore farmers have been benefited under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
scheme.
 Under this scheme, six thousand rupees per year are being given in three instalments to the farmers.
 Over one crore 67 lakh farmers in Uttar Pradesh are benefited under the scheme which is the highest
among all the all states.
Govt approved setting up of six plastic parks
 The government has approved setting up of six plastic parks in different parts of the country.
 These parks will be located in Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu.
 Out of them, the plastic park at Tamot in Madhya Pradesh is functional.
 These will enable common facility to consolidate and synergize the capacities of the domestic downstream
plastic processing industry.
Government approved 35 proposals
 The govt has approved 35 proposals for setting up of State Cancer Institutes and Tertiary Care Cancer
Centres in the country.
 These have been approved under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes,
Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke.
 61 lakh hospital admission were reported till 20 Nov 19 under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan
Arogya Yojana.
Census 2021 to be conducted in 16 languages
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 Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed that Census 2021 will be conducted in 16
languages.
 During Census 2021, a mix mode approach is being adopted for data collection.
 Census will be conducted in two phases – House-listing and Housing Census from April to September 2020
and Population Enumeration during February 09-28, 2021.
I&B Minister inaugurated Film Bazaar
 The Film Bazaar was inaugurated by the Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on the
sidelines of the International Film Festival of India.
 It encourages creative and financial collaboration between the South Asian and International film
communities.
 Over the years, films such as Lunch Box, Margarita With A Straw, have been through one or more
programmes of the Bazaar.
World's biggest Islamic Congregation began
 In Madhya Pradesh, the four-day Alami Tablighi Ijtima, world's biggest Islamic Congregation began in
Bhopal on 22 Nov 2019.
 More than one million people from 54 countries are expected to attend the congregation which will
continue till 25th November.
 The first Alami Tablighi Ijtima took place in Bhopal in 1944 and only 14 people attended it then.
Three-day Global Buddhist Congregation began
 In Maharashtra, a three-day Global Buddhist Congregation began at Nagsenvan in Aurangabad.
 The event is being held from 22-24 November 2019.
 The inaugural ceremony took place in the presence of Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama and
Mahanayaka Thero from Sri Lanka.
 Dalai Lama delivered two lectures in the Congregation.
Multimedia exhibition inaugurated at IFFI
 Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare inaugurated an interactive digital exhibition IFFI @50 at
the Kala Academy in Panaji on 21 November 2019.
 The exhibition is considered as a highly hi-tech interactive multi-media exhibition.
 The exhibition - IFFI@50 - is a tribute to the journey of IFFI from its inception in 1952 till date.
Gram Panchayats to be connected with internet
 Centre has set a target to provide internet and broadband connectivity to two lakh Gram Panchayats by
March 2020.
 A total of over 1,28,000 Gram Panchayats have been made Service Ready till 7 November 2019.
 BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband and internet
connectivity to all 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats in the country.
UIDAI operationalized 21 Aadhaar Seva Kendras
 Unique Identification Authority of India, UIDAI has operationalized 21 Aadhaar Seva Kendras as part of its
plan to open 114 stand-alone Aadhaar enrollment and centres across the country.
 These are in addition to 35,000 Aadhaar Enrollment Centers run by Banks, Post Offices and State
Governments.
 These centres have the capacity to handle up to 1,000 enrollment and requests per day.
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Kolkata installed ‘Third Umpire’ Machines

 The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has installed first of its kind high-end reverse transcription-
polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machines in India.
 These are for quick detection of diseases like dengue, tuberculosis and swine flu.
 These machines are to serve as a ‘third umpire’ in situations when medical reports and blood tests reveal
contradictory results.
J&K to launch Back to Village programme
 The Jammu and Kashmir administration is all set to launch the second phase of ‘Back to Village programme’
from 25-30 Nov 2019.
 The flagship programme is aimed at empowerment and development of Panchayats.
 It ensures the functionality of Panchayats in terms of manpower, 100% coverage of beneficiary oriented
schemes and doubling the income of rural people.
42 projects under Himayat Mission sanctioned
 The Jammu and Kashmir administration is working on effective implementation of Himayat Mission.
 Under this, 42 projects have been sanctioned for training and placement target of 68,134 youths.
 They will be provided free skill training for a duration ranging from 3 to 12 months.
 63 Training centres have been set up within & outside the Union Territory with the enrollment of 5815
candidates.
MP to develop 34 cities on global standards
 MP govt is planning to develop 34 cities in the state on the lines of the seven best-planned cities in the
world.
 28 per cent of the total population of the state lives in cities which the government wants to develop into
world-class cities.
 The government is also planning to operate intra state rapid rail, faster than Metro trains between Indore-
Ujjain, Indore-Pithampur and Indore-Dewas.
UP CM inaugurated Munderwa Sugar Mill
 UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the newly-established Munderwa Sugar Mill in Basti district on 21 Nov
2019.
 It is the third inauguration of sugar mills in the state in just three weeks after the opening of mills in Ramala
in Baghpat and Pipraich in Gorakhpur.
 Munderwa mill will has a capacity of 5000 Tons of Cane per Day and generate 27 Mega Watt of power.
DSEJ launched special enrollment drive
 In Jammu, the Directorate of School Education (DSEJ) has launched a special enrollment drive under the
banner 'Aao School Chalein'.
 The aim is to increase the enrollment in government schools.
 It would be conducted across all the villages and catchment areas of the government schools, under the
supervision of chief education officers of all the districts of Jammu Division.
Sale of govt stake in five CPSEs
 The government has approved sale of its stake in five Central Public Sector Enterprises, CPSEs,
including Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).
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 The government will sell its 53.29 per cent stake in BPCL.
 CCEA approved strategic disinvestment of Government's shareholding of 63.75 per cent in Shipping
Corporation of India and 30.8% in Container Corporation of India.
Conclave of Accountants General held
 PM Narendra Modi addressed the conclave of Accountants General in New Delhi on 21 Nov 2019.
 Mr Modi also unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, before his address.
 The theme of the conclave is Transforming Audit and Assurance in a Digital World.
 It is being held to consolidate experience and learning and chart out the path of Indian Audit and Accounts
Department for the next few years.
National Institute for Sowa-Rigpa to be set up
 The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of the National Institute for Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) in Leh as an
autonomous organization under the Ministry of AYUSH.
 It will be established at an estimated cost of Rs. 47.25 crore.
 The setting up of the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) would provide an impetus for the revival of
Sowa-Rigpa in the Indian Sub-continent.
NHM Jammu & Kashmir launched BMEWMP programme
 National Health Mission Jammu & Kashmir, has launched the Bio-Medical Equipment Waste Management
Programme (BMEWMP) in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
 The program is designed in a way that the equipment in the district level health care facility will have an
uptime of 95%, in sub-district hospital 90% and in PHC 80%.
 The programme was launched on 18 November 2019.
Meghalaya-based insurgent group banned
 Meghalaya-based insurgent group, Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has been banned by
the central government.
 It was banned for its increased activities of violence and other subversive acts.
 HNLC has been openly declaring as its objective the secession of the state’s areas, which are largely
inhabited by Khasi and Jaintia tribals, from the Indian Union.
Home Ministry launched campaign
 The Home Ministry in collaboration with the UN Women flagged off an awareness campaign To End
Violence Against Women, from Sultanpur metro station in Delhi.
 The initiative is part of the #OrangeTheWorld global campaign.
 As part of the campaign, people would be made aware about India’s single emergency helpline 112.
 The 112 helpline services are available in 27 States/UTs(Union Territories).
Golden Jubilee celebrations of IFFI begun
 India's biggest cinematic event International Film Festival of India (IFFI) opened in Goa on 20 Nov 2019.
 The Opening ceremony of the 50th edition of IFFI began at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in
Panjim.
 French actor Isabelle Huppert will be conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
 Rajinikanth will be conferred with the Special Icon of Golden Jubilee award.
IPEC inaugurated at Nagpur on 19 November
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 RSS Chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat inaugurated the International Principal’s Education Conference (IPEC) at
Nagpur on 19 November 2019.
 Super 30 founder and noted mathematician Anand Kumar was honoured with Nachiketa Sarvottama Award
on the occasion.
 The theme of the 3-day conference for the year 2019 is-Scripting the Legends of Human Excellence through
Schools.
President's Colour presented to Naval Academy
 President Ram Nath Kovind presented the prestigious President's Colour to the Indian Naval Academy at
Kannur in Kerala on 20 November 2019.
 President's Colour is a visible symbol of excellence and is earned through worthy contribution both during
war and peace.
 A special parade was also held at INA honouring the President.
 Later, Mr. Kovind held talks with the officers in the academy.
Smriti Irani addressed Safety Summit
 Union Minister Smriti Irani addressed the 2nd edition of South Asia Safety Summit in New Delhi on 19
November 2019.
 She revealed that three lakh crimes registered against women are committed by husbands and relatives.
 She informed that 10 one-stop centres open every month across the country.
 By the end of 2019, every district will have an operational one-stop centre.
40,000 Health Centres to be operational by Mar
 Around 13 thousand more Health and Wellness Centres will become functional by the end of March 2020.
 At present 27 thousand, such centres are already operational in different parts of the country.
 The government has decided to set up 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres by 2022 under Ayushman
Bharat Yojana.
 These Centres will strengthen the primary healthcare delivery system in the country.
Darjeeling’s green and white teas got GI tag
 The green tea and white tea of Darjeeling have been registered as a geographical indication (GI) products in
the country.
 These two varieties of Darjeeling tea have been registered under Geographical Indications of Goods
(Registration and Protection) Act 1999, with effect from October 2019.
 This will strengthen the protection of the intellectual property rights of the Darjeeling tea.
Miscellaneous News
 The ongoing 39th India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi opened for general public
from 19 Nov 2019. The theme of the fair for 2019 is 'Ease of Doing Business'.
 International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be presenting the Soul of Asia section for 2019. Films and
filmmakers from China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and Sri Lanka will be screened in this section.
Haryana to create Foreign Cooperation dept.
 Haryana Government has decided to create a dedicated new department namely Department of 'Foreign
Cooperation'.
 It will streamline and provide focus to various initiatives taken by the state government for the promotion
of investment, employment for youth and welfare of Non-Resident Indians.
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 A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of State Cabinet chaired by CM Manohar Lal.
NGT slapped Rs 280 crore fine on 22 tanneries
 The National Green Tribunal, NGT, has imposed a penalty of Rs 280 crore on 22 tanneries in Kanpur for
causing pollution.
 A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel also held the UP government liable and
slapped a penalty of 10 crore rupees on it.
 The problem has not been tackled for the last 43 years and it has resulted in the contamination of
groundwater.
NITI Aayog released new report
 NITI Aayog released the report on ‘Health Systems for a New India: Building Blocks-Potential Pathways to
Reforms, on 18 Nov 2019.
 The report intends to prepare the road-map to build a health system in the medium- to long-term for those
belonging to the middle class.
 Nearly 50 per cent are still not covered under any public healthcare system and the idea is to pool their risk
assets.
Exhibition on Jallianwala Bagh at Kolkata
 Victoria Memorial Hall, will for the first time host an exhibition on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919.
 The installation exhibition is titled ‘Ways of Remembering Jallianwala Bagh & Rabindranath Tagore’s
Response to the Massacre’.
 The exhibition will be held for almost six weeks.
 The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919, where hundreds of people were killed.
250th session of Rajya Sabha commenced
 250th session of Rajya sabha commenced on 18 November 2019.
 The historic 250th session of the House was marked with a change in the uniform of its marshals.
 The two marshals, who stand next to the Chair, were seen in military-style uniform on the first day of
winter session.
 The new uniform will be worn by the four marshals in the House as and when they are on duty.
IFFI 2019 Updates
 The Golden Jubilee of International Film Festival of India, IFFI in Goa has curated a special section on the
Retrospective of the New wave in Indian Cinema.
 IFFI will pay homage to 2 great filmmakers who passed away in 2018. One is Bernardo Bertolucci and the
other is Agnes Varda.
 Seven Konkani movies including Amori will be screened at IFFI reflecting the nuances of Goan Society.
Special winter-grade diesel launched
 Home Minister Amit Shah launched a special winter-grade diesel on 17 Nov 2019.
 It is developed by Indian Oil Corporation, for use in the high-altitude regions of Ladakh.
 Motorists in high-altitude sectors like Ladakh, Kargil, Kaza and Keylong face the problem of freezing of
diesel in vehicles when winter temperatures drop to as low as minus 30 degree Celsius.
North India's 1st sugar mill inaugurated
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 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has inaugurated North India's first sugar mill which will
produce ethanol direct from sugarcane.
 The mill was inaugurated in Pipraich area of Gorakhpur on 17 November 2019.
 The mills, which previously produced around 8,000 quintals of sugar, will now produce more than 50,000
quintals of sugar every day
6th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting held
 The 6th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) was held in Bangkok, Thailand on 18 Nov
2019.
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with 17 other Defence Ministers of ADMM-Plus countries attended
the meeting.
 On the sidelines of ADMM-Plus, Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings on 17 Nov 2019 with his counterparts
including US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper.
JK Grameen Bank ranked first
 J&K Grameen Bank secured the top position in terms of achievement of Rupay Card transaction targets
(POS and eCOM).
 It has been ranked first among the 56 RRBs across the country.
 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) survey reported that Bank had achieved a 94.95% target for
POS/ eCOM transactions for the last financial year 2018-19.
 J&K Grameen Bank was established on 30 June 2009.
DRDO to grant free access to patents
 DRDO has decided to grant the Indian industry free access to patents held for technologies developed by it.
 The aim is to boost indigenous production and give a fillip to the ‘Make in India’ policy.
 A new policy formulated by the DRDO recently states that no licence fee or royalty will be applicable on the
use of Indian patents held by the research agency.
New National Water Policy to be drafted
 The government of India formed a high-powered committee led by Mihir Shah to analyze and draft new
water reforms.
 The announcement about the team was made by the Union Ministry of Water Resources on 11 November
2019.
 The ten-member committee has been tasked to bring both the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in its ambit.
Goa to ban plastics and pet bottles from 2020
 In 2020, Goa has decided to impose a complete ban on the use of all plastics below 50 microns.
 The state government will also ban all items that are sold in small quantities in plastic packaging.
 The ban will include sachets, soft drinks, water, and other drinks sold in pet bottles of volumes below
500ml.
 The move aims to eliminate the practice of smaller packaging.
Medipally: First child friendly police station
 Medipally police station in Rachakonda, Hyderabad, has become the first child-friendly police station in
Telangana.
 The inauguration programme was held on Children's Day 14 November 2019.
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 The state's first child-friendly police station was launched by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) and Telangana
police department.
 It aims to ensure that every child has proper and timely access to justice.
Government to lower penalties
 The government is set to lower penalties under the Companies Act while offering concessions to startups,
smaller entities and farmer producer companies.
 There will be respite for loss-making companies, including relaxation in compensation and other steps to
enable these entities to hire non-executive or independent directors.
India to host the 8th ICAS in New Delhi
 The 8th International Conference on Agricultural Statistics (ICAS-VIII) will be organized by the Ministry of
Agriculture in New Delhi from 18th to 21st November 2019.
 The Chief Guest for the conference will be Bill Gates.
 The theme for 2019 is ‘Statistics for Transformation of Agriculture to Achieve the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs)’.
CBI set up a Unit
 The Central Bureau of Investigation has set up an Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (OCSAE)
Prevention and Investigation Unit.
 It has been set up at its headquarter in New Delhi to counter the growing menace of child porn on the
internet.
 The new specialized unit will collect intelligence on those who are allegedly creating and transmitting such
material on the internet.
National Tribal Festival Aadi Mahotsav began
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the National Tribal Festival "Aadi Mahotsav" in New Delhi on
16 Nov 2019.
 The theme of the 15-day Mahotsav being held at Dilli Haat in INA, is celebration of the Spirit of Tribal
Culture, Craft, Cuisine and Commerce.
 The tribal textiles manufactured by master tribal craftsmen from Jammu & Kashmir in the North will be the
main attractions.
Regional Conference in UT of J&K began
 A 2-day Regional Conference on the theme: “Replication of Good Governance Practices in UTs of J&K and
Ladakh” began in Jammu on 15 Nov 2019.
 The main objective of the Conference is to bring national and state-level organizations on a common
platform.
 Delegates from 19 states and 4 Union Territories are participating in the Conference.
National Mission 'NISHTHA' launched in J&K
 National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) was launched in the UT
of Jammu & Kashmir recently.
 The event was attended by around 300 teachers, Key Resource Persons, and Chief Education Officers, DIET
Principals and Educational Administrators.
 The mission is aimed at improving learning outcomes at Elementary level through integrated Teacher
Trainings.
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Nitin Gadkari inaugurated Khadi Pavilion

 Union Minister of MSME and Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Khadi Pavilion at
the India International Trade Fair (IITF) in New Delhi.
 The Pavilion entrance has been themed upon Sabarmati Ashram, with melodious Shehnai celebrating the
‘spirit of Indianness’.
 A wide range of products is being displayed in the Khadi Pavilion at IITF 2019.
National plan for States and UTs
 Ministry for Women and Child Development announced that it along with NITI Aayog will prepare a
framework for a national plan for States and Union Territories.
 It will be prepared by early 2020 for better implementation of all the Central and States policies and
programmes for women and children.
 This was announced by Smriti Irani at a national conference held in New Delhi on 14 Nov 2019.
India: Favoured place for energy investments
 In the last 5-6 years, India has become the most favoured destination for energy investments.
 India received 286 US dollars billion FDI in the last 5 years.
 This is almost half of the total FDI in India in the last 20 years.
 India presently being the 3rd largest energy consumer in the world is poised to drive the global energy
demand in the coming decades.
UP govt launched e-Ganna app, web portal
 Uttar Pradesh government has launched a dedicated web portal and a mobile application, e-Ganna App, for
sugarcane farmers of the state.
 Cane supply slip will now be issued to the farmers by sugar mills online.
 The web portal and e-Ganna App will help in eradicating cane mafia and middleman and strengthen cane
development societies.
Sishu Suraksha app launched in Assam
 The Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights launched a mobile app Sishu Suraksha on 14 Nov
2019 on the occasion of Children’s Day.
 The purpose of the app is to empower citizens to take moral responsibility of protecting future generations.
 The app can be used by anyone in the state to lodge a complaint which will be directly registered at
Commission.
Families of organ donors felicitated at AIIMS
 Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on 13 Nov 2019 felicitated the families of organ donors at a function
organised at AIIMS in New Delhi.
 These organ donors have served humanity and will further strengthen the awareness campaign of the
government towards organ donation.
 Boxer and Parliamentarian M C Mary Kom also appealed to the people to support the movement towards
organ donation.
Rajnath Singh visited Arunachal Pradesh
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Arunachal Pradesh on 14 Nov 2019 to attend the Maitree Diwas
celebrations at Tawang.
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 Maitree Diwas (Civil-Military Friendship) will be celebrated for two days at Gyalwa Tsangyang Gyatso High
Altitude Stadium Tawang.
 This will be the 11th edition of Maitree Diwas which celebrates civil-military bonhomie in the area.
Chief Justice office is public authority
 The Supreme Court held that the office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is a public authority under the Right
to Information (RTI) Act.
 However, judicial independence has to be kept in mind while disclosing information in public interest.
 In some cases, judicial independence may demand openness and transparency by furnishing the
information and in some cases, disclosure may not be needed.
Union Minister inaugurated exhibition
 Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated an exhibition on 13 Nov 2019 of
Technologies in Food Processing developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
 The exhibition organized in New Delhi showcases CSIR technologies in food sector to the industries and
MSMEs.
 It highlights the latest R&D being done in the food processing sector in the country.
IFFI audio-visual anthem released
 Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare released Golden Jubilee audio-visual anthem for
International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held in Goa from 20-28 Nov 2019.
 The motivational anthem features clips from festival films which have had a positive social impact.
 Over 50 films feature in the clip, which is arranged along with the scheme of 9 Rasas.
6th World Congress in Delhi
 6th World Congress on Rural and Agriculture Finance organised by NABARD and Asia - Pacific Rural
Agricultural and Credit Association (APRACA) in Delhi.
 Farmers’ concerns and rural development is the top priority of the Government.
 Finance Minister directed NABARD to take up necessary steps to extend support to the farmers in the states
of J&K and Ladakh.
Workshop with Academia in Defence R&D by DRDO
 The workshop titled ‘DRDO-Academia Interaction for Achieving Leadership in Future Technologies'was held
in Delhi.
 The workshop was aimed to leverage the academic expertise available in the country and increase the
synergy with Academia.
 DRDO has established eight Centers of Technology in various universities.
Suranga Bawadi on World Monuments Watch List
 Suranga Bawadi has entered the World Monuments Watch List under the Ancient Water System of the
Deccan Plateau of the World Monument Funds.
 It is situated in Bijapur, Karnataka.
 It is an integral part of the ancient Karez System by which water was supplied through subterranean
tunnels.
 Suranga Bawadi was built in the 16th century by Adil Shah-I of the Adilshahi dynasty of Bijapur.
Indias first elephant memorial in Mathura
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 India-based conservation charity Wildlife SOS unveiled the country’s first elephant memorial in Mathura.
 The memorial symbolises the sacrifice of these gentle giants who lost their lives while suffering brutality at
the hands of humans.
 The memorial, 20 miles from Taj Mahal, was inaugurated by additional principal chief conservator of
forests, UP K Praveen Rao.
The 58th ISAM Annual Conference to be held
 Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will inaugurate the 58th Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ISAM)
Annual Conference on 14 Nov 2019 in Bengaluru.
 It aims to address contemporary issues and applications in the subject of aerospace medicine.
 The theme for the conference for 2019 is 'Changing Paradigms in Aerospace Healthcare'.
Dal Lake to be declared Eco-Sensitive Zone
 J&K has set up a 10-member committee to declare Srinagar’s Dal Lake and its surrounding areas as an eco-
sensitive zone (ESZ).
 Pollution and encroachments have resulted in the Dal Lake shrinking from its original area of 22 square
kilometres to about 10 square kilometres, according to an assessment by the Dredging Corporation of India
(DCI) in 2017.
 The capacity of the lake has shrunk to 40%.
National Capital Region -2041 conclave held
 Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, chaired the inaugural conclave on National
Capital Region -2041 in Delhi on 11 November 2019.
 This conclave was organized by the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB).
 The theme of the conclave was Planning for Tomorrow’s Greatest Capital Region.
39th India International Trade Fair 2019
 39th India International Trade Fair 2019 has begun in New Delhi.
 The theme for the 39th edition of the fair is ‘Ease of Doing Business’ inspired by India’s unique achievement
of rising to 63rd rank on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index from 142nd rank in the year 2014.
 The Republic of Korea’ will be the ‘Focus Country’.
 Bihar and Jharkhand will be the focus states.
Swachh-Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan
 Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is undertaking a mass cleanliness-cum-
awareness drive in 50 identified beaches under the programme called ‘Swachh- Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan’, from
11 -17 November 2019.
 The objective is to strive to make coastal areas across the country clean.
 It aims to create awareness amongst citizens about the importance of coastal ecosystems.
Gujarat CM launched online registration portal
 Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has launched an online registration portal to facilitate setting up of new
MSME units.
 He approved the first online application through the portal and issued a certificate through an e-mail to a
woman entrepreneur.
 Earlier, the State government had announced a waiver from approval procedure to MSME units for first
three years.
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UP govt to felicitate GST payers

 Uttar Pradesh government will felicitate the top ten GST payers in each district and at the state level.
 Government has also decided to provide insurance of 10 lakh rupees to the registered GST payers in state
and very soon there will be provision of pension for them.
 State's Target of GST collection this financial year is around 77640 crore rupees.
President's rule imposed in Maharashtra
 President's rule has been imposed in Maharashtra.
 The state legislative assembly has been kept under suspended animation.
 The development came as the political impasse lingered on for 19 days after the assembly election results
were declared.
 In the assembly polls held in Oct 2019, the BJP won 105 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena, 56, the NCP-54
and the Congress, 44 in the 288-member House.
The 27th Conference of COCSSO held
 Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) organized 27th Conference of Central and
State Statistical Organizations (COCSSO) on 11-12 November 2019 in Kolkata.
 It provided a platform for discussion and improved coordination between the Central and State Statistical
agencies.
 The theme for 2019 was 'Sustainable Development Goals' (SDGs).
Four medical device parks to be set up
 The govt has given approval for setting up four medical device parks with a view to support Make in India
initiative and provide world-class products at affordable price for treatment.
 The parks will be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
 This will not only cut import bill but will also help in easy access to standard testing facilities and reduce
cost of production.
8 movies from Russia to be screened at IFFI
 The 50th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will kick off from 20th November 2019 in Goa.
 It will showcase eight movies from Russia which is Country of focus for the year 2019.
 'Andrei Tarkovsky: A Cinema Prayer', is one of the movies to be featured among these Russian movies.
 The documentary by Tarkovsky is considered one of his masterpieces.
World’s first CNG port terminal at Bhavnagar
 Gujarat Government has given its nod to the world’s first CNG port terminal at Bhavnagar.
 The U.K. based Foresight group and Mumbai based Padmanabh Mafatlal group joint venture will invest
Rs.1900 crore to set up a CNG port terminal at Bhavnagar port.
 The port terminal will have an annual capacity of 6 million metric tone.
National workshop on ODF Plus held
 Ministry of Jal Shakti organised a one-day national workshop on ODF Plus – ODF Sustainability and Solid and
Liquid Waste Management on 9 Nov 2019 in New Delhi.
 5.99 lakh villages, 699 districts and 35 states and UTs have declared themselves open defecation free (ODF)
as of October 2019.
 Participating states presented their current status in rural sanitation and their plans going forward.
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IYM launched BS-VI compliant variants of bikes

 India Yamaha Motor (IYM) launched BS-VI compliant variants of FZ-FI and FZS-FI bikes, priced between
₹99,200 and ₹1.02 lakh.
 The new FZ-FI and FZS-FI BS-VI versions come with various features like single-channel ABS in the front
wheel, front and rear disc brakes along with a single piece two-level seat.
 These FZ motorcycles will be available across Yamaha showrooms from November 2019.
IOCL gets environmental clearance
 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has given environment clearance to Indian Oil
Corporation Limited to set up new 2G Ethanol plant at Panipat.
 This project will not only promote the use of environmentally friendly fuel but also aid in the fulfilment of
the government's goal of doubling farmers’ income.
Flyover between Sion & Dharavi commissioned
 Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis commissioned a new flyover expected to reduce travel by 30 minutes
between Sion and Dharavi in the Mumbai.
 The 1.6-km long, 17-metre wide and 4-lane BKC- Chunabhatti Connector provides a faster route to the
arterial Eastern Express Highway.
 Mumbaikars will now save 30 minutes travel time and avoid traffic congestion at Dharavi and Sion
junctions.
Assamese version of 'Courts of India' released
 Chief Justice of India Justice Ranjan Gogoi released the Assamese version of the book 'Courts of India: Past
to Present' in Guwahati on 10 Nov 2019.
 The book has been published by the Publication Division and explains the Indian justice system.
 The book has captured the historical developments which took place in the history of the nation's courts.
5th edition of GES to be held from Nov 26-28
 The fifth edition of Global Exhibition on Services, GES 2019 is being held from November 26-28, 2019 in
Bengaluru, Karnataka.
 It is an annual event which aims to engage industry and governments across the world.
 GES 2019 is an attempt towards escalating the Indian services bar in the global arena, encompassing
participation from 100 countries and hosting sector-specific knowledge sessions.
Andhra government to introduce English medium
 The Andhra Pradesh Government is set to introduce English medium in government schools for first to
eighth standard starting from the next academic year.
 Under the programme the basic amenities in schools will be improved and in the first phase it would be
taken up in 15,000 schools.
 This phase would be completed by March 2020.
2nd Int Conf. on Sustainable Water Management
 The 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Water Management was held in Pune on 6 November
2019.
 It was inaugurated by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Union Minister of Jalshakti.
 He announced that India would achieve the target of providing safe drinking water to everyone by 2024.
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 The conference highlighted the need for the states to work towards seamless data transfer on water.
IFFI to screen 3 films for differently-abled
 This year, the Golden Jubilee of International Film Festival of India (IFFI), will have the screening of
Accessible India Films.
 This is collaboration between IFFI, Saksham Bharat and UNESCO with the aim to promote the creation of
inclusive spaces for the differently-abled to access the joy of cinema through Audio deion.
 This unique film section will witness the screening of three films.
Bihar to ban auto rickshaws running on diesel
 Bihar state government has announced a ban on auto-rickshaws running on diesel on 6 November 2019.
 It will be effective from 31 January 2021.
 The move comes after Patna recorded the worst air quality of the season in India on 5 November 2019.
 The owners of the auto-rickshaws will be encouraged to switch over to Compressed natural gas (CNG) or
battery-operated systems.
10th Meeting of SCO held
 The Union Minister for Home Affairs, Amit Shah addressed the 10th Meeting of the Heads of Departments
of SCO Member States.
 The meeting dealt with the prevention and elimination of emergency situations.
 India attaches special importance to SCO as an excellent platform for synergizing the efforts of all member
States in the field of multilateral, political, security, etc.
Sanskrit Bharati Vishwa Sammelan began
 Thousands of Sanskrit lovers from 17 countries are attending Sanskrit Bharati Vishwa Sammelan, the three-
day mega event.
 It began on 9 November 2019.
 Sanskrit continues to be prevalent in society as it is used by the people across the country.
 Sanskrit words are found in most of the Indian languages.
 Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr.Harsh Vardhan was also present on the occasion.
Ayodhya Verdict
 The Supreme Court has given the entire disputed 2.77-acre land to the Hindu parties with a trust to be
formed by the Centre within three months to monitor the construction of a Ram Temple.
 The Sunni Waqf Board will be given 5 acres of alternate land, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled
in the unanimous verdict.
 Elaborate security arrangements have been made across the country.
Devendra Fadnavis resigned as Maharashtra CM
 Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has finally resigned and met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to submit
his resignation papers.
 This comes just hours before the deadline for government formation in Maharashtra ends with the current
assembly session coming to an end on November 9, 2019.
Every new officer to ‘adopt’ and mentor a teen
 The Narendra Modi government has launched a unique mentorship programme called ‘Nurture the Future’.
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 Under this, civil service probationers will have to adopt adolescents as mentees and guide them throughout
their educational and professional lives.
 The initiative aims to provide mentorship to underprivileged and socially or economically-backward children
studying in class 10 and above.
MMR of India declined by 8 points in one year
 Maternal Mortality Ratio, MMR, of India has declined by eight points in one year as per the latest special
bulletin on MMR released by the Registrar General of India.
 This was informed by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan today in New Delhi.
 The MMR has declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 122 per lakh live births in 2015-17.
Government to set up one lakh digital villages
 The Government will set up one lakh digital villages in the country in the coming years.
 Around 800 such villages are already operational on pilot basis.
 This was announced by Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar
Prasad.
 The idea behind setting them up is to provide health care and education digitally and promote Skill
development.
Guinness World Record created
 A Guinness World Record of most students assembling radio kits simultaneously was created on the third
day of India International Science Festival at Kolkata.
 490 students participated in the event, a record 268 succeeded in completing the assembling process in the
stipulated hours.
 A certificate and memento was presented to Union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan.
DIN System of CBIC comes into existence
 The Documentation Identification Number (DIN) system of Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIC) came into
existence from 8th November 2019.
 This path breaking system in indirect tax administration has been created as per the direction of Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
 Now, any CBIC communication will have to have a Documentation Identification Number.
10th Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine
 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated 10th Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine in New Delhi.
 The aim of the conference is to develop programs and manuals to train citizens in emergency first aid
procedures.
 The Government of India has made it mandatory for all medical college hospitals to have full-fledged
Emergency Departments by 2022 with an aim to improve trauma care.
Miscellaneous News
 Cyclone Bulbul came in the areas of Odisha and West Bengal. 35 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
teams have been assigned to these states to combat the cyclone.
 Russian troops wearing World War II uniforms marched across Moscow's Red Square, in memory of the
historic 1941 parade, when Soviet soldiers went directly to the battlefield to fight the Nazis.
Govt allocated unique HS code for Khadi
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 In a move to give impetus to the export of Khadi, the government has allocated a separate Harmonized
System (HS) code for this fabric.
 Allocation of HS code to the khadi will help the government to plan the export strategies effectively.
 Earlier, Khadi did not have exclusive HS code and all the export data regarding this fabric used to come
under the normal fabric head.
Lucknow railway station got ‘Health ATM’
 The Indian Railways has installed two ‘Health ATMs’ at the Charbagh railway station in Lucknow.
 The kiosks, promoted by YOLO Health ATM, provide 16 health check-ups for Rs 50-100.
 There are two types of check-ups- a 9-minute one that costs Rs 100, and a 6-minute one that costs Rs 50.
 The report is delivered instantly to the email or smartphone of the user.
Amitabh's six films to be screened at IFFI
 Amitabh Bachchan's six films will be screened at the Film Festival 2019.
 The megastar has selected his 6 best movies for the gala event.
 These include Sholay, Piku, Black, Deewar, Paa and Badla.
 The other big name who will be felicitated at the IFFI is, Rajinikanth.
 The actor has ruled the roost for four decades and commands a loyal fan following across the country.
BIMSTEC Conclave to be held in Visakhapatnam
 The 2-day BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal initiative multi-sector technical and economic cooperation) Conclave will
be held on 7-8th November 2019 at Visakhapatnam.
 Vizag port trust is hosting the conclave first time ever since the formation of BIMSTECH in 1997.
 Seven-member countries that includes Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Srilanka, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan are
participating in the conference.
Shala Darpan portal launched
 Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development Sanjay Dhotre launched the Shala Darpan Portal
of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.
 This will integrate all Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas with a common standard which includes around 636
schools and 2.67 million students.
 It provides a platform to meet the educational and administrative needs of all stakeholders-students,
teachers and parents.
‘Despite the Fog’ to open the 50th IFFI
 Italian movie ‘Despite the Fog’ will be opening the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2019.
 The film is directed by Europe’s noted filmmaker Goran Paskaljevic.
 The 50th edition of IFFI, beginning 20th November 2019 in Goa, will witness the screening of over 200 best
films from 76 countries.
MI Face to Face meeting of IC inaugurated
 The govt launched the Mission Innovation (MI) Face to Face meeting of Innovation Challenges (IC) on 4
November 2019.
 It was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Health & Family Welfare,
Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
 MI aims to take stock of the deliverables by MI and its plans until 2020.
 The objective is to identify major gap areas in Clean Energy Innovation.
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Indian Army to get 18 Dhanush artillery guns

 The Indian Army will receive its first batch of indigenously built Dhanush artillery guns, often referred to as
the ‘Desi Bofors’.
 Five guns from the total order for 114 are likely to be handed over by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) to
the army’s Central Ordnance Depot in Jabalpur on March 26, 2019.
 By the end of 2019, the army will induct a Dhanush regiment, consisting of 18 guns.
Coimbatore Stn visually challenged friendly
 Coimbatore Railway Station has now become visually-challenged friendly.
 It became the fourth station to have such a facility after Mysuru, Bengaluru, and Borivali station in Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
 The railway station has installed Braille information boards and Braille-embossed handrails on 1 November
2019.
 This initiative in the Coimbatore Railway Station is made by Anuprayas, an NGO.
2019 Global Investors Meet to be held in HP
 Himachal Pradesh will organize Global Investors’ Meet 2019 at Dharamshala on 7-8 November 2019.
 This event aims to showcase the policy and regulatory environment, investment opportunities in eight focus
sectors.
 The event will boost manufacturing and employment generation in the State.
 The event will have many sessions on Ease of Doing Business, tourism, and wellness.
30 GW of renewable energy in Gujarat by 2022
 The state government of Gujarat has set a target of achieving 30 GW (30,000 MW) of renewable energy
generation by 2022 from the current generational capacity of 9670 MW.
 The State has also prepared the roadmap for the generation of renewable energy.
 In industrial production, Gujarat has overtaken Maharashtra as its contribution increased to 16.81% as
compared to 14.21% of Maharashtra.
Vice President released a monograph
 Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu released a monograph, ‘Musical Excellence of Mridangam’, a rare fusion
of art and science of an ancient South Indian instrument on the CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute
(CLRI) campus in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
 The book was authored by mridangam maestro and Padma Vibhushan awardee Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman
and former scientists T. Ramasami and M.D. Naresh.
5th edition of Wastelands Atlas 2019 released
 Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar released the 5th edition of Wastelands Atlas 2019.
 It is published jointly by Department of Land Resources and National Remote Sensing Centre.
 It provides robust geospatial information on wasteland.
 It is helpful in rolling back the wastelands for productive use through various land development
programmes and schemes.
MSDE, IBM launch SkillsBuild platform
 The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched the SkillsBuild platform in
collaboration with IBM.
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 As part of the programme, a two-year advanced diploma in IT, networking and cloud computing, co-created
and designed by IBM, will be offered at the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) & National Skill Training
Institutes (NSTIs).
 It will also train ITI & NSTI faculty.
Kolkata students created Guinness World Record
 The Guinness World Records for the largest astrophysics lesson (45 minutes) and assembly of spectroscopes
was successfully achieved at the Science City, Kolkata.
 This was done at the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2019 on 5 Nov 2019 with the participation of
over 1,598 students.
 The theme for 2019 is RISEN India –Research, Innovation and Science Empowering the Nation.
DRDO’s Igniter Complex at HEMRL inaugurated
 Raksha Rajya Mantri Shripad Naik inaugurated the DRDO Igniter Complex at High Energy Materials Research
Laboratory (HEMRL) in Pune on 5 November 2019.
 Ignition is a crucial and highly critical phenomenon in the ignitionchain of Rocket motor.
 HEMRL has developed various fuel /oxidizer based igniter compositions using organic binders.
Sports training centres for differently-abled
 Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot has said, the government is
establishing sports training centres at five locations in the country, exclusively for the differently-abled
people.
 He unveiled the Standing Wheelchair, developed by IIT Madras, for commercial production at a function
held in Chennai.
 Works of one of such sport centre have already started.
SC banned stubble burning in Delhi, Punjab
 The Supreme Court banned stubble burning in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh in view of
severe air pollution.
 It also banned all construction and demolition activities along with burning of garbage and waste in Delhi-
NCR.
 The apex court took to task State governments on toxic air pollution.
 A penalty of Rs 5000 would be imposed if anyone is found burning it.
RBI issued compensation norms
 The RBI has issued compensation guidelines for whole-time directors and chief executives of foreign,
private, small finance, payments banks and local area banks.
 If the variable pay is up to 200 per cent of the fixed pay, at least 50 percent of it should be in non-cash.
 If the variable pay is above 200 per cent, 67 per cent of it should be paid via non-cash instruments.
India’s first nanotechnology-based products
 Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) introduced India’s 1st nanotechnology-based product
range by introducing Nano Nitrogen, Nano Zinc, Nano Copper for on-field trials in Gujarat.
 The products were produced at IFFCO’s Nano Biotechnology Research Centre (NBRC) in Kalol unit.
 These nano structured formulations effectively deliver nutrients to the plants.
Finance Minister launched IT initiatives
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 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled two new IT Initiatives - ICEDASH and ATITHI for improved
monitoring and pace of customs clearance of imported goods and facilitating arriving international
passengers.
 ICEDASH is an Ease of Doing Business monitoring dashboard of the Indian Customs.
 The ATITHI app will facilitate hassle-free and faster clearance by Customs at the airports.
4 records to be attempted at Science Festival
 As many as four Guinness World Records will be attempted during the course of the 5th India International
Science Festival (IISF) beginning in Kolkata on November 5, 2019.
 On the opening day of the four-day mega event, the largest astrophysics lesson and assembly of
spectroscopes will be attempted with the participation of over 1,750 students.
AYUSH Minister Inaugurated NRIUMSD
 Union Minister of State for AYUSH inaugurated National Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin
Disorders (NRIUMSD) upgraded from Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CRIUM) in Hyderabad.
 CRIUM has successfully treated vitiligo and other chronic diseases and it’s perhaps the only medical
institution in the world which has treated more than 1.5 lakh patients of Vitiligo alone.
eCAPA 2019 - Art from the Heart began
 India’s first-ever Arts Exposition for Artists blessed with Down Syndrome, Autism, Mental Retardation,
Seizure Disorder and Dyslexia started in New Delhi on 2 Nov 2019.
 "eCAPA 2019 - Art from the Heart" is a unique nationwide platform cum social venture for such artists to
showcase their visual and performing arts.
 It will continue till 14th November at STIR Gallery, Chattarpur Farms.
Free bus services started for Sultanpur Lodhi
 Punjab Government has started free bus service for devotees coming to visit Sultanpur Lodhi during the
550th Prakash Purab celebrations of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
 The decision was taken in a meeting of the officers of Tourism and Transport Departments.
 In accordance with the decision, 1500 buses would ply daily to take the devotees to Sultanpur Lodhi from 5-
12 November 2019.
12-day Odd-Even Scheme came into effect
 The Odd-Even Scheme to combat air pollution was implemented in the National Capital from 4 Nov 2019.
 The 12-day scheme will continue till 15th Nov 2019.
 Under the scheme, the vehicles with odd last digit registration number will be allowed on roads on odd
dates and those with even last digit will ply on even dates.
 Violating the rule will incur a fine of four thousand rupees.
5th India International Science Fes to be held
 PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Fifth India International Science Festival by addressing the audience
at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Kolkata through video conference on 5 November 2019.
 The festival will continue till 8th November 2019.
 The prime objective of the festival is to instil scientific temper among the masses.
KVS-Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat Parv concluded
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 The four-day long mega cultural and literary event of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan - Ek Bharat Shreshth
Bharat Parv culminated in New Delhi on 3 Nov 2019.
 Kolkata Region bagged the 1st position as the overall winner under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat category.
 Bengaluru stood 1st in the category of Language of LitFest and Bhopal Region came first in the Display of
Artefacts or Exhibition.
Robotic surgery facility at Safdarjung Hosp.
 Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan dedicated the robotic surgery facility in the Safdarjung Hospital in New
Delhi.
 Robotic surgery has the advantage of providing minimally invasive surgery, reducing significantly the
morbidity and mortality of critically ill, cancer and kidney failure patients.
 The operating time also decreases resulting in improvement in turnover of patients.
Anti-human trafficking units to be set up
 The Government has announced setting up anti-human trafficking units in all districts with the help of
Nirbhaya Fund.
 Women help desks will also be set up at a cost of Rs.100 cr in all police stations.
 This initiative will strengthen women safety and instil a greater sense of security among them.
 The step will go a long way in addressing women and children safety in the country.
Amit Shah to inaugurate SCO joint exercise
 Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Joint Exercise on Urban
Earthquake Search and Rescue -SCOJtEx-2019 in New Delhi on 4 Nov 2019.
 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is hosting the event which will continue till Nov 7.
 The aim of the exercise is to rehearse the disaster response mechanism, share knowledge and technology
for mutual coordination.
Govt released maps of newly-created UTs
 The government released the maps of newly created union territories of Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh and
the map of India depicting these union territories.
 The new map shows 28 states and nine union territories after the bifurcation of J&K.
 According to Home Ministry, the new union territories of Ladakh consists of two districts of Kargil and Leh
and the rest of them are in the UT of J&K.
President Kovind visited Lingdum monastery
 President Ram Nath Kovind visited Lingdum monastery in Ranka as part of his two-day visit to Sikkim which
began on 2 Nov 2019.
 He was accompanied by Sikkim Governor Ganga Prasad.
 Mr Kovind was given a traditional welcome by monks of the Lingdum monastery through the display of
Singhi and Mask dances.
 The President offered prayers at the monastery and interacted with monks.
National Health Profile 2019
 Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan released the 14th edition of the National Health Profile 2019 on
October 30, 2019.
 The National Health Profile is prepared by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence.
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 It provides a comprehensive framework on the socio-economic health status and the status of
demographic, health finance, health infrastructure and health of human resources in the country.
‘Aarambh’, common foundation course for IAS
 The Centre’s first-ever common foundation course “Aarambh” (Beginning) for 2019 batch probationer civil
servants has begun at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat.
 There are around 500 newly recruited bureaucrats are undergoing six-day training.
 The theme this year is ‘How to achieve the goal of making India a 5 trillion dollar economy’.
MNRE hosted 2nd Assembly of ISA in New Delhi
 Minister of Power, New & Renewable Energy and Skill Development Entrepreneurship hosted the 2nd
Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) on 31 Oct 2019.
 Delegations from 78 countries participated in this Assembly, this included 29 Ministerial delegations of
which 25 are from ISA member countries, 2 from signatory countries and further 2 from prospective
member countries.
First micro composting centre inaugurated
 The first micro composting centre (MCC) was inaugurated by Minister of Cooperation Sellur K. Raju next to
the crematorium at Thathaneri, Tamil Nadu.
 The facility will ensure that Madurai becomes a clean city and also binless.
 The centre, built at a cost of ₹80 lakh under the Swachh Bharat Mission, has 12 pits which will compost
organic waste using the aerobic method.
Santosh Kumar inaugurated ESIC hospital
 Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State for Labour and Employment inaugurated the 100 bedded ESIC
hospital at Rudrapur recently.
 The hospital has been constructed in a plot area of 5 acres along with 32 staff quarters with an approx. cost
of Rs.97.72 crore.
 This Hospital would be exclusively run for the benefit of insured persons and their family members covered
under ESI Scheme.
India to open 100 additional airports in 5 yrs
 India is planning to open 100 additional airports by 2024, as part of a plan to revive economic growth in
Asia’s third-largest economy.
 The proposal, which includes starting 1,000 new routes connecting smaller towns and villages, was
discussed at a meeting to review infrastructure needed by 2025.
 Steps to start a plane-lease financing business in the country was also discussed.
Kerala Governor inaugurated Ayurveda summit
 Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan inaugurated the 3rd edition of Global Ayurveda Summit 2019.
 As many as 400 industry leaders and delegates from SAARC, GCC and African countries have gathered in
Kochi for the Global Ayurveda Summit 2019.
 The 2-day summit organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will have the theme Mainstreaming
Ayurveda through Startups, Innovation and Branding.
A 2000-year-old brick structure unearthed
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 The 1st phase of excavation by Archaeological Survey of India’s Excavation Branch has discovered the
remains of a huge settlement surrounded by a massive brick enclosure.
 Among many other antiquities unearthed are one life size Vishnu sculpture and a wide variety of pottery of
the early centuries.
 The site of Gottiprolu lies on the right bank of a distributary of river Swarnamukhi.
New website for Ladakh launched
 Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh RK Mathur launched new Ladakh website on 31 Oct 2019.
 After swearing in as Lt. Gov, he launched the all new www.ladakh.nic.in website.
 The new dynamic website is prepared in just three days with all new features.
 Till now, Leh and Kargil have separate websites with district orientation.
 In a few days, reporting of public grievance option will also be added.
1st Multilingual Writers’ Meet to be held
 For the first time, Arunachal Pradesh will host the Multilingual Writers’ Meet at its oldest town Pasighat in
East Siang District from 2 Nov 2019.
 The two-day event will be held at the auditorium of College of Horticulture and Forestry.
 25 prominent multilingual writers and poets from all parts of India and many literary dignitaries of the host
state will attend the event.
National Affairs
 As a new Union Territory, the Ladakh region participated in Run for Unity to celebrate Rashtriya Ekta
Diwas on 31 Oct 2019. At various places in Leh and Kargil different sections of people have participated in
Ek Daud Desh Ke Naam.
 The Run for Unity was jointly organised in many districts of Meghalaya. The Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge
was also administered to government employees.
President launched endowment fund of IIT Delhi
 President Ram Nath Kovind has launched endowment fund of IIT Delhi.
 Endowments have become integral part of the financial health of educational institutions and through this
alumni are playing critical role in supporting and nurturing future generations of learners.
 Throughout history, educational institutes have been the beacons of our culture.
India now has 28 states and 9 UTs
 According to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the appointed day for the two Union
Territories J&K and Ladakh was October 31, 2019.
 This is for the first time that a state is converted into two Union Territories.
 The total number of states in the country will now be 28 while the total Union Territories will go up to nine.
National Unity Day: 31 October
 National Unity Day - Rashtriya Ekta Diwas - was observed across the country 31 Oct, on the occasion of the
144th birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
 Since 2014, October 31st is observed as the National Unity Day and people from all walks of life participate
in the 'Run For Unity'.
 PM Narendra Modi paid floral tribute to Sardar Patel at the 'Statue of Unity'.
Amit Shah flagged off Run For Unity
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 Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off Run For Unity from New Delhi's Major Dhyanchand National Stadium.
 The run started from the main gate of the Major Dhayanchand National stadium and ended at Amar Jawan
Jyoti.
 Around 15,000 people participated in the event.
 To facilitate people taking part in the Run for Unity Metro services began at 4 am from terminal stations of
all lines.
TN: 1st state to enact law on contract farming
 Tamil Nadu has become the first State in the country to enact a law on contract farming.
 President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to the Agricultural Produce and Livestock Contract Farming
and Services (Promotion and Facilitation) Act.
 The law would safeguard interests of farmers during times of bumper harvest or fluctuating market prices.
 They would be paid at a pre-determined price.
EU Parliamentary delegation visited Srinagar
 A delegation of 23 Members of Parliament from different European countries which is on a two-day visit to
Srinagar met students, women, traders, fruit growers besides panchs & sarpanchs.
 The delegation is the first international group to visit Kashmir after scrapping of J&K’s special status.
 The delegation also visited Army’s 15 Corps Headquarters at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar.
Nirmala Sitharaman releases special coin
 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has released a special commemorative coin on Paramahansa
Yogananda to mark his 125th Birth Anniversary.
 Paramahansa Yogananda was a great son of India, who was recognized globally.
 His universal message was to bring harmony among mankind and making it so acceptable globally even
when communications modes were limited.
Nagaland partnered with Madhya Pradesh
 Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' programme has brought in the states of Nagaland and Madhya Pradesh as one
to celebrate the spirit of national integration.
 The Directorate of Higher Education of Government of Nagaland as the nodal department of 'Ek Bharat,
Shreshtha Bharat' has conducted various activities undertaken in partnership with Madhya Pradesh.
Mastercard to launch solution for smartphones
 Mastercard is set to launch a solution in India where a smartphone can become a contactless acceptance
device.
 If your phone has NFC, then it can become a point-of-sale (POS) device.
 A customer can tap the contactless card on the phone.
 With this innovation, a retailer doesn’t need to invest in the hardware for accepting contactless payments.
The phone will be sufficient.
‘Right to Health Conclave’ to be inaugurated
 A 2-Day Right to Health Conclave will be inaugurated on Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day, November 1,
2019.
 The Subject Experts connected to health and social works from across the country will participate in the
conclave.
 They will hold deliberations on issues related to the health during various sessions during the conclave.
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 The first session will be on the subject ‘Spirituality and Health’.

Thotlakonda Buddhist site to be renovated
 Thotlakonda Buddhist site will be renovated as a meditation place for Vizagites and tourists.
 It was a sacred place of Buddhists during 300 BC to 300 AD.
 The 2,000-old Maha Stupa at Thotlakonda collapsed on one side due to heavy rains,.
 Thotlakonda Buddhist Complex is situated on a hill near Bheemunipatnam about 15 kilometres from
Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
Women in Delhi to get free rides in buses
 Women in Delhi will get free rides in public buses starting from 29 Oct 2019.
 As per the plan, conductors will distribute pink tickets having face value of 10 rupees each to women
passengers for free-travel.
 The government will then reimburse the transporters based on the number of such tickets issued.
 Currently, 3,400 bus marshals are already working.
Air India depicted 'Ik Onkar' on tail
 In a unique gesture to mark 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, Air India has depicted Sikh
religious symbol 'Ik Onkar' on the tail of one of its aircraft.
 The flight is set to fly from Amritsar to Stansted in the United Kingdom on 31 Oct 2019.
 Air India will fly its aircraft thrice a week on the Mumbai-Amritsar-Stansted route.
IOB launched health care plus insurance policy
 Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) in association with Universal Sompo General Insurance Co Ltd. has launched
upgraded health care plus insurance policy.
 It is a co-branded insurance scheme exclusively designed for IOB customers with a sum insured starting
from ₹50,000 and going up to ₹15 lakh.
 The policy issuance will be made on a real-time basis at the IOB branches to its customers.
‘Kyarr’ will become a super cyclone
 The Meteorological Department said the situation in the Arabian Sea could become very bad in the next 24
hours following the condition of the Kyarr cyclone turning in to a super cyclone.
 The storm could affect the coastal areas of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa.
 According to the weather department, the center of Cyclone Kyarr is currently about 540 km from the west-
southwest coast of Mumbai.
UP CM launched new emergency helpline no. 112
 UP CM Yogi Adityanath launched an all-encompassing emergency helpline number '112' to access police,
fire brigade, ambulance and other services under the Emergency Response Support System.
 He also launched a senior citizen safety initiative 'Savera'.
 This single helpline number 112 will reduce the response time.
Lucknow school bagged Guinness World Record
 Lucknow-based school has won the Guinness World Record for becoming the 'world's largest school' in
terms of strength of students.
 City Montessori School (CMS) has won the global award for having 55,547 students in 2019-20, as stated by
CMS founder, Jagdish Gandhi.
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 Currently, the CMS has 18 branches and approximately 56,000 students all over the city.
‘Maharatna’ status granted to HPCL & PGCIL
 ‘Maharatna’ status has been granted by the Government to state-owned Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
Limited and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.
 The status also comes with greater operational and financial autonomy.
 The grant of Maharatna status to the PSUs will impart enhanced powers to their Boards to take financial
decisions.
CBSE & NCERT launched ‘Tamanna’ test
 CBSE and NCERT have launched an online aptitude test called ‘Tamanna’.
 Tamanna stands for Try And Measure Aptitude And Natural Abilities.
 Tamanna is an aptitude test that aims to help students of Class 9 and 10 to make a better choice of
subjects, eventually helping them in making an informed decision while choosing subjects in Class 11 and
12.
First kerosene-free district of Gujarat
 Gandhinagar has become Gujarat’s first Kerosene-free district.
 Home Minister Amit Shah allotted 1,000 LPG connections to the people in Gandhinagar.
 Amit Shah said that rural women have been allotted LPG connections under the Ujjwala Yojana.
 It was also announced that ONGC completed this scheme with a cost of Rs. 6.13 core.
 This scheme is covering more than 75,000 rural women.
PM KISAN call centre to be set up
 The government is planning to set up a call centre to respond to farmers’ queries about the PM Kisan
minimum income support scheme.
 It plans to have a dedicated round-the-clock interactive voice response (IVR) system.
 At present there is a helpline number for farmers to register complaints and seek information, but there
have been complaints galore that farmers do not getting any response.
ICICI Bank sold entire stake in GST Network
 ICICI Bank has exited the GST Network by selling its entire 10 per cent stake to as many as 13 state
governments.
 The stake sale is for aggregate cash consideration of ₹1 crore.
 The stake transfer to various stake governments will be completed by the end of March 2020.
 The bank will transfer 0.14 per cent stake to the Assam government and 0.81 per cent stake to the
Telangana government.
Delhi recorded season's worst air quality
 Delhi's air quality dropped to season's worst on 25 Oct 2019, with the decreased wind speed leading to
accumulation of pollutants and affecting dispersion.
 The city's overall air quality index (AQI) fluctuated between 315 and 284.
 Most of the places in Delhi recorded the AQI in the "very poor" category, while the situation inched towards
"severe" in some areas.
6 new medical institutes for Tamil Nadu
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 The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare gave its approval to Tamil Nadu’s proposal to establish six
new medical colleges.
 The institutes will come up in Tiruppur, the Nilgiris, Ramanathapuram, Namakkal, Dindigul and
Virudhunagar at a cost of ₹1,950 crore and will be attached to existing hospitals in these districts.
 The Centre would sign MoU with the Tamil Nadu govt for the same.
CSIR conducted genome sequencing
 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research has done genome sequencing of over one thousand persons
from different parts of India.
 The initiative called IndiGen has enabled benchmarking the scalability of genome sequencing and
computational analysis at population scale in a defined timeline.
 The outcome will be utilized towards understanding the genetic diversity on a population scale.
Indian Railways launched One Touch ATVM
 Indian Railways has launched ‘one touch ATVM’ at 42 suburban stations of Central Railway to render fast
ticketing to millions of commuters over Mumbai Suburban Network.
 Railway passenger can avail the service of this new machine at 42 suburban stations.
 This new machine will reduce the waiting time of the passengers and allow passenger to avoid standing in
long queues.
Vijaya Bank Museum inaugurated in Bengaluru
 The Vijaya Bank Heritage Museum has been inaugurated at the headquarters of the Vijaya Bank i.e.
Bengaluru.
 The museum has a rare collection of photos through which the growth of the bank is showcased.
 Vijaya Bank was one of the premier nationalised banks in the country.
 The erstwhile Vijaya Bank, along with the erstwhile Dena Bank, was amalgamated with Bank of Baroda on
April 1, 2019.
J&K Governor announces new initiatives
 Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik announced several new initiatives to further empower the
urban local bodies and fulfil the demands of elected representatives.
 He announced delegation of financial powers to each Municipal Council/Committee to the tune of 25 lakh
rupees.
 The Governor also announced life and health insurance coverage to all Safai Karmcharies.
Amit Shah on a four-day visit to Gujarat
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a four-day visit to Gujarat from 25 October 2019.
 During this visit, he will dedicate and lay foundation stones of series of development projects in his
Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
 On the 1st day, he distributed financial assistance to the beneficiaries of various government schemes at a
programme held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.
President Kovind visited Rajgir
 President Ram Nath Kovind visited Rajgir in Bihar on 25 October 2019.
 He inaugurated day long golden jubilee celebrations of Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda) in Rajgir.
 The Vishwa Shanti Stupa has completed 50 years of its establishment.
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 Situated on Ratnagiri hillock, this iconic structure was constructed by Japanese Buddhist monk popularly
known as Fujii Guruji in 1969.
IRDAI imposed penalty on Cholamandalam MS GIC
 The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has imposed penalties of Rs 1.01 crore on
Cholamandalam MS GIC.
 The insurer was penalised for violations observed during an inspection.
 The penalty of Rs 1 crore is for violation of Clause 15 of Schedule I of IRDA (Health Insurance) Regulations,
2013.
 The other penalty of Rs 1 lakh is for motor insurance.
Vreedhi Financial Services received licence
 Vreedhi Financial Services has secured a non-banking finance company licence from the RBI.
 It’s objective is to provide credit and other services to micro-enterprises operating in tier two-three cities
and small towns.
 The company will create a digital lending model by the next financial year.
 It will address the gap between the addressable and viable credit in the micro-enterprises space.
Appointments
 Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone and Indian badminton player PV Sindhu were named the
ambassadors for Bharat Ki Laxmi on 22 October 2019. It is an initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 Ashok Malik has been appointed as the policy advisor in the Ministry of External Affairs with the rank of
additional secretary. He was press secretary to President Ram Nath Kovind for a two-year term.
First national protocol launched
 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the first national protocol to enumerate the
snow leopard population in the country on the occasion of International Snow Leopard Day.
 The Day is celebrated on October 23 every year to protect and conserve the snow leopards and preserve
the beautiful wildlife of the Himalayas.
 India is believed to have 400 to 700 snow leopards.
First all women-run automobile service station
 India’s first all-women-run automobile service workshop in Jaipur was inaugurated by Mahindra &
Mahindra recently.
 This move is part of the company’s initiative called ‘Pink Collars’ to promote the recruitment of women in
core productive roles.
 The Compact Qwik workshop has women in roles including technicians, service advisors, drivers, part
managers and security guards.
No govt jobs for those with more than 2 kids
 The Assam Cabinet decided that no government jobs will be given to persons having more than two
children after January 1, 2021.
 The important decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting that also adopted a New Land Policy, which will give
three bighas of agricultural land to landless indigenous people and half a bigha for constructing a house.
Hunar Haat to be held in November 2019
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 The next 'Hunar Haat', an initiative of the Minority Affairs Ministry, will be organised from November 1-10,
2019 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
 More than 300 master artisans and culinary experts including a large number of women artisans will
participate in it.
 All the 'Hunar Haats' to be organised in 2019 and 2020 will be based on the theme of Ek Bharat Shresth
Bharat.
MeitY launched MeitY Startup Hub
 MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), a platform to connect the startup ecosystem, has been formally inaugurated by
Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, at the MeitY Startup Summit 2019.
 It will work like a social media platform for all the stakeholders of the ecosystem, including incubators,
accelerators, mentors, angel funds, and venture capitalists.
DRDO is manufacturing a hypersonic missile
 The DRDO is working on manufacturing a hypersonic missile, that would be capable of travelling at a speed
five times faster than that of sound.
 The next generation hypersonic weapons will have the capacity to move at a speed of about a mile per
second.
 A wind tunnel is being worked on at the moment where the weapon will be tested and fine-tuned, before it
is put to operational use.
50 IFFI announced films for Open Air Screening
 The 50th International Film Festival of India announced the films in Open Air Screening section of the
festival.
 The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa celebrates its Golden Jubilee Edition from 20th-28th
November 2019.
 Every year IFFI organises Open Air Screenings to bring the best of Cinematic experience to the Cine
enthusiasts.
 The theme would be ‘The Joy of Cinema’.
Siachen now opened for tourists: Rajnath Singh
 Siachen glacier, known for its arduous climate and difficult terrain, is now open for tourism.
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 21 Oct 2019 announced that the Siachen area is now open for tourists
and tourism.
 The Kumar Post is at height of more than 15,000 ft.
 Tourists will be able to travel from the base camp at Partapur at 11,000 feet to the Kumar Post.
United Nations WFP launched campaign
 The UN World Food Programme (WFP) launched a cinema advertisement campaign 'Feed Our Future' to
raise awareness and take steps against hunger and malnutrition in India.
 The campaign launch event included a panel discussion hosted by TV host Mini Mathur.
 Actor-director Nandita Das and filmmakers Neeraj Ghaywan and Anubhav Sinha shared their perspectives
over cinema and social change.
DAC approved procurement of equipments
 The Defence Acquisition Council has accorded approval for Capital Procurement for the Defence forces for
indigenously designed and developed equipment.
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 The first two projects include third-generation Anti-Tank Guided Missiles and the Auxiliary Power Units for
the T-72 and T-90 Tanks.
 The third project pertains to discrete Electronic Warfare systems for the mountain and High-Altitude
terrain.
IIT Kharagpur graduate developed unique device
 IIT Kharagpur graduate Debayan Saha has invented a device called PM 2.5 which he claimed when fitted
near the silencer pipe in vehicles will curb air pollution.
 The technology uses a combination of electric energy and wave energy to influence the pollutants like PM
2.5 such that they act like a magnet attracting other particulate pollutants from the ambient atmosphere to
get attached to it.
Multimedia exhibition organized in Frankfurt
 A multimedia exhibition as part of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was organized in the
India Pavilion at the Frankfurt International Book Fair.
 The life and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi were celebrated by performing Dandi Yatra on 19 Oct 2019.
 The Frankfurt International Book Fair is the largest and most important book fair which is held annually in
the month of October.
AIR National Sangeeth Sammelan concerts began
 All India Radio National Sangeeth Sammelan concerts, a major series in the music calendar, began in 26
centres, including Thanjavur, in Tamil Nadu.
 The concerts, recorded live in front of an invited audience will be broadcast as a national programme
overall stations of AIR from November 9 to December 15, 2019.
 Some of the prominent performers include Dr N Rajam and Malladi Suri Babu.
100 more Mohalla Clinics inaugurated in Delhi
 Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated 100 more Mohalla Clinics in Delhi on 19 Oct 2019.
 With these new health clinics, a total of 302 Mohalla Clinics are now functional in the city.
 These clinics are part of the city government's push to set up 1,000 neighbourhood clinics
 Facilities of diagnostic tests such as lipid profile, kidney and liver function test are available free of cost.
Col. Chewang Rinchen Setu inaugurated
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Col. Chewang Rinchen Setu which has been constructed at
an altitude of 14,650 feet in the forward area of Ladakh region.
 This bridge has been built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
 This Bridge is built on the strategically important road Durbuk Shyok Daulat Beg Oldie in sub sector north in
eastern Ladakh.
Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated CCRT e-portal
 Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated e-portal of Centre for
Cultural Resources and Training and YouTube Channel in New Delhi on 21 Oct 2019.
 The aim is to take India to newer digital pinnacle and to promote Indian culture.
 He attended the “Digital Bharat - Digital Sanskriti” program organised by Rashtriya Centre for Cultural
Resources and Training.
Miscellaneous News
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 PM Narendra Modi released a book titled 'Bridgital Nation' in New Delhi. The book has been authored by
Chairman, Tata Sons, N Chandrasekaran and Roopa Purushothaman.
 Mahindra & Mahindra announced the inauguration of India’s first all-women-run automobile service
workshop in Jaipur. This is part of the company’s larger initiative named ‘Pink Collars’
Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Council abolished
 Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Council was abolished on October 18, 2019, making the way for the
bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir State into two Union Territories - Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
 The J&K Council was dissolved under Section 57 of the J&K Reorganisation Bill, 2019.
 With this, the tenure of all the Members of the Legislative Council has come to an end.
Bio methane plant inaugurated in Coimbatore
 Swiss Minister for Environment, Energy Simonetta Sommaruga inaugurated bio methane plant in
Coimbatore.
 The Swiss-funded Rs.45 lakh project will generate bio methane from 1.5 ton solid waste collected from
Ward 22 in West Zone, which can generate about 150 units of power.
 The power will mainly be used for electrification of street lights in the area.
11th Nuclear Energy Conclave
 Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 11th Edition of Nuclear Energy Conclave 2019 in New Delhi.
 It was organized by India Energy Forum.
 A nuclear plant is coming up in the Gorakhpur of Haryana.
 A 'Hall of Nuclear Energy' was also opened at Pragati Maidan in Delhi.
 The theme of the Conclave: 'Economics of Nuclear Power- Innovation towards Safer & Cost-Effective
Technologies'.
NIN centenary stamp released
 A special commemorative postal stamp of the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad was released
by Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan.
 The stamp has been brought out under the Corporate My stamp scheme of India Posts.
 These stamps are of limited edition and are made to order.
 Alongside these, the NIN also opted for printing its centenary logo.
Goa Electricity dept ties up with HDFC Bank
 The Goa electricity department tied up with the HDFC Bank for online payment of electricity bills wherein
consumers in Goa can pay their bills digitally using the additional payment gateway.
 Consumers will have an option to make payments through various modes such as credit or debit card of any
of the bank, net banking by visiting the department’s website – www.goaelectricity.gov.in.
First Robotic restaurant of Odisha
 A restaurant in Bhubaneswar opened its doors to customers claiming to be the first eatery in eastern India
where two indigenously developed robots will serve customers.
 Named ‘Champa’ and ‘Chameli’, the two humanoid robots rolled on the floor of the Robo Chef restaurant
and served food to the waiting customers.
 After serving, the two robots even chimed “Apana mane khushi to” (Are you happy).
Maharashtra police ties up with AI firm
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 The Maharashtra Police has tied up with Logically, an extended intelligence (artificial and human
intelligence)-powered tech firm, to detect and prevent the spread of fake news.
 The company helps detect fake news, logical fallacy, and inaccuracies.
 It has been monitoring various social media platforms since 20 days to monitor cases of violation under the
Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Odisha's biggest trade fair to begin on Nov 12
 Baliyatra, one of the biggest trade fairs of Odisha, is scheduled to begin on November 12, 2019.
 The trade fair will continue for eight days.
 This year’s Baliyatra will be jointly organized by the Cuttack District Administration, District Cultural Council,
and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation.
 There will be separate vending zones for small traders and vendors.
Girls to be admitted in Sainik Schools
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved a proposal for admission of girl children in Sainik Schools from
academic session 2021-22 in a phased manner.
 The decision is in line with the objective of the government towards greater inclusiveness, gender equality,
enabling greater participation of women in Armed Forces and strengthening the motto of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti
Padhao'.
Kerala extends maternity leave benefits
 Kerala is extending maternity leave benefits to teachers and other staff of private educational institutions,
including those in the unaided sector.
 When the amendment to the Act comes into force, Kerala would become the first state in the country to
provide maternity benefits in the private educational sector.
 Employees covered under the law can avail 26 weeks’ maternity leave with salary.
India's livestock population increased
 India's livestock population has increased to over 535 million showing an increase of 4.6% over Livestock
Census-2012.
 The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying released the 20th Livestock Census -2019 on 16 Oct
2019.
 As per the livestock census, the share of cattle is around 36%, goat is over 27%, buffaloes is over 20%, sheep
around 14% and pigs around 2%.
Magnificent MP Conference inaugurated
 CM of MP Kamal Nath formally inaugurated the 2-day Magnificent Madhya Pradesh Conference on 17 Oct
2019 in Indore.
 He also inaugurated the Global Trade Exhibition at the Brilliant Convention Centre, Indore.
 223 industries are investing in Madhya Pradesh.
 Foreign investment proposals worth 4,385 crore rupees are in the process of consideration.
Miscellaneous News
 The road starting from Kapurthala connecting Goindwal Sahib and terminating near Taran Taran in Punjab
has been declared as new National Highway - 703 A A and named as Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg.
 A two-day international conference on biosciences, BIOSUMMIT’19, was inaugurated at Vellore Institute of
Technology.
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Digital museum inaugurated

 Lok Sabha MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary inaugurated a three-day spiritual fest in form of a digital museum
to showcase the life and philosophy of Guru Nanak via ultra-modern technology at Lyallpur Khalsa College.
 It was a humble effort of the Punjab government to commemorate the 550th Parkash Purab of Guru Nanak.
 The museum had brought together various technologies such as LFD screens and RFID.
Colour themed Kalam library inaugurated
 Colour themed Dr Kalam Library was inaugurated by The Arc Foundation India and Rotary Club of
Coimbatore Heritage as a mark of love and tribute to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary at the
Government High School, Koundampalayam.
 The Joint Managing Trustee of The Arc Foundation India, M.A. Aparna addressed the children on the
purpose of inaugurating such a library.
Textiles Secretary inaugurated IHGF-Delhi Fair
 Textiles Secretary, Ravi Capoor, inaugurated the 48th edition of the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF)
at the India Expo Centre & Mart at Greater Noida on 16 October 2019.
 The Fair is being held from on 16-20 October 2019.
 The IHGF-Delhi Fair 2019 will have knowledge seminars on various topics by expert faculties, fashion shows
and ramp walks by models.
Assam govt to host two-day stakeholders' meet
 The Assam government will be hosting a 2-day stakeholders' meeting between India and Bangladesh from
22 October 2019 in Guwahati.
 A 70-member delegation from Bangladesh, including two Central ministers will be participating in the meet.
 The idea of the meet is to put Assam at the centre point of India’s trade expansion with ASEAN and
Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal or BBN countries.
UP Culture Dept to organise programme
 The Culture Department of UP government is going to organise the country’s first training and performance
programme of world-famous KHON Ramlila, a masked form of Ramlila art of Thailand in collaboration with
the Thai government.
 KHON Ramlila of Thailand is included in the list of UNESCO’s Intangible cultural heritage and it’s a form of
masked dance depicting the scenes of Ramlila.
41st DRDO Directors Conference inaugurated
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 41st DRDO Directors Conference in New Delhi.
 Chiefs of the three forces & DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy were also present on the occasion.
 The discussion included efforts taken by DRDO to ensure technological advancement of the Indian forces to
safeguard the country.
9 ‘Sewa Service’ trains flagged off
 Railways Minister Piyush Goyal flagged off 9 ‘Sewa Service’ trains.
 These trains will connect small towns to major cities.
 The Vadnagar-Mehsana train was gifted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 The trains are – Delhi-Shamli, Bhubaneswar-Nayagarh town, Murkongselek-Dibrugarh, Coimbatore-Palani,
Coimbatore-Pollachi, Vadnagar-Mehsana, Asarya-Himmatnagar, Karur-Salem, Yesvantpur-Tumkur.
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Mastercard and MS Dhoni partnered

 Mastercard, along with cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, launched a nationwide initiative ‘Team Cashless
India’ to accelerate the acceptance and adoption of digital payments.
 The initiative brings consumers and merchants to the forefront of the digital payments dialogue.
 The campaign encourages all Indians to nominate one or more merchants who currently do not accept
digital payments.
Miscellaneous News
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a 2-day international seminar at Banaras Hindu University in
Varanasi.
 Chenani- Nashri Tunnel on NH 44, in Jammu and Kashmir will be named after Dr. Shyama Prasad
Mukherjee. It is the humble homage to Mukherjee whose battle for Kashmir, One Nation One Flag has
immensely contributed in national integration.
Mylan along with DCGI to launch new TB drug
 Multinational pharmaceutical company Mylan is working with Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to
launch pretomanid, a medicine used to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB),
 Non-profit drug developer TB Alliance and Mylan NV had in April 2019 announced a global collaboration to
make the experimental drug pretomanid for the cure of pulmonary tuberculosis.
MoS Organized the 17th Meeting of MSDC
 The Ministry of Shipping is working on a plan to develop a national port grid based on the synergy between
major and minor ports in the country.
 The 17th Meeting of Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) was held on 15 October 2019.
 The government is looking at developing synergy between the major and minor ports so that together they
can bring port-led development in the country.
DPIIT launches website, mobile app for IPR
 Secretary Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Guruprasad Mohapatra
launched the website and mobile application L2Pro India (Learn to Protect, Secure and Maximize Your
Innovation) on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs).
 The website and app will be very useful to the startup community which holds great promise for India and
its economy.
2nd phase of LOTUS-HR launched in New Delhi
 The 2nd phase of an Indo-Dutch project called Local Treatment of Urban Sewage Streams for Healthy
Reuse, or LOTUS-HR was launched at Barapullah drain in New Delhi.
 This project was launched by Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan and the Dutch Royal
couple, Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.
 The (LOTUS-HR) project was set up in 2017 at the Sun Dial Park.
Air India becomes first airline to use Taxibot
 Air India became the first airline in the world to use a TaxiBot on an Airbus A320 aircraft operating a
commercial flight with passengers onboard.
 A TaxiBot or a Taxiing Robot is a pilot-controlled semi-robotic towbar-less aircraft tractor used as an
alternate taxiing equipment.
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 It is used for taxiing an aircraft from parking bay to runway and vice versa.
Bengaluru to have dedicated ATS from Nov 1
 Bengaluru will have a dedicated Anti-Terror Squad from November 1, 2019.
 The decision was taken after National Investigation Agency warned that at least 20 sleeping cells of terrorist
groups exist in Bengaluru.
 Anti Terror Squad will work in coordination with NIA, cybersecurity cell and Psychotropic drug control cells.
CBIC launched programme
 Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has launched a programme to attract investments into India
and strengthen Make in India.
 This would be done under the bond scheme, of Customs Act, 1962.
 The Section enables conduct of manufacture and other operations in a customs bonded warehouse.
 The scheme has been modernized with clear and transparent procedures.
UP govt makes women as nodal officers
 UP government has made women officers as nodal officers and directed them to go to their respective
districts and review the implementation of welfare schemes for women.
 3-member teams of women officers will visit their allocated districts on October 18, 19 and 20, 2019.
 They will make women aware about the various government schemes such as Ujjwala Yojna, Mission
Indradhanush.
14 skills training centres to be set up
 14 Authorized World Skills India Training Centres will be set up across 9 cities for media and entertainment
sector.
 These cities are Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore, Mumbai, Pune, Shillong and Trivandrum.
 The institutes will be set up for advanced skill training of candidates in media and entertainment sector and
to further develop skilling eco-system for training candidates.
India’s first 5G powered ‘connected music’
 Ericsson and Airtel enabled a 5G powered Connected Music performance during the inauguration of the
India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2019.
 A first for India, the show involved connecting two parts of a musical performance using a live 5G network
and presenting it as one, for live audiences at both locations.
 The ultra-low latency of the 5G network powered the connected music showcase at the IMC.
Andhra Pradesh launched water grid project
 The Andhra Pradesh government has launched an ambitious project to provide a drinking water connection
to every household in the state by 2022.
 The statewide water grid project would ensure supply of clean drinking water to every household from
2022 for at least the next 30 years.
 Groundwater levels in the state have fallen to below 1,100 feet in districts like Anantapur and Chittoor.
ICICI Bank launches new FD scheme FD health
 ICICI Bank launched a fixed deposit scheme called FD Health, that comes with an in-built critical insurance
policy.
 The FD Health – Critical illness Cover will be provided to only the primary holder of the FD account.
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 Anyone between of 18-50 years, will get complimentary insurance cover for a year on 33 critical illnesses.
 Free of cost insurance cover will be provided for 1st year.
Nitin Gadkari to inaugurated a Conference
 Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and MSME inaugurated a conference on One
Nation One FASTag in New Delhi.
 The conference saw the signing of MoUs with state departments / other agencies for bringing in a unified
electronic tolling solution across the country.
 Another MoU between the Indian Highways Management Company Ltd. and GSTN was also signed.
‘Sabse Pehle Life Insurance’ to be launched
 Life Insurance Council has decided to launch the Indian life insurance industry’s first joint mass media
campaign with the slogan ‘Sabse Pehle Life Insurance’.
 The slogan will encourage Indian households to opt for adequate life insurance cover as the fundamental
necessity in their lives.
 The campaign represents joint efforts of all 24 Indian life insurance companies.
National Cultural Festival to be held in MP
 In MP, the 10th edition of the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav-National Cultural Festival is being organized by
the Union Ministry of Culture from 14-21 October 2019 under the 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' campaign.
 The National Cultural festival will display diverse forms of folk, art and culture of 22 states.
 Its concept was conceived in the year 2015.
Tripura gets its first-ever SEZ
 The government of India has given in-principle approval for setting up of Tripura's first-ever SEZ at
Sabroom.
 The estimated investment in the project will be around Rs 1550 Crore.
 Rubber based Industries – Tyres, Threads etc, Textile and Apparel Industries, Bamboo Industries and Agri-
Food Processing Industries are the industries which will be set up at the SEZ.
WHO India Cooperation Strategy launched
 The Union Health Ministry has launched the ‘World Health Organisation (WHO) India Country Cooperation
Strategy (CCS) 2019–2023: A Time of Transition on 9 October 2019.
 The strategy will provide a strategic roadmap for the WHO to work with the Indian government towards
achieving its health sector goals.
 It will help in improving the health of its population of India.
JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research
 President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, laid the foundation stone for the campus of JSS Academy of
Higher Education and Research at Varuna Village, Mysuru.
 The Global Campus of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research at Varuna Village is a tribute to Sri
Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji whose 104th Jayanti is being celebrated this year.
Delhi's second airport begins operations
 The first commercial flight from the Hindon civil airport started from 11th October.
 A private aircraft with nine passengers on board took off from Pithoragarh's Naini-Saini airport at 11.30 am.
 The Hindon airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 8.
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 Hindon Airport will serve as the ‘second’ airport.

 The air force station is located close to Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
Government to introduce POSHAN atlas
 The government is to introduce POSHAN atlas under POSHAN Abhiyan.
 The announcement was made by Union Minister of WCD Smriti Irani at the 5th National Council on India’s
Nutrition Challenges.
 POSHAN atlas is developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in association with the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation and Deendayal Research Institute.
 The atlas aims to tackle malnutrition.
DNA barcoding of spiders in India
 Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India undertook a barcode of at least 100 species of spiders based
on their DNA.
 It is the largest exercise on DNA barcoding of spiders from India.
 DNA barcoding is a method used to quickly identify any species based on extracting a DNA sequence from a
tiny tissue sample of any organism.
National Postal Week is being celebrated
 The Maharashtra and Goa Circle of the India Post is celebrating National Postal Week which will end on 15
October.
 The week is being celebrated to spread awareness about services provided by the department and efforts
made to meet changing requirements of customers.
 The week also commemorates the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss capital
Berne.
SARAS Aajeevika Mela being held
 The Ministry of Rural Development is organising SARAS Aajeevika Mela at India Gate Lawns from 10-
23 October 2019.
 SARAS Aajeevika Mela is an initiative by the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods
Mission (DAY-NRLM).
 Its objective is to bring the rural women Self Help Groups (SHGs) under one platform to showcase their
skills and sell their products.
GEMINI system to aid fishermen
 GEMINI, a new system, is launched to aid fishermen.
 It is a portable receiver developed to avoid communication blackouts.
 It linked to ISRO-satellites and is fail-proof and warn fishermen of danger.
 GEMINI is an India-made global positioning system.
RBI approves merger of DCBs
 The RBI has given approval to the Kerala government to amalgamate 13 district cooperative banks (DCBs)
with the Kerala State Cooperative Bank to form Kerala Bank.
 Except the Malappuram District Cooperative Bank, all district banks had approved the scheme of
amalgamation proposed by the State government at their respective general body meetings.
38th India Carpet Expo began in Varanasi
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 The 38th India Carpet Expo is being held in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
 The expo is organized by the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC).
 It aims to promote the cultural heritage and weaving skills of Indian hand-made carpets and other floor
coverings for the visiting overseas carpet buyers.
 It is being held from 11-15 October 2019.
1st National Hindi Science writers conference
 In Uttar Pradesh, the first 2-day long National Hindi Science writers conference started on 11 October in
Lucknow.
 Its aim is to release science writing from the clutches of English and to promote use of Hindi and other
Vernacular languages.
 More than one thousand science writers from across the country are expected to take part in this
conference.
Govt launched Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan
 Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan launched Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan,
SUMAN initiative in New Delhi.
 It was launched during the 13th Conference of Central Council of Health and Family Welfare.
 The initiative aims at assuring dignified, respectful and quality health care at no cost and zero tolerance for
denial of services for every woman and newborn.
HRD Minister inaugurated programme ‘DHRUV’
 Union Minister for Human Resources Development Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank launched DHRUV
programme in the headquarter of ISRO in Bengaluru on 10 October 2019.
 DHRUV is a unique programme to identify talented students and mentor them in the centre of excellence
for 14 days so that they can reach their full potential and work for the society.
BSE joins hands with FICCI
 BSE and FICCI organised a brainstorming session to identify gaps in the existing policies and make
suggestions for robust policies.
 Besides, the session was organised to promote Udyam Saathi and Udyam Sakhi initiatives to foster the
MSMEs sector.
 The MSMEs were invited to present their summary of ideas and suggestions as well as discuss their main
issues of concern to the ministry.
1st Day Care Recreation Centre in Leh
 A day-care cum recreation centre for senior citizens has been inaugurated in Leh.
 The first Government-sponsored and operated day-care cum recreation centre for senior citizens was
inaugurated by Supreme Court judge, Justice S. Abdul Nazeer.
 It will also be equipped with computer learning and a library and the aged citizens can entertain themselves
with recreational activities.
Reliance MF renamed: Nippon India Mutual Fund
 Reliance Mutual Fund has been renamed as Nippon India Mutual Fund.
 The organization was renamed following the purchase of 75% stake in Reliance Nippon Life Asset
Management by Nippon Life Insurance.
 Nippon India Mutual Fund has become the largest foreign-owned Asset Management Company in India.
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 Sundeep Sikka will continue to lead the company as the CEO.

Infosys bagged digital transformation deal
 Infosys has been selected as the main supplier to deliver Volvo Cars’ digital transformation services for its
enterprise digital commercial operations applications and products.
 Infosys will offer next generation application services leveraging its global delivery model (GDM), agile
delivery, automation and other service optimisation levers to deliver effective service operations.
‘Garbage Cafe' in Chhattisgarh commenced
 The first-of-its-kind 'Garbage Cafe' commenced in Ambikapur city of Chhattisgarh.
 The café is being run by the Ambikapur municipal corporation.
 In this unique Cafe, poor people and rag pickers will get free food in exchange for one kilogram of plastic,
while breakfast will be provided if half a kilogram of plastic is brought to the cafe.
India to get BS-VI fuel from next April
 Bharat Stage (BS)-VI fuel will be available in several big cities of the country, including Jaipur, from April 1,
2020 and the initiative will reduce vehicular pollution by 80-90%
 An investment of Rs 60,000 crore has been made for this.
 The government has prepared a national clean air programme for 122 cities of the country under which
schemes for reducing pollution will be made.
India International Cooperative Trade Fair
 A 3-day India International Cooperative Trade Fair will be held in New Delhi from 11 October 2019.
 The fair is aimed at promoting cooperative to cooperative trade within India and abroad leading to
enhanced rural and farm prosperity.
 This will be India's first and the largest international cooperatives trade fair promising to usher in a new era
of cooperative excellence.
eDantseva website and mobile app launched
 Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched the eDantseva website and
mobile application.
 It is the first ever national digital platform on oral health information and knowledge dissemination.
 This marks an important milestone as e-DantSeva will reach out to more than one billion people with one
click in the form of a dedicated website and mobile application.
National e-Assessment Centre of IT Department
 Revenue Secretary Shri Ajay Bhushan Pandey inaugurated National e-Assessment Scheme (NeAC) on 7
October 2019.
 In the first phase, the Income Tax Department has selected 58,322 cases for scrutiny under the faceless e-
Assessment Scheme 2019 and the e-notices have been served before 30th of September 2019 for the cases
of Assessment Year 2018-19.
Nagpur to host 5th international conference
 The fifth international conference on sleep disorders is being hosted in Nagpur from 12 October to 13
October 2019.
 The conference is held under the aegis of the Southeast Asian Academy of Sleep Medicine(SEAASM).
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 It is conducted by the Department of Respiratory, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine & Interventional
Pulmonology at Getwell Hospital & Research Centre at Chitnavis Centre in Nagpur.
AIM NITI Aayog & UNDP launched Youth Co:Lab
 Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India
jointly launched Youth Co:Lab.
 The lab aims at accelerating social entrepreneurship and innovation in young India and to recognize young
people as critical drivers of sustainable development.
 During the launch, a Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed between AIM, NITI Aayog and UNDP India.
63rd Dhammachakra Pravartan Din celebrated
 In Maharashtra, 63rd Dhammachakra Pravartan Din was celebrated at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur on 8
October 2019.
 Buddhist followers from the different parts of the country and abroad reached at the venue to pay homage
to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
 Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti along with District Administration and Nagpur Municipal
Corporation are organizing this mega event.
Stone laid for IIM campus in Amritsar
 Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank laid the foundation stone of the
campus of the IIM in Amritsar's Manawala.
 The IIM campus would come upon 60,000 square metres and have state-of-the-art facilities in the library,
academic block and hostels.
 The allocation of 350 crore rupees has been sanctioned for the first phase of the construction.
Government launched Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan
 Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched a unique initiative called 'Ganga Amantran' to
connect with the stakeholders of the river.
 It is a pioneering exploratory open- water rafting and kayaking expedition on the Ganga river to begin on 10
October till 11 November 2019.
 The expedition will start at Devaprayag and culminate at Ganga Sagar.
50th IFFI, 2019 to witness over 200 best films
 The 50th International Film Festival of India, 2019 will witness over 200 best films from 76 countries, 26
feature films and 15 non feature films in Indian panorama section.
 This was announced by Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar.
 12 prominent films in different languages that have completed 50 years in 2019 ,will also be showcased
from 20th to 28th November.
GoI launches eco-friendly crackers
 Union Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan launched eco-friendly green firecrackers which have been
manufactured in India.
 Environment-friendly fireworks have been developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
labs and manufactured by licensee-manufacturers.
 A green logo as well as a Quick Response (QR) coding system has been developed for their differentiation.
India’s first e-waste clinic to be set up
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 The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have joined hands
to set up the country’s first e-waste clinic.
 It would enable segregation, processing and disposal of waste from both household and commercial units.
 The electronic waste will be collected door-to-door or can be deposited directly at the clinic in exchange for
a fee.
Health Minister launched trans-fat free logo
 Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched the Trans Fat Free logo of Food
Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), at the 8th International Chefs’ Conference (ICC VII).
 This marked an important milestone in the movement against Trans-Fats and also provided a momentum to
accelerate the ‘Eat Right India’ movement of FSSAI.
Finance Minister inaugurated NeAC
 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated National e-Assessment Centre (NeAC) for better taxpayer
service and promotion of ease of doing business in New Delhi.
 Income Tax Department's NeAC, will avoid face-to-face interaction between taxpayers and tax officials.
 Setting up of NeAC is a step to reduce taxpayer grievances in line with the prime minister's vision of 'Digital
India'.
CBDT launches document identification number
 The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) implemented a computer-generated Document Identification
Number (DIN) which will ensure greater transparency and accountability in tax administration.
 The DIN system, which becomes operative from 1 October 2019, will apply to all kind of communications
from the income tax department.
 This will also help taxpayers detect fake notices and letters.
App to register consumer grievances launched
 The government of India launched the 'Consumer App' that would help consumers register their grievances
online as well as give suggestions on consumer-related issues.
 This will serve as a one-stop solution for consumer grievance redressal and complaints filed on the app can
be tracked by consumers to know the progress.
 The App is available in both English and Hindi.
Rajasthan to create pneumoconiosis fund
 Rajasthan has announced the creation of a Pneumoconiosis Fund, which will be majorly financed by money
from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF).
 This Fund will be used to finance a comprehensive policy on the disease released by the Rajasthan
government on 3 October 2019.
 Pneumoconiosis, a lung disease, mostly affects workers who work in the mining and construction sectors.
NHSRC to be WHO collaborating centre
 The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced the re-designation of the National Health
Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Priority Medical Devices and Health
Technology Policy.
 NHSRC as a collaborating centre has supported WHO in formulating technical specifications for medical
devices such as oxygen concentrators and resuscitation devices.
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Village Secretariat system launched in Andhra

 The Andhra Pradesh government launched 'Village Secretariat programme' on 2 October 2019.
 Under the new system, one Village Secretariat has been set up for every population of 2,000, with each one
comprising close to a dozen village officials.
 The idea behind it, according to the state government, is to ensure that its services reach people on the
ground
Interest on house building advance reduced
 The Centre has reduced the interest on House Building Advance from 8.5% to 7.9% for its employees
 According to the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, the new interest rate has come into force from
October 1.
 The House Building Advance is admissible to permanent employees and all those temporary employees
who have rendered five years of continuous service.
Portability of Ration cards started
 An inter-State portability for ration cards has been launched for Rajasthan and Haryana to facilitate the
distribution of foodgrains to beneficiaries of the National Food Security scheme.
 Labourers in the unorganised sector, migrating from one State to the other state, will mainly benefit from
the scheme.
 The Centre would implement the portability of ration card all over the country soon.
India's 1st plastic to diesel conversion plant
 Mathura MP Hema Malini inaugurated the country's first plastic to diesel conversion plant in Mathura,
Uttar Pradesh.
 Notably, a model of this plant had been placed for a demonstration before PM Modi when he had arrived in
Mathura some time back as a part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
 This model is now working on a full scale at the Mathura Municipal Corporation's (MMC) trenching grounds.
CM of HP launched Pragati Rath of HDFC bank
 CM of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur launched Pragati Rath of the HDFC bank.
 It is a month-long initiative where the van would move to different parts of Himachal to provide financial
and digital literacy to the people.
 The bank announced adopting of 15 villages of the State under Holistic Rural Development Programme and
also launch of Sustainable Livelihood Initiative in the State.
Tourism Ministry launches App for 12 sites
 Tourism Ministry launched the Audio Guide facility Audio Odigos for 12 sites of India on the occasion of
Paryatan Parv 2019.
 An MoU for Gol Gumbad, Delhi with Government of Delhi and Resbird Technologies was also exchanged for
the development of Tourism Amenities.
 Audio guide odigo offers Government of India verified content, with visuals & voice over support.
UCO Bank launched UCash, Digilocker and an App
 UCO Bank launched three new digital products called, UCash, Digilocker and an app in Kolkata, West Bengal.
 UCash enables customers to withdraw money from ATMs through mobile banking without using a debit
card.
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 Digilocker aims to eliminate the use of physical documents and enables sharing of verified electronic
documents.
 The new mobile app integrates four existing apps of the bank
CM of Andhra Pradesh launched YSR Vahana Mitra
 CM of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the YSR Vahana Mitra scheme on 4 October 2019.
 The amount of Rs 10,000 is for the recurring expenses like insurance and maintenance of the vehicle to
procure fitness certificate.
 The allowance of Rs 10,000 would be given every year and the amount will be credited into the bank
accounts directly.
Goa Maritime Conclave began
 Goa Maritime Conclave started in Goa on 4 October 2019.
 National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was the chief guest for the inaugural event of the Conclave.
 Indian Navy through the Naval War College, Goa is hosting this Conclave.
 The Theme for the Conclave is Common Maritime Priorities in Indian ocean Region and need for Reginal
Maritime Security.
Uttarakhand CM launched awareness campaign
 Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat launched an awareness campaign -- Urjagiri, which aims at stopping
power theft and saving.
 The campaign is a good start towards spreading awareness in the society.
 The government is committed to ending power theft.
 He also instructed the officers of UPCL Vigilance Cell to effectively stop the power theft.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launched initiative
 CM Naveen Patnaik rolled out ‘Mo Sarkar’ programme on 2 October 2019.
 The objective of ‘Mo Sarkar’ is to improve governance by collecting feedback on behaviour and
professionalism displayed by the Government officers.
 It has been launched in 21 district headquarters hospitals and medical colleges at Cuttack, Sambalpur and
Berhampur.
Sarbat Da Bhala Express train flagged off
 Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Harsh Vardhan and Harsimrat Kaur Badal flagged off 'Sarbat Da Bhala
Express' train at New Delhi railway station on 4 October 2019.
 The renamed New Delhi-Ludhiana Intercity Express will ply from New Delhi to Lohian Khas via holy city
Sultanpur Lodhi.
 A 6-metre skywalk is being constructed to connect New Delhi station to airport metro and yellow line.
Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express flagged off
 UP CM Yogi Adityanath flagged off the country's first corporate train Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express on 4
October 2019.
 The train will run 6 days in a week with advance coaches which will have tea-coffee vending machines, call
bell and toilet indicator facilities.
 High-quality food and beverages will be provided to passengers.
 The commercial run of the train will start from 5 October 2019.
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Portal for monitoring coal supply launched

 Power Minister RK Singh and Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi have jointly
launched PRAKASH - Power Rail Koyla Availability through Supply Harmony- portal in New Delhi.
 The portal aims at bringing better coordination for coal supplies among all stakeholders.
 The portal is designed to help in mapping and monitoring the entire coal supply chain for power plants.
PM Modi declared India open defecation-free
 Declaring India ‘Open Defecation-Free’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on removing single-use
plastic and optimum use of water as next steps of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
 He stressed upon the need of water recharge and water recycle and pointed out that the government has
earmarked 3.5 lakh crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Digital Gandhi Gyan-Vigyan inaugurated
 Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma inaugurated an exhibition titled
Digital Gandhi Gyan Vigyan Exhibition.
 The exhibition has been organised in collaboration with a technology start-up under incubation by IIT,
namely, M/s Vizara Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
 The Dept has also engaged IIT Gandhinagar for organising a workshop for children on 3 and 4 Oct 2019.
PM Modi Inaugurated Swachh Bharat Diwas 2019
 PM Modi inaugurated the Swachh Bharat Diwas 2019 in Ahmedabad on 2 October 2019.
 He released postage stamp and silver coin to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma
Gandhi.
 He also distributed the Swachh Bharat Puraskar to the winners.
 He paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram.
 He visited the Magan Niwas (Charkha Gallery) and interacted with the children there.
Rajasthan: 3rd state to ban pan masala
 Rajasthan became the third state in India after Maharashtra and Bihar to ban certain categories of pan
masala containing magnesium carbonate, nicotine, tobacco, mineral oil and flavoured ‘supari’.
 All such products will now be banned in the State under the Food Safety Act.
 Production, storage, distribution and sale of these products will not be allowed in the state.
Nationwide ‘Paryatan Parv 2019’ kicked off
 The Paryatan Parv, 2019 kicked off on 2 October 2019 to promote tourism in the country.
 It will continue till 13 October 2019.
 The aim is to propagate the message of Dekho Apna Desh to encourage people to visit tourist destinations
of the country and also spread the message of Tourism for All.
 The govt is developing 17 tourist sites into world-class destinations to attract more tourists.
2,600-year-old walls discovered at Keeladi
 The fifth phase of the ongoing excavation at the archaeological site in Keeladi in Sivaganga district of Tamil
Nadu has unearthed a total of four brick walls dating back to the Sangam age.
 The State Archeology Department unearthed four walls which are 2,600 years old at the site.
 Excavation work in Keeladi village has been conducted on behalf of the Central Archeology Department
since 2015.
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India's Largest 'Charkha' inaugurated

 India's largest 'charkha' made of used plastic waste was inaugurated on the eve of Mahatma Gandhi's 150th
birth anniversary in Noida.
 The 1,650-kg spinning wheel was inaugurated by Union Minister Smriti Irani.
 The 'charkha', which symbolises Gandhi's dream of Swadeshi, measures 14ft, 20ft and 8ft and is made of
1,250 kg of used plastic.
Rita, India's Oldest Chimpanzee died
 India's oldest chimpanzee, Rita, which had been battling old age-related health problems and was on a
liquid diet, died at the Delhi zoo on 1 October 2019.
 Born on December 12, 1960, in Amsterdam Zoo and acquired by the Delhi zoo in 1990, Rita was the oldest
chimp in India and probably the oldest in Asia.
 On an average, a chimpanzee has a lifespan of around 50 years.
Nitin Gadkari launched cow dung soaps
 Union Minister Nitin Gadkari launched soaps made of cow dung and bamboo water bottles manufactured
by Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
 The bamboo water bottle is priced at ₹560 and the soap variant of 125 grams costs ₹125 each.
 The ministry proposed a scheme which entails 10% equity participation by the Central government in such
listed micro, small and medium enterprises.
Union Government launched unified portal
 Union Minister G Kishan Reddy launched a single-window online system for licensing of eating and lodging
houses.
 The portal is a step in the direction to achieve PM Narendra Modi's vision to establish a corruption-free
economy by bringing in welfare-oriented economic reforms.
 India has progressively improved its ease of doing business ranking.
Telangana became fully electrified state
 Telangana has become one of the fully electrified states in the country after providing electricity to over 5
lakh 15 thousand households under the Soubhagya Yojana introduced by the Centre in October 2017.
 During the last two years, the entire state has been covered and the households in remote areas have been
provided electricity under the Sahaj Bijili Ghar Yojana (Soubhagya).
Bongaigaon District Admin launched Campaign
 In Assam, the Bongaigaon District Administration has launched Plants for Plastic Campaign to remove the
harmful plastics from the eco-system.
 The campaign aims to encourage people to collect and remove plastic from their houses, commercial
establishments and educational institutions.
 Any person can deposit 1kg plastic in the municipality office and get a valuable sapling for free.
Global Student Solar Assembly to be organised
 To commemorate 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
in association with IIT Bombay is organizing the Global Student Solar Assembly on 2nd October 2019.
 2 Guinness world records will be attempted during this workshop, (a) sustainability lessons to the largest
number of participants at a single place (b) largest number of solar lamps lit together.
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UNESCO, DD Join Hands for TV Show

 UNESCO and Doordarshan have joined hands to telecast TV bilingual programme ‘Mahatma Lives‘ or ‘Bapu
Zinda Hain’ on 1-2 October 2019.
 UNESCO and Doordarshan will telecast TV bilingual programme to commemorate the 150th birth
anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
 The objective of the programme is to celebrate his ideas and teachings.
Gandhi Film Festival to be organised in Mumbai
 Film Division in association with India Tourism will organise a Gandhi Film Festival in Mumbai from 2-
6 October 2019.
 The festival as part of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary will showcase select films focussing on
Swachh Bharat and non-violence.
 Movies to be screened include ‘Gandhi’ by Richard Attenborough, ‘The Making of Mahatma’ and ‘Maine
Gandhi ko Nahi Maara’.
RBI announced contests to promote innovations
 RBI has announced two contests to promote innovations and ideas in the payment and settlement systems.
 Shortlisted participants will get an opportunity to present their ideas before a jury of eminent persons while
outstanding innovators will be awarded prizes and citations.
 The contest will be organised through Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology
(IDRBT), Hyderabad.
PM Modi addressed function of Arogya Manthan
 PM Narendra Modi presided over the valedictory function of Arogya Manthan in New Delhi on 1 October
2019.
 It is a two-day event organized by the National Health Authority to mark the completion of one year of
Ayushman Bharat, PM-JAY.
 He launched a new mobile application of Ayushman Bharat and Ayushman Bharat Start-Up Grand Challenge
and also released a commemorative stamp.
IPCC Meet on Climate Change began in Delhi
 India is hosting the Second Lead Author Meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Working Group III Sixth Assessment Report at New Delhi, beginning 30 September to 4 October 2019.
 IPCC authors and scientists are working to deliver the most relevant and up-to-date research on climate
change mitigation.
Real Kashmir FC nominated for BAFTA Awards
 A documentary on Srinagar-based football club Real Kashmir FC has been nominated in the British Academy
Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards.
 The documentary has been nominated in two categories.
 Its director Greg Clark has picked up a nod for the ‘Director Factual’ category, while the show will battle it
out in the ‘Single Documentary’ category.
UP CM inaugurated mobile hospital
 Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated Shri Kashi Vishwanath Arogya Mandir, a mobile hospital in the
Varanasi.
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 A team of doctors and paramedics will be available here and after stabilizing serious patients, they will be
shifted to the district or Banaras Hindu University Hospital.
 He also dedicated to the devotees the incense sticks made up of flowers offered to the deities.
Delhi-Meerut Package-3 inaugurated
 Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Delhi-Meerut Package-3
connecting Dasna in Ghaziabad to Hapur.
 The package is a 22 kilometre-long stretch built with a cost of 1989 crore rupees.
 The package has six-lane section with two plus two lane service road on either sides.
 The 82 kilometre-long Delhi-Meerut Expressway connects Delhi with Meerut in UP.
Jitendra Singh launches CPGRAMS
 Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension Dr Jitendra Singh launched Centralized Public
Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) of Department of Posts on 25 September 2019.
 CPGRAMS primarily aims to enable submission of Grievances by citizens from anywhere and anytime.
 CPGRAMS is an on-line web-enabled system developed by National Informatics Centre.
Government launched new framework
 The Union Jal Shakti Ministry’s Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), launched a 10-year
national rural sanitation strategy to sustain India’s 100 per cent Open Defecation Free (ODF) status claimed
by the Centre.
 The framework, to be in place from 2019 to 2029, will ensure that people sustain their usage of toilets. It
will also focus on solid and liquid waste management.
West Bengal Government To Set Up Museum
 West Bengal government plans to set up a museum at the north Kolkata house of 19th century social
reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
 The museum will come up at Vidyasagar's residence at Badur Bagan area where pictures and models,
chronicling his life from his birth place will be put on display.
 Some items used by Vidyasagar will be brought out for public viewing at the museum.
Renuka Singh inaugurated Aadi Mahotsav
 Renuka Singh, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs inaugurated Aadi Mahotsav being organised by Ministry of
Tribal Affairs in Noida.
 The theme of the festival is: A celebration of the spirit of Tribal Culture, Craft, Cuisine and Commerce.
 The festival will feature exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings fabric, jewellery and much
more through 70 stalls.
First Indigenous Fuel Cell System launched
 President Ramnath Kovind unveiled the first Indigenous High-Temperature Fuel Cell System.
 This system is developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under New Millennium
Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI).
 The 5.0 kW fuel cell system generates power in a green manner using methanol / bio-methane, with heat
and water as bi-products for further use.
President to visit Odishs, WB and Jharkhand
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 President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal from September 27-October 1,
2019.
 On September 28, 2019, he will present Colours to Corps of Army Air Defence at Gopalpur, Odisha.
 On September 29, 2019, he will visit Vikas Bharti, Bishunpur, Gumla in Jharkhand.
 On September 30, 2019, he will grace the 33rd convocation of Ranchi University.
UP to launch industrial projects
 After laying the foundation of industrial projects worth more than Rs 1.25 trillion over the past 15 months,
Uttar Pradesh government is planning to launch additional projects totalling Rs 65,000 crore in December
2019.
 Projects worth Rs 65,000 crore were in pipeline and the government will decide the dates for holding their
groundbreaking ceremony sometime in December.
Govt approved construction of 1.23 lakh houses
 Centre has approved construction of 1.23 lakh more houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).
 The 47th Central Sanctioning And Monitoring Committee approved 630 proposals from participating states
for construction of 1.23 lakh houses with an overall investment of 4,988 crore rupees.
 The commitment from government as central assistance will be 1,805 crore rupees.
Delhi HC launched mobile app for lawyers
 The Delhi HC launched an official mobile application for providing digital access of its services to lawyers
and litigants.
 The application provides details of case status, display board, cause list and access to other important links
of the high court website.
 The advocates registered with the High Court's e-filing software will also be able to apply for e-inspection
and online gate pass.
112 emergency helpline no. launched in Delhi
 A single emergency number -112- was launched for police, fire and ambulance emergency services.
 Now, the citizens of Delhi can avail the facility of all these three emergency services by dialing the number -
112.
 This call immediately passes to the Control Room.
 Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy inaugurated the Emergency Response Support System.
India committed to eradicate TB before 2025
 Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched 'TB HAREGA DESH JEETEGA' campaign in
New Delhi on 25 September 2019.
 India is committed to eradicate TB before 2025.
 One-third of the people in the world have TB bacteria, and 10 per cent of them can become a victim of TB
at any time.
 People who have been cured of TB will be made campaign ambassadors.
Pink tickets for women for free travel in DTC
 Pink tickets will be issued to women passengers under the Delhi government’s scheme for free travel in DTC
and cluster buses which was approved by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) board.
 The scheme has been approved till March 2020 and it will be rolled out on Bhai Dooj on 29 Oct 2019.
 Women travelling in DTC and cluster buses will be given pink tickets having a face value of ₹10 each.
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Swachhata hi Seva Abhiyan to be observed in MP

 Madhya Pradesh government launched a month-long Swachhata hi Seva Abhiyan from September 25 till
October 25, 2019, against the single-use plastic.
 During the campaign, various awareness programmes will be conducted in urban bodies.
 The campaign will encourage alternatives by eliminating single-use plastic and non-standard polythene in
markets, malls and shops etc.
Amit Shah launched a new portal
 Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Private Security Agency Licensing Portal at a function in New Delhi
on 25 September 2019.
 The portal will become functional in all official languages like Hindi, Gujarati, Telugu and Tamil within three
months.
 The number of licensed agencies in the states will also be available on the portal so that people do not fall
prey to the fraudulent agencies.
India's 2nd largest railway overbridge in WB
 The Indian Railways has completed the construction of the giant four-lane cable-stayed railway overbridge
(RoB) at Burdwan Junction in West Bengal.
 The RoB, considered to be the second largest in the country will be inaugurated by Railway Minister Piyush
Goyal.
 The railway overbridge was completed in 197 days without affecting traffic for even a single day.
‘India Tourism Mart 2019’ inaugurated
 Nitin Gadkari and Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated the India Tourism Mart (ITM) 2019 in New Delhi on 23
September 2019.
 The Ministry of Tourism and the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) have
jointly organized this Mart.
 Over 240 international delegates from 51 countries and 160 exhibitors from across the country are taking
part in the second edition of ITM.
Govt announced new medical college in Leh
 The Central government on September 23, 2019, announced a new medical college for the Leh district of
Ladakh region.
 The Health and Medical Education Department has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for
construction of government medical college as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare for the opening of 75 new medical colleges throughout the country.
HDFC Bank to organise 1,000 grameen loan melas
 HDFC Bank plans to organise 1,000 Grameen Loan Melas over the next six months.
 The Grameen Loan Melas or village loan fairs will be held across more than 300 districts and cover around
6,000 villages across India and will be a one-stop shop for people from five to six nearby villages.
 Local residents can avail tractor loans, auto loans, two-wheeler loans, agri loans, etc.
‘Tejas Express’ ready to hit tracks on Oct 4
 In Uttar Pradesh, country's first corporate-run train from Lucknow to Delhi, Tejas Express is all ready to hit
the tracks on 4th of October 2019.
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 Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will flag off the train from Lucknow which will be run by IRCTC.
 The train will run 6 days in a week with advance coaches and it will be the fastest train between Lucknow
and Delhi.
Muzaffarpur Administration launched drives
 In Bihar, Muzaffarpur District Administration launched several drives for nutritional, sanitation needs and
medical facilities for Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) affected blocks.
 5 blocks of the district Mushari, Bochahan, Motipur, Kanti and Minapur are said to be epicentre of AES,
which claimed lives of 160 children.
 Affected families are being given facilities at their doorsteps.
Government launched ‘UMMID’ initiative
 Science and Technology and Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched ‘UMMID’ initiative to tackle
inherited genetic diseases of newborn babies.
 The new initiative aims at creating awareness about genetic disorders amongst clinicians and establish
molecular diagnostics in hospitals.
 He also inaugurated NIDAN (National Inherited Diseases Administration) Kendras.
Bihar inaugurated 1st all-women employee PO
 The state of Bihar got its first all-women employee post office on 21 September 2019.
 Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the post office on the campus of Bihar Public Services
Commission (BPSC).
 Sub-post office of BPSC has been upgraded to the status of Bihar's first all-women employee post office.
 Postal accounts will also be linked with Aadhaar for greater transparency.
Arvind Kejriwal launched ‘champions campaign’
 CM Arvind Kejriwal launched Champions Campaign to fight dengue and urged citizens to become
‘champions’ and encourage 10 friends to check their homes for mosquito larvae.
 Earlier, he had also launched 10Hafte 10Baje 10Minute campaign.
 He had urged the Delhi residents to give 10 minutes every Sunday to check the surroundings to prevent the
breeding of dengue-carrier mosquitoes.
CBDT sets up NeAC in New Delhi
 Central Board of Direct Tax(CBDT) has newly set up National e-Assessment Centre (NeAC) in Delhi.
 CBDT has also appointed 1984 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Krishna Mohan Prasad as the first
Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax of NeAC.
 The Centre will have 16 officials and will be headed by a Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax (PCCIT)
as its chief.
Gully Boy is India’s entry for Oscars
 Bollywood film, Gully Boy was selected as India's official entry in the International Feature Film category at
the Oscars.
 The film is directed by Zoya Akhtar and stars Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in lead roles.
 It is a coming-of-age drama centred around the life of a rapper Murad, portrayed by Ranveer.
 The film was inspired by the real-life stories of Mumbai rappers Divine and Naezy.
UP celebrated first anniversary of PMJAY
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 Uttar Pradesh celebrated the first anniversary of PM Jan Arogya Yojna, as Ayushman Bharat Day on 23
September 2019.
 Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath felicitated the beneficiaries and volunteers called Ayushman Mitra in a
function in Lucknow.
 Under the scheme, more than 36 lakh golden cards have been issued in the last one year in the state.
Special schedule for Heritage Hill Railway
 In Tamil Nadu, the Southern Railways announced a special schedule for the Heritage Hill Railway from
Udhagamandalam to Mettupalayam.
 Special trips of the mountain train will be run on all weekends from October 5 to November 29, 2019.
 This coincides with the second flower season in the world-renowned hill station.
 It will have halts at Kallar, Hill Grove, Aruvankadu, Wellington and Coonoor.
National workshop on Post Disaster organized
 National Institute of Disaster Management organized a day-long National Workshop on Post Disaster Needs
Assessment in New Delhi on 23 September 2019.
 Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai was the Chief Guest on this occasion.
 The workshop discussed the issues and challenges faced by states in the assessment of damage and loss.
'ERSS- Dial 112' launched
 Union Minister for Home Affairs, Amit Shah launched three citizen-centric services of the Chandigarh Police
 The services include the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS - Dial 112), ‘E-Beat Book’ System and
the ‘E-Saathi App’.
 ERSS is one of the key projects of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs under the Nirbhaya Fund.
Sardar Patel National Unity Award constituted
 The Union Home Ministry said that Sardar Patel National Unity Award, a new honour for outstanding efforts
to further national integration on the pattern of Padma awards will be bestowed annually to an individual
or any institution or organisation.
 It said that any person without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex shall be eligible for the award.
Mukhya Mantri Seva Sankalp helpline launched
 Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched Mukhya Mantri Seva Sankalp Helpline '1100' for the
speedy and time-bound redressal of public grievances.
 The people of the State would now be able to register their complaints online and also monitor the
progress of the complaint.
 56 departments of the State has been involved in this helpline by geo-mapping and geo-tagging.
National Police University to be set up in UP
 India ’s first central police university, 'National Police University', will be set-up in Greater Noida, Uttar
Pradesh.
 It will offer the students formal education programmes leading to the award of bachelor's, masters' and
doctoral degrees as well as PG Diploma in policing sciences.
 States like Rajasthan, Gujarat and Jharkhand already have dedicated police universities.
Maha to set up Swachh Bharat World University
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 The Government of Maharashtra has decided to set up ‘Swachh Bharat World University’ in Wardha to
mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary.
 The University will focus on research studies in sanitation, cleanliness and environment.
 The State has formed a committee headed by the Minister of Education Vinod Tawde to look into the
requirements of the University.
Punjab, Haryana to ban e-cigarettes
 In Punjab and Haryana the people and the governments have welcomed the ordinance brought by Central
government to ban the e-cigarettes.
 According to the ordinance, first time violators will face a jail term of up to one year and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
 The storage of e-cigarettes shall now be punishable with imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up
to Rs 50,000 or both.
UP: Screening of malnourished children easy
 In UP, Mobile App of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram has made screening and referral of malnourished
children easy.
 During the first fortnight of Poshan Maah in the state, a total of 8,405 children have been identified and
referred using this App.
 Majority of these identified children were suffering from Vitamin A deficiency while some were having low
hemoglobin and Vitamin D.
Wipro launched startup venture fund
 Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting launched Wipro Consumer Care–Ventures, a startup venture fund to
invest in startups in the consumer brands space.
 The venture will focus on companies with a differentiated approach where both parties can learn by
leveraging their strengths and add value to each other.
 Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting is a $1 billion plus arm of Wipro Enterprises.
Public Sector Banks to organise loan melas
 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that Public Sector Banks will organise ‘loan melas’ in 400
districts.
 The meetings will be organised to provide loans to NBFCs and retail borrowers, including homebuyers and
farmers.
 PSBs will focus on giving loans to the ‘RAM‘ category: retail, agriculture and MSMEs.
 The open house public meetings will be held in two tranches.
1st Jammu Int. Film Festival to be held
 The first-ever Jammu International Film Festival will be held in Jammu from 26 September 2019.
 37 short films and documentaries from 11 countries will be screened at the inaugural edition of Jammu
International Film Festival.
 The festival will also present an annual ‘Inspiring Icon Award‘, which will be given to a person, who hails
from the region and has made it big in the film industry.
Ola drivers to get healthcare benefits
 Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has partnered with Ola, to extend the
welfare to its drivers.
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 The partnership will provide comprehensive health insurance for secondary and tertiary care to tens of
thousands of drivers working with the cab aggregator and their families.
 Eligible drivers and employees will obtain an Ayushman Bharat card at a minimal cost of Rs 30.
Telecom body approved projects
 The Digital Communication Commission has approved multiple projects worth over Rs 8,500 crore.
 The projects aim to set up mobile towers and laying of optical fibre, to provide improved connectivity.
 A special scheme to cover upto 12,000 uncovered villages in aspirational districts was also approved.
 The approved infra projects include laying of BharatNet fibre in Tamil Nadu and Telangana,
NTPC to build India’s biggest solar park
 National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) plans to set up a 5-gigawatt solar park in the western
state of Gujarat, which would be the biggest in the country.
 The plan is part of NTPC’s aim to reduce the share of fossil fuels in the energy mix to 70% from around 96%
by 2032.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is targeting 175 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2022.
Ladakhi Shondol dance created history
 Ladakhi Shondol dance has created history by breaking into the Guinness book of world records as the
largest Ladakhi dance.
 408 women artists in traditional dresses performed gracefully the Shondol dance on the occasion of the
Annual Naropa Festival.
 It is a famous dance which used to be performed by artists for King of Ladakh on special occasion.
 It was organised by the Live to Love India.
DoNER Ministry approved more than 200 projects
 DoNER Ministry has approved more than 200 projects worth Rs 3,000 crores in the North East including
Assam.
 Out of these megaprojects, 110 projects worth Rs.1699 cr. were sanctioned for the development of the
North East states where 66 projects costing 820 crores have been completed.
 Construction of double-lane road from Lanka to Umrangso, Digboi town water supply scheme are amongst
others.
Anurag Thakur announced sports academy for Leh
 Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur announced that a cricket and
sports academy will be set up in Ladakh.
 This cricket and sports academy will ensure that talented athletes of the region get the required training to
excel.
 He also joined Army personnel in Leh to carry out a cleanliness drive to mark Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s 69th birthday.
Lord Buddha's statue unveiled
 PM Narendra Modi and Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga jointly unveiled the Lord Buddha's
statue at Gandan Monastery in Ulaanbaatar through video-conferencing on 20 September 2019.
 The Mongolian President also met President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.
 This is the first State Visit by a Mongolian President in last ten years.
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Google announced new AI research lab in India

 Google has announced that it will open an artificial intelligence (AI) based research lab Google Research
India.
 The lab will be opened in Bengaluru.
 The Indian AI lab will be led by Dr. Manish Gupta, a renowned computer scientist in the country.
 Google has various AI research labs across the world, under its Google Artificial Intelligence arm.
 The Bengaluru lab will be the first in India.
Telangana to celebrate 2020 as Year of AI
 The Telangana government has decided to declare 2020 as Artificial Intelligence year by organising various
activities related to the emerging technology.
 A lot of hackathons and meetings will happen and the government agencies will give challenges and make
available data sets on which companies can run algorithms.
 CM of Telangana: K Chandrashekhar Rao
 Capital of Telangana: Hyderabad
Rajnath Singh: First to fly in Tejas
 Union minister Rajnath Singh became the 1st defence minister to fly in the indigenously-built aircraft Tejas
from the HAL airport in Bengaluru.
 He was accompanied by Air Vice Marshal N Tiwari, who is also the Project Director, National Flight Test
Centre.
 Tejas is a multi-role fighter with several critical capabilities.
 It is meant to strengthen India’s air defence capabilities.
Waste Management Accelerator launched
 Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched several initiatives of
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)in New Delhi.
 It includes Facilitation through Margadarshan and Margadarshak, Model Curriculum for Diploma Courses,
Waste Management Accelerator for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs (WAWE Summit 2019) and 360-degree
Feedback of Faculty.
Delhi Police’s launched Tatpar app
 ‘Tatpar’ app, developed by the Delhi Police was launched recently.
 It is a one-stop destination for access to over 50 citizen-centric services.
 It amalgamates all the websites and mobile apps of Delhi Police, and over 50 services which can now be
accessed with a single touch.
 Through the app, citizens can navigate to their nearest police station, traffic pit and prepaid taxi booth.
Home Minister to chair a meeting in Chandigarh
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 29th meeting of the Northern Zonal Council.
 The grouping comprises states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan besides UTs of Jammu
and Kashmir, Ladakh and the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
 5 zonal councils were set up in 1957 under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
 Amit Shah is the chairman of each of these 5 councils.
Int. Workshop for National Water Museum
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 The Jal Shakti Ministry is planning to develop a National Water Museum to increase awareness among
people on the conservation of water.
 The Ministry is also organising an International Workshop which will be attended by experts from India and
abroad.
 The outcome of the workshop will be a blueprint for establishing the proposed National Water Museum
under the aegis of Jal Shakti Ministry.
Govt inaugurated 15 power projects in J&K
 Union Power Minister RK Singh and Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik jointly inaugurated 15
power projects and laid the foundation stone for 20 others worth 10,000 crore rupees in the state.
 The government is working to ensure 24 hours electricity supply to all the citizens of the country.
 Development works in J&K will prompt People of POK to revolt against Islamabad and join India.
MIS launched by Union Minister Gehlot
 The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, under Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment, has developed a Management Information System, MIS for stakeholders of Accessible India
Campaign.
 It will bring all the nodal ministries and States and Union Territories on a single platform for monitoring the
progress being made against each target of Accessible India Campaign.
Green signal for writing Indian border history
 Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has given approval for initiating work of writing the history of the
country’s borders.
 It is proposed that the work will cover various aspects of borders including tracing its making; making &
unmaking and shifting of borders; role of security forces.
 The project is expected to be completed within two years.
Moti Bagh nominated for Oscars
 A documentary film based on life of a Uttarakhand farmer has been nominated for Oscars.
 The documentary film named Moti Bagh is based on the life of Vidyadutt, a farmer living in Pauri Garhwal
region of the state.
 The state CM Trivendra Singh Rawat congratulated the director, Nirmal Chander Dandriyal, and said it will
inspire youths to stay in their villages and work for their communities.
San-Sadhan Hackathon organized for Divyangjan
 A San-Sadhan Hackathon was organized by Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Department of Empowerment of
Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) in association with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and NITI Aayog.
 It came out with thought-provoking ideas for accessible toilets for Divyangjans.
 The three day long Sansadhan hackathon is the latest initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM).
Hyderabad-Karnataka region renamed
 Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa announced that the Hyderabad-Karnataka region has been
renamed as ‘Kalyana Karnataka’ and a separate secretariat would be established for its development.
 Hyderabad Karnataka region comprising six north-eastern districts of the State — Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir,
Raichur, Koppal and Ballari.
 Karnataka Governor - Vajubhai Vala.
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Scope of Bharat Bill Payment System expanded

 The RBI has expanded the scope of the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) by adding other categories of
recurring payments through the portal.
 BBPS is an interoperable platform that enables a customer to pay bills such as telephone, water, gas, at a
single location.
 With the expansion of the scope of the payment facility, other recurring payments such as school fees can
also be paid via BBPS.
Steel Import Monitoring System launched
 Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce &
Industry, Hardeep Singh Puri launched Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) in New Delhi
 The system has been developed in consultation with Ministry of Steel on the pattern of US Steel Import
Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system.
 It will provide advance information about steel imports.
National Centre for Clean Coal R&D inaugurated
 Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the National Centre for Clean Coal
Research and Development at Indian Institute of Science (IISc)-Bengaluru.
 Dr. Harsh Vardhan also dedicated an Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research(ICER) to the Nation which
is India’s first of its kind centre equipped with state-of-art facilities.
New govt portal to find lost stolen phone
 The Central government has launched a portal which will help the users to detect their lost or stolen mobile
phones.
 Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad unveiled a portal where a user can report a complaint of lost or
stolen phones.
 The project has started on a pilot basis in Maharashtra and later it will be implemented across the country.
PM Modi to visit Sardar Sarovar Dam
 PM Narendra Modi is on a 2-day visit to Gujarat.
 He visited Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam at Kevadia in Narmada district to mark the historic moment of
overflowing of the Dam.
 The Narmada water at Sardar Sarovar Dam was completely filled up for the first time after raising its height
to 138.68 metres.
 He will also visit various ongoing projects of tourist attractions near the statue of unity.
Uttar Pradesh: Children's week to be observed
 Under the nutrition month campaign, children's week will be observed at all angan wadi centers across the
state from 16 September 2019 in Uttar Pradesh.
 Poshan Abhiyaan is a mission with the vision to address malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, and
pregnant ladies.
 On the first day, Mamta divas is being observed under which mothers will bring homemade food to the
angan wadi centres.
Udhampur: First women marathon organised
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 In an innovative initiative, a women-only marathon with an aim of spreading social message regarding drug
addiction was organised in Udhampur district on 15 September 2019.
 The marathon witnessed the participation of attendees from all different age groups.
 This is the first time that a marathon specifically for girls and women has been organised.
 This was on the theme of Drug Awareness.
Government to offer 1000 PhD fellowships
 The government is set to launch a major programme offering 1,000 PhD fellowships to ASEAN students at
IITs in India.
 The admission portal for the programme is being executed by IIT Delhi for offering PhD fellowships to
ASEAN students in all IITs in India.
 The launch ceremony of the ASEAN PhD fellowships at IITs was held on 16 September 2019.
Great Ganga Run-2019 flagged off
 Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju flagged off Great Ganga Run-
2019 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on 15 September 2019.
 It was organized to create awareness about the river Ganga.
 Participation of the people in the run corroborates the fact that people are not only aware of the
importance of water but are active to conserve it.
Neermahal Jal Utsav concluded in Tripura
 In Tripura, the 3-day-long traditional Neermahal Jal Utsav concluded on 15 September 2019 with a boat
race and swimming competitions at Rudrasagar lake.
 Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb flagged off the boat race.
 Neermahal is a water palace built at the middle of Rudrasagar lake by Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya
in 1930 as his summer resort being inspired by Mughal style of architecture.
118 new Community Radio Stations to be set-up
 Union Minister Prakash Javadekar announced that 118 new Community Radio Stations (CRS) are in the
process of being set-up.
 Community Radios are small (low power) FM radio stations with a coverage area of around 10-15 Km
radius, depending on the geography of the area.
 CRSs act as essential communication channels for enhancing the last mile of the outreach of government.
Government inducts first batch of ISDS
 The government has inducted the first batch of the Indian Skill Development Services (ISDS), the newest
central government Group A services on 9 September 2019.
 The ISDS has 263 all India posts.
 This service has been specially created for the training directorate of the ministry of skill development and
entrepreneurship.
Rajasthan launches information portal
 The first-ever public information portal - Jan Soochna Portal-2019 - was launched in Rajasthan on 13
September 2019.
 The portal will provide information about government authorities and departments suo motu to the public
in the true spirit of the Right To Information Act.
 The State government has collaborated with the civil society groups to develop the portal.
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Jaldoot vehicle flagged off in Pune

 Union Minister for Environment and Forest and Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar flagged off a
Jaldoot vehicle in Pune.
 The van carrying the 'SAVE WATER' message will travel to different parts of the state.
 An exhibition on 100 days of Union Government has also been organized on the occasion by Regional
Outreach Bureau in Pune.
NGT constituted committee
 The National Green Tribunal has constituted a committee to formulate steps to cease illegal groundwater
extraction.
 The committee aims to ensure that groundwater is not illegally extracted and to monitor manning and
functioning of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
 The committee comprises joint secretaries of Ministry of Environment and Forests and Ministry of Water
Resources.
J&K: Rs 827-crore plan approved
 In J&K, a plan of 827 crore rupees has been approved under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
 State Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam reviewed the implementation of the schemes during the last
fiscal and subsequently approved the Action Plan for the current financial year.
 Meanwhile, as part of Mission Reach Out, the Indian Army has been conducting various people-friendly
campaigns.
WB to implement 6th Pay Commission from Jan 1
 The recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission for West Bengal Government Employees will come into
effect from January 1, 2020.
 The Commission has submitted its first report to the Government and her Government will accept of its
recommendations.
 As per recommendations of the Pay Commission, the Minimum Gross Pay of an Employee will stand at 20
thousand 146 rupees.
ESIC plans 100 bedded hospital for Srinagar
 Employees' State Insurance Corporation, ESIC, will set-up 100 bedded hospital at Srinagar and 30 bedded
hospital at Leh.
 The approval has also been accorded to provide cashless Secondary and Tertiary medical care services
under Ayushman Bharat package rates to entitled ESI Beneficiaries.
 The treatment will be given in the newly implemented area of 102 designated Districts.
Amit Shah launched 'Seva Saptah'
 Home Minister Amit Shah launched a week-long programme 'Seva Saptah' to mark the birthday of PM
Narendra Modi on 17 Sept. 2019.
 He launched the campaign by joining cleanliness drive and distributing fruits among the patients at AIIMS in
Delhi.
 Three pledges will also be administrated among the people related to Swachata Abhiyan, save water and
shunning single-use plastic.
Centre to set up 12,500 Ayush Wellness Centres
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 Union Government has set a target of setting up 12,500 Ayush Health and Wellness Centres across the
country.
 Out of which four thousand will be set up during 2019.
 The Unani Medical Centre and Siddha Clinical Research Unit will provide holistic health care to patients
visiting Safdarjung Hospital from different parts of the country.
Curriculum for Life Skills launched
 Union Minister of State for HRD Sanjay Dhotre, launched the Curriculum for Life Skills (JeevanKaushal)
designed by University Grants Commission (UGC), in New Delhi on 11 September 2019.
 The curriculum covers the set of human talents acquired by an individual via classroom learning or life
experience that can help them to deal with problems encountered in day to day life.
Rs 1680 cr water supply scheme for Aurangabad
 Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis approved a 1680.50 crore rupees water supply scheme for Aurangabad
in Marathwada region.
 Around 16 lakh people of Aurangabad will be benefitted by the scheme which envisages supply of water
directly from the Jayakwadi dam.
 \Marathwada comprising eight districts has traditionally been a low-rainfall area.
 It was reeling under drought conditions since 4 years.
Wi-Fi at 6 railway stations inaugurated
 Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated Wi-Fi facility at 6 railway stations
including Amethi, on 11 September 2019.
 Mrs Irani was on a two-day visit to her parliamentary constituency Amethi.
 She inaugurated the kitchen garden at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya and held a chaupal in Cheda village on
12 September 2019.
Miscellaneous News
 President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the Indian community and friends of India in Berne at Switzerland on
12 September 2019. He is visiting Switzerland as part of his 3-nation tour.
 India has begun exporting bulletproof jackets as per its own standards to over 100 countries including
European nations. India is the fourth country after the US, UK and Germany to have its own national
standards.
Leader of Opposition of Haryana: Bhupinder
 Days after Congress decided to elect former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda as Congress Legislative
Party (CLP) leader, Haryana Assembly Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar also recognised him as Leader of
Opposition (LoP) on 10 September 2019.
 Congress presently has 16 MLAs in the 90-member Assembly.
 Abhay Singh Chautala had held the post of Leader of Oppostion but lost it in March 2019.
Kerala to set up India’s 1st iWTC in Kozhikode
 Kerala will set up India’s first international women’s trade centre (iWTC), in consonance with the United
Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Kozhikode.
 It is envisaged as a safe space away from home for women to harness their entrepreneurial capabilities.
 The first phase of iWTC, being executed under the gender park’s Vision 2020, is scheduled to be completed
by 2021.
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Niti Aayog, McKinsey to launch DCC

 Niti Aayog has selected McKinsey & Company to set up India’s first Digital Capability Centre (DCC).
 McKinsey supports five such digital capability centres across the globe – Aachen, Chicago, Singapore,
Venice, and Beijing.
 DCC is a unique digital manufacturing learning centre offering company leaders and their workforces hands-
on experience and workshops in next-generation technology.
Union HRD Minister launched initiatives
 Union HRD Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ attended the First Annual Innovation Festival of the
MHRD’s Innovation Cell (MIC).
 MIC organized the first Annual Innovation Festival in coordination with AICTE on 11 September 2019.
 He also launched the Smart India Hackathon 2020, Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements
(ARIIA) 2020, and Institution’s Innovation Council 2.0.
PM Modi launched Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2019
 PM Narendra Modi launched Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2019, a massive countrywide awareness and
mobilization campaign on Swachhata at Mathura on 11 September 2019.
 SHS 2019, with special focus on ‘plastic waste awareness and management’ is being organized from 11
September to October 2, 2019.
 It was launched by the Departments of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Drinking Water and Sanitation.
Gujarat government reduced traffic fine
 The Gujarat government reduced fine amounts stipulated in the new Motor Vehicles Act passed recently.
 The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2019 was passed by Parliament in July and its steep fines were to
come into effect from 1 September 2019.
 The penalty for driving without a licence has been brought down from ₹5,000 to ₹2000 for two-wheelers
and ₹3000 for four-wheelers.
UP govt announced Agriculture Export policy
 Uttar Pradesh Government has announced it's maiden Agriculture Export policy, 2019.
 The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting on 10 September 2019 chaired by Chief Minister Yogi
Adityanath.
 Cabinet also cleared a proposal to compensate victims of lynching as directed by the Supreme Court.
 The policy will target to augment farmers’s income and promote export of farm commodities.
Campaign against plastic began in Bihar
 In Bihar, the campaign against single used plastic began on 11 September 2019.
 Mass Awareness Campaign was launched by holding Swatchha Hi Seva campaign from 11 September till 1
October 2019 from Urban areas to villages.
 Under this campaign, single used plastic will be collected at ward level and it will be sent to collection
centres of local bodies for recycling.
MP: 313 Anganwadi centres developed
 In Madhya Pradesh, 313 Anganwadi centres have been developed as Child Education Centre under
Rashtriya Poshan Maah - National Nutritional Campaign.
 These centres are now providing primary education along with distribution of nutritious food.
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 27 thousand smartphones have also been provided in the state for monitoring of nutritional food
distribution in Anganwadi centres.
J&K: 85,000 LPG refills distributed
 In Jammu and Kashmir, 85,000 LPG refills have been distributed through home-deliveries to consumers in
Srinagar in last three weeks.
 The number includes 60,000 refills distributed in the last two weeks of August and 25,000 distributed in the
first week of September 2019.
 Moreover, since September 1 around 50 thousand quintals of rice has been distributed among consumers
in Srinagar.
Centre set up 3-member panel
 Centre has set up a three-member panel to oversee the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union
Territories.
 The committee will look into the distribution of assets and liabilities of Jammu and Kashmir between two
successor Union territories, which will come into existence on 31 October 2019.
 The committee will be headed by Former Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra.
2nd Multi-Modal Terminal to be inaugurated
 PM Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation India’s second riverine Multi-Modal terminal (MMT) built at
Sahibganj in Jharkhand on 11 September 2019.
 It has been built at a cost of 290 crore rupees in a record time of about two years.
 This is the second of the three Multi-Modal Terminals being constructed on river Ganga under Jal Marg
Vikas Project.
ANGAN- A 3-day Conferencen began in New Delhi
 An international conference ANGAN (Augmenting Nature by Green Affordable New-habitat) focussed on
Energy Efficiency in Building Sector began on 9 September 2019.
 The Conference is being organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government
of India.
 It will provide a platform to deliberate on interdependence between organizations and systemic
sustainability.
Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated PRA-KASHI
 Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated the exhibition PRA-KASHI on
the finest trends of contemporary weaving, in New Delhi on 9 September 2019.
 The National Museum in collaboration with Devi Art Foundation has organized this exhibition.
 The exhibition will remain open for general public till 8th October 2019 between 10 am to 6 pm on Tuesday
to Friday.
1st SCO conference on military medicine
 India will host the first conference on military medicine for member nations of the Shanghai Co-operation
Organisation (SCO) in New Delhi from 12-13 September 2019.
 It will be the first military co-operation event to be organised in India under the SCO after it joined the
organisation in 2017.
 The objective of the conference is to share best practices in the field of military medicine.
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India to raise target to restore degraded land

 India will raise target of restoring land with degraded status from 21 million hectares to 26 million by 2030.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this while addressing the 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) of the UN
Convention to Combat Desertification(UNCCD) in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh on 9 September 2019.
 Desertification affects over two-thirds of the countries of the world.
DPIIT to launch a campaign
 Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of Commerce Ministry will launch plastic
waste management campaign under Swachhta Hi Sewa 2019 on 11 September 2019.
 Under the campaign, DPIIT will ensure recycling of plastic waste collected on 2nd October 2019 in cement
kilns.
 It will also collect plastic waste through nationwide shramdaan on 2nd October 2019.
Aadhaar-enabled payment services rolled out
 The government announced the rollout of Aadhaar Enabled Payment System Services by India Post
Payments Bank.
 With this launch, IPPB has become the single largest platform in the country for providing interoperable
banking services to customers of any bank by leveraging the last mile unprecedented reach of the Postal
network.
 1st anniversary celebrations of IPPB were held on 9 September 2019.
PNB put up 11 NPA accounts for sale
 Punjab National Bank (PNB) has put up for sale nearly a dozen non-performing assets (NPA) to recover dues
of more than 1,234 crore rupees.
 It has invited bids from asset reconstruction companies non-banking financial companies, banks, financial
institutions for 11 NPA accounts.
 The bank is set to merge two peer banks - Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India with itself.
UTs of J&K, Ladakh to have common High Court
 The UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh will have a common High Court.
 The Legislative Assembly will be formed in J&K as UT but there will be no Legislative Assembly in the UT of
Ladakh as it will be directly controlled by the Union Government.
 108 Central Laws will be applicable on the two UTs while 164 State laws will be repealed and 166 State laws
will continue to be applicable.
Eighth edition of Ladakh Marathon held in Leh
 The eighth edition of Ladakh Marathon was held on 8 September 2019, in Leh.
 It is the highest marathon in the world as it is held at over 11, 000 feet above the mean sea level.
 The Marathon was held in the categories of 42KM Full Full Marathon, 21KM half marathon and 7 km long
Run for Fun.
 The 9th Edition to be held in 2020 will be a qualifying race for the Abbot World Marathon Majors.
PM Modi to address segment of COP-14
 PM Narendra Modi addressed the High-Level Segment of the 14th Conference of Parties of the UN
Convention to Combat Desertification in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh on 9 September 2019.
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 The Conference is being held at a time when India has assumed the COP Presidency from China for two
years.
 Around 30 decisions will be taken at the Conference that aim to strengthen land-use policies worldwide.
3.5 lakh cr to be spent on Jal Jeevan Mission
 PM Narendra Modi has announced that the central government will spend 3.5 lakh crore rupees in the next
five years on 'Jal Jeevan Mission'.
 He also announced that under the MUDRA scheme, one woman in every SHG will get a loan of 1 lakh
rupees and this will help them start new ventures and grow their business.
 The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in August 2019.
Ashok Leyland meets BS-VI emission norms
 Ashok Leyland Ltd has become the first Indian original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to meet the BS-VI
emission norms.
 It met the BS-VI emission norms across the full range of heavy-duty trucks – Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
16.2 tonnes and above.
 The company received the certificates, confirming compliance to BS-VI emission standard, from Automotive
Research Association of India (ARAI).
World Bank to fund tourism projects in UP
 World Bank will fund ‘pro-poor tourism’ (PPT) development projects worth more than $57 million in top
tourist hotspots of Agra and Braj-Mathura regions in Uttar Pradesh.
 While the World Bank will incur 70% of the project cost, the remaining 30% will be borne by the UP
government.
 Pro-poor tourism is a holistic tourism concept aimed at poverty alleviation.
An exhibition organised by Culture Ministry
 The exhibition ‘Superbugs: The End of Antibiotics?’ was inaugurated on 6 September 2019 at National
Science Centre, New Delhi.
 The Exhibition explores how society is responding to the enormous challenge of antimicrobial resistance
(AMR) and antibacterial resistance (ABR) in particular featuring scientific research from across the globe
and personal stories of those waging war on Superbugs.
Uttar Pradesh Launches 'C-Plan' App
 The Uttar Pradesh Police has launched a ‘C-Plan’ smartphone application that will help them keep a tab on
anti-social elements to counter their nefarious designs in time.
 The app will not only help police to be informed of simmering communal tensions or other disputes taking
place even in far-flung villages by common people but also help them verify the received information.
Food ministry to ban single-use plastic
 Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry has decided to ban single-use plastic in its various departments as well
as the public sector units under its administration from September 15.
 The decision was taken at a meeting held by Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan.
 Cloth or jute bags, locally tailored and produced, can be a viable alternative.
PM Modi to launch a programme
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 PM Narendra Modi will be launching National Animal Disease Control Programme for Foot and Mouth
Disease and Brucellosis on 11 September 2019 in Mathura.
 He will also launch National Artificial Insemination Programme during the event.
 He will visit Pashu Vigyan Evam Arogya Mela and launch Babugarh Sex Semen facility and simultaneous
countrywide workshops in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
Sex ratio improved from 918 to 931 in 5 years
 States and districts were honoured on 6 September 2019 for improved sex ratio and awareness generation
under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign.
 Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh received honours for improving sex ratio at birth.
 The country has made remarkable 13 points jump in national sex ratio from 918 to 931 in last 5 years.
PM Modi to visit Mumbai
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mumbai and Aurangabad on 7 September 2019 to inaugurate a slew
of new projects.
 He laid the foundation stone for three Metro corridors worth over 19,000 crore rupees.
 He inaugurated the first coach for Mumbai Metro built under the 'Make in India' programme.
 In Aurangabad he inaugurated the Aurangabad Industrial City’s Shendra project.
Conference on Cybercrime Investigation
 The first National Conference on Cybercrime Investigation and Forensics was organized by the CBI on 5
September 2019 at CBI Headquarters in New Delhi.
 Union Minister of State of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Dr Jitendra Singh
addressed the conference.
 Around 50 Officers including DGPs, ADGPs, IGPs, DIGPs and SPs dealing with cybercrime participated in the
Conference.
PM Modi to visit Aurangabad on Sept 7
 PM Narendra Modi will visit Aurangabad on 7 September 2019 for inauguration ceremony of Aurangabd
Industrial City (AURIC) and address the Woman Self Help Group (SHG).
 Nearly 2,500 police force including top brass police officials have been deputed at AURIC of Delhi Mumbai
Industrial Corridor (DMIC) at Shendra MIDC.
 This is Modi's second visit to Aurangabad city after becoming Prime minister.
Jio Fiber: India's latest broadband service
 A high-speed broadband service, Jio Fiber was launched on 5 September 2019.
 Jio Fiber's annual plans include free TVs, set-top boxes and subscriptions to premium streaming services.
 Reliance will charge subscribers $10 to $118 a month for speeds ranging from 100Mbps-1Gbps.
 The free services are coupled with low-cost internet.
Mobile Science Exhibition flagged off
 The Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel flagged off the first-ever Mobile
Science Exhibition (SCIENCE EXPLORER) for the entire Ladakh Region in Leh on 5 September 2019.
 The Union Culture Minister simultaneously launched 25 new Mobile Science Exhibition buses for
Aspirational Districts of India.
 Topics for the exhibition are measurement, food & health, etc.
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IGI Airport gets India's tallest ATC Tower

 The tallest ATC tower in the country was inaugurated at the IGI Airport.
 The Delhi Air Traffic Service Complex, which is the tallest Air Traffic Control tower in India with a height of
102 metres.
 The new complex comprises of three buildings - the Aerodrome Control Tower, Area & Approach Control
Services Building and the Administrative Block.
 Mumbai Airport's tower was the tallest till now.
NYKS to prepare Disaster Response Teams
 In collaboration with National Disaster Response Force, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan under Dept of Youth
Affairs of MoYAS will prepare Block Level Disaster Response Teams.
 The team has been constituted for Disaster Risk Reduction.
 The trained NYKS Youth Volunteers will work as DRTs and will be called ‘NDRF- friends’.
 They will act as first responders in NDRF selected hazard prone districts.
Joint India-New Development Bank Workshop held
 A joint India- New Development Bank workshop was held in New Delhi.
 The workshop was organized to enhance the NDB’s engagement with the India’s private and public sector.
 The NDB is the first Multilateral Development Bank established by developing countries and emerging
economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
 President of NDB: K V Kamath; Headquarters: Shanghai, China
Int. symposium on buckwheat being organised
 In Meghalaya, a four-day international symposium on buckwheat is being organised by North Eastern Hills
University, Shillong from 3-6 September 2019.
 The theme for it is diversifying food systems for health and nutritional security.
 The flour of buckwheat can be used either as food or as medicine.
 Buckwheat is used to improve blood flow by strengthening veins and small blood vessels.
CBI's 1st national conference inaugurated
 CBI Director Rishi Kumar Shukla inaugurated the 1st National Conference on Cyber Crime Investigation and
Cyber Forensics in New Delhi on 4 September 2019.
 The two-day conference covers one of the mandates of CBI which is to investigate crimes with inter-state
and international ramifications.
 The conference is aimed at creating a platform to discuss challenges related to cybercrime.
UP to have Atal B. Vajpayee Medical University
 By the end of this year, Uttar Pradesh will start work on a medical university in memory of former prime
minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
 State Cabinet on 3 September 2019 approved the transfer of 50 acres of land for the proposed Atal Bihari
Vajpayee Medical University to be set up in Lucknow.
 It will serve as an umbrella institution for all medical and dental colleges in the state.
Mahakaleshwar temple to be developed
 In Madhya Pradesh, Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain will be developed on the lines of the ongoing
development works at Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.
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 Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and one of the twelve Jyotirlingams, which
are the most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva.
 The development and expansion plans include Mahakal theme park, Mahakal corridor, etc.
IDBI Bank to be recapitalised
 The Cabinet cleared recapitalization of IDBI Bank with a one-time infusion of funds by both the government
and the LIC.
 It has approved 9,000 crore capital infusion into IDBI Bank, including 4,557 crores by the government as
one-time re-capitalisation.
 This will help both IDBI and LIC, and it shows the government's commitment to take banking to a sound
level.
National Afffairs
 India has announced a contribution of 22 million US Dollars to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria
(GFTAM) for the 6th replenishment cycle (2020-22).
 Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar released a report on Status of Tiger Habitats in high altitude
ecosystems in New Delhi on 3 September 2019. It reveals that even ecology at high altitude is compatible
for the tiger growth.
KVIC launched 'Terracotta Grinder'
 Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched first-ever 'Terracotta Grinder' at Sewapuri in
Varanasi.
 This machine can be used to grind wasted and broken pottery items for re-use in pottery-making.
 It will make grinding of wasted pottery items faster than the traditional mortar and pestle.
 It will also lessen the cost of production.
Steering Committee submitted report
 A government constituted Committee has recommended for putting in place a comprehensive legal
framework for consumer protection keeping in mind the rise of Fintech and digital services.
 The Steering Committee on Fintech related issues submitted its report to Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman in New Delhi on 2 September 2019.
 It recommended the adoption of regulation technology.
Police academy to be set up soon in Lucknow
 A police academy of international standards will be set up very soon in Lucknow for training cops which will
be the first of its kind of institute in the state.
 State Police Headquarter's ‘Signature’ building in Lucknow was inaugurated on 2 September 2019.
 It was running from a camp office established as make-shift arrangement in 1937.
Garvi Gujarat Bhavan inaugurated
 PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Garvi Gujarat Bhavan in New Delhi on 3 September 2019.
 He listed out series of measures taken by the Gujarat government for the development of the state.
 Gujarat is doing well in terms of water harvesting.
 He expressed confidence that every household will get drinking water by 2024.
Electors Verification Programme launched
 The Election Commission launched a new mega Electors Verification Programme across the country.
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 It will go on till the 15th October 2019.

 Under the programme, a voter from each family will get a username and password, allowing a person to
upload all documents related to electoral registration and tag similar details about his or her family
members.
 Chief Election Commissioner - Sunil Arora.
Sept to be celebrated as Rashtriya Poshan Maah
 The entire month of September will be celebrated as the Rashtriya Poshan Maah.
 This year the theme is Complementary Feeding.
 Prime Minister's Scheme for Holistic Nourishment - POSHAN Abhiyaan is a multi- ministerial convergence
mission with the vision to address malnutrition with a targeted approach by 2022.
 Both poor and affluent families are affected the most by it.
4000th railway station to get free public WiFi
 Tinsukia Junction in northeast region has become the 4000th railway station in the country to have free
public WiFi.
 According to the Indian Railway, on average they have been rolling out WiFi in 83 stations everyday.
 The journey started from Mumbai Central in January 2016 and in the coming few weeks all railway stations
over Indian Railway will have fast and free Railwire WiFi.
Country's longest electrified rail tunnel
 In Andhra Pradesh, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu dedicated the country's longest electrified rail tunnel
between Cherlopalli and Rapuru and the electrified railway line between Venkatachalam and Obulavaripalli
 The length of the rail tunnel is 6.6 kilometre.
 He also flagged-off a new inter-city super fast express train between Guduru and Vijayawada.
Projects inaugurated in Dadra & Nagar
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah dedicated a series of developmental projects at Silvassa the headquarters
of Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
 He also laid the foundation stone for education hub at Zanda Chowk and Tokarkhada in Silvassa.
 He also flagged off mobile vans for delivering Mid-day meals to school children. It will be operated by
Akshaypatra Foundation.
COP14 to UN Convention began in Greater Noida
 The 14th Conference of Parties, COP14, to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification will get underway
in Greater Noida on 2 September 2019.
 The Conference will focus on desertification and degradation of land and will go on till 13 September 2019.
 The objective is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing
serious drought or desertification.
EC to host 4th A-WEB at Bengaluru
 Election Commission of India is scheduled to host the 4th General Assembly of Association of World
Election Bodies (A-WEB) at Bengaluru on 2 September 2019.
 India will take over as A-WEB’s Chair for the 2019- 2021 term.
 An International Conference on Initiatives and Challenges of Social Media and Information Technology in
Elections will also be held on 4 September 2019.
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CGHS services to be available in 100 cities

 Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan launched a new scheme of Annual Health Check-up for Central
government health schemes (CGHS) beneficiaries who are pensioners of the age of 75 years and above.
 He also inaugurated state-of-the-art CGHS Bhawan in New Delhi.
 The CGHS services will be available in 100 cities by 2022.
 The CGHS services were started in 1954 in Delhi.
National Affairs
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Tokyo for a bilateral visit. As part of his visit to Japan, he is going
to chair the Annual Defence Ministerial Dialogue with Takeshi Iwaya, Minister of Defence of Japan.
 Bollywood has taken lead to promote India’s plastic-free movement with Varun Dhawan's upcoming movie
'Coolie No. 1' becoming the first Bollywood film to go plastic-free.
National Affairs
 A statue of former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would be installed in Patna. Jaitley’s birthday on
28th of December would be celebrated as state function every year.
 The elite Fire and Fury Corps celebrated its 20th raising day at Leh on 1 September 2019. It was on
September 1, 1999, in the aftermath of the Kargil War that this elite Corps was raised.
National Affairs
 Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Nitin Gadkari announced the decision to use tiny
earthen pots or kulhad for serving tea at around 400 railway stations across the country.
 The stage is all set for the crucial separation of lander Vikram from Chandrayaan 2 Orbiter. The separation
will allow the lander to travel towards the lunar surface.
App launched to help Paralympians
 A mobile app was launched to help para-athletes to look up accessible places in Tokyo during their visit to
the city for the 2020 Paralympics Games.
 The application -- IndTokyo -- which was launched by Arhan Bagati, Awareness and Impact Ambassador of
Paralympic Committee of India, at the 'Countdown to Tokyo 2020'.
 The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics was inaugurated 25 August 2019.
Call for expansion of aquaculture sector
 Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu called for expansion of India's aquaculture sector through diversification,
value addition and penetration in the hinterland and non-coastal states.
 He addressed the fifth edition of Aqua Aquaria India (AAI) recently.
 During 2018-19, India exported 14,37,445 tonnes of seafood worth $6.8 billion. The US is the major market
followed by the European Union.
Delhi cabinet approved free travel for women
 The Delhi cabinet approved free travel for women in buses in the national capital.
 The scheme, announced by chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal,
will be effective 29 October 2019.
 There will be a single-journey pass issued by the conductor for women travellers.
 The scheme is voluntary and women travelers can choose to not avail the plan.
Air India to ban single-use plastic
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 Air India, India’s national airline, will ban the usage of single-use plastic aboard its flights from October 2,
2019.
 The ban will come into effect on all flights of Air India Express and Alliance Air flights.
 Air India will replace plastic teacups and tumblers with sturdy paper cups and tumblers.
 Chairman and MD of Air India Ltd: Ashwani Lohani.
Lifeline Express inaugurated at CSMT, Mumbai
 The Lifeline Express, also known as Hospital on Wheels, was inaugurated at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Terminus by the Central Railway (CR) for its latest project, which involves providing medical treatment to
poor patients.
 The train will now move to Sahibganj in Jharkhand from Mumbai for its next project.
 The Indian Railways had launched the Lifeline Express on July 16, 1991.
Govt announced mega merger of pub. sec. banks
 The government has announced the merger of ten public sector banks into four banks.
 It announced the merger of Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank with Punjab National Bank as well
as the merger of Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank.
 The merger of Union Bank of India, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank and the consolidation of Indian Bank
with Allahabad Bank was also announced.
Government to set up 12,500 AYUSH centres
 The government has set a target of setting up 12,500 AYUSH centres across India.
 The government is trying to set up 4000 such centres this year itself.
 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres are being opened across the country.
 During a ceremony held recently, PM Modi released 12 commemorative postal stamps to honour eminent
scholars, practitioners and Great Master Healers of AYUSH Systems.
CBDT constituted special cell
 The Central Board of Direct Taxes -CBDT has constituted a five-member special cell to address grievances of
start-ups with relation to angel tax and other tax-related issues.
 The cell will work towards redressal of grievances and mitigate tax-related issues in case of start-up entities
with respect to the administration of Income-tax Act,1961.
Rare tarantula sighted in Villupuram district
 Researchers sighted a critically endangered species of tarantula for the first time beyond its known habitat
in the Eastern Ghats.
 The spider belonging to the genus Poecilotheria is commonly known as the Peacock Parachute Spider or
Gooty Tarantula.
 It was spotted by a team of researchers of Indigenous Biodiversity Foundation (IBF) in the Pakkamalai
Reserve Forests in Villupuram district.
Gorewada Int. Zoo to be set up at Nagpur
 The Government planned to establish an International Standard Zoo and Biopark on the forest land at
Gorewada, Nagpur.
 The main aim is to protect forests.
 The Zoo will have attractions like Bio Park, Indian Safari, African Safari, Night Safari, Research, Education
and Training, facilities for tourists.
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 The Government agreed to provide Viability Gap Funding (V.G.F) of Rs. 200 crore for it.
Dindigul lock, Kandangi saree got GI tag
 Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul locks and Kandangi sarees have received Geographical Indication (GI) tags.
 The famous Dindigul locks are known throughout the world for their superior quality and durability, that's
why the city is called Lock City.
 The hand-woven Kandangi sarees also have a 150-year-old tradition, and its history is related to the
business community of Chettiars.
India launched world’s first ever facial BSID
 India became the first country in the world to issue Biometric Seafarer Identity Document (BSID), capturing
the facial biometric data of seafarers.
 The new facial biometric technology is a marked improvement over the two-finger or iris-based bio-metric
data, with modern security features.
 The project was taken up in collaboration with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC).
Air India to be privatized
 The government is determined for the privatization of Air India and people are interested in buying it.
 Total privatization will be done in the shortest possible time and with the best deal.
 A web portal was launched recently.
 Aviationjobs brings together job seekers and prospective employers in the Indian civil aviation sector.
Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat visited Srinagar
 Army Chief General Bipin Rawat visited Srinagar on 30 August 2019.
 He will review the security situation and preparedness of security forces in the Kashmir valley.
 This is the first visit of Gen Rawat to the valley after the abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir
under Article 370.
 Authorities have restored mobile phone services in five sensitive districts of Jammu region.
‘Walk to work’ campaign in Meghalaya launched
 Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma launched the campaign of Fit India Movement on 29 August 2019.
 He launched the #WalktoWorkMeghalaya which is a part of the ‘Fit India Campaign’.
 The idea of 'walk to work' will have multiple benefits, cuts the cost of fuel including reduction of CO2
emission, reduce congestion in the city and more importantly for health and fitness.
Rs 47,000 cr released to increase green cover
 Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar handed over Rs 47,000
crore from Compensatory Afforestation Fund to various states.
 This was done as a major step towards increasing afforestation in the country.
 The fund will be utilized for the compensatory afforestation, catchment area treatment, wildlife
management, natural regeneration, etc.
Establishment of CDRI approved
 The Union Cabinet approved the Establishment of an International Coalition for Disaster Resilient
Infrastructure (CDRI) along with its supporting Secretariat Office in New Delhi.
 The proposal was approved by the Prime Minister on 13th August 2019.
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 The CDRI is proposed to be launched at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, USA on 23rd
September 2019.
Indian Bank opened MSME processing centre
 Indian Bank has opened MSME CPC (centralised processing centre) in Chennai.
 The centralised processing centre will give a boost to the bank’s MSME portfolio and will lead to speedy
disposal of micro, small and medium enterprises’ loans.
 The bank has also deployed skilled manpower in the CPC to improve credit quality and shorten transaction
processing time.
Astra Rafael opened facility
 An Indo-Israel joint venture’s Astra Rafael Communication System was inaugurated in Hyderabad.
 The system will design, develop and manufacture tactical communication systems for Indian armed forces.
 The Joint Venture between Astra Microwave and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has become
India’s first private sector firm to manufacture software-defined radios in multiple variants.
NOAPS-single window clearing system launched
 The Minister of State for Culture & Tourism launched an integrated NOC online Application Processing
System for National Monuments Authority in New Delhi.
 This will help in online processing of applications requesting NOC for construction-related work in the
prohibited and regulated area of ASI protected monuments.
 6 new states will be part of it including MP, Haryana, Punjab, and Telangana.
ONGC CMD honoured with Distinguished F'ship
 ONGC CMD Shashi Shanker was honoured with the Distinguished Fellowship of the Institute of Directors
(IOD) 2019.
 He was honoured during the 29th Institute of Directors (IOD) Annual Day Ceremony for his distinguished
contribution to business and society.
 The theme of this year’s IOD Annual Day Ceremony was ‘Future Boards: Leading Strategy to Embrace
Sustainability’.
Govt permitted 100% FDI in coal mining
 The Union Cabinet relaxed Foreign Direct Investment rule for foreign single-brand retailers and permitted
foreign investment in contract manufacturing and coal mining.
 100% FDI under automatic route in coal mining and associated infrastructure has been approved.
 26% FDI has also been allowed under government route for uploading and streaming of News and Current
Affairs through Digital Media.
Vigyan Mela in Ladakh inaugurated
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Ladakh to inaugurate a Vigyan Mela on 29 August 2019.
 It will showcase crops and grains suitable for growing in high altitude areas.
 His visit to Ladakh was his first to the UT after it was carved out from the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
 He inaugurated the 26th Ladakhi Kisan Jawan Vigyan Mela at Defence Institute Of High Altitude Research(
DIHAR).
National Sports Day: 29 August
 National Sports Day 2019 is being celebrated on 29 August across India.
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 It marks the birth anniversary of the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, who was born on August
29 in the year 1905.
 The day is observed every year to spread awareness about the importance of sports and games in the life of
every individual.
 29 August was proclaimed as the country’s National Sports Day in 2012.
PM Modi launched Fit India Movement
 PM Narendra Modi launched a nation-wide Fit India Movement on the occasion of National Sports Day on
29 August 2019.
 The campaign is aimed at encouraging people to inculcate physical activity and sports in their day to day
life.
 President Ramnath Kovind gave away the national sports awards in New Delhi.
 Bajrang Punia and Deepa Malik were conferred with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
J&K Governor announced 50,000 govt jobs
 J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik announced that in coming 2-3 months, about 50,000 government jobs will be
provided to the youths of the State.
 The Administration is opening mobile phone connectivity in Kupwara and Handwara districts of Kashmir
and soon it will be opened in other districts as well.
 50 more degree colleges will be set up in the state.
National Affairs I
 Leh District Deputy Commissioner, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, launched Rotavirus vaccine on 28 August
2019. Rotavirus is one of the cause of Diarrhoea in infants.
 200 Foreigners Tribunals will become functional from 1st of September 2019 in Assam. If someone's name
doesn't appear in the NRC, he or she can appeal before the Foreigners Tribunals.
National Affairs II
 The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of 75 new Medical Colleges by 2021-22. The move will add
15,700 more MBBS seats in the country.
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off the first fleet of eco-friendly electric buses in Ahmedabad,
Gujarat on 29 August 2019. He also inaugurated the country's first automated battery charging and
swapping station for e-buses in Ahmedabad.
India to host UNCCD COP-14
 India will host 14th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
between 2-13 September 2019.
 The government aims the restoration of 50 lakh hectares of land in next 10 years.
 The conference of Parties will focus on desertification and degradation of land.
 Over 3000 representatives from over 200 countries will participate in it.
All villages to be linked with Wi-Fi
 The Government reiterated its commitment in providing Wi-Fi in all the villages through GramNet with
connectivity between 10mbps to 100 mbps speed.
 BharatNet also plans to provide 1 GBPS connectivity, which can be expanded up to 10 GBPS and C-DOT’s
XGS-PON will help in a great way to achieve this.
 C-Sat-Fi technology of C-DOT will empower Indian People especially in rural and remote areas.
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IRCTC has came up with a new scheme

 Indian Railways' ticketing and catering arm IRCTC has come up with a new scheme for passengers.
 If Tejas Express (IRCTC has bagged the rights to run the train) is late by more than hour then passengers
may be eligible for compensation.
 IRCTC is planning to start the first of the two trains from Delhi to Lucknow from October 2019.
 The ticket prices will be in the line of Shatabdi Express.
Commencement of 10th CGD bidding round
 Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Dharmendra Pradhan has launched the commencement of
work for 10th City Gas Distribution (CGD) bidding round.
 It will cover 50 Geographical Areas (GAs) in 124 districts.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the 10th CGD bidding Round on 22 November 2018.
 2.02 crore PNG domestic connections will be provided and 3578 CNG stations will open.
Canara Bank launched OTP facility
 Public sector lender Canara Bank has launched the first OTP facility for ATM withdrawals.
 In order to offer a more secured and safe system, Canara bank will activate OTP facility for cash withdrawals
of Rs 10,000 or more in a day.
 This move is in line with banks trying to take security measures to safeguard customers who use debit cards
to withdraw cash at ATMs.
Mobile application- Janaushadhi Sugam launched
 Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, D.V. Sadananda Gowda launched a mobile application
Janaushadhi Sugam.
 He also announced that Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkin will now be available at
only One Rupee per pad.
 The Janaushadhi Sugam will enable people to search Janaushadhi generic medicines and the stores at the
tip of their fingers.
Indore set a record
 After holding the top position in Swachhata Abhiyan since the last 3 years, the citizens of Indore have taken
a rapid step to become number one in Jal Shakti Abhiyan too.
 A record has been set by installing 1500 water harvesting system in a day in Indore Municipal Corporation
area.
 Water harvesting system capsules are being given free of cost under CSR on first come first serve basis.
Feroz Shah Stadium to now be Arun Jaitley St.
 Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi will be renamed as Arun Jaitley Stadium in memory of its former
president who passed recently.
 The renaming will take place on 12 September 2019 at a function where a stand at the Stadium will also be
named after India captain Virat Kohli.
 Though the Stadium will be named Arun Jaitley Stadium, the name of the ground will remain as Ferozeshah
Kotla Ground.
Microsoft to train government employees on AI
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 Microsoft India launched a program under which it will train 5000 government employees over the next
year on AI and cloud computing skills.
 The program, called ‘Digital Governance Tech Tour’, will comprise of physical and virtual workshops.
 The program will be open for technocrats and IT professionals across the government, including employees
of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
IIP set up plant to turn plastic into diesel
 Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan and CM of Uttarakhand, Trivendra Singh
Rawat inaugurated a waste plastics to diesel plant in Dehradun.
 The plant has been set up in the Indian Institute of Petroleum whose scientists will process waste plastics
into fuel.
 It has the capacity to produce 800-litre diesel from one tonne of plastic.
Prakash Javadekar inaugurates Toy Bank classes
 Union Minister Prakash Javadekar congratulated the "THE TOY BANK" on completion of its 5000 centers in
the country.
 'A world where all children are empowered through healthy play' is the motto of "THE TOY BANK".
 Union Minister Praksash Javadekar inaugurated the classes.
 'The Toy Bank' director - Vidyun Goyal.
Military Veterans Employment programme
 Amazon India has launched a Military Veterans Employment programme in the country.
 This programme will create employment opportunities for military veterans and their spouses across the
company’s fulfilment centres, sort centres and delivery centres in India.
 It is partnering with the office of the Director-General of Resettlement (DGR) and the Army Welfare
Placement Organisation (AWPO).
National Digital Library of India launched
 HRD Ministry has launched the National Digital Library of India project.
 It has been launched under the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication
Technology, NMEICT.
 Currently, there are more than 3 crore digital resources available through the National Digital Library.
 National Digital Library is also integrated with UMANG App.
Integrated Texti. Tourism Complex in Meghalaya
 In Meghalaya, the Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani laid the foundation stone of the Integrated
Textiles Tourism Complex at Nongpoh, Ri Bhoi district.
 She also announced that under the ‘Samarth’ scheme which plans to skill 7,200 youth in apparel and
garments, textiles and handloom sectors has now been extended, after the request of the Chief Minister.
TN: Edu. Dept launched TV channel for students
 The Education Department in Tamil Nadu has launched an exclusive 24-hour television channel for the
school students.
 Interviews and motivational programmes on joining civil services, defence forces and banks would be aired
by the television as a form of career guidance.
 It was launched by the state Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy at a function in Chennai.
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Indian Army established 45 Army schools

 As a part of this goodwill initiative, the Indian Army has established 45 Army Goodwill schools in J&K
wherein over 14 thousand students are studying at present.
 Children belonging to low-income group families are given admission for pursuing their studies free of cost
in these schools.
 The Goodwill Schools are also providing employment to qualified youth of the State.
Miscellaneous
 A bus service between Nepal's capital Kathmandu and India's Siliguri in West Bengal has started. The 44-
seater air-conditioned deluxe bus will complete 650 Kilometre-journey between Kathmandu and Siliguri in
18 hours.
 There has been more than 80% decline in new HIV infection cases in the country since its peak in 1995. The
global average of decline in new infection is estimated at 47%.
5 lakh local water conserv. infra. developed
 Over 3 crore 70 lakh people have joined the nationwide Jal Shakti Abhiyan.
 The government had launched the ambitious initiative on 1 July 2019 to enhance water security, especially
in water-stressed districts.
 During the past two months, the initiative has delivered over five lakh local water conservation
infrastructures in 256 districts.
7th Community Radio Sammelan began
 The 7th Community Radio Sammelan began in New Delhi on 27 August 2019.
 The three-day Sammelan, being organized by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, will witness
participation of all operational Community Radio Stations across the country.
 The theme of this year’s event is Community Radio for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
India to have 10,000 CNG stations in 5 years
 India will have 10,000 CNG stations in the next 5 years.
 By 2050, India's incremental energy needs will be primarily met by CNG.
 India is the 3rd largest energy consumer of the world and will become top consumer in a decade.
 The present share of gas in the energy mix in the country is 6.2% compared to 24% globally and the aim is
to increase share of natural gas to 15% by 2030.
Bandhan Bank launched co-branded credit card
 Bandhan Bank launched a co-branded credit card in association with Standard Chartered bank.
 This credit card would be offered to 40 lakh savings bank account holders across the 1,000 branches of
Bandhan Bank.
 As part of the tie-up, while Standard Chartered bank will take the credit risk, Bandhan Bank will be
responsible for identifying and issuing cards to its customers.
SRK launched heritage postal stamp
 Shah Rukh Khan launched heritage postal stamp of Bandra station on the completion of 150 years of the
railway station.
 He urged the people present at the launching event to use the postal stamps instead of online texting.
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 Ashish Shelar, Minister of School Education, Sports and Youth Welfare of Maharashtra was also present at
the Bandra station.
2 lakh bio-toilets installed in train coaches
 Over 2 lakh bio-toilets have been installed in 60,906 train coaches of Indian Railways.
 The 'Bio-Toilet project' of Indian Railways is an innovative and indigenous development of technology.
 The technology for Bio-toilets have been innovated, designed and is 'Made in India'.
 It has been developed jointly by Indian Railways' Engineers & DRDO's scientists.
Sept. to be celebrated as a month of nutrition
 PM Narendra Modi announced to celebrate September as a month of nutrition.
 In his Mann Ki Baat programme, he laid emphasis on creating awareness to fight malnutrition among
children, particularly the girl child.
 Gujarat Government launched a pilot project, Poshan Abhiyan, last year, which is a statewide mission to
eradicate malnutrition among children.
CVC constituted panel to examine bank fraud
 The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has constituted Advisory Board for Banking Frauds (ABBF) to
examine bank fraud of over 50 crore rupees and recommend action.
 The panel was previously known as the Advisory Board on Bank, Commercial and Financial Frauds.
 The ABBF headed by former Vigilance Commissioner T M Bhasin has been formed in consultation with the
RBI.
Nicotine is now a class A poison in Karnataka
 The Karnataka government has amended the Karnataka Poisons (Possession and Sale) Rules 2015, notifying
nicotine as Class A poison under the rules.
 This will strengthen the enforcement of the ban on production and sale of electronic cigarettes.
 Highly toxic chemicals, which even in very small quantities as gas or vapour in the air are dangerous to
life are notified under Class A.
National Food Laboratory of FSSAI inaugurated
 Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan inaugurated FSSAI's National Food Laboratory in Ghaziabad on the
occasion of 13th anniversary of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
 The lab is a result of a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), the first-of-its-kind in the food laboratory sector.
 It houses the Food Safety Solution Centre and the Centre for Microbiological Analysis Training (C-MAT).
Composite Water Management Index 2.0 Report
 NITI Aayog has prepared the second Round of Composite Water Management Index (CWMI 2.0).
 The Report was launched on 23 August 2019 by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Jal Shakti.
 The CWMI is an important tool to assess and improve the performance of States/ Union Territories in
efficient management of water resources.
 CWMI 2.0 ranks various states for the reference year 2017-18.
Jaipur Hunar Haat organised
 Jaipur is organising the Hunar Haat from 24 August 2019.
 This will be the first Hunar Haat of the Government.
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 Earlier, lakhs of artisans and craftsmen have been provided employment and employment opportunities
through more than a dozen Hunar Haat in last 3 years.
 More than 200 master artisans and culinary experts including a large number of women artisans
participated in it.
Dr Jitendra Singh presented ANUBHAV awards
 The Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region Dr. Jitendra Singh
presented the ANUBHAV Awards, 2019.
 The Anubhav portal was created in 2015 with a vision to preserve rich experience of retired official in digital
form.
 He also inaugurated the All India Pension Adalat organised on the occasion.
First World Youth Conf on Kindness inaugurated
 President Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the first World Youth Conference on Kindness in New Delhi on 23
August 2019.
 The first World Youth Conference on Kindness is being organised by the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute
of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Human Resource Development.
 The aim is to impart critical competencies in global youth to inspire them.
Modernized AOPC inaugurated
 Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment inaugurated the ‘Renovated
ALIMCO Orthotics and Prosthetic Centre (AOPC) and Residential complex building of ALIMCO Headquarters
at Kanpur.
 The concept of Make in India is beginning to take shape in the precincts of ALIMCO, Kanpur.
 Two of the Projects under the modernization plan of ALIMCO have been completed.
India to launch Bharatcraft for MSMEs
 Union Government is planning to launch an e-commerce portal named Bharatcraft for MSME’s.
 The portal is based on other e-commerce portals like ‘Alibaba’ and ‘Amazon’.
 The portal will provide a platform for MSMEs to market and sell their products and in turn boost the sector.
 The Bharatcraft portal has a huge potential to generate revenue worth ₹10 lakh crore in next 2-3 years.
Bihar government to ban single use of plastic
 Bihar government has taken several measures following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to ban
single use of plastic.
 The government has banned single-use carry bags throughout the state.
 Licence of those factories has been cancelled who produces single-use of carry bag.
 Milk co-operative federations have been asked to collect milk pouch from customers for recycling.
Centre announced series of measures
 The government has unveiled a series of measures to achieve higher economic growth.
 It has withdrawn enhanced surcharge on Foreign Portfolios Investors FPIs, restoring the pre-budget
position.
 Surcharge on domestic investors in equity markets has also been withdrawn.
 The government has also decided to withdraw angel tax provisions for startups and their investors.
Nitin Gadkari launched new website for MoRTH
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 Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari launched New website of the Ministry of Road Transports and
Highways in Delhi.
 The revamped website will be important to share critical information about the ministry and its policies.
 The 63 clauses of Motor Vehicle Act will be implemented from September 1 in which penalties will be
increased in cases of drunken driving, over speeding and overloading.
Union HRD Minister launched NISHTHA
 Union HRD Minister launched the training programme NISHTHA, (National Initiative for School Heads and
Teachers Holistic Advancement) to improve Learning Outcomes at the Elementary level across the country.
 This is the largest teachers training programme of its kind in the world.
 The basic objective of it is to motivate and equip teachers to encourage and foster critical thinking in
students.
Super 50 programme launched in Maharashtra
 Maharashtra’s Tribal Development Department in association with the Pace Educational Trust launched an
academic programme Super 50.
 The programme has been launched for young tribal students aspiring to be doctors and engineers.
 The Super 50 programme will mentor 50 most meritorious tribal students from the State and prepare them
for engineering and medical exams.
Amazon’s largest campus inaugurated in Hyd.
 Amazon has opened its largest campus in the world in Hyderabad.
 The campus covers 1.8 million square feet and can accommodate 15,000 workers.
 This is Amazon’s first owned-building outside of the US and is also its largest tech base outside the Seattle
headquarters, which has about 155,000 contract employees.
 Telangana is home to one-third of Amazon’s total Indian employees.
5th UIDAI Aadhaar Seva Kendra operational
 Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) 5th stand-alone Aadhaar Seva Kendra has become
operational at Hisar in Haryana.
 Till now, four Aadhaar Seva Kendras are operational and three more will become operational by next week.
 This is part of the UIDAI’s plan to open 114 such centres in 53 cities across the country for providing hassle-
free Aadhaar enrollment and services.
R K Singh approved a proposal
 Minister of New and Renewable Energy R K Singh approved a proposal to declare ocean energy as
Renewable Energy.
 The decision will give a boost to ocean energy in the country.
 He has also clarified to all stakeholders that energy produced using various forms of ocean energy such as
tidal, wave and ocean thermal energy conversion will be considered as Renewable Energy.
24th meeting of Western Zonal Council held
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 24th meeting of Western Zonal Council at Panaji in Goa on 22
August 2019.
 It is a forum for the Centre and states to exchange ideas on issues like health, security and social welfare.
 Modalities for allocation of surplus land of Central Government for housing for poor, utilisation of funds for
police modernisation, etc. were discussed in the meeting.
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EC introduced a programme for electors

 The Election Commission of India introduced a programme for the electors to crosscheck their details
registered in the voters' list.
 The move is to ensure a cent per cent error-free electoral roll.
 It is in connection with the special summary revision of the roll with 1 January 2019 as the qualifying date.
 The verification programme would be from the first to the 30th of next month.
National Affairs I
 Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel launched the book - the Diary of Manu Gandhi at a function in New
Delhi. The book has been brought out by National Archives of India, on the occasion of 150th anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi.
 The Centre has asked all the Cooperative Milk Federations and Private Dairies to at least halve the use of
plastic by Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October 2019.
National Affairs II
 FASTags will become mandatory for all vehicles from December 2019. FASTag enabled vehicles can cruise
through the dedicated FASTag lane without stopping at toll plazas on National Highways.
 Centre has notified new sets of health warnings for all tobacco products by making an amendment in the
Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Rules, 2008, which will come into effect from September 1, 2019.
Lok Sabha Secretariat bans use of plastic
 The Lok Sabha Secretariat has prohibited the use of non-reusable plastic water bottles and other plastic
items within the Parliament House Complex from 20 August 2019.
 All officers/staff of the Secretariat and other allied agencies working in the Parliament House Complex have
been advised to use environment-friendly/biodegradable bags/materials instead.
OSDMA to launch special cell for PwDs
 Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has decided to open a cell for PWDs.
 The cell would look into special needs of the persons with disability during Evacuation, Search & Rescue,
Rehabilitation and Resettlements.
 It will make networking with both Government & Private organizations and prepare a database of Persons
with Disabilities.
9TH Session of India-Kenya JTC held
 The 9th Session of the India-Kenya Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was held on 19-20 August 2019 in New
Delhi.
 The Indian delegation was led by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal.
 Both sides reviewed the developments in their bilateral trade and noted the trends since the last session of
the India-Kenya JTC held in August 2018.
NAREDCO 15th National Convention inaugurated
 The Housing for all 2022: NAREDCO 15th National Convention: Real Estate Reflection Point: Readying for
the future was inaugurated on 20 August 2019.
 The event was organised by National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO).
 NAREDCO was established as an autonomous self-regulatory body in 1998 under the aegis of the Ministry
of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.
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3000th railway station gets Wi-Fi

 Ellenabad railway station under Bikaner Division of North Western Railway became the 3000th station in
the country to have free public Wi-Fi.
 A town in Haryana, Ellenabad is situated at the north of the Ghaggar- Hakra river, and serves as a port of
entry into Haryana from Rajasthan.
 Incidentally, the 2000th station to get Wi-Fi was Rana Pratap Nagar, also under the North Western Railway.
Uday Exp to run between Vizag and Vijaywada
 Indian Railway’s 2nd double-decker Uday (Utkrisht Double-Decker Air Conditioned Yatri) Express will run
between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.
 The train would consist of 9 double-decker coaches and 2 power cars.
 The trains are primarily allocated to routes with heavy passenger traffic.
 They are equipped with WiFi facility, have striking interiors, cushioned seating, and display screens.
Live tracking system for MSRTC buses launched
 Maharashtra Transport Minister Diwakar Raote launched a tracking system for MSRTC buses which will
allow people to have real-time information about their commute.
 The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has over 18,000 buses in its fleet and carries more than
67 lakh passengers daily.
 At present, it is ready on Mumbai-Nashik route for all Shivneri buses, the premium brand of MSRTC.
National Affairs
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the issues related to final publication of the National Register of
Citizens (NRC) in Assam. The review meeting was held in New Delhi on 19 August 2019.
 The J&K Government has constituted 3 high-level committees for the formal establishment of UT of Jammu
and Kashmir and Ladakh. These Committees will deal with financial matters and other issues.
President Kovind launched plantation drive
 President Ram Nath Kovind planted a sapling of Maulsari in the Rashtrapati Bhavan Estate and launched a
plantation drive as part of Van Mahotsav celebrations.
 Over the next few weeks, the President's Secretariat will be planting over three thousand trees and around
three thousand shrubs.
 The President’s Estate is spread over 330 acres of harbours rich biodiversity.
State Tourism Ministers Conference inaugurated
 The Union Minister of State for Tourism & Culture Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated the State Tourism
Ministers’ Conference in New Delhi on 20 August 2019.
 It was organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
 The Conference provided a platform for the Ministry of Tourism to apprise the States / UTs about new
initiatives taken and those in the pipeline.
Odisha approved conservation plan of lakes
 The Odisha Wetland Authority has approved implementation of an integrated management plan of lakes
Chilika and Ansupa.
 The Chilika lake is India’s largest brackish water lagoon and Ansupa is the Odisha’s largest freshwater lake.
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 The 5-year management plan of lakes is intended at strengthening livelihood of thousands of fishermen
relying on the two water-bodies.
National Affairs I
 Prasar Bharti Chairman A Suryapakash has announced that Prasar Bharati would soon be introducing two
awards - the Neelum Sharma Tejaswini award and the Achyutananda Sahoo Award.
 Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has approved various infrastructure projects for Mumbai and its
adjoining areas. The 3 projects would be constructed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development
Authority (MMRDA).
National Affairs II
 All personnel working in the Central Armed Police Forces will now retire at a uniform age of 60 years. A
Home Ministry order corrected the anomaly where personnel superannuated at the age of 57, instead of
60.
 The nation paid homage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 75th birth anniversary. Several
programmes were organised in different parts of the country to mark the occasion.
HP broke record, received highest rainfall
 The local Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that Himachal Pradesh recorded highest ever
rainfall on 18th August 2019 by breaking the record of last 70 years.
 According to the IMD, rains across different places in the state will continue for the next 24 hours.
 Naina Devi recorded the highest rainfall at 360 mm and Shimla recorded 153 mm of rainfall.
Pretomanid: A new drug to treat TB
 The USFDA approved a new drug called Pretomanid.
 It is only the third new anti-TB drug approved for use by USFDA in over 40 years.
 Pretomanid is part of the same class of drugs as delamanid -- one of the other two TB drugs approved in the
last half century, developed by pharmaceutical corporation Otsuka.
 The drug is used over a six-month period in concert with two other TB mediciations.
HRD Minister inaugurated 2-day int. conference
 Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurated an international conference on teacher
education in New Delhi on 17 August 2019.
 The 2-day event was organized by the National Council of Teacher Education as part of silver jubilee
celebration of its establishment in 1995.
 The Ministry will launch the world's biggest project for teacher training on August 22, 2019.
President inaugurated Bunker Museum in Mumbai
 President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the underground Bunker Museum at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on 18
August 2019.
 The 15,000 square feet underground bunker museum has virtual reality booths in which visitors can time
travel to the 19th century.
 The bunker was created in the 19th century to fire cannons at approaching enemy ships.
 The museum will be opened for the general public later in 2019.
National Affairs
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 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a committee to examine allegations of illegal sand mining in
the Yamuna River and sought a report within a month.
 Union Minister of State for Chemical & Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya announced that the first Central
Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology (CICET) will be set up in Gujarat.
Debt waiver for 'small distressed borrowers'
 The government plans to give debt waiver for small distressed borrowers under the insolvency law
framework.
 The proposed waiver would be offered as part of 'Fresh Start' provisions under the Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
 The IBC provides the framework to deal with distressed assets through a market-driven and time-bound
process.
1st museum on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu opened
 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the world's first museum dedicated to the life
and teachings of a 16th-century saint and social reformer Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Kolkata.
 The museum was constructed by Gaudiya Mission.
 The Gaudiya Mission, a spiritual and philanthropic organisation established in 1935, propagates the
teachings of Sri Chaitanya and the Vaishnava faith.
SC clears Chardham highway project
 Supreme Court has cleared the decks for the Chardham highway project.
 The project will connect four holy places of Uttarakhand through 900-km all-weather roads.
 The apex court also asked the Union Environment and Forest Ministry to form the high-powered committee
by August 22 to look into environmental concerns.
India gets its first NEDL
 India has got its first National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL) finalised by the Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR).
 NEDL aims to bridge the current regulatory system’s gap that does not cover all the medical devices and in-
vitro diagnostic device (IVD).
 The list is meant for facilities from the village till the district level.
Four New Products get GI Tag
 The Geographical Indication (GI) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has
recently registered 4 new GIs.
 Palani Panchamirtham from Palani Town in Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu State, Tawlhlohpuan and Mizo
Puanchei from the state of Mizoram and Tirur Betel leaf from Kerala are the latest additions to the list of
registered GIs.
National Workshop on Sustainable Sanitation
 The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs will organize a one day national workshop cum exhibition at Vigyan
Bhawan on 19 August, 2019.
 Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot, Union Minister, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will be the Chief
Guest of the event.
 The workshop on sustainable sanitation is being organized in order to bring relevant stakeholders to
strategize on mitigating the risks.
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Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurates ABVIMS

 On the first death anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Union Health Minister of
India Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the medical college named after the late Prime Minister, Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi on August 16.
 Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) started with 100 MBBS seats this year.
Scheme to involve school eco clubs launched
 In Delhi, a scheme to involve school eco clubs in the DDA's plantation drive was launched at a green belt in
Rohini's sector 37 on 16 August 2019 by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri.
 As part of an afforestation drive of the Delhi Development Authority, 4 lakh indigenous trees will be planted
this year across various biodiversity parks in the national capital.
Assam got 1st ever fuel station
 Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the first ever CNG fuel station of the state in
Dibrugarh on 17 August 2019.
 With the inauguration of this clean and green fuel station, it will reduce environmental pollution.
 Mr. Sonowal has given much emphasis to make the state free from pollution.
 Since CNG is an affordable fuel it will be cost effective for the users.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee resi. schools to be set
 In UP, state government will set up Atal Bihari Vajpayee residential schools for children of labourers in all 18
divisions of state.
 CM Yogi Adityanath announced many projects in state including a memorial in Bateshwar, the former prime
minister's native village in Agra.
 A 25-foot-tall statue will be stalled at the Secretariat Lok Bhawan on Vajpayee's birth anniversary on
December 25, 2019.
Municipal Corporation of Lucknow fixed penalty
 In UP, municipal corporation of Lucknow has fixed the penalty on keeping plastic bags from 16 August 2019.
 Now keeping plastic bags or throwing them on roads will attract a penalty of maximum Rs.25,000 from any
group or institute and one thousand rupees from individual in the city.
 Corporation has launched a drive against the use of plastic and it will run for next two months.
IIHM Initiative on Independence Day
 Supporting the 17 goals of Sustainable Development, International Institute of Hotel Management launched
an initiative.
 On 15th August, 2019, students of IIHM across the country have visited, children's homes and old age
homes where they distributed fruits and cooked food among the inhabitants.
 The name of this initiative is 'Freedom from Hunger'.
Short film by Indian Railways won award
 A short-film –'Madhubani- The Station of Colours', bagged the ‘Rajat-Kamal’ award at the 66th National
Film Awards for 2018.
 It narrates the beautification of a remote railway station belonging to the East Central Railway (ECR).
 The Madhubani railway station located in a remote part of Madhubani district of Bihar was earlier ranked
as the country’s second most dirty railway station.
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Air India flew over the North Pole

 Air India became the first Indian airline to fly over the North Pole while connecting New Delhi and North
America.
 The inaugural flight over the Polar region took on August 15, 2019 and flew from New Delhi to San
Francisco.
 This was one big achievement for the civil aviation in India as none of the Indian airlines has ever done this.
 It was piloted by Capt Rajneesh Sharma and Capt Digvijay.
Largest rural sanitation survey launched
 Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2019 (SSG 2019)
on 14 August 2019.
 To be instituted from August 14-September 30, 2019, SSG 2019 will cover 17,450 villages in 698 districts
across India and include 87,250 public places.
 Around 2,50,000 citizens will be interviewed for their feedback as part of the survey.
Rare tea variety sold for Rs 75,000 per kg
 A rare variety of tea from Upper Assam's Dikom Tea Estate set a new record today after it was auctioned for
Rs. 75,000 per kg at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC).
 The tea, 'Golden Butterfly', was purchased by city-based Assam Tea Traders.
 An exotic tea is judged by its aroma, taste and colour and this tea is characterised by extremely mellow and
sweet caramel flavour.
‘Panchamirtham’ got GI tag
 The famous Palani panchamirtham, given as ‘prasadam’ at the Murugan temple, Tamil Nadu, has been
granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
 This is the first time a temple ‘prasadam’ from Tamil Nadu has been bestowed with the GI tag.
 The panchamirtham is a combination of five natural substances — banana, jaggery, cow ghee, honey and
cardamom.
Gujarat govt to open Army schools
 Gujarat government will open Army schools in tribal-dominated areas to provide required training to
youths and to help them get selected to serve in defence forces.
 The government has set up medical colleges in the tribal-majority districts of Dahod, Tapi, Surat and Valsad.
 The government has taken adequate steps to ensure that tribal population is not deprived of higher
education.
Mumbai to get first Indian Institute of Skills
 Mumbai is all set to get the first Indian Institute of Skills - IIS, the foundation stone of which will be laid in
September 2019.
 Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey announced that
the institute will be operational by 2020.
 The project will be executed on a Public-Private Partnership basis.
Tripura got direct flight service
 Tripura gets its direct flight service from 14 August 2019.
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 In a new development in air transportation for Tripura state, the Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb flagged
off Delhi -Agartala direct flight service at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport.
 The direct flight would be helpful in attracting more tourist, enhancing business and all other sectors.
PM announced Jal Jeevan Mission
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 'Jal Jivan' mission to make drinking water available to all
households.
 The government will spend 3.5 lakh crore rupees for it.
 The movement towards water conservation has to take place at the grassroots level and it should not be
limited to mere a Government programme.
 People from all walks of life have to be integrated in this movement.
Inter-State Council reconstituted
 The government has reconstituted the Inter State Council and the Standing Committee of the Inter State
Council.
 According to the notification, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Chairman of the Inter State Council.
 Chief Ministers of all States and six Union Ministers including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Nirmala
Sitharaman are the members of the Council.
Swachh Survekshan 2020 launched
 Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs launched the Swachh Survekshan 2020.
 It is the fifth edition of the annual cleanliness survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs (MoHUA).
 SBM Water PLUS Protocol and Toolkit, Swachh Nagar – an integrated waste management app and AI-
enabled mSBM App were also launched.
Watan - a patriotic song by DD - released
 Union Minister Prakash Javadekar released patriotic song Watan produced by Doordarshan to mark the
occasion of Independence Day, 2019 in New Delhi on 13 August 2019.
 The song pays tribute to New India.
 It highlights several path-breaking initiatives of the government including the determination and vision
behind the recent successful launch of Chandrayaan 2.
Railways to launch its commando unit
 The Commandos for Railway Safety (CORAS) will be deployed in Naxal-prone belts, Jammu and Kashmir and
North East after its launch on 14 August 2019.
 Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and MoS Railway Suresh C Angadi will launch CORAS in New Delhi.
 CORAS is headed by the Director General of the RPF and is armed with special uniforms with bullet-proof
jackets, helmets and sophisticated weapons.
State of Art Gallery inaugurated
 Union Minister of Textiles and Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, inaugurated Textiles Gallery at
National Crafts Museum in New Delhi on 13 Aug 19.
 The gallery will serve to be a resource centre for the students of fashion technology, apparel sciences and
textiles designing.
 It consists of more than 230 different types of textiles collections divided into categories of 30 traditions.
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CSR non-compliance should be a civil offence

 A high-level committee has recommended that non-compliance with CSR norms be made a civil offence and
moved to a penalty regime.
 This is a departure from the recent policy change which had provided for a three-year jail term for violating
CSR norms.
 The committee chaired by Injeti Srinivas, secretary, corporate affairs ministry, submitted its
recommendations to Sitharaman.
RPF launched Operation Number Plate
 Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Indian Railways launched a Special Drive with a Code Name – Operation
Number Plate.
 It will identify and verify all vehicles parked in Railway premises, circulating area, parkings and ‘No Parking’
areas for longer duration.
 The unidentified vehicles are considered as a serious threat to security and safety of passengers and other
stakeholders of railways.
National Affairs
 The legislative party of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) merged itself with BJP on 13 August 2019. Out of 13,
10 MLAs of the SDF joined BJP in the presence of party general secretary Ram Madhav in New Delhi.
 Maharashtra government will conduct disease-wise survey of the flood-hit areas. The aid surveys are also
being conducted on the basis of diseases like fever, diarrhoea and jaundice.
Global Investors Summit to be held in Srinagar
 Jammu and Kashmir government will host a 3-day Global Investors Summit from 12th October 2019 in
Srinagar.
 The first ever summit in the state will provide J&K an opportunity to showcase its strengths, strategies and
potential.
 The summit will also provide an opportunity to allay fears and apprehensions in the minds of outside trade
and business community.
Headgear mandatory for children above 4 years
 Protective headgear of prescribed standards has been made mandatory for children above four years while
travelling on a motorcycle.
 The safety measures for the children travelling on motorcycles have been included in the Motor Vehicles
(Amendment) Act 2019 that is passed by Parliament.
 The President of India gave assent to the Act recently.
Gandhi's 150th birth anniv as Community Day
 The railways will mark Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary as Community Day, according to an
action plan of the Railway Board.
 A special exhibition titled From Mohan Das to Mahatma would also be held.
 150 small nurseries are to be set up on railway land adjacent to tracks, especially around metro areas.
Vikram Sarabhai's celebrations kick off
 The year-long centenary celebration of the birth anniversary of Vikram Sarabhai, father of India's space
programme, was kicked off in Ahmedabad on 12 August 2019.
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 The centenary programme includes exhibitions, competitions to school children, journalism awards and
speeches by eminent personalities.
 The programme will be conducted across 100 selected cities and will end on August 12, 2020.
Government to start special hospitals
 Special hospitals offering Indian Systems of Medicines like Siddha and Ayurveda will be started in 150
districts across the country.
 This was stated by Union Minister of State for AYUSH Sripad Yesso Naik, while inaugurating an Ayurveda
medical College in Tamil Nadu.
 A six months course in basic medicine has been started with the intention of providing basic healthcare in
rural areas.
Chhattisgarh locals formed 15-km long chain
 Thousands of students and members of several social organisations unfurled a 15-km long national flag by
forming a human chain in Raipur on 11 August 2019.
 The event, organised by Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam Foundation, entered the Champions Book of World
Records (for the longest tricolour).
 Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel felicitated the families of martyrs during the event.
GRSE launched fifth FPV for Coast Guard
 Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) launched a fifth Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) for the Indian
Coast Guard (ICG).
 Named Kanaklata Barua after a freedom fighter from Assam, the vessel is the last of the five FPVs built by
GRSE for the Coast Guard.
 The vessel is 50 metres long and 7.5 metres wide with a displacement of around 308 tonnes.
 It is equipped with three main engines.
2-day exhibition on DAE Technologies
 The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) organized a 2-day exhibition on DAE spin-off technologies for non-
power applications at New Moti Bagh recreation club, New Delhi.
 The exhibition is open to public for two days (Aug 11-12, 2019).
 It is covering technologies developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Raja Ramanna Centre
for Advance Technology, Indore and other Units of DAE.
Plan for coastal zone management unveiled
 The Environment Ministry has unveiled a draft plan that will dictate how prospective infrastructure projects
situated along the coast ought to be assessed before they can apply for clearance.
 The draft Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) is part of a World Bank-funded
project.
 The document lays out guidelines out for coastal States.
Universities get access to Urkund software
 All universities in India, public and private, have been given trial access to anti-plagiarism software 'Urkund'.
 Final subscription to access the Swedish software will begin from 1 September 2019.
 It will be available to teachers, students, and researchers.
 The Urkund software was chosen through a global tender process.
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Hyderabad Police created green corridor

 Hyderabad Traffic Police created a green corridor on 9 August 2019 to facilitate the transportation of a live
heart here.
 The organ was transported from Care Hospital in Banjara Hills to Care Hospital, Nampally.
 The 6-kilometre journey was completed within ten minutes, 10-15 minutes earlier than in regular traffic.
 The ambulance reached Care Hospital, Namapally at 8.18 PM.
Website for COP14 launched
 Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar launched a website 'unccdcop14india.gov.in, which
contains all the information related to COP14 .
 The 14th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification (COP14), will take place on 2-13 Sept 2019 in Delhi.
 Over 3,000 participants from all over the world are expected to participate in COP14.
TRAI proposed third party apps
 TRAI proposed having a channel selection system developed by a third party to make the process easy.
 The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, in March 2017, had notified the 'New Regulatory Framework'
for Broadcasting and Cable services.
 It issued a draft amendment to the Telecommunication Services Standards of Quality of Service and
Consumer Protection Regulations, 2017 on 9 August 2019.
Cochin Shipyard launched two ro-pax vessels
 The Cochin Shipyard launched two ro-pax (roll-on roll-off passenger) vessels designed and built by it for the
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
 The vessels were the third and fourth in a series of 10 vessels, eight ro-pax and two ro-ro vessels, ordered
by the IWAI.
 The vessels would be operated in National Waterways 1 and 2.
 They are capable of accommodating 200 passengers each.
Inter-State portability inaugurated
 The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan inaugurated the
inter-State portability in two clusters of adjoining States of Andhra Pradesh & Telangana and Gujarat &
Maharashtra.
 This will enable beneficiaries from either States’ cluster to avail the benefits accruing to them under the
National Food Security Act from any of the two States.
3rd Int. Electric Vehicle Conclave inaugurated
 The 3rd International Electric Vehicle Conclave was inaugurated in Manesar, Gurugram on 9 August 2019.
 The Conclave was held to create a knowledge-sharing platform to ensure flow of information at all levels in
the automotive sector.
 It has grown and transformed itself into a global event since 2017.
 It focuses on new trends and challenges in the field of electric mobility.
UP created record
 In UP, 4 world records were made in the massive plantation drive Vriksharopan Mahakumbh on the
occasion of 77th anniversary of Quit India Movement.
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 More than 22 crore saplings were planted at 12.2 lakh locations under the drive.
 Free distribution of saplings in Prayagraj district created a world record and was certified by the Guinness as
the largest distribution of saplings in the world.
25% cargo through coastal shipping
 The government has set a target of transporting nearly 25% of cargo through coastal shipping and inland
waterways over the next 10 years.
 Increase in exim cargo will help reduce inflation by nearly 2.5%.
 Logistics cost is still 5% more than global cost.
 The port-led development initiatives taken by the government will help achieve this target.
India's first underwater train to be launched
 India's first underwater train project in Kolkata is almost complete.
 The metro will soon be operational.
 India's first underwater train will soon get started in Kolkata under the Hubli river. This train is proof of the
progress made by Indian Railways.
 The 16-kilometer long Kolkata Metro project will connect Salt Sector 5 with Howrah Maidan.
Rajnath Singh chaired Roundtable
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the Make in India in Defence Industry Roundtable on 9 August 2019
in New Delhi.
 It was organised by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence (MoD).
 It aims to explore ways to attract investment, address the concerns of the industry and promote
innovations in Defence sector.
 The MoD has taken several steps to promote FDI in this sector.
Workshop on Tribal Enterprise inaugurated
 Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs inaugurated a National Workshop on Tribal Enterprise with
focus on Honey, Bamboo and Lac on 8 August 2019.
 He also released the Flyers and Reports on (1) Bamboo and Bamboonomics ; (2) Lac; and (3) Honey on the
occasion.
 National Workshop was organized to fine-tune its action plan on the Promoting Tribal Enterprise on
Bamboo, Honey and lac.
National Affairs I
 Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ drive on 9 August
2019 in New Delhi to create awareness about Water Conservation among all school students in the country.
 The Central Information Commission held a seminar on Human Resource Development and Right to
Information Act 2005 on 9 August 2019 in New Delhi.
National Affairs II
 A special Postage Stamp and First Day Cover was released to commemorate the Golden Jubilee Edition of
International Film Festival of India. The festival will take place from the 20-28 November 2019 in Goa.
 Ministry of New & Renewable Energy organised Curtain Raiser ceremony for the 3rd Renewable Energy
Investors' Meet and Expo which will be held from 30 October-2 November 2019 in India.
Odisha police station in top 10 in India
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 Tarava police station in the Subarnapur district of Odisha has been adjudged as one of the 10 best police
stations in India in the annual ranking for the year 2018.
 The certificate of excellence and a trophy were handed over to Tarava police inspector Dulamani Bhoi by
Odisha DGP R.P. Sharma.
 Tarava P.S. got this award on the basis of smart policing, citizen-centric policing, and more.
National Affairs
 A day-long NHRC National Level Review Meeting on Mental Health concluded at India International centre,
New Delhi on 7 August 2019.
 The e-version of Rozgar Samachar has been launched recently by Union Minister of Information &
Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javadekar. It will make aspirants aware of job opportunities in government sector
including public sector enterprises.
Mountaineering Exp. flagged off to Mt. Elbrus
 Minister of State for Defence Shripad Yesso Naik flagged off an Expedition Team of Himalayan
Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling to Mt. Elbrus, Russia on 6 August 2019.
 The expedition team of 8 professional mountaineers, led by HMI Principal, GpCapt Jaikishan, plans to
summit Mt. Elbrus, on August 15, 2019, and hoist India's flag atop the mountain to coincide with 73rd
Independence Day.
22nd National Conference on e-Governance
 The 22nd National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) 2019 will be held on 8-9th August 2019 at Shillong,
Meghalaya.
 The theme of this Conference is 'Digital India: Success to Excellence'.
 The Conference is a part of the DARPG’s 100 days initiatives in the new Government.
 This is the first time the event is being organized in North-Eastern region of the country.
PMAY(U) Awards for Beneficiaries instituted
 Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has instituted PMAY(U) Awards for Beneficiaries for the first time to
recognise the contribution of States/UTs, Urban Local Bodies and Beneficiaries.
 This award is in addition to CLSS Award for recognising the contribution of PMAY (U) Banks and Housing
Finance Companies.
 The winners will be awarded during a National level Event.
National Affairs
 Chandrayaan-2 successfully completed its fifth and final earth-bound orbit-raising manoeuvre on 6
August,19. The manoeuvre led the spacecraft to reach an orbit of substantial apogee, that is the farthest
point from the Earth.
 The 4th session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly began on 6 Aug 2019. CM Neiphiu Rio introduced
the Nagaland Protection of Interests of Depositors Bill, 2018.
National Affairs I
 Aamir Khan attended the launch function of Mission Shakti, an initiative by Maharashtra Minister Sudhir
Mungantiwar to train athletes from Chandrapur and Gadchiroli for international events like the Olympics.
 Arunachal Pradesh State Home Minister Bamang Felix flagged of 5 Anti-Riot police vehicle, also known as
Vajra, from Police Headquarter in Itanagar.
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Workshop organized by NCRB

 A 1-day Workshop on ‘Role of Technology in Reuniting Missing Children & Trafficked Persons’ was jointly
organised by National Crime Records Bureau and Indian Police Foundation on 5th August, 2019.
 The workshop deliberated on the use of biometrics by law enforcement agencies for the identification of
persons.
 Use of biometrics has become a necessity in today’s complex world.
Second All India Annual Conference organized
 The Second All India Annual Conference of Indian Information Service Officers was organized in New Delhi
on 5 August 2019.
 It was organized with a view to attain greater integration of all Media Units under the Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting in order to further amplify government communication.
 A Performance Review of Media Units was also conducted during the Conference.
Mohali got first 3-D traffic signal
 Mohali traffic police launched 3-D Smart Traffic Signal devised by the students of a Chandigarh university.
 The wireless system, called 'Intelights', has been installed at the traffic crossing near the Airport Road, on a
pilot project basis.
 It will regulate traffic signals with a smart bird's eye view wireless sensor system.
 It uses existing CCTV cameras to gather live traffic video feed.
National Affairs II
 Competition Commission of India imposed a penalty on SAAR IT Resources Pvt. Ltd., CADD Systems and
Services Pvt. Ltd. and Pentacle Consultants (I) Pvt. Ltd for doing bid-rigging.
 Lalit Kala Akademi celebrated its 65th Foundation Day on August 5th, 2019, at the Lalit Kala Art Galleries of
Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi. ‘Mithila Ki Lokchitrakala’ a book by Avdhesh Aman was also launched here.
Udaipur to host largest education brainstorm
 The 3rd edition of the ScooNews Global Educators Fest (SGEF) will be held on the 9-10 August 2019,
Udaipur.
 It will bring together over 500 educators to discuss the way towards establishing India as the next global
education powerhouse.
 The theme is ‘Education for Sustainability: Moving on from Conformity to Creativity’.
 Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur Royalty is the patron for 2019.
RBI imposed ₹50 lakh fine on SBI
 The Reserve Bank has imposed a penalty of ₹50 lakh on SBI for non-compliance relating to reporting of
frauds.
 RBI has slapped penalties on eight commercial banks, including, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda,
for a host of violations.
 RBI imposed a penalty of ₹50 lakh on PNB for delay in reporting of fraud in the account of Kingfisher
Airlines.
Amit Shah moved RS to scrap Article 370
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved the Rajya Sabha to scrap Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir,
removing the special status granted to the state.
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 The order, which has been signed by President Ram Nath Kovind, comes into force immediately.
 Shah also proposed the reorganization of the state, with Jammu and Kashmir to be declared a Union
Territory with an Assembly.
Nat. Popu. Register data to be collected
 The next round of recording biometric and family-tree details of Indian citizens under the National
Population Register (NPR) will be conducted in September 2020.
 The exercise is different from the decennial Census and is not linked to the National Register of Citizens
(NRC).
 The objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the
country.
Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurated TechEx
 Union HRD Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurated the TechEx - technology exhibition at IIT Delhi
on 4 August 2019.
 He also released TechEx Volume containing abstracts of all the IMPRINT and UAY projects.
 TechEx is a unique effort, which offers an excellent platform to the researchers to showcase their work and
inspire them to do their best in their respective domains.
Elephant population estimated at 29,964
 Elephant population in the country is estimated at 29,964 as per the census conducted in 2017.
 The South Region accounted for 14,612 followed by North East with 10,139 elephants.
 As per the India State of Forest Report 2017, there has been an increase of 6,778 kilometres of forest cover
at the national level as compared to the assessment of 2015.
5th Dharma-Dhamma conference held in Rajgir
 The fifth international Dharma-Dhamma conference was inaugurated in Rajgir on 27-28 July 2019.
 The main purpose of this conference was to address people about the terror, violence and global warming
prevalent in the world.
 This two-day conference addressed the subjects of Sat-Chit-Ananda and Nirvana which are the pivotal
topics of Buddhism.
Odisha Secretariat renamed Lok Seva Bhawan
 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced in the State Assembly that the Sachivalaya or Secretariat
building in Bhubaneswar will now be called ‘Lok Seva Bhavan’.
 The Odisha secretariat building was inaugurated on November 12, 1959, by the then Home Minister Govind
Ballabh Pant.
 Ganeshi Lal is the Governor of Odisha.
Govt to set up National traders Body
 The commerce and industry ministry will soon notify the constitution of a National Traders’ Welfare Board.
 The Board will identify ways to improve access to funds for this unorganised sector.
 It will also make recommendations to reduce the compliance burden of traders as well as to ensure social
security benefits such as insurance, pension, and healthcare for traders and their employees.
Tamil Nadu to get Silk Samagra
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 Tamil Nadu will receive about Rs 6.22 crore under the 'Silk Samagra' — an Integrated Scheme for
Development of Silk Industry (ISDSI) implemented by the Union government through the Central Silk Board
(CSB).
 Tamil Nadu has been ranked among the leading silk-producing States in the country.
 Tamil Nadu has registered a production of 2,072 metric tons of raw silk up to March 2019.
PM chairs 30th interaction through PRAGATI
 On 31 July 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired his thirtieth interaction through PRAGATI - the ICT-
based platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.
 The Prime Minister reviewed the progress in the resolution of grievances under Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana (Urban).
 He underlined the resolve of his government to ensure that no family will be left without a home by 2022
IFFI celebrated Golden Jubilee
 Year 2019 marks the Golden Jubilee edition of International Film Festival of India which will be
organised from 20th-28th November 2019.
 International Film Festival of India (IFFI) started way back in 1952, is an 'A' grade film festival accredited to
the International Federation of Film Producers' Associations (FIAPF) and is one of the oldest and most
prestigious festivals in Asia.
Regional Conference on Good Governance
 The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) will organize the Regional
Conference on Good Governance on 14-15 November, 2019 at Jaipur, Rajasthan.
 The theme is Strengthening State Institutes of Public Administration.
 It will bring National and State level organizations on the same platform to share experiences and
implementation of good governance initiatives.
National Affairs
 The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released a list of 20 institutes - 10 public and 10 private for the
grant of the status of Institutions of Eminence (IoE).
 PM Narendra Modi inaugurated a 2-day workshop for all BJP MPs in New Delhi on 3 August 2019. Multiple
sessions on various subjects took place aimed at enhancing parliamentary behaviour among the newly
elected BJP lawmakers.
1st Nat. Time Release Study to be conducted
 The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance is conducting India’s first national Time Release Study
(TRS) between 1-7 August 2019.
 Exercise will be institutionalized on an annual basis, during the same period every year hereafter.
 The TRS is an internationally recognized tool advocated by World Customs Organization to measure the
efficiency and effectiveness of international trade flows.
KABIL set up to ensure supply of minerals
 Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) is to be set up with the participation of National Aluminium Company
Ltd.(NALCO), Hindustan Copper Ltd.(HCL) and Mineral Exploration Company Ltd. (MECL).
 The objective of constituting KABIL is to ensure a consistent supply of critical and strategic minerals to
Indian domestic market.
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World’s first ultra-fast hyperloop project

 Maharashtra has granted infrastructure project status for a $10-billion plan.
 It will build the world’s first ultra-fast hyperloop project, aiming to link the financial hub of Mumbai with
Pune.
 Hyperloops use magnets to levitate pods inside an airless tube, creating conditions in which the pods can
shuttle people and freight at speeds of up to 750 miles (1,200 km) per hour.
West Bengal launched awareness campaign
 The West Bengal Government has launched an awareness campaign for preserving the greenery and
keeping the environment clean.
 CM Mamata Banerjee launched the campaign named as ‘Save Green, Stay Clean’ in Kolkata on 1 August
2019.
 The State Government will distribute more than 1 lakhs saplings throughout the state for spreading of
greenery.
BIS to set up Pashmina testing centre in Leh
 Bureau of Indian Standards would set up a Pashmina testing centre in Leh, in partnership with the lab of
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh.
 'Drive for Pashmina', a Motor bike expedition to create awareness and promote Pashmina was flagged by
the Hill council CEC Gyal P Wangyal and BIS DG Surina Rajan.
 Setting up of a lab in Leh would take two months time.
Gujarat Gas to set up 200 CNG stations
 Gujarat Gas Ltd is planning to set up 200 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations across India in the next two
years.
 Last financial year, the company added 69 CNG stations, the highest ever to its tally of over 344 CNG
stations.
 Gujarat Gas Ltd (GGL) is present across 23 districts in Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Thane
Geographical Area (GA), including Maharashtra's Palghar district.
Prakash Javadekar launched e-projects
 Union Minister Prakash Javadekar launched several e-projects of Publications Division on 31 July 2019.
 The projects include redesigned dynamic website, mobile app 'Digital DPD', e-version of Rozgaar Samachar
and e-book 'Satyagrah Geeta'.
 The mobile app for Publications Division would help in improving the reading habits of people in the era of
e-books and Kindle.
Inauguration of FCP and launching of Mob App
 Minister of HRD, Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurated the ‘Facilitation cum Publicity Pavilion (FCP)’
at the National Bal Bhavan, New Delhi.
 Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa launched the upgraded 3D Air Combat Mobile Game 'Indian Air Force: A Cut
Above' at the same venue.
 The FCP is an endeavour to connect to more than 7.5 lakh children that visit the Bal Bhavan annually.
National Affairs I
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 The six-time MLA from Sirsi Assembly constituency and senior BJP leader Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri was
unanimously elected as the new Speaker of the Karnataka state Assembly on 31 July 2019.
 Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani formed 10 Task Forces to examine, review and suggest inputs for formulating New
Industrial Policy of the state. The Task Force Committee will be headed by Chief Secretary JN Singh.
India Post Payments Bank to convert into SFB
 The Postal Department has decided to convert the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) into a small finance
bank (SFB), enabling it to offer small loans to customers.
 Besides, the department also looks to open one crore accounts for IPPB in 100 days.
 The decisions were taken at the annual Heads of Circles Conference held at Srinagar.
National Affairs II
 The Government has allowed the task force, formed to draft new direct tax law, to submit its report by
August 16, 2019. Earlier, the force had to submit its report by July 31, 2019.
 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that the Lower House will become paperless from the next session.
The move will save crores of rupees to the exchequer.
22nd Nat. Conference to be held at Shillong
 The 22nd National Conference on e-Governance 2019 will be held on 8-9th August, 2019 at Shillong,
Meghalaya.
 This is the first time the event is being organized in North-Eastern region of the country.
 This Conference provides a platform to disseminate knowledge on effective methods of designing.
 The theme of this Conference is 'Digital India: Success to Excellence'.
Atal Mission to launch new program
 Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) will launch a new programme for Community Innovation in New Delhi on 31
July 2019.
 The new initiative aims to encourage the spirit of innovation in the country.
 The Atal Innovation Mission is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog to promote innovation and
entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the country.
3rd orbit-raising manoeuvre of Chandrayaan 2
 ISRO was successful in completing the third earthbound orbit raising manoeuvres of Chandrayaan-2
satellite.
 The satellite is 3 steps closer to the moon.
 Chandrayaan-2 comprising of the orbiter, the lander Vikram and rover Pragyan was launched by GSLV Mark
III launch vehicle from Sriharikota on July 22.
 The fourth orbit-raising manoeuvre will take place on 2 August 2019.
Odisha Rasagola gets GI tag
 The rasagola, a popular dessert of Odisha, has received the geographical indication tag from the Registrar of
Geographical Indication after years of controversy around the sweet.
 The registration was conferred to ‘Odisha Rasagola’ under Section 16(I) or of authorized Section 17(3)(c) of
Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999 on 29 July 2019.
Helpline Jeene Do launched in J&K
 In Jammu and Kashmir, District Administration Udhampur has launched a helpline, 'Jeene Do'.
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 The objective is to improve sex ratio and deal with defaulters of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic
Techniques or PCPNDT Act under the Centrally sponsored Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme.
 A Mobile Number -9469793363 has been dedicated to the Public to register complaints regarding this.
IIT Hyderabad developed solar cells
 Scientists at IIT Hyderabad have developed low-cost, environment-friendly solar cells by employing a dye
used to make kumkum or vermilion in India.
 The dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) is based on New Fuchsin (NF) dye with aqueous electrolyte and
platinum-free counter electrodes.
 However, there were many drawbacks impeding the organic photovoltaic technology as organics are less
robust.
Yediyurappa won trust vote
 Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa sails through successfully by winning the Trust Vote on BJP's own strength in
the Legislative Assembly on 29 July 2019.
 Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar, who took up the motion moved by the Yediyurappa, declared that the motion
was passed by voice vote.
 Congress-JDS Coalition Government failed to sail through Trust vote since more than 17 MLAs rebelled
against.
Himalayan Conclave held in Mussoorie
 In Uttarakhand, a Himalayan Conclave was held in Mussoorie on 29 July 2019.
 The objective was to discuss various issues related to the development of the Himalayan States.
 Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the conclave as the chief guest.
 The main agenda for the conclave was water conservation, with focus on conserving rivers, glaciers, lakes
and water bodies.
GIIS to launch India's first smart school
 The Singapore-headquartered Global Indian International School (GIIS) will launch India's first SMART
campus in Pune.
 The SMART Campus has features to enhance learning outcomes for the students with the use of SMART
Campus pedagogy and to prepare the students for the future.
 Also, for the first time in India, GIIS will introduce Sports Analytics at the school level.
All lanes at toll plazas to be ‘FASTag lanes’
 To ensure seamless traffic and prevent congestion at toll plazas, the government decided to declare all
lanes at toll fee plaza on national highways as ‘FASTag lanes’ from 1 December 2019.
 Among all lanes, one ‘hybrid lane’ will be allowed at every toll plaza to facilitate and monitor over-
dimensional or oversized vehicles, where FASTag and other modes of payment will be accepted.
Government ban on colistin for use in poultry
 The Centre has issued an order banning the last line antibiotic, colistin, for use in animals.
 Colistin is an antibiotic meant for therapeutic purposes in veterinary but this drug is highly misused in the
poultry industry as a growth promoter for prophylactic purpose.
 One of the reasons for anti-microbial resistance in India is due to unwanted use of the drug in poultry
industry.
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Wipro launches digital product compliance lab

 On 24 July 2019, IT major Wipro announced the launch of its global Digital Product Compliance lab in
Hyderabad.
 The lab will offer integrated digital product testing services to ensure compliance with international
standards for reliability, safety and security for customers across industries.
 The new lab is equipped with environment chambers designed to test products.
Gujarat tops in solar rooftop installations
 In the area of solar rooftop installations, Gujarat has stood first in the country with total 261.97 megawatts
(MW) of installed rooftop solar capacity as on 23 July 2019.
 As per the Central government data, total rooftop solar installations in India is 1700.54 MW.
 Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have solar rooftop installations at 198.52 MW and 151.62 MW respectively.
Centre proposes light urban rail 'Metrolite'
 The Centre has proposed light urban rail transit system - 'Metrolite' - in small cities and towns having a
lower projection of ridership, with each train having three coaches and a restricted speed of 25 kmph.
 'Metrolite' system which will be developed on the surface and elevated stretches.
 Metrolite platforms will not have AFC gates, platform screen doors, X-ray and baggage scanner.
UP becomes No. 1 in implementation of PSBY
 Uttar Pradesh has become number one in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana
(PSBY) in the country.
 1.95 crores people have been given insurance cover under the scheme till 31 march 2019.
 Under PSBY, people between the age group of 18 to 70 get an accidental insurance cover of rupees 2 lakh at
a premium of 12 rupees annually.
ICMR launches forum to improve data collection
 The Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) National Institute for Medical Statistics, in partnership with
Population Council, launched the National Data Quality Forum (NDQF) on 24 July 2019.
 NDQF will integrate learnings from scientific and evidence-based initiatives.
 Its activities will help establish protocols and good practices of data collection and storage.
Tree Plantation Programme launched Arunachal
 Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on 25 July 2019 launched the State-wide tree plantation
programme – ‘Clean-Green Arunachal Campaign 2019’ – by kickstarting the campaign by planting 1 lakh
tree saplings within the next 24 hours.
 The campaign is being held as part of Van Mahotsav celebration has also set the target of planting 1 crore
tree within the next five years.
Delhi Cabinet nod for 22 commercial courts
 The Delhi Cabinet approved proposals for establishing 22 new commercial courts and 18 permanent fast-
track courts in the national capital.
 The commercial courts will enable quicker disposal of disputes and improve the city's ease-of-doing-
business rank.
 Nearly 89,000 civil cases are pending with 59 subordinate courts in the city.
7th Economic Census to be launched in Tripura
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 The fieldwork of the 7th Economic Census will be launched in Tripura on 29 July 2019.
 The fieldwork in other State/ UTs will be launched in August/ September 2019.
 The enumerators and supervisors engaged by CSC have been trained to collect data on a mobile application
developed for data capture, validation, report generation and dissemination.
Dashboard of DDP launched
 Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched a Dashboard of Department Defence Production (DDP),
Ministry of Defence, to help in effective monitoring of various initiatives and schemes of the department.
 Through this initiative, the Ministry will be able to keep track of the major components of Defence
Production, including defence exports, defence offsets, and MissionRaksha Gyan Shakti.
VP Venkaiah Naidu released book
 Vice President Venkaiah Naidu released titled 'New-Age Technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0' book
written by Rajya Sabha Member, Narendra Jadhav on 25 July 2019.
 This book examines and elaborates on various dimensions of the so-called Industrial Revolution 4.0.
 Narendra Jadhav is an Indian economist, educationist, public policy expert, professor and writer in English,
Marathi and Hindi.
PMAY approved construction of 1.4 lakh houses
 The Centre approved construction of nearly 1.4 lakh more houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
(PMAY), taking the number of houses to be built under the scheme to over 85 lakh.
 A total of 492 projects will cost ₹6,642 crore.
 PMAY is an initiative in which affordable housing will be provided to the urban poor with a target of
building 20 million affordable houses by 31 March 2022.
Home Minister Amit Shah to head a panel
 Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a panel of four cabinet ministers to examine ways to prevent workplace
sexual harassment.
 The new panel includes Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani and Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman.
 The #MeToo movement triggered a public outcry in the country, with former junior Foreign Minister M J
Akbar being accused of sexual misconduct.
India's 1st dragon blood-oozing tree
 Assam has found a plant that yields dragon’s blood, a bright red resin used since ancient times as medicine,
body oil, varnish, and dye.
 A trio of researchers led by Assam forest officer Jatindra Sarma has discovered Dracaena cambodiana, a
dragon tree species in the Dongka Sarpo area of West Karbi Anglong.
 This is for the first time that a dragon tree species has been reported from India.
Penalty on Airtel, Vodafone approved by DCC
 The Digital Communications Commission approved imposing cumulative penalty of Rs 3,050 crore on Bharti
Airtel and Vodafone Idea for not providing points of interconnection to Reliance Jio.
 The penalty on Airtel and Vodafone works out to be about Rs 1,050 crore each.
 In case of Idea, it comes to about Rs 950 crore.
Kanungo to run monetary policy portfolio
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 With the exit of Viral Acharya, the RBI rejigged portfolios of the other three deputy governors giving the
important monetary policy and forecasting department to B P Kanungo.
 Now, all the other 3 deputy governors -- N S Vishwanathan, B P Kanungo and M K Jain have been made
responsible for 12 departments each.
 Viral Acharya resigned in June 2019 as the deputy Governor of RBI.
HAL delivered Chetak to Indian Navy
 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered a Chetak helicopter ahead of schedule to the Indian
Navy.
 HAL had entered into a contract with the Indian Navy in August 2017 for the supply of eight Chetak
helicopters.
 Two helicopters were scheduled to be delivered in August 2019 while the remaining were to be delivered in
August 2020.
15th Commission on 3-day visit to Chhattisgarh
 The 15th Finance Commission, headed by Chairman NK Singh met representatives of the Panchayati Raj
Institutions, Urban Local Bodies and the Political Parties of Chhattisgarh in Raipur on 24 July 2019.
 The Finance Commission is on a 3-day visit to Chhattisgarh from 23-25 July 2019.
 It will have a detailed discussion with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel along with his cabinet colleagues.
ADB sanctioned Rs. 1925 cr for projects
 Asian Development Bank has sanctioned Rs.1,925 crore project for upgradation of power generation and
distribution in Tripura.
 The project has been sanctioned for upgrading capacity of 63 MW Rokhia Project to 120 MW and
modernising Gumti Hydro Electric Project.
 Rokhia project is located at West Tripura district whereas Gumti project is in Gomati district.
Rajya Sabha passed POCSO Amendment Bill
 The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been passed by Rajya Sabha.
 The bill seeks to enhance punishment, including a provision for death penalty, for committing sexual crimes
against children.
 The government has sanctioned 1023 fast track courts for speedy dispensation of pending cases under
POCSO and sexual assault.
National Affairs
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA has approved the creation of buffer stock of 40 lakh
Metric Tonnes of sugar for one year from the 1 August 2019.
 The Cabinet has approved the merger of National Institute of Miners' Health with ICMR - National Institute
of Occupational Health. This will help both the institutes in terms of enhanced expertise in the field of
occupational health.
Paypal opened new centre in Hyderabad
 American digital payments firm PayPal announced expansion of its India footprint with the launch of
3rd global technology centre.
 The Hyderabad facility would house around 100 engineers across roles, including risk management and
operations, to provide cutting-edge digital payments solutions to customers around the world.
 PayPal's other centres are in Chennai and Bengaluru.
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AIIB withdrew from Amaravati Project

 After the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has withdrawn funding for the Amaravati
capital city project in Andhra Pradesh (AP).
 The AIIB was to finance the upcoming city by providing $200 million, while the World Bank was to fund the
Amaravati project with $300 million.
 The World Bank and AIIB were to pump in $500 million, while the Andhra govt the rest.
Andhra: 1st state to reserve 75% private jobs
 Andhra Pradesh became the first state to reserve 75% jobs for local youth in industrial units, factories, joint
ventures and projects set up under public-private partnership mode.
 The assembly recently passed the Andhra Pradesh Employment of Local Candidates in Industries/Factories
Act, 2019.
 The CM of Andhra Pradesh is Jagan Mohan Reddy.
National Affairs I
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the increase in the number of awards given to the cadets of
National Cadet Corps (NCC) from the existing 143 to 243 and cash incentives in various categories.
 The Supreme Court extended the deadline for publication of final National Register of Citizens, NRC, in
Assam by a month, from July 31 to August 31, 2019.
Government to install solar projects by 2022
 The government has set a target for the installation of Rooftop Solar projects of 40,000 MW by 2022 in the
country.
 The projects include installation of solar panels on the rooftop of houses.
 Over 1700 Mega Watt of grid-connected rooftop systems has been installed in the country till 18 July 2019.
 1.5 million units per MegaWatt per year are generated from solar rooftop plants on an average.
National Affairs II
 The government has extended the deadline for filing of Income Tax returns by individuals for financial year
2018-19 to 31st of August from 31st July, 2019.
 The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) celebrated the 159th Income Tax Day on 24th July 2019. It was on
24th July, 1860 that Income Tax was introduced for the first time in India by Sir James Wilson.
MMRCL gave order to Blue Star
 Blue Star Ltd has won an air conditioning and tunnel ventilation system order valued at ₹253 crore from
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL).
 The scope of work includes installation and commissioning of the air conditioning and more for
9 underground stations.
 MMRCL is a joint venture between the central government and the state government of Maharashtra.
Kanwar Yatra app for pilgrims in Meerut
 A Kawad Yatra Management app has been designed for facilitating and guiding the Kawariya's on their
journey in the Meerut Zone.
 The app provides all information about the routes, temples, hospitals, police and 'Shivir' (camps).
 It can be downloaded on Google play store and will operate on any Android mobile phone like other
applications.
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UP government to install statue of Lord Ram

 UP CM Yogi Adityanath approved the plan to install a 251-metre-tall statue of Lord Ram at Ayodhya.
 The statue would be taller than the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Statue of Unity in Gujarat, which is 183-
meter-tall.
 The statue of Lord Ram would be installed on the 100 hectares of land near River Sarayu in Ayodhya.
Maharashtra topped in ATM frauds
 Maharashtra reported 233 cases of ATM fraud in 2018-19, the highest in the entire country, Reserve Bank
Of India (RBI) data revealed.
 The data showed that Delhi grabbed the second spot with 179 cases, followed by Tamil Nadu with 147
cases of ATM fraud.
 In Maharashtra, people lost Rs 4.8 crore to bank fraud, while in Delhi people lost Rs 2.9 crore.
NDA government completed 50 days in 2nd term
 The Narendra Modi Government has completed fifty days in office in its second term.
 PM Narendra Modi has already laid down the vision of India becoming a Five-trillion dollar economy by
2024-25.
 Indian economy is expected to grow at 6.8% in 2018-19 while maintaining macro-economic stability.
 Measures have been proposed to enhance the sources of capital for infrastructure financing.
Miscellaneous
 The World Bank continues to support Andhra Pradesh with an over one billion USD programme that covers
the health, agriculture, energy and disaster management sectors.
 The government has asked Air India to put a freeze on large-scale promotion and appointments. A new
flight has to be started only when it is extremely necessary and after due diligence from commercial aspect.
9725 houses to be built under PMAY-U
 In Manipur, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban(PMAY-U) is being implemented effectively.
 Till now, 26,348 beneficiaries for 24 towns have already been approved by the Union Ministry of Housing
and Urban Affairs.
 Nearly 9,725 houses will be built by the end of 2019 under the scheme.
 A target to obtain approval for 46,360 numbers of beneficiaries has been kept by the Manipur government.
20,000 wellness centres to be completed
 20,000 wellness centres will be completed by the end of the current year under Ayushman Bharat
programme.
 A total of 1.5 lakh wellness centres are to be established in the country under this programme.
 The government has set a target of eradicating Tuberculosis from the country by 2025.
 Ayushman Bharat programme as a successful model in implementing universal health.
Chandrayaan-2 launched at 2:43pm
 India’s expedition to the moon was launched on 22 July 2019.
 Chandrayaan-2 was launched by using the heavy-lift launch vehicle GSLV-Mark-Three.
 The rocket carrying the prestigious probe will be ignited at 2.43 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at
Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
 Originally Chandrayaan-2 was planned to be launched on the 15th July 2019.
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NSG facility inaugurated at CCMB

 The Next Generation Sequencing (NSG) facility was inaugurated at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular
Biology in Hyderabad on 20 July 2019.
 The facility includes technology for high genome sequencing and also diagnostic sequencing of clinical
samples.
 The NSG would help prenatal genetic screening and counselling, thereby generating large scale genomic
data for diagnosis and therapy.
12 beaches selected for 'Blue Flag’ challenge
 The Union Environment Ministry has selected 12 beaches in India to vie for a ‘Blue Flag’ certification.
 These beaches are at Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Bhogave (Maharashtra), Ghoghla (Diu), Miramar (Goa), Kasarkod
and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Eden (Puducherry), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Rushikonda
(Andhra Pradesh), Golden (Odisha), and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
India's first space tech park in Kerala
 The Kerala government will set up India’s first space tech park at Thiruvananthapuram's Knowledge City.
 The move is aimed at making the city a manufacturing hub for space-related technology.
 A space museum named after former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam will also be a part of the
infrastructure.
 The entire investment in the park will be made by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
South Asia's first cross border pipeline
 South Asia’s first cross border petroleum pipeline will link Motahari in India and Amlekhgunj in Nepal.
 Motihari- Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline will be a game-changer for Nepal.
 It has been successfully completed and there is a need to lay a gas pipeline.
 The 69-kilometre long petroleum pipeline from Motihari in Bihar to Amelkhgunj in Nepal has been
constructed by India.
Miscellaneous
 Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurated the 10th Jagran Film festival
at Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi.
 In yet another European Union move against a US tech giant, the bloc's antitrust chief on 18 July 2019 fined
chipmaker Qualcomm $271 million, accusing it of 'predatory pricing' to drive a competitor out of the
market.
New e-challan system for Delhi Traffic Police
 Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik launched the new e-challan system and the e-payment gateway
for the use of Delhi Traffic Police.
 The payment gateway will help the citizens with the flexibility to login securely at their convenience and
settle the pending violation notices with proof of payment.
 The E-challan devices are enabled with active GPS.
Rajnath Singh to inaugurate 2 bridge projects
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be on a day-long visit of Jammu and Kashmir on 20 July 2019.
 During his visit he will pay tributes to the Martyrs on 20th anniversary of Kargil war and will interact with
troops.
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 He will also inaugurate 2 bridge projects on the rivers Ujh in Kathua district and Basantar in Samba district
of Jammu division.
Himachal Pradesh CM received Victory Flame
 In Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur received the 'Victory Flame' at Mandi on 19 July 2019.
 It illuminated from the National War Memorial, New Delhi on 14 July 2019 to mark the 20th anniversary of
the Kargil Vijay Diwas.
 The Kargil Vijay Diwas is being celebrated across the country and on this occasion, we renew our resolve to
safeguard the honour of the tricolour.
Bihar: More than 52,000 placements done
 In Bihar, under Prime Minister Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) more than 52,000 placements have been done
during last 3 years after the training of youths.
 Under the short term courses and training, 1.66 lakh youths got registered out of which 1.37 lakh trained
since 2016 in the state.
 Unemployed youths are getting their skills honed at several institutions.
Kolkata MC to launch special cleanliness drive
 The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has decided to launch special cleanliness drive in Dengue prone 22
wards in the city.
 The Civic body will form special teams for cleaning of garbage at Dengue prone areas.
 The State Health Department has earmarked beds for Dengue affected patients at Government hospitals.
 132 patients have been attacked by dengue in the metropolis in 2019 so far.
NDRF deployed 124 teams in the country
 The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 124 teams in the various parts of the country to
respond to any type of disaster emergency, natural or man-made.
 84 teams have been pre-positioned in 23 states at 71 locations as per the flood vulnerability profile of the
states.
 40 teams have been permanently deployed in 27 Regional Response Centers (RRCs) for a prompt response.
President Kovind to visit 3 African countries
 President Ram Nath Kovind will embark on a week-long visit to Benin, Guinea Conakry and Gambia,
beginning 28 July 2019.
 This will be the highest-level visit from India ever to the three West African countries.
 Since the Modi government took office in 2014, there has been a rise in high-level visits to resource-rich
Africa, especially since the third India Africa Summit in 2015.
IIT Madras to offer tech MBA to undergrads
 IIT Madras is launching a first-of-its-kind tech MBA programme for its undergraduate (UG) students from all
the engineering streams.
 The students taking tech MBA programme will be awarded 2 degrees - Engineering UG degree (B.Tech.) and
Master's degree in Management (MBA).
 The Institute is introducing the programme from the Academic Year 2019-20 and it will have an intake of
25-30 students.
2 new districts to be formed in Tamil Nadu
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 In Tamil Nadu, two new districts are going to be formed, taking the total number of districts in the state to
35.
 Tenkasi District would be carved out of Tirunelveli and Chengalpet District would be established by splitting
Kanchipuram district.
 Special Officers would be appointed for the formation of the new districts.
National Affairs
 Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank released the UGC Guide to Student
Induction Programme - Deeksharambh in New Delhi on July 19, 2019.
 The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha on 19 July 2019. The
Bill provides for a comprehensive mechanism to ban the unregulated deposit schemes.
Chandrayaan-2 to be launched on July 22
 The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch the Chandrayaan-2 on July 22, 2019.
 Chandrayaan-2 is India's second Moon mission and aims to land a rover on the lunar surface.
 The mission was scheduled to be launched at 2:51 am on July 15, 2019, but had to be called off after
ISRO scientists detected some glitches at the last moment.
Jalan panel proposed nominal transfer of funds
 The Bimal Jalan committee has proposed a nominal transfer of surplus to the central government in a
phased manner.
 The report has proposed a formula for a nominal transfer of a portion of the RBI’s reserves to the central
government in a period of three-five years.
 This is in line with the current practice being followed by the RBI for transferring dividend annually.
Doubling of railway line in Assam approved
 CCEA has given its approval to the doubling of 142.97 km long railway line between New Bongaigaon and
Agthori via Rangiya in Assam.
 The total estimated cost of the project is around Rs.2042 crore and will be completed by 2022-23.
 It will traverse through Bongaigaon, Baksa, Barpeta, Nalbari and Kamrup districts of the state.
National Affairs
 Union Cabinet approved 1,600 crore rupees for Dibang Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh. The
project is envisaged as a storage-based hydro-electric project with flood moderation as the key objective.
 A bill to scrap 58 redundant laws was also approved. The NDA government in its two terms has sent to the
chopping block 1,824 old laws which had become redundant.
National Medical Commission to be set up
 The Union Cabinet approved National Medical Commission Bill, 2019.
 The bill provides for setting up of a National Medical Commission in place of Medical Council of India and
repeal the Indian Medical Council Act 1956.
 The NMC Bill proposes a common final year MBBS exam, to be known as National Exit Test (NEXT).
National Affairs I
 The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) plans to convert all electricity meters into smart prepaid meters by
2022. It is part of the government’s electricity distribution plan prepared by the Central Electricity Authority
(CEA).
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 Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that a website would be launched listing staff of Jet Airways
and help find employment in other private entities.
Government to set 4200 Ayush Wellness Centres
 The government plans to set up 4,200 Ayush wellness centres in the country in FY 2019-20 across several
states.
 2,500 new centres are planned to be opened within the first four months of the present government.
 The government has also provided financial assistance to set up integrated Ayush hospitals in 85 districts
across various states, and has plans to add more.
Assam govt to plant saplings across NH
 The Assam Government is to plant sapling spread over one thousand kilometres across the National
Highways.
 This initiative is being taken to improve green coverage in the state.
 The National Highway Authority of India has sanctioned the plantation at 810 kilometres area.
 A variety of saplings will be planted near the national highways.
National Affairs II
 The Centre launched a public awareness campaign in Delhi on 17 July 2019 to accelerate vector control
measures. The 3-day campaign aims to sensitize the community for prevention and control of diseases like
Malaria, Dengue and Chikungunya.
 Maharashtra government has decided to increase the compensation from 25 lakh to Rs 1 crore for families
of security personnel hailing from the state.
NGT set deadline of 3 months
 The National Green Tribunal has directed the Central Pollution Control Board, CPCB, to shut down polluting
industries within 3 months.
 On the basis of a study jointly carried out by the CPCB and state pollution control boards in 2009-10,
industrial clusters were notified as Polluted Industrial Areas (PIAs).
 They were ranked depending upon Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index scores.
MP: 1st international flight from Indore
 In Madhya Pradesh, the first international flight from Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport of Indore
left for Dubai on 15 July 2019 with 153 passengers on board.
 The non-stop flight has fulfilled a long-standing desire from the travel fraternity and tourists for direct
connectivity to the Gulf.
 Air India is operating 162-seater A-320 Neo aircraft on this route.
Extinction of 2 birds: SC formed panel
 The extinction of two Indian birds, Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican has been alarming.
 The Supreme Court has constituted a high powered committee to urgently frame and implement an
emergency response plan for the protection of these species.
 The plea has contended that over the last 50 years the population of the Great Indian Bustard has recorded
a decline of over 82%.
RBI to launch a mobile app
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 The RBI will soon come out with a mobile app that will read out the denomination of currency notes for the
visually-challenged population.
 The mobile app will be able to identify the denomination of legal tender banknotes of Mahatma Gandhi
Series and Mahatma Gandhi (New) series by scanning the image of the notes with the mobile phone
camera.
 It can also be used to count notes later on.
Consistent decline in left-wing extremism
 There has been a consistent decline in both Left Wing Extremism violence and geographical spread of its
influence in the country.
 Violent incidents have declined from a high of 2258 in 2009 to 833 in 2018.
 The resultant deaths have also declined steadily from 1005 in 2010 to 240 in 2018.
 The trend of decline in violence has continued in 2019.
IFFI's Golden Jubilee to be held in Goa
 The Golden Jubilee Edition of International Film Festival of India, IFFI will be held from 20-28 November
2019 in Panaji, Goa.
 The business exhibition will showcase the latest technology, film production and distribution and other
aspects regarding films.
 President of Oscar Academy John Bailey has been invited for the event.
 Russia will be IFFI partner in this edition.
Chandrayaan-2 launch called off
 ISRO has called off the launch of India's second mission to Moon - Chandrayaan-2 onboard GSLV MkIII-M1
due to a technical snag.
 The countdown for the launch scheduled was stopped 56 minutes and 24 seconds before lift-off following
the announcement from the Mission Control Centre.
 It was supposed to explore the lunar south pole, 11 years after ISRO's successful 1st mission - Chandrayaan-
1.
4th anniversary of Skill India Mission
 The 4th anniversary of the Skill India Mission was being observed on 15 July 2019.
 National Skill Development Mission also known as Skill India Mission was launched on this day in 2015.
 Nearly One Crore youth are being presently imparted skills training annually under the mission.
ICSI launches UDIN for corporate governance
 The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has rolled out an initiative in the form of a Unique
Document Identification Number (UDIN).
 UDIN will provide ease of maintaining a register of attestation and certification services.
 The ICSI UDIN will be mandatory for every document except an e-form, signed or certified by a company
secretary with from 1 October 2019.
Port integrity campaign launched in India
 Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) has announced the launch of a Port Integrity Campaign in India.
 The campaign aims to reduce and (in the long term) eliminate integrity issues and bottlenecks to trade
during operations in Indian ports.
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 MACN is a global business network of over 110 companies working to tackle corruption in the maritime
industry.
India's 1st ethanol-based motorcycle launched
 TVS Motor has launched India's first ethanol-powered motorcycle, a 'green' version of its popular Apache
RTR 200 4V.
 The bike uses 100% ethanol to replace petrol.
 Ethanol is produced domestically from renewable sources, including remains and alcohol from sugar
factories and is lesser polluting as well.
 The bike will initially be available in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
Film Divisions to launch documentary film club
 Film Divisions of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting launched 'KSHITIJ', a documentary film club in
Mumbai on 12 July 2019.
 The initiative was launched in association with Indian Documentary Producer’s Association. Public
screenings will begin at 5:30 PM on the second and fourth Friday of every month.
 The screenings will be held at Films Division Complex.
Miscellaneous News
 'Ulto Rath Yatra' celebrated in West Bengal.
 In Madhya Pradesh, continuous rain has damaged Asia's largest solar Power project in Rewa.
 West Bengal government observed Save Water Day on 12 July 2019. The aim of the day is to create
awareness among people to check misuse of water.
Rafting Expedition on Indus River flagged off
 Fire and Fury Corps Chief of Staff Major General Arvind Kapoor flagged off White Water Rafting Expedition
on Indus River in Leh on 12 July 2019.
 The expedition is undertaken by the 27 member Parashu Brigade led by Capt Hrishikesh Ghogare from
Nyoma to Nimu.
 The expedition will commemorate the sacrifices of the brave soldiers to win the Kargil war.
Central Universities Bill passed in Lok Sabha
 The Lok Sabha passed the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to establish a central university and a
tribal university in Andhra Pradesh.
 Tribal University will provide research facilities in tribal art, culture and customs.
 The establishment of a Central University and a Central Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh was obligatory
under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
NMMC launches rental services for e-bikes
 Along with the hugely popular Public Bicycle Sharing System launched by Navi Mumbai Municipal
Corporation in November last year, the civic body has now introduced rental services for electric bikes.
 Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has taken a lead in promoting electric vehicles in Maharashtra
 To hire an e-bike, one has to simply download YULU app on their mobile phones and scan a code.
Rajghat plant to be turned into solar park
 The Delhi government has announced that the Rajghat thermal power plant will be officially shut and
turned into a solar park and electricity museum.
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 A 5,000 KW of solar power will be produced at the 45 acre plant site.

 The coal-based plant, whose current units were commissioned in 1989, has been lying in a shutdown mode
from 2014.
Govt to establish first Nat. Police University
 Centre said it has initiated a proposal to establish the first National Police University in the country.
 It will be dedicated to imparting education in policing and internal security.
 The university will conduct academic programmes in specialized subjects.
 Gujarat, Rajasthan and Jharkhand have set up dedicated universities for conducting courses in police
services and internal security.
Organized Group ‘A’ Status to RPF
 The Union Cabinet has approved Grant of Organised Group 'A' status to Indian Railway Protection Force
(RPF).
 It will also give consequential benefits of Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU) with effect from 01-
01-2006.
 Grant of status of Organized Group 'A' service to RPF will end stagnation, improve career progression of the
officers and keep up their motivational level.
Museum of Indian Cinema launched NMIC Bulletin
 The National Museum of Indian Cinema launched a fortnightly bulletin named “NMIC Bulletin“.
 It is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
 It was brought out by the Films Division with veteran filmmaker Jahnu Barua.
 The Museum was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 19th January 2019.
India to host 14th COP of UNCCD
 India is set to host the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP) of United Convention to combat Desertification
(UNCCD) from September 02 to 13.
 The global conference will be hosted at India Expo Mart Limited in Greater Noida.
 Ahead of COP-14, Minister also launched “Bonn Challange”, a maiden project to lay emphasis on India’s
capacity for forest landscape restoration.
Madhya Pradesh to produce its own seeds soon
 The Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Seed Federation will produce seeds.
 The decision has been taken in a Board of Directors’ meeting held under the chairmanship of the Minister
for Cooperatives Govind Singh in Bhopal.
 The brand name of seeds will be ‘Sah-Beej’.
 A plan has been made to produce seeds from the next Rabi season.
NGT asks states to tackle crop burning
 National Green Tribunal has asked states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as to how they intend to
tackle the problem of crop burning.
 The bench is headed by NGT Chairperson Justice AK Goel.
 The direction by the tribunal came following news reports on deaths caused in the NCR due to air pollution,
and crop burning being one of the reasons for the poor air quality.
2 new Chinook helicopters arrived in Gujarat
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 American aerospace major Boeing announced the arrival of two new heavy-lift Chinook helicopters for the
Indian Air Force at the Mundra port in Gujarat.
 The Indian Air Force has ordered 15 Chinooks and the first four helicopters arrived in February.
 The advanced multi-mission helicopter will provide the Indian armed forces unmatched strategic airlift
capability.
J&K govt approves Aadhaar-linked payment mode
 Jammu and Kashmir government has approved Aadhaar-linked payment mode for disbursal of pension to
beneficiaries under various central and state-sponsored schemes.
 It is done to ensure transparency and avoid delays.
 The move is aimed at ensuring transparency and avoid delays in disbursement of pension to eligible old-
aged, widows and physically challenged persons.
Govt to set up 3 CoE in Sports at Itanagar
 Youth Affairs and Sports minister, Kiren Rijiju has informed that central government is going to set-up three
Sports Centre of Excellence in Itanagar.
 The three centre of excellence will be for Martial Arts, Weight Lifting and Boxing.
 The government will also set up 12 to 15 football stadiums in the next 3 years.
 He also said that Arunachal Pradesh will host the North East Youth Festival.
Miscellaneous News
 To serve the underprivileged children, Bring a Smile Foundation along with Cyberabad Police, SCSC and
GHMC, launched Smile Box campaign aimed at bringing a 'smile' on their faces.
 As part of celebrations of 20 years of Kargil victory, commemorative treks were organised by 13 Jammu and
Kashmir Rifles and 18 Grenadiers battalion of the Indian Army to Batra Top and Tiger hill.
India's 1st Design Development Centre launched
 India's first Design Development Center 'Fashionova' was launched in the Textile city Surat.
 The aim of the centre is to promote the city in the field of the fashion design sector.
 Fashionova has been named in the Start-up scheme of the Government.
 The main objective of this studio is to provide a strong platform to all those who have a flair of the apparel
business.
India's first highway corridors for e-vehicles
 India's first highway corridors with charging stations for electric vehicles are expected to come up along the
Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Agra highways by 2020.
 The e-corridors are proposed to be the first under the Ease of Doing Business Programme (EODB) of the
Advance Services for Social and Administrative Reforms (ASSAR).
 Eighteen charging stations will be set up on the two routes.
Hong Kong approves over $9 million for Odisha
 The Hong Kong government has approved over $900,000 for relief and rehabilitation work in cyclone-hit
Odisha.
 Odisha was hit by 'Very severe cyclonic storm' Fani in May 2019.
 The grants will benefit around 45,100 cyclone victims and will be used to provide hygiene kits, kitchen kits,
water, education, household items and shelter kits.
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Sports News
 The government will set up a National Sports Education Board under Khelo India to popularise sports at all
levels. Sports minister Kiren Rijiju thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the finance minister for the
initiative.
 Shoaib Malik, a veteran of 35 Tests, 287 ODIs and 111 T20Is for Pakistan, has announced his retirement
from ODI cricket.
National Affairs
 Ministry of I&B has set up FM Radio Transmitter on 103.7 MHZ frequency at Baltal, on the Amarnath
route. Amarnath Yatra program is being generated from Baltal base camp.
 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said an exclusive television channel will be set up for startups that will
serve as a platform for discussing issues affecting their growth and match-making with venture capitalists.
WB govt to increase daily allowances
 The West Bengal Government has decided to increase daily allowances of Ministers and MLAs for their
presence in the State Assembly.
 The daily allowances for the Ministers will be Rs.3000 while Legislators will get Rs. 2000 per day for their
attendance in the House.
 Additional 15 crore rupees will be spent from the State exchequer to implement the decision.
Damanganga-Pinjal River Linkage project
 In Maharashtra, the state government has decided to inter-link rivers to solve the crisis of drought.
 For Mumbai, the best option is the Damanganga–Pinjal river inter-linking project, which is seen as an ideal,
long-term solution for Mumbai’s water needs.
 This will fulfil Mumbai’s water needs till 2060.
UP govt promised piped water to households
 UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that every household in the state will receive piped water within two years.
 This project will start from Bundelkhand region by the end of August 2019.
 As many as 15 rivers, which have gone dry, will also be rejuvenated in the coming months.
 To make Ganga clean, committees have been constituted in the district near the bank of the river.
UP govt launched toll-free CM helpline 1076
 The UP government launched a toll-free Chief Minister helpline number 1076.
 It will enable people from across the state to register their complaints and will ensure a time-bound action
on the complaints also.
 The CM helpline number 1076 will work 24x7 and anyone from any part of the state can call on this number
anytime.
 The 500-seater call centre has been established for the helpline.
Rural sanitation coverage jumped to 99%
 Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), 9 crore 62 lakh individual household toilets have been
constructed so far.
 The sanitation coverage in the rural areas of the country has increased to more than 99%, which was over
38% on 2nd October 2014.
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 632 Districts, 30 States, over 2.50 lakh Gram Panchayats and 5 lakh 67 thousand 498 villages have been
declared open defecation Free.
National Affairs
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices, MSP for
all Kharif crops for 2019-20 Season.
 In Mizoram, drug abuse has gone up to an alarming level. The official record reveals that more than 300
people lost their lives last year in drug abuse related incidents.
Miscellaneous I
 Chief of Defence Force of Maldives National Defence Force, Major General Abdulla Shamaal is on a 3-day
visit to India.
 Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Lady of Ghana, Rebecca Akufo-Addo launched an inspiring
children story of Kofi and Ama for children to strengthen family values of love and respect since young ages.
Miscellaneous II
 National Cadet Corps (NCC) has undertaken a pan-India Mega Pollution Awareness Pakhwada (fortnight)
from July 01-11 2019. The pakhwada aims to sensitise the people against various kinds of pollution and
their effects.
 The government said that the recruitment examination of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) will now be
conducted in 13 regional languages in addition to English and Hindi.
First investors summit to be held in J&K
 Jammu & Kashmir will host its first-ever investor summit in September-October 2019 in Srinagar, with a
chapter in Jammu, to attract investment and counter perceptions about the State.
 The State is presently under President’s Rule.
 The strong points of the State are tourism, horticulture and handicrafts. The stress would be on the power
sector and manufacturing as well.
Athi Varadar: Idol that emerges every 40 years
 The Kanchi Athi Varadar festival began on July 1, 2019.
 The temple of Varadar is in Kancheepuram.
 The deity is made of fig tree and hence the name Athi Varadar. He is immersed in Anantasaras, the temple
tank.
 He is brought out once in 40 years, pujas done for 45 days and restored to his water bed.
 The last time he came out was on July 2, 1979, and earlier on July 12, 1939.
Workshop on Glacial Hazards conducted
 National Disaster Management Authority in partnership with Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation (SDC) organized a 2-day meeting on the assessment of glacial risks and GLOFs.
 GLOFs refer to the sudden discharge of a water reservoir that has formed either underneath, at the side, in
front, within, or on the surface of a glacier.
 The 2013 Kedarnath disaster was a result of the same.
HDFC, Manipal Academy launched a programme
 HDFC Bank along with Manipal Global Academy of BFSI has launched a future bankers programme for
training and grooming candidates.
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 The bank plans to hire 5,000 such professionals over the next two to three years who will be posted as
personal bankers.
 The starting salary for the job is ₹4 lakh per annum plus allowances depending on the category of town or
city of posting.
50 lakh trees to be planted by 2020: J&K
 In Jammu and Kashmir, the Governor’s Administration has approved the launch of Green Jammu and
Kashmir drive from July 8, 2019.
 Under this major environment-friendly initiative 50 Lakh trees will be planted by June 2020.
 In the 1st phase, the plantation activities will primarily be focussed in Jammu and 9 Lakh trees over 2300
Hectare area are targeted for plantation this Monsoon season.
Miscellaneous News
 Odisha is all set to organise the 21st Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship at Jawaharlal Indoor
Stadium in Cuttack from July 17 to 22, 2019.
 The world-famous Jagannath Rath Yatra began on4 JUly 2019 at Puri in Odisha. Lakhs of people are
gathering in Puri to witness Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra riding three giant wooden
chariots.
Delhi, Vijayawada get UIDAI centres
 The UIDAI has operationalised the first 'Aadhaar Seva Kendra' in Delhi and Vijayawada.
 It is part of an ambitious plan to set up 114 such centres by the year-end.
 These Aadhaar centres, meant to facilitate enrolment, updation and other activities, will be UIDAI’s own
and operate in addition to thousands of centres, currently being run by banks and post offices, and in
government premises.
Mekadetu project to take land away
 More than 60% of land needed for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir project will be in the core area of the
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
 Of the 52.52 sq. km needed for the project, 31.81 sq. km comes in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, while
another 18.69 sq. km is adjacent forest land.
 The project will also see the displacement of the Iruliga tribals and other residents of five villages.
SC slapped fine on Meghalaya Government
 The Supreme Court directed the Meghalaya government to deposit the ₹100 crore fine imposed on it by the
National Green Tribunal
 It failed to curb illegal coal mining with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
 The National Green Tribunal had fined the Meghalaya government on January 4, 2019.
 It admitted that a large number of mines were operating illegally in the northeastern state.
Tax Treaty to be implemented
 India has ratified the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base
Erosion and Profit Shifting (MLI).
 It was signed by the Finance Minister at Paris on 7th June 2017 on behalf of India, alongwith
representatives of more than 65 countries.
 The Multilateral Convention/MLI is an outcome of the OECD / G20 Project to tackle Base Erosion and Profit
Shifting.
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2.5 lakh new jobs to be created in IT sector

 About 2 lakh 50,000 new jobs will be created in the IT sector in the coming months through the
comprehensive skill development programme.
 Rapid advances made in the digital technology in the country can take this sector to the tune of 7.2 billion
dollars from 2.5 billion in 2018.
 Transforming the world's largest youth force into a truly skilled force is the vision of the NDA government.
WB: 10% reservation to backward section
 The West Bengal Cabinet has decided to give 10% reservation in Education and Employment to the
economically backward section people of the state.
 The State Cabinet took the decision under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee in
Kolkata.
 People who get reservations under caste system will not get the benefit.
First ever IICTF fair to be held in October
 The First Ever India International Cooperatives Trade Fair (IICTF) is going to be held at Pragati Maidan, New
Delhi from 11th till 13th October, 2019.
 Steered by NCDC, the Fair is being conducted with the support of one international organization (NEDAC), 3
Ministries, 4 State Governments.
 The Trade Fair is aimed at promoting cooperative to cooperative trade within India and abroad.
Project of planting 33 crore saplings launched
 Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis launched the state’s ambitious project of planting 33 crore saplings
within the next two months.
 The aim was to create a record of planting over 50-crore saplings during the tenure of the current BJP-led
State Government.
 Maharashtra Government has successfully planted 2.82 crore saplings in 2016, 5.17 crore saplings in 2017
and 15.17 crore in 2018.
Mann Ki Baat
 PM Narendra Modi called upon people to start a mass movement for water conservation and resolve to
save every drop of water amidst water scarcity in several parts of the country.
 Keeping the importance of water in mind, a new Jal Shakti ministry has been created in the country.
 He was addressing the nation through Mann Ki Baat for the first time after resuming office for the 2nd
term.
Inaugation of Chabra's Thermal Station Unit
 In Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated 5th and 6th Unit of Chabra Super Critical Thermal
Power Station on 30 June 2019.
 This is the state’s First project based on Super Critical Thermal Power Technology and the estimated cost of
this project is 9 thousand 550 Crore Rupees.
 3 crore additional units of power daily will be generated and 78 lakh new consumers will get benefited.
Jal Shakti Abhiyaan launched
 Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched across the country from 1 July 2019 to accelerate water harvesting and
conservation measures.
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 The scheme is aimed at making water conservation and promotion of irrigation efficiency through asset
creation and communication campaigns.
 Over 250 officers have been appointed as in-charge of water-stressed districts in the country.
Government to introduce new system for GST
 The government introduced the new return system on a trial basis on the second anniversary of Goods and
Services Tax (GST) on 1 July 2019.
 It will come into force from 1st of October this year on a mandatory basis.
 The government will rationalize a single cash ledger in such a manner that earlier 20 heads are merged into
5 major heads.
Commemoration of Digital India initiative
 Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched the commemoration of four
years of Digital India initiative in New Delhi.
 The aim of this initiative is to bridge the digital divide and create awareness about Information Technology.
 The Project aims to connect all gram panchayats by broadband connectivity under BharatNet Project to
promote e-governance.
Defence Minister visited Visakhapatnam
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was on a visit to Eastern Naval Command.
 He was briefed on the operational readiness of the Command and other aspects of maritime and coastal
security on the Eastern Seaboard on 30 Jun 19.
 He also visited Indian Navy’s indigenously conceived design and constructed frontline stealth frigate INS
Shivalik and Indian Naval Submarine Sindhukirti at Visakhapatnam.
List of best police stations in India released
 An internal survey was conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to find the best police stations in India.
 As per the survey, the three best police stations in the country are in Rajasthan, Andaman and Nicobar
Islands and West Bengal.
 The Kalu police station in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district is ranked number one.
 The second in the rank is Campbell Bay in Nicobar district.
2.22 cr villagers given Digital Education
 Electronics and Information Technology Minister Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that around 2.22 crore
villagers are given Digital Education under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA).
 He also said that over 2.30 crore beneficiaries have been enrolled under PMGDISHA.
 After the training, 1.34 crore have been duly certified by authorized 3rd party certifying agencies.
President's rule in J&K extended
 The Lok Sabha approved the resolution seeking an extension of President rule in Jammu&Kashmir for a
further period of 6 months with effect from 3rd July 2019.
 The House also passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
 It proposes to give reservation in educational institutions and government jobs to people living within 10
kilometres of the International Border in Jammu.
5-year vision plan finalised by HRD ministry
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 The Department of Higher Education of HRD Ministry has finalized and released a five-year vision plan
named Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP).
 The report has been prepared after a detailed exercise done by the experts from various areas, including
promoting excellence.
 They have suggested more than 50 initiatives that would transform the higher education sector.
BYPL to launch energy saving app
 Power distribution company BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) will be launching a ‘behavioural energy
saving app’ to reduce electricity consumption.
 The app Susthome, developed by BYPL and TERI will track energy consumption patterns.
 In first phase of the pilot project, the power discom has selected cooperative housing societies such as
Mayur Vihar to use the app.
2-day North East Conclave 2019 began
 In Meghalaya, a 2-day North East Conclave 2019 on ‘Transforming North East India through Science and
Technology’ began on 28 June 2019 at Shillong.
 It has been organised by the Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD).
 The North Eastern States of the country are a treasure house of rich biodiversity and their endowments can
contribute to the nation’s progress.
Govt on a mission to clean Ganga by 2022
 Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has said that the government is working in a mission mode to
clean Ganga.
 The flow of raw sewage into the river Ganga will be completely stopped by 2022.
 The government is also planning to provide piped water to a large population.
 India has 18% of the world population and an equal percentage of livestock, but the share of water is less
than 4%.
NDMA conducted mock exercise on earthquake
 National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) conducted a multi-state mock exercise on earthquake in
Delhi and NCR on 28 June 2019.
 The exercise was aimed to practise the preparedness and response mechanism of the state governments to
mitigate the impact of a high-intensity earthquake.
 Preparedness activities were reviewed through interaction with the Chief Secretary and senior officials.
Committee Report and Survey
 The M. Ramachandran committee tasked by the government to look into the fares being collected by all-
India tourist omnibuses on inter-State routes has recommended continuation of the fares.
 According to survey conducted by rural media platform Gaon Connection, loan schemes don't reach almost
60% people in rural India.
Polity
 The deadline to submit suggestions on draft of New Education Policy is extended for a month i.e till
31st July. The draft of Education policy has been put on a public domain from May 31.
 Union government introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to implement for the first time a quota for
economically weaker section in the recruitment of professors in government-run higher educational
institutions.
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Miscellaneous News
 The Central government is formulating a detailed strategy to tackle the problem of drugs in Punjab and
Jammu and Kashmir.
 On the 180th death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the legendary ruler of Punjab, a statue was
unveiled at the Lahore Fort on 27 June 2019.
 Modi attended the Indian community event in Kobe, Japan on 27 June 2019.
National mission on nat language translation
 The Ministry of Electronics and IT will place before the Union Cabinet a ₹450 crore proposal for Natural
Language Translation.
 The proposal is part of the 100-day action plan charted out by MeitY, following Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s instructions.
 It aims to make science and technology accessible to all by facilitating access to teaching and researching
material bilingually.
Maratha quota valid but to be cut to 12-13%
 The Bombay High Court upheld the constitutional validity of reservation for the Maratha community in
government jobs and education.
 A division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre, however, said the quota percentage should be
reduced from the present 16% to 12-13%.
 The reduced quota is as recommended by the State Backward Classes Commission.
FSSAI planned labels for packaged food
 Packaged food companies will be required to label high fat, sugar and salt content levels on the front side of
the package with red-colour-coding.
 Draft regulations have been proposed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FSSAI.
 According to it, the packaged food companies will have to declare nutritional information such as calories,
saturated fat on the front of the pack.
Prithvi-II test fired succesfully
 India successfully test-fired indigenously developed nuclear-capable missile Prithvi-II as part of a user trial
by the Army from a test range off the Odisha coast.
 The trial was carried out from a mobile launcher from Launch Complex-III of the Integrated Test Range, ITR
Chandipur.
 The missile is capable of carrying 500 to 1000 kg of warheads and is powered by liquid propulsion twin
engines.
Entrepreneurship lessons at Delhi govt schools
 Delhi government is introducing a new curriculum with compulsory entrepreneurship lessons for classes 9-
12 in 1,024 government-run schools from July 1.
 The non-graded subject, for which about 3,000 teachers are undergoing a week-long training, will comprise
a daily 40-minute class.
 Students will get ₹1,000 as 'seed money' to enable them to develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
Bill to fine people for blocking ambulances
 The Union Cabinet led by PM Narendra Modi has approved Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill.
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 It proposes ₹10,000 fine for anyone seen blocking the way of emergency services such as ambulances on
roads.
 The same amount of penalty would be levied in case of drunk driving.
 The Bill is yet to be passed in the Parliament.
International Convention inaugurated
 The Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises is organizing an international convention in New Delhi.
 The theme would be 'Indian MSMEs, Global Aspirations'.
 It is being organized to observe the International MSME Day on 27 June.
 Further, as part of continued celebrations, the second edition of the International SME Convention 2019
will be held from 28th - 29th June 2019.
Meeting of Paris Pact Initiative held
 The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance is hosting a Meeting of Expert Working Group on Paris
Pact Initiative in Afghanistan.
 The Meeting is being held on 27-28 June 2019 and is being organised with the support of United Nations
Office on Drugs & Crimes (UNODC).
 Paris Pact is a group of 58 countries and 23 International Organisations affected with drug trafficking of
Afghan Opiates.
Google Maps launched Stay Safer feature
 Google Maps introduced India-first 'Stay Safer' feature for its users.
 The feature will alert and notify users traveling in taxis, auto-rickshaws when their vehicle goes off-route
and also share the live status of their trips with friends/family.
 Indian users will be able to use the new feature on their Android phones with the latest version of Google
Maps.
Cauvery board asked Karnataka to release water
 The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) directed Karnataka to release 9.19tmcft (thousand
million cubic feet) and 31.24tmcft of water in June-July, to Tamil Nadu.
 Tamil Nadu is suffering one of its worst dry spells and acute shortages of drinking water.
 However, the water will be released when there is sufficient rain and the inflows into the reservoirs in
Karnataka have increased.
WAPCOS celebrated Golden Jubilee
 WAPCOS, which was incorporated as Public Sector Enterprise in 1969 by the Government of India
celebrated its Golden Jubilee at Siri Fort, New Delhi on 26 June 2019.
 The theme for the event was 'Transcending Boundaries- Touching Lives'.
 Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Rattan Lal Kataria was the Guest of Honour at the event.
Government to provide broadband connectivity
 Government plans to provide broadband connectivity under BharatNet Project to all Gram panchayats in
the country.
 1,28,870 gram panchayats have been connected with optical fibre till date.
 Under BharatNet project, the last mile connectivity is to be provided at all the 2.5 lakh gram panchayats in
the country.
 WiFi spots have been installed in 44,140 Gram panchayats as of now.
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No-confidence motion against Speaker on 1 July

 DMK president M.K. Stalin proposed the motion of no-confidence against Mr Dhanapal.
 Mr. Dhanpal issued show-cause notices to three AIADMK legislators asking why they should not be
disqualified for associating themselves with AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran.
 No- confidence motion in India can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha.
New rules to make roads safer
 The Union cabinet approved proposed changes to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill.
 It aims to address crucial issues such as road safety, with stiff penalties for violation of rules, strengthening
the public transportation system and curbing corruption.
 According to the amendment, the penalty for drunk driving has been raised five times to ₹10,000.
Maharashtra to get floating solar plants
 Maharashtra is all set to get floating solar power generation plants on four dams.
 The backwater of Wardha, Bebala, Khadakpurna and Pentakli dams has been selected for setting up the
floating solar panels as per the Swiss Challenge method.
 The estimated investment per megawatt is 4.45 crore rupees, with a total installed capacity of 500 MW.
Maharashtra govt to set up vigilance mechanism
 The Maharashtra government will soon set up its vigilance mechanism to ensure fast redressal of
grievances regarding drought mitigation.
 The government will keep strict vigilance through tehsil and district level committees to ensure officials are
available for farmers.
 The state government will recommend changes in the parameters for the compensation payment.
Univers. Smart Card Driving Lic to be launched
 Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to modify the format of driving licenses to smart card
type driving licences.
 It has prescribed a common standard format and design of the Driving Licence for the whole nation.
 Its application SARATHI, has a common countrywide database of all driving license holders.
 It has the feature to identify duplicate records online in real time.
Central ATFM Complex inaugurated
 Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (I/c) for Civil Aviation inaugurated the Air Traffic Flow Management -
Central Command Centre in New Delhi.
 The C-ATFM system is primarily meant to address the balancing of capacity against the demand to achieve
optimum utilization of the major resources.
 It integrates flight data from various subsystems like ATC Automation System and flight updates.
Government developed National Strategic Plan
 The government has developed a National Strategic Plan with the goal for ending Tuberculosis (TB) by 2025.
 India accounts for 27.4 lakh estimated new TB cases annually, which is the highest in terms of absolute
numbers.
 India ranks 35th in the world in terms of TB cases per lakh population.
 Over 5 lakh 62 thousand patients were cured of TB in 2018.
Government set up 713 Krishi Vigyan Kendras
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 The Government has set up 713 Krishi Vigyan Kendras and 684 Agricultural Technology Management
Agencies at the district level in the country for dissemination of technologies among the farming
community.
 This is aimed at meeting the target of doubling the farmers' income by 2022.
 An Inter-Ministerial Committee has been constituted to examine issues relating to doubling of farmers'
income.
Air Traffic Flow Management command inagurated
 The Central Command Centre for Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) was inaugurated in Delhi on 22 June
2019.
 The central ATFM system integrates flight data from various subsystems like ATC Automation System, flight
updates and flight update messages.
 The system also displays weather information along with static information about airports, airspaces and air
routes.
Kolhapuri Chappals gets GI tag
 Maharashtra's handcrafted leather Kolhapuri chappal has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
 The GI tag has been granted for Kolhapuris chappals to four districts of Maharashtra — Kolhapur, Solapur,
Sangli and Satara.
 The artisans producing Kolhapuris in these districts will now be able to make and market their product in
domestic and international markets.
Water clinic for elephants opens in Mathura
 India has opened its first specialised hydrotherapy treatment for elephants suffering from arthritis, joint
pain and foot ailments in Mathura.
 The new hydrotherapy jumbo pool has 21 high-pressure jet sprays that create water pressure that massage
the elephants’ feet and body.
 The facility is run in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the NGO Wildlife SOS.
NABCB secures international equivalence
 The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) secured international equivalence for its
accreditation programme for personnel certification bodies in the annual meetings of the Asia Pacific
Accreditation Cooperation in Singapore.
 NABCB, a constituent Board of the Quality Council of India, an autonomous body attached to the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry.
Forex retail platform to roll out
 The currency trading platform for retail trading is ready for roll-out by the Clearing Corporation of India
(CCIL) on August 5, 2019.
 It will enable transparent and fair pricing for retail users, such as individuals and micro, small and medium
enterprises.
 The customer orders would be bunched up to make marketable lots of $5 million and above, which can be
directly traded by CCIL platform.
35,000 km highways to be built by 2022
 The government will build 35,000 km of highways, besides expressways, by 2022.
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 Under the 'Bharatmala Project', construction or upgradation of about 35,000 kilometres of national
highways is to be undertaken by 2022.
 In addition, under the 'Sagarmala Project', a network of good-quality roads is being constructed in coastal
areas and areas adjoining ports.
Navy issued EOI for building 6 submarines
 The Centre has taken a major step towards building advanced submarines for the Indian Navy.
 The defence ministry issued an Expression of Interest to shortlist Indian strategic partners for the
construction of six conventional submarines under Project 75 India (P-75I) worth about Rs 45,000 crore.
 This is a step towards opening a second production line for diesel-electric submarines in India.
Capacity Building Program organised
 The India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) (ECI) organized 5-day
training programme on Use of Technology in Elections for Election Officials of Union Election Commission of
Myanmar.
 The on-going Capacity Building Programs on Electoral technology is the 7th program in the series of the 09
programs scheduled across 2018-2019.
Group constituted to solve e-commerce issues
 A group has been constituted under the secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade for ensuring inter-ministerial coordination on resolving issues related to e-commerce.
 A draft national e-commerce policy has been drafted and placed in public domain.
 The policy addresses broad areas of the e-commerce ecosystem such as infrastructure development and
market places.
GST council simplified registration rules
 The GST Council has simplified rules for registration and Aadhaar will now be used by businesses for
registration under GST.
 In the earlier system, people had to give various documents and now, several advantages will occur to the
business by using Aadhaar.
 GST Council approved imposing a penalty of up to 10% on entities not passing on benefits of GST rate cuts
to consumers.
FM chaired 35th GST Council meeting
 The 35th GST Council Meeting was held on 21 June 2019 under the chairmanship of Union Finance &
Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.
 Altogether, 12 Agenda items were discussed during the Council meeting.
 Some of these items were of regular nature like confirmation of the Minutes of the 34th GST Council
Meeting, deemed ratification by the Council of notifications.
Telangana started project to end water woes
 Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao inaugurated world’s largest engineering marvel, Kaleshwaram lift
irrigation project, at Medigadda Barrage in Kaleshwaram of Bhoopalpally district.
 The total estimated cost to finish this project is Rs 80,000 crores.
 The project will give assurance for employment, crop production, food security, poverty eradication and
improvement of health.
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Insolvency petition against Jet Airways filed

 National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) decided to admit an insolvency petition against Jet Airways Ltd filed
by its creditors.
 The insolvency process will allow lenders led by SBI to sell the company as a whole or sell its assets and
bring to end uncertainty over the airline's future.
 NCLT instructed Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) to finish the process for the airline in 3 months.
President announced farmer income support
 President Ram Nath Kovind announced that the government was working towards a ₹25-trillion farm
productivity spend and ₹900-billion annual spend on farmers’ income support.
 Fixing problems in the rural economy and giving relief to farmers was the top priority of the Narendra Modi
government during its second term.
 ₹25 trillion will be invested to improve agriculture productivity.
Umemployed grad. in Rajasthan to get Rs.3500
 Unemployed youth having graduation or equivalent degree will be given unemployment allowance up to Rs
3,500 by the Rajasthan government.
 They will get the benefit of the Chief Minister Yuva Sambal Yojana from February 2019.
 To be eligible for the scheme, applicants should be natives of Rajasthan.
 The amount will be given for two years or until they get employed.
HP made GPS device must for trekkers
 The Himachal Pradesh government made it mandatory for trekkers to carry a GPS device to tackle any
exigency.
 A decision in this regard was taken at a review meeting chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Shrikant Baldi
on preparedness for the monsoon.
 Kullu and Dalhousie have been identified for installation of early warning systems.
Cancer Institute at GMC Jammu approved
 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare formally approved Rs.120 crore Cancer Institute at Government
Medical College, Jammu.
 With the setting up of the facility at GMC Jammu, the patients now need not move outside the State for
specialized treatment facilities.
 Earlier, one State Cancer Institute was approved for Shere Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar.
2-day workshop on piracy issues held
 A 2-day international workshop on issues related to piracy began in New Delhi on 19 June 2019.
 The participants are being trained on issues related to piracy and armed robbery such as international laws,
prosecution process, forensics and emerging threats.
 It was organised by the Indian Coast Guard in cooperation.
PM to set up committee for an issue
 PM Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of Presidents of all political parties having representation in
Parliament on the issue of One Nation One Election.
 He will form a committee to look into the various aspects of this issue in the country.
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 The idea of One Nation, One Election envisages a system where elections to all states and the Lok Sabha will
have to be held simultaneously.
4th National Yoga Olympiad organized
 A 3-day National Yoga Olympiad of school children, organised by the National Council of Educational
Research and Training is being held at Chacha Nehru Bhawan in New Delhi.
 This is the fourth edition of National Yoga Olympiad. It was first started in the year 2016.
 The Olympiad creates awareness about a scientific and holistic way of living.
2 Jet Airways directors resigned
 Jet Airways informed about the resignation of two independent directors Ashok Chawla and Sharad
Sharma.
 Information that Jet's shares will be removed from daily trading of futures and options from 28 June,
further accelerated the fall in its shares.
 The airline has a total liability of about ₹25,000 crore, which includes dues of operational creditors.
Amendments to curb the use of black money
 Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) vice chairman Justice Arijit Pasayat suggested
appropriate amendments in existing tax laws to curb the use of money power to win elections.
 Nearly Rs. 3,800 crore was seized from across the country during the time of elections in April-May 2019.
 SIT that was formed in 2014 has already prepared its seventh interim report.
Air India bid adieu to A320 Classic
 Air India’s Delhi-Mumbai flight, AI 865 was the last flight by Airbus 320 Classic aircraft, which will make way
for the advanced and fuel-efficient Airbus 320 Neo.
 It flew 61,600 hours and carried out 38,000 landings.
 VT-ESL was the last of Air India’s A320 Classic fleet having been delivered to Air India 25 years back in 1994.
1st floating solar plant to be completed soon
 Vedanta's first pilot floating solar plant will be completed in the next 2-3 months.
 The plant will be located at Ghosunda Dam, near Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
 The floating plant will contribute to saving water evaporation loss, thus resulting in the conservation of
water.
 The solar plant is expected to have an energy yield of 1,993 MWh a year and will be able to power 1,400
houses a year.
Govt launched pilot project in 5 states
 India has launched a pilot project to restore degraded forest landscapes in five states over the next 42
months.
 In the first phase, the pilot will be conducted in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland and
Karnataka.
 The project launched in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
 It aims to enhance the capacity of forest landscape restoration (FLR).
Only BS-6 vehicles to be available from 2020
 Only BS-6 vehicles will be available from 2020 onwards, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said.
 Vehicles contribute 20-22% of pollution in the country.
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 In Delhi, BS-6 fuel was started.

 Vehicles that will be available from next year will support BS-6 fuel only.
 Today, 60,000 trucks, which do not have any work in Delhi, now don't enter Delhi.
World Food India to be held from Nov 1
 World Food India will be held in New Delhi from 1st of November 2019.
 The event which will continue till 4th November will position India as Food Processing Destination of the
World.
 Indian Food Processing Industry has grown tremendously recording 11% growth rate, which is twice the
pace of Global Industry.
1st semi-open jail for women in Tihar
 The first semi-open prison for women will be inaugurated on June 20, 2019 in Tihar, Delhi.
 The premises are a 4 minute drive from Jail where 375 women inmates are lodged.
 On the first floor is a work station, where the five women make seviyan.
 Semi-open and open prisons for men have been functioning at Tihar Jail for a while now.
NITI Aayog's fifth governing council meeting
 PM Narendra Modi spelt out his government's vision 2024 at the NITI Aayog's fifth governing council
meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
 On the health front, PM Modi said tuberculosis should be wiped out by 2025.
 He announced a high-level task force to bring structural reforms in agriculture in the country. It will be
formed in the near future and report will be submitted in the next 2-3 months.
IGNOU launched 6-month course in Yoga
 The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched a certificate programme in yoga (CPY)
ahead of the upcoming International Yoga Day.
 The course will begin from July 2019 session.
 It will be imparted in the English language, and anyone who has passed Class XII from any recognized board,
irrespective of their stream, will be eligible to get enrolled in the programme.
Skill University to be set up in Darrang
 Assam government will set up a Skill University at the cost of 850 crore rupees at Darrang district.
 This will be perhaps the first skill university of the country with a capacity of 10 thousand seats.
 The International Yoga Day will be observed at 459 centers of the Skill Development Mission.
High level force for agri reforms to be set
 The Centre is to set up a high-level task force for agri reforms.
 The decision was made in the fifth meeting of the NITI Aayog governing council.
 The task force is for undertaking structural reforms in agriculture, including strengthening logistics, produce
marketing, food processing as well as changes to the Essential Commodities Act.
 The task force will constitute of few chief ministers.
New policy to protect Indian languages
 Rashtriya Siksha Ayog has been proposed to be set up under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister.
 The member of draft New Education Policy Prof. M K Sridhar said that the new policy protects the Indian
languages which are on the verge of extinction.
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 The new policy will put education on the pedestal of evaluation and performance and lay emphasis on
teachers’ education.
Death toll rose to 83 due to Encephalitis
 In Bihar, the death toll due to Encephalitis in Muzaffarpur and adjoining districts reached 83.
 Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan asked Bihar government to establish ICU at primary health
centres in Encephalitis affected areas.
 He emphasized to step up several measures to contain the disease at the initial stage when symptoms of
Encephalitis detected in children.
New system for research journals launched
 The University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched a Consortium of Academic and Research Ethics
(CARE).
 It will identify, continuously monitor and maintain UGC-CARE Reference List of Quality Journals across
disciplines.
 This new list of approved journals will be available at newly launched website
https://ugccare.unipune.ac.in.
Govt to sign MoU for 300 gaushalas
 MP Government is set to sign a MoU with a company that has promised to build 300 Smart Gaushalas over
the next 5 years.
 The company will not charge a penny from the government, but will make money by exporting items made
from gaumutra, gobar and the stiff hairs on a cow’s tail’.
 The company has sought 50 acres of land for and will spend Rs 11 crore on each of them.
CBDT issued new norms
 The Central Board of Direct Taxes issued new norms for compounding of offences on 14 June 2019.
 The new guidelines have exclusion provisions, under which, offences under the Black Money and Imposition
of Act, 2015, cannot be compounded in normal cases.
 This includes money laundering cases.
 Compounding means that the authorities agree to not prosecute offenders in return for a consideration.
2 women leading Chandrayaan 2 team
 For the first time, ISRO has 2 women project directors- Ritu Karidhal and Muthayya Vanitha for its inter-
planetary mission Chandrayaan 2.
 Chandrayaan 2, all set for launch on July 15, is the most challenging mission for ISRO due to soft landing the
organisation is attempting with its lander.
 The project cost is close to Rs 1,000 crore with the involvement of close to 600 industries.
Assam Transport Minister launched app
 Assam Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary launched the State Transport Corporation's Chalo app
for Guwahati on 14 June 2019.
 The app will help commuters to know about the live arrival time of their bus so they can plan their travel
accordingly.
 Mr. Patowary also unveiled a one-of-a-kind transport map for the State Transport bus network in Guwahati
that has been developed by Chalo.
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DG to join hands with Cisco and Accenture

 Directorate General of Training (DGT) joined hands Cisco and Accenture, to skill youth for the digital
economy, through its Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
 Nearly 15,00,000 students across all the ITIs in India can access the digital learning module via the Bharat
Skills portal.
 Cisco will also provide access to Networking Academy courses directly to ITI students across the country.
20th Anniversary of Kargil victory
 The year 2019, marks the 20th anniversary of victory in ‘Operation VIJAY’ popularly known as the ‘Kargil
War’.
 This year, the 20th anniversary is being celebrated with the theme ‘Remember, Rejoice and Renew’.
 The celebrations will be spread over 3 days from 25-27 July 2019 and will be organized at Dras and New
Delhi.
ISRO to open its labs for school students
 ISRO has, for the first time, opened its laboratories for Indian school students to undergo two-week training
from 2019.
 The first batch of 108 students recently completed their exposure in its laboratories in Bengaluru,
Sriharikota, Thiruvananthapuram, and other places.
 The training module has been devised as part of its new Young Scientists Programme, or Yuva Vigyanik
Karyakram, YUVIKA.
HCL to roll out TechBee
 HCL Technologies is all set to roll out Tech Bee, a company initiative.
 Under this, it will train and hire students who have completed Plus Two, across several states.
 As many as 700 students have now become employees of the company while some of them are pursuing
higher studies as part of the initiative.
India to build space station in 7 years
 India will build its own space station in low earth orbit to conduct microgravity experiments in space in 5 -7
years.
 The proposed Indian space station would be much smaller than the existing International Space Station
(ISS).
 The prospects of setting up such a space station at an altitude of 400 kilometres from Earth would hinge on
successfully carrying the 'Gaganyaan' human space mission.
ZPCC meeting began in Kohima
 The North-East Zonal Programme Co-ordination Committee, ZPCC Meeting of All India Radio Stations began
on 13 June 2019 in Kohima.
 The meeting is being hosted by AIR Kohima under the aegis of Additional Director General (Programme),
North East Region (NER).
 Heads of Programme and Programme Executives of the region were all a part of the 2-day meet.
Mizoram CM presented state budget
 In Mizoram, CM Zoramthanga presented the state budget for 2019-2020 amounting to 10,692.30 cr. in the
state Legislative Assembly, on 13 June,19.
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 A provision of 750 crore rupees for implementation of the Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP) has
been proposed.
 The SEDP is the flagship program of the Mizo National Front (MNF) government.
 The budget proposals have not imposed any new taxes.
NIRDPR launched training programme
 The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) launched a training programme.
 It is of Sustainable Livelihoods and Adaptation to Climate Change (SLACC) to help Rural Poor Farm Holds
adapt to Climate Change and sustain their livelihoods.
 Total 638 drought and flood-prone villages of MP and Bihar are being covered on pilot basis under this first
of its kind initiative.
Narendra Singh Tomar chaired meeting
 Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar chaired a meeting with Agriculture
Ministers of all States and Union Territories via video conference on 13 June 2019.
 The implementation of three key schemes were discussed in the meeting.
 These are Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna (PM-Kisan), Pension Scheme for Small and Marginal
Farmers and Kisan Credit Card Campaign.
E-FT to be set up in Assam
 The Centre approved setting up of e-Foreigner Tribunal (e-FT) in Assam.
 The proposed integrated e-FT IT system will be implemented across the state for effective monitoring and
resolution of cases registered with Foreigner Tribunal.
 The main objective of the project is to maintain a statewide bio-metric and biographic data, to capture the
illegal migrants’ data.
Cyclone 'Vayu' changed its course
 Cyclone 'Vayu' spared Gujarat after changing its course towards northwest but the threat of furious wind,
dust storm and rainfall still continues.
 The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert over Cyclone Vayu.
 A yellow alert signifies moderate danger, followed by an orange alert that means high danger level and a
red alert means maximum level of danger.
ESI contribution rate reduced by govt.
 The Government of India has reduced the rate of contribution under the ESI Act from 6.5% to 4%.
 Reduced rates will be effective from 01/07/2019.
 This would benefit 3.6 crore employees and 12.85 lakh employers.
 The reduced rate of contribution will bring about a substantial relief to workers and it will facilitate further
enrollment of workers under the ESI scheme.
Astitva exhibition inauguarated
 Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (I/C) of Culture & Tourism, Government of India inaugurated the
exhibition titled 'Astitva: The Essence of Prabhakar Barwe'.
 It was inaugurated at National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi on 13 June 2019.
 It is the first of its kind to be held in New Delhi that will present his artistic oeuvre in four distinct phases.
Hypersonic missile successfully test fired
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 India conducted a successful first test flight of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)
from a base off the Odisha coast.
 The only other countries that possess this technology are the US, Russia, and China.
 The HSTDV is an unmanned scramjet demonstration vehicle that can cruise up to a speed of mach 6 and rise
up to an altitude of 32. km in 20 seconds.
Jail for children abandoning elderly parents
 The Bihar government has approved the proposal to punish sons and daughters, who abandon their elderly
parents, with a jail term.
 Such cases will be registered under the non-bailable section after receiving complaints from elderly parents.
Google Maps' new feature tested in India
 Google is experimenting with a new off-route safety feature for Maps, exclusively in India for now.
 It will alert users if their cars or taxis deviate from their route by more than 500 meters.
 The off-route alerts can be found within the Stay Safer menu, which is accessible after the user has selected
their destination but before they enter navigation mode.
29 children dead due to encephalitis
 Over 29 children have died in various north Bihar districts due to symptoms akin to that of acute
encephalitis syndrome (AES).
 A 7-member team of experts from the central government is arriving here soon to find out exact reasons
for the epidemic.
 About 19 deaths in this season were reported from the SKMCH in Muzaffapur alone.
RBI constituted a committee
 The RBI has constituted a 6-member committee to review the entire gamut of ATM charges and fees.
 Chief Executive of Indian Banks’ Association VG Kannan will chair the committee.
 The committee will review existing patterns of costs, charges and interchange fees for ATM transactions.
 It is to submit its report within two months from the date of its first meeting.
UP govt hiked old age pension
 Uttar Pradesh Government has hiked old-age pension in the age group 60 to 79 years by Rs.100 monthly.
 Now the old-age pensioners would receive 500 rupees per month from the existing 400 rupees.
 The 100-rupee hike would be enforced from January 2019.
 The newly hiked pension will benefit around 44.21 lakh people in the state.
VAYU: Cyclone warning for Gujarat coast
 The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘VAYU’ over East-central Arabian Sea moved nearly northwards with a
speed of about 13 kmph on 12th June 2019.
 It is very likely to move northwards and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva as a Very
Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed 145-155 kmph gusting to 170 kmph on13th June 2019.
Clean drinking water to be provided by 2024
 The Centre has set a target of providing clean drinking water to all by 2024.
 In states like UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha, the coverage of clean drinking
water is less than 5%.
 Only in Sikkim 99% of households get tapped water.
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 Emphasis will also be laid on water conservation, citing the widening gap between water supply and
demand.
India's first dinosaur museum in Gujarat
 Gujarat has joined the Jurassic bandwagon with India’s first ever Dinosaur-Museum-cum-Park in Raiyoli in
Mahisagar district.
 Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani inaugurated the museum that is set to give visitors a Jurassic Park feel.
 Located in Raiyoli area of Balasinor, the museum will have fossil records and remains of various dinosaur
species.
Finance Minister held pre budget meet
 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held her first pre-budget consultation meeting with representatives of
farm bodies, Industry and Trade in New Delhi.
 In the meeting, she sought the views of different agriculture organisations and farm economists on ways to
boost the farm sector growth and double farmers' income.
 Mrs Sitharaman will present the budget on 5th of July 2019.
NDMA conducted training programme
 The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is conducting a basic training programme at the
Deendayal Port Trust in Kandla, Gujarat.
 The 5-day training programme is aimed at increasing awareness and enhancing the preparedness of
Seaport Emergency Handlers (SEHs).
 Earlier this year, three batches of SEHs were trained at Mangalore, Kochi and Navi Mumbai.
States can now constitute Foreigners Tribunals
 The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has amended the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964.
 MHA has empowered district magistrates in all States and Union Territories to set up tribunals to decide
whether a person staying illegally in India is a foreigner or not.
 Earlier, the powers to constitute tribunals were vested only with the Centre.
India's 1st BS-VI certificate released
 International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) released India’s first Type Approval Certificate (TAC)
for Bharat Stage - VI (BS – VI) norms for the 2-wheeler segment in New Delhi.
 The certificate was released and handed over by Director ICAT, Dinesh Tyagi to top officials of the OEM
(Original Equipment Manufacturers).
Govt to procure 2 supercomputers
 The government will procure 2 more supercomputers whose combined computing powers would be
8 times the existing capacity.
 Plans are afoot to buy these supercomputers, with a combined total computing speed of 80 petaflops, at a
cost of approximately ₹1,500 crore.
 The new supercomputers will be set up at the two existing institutes of the MoES.
JDU not part of NDA outside Bihar
 Janata Dal-United, JD(U) has decided that it will not be part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
outside Bihar.
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 This decision was taken in the party's national executive meeting in Patna which was chaired by JD(U)
President Nitish Kumar.
 The party will contest assembly polls separately in four states-Jharkhand, Haryana, Delhi, and Jammu &
Kashmir.
Mumbai metro completed five years of operation
 The Mumbai metro completed five years of operation in June 2019.
 During the last five years of operation, Metro has achieved running the service without a single case of an
accident or any fatality.
 The metro completed 6.17 lakh trips transporting 54 Crore commuters.
 The present metro line connects Versova western part of the metropolis to Ghatkopar in the central line.
Home Ministry issues advisory to WB
 The Centre has strongly advised the West Bengal government to ensure that all necessary measures are
taken to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquility in the state.
 Expressing deep concern over the violence even after the conclusion of General Elections, the Centre has
asked the state to take strict action against officials.
Meeting on water crisis issues to be held
 The Centre will hold a meeting with Water Resources Ministers of different states on the issue of water
conservation and drinking water on 11 June 2019.
 Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will chair the meeting in New Delhi.
 He will discuss the issue of water crisis and seek states co-operation to overcome it.
Delhi Metro receives power from waste
 The Delhi Metro has become the first ever project in the country to receive power generated from a waste-
to-energy plant.
 Delhi Metro has started receiving 2 MW power from a 12 MW capacity waste-to-energy plant set up in
Ghazipur.
 The waste-to-energy plant set up by East Delhi Waste Processing Company Limited (EDWPCL).
Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurates Exhibition
 The Minister of State (I/c) of Culture & Tourism, Prahalad Singh Patel, inaugurated the exhibition titled
'Unknown Masterpieces of Himachal Folk Art', in New Delhi on 7 June 2019.
 The Exhibition is being jointly organised by the National Museum, New Delhi and Home of Folk Art
(Museum of Tribal, Folk and Neglected Art).
 The exhibition was curated by Mr B.N. Aryan, Director, Home of Folk Art.
Govt to award media houses
 The government has decided to honour media houses for their contribution towards creating awareness
about yoga.
 33 awards will be given 11 each for newspaper organisations, TV and radio channels.
 A six-member jury will consider the entries in all 23 languages.
 Media campaigns on yoga from June 10 to June 25 will be considered for International Yoga Day, celebrated
annually on June 21.
Paytm ahead of major banks in digi transact.
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 Paytm Payments Bank has received a target of 501.16 crore digital transactions for the financial year 2019-
20.
 It is higher than the targets set for major banks including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Punjab National Bank.
 Paytm Payments Bank is only behind the State Bank of India, which has the highest target for digital
transactions.
Shiv Sena to distribute foodgrains to farmers
 The Shiv Sena will distribute foodgrains to farmers staying in fodder camps in nine drought-affected districts
of Maharashtra.
 Shivsena chief Uddhav Thackeray will kick-off the initiative in memory of late party supremo Bal Thackeray,
in Salegaon village in Jalna district.
 There are 34 fodder camps in Jalna and 28 in Aurangabad.
New species of beetles found in Tawang
 A new species of dung beetle was discovered in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district.
 The new discovery named ‘Enoplotrupes tawangensis’ is a 27-mm-long insect, relatively bigger than most
dung beetles.
 The shining dark blue insect was first examined by two scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) --
Kailash Chandra and Devanshu Gupta.
CM Yogi unveiled a 7 foot tall statue
 UP CM Yogi Adityanath unveiled a 7-foot tall statue of Lord Rama at the Shodh Sansthan museum in
Ayodhya on 7 June, 2019.
 Adityanath will also inaugurate the event to celebrate Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.
 The statue is made out of a single rosewood block statue which was from Karnataka.
Andhra CM to get 5 deputies
 Jagan Mohan Reddy, who took power in Andhra Pradesh, will have a record five Deputy Chief Ministers.
 He would have five deputies and a full 25-member cabinet, which would represent the aspirations of all
communities.
 The deputy Chief Ministers will represent SCs, STs, Backward Classes, minorities and the Kapu communities.
Delhi government plans free rides for women
 Delhi government has announced its plan to subsidize travel in public transport for women commuters in
the Capital.
 The announcement was made by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
 The government intends to allow women to travel for free on metro trains and State-run buses by the
month of August-September.
 The new scheme, which is to be implemented, is to encourage the use of public transport.
MP passes resolution to increase OBC quota
 Madhya Pradesh Cabinet passed a resolution to increase the percentage of reservation quota for Other
Backward Classes from existing 14 percent to 27 percent.
 The move will lead to the reservation in the state breaching the Supreme Court-mandated 50 percent cap
to reach 63 percent.
 Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country to have a 27 percent quota for OBCs.
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Indore's airport gets 'international' status

 Indore's Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar airport was declared as an international airport on 29 May 2019.
 The airport, named after Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore, is considered as the busiest airport in
Central India.
 An international airport has customs and border control facilities enabling passengers to travel between
countries.
India's only orangutan dies in Odisha
 Binny, India’s only orangutan, has died at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Odisha.
 Binny was brought from the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Pune to the zoo in 2003.
 Binny was undergoing treatment for an infected wound on her throat for the last two years.
Rajasthan government banned E-cigarettes
 Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced the ban on the sale of e-cigarettes in Rajasthan.
 Gehlot issued the order on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on May 31.
 The government had banned the online or offline sale, storage, production, distribution, and advertisement
of e-cigarettes in the state.
Science Film Festival to be held in Agartala
 10th National Science Film Festival of India will be in Agartala, Tripura in January-February 2020.
 This is for the second time the event will be held in a North-Eastern city. It will be jointly hosted by Vigyan
Prasar of the Central Government, State Government, and Tripura Central University.
 Chief Minister of Tripura is Biplab Kumar Deb.
Modi changes 40% of Ministry
 In the Union cabinet, 2019 Modi changes the 40% of Ministry; debutants hog the show.
 In Modi's new Cabinet, one-third of the total ministers are debutants, including BJP president Amit Shah
and former foreign secretary S Jaishankar.
 While G S Shekhawat and Giriraj Singh have been promoted, Anurag Thakur is a replacement for JP Nadda
from Himachal Pradesh.
Science books released by Secretary DST
 Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma released four popular science
books published by Vigyan Prasar.
 Books were released at a function held at Indian National Science Academy (INSA) in New Delhi.
 The books released were ‘Voyage to Antarctica’, ‘Story of Consciousness’, ‘An Autobiography of Moon’ and
'Sambhu Nath De - The Discovery of Cholera Toxin’.
'Hawa Aane De' launched to spread awareness.
 Union Environment Ministry on 29th May launched the song 'Hawa Aane De' to spread awareness about Air
pollution.
 The song was launched by Secretary, Ministry of Environment C K Mishra ahead of the World Environment
Day on 5th of June.
 The theme of Environment Day for 2019 is Air Pollution.
Narendra Modi to take oath as PM for 2nd term.
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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take the oath of Office and Secrecy along with a new Council of
Ministers for his second consecutive term.
 The function will be attended by Governors, Chief Ministers, Opposition leaders, a galaxy of leaders from
BIMSTEC countries and foreign envoys.
 Over 6,000 guests are expected to attend the ceremony.
Jagan Reddy sworn in as Andhra Pradesh CM
 YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has taken oath as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on 30th May 2019.
 Governor ESL Narasimhan administered him the oath of office and secrecy at Indira Gandhi Municipal
Stadium in Vijayawada.
 In his maiden address as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, he announced that he would create one
lakh 60,000 jobs by October in 2019.
Update Your Current Affairs App by May 29
 Testbook has updated it's current affairs app.
 In the latest update, they have improved the user experience by adding new features and fixing bugs
 Click on the news heading above to update the app on Playstore, if not updated already.
 As per Google, Older versions will not be fully supported after May 29, 2019.
Tribunal for adjudicating ban on LTTE est
 The government has constituted the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal to adjudicate whether or not
there is sufficient cause for declaring the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as an unlawful association.
 The Tribunal is comprised of Delhi High Court Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal.
 The government of India has extended ban on LTTE in India for a period of five years.
Telangana to have 1st blockchain district
 Telangana will have 1st blockchain district.
 Land at subsidised rates, funding of research and regulatory and policy support are among the features of
Telangana government's draft Blockchain Policy.
 It is aimed at wooing firms and startups in the field to set up shop in the state.
Rs. 1 cr. fine on 25 states, UTs
 More than 25 states and Union Territories face environmental compensation of ₹1 crore each.
 They were fined for not submitting action plans on systematic disposal of plastic waste to the Central
Pollution Control Board.
 The National Green Tribunal had ordered them to submit action plans by April 30, failing which they would
have to pay compensation at the rate of ₹1 crore/month.
DPIIT to cut startup compliance time to 1 hr
 The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has proposed to reduce compliance
time for startups to one hour per month.
 Currently, startups comply with requirements like GST filings, tax returns and local laws every month.
 Reduction in compliance time can enable startups to focus on their core work.
5th Smart Cities India 2019 expo inaugurated
 The 5th Smart Cities India 2019 expo, including Transport India, Solar India, Buildings India and Water India
expos, was inaugurated by Durga Shanker Mishra on 23 May 2019.
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 It is organised by India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) and Exhibitions India Group.
 The event displays a vast array of products and solutions relevant to building smart cities in India.
Liquid hydrogen storage tank launched
 ISRO Chairman K Sivan flagged off the shipment of India's largest liquid hydrogen storage tank at the VRV
Asia Pacific's manufacturing plant at Sri City in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
 VRV Asia Pacific manufactured the storage tank with a Liquid Nitrogen shield, in a collaborative effort with
Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
 Liquid hydrogen is used as fuel for satellite launch vehicles.
Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh banned
 Bangladesh-based terror outfit — the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) — was banned by the
government of India under the anti-terror law UAPA.
 JMB was involved in the 2016 terror attack at a cafe in Bangladesh's capital city Dhaka.
 The outfit has committed and promoted acts of terrorism and has been engaged in radicalisation and
recruitment of youths for terrorist activities in India.
Update Current Affairs App by May 29, 2019
 Testbook has updated it's current affairs app
 Click on the news heading above to update the app on Playstore, if not updated already
 As per Google, Older versions will not be fully supported after May 29, 2019
NewSpace India officially inaugurated
 NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was
officially inaugurated in Bengaluru on 23 May 2019.
 NSIL's main objective is to scale up industry participation in Indian space programmes.
 NSIL will act as an aggregator for all space-related activities in industry and develop private
entrepreneurship in space-related technologies.
Craftsvilla up for sale after 8 years
 Eight years after being launched in 2011 and raising about $58 million to date, Mumbai-based ethnic wear
e-tailer Craftsvilla is looking to get acquired.
 Craftsvilla reportedly approached Snapdeal for the same, which is highly unlikely to do so.
 The company is now looking at Future Group or Reliance Industries as possible avenue of acquisition.
17th Lok Sabha to witness 78 woman MPs
 Seventy-eight seats have been won by women candidates in the 17th Lok Sabha elections, the highest since
the first Lok Sabha in 1952.
 Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are sending the highest number of women to the house, 11 each.
 A total of 724 women candidates contested, with Congress fielding the maximum 54 women, followed by
BJP at 53.
Ola shut food delivery business
 Ola has shut down the delivery business of Foodpanda, terminated 1,500 delivery executives and 40 mid-
level staff.
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 The company, however, has retained the cloud kitchen business operating under private labels- the Great
Khichdi Experiment, FLTR brands and Lovemade.
 Ola had acquired Foodpanda in 2017 for an approximated $30 million from German-based hero company.
1.37 cr. formal sector jobs created in FY2019
 Around 1.37 crore jobs were created in the formal sector during the financial year 2018-19, according to
data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
 The CSO used addition to the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) subscriber base to derive employment
generation in the formal sector.
 As per the latest data, in the month of March 2019, around 8.27 lakh EPF subscribers were added.
Chandrani Murmu became youngest Lok Sabha MP
 BJD’s Chandrani Murmu became the youngest ever Lok Sabha MP.
 The 25-year-old BTech graduate won the reserved Keonjhar, Odisha's seat by defeating a two-time MP.
 The Keonjhar Lok Sabha seat is reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
Int seminar on noise organised
 International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) organized an international seminar-cum-workshop
on Automotive Noise, Vibration and Harshness (iNVH).
 It was held on 23-24 May 2019 at ICAT, Manesar.
 This event was the fifth in a series of biennial training programmes on Automotive NVH, organized by ICAT.
Update Your Current Affairs App by May 29
 Testbook has updated it's current affairs app.
 Click on the news heading above to update the app on Playstore, if not updated already.
 As per Google, Older versions will not be fully supported after May 29, 2019.
Al Qaeda affiliate Zakir Musa killed
 In Jammu and Kashmir, Zakir Musa, the so-called chief of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind was killed in an encounter
with security forces in Pulwama district on 23 May.
 Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hinda is a group affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
 Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation at Dadsara village in Tral and a gunfight broke
out when the terrorists tried to escape.
NPPA reduced prices of 9 cancer medicines
 The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has reduced the prices of 9 non-scheduled cancer
drugs by up to 87%.
 This decision is in continuation of nodal agency's efforts to bring down drugs prices.
 In February 2019, the government had capped about 42 cancer drugs at 30%.
BCCI elections to be held on 22 October
 The Committee of Administrators (CoA) announced that the elections of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI) will be held on October 22, 2019.
 The CoA was appointed by the Supreme Court in January 2017 to oversee the sweeping reforms
recommended by the Lodha panel.
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Noida to become Zero Discharge City

 Noida is all set to outdo Nagpur by recycling 100 percent of the sewage water generated in the city.
 Nagpur, till now, is leading the efforts with recycling more than 90 percent of the sewage water it
generates.
 Noida has a total of six STPs across Sectors 54, 50, and 123, 168, with the capacity to treat a total of 231
MLD of sewage, which is beyond the 175 MLD the city currently generates.
AI system in MCA 21 to be introduced
 The government plans to introduce artificial intelligence system in the MCA 21 portal.
 This would make the compliance process easier as well as ensure routine enforcement activities are done
round-the-clock on autopilot basis.
 MCA 21 is the electronic backbone for the dissemination of information to all stakeholders.
Centre issued drought advisory
 The Centre has issued a drought advisory to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
and Tamil Nadu, asking them to use water judiciously.
 The drought advisory is issued to states when the water level in reservoirs is 20% less than the average of
live water storage figures of the past 10 years.
Ordinance on Maratha quota approved
 Maharashtra Cabinet approved to circulate an ordinance to amend the Socially and Educationally Backward
Classes (SEBC) Reservation Act, 2018.
 It also approved to recompense the fees to the general category-students, who will be affected after the
promulgation of the ordinance.
Kerala to go paperless
 The Kerala State Assembly is undertaking E-Vidhan, an initiative to digitize all records.
 The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in 14 months. The project is expected to cost
around Rs.40 crore.
 Once the project is completed, all the Assembly proceedings will go paperless.
Union Ministry of Envt to undertake a project
 Union Ministry of Environment announced a project to create DNA Database for Indian Rhinos.
 This is done in order to curb poaching and collect evidence for wildlife crimes including Rhinos.
 The deadline to meet this project is 2021.
 The database will be kept in the Wildlife Institute of India(WII) headquartered in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
Advisory Council of the 15th FC held
 The third meeting of the Advisory Council of the 15th Finance Commission was held in New Delhi on 17 May
2019.
 The Council Members were informed about the progress made in terms of State Visits by the
Commission and consultations with the RBI, bankers and financial institutions.
CBIC introduced weightage system
 Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) introduced a weighting system for appointments under
compassionate grounds.
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 It will be based on nine criteria like family income, dependents, remaining service period of the deceased,
etc.
 The main objective is to ensure objectivity, transparency, and uniformity in the selection process for
appointments on the compassionate ground.
35% graphite reserves found in AP
 About 35% of India's total Graphite reserves are found in Arunachal Pradesh, as per the GSI report.
 This is the highest found in the country.
 With 35% of India's Graphite deposits being found in Arunachal Pradesh, the State could now be developed
as the leading producer of graphite in the country.
NSE penalised 250 companies
 The National Stock Exchange (NSE) penalised around 250 companies for non-compliance with the SEBI
Listing Obligation and Disclosure Requirement Regulations (LODR) 2015.
 Violations include non-appointment of woman director, compliance officer, share transfer agent and delay
in intimation of board meeting.
BSE launched a mobile app
 BSE has launched 'BSE StAR MF' app to enable more participation and help mutual fund distributors process
transactions faster.
 BSE StAR MF mobile app supports real-time client registration and paperless transactions, creates and
uploads mandate for SIPs, generates the basket of multiple orders, and more.
 Its launch would further provide the comfort of doing business to its 24,000 members.
Electoral Bonds worth Rs. 3600 crore sold
 Electoral bonds worth over Rs 3,500 crore were sold to the donors of India’s political parties in just the last
two months, an RTI response from the SBI noted.
 Sales then shot up by 65% in April 2019, with bonds worth Rs 2,256.37 crore being purchased, making it a
total Rs of 3,622 crores.
 Electoral bonds are a transparent way to raise money.
Fine imposed on Nainital Bank
 RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1 crore on Nainital Bank for its failure to fully automate the non-
performing asset (NPA) identification process.
 The penalty was imposed under the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
 This action is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance.
ICICI Bank, Goibibo launched new travel card
 ICICI Bank along with online travel booking portal Goibibo launched co-branded multi-currency card-
Goibibo ICICI Bank Travel Card.
 Customers can use one card for multiple currencies and enjoy discounts on flights and hotel bookings.
 The card is accepted across 200 countries and 4.6 merchants globally and can be dealt in 15 currencies.
Govt to mandate QR code based payments
 The Indian government is planning to mandate a quick response (QR) code based payment method option
using Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at all shops.
 The prime idea is to make digital payment more popular and bring a behavioral change in the ecosystem.
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 The GST council approved the proposal. The move will also provide a GST benefit to both shops and
consumers.
Workshop on Artifical Bio Organs held
 Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) recently organized a 1-day workshop on Organ Bio Printing at the
Kalam Convention Center, AMTZ Campus in Visakhapatnam.
 The workshop explored 3D printing, an innovative technology that covers all medical disciplines and offers
new opportunities in diagnostics and therapy.
Project SPARROW-CBIC implemented
 Project ‘SPARROW-CBIC’ for Group ‘B’ and ‘C’ Officers of Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC)
was implemented.
 It is online writing of Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) in SPARROW (Smart Performance
Appraisal Report Recording Online Window) .
 It is one of its kind in terms of Scale/number of employees covered as far as Central Government
Departments are concerned.
Ban on LTTE extended for 5 years
 The central government has extended the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for five years
with immediate effect.
 The ban has been extended under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
 The notification stated that the LTTE's continued violent and disruptive activities are prejudicial to the
integrity and sovereignty of India.
Maruti Suzuki set up skill training centre
 Maruti Suzuki India has opened a skill training centre at ITI-Becharaji, in Gujarat, that can provide training to
over 7,000 trainees annually.
 The Centre of Excellence (CoE) at Becharaji was set up in collaboration with Gujarat government.
 It will be used to train and improve the level of technical education of ITI students in the state and
effectively contribute to Skill India initiative.
Yamaha Motor achieved new milestone in India
 Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer Yamaha Motor has achieved 10 million production milestone in the
country.
 The company has three manufacturing facilities at Surajpur (Chhattisgarh), Faridabad (Haryana) and
Chennai (Tamil Nadu).
 It also achieved a milestone of producing five million units between 2012 and 2019.
NGT directed 18 states to submit action plan
 The National Green Tribunal directed 18 states and 2 Union Territories to submit an action plan within
three months to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
 This is being done to ensure utilization of treated waste to reduce pressure on the groundwater resources
throughout the country.
 The states which have not submitted action plans include Gujarat, Assam, Bihar, and Punjab.
Doordarshan launched a souvenir store
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 Public service broadcaster Doordarshan has launched a souvenir store on online shopping website Amazon
India.
 A range of merchandise with the tagline 'I am in your DNA, I am your Doordarshan' will now be available on
the store.
 The idea is to establish an even stronger relationship with viewers who have grown up on shows like
Malgudi Days, Ramayana and Mahabharat in the 1980s and 90s.
Infosys' FCRA licence cancelled
 The Home Ministry has cancelled the FCRA licence of Infosys Foundation after a request was made by the
not-for-profit initiative of it.
 The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) enables an association or an NGO to receive foreign funds,
and they have to mandatorily register under it to receive such funds.
ABHYAS successfully tested
 DRDO conducted a successful flight test of ABHYAS - High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) from
Interim Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha on 13 May 2019.
 The flight test was tracked by various RADARS & Electro Optic Systems and proved its performance in a fully
autonomous waypoint navigation mode.
 The configuration of ABHYAS is designed on an in-line small gas turbine engine.
Odisha CM demanded special category
 Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik demanded special category status from Centre for his disaster-prone state,
saying it faces natural calamities almost every year.
 He said special category status is the need of the hour due to the massive loss to infrastructure which may
stall growth of the state.
 In the last five years, Odisha has witnessed Phailin, Hudhud, Titli and now Fani.
Thrissur ‘Pooram’ festivities began
 An unprecedented crowd gathered to witness Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran of 36-hour-long Pooram
celebrations at Thekkinkadu maidan on 12 May 2019.
 The elephant Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran, fondly called as ‘Raman’, opened the Thekke Gopura Nada
of Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple.
 The Vilambaram ritual declares the pooram celebrations open.
Chennai to get its first unmanned substation
 The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) has identified a substation to be
upgraded into an unmanned substation- the first of its kind in the city.
 The 33 (KV)/11 KV substation is located right at the heart of the central business district of Anna Salai, near
the Express Mall on Woods Road.
 It has been chosen for the upgrade.
Assam produced an orchid link to the Orient
 An Assam forest officer’s chance discovery has given India one of its smallest orchids in terms of size and
duration of bloom to be recorded botanically.
 Lecanorchis taiwaniana is a mycoheterotroph, one of two types of parasitic plants that have abandoned
photosynthesis.
 The Japanese Journal of Botany has published it as a new record for the flora in India in its latest issue.
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Kerala linked Aadhaar to attendance

 Kerala’s Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has made Aadhaar-based attendance mandatory for all
government offices in the state.
 All government offices are to install Aadhaar-based biometric attendance systems within six months,
according to the 6 May order.
 560,000 officials, from those in the secretariat to government school staff, will need an Aadhaar number to
draw their salaries.
WTO meeting began in Delhi
 The World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting of developing countries began in New Delhi on 13 May
2019.
 The meeting will provide an opportunity for the Ministers to discuss various issues and way forward.
 16 developing countries and 6 Least Developed Countries, LDCs are participating in the meeting
including China, South Africa, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Bangladesh.
WHO for eliminating industrial trans fats
 The World Health Organisation (WHO) has partnered with the International Food and Beverage Alliance
(IFBA).
 Trans fat could be eliminated from the industrially produced global food supply by 2023 if the World Health
Organization (WHO) has its way.
 Trans fat is also called the worst form of fat in food, responsible for over 5,00,000 deaths globally from
coronary heart disease each year.
2019 to be observed as ‘Year of next of kin’
 The Indian Army is commemorating 2019 as the ‘Year of Next of Kin’.
 It plans to reach out to the next of kin of battle casualties, ex-servicemen and serving soldiers to inform
them of entitled financial benefits, welfare schemes and help resolve pension-related problems.
 The issue gains importance in light of most next of kin of deceased soldiers being unaware of the financial
benefits.
Non venomous snake species discovered
 Taxonomists have discovered a non-venomous species of snake in Mizoram.
 The findings about the snake were published in the taxonomic journal, Zootaxa, by a team of scientists from
India and abroad.
 The Mizo rain snake (Smithophis atemporalis) has been named after eminent British herpetologist, Malcom
A Smith, for his contribution to Indian herpetology.
India to add 3 million tech jobs
 The Indian tech industry will add another 3 million new jobs by 2023, as per the Indian Staffing Federation
(ISF).
 With the additions, the size of the country’s tech army will be 7 million by 2023.
 All these new jobs would come up in digital technology areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine
learning, Internet of things (IoT), data science, analytics, big data, and blockchain.
NDDB developed 1st genome assembly of buffalo
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 National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has developed the world's first complete parent-wise genome
assembly of buffalo.
 Named as 'NDDB ABRO Murrah', the genome assembly of riverine buffaloes would provide more insights
about buffalo genome.
 The estimated population of buffaloes in the world is 224.4 million, of which 219 million (97.58%) are in
Asia.
Fiscal deficit touched 4.52% at end-February
 Finance Ministry told that the country's fiscal deficit at ₹8.51 trillion at the end of February 2019 had
touched 4.52% of the GDP.
 The government's has pegged its fiscal deficit target for 2018-19 at 3.4% for which was revised upwards
from the earlier 3.3%.
Genetic study conducted on Lakshadweep
 For the very first-time scientists carried out a genetic study on people of Lakshadweep Islands.
 It was conducted by a team of researchers at CSIR's (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) Centre for
Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).
 It found the close genetic link of Lakshadweep islanders with people from the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and
India.
India's first mega science exhibition
 India’s first ‘mega-science’ exhibition ‘Vigyan Samagam’ was inaugurated in Mumbai.
 It is organised by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the Department of Science and Technology
(DST), and the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM).
 After Mumbai, the exhibition will move to Bengaluru from 7 July, and on to Kolkata and then New Delhi.
New system to monitor rowdy-sheeters
 Hyderabad Police has launched a new monitoring system on the activities of rowdy-sheeters, assuring its
citizens of a safe and secure environment.
 The new monitoring system is known as 'rowdy-sheeters module,' which is incorporated in 'TSCOP' mobile
application.
 Through this system all the rowdy-sheeters data is available police station-wise.
India CEO forum organised on climate change
 India CEO Forum on Climate Change was organized by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEFCC)on 8 May 2019.
 The Forum consisted of high-level discussions across several sessions covering topics from India’s Nationally
Determined Contributions.
 The sessions voiced deliberations from the government on India’s international commitments to fighting
climate change.
FAW outbreak affects over 5,000 farmer
 An outbreak of 'Fall Armyworm' has affected at least 5,636 farming families in over 200 villages in Mizoram.
 The outbreak caused by the crop pest has affected maize cultivation in 2,055 hectares in 227 villages of all
the eight districts.
 Agriculture experts said that FAW is a lepidopteran pest feeding on multiple plants (polyphagous).
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Thrust to make State thalassaemia-free by 2020

 The Thalassaemia Welfare Association (TWA) launched a campaign to spread awareness among doctors on
screening pregnant women to find out if they were thalassaemia (a genetic blood disorder) carriers.
 Revathi Raj is the honorary president of TWA.
 This was done on the World Thalassaemia Day i.e. 8th May 2019.
Odisha sought Rs.7000 crore under PMAY Scheme
 The Odisha State government demanded special allotment of Rs.7,000 crore under the Prime Minister Awas
Yojna with 90:10 funding ratio.
 Provision of five lakh disaster-resilient affordable houses which would require Rs.7,000 crore was sought by
the State.
 Centre will provide further assistance to cyclone-hit Odisha after the assessment by an inter-ministerial
Central team.
Odisha’s wildlife sanctuaries ravaged by Fani
 Cyclone Fani, packing wind gusts of up to 240 kmph, rendered not only millions of people homeless but also
dealt a body blow to wildlife and forest resources in the region.
 On May 3, the storm swept across several wildlife sanctuaries as it crossed the Odisha coastline.
 The sanctuary has been reduced to a wasteland with hardly any tree left untouched by Fani,
Desert Storm 2019 began
 Desert Storm 2019, touted to be the longest Cross-Country Rally in India kicked off on 8 may 2019.
 The four-day-long Rally will see over 100 teams competing in high temperatures, treacherous dune
crossings and fast technical gravel straights.
 It comprises 600 km of extremely harsh Special Stages in addition to over 900 km of Transport Stages.
NEET-PG cut-offs reduced by 6 percentile
 The government has decided to reduce the qualifying marks for NEET-PG for 2019-20 by six percentile.
 General category candidates with minimum marks of 44 percentile, persons with disabilities category with a
minimum of 39 percentile and SC/ST and OBC category candidates with 34 percentile will become eligible
for admission to postgraduate medical courses.
Mahashakti temple to be relocated
 The Madras HC directed the State government to relocate the Mahashakti Mariamman Temple following its
removal last year from the ‘Girivalam’ path in Tiruvannamalai.
 Justice K. Ravichandrabaabu directed the Tiruvannamalai Collector to assign the temple at about 270
metres from the original location.
Notto nod must for organ allocation
 In the last one year, the number of Indian patients receiving organs from brain-dead donors has gone up by
56% in Tamil Nadu.
 The number of lungs transplanted on Indians went up from 43 in 2017 to 84 in 2018.
 The National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (Notto) has mandated that an organ could be
allocated to a foreign national only after it gives its approval.
PM announced Rs 1000 cr assistance for Odisha
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 PM Narendra Modi announced to provide manpower, machine, material and money for restoration work in
cyclone FANI affected areas in Odisha.
 Rs 1000 crore financial assistance will be given to Odisha.
 Before the cyclone, 381 crore rupees assistance in advance was declared by the Prime Minister.
 Eastern Command of the Indian Navy is also providing relief materials in Puri and Khurda districts.
Mumbai's last captive white tiger died
 Bajirao, the last captive white tiger, died recently at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, in Borivali, Mumbai.
 He was 18 years and died due to old age related issues.
 Bajirao was born at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in 2001.
 There are six remaining Royal Bengal tigers at the park, four female and two male, all above 10 years of age.
T.N. gives ₹10 crore to cyclone-hit Odisha
 Extending a helping hand to cyclone-hit Odisha, the Tamil Nadu government has announced financial
assistance of ₹10 crore as an immediate relief contribution.
 Edappadi K. Palaniswami is the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
 Severe cyclonic storm Fani has caused unprecedented and extensive damage in certain districts of Odisha,
especially in Puri.
PM Narendra Modi visits Odisha
 Narendra Modi reached Odisha’s capital Bhubaneswar on 6th May to visit districts hit by Cyclone Fani.
 The Prime Minister was received by Governor Ganeshi Lal, CM Naveen Patnaik and Union minister
Dharmendra Pradhan at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.
 Modi undertook an aerial survey of Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak &
Balasore district.
‘Avengers: Endgame’ crossed ₹300 crore mark
 Marvel’s blockbuster superhero flick Avengers: Endgame has closed its second weekend in India by crossing
the ₹300 crore mark to earn ₹311 crore.
 This is the first Hollywood film to cross the ₹300 crore mark in the country, besides having emerged as the
highest Hollywood grosser already.
 It has beaten the ₹227 crore earnings of previous installment Avengers: Infinity War by a long margin.
Geological display boards set up at 2 places
 The Geological Survey of India (GSI) North Eastern Region (NER) installed two geological display boards at
two important sites -- Mawmluh cave and Therriaghat, Sobhar in East Khasi district in Meghalaya.
 GSI is the organisation that studies various aspects of the Earth forming processes and evolution of life.
 GSI is also the primary custodian of the rocks and fossils of the country.
BSNL launches 'Bharat Fibre' broadband service
 BSNL has become the first operator to start optical fiber-based high-speed broadband service in Pulwama
with the launch of 'Bharat Fibre'.
 This is the first such FTTH (fiber-to-the-home) service deployment in the (Kashmir) Valley.
 The Bharat Fibre services are generally not affected even during adverse weather conditions.
Buddhist sculptures unearthed in Telangana
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 Archaeologists excavated a rare life-size stucco Buddhist sculpture in Phanigiri, Suryapet district in
Telangana.
 The figurine represents one of the Bodhisattvas belonging to the Jathaka Chakra.
 The sculpture is also one of the largest Buddhist stucco sculptures unearthed in India till date.
LIC HFL launches Udyam centre
 LIC Housing Finance (LIC HFL) has launched ‘Udyam’, a skilling center in Bengaluru.
 It was launched in association with Lok Bharti Education Society, the implementing partner.
 The Centres of Excellence will provide training to marginalised youth in the BFSI, retail, and IT/ ITES sectors.
 Centers of Excellence (CoE) have been launched in Delhi and Bengaluru.
All EVs to use green number plates
 The Central government has made mandatory for all Electric Vehicles (EVs) to use the green number plates.
 All EVs should use green number plates wherein the private electric vehicles will get white lettering on a
green background and commercial EVs will get yellow lettering.
 The aim is to help distinguish green vehicles to provide easy identification for preferential treatment.
TB is India's Deadliest Infectious Disease
 Tuberculosis is one of India's deadliest infectious diseases.
 It claimed close to three lakh lives between 2012 and 2016,
 Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh registered a high number of deaths per one lakh of the population.
 Sikkim recorded the highest deaths per lakh of the population (66 per 1 lakh population) due to TB.
BHEL commissions 2 lift irrigation projects
 Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has successfully commissioned 2 motor pump set units for the
Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme in Telangana.
 Under the scheme, 89 cumecs of water will be used for irrigation and water supply in nearby drought prone
areas.
 BHEL is presently executing hydro-electric projects of more than 2,900 MW across the country, and 3,904
MW in Bhutan & Nepal.
FANI Cyclonic Storm moves north-northeastwards
 Cyclone FANI is expected to cross Odisha Coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali around Puri during
forenoon of 3rd May.
 The cyclone constitutes maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph and
continued landfall.
 Extremely heavy rainfall (>20 cm) has been forecasted in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Arunachal
Pradesh and Assam & Meghalaya.
Govt. and IIT-D to set up Centre of Excellence
 GoI and IIT-Delhi will set up a Centre of Excellence for Waste to Wealth Technologies to commemorate the
150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
 This will be done to implement sustainable, scientific and technological solutions for waste management.
 This will provide an effective platform to bring together integrated approaches for effective recycle, reuse &
resource recovery of waste.
Water Storage Level in Reservoirs Down by 1%
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 The water storage available in 91 major reservoirs of the country for the week ending on May 02, 2019 was
40.592 BCM.
 This is 25% of total storage capacity of these reservoirs.
 Storage during current year is less than storage of last year and is also less than average storage of last ten
years
 37 Reservoirs out of these 91 have hydropower benefit with installed capacity of more than 60 MW.
750th birth anniversary of Sri Vedanta Desikan
 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu unveiled a postage stamp to commemorate the 750th birth anniversary of
Sri Vedanta Desikan in New Delhi on May 2, 2019.
 He was a poet, devotee, philosopher and master-teacher (desikan) in the post-Ramanuja period.
 The stamp was released by the Indian postal department to commemorate the great philosopher's life and
highly valued works.
Hyderabad's Charminar damaged
 From the 428-year-old Charminar, a huge chunk of lime-plaster from its south-west minaret broke and fell
to the ground.
 Pictures from the site showed that the lime-plaster comprising eight flower-petals, sized about 2.5
meters/0.8 meters, came-off the minaret.
Naxal attack in Gadchiroli killed 15
 A reinforcement party of the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Kurkheda police travelling to Purada was
attacked in a landmine blast.
 Gadchiroli is a district in Maharashtra.
 Devendra Fadnavis is the CM of Maharashtra, while C. Vidhyasagar Rao is the governor.
India's growth forecast lowered to 7.3%
 India Ratings & Research (A Fitch Group Company) has lowered the country’s growth forecast for the
current fiscal to 7.3%, from the earlier projection of 7.5 %.
 The agency has listed three key reasons for lowering its projection.
Government to take over NHB from RBI
 The government will be taking over the National Housing Bank (NHB) after buying entire stake for Rs 1,450
crore from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
 The RBI has exited the NHB, thus making it a fully government-owned entity.
 RBI was holding 100% stake in the NHB, the housing finance regulator.
CBSE announced new internal exams
 CBSE will conduct 2-level exams for Class 10 mathematics and English exams in which 20 marks internal
exam will be conducted by respective schools and 80 marks will be given to theory.
 The circular has been sent to schools with proper guidelines and will be implemented from board 2020.
 A total of 20 marks will be assigned for school-based assessment in each of the exams.
DD-Kashir launched kashmiri version of KBC
 DD-Kashir launched the Kashmiri version of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' at the Doordarshan Kendra's Srinagar
Studios on 29 April 2019.
 The show is named, 'Kus Bani Koshur Karorpaet'.
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 The broadcast will be at 8 PM from Monday to Saturday and will be repeated the following day at 7 am and
2 PM.
IGNOU to launch course on GST
 The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will launch an awareness programme on Goods and
Services Tax (GST) in collaboration with Bombay Stock Exchange Institute Limited.
 The programme will be launched from its July 2019 session.
 It aims to impart the basic knowledge and skills required to fulfill various requirements under the GST Act.
Aurobindo got environmental nod
 The ₹250-crore expansion plan of Aurobindo Pharma's manufacturing facility in Srikakulam district of
Andhra Pradesh has been accorded environmental clearance.
 The project also involves installation of a captive power plant of 8.85 MW.
 The project is expected to create jobs for 600 people directly and 120 indirectly.
India to develop certification facility
 The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is developing India’s own certification facility for air pollution
monitoring equipment.
 The move could boost the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
 At least 40,000 such machines are being used by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and other
government agencies to monitor air pollution levels, including both ambient and source-based emissions.
IRDAI formed 13 member panel
 Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has set up a 13 member committee under
IRDAI Executive Director Suresh Mathur.
 It will review the regulatory framework on microinsurance & recommend measures to increase the demand
for such products.
 It has been formed in the backdrop of a less-than-desired offtake of microinsurance products despite their
inherent benefits.
Cyber Exercise conducted in New Delhi
 Directorate of Indian Defence University organised a 2-day Cyber Exercise on Scenario Building & Response
on 29-30 April,19 at Purple Bay, New Delhi.
 The Exercise was represented by Services, NSCS, NTRO, CERT-in, DRDO, NIC, CSRC, Academia and Industry.
 The scope of the exercise would encompass the threat landscape and its impact, incident reporting &
response framework, and more.
Dentists can practice as Gen. physicians
 Niti Aayog has agreed to the proposal of the Dental Council of India which had sought to allow dentists to
practice as general physicians after a bridge course.
 The proposal was made to explore unconventional methods to address the shortage of doctors in the
country, particularly in rural areas.
 Indian Medical Association vehemently opposed the proposal.
ICMR launched MERA India
 The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched the Malaria Elimination Research Alliance
(MERA) India.
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 It is a conglomeration of partners working on malaria control in order to eliminate the disease from India by
2030.
 The National Vector Borne Diseases Control Program (NVBDCP) of India has also developed a framework to
achieve the target of Malaria free India by 2030.
Cyclone Fani likely to intensify
 The Cyclone Fani in South East Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm.
 India Meteorology Department said it will further intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm by tomorrow
morning.
 It is moving in a north westwards direction at a speed of 21 kilometres per hour.
New Rs. 20 notes to be issued soon
 The RBI would soon issue new Rs 20 notes in greenish-yellow colour.
 The banknote in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) series will have a motif of Ellora Caves on the reverse,
depicting the country’s cultural heritage.
 The dimension of the new Rs 20 note will be 63 mm x 129 mm.
Mr. Naidu visited National Museum of Cinema
 The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu visited the National Museum of Indian Cinema, in Mumbai
on 26 April 2019.
 Exhibits at the museum would take the visitors down the memory lane of their favorite movies, actors and
the music.
 Cinema being the most loved and watched platform by the almost every Indian can act as an instrument of
social change.
Regional language on the medicine labels
 The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recommended that the government should take necessary steps
to include the regional language in the medicine labels.
 The aim is to curb fake, sub-standard and expired drugs.
 Initially, the proposal will be implemented for Iron tablets and polio drops as they are the drugs most
commonly administered to children at government centres.
Vedanta to expand its plant in Rajasthan
 Mining firm Vedanta Ltd. has received environment clearance for the expansion of its oil and gas operation
in Rajasthan.
 This would entail the company an investment of Rs.12,000 crore.
 The proposal is to expand onshore oil and gas production from 3,00,000 BOPD (barrels oil per day) to
4,00,000 BOPD in Barmer and Jalore districts.
DPIIT proposed Startup India Vision 2024
 The Commerce and Industry Ministry has proposed a host of measures such as tax incentives to promote
budding entrepreneurs as part of the 'Startup India Vision 2024'.
 The vision document aims at facilitating setting up of 50,000 new start-ups in the country by 2024 and
creating 20 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities.
SC asked RBI to disclose information
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 The Supreme Court directed the RBI to disclose information pertaining to its annual inspection report under
the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
 A bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao also directed it to review its policy to disclose information
relating to banks under RTI.
 In January 2019, SC had issued contempt notice to RBI for not disclosing annual inspection report of banks
under RTI.
2.9 mn children missed measles vaccine
 India has 2.9 million children who have missed out on the first dose of measles vaccine between 2010 and
2017 despite over 80% of immunisation coverage.
 India, with its large annual birth cohort of 25 million, is followed by Pakistan and Indonesia - 1.2 million
each.
 In 2017 Nigeria had the highest number of children under 1 year of age who missed out on the 1st dose of
vaccine.
Meghalaya to augment fish production
 The Meghalaya government will invest Rs 378 crore in fish production for meeting a supply deficit of 15,000
metric tonnes.
 The state has been able to produce 12,000 MT of fish annually against the demand of over 27,000 MT.
 An investment of Rs 161 crore was made in the first edition of the Meghalaya State Aquaculture Mission
(MSAM) that had benefited 21,000 persons in 2012.
Centre invested in cell based mutton project
 The Centre has approved a Rs. 4.5 crore grant to two premier Hyderabad-based institutions for research
into technology that involves growing animal cells in a laboratory to produce slaughter-free meat.
 The grant, from the Department of Biotechnology, is for an 18-month project, which will look into
developing methods to cultivate stem cells from tissue samples of sheep, to produce mutton.
Gujarat Govt to pay Rs 50 lakh to Bilkis Bano
 The Supreme Court directed the Gujarat government to make a payment of ₹50 lakh as compensation to
Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped during the 2002 Gujarat riots.
 She was 21 years old when the horrific incident happened with her.
 In January 2008, a special court sentenced 11 men for raping Bano and killing her family members, but
acquitted seven people.
Online courses to be offered in 482 schools
 University of Cambridge approved worldwide assessment system, which will offer 482 schools across India
the chance to use a wider new range of online courses.
 Pamoja Education has received its approval by Cambridge Assessment International Education.
 The market for online learning in India is currently growing at 20% per year.
Tata Global to acquire Dhunseri Tea
 Tata Global Beverages Ltd (TGBL) has entered into a non-binding agreement to acquire the branded tea
business of Dhunseri Tea and Industries Ltd, for up to Rs 101 crore.
 The proposed acquisition will be subject to due-diligence, signing of definitive binding agreements and
applicable approvals.
 Dhunseri's branded tea business include 'Lalghoda' and 'Kalaghoda' brands in Rajasthan.
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J&K: Campaign Sweep inaugurated

 In J&K, under a unique Initiative under SVEEP, District Election Officer Kargil Baseer Ul Haq inaugurated the
Campaign Sweep for voters education and awareness from TFC Kargil.
 Under the initiative, more than 1000 employees conducted a sanitation drive along the banks of River Suru
covering an area of more than 4 Km.
 The campaign will continue till 5th of May 2019.
Operation Night Riders began
 The Motor Vehicles Department’s Operation Night Riders began on 24 April 2019.
 It will keep tabs on 500 tourist omnibuses operating from key cities in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra
Pradesh to the State.
 State Transport Commissioner Sudesh Kumar asked all Enforcement Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) to
form 3-member squads under a Motor Vehicles Inspector.
BCCI shifted finals to Hyderabad
 The IPL final scheduled on May 12 was shifted from Chennai to Hyderabad after the Tamil Nadu Cricket
Association (TNCA) failed to get requisite permission from the government to open the three closed stands.
 The 3 stands make up for more than 12,000 tickets and BCCI would have lost out on a few crores of the gate
money.
Himalayan expedition flagged in Leh
 The 14 days, 11 members Himalayan Heights Motorcycle Expedition from Leh to Karakoram Pass was
flagged in at Leh by Lt Gen YK Joshi.
 The expedition began on 7 April 2019 and traversed over 1000 Km in the forbidding landscape of Eastern
Ladakh.
 The expedition team comprised six motorcyclists from the Army Service Corps.
Chennai central station's name is not longest
 The Chennai Central railway station, officially known as Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central
Railway Station, lost the distinction of having the world’s longest railway station name by an alphabet.
 The record for the longest railway station name, which is 58 letters long, is held by
‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch’ in Wales.
Election Commission launches Voter Turnout app
 The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched the Voter Turnout app on 19 April 2019.
 The mobile app is for the voters across the country to see the real-time availability of voter turnout during
the election season in the country.
 The app captures the real-time information gathered by the Returning Officers following which it calculates
the estimated totals.
Chemists and druggists are passe
 First coined in 1945, the words ‘chemist’ and ‘druggist’ are headed for a change, with the Union Health
Ministry replacing them with ‘pharmacy’.
 The phrase ‘chemists and druggists’ was coined over seven decades ago, is quite old, and has lost its
relevance in the current scenario.
 The matter was deliberated upon by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB).
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14 products receied GI tags

 Himachali Kala Zeera, Jeeraphool from Chhattisgarh and Kandhamal Haldi from Odisha are among the 14
products that have received Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the government for 2019.
 The other products which received this tag include Coorg Arabica coffee from Karnataka, Wayanad Robusta
coffee from Kerala, Araku Valley Arabica from Andhra Pradesh, and Sirisi Supari from Karnataka.
Delhi Police launched 2 helpline numbers
 The Delhi Police launched 2 helpline numbers as a precautionary measure to curb noise pollution and
incidents of mob lynching in the national capital.
 The 2 helpline numbers 155270 and 155271 are operated by the Police Control Room.
 These will remain operational 24x7 to ensure quick response and action into complaints of mob violence or
calls related to noise pollution.
20 states joined helpline number 112
 20 states and UTs have so far joined a pan-India network of single emergency helpline number '112' on
which immediate assistance can be sought by anyone in distress.
 The '112' helpline is an integration of police (100), fire (101) and women (1090) helpline numbers and the
project is being implemented under the Nirbhaya Fund.
 It is similar to '911' in the United States.
HAL resumed tests of jet trainer
 Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has resumed test-flying its intermediate jet trainer (IJT) in a modified
version after a gap of almost 3 years.
 It had halted flight tests of the IJT in 2016 after the aircraft encountered problems while undergoing critical
spin tests.
 The trainer aircraft, called the HJT-36, is being developed for new pilots of the Indian Air Force and the
Indian Navy.
Guwahati fuel stations go cashless
 In a major step towards Digital India, the petrol pump owners of Guwahati, have decided to go cashless
completely from 18 April 2019.
 The petrol pump owners have been facing trouble over cash transaction after the enforcement of Model
Code of conduct (MCC) for the Lok Sabha Elections.
 The owners expressed that they had to face numerous hassles during cash deposits into the banks.
Govt targetes IRCTC, IRFC IPOs
 The government is targeting to raise about ₹1,500 crore from initial public offerings (IPOs) of two railway
companies, IRCTC and IRFC, by September 2019.
 Earlier in April 2019, the government raised about ₹480 crore by selling 12.12% stake in Rail Vikas Nigam
Ltd (RVNL).
 The government has budgeted to raise ₹90,000 crore by way of CPSE disinvestment in the current financial
year.
Indiabulls got IRDAI approval
 Indiabulls General Insurance has received preliminary approval from regulator Irdai to foray into non-life
business.
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 In January, another subsidiary Indiabulls Life Insurance Company had received R1 approval from Insurance
Regulatory and Development Authority of India.
 The company is in the process of moving ahead with the next step of filing its application for registration
with Irdai.
Thunderstorm leaves 50 dead in 4 states
 Over 50 people were killed as rain, coupled with thunderstorm and lightning, hit several parts of Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra overnight.
 The unseasonal rain and storm also caused damage to property and crops in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
 Rajasthan witnessed 25 deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 15 and10 people were killed in Gujarat,
three were killed in Maharashtra.
Jet Airways seek Rs. 400 crore
 The Jet Airways board authorised its management to engage with lenders to secure at least a few hundred
crore rupees of interim funding to continue operations.
 The CEO approached the lenders to release Rs.400 crore for the sake of the employees and to prevent a
shutdown.
 Jet requires at least Rs.1,000 crore to meet its immediate needs.
IDBI Bank launched paperless account
 The NRIs living in nearly 40 countries will now be able to open an account in IDBI Bank without submitting
paper documents.
 IDBI Bank has launched 'NRI-Insta-Online' account opening process for NRIs residing in the Financial Action
Task Force (FATF) member countries.
 The person will not be required to furnish physical documents as well as KYC proofs for opening an account
with the bank.
Durjanpur to be renamed as Shivdham
 The MHA approved a proposal to change the name of a village in Madhya Pradesh from 'Durjanpur' to
'Shivdham'.
 The move came after the Home Ministry got no objection from the Geographical Survey of India (GSI), the
Department of Post, the Ministry of Railways.
 Some of the name change proposals cleared by the Home Ministry in recent past include Arikkod as
Areekode and Laxman Garh as Adawala.
BBC India launched Chatbot
 BBC India launched an experimental interactive election chatbot in Hindi and English on Facebook's
Messenger platform as part of a series of Indian General Election-related content.
 The chatbot allows users to interact with the BBC, ask questions and get regular updates as the elections
unfold.
 The special election coverage will be available on smartphones.
TikTok blocked by Google in India
 Google has complied with an Indian court order to block access to the popular app TikTok over government
concerns with illicit content.
 The move could handicap the app's owner, China's Bytedance Ltd., the world's most highly valued startup,
in one of its most promising markets.
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Home Expo India 2019 began

 The 8th edition of HOME EXPO INDIA 2019 opened at India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida on 16
April 2019.
 The 3-day exhibition has been organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).
 Buyers from more than 50 countries including USA, Europe, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, UAE,
Lebanon, Iran, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, will be visiting the home expo.
Workshop on Loss & Damage conducted
 A 1-day National Consultation on Loss and Damage was hosted by the Ministry of Environment in New Delhi
on 16 April 2019.
 India has been experiencing weather and climate-related loss and damage, the Kerala floods and Ockhi
being the rarest of the rare events.
 The workshop had 2 technical sessions on topics including ‘Strengthening response to address loss and
damage’.
SC banned mining activities in Kaziranga park
 The Supreme Court has banned all mining activities along the Kaziranga National Park and catchment area
of rivers originating in Karbi Anglong Hills in Assam.
 A bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta issued a notice to the Assam government and
sought its reply within 3 weeks.
100 sanitary pad machines to be installed
 As part of a police welfare scheme, Mumbai Police is set to install over 100 sanitary pad vending machines
and incinerators for women police officers across the city.
 Action Committee Against Unfair Medical Practices along with Brihan Mumbai police have launched a
project "Smart Maitrin".
 Under this project,140 sanitary pad machines will be installed at 93 police stations across the city.
Greenam Energy set up power plant
 Greenam Energy has set up its first floating solar power plant at Tuticorin.
 AM International Group Founder-Chairman Ashwin Muthiah laid the foundation stone for the power plant,
which would lead to significant energy savings.
 The 24 MW floating solar power plant would be one of its kind and the first floating renewable energy
initiative to optimise energy production in industrial plants.
Himachal Pradesh celebrated 72nd state day
 The 72nd Himachal Day was celebrated with gaiety and fervour in the state on 15 April 2019.
 Governor Acharya Devvrat unfurled the national flag at an event on the historic Ridge maidan in Shimla to
mark the day.
 He inspected an impressive parade led by Parade Commander Deputy Superintendent of Police Shakti
Singh.
Rotary Club of Madras North started project
 Project Kannamma is the initiative of the Rotary Club of Madras North to provide sanitary napkins to the
students.
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 It was started in August 2018 by providing free, biodegradable sanitary napkins to 82 students at the
Government High School in Uthandi of Tamil Nadu.
 The sanitary napkins are provided by the Irula Tribal Women's Welfare Society (ITWWS).
4th RC Asia-Pacific Congress began
 The 4th Resilient Cities Asia-Pacific Congress 2019 started in New Delhi.
 It is organised by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and co-hosted by South
Delhi Municipal Corporation.
 It will conclude on 17th April 2019.
 It offers a lot of innovative solutions that build resilience to climate change at the sub-national level.
Bamboo rice in Odisha after four decades
 Bamboo rice has shown up in Odisha nearly after four decades.
 Odisha had last witnessed Bamboo rice in 1979.
 The Forest Authorities of Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary in Cuttack district have opened up the
gates for the forest dwellers to collect the Bamboo rice.
 The rare rice grows out of a dying bamboo shoot.
Medical devices to get CDSCO certification
 All imported, as well as locally manufactured medical devices sold in India will soon be required to clear
specific safety and quality standards.
 The move is aimed at preventing fiascos such as the one involving Johnson and Johnson hip implants.
 The import, manufacture, and sale of all medical devices will need to be certified by the Central Drugs
Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
RBI employees not government servants
 The Madras High Court observed that the employees of RBI cannot be referred to as 'government
servants' while identifying their employment status.
 The observation came after an RBI employee, E. Manoj Kumar, moved the High Court seeking the
declaration of his result in the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC).
Essel World launched bird park
 Essel World launched an interactive bird park in Gorai recently.
 The first-of-its-kind rain forest-themed park spread across 1.4 acres is home to over 500 exotic birds from
more than 60 species.
 The park is equipped with small ponds for aquatic birds, dense cover of trees for birds to incubate their
eggs and a water stream that offers drinking water to birds.
Apollo Hospitals launched advanced centre
 On World Parkinson’s Day, Apollo Hospitals launched an advanced centre for movement disorders.
 It will offer medical and surgical treatment for patients affected by various movement disorders including
Parkinson’s Disease.
 The centre would offer Deep Brain Stimulation surgeries and other services to treat a wide spectrum of
diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease, cerebral palsy, and dystonia.
Jet Airways halts international flights
 Jet Airways cancelled all international flights until 15th April.
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 This includes flights from London, Paris and Amsterdam.

 Jet Airways is saddled with more than $1billion of debt.
 Vinay Dube is the CEO of Jet Airways.
Retail inflation up to 2.86% in March
 Retail inflation rose to 2.86% in March this year due to increase in prices of food articles and fuel.
 Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation reported that the inflation based on Consumer Price
Index was 2.57% in February 2019.
 It was 4.28% in March 2018.
64th Railway Week of Railway Board
 The 64th Railway Week Function of Railway Board was organized in New Delhi on 13 April, 2019.
 45 officials of Railway Board were presented with awards for their outstanding performances in the year
2018-19.
 V K Yadav is the Chairman of Railway Board.
Parties to share info on electoral bonds
 SC has directed all political parties to provide receipts of electoral bonds to the Election Commission.
 The apex court also directed all political parties to share details of the amount and bank accounts of donors
by 30th May.
 The Centre had notified the Electoral Bond Scheme in January 2018.
 Bonds may be purchased by any person, who is a citizen of India or established in India.
69.43% voter turnout: phase 1 of LS election
 A voter turnout of 69.43 per cent was recorded in phase one of Lok Sabha elections held on 11 April, 2019.
 A total of 91 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across 18 states and two Union territories had gone for polls
in the first phase.
Reinsurance brokers can open FC accounts
 Reinsurance brokers have been permitted by RBI to open non-interest bearing foreign currency accounts
with banks for undertaking transactions.
 Foreign currency account refers to a bank account held or maintained in currency other than the currency
of India or Nepal or Bhutan.
 Earlier, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India had issued a notification in this
regard.
National Symposium held in Delhi
 A national symposium on evidence synthesis began in Delhi on 11 April 2019.
 Its focus was on making science and synthesised knowledge the bedrock of all societal and policy
interventions in the areas of public health, medicine, and social development.
 The symposium is being organised by The George Institute for Global Health and the Campbell
Collaboration.
WB Govt fined for virtual ban on a film
 The West Bengal government was slapped with a fine of Rs. 20 lakh by the Supreme Court for imposing a
'virtual' ban on the public screening of a Bengali film.
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 The court had asked Mamata Banerjee's government in March to ensure that the satirical film is screened
without obstruction.
 The film, 'Bhobishyoter Bhoot' had disappeared from movie halls a day after its release on February 15,
2019.
CRPF Veer Pariwar app launched
 President Ram Nath Kovind launched ‘CRPF Veer Parivar’ app, a mobile application for families of CRPF
personnel killed in the line of duty.
 He also paid homage to the martyrs at National Police Memorial in New Delhi on the occasion of 54th
Valour Day of Central Reserve Police Force, CRPF.
 The app will render all assistance to the families of the martyred CRPF personnel.
River Periyar witnessed decolorisation
 The River Periyar in Kerala is witnessing decolorization.
 The Pollution Control Board (PCB) has attributed the change in colour to the poor quality of water as a
result of eutrophication.
1500 Indian railway stations WiFi enabled
 RailTel has provided free high-speed Wi-Fi services to as many as 500 stations in just seven days.
 Sahibabad has become the 1500th station in the country to get free Wi-Fi facility provided by RailTel, as per
an ANI report.
 RailTel Corp. of India is a PSU under the Ministry of Railways which focuses on providing broadband and
VPN services.
ICMR's ethical guidelines mandatory
 The Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research is now
mandatory and needs to be adhered to for all biomedical research in India.
 This was decided as per the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules 2019.
 This will help bring about much-needed transparency and accountability.
Adani Power received LoI
 Adani Power received the Letter of Intent (LoI) to acquire the insolvent Korba West Power Company
(KWPCL) on 8 April 2019.
 The LoI dated April 6, 2019, was issued by the resolution professional appointed by the Ahmedabad bench
of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
 KWPCL owns and operates a 600 megawatt (MW) thermal power plant in Raigarh District, Chhattisgarh.
NGT formed committee
 The National Green Tribunal formed a committee to look into the alleged erosion of Yamuna floodplain in
Haryana's Sonipat district.
 The nodal agency for coordination and compliance will be the principal secretary of the Haryana Irrigation
and Water Resources Department.
 The joint report may be furnished within 1 month by e-mail so that matter can be taken up before
monsoon.
Tata Motors launched initiative for drivers
 Tata Motors Monday launched an initiative to promote driving profession in the trucking space.
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 Under the Tata Motors Samarth initiative, the company plans to address four critical areas -- health and
wellness, insurance, education and financial planning for the drivers' well-being.
 The auto major aims to reach to five lakh drivers every year under the programme.
Delhi scored high in HRD rankings
 Six colleges of the Delhi University have figured in the top 10 rankings by the HRD Ministry.
 Miranda House scored a hattrick in bagging the first rank.
 Hindu College has been ranked second.
 IIT Delhi has been ranked third in the overall ranking of higher education institutions and the second best
among the engineering institutions.
India Rankings - 2019 released
 The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, released the India Rankings – 2019 on 8 April 2019.
 He also presented the India Rankings awards to the top eight institutions in different categories at a
function held in New Delhi.
 He also released the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) and presented the
ARIIA awards to the top two institutions.
BARC resumed viewership data publication
 Television viewership monitoring agency BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) has resumed the
publication of viewership data on its websites.
 On 1 April 2019, TRAI had issued a show-cause notice to BARC for not complying with its direction on
the release of TV viewership data.
 It is related to the sector's migration to the new tariff regime.
Café Scientifique to be launched in Kerala
 A group of science experts of the Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology will launch ‘Café
Scientifique’ in Kerala.
 Café Scientifique, the first such initiative in the State, aims to promote science among the public in an
interesting way.
 Café Scientifique is a grassroots public science initiative based on the French Café Philosophique model.
India's first A.I enabled motorcycle
 Revolt Intellicorp will manufacture India's first AI-enabled electric motorcycle in June 2019.
 Revolt Intellicorp has been founded by Micromax's co-founder Rahul Sharma.
 The headquarters of the company is at Gurgaon.
 The manufacturing facility of the company is located in Manesar.
Roadis, NIIF to invest $2 billion
 Roadis, a private investor and operator of transport infrastructure worldwide and the National Investment
and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) have jointly set up a platform to invest in road projects in India.
 The platform would invest up to $2 billion of equity targeting toll-operate-transfer models, acquisitions of
existing road concessions and investment opportunities in the road sector.
WhatsApp launches tip line feature
 WhatsApp launched an India-focused fact-checking feature called tip line feature on 2 April 2019.
 It was developed to combat fake news and rumors starting with the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
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 The tip line feature will help create a database of rumors to study misinformation during elections.
 It has been developed in collaboration with India-based media skilling startup PROTO.
Chennai Central railway station renamed
 The Chennai Central railway station has been renamed as Dr. MG Ramachandran Chennai Central railway
station.
 Dr. MG Ramachandran is the former state chief minister and founder of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam (AIADMK).
 The no-objection certificate was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs for renaming the railway station.
Rinzin Dwar inaugurated in Shimla
 Army's Western Command chief inaugurated Rinzin Dwar, the entrance to Pirthi Military station, named
after a slain Army officer, in Shimla district.
 It is situated at Averipatti in Rampur and is named after late Sub Rinzin Dorje of Dogra Scouts.
 He was an accomplished mountaineer who summited Mt Everest and several other prominent peaks.
TRAI asks Telcos to submit plan details
 The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed operators to submit before it all tariff plans
that they offer to select segments of customers at the end of every month.
 TRAI also directed service providers to share with it the number of subscribers at the end of each month
who have availed the segmented offer.
Tata Projects bagged $321 million order
 Tata Projects has received order worth USD 321 million (around ₹2,182 crore) from Nuclear Power
Corporation of India (NPCIL).
 This 2x700 MW power plant order is the company's third contract in the nuclear power sector.
 The scope of work involves construction of main plant buildings, structures and other associated works of
Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana.
1.2 M deaths in India due to air pollution
 Over 1.2 million people died in India due to air pollution in 2017, as per a global report on air pollution.
 As per the State of Global Air 2019, overall long-term exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution
contributed to nearly 5 million deaths in 2017.
 The report was released by the US-based organisation Health Effects Institute.
Odisha received GI tag for Kandhamal Haldi
 'Kandhamal Haldi', a variety of turmeric indigenous to southern Odisha, has earned the Geographical
indication (GI) tag from Intellectual Property India.
 The recognition coincided with the state's Foundation Day (Utkal Divas).
 Odisha, on April 1 1936, was carved out as a separate state in the then British India on a linguistic identity.
Centre to set up TMG in J&K
 The Union Home Ministry has announced setting up of a Terror Monitoring Group to ensure synergised and
concerted action against terror-related activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
 TMG will act against all registered cases related to terror and bring them to a logical conclusion.
 It will identify all key persons including leaders of the organisations who are involved in supporting
terrorism.
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Deadline to link PAN with Aadhaar extended

 The government has extended the last date to link Permanent Account Number (PAN) with Aadhaar
number by six month till 30th of September.
 Earlier, March 31st was the last date.
 The CBDT has also made it clear that it is mandatory to quote and link Aadhaar number from April 1, 2019
in filing the Income Tax Return.
ISRO opens its 1st visitors gallery
 In a first, ISRO opened a visitors' gallery with 5,000 capacity at Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota island on
Sunday.
 The gallery has a clear line of sight to two launch pads and large screens to explain launcher and satellite
features, ISRO said.
 This comes as ISRO launched defence satellite EMISAT along with 28 foreign satellites.
Supply of Euro-VI grade fuels begins in NCR
 Supply of ultra-clean Euro-VI grade petrol and diesel has begun in cities adjoining the national capital.
 Delhi in April 2018 became the first city in the country to leapfrog from Euro-IV grade petrol and diesel to
Euro-VI fuels.
 Rest of the country will follow suit from April 2020.
Tribunal to adjudicate ban on Jamaat-e-Islami
 The Centre has set up a tribunal to adjudicate if there exists sufficient cause to ban the Jamaat-e-Islami
Jammu and Kashmir and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front-Yasin Malik faction.
 The tribunal will be headed by Justice Chander Shekhar of the Delhi High Court.
 The decision to constitute a tribunal was taken while exercising the powers conferred under the Unlawful
Activities Act.
IAF MIG-27 (Upgrade) Crash
 An Indian Air Force MiG-27 (Upgrade) aircraft got airborne from Air Force Station Uttarlai, Rajasthan for a
routine sortie.
 The aircraft crashed approximately 120 km south of Jodhpur.
 The pilot ejected safely and has been recovered by Search and Rescue helicopter.
 A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident.
Int airport in goa suspended by SC
 SC suspends eco clearance for an international airport in Goa.
 The health of the environment is key to preserving the right to life, the Supreme Court has observed in a
recent judgment and suspended the environmental clearance granted for an international airport at Mopa
in Goa.
Odisha statehood day, Utkal Diwas
 Utkala Dibasa or Odisha Day is celebrated on 1 April across the state with great fervor and gaiety in the
memory of the formation of the state. The Indian state of Odisha came into being on April 1, 1936.
 It is also called Orissa Foundation Day and Vishuva Milan.
 President, Vice President, and Prime Minister have greeted the people of Odisha on the occasion of
statehood day, Utkal Diwas.
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Tashigang is world’s highest polling station

 Tashigang, a small Himachal Pradesh village at an altitude of 15,256 feet, is now the highest polling station
in the world.
 The polling station falls in Buddhist-dominated Lahaul-Spiti, one of the 17 assembly segments that form the
Mandi Lok Sabha seat, the second largest constituency in India.
 The polling station covers two villages— Tashigang and Gete.
Union Cabinet approves continuation of BRCP
 The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP).
 BRCP has made it attractive for high-quality Indian scientists working abroad to return to India.
 BRCP has increased the number of locations geographically within India where world-class biomedical
research is undertaken.
Facebook launches tools for general elections
 Facebook launched two new India-specific tools called 'Candidate Connect' and 'Share You Voted' on 26
March 2019.
 Both the tool will help to boost civic engagement during the general elections.
 While 'Candidate Connect' will help people learn more about candidates, the 'Share You Voted' will provide
people with polling information and enable them to announce and celebrate their vote.
EC comes up with PWD app
 In Maharashtra, the Election Commission has come up with a mobile application called 'PWD' for making
voting easier.
 The app would facilitate Divyang voters special facilities including wheelchairs, ramps, and transport from
home at polling booths during the Lok Sabha elections.
 The largest group among Divyang voters across Maharashtra are those suffering from visual impairment.
NTPC to set up floating solar power plant
 National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is setting up a 25 MW floating solar power plant in its water
storage reservoir at NTPC-Simhadri in Visakhapatnam.
 The floating solar power plant is being set up as part of the company’s efforts to diversify into the solar
segment.
 NTPC is also setting up a Flue-Gas Desulphurisation plant (FGD).
Govt gives GI tag to five coffee varieties
 The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has awarded a Geographical Indication (GI)
tag to five varieties of Indian coffee.
 The coffee varieties are Coorg Arabica coffee from Karnataka, Wayanad Robusta coffee from Kerala,
Chikmaglur Arabica from Karnataka, Araku Valley Arabica from Andhra Pradesh, and Bababudangiris
Arabica coffee from Karnataka.
ECI collaborates with Indian Railways
 Election Commission of India (ECI) and Indian Railways have collaborated for Voter Awareness campaign for
Lok Sabha Election 2019.
 ECI will utilize four long-distance Trains to carry voter awareness and motivational messages.
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 The Train displays Voter Helpline number and the National Voters’ Services Portal besides motivational
messages urging people to Vote.
Assam CEO launches 'Enajori' initiative
 Assam Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Sahu launched the 'Enajori' initiative in Guwahati.
 It is a joint initiative of CEO Assam and Social Welfare Department with an objective to make Lok Sabha
Elections accessible to Persons with Disability (PwD) voters.
 In Assam, the Bongaigaon district administration has developed a mobile app Sankalp to particularly reach
out to the first-time voters.
Coffee Board activated marketplace
 Commerce Secretary, Dr.AnupWadhawan, launched blockchain based coffee e-marketplace through video
conferencing in New Delhi on 28 March 2019.
 This pilot project will help integrate the farmers with markets in a transparent manner.
 It will also reduce the number of layers between coffee growers and buyers and help farmers double their
income.
Assam launched initiatives to educate voter
 Assam State government has launched initiatives to educate voters.
 Folk song competitions, quiz programmes and appeals by celebrities are some of the initiatives being
undertaken by the election office in Assam for attracting peoples.
 Polling stations with low female voter turn-out have been identified and ‘mahila voter rallies’ are being
held.
IIT Delhi developed AI system for malaria
 Researchers at IIT Delhi have developed an AI-based electronic hardware system to detect malaria,
tuberculosis, intestinal parasite, and cervical cancer in milliseconds.
 The system can be used for healthcare access in resource-constrained areas with limited access to human
specialists.
 The long-term impact would be to enable future deployment of the platform in rural areas.
Indo-Ger Dev Corp help in waste segregation
 The Indo-German Development Corporation, GIZ, will help the North Delhi Municipal Corporation carry out
waste segregation activities.
 The tie-up is for a five-year period during which time the development corporation will provide technical
assistance such as training.
 The company is already engaged in a waste segregation project called ‘Alag Karo’ in Gurgaon.
Vedanta reported oil discovery
 Cairn Oil and Gas, a subsidiary of Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Ltd, announced an oil discovery in its Krishna
Godavari basin block in the Bay of Bengal on 27 March 2019.
 Cairn India had won the KG-OSN-2009/3 block in June 2010 during the edition of the New Exploration
Licensing Policy (NELP).
 The first exploration well A3-2 drilled in the block was a gas discovery.
Mentioning of caste in FIRs barred
 Punjab and Haryana High Court barred the mentioning of caste in the FIRs.
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 The court directed its judicial officers and the governments of Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of
Chandigarh, to not mention the caste of the accused, victims or witnesses in any of the proceedings before
it.
Distance programmes in agriculture prohibited
 The University Grants Commission (UGC) has prohibited imparting distance degree programmes in
agriculture.
 As per UGC Open and Distance Learning Regulations, 2017, professional programmes such as medicine and
engineering are not permitted to be offered in distance mode.
 YCMOU and IGNOU are among the institutions offering degree and diploma programmes in agriculture
science.
Creation of additional posts approved
 The Union Cabinet approved the creation of additional posts of 3 Judicial Members and 3 Technical
Members in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
 The posts will be created in Level 17 (Rs.2,25,000/- fixed) plus allowances as admissible.
 This will ensure to meet the mandate provided to NCLAT by the Finance Act, 2017, and the Companies Act,
the IBC, 2016.
CWC land to be acquired by Telangana govt
 The Union Cabinet approved the acquiring of 372 sq. yards out of 10 acres of land including the compound
wall in the eastern side of Central Water Commission land by the Telangana Government.
 This would be done for improvement of Radial Road No.30 by widening of road with nil charges.
 A Center of Excellence is proposed to be constructed over the allotted land.
A-Sat missile destroyed live satellite
 India has entered its name as an elite space power. An anti-satellite weapon A-SAT, successfully targeted a
live satellite in 3 minutes on a low earth orbit.
Till now only the US, Russia and China have achieved this; now India is the 4th country to achieve this feat.
 Mission Shakti was a difficult target to achieve which was completed successfully within 3 minutes of
launch.
No clinical trials in India for new drugs
 New drugs approved for use in select developed markets will be automatically allowed in India if the global
trials included Indian patients.
 The new Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, has done away with the formality of conducting local trials.
 It will reduce the time taken by the company to introduce the drug in India and prevent duplication of
studies.
Gandhi's health records published
 Mahatma Gandhi’s health files, published for the first time, reveal that he ailed from high blood pressure,
weighed 46.7 kg at a height of 5 feet 5 inches (recorded in 1939).
 These facts related to his health have been published for the first time in a special edition the Indian Journal
of Medical Research (IJMR) on ‘Gandhi and Health @ 150’ by the Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR).
RBI appointed 5-member committee
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 RBI appointed 5-member committee under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani to further deepen digital
payments and enhance financial inclusion through Fintech.
 The RBI has requested the committee to give recommendations in 3 months in this regard.
 This was announced at the inaugural event of Fintech Conclave organized by Niti Aayog in New Delhi on 25
March 2019.
Vijaywada Railway station got gold rating
 Vijayawada railway station, one of the busiest railway junctions in the country, has received Gold Rating by
the Indian Green Building Council.
 Council Chairman Meka Vijaya Sai presented the gold rating shield to Divisional Railway Manager R
Dhananjayulu on 25 March 2019.
 The station boasts of 100% LED lighting, five star rated fans, pumps and motors, and solar water heating
systems.
CBSE to introduce AI,Yoga as new subjects
 The CBSE will introduce artificial intelligence (AI), early childhood care education and yoga as new subjects
in school curriculum from the upcoming academic session.
 The CBSE is introducing AI as an optional 6th subject at Class IX from the session 2019-2020 onwards.
 yoga and early childhood education as elective subjects will be introduced at senior secondary level.
Yarn Bank set up for weavers
 A yarn bank has been set up at the Mysore Powerloom Silk Manufacturers Cooperative Society on Avenue
Road to benefit the state’s weavers.
 The bank will supply pure silk yarn and zari to weavers who subscribe.
 The bank, regardless of the price rise in the open market and the menace of middlemen, ensures a steady
supply of yarn to the weavers from southern Karnataka.
Karnataka Bank reported fraud to RBI
 Karnataka Bank reported a fraud to RBI amounting to Rs 13.26 crore in the fund-based working capital
facility extended to SRS Finance.
 The fraud was on account of diversion of funds.
 SRS Finance is a non-banking financial corporation (NBFC) with focus on corporate finance and investments,
and the consumer finance business.
FinTech Conclave 2019 held
 NITI Aayog organised a day-long FinTech Conclave at Dr. Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi on 25th
March 2019.
 The objective is to shape India’s continued ascendancy in FinTech, build the narrative for future strategy
and policy efforts.
 It hosted more than 300 representatives from the leading Financial Institutions including HDFC Bank, ICICI
Bank, SBI Card, Tata Capital and FinTechs.
84% reduction in TB deaths in India
 India achieved an 84% reduction in tuberculosis deaths among people living with HIV by 2017.
 It is the highest recorded decline among over 20 nations and it is also three years ahead of the 2020
deadline.
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 World Health Organisation estimates have shown that globally, TB deaths among people living with HIV
have fallen by 42% since 2010.
Threats to bumphead Parrot Fish in Andaman
 Bumphead parrotfish, Bolbometopon muricatum, is an important component of coral reef ecosystem but is
highly endangered globally.
 It is categorized as ‘vulnerable’ in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
 A group of researchers recently studied the distribution, abundance, and dangers to this species in the
waters of Andaman and Nicobar islands.
SAIL launches smart garbage bins
 Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has launched smart garbage bins made of SAIL Salem stainless steel.
 These smart garbage bins will be able to send a signal to the garbage collection vehicle about the ‘fill-up’
position of the bin, aiding better cleaning and lower human intervention.
 These will be installed in underground Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) pits at the Smart Garbage
Station.
Karnataka govt bans Ola Cabs for 6 months
 The Karnataka government's transport department suspended app-based Ola Cabs's aggregator license for
6 months.
 The Ola is charged with running bike taxis in violation of license conditions and violated government rules.
 Aggregator means a person who is an aggregator or operator or an intermediary/market place who
canvasses or solicits or facilitates passengers for travel by taxi.
President Kovind to visit Croatia
 President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Croatia, Bolivia, and Chile from 25 March 2019.
 He will participate in India-Bolivia business forum meeting and interact with students.
 He will meet President and Prime Minister of Croatia and discuss the issues of mutual interest.
 The capitals of Croatia, Bolivia, and Chile are Zagreb, Sucre, and Santiago.
Intain Fintech to launch blockchain product
 Intain Fintech, an AI and block chain-based software products firm, will be launching 'eMulya', an intelligent
block chain.
 It facilitates efficient, secure and trustworthy asset securitisation transactions for NBFCs in India by end-
2019.
 Intain has its global AI Lab in Pune with 10 people and it will hire 15 more staff in Chennai for this purpose.
Deepest shaft cave discovered in Meghalaya
 India's deepest shaft cave Krem Um Ladaw has been discovered in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district.
 The cave has a 105 m deep shaft entrance passage.
 This comes a year after the world's longest sandstone cave Krem Puri was discovered in Meghalaya.
 With all these discoveries, Meghalaya has become one of the top caving regions of the world.
15th Finance Commission to visit Mizoram
 The Fifteenth Finance Commission shall be visiting the State of Mizoram on 25-26 March 2019.
 This will be the 20th State that the Commission will be visiting.
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 As part of its visit, the Commission will be holding detailed meetings with Chief Secretary and Senior officers
of the State and will be given a presentation by the State Department of Finance, Urban Development, and
Rural Development.
Gauri Sawant: 1st transgender ambassador
 The Election Commission appointed transgender social activist Gauri Sawant as one of the 12 election
ambassadors from Maharashtra.
 Following the Supreme Court order, transgenders got the right to vote for the first time in 2014.
 There are 113, 184, and 123 registered transgenders in constituencies of Bhiwandi, Kalyan, and East
Mumbai respectively.
Ice Stupas created
 Over 12 villages in Ladakh have built Ice Stupas in various villages.
 In each Ice Stupa, at least 30-50 lakh litres of water is saved. This is apart from the naturally saved water in
the slopes of mountains.
 With the technical and material support by the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh ( HIAL), village
youths enthusiastically participated in building the ice Stupas.
Spicejet got IATA membership
 SpiceJet joined global airlines' grouping IATA as a member, becoming the first Indian low-cost carrier to get
the membership.
 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents more than 290 airlines, including Air India, Jet
Airways and Vistara.
 The IATA membership is significant on account of SpiceJet's plans for rapidly expanding its international
footprint.
Conclaves concluded
 The 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnerships concluded in New Delhi on 19th
March 2019. The three-day conclave was organised by the Ministry of Commerce in association with
Confederation of Indian Industry and EXIM Bank of India.
 Ministry of Steel organised a two-day Vigilance Conclave in New Delhi which concluded on 19th March
2019.
Military bands to perform in CSK-RCB opener
 Military bands will perform at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium ahead of the opening fixture of the Indian
Premier League (IPL).
 BCCI will also contribute Rs. 20 crore for the welfare of the armed forces in the wake of the Pulwama terror
attack, where 44 CRPF personnel were killed.
 Indian players had also paid their respects by sporting Army camouflage caps in the third ODI in Ranchi.
Mizoram Assembly passed a bill
 The Mizoram Assembly passed the Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers Bill, 2019 on 18 March
2019.
 The bill seeks to detect foreigners illegally residing in the northeastern state, that shares an over 700-km
border with Bangladesh and Myanmar.
 The measures proposed under the legislation are intended to provide a credible individual identification
system.
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Name change of Nagaland village

 The Centre gave its consent for changing the name of Mangkhi village in Tuensang district of Nagaland to
Mungankhun village.
 The central government has given its 'no-objection' to rename 22 villages, towns and railway stations across
the country since December 2017.
 Some of the cleared proposals are Arikkod as Areekode in Malappura, Kerala and Laxman Garh as Adawala
in Rajasamand, Rajasthan.
i-help launched in Assam
 The ‘i-help’ initiative to promote digital electoral literacy in Assam was launched in view of the forthcoming
Lok Sabha poll.
 It is a joint initiative of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and Common Service Centres (CSC).
 The CSCs are internet-enabled access points spread throughout the country delivering various government
and non-government digital services to the citizens.
EC sets pre-poll deadline for manifestos
 Election Commission barred political parties from releasing election manifestos 48 hours before both single
and multiphase polling.
 In a multi-phased poll, the silence period of the last 48 hours may be on in certain constituencies while the
campaign is ongoing in other constituencies.
 It also said that during the silence period, political leaders should refrain from addressing the media.
GI tag for Coorg Arabica Coffee & four others
 The Geographical Indications Registry has granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Coorg Arabica
Coffee, Wayanad Robusta Coffee, Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee, Araku Valley Arabica Coffee, and
Bababudangiris Arabica Coffee on 1 March 2019.
 Coorg Arabica Coffee is grown specifically in Karnataka.
 GI tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin.
Health ministry calls for ban on e-cigarettes
 The union health ministry has called for Juul Labs Inc's electronic cigarettes to be blocked from entering the
country.
 Juul has plans to launch its products in India by late 2019.
 In February 2019, drug regulator told all states to ensure that e-cigarettes were not sold or manufactured in
their region.
 More than 900,000 people die each year in India due to tobacco-related illnesses
NGT suspends expansion of thermal plant
 The Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has suspended the expansion plan of the thermal
plant of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd. (UPCL) at Yellur in Udupi district on 15 March 2019.
 The thermal power plant got the Environmental Clearance of 1 August 2017.
 The thermal plant project was challenged in 2004 by the Nandikur Janajagrithi Samithi, an NGO.
IIT Kharagpur to adopt AWS Educate Programme
 The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur will adopt Amazon Web Services (AWS) Educate programme.
 This will help students gain cloud computing skills in artificial intelligence (AI).
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 The programme is Amazon's global initiative to provide students and educators with the resources needed
to accelerate cloud-related learning.
West Nile Virus fever patient reported
 The government of India sent a special medical team to Malappuram district of Kerala from where a
confirmed case of West Nile Virus (WNV) fever, a mosquito-borne disease was reported.
 Birds are the natural hosts of WNV and it spreads to human by Culex mosquitoes.
 The symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and swollen lymph glands.
A task force to address mental health issues
 Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) has formed a task force to tackle mental health issues of college-going
students.
 As India is set to have a large population below 25 years by 2020, experts predict a spurt in cases of
depression, anxiety, and suicides.
 The task force consists of three senior psychiatrists: Dr. Kersi Chavda, Dr. Avinash Desouza, and Dr. Amrit
Pattojoshi
Dolphin numbers dropped in Gandak
 A count of the Ganges River Dolphin in rivers, Gandak and Ghaghara, has revealed the presence of 280
dolphins.
 The number of dolphins recorded in a 324-km stretch of Gandak river was 155.
 The last survey carried out in 2009-10 had recorded the presence of 257 dolphins in the same stretch.
 In a 99-km stretch of Ghaghara river in Bihar, researchers found the presence of 125 dolphins.
FINE inaugurated by President
 President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) in
Gandhinagar in Gujarat on 15 March 2019.
 FINE is an initiative to recognise, respect, showcase, reward innovations and foster supportive ecosystem
for innovators.
 It is aimed at providing a platform for innovators for building linkages with potential stakeholders.
First workshop on IEMF held
 The NITI Aayog and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized the first
workshop on development of the India Energy Modelling Forum.
 it has been envisaged as a pan-stakeholder platform for debating ideas, scenario-planning & discussing
India's energy future.
 The 2-day workshop was held with the support of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).
MCA released national guidelines
 The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) came up with national guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct
(NGRBC).
 For this purpose, the National Voluntary Guidelines on Social, Environmental and Economic Responsibilities
of Business, 2011 (NVGS) have also been revised.
 MCA is also in the process of developing India’s National Action Plan on Business & Human Rights (NAP) by
2020.
Airbus India launched programme for women
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 Airbus India launched an ambitious programme for women professionals who want to return to corporate
careers after a sabbatical or maternity leave.
 ‘Fly Again’ was launched on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2019).
 It will support Airbus India in meeting its requirement for talent as well as increase diversity and inclusion at
the workplace, contributing to long-term business success.
2 Amendment Regulation approved by Cabinet
 The Union Cabinet approved Promulgation of the Daman and Diu Civil Courts (Amendment) Regulation,
2019 and the Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Civil Courts and Miscellaneous Provisions)Amendment Regulation,
2019 under Article 240 of the Constitution.
 The move will be helpful in bringing uniformity in Judicial Service.
BoB launched child daycare facility
 Bank of Baroda launched Crèche – Child Daycare facility within its Mumbai Corporate Office premises on 12
March 2019.
 It will bear 60% of costs for each child, the rest to be borne by parents.
 The larger objective is more representation of women employees in senior positions.
 The daycare is an initiative in creating an environment that is conducive to working women and parents.
YouTube launched music streaming services
 YouTube launched its paid service, YouTube Premium and music streaming app, YouTube Music, in India.
 It will be available for Rs 129 a month, and will also include membership to YouTube Music Premium.
 The service will offer an ad-free experience with background play and offline downloads for millions of
videos on YouTube, as well as access to all YouTube Originals.
Facebook to support start-ups
 Facebook launched Facebook Hubs, an initiative to foster innovation and offer support for budding
entrepreneurs on 12 March 2019.
 It will extend support for start-up community by hosting mentor hours and conducting trainings,
workshops, discussions across 20 locations in India.
 The locations are Delhi, Goa, Gurugram, Noida, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune,and Navi Mumbai.
Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft to be grounded
 The Directorate General of Civil Aviation decided to ground Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft with immediate
effect.
 The decision came in the wake of Ethiopian Airlines crash on 10 March 2019 in Addis Ababa killing all 157
people on board.
 Spice Jet has around 12 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircrafts in its fleet, while Jet Airways has five in the country.
76% Indian businesses hit by cyber attacks
 76% of organizations were hit by online attacks in 2018, as revealed by a new survey '7 Uncomfortable
Truths of Endpoint Security' released on 13 March 2019.
 IT managers discovered 39% of the most significant cyber attacks on their organization’s servers and 35%
on its networks.
 The survey polled more than 3,100 IT decision makers from mid-sized businesses in 12 countries.
12 states banned e-cigarettes
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 Following an advisory from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued in 2018, 12 states in India have
banned Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS).
 These include Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Jharkhand.
 ENDS emits nicotine, the addictive component of tobacco products.
New frog species found in Kerala
 A star-speckled frog species with several features resembling frogs found in South America and Central
Africa was discovered in the Western Ghats in Wayanad, Kerala.
 The frog has been named Astrobatrachus Kurichiyana after the indigenous community living of
Kurichiyarmala.
 An analysis revealed that the frog separated from its near relative almost 60 to 70 million years ago.
IoT India Congress 2019 to be held
 IoT (Internet of Things) India Congress, will be held in Bengaluru from August 22-23, 2019.
 It will include tracks on segments such as healthcare, manufacturing, smart cities, energy, cybersecurity,
skills and development, IoT Standards, and agriculture.
 The announcement of the 4th edition of it was made by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
IoT Panel at a conference.
J&K got its 1st palliative care centre
 Jammu & Kashmir got its first centre for palliative care programme and treatment of cancer patients on 12
March 2019.
 It has been set up under the national palliative care programme by AIIMS, New Delhi and the Union health
ministry and the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network, Singapore.
 Palliative care focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients.
Arecanut got its first GI tag as Sirsi Supari
 For the first time in the arecanut sector, ‘Sirsi Supari’ grown in Uttara Kannada has received the Geographic
Indication (GI) tag.
 It is cultivated in Yellapura, Siddapura and Sirsi taluks.
 The arecanut has unique features like a round and flattened coin shape, particular texture, taste.
Wood snake rediscovered by scientists
 A species of wood snake that wasn’t seen for 140 years has resurfaced in a survey conducted by scientists in
the Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
 The species, endemic to the Meghamalai forests and the Periyar Tiger Reserve landscape, was rediscovered
by R. Chaitanya.
 It was last spotted and recorded by British military officer and naturalist Colonel Richard Henry Beddome in
1878.
Harappan trove discovered
 Archaeologists have stumbled upon a massive burial site dating back to the Harappan civilization, around
360 km from Dholavira in Kutch district, Gujarat.
 The excavation was done jointly by the Kutch University and Kerala University near Khatia village of Lakhpat
taluka.
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 Estimated to be around 4,600-5,200 years old, the burial site is 300 m x 300 m-big with more than 250
graves.
India's Internet base crossed 500m mark
 The internet user base in India exceeded 500 million mark and is likely to reach 627 million by end 2019,
according to the Kantar IMRB ICUBE report.
 The number of internet users is estimated to be 566 million as of December 2018, registering annual
growth of 18%.
 Bihar showed the highest growth in new internet user additions across urban and rural areas; registering
growth of 35% over 2018.
Collection of 3 lakh clothes made record
 A campaign by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, member of erstwhile royal family of Udaipur, has received a
donation of over three lakh clothing items.
 It created a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of clothes for donation.
 Over 76,000 people donated the clothes, which were distributed to the needy.
 The campaign reached out to over 120 schools, 15 colleges, and 30 NGOs.
Reservations in Odisha and MP
 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced 33% quota for women in the allocation of Lok Sabha
tickets of BJD party.
 Madhya Pradesh Congress government issued an ordinance to raise the reservation for Other Backward
Classes (OBCs) from 14% to 27%.
India's 1st LGBTQ clinic inaugurated
 India's first HIV treatment centre and holistic clinic for the LGBTQ community was inaugurated by Humsafar
Trust in Mumbai.
 The centre will give free counseling and provide Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).
 ART is the use of HIV medicines to treat the infection and is recommended for everyone who is infected
with virus and delays the progression of the disease.
CBDT paved way for offshore managers
 The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has started paving way for offshore fund managers to relocate to
India for managing their offshore funds.
 This is being done for the public markets space, mainly foreign portfolio investors (FPI) structures.
 This will also boost flows into India as fund managers will be closer to the ‘deal ecosystem’.
3 special observers appointed for J&K
 The Election Commission formed a 3-member committee to assess the situation on the ground in Jammu
and Kashmir.
 The 3 members of the committee are two retired IAS officers Noor Mohammed and Vinod Zutshi and a
retired IPS officer, A.S. Gill.
 EC will be regularly and on a real-time basis monitoring the situation in the state and the decision of holding
Assembly elections will be taken soon.
11 new regional DD channels launched
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 Prasar Bharati launched 11 state Doordarshan channels, including five for northeast through DD Free Dish,
on 9 March 2019.
 This was done to widen the reach and accessibility of the government broadcaster.
 Chhattisgarh, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland,
Tripura and Uttarakhand got their own DD channels on satellite network through DD Free Dish.
Data usage in India to grow by 2022
 India’s data consumption is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 72.6% to
10,96,58,793 MB by 2022.
 Video streaming constitutes roughly 65-75% of the traffic, as per the Nokia Mobile Broadband Index 2018.
 Internet penetration is increasing in India, and mobile internet penetration is set to reach 56.7% in 2022
from a mere 30.2% in 2017.
Pulse Polio program launched in Nagaland
 The Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Department launched the first round of 'Intensive Pulse Polio
Immunization’ programme on 10 March 2019.
 It is targeting to administer polio drops to all eligible children upto 5 years throughout the state in 2274
polio booths.
 More than 17 cr. children below 5 years across the country will be given polio drops as part of the central
government's drive.
Doon-Mussoorie ropeway project foundation laid
 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat laid the foundation stone for the Dehradun-Mussoorie
ropeway project on 6 March 2019.
 Poma, a French company which manufactures cable-driven projects, will provide the technical support to
the project.
 It will shorten the one-hour zigzag drive to just 15 minutes from Purkul village the base camp at Dehradun
to Mussoorie.
‘One Delhi’ mobile app launched
 The Delhi government launched 'One Delhi' mobile application on 5 March 2019.
 The application will provide a real-time location of bus stops and buses through which commuters can
easily locate the nearest bus stops, number of buses, and routes.
 The app will be updated every 45 minutes with information related to bus and metro routes.
Marayoor jaggery received GI Tag
 The Marayoor jaggery, the traditional and handmade product from Idukki district, received the
Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the government of India.
 This jaggery is made from sugarcane and no chemicals are added during the manufacturing process.
 It is dark brown in colour, high in sweetness and iron, with less sodium content and insoluble impurities.
PM Modi inaugurated PDUIA in Greater Noida
 The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology
(PDUIA) in Greater Noida on 9 March 2019.
 The Institute of Archaeology (IA) is an academic wing of Archaeological Survey of India under the Ministry of
Culture.
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 The aim of this Institute is to provide an opportunity for students to achieve excellence in the field of
archaeology.
Andhra and Madhya Pradesh got new NCLT benches
 The Government of India has approved the establishment of two new benches of National Company Law
Tribunal (NCLT) for the faster disposal of cases.
 The benches will be established at Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh and the other at Indore in Madhya
Pradesh.
 The jurisdiction of the Bench at Amaravati will be the state of Andhra Pradesh and that of Indore will be the
state of Madhya Pradesh.
Foundation stone for KV corridor laid
 PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of corridor and beautification at Kashi Vishwanath Temple at
Varanasi on 8 March 2019.
 This temple corridor will be a role model for all temples and their safety and security.
 All rules, standards and ethical values mentioned in our Shastras have been kept in mind while preparing
the model of this corridor.
Creation of post of Technical member approved
 The Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Post of Technical Member in Securities Appellate Tribunal
(SAT), Mumbai.
 The post will have a pay scale of Rs. 2,25,000/- (fixed) or Level 17 of the Pay Matrix as per the 7th Pay
Commission.
 Creation of the post will facilitate the creation of an additional bench in SAT, thereby allowing speedy
disposal of the increased number of appeals in SAT.
Cabinet approved Kiru Hydro Electric Project
 The Cabinet Committee approved the investment sanction for construction of Kiru Hydro Electric (HE)
Project (624 MW) in Jammu & Kashmir.
 The project is located on River Chenab in Kishtwar district of J&K and will be implemented at an estimated
cost of Rs.4287.59 crore.
 The project is envisaged as a Run of River (RoR) Scheme, designed complying with the requirements of
Indus Water Treaty 1960
Advanced braking systems mandatory
 Ministry of Road Transport & Highways mandated advanced braking systems and technologies for improved
road safety and reducing accidents.
 The provision will be binding on all vehicles with 9 seats and above as per a notification issued on 7
March,19.
 The existing vehicles will be required to adopt new provisions from April 2021, while new vehicles, from
April 2022 will have these pre-fitted.
FMBAP approved by the Cabinet
 The Union Cabinet approved the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) for Flood
Management Works in the entire country.
 River Management Activities and works related to Border Areas were also approved for the period 2017-18
to 2019-20 with a total outlay of Rs.3342.00 crores.
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 FMBAP Scheme will be implemented for effective flood management, erosion control, and anti-sea erosion.
400 acre wetland became dust bowl in 6 months
 A wetland habitat in Uran, near Mumbai that drew a variety of birds, has been completely flattened with
dirt and debris.
 Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) was accused of carrying out illegal reclamation at the Dastan Phata
wetland.
 A huge biodiversity area has been lost in 6 months and action against JNPT officials will be taken.
Govt banned import of solid plastic waste
 The Centre amended the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement)
Rules, 2016.
 This was done to include a prohibition on the import of solid plastic waste even in special economic zones
(SEZ) and by export-oriented units (EOU).
 The amendment has been done keeping into consideration the 'Ease of Doing Business' and boosting 'Make
in India' initiative.
Web Wonder Women felicitated
 The Ministry of Women and Child Development hosted a felicitation event for Web Wonder Women in New
Delhi on 6 March 2019.
 It was organised to celebrate the exceptional achievements of women, who have been driving social
reforms via social media.
 30 women, who were selected after an extensive research process, were honoured by the Minister for
Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi.
Sonbhadra tops NITI Aayog's ranking
 Sonbhadra, Sahibganj, and Chatra topped the ranking of aspirational districts by Niti Aayog for the
December-January period of 2018-19.
 The rankings measured the incremental progress made by 112 aspirational districts in December 2018-
January 2019 across six developmental areas.
 Of 115 aspirational districts, only 112 participated in the survey.
Odisha announced assistance for craftsmen
 As a token of appreciation towards the craftsmen, the Odisha government launched a scheme Mukhya
Mantri Karigar Sahayata on 6 March 2019.
 The scheme will provide them with monthly assistance.
 Craftsmen with over 10 years of experience and annual income below Rs 1 lakh would be eligible to get an
assistance of Rs 800 a month.
 Those above 80 years would get Rs 1,000 monthly allowance.
65% hate crimes against Dalits
 65% hate crimes against Dalits were documented by Amnesty India’s interactive Halt the Hate website.
 Of the 218 documented incidents, 142 were against Dalits, 50 against Muslims, and 8 each against
Christians, Adivasis and transgender people.
 For the 3rd straight year, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of reported crimes, with 57 such
incidents.
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PM visited Karnataka, Tamil Nadu

 PM Narendra Modi visited Kalaburagi in Karnataka and Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu on 6 March 2019 to
launch various development projects.
 He dedicated to the nation the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Terminal and ESIC Hospital and Medical
College, Bengaluru.
 He also unveiled multiple projects in roadways, railways, and energy sector at Kancheepuram in Tamil
Nadu.
Azadi Ke Diwane museum inaugurated
 Minister of State for Culture and Environment, Dr. Mahesh Sharma inaugurated ‘AzaadikeDiwane’ museum
at Red Fort, Delhi on 5 March 2019.
 It is created by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and pays homage to all unsung heroes of freedom
struggle of the nation.
 The museum is 5th in the series of recently inaugurated museums in the Red Fort Complex including
Subhash Chandra Bose museum.
Handloom Haat at Janpath inaugurated
 Textiles Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated the refurbished Handloom Haat at Janpath in New Delhi on March
5, 2019.
 The main objective of the Haat is to provide infrastructure support to handloom agencies to augment their
sales of handloom products.
 She also launched 3 projects besides this, which are Trend Forecasting, Design Innovation Incubator and
Textiles, and Crafts Repository.
Uttarakhand to set up CoE for Himalayan Fibre
 The Uttarakhand government has decided to set up a center of excellence for Himalayan fiber in Almora
district of Kumaon.
 It will be set up with support from the Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA) - Ghaziabad.
 NITRA, under the Union Ministry of Textile, will set up a training institute for developing fiber products at
the Centre.
Project BOLD-QIT inaugurated
 Project BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) on India-Bangladesh
border in Assam was inaugurated on 5 March 2019.
 I&T Wing of BSF undertook the project in January 2018 and completed it in record time.
 Implementation of this project will help BSF to curb all types of cross border crimes and provide respite to
the troops from round the clock human surveillance.
1000 MW NTPL project dedicated to nation
 Coal Minister Piyush Goyal dedicated to the nation a 1,000-megawatt (MW) thermal power project of
Neyveli Tamil Nadu Power Ltd (NTPL) on 4 March 2019.
 He also dedicated 150-MW solar power projects of NLC India Ltd (NLCIL) in Tamil Nadu.
 The 1,000-MW coal-fired thermal power project of NTPL is a joint venture between NLCIL and TANGEDCO
with equity participation of 89:11.
BHEL to set up EV charger network
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 BHEL will be setting up a network of solar-based electric vehicle chargers on the Delhi-Chandigarh highway.
 The project will be covered under the Department of Heavy Industry's FAME scheme (Faster Adoption and
Manufacturing of (Hybrid) & Electric Vehicles in India).
 EV chargers would allay range-anxiety among the electric vehicle users and bolster their confidence for
inter-city travel.
96% usage of toilets under Swachh Bharat
 The National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) 2018-19, found that 96.5% of the households in rural
India who have access to a toilet use it.
 The survey also re-confirmed the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status of 90.7% of villages.
 The survey was conducted between November 2018 and February 2019, covering 92040 households in
6136 villages across the country.
Air pollution costing India $30 billion/year
 Air pollution due to crop stubble burning in northern India causes an economic loss of $30 billion annually,
as per a study unveiled on 4 March 2019.
 Researchers from the US-based International Food Policy Research Institute found that living in districts
with air pollution from crop stubble burning can cause acute respiratory infection (ARI).
 This is first of its kind study.
New airports inaugurated
 PM Narendra Modi will launch civilian flight operations from Hindon airbase on 8 March 2019. He will also
inaugurate the 9.4 km-long Dilshad Garden-New Bus Adda section of Delhi Metro's Red Line.
 Sindhudurg airport in Parule-Chipi area of Maharashtra's Konkan region was inaugurated by Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis and Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu on 5 March 2019.
Guinness Book of World Record for Kumbh Mela
 The Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019 secured a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
 It set the record for the largest crowd management, largest sanitation drive and largest painting exercise of
public sites.
 The festival began on January 14 and concluded on March 4, 2019, with the sixth and final Shahi Snan on
the occasion of Maha Shivratri.
Hailakandi: Top aspirational district
 Assam's Hailakandi district has shot up to number 1 from the 52nd position, among the aspirational districts
of the country as per a new report by the Niti Aayog.
 It ranked 1st among the 112 aspirational districts of India based on the performance during November-
December 2018 and January 2019.
 Deputy commissioners of awarded districts would receive an additional allocation on 6 March 2019.
Essar got nod for shale exploration
 Essar Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Ltd (EOGEPL) received environment clearance for exploring
shale gas reserves in its Raniganj block in West Bengal.
 The expert appraisal committee (EAC) allowed Essar to drill 20 wells to explore shale gas in its Raniganj CBM
block.
 It has been awarded an exploration lease for shale gas, CBM, and hydrocarbons in the Raniganj block.
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2 New Rail projects flagged off

 Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis flagged off 11.28 km long 2nd phase of the Chembur-Wadala-Jacob
Circle of Mumbai monorail network on 3 March 2019.
 PM Narendra Modi flagged off the Tejas Express between Madurai and Chennai, with two commercial
stops.
CISF set new Guinness World Record
 Central Industrial Security Force achieved a Guinness world record feat in single line bicycle parade to mark
the 50 years of the paramilitary force on March 3, 2019.
 The new record was created at the Yamuna Expressway in Noida.
 Personnel of CISF rode 1,327 bicycles non-stop with a uniform distance between bicycles in a single line.
 The parade covered 3.2 km distance non-stop.
Aadhar, voluntary ID proof in banks
 President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to an ordinance that allows voluntary use of Aadhaar as ID proof
for opening bank accounts and buying SIM cards.
 The ordinance will omit Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act relating to the use of Aadhaar by private entities.
 The changes entail a civil penalty of up to Rs. 1 crore on entities that violate the provisions of the Aadhaar
Act.
PM on 2-day visit to Gujarat
 PM Narendra Modi is on a 2-day visit to Gujarat from 4 March 2019.
 He will launch the Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan Yojana (PM-SYM) and inaugurate the first phase
of 6-km-long Ahmedabad Metro service.
 He will also lay foundation stones for Umiya Dham temple and launch SAUNI water scheme.
Gwalior: Centre for Disability Sports
 A Centre for Disability Sports will be set up at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh.
 It will ensure the effective participation of Persons with Disabilities in sports activities.
 It is being developed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
 It will have an Outdoor Athletic Stadium, Indoor Sports Complex and Aquatic Centre.
Kalashnikov rifles unit inaugurated in Amethi
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing facility at Amethi in Uttar
Pradesh on 3 March 2019.
 The facility has been set up by Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd.
 Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd is a joint venture between India's Ordnance factory and a Russian firm.
 The facility will produce the last series of Kalashnikov rifles in the Korwa Ordnance Factory.
Heat Wave 2019: Workshop on Preparedness held
 A National workshop on Preparedness, Mitigation, and Management of Heat Wave was conducted in
Nagpur on 27 and 28 February 2019.
 It was conducted by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Government of
Maharashtra.
 The workshop aims to sensitise States on the need of preparing and implementing specific Heat Action
Plans in line with NDMA’s national guidelines on Heat Wave.
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Government extends ban on SIMI

 The government of India has extended the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
 It was involved in a series of terror acts in the country, for five years.
 The Ministry of Home Affairs termed the SIMI as an unlawful association.
 The decision has been taken as the organisation continues to indulge in subversive activities.
2nd Edition of ISL Dictionary launched
 The 2nd Edition of Indian Sign Language (ISL) Dictionary was launched in New Delhi on 27 February 2019.
 The dictionary was developed by Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) under the
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
 The first edition of the dictionary with three thousand words was launched in March 2018.
Guiness Book of World Record created by DEPwD
 A National Conference on “Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)” was inaugurated in Gujarat
on 1 March 2019.
 '7th Guinness Book of World Record' was created by Department of Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities (DEPwD) on 28 February 2019 at Bharuch, Gujarat.
 The record was created for implanting 'Modern Artificial Limbs (Legs)' on 260 Divyangjans within eight
hours.
Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue to be held
 The second edition of Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) - 2019 will be held on 5 and 6 March 2019 in
New Delhi.
 The aim of the IPRD is to focus attention on the Indo-Pacific, as a maritime geographical-entity.
 It is organised by the Indian Navy and the National Maritime Foundation.
 The IPRD 2019 is based on five themes would be addressed in five sessions spread over two days.
IRCTC launches IRCTC iPay
 The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) launched its own payment aggregator system,
iPay.
 It will provide an improved online digital payment convenience and ease of doing business to passengers
availing online travel services through the IRCTC website.
 This will help reduce the gap between IRCTC and banks which will lead to a substantial reduction in
payment failures.
Government to celebrate ‘Poshan Pakhwada’
 The Government of India will celebrate the first anniversary of 'POSHAN Abhiyaan' by organising Poshan
Pakhwada across the Country.
 The Pakhwada will be launched on International Women’s Day, 8th March, 2019.
 The Ministry of Women & Child Development is the nodal ministry for coordinating activities during the
month.
Blast-proof LPG cylinders to be launched
 A new breed of blast-proof composite Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders will soon be available in
India.
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 Confidence Petroleum India Limited and Time Technoplast Limited announced the launch of their brand
‘GoGas Elite’ in Mumbai.
 The lightweight cylinders are manufactured using composite material and are non-corrosive, UV-protected
&100% recyclable.
Foundation stone laid for NIUM
 AYUSH Minister Shripad Yesso Naik laid the foundation stone of National Institute of Unani Medicine, NIUM
at Ghaziabad on March 1, 2019.
 Once established, the 200-bedded hospital will be one of the largest institutes of Unani Medicine in North
India.
 The institute is an extension of the existing NIUM at Bengaluru and will be developed on a 10-acre area,
costing about 300 crore rupees.
Aadhaar Amendment Bill cleared
 The Cabinet approved the promulgation of an ordinance to allow voluntary use of Aadhaar as identity proof
for opening bank account on 28 February 2019.
 It was necessitated as the Aadhaar Amendment bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 4, 2019.
 It will give effect to changes in the Aadhaar Act such as giving a child an option to exit from the biometric ID
programme after 18 years of age.
PM launched projects in Tamil Nadu
 PM Narendra Modi launched 5 National Highways projects worth 3000 crore rupees in Kanyakumari, Tamil
Nadu on March 1, 2019.
 He also launched a Road Safety Park and Transport Museum.
 He dedicated to the nation the 2 and 4 laning of the Madurai-Ramanathapuram section of NH-87.
 In Visakhapatnam, he addressed a public meeting "Praja Chaitanya Sabha" at the Railway grounds.
J&K approved 10% reservation for general sect
 The Union Cabinet has approved the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order,
2019.
 It will serve the purpose of application of a relevant provision of the constitution as amended through the
constitution (77th Amendment) act, 2019 for J&K.
 It will extend the reservation of up to 10% for the economically weaker section.
4-lane bridge approved on Brahmaputra
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved construction of 4-lane bridge on South Bank on NH-
127 B in the State of Assam/Meghalaya.
 The total length of the bridge will be 19.282 km.
 The bridge will be built under the scheme of North-East Road Network Connectivity Project Phase-03.
 Its construction over river Brahmaputra will save huge travel distance from 205.3 km to only 19.282 km.
DDRS organised by DEPwD
 A National Conference on Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) was organized on 1 March
2019.
 It was organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
 Its objective was to sensitize the stakeholders of the scheme.
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42 cancer drugs under price control

 The government brought 42 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs under price control, capping trade margin at
30%, on 27 February 2019.
 The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has invoked extraordinary powers under Para 19 of
the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 to control prices.
 As NPPA, the MRP for 105 brands will be reduced up to 85%, entailing minimum savings of Rs. 105 crore.
Anthem on plastic-free India launched
 Union Minister Harsh Vardhan launched an anthem as a part of a campaign to make India plastic-free by
2022 on 28 February 2019.
 'Plastic Waste-Free India' is prepared and produced by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Smriti Manch
(PDUSM).
 It has been launched in seven languages -- Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Malyalam and Kannada.
India's 1st indigenous chip unveiled
 India’s 1st Indigenous Semiconductor Chip was unveiled by semiconductor company, “SIGNALCHIP” for
4G/LTE and 5G NR MODEMs in New Delhi.
 4 chips were unveiled at the event, which are- SCBM3412, SCBM3404, SCRF3402, and SCRF4502.
 The RF sections cover all LTE/5G-NR bands up to 6GHz and these chips also support positioning using India’s
own satellite navigation system, NAVIC.
15,000 acres forest under fire in Bandipur
 A fire has ravaged Bandipur, Karnataka, which burnt over 15,000 acres of forest.
 Bandipur National Park is a 874-sq.-km forested reserve in the Karnataka.
 It is known for its small population of tigers.
 The 14th-century Himavad Gopalaswamy Temple offers views from the park's highest peak.
10% quota for weaker sections in Bihar
 Bihar government issued a notification to provide 10% quota for weaker sections in general category in jobs
and educational institutions.
 The reservation is meant for individuals whose annual earning is below 8 lakh rupees and who possess less
than 5 acres of agriculture land.
 Quota allocation for weaker sections in general category would help in providing more employment.
Bhagavad Gita at ISCKON unveiled
 PM Narendra Modi unveiled the Bhagavad Gita prepared by ISKCON Temple devotees in New Delhi on the
occasion of Gita Aradhana Mahotsav on 26 February 2019.
 It measures over 2.8 meters and weighs more than 800 kg.
 It is one of its kind in the world and has the original verses of the Bhagavad Gita along with commentary.
Web Portal launched in Kolkata
 West Bengal Education Minister, Partha Chatterjee inaugurated a web portal, 'Banglar Shiksha'.
 The portal will provide real-time data on state-run and aided schools.
 It will be up and running in two months and is probably the first-of-its-kind online initiative in the state as
well as in the country.
Delhi Declaration on digital health adopted
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 The Delhi Declaration on digital health was adopted at the concluding session of the ‘4th Global Digital
Health Partnership Summit'.
 The summit was hosted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and WHO.
 The declaration will engage citizens in partnering with the government for planning and management of
digital health interventions in health services delivery and improving governance.
India Smart Utility Week 2019 begins March 12
 Upcoming Conference and Exhibition on Smart Energy, Smart Grid and Smart Cities India Smart Utility Week
(ISUW 2019) will be held from 12-16 March 2019, New Delhi.
 ISUW 2019 will be inaugurated by Shri AK Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of Power.
 More than 40 International Organisations and experts from more than 55 countries and 300+ utility officials
will participate in the event.
Bihar: 1st state to have special dog squad
 Bihar has become the first state in India to have a special dog squad for detecting liquor consignment.
 The state also imposed a complete ban on liquor 2 years ago.
 20 trained dogs are a part of the squad at present and were provided 9 months of intense training in
Hyderabad.
 The dog squads are handled by Crime Investigation Department (CID).
6 bronze murals created by Ram Sutar
 The 6 bronze murals located in the Veerta Chakra zone at the National War Memorial, have been created
by Ram Sutar, credited with designing the Statue of Unity.
 Its design draws inspiration from the ''Chakravyuh'' formation.
 The Noida-based sculptor, a Padma Bhushan-recipient also created the busts of 21 awardees of the Param
Veer Chakra (PVC).
Smriti Irani inaugurated Titanwala Museum
 Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated the ‘Titanwala Museum’ in Bagru, Rajasthan on 25 February
2019.
 The museum showcases the Chhipa community’s hand-block printing.
 It will be open from Monday to Sunday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
NID inaugurated at Bhopal and Jorhat
 National Institutes of Design (NID) at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh and Jorhat in Assam was inaugurated.
 Both institutes are autonomous under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT),
Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
 NID Bhopal will begin its academic journey from July 2019 with 60 students in 4-year undergraduate
courses.
Rail Drishti Dashboard launched
 Minister of Railways and Coal, Piyush Goyal launched 'Rail Drishti Dashboard' on 25 February 2019.
 The url of the dashboard is 'raildrishti.cris.org.in'.
 The Dashboard has been launched to keep people informed about the work going on in the Railways across
the country.
 It can be accessed using a desktop/laptop or mobile devices.
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National War Memorial inaugurated

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National War Memorial in Delhi on 25 February 2019.
 It will thereafter become the place for wreath-laying of all designated events such as Republic Day.
 The National War Memorial will commemorate the soldiers who died in wars and operations, including
counter-terrorism, since Independence.
MSME Ministry's conclave on Women Entrepreneur
 The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises organised a conclave on 'Empowering Women
Entrepreneurs 2019, Financing and Enabling Women from Marginalised Sections' in Mumbai on 25 February
2019.
 It was organised under the National SC-ST initiative of the MSME Ministry.
 Entrepreneurs and inspirational women achievers were awarded with 'Enterprising Women of the Year
2018 Awards'.
EVMs are 'information' under RTI Act
 The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled that an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is
'information' under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
 This implies the Election Commission has to respond to an RTI application seeking the EVM either by
providing it or refusing it under exemption clauses in the Act.
 The CIC is the highest adjudicating authority in RTI matters.
Government of India to host construction expo
 The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry will hold a two-day construction expo and conference -
'Construction Technology India' (CTI) in New Delhi from 2 March 2019.
 The expo will be organised under its Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC) initiative.
 Stakeholders across the world will showcase their best technologies to build houses under Pradhan Mantri
Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U).
National Affairs (18-23 Feb 2019)
 A state-of-the-art National Cyber Forensic Lab (NCFL) and the Delhi Police's cyber crime unit 'CyPAD' were
inaugurated on 18 February 2019.
 India's first fulldome 3D Digital Theatre was inaugurated at the Science City on 18 Feb 2019 in Kolkata.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Virtual Experiential Museum (VEM) in Man Mahal in
Varanasi on 19 February 2019.
Rapid transit system approved
 On 19 February 2019, the government of India approved the construction of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut
Regional Rapid Transit system (RRTS).
 The corridor is expected to connect the cities to the centre with a high-speed dedicated rail connector.
 The proposed RRTS will be implemented as a joint venture by the National Capital Region Transport
Corporation (NCRTC) and the state governments.
KP-BOT launched in Kerala
 Kerala police has become first police department in the country to use a humanoid 'robocop' for police
work.
 The name of the robot is KP-BOT and it has been given a Sub Inspector or SI ranking.
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 It was developed by Kerala Police Cyberdome.

 It will be stationed to perform front office duties at the police headquarters.
OMCs to appoint women as 'Ujjwala Didis'
 Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) will appoint more than 10,000 rural women as 'Ujjwala Didis' in Odisha.
 'Ujjwala Didis' will act as grassroot energy ambassadors across Odisha to ensure sustainability of LPG use.
 They will act as a bridge between existing and prospective LPG consumers and the distributors in the state
of Odisha.
Aero India 2019 celebrates Women’s Day
 Highlighting the achievements of Women in Aviation, ‘Women’s Day’ was celebrated on 23 February 2019
at the biennial Aero India 2019 expo.
 It was held at the Yelahanka base of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
 Women achievers in the aviation sector were felicitated on the occasion and a book and film on 'Women in
Aviation' was also released.
 Aero India show will continue till 24 February 2019.
Suresh Prabhu inaugurates various projects
 Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu inaugurated projects worth Rs.
1000 crore on 22 February 2019.
 He inaugurated skilling Common Facility Centre (CFC) in Udupi, Karnataka.
 Two spices parks at Kota in Rajasthan and Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh were also inaugurated.
 He also inaugurated National Institute of Design campus in Assam and Madhya Pradesh.
Tamil Nadu gets 2 Coast Guard districts
 Tamil Nadu became the first state in the country to get a second Coast Guard district headquarters in
Thoothukudi.
 The first district headquarters are in Chennai.
 The Thoothukudi district headquarters were set up with an aim to augment security mechanism on the
eastern coast.
 It will function under the administrative and operational control of the Commander Coast Guard Region
(East).
Medical Fair India 2019 began in New Delhi
 A 3-day medical trade show, Medical Fair India (MFI) 2019, kickstarted on 21 February 2019.
 It will see the participation of global medical device manufacturers, healthcare experts, industry bodies,
think tanks and policymakers from over 25 countries.
 The MFI is being organised by Messe Dusseldorf India, the world's leading trade fair organiser and
exhibitions service provider.
Home Ministry ordered pan-India survey
 Ministry of Home Affairs commissioned the Bureau of Police Research and Development to conduct a pan-
India survey called, All India Citizens Survey of Police Services.
 The survey will be conducted through the National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi.
 The 9-month survey will cover a representative sample of 1.2 lakh households spread over 173 districts
across the country.
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BEL unveiled its new product

 Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) unveiled its new product, the Atmospheric Water
Generator (AWG) at Aero India 2019 on 21 Feb 2019.
 It was inaugurated by the Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat.
 The AWG can be used to generate water straight from the humidity present in the atmosphere.
 It is configurable in static and mobile (vehicular) versions.
'Waste to Wonder' Park inaugurated
 The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the “Waste to Wonder” Park under the South
Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) in New Delhi on 21 Feb,19.
 He also lauded SDMC for improving its rank from 202 to 32 in Swachh Sarvekshan, 2018 ranking.
 Some of the main attractions of the “Seven Wonders Park” are the different sized tall replicas of Taj Mahal,
the Great Pyramid of Giza, etc.
Virtual Experiential Museum inaugurated
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Virtual Experiential Museum (VEM) in Man Mahal in
Varanasi on 19 February 2019.
 VEM will show a glimpse of various cultural aspects of Varanasi.
 VEM was established by the National Council of Science Museum (NCSM) working under the Ministry of
Culture.
 Man Mahal is a Centrally Protected Monument under Archeological Survey of India.
Ranking on Startup initiatives launched
 The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) released second edition of 'Startup
Ranking for 2019' on 20 February 2019.
 The Startup Ranking framework aims to rank the States/UTs for establishing a robust ecosystem for
supporting Startups.
 The Ranking Framework 2019 comprises of 7 pillars and 30 action points.
12th edition of 'Aero India 2019' inaugurated
 'Aero India 2019' was inaugurated by the Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Yelahanka Air Force
station in Bengaluru on 20 February 2019.
 It showcased India’s air defence prowess and manufacturing capabilities.
 It is organised by the Ministry of Defence.
 This edition of Aero India, for the first time, combines the defence and civil aviation segments into a holistic
event.
1st Mega Food Park of Tripura inaugurated
 Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti inaugurated Sikaria Mega Food
Park Pvt Ltd in Agartala on 20 February 2019.
 This is the first Mega Food Park in the state of Tripura.
 The food park is having facilities of fully operational Dry warehouse, Quality Control, Research and
Development Centre etc.
 The food park is the 18th of its kind in the country.
3-day International Conference inaugurated
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 An International Conference and Exhibition on Energy and Environment - Challenges and Opportunities
(ENCO-2019), is being held from 20th to 22nd February 2019 in New Delhi.
 It aims to deliberate and identify the R&D needs to innovate new techniques, technologies and
applications.
 The conference was inaugurated by the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind.
Dept of Fisheries: New posts approved
 The Union Cabinet approved one post of Secretary and one post of Joint Secretary in the in the Department
of Fisheries on a permanent basis.
 Newly created posts would enable the Department of Fisheries to undertake/monitor number of
projects/schemes for development of the sector.
 The department of fisheries was recently introduced in the interim budget of 2019.
Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, inaugrated
 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited BHU in Varanasi on 19 Feb 2019.
 He inaugurated Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Hospital and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital,
Lahartara.
 PM also dedicated first New Bhabhatron with precision technology, to the nation.
4 projects launched by Textile Minister
 Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti Irani, launched 4 projects in North East for development of silk sector
through video conference in New Delhi on 19 February 2019.
 She inaugurated Muga silk seed production centre in Tura, Meghalaya and silk printing and processing unit
in Agartala.
 New office buildings of Weavers Service Centres (WSC) in Indore, MP and Kannur, Kerala were also
inaugurated.
Eco Circuit project inaugurated
 K.J. Alphons, Union Minister for Tourism inaugurated the project ‘Development of Eco Circuit:
Pathanamthitta – Gavi – Vagamon – Thekkady’ in Kerala.
 This Eco Circuit project was sanctioned in December 2015.
 Major works carried out under the project includes Eco-Adventure Tourism Park at Vagamon, Cultural
Centre at Kadamanitta, and more.
Cyber crime fighting facility inaugurated
 Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a state-of-the-art national cyber forensic lab (NCFL) and
the Delhi Police's cybercrime unit 'CyPAD' on 18 Feb 2019.
 With this initiative, law enforcers will be able to proactively address cyber threats.
 Both the cybercrime fighting units are based in a complex at Dwarka, Sector 16C.
Number 112 launched for women safety
 Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched the Emergency Response Support System, ERSS, for women's safety
in 16 states and Union territories.
 Persons in distress can dial a pan-India number: 112.
 The Home Minister also launched 2 portals - Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences and Safe City
Implementation Monitoring Portal.
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3 initiatives on women safety launched

 The Ministry of Women and Child Development has conceptualised 3 initiatives to promote the safety of
women in their living, working, and public spaces.
 These were launched jointly by the Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh and WCD Minister, Smt Maneka
Sanjay Gandhi in New Delhi on 18 Feb 2019.
 These 3 include Panic Button, SCIM portal, and DNA Analysis Facilities in States.
Steel Minister dedicates SPU to nation
 Union Minister of Steel, Chaudhary Birender Singh dedicated SAIL’s Steel Processing Unit (SPU) at Bettiah in
West Champaran, Bihar to the nation on 18 Feb 2019.
 This unit will produce high-quality steel tubes and pipes.
 With an installed capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year, this Unit will play an important role in the
development of the predominantly agriculture intensive area.
International Vision Zero Conference held
 A 3-day Conference on the VISION ZERO and its relevance to Occupational Safety and Health is being held
from 18-20 Feb,19 in Mumbai.
 The Conference is been organised by Directorate General Factory Advice and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI).
 The Vision is based on principles of Controlling Risks, Ensuring Safety and Health in Machines, Equipment
and Workplaces and Skill Upgradation of Workforce.
Conference on Pharma inaugurated
 The 4th edition of India’s biggest Global Conference on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices was
inaugurated in Bengaluru on 18 Feb 2019.
 The theme of ‘India Pharma 2019’ is ‘Enabling Quality Affordable Healthcare & that of ‘India Medical Device
2019’ is ‘Accelerating Growth to Achieve Universal Healthcare’.
 The event was organized by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) and FICCI.
Book dedicated to Swami Pragyanandji launched
 A book dedicated to Late eminent Vedanti Swami Pragyanandji was launched by Governor of West Bengal
H.E Keshari Nath Tripathi.
 The book is written by Famous Industrialist and Philanthropist Mr. Dinesh Shahra.
 It is primarily aimed at offering saintly wisdom and guidance to lead a content and happy life.
Drainage-cleaning robot introduced in Chennai
 A drainage-cleaning robot has been introduced for the first time in Chennai as part of efforts to get rid of
manual scavenging.
 The robot named Bandicoot was introduced at a cost of 18 lakh rupees and was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu
Minister Kadambur Raju.
 Drainage cleaning can be detected by viewing the blockages on the screen.
Tabreed to build cooling system
 A UAE-based international cooling provider entered into a 30-year concession with Andhra Pradesh
government to build India's first district cooling system in Amaravati.
 The agreement was signed between the National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) and Andhra Pradesh
Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA).
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 This will be the company's first plant outside its GCC market.
Banned Punjabi poem will be published
 A poem on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, 'Khooni Vaisakhi', by Punjabi writer Nanak Singh has now been
translated into English.
 It was banned by the British in 1920.
 Singh was present at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919, and was 22 years old at the time.
 It will be published by Harper Collins India in March to mark the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh
massacre.
Odisha CM inaugurated development projects
 Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects in Kalahandi
district on 16 Feb 2019.
 He inaugurated the Red Medium Irrigation Project which will benefit 79 villages and provide irrigation
facility for 8500 hectares of agricultural land.
 Apart from this, he laid foundation stones for 38 development projects and launched 23 projects.
DEPWD organised conference on DDRS scheme
 A Regional Conference on Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) was held at Kolkata, West
Bengal on 18 Feb 2019.
 It was organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).
 Under the scheme, every year more than 600 NGOs are provided with financial assistance for running their
projects for the rehabilitation of persons with disability.
IBBI organised 2-day workshop
 The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), organised a 2-day workshop on “Committee of
Creditors: An Institution of Public Faith” on 15-16 Feb,19 in Mumbai.
 It was the first of its kind organised jointly with State Bank of India (SBI) & Indian Institute of Corporate
Affairs (IICA).
 Dr. MS Sahoo (Chairperson-IBBI) & Mr. Rajnish Kumar (Chairman-SBI) were some of the faculty members.
PM visited Dhule in Maharashtra
 PM Modi visited Dhule in Maharashtra to unveil multiple projects in the state.
 He inaugurated Lower Panazara medium Project under PMKSY, which will irrigate about 7585 hectares area
of 21 villages of Dhule.
 He also flagged off Bhusaval- Bandra Khandesh Express Train through a video link.
 He laid the foundation stone of the Water Supply Scheme and Underground Sewer Project under AMRUT.
PM unveiled development projects in Bihar
 PM Narendra Modi unveiled projects in Barauni on 17 Feb 2019 to boost development in various sectors.
 He laid the foundation stone of Patna Metro Rail Project and inaugurated the Phulpur to Patna stretch of
the Jagdishpur-Varanasi Natural Gas pipeline.
 He also inaugurated the 1st phase of River Front Development at Patna and laid foundation Stone for the
Karmalichak Sewerage Network.
PM visited Hazaribagh
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 PM Narendra Modi visited Hazaribagh in Jharkhand on 17 February 2019 to unveil several development
projects.
 He inaugurated the Medical Colleges at Hazaribagh, Dumka, and Palamu.
 He also inaugurated 4 Rural Water Supply Schemes in Ramgarh and Hazaribagh districts.
 He e-inaugurated the Only Women Engineering College at Ramgarh.
National Affairs-II (11-16 Feb 2019)
 'North Karnataka Agromet Forecasting and Research Centre' (NKAFC) was inaugurated at Dharwad in
Karnataka on 14 February 2019.
 Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan released a publication titled 'India - Spearheading Climate
Solutions' on 12 February 2019.
 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off 33 'Sarthi Sandesh Vahini' vehicles in Gorakhpur.
National Affairs-I (11-16 Feb 2019)
 Himachal Pradesh’s first Mega Food Park named Cremica Mega Food Park was inaugurated on 10 Feb 2019.
 Union Tourism Minister, KJ Alphons laid the foundation stone for Sree Narayana Guru spiritual pilgrimage
circuit in Varkala, Kerala on 10 February 2019.
 The government of India designated Dera Baba Nanak land post in Gurdaspur district of Punjab as an
immigration check post.
PM launched projects worth 20000 cr in Jhansi
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched various development projects worth over Rs 20000 crore at Jhansi
in Uttar Pradesh on 15 January 2019.
 He laid the foundation stone of the Defence Corridor.
 Jhansi is one of the six nodal points of the UP defence corridor.
 He also inaugurated the Pahari dam modernisation project.
 Pahari dam is a water storage dam on the Dhasan river in Jhansi district.
Income norm relaxed for judge posts
 The Supreme Court Collegium removed the need for lawyers to have a minimum income limit of Rs. 7 lakh
in order to be considered for appointment as High Court judges.
 The threshold has been relaxed for government lawyers and judicial officers who belong to the Scheduled
Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Communities.
 The collegium took the decision on 12 February 2019.
PM inaugurated several projects in Maharashtra
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Maharashtra on 16 February 2019.
 At Yavatmal in Vidarbha, he inaugurated the Eklavya Model Residential School for tribal students.
 He also inaugurated Ajni (Nagpur)-Pune Train service.
 In Dhule district, he inaugurated the Lower Panazara medium project under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi
Sinchan Yojana (PMKSY).
Government liberalised the e-Visa regime
 The e-Tourist Visa which was introduced in September 2014 with 46 countries has now been made
applicable to 166 countries.
 E-Visa is valid for entry through two more designated Airports (Bhubaneswar and Port Blair) raising the total
number of such airports to 28.
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 Duration of stay in India of e-Visas is maximum up to 1 Year with multiple entries subject to the stay
stipulations.
IWAI launched a new portal- 'LADIS'
 The Inland Waterways Authority of India launched a new portal named 'Least Available Depth Information
System' (LADIS) on 15 February 2019.
 LADIS will ensure that real-time data on least available depths is disseminated for ship/barge and cargo
owners.
 This will help in better planning for the movement of ships.
 It will be available for NW-1, NW-2, Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route, and NW-3.
Rajasthan forms committees to review textbooks
 The Rajasthan government has set up two committees of experts and educationists to review the syllabus
of school textbooks from class 1 to 8 and from class 9 to 12.
 The committee to review the syllabus of class 1 to 8 will be coordinated by I V Trivedi.
 The coordinator for the four-member committee for class 9-12 is the former Chairman of Rajasthan State
Public Service Commission BM Sharma.
CRPF men attacked in Pulwana, J&K
 At least 37 CRPF personnel were martyred on 14 February 2019, when a convoy in which they were
traveling was attacked by a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) suicide bomber.
 Bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into one of the convoy’s buses in Pulwama district on the
Srinagar-Jammu highway.
 It was the deadliest attack in terms of casualties in the last three decades of militancy in the State.
India's 1st Aqua Mega Food Park commissioned
 Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park was commissioned at Tundurru Village in Andhra Pradesh.
 It is promoted by Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park Pvt. Ltd.
 It is the 1st Mega Aqua Food Park operationalised exclusively for fish and marine products processing.
 It has been set up in 57.81 acres of land at a cost of Rs. 122.60 crores.
NKAFC inaugurated at Dharwad
 "North Karnataka Agromet Forecasting and Research Centre (NKAFC)”, Dharwad was inaugurated on 14 Feb
2019.
 It will act as a center of excellence having multi-functions like observations, forecast, and research in Agro-
Meteorological services in Karnataka.
 12 District Agro-meteorological Units (DAMUs) will be established in Karnataka by March 2019.
Environment Minister released publication
 Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan released a publication titled 'India - Spearheading Climate
Solutions' on 12 Feb 2019.
 This coffee table book highlights actions taken by the country to combat climate change.
 It was unveiled at the Indira Paryavaran Bhawan.
Tenure of NCSK extended
 The Union Cabinet approved the proposal for extension of the tenure of the National Commission for Safai
Karmacharis (NCSK) beyond 31-3-2019 for 3 years.
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 The NCSK was established in the year 1993 as per the provisions of the NCSK Act 1993.
 The major beneficiaries would be the SafaiKaramcharis & persons engaged in manual scavenging.
UNICEF join hands with Goa WCD
 The UNICEF in Maharashtra joined hands with Goa Women and Child Development (WCD) to focus on and
support in the area of child protection in the State.
 A training programme on Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), was organised by WCD on Feb 12,
2019.
 The government of India and UNICEF have worked on a 5-year Action Plan.
Conference on Unani Medicine concluded
 The 2-day National Conference on Unani Medicine organized by the Central Council for Research in Unani
Medicine (CCRUM) in New Delhi concluded on 12 Feb 2019.
 It witnessed the exchange of MoU for scientific collaboration in Unani Medicine between the CCRUM and
Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.
 AYUSH Awards for Unani Medicine were also conferred on the occasion.
1st LAWASIA Human Rights Conference 2019 held
 LAWASIA, in association with the Bar Association of India, hosted its 1st LAWASIA Human Rights Conference
in New Delhi.
 The theme of the conference was “State Power, Business and Human Rights: Contemporary Challenges”.
 The President of LAWASIA is Mr. Christopher Leong, while the President of Bar Association of India is Dr.
Lalit Bhasin.
Government takes steps to revive Maithili
 The HRD Ministry asked to apply the recommendations of a committee constituted in 2018 for the
promotion and protection of Maithili language and its scripts.
 Establishment of a Script and Manuscript Centre at Darbhanga has been recommended.
 Mithilakshar or Tirhuta is the script of broader cultural Mithila. It is an ancient script and is one of the
scripts of the broader North Eastern India.
National Cancer Institute inaugurated
 PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 6 projects in Haryana on 12 Feb 2019.
 He inaugurated National Cancer Institute (NIC) at Badhsa in Jhajjar district, Haryana.
 He also laid foundation stones for National Institute of Ayurveda, Sri Krishna Ayush University, Battles of
Panipat Museum, and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay University of Health Sciences in Karnal.
2-day EarlyEd Asia 2019 held in Jaipur
 The two-day ‘EarlyEd Asia 2019’ conference began on 12 Feb 2019 at City Palace, Jaipur.
 It is aimed at providing a platform for learning, networking and sharing the best practices of early childhood
education in Asia.
 This is Asia's biggest conference on early education being conducted in India.
Special National Standard Conclave held
 A Special National Standards Conclave was organised by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of
Commerce and Industry, Government of India in Mumbai.
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 It also saw the launch of voluntary certification and rating scheme for private security services developed by
QCI.
 Separation of roles for the avoidance of conflict of interest in regulatory framework was one of the
recommendations.
I&B Ministry organised 1st Annual Conference
 Ministry of Information & Broadcasting organised the First Annual Conference of Media Units on 13th Feb
2019 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
 The opening session was chaired by Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, Union Minister of State for Information &
Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports.
 The Conference aims to strengthen synergy between the Media Units in order to ensure last mile delivery.
5th Dam Safety Conference being held
 The 5th International Dam Safety Conference–2019 is being held from 13-14 February 2019 in
Bhubaneswar.
 It is a joint initiative of the Government of India, Government of Odisha and the World Bank.
 India ranks 3rd after China and the USA globally in terms of the number of large dams with 5264 large dams
in operation and 437 large dams under construction.
PM addressed CREDAI YouthCon-19
 PM Narendra Modi addressed CREDAI YouthCon-19 on 13th Feb 2019 at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi.
 YouthCon is the annual Youth Conclave of CREDAI which is held to bring together the future of the real
estate Industry in India.
 CREDAI was established in 1999 and is the apex body representing real-estate developers from over 200
cities in India.
Outreach Programme to be organised
 Ministry of Textiles will organise an outreach programme for Textiles Sector MSMEs on 13th February 2019
in New Delhi.
 Smriti Irani, Minister of Textiles, will preside over the function and Dr. Thawar Chand Gehlot will be the
Chief Guest.
 The support and outreach 100 days programme for MSMEs was launched by PM Narendra Modi on 2nd
November 2018.
8 new medical devices notified as drugs
 The Centre notified eight new devices as “drugs”.
 They include - all implantable medical devices, CT scan equipment, MRI equipment, defibrillators, dialysis
machine, PET equipment, X-ray machine, and bone marrow cell separator.
 Their import, manufacture, and distribution are now regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
 27 types of devices were notified as drugs until last year.
IAV inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram
 Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV) in
Thiruvananthapuram.
 It is first of its kind research institute linked to the Global Virus Network (GVN) and will operate from the Bio
360 Life Sciences Park at Thonnakkal in the capital city.
 It can confirm the viruses causing infectious diseases and detect new ones without any delay.
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Dera Baba Nanak land: Immigration check point

 The Centre designated Dera Baba Nanak land post in Gurdaspur district of Punjab as an immigration
checkpost.
 It is now an authorised immigration checkpoint for entry and exit of Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan.
 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone of the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib
Corridor at an event at Mann village in Gurdaspur district on 26 November 2018.
Light House Projects challenge launched
 The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs instituted a challenge for constructing the Lighthouse projects
under GHTC-India on 11th Feb 2019.
 The challenge is for states/UTs and 6 sites which score the highest will be selected from the challenge.
 The MoHUA also already launched Global Housing Technology Challenge-India.
PM visited Kurukshetra
 PM Narendra Modi visited Kurukshetra, Haryana on 12th Feb 2019 to participate in Swachh Shakti 2019 and
distribute its awards.
 Swachh Shakti is a national event which aims to bring in to focus the leadership role played by rural women
in Swachh Bharat Mission.
 The Swachh Shakti program was first launched in 2017 in Gandhinagar, 2nd in Lucknow, and 3rd edition in
Kurukshetra.
KJ Alphons lays foundation stone
 Union Tourism Minister, KJ Alphons laid the foundation stone for Sree Narayana Guru spiritual pilgrimage
circuit in Varkala, Kerala on Feb 10, 2019.
 The project covers all the places where the Guru spent most of his life.
 The project, in Thiruvananthapuram district, was sanctioned last month and will help improve the
infrastructure and facilities at these centers.
Great Indian Bustard chosen as mascot
 The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has been announced as the mascot for the 13th UN Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species.
 It will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 15-22 Feb 2020.
 The mascot was launched by Union Minister Harsh Vardhan.
 The CMS COP-13 is a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and has
120 countries as participants.
PM inaugurates PETROTECH 2019
 PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the PETROTECH-2019 on 11th Feb 2019 at Indian Expo Centre, Greater
Noida, UP.
 It is India’s flagship hydrocarbon conference, being organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum
& Natural Gas.
 It will showcase the recent market and investor-friendly developments in India’s oil and gas sector.
 Delegates from around 70 countries participated in the event.
PM visits Hubli in Karnataka
 PM Narendra Modi visited Hubli, Karnataka on 10th Feb 2019 to unveil several development projects.
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 He laid the foundation stone for IIT-Dharwad and IIIT –Dharwad.

 City Gas Distribution Project 1.5 MMT Mangalore Strategic Petroleum Reserve facility was dedicated to the
nation.
 He also witnessed the E-Griha Pravesh of 2350 housed constructed in Dharwad PMAY(U).
PM visits Tiruppur
 PM Narendra Modi visited Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu to unveil several development projects on 10th Feb 2019.
 He laid the foundation stone of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation’s (ESIC) multi speciality Hospital at
Tiruppur.
 He also laid the foundation stone for the new building of Trichy airport and also inaugurated the new Crude
Oil Pipeline in Chennai.
1st Mega Food park of HP inaugurated
 Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated Cremica Mega Food
Park through a video conference on 10 Feb 2019.
 This is the first Mega Food Park of Himachal Pradesh located at Singhain village, Una district.
 The park has been set up at a cost of Rs. 107.34 crores and will provide facilities such as frozen storage, dry
warehouse, deep freeze, QC lab, etc.
National Affairs-II (04-09 Feb 2019)
 The top ten revenue generating monuments during 2015-18 are Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Agra Fort, Qutub
Minar, Sun Temple Konark, Humayun's Tomb, Ellora caves, Mamallapuram monuments, Khajuraho
monuments, and Ajanta Caves.
 On 8 February 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir government approved the creation of a separate
Administrative Revenue Division for Ladakh.
National Affairs -I (04-09 Feb 2019)
 World's biggest crafts fair Surajkund International Mela is being organised from February 1-17, 2019.
 Kerala has become the first state to set up a Price Monitoring and Research Unit to track the violation of
prices of medical devices and essential drugs.
 The Swachh Bharat Mission launched the 'Darwaza Band- Part 2' campaign on 6th Feb 2019 in Mumbai.
Ladakh became third administrative division
 On 8 February 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir government approved the creation of a separate
Administrative Revenue Division for Ladakh.
 This division will comprise Leh and Kargil districts with its headquarters at Leh.
 Two posts of Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police (IGP) were created.
 Now J&K will have three divisions - Jammu, Ladakh, and Kashmir.
IITM establishes new AI & data science centre
 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has inaugurated the Robert Bosch Center for Data Science
and Artificial Intelligence.
 The mission of the new centre is to create a societal impact on core challenges in data science (DS) and
artificial intelligence (AI).
 It will be done through multidisciplinary interactions with government, academic, research and industrial
collaborators.
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ECI launched VVIP for General Elections 2019

 The Election Commission of India has launched a Voter Verification and Information Programme (VVIP) on 8
February 2019.
 The VVIP programme is for citizens for verifications of their names, new registrations, changes in the voter
details and corrections in the Voter Id Cards for the upcoming General Elections 2019.
 ECI has also set up Contact centres in all districts across India.
PM laid the foundation for NH Project
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the four laning of the Falakata-Salsalabari
section of NH-31 D in the northern part of West Bengal on 8 February 2019.
 This 41.7 Km long section of the National Highway falls in the Jalpaiguri district.
 It will have 3 railway over bridges, 3 underpasses, 2 flyovers, 17 minor bridges, and 8 bridges.
Chennai Police launches 'DigiCop' app
 Chennai Police Commissioner launched 'DigiCop' mobile app on 6 February 2019.
 The user can lodge mobile theft complaints using the app and can check if the user’s mobile is in the police
list of retrieved mobiles.
 Through the app, the user can also know the traffic condition in the city and also information about nearby
police stations.
Nitin Gadkari laid foundation of NH project
 Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, laid the foundation for 5 National Highway
projects of length 632 km in Ayodhya on 8 Feb 2019.
 The estimated cost is Rs. 7195 crore and the project will establish direct connectivity from Ayodhya to
Ambedkarnagar and Chitrakoot.
 He will also visit Prayagraj to inaugurate Phase 2 of River Information System on National Waterway-1.
Suresh Prabhu addresses interactive session
 An interactive session on the Indo-Africa Strategic Economic Co-operation was held in New Delhi on 6th Feb
2019.
 It was organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
 The bilateral trade between Africa and India has increased from $7 billion in 2001 to $78 billion in 2014 and
then $60 billion in 2017.
 Suresh Prabhu is the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation.
India's oldest elephant died at 88
 'Granny Dakshayani', India's oldest elephant in captivity died at 88 in Kerala.
 She was awarded with the title 'Gaja Muthassi' and also took part in the temple processions and rituals for
decades.
 India has around 2,454 elephants in captivity as per a survey released last month.
Establishment of Circuit Bench approved
 The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved the establishment of Circuit Bench of Calcutta
High Court on 6th Feb 2019 at Jalpaiguri.
 It will have jurisdiction over 4 courts, which are Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, and Darjeeling.
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 The decision came against the backdrop of the decision of the Calcutta High Court Full Court Meeting in
1988.
CCEA approves 12,000 MW power projects
 The CCEA chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved the proposal for setting up 12,000 MW Solar PV Power
Projects.
 The proposal was by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for the implementation of the CPSU
scheme Phase-II for setting up these projects.
 The power projects will be set up in 4 years at a cost of Rs. 48,000 crores.
4th conference of AYUSH inaugurated
 The 4th conference of UTs / AYUSH / Health Ministers of States was inaugurated by Shripad Naik, Minister
of State of AYUSH on 6th February 2019.
 The conference was organised to provide an opportunity to UT/States to interact with each other for the
development of AYUSH sector.
 It also reviewed progress made by States and UTs in the implementation of the Centrally Sponsored
Scheme of the NAM.
Amitabh Bachchan stars in national campaign
 The Swachh Bharat Mission launched the 'Darwaza Band- Part 2' campaign on 6th Feb 2019 in Mumbai.
 The campaign was produced by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation was launched in the presence
of iconic actor Amitabh Bachchan.
 The campaign focuses on sustaining the open defecation free status of village across the country.
Swine flu claimed 226 lives across the country
 Swine flu has claimed 226 lives across the country, with the worst hit in Rajasthan claiming 85 deaths.
 2,263 patients have been found positive with influenza as per the NCDC report.
 A meeting was held on 6th February 2019 by the Ministry of Health headed by Preeti Sudan to take action
to deal with it.
 Swine flu is caused by H1N1 virus and has symptoms similar to the regular flu.
PM to flag off Vande Bharat Express
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag-off Vande Bharat Express on 15th February, 2019 from the New
Delhi Railway Station.
 It is India's first engineless train.
 The train has been manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai and has become India's fastest
train.
 It hit the speed of over 180 kmph during a trial run at the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani route.
 Earlier, it was named Train 18.
Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen banned: MHA
 J&K-based Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen has been banned by the Home Ministry.
 The group that came into existence in 1990 has been fighting for the liberation of Kashmir, and was also
involved in a series of terror acts.
 A lot of cases have been registered by the J&K police in which TuM has played a major role in the
commission of terror acts.
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Bullet train to pass through Sanctuary

 A committee chaired by Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan has accorded wildlife clearance to the
Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed train corridor.
 The corridor encroaches upon the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and flamingo sanctuary, the home to
leopards, in Mumbai.
 The project for India's first bullet train was inaugurated in September 2017 by PM Narendra Modi.
Develop app to help the blind: Bombay HC
 The Bombay High Court asked the RBI to develop a mobile app to help the blind identify the denomination
of various currency notes of India.
 Justice NM Jamdar and Justice Naresh patil also directed RBI to develop a hardware-driven device to help
the blind identify Indian currency denominations.
 RBI has been granted 4 weeks to look into the suggestions.
Bhoomipoojan of 3 National Highway Projects
 Nitin Gadkari did Bhoomipoojan of 3 National Highway projects in Odisha.
 132 km long Highways will be constructed with worth Rs. 2345 crores.
 He also inaugurated port projects worth Rs. 431 crores.
 The National Highway projects will ensure better connectivity of the mineral-rich Angul and Dhenkanal
districts of Odisha.
Kerala:1st state to set price monitoring unit
 Kerala has become the first state to set up a Price Monitoring and Research Unit to track the violation of
prices of medical devices and essential drugs.
 The move came more than 5 years after NPPA proposed such a system for the states and UTs.
 Pinarayi Vijayan is the CM of Kerala and Palaniswamy Sathasivam is the Governor of Kerala.
New project approved by Union Government
 A new project to control pollution in the river Sal in Goa was sanctioned by the Union government on 4th
February 2019.
 The project will have a cost of Rs, 61.74 crores and will be borne by the Centre and state on 60:40 basis.
 It will significantly reduce the pollution in the river and improve its water quality.
Women allowed to work in underground mines
 Women have been allowed to work in opencast and underground mines, as a part of the government's
efforts to create more employment opportunities for women.
 New rules have been issued by the labour ministry allowing to work from 7 pm - 6 am in opencast mines.
 The employment of women in underground mines was restricted earlier under the Mines Act, 1952.
Meeting of IORA in Delhi
 A meeting of Indian Ocean Rim Association will be organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and National
Disaster Management Authority in New Delhi on 5-6 February 2019.
 The aim is to help strengthen cooperation in disaster response.
 IORA is an inter governmental organisation which has 22 disaster-prone countries as its members.
 Headquarters: Mauritius
 Founded: 1995
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Air India's first Flight Simulator ready

 Air India's first ever Flight Simulator, Boeing-747-200 is ready for public view at Nehru Science Centre in
Mumbai.
 It was extensively used by the pilots and was manufactured and designed by CAE, Canada.
 It was acquired by Air India in 1980 and was in service for about 21 years.
 A Memorandum of Agreement was also signed between AAI and National Council of Science Museums for
worth 2 crores.
Development of MSMEs
 Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for MSME said that MSMEs have supported inclusive development and
growth across the country.
 It reduces the regional imbalance.
 He said that 117 aspirational districts have been identified in the country by NITI Aayog and the Ministry
has taken measures to accelerate MSME development efforts in these districts.
Foundation stone laid for new terminal in Leh
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for construction of new terminal building of the
KBR airport in Leh.
 The new terminal will have all the modern amenities and will provide a seamless passenger movement.
 Apart from this, he also inaugurated several other development projects including the University of Ladakh
and hydroelectric projects.
Development projects unveiled by PM in J&K
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a series of development projects in Jammu and Kashmir in order to
give a boost to the infrastructure in the state.
 He also laid the foundation stone of AIIMS at Vijaypur in Samba and announced that 500 seats in the state
medical colleges will be added soon.
 Apart from these, he also laid the foundation stone for construction of 2 hydroelectric projects.
Centre to install 1500 manual stations by 2024
 The Centre has aimed to install 300 real time air quality monitoring systems and 1500 manual stations by
2024 across the country.
 Around 731 manual and 150 real time stations are currently installed in 70 cities, of which 48 are in the
national capital.
 A few of these installations will also be a part of the National Clean Air Programme recently launched to
reduce 20-30% pollution by 2024.
National Affairs-II (28 Jan-02 Feb 2019)
 India's 1st Geographical Indication (GI) Store was inaugurated at Goa International Airport in Dabolim.
 The first 'Development of North East Circuit' project was inaugurated in Gangtok, Sikkim on 30th January
2019.
 UP State Cabinet approved the construction of a four-lane Ganga Expressway connecting Prayagraj to
Western Uttar Pradesh.
National Affairs-I (28 Jan-02 Feb 2019)
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 A 5.1-km long cable-stayed bridge named 'Atal Setu' on the Mandovi river was inaugurated in Goa on 27
January 2019.
 The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited's Integrated Refinery Expansion Project Complex (IREP) was
inaugurated in Kochi on 27 January 2019.
 Uttarakhand's first tulip garden will come up near Chandak hilltop in Pithoragarh district at a cost of Rs 50
crore.
Dolphin declared as state aquatic animal
 On 1 February 2019, the endangered Indus River dolphin was declared as Punjab's State aquatic animal.
 In Punjab, the Indus River Dolphins are found mainly in the Sutlej and Beas rivers.
 The decision was taken in the Punjab State Wildlife Board presided over by the Chief Minister Capt
Amarinder Singh.
NAHEP launched by ICAR
 The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched the National Agricultural Higher Education
Project (NAHEP) to attract talent and strengthen higher agricultural education in the country.
 This project will be funded by the World Bank and the Indian Government on a 50:50 basis.
 The second Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) was established in Barahi, Jharkhand.
Two Railway projects launched in West Bengal
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the electrification project of 294 kilometres long 'Andal-
Sainthia-Pakur-Malda' and 'Khana- Sainthia' railway sections in West Bengal on 2 February 2019.
 Electrification of these sections will ease the transportation of coal, stone chips and ballast to North and
North East India.
 He also inaugurated the Hijli-Narayangarh railway line.
'Road Safety Week' will be launched on 4 Feb
 The 30th 'National Road Safety Week 2019' will be inaugurated in New Delhi on 4 February 2019.
 It will be attended by a host of school children, NGOs, and stakeholders in road safety from Government
and industry.
 A Motorcar Rally will also be flagged off on the occasion to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi.
Interim Budget 2019-20: Allocation
 The Railways has been allocated Rs.64,587 Cr in the Interim Budget 2019-20.
 Infrastructure allocation for north eastern areas was increased by 21% to Rs. 58,166 Cr in 2019-20.
 Rs 1330 Cr was provided for the Mission for Protection and Empowerment for Women for 2019-20.
 Defence budget was hiked to Rs 3,05,296 Cr
Interim Budget 2019-20:Rural development
 Government has allocated Rs 60000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Act (MGNREGA).
 Rs 19000 crore has been allocated for Gram Sadak Yojana for construction of more rural roads.
 Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and 2.5 crore rural households were electrified.
No Income Tax for incomes up to ₹5 lakh
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 Govt. announced that individual taxpayers with annual income up to ₹5 lakh will not have to pay any
Income Tax.
 Those with gross income of up to ₹6.5 lakh also won't have to pay any tax if they make investments in
prescribed methods.
 This will give ₹18,500 cr tax benefit to 3 cr middle class people.
 He also said that Income Tax returns will be processed in 24 hours and refund initiated.
Bharat Parv concluded on Jan 31 in Delhi
 The closing ceremony of ‘Bharat Parv’ took place in Delhi on 31st Jan, 2019 in the presence of Union
Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons.
 The Parv was organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India at the Red Fort, New Delhi from
26th to 31st January, 2019.
 27 States participated in the event by setting up of Stalls, Showcasing their food, handicrafts and tourism
products.
PETROTECH-2019 from 10-12 Feb, 2019
 13th International Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition 'PETROTECH-2019' will be organised from 10th to 12th
February, 2019 in New Delhi.
 It is being organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, GoI.
 The PETROTECH-2019 Exhibition will see participation of over 13 country pavilions and about 750 exhibitors
from over 40 countries
OPD Wing of ESIC Hospital inaugurated
 Minister of State (I/C) for Labour & Employment S.K. Gangwar, inaugurated OPD Wing of ESIC AYUSH
Hospital, Narela in Delhi.
 This is the first dedicated Ayush Hospital of Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and is being
constructed with a cost of Rs. 30 crores.
 All the facilities under Ayush such as Ayurvedic, Homeopathic, Siddha, Unani and Yoga will be provided in
this hospital.
DAC Approves 6 Project 75(I) Submarines
 The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved indigenous construction of six submarines for the Indian
Navy on 31st January, 2019.
 This is the second project under MoD’s Strategic Partnership (SP) model and will cost over Rs 40,000 crores.
 The DAC also approved the acquisition of approximately 5000 Milan Anti Tank Guided Missiles for the Army.
IndiGo to build its 2nd MRO at Bengaluru
 InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., which owns and operates air carrier IndiGo, has entered into a 20-year agreement
with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).
 The agreement is to sub-lease five acres of land at Bengaluru Airport to build a Maintenance, Repair &
Overhaul (MRO) facility.
 This will be IndiGo’s second MRO, after the one in Delhi. The facility will become operational by 2020.
Automatic listing of fresh cases in SC
 The Supreme Court launched its new system of automatic listing of fresh cases within three to seven days
on January 30, 2019.
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 The step was taken in a bid to do away with the system of mentioning of matters for urgent listing every
day.
 The new mechanism will come into effect from February 4.
World’s biggest cyclothon ends in Delhi
 World’s biggest cyclothon 'The Swasth Bharat Yatra' concluded in New Delhi on January 29, 2019.
 The aim of this Yatra was to spread the message of ‘Eat Safe, Eat Healthy and Eat Fortified.'
 The Yatra began from six different locations - Leh, Panaji, Thiruvananthapuram, Puducherry, Kolkota and
Agartala.
 This Yatra was led by Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
New Campus of NMI Inaugurated at Noida
 The new Campus of the National Museum Institute was inaugurated by Union HRD Minister Prakash
Javadekar in Noida on 30th January 2019.
 The foundation stone for this 3 acre campus was laid on 31st January, 2015.
 Four new courses namely, Archaeology; Palaeography, Epigraphy and Numismatics; Structural Conservation
and Cultural & Heritage Management are expected to be commenced at the campus.
Madras HC Allows Online Sale of Medicine
 The Madras High Court has extended the permission given for the online sale of pharmaceuticals till 20th
March, 2019.
 The HC had earlier banned sale of drugs online, pending the framing of regulations by the Centre for such
sale.
 The Center had sought more time for framing regulations for the online sale of medicines.
CPRI Regional Testing Lab at Nashik
 Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, R K Singh laid the foundation of
Regional testing laboratory of Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) at Nashik, Maharashtra on Jan 30,
2019.
 The lab will test and certify electrical equipment manufactured in the western region as per national and
international standards.
 CPRI is an autonomous body under Ministry of Power.
Budget session of Parliament Begins
 The budget session of Parliament started on 31st January, 2019 with President Ram Nath Kovind's address
to the joint sitting of both the Houses.
 The Budget will be presented on 1st February, 2019.
 The session will conclude on the 13th February, 2019.
LKA Exhibition Commemorating Gandhi
 Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA) has organised an exhibition titled 'Mahatma Gandhi and World Peace' at the Lalit
Kala Akademi Art Galleries of in New Delhi.
 This was done to commemorate 150th Birth Anniversary of Gandhi and highlight his principles of non-
violence and peace.
 The show has been organised in association with Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai.
Mahatma Gandhi's 71st death anniversary
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 India is paying homage to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 71st death anniversary on 30th
January, 2019.
 He was assassinated by Nathuram Godse on this day in 1948.
 The day is also observed as Martyrs' Day.
PM Modi to visit Surat and Dandi in Gujarat
 PM Narendra Modi will lay the Foundation Stone for extension of Terminal building at Surat Airport on 30
January, 2019.
 The terminal is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 354 Crore.
 PM will also interact with the youth at the New India Youth conclave in Surat.
 In Dandi, he will dedicate the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial to the nation on Mahatma Gandhi's death
anniversary.
Pariksha Pe Charcha 2.0: New Delhi
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked students to stay focused, manage time well and not to succumb to
stress.
 He was interacting with 2000 students, parents and teachers in the 2nd edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha in
New Delhi.
 The PM said students should focus on acquiring knowledge to enrich their lives, without worrying about
examination results.
Beating the Retreat ceremony: 29th January
 Beating the Retreat ceremony, marking the culmination of four day long Republic Day celebrations, will be
held at the historic Vijay Chowk in New Delhi on 29th January.
 As many as 27 performances at Vijay Chowk will enthrall the spectators with captivating and foot-tapping
music of the bands from the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the State Police and Central Armed Police
Force.
Tripura CM inaugurates exhibition centre
 Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Monday 29th Jan inaugurated an international indoor
exhibition center here, the largest facility of its kind in the Northeastern region.
 Built at a cost of Rs 66.52 crore at Hapania with an area of 10,800 sq metre
 The indoor centre has the capacity to house 170 stalls and accommodate 10,000 visitors.
First Astro Turf Football Pitch inaugurated
 Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio inaugurates state’s first Astro Turf Football Pitch at Indira Gandhi Stadium in
Kohima on the occasion of 100th Birth Anniversary of the legendary footballer, Dr. T. Ao
 The project was conceived in the year 2013-14 with total cost of 498 lakh rupees.
 The Astro turf has been installed following specifications of FIFA.
 The size of the play field is 105x66 meters.
Four highway projects launched in Rajasthan.
 Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of four
National Highway projects in Rajasthan.
 The project worth over 3 thousand 237 Cr. rupees.
 The Project include three projects in Bikaner and one in Nagaur District.
229 | P a g e
1st Geographical Indication Store in Goa

 Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurates India's 1st Geographical Indication (GI) Store at Goa
International Airport in Dabolim.
 It is located on the 1st floor on Departure Terminal and set up by Airports Authority of India and The
Cashew Export Promotional Council of India.
 The products from the self-help groups, artisans and farmers' produce will be also displayed.
Nari Shakti is the Hindi Word of the year
 On January 26, the Oxford Dictionaries announced ‘Nari Shakti’ as the 'Hindi Word of the Year 2018'.
 The word, Nari Shakti, has been derived from Sanskrit and when broken down, the word ‘nari’ means
women and ‘shakti’ means power.
 The announcement was made during a session at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF).
 Oxford had named 'Aadhaar' as its Hindi Word of the year 2017.
PM Modi inaugurates IREP in Kochi
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited's Integrated Refinery
Expansion Project Complex (IREP) in Kochi on 27 January 2019.
 IREP will be a modern expansion complex and will be equipped for production of cleaner fuels for India.
 It will double the production of LPG & diesel and commence production of feedstock for petrochemical
projects
Ministry of Defence Launches ‘RDP INDIA 2019’
 Ministry of Defence launched a mobile app 'RDP India 2019' on 26 January 2019.
 The aim of the app is to show the highlights of the Republic Day event, not only to the spectators at
Rajpath, New Delhi but also to the general public all over the world.
 This app contains information about the Parade on Rajpath, New Delhi, including Order of the March,
details of the tableaux presented etc.
'Atal Setu' inaugurated in Goa
 A 5.1-km long cable-stayed bridge named 'Atal Setu' on the Mandovi river was inaugurated in Goa on 27
January 2019.
 The bridge was constructed by the Goa Infrastructure Development Corporation and Larsen and Toubro.
 The bridge has 88 high tensile strength cables in the state-of-art single place harp type cable stay system
and a real-time force monitoring mechanism.
 .
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose museum at Red Fort in Delhi
on 23 January 2019.
 The Ministry of Tourism will organise the 4th edition of ‘Bharat Parv’ at the Red Fort in Delhi from 26 to 31
January 2019.
BIS releases New Standard for Bio-Jet Fuel
 Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in collaboration with Indian Air Force, research organisations and the
industry brought out a new standard for Aviation Turbine Fuels.
 These specifications will align Indian standards with current international standards.
 An Indian Standard 'IS 17081:2019' Aviation Turbine Fuel (Kerosene Type, Jet A-1) containing Synthesised
Hydrocarbons has been formulated.
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Dev authority for Anandpur Sahib to be set up

 Punjab government announced that a development authority for Anandpur Sahib will be set up in the wake
of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in November 2019.
 The development authority would be formed to plan and execute the development plans in a systematic
and planned manner.
 The authority would be established on the pattern of Dera Baba Nanak Development Authority.
e-Courts services through CSCs launched
 The Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, decided to deliver e-Courts services to the litigant
public through the 2 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs).
 No fee will be charged from the customers for e-Courts related services delivered through CSCs.
 The aim of the e-Courts is to provide efficient and time-bound access to the Courts services to the litigant
public.
National Declamation Contest inaugurated
 Union Minister Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore inaugurated the National Declamation Contest on Patriotism and
Nation Building on 24 January 2019.
 The contest is organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS).
 The aim of the Contest is to further strengthen the spirit of Nationalism and Patriotic feeling amongst youth
and masses for wholehearted participation in nation-building.
Trade through the e-NAM portal started
 The first inter-State trade on e-Nam portal was carried between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on 19
January 2019.
 The trade happened between a farmer from Gadwal mandi in Telangana State, who sold 8.46 quintal of
groundnut to a trader in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
 The e-NAM is a pan-India electronic trading portal to connect with the existing wholesale market.
ECI will host an International conference
 The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host an International Conference on ‘Making Our Elections
Inclusive and Accessible’ in Delhi on 24th January 2019.
 During the Conference, the January 2019 issue of ECI’s quarterly magazine 'Voice International' will be
released.
 ECI will also renew the MoU for cooperation in the field of election management with the Election
Commission of Bhutan.
Creation of National Bench of GSTAT approved
 On 23 January 2019, the Union Cabinet approved the creation of National Bench of the Goods and Services
Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT).
 The National Bench of the Appellate Tribunal shall be situated at New Delhi.
 GSTAT shall be presided over by its President and shall consist of one Technical Member (Centre) and one
Technical Member (State).
'Save Tiger Protection Force' in Telangana
 On 22 January 2019, the Telangana government has decided to form a 'State Tiger Protection Force' (STPF)
to save the tiger population in the State.
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 The 112-member-armed STPF will be headed by an Assistant Conservator of Forests to protect tiger
population in Amarabad and Kawal Tiger Reserves.
 The State and Central government will share the cost of the force on 40:60 basis.
IIT-H to launch BTech Program in AI
 Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad is launching a full-fledged BTech Program in Artificial Intelligence
(AI) from the coming Academic Year (2019-2020).
 It has become the first Indian Educational Institution to offer such a program in AI.
 It is also the third institute globally after Carnegie Mellon University and Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) to offer such course.
Jallikattu event enters world record
 A grand 'Jallikattu' (bull-taming) event held in Tamil Nadu on 20 January 2019 entered the world record for
the maximum number of bulls released into the sporting arena.
 The bull taming sporting event saw the participation of 1,354 bulls and 424 tamers.
 Jallikattu is typically practised in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations.
Microsoft launches online portal for weavers
 In a bid to empower handloom weavers in Telangana, Microsoft India launched a new e-commerce portal,
're-weave.in' on 19 January 2019.
 The portal will help the weavers optimise operations and engage better with customers.
 It will host signature collections created by the weaver communities, and showcase traditional designs and
products created from natural dyes.
Inter-state bridge in J-K to be inaugurated
 Union minister Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate the 1.2 km-long 'Keediyan-Gandiyal' bridge on the Ravi river in
Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on 22 January 2019.
 The inter-state bridge will connect the secluded areas of Kathua district with Punjab.
 The bridge would strengthen the inter-state connectivity besides giving a boost to the social as well as
economic development of the region.
Irrawaddy dolphin census concludes
 The annual headcount exercise of Irrawaddy dolphins inhabiting in the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and
Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary concluded on 19 January 2019.
 The enumerators covered the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, Dhamara coast, estuaries in Bhitarkanika,
Hukitola, Paradip and Kujang coast.
 In 2018, the census teams had sighted 250 dolphins in the sea and deltaic zones.
15th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas: 21-23 January
 The 15th edition of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was inaugurated at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on 21 January 2019.
 The theme for the 15th edition of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas is, 'Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India'.
 Several world leaders of Indian origin, including Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, will
take part in the event.
Uttarakhand CM flags off the air services
 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat flagged off the air services from Dehradun to
Amritsar from Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun on Jan 21, 2019
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 Jolly Grant Airport/Dehradun Airport is a domestic airport located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

 The main objective of this air services is to connect several cities of the country with Dehradun.
UP approves quota for poor among upper castes
 Uttar Pradesh became the third state to implement 10% reservation for economically poor among the
general category in government jobs and educational institutions.
 It comes into effect from 14 January 2019.
 The decision in this regard was taken by the UP cabinet on 18 January 2019.
 Gujarat and Jharkhand were the first and second states to implement 10% quota for the economically
weak.
UP government renames Mughalsarai tehsil
 On 18 January 2019, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet gave approval to a proposal on renaming Mughalsarai tehsil
in Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh after Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay.
 In August 2018, the Mughalsarai railway station was renamed after Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay.
 In October 2018, the government also renamed Allahabad as Prayagraj and Faizabad division and district as
Ayodhya.
BHEL & LIBCOIN will build Lithium Ion Factory
 Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and LIBCOIN will build India's first 1GWh lithium-ion battery plant.
 The plant's capacity will be scaled up to 30GWh in due course.
 This project will bring energy independence by replacing oil imports with abundant renewable energy.
 It will also create an integrated manufacturing ecosystem resulting in self-reliance and lower cost.
Streaming services sign self-regulatory code
 Eight video streaming services have signed the 'Self-Regulatory Code of Best Practices' that establishes
guiding principles for these platforms.
 The eight video streaming services are Hotstar, Voot, Zee5, Arre, SonyLIV, ALT Balaji, Netflix, and Eros Now.
 The code broadly prohibits content that deliberately and maliciously disrespects the national emblem or
national flag.
PM Modi will inaugurate the NMIC in Mumbai
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 'National Museum of Indian Cinema' (NMIC) in Mumbai
on 19 January 2019.
 The visitors will be able to enjoy the century-long journey of Indian cinema via visuals, interactive exhibits
and multimedia.
 The creation of the Museum has been guided by the Museum Advisory Committee headed by Shri Shyam
Benegal.
Health Ministry bans 80 more FDC drugs
 The Union Health Ministry has banned 80 more fixed-dose combinations (FDC) drugs.
 It includes antibiotics, painkillers, medicines used for treating fungal and bacterial infections, hypertension
and anxiety.
 An FDC contains two or more drugs combined in a fixed ratio of doses, available as a single dose.
 Drugs like Cefglobe OZ, Taxim -OZ etc have been banned by the health ministry.
Finance min starts 'Know your Budget' series
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 The Ministry of Finance has started the 'Know Your Budget' series on Twitter on 15 January 2019.
 'Know you Budget' series seeks to educate the general public about the budgetary process.
 The series also explains the importance of Union Budget and its making.
 The government on 1 February 2019 would unveil the interim Budget for 2019-20.
ECI launches Voter Awareness Forums
 Voter Awareness Forum(VAF) was launched by Election Commission of India on 16 January 2019.
 Voter Awareness Forums are informal Forums for generating awareness around the electoral process
through activities like discussions, quizzes, competitions and other engaging activities.
 VAF is part of the Electoral Literacy Club programme of Election Commission of India (ECI).
PM inaugurates 13-km, two-lane Kollam bypass
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kollam bypass on National Highway-66 in Kerala on 15
January 2019.
 The 13 km-long two-lane bypass road will cut travel time between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram
districts of Kerala.
 It will help in decongesting the traffic in Kollam town.
 The bypass includes three major bridges over the Ashtamudi Lake, having a total length of 1540 metres.
DD Science and India Science channels launched
 On 15 January 2019, Department of Science and Technology along with Doordarshan launched two science
communication initiatives - 'DD Science' and 'India Science'.
 The two channels will have science-based documentaries, studio-based discussions, and virtual
walkthroughs of-of scientific institutions.
 India Science is an internet-based science channel.
Green nod for Sita Ram Irrigation project
 The Union Environment Ministry has given the final environment clearance (EC) for the Sita Rama Lift
Irrigation Project in Telangana.
 The project aims to divert Godavari river water to three districts of Telangana.
 The objective of the project is to provide water for irrigation as well as to supplement some of the existing/
proposed irrigation schemes.
Kerala: Spiritual Circuit project inaugurated
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the project 'Development of Spiritual Circuit: Sree Padmanabha
Swamy Temple-Aranmula-Sabarimala' in Kerala on 15 January 2019.
 The project is implemented under the Swadesh Drashan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism.
 The Sree Padmanabaswamy Temple is one of the 108 divyadesams of Lord Vishnu.
Commemorative coin of Rs 350 introduced
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative coin of Rs 350 to mark the birth anniversary of
Guru Gobind Singh on 13 January 2019.
 Guru Gobind Singh was the 10th Sikh Guru.
 On 5 January 2017, commemorative postage was released during the 350th birth anniversary celebrations
of Guru Gobind Singh.
Robots introduced for traffic management
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 The Chennai Traffic Police inducted a road safety robot into service on 14 January 2019.
 The name of the robot is 'ROADEO'.
 The robot will help police in traffic management and assist pedestrians in Chennai roads.
 It will also ease the work of traffic police, as these robots can be integrated with the traffic signals, as well
as can be operated manually, through a Bluetooth app.
Special weather services for Kumbh launched
 A mobile application named 'Kumbh Mela Weather Service' has been developed to disseminate the live
weather information.
 It will provide information about the prevailing weather condition and forecasts to the people visiting
Prayagraj during Kumbh Mela.
 For this purpose, four Automatic Weather stations have been installed at four locations at Prayagraj.
Single-use plastics banned in Puducherry
 On 13 January 2019, the Puducherry government announced a total ban on manufacture, sale, and storage
of single-use plastics in the Union Territory.
 The ban on single-use plastics such as paper cups, disposable plates and straws would come into effect
from 1 March 2019.
 A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Puducherry's Chief Minister V.
Narayanasamy.
4th Meeting of CTDP held in New Delhi
 The 4th meeting of the Council for Trade Development and Promotion (CTDP) was held in New Delhi on 10
January 2019.
 It was chaired by the Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu.
 CTDP was constituted in July 2015, to create a framework for making States/ UTs active partners in boosting
India’s export.
NIC Command & Control Centre inaugurated
 NIC’s Command & Control Centre (CCC) and Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (AI) by NIC was
inaugurated at National Informatics Centre (NIC) on 10 January 2019.
 The aim of the CCC is to increase the performance of ICT infrastructure in the country.
 The AI centre is designed to promote innovation in the application of AI to take e-Governance services to
the next level.
Airboat service from Varanasi to Prayagraj
 The government of India will launch an airboat service from Varanasi to Prayagraj for the Kumbh Mela from
26 January 2019.
 The airboat will have an engine of a vehicle and carry 16 people in one go. It can cruise up to 80 kilometers
per hour and requires a depth of only 10 centimeters.
 The Kumbh Mela will begin in Prayagraj on 15 January 2019.
Longest cable suspension bridge inaugurated
 Arunachal Pradesh's Chief Minister, Pema Khandu inaugurated India’s longest single lane steel cable
suspension bridge over River Siang in Upper Siang district.
 The name of the bridge is Byorung Bridge.
235 | P a g e
 The 300-meter-long Bridge was funded by the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Ministry
under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources.
Private FM channels allowed to carry AIR news
 Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore launched 'Sharing of All India Radio News
with Private FM broadcasters' on 8 January 2019.
 Private FM channels can now carry All India Radio News free of cost on trial basis up to 31st May 2019.
 The commercials which are broadcast during news bulletins have to be carried along with news in too.
PM launches various projects in Maharashtra
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched road and underground sewerage system projects in Maharashtra
on 9 January 2019.
 He also laid the foundation stone for a ₹1,811 crore housing project of 30,000 units under the Pradhan
Mantri Awas Yojana.
 The housing project will benefit the homeless poor like rag pickers, rickshaw pullers, textile and beedi
workers.
A stretch of NH 211 inaugurated in Maharashtra
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the four-laned, Solapur – Tuljapur – Osmanabad section of NH-
211 (New NH-52) in Solapur in Maharashtra on 9 January 2019.
 It will improve the connectivity of Solapur with the Marathwada region.
 The project is part of Solapur-Yedashi section in Maharashtra.
 The Prime Minister had laid the foundation for this project in 2014.
App to alert police on traffic violators
 The Coimbatore city police launched the 'Police-E-Eye' mobile application on 7 January 2019.
 The app will enable the public to take photographs of traffic rule violators and upload them to the police.
 Based on this, the traffic department would issue photo challans to the violators' place to collect the fine
amount.
AAI bans single-use plastic items
 Airports Authority of India (AAI) imposed a ban on single-use plastic items at its 129 airports across the
country.
 Single-use plastic items like straws, plastic cutlery, plastic plates etc have been banned by AAI.
 Single-use plastic items are used only once and then thrown in the trash.
 Guruprasad Mohapatra is the Chairman of Airports Authority of India.
Raisina Dialogue to begin in New Delhi
 The fourth edition of the Raisina Dialogue began in New Delhi on 8 January 2019.
 The Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with Observer Research Foundation is organising the annual
geopolitical and geostrategic conference.
 The theme of the Dialogue this year is 'A World Reorder: New Geometries; Fluid Partnerships; Uncertain
Outcomes'.
Monkey fever in Karnakata
 At least six people have died due to Kyasanur forest disease (KFD), also known as ‘monkey fever’, in
Shivamogga district of Karnakata.
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 KFD is a re-emerging zoonotic disease endemic in Karnataka.

 It is caused by Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV), a member of the virus family Flaviviridae.
 The disease can be transmitted to human via contact with a sick or recently dead monkey.
Polavaram project created a World Record
 The Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project entered the Guinness Book record in terms of using the
highest volume of concrete in a given day.
 The project contractor Navayuga Engineering Company poured 32,100 cubic meters of concrete in the
spillway channel within 24 hours.
 The project beat the existing record set in Dubai while building a hotel in May 2017.
Orange alert for Andaman due to cyclone Pabuk
 The government of India issued an 'Orange' alert for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands due Cyclonic storm
'Pabuk' on 6 January 2019.
 'Pabuk' is now over the Andaman sea and its neighbourhood.
 An 'orange' weather warning means people should be prepared and there is an increased likelihood of bad
or extreme weather which may disrupt road and air travel and threaten life and property.
Results of World Toilet Day Contest announced
 Salem District is one among the top 12 winners of the World Toilet Day Contest 2018.
 The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation organised contests from 9 to 19 November 2018.
 The aim of the contest was to encourage the districts to re-intensify the sanitation movement, with a
special focus on open defecation free (ODF) sustainability.
NGT imposes Rs 100 Cr fine on Meghalaya govt
 The National Green Tribunal imposed a fine of 100 crore rupees on Meghalaya government for its failure to
curb illegal coal mining in the state.
 The amount of the fine has to be deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board.
 The action comes after a high-level committee submitted an adverse report to a bench headed by NGT
chairperson AK Goel.
Organic Festival to be organised in Chandigarh
 The 6th 'Women of India Organic Festival' will be held from 12 to 14 January 2019 in Chandigarh.
 The festival will be organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
 The aim of the festival is to celebrate and promote women farmers and entrepreneurs in the organic sector
from the remotest parts of India.
New Delhi World Book Fair begins
 The 27th New Delhi 'World Book Fair' was inaugurated in New Delhi on 5 January 2019.
 The theme of 2019 'World Book Fair' is 'Readers with Special Needs'.
 All India Radio (AIR) is the radio partner for the fair.
 To mark Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, there will be a special book exhibition of books on and
by Mahatma Gandhi.
East Siang Dist. achieves 100% electrification
 In Arunachal Pradesh, East Siang District has achieved 100% electrification under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj
Bijli Har Ghar Yojana- Saubhagya Scheme.
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 Pasighat Electrical division, which falls under the East Siang district, has electrified 2,662 households.
 The power department has electrified 1,483 villages under 'Deen Dayal Upadhyaya-Gram Jyoti Yojana' in
the state.
Veer Savarkar Airport declared as checkpost
 The Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair was declared as an authorised 'Immigration Check post'
for entry into/exit from India.
 This will open up the Port Blair Airport for direct international flight and immigration facilities.
 The Superintendent of Police (CID), Andaman and Nicobar Police was appointed as the ‘Civil Authority’ for
the purpose of the immigration check post.
IOC to commission Ennore LNG terminal
 Indian Oil Corp (IOC) will commission its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal at Ennore in Tamil
Nadu in January 2019.
 This is the first LNG import terminal IOC has built on its own.
 The company holds 12.5% stake in Petronet LNG Ltd, which operates import facilities at Dahej in Gujarat
and Kochi in Kerala.
 Sanjiv Singh is the Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation.
Renaming of Allahabad as Prayagraj approved
 The Union Home Ministry approved a Uttar Pradesh government proposal to rename Allahabad as
Prayagraj.
 In October 2018, the UP government had proposed the change in name of Allahabad to Prayagraj.
 The Home Ministry clears the name change proposals after the Ministry of Railways, the Department of
Posts and the Survey of India confirm that no city, town or village has similar names.
s
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Yearly National Affairs Capsule I 2019

Yearly Review of National Affairs 2019

AAI to Set Up 3 Water Aerodromes

India's first long distance CNG bus unveiled

35 lakh passengers have flown under UDAN: Govt

ECI organized National Workshop

India’s first waste exchange platform launched

5th EAC meeting of 15th Finance Comm. held

Amazon’s Audible launched an app in India

TCS introduced new insurance benefits

 It has been launched as part of the Fit India Campaign.

 STPs are the target under Namami Gange Yojna.

Bharatiya POSHAN Anthem launched

IFFI concluded at Panaji in Goa

 It has been organised by Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj.

Kolkata installed ‘Third Umpire’ Machines

Nitin Gadkari inaugurated Khadi Pavilion

UP govt to felicitate GST payers

IYM launched BS-VI compliant variants of bikes

Indian Army to get 18 Dhanush artillery guns

 The first session will be on the subject ‘Spirituality and Health’.

Digital museum inaugurated

Mastercard and MS Dhoni partnered

 Hindon Airport will serve as the ‘second’ airport.

 Sundeep Sikka will continue to lead the company as the CEO.

Village Secretariat system launched in Andhra

Portal for monitoring coal supply launched

India's Largest 'Charkha' inaugurated

UNESCO, DD Join Hands for TV Show

Swachhata hi Seva Abhiyan to be observed in MP

Google announced new AI research lab in India

Scope of Bharat Bill Payment System expanded

Jaldoot vehicle flagged off in Pune

Niti Aayog, McKinsey to launch DCC

India to raise target to restore degraded land

IGI Airport gets India's tallest ATC Tower

 It will go on till the 15th October 2019.

CGHS services to be available in 100 cities

IRCTC has came up with a new scheme

Indian Army established 45 Army schools

EC introduced a programme for electors

3000th railway station gets Wi-Fi

Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurates ABVIMS

Air India flew over the North Pole

CSR non-compliance should be a civil offence

Hyderabad Police created green corridor

Workshop organized by NCRB

World’s first ultra-fast hyperloop project

Wipro launches digital product compliance lab

AIIB withdrew from Amaravati Project

UP government to install statue of Lord Ram

NSG facility inaugurated at CCMB

 A 5,000 KW of solar power will be produced at the 45 acre plant site.

2.5 lakh new jobs to be created in IT sector

No-confidence motion against Speaker on 1 July

Insolvency petition against Jet Airways filed

 In Delhi, BS-6 fuel was started.

DG to join hands with Cisco and Accenture

Indore's airport gets 'international' status

Noida to become Zero Discharge City

Kerala linked Aadhaar to attendance

Thrust to make State thalassaemia-free by 2020

J&K: Campaign Sweep inaugurated