GEOPOLITICAL NEWS 2017

December 2017

• Vigilant Ace: South Korea, US launch largest air exercise

South Korea and the United States have launched Vigilant Ace, their largest-ever joint aerial
drills. The exercise comes after North Korea tested Hwasong-15, its most advanced and
powerful Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) as a part of its weapon programme.

• India Re-Elected To International Maritime Organisation Council

India has been re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation under a
category that represents nations with the largest interests in international seaborne trade.
India was re-elected to the council under Category B at an assembly of the organization at its
headquarters in London. Indian High Commissioner to the UK Y K Sinha represented India at
the assembly where India secured the second-highest number of votes (144) from member
countries, just after Germany's 146 and ahead of Australia's 143.

• Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) signs two Indian Advance Pricing Agreements
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into 2 Bilateral Advance Pricing
Agreements (APA) during the month of November 2017. These Agreements are the first ever
Bilateral APAs with The Netherlands. With the signing of these Agreements, the total number
of APAs entered into by the CBDT has gone up to 186. This includes 171 Unilateral APAs and
15 Bilateral APAs.These two APAs pertain to the Electronics and Technology sectors of the
economy.

• Ajeya Warrior-2017: Indo-UK combined military exercise held in Rajasthan

Ajeya Warrior is a joint exercise between the armies of India and UK. The exercise will be
conducted from 13 June to 28 June 2015 at Westdown Camp, Salisbury Plains Training Area,
UK. The Exercise is held biannually in the two countries, alternatively. The aim of the Exercise
is to build and promote positive military relations between Indian and UK Army and to
enhance their ability to undertake joint tactical level operations in Counter
Insurgency/Counter-Terrorism Environment under United Nations Charter.

• India signs techno-commercial agreement with ADIF, Spain

India and Spain signed a technical cooperation agreement yesterday which would, among
other things, provide an institutional mechanism for mutual cooperation in the field of urban
transport, especially in the implementation of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in the
National Capital Region (NCR).
November 2017

• China-Mongolia-Russia corridor
The China-Mongolia-Russia corridor is one of the six major corridors envisioned by China’s
One Belt One Road Initiative. The project seeks to improve infrastructure links between the
three countries, reduce freight times, and create new sea and land-based export routes for
Mongolian natural resources. It also aims to reduce bureaucratic barriers at the border and
provide a shorter route for Russian freight to Pacific ports via Mongolia.

• Brexit Talks Stall on the Issue of Northern Ireland Border

The future of Northern Ireland’s border with the Republic of Ireland has become a pressing
issue in Brexit talks. Negotiations for the United Kingdom’s departure from the European
Union have not yet clarified if Northern Ireland will continue to have an open border with the
Republic of Ireland or if it will revert to a hard border, complete with customs and immigration
controls.
The Irish government has threatened to block further negotiations if an open border is not
formally guaranteed. For its part, the EU has called on the UK government to propose a
solution to the Northern Ireland border issue before proceeding to the next step of Brexit
negotiations.
There are concerns that a hard border could reignite violent conflict on the island. While
Brexit proponents downplay the issue by promising to keep the border open, the dispute
could still undermine upcoming Brexit talks if left unresolved, particularly talks on a post-
Brexit trade deal. This risk is underscored by the fact that Ireland will have an opportunity to
veto any final agreement reached between EU and UK negotiators.

• Saudi Arabia's Anti-Corruption Windfall

With the recent news that a second luxury hotel has been mysteriously booked up the Saudi
authorities, supposedly for wealthy suspects in the country’s ongoing anti-corruption purge,
it appears increasingly obvious that a goal of the purge is to raise revenue for the Saudi state.
According to insiders, Saudi suspects being held as part of the Kingdom’s crackdown have
been offered agreements to transfer their assets to the government in exchange for the
charges against them being dropped. In other cases, wealthy businessmen and officials are
transferring funds from their personal accounts directly to government-controlled ones. The
Kingdom’s officials maintain that they expect to eventually recover $100bn this way. The
corruption probe has even been widened to look into military officials, which could prove
embarrassing for close allies in places like London, which have defense agreements going back
decades with Riyadh. Fixing the depleted Saudi treasury is seen as an urgent objective for
Saudi Arabia’s young reformist Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

• India and Russia sign comprehensive anti-terror pact

India and Russia have signed a comprehensive anti-terror pact agreement for enhancing
bilateral cooperation in tackling all forms of terrorism and count. The agreement was signed
by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Russia’s Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev in
Moscow after they held wide-ranging talks. Both countries emphasized the need to the
strength of the relationship between them which has been consolidated in the past 70 years
in all areas. They also agreed that terrorism must be fought unitedly and there were no good
or bad terrorists.
• India and Greece sign Air Services Agreement
India and Greece have signed the Air Services Agreement (ASA) and MoU on Cooperation
(MoC) in the field of New and Renewable Energy. The agreements were signed after bilateral
talks between External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj and her visiting counterpart
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Kotzias in New Delhi. ASA is signed between
countries to decide on a number of flights that airlines can fly into each other’s countries.

October 2017

• Saudi Arabia to Allow Women into Sports Stadiums from 2018

Turki Al-Asheikh, Chairman of the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia announced that
Saudi women will now be able to attend sports events in stadiums starting from 2018. The
move is aimed at empowering and engaging women in society as an integral part of the
development process. All these changes support Saudi Arabia's “Vision 2030” plan for
economic and social reforms.

• India Sends 1st Wheat Shipment to Afghanistan via Chabahar port

Iran's key strategic port of Chabahar became operational with the maiden shipment of wheat
from India to Afghanistan. It was flagged off from Kandla port in Gujarat. This is a major push
for India's Afghan outreach bypassing Pakistan for the first time under the 2016 Indo-Afghan-
Iran trilateral pact. Chabahar port is strategically located in Sistan-Balochistan province on
energy-rich Iran’s southern coast in Gulf of Oman near its border with Pakistan and can be
easily accessed from India’s western coast.

• India and World Bank Signed $200 Million Loan Agreement for Assam
The Government of India and the World Bank signed a $200 million Loan Agreement for the
Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project. The Project will support Assam to
facilitate agri-business investments, increase agricultural productivity and market access. The
Project will be implemented in over 16 Districts of Assam. Over 500,000 farming households
will directly benefit from the Project.

September 2017

• India and Norway Extends Bilateral Cooperation

India and Norway have extended bilateral cooperation in the health sector through the
Norway-India Partnership Initiative for a period of three years starting 2018. Union Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a letter of
intent recently. The Partnership Initiative now extends to Jammu and Kashmir and four other
States- Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are already covered under it.

• India Jumps to 14th Rank as Best Country for Expats HSBC Survey
According to the HSBC survey, India placed at global rankings by 12 places to take the 14th
spot in terms of best country for expats to live and work. The list is part of HSBC's latest 'expat
explorer survey' that covered 27,587 expats from 159 countries and territories in March and
April 2017. About 71 percent expats in India reported high levels of confidence in the local
economy, while 58 percent exuded optimism on political stability.

• Russia and US Partner to Build 1st Ever Space Station Near Moon
Russian and the United States space agencies, Roscosmos and NASA, have agreed to jointly
build a "deep space gateway", the first-ever astronaut-tended space station around the
Moon. It would help prepare for manned missions to deep space destinations including Mars.
NASA and Roscosmos are two of the major partners in the $100-billion Earth-orbiting
International Space Station (ISS).

• Asian Development Bank to Increase Annual Lending to India to $4 billion

The Asian Development Bank will increase its annual lending to India to a maximum of $4
billion between 2018 and 2022 to help fasten inclusive economic transformation towards
upper middle-income status. The proposal was endorsed at new ADB Country Partnership
Strategy for 2018- 2022. The new lending programme, which includes private sector
operations, is much higher than the average $2.65 billion a year in loans extended during 2012
and 2016.

August 2017

• Union Cabinet approves MoU on India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation
Fund
The Union Cabinet approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up US $40 million
India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund. India and Israel will make a
contribution of US $4 million (INR 25 crore) each for Fund. The MoU aims at a promotion of
bilateral Industrial Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation cooperation between
both countries in fields of science and technology.

• India and Germany signed an agreement to improve grid integration of renewable energy
India and Germany signed an agreement on technical cooperation under the Indo-German
Energy Programme – Green Energy Corridors (IGEN-GEC). The main aim of this programme is
to improve the sector framework and conditions for grid integration of renewable energy.
Around 60 years, the Deutsche Gesellschaft for Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
has been working jointly with partners in India for sustainable economic, ecological, and social
development.

• India and China Agree to Disengage at Doklam

India and China agreed to withdraw their troops from Doklam after being in a standoff for
over two months. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the expeditious
disengagement has been agreed. The standoff started after India objected to China
constructing a road in the disputed area.
July 2017

• Sri Lanka and China sign $1.1 billion Hambantota Port Deal
Sri Lanka signed $1.1 billion deal to the United States of America to sell a 70% stake in the
strategic Hambantota deep-sea port to China. It is a deep-water port in the southern tip of Sri
Lanka. The deal was signed between the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and China Merchants
Port Holding Company (CMPort). These sea lines run through several major maritime choke
points such as the Strait of Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca and the Lombok Strait
as well as other strategic maritime centers in Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and
Somalia.

• Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns over Panama Papers verdict
Nawaz Sharif resigned as Prime Minister of Pakistan following a decision by the country's
Supreme Court to disqualify him from office. He is only the second after former prime minister
Yousaf Raza Gilani to be dismissed by the Supreme Court. Due to a probe into his family's
wealth following the 2015 Panama Papers Mr. Sharif's children to offshore companies.

June 2017

• British Prime Minister Theresa may win a confidence vote in Parliament

British Prime Minister Theresa may win the confidence vote in the Parliament getting her first
major test as the Prime Minister of a Minority Government in the United Kingdom (UK). The
announcement led the opposition party leader to withdraw an amendment to the Queen's
Speech demanding the state-run National Health Service (NHS) in England stop charging
women coming from the province, where abortion is illegal except when the life of the mother
is in danger.

• The United States issues New Visa Criteria for Six Muslim Countries
United States Of America issues New visa Criteria for visa applicants from six Muslim
countries. The countries were Iraq, Iran, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Syria. As per the
new criteria, applicants from the six Muslim-majority countries must prove a relationship with
a parent, spouse, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law or sibling in the
United States of America.

May 2017

• Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' Resigns as Nepal Prime Minister

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' resigned his post. Nepali Congress
President Sher Bahadur Deuba to become the next Prime Minister of Nepal. He was elected
as the 39th Prime Minister of Nepal.
• Lenin Moreno was sworn in as Ecuador President
Lenin Moreno elected as President of Ecuador in Ecuador Presidential Elections 2017.
Engineer Jorge Glas will continue as Vice President. Earlier, Moreno served as United
Nations(UN)Special Envoy on Disability and Accessibility.

• UN releases the first draft of the nuclear ban treaty

The United Nations released a first draft nuclear ban treaty banning the possession and use
of nuclear weapons. This treaty can get opposition from the countries the United States (US),
United Kingdom (UK), Russia, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel. The draft
was released in Geneva. The treaty confirms that use of nuclear weapons is a violation of the
International Humanitarian Law.

• The USA and six Gulf countries sign MoU to control terror organizations
Six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the United States of America have signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Riyadh to curb financing of terror organizations like
Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Haqqani network, the Taliban. The MoU was signed between US and
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. According to the
MoU, the signatory countries intend to identify, track and share information regarding
terrorist financial networks and related activity of mutual concern, including related threats
emanating from countries and terrorist organizations. The MoU signed to establish the
Terrorist Financing Targeting Centre (TFTC).

April 2017

• North Korea once again test-fires ballistic missile

North Korea has test-fired a ballistic missile defying global pressure and warnings from the
United States and its main, China. The test was conducted from the Pukchang region present
in the north of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. The missile launched is expected to be a
medium-range weapon known as a KN-17 and appears to have disintegrated within minutes
of taking off.

• Donald Trump introduces the biggest reform plan in the US

US president Donald Trump has introduced the biggest tax reform plan in the history of United
States. The income tax rates have been slashed from 39.6% to 35%. He proposed tax relief for
families with child and dependent care expenses. The new plan proposes for a 15% corporate
tax rate which is a sharp drop from the existing 35%. However, under the US law, only the
Congress is empowered to make major changes to tax laws.

March 2017

• South Korean Ex-President Park Geun-Hye - Arrested in Corruption Probe

Park Geun-Hye, the former South Korean president, has been arrested and jailed over a high-
profile corruption scandal that has already seen her ousted from office and prompted early
elections. Ms. Park, 65, was immediately driven to a detention centre in the south of the
capital, Seoul. Political crisis: - Park Geun-Hye's presidency reached a crisis in October 2016,
after it was revealed she was being secretly advised by a female friend, Choi Soon-sil. Ms.
Choi, dubbed “Korea’s Rasputin”, guided President Park on everything from clothes to policy
on North Korea. She is currently facing criminal charges of using her influence to extort
millions of dollars from businesses. The Korean parliament voted to impeach Park Geun-Hye
in December 2016. She was arrested by South Korean prosecutors in March 2017.

February 2017

India & Ukraine to strengthen bilateral cooperation through Cinema

Minister for Information & Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu and Member of the Parliament of
Ukraine and Chairman of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine
Mr. Iurii Artemenko have agreed to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two
countries through the medium of Cinema in New Delhi on February 27, 2017. The cooperation
would be helpful to showcase films through the medium of Film Festivals and utilizing the
Film Facilitation Office platform established by India. The possibility of translating programs
and content and providing subtitles in respective languages of both the countries was also
discussed with respect to the Public Broadcasters of both the countries.

January 2017

• Trump bans 7 nations from entering the US on security issues

American President Donald Trump has signed an executive order on January 27, 2017, to
temporarily ban visas for refugees belonging to seven Muslim-majority countries namely Iraq,
Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The decision aims at protecting the United
States from the entry of foreign terrorists to keep the nation safe. The ban is not aimed at
restricting Muslim countries from entering the US. As per the order, the travellers including
legal permanent US residents residing in any of the seven
mentioned countries would be prohibited from entering the US for 90 days. Besides, refugee
admission would also be banned for 120 days. The ban is not limited to these 7 nations. A
further expansion of the list may be done as per the order of the US president. However, the
ban would not apply to diplomats and members of international organizations.

• Denmark to appoint world’s first ‘digital ambassador’

Denmark has announced it will appoint a 'digital ambassador' to manage its relationship with
technology giants like Google and Apple, becoming the first country to do so. Such companies
have become a type of new nations and we need to confront that, said Denmark's Foreign
Minister Anders Samuelsen. The companies' market values are large enough to enter G20, he
added.
 GEOPOLITICAL NEWS 2018

January 2018

• India Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable ICBM Agni-V

India test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), which has
a strike range of over 5,000km. It was test fired successfully from Abdul Kalam island off the
coast of the eastern state of Odisha.

• VINBAX: Indian, Vietnam hold first military exercise in Jabalpur

The India-Vietnam Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX-2018) was conducted at Jabalpur in
Madhya Pradesh. It is the first military exercise between the two countries. The six day-long
military exercise (from January 29 to February 3, 2018) was conducted as part of joint training
undertaken with friendly foreign countries by the Indian army. VINBAX-2018 was Table Top
Exercise to carry out training for Peace Keeping Operations under United Nations (UN)
mandate. It was jointly undertaken 15 officers each from Indian Army and Vietnam People’s
Army. The joint exercise was especially designed to enable and train officers from Vietnam in
United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.

• INS Karanj: Third submarine of Scorpene class launched

Indian Navy has launched Scorpene submarine INS Karanj at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
Ltd (MDL), Mumbai, Maharashtra. It the third Scorpene class submarine built by MDL under
ambitious Project 75 of the Indian Navy.

• Israel Withdraws from UNESCO

Israel has filed notice to withdraw from the UNESCO alongside the United States. Israel has
blasted UNESCO in recent years over the organisation's criticism of Israel's occupation of East
Jerusalem and its decision to grant full membership to Palestine in 2011.UNESCO HQ: Paris,
France

• Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visits India

Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India follows that of Ariel Sharon in 2003. In the intervening
years the India-Israel relationship has expanded remarkably, but without exchange of visits at
the highest political level as would normally happen between countries drawing closer
rapidly. The Israelis have been pressing for a more open acknowledgement at the political
level of the enhanced status of ties and India has been responsive. India and Israel have
agreed to enhance co-operation in the areas of agriculture, science and technology and
security.
February 2018

• Russia vetoes UN draft resolution pressuring Iran over Yemen

Russia on February 26, 2018 vetoed a UN draft resolution presented by Britain that would
have pressured Iran over its failure to block supplies of missiles to Yemen's Huthi rebels.
The text, strongly supported by the United States, won 11 favourable votes at the 15-member
Security Council but was blocked by Russia's veto. China and Kazakhstan abstained, while
Bolivia also voted against the measure. The adoption of a resolution at the UN Security
Council requires 9 votes and no vetoes from the five permanent council members - Britain,
France, China, Russia and the United States. After the veto, the council unanimously adopted
a Russian-drafted measure that extended the sanctions regime against Yemen for one year,
but that text made no mention of Iran.

• Saudi Arabia allows women to enlist in military

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has for the first-ever time opened applications for women to
enlist in the military. Women have been given time till March 1, 2018 to apply for positions
with the rank of soldier in the provinces of Riyadh, Mecca, al-Qassim and Medina.The move
is a continuation of the kingdom’s effort to enact reforms that grant females more access to
a wide range of previously forbidden careers.

• India successfully test-fires nuclear capable 'Dhanush' missile

India on February 23, 2018 test-fired the surface-to-surface Dhanush ballistic missile from a
naval ship off Odisha’s coast. The nuclear-capable missile with a strike range of 350 km is a
naval variant of the indigenously-developed Prithvi-II missile. It was test-fired from a naval
warship positioned near Paradip in the Bay of Bengal. According to officials from DRDO, the
trial was a complete success and all the objectives were met. The missile launch and its flight
performance were monitored from DRDO telemetry and radar facilities in the Odisha coast.

• India successfully conducts night trial of Prithvi-II missile

India on February 21, 2018 successfully conducted night trial of indigenously developed
surface-to-surface nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile off Odisha coast. The Strategic Forces
Command of the Indian Army conducted the user trial of this 350 km range missile from a
mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur near
Balasore in Odisha.
The trial was a part of randomly selected regular training exercise by the armed forces which
reconfirms the Army’s readiness to fire it at short notice. This night trial of Prithvi-II came
after successful trials of the Agni-5, Agni-II and Agni I in just over a month.

• Tri-service maritime exercise 'Paschim Lehar' held

The Tri-service maritime exercise ‘Paschim Lehar’ was initiated off India’s western coast on
February 12, 2018.The main objective of the exercise was to build interoperability between
the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard. Around 40 ships, submarines
and fighter aircraft participated in the exercise. In the initial phase, the exercise included a
number of weapon firings, including missile, gun and torpedo firings. The second phase has
been structured to validate and refine the operational plans of the Western Naval Command.

• Venezuela, Libya suspended from voting in UN General Assembly

Venezuela and Libya have been suspended from voting in the UN General Assembly for the
third time in three years because of millions of dollars in unpaid dues to the world body. The
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres informed the General Assembly in late January that 14
countries including Venezuela and Libya were in arrears. The Assembly spokesman Brenden
Varma confirmed on February 14 that Venezuela and Libya have lost their vote in the 193-
member global organisation as a result. According to a letter from Guterres to the Assembly
President, Venezuela must pay a minimum of 25,200,296 US dollars to restore its voting rights
and Libya must pay at least 6,594,842 US dollars.

• 6th Garuda shakti exercise held in Bandung between special forces of India and
Indonesia
The Indian and Indonesian armies began the sixth edition of their annual military exercise
named ‘Garuda Shakti’ in Bandung, Indonesia. It is a two-week long joint Military drill which
experience sharing in counter-terrorism operations, close quarter combat, and other areas of
special operations.

• Lamitye 2018 Held: India, Seychelles conduct military exercise to fight counter
insurgency, piracy
The eighth edition Lamitye 2018, bilateral military exercise between Indian Army and
Seychelles People’s Defence Force was held at Mahe Island in Seychelles archipelago. The
Seychelles archipelago falls on one of most significant and busiest sea transport routes of the
world in Indian Ocean. The Lamitye exercise is conducted biennially between Indian and
Seychelles with aim of enhancing military cooperation and interoperability between the two
countries. Lamitye means friendship in Creole (local dialect of Seychelles). Indian Army was
represented by team comprising of 45 personnel, including four officers, five Junior
Commissioned Officers (JCO) and 36 Other Ranks.

March 2018

• Russia announces expulsion of 150 diplomats and closure of American consulate

Russia has announced that it would be expelling 150 western diplomats and closing the US
consulate in St Petersburg in retaliation to similar actions taken earlier in the week by British
allies, following poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK. The action comes in the wake of
the expulsion of more than 150 Russian diplomats by European and Nato allies of Britain,
which blamed Russia for the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter. According
to the US, Russia's move was not anticipated and it marks a further deterioration in the US-
Russia relationship. The US stated that the expulsion of undeclared Russian intelligence
officers by the countries in the west was an appropriate response to the Russian attack on
the soil of the United Kingdom.

• India successfully launches GSAT-6A communication satellite

ISRO successfully launched the GSLV-F08 carrying the GSAT6A communication satellite from
Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Today's launch adds
another feather in ISRO's cap as it is mastering the technique of making home-made
communication satellites. The GSAT-6A satellite will be put into orbit around 17 minutes after
the rocket's lift-off

• Arab world’s first nuclear reactor complete

The United Arab Emirates said on March 26, 2018 that one of the four nuclear reactors at its
debut nuclear power plant has been completed. With this development, UAE moves closer to
becoming the first Arab nation to produce atomic power. The announcement came after
visiting South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Zayed toured the $20-billion Barakah plant. Besides UAE, Saudi Arabia- the world's top crude
oil exporter, has also accelerated plans to acquire nuclear energy and is expected to prequalify
several international companies next month to bid for building two nuclear reactors.

• US, Canada and European Union nations expel over 100 Russian diplomats
Standing in solidarity with the United Kingdom, more than 21 nations led by the United States
announced the expulsion of over 100 Russian diplomats on March 26, 2018. Britain has
already expelled 23 Russian diplomats. The move is reported to be the largest collective
western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of Cold War. It follows allegations
against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime for having a hand in the poisoning of a
former Russian spy in the United Kingdom. The countries that took the extreme step include
the United States, Canada, Australia, Albania, Ukraine, Norway and several European Union
nations like France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Hungary, Spain, Croatia,
Poland, Estonia, Czech Republic, Romania, Netherlands, Finland and Sweden.

• India, China explore possibility of strengthening cooperation in border areas

India and China exchanged views on ways to improve border management during the meeting
of 11th round of the ‘Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination for India-China
Border Affairs’ (WMCC) in New Delhi on March 22, 2018.The Indian delegation was led by
Joint Secretary (East Asia) in Ministry of External Affairs, Pranay Verma while the Chinese
delegation was led by Director General of Department of Boundary and Oceanic Affairs,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yi Xianliang. India underlined that maintenance of peace and
tranquillity in the India-China border areas is an important pre-requisite for further
development of bilateral relations between the two countries. The two nations also discussed
various confidence building measures aimed at further enhancing the level of mutual trust
and understanding between their border personnel. Both sides also agreed to explore the
possibility of strengthening cooperation through exchange of visits and institutionalised
dialogue mechanisms in order to promote better understanding and cooperation between
the two defence forces. The two sides further, agreed to hold the next meeting of the WMCC
at a mutually convenient time.

• Warship INS Ganga decommissioned

INS Ganga, an indigenously built frigate of the Indian Navy, was decommissioned in Mumbai
on March 22, 2018, after over three decades of service. The warship, which was
commissioned on December 30, 1985, represented a big step forward in the nation's warship
building capability. The poignant and impressive ceremony that was attended by several
officers saw the frigate hauled down for the last time at sunset. The ceremony was conducted
by the last Commanding Officer of the ship Captain, NP Pradeep and the chief guest for the
ceremony was Vice Admiral A K Bhal, who was himself a former crew member of the ship
from 1989 to 1991.The special guest of honour for the ceremony was Vice Admiral (Retd) KK
Kohli, the first Commanding Officer of INS Ganga.

• India, Hong Kong sign double taxation avoidance agreement

India signed a double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) with Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR) on March 19, 2018 to improve transparency in tax matters
and help curb tax evasion and avoidance. The agreement was signed by Indian Ambassador
to China Gautam Bambawale and Hong Kong Finance Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po in Hong
Kong. The treaty on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion
with respect to taxes on income will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel
from India to HKSAR and vice versa. It will prevent double taxation and boost exchange of
information between the two contracting parties. It will also improve transparency in tax
matters and will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.

• Philippines formally withdraws from International Criminal Court

The Philippines on March 16, 2018 formally submitted the Letter of Withdrawal from the
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).The Letter, dated March 15, 2018, was
submitted by Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Teodoro Locsin Jr. to UN Cabinet
Chief Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, a Representative to Secretary General Antonio Guterres. In
its letter, the Philippines mentioned its withdrawal from the treaty that established that the
ICC was a righteous stand against those who politicise and weaponize human rights. However,
the country assured the UN that the Philippines Government will continue to be guided by
the rule of law mentioned in its Constitution and will continue to fight against the crimes
despite its withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

• US challenges India's export subsidy programmes at WTO

The US Trade Representative (USTR) challenged Indian export subsidy schemes at the World
Trade Organisation (WTO) by claiming that these programmes will harm American workers
through creating an "uneven" playing field. The USTR consulted the WTO in this matter. These
consultations are the first step in the WTO dispute settlement process. If they do not reach
to a jointly agreed solution through discussion, the US may left with only option to request
the WTO dispute settlement panel to review the matter. As per the USTR, financial benefits
given to Indian exporters through at least half a dozen Indian programmes allow them to
trade their goods more cheaply to the detriment of American workers and
manufacturers. They pegged these subsidies benefits at $7 billion.

The USTR said that India has provided exemption from certain duties, taxes, and fees which
benefits numerous Indian exporters, including producers of steel products, pharmaceuticals,
chemicals, information technology products, textiles, and apparel through these
programmes. The programmes under which these benefits are provided are: the Merchandise
Exports from India Scheme; Export Oriented Units Scheme and sector specific schemes,
including Electronics Hardware Technology Parks Scheme, Special Economic Zones, Export
Promotion Capital Goods Scheme and Duty Free Imports for Exporters Programme. The USTR
also said that India’s exemption under the WTO’s special and differential provisions for
developing countries in 2015, New Delhi has expired but still it continued to do so and even
raised the size and scope.

• World Happiness Index 2018: Finland tops, India ranked 133rd

The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Solutions Network on March 14, 2018
published the World Happiness Report 2018. The Report comprises the World Happiness
Index, a landmark survey to know the state of global happiness. It ranked 156 countries by
their happiness levels and 117 countries by the happiness of their immigrants. This year's
World Happiness Index ranked Finland as the happiest country in the world.

• China makes historic move, allows Xi Jinping to remain President indefinitely

China's Parliament on March 11, 2018 removed 2-term limit of President, paving the way for
President Xi Jinping to rule indefinitely over the country. The decision was taken at the annual
session of the National People's Congress (NPC). Out of 2963 delegates, 2958 voted "yes" to
change the Constitution, while three abstained and two voted against. The delegates voted
using paper ballots, which they dropped inside red ballot boxes. The results were shown
inside the Great Hall of the People.

• Sri Lankan Government declares nation-wide emergency over communal violence

The Sri Lankan government has decided to declare a nation-wide emergency for a period of
10 days to control the law and order situation following the outbreak of violence against the
minority community in its central district, Kandy. The decision was taken during a cabinet
meeting chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena on March 6, 2018. The decision comes as
curfew was re-imposed in two police divisions of Kandy district following clashes between
majority Sinhalese Buddhists and minority Muslims. The district has witnessed days of unrest
between the two religious communities with a Buddhist man being killed and Muslim
businesses set ablaze.

• Iraq becomes India’s biggest oil supplier

Iraq has become India’s biggest crude oil supplier by overtaking Saudi Arabia with a wide
margin in this current financial year. Iraq supplied 38.9 million tonnes (MT) of oil, which was
more than 20% of country’s oil needs. In the first 10 months (April 2017-January 2018) of the
current fiscal year, Saudi Arabia supplied 30.9 MT of crude oil to India. India imported 184.4
MT of crude oil during the period of April 2017-January 2018 as compared to 213.9 MT in the
entire 2016-17 FY, and 202.8 MT in 2015-16.India is 80% dependent on imports to meet its
oil needs. India’s dependence on the Middle East for its crude oil needs has increased from
58% in 2014-15 to 63.7% in the April-January period of this fiscal. Out of 189.4 MT of total
crude imports in 2014-15, India had imported 109.9 MT from the Middle East region. In the
current fiscal so far, the Middle East has accounted for 117.5 MT of crude oil supplies to India.

• Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi stripped of human rights award

Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi was on March 7, 2018 stripped off her human
rights award conferred by US Holocaust Memorial Museum. The Museum announced that it
was withdrawing Suu Kyi's Elie Wiesel Award, which they had presented to her in 2012. The
decision was taken following the ongoing violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority
community in the Rakhine state of Myanmar. In a letter to Suu Kyi, Museum Director Sara
Bloomfield insisted that they did not take this decision lightly, but were compelled to act in
light of the mass displacements and killings of the Rohingyas at the hands of Myanmar's
security forces. Bloomfield further wrote in her letter, “as the military's attacks against the
Rohingyas unfolded in 2016 and 2017, we had hoped that you -- as someone we and many
others have celebrated for your commitment to human dignity and universal human rights --
would have done something to condemn and stop the military's brutal campaign and to
express solidarity with the targeted Rohingya population. ”Instead, Suu Kyi's political party
refused to cooperate with UN investigators, spread a hateful campaign against the Rohingya
community calling them terrorists and denied access and ordered a crackdown against
journalists trying to uncover the violence in Rakhine state.

• Marshall Islands creates its own virtual currency

The Marshall Islands will launch the world's first legal tender crypto-currency to raise some
hard cash to pay bills and boost the economy. The parliament has passed a law to create its
own digital currency. To issue the crypto-currency, the Marshall Islands nation has teamed up
with a company Neema from Israel. The Neema will issue 24 million units of the Sovereign
digital currency SOV. However, the numbers are capped to prevent inflation.

• India, Bangladesh, Russia Sign Pact for Rooppur Atomic Plant

Indian companies can now participate in construction and installation works in the “non-
critical” category for the Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh, according to the Russian
atomic energy agency Rosatom. The Rooppur project is the first initiative under an Indo-
Russian deal to undertake atomic energy projects in third countries. This will also be the first
time Indian companies will be able to participate in a nuclear power project abroad. India,
Bangladesh and Russia signed an agreement in this regard in Moscow, Russia.

• Indian Navy Host Bilateral Exercise 'Varuna' with French Navy

The navies of India and France are engaged in a joint bilateral exercise, "Varuna-18", in the
Arabian Sea off the Goa coast, which commenced days after the leaders of the two countries
decided to further deepen their maritime cooperation. The drill would include anti-
submarine, air defence and asymmetric engagement exercises. The two countries would
explore the measures to facilitate the operational-level interactions between their respective
armed forces and increase mutual cooperation, considering the common global threats.

• 1st G20 Ministerial Meeting Held in Argentina

Argentina has selected the theme, 'Building consensus for fair and sustainable development,'
for the 2018 G20 Leaders' Summit, and has identified three key issues for the agenda: the
future of work, infrastructure for development, and a sustainable food future, with the
presence of 57 delegations from countries and institutions.

April 2018

• Former Guatemala dictator Efrain Rios Montt passes away

Former military dictator Efrain Rios Montt, who ruled Guatemala between 1982 and 1983 and
was accused of genocide, passed away on April 1, 2018. He was 91.Rios Montt was held
responsible for the murders of 1771 indigenous Ixil-Maya people during his short reign in
Guatemala, The incident took place in the wake of the 36-year civil war.

• US diplomat Rosemary DiCarlo becomes first female Head of UN Political Affairs

Former American diplomat Rosemary DiCarlo was on March 29, 2018 appointed as the Head
of UN Political Affairs, one of the most high-profile positions of the United Nations (UN).With
this appointment, DiCarlo became the first woman to head this position. DiCarlo will succeed
Jeffrey Feltman. Feltman had been overseeing the post of Under-Secretary-General for UN
Political Affairs since 2012 and was influential enough to regulate UN efforts to end conflicts
worldwide.

• Donald Trump declares DACA program dead

The President of United States, Donald Trump on April 2, 2018 declared dead the Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that protected immigrants brought to the
nation illegally as children. Earlier in September 2017, President Trump had said that he would
terminate the DACA program, which was introduced by his predecessor Barack Obama.
Trump however, gave the Congress time until March 6 to replace the program. Although
Congress failed to meet the deadline, the courts ruled that the program can stay in place for
now. Speaking through a twitter post, President Trump said that DACA is dead because the
Democrats did not care or act, and now everyone wants to get onto the DACA bandwagon.

• Indo-Korean joint exercise SAHYOG-HYEOBLYEOG 2018 held

The Indo-Korean joint anti-piracy exercise 'SAHYOG- HYEOBLYEOG 2018' was conducted on
April 5, 2018 off the Chennai coast. The exercise was reviewed by the Director General of
Indian Coast Guard Rajendra Singh and Commissioner of Korean Coast Guard General Park
Kyung.
This joint exercise is a part of a proposed establishment of a MoU between the Coast Guards
of India and Korea to improve maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region. As part of the
exercise, ships of the Indian Coast Guard and the Korean vessel undertook strategic exercises
and drills to counter piracy and carry out maritime law enforcement tasks. Indian Coast Guard
deployed a Dornier aircraft to carry out sea-air coordinated search along with the five ships
including Shaurya, Rani Abbakka and Abheek and one Chetak helicopter. The Korean Coast
Guard ship 'BADARO' took part in this search and rescue exercise.

• Qatar to allow women to volunteer for national service

Qatar would be introducing national service for women for the first time with immediate
effect, under a new law issued by the Gulf nation’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The nation has also extended the time served in the military by recruited men. While women
aged over 18 will now be able to volunteer for national service under the law, men will have
to serve for a year instead of three months.

• IAF conducts biggest combat exercise 'Gaganshakti'

The Indian Air Force conducts one of its biggest war exercises 'Gaganshakti' from April 8 to
April 22, 2018 to check its operational preparedness for dealing with any possible security
challenges from China and Pakistan. Gaganshakti, a force level exercise, is conducted once in
every two years. This two-week long exercise will involve almost the entire resources of the
IAF including its fighter squadrons.

• ISRO successfully puts navigation satellite IRNSS-1I into orbit

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on April 12, 2018 launched the navigation
satellite IRNSS-1I. The satellite was put into orbit on the PSLV-C41 rocket from the Satish
Dhawan Space Centre in coastal Andhra Pradesh. RNSS-1I is expected to replace IRNSS-1A,
the first of the seven navigation satellites, which became ineffective after its three rubidium
atomic clocks failed.

• UAE approves law on equal wages for men, women

The Cabinet of United Arab Emirates (UAE) has approved the issuance of law on Equal Wages
and Salaries for men and women. The new law will ensure equal pay for men and women
working in the country. It will provide women with equal opportunities as partners in the
UAE's development.

• First International conference on Water, Environment held in Kathmandu

The first international conference on ‘Water, Environment and Climate Change: Knowledge
Sharing and Partnership’ was inaugurated in Kathmandu, Nepal on April 10, 2018.
The conference was inaugurated by Nepal’s Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun. Speaking on
the occasion, Nanda Bahadur Pun stressed upon the need of water security and said that it
should be given the top priority.
• North, South Korea Commit to Denuclearization in Historic Summit
The leaders of North and South Korea agreed to pursue a permanent peace and the complete
denuclearization of the divided peninsula, as they embraced after a historic summit laden
with symbolism. Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea and Moon Jae-in, the leader of South
Korea also agreed to end hostile activities between the two nations, change the demilitarised
zone (DMZ) that divides the country into a “peace zone” by ceasing propaganda broadcasts.
They also agreed to joint participation in sporting events, including Asian Games 2018.

• Syria returns to France the prestigious Legion d'honneur

Syria has returned to France the prestigious Legion d'honneur presented to Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad. The award was returned to France through the Romanian embassy in
Damascus. President Assad was decorated with the highest class of the award, the Grand
Croix, in 2001 after he took power following the death of his father. The move comes days
after France said a disciplinary procedure for withdrawing the award was under way. France
recently joined the US and Britain in bombing Syrian targets over an alleged chemical
weapons attack.

• Six nations suspend membership in UNASUR regional bloc

The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), which was created a decade ago to counter
US influence in the region, has temporarily lost half its members after six countries suspended
their memberships amidst differences over who should lead the group. Bolivian Foreign
Minister Fernando Huanacuni announced that Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay
and Peru have decided to temporarily leave UNASUR, given differences over choosing the
secretary general of the group. Paraguay's foreign ministry said in a statement that the
impossibility of electing a general secretary for UNASUR affects the bloc and that the six
countries that will remain outside it until they see "concrete results that guarantee its
operation." UNASUR was promoted by late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Bolivia,
Ecuador, Guyana, Surinam, Uruguay and Venezuela remain in the bloc.

• Indo-Malaysian Armies to conduct defence exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI 2018

Indian and Malaysian armies will be conducting the joint training exercise ‘HARIMAU SHAKTI
2018’ in the dense forests of Sengai Perdik, Hulu Langat, Malaysia from April 30, 2018 to May
13, 2018. The exercise will be a part of ongoing Indo-Malaysian defence cooperation and will
be aimed at boosting cooperation and coordination between the armed forces of both the
nations.

May 2018

• Surya Kiran-XIII: India-Nepal joint battalion level exercise held in Uttarakhand

The thirteenth edition of India-Nepal joint military exercise was conducted at Pithoragarh,
Uttarakhand from 30 May to 12 June 2018. The joint military exercise aims to further enhance
and strengthen level of defence cooperation between the two neighbouring nations. Surya
Kiran-XIII exercise will see participation of nearly 300 soldiers from both Indian and Nepal
Army. They will share their experiences gained during conduct of various counter insurgency
and counter terrorism operations in the past. Surya Kiran series of bilateral military exercises
are conducted bi-annually, alternatively in India and Nepal.

• Colombia joins NATO as global partner

Colombia has formally joined North Atlantic Treaty Organization as global partner. It makes it
first Latin American to join NATO. The announcement came after Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) approved Colombia as a new member

• USA Withdraws From Iran Nuclear Deal

President Donald Trump announced US withdrawal from the 2015 landmark nuclear deal with
Iran. Mr Trump signed a fresh set of sanctions against Iran and warned countries against any
cooperation with Tehran on its controversial nuclear weapons programme. According to the
President, the deal gave Iran millions in cash and did not prevent it from acquiring nuclear
weapons. The historic nuclear deal was reached in Vienna in July 2015 between Iran and the
P5 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council) along with Germany and the
European Union.

• India slips to 11th spot in AT Kearney FDI Confidence Index 2018

Global consultant AT Kearney on May 3, 2018 released the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
Confidence Index 2018, an annual survey which tracks the impact of political, economic and
regulatory changes on the FDI preferences of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Chief
Financial Officers (CFOs) of the country. The United States (US) topped the index, followed by
Canada at 2nd and Germany at the 3rd place.

• Dakota aircraft joins IAF again

A restored Dakota aircraft has joined the Indian Air Force more than four decades after the
fleet was phased out following an illustrious service record. The Dakota DC-3 VP 905 was
formally inducted at a grand ceremony held at Hindan air force station on May 4.The aircraft
was flown back to India from UK by a joint crew of IAF and Reflight Airworks. During its
journey, the aircraft flew a total of 9750 km and made en-route halts in France, Italy, Greece,
Jordan, Bahrain and Oman. According to an official statement, the historic flight across seven
countries was a commemoration of the service provided by the venerable aircraft to the
nation. The Dakota, popularly known as the Gooney Bird, was the first major transport aircraft
inducted in the Indian Air Force. It was at the forefront of operations from 1947 to 1971.

• India-China border trade resumes via Nathu La Pass

The India-China border bilateral trade for the year 2018 resumed on May 1, 2018 through the
Nathu La border with the exchange of gifts between both the sides. The trade was disrupted
in 2017 following the Doklam standoff. In 2016-2017, goods worth Rs 3.54 crore were traded
via Nathu La, the Sino-Indian border.
• India and France conduct final phase of Varuna naval exercise near Reunion Island
Indian and French navies conducted final and third phase of Varuna naval exercise 2018 near
Reunion Island in Indian Ocean region (IOR). In the final phase, both navies simulated
different possible scenarios such as asymmetric warfare and tested their air defence
capabilities.2018 Varuna naval exercise between Indian and French Navy was conducted in
three phases and included anti-submarine, air defence and asymmetric engagement
exercises.

• India, Guatemala agree to support each other for non-permanent membership of UNSC
India and Guatemala have agreed to support each other’s candidature for Non-Permanent
Membership in the United Nations Security Council. Guatemala will support India’s
candidature for UNSC membership for 2021-22 while India will do so for Guatemala for 2031-
32.The decision was one of the many outcomes of the extensive high-level talks that took
place between Indian Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Guatemalan President Jimmy
Morales, Vice President Dr, Jateth Cabrera Franco and Parliamentary Speaker Alvaro Arzu
Escobar in capital Guatemala City on May 7, 2018.

• India hosts 15th Asia Media Summit

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with the Indian Institute
of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi and Broadcast Engineering Consultants India
Limited (BECIL), is hosting the 15th Asia Media Summit (AMS-2018) in New Delhi from May
10-12, 2018.The Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Textiles, Smriti Zubin
Irani presided over the inaugural ceremony of the summit as the Chief Guest.

• India, Panama sign agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders
India and Panama on May 9, 2018 signed an agreement on the exemption of visas for the
holders of diplomatic and official passports. The two nations also signed an agreement on
strengthening cooperation in the field of agriculture. The agreements were signed in the
presence of Panama’s President Juan Carlos Varela Rodrigues and Vice President and Foreign
Minister Isabel de Saint Malo and Indian Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu during his visit to
the nation.

• Russia launches world’s first floating nuclear power plant

Russia on May 19, 2018 launched 'Akademik Lomonosov', the world's first floating nuclear
power plant at the St Petersburg shipyard. The plant is currently towed to a port town called
Murmansk in northwest Russia, where it will be loaded up with fuel. The plant would be then
taken to a town in the Arctic Circle called Pevek, where it will begin generating power in mid-
2019.
• US disinvites China from major military exercise
The United States on May 23, 2018 uninvited China from one of the world's largest
international maritime warfare exercises. An official statement from Pentagon read that
“China's behaviour is inconsistent with the principles and purposes of the RIMPAC exercise
and so, it has disinvited the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy from the 2018 Rim of the
Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise.” The exercise, held in every two years in Hawaii, involves more than
20 countries from across the world including India, Australia, Japan and the UK.

• INSV Tarini team conferred Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017

The Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi presented the
prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017 to the members of the INSV Tarini team in New Delhi
on May 24, 2018.The all-women team comprised six members including Lt Commander
Vartika Joshi, Lt Commander Pratibha Jamwal, Lt Commander Swathi Patarpalli, Lt Aishwarya
Bodapatti, Lt SH Vijaya Devi and Lt Payal Gupta. The Nari Shakti Puraskars were conferred to
the recipients by President Ram Nath Kovind on March 8, 2018, on the occasion of
International Women’s Day. However, the award could not be presented to the INSV Tarini
team, as they were sailing then.

• India ranks 145th among 195 countries in terms of healthcare access: Lancet Study
As per Lancet’s Global Burden of Disease study, India ranked 145th among 195 countries in
terms of quality and accessibility of healthcare on the Healthcare Access and Quality Index
(HAQ Index). However, despite such low rankings, India saw improvements in healthcare
access and quality since 1990.The five countries with the highest levels of healthcare access
and quality in 2016 were Iceland (97.1 points), Norway (96.6), the Netherlands (96.1),
Luxembourg (96.0), and Finland and Australia (each with 95.9).

June 2018

• India Successfully Test-Fires 'Agni-5' Off Odisha Coast

India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable Long Range Ballistic
Missile, Agni-5 from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The state-of-the-art surface-
to-surface missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
has a strike range of 5,000 kilometres and can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one
tonne.

• India Ranks 113th On Childhood Index

According to a Save the Children’s "End of Childhood Index 2018”, India ranks 113 among 175
countries with regards to where childhood is threatened as a result of poor health,
malnutrition, exclusion from education, child labour, and child marriage. The child marriages
in India have come down to 15.2% from 21.1% in 2017 Singapore and Slovenia are placed at
the top sharing the first place in the index and Niger figures at the end of the list at 175.
• Ecuador's Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces elected as President of UN General Assembly
Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces was on June 5, 2018 elected as
the President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). She will
be succeeding Miroslav Lajcak, the current Assembly President. Poet and politician, Espinosa
secured 128 votes against 62 votes obtained by UN Ambassador Mary Elizabeth Flores Flake
of Honduras, the only other candidate.

• Coast Guard interceptor ship commissioned

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on June 7, 2018 commissioned an interceptor boat- ICGS C-439
at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) C-439
was commissioned by Additional Director General K Natarajan, Coast Guard Commander of
Western Seaboard. The ceremony was attended by senior dignitaries from central, state
government and the armed forces.

• Global Peace Index 2018: Iceland tops, India ranks 136th

India fetched 136th rank among 163 countries on the 2018 Global Peace Index that was
released on June 7, 2018 by the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP), an Australian think
tank. Meanwhile, Iceland managed to retain its position as the most peaceful country in the
world.

• Trump-Kim Summit: Historic document signed

In a historic first, delegation level talks between US President Donald Trump and North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un began in Singapore on June 12, 2018.The world’s two of the most
powerful leaders held a brief one-on-one meeting at the Capella Hotel in Sentosa Island
before beginning with their delegation level talks. Speaking after the one-on-one meet, US
president Trump said that both the nations have a terrific relationship ahead and this historic
summit would be successful. Kim said “it has not been easy to get here” and that “the old
prejudices and practices worked as obstacles, but we have overcome them and we are here
today.” The bilateral summit is aimed at normalising ties and resolve seven decades of
hostilities between the world’s largest nuclear power and the largely isolated, North Korean
state. The summit aims to kickstart a process that would lead to complete denuclearisation
of the Korean peninsula.

• Qingdao Declaration: India refuses to endorse China’s One Belt One Road initiative
India on June 10, 2018 refused to endorse Chinese President Xi Jinping’s One Belt, One Road
(OBOR) project as part of a joint declaration at the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
(SCO) Summit in Qingdao. The summit was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who
was on a two-day visit to the picturesque coastal city of China's Shandong province to attend
the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).It was for the first time
that the Indian prime minister attended the SCO summit after India and Pakistan became full-
fledged members of the grouping.
• G7 Summit: Trump abandons joint statement
The 44th summit of the Group of Seven (G7), which was held from June 8–9, 2018 in La
Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, ended in complete disarray with US President Donald Trump
blasting off host Canada and abruptly retracting his support for a joint statement, signed by
every nation in the group. The summit was overshadowed by differences over trade tariff
disputes and calls to readmit Russia.

• US President Donald Trump orders US Military to form ‘Space Force’

US President Donald Trump on June 18, 2018 ordered the US Defense Department and the
Pentagon to create a "Space Force", an independent sixth branch of the armed forces. The
Space Force military branch would be "separate but equal" to the Air Force. Joseph F. Dunford
Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would oversee the creation of the force. The
announcement regarding the creation of the Space Force was made at a meeting of the
National Space Council. Trump was joined by Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the
recently revived space council as well as NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

• India, Bangladesh Navies agree to institute Coordinated Patrol

India and Bangladesh Navies on June 24, 2018 agreed to institute a Coordinated Patrol
(CORPAT) as an annual exercise between both the Navies. The first edition of CORPAT will be
inaugurated by Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba during his visit to Bangladesh from June 24 to
June 29, 2018. The visit is aimed at consolidating bilateral defence relations between India
and Bangladesh and exploring new avenues for naval cooperation.

• In a historic first, Saudi Arabia lifts ban on female drivers

In a first, women across Saudi Arabia were legally allowed to drive for the first time since 1957
on June 24, 2018, thus, ending the world’s last ban on female drivers which was seen as a
symbol of women’s repression in the deeply conservative Muslim kingdom. Following the
lifting of ban, women in Saudi Arabia fired up their engines and hit the roads, marking the
moment they had waited for since the issuance of the royal decree by King Salman on
September 26, 2017 to lift the driving ban on women.

• US Pips India As Top Greenfield FDI Investment Destination

The U.S. has surpassed India to become the top destination for greenfield foreign direct
investment in 2017, according to the FDI Report 2018, compiled by FDI Intelligence, a division
of The Financial Times Ltd. The number of greenfield FDI projects in India during the year fell
sharply by 21% to 637. India had maintained the top slot in greenfield FDI investment in 2015
and 2016. However, in 2017, the U.S. reclaimed the spot from India, recording $87.4 billion
of announced FDI. In the Asia and Pacific region, China was on top in terms of FDI in the total
number of new projects and capital investment, followed by India
• US Withdraws From UN Human Rights Council
Nikki Haley, the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations announced the
withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC),
accusing the council of bias against US ally Israel.

July 2018
• Major General Jose Eladio Alcain of Uruguay to head UN Military Observer Group in
India and Pakistan
Major General Jose Eladio Alcain of Uruguay was on July 3, 2018 appointed as the Head of
Mission and Chief Military Observer for the United Nations Military Observer Group in India
and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). His appointment was announced by the United Nations Secretary
General Antonio Guterres. Major General Alcain will succeed Major General Per Gustaf Lodin
of Sweden, who will complete his two year assignment in July 2018.

• Pakistan court sentences ousted PM Nawaz Sharif to 10 years imprisonment in

corruption case
An accountability court in Pakistan on July 6, 2018 sentenced ousted prime minister Nawaz
Sharif to 10 years in prison in one of the three corruption cases against him in the high-profile
Panama Papers scandal.
His daughter Maryam was sentenced to seven years and son-in-law Captain (retired) Safdar
was sentenced one year imprisonment. While Nawaz Sharif was fined 10 million dollar, his
daughter Maryam was handed down a 2.6 million dollar fine.The court delivered the verdict
after postponing it for four times in the Avenfield corruption case -- pertaining to the
ownership of four flats in the posh Avenfield House in London.Nawaz Sharif is in London
attending to his wife Kulsoom Nawaz who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2017.The
ruling came weeks before the general elections of Pakistan that are scheduled to be held on
July 25.

• Britain's Brexit Minister David Davis resigns

Britain's Brexit minister David Davis has resigned two days after the cabinet approved a plan
to retain strong alignment with the European Union even after leaving the bloc.
The resignation will be a blow to Prime Minister Theresa May, who is trying to win over Brexit
hardliners in her own Conservative Party ahead of a fresh round of negotiations with Brussels
this month. A long-time eurosceptic, Davis was appointed two years ago to head up the
newly-created Department for Exiting the European Union after Britain voted to leave the
European Union in a historic referendum. Shortly after Davis' resignation, his deputy Steve
Baker, and another Brexit Minister Suella Braverman also announced their resignation.
• INS Sumitra becomes first-ever warship to enter port of Sabang in Indonesia
Indian naval ship, INS Sumitra on July 11, 2018 became the first-ever warship to enter port of
Sabang in Indonesia. The Indian Navy said, INS Sumitra was received by traditional dancers
and Indonesian traditional band. The ship was welcomed by Indian Ambassador to Indonesia
PK Rawat, Indonesian foreign affairs officials, members from Indian embassy, Indian
businessmen and Indonesian naval and air force officers onboard. The warship was deployed
in Malacca Straits.

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres constitutes High-Level Panel on Digital

Cooperation
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on July 12, 2018 constituted a High-
Level Panel on Digital Cooperation. The panel will be co-chaired by Melinda Gates, Co-Chair
of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Jack Ma, Executive Chairman of Alibaba
Group. The Panel has a total of 20 members, representing a cross-section of expertise from
Government, private industry, civil society, academia and the technical community. The
Panel will hold its first in-person meeting in September 2018 and is expected to submit its
final report to the Secretary-General within nine months.

• Helsinki Summit: Trump, Putin hold first one-on-one talks

US President Donald Trump held first-ever one-to-one talks with Russian President Vladimir
Putin on July 16, 2018 in Helsinki, Finland. The historic summit opened with Donald Trump
promising an ‘extraordinary relationship’ and Vladimir Putin saying it was high time to thrash
out disputes around the world. Trump congratulated Putin on Russia's hosting of the 2018
FIFA World Cup tournament, which concluded on July 15 in Moscow with Putin in attendance.

• 8th India-Oman Joint Commission meeting held in Muscat

The eighth session of India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) was held in Muscat, Oman
on July 16, 2018.The session was co-chaired by the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry
and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu along with the Minister of Industry, Investment, Trade and
Digital Economy of Oman, Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy. Speaking on the occasion, Suresh
Prabhu extended an invite to Omani companies to build on their success in India and make
investments to benefit from ‘Make in India’ and ‘Invest India’ programmes, which are aimed
at encouraging manufacturing. The Minister said that the Indian Government has launched
several investment friendly programmes such as ‘Make in India’ with a trillion dollar business
opportunity in the country.
• Myanmar joins International Solar Alliance
Myanmar on July 19, 2018 joined the India-initiated International Solar Alliance (ISA), thus,
becoming the 68th signatory to the Framework Agreement of the ISA that aims for optimum
utilisation of solar energy. Myanmar Minister for International Cooperation, Kyaw Tin handed
over the ISA Framework Agreement to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during a
bilateral meeting on this year's Delhi Dialogue.

• Indian Air Force participates in Australia’s ‘Pitch Black Exercise’ for first time
An Indian Air Force contingent comprising of four Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft on July 24, 2018
landed at Darwin Air Force Base, Australia for participating in the Exercise Pitch Black-
2018. The Indian Air Force contingent consists of 145 personnel, including four Sukhoi Su-30
MKIs, an Ilyushin tanker, an Ilyushin Il-78 tanker, a Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules,
and a Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft. The contingent will undertake simulated
air combat exercises in a controlled environment.

• BRICS Summit 2018: Johannesburg Declaration adopted

The heads of state and government of all five BRICS nations including Brazil, Russia, India,
China and South Africa convened for the 10th BRICS Summit from July 25-27, 2018 in
Johannesburg, South Africa. Theme: ‘BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for inclusive growth and
shared prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution'. The summit saw the BRICS leaders come
together and discuss various international and regional issues of common concern and
adopted the 'Johannesburg Declaration' by consensus. The declaration reaffirms principles of
democracy, inclusiveness and agrees to fight unilateralism and protectionism.

• Tokyo 2020 committee officially launches Olympic mascots

The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee on July 22, 2018 officially launched its Olympic
mascots Miraitowa and Someity at a ceremony attended by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and
Committee’s President Yoshiro Mori.

• Voting closed in Zimbabwe's first election since Robert Mugabe was ousted
The voting has been closed in Zimbabwe's first election since Robert Mugabe was ousted after
37 years of being in power. The historic vote saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe's
former right-hand man in the ruling ZANU-PF party, face off against opposition leader Nelson
Chamisa of the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change).Long queues at many polling
stations suggested a high turnout nationwide. With 5.6 million registered voters, the results
of the presidential, parliamentary and local elections are due by August 4.A run-off vote is
scheduled for September 8 if no presidential candidate wins at least 50 per cent of the votes.
• India breaks into top 100 in UN’s E-Government index

India has jumped 22 places to break into the top 100 of the United Nation’s E-Government
Index 2018. The E-Government survey is released by the United Nations in every two years.
The 2018 edition: 'Gearing E-Government to Support Transformation towards sustainable and
resilient societies' was launched on July 19, 2018.India, which was ranked 118 in 2014, jumped
11 places to be ranked 96 in 2018. The jump shows how digital technologies and innovations
are impacting the public sector and changing people’s everyday lives.

August 2018

• India, Germany sign agreement for cooperation in sustainable urban development

India and Germany on August 1, 2018 signed an agreement on financial and technical
cooperation, with a special focus on sustainable urban development and renewable energy.
The agreement was signed between German Ambassador to India, Martin Ney and Joint
Secretary, (Department of Economic Affairs), Finance Ministry, Sameer Kumar Khare.

• India elected as President of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development

India was on August 3, 2018 elected as the President of the Asia-Pacific Institute for
Broadcasting Development (AIBD) for a period of two years. India got elected against Iran
during voting which took place at the 44th annual gathering of AIBD in Colombo. The three-
day gathering was inaugurated by Sri Lankan Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala
Samarweera. On the same occasion, Director General of All India Radio, F. Sheheryar was re-
elected as Chair of the Executive Board of the AIBD, while Sri Lanka was elected as Vice-chair.

• Justices Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran and KM Joseph sworn-in as Supreme Court
judges
Justices Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran and K M Joseph were on August 7, 2018 sworn in as
judges of Supreme Court in the order of seniority notified by the Centre. Chief Justice of India
Justice Deepak Misra administered the oath of office to Justices Banerjee, Saran and
Joseph. As per convention, the seniority of Supreme Court judges is determined on the basis
of their swearing-in as judges of High Courts. Justice Indira Banerjee became Madras High
Court judge on February 5, 2002 and Justice Vineet Saran was appointed to the Orissa High
Court on February 14, 2002. Justice KM Joseph was appointed as Uttarakhand High Court
judge on October 14, 2004. Now, the total number of judges in the apex court has gone up to
25.
• Saudi Arabia ends trade ties with Canada over its interference in Saudi Arabia’s internal
affairs
Saudi Arabia announced to end its all new trade and investment ties with Canada over its
interference in its internal affairs. The Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry expelled the Canadian
ambassador and recalled its own envoy in Canada. The kingdom gave the Canadian
ambassador 24 hours to leave the country. The Gulf Kingdom said the Canadian position is
that of an overt and blatant interference in the internal affairs of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia
and it will not accept any form of interfering in its internal affairs. Canada's government has
so far made no public comments on Saudi Arabia's diplomatic measures.

• India ranks 57 in Global Innovation Index 2018

The 11th edition of Global Innovation Index (GII) 2018 was launched in India on August 8,
2018. The index was based on the theme– ‘Energizing the World with Innovation’. The India
launch was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), one of the founding
partners of GII along with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in
collaboration with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).In this year’s
edition of GII, India’s rank has jumped to 57 from 60 in 2017. In fact, India has been
consistently climbing the GII ranking for the past three years. It was ranked 66th in the 2016
Global Innovation Index and 81st in 2015 GII.

• Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ successfully test fired at Pokhran range

Indigenously developed Helicopter launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ was on
August 19, 2018 successfully flight tested from Army Helicopter in the ranges of Pokhran. The
test was conducted by the DRDO and the Indian Army. The missile was tested for the full
range of its weapon system. During the test, the ‘HELINA’ weapon system released smoothly
from the launch platform and was successful in tracking the target all through its course and
hit the target with high precision. All the parameters were monitored by the telemetry
stations, tracking systems and the Helicopters.

• Chandrayaan-I data confirms presence of ice on Moon

Using data from the Chandrayaan-I spacecraft that was launched by India 10 years ago, NASA
on August 21, 2018 said that scientists have found frozen water deposits in the darkest and
coldest parts of the Moon's polar regions. Scientists used data from NASA's Moon Mineralogy
Mapper (M3) instrument aboard the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, launched in 2008 by the
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to identify three specific signatures that
definitively prove there is water ice at the surface of the Moon. According to the study
published in the journal PNAS, the ice deposits are patchily distributed and could possibly be
ancient. The study said with enough ice sitting at the surface within the top few mm water
would possibly be accessible as a resource for future expeditions to explore and even stay on
the Moon. Most of the newfound water ice lies in the shadows of craters near the poles,
where the warmest temperatures never reach above minus 156 degrees Celsius. Due to the
very small tilt of the Moon's rotation axis, sunlight never reaches these regions.

• 6TH RCEP Ministerial Meeting begins in Singapore

The 6th RCEP Trade Ministers’ Meeting began in Singapore on August 30, 2018.Union
Minister of Commerce& Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu is leading the Indian
delegation for the meeting. The Minister will participate in the meeting consisting of 10
ASEAN countries and six ASEAN FTA partners namely, India, China, Japan, Korea, Australia and
New Zealand. On September 1, 2018, Suresh Prabhu will take part in the 6th East-Asia
Economic Ministers’ Meeting (EAS-EMM), which will be attended by Trade and Economic
Ministers of 10 ASEAN countries and 8 Dialogue Partners of ASEAN including India, China, US,
Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

September 2018

• US military to cancel 300 mn aid to Pakistan over failure to take actions against terror
groups
The US military has decided to cancel 300 million dollars aid to Pakistan over its failure to take
decisive actions against terror groups. The move, which needs to be approved by the US
Congress, is part of a broader suspension of aid announced in January. US President Donald
Trump since assuming office has been tough on Pakistan over its inaction against terror
groups. Trump in August 2017 unveiled his new South Asia policy and asked Pakistan to do
more against such groups. Further, in January 2018, the US suspended more than 1.15 billion
dollar security assistance to Pakistan, accusing it of harbouring terror groups like the Afghan
Taliban and the Haqqani Network and showing unwillingness to take decisive actions against
them.

• 2+2 Dialogue: India-US sign historic COMCASA agreement

India and the United States signed the Communications Compatibility and Security
Agreement (COMCASA) during their first-ever ‘two plus two’ dialogue, which was held in New
Delhi on September 6, 2018.The key agreement will open up the way for the sale of more
sensitive US military equipment to India. It will help India obtain critical and encrypted
defence technologies for the Indian defence platforms from the US. The high-level talks were
held between the foreign and defence ministries of the two nations. India’s External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hosted the US Secretary
of State Michael Pompeo and US Secretary of Defense James Mattis for the inaugural
dialogue.
• Indian navy ships & aircraft arrive in Sri Lanka to participate SLINEX-2018
Indian navy ships and aircraft arrived in Sri Lanka to take part in the SLINEX-2018 at
Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.SLINEX-2018 is a joint exercise between Indian and Sri Lankan navies.
The exercise which was previously held biannually has now been converted to an annual
event from this year. It aims to enhance cooperation in the maritime domain and to further
strengthen mutual trust and interoperability between the two navies. The scope of this week-
long exercise has been significantly increased this year with three ships, two maritime patrol
aircraft and one helicopter participating from the Indian side. Sri Lanka Air Force personnel
would also join in the exercise for the first time. The exercise will be conducted in two phases,
namely the Harbour and Sea Phase.

• Indo-Kazakhstan Joint Exercise KAZIND 2018

Joint Army Exercise ‘KAZIND’ will be conducted between the Indian and Kazakhstan Army
from September 10 to 23, 2018 in Otar region, Kazakhstan. The aim of the exercise is to build
and promote bilateral Army to Army relations and exchange skills and experiences between
Kazakhstan Army and the Indian Army. The exercise will also serve as a platform for exchange
of drills and procedures.

• India agrees to end PISA boycott; will participate in PISA 2021

The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar in the first week
of September 2018 decided to end the Programme for International Student Assessment
(PISA) boycott. Resultantly, the ministry will send a team of officers to Paris this year to
negotiate India’s terms of participation in PISA 2021 with the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation Development (OECD).

• India, France sign implementation agreement on ‘Mobilise Your City’

India and France on September 6, 2018 signed an implementation agreement on ‘Mobilise
Your City’ (MYC) in New Delhi to support three Indian cities in their efforts to reduce Green
House Gas (GHG) emissions. The MYC agreement was signed by Mukund Kumar Sinha, OSD
& Ex-Officio Joint Secretary in the Urban Affairs Ministry and the Regional Director of Agence
Française de Développement (AfD), Nicolas Fornage. It was signed in the presence of Minister
of State (I/C), Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Alexander Ziegler,
Ambassador of France in India.

• India, US to carry out joint military exercise- 'Yudh Abhyas 2018'

The armies of India and the US will carry out a military training exercise- Yudh Abhyas 2018 in
the foothills of the Himalayas at Chaubattia from September 16.The military exercise is one
of the longest running joint military training exercises and a major bilateral defence
cooperation endeavour between India and the US. This will be the 14th edition of the joint
military exercise hosted alternately by both countries which will conclude on September
29.The combined exercise will simulate a scenario where both nations are working together
in counter insurgency and counter terrorism environment in mountainous terrain. The two-
week exercise will witness participation of about 350 personnel of the US Army and similar
strength of Garud Division of the Indian Army.

• India, Mongolia commence joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant – 2018’

The joint military exercise between Indian and Mongolian armies, the Nomadic Elephant -
2018, began on September 11, 2018 in Mongolia. The Nomadic Elephant is an annual, bilateral
exercise designed to strengthen the partnership between Indian and Mongolian Armed Force.
The exercise would see both the countries improve their tactical and technical skills in joint
counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations in rural and urban scenario under UN
Mandate. The Indian contingent was represented by Arunachal Pradesh 17 Punjab Regiment
while the Mongolian contingent was represented by Unit 084 of the Mongolian Armed Forces.

• United States announces closure of Palestinian mission in Washington

The United States on September 10, 2018 announced the closure of the Palestine Liberation
Organisation's (PLO) mission in Washington DC. Explaining the move, the US state department
said that the PLO leaders had failed to engage with US efforts to bring about peace with Israel
and attempted to prompt an investigation of Israel by the International Criminal Court.
The move is the latest in a series of measures by the Trump administration against the
Palestinian leadership. The PLO, the internationally-recognised representative of the
Palestinian people, opened the mission in 1994.

• India’s combat aircraft Tejas successfully completes first-ever mid-air refuelling trial
In a first, Tejas, the advanced version of India’s indigenously produced Light Combat Aircraft
(LCA) was successfully refuelled mid-air by a Russian-origin Ilyushin-78 tanker on September
10, 2018.The mid-air refuelling was a part of a ‘wet contact’ trial for LCA Tejas MK-1. The
Russian-origin tanker refuelled the fighter plane, piloted by Wing Commander Siddarth Singh,
with 1,900 litres of fuel at an altitude of 20,000 ft. The move demonstrates a key capability
sought by the Indian Air Force.

• Nepal and China conducts second Mt Everest Friendship Exercise in Sichuan province

The second edition of Nepal-China joint military exercise named Mt Everest Friendship
Exercise 2018 (Sagarmatha Friendship-2018) commenced in China’s southwestern Sichuan
province. The 12 day long joint exercise will focus on combating terror and disaster
management trainings. Sagarmatha is the Nepali name for Mt Everest, which stands in
between both the countries. This will be the second time that Nepal Army will participate in
joint military drill with People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China. This joint exercise is aimed at
promoting military relations and enhances interoperability between armies of Nepal and
China.

• Indian Coast Guard commissions indigenously built patrol vessel Vijaya

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commissioned indigenously built patrol vessel ICGS Vijaya in
Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is second in the series of 98 m offshore patrol vessels (OPVs)
commissioned by ICG. It was designed and built indigenously by Larsen & Toubro (L&T). This
98-metre long ship can carry one twin engine helicopter and four high speed boats, including
two inflatable boats for boarding. It is fitted with advanced technology navigation and
communication equipment and sensors.

• Two Koreas sign agreement on denuclearisation of Korean Peninsula

In a historic move, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-
in on September 19, 2018 signed an agreement on denuclearisation, reducing military
tensions and defusing crisis on the Korean peninsula. The talks were hosted by North Korea
in its capital city Pyongyang. The North Korean leader welcomed the South Korea President
at the Sunan International Airport, at the start of Moon’s three-day visit to the nation.

• India conducts successful test of Prithvi Defence Vehicle

India on September 23, 2018 conducted a successful test of its indigenously designed ballistic
missile defense system off the coast of Odisha. With the test, India achieved a major
milestone in developing a two-layer Ballistic Missile Defence system .The mission, named
Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) mission, aimed to engage targets in the exo-atmosphere region
at an altitude above 50km of the earth's atmosphere. The test was conducted from Abdul
Kalam Island, earlier known as Wheeler Island of the Integrated Test Range (ITR).

• Astra BVR Air-to-Air Missile successfully flight-tested

Astra, the indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), was
successfully test fired by the Indian Air Force from Su-30 aircraft from Air Force Station,
Kalaikunda. The missile successfully engaged a manoeuvring target with high precision
meeting the mission objectives. In the series of trials held to date, Astra has been launched in
the complete Su-30 flight envelope. The flight test assumes significance as it was part of the
series of final pre-induction trials. Astra is the best in class weapon system and has undergone
more than twenty developmental trials.
October 2018

• India launched Operation Samudra Maitri to assist Indonesia

India launched ‘Operation Samudra Maitri’ to assist victims of earthquake and tsunami in
Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. Two Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft, C-130J, and C-17 departed
from India carrying onboard medical personnel and relief material for Indonesia. Moreover,
three Indian Naval Ships – INS Tir, INS Sujatha, and INS Shardul were also mobilised to carry
out disaster relief.

• India-Japan bilateral maritime exercise ‘JIMEX 18’ begins at Visakhapatnam

The third edition of Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX), JIMEX 18, began on October 7,
2018 at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF)
Ships under the command of Rear Admiral Tatsuya Fukada, Commander of Escort Flotilla-4
(CCF-4), would be participating in the exercise along with the ships of Eastern Fleet of the
Indian Navy from October 7 to 15, 2018.

• India elected to UN Human Rights Council with highest votes

India was on October 12, 2018 elected to the United Nations' Human Rights Council ' for a
period of three years beginning January 1, 2019. India secured 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific
category, the highest number of votes among all candidates. Following the election, India's
Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said that India's win with
the highest number of votes reflects the country's standing in the international community.

• Malaysian government decides to abolish capital punishment

The Malaysian Cabinet on October 11, 2018 decided to abolish the death penalty for all crimes
and halt all pending executions. The decision is a rare move against capital punishment in
Asia. The government has taken the decision to scrap capital punishment following strong
domestic opposition to the practice. The amendments to the laws with capital punishment
are expected to be tabled in the Parliament on October 15. Applauding the government’s
decision, the Malaysian human rights group ‘Lawyers for Liberty’ said that the death penalty
is barbarous, unimaginably cruel and pointless, as it has never been proven to deter serious
crimes. It further said that once the sentence is scrapped, Malaysia will have the moral
authority to fight for the lives of Malaysians facing death sentences abroad.
• Global Hunger Index 2018: India ranks 103rd out of 119 countries
As per the 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI), published on October 10, 2018, the level of hunger
and undernutrition worldwide fell to 20.9, down from 29.2 in the year 2000. As per the index,
India was ranked 103rd out of 119 qualifying countries. The Global Hunger Index 2018 report
was prepared jointly by global NGOs namely, Concern Worldwide (Ireland) and
Welthungerhilfe (Germany).

• First India-Israel Innovation Centre opened in Bengaluru

India’s first India-Israel Innovation Centre (IIIC), an entrepreneurial technology hub, was
launched in Bengaluru. The IIIC is a significant step towards facilitating penetration of Israeli
companies in India. It aims to forge local partnerships and joint ventures between
companies from the two countries. It will provide an ecosystem to support
entrepreneurship in both the countries.

• 12th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit begins; Vice President Venkaiah Naidu leads Indian
delegation
The 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit began on October 18, 2018 in Brussels,
Belgium. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu led the Indian delegation at the two-day summit.
The 12th Asia-Europe Meeting brought together Heads of state of 30 European and 21 Asian
countries, besides top representatives of the European Union and Secretary General of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).The summit prioritised issues related to
connectivity, trade and investment, sustainable development, climate change, terrorism,
migration, maritime security and cyberspace.

• India, Bangladesh sign agreements for enhancing waterways connectivity; Bangladesh

opens Chattogram and Mongla Ports
India and Bangladesh on October 25, 2018 signed several milestone agreements for
enhancing inland and coastal waterways connectivity for trade and cruise movements.
Bangladesh agreed to open its Chattogram and Mongla ports for trade with India.The
decisions were taken during the 19th Standing Committee meeting under ‘Protocol on
Inland Water Transit and Trade’ (PIWTT) held at New Delhi.

• India, Bangladesh sign agreements for enhancing waterways connectivity; Bangladesh

opens Chattogram and Mongla Ports
India and Bangladesh on October 25, 2018 signed several milestone agreements for
enhancing inland and coastal waterways connectivity for trade and cruise movements.
Bangladesh agreed to open its Chattogram and Mongla ports for trade with India.The
decisions were taken during the 19th Standing Committee meeting under ‘Protocol on Inland
Water Transit and Trade’ (PIWTT) held at New Delhi.

• NATO's biggest military maneuvers begins in Norway

NATO's biggest military maneuvers began in Norway that involves restoring the Scandinavian
country's sovereignty after an attack by a "fictitious aggressor.Russia, which shares a border
with Norway, was briefed by NATO on the Trident Juncture 2018 drill and invited to monitor
it, but Moscow is still angered by the exercise. Russia's Defence Minister had warned that
Moscow could be forced to respond to increased NATO activity near its western border.The
wargames bring together around 50000 personnel from all 29 NATO allies, plus partners
Finland and Sweden. Around 65 vessels, 150 aircraft and 10,000 vehicles will also participate
in the drill.

November 2018

• SS Deswal appointed as Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed senior IPS officer S S Deswal as
Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). He will succeed R K Pachnanda, who
superannuated from office. Deswal is 1984 batch IPS officer of Haryana cadre. Prior to this
appointment, he was Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).ITBP is one of five Central
Armed Police Forces of India. It was raised in October 1962, under CRPF Act, in wake of 1962
Sino-Indian War. It was provided full autonomy after Parliament enacted Indo-Tibetan Border
Police Force Act, 1992.

• India and Japan sign loan Agreement for Turga Hydel Project
India and Japan signed loan agreement worth Rs 1817 crore for construction of Turga Pumped
Storage Hydel Project. On completion, this project will contribute to Industrial Development
and Living Standard Improvement in the West Bengal.This loan agreement was signed
between Union Ministry of Finance and Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The objective of project is to strengthen capability
to respond to fluctuation in supply and demand of power. It also seeks to improve stability of
power supply by constructing pumped storage facilities, thereby contributing to industrial
development and improvement of Living Standard of people in West Bengal.

• World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business 2019: India jumps 23 spots to 77th rank
The World Bank on October 31, 2018 released the Doing Business Report 2019 titled as ‘Doing
Business 2019: Training for Reform’, assessing and ranking countries on the basis of ease of
doing business in the year 2018.As per the 2019 Report, India jumped 23 places on the Ease
of Doing Business Index to 77th rank, up from 100th rank last year. This year, India’s Distance
to Frontier score improved to 67.23 from 60.76 in the previous year. The Doing Business
assesses 190 economies and covers 10 indicators which span the lifecycle of a business. It
ranks countries on the basis of Distance to Frontier (DTF), a score that shows the gap of an
economy to the global best practice.

• 33rd ASEAN Summit, 13th East Asia Summit and 2nd RCEP Summit
The 33rd edition of the ASEAN Summit concluded on November 15, 2018 at Suntec Singapore
Convention Centre, Singapore. The Summit also saw the conclusion of other related summits
like 13th East Asia Summit (EAS), 2nd Regional Comprehensive Economic Summit, (RCEP) and
ASEAN plus summits. The Summit began on November 13, 2018. The opening ceremony of
the summit was addressed by Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, Chairman of this
year’s Summit. In his speech, Lee Hsien Loong called on ASEAN members and partners to
uphold multilateralism and international cooperation and tackle common challenges
including terrorism and climate change. The Summit saw the presence of leaders of partner
countries such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. However, the
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were not in attendance. The Vice
President Mike Pence represented the US, while the Chinese side was represented by Premier
Li Keqiang.

• India, Singapore bilateral naval exercise ' SIMBEX 2018' begins

The 25th edition of SIMBEX, “Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise” is scheduled to be
held from November 10- 21, 2018 in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The 2018
edition marks the silver jubilee of SIMBEX. To mark the historical occasion, the navies of both
nations are undertaking exercises over an extended geography. The Indian Navy is being
represented this year by the Ranvir class destroyer – INS Ranvijay, two Project 17 multirole
stealth frigates – INS Satpura and INS Sahyadri, the Project 28 ASW corvette - INS Kadmatt,
the Project 25A missile corvettes, INS Kirch, the OPVs INS Sumedha and INS Sukanya, the Fleet
Support Ship, INS Shakti, a Sindhughosh Class submarine, INS Sindhukirti, the P8I Long Range
Maritime Patrol and ASW aircraft from INAS 312, Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol aircraft from
INAS 311, Mk 132 Hawk AJTs from INAS 551 and integral helicopters such as the UH3H,
Seaking 42 B, Seaking 42C and Chetak utility helicopters. The Singapore Navy is being
represented by two Formidable Class stealth frigates - RSS Formidable and RSS Steadfast, one
Littoral Mission Vessel - RSS Unity, two Missile Corvettes, RSS Vigour and RSS Valiant, an
Archer class Submarine, RSS Swordsman, ‘Swift Rescue’ a Deep Sea Rescue Vehicle (DSRV), a
Fokker F50 maritime reconnaissance aircraft, embarked S70B helicopters and Scan Eagle
unmanned aerial systems.
• India’s nuclear submarine INS Arihant completes first ‘deterrence patrol’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 5, 2018 announced that India’s first indigenous
nuclear submarine INS Arihant has successfully completed its “first deterrence patrol". The
development signifies that the underwater warship has completed its maiden long-range
mission with "live" nuclear-tipped missiles. On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
congratulated all those involved in the process, especially the crew of INS Arihant for the great
accomplishment.

• India, Russia conduct joint military exercise ‘INDRA 2018’

The joint military exercise between India and Russia, ‘INDRA 2018’ aimed at combating
insurgency under the aegis of United Nations (UN) began on November 18, 2018 in India. The
joint exercise is being conducted at Babina Field Firing Ranges, Babina Military Station in Uttar
Pradesh. The training exercise that will span across eleven days will see participation from
company-sized contingents of the 5th Army of the Russian Federation and a Mechanised
Infantry Battalion of India including induction and de-induction of the Russian contingent.

• Indian Navy - Indonesian Navy bilateral exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ begins

The inaugural edition of Indian Navy -Indonesian Navy Bilateral Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’
began on November 12, 2018 at Surabaya, Indonesia. The exercise will conclude on November
18, 2018. The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Rana of the Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam under
the Eastern Naval Command arrived at the port of Surabaya to participate in the exercise.

• UAE to be partner country in Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit for 2nd consecutive year
UAE will participate in the 'Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit', as a partner country for the
second consecutive year. The Summit is scheduled to be held from January 18-20, 2019. The
UAE will participate in the summit through a high-level delegation. The 9th edition of the
Summit provides a forum for discussion on global, national and state-level agendas with a
sharp focus on all round economic development for a ‘New India’.

• UN urges Bangladesh to halt Rohingya repatriation plan

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has urged Bangladesh to halt
plans for the repatriation of more than 2,200 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. In a statement,
the UN Human Rights Office has said that forcibly returning them to their home country would
be in violation of international law and put their lives and freedom at serious risk. Bachelet
said, the refugees in Bangladesh are the victims of human rights violations committed in the
midst of the violence that erupted in August 2017 and are unwilling to return under current
conditions. She appealed to the Government of Bangladesh to ensure scrupulously that any
repatriation takes place in line with international standards of voluntariness, safety and
dignity, with full transparency, and only when the conditions are right. Bachelet also called
on the Government of Myanmar to show its seriousness in creating the conditions for return
by addressing the root causes of the crisis in Rakhine state, in particular, the systematic
discrimination against and persecution of Rohingyas.

• India, Maldives released Joint Statement

India and Maldives released a Joint Statement on November 17, 2018 after extensive talks
between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Solih,
President of the Republic of Maldives in Male. Modi was on a one day visit to the Maldives to
attend the historic swearing-in ceremony of Solih. On the occasion, the Prime Minister
thanked Maldives President Solih for the special gesture of inviting him to the Inauguration
Ceremony. He also conveyed greetings and compliments from the people of India to the
people of the Republic of Maldives on the consolidation of democracy, which is essential for
peace, prosperity and stability.

• India, Vietnam issue joint statement

India and Vietnam released a Joint Statement on November 21, 2018 after extensive talks
between Vietnam President Nguyen Phu Trong and Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, during
the latter’s state visit to Vietnam from November 18-20, 2018. The Indian President was
accompanied by a high-level official delegation, including Minister of State Anantkumar
Hegde, Members of Parliament and a large business delegation. The President also met
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi
Kim Ngan, and addressed the National Assembly of Vietnam.
He also addressed the Vietnam– India Business Forum and met with the Indian community in
the nation. Vietnam is the first south-east Asian nation to be visited by President Kovind since
he was sworn into office in July 2017. The two Leaders reaffirmed the long traditional friendly
relations between the two countries and shared how the relations between the two nations
have been thriving in all areas since the establishment of the Strategic Partnership in 2007
and its elevation to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016.

• India-UAE Strategic Conclave to be held in Abu Dhabi

The second edition of the India-UAE Strategic Conclave will be held in the capital city of Abu
Dhabi on November 27, 2018.The day-long conclave will initiate a dialogue to widen the scope
of bilateral investments. It will see key business leaders and senior government officials come
together to lay the blueprint for greater economic cooperation between the two countries
and explore the economic gains through boosting the status of both countries as major trade
hubs and key gateways to regional and international markets. Indian Ambassador to the UAE,
Navdeep Suri will inaugurate the conclave.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

List of some of List of Important Schemes & Government Policies that were launched under
various ministries in the last 3 years:

1. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY)

• Launched by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, as a part of Taxation Laws
(Second Amendment) Act, 2016
• This provides an opportunity to declare unaccounted wealth and money in a
confidential manner and avoid prosecution after paying fine of 50% of the undisclosed
income.
• An additional 25% of the undisclosed income is invested in the scheme which can be
refunded after 4 years, without any interest.

2. Ayushman Bharat Yojana

• It is also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) or National Health
Protection Scheme or ModiCare.
• It has two goals:
1. creating a network of health and wellness infrastructure across the nation to
deliver comprehensive primary healthcare services, and
2. to provide insurance cover to at least 40 per cent of India's population which
is majorly deprived of secondary and tertiary care services.
• It consists of two major elements:
I. National Health Protection Scheme
II. Wellness centres.

3. Make in India
• Make in India was an initiative launched by Government of India in 2014 on 25th
September.
• The scheme aims to encourage companies to manufacture their products in India and
focuses on job creation and skill enhancement in 25 sectors of the economy.
• The initiative hopes to attract capital and technological investment in India.

4. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

• A nation-wide campaign for the period 2014 to 2019 that aims to clean up the streets,
roads and infrastructure of the country’s 4,041 statutory cities, towns, and rural areas.
• The campaign was officially launched on 2 October 2014 at Rajghat, New Delhi by
Prime Minister.
5. Digital India
• Launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on 1 July 2015.
• To ensure the Government's services are made available to citizens electronically by
improved online infrastructure and by increasing Internet connectivity
• The initiative includes plans to connect rural areas with high-speed internet networks.

6. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)

• A skill development initiative scheme for recognition and standardisation of skills
• Aim of this scheme is to encourage aptitude towards employable skills and to increase
working efficiency of probable and existing daily wage earners.
• Quality training and monetary awards and rewards are provided to the wage earners.

7. Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN)

• Launched by Ministry of Civil Aviation, UDAN is a regional airport development and
Regional Connectivity Scheme.
• It aims to make air travel affordable and widespread, to boost inclusive national
economic development, job growth and air transport infrastructure development of
all regions.
• The objective is "Let the common citizen of the country fly".

8. One Rank One Pension (OROP)

• It means same pension, for same rank, for same length of service, irrespective of the
date of retirement.
• OROP is a long standing demand of the Indian armed forces and veterans.

9. Smart Cities Mission

• It is a 5 year urban renewal and retrofitting program with the mission to develop 100 cities
across the country making them citizen friendly and sustainable.
• Launched by Ministry of Urban Development in 2015
• All Indian states, except for West Bengal, and Union territories have nominated at least one
city for the Smart Cities challenge.

10. Startup India

• Launched by Ministry of Commerce and Industry on 16 January 2016

• The action plan of this initiative, is based on the following three pillars:
• Simplification and Handholding.
• Funding Support and Incentives.
• Industry-Academia Partnership and Incubation.
• It is aimed at promoting bank financing for start-up ventures to boost
entrepreneurship and encourage startups with job creation.

11. Namami Gange

12. Setu Bharatam Programme
13. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
14. Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
15. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
16. Pradhan Mantri Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (PMSSY)
17. Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY)
18. MUDRA
19. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)
20. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)Kisan Vikas Patra
21. Soil Health Card Scheme
22. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Yojana (PDUSJY)
23. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)
24. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY)
 INDIAN ECONOMY IN NUMBERS

MARKET SIZE
India’s GDP is estimated to have increased 6.6 per cent in 2017-18 and is expected to grow
7.3 per cent in 2018-19. In April-July quarter of 2018-19, the GDP grew by 8.2 per cent.

• India has retained its position as the third largest startup base in the world with over 4,750
technology startups, with about 1,400 new start-ups being founded in 2016, according to
a report by NASSCOM.

• India's labour force is expected to touch 160-170 million by 2020, based on rate of
population growth, increased labour force participation, and higher education enrolment,
among other factors, according to a study by ASSOCHAM and Thought Arbitrage Research
Institute.

• India's foreign exchange reserves were US$ 400.49 billion in the week up to September
14, 2018, according to data from the RBI.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
With the improvement in the economic scenario, there have been various investments in
various sectors of the economy. The M&A activity in India increased 53.3 per cent to US$ 77.6
billion in 2017 while private equity (PE) deals reached US$ 24.4 billion. Some of the important
recent developments in Indian economy are as follows:
• Exports from India increased 20.7 per cent year-on-year to US$ 221.83 billion in April-
August 2018.
• Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was at 51.7 in August 2018,
showing expansion in the sector.
• Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the country has reached US$ 74.8 billion in
2018 August).
• Income tax collection in the country reached Rs 10.03 lakh crore (US$ 137.75 billion) in
2017-18.
• Companies in India have raised around Rs 21,000 crore (US$ 2.88 billion) through Initial
Public Offers (IPO) in 2018 (up to August).
• India's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) equity inflows reached US$ 389.60 billion between
April 2000 and June 2018, with maximum contribution from services, computer software
and hardware, telecommunications, construction, trading and automobiles.
• India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose 5.4 per cent year-on-year in April-July 2018.
• Retail inflation in the country was at a 10 month low of 3.69 per cent in August 2018, while
wholesale inflation was at 4.53 per cent.
• Around 10.8 million jobs were created in India in 2017.
• The top 100 companies in India are leading in the world in terms of disclosing their
spending on corporate social responsibility (CSR), according to a 49-country study by
global consultancy giant, KPMG.
• The bank recapitalisation plan by Government of India is expected to push credit growth
in the country to 15 per cent, according to a report by Ambit Capital.
• India has improved its ranking in the World Bank's Doing Business Report by 30 spots over
its 2017 ranking and is ranked 100 among 190 countries in 2018 edition of the report.
• India's ranking in the world has improved to 126 in terms of its per capita GDP, based on
purchasing power parity (PPP) as it increased to US$ 7,170 in 2017, as per data from the
International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• India is expected to have 100,000 startups by 2025, which will create employment for 3.25
million people and US$ 500 billion in value, as per Mr T V Mohan Das Pai, Chairman,
Manipal Global Education.
• The World Bank has stated that private investments in India is expected to grow by 8.8
per cent in FY 2018-19 to overtake private consumption growth of 7.4 per cent, and
thereby drive the growth in India's gross domestic product (GDP) in FY 2018-19.
• Mody’s upgraded India’s sovereign rating in November 2017 after 14 years to Baa2 with
a stable economic outlook.

HIGHLIGHTS OF UNION BUDGET 2018-19

Agriculture and Rural Economy

• The government is committed towards doubling the farmers’ income by 2022.
• A total of Rs 14.34 lakh crore (US$ 225.43 billion) will be spent for creation of livelihood
and infrastructure in rural areas.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all announced kharif crops will be at least one and half
times of their production cost, similar to the majority of rabi crops.
• Institutional credit to the agriculture sector is targeted at Rs 11 lakh crore (US$ 172.93
billion) for 2018-19, compared to INR 10 lakh crore (US$ 157.2 billion) for 2017-18.
• A Fisheries and Aqua culture Infrastructure Development Fund (FAIDF) and an animal
Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) will be started with a total corpus
of INR 10,000 crore (US$ 1.57 billion).
• An Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund will be started with a corpus of Rs 2,000 crore (US$
314.41 million).
• A restructured National Bamboo Mission will be launched with a total outlay of INR 1,290
crore (US$ 202.79 million).
• Allocation for the National Rural Livelihood Mission is increased to INR 5,750 crore (US$
903.93 million) for 2018-19.
• Organic farming and cluster development model for agriculture will be encouraged.
• Allocation of INR .500 crore is provided to Operation Green.
Health, Education and Social Protection
• Budgeted expenditure on health, education and social protection for 2018-19 is INR 1.38
lakh crore (US$ 21.69 billion) which is expected to increase by INR 15,000 crore (US$ 2.36
billion) after additional allocations during the year.
• Role of technology in the education sector will be increased with a focus on increased
digital intensity.
• A new initiative named ‘Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems in Education (RISE) by
2022’ will be launched with an investment of INR 1 lakh crore (US$ 15.72 billion) over the
next four years.
• A total of INR 1,200 crore (US$ 188.65 million) is allocated for Health and Wellness
Centres under the National Health Policy.
• National Health Protection Scheme will be launched, which will cover over 10 million poor
families with a coverage of up to INR 5 lakh (US$ 7,860). This will be the world’s largest
government funded health care programme.
• A total of 24 new government medical colleges and hospitals will be set up.
• 60 crore bank accounts will be brought under the Jan Dhan Yojana.
• There is an allocation of INR .52,719 crore for the welfare of the scheduled castes in the
country.

Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs)

• A total of INR 3,790 crore (US$ 596.43 million) has been provided for the MSME sector
for credit support, capital and interest subsidy and innovations.
• Formalisation in the MSME sector is happening at a fast pace after the introduction of the
Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation.
• Online loan sanctioning facility for MSMEs will be revamped and public sector banks and
corporates will be brought on-board the Trade Electronic Receivable Discounting System
(TReDS) platform which will be linked with the GSTN.
• Lending under the MUDRA Yojana is targeted at INR 3 lakh crore (US$ 47.16 billion). At
present 76 per cent of loan accounts under the scheme belong to women while more than
50 per cent belong to SCs, STs and OBCs.
• Additional measures will be taken by the government for growth and successful operation
of alternative investment funds.
•

Employment Generation
• As per an independent study conducted, over 7 million formal jobs will be created in the
country during 2018-19.
• The Government of India will contribute 12 per cent of the wages of the new employees
in the Employees’ Provident Fund for all the sectors in the next three years.
• As per proposed amendments in the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous
Provisions Act, 1952, women employees’ contribution to the EPF will be reduced to 8 per
 cent for the first three years of their employment with no change in employers’
contribution. This is done to promote more women employment in the formal sector.
• A model aspirational skill centre is being set up in every district of the country.

Infrastructure and Financial Sector Development

• Investments in excess of INR 50 lakh crore (US$ 786.02 billion) are required in the
country’s infrastructure to increase the growth of GDP and connect and integrate
country’s transport network.
• Budgetary allocation for infrastructure is set at INR 5.97 lakh crore (US$ 93.85 billion) for
2018-19.
• All-time high allocations have been made to the rail and road sectors.
• Through the use of online monitoring system of PRAGATI, projects worth INR 9.46 lakh
crore (US$ 148.72 billion) have been facilitated and fast tracked.
• Under the Smart Cities Mission, projects worth INR 2,350 crore (369.43 million) have been
completed and projects worth 20,852 crore (US$ 3.82 billion) are under progress. A total
of 99 cities have been selected under the mission with an outlay of INR 2.04 lakh crore
(US$ 32.07 billion).
• To promote tourism in the country, 10 prominent tourist sites will be developed into
iconic tourism destinations
• Around 35,000 km of road construction has been approved under the Phase-1 of the
Bharatmala Pariyojana at an estimated cost of INR 5.35 lakh crore (US$ 84.10 billion).

Railways
• Capital expenditure in the railways sector for 2018-19 is set at INR 148,528 crore (US$
23.35 billion).
• 12000 wagons, 5160 coaches and around 700 locomotives will be procured during 2018-
19.
• Redevelopment of 600 major railway stations will be taken up.
• Electrification of around 4,000 km of railway tracks is expected to be commissioned in
2017-18.
• Work on eastern and western dedicated freight corridors is under progress.
• A dedicated institute to train manpower required for work on high speed rail projects will
be established in Vadodara.

Digital Economy
• Budgetary allocation of INR 3,073 crore (US$ 483.09 million) for the Digital India
programme is made for 2018-19.
• A national program will be initiated by NITI Aayog to increase efforts in the area of artificial
intelligence.
• Mission on Cyber Physical Systems will be launched by the Department of Science &
Technology under which centres of excellence for research, training and skilling robotics,
artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing, big data analysis, quantum communication
and internet of things will be established and promoted.
• Budgetary allocation of INR 10,000 crore (US$ 1.57 billion) is made in 2018-19 for telecom
infrastructure.
• 500,000 Wi-Fi hotspots will be set up by government to provide internet connectivity to
over 5 million rural citizens.
• Every individual enterprise in India will be assigned a unique ID.

Disinvestment
• A target of INR 80,000 crore (US$ 12.58 billion) for disinvestment has been set for 2018-
19.
• Target of 2017-18 has been exceeded and receipts have crossed INR 1 lakh crore (US$
15.72 billion).
• National Insurance Co. Ltd., United India Assurance Co. Ltd., and Oriental India insurance
Co. Ltd., will be merged into a single insurance entity.
• A comprehensive Gold Policy will be framed in order to develop gold as an asset class.
• A system for regulated gold exchanges across the country will be established.

Fiscal Management
• Total budgeted expenditure for 2018-19 is set at INR 2,442,213 crore (US$ 383.93 billion).
• Central Government’s debt to GDP ratio will be brought down to 40 per cent, as per the
recommendations of the Fiscal Reform and Budget Management Committee.
• Growth in direct taxes for 2017-18 (up to January 15, 2018) has been 18.7 per cent while
for 2016-17 it was 12.6 per cent.
• Number of effective tax payers increased to 80.27 million by 2016-17 end from 60.47
million in 2015-16 end.
• Companies registered as Farmer Producer Companies with an annual turnover up to INR
100 crore (US$ 15.72 million) will get 100 per cent deduction for a period of five year
starting 2018-19. The move is proposed in order to promote ‘Operation Greens’ and
‘Sampada Yoajana’.
• Reduced tax rate of 25 per cent will be extended to companies which have reported a
turnover of up to INR 250 crore (US$ 39.30 million) during 2016-17. This move is expected
to benefit all the MSMEs operational in the country.
• Revenue loss from the reduction in the tax rate during 2018-19 is estimated at INR 7,000
crore (US$ 1.1 billion).
• A standard deduction of INR 40,000 is proposed for salaried individuals which will replace
the present exemption of transport allowance and reimbursement of miscellaneous
medical expenses. The move will help middle class employees in reducing their tax
liabilities. Revenue loss from the move is estimated at INR 8,000 crore (US$ 1.41 billion).
• Exempted interest income on deposits with banks and post offices is proposed to be
increased from the present INR 10,000 (US$ 157.2) to INR 50,000 (US$ 786.02).
• Deduction limit for health insurance premium and/ or medical expenditure is proposed to
be increased from the present INR 30,000 (US$ 471.6) to INR 50,000 (US$ 786.02).
• Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana will be extended till 2020.
• More concessions will be provided for the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
• Payments in excess of INR 10,000 (US$ 157.2) by trusts and institutions shall be
disallowed and will be taxable. In case of non-deduction of tax by such entities, 30 per
cent of the amount will be disallowed and taxed.
• Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) after January 31, 2018, exceeding INR 1 lakh (US$
1,572.04) will be taxed at 10 per cent without any indexation benefit.
• A 10 per cent tax is proposed on distributed income by equity oriented mutual funds.
• The proposed change in capital gains tax is expected to result in revenue gain of around
INR 20,000 crore (US$ 3.14 billion).
• Cess on personal income tax and corporation tax is proposed to be increased from 3 per
cent to 4 per cent. The new cess will be called ‘Health and Education Cess’. The move is
expected to result in additional tax revenue of INR 11,000 crore (US$ 1.73 billion).
• Rollout of e-assessment across the country is proposed for greater efficiency and
transparency in direct tax collection.
• Customs duty on mobile phones will be increased from 15 percent to 20 percent and 15
percent on certain parts of televisions.
• Education Cess and Secondary and Higher Education Cess on imported goods will be
abolished and will be replaced by a Social Welfare Surcharge at the rate of 10 percent of
the aggregate duties of customs.
• The name of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) to the Central Board of
Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
 GOODS AND SERVICES TAX

Introduction:
• GST is considered as an indirect tax for the whole nation that would make India one
unified common market.
• Goods & Services Tax is a destination-based tax which means that the tax is paid at
the place of supply.
• It is a tax which is imposed on the sale, manufacturing and the usage of the goods and
services. It is a single tax that is imposed on the supply of the goods and services, right
from the manufacturer to the customer.
• The credits of the input taxes that are paid at each stage will be available in the
subsequent stage of value addition which makes GST essentially a tax only on the value
addition on each stage.
• The final consumers will bear only the tax charged by the last dealer in the supply
chain with the set of benefits that are at all the previous stages.
• In the case of exports, the exports would be treated as zero-rated supply. So, no tax is
payable on the exports but Input Tax Credit/ Refund benefits would be allowed and in
the case of imports, the imports would be treated as inter-state supplies. Hence, IGST
would be applicable in addition to the customs duties.

Types of Taxes
The various types of taxes that are under GST are –
• If the supply of the goods and the services are made within the state, then the two
types of taxes which are applicable are, the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and
the State Goods and Services Tax (SGST).
• If the supply is made across the state, then Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST)
is applicable.
Eligibility:
• Its eligibility would primarily be decided on the basis of turnover. Tax assessees are
exempt from GST if their turnover is INR 20 lakhs.
• Composite Levy:
Assessees may opt for the Composition levy Scheme if their turnover is less than INR 1 crore.
Tax rate applicable for a Composition dealer:
Type of Business CGST SGST Total
Manufacturers and Traders (Goods) 0.5% 0.5% 1%
Restaurants not serving Alcohol 2.5% 2.5% 5%

Reverse Charge Mechanism:

Normally, the supplier of goods or services pays the tax on supply. In the case of Reverse
Charge, the receiver becomes liable to pay the tax, i.e., the chargeability gets reversed.
GST is payable in Reverse Charge when:
• Supply from an Unregistered dealer to a Registered dealer
 • Services through an e-commerce operator
• Supply of certain goods and services specified by CBEC
• Supply by a composition dealer wherever applicable
Tax Cycle:
1. Firstly, the seller files GSTR 1 (before the 10th of the following month) by recording all the
sales
2. Then the buyer reviews the sales in GSTR 2A
3. The buyer would then approve whether the sales are legitimate or not and file in GSTR 2
(before the 15th of the following month)
4. If the buyer modifies the sales that were earlier filed, then the seller can see such kind of
modifications in GSTR 1A and can approve or disapprove
(a) 28th GST Council Meeting: The 28th GST meeting held at New Delhi on 21st July, 2018
witnessed major changes in the GST rates in the country. The government has focused on
changes made in GST rates on various goods and services and also has simplified the GST
return filing mechanism.
Some of the major changes initiated in the meeting includes-
1. GST Returns of Small taxpayers
2. Simplified monthly returns
3. NIL Return filing by SMS
4. GST Migration Re-opened
5. Changes in GST rates.
The council has brought down the tax rates to 18% from 28% on 15 items including vaccum
cleaners, washing machine, TV, paints and others. Sanitary napkins, Stone/marble, raw
materials for jhadoo and others have got their rates reduced to 0% i.e. exempted from GST.
Now only 35 goods are in 28% bracket. This rates will be implemented from 27th July.
(b) 27th GST Council Meeting: The Finance Minister Arun Jaitley chaired the 27th GST Council
Meeting on Thursday, 18th Jan, 2018 where certain changes and recommendations
were made through a video conference in New Delhi. In this meeting, various provisions were
made for B2B dealers, GSTR 3B and GSTR 1 filing to be continued same. Furthermore, council
also decided to look into the matter of cess in sugar as well as digital transactions.
(c) 26th GST Council Meeting: This GST meeting was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on
10th Mar, 2018. GST council primarily focused on exports, interstates movement of goods,
filing returns and others. The main agenda of the meeting was E-Way Bill, Simple Return
Filings, GSTR 3B deadline extension, Composition Scheme.
(d) 25th GST Council Meeting: On 18th Jan, 2018 GST council meeting was held at Vigyan
Bhawan, New Delhi. It focused on building some anti-evasion measures on GST. Some items
were re-considered under 18% slab rate from 28% slab rate.
(e) 24th GST Council Meeting: The twenty-fourth meeting of GST Council was held on 16th Dec,
2017 through video conference. Agenda of the discussion was introduction of e-Way Bill
System by the given deadline, refund of provisionally accepted input tax credit.
(f) 23rd GST Council Meeting: 10th Nov, 2017 witnessed the 23rd GST council meeting in
Guwahati, Assam. This meeting focused on analysis of revenue, modification on rules of Anti-
Profiteering and GST Rates on certain items coming under 28% slab rates.
GST Slab rates:
The different slab rates for GST is 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%.
Revised Rates of Goods: Please note that only those commodities are included in this list
whose rates have been revised in various council meetings.

No Tax
Apart from other items that enjoy zero GST tax rate, these are the commodities added to the
list after 11th June rate revision –
• Hulled cereal grains like barley, wheat, oat, rye, etc.
• Bones and horn-cores unworked and waste of these products.
• Palmyra jaggery
• All types of salt
• Dicalcium Phosphate (DCP) of animal feed grade conforming to IS specification No.
5470 :2002
• Kajal [other than kajal pencil sticks]
• Picture books, colouring books or drawing books for children
• Human hair – dressed, thinned, bleached or otherwise worked
• Sanitary Napkins

5% Tax Slab
Given below are the items that have been added to the 5% GST tax rate slab along with the
other existing items-
• Cashew nut
• Cashew nut in shell
• Ice and snow
• Bio gas
• Insulin
• Aggarbatti
• Kites
• Coir mats, matting and floor covering
• Pawan Chakki that is Wind-based Atta Chakki
• Postage or revenue stamps, stamp-postmarks, first-day covers, etc.
• Numismatic coins
• Braille paper, braille typewriters, braille watches, hearing aids and other appliances to
compensate for a defect or disability

12% Tax Slab

After the GST council meeting on 11th June, the following items were added to the 12% GST
rates category-
• Preparations of vegetables, fruits, nuts or other parts of plants, including pickle,
murabba, chutney, jam, jelly
• Ketchups, sauces and mustard sauce but excluding curry paste, mayonnaise and salad
dressings, mixed condiments and mixed dressings
• Bari made of pulses including mungodi
 • Menthol and menthol crystals, peppermint, fractionated/de-terpenated mentha oil,
dementholised oil, Mentha piperita oil and spearmint oil
• All diagnostic kits and reagents
• Plastic beads
• Exercise books and note books
• Fly ash blocks
• Glasses for corrective spectacles and flint buttons
• Spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake servers, fish knives, tongs
• Fixed Speed Diesel Engines
• Two-way radio (Walkie talkie) used by defence, police and paramilitary forces etc.
• Intraocular lens
• Corrective spectacles
• Playing cards, chess board, carom board and other board games, like ludo, etc.

18% Tax Slab

The items mentioned below have been added to the 18% GST tax rate slab among the other
existing items-
• Kajal pencil sticks
• Dental wax
• Plastic Tarpaulin
• School satchels and bags other than of leather or composition leather; toilet cases,
Hand bags and shopping bags of artificial plastic material, cotton or jute; Handbags of
other materials excluding wicker work or basket work
• Headgear and parts thereof
• Precast Concrete Pipes
• Salt Glazed Stone Ware Pipes
• Aluminium foil
• All goods, including hooks and eyes
• Rear Tractor tyres and rear tractor tyre tubes
• Rear Tractor wheel rim, tractor centre housing, tractor housing transmission, tractor
support front axle
• Weighing Machinery other than electric or electronic weighing machinery
• Printers other than multifunction printers
• Ball bearing, Roller Bearings, Parts & related accessories
• Transformers Industrial Electronics
• Electrical Transformer
• Static Converters (UPS)
• Recorder
• CCTV
• Set top Box for TV
• Computer monitors not exceeding 17 inches
• Electrical Filaments or discharge lamps
• Winding Wires, Coaxial cables and Optical Fiber
• Perforating or stapling machines (staplers), pencil sharpening machines
 • Baby carriages
• Instruments for measuring length, for use in the hand (for example, measuring rods
and tapes, micrometers, callipers)
• Bamboo furniture
• Swimming pools and paddling pools

28% Tax Slab

The council meeting was held to ‘reduce’ the tax rates on certain items based on customer
preferences. Hence, no additional items were added to the highest GST rates slab of 28%.

GST Rates on Services

Government has exempted healthcare and educational services from the purview of the GST.
The Goods and Services Tax council has passed the rate slabs at NIL, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28%. Some
of the services categorized under different slabs are mentioned below:

5% Tax Slab
• Railways-Transportation of goods, passengers
• Goods transported in a vessel from outside India
• Renting a motor cab without fuel cost
• Transport services in AC contract/stage or radio taxi
• Transport by air
• Tour operator services
• Leasing of aircrafts
• Print media ad space
• Working for printing of newspapers

12% Tax Slab

• Rail transportation of goods in containers from a third party other than Indian
Railways
• Air travel excluding economy
• Food /drinks at restaurants without AC/heating or liquor license
• Renting of accommodation for more than Rs.1000 and less than Rs.2500 per day
• Chit fund services by foremen
• Construction of building for the purpose of sale
• IP rights on a temporary basis

18% Tax Slab

• Food/drinks at restaurants with liquor license
• Food /drinks at restaurants with AC/heating
• Outdoor catering
• Renting for accommodation for more than Rs.2500 but less than Rs.5000 per day
• Supply of food, shamiyana, and party arrangement
• Circus, Indian classical, folk, theatre, drama
• Supply of works contract
28% Tax Slab
• Entertainment events-amusement facility, water parks, films, theme parks, joy rides,
merry-go-round, race course, go-carting, casinos, ballet, sporting events like IPL
• Race club services
• Gambling
• Food/drinks at AC 5-star hotels
• Accommodation in 5-star hotels or above

GST on Loans and Advances

Mentioned below are the important loans and their GST rates:
(a) Personal Loan- 18%
(b) Home Loans- 18%
(c) Car Loan– 18%
 MOUs
JANUARY 2018
• India & Myanmar- On Land border crossing
• India & Italy - Cooperation in the field of renewable energy
• India & Israel - Cooperation in the oil and gas sector
• India & Belgium - Cooperation in the field of ICT&E
• India & UK - For the return of illegal Indian Migrants, sharing of criminal records
• India & Saudi Arabia - Hajj agreement
• India & Canada - For cooperation on science and technology
• India & Sri Lanka - 4 agreement for collaboration in ICT sector
• India & Vietnam - On I&B, Space Cooperation
• India & Cambodia - To strengthen bilateral ties
• India & Seychelles - To Build military infrastructure on assumption island

FEBRUARY 2018
• India & China - For the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion
• India & USA- On Law enforcement training
• India & Palestine - 6 MOUs worth USD 40 million
• India & UAE - Related to energy & railway sectors, manpower and financial services
• India & Morocco - Cooperation Agreement in Railway Sector
• India & UK - On Cooperation in skill development, vocational training
• India & Germany - on Sustainable Urban development programme & Smart cities

MARCH 2018

• India & Fiji - Cooperation in Renewable energy

• India & Macedonia - Cooperation in the field of health
• India & Jordan - Cooperation in the field of manpower in custom matters
• India & Vietnam - On economic and trade cooperation
• India & Myanmar - To streamline the free movement of people within 16 km along
the border

APRIL 2018
• India & Japan - US - To enhance cooperation in the areas of counter proliferation,
connectivity and infrastructure development, counter terrorism, maritime security
and maritime domain awareness.
• India & UAE- On Technical Cooperation in Rail Sector
• India & Canada- To Foster cross border partnerships
• India & Afghanistan- Cooperation in the field of food safety and related areas
• India & Iran - On establishment of an expert group on trade remedy measures
• India & Nepal- To expand bilateral ties in developmental cooperation, agriculture,
trade and investment, energy, connectivity and people to people contacts.
 • India & Kazakhstan - to enhance energy cooperation
• India & Korea - For seafarers, to boost bilateral ties

MAY 2018
• India & Columbia - on Cooperation in the field of traditional Systems of medicine
• India & Singapore - on Cooperation in the field of personnel management and public
administration
• India & France - on Technical Cooperation in the field of railways
• India & Switzerland - On Cooperation in the field of health and medicine
• India & Nepal - To expand their partnership for socio-economic development
• India & France - Renewable energy
• India & Kuwait- Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement
• India & Sri Lanka - On information exchange for drug control

JUNE 2018

• India & Singapore - 8 agreements signed which are Naval cooperation, Economic co-
operation, Fintech, Cybersecurity, Nursing, Combating Narcotics smuggling & Human
Trafficking, Personnel Management and Public Administration, NITI Aayog and
Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) on Cooperation in the Field of Planning.
• India & China - two bilateral agreements to share Brahmaputra water data during
flood season exporting non-Basmati rice to China.
• India & Norway - To extend health cooperation through the Norway India Partnership
Initiative.
• India & Kazakhstan- For enhancing military-industrial cooperation and cybersecurity.
• India & Denmark - in the field of science, technology and innovation
• India & France- on a Maritime awareness mission
• India & Indonesia- Technical Cooperation in the fields of Railway Sector
• India & Oman- for the peaceful uses of outer space
• India & UK - in the field of sustainable urban development

JULY 2018
• India & Uganda- Defence cooperation, visa exemption for diplomat and official
passport holders, cultural exchange programme, material testing laboratory.
• India & Rwanda- Defence, trade, agriculture, leather and allied products and dairy.
• India & Bangladesh - To ease Visa restrictions for citizens from neighbouring countries.
• India & UK - On the exchange of experience by legal professionals and government
functionaries for resolution of disputes before various courts and tribunals.
• India & Cuba - On traditional systems of medicine and homeopathy
 • India & BRICS - On the Regional Aviation Partnership
• India & Indonesia - On pharmaceutical products, pharmaceutical substances,
biological product and cosmetics regulatory functions.
• India & Ghana - To enhance the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

AUGUST 2018
• India & Bulgaria- In the field of tourism
• India & UK and Northern Ireland- The fields of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and
fisheries
• India & USA- In Insurance Regulatory Sector
• India & Indonesia - On health, scientific and technological cooperation
• India & Korea- On Trade Remedy Cooperation
• India & South Africa - Joint issue of postage stamp
• India & Germany - On financial and technical cooperation focusing on sustainable
urban development and renewable energy
• India & Japan - To cooperate in bamboo sector in Tripura
• India & Canada - Collaboration among Chartered Accountant Institutions

SEPTEMBER 2018
• India & Pakistan - To undertake Indus Water Treaty tours on both sides of Indus
Basin
• India & Cyprus - MOU between Financial intelligence unit, India and Unit for
combating money laundering of Cyprus to tackle issues of money laundering
• India & Bulgaria - 5 MOUs on Various sectors relating to investment, cooperation
and facilitation of terrorism, enhanced science and technological cooperation.
• India & Egypt - Cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors
• India & Sri Lanka - To construct a 5000 metric tone temperature controlled warehouse
in Dambulla Sri Lanka
• India & Morocco- To enable greater connectivity
• India & Niger - To establish Mahatma Gandhi convention center at Niamey, Niger
• India & Uzbekistan - To promote cooperation in the field of trade, telemedicine, e-
governance.
• India & Portugal - To improve water management , sewerage , waste management
and sanitation of Goa for a period of 2 years.

OCTOBER 2018
• India & Uzbekistan - To Promote Co-Operation In The Field Of Trade And Investment,
Development Of Education And Connectivity.
• India & Kazakhstan - To increase Defense Cooperation
• India & Russia - To Promote Co-Operation In Trade, Defense, Space, Nuclear Plants,
Fertilizers And Railway.
• India & Sri Lanka - To construct 1200 houses in Sri Lanka for homeless people.
 • India & Australia - To enhance citizen media avenues and also provide training for this.
• India & Croatia - To promote cultural exchange and diplomatic cooperation
• India & Myanmar - To Appoint A Private Port Operator For The Operation And
Maintenance Of Sittwe Port
• India & Bangladesh - To Enhance Inland And Coastal Waterways Connectivity.

MOUs for 2017

JANUARY 2017
• India & Kenya- Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors.
• India & Pakistan- Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities
• India & Uruguay- For cooperation and mutual assistance in Customs Matters.
• India & Portugal- Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and allied sectors
• India & Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Member countries- For cooperation in MSME
sector.
• India & USA- For collaboration in the fields of developmental activities and assist the third
world countries.
• India & Sri Lanka- For the construction of 3000 rain water harvesting systems in northern
Jaffna District of Sri Lanka
• Australia & Japan- To boost cooperation between their militaries
• India & Serbia- For Cooperation in the field of Information Technology andElectronics
• India & Vietnam- For Cooperation in the field of cyber security

FEBRUARY 2017
• India & Sri Lanka- For the construction of a multi-ethnic tri-lingual school in a north central
district of the island nation
• India & Italy- For technical cooperation in rail sector with focus on safety operations.
• India & Austria- Protocol to Amend Bilateral Taxation Treaty
• India & Vietnam- Cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful
purposes.
• India & France-Cooperation in the field of science, technology and innovation between
India and France to ensure exchange of best practices and technology.
• India & Senegal- Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine.
• India & the United States- To maintain the pace of their partnership especially in the area
of the defence ties.
• India & UK- To allow more flights to boost tourism and trade
• India & Rwanda- To enable the airlines of the two countries to operate services in each
others’ territory.
• India & Croatia- To boost bilateral trade & enhance economic cooperation
• India & Australia- For promotion and development of cooperation in civil aviation security

MARCH 2017
• India & Oman-To Enhance Defence Ties
• India & Portugal- Cooperation in IT&E
• India & Portugal- Cooperation in Renewable Energy
• India & UN-Women- To provide technical support to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj
• India & UAE- To provide various services in the field of energy management and
conservation
• India & Belgium- To amending the existing Agreement and Protocol
• India & with Indonesia and Kyrgyz Republic- For cooperation in Youth and Sports Matters
• India & Bangladesh- To set up Border Haats on India-Bangladesh Border.
• India & Brazil- social security agreement (SSA)
• China & Saudi Arabia- Letters of Intent(LoI) potentially worth about $65 billion
• India & US- Cooperation in the field of Cyber Security
• India & Nepal- Renewed their Petroleum Trade Agreement

APRIL 2017
• India & Bangladesh- Cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector Agreement on Audio Visual
Co-production MoU on cooperation in the field of Mass Media
• India & Georgia- To promote economic, trade and investment relations between the two
countries.
• India With Malaysia, Serbia, Georgia- Revised Air Service Pacts
• India & Australia- Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine
• India & France- Technical Cooperation in Civil Aviation
• India & Italy- Technical Cooperation in the Rail Sector
• India-UK- Cooperation in the energy sector.
• India & Tunisia- Cooperation in the field of justice
• India & Portugal- For avoidance of Double Taxation
• EU & India- To strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation
• China & Iran- For reconfiguration of Iran's Arak reactor
• India & Republic of Korea- For Defence Industry Co-operation in Shipbuilding.

MAY 2017
• India & Malaysia- For the development of a urea and ammonia manufacturing plant in
Malaysia
• India & Spain- Cooperation in area of Civil Aviation Cooperation in the field of Organ
Transplant Service
• India & Bangladesh- Third Line of Credit of US $ 4.5 billion to Bangladesh for
implementation of developmental projects Cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer
space
• India & Germany- Cooperation in the sector of alternative medicine
• India & Malaysia- Development of a urea and ammonia manufacturing plant in Malaysia.
• India & FIJI- Defence Cooperation
• India & Australia- Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism and Transnational
Organized Crime
• India & Tajikistan- Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters
JUNE 2017
• India & Portugal- Protocol of Cooperation was signed between the National Archives of
India and the Minister of Culture of the Portuguese Republic in the field of archives in
Lisbon, Portugal
• India & Korea- For export credit of USD 9 billion
• India & Cyprus- Co-operation on Merchant Shipping
• India & Iran- Mutual cooperation on matters pertaining to securities markets.
• India & Somalia- Agreement on Transfer of sentenced persons
• India & Palestine- Cooperation in the field of agriculture
• India & Armenia- Cooperation on youth matters
• India & Mali- For standardization and conformity assessment
• India & Mauritius- To institutionalise cooperation between their parliaments
• India & Sri Lanka- To provide fresh assistance of USD 318 million line of credit for the
• development of the railway sector Cooperation in Traditional Systems of Medicine and
Homoeopathy
• Nepal & China- To develop a 1,200 MW hydroelectric project

JULY 2017
• India-Jordan Morocco Trade and Economic Joint Committee (TEJC) Meeting- To promote
economic, trade and investment cooperation based on the principle of equity and non-
discrimination. The roadmap for promotion of trade and investment through B2B
mechanism.
• India & Bangladesh- To construct a bridge over Mizoram’s Khawthlangtuipui River.
• India & Palestine- Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine Cooperation in the field
of Information Technology and Electronics (IT&E)
• India and Bangladesh- Promotion and Protection of Investments (BIPA), Cyber security
cooperation

AUGUST 2017
• India and Spain- Cooperation in renewable energy.
• India & BRICS- Establishment of the BRICS Agriculture Research Platform (BRICS- ARP).
• India & Somalia- Agreement on Transfer of sentenced persons.
• India & Sweden- Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)

SEPTEMBER 2017
• India & Morocco- Cooperation in the field of health
• India & Armenia- Cooperation in the field of Disaster Management
• India & Japan- For collaborative research in the field of silkworm and silk industries
• India & Belarus- Co-operation Sports, Vocational Education and Training , Agricultural
• Research and Education, Oil and Gas and between JSC Belarusian Potash Company
• (BPC) and Indian Potash Ltd (IPL)
• India & Ethiopia- Cooperation in the field of Information, Communication and Media
• India & Afghanistan- Technical Cooperation on Police Training and Development
OCTOBER 2017
• India & Srilanka- Construction of 1,200 houses through 50 model villages in Sri Lanka.
• India & Japan- Technical Intern Training Program (TITP)
• India & Japan- Establishing Flexible and Global LNG Market
• India & Belarus- For Cooperation in the field of Vocational Education and Training
• India & Morocco- Cooperation in the field of water resources
• Pakistan & Iran- To boost border security
• India & EU summit-
1.Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-2-Line R6 for Euro 300 million out of total loan
of Euro 500 million.
2.Implementing Arrangement between the European Commission and the Science
and Engineering Research Board (SERB) for Indian Researchers.
3.Joint Declaration between the Interim Secretariat of the International Solar
Alliance and the European Investment Bank.

NOVEMBER 2017
• India & Afghanistan- To assist in strengthening transport system in Kabul
• India & Singapore - For marine security in New Delhi
• India & Italy - Medical Infrastructure
• India & UK - For Urban Transport Sector
• India & Phillipines- For Customs offences, trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods
traded between India and Phillippines.
• India & Russia- Combating Terrorism
• India & Armenia- Cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.
• India & Belarus - On scientific and technological Cooperation
• India & Poland - For the promotion of Civil Aviation Cooperation
• India & Greece- Air services agreement which will allow airlines to operate

DECEMBER 2017
• India & Brazil - Approval for signing and ratification of the investment cooperation and
facilitation treaty
• India & Colombia- Several aspects of agriculture
• India & Cuba- Health and medicine
• India & Germany - Loan agreement for ‘climate friendly urban mobility iii’
• India & Italy - Approval for agriculture and phytosanitary issues
• India & Myanmar- Improving socio economic condition of Rakhine state
• India & Morocco- Cooperation in areas of water resources, road, marine and health
sectors
• India & Switzerland- To allow automatic sharing of tax related information
 HEADS OF IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS

S.no Name of the Organisation Head Headquarters

London, United
1 Amnesty International Salil Shetty
Kingdom

Mandaluyong,
2 Asian Development Bank Takehiko Nakao
Philippines

3 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Jin Liqun Beijing, China

4 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Dr. Alan Bollard Singapore

5 Association of South East Nations (ASEAN) H.E. Lim Jock Hoi Jakarta, Indonesia

Queen Elizabeth London, United

6 Commonwealth of Nations
II Kingdom

José Graziano da
7 Food & Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Rome, Italy
Silva

8 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano Vienna, Austria

International Committee of the Red Cross

9 Peter Maurer Geneva, Switzerland
(ICRC)

The Hague,
10 International Court of Justice (ICJ) Ronny Abraham
Netherlands

11 International Cricket Council (ICC) Dave Richardson Dubai, UAE

12 International Labour Organisation (ILO/OIT) Guy Ryder Geneva, Switzerland

London, United
13 International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Kitack Lim
Kingdom
14 International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde Washington DC, US

Lausanne,
15 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach
Switzerland

New Development Bank (BRICS Development

16 K. V. Kamath Shanghai, China
Bank)

17 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg Brussels, Belgium

Organization for Economic Cooperation &

18 José Ángel Gurría Paris, France
Development (OECD)

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Mohammed

19 Vienna, Austria
(OPEC) Barkindo

South Asian Association for Regional H. E.Amjad

20 Kathmandu, Nepal
Cooperation (SAARC) Hussain

The Fédération Internationale de Football

21 Gianni Infantino Zürich, Switzerland
Association (FIFA)

22 The World Bank Jim Yong Kim Washington DC, US

23 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Anthony Lake New York, USA

United Nations Conference on Trade &

24 Mukhisa Kituyi Geneva, Switzerland
Development (UNCTAD)

United Nations Education Scientific & Cultural

25 Audrey Azoulay Paris, France
Organisation (UNESCO)

United Nations Industrial Development

26 Li Yong Vienna, Austria
Organisation (UNIDO)

New York, United

27 United Nations Organization (UN) António Guterres
States

Dr. Natalia New York, United

28 United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA)
Kanem States
29 World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab Cologny, Switzerland

Dr. Margaret
30 World Health Organisation (WHO) Geneva, Switzerland
Chan

World Intellectual Property Organisation

31 Francis Gurry Geneva, Switzerland
(WIPO Also called OMPI)

32 World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Petteri Taalas Geneva, Switzerland

33 World Trade Organization (WTO) Roberto Azevedo Geneva, Switzerland

34 World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Carter Roberts Vaud, Switzerland

Kirsan
35 World Chess Federation Athens, Greece
Ilyumzhinov

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and California, United

36 Göran Marby
Numbers States
 Highest Position Holders in Indian Government

Name Position

Shri Ram Nath Kovind President of India

Muppavarapu Venkaiah Vice President

Naidu
Narendra Damodar Das Prime Minister of India
Modi
Ms. Sumitra Mahajan Speaker of Lok Sabha

Harivansh Narayan Singh Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha (09 August 2018)

Dr. M. Thambidurai Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha

Ghulam Nabi Azad Leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha)

Dr. Rajiv Kumar Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog

Sh. Sunil Arora Chief Election Commissioner (02 December 2018)

Krishnamurthy Chief Economic Advisor(07 December 2018)

Subramanian
Dr. Nasim Zaidi Election Commissioner

Justice Ranjan Gogoi Chief Justice(succeeding Dipak Misra)

Justice H. L. Dattu Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission

Shri Rajiv Mehrishi Comptroller and Auditor General of India

Justice Vangala Eswaraiah Chairman, National Commission for Backward

Classes
Sh. Arvind Saxena Chairman, UPSC

Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Chairman, National Commission on Farmers (NCF)

R. K. Mathur Chief Information Commissioner (CIC)

Shri Ashim Khurana Chairman, SSC

 CEOs of Organisations

1. Mary Barra-General Motors

2. Randall Stephenson-AT&T
3. Jeff Bezos- Amazon
4. Larry Merlo- CVS Health
5. John Hammergren- Mckesson
6. Tim Cook- Apple
7. Warren Buffet- Berkshire Hathaway
8. Darren Woods- Exxon Mobil
9. David Wichmann- UnitedHealth Group
10. Doug Mcmillon- Walmart
11. James Hackett- Ford Motor
12. Steven H.Collis- AmerisourceBergen
13. Michael K. Wirth- Chevron
14. Michael C.Kaufmann- Cardinal Health
15. W.Craig Jelinek- Costco
16. Hans E. Vestberg- Verizon
17. W.Rodney McMullen- Kroger
18. H.Lawrence Culp Jr.- General Electric
19. Stefano Pessina- Walgreens Boots Alliance
20. James Dimon- JP Morgan Chase
21. Timothy J.Mayopoulos- Fannie Mae
22. Alphabet- Larry Page
23. Craig A.Menear- Home Depot
24. Brian T.Moynihan- Bank of America Corp
25. Timothy C.Wentworth- Express Script Holdings
26. Timothy J. Sloan- Wells Fargo
27. Dennis A.Muielenburg- Boeing
28. Greg C. Garland- Phillips 66
29. Gail K. Bordreaux- Anthem
30. Satya Nadella- Microsoft
31. Joseph W. Gorder-Valero Energy
32. Michael L. Corbat- CitiGroup
33. Brian L.Roberts- Comcast
34. Virginia M. Rometty- IBM
35. Michael S.Dell- Dell Technologies
36. Michael L. Tipsord- State Farm Insurance Cos.
37. Alex Gorsky- Johnson & Johnson
38. Donald H. Layton- Freddie Mac
39. Brian C. Cornell- Target
40. Marvin R. Ellison- Lowe’s
41. Gary R. Heminger- Marathon Petroleum
42. David S. Taylor- Proctor & Gamble
43. Steven A. Kandarian- MetLife
44. David P. Abney- UPS
45. Indra K. Nooyi- PepsiCo
46. Brian M. Krzanich- Intel
47. Edward D. Breen- DowDuPont
48. Juan R. Luciano- Archer Daniels Midland
49. Mark T. Bertolini- Aetna
50. Frederick W.Smith- FedEx

SPORTS

Tennis

Australian Open 2018 Winners List:

S. No Category Winner
1. Men's Singles Roger Federer (Switzerland)
2. Women's Singles Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)

French Open 2018 Winners List:

S. No Category Winner
1. Men's Singles Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2. Women's Singles Simona Halep (Rome)

Wimbledon Championship 2018 Winners List:

S. No. Category Winner

1. Men's Singles Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
2. Women's Singles Angelique Kerber (Germany)

The US Open 2018 Winners List:

S. No. Category Winner

1. Men's Singles Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
2. Women's Singles Naomi Osaka (Japan)
Australian Open 2017 Winners List:

S. No Category Winner
1. Men's Singles Roger Federer (Switzerland)
2. Women's Singles Serena Williams(US)

French Open 2017 Winners List:

S. No Category Winner
1. Men's Singles Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2. Women's Singles Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia)

Wimbledon Championship 2017 Winners List:

S. No. Category Winner

1. Men's Singles Roger Federer (Switzerland)
2. Women's Singles Garbiñe Muguruza (USA)

The US Open 2017 Winners List:

S. No. Category Winner

1. Men's Singles Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2. Women's Singles Sloane Stephens (USA)

Formula 1 World Drivers 2018 Champion - Lewis Hamilton

Formula 1 World Drivers 2017 Champion - Lewis Hamilton

Formula 1 World Constructors 2018 Champion - Mercedes

Formula 1 World Constructors 2018 Champion - Mercedes

2018 FIFA World Cup Awards

Top 4 team rankings: France (1st, Winner), Croatia (2nd, Croatia), Belgium (3rd) and England
(4th).

Golden Ball award: Luka Modric (Croatia).

Golden Boot award: Harry Kane (England captain) for scoring six goals across six games.

Golden Glove award: Thibaut Courtois (Belgium).

FIFA Young Player award: 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe (France).

Next World Cup: Qatar will be hosting next FIFA World Cup in 2022. It will be the first Arab
country to host World Cup and it will also for first time.

NATIONAL SPORTS AWARDS 2018

• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2018 - S. Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting) and Virat Kohli (Cricket)

• Dronacharya Awards 2018 - Chenanda Achaiah Kuttappa (Boxing), Vijay Sharma

(Weightlifting), A. Srinivasa Rao (Table Tennis), Sukhdev Singh Pannu (Athletics),
Clarence Lobo (Hockey), V.R. Beedu (Atheletics), Jiwan Kumar Sharma (Judo), Tarak Sinha
(Cricket)

• Arjuna Award 2018 - Neeraj Chopra (Athletics), Jinson Johnson (Athletics), Hima Das
(Athletics), Nelakurthi Sikki Reddy (Badminton), Satish Kumar (Boxing), Smriti Mandhan.

• Dhyan Chand Award 2018 - Satyadev Prasad (Archery), Bharat Kumar Chetri (Hockey),
Bobby Aloysius (Athletics), Chougale Dadu Dattatray (Wrestling)

• Hima Das appointed as Sports Ambassador of Assam.

• Japanese swimmer Ikee Rikako named as Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Asian Games.

18th Asian Games Indonesia:

India with a haul of 69 medals including 15 gold recorded its best-ever performance in the
history of Asian Games at the 2018 edition held in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia.
• Swapna Barman wins India’s first gold medal in Heptathlon Athletics in Asian Games.
• Arpinder Singh wins gold medal in Men’s Triple Jump event at 2018 Asian Games.
• Shot-putter Tejinder Pal Singh Toor wins India’s first Gold medal in Athletics at 2018 Asian
Games.
• Rohan Bopanna, Divij Sharan win gold medal in Men’s Doubles tennis at 2018 Asian
Games.
• Mascots: Trio of Bhin Bhin (bird of paradise), Kaka (one horned rhino) and Atung (deer)
are mascots of 2018 Asian Games.
• Vinesh Phogat: First Indian woman to win gold medal at 2018 Asian Games.
• Esow Alben: Teen cyclist creates history by winning India’s first ever medal at world level.
• P V Sindhu wins silver World Championships 2018 of Badminton.
• Mary Kom clinches gold in World Boxing Championship 2018.
• Athlete Hima Das appointed first Youth Ambassador of UNICEF India.
• Sameer Verma wins Syed Modi International Badminton title 2018.
• Angad Vir Singh Bajwa wins gold in Men’s Skeet at 8th Asian Shotgun Championship.
• Weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga wins India’s maiden gold medal at Youth Olympic Games.
• Youth Olympics: Thangjam Tababi Devi clinches India’s first judo medal at Olympics.
• Government to set up National Sports Stadium for differently-abled in Meghalaya
• Virat Kohli becomes fastest batsman to reach 10,000 ODI runs.
• Asian Para Games 2018: India records best-ever show with 72 medals
• Tokyo 2020 committee officially launches Olympic mascots. The name of the blue-
checked Olympic mascot is ‘Miraitowa’.
• Sports Authority of India shortlists 734 youngsters for KHELO INDIA scholarship
programme.
• Neeraj Chopra clinches gold at French Athletics meet. India's star javelin thrower Neeraj
Chopra won the gold medal at the Sotteville Athletics meet in France on July 17, 2018.
• Hima Das becomes first Indian woman to win gold in World Junior Athletics. Indian
sprinter
• Hima Das has scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman athlete to win a gold
medal in the women's 400m final race at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics
Championships, held in Tampere, Finland.
• Dipa Karmakar becomes first Indian to win gold at Gymnastics World Cup.
• Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting inducted into ICC Hall of Fame
• Mithali Raj becomes first Indian to score 2,000 runs in T20 International.
• BCCI, UN Environment sign agreement to promote ‘green' Cricket in India.
• Shashank Manohar re-elected as Chairman of International Cricket Council.
• Commonwealth Games 2018: India finishes third in medal tally.
• Cricket Australia bans Steve Smith, David Warner for a year while opening batsman
Cameron Bancroft has been banned for a duration of nine months for ball tampering,
• Roger Federer surpasses Agassi to become oldest World No. 1 in tennis history.
• Indra Nooyi appointed as first independent female Director of ICC.
• Mary Kom clinches gold medal at India Open Boxing tournament.
• Indian Captain Virat Kohli was named the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year at the ICC annual
awards that were announced in Dubai.
• Harjinder Singh appointed as Chef de Mission for 23rd Winter Olympic Games which took
place in Pyeongchang County, South Korea.
• India’s ace shuttler, P V Sindhu had to settle for the silver medal at the BWF Dubai World
Series Finals 2017 in Dubai, UAE after she went down fighting against Japan’s top-seeded
Akane Yamaguchi.
• Narinder Batra elected as new President of Indian Olympic Association.
• Rohit Sharma becomes 1st batsmen to score 3 ODI double centuries.
• India has won the first-ever South Asian Regional Badminton Team Championship in a title
clash against Nepal in Guwahati, Assam.
• Mirabai Chanu wins gold medal at World Weightlifting Championship in Anaheim, USA.
• The Inaugural edition of the Indian Sports Honours, which was held in Mumbai, saw
Kidambi Srikanth and P V Sindhu grab the top honours.
• HS Prannoy, Saina Nehwal beat title favourites to become new National Champions.
• Asian Boxing Championship 2017: MC Mary Kom wins Gold in 48 kg category.
• Indian women's hockey team lifts Hockey Asia Cup after 13 years. The Indian women's
hockey team beat China 5-4 to lift the Asia Cup 2017 title.
• India wins 2017 Asia Cup hockey title.
• Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth on 29 October 2017 lifted the men's singles title of the
French Open Superseries badminton in Paris.
• Denmark Open: Kidambi Srikanth wins third Super Series title.
• Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu won gold medal at the International Shooting Sport Federation
(ISSF) World Cup Final 2017 in New Delhi.
• Luka Modric wins the Best FIFA Men's Player Award 2018.
• Cristiano Ronaldo wins the Best FIFA Men's Player Award 2017.
• India beat Malaysia with 2-1 in the final to clinch Asia Cup on 22 October 2017.
• K Srikanth clinches Denmark Open Superseries trophy 2017.
• Kavita Devi becomes first Indian Woman to sign with World Wrestling Entertainment
• Australia wins 2018 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
• FIFA suspends the Pakistan Football Federation on account of undue third-party
interference.
• Iceland makes history, Qualifies for World Cup. Iceland became the smallest country to
enter World Cup.
• PV Sindhu beats Nozomi Okuhara to win 2017 Korea Open Super Series
• Viswanathan Anand wins World Chess title 2017.
• Navjot Kaur: First Indian woman to win gold medal at Asian Wrestling Championships.
• India wins Under-19 World Cup 2018. Indian team was led by Prithvi Shaw and was
coached by former batsman Rahul Dravid.
• Devendra Fadnavis launches 'Maharashtra Mission 1 Million' initiative
• BAI(Badminton Association of India) to confer first Lifetime Achievement award on
Prakash Padukone.
• Amritpal Singh creates history, becomes first Indian to be signed by Australian Basketball
Team.
• Nozomi Okuhara wins World Badminton Championship 2017; PV Sindhu settles for silver.
• Australia beats Iran to clinch 2017 FIBA Asia Cup. The 2017 FIBA Asia Cup was the 29th
continental basketball championship in Asia.
• Para athlete Devendra and hockey player Sardar Singh will be honoured with the Rajiv
Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2017.
• Summer Olympics: Los Angeles agrees to host 2028 Games; Paris gets 2024.
• 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup: India beat Kazakhstan to clinch Division B crown.
• Canada’s Kylie Masse of Canada stormed to women's 100m backstroke gold in a new
world-record time at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.
• Mithali Raj named Captain of ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 team.
• HS Prannoy beats Parupalli Kashyap to lift 2017 US Open Grand Prix Gold badminton title.
• England beats India by 9 runs to lift ICC Women's World Cup 2017.
• Afghanistan batsman Shafiqullah Shafaq scores double century in T20 game.
• Germany beats Chile to win 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
• Srinivas Gokulnath becomes 1st Indian to finish Race Across America in solo category.
• India’s Harinder Pal Sandhu wins Victorian Open squash tournament.
• Harinder Pal Sandhu Wins South Australian Open Squash Title.
• Kidambi Srikanth beats Chen Long to win 2017 Australian Open.
• Kidambi Srikanth wins Indonesian Open 2017.
• Anil Kumble resigns as head coach of Indian Cricket team. Ravi Shastri appointed as the
new head coach.
• Pakistan beats India to win 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.
• Kidambi Srikanth beats Kazumasa Sakai to win Indonesia Open Super Series Premier title
2017.
• Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu clinch Mixed Team Air Pistol gold at ISSF World Cup 2017.
• England beat Venezuela to win FIFA U-20 World Cup for first time.
• Centre clears Kambala Bill, legalising the Buffalo race.
• Real Madrid becomes first team to win back-to-back Champions League titles.
• Sai Praneeth clinches 2017 Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold.
• Ashwin wins International Cricketer of the Year award 2017.
• C.A. Bhavani Devi becomes first Indian to win a Gold in International Fencing tournament.
• The partnership of Deepti Sharma and Poonam Raut scored 320 in 45.3 overs in 45.3 overs
to become the world’s first pair, either male or female, to forge a 300-run opening-wicket
partnership in One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
• VVS Laxman awarded honorary life membership of Marylebone Cricket Club.
• Jhulan Goswami becomes highest wicket taker in Womens One Day Internationals.
• Olive Ridley to be mascot of Asian Athletics Championships.
• Aizawl FC becomes first north-eastern club to win 2016-17 I-League.
• 101-year-old Mann Kaur becomes world’s oldest person to complete Auckland Sky Walk
• Video gaming to be featured as a full sport at the 2022 Asian Games.
• Sagar Baheti: India’s first visually impaired athlete to complete Boston Marathon.
• Nita Ambani made Member of IOC's Olympic Channel Commission.
• Manpreet Kaur wins shot put gold at Asian Grand Prix Athletics Meet.
• Pankaj Advani wins IBSF World Billiards Championship 2017.
• Pankaj Advani defeats Sourav Kothari to win Asian Billiards Championship.
• Sai Praneeth clinches 2017 Singapore Open Super Series.
• P V Sindhu defeats Carolina Marin to win India Open Super Series title 2017.
• Indian forward SV Sunil named Player of the Year in Asian Hockey Awards.
• Ravichandran Ashwin receives Garfield Sobers Trophy in 2017.
• Bhubaneswar to host Men’s Hockey World League Final 2017 and Hockey Men’s World
Cup 2018.
• Satwiksairaj & Chirag won Vietnam Open International Challenger Badminton Doubles
title.
• India won 73 medals in 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games.
• Cheteshwar Pujara plays India's longest innings.
• Sachin Tendulkar appointed as UNICEF Ambassador For ICC Women’s World Cup 2017.
• Gayathri Gopichand wins singles and doubles crown at Pembangunan Jaya Raya Junior
Grand Prix.
• India ranks 3rd in WADA doping charts for the third time.
• SC appoints Committee of Administrators headed by Vinod Rai to run BCCI.
• SSP Chawrasia won 2017 Indian Open golf title
• Luis Norton de Matos appointed Head Coach of India U-17 football team.
• Jitu Rai wins gold in 50m pistol at ISSF World Cup
• Milind Soman completes 517.5-km-long Ultraman race barefoot
• India beat Pakistan by 9 wickets to win T20 Blind World Cup 2017
• Official Mascot “Kheleo” unveiled for FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017.
• Saina Nehwal wins 2017 Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold.

CORPORATE NEWS LAST 2 YEARS

• IDFC Bank to be renamed as IDFC First Bank

• Meng Wanzhou, The CFO of Huawei, arrested in Canada, faces extradition to USA over
charges of helping Huawei circumvent US sanctions on Iran. China demands an immediate
release.
• Microsoft dethrones Apple as world's most valuable company
• Robyn Denholm is appointed the new chairman of Tesla
• Hyundai India MD YK Koo steps down, called back to South Korea.
• Twitter micro-blogging platform is facing a boycott from agencies such as Fox News. This
reportedly comes as a silent protest over how Twitter handled harassment against one of
Fox News' hosts. The news agency, owned by 21st Century Fox, has not tweeted on the
platform since November 8.
• SC clears Reliance Communications' asset sale to Reliance Jio
• Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger resign
• Alibaba founder Jack Ma to step down in 2019, company CEO Daniel Zhang named his
successor
• Vodafone-Idea merger completed; creating India’s largest telecom service provider.
Kumar Mangalam Birla is the Chairman.The Board appointed Balesh Sharma as the CEO
of the Vodafone Idea Limited.
• NITI Aayog launches ‘Pitch to MOVE’ for startups, a mobility pitch competition that aims
to provide budding entrepreneurs of India with a unique opportunity to pitch their
business ideas.
• Indra Nooyi to step down as Pepsico CEO. She will, however, continue to serve as the
Chairman of the company till early 2019. Pepsico veteran, Ramon Laguarta will succeed
Nooyi as the new CEO of the company.
• Union Cabinet approves acquisition of IDBI Bank’s controlling stake by LIC. The Life
Insurance Corporation of India's (LIC's) board has approved acquiring up to 51 per cent
stake in state-run IDBI Bank.
• BSNL launches India’s first internet telephony service ‘Wings’
• PM Modi inaugurates world's largest mobile factory in Noida, UP. Samsung has launched
the world's largest mobile factory in Noida, India.
• Facebook ties-up with National Women Commission to launch digital literacy programme
• Sony to buy EMI Music Publishing in USD 1.9 billion deal. EMI is the second-largest music
publishing company by revenue and holds the rights to 2.1 million pieces of music.
• Tata Steel subsidiary Bamnipal Steel Ltd (BNPL) acquires 72% stake in Bhushan Steel
• DoT approves merger of Bharti Airtel and Telenor India
• Walmart buys 77 percent stake in Flipkart. Co-founder Sachin Bansal quits after Walmart
deal
• Cambridge Analytica to shut down after Facebook data breach scandal
• TCS becomes first Indian company to achieve USD 100 billion Market Capitalisation
• India replaces Vietnam to become world’s second largest mobile phone producer, only
after China
• Competition Commission of India fines Google Rs 136 crore for 'search bias'. he ruling has
come on complaints filed by Matrimony.com and Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS)
back in 2012.
• Union Government launches Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative to strengthen the
cybersecurity ecosystem in India.
• Reliance Jio plans to launch its own cryptocurrency 'JioCoin'. Reliance Jio also aspires to
get into Internet of Things (IoT).
• Skill Development Ministry, Maruti Suzuki sign MoU to impart skill training to youth
• Disney to acquire 21st Century Fox assets for USD 52.4 Billion in stock
• Meredith Corporation to acquire Time Inc. for USD 2.8 billion
• SBI launches integrated digital platform YONO
• Facebook launches new tools for video creators. The new tool will be called Facebook
Creator App.
• Leslie Thng appointed as CEO of Vistara A joint venture between Tata group and Singapore
Airlines
• Ashish Kashyap resigns as President and Co-founder of MakeMyTrip
• D Shivakumar quits as CEO of PepsiCo India and is expected to join Aditya Birla Group as
Head of Corporate Strategy and Business Development.
• Swedish defence giant Saab and Indian conglomerate Adani group announced
collaboration in defence manufacturing on 1 September 2017.
• Dara Khosrowshahi appointed as CEO of Uber Technologies Inc
• Microsoft launches Project Brainwave for real-time artificial intelligence
• Nandan Nilekani appointed as Chairman of Infosys Board
• Sanjiv Gupta appointed as President and MD of General Motors India
• Odisha government launches Facebook programme ‘SheMeansBusiness’. Odisha Chief
Minister, Naveen Patnaik has launched Facebook's programme 'She Means Business' to
assist in the growth of women entrepreneurs in the state.
• Facebook launches YouTube competitor called 'Watch'. Watch is a platform for all
creators and publishers to find an audience, build a community of passionate fans, and
earn money for their work.
• Michael Kors buys Jimmy Choo for USD 1.5 billion
• Google introduces recruiting app 'Hire' for businesses. Hire makes it easy to identify
talent, build strong candidate relationships and efficiently manage the interview process
end-to-end.
• SBI launches SBI Realty portal for home buyers. SBI Realty will help customers to choose
their dream home from 3000 SBI-approved projects.
• Tata Motors develops country’s first Bio-Methane Bus.
• Google acquires Bengaluru-based startup Halli Labs
• Xiaomi to acquire key Nokia patents. The multi-year patent agreement includes a cross
license to each company's cellular standard essential patents.
• Volkswagen returns to Iranian market after 17-year absence
• Natarajan Chandrasekaran named Chairman of Tata Global Beverages in place of Harish
Bhat who expressed a desire to step down as chairman
• Reliance Jio has launched what it claims to be the world’s longest 100Gbps technology-
based submarine system, Asia-Africa-Europe
• By triggering the Photo Guard, one can prevent the downloading, sharing, or sending of
the photo in a Facebook message.
• India's antitrust watchdog imposes $13.6 mn fine on Hyundai Motor's local unit accusing
the company of anti-competitive behaviour.
• Paytm launches Payments Bank. With this launch, there are now three payments bank
operational in the country, the other two being Airtel Payments Bank Ltd and India Post
Payments Bank Ltd.
• Facebook Launches Express Wi-Fi in India. The commercial roll out of Express WiFi comes
a year after Facebook pulled off the 'Free Basics' programme that drew severe criticism
from advocates of net neutrality.
• PepsiCo India forays into Dairy Products with Oats-Based Milk Beverage. Besides Quaker
Oats, PepsiCo is considering launching dairy-based beverages under other brands,
including Tropicana.
• T K K Krishnakumar appointed as Coca-Cola India President
• Google to introduce 'Copyless Paste' feature. The Copyless Paste feature will take data
from Chrome usage and use that to improve the experience in other apps.
• Aditya Birla Nuvo to be merged with Grasim Industries. Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd and the
Grasim Industries Ltd are the subsidiaries of the Aditya Birla Group.
• Cairn India merged with Vedanta Ltd. The merged company will have a larger market cap
of USD 15.6 billion.
• Flipkart acquires eBay India business to fight Amazon
• Amazon acquires Souq.com, the Middle East's biggest online retailer
• Truecaller ties-up with Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank and Google in India. The ‘Airtel Truecaller
ID’ feature will identify a caller and send his information via a flash message in advance.
• SBI launched Unnati Credit Card to spread credit inclusion. The SBI Unnati would enable
those who do not have a credit history to build one so that they could avail themselves of
other loan products in the future.
• HDFC Bank MD Aditya Puri features in World's Best CEOs list by Barron's. The top three
positions in the list were secured by Mary Barra of General Motors, Gary Dickerson of
Applied Materials and Stephen Hemsley respectively.
• ICICI launched Mera iMobile application for rural customers
• Bharti Airtel acquires 4G business of Tikona Networks
• Bharti Airtel, Millicom International sign agreement to combine operations in Ghana
• BBC banned for five years from filming in Tiger reserves. Justin Rowlatt’s documentary,
‘On’.
• World: Killing for Conservation’ shot in Kaziranga led to banning of BBC from filming in
Tiger reserves.
• Civil Aviation Minister inaugurated India’s first Integrated Heliport. Civil Aviation minister
Ashok Gajapathi has inaugurated India’s first integrated heliport in Delhi. The facility is
expected to reduce the congestion at the Delhi airport.
• Reliance Defence, Dassault incorporated joint venture to execute Rafale deal
• L&T and MBDA establish Joint Venture for development of missile systems. The JV would
focus on business opportunities in the Missiles and Missile Systems domain s under the
Buy (Indian – IDDM), Buy (Indian) and Buy & Make (Indian) categories of Defence
Procurement.
• Hindustan Motors sells Ambassador Car brand to Peugeot. In this regard, Hindustan
Motors signed an agreement with Peugeot SA for the sale of the Ambassador brand
including the trademarks for a consideration of INR 80 crore
• Nokia to acquire Comptel Corporation to advance its software strategy. Nokia and
Comptel entered into a Transaction Agreement through its wholly owned subsidiary Nokia
Solutions and Networks Oy.
• Samsung Pay to Launch in India.
• Cisco Systems agreed to buy AppDynamics for USD 3.7 billion
• PVR Pictures launched Vkaao theatre-on-demand service
• Rajesh Gopinathan appointed as Chief Executive Officer of TCS. The appointment came
after the elevation of N. Chandrasekaran as Tata Sons Chairman.
 AWARDS

Prize/Award
Provided Category Conferred upon Year
Nobel Prize Physics Ranier Weiss, Barry Barish, Kip Thorne 2017
Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank,
Nobel Prize Chemistry Richard Henderson 2017
Physiology or Jeffrey Hall, Michael Rosbash, Michael
Nobel Prize Medicine Young 2017
Nobel Prize Literature Kazuo Ishiguro 2017
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear
Nobel Prize Peace Weapons (ICAN) 2017
Sveriges Riksbank
Prize in Economic
Sciences in Memory
of Alfred Nobel Economics Richard Thaler 2017
Abel Prize Mathematics Yves Meyer 2017
Caucher Birkar, Alessio Figalli, Peter
Fields Medal Mathematics Scholze, Akshay Venkatesh 2018
Magsaysay Award Uncategorized Gethsie Shanmugam 2017
Magsaysay Award Uncategorized Yoshiaki Ishizawa 2017
Magsaysay Award Uncategorized Lilia de Lima 2017
Magsaysay Award Uncategorized Abdon Nababan 2017
Magsaysay Award Uncategorized Tony Tay 2017
Magsaysay Award Uncategorized Philippine Educational Theater Association 2017
89th Academy
Awards Best Picture Moonlight 2017
89th Academy
Awards Best Director Damien Chazelle(La La Land) 2017
89th Academy
Awards Best Actor Casey Affleck(Manchester by the Sea) 2017
89th Academy
Awards Best Actress Emma Stone(La La Land) 2017
89th Academy Best Supporting
Awards Actor Mahershala Ali(Moonlight) 2017
89th Academy Best Supporting
Awards Actress Viola Davis(Fences) 2017
89th Academy Best Original
Awards Screenplay Manchester by the Sea(Kenneth Lonergan) 2017
89th Academy Best Adapted Moonlight(Screenplay by Barry Jenkins;
Awards Screenplay Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney based on 2017
 the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue
by Tarell Alvin McCraney)
89th Academy Best Animated
Awards Feature Film Zootopia 2017
89th Academy Best Foreign The Salesman (Iran) in Persian(Directed by
Awards Language Film Asghar Farhadi) 2017
Best
89th Academy Documentary – O.J.: Made in America(Ezra Edelman and
Awards Feature Caroline Waterlow) 2017
89th Academy Best Original
Awards Score La La Land(Justin Hurwitz) 2017
89th Academy Best
Awards Cinematography La La Land(Linus Sandgren) 2017
89th Academy Best Costume Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find
Awards Design Them(Colleen Atwood) 2017
UNESCO Peace
Prize Peace Mayor Giusi Nicolini(Italy) 2017
The Underground Railroad(Colson
Pulitzer Prize Fiction Whitehead) 2017
Pulitzer Prize Public Service New York Daily News and ProPublica 2017
Man Booker David Grossman (Israel), Jessica Cohen
International Prize Fiction (translator) - A Horse Walks Into a Bar 2017
Padma Vibhushan Public Affairs Sharad Pawar 2017
Padma Vibhushan Public Affairs Murli Manohar Joshi 2017
Padma Vibhushan Public Affairs P.A. Sangma (posthumous) 2017
Padma Vibhushan Public Affairs Sunder Lal Patwah (posthumous) 2017
Padma Vibhushan Art - Music K.J.Yesudas 2017
Others -
Padma Vibhushan Spiritualism Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev 2017
Science &
Padma Vibhushan Engineering Udipi Ramachandra Rao 2017
Padma Bhushan Art - Music Vishwa Mohan Bhatt 2017
Literature &
Padma Bhushan Education Devi Prasad Dwivedi 2017
Padma Bhushan Medicine Tehemton Udwadia 2017
Others-
Padma Bhushan Spiritualism Ratna Sundar Maharaj 2017
Padma Bhushan Others-Yoga Swami Niranjana Nanda Saraswati 2017
Literature & H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
Padma Bhushan Education (Foreigner) 2017
 Literature &
Education –
Padma Bhushan Journalism Cho Ramaswamy (Posthumous) 2017
Man Booker Prize
for Fiction Fiction George Saunders(Lincoln in the Bardo) 2017
Man Booker Prize
for Fiction Fiction Anna Burns(Milkman) 2018
Man Booker Olga Tokarczuk (Poland), Jennifer Croft
International Prize Fiction (translator) - Flights 2018
James Allison and Tasuku Honjo(for their
Physiology or discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of
Nobel Prize Medicine negative immune regulation) 2018
Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Mourou, and Donna
Strickland(For groundbreaking inventions
Nobel Prize Physics in the field of laser physics) 2018
Frances Arnold(for the directed evolution of
enzymes), Greg Winter and George P.
Smith(for the phage display of peptides
Nobel Prize Chemistry and antibodies) 2018
Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad(for their
work to end sexual violence as a weapon
Nobel Prize Peace of war) 2018
William Nordhaus and Paul Romer(for
Sveriges Riksbank addressing some of our time’s most basic
Prize in Economic and pressing questions about how we
Sciences in Memory create long-term sustained and sustainable
of Alfred Nobel Economics economic growth) 2018
Not awarded(Postponed due to sexual
Nobel Prize Literature harassment allegations) 2018
Abel Prize Mathematics Robert Langlands 2018
Peter Scholze, Alessio Figalli, Akshay
Fields Medal Mathematics Venkatesh, Caucher Birkar 2018
Magsaysay Award Uncategorized Howard Dee 2018
Magsaysay Award Uncategorized Sonam Wangchuk(India) 2018
Magsaysay Award Uncategorized Bharat Vatwani(India) 2018
Magsaysay Award Uncategorized Youk Chhang 2018
Magsaysay Award Uncategorized Vo Thi Hoang 2018
Magsaysay Award Uncategorized Maria de Lourdes Martins 2018
89th Academy The Shape of Water(Guillermo del Toro
Awards Best Picture and J. Miles) 2018
89th Academy
Awards Best Director Guillermo del Toro(The Shape of Water) 2018
89th Academy Gary Oldman(Darkest Hour as Winston
Awards Best Actor Churchill) 2018
Frances McDormand(Three Billboards
89th Academy Outside Ebbing, Missouri as Mildred
Awards Best Actress Hayes) 2018
89th Academy Best Supporting Sam Rockwell(Three Billboards Outside
Awards Actor Ebbing, Missouri as Officer Jason Dixon) 2018
89th Academy Best Supporting Allison Janney(I, Tonya as LaVona
Awards Actress Golden) 2018
89th Academy Best Original
Awards Screenplay Get Out(Written by Jordan Peele) 2018
Call Me by Your Name(Screenplay by
89th Academy Best Adapted James Ivory based on the novel by André
Awards Screenplay Aciman) 2018
89th Academy Best Animated
Awards Feature Film Coco(Lee Unkrich and Darla K. Anderson) 2018
89th Academy Best Foreign A Fantastic Woman (Chile) in
Awards Language Film Spanish(Directed by Sebastián Lelio) 2018
Best
89th Academy Documentary –
Awards Feature Icarus(Bryan Fogel and Dan Cogan) 2018
89th Academy Best Original
Awards Score The Shape of Water(Alexandre Desplat) 2018
89th Academy Best
Awards Cinematography Blade Runner 2049(Roger Deakins) 2018
89th Academy Best Costume
Awards Design Phantom Thread(Mark Bridges) 2018
Padma Vibhushan Art - Music Illaiyaraja 2018
Padma Vibhushan Art - Music Ghulam Mustafa Khan 2018
Padma Vibhushan Literature P. Parameswaran 2018
Padma Bhushan Sports Pankaj Advani 2018
Padma Bhushan Others Philipose Mar Chrysostom 2018
Padma Bhushan Sports Mahendra Singh Dhoni 2018
Alexander Kadakin
Padma Bhushan Public Affairs (Foreigner/Posthumous) 2018
Padma Bhushan Others R. Nagaswamy 2018
Literature & Ved Prakash Nanda (Overseas Citizen of
Padma Bhushan Education India) 2018
Padma Bhushan Art - Painting Laxman Pai 2018
Padma Bhushan Art - Music Pandit Arvind Parikh 2018
Padma Bhushan Art - Music Sharda Sinha 2018
 MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
Parent Company Company Acquired(or Merged) Amount Year

Amazon Whole Foods $13.7 Billion 2017

Intel Mobileye $15.3 Billion 2017

United Technologies Rockwell Collins $23 Billion 2017

Disney 21st Centry Fox $52.4 Billion 2017

JAB Holdings Panera $7.5 Billion 2017

Michael Kors Jimmy Choo $1.2 Billion 2017

Tapestry Inc. Kate Spade $2.4 Billion 2017

Gilead Kite Pharma $11.9 Billion 2017

Cisco BroadSoft $2 Billion 2017

Apple Shazam $400 Million 2017

Meredith Corp. Time Inc. $2.8 Bliion 2017

Discovery Scripps Networks Interactive $14.6 Billion 2017

Google HTC Smartphone Team(Partly) $1.1 Billion 2017

Hewlett Packard SimplyVity $650 Million 2017

Hewlett Packard Nimble Storage $1 Billion 2017

Apple Workflow Undisclosed 2017

Google Kaggle Undisclosed 2017

British American Tobacco R J Reynolds Tobacco $49 Billion 2017

Luxxotica Essilor $49 Billion 2017

Qualcomm NXP Semiconductors $47 Billion 2017

Flipkart E-bay India Undisclosed 2017

Axis Bank Freecharge $60 Million 2017

Vodafone Idea $23 Billion 2017

Airtel Telenor, Tikona Digital Undisclosed 2017

Google Halli Labs Undisclosed 2017

Sony Ten Sports (from Zee) $300 Million 2017

INR 1600
Havells Lloyds Crore 2017

Bharat Financial (SKS

IndusInd Bank Microfinance) Undisclosed 2017

Bhartiya Mahila Bank, SB of

Bikaner and Jaipur, SB of Patiala,
State Bank of India SB of Travencore Undisclosed 2017

INR 33000
ONGC HPCL Crore 2017

Oath (Verizon) Yahoo and AOL $4.5 Billion 2017

$800 Million -
Bytedance Musical.ly(Now TikTok) $1 Billion 2017

CVS(in process) Aetna $69 Billion 2018

Teleperformance Intelnet $1 Billion 2018

Bayer Monsanto $66 Billion 2018

AT & T Time Warner $108 Billion 2018

Diageo Casamigos (George Clooney) Undisclosed 2018

Walmart Bonobos $310 Million 2018

Walmart Flipkart $16 Billion 2018

INR 633
PVR SPI (Sathyam, Escape, Pallazo) Crore 2018

United Phosphorus Arysta LifeScience $4 Billion 2018

Hindalco Aleris $2.58 Billion 2018

Flipkart Liv.Ai $40 Million 2018

INR 35200
Tata Steel Bhushan Steel (First insolvency) Crore 2018
 INR 31,700
HUL GSK Consumer Care Crore 2018

Nexstar Tribune Media $4.1 Billion 2018

INR 4,595
Zydus Wellness Heinz India crore 2018

Atos Syntel $3.4 Billion 2018

Piramal Enterprises Mallinckrodt LLC $171 Million 2017

$2.7 Million
Canadian
Taro Pharma Thallion Pharmaceuticals Dollars 2017

WNS Healthhelp $95 Million 2017

Cyient Certon Software Undisclosed 2017

Tech Mahindra Ltd CJS Solutions $110 Million 2017

INR 2.05
Dr. Reddy Laboratories Imperial Credit Private Ltd Crores 2017

Cognizant Technology
Solutions Brilliant Service Co. Ltd Undisclosed 2017

INR 50
Byju Vidyartha Crores 2017

Tata AutoComp Systems TitanX Undisclosed 2017

PropTiger Housing.com $50 Million 2017