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TRANSCRIPT
Monthly GK and Current Affairs Capsule–September 2017
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Monthly GK and Current Affairs Capsule – September 2017
CONTENTS
S. No Topics Page No.
1. Important Days 2
2. Important State Wise National News 3
3. Important Ministry Affairs 10
4. Important Banking & Economy Affairs 15
5. Important International News 24
6. Important Appointments 36
7. Important Awards and Honors 40
8. Important Business News 42
9. Important MoU and Agreements 43
10. Important Schemes, Programs,
Conference
53
11. Important Mobile App and Web Portal 55
12 Important Defence News 56
13. Important VIP’s Visit to India 60
14. Important Ranking and Indexes 61
15. Important Science and Technologies
News
61
16. Important Sports News 61
17. Important Obituaries 69
Monthly GK and Current Affairs Capsule–September 2017
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IMPORTANT DAYS
02nd September: World Coconut Day
Theme – Coconut for Family Nutrition, Health and Wellness
04th September: World Chocolate Day
05th September: National Teachers Day
05th September: International Day of Charity
07th September: World Forgiveness Day
08th September: International Literacy Day
Theme – Literacy in a digital world
10th September: World Suicide Prevention Day
Theme – Take a minute, change a life
12th September: United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
13th September: World First Aid Day
14th September: World Fraternity and Apology Day
14th September: Hindi Day
15th September: International Day of Democracy
Theme – Democracy and Conflict prevention
15th September: Engineers Day
Theme – Role of Engineers in a developing India
16th September: International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
Theme – Caring for all life under Sun
20th September: International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
20th September: RPF Foundation day
21st September: Alzheimer’s Day
Theme - Dementia: Can we reduce the risk?
21st September: International Day of Peace
Theme – Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All
22nd September: World Cancer Free Day or Rose Day
23rd September: International Day of the Deaf
26th September: World Contraception Day,
27th September: World Tourism Day
Theme – Sustainable Tourism – a Tool for Development
28th September: International Day for Universal Access to Information,
28th September: World Rabies Day
Theme – Rabies: Zero by 30
28th September: World Maritime Day
Theme – Connecting Ships, Ports and People
29th September: World Heart Day
29th September: World Heart Day
Theme- Creating Heart Healthy Environments
29th September: World Coffee Day
Monthly GK and Current Affairs Capsule–September 2017
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30th September: International Translation Day
Theme – Translation and Diversity
30th September: International Translation Day
30th September: World Deaf Day
STATE WISE NEWS
Andhra Pradesh
State – Andhra Pradesh; Capital – Amaravati; CM – N. ChandrababuNaidu; Governor – E S L Narashiman
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandra babuNaidu announced scheme forbrides of poor families
• Andhra Pradesh ChiefMinister N. ChandrababuNaidu announcedthe launch of PelliKanuka(marriage gift), a
schemeaimed at helping families ofbrides belonging to the poorand disadvantaged sectionsof society.
• Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu declared the year of 2017 as e-Pragati year
• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu declared the year of 2017 as e-Pragati year. The
flagship program will help the government to make real-time governance.The Chief Minister also inaugurated the
Andhra Pradesh Sports Policy 2017.
Assam
State – Assam; Capital – Dispur; CM – Sarbananda Sonowal; Governor – Banwarilal Purohit
Assam govt sets up DBT cell for implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer scheme
• In Assam, the state govt. has set up a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Cell for implementation of DBT
across schemes in the Country. It helps in coordinating efforts at the State Level in taking the DBT initiative
forward with immediate effect.It will closely monitor & evaluate the progress of various Departments on DBT
related indicators.
Chhattisgarh
State – Chhattisgarh; Capital – Raipur, Bilaspur (Judiciary); CM – Raman Singh; Governor - Balram Das Tandon
Chhattisgarh: ‘Ye India ka time hai’ event organized at NIT Raipur
• ‘Ye India ka time hai’ event was organized at National Institute of Technology, Raipur yesterday evening. The
event was held as per the directives of HRD ministry to mark India's 70 years of independence and 75 years of the
Quit India movement.AIR correspondent reports that On the occasion of ‘Ye India ka time hai event’, students of
NIT Raipur participated in a brainstorming session on 'New India Manthan' and discussed their views on ‘what
kind of India do they imagine for the year 2022’.
Delhi
New Delhi CM – Arvind Kejriwal; Governor – Anil Baijal
Delhi LG Anil Baijal bans dumping of solid waste at Ghazipur
• Garbage dumping in Ghazipur has been banned with immediate effect and the landfill site is likely to be
cleared within two years, Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office said. A day after a portion of the waste dump, estimated
to be as high as a 15-storey building, collapsed, killing two persons, Baijal held a meeting to take stock of the
situation.He directed that traffic be diverted on the road adjoining the landfill for proper vehicular
movement."National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) assured the LG that it will begin the process of lifting,
segregating and processing of the solid waste by November 2017, for its use in road construction".
Goa
State – Goa; ; Capital – Panaji; CM – ManoharParrikar; Governor - MridulaSinha
Monthly GK and Current Affairs Capsule–September 2017
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Goa: CM Parrrikar launches online Public Grievance Redressal System
• Goa chief minister ManoharParrrikar launched an online Public Grievance Redressal System at the state
secretariat. It is a single window online portal for citizens to register grievances towards any state government
department.
Gujarat
State – Gujarat; Capital –Ahmedabad; CM – Vijay Rupani; Governor – Om PrakashKohli
President of India – Ram NathKovind
Ram NathKovindlaid the foundation stone of the second phase of SAUNI Yojana
• President Ram NathKovindlaid the foundation stone of the second phase of link IV pipeline canal of
Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation (SAUNI) Yojana in Rajkot, Gujarat.The Scheme aimed to fill up about
115 dams by the overflowing waters of SardarSarovar Dam on Narmada River. The entire project will benefit more
than 2 lakh acres of farm land and more than 900 villages of 7 districts of Saurashtra.The first phases of link I,
II, and III of the SAUNI Project have been inaugurated by Prime Minister NarendraModi. The project is aimed at
bringing the waters of Narmada River to the reservoirs of parched Saurashtra region. President Kovind was on a
two- day visit to Gujarat.
Gujarat government launches ‘Gyankunj Project ‘in schools
• Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani has launched “Gyakunj e-class project” from Shahpur primary school in
GandhinagarUnder this initiative, interactive e-class will be launched with smart board. In the first phase, 550
schools will be covered under the ‘Gyankunj Project’ and gradually standard 5th to 9th of every schools of the
state will cover under the project. ’Gyankunj Project’ covers under total worth of Rs. 35.85 crore. The objective
of the project is to produce world-class students. The project is launched at expenditure of Rs. 222,000/- per
school.
India’s First Lithium-Ion Battery Unit in Gujarat
• Suzuki Motor will invest more thanRs 1,150 crorealong with Japanese partners Toshiba and Denso to set up
India's first lithium-ion battery facility in Gujarat.The announcement by the parent of the country's largest
carmaker, Maruti Suzuki is a major boost to the government's ambitious vehicle electrification and Make in India
initiatives. In the battery venture, Suzuki will hold half the stake, while Toshiba will own 40% and Denso the
remaining 10%.
Japan PM Shinzo Abe in Ahmedabad for India-Japan Annual Summit
• Prime Minister NarendraModi received his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Mr.
Abe is in India on a two-day visit to attend the India-Japan annual summit meeting.The 12th edition of the
summit will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The two leaders will review the recent progress in the multifaceted
co-operation between India and Japan under the framework of their ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’.
They will also attend a function to mark the commencement of work of India’s first high-speed rail project
between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
Useful Info
Country – Japan
Capital – Tokyo
Currency – Japanese Yen
Shinzo Abe Gujarat Visit: India's First Bullet Train Project Inaugurated
Monthly GK and Current Affairs Capsule–September 2017
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• Prime Minister NarendraModi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe laid the foundation stone of the
508-km long Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail in Ahmedabad. This is the fourth summit meeting between
Modi and Abe.The two leaders visited the Sabarmati Ashram after Abe’s arrival in Gujarat. The Japanese Prime
Minister is on a two-day visit to Gujarat. He will also attend the 12th Indo-Japan Summit.
PM Modi inaugurates country's biggest dam, SardarSarovar Dam, Called 'Gujarat's Lifeline'
• Prime Minister NarendraModi launched the SardarSarovar Dam - the world's second biggest - on the river
Narmada in Gujarat.The 1.2-km-long dam, which is 163 metres deep, will irrigate over 18 lakh hectares in the
state, according to officials; the water from Narmada will flow into over 9,000 villages through a canal network,
SardarSarovar Nigam Limited (SSNL).After inaugurating the dam, PM Modi will head to Sadhu Bet, an island in
the river Narmada where a 182-metre-tall statue of SardarVallabhbhai Patel - called the 'Statue of Unity'.
Dharmendra Pradhan to host first LPG Panchayat in Gandhinagar
• Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas DharmendraPradhan will inaugurate one of the ambitious
programmes of the Centre — LPG Panchayat, aimed at encouraging rural communities to turn to clean fuel.The
Centre plans to organise one lakh LPG Panchayats across the country, where discussions will take place between
officials of fuel companies and villagers on awareness and uses of the LPG. The First LPG Panchayat will be held
in Gandhinagar, where Pradhan will preside over the interaction between women using LPG under the
PradhanMantriUjjawalaYojana (PMUY) and the companies.According to data shared by the oil marketing
companies, so far three crore connections have been allotted under the PMUY against the target of five crore by
2019.
Useful Info
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas - DharmendraPradhan
Constituency – RajyaSabha, Bihar
Kandla Port Renamed as Deendayal Port
• The Kandla Port, one of the top 12 major ports in the country, has been renamed as Deendayal Port in the
name of Hindutva icon Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. Kandla Port, located on the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat, is one of
the twelve major ports in the country
Himachal Pradesh
State – Himachal Pradesh; Capital – Shimla; CM – Virbhadra Singh; Governor - AcharyaDevVrat
Himachal Pradesh, First State to Launch Electric Bus Service in India
• The Himachal Pradesh government on launched first-of-its-kind electric bus service in the 51km-long
stretch road between Manali and Rohtang Pass. The bus service was flagged off by State Transport Minister GS
Bali.The move was made amidst concern over increasing environmental degradation in the Rohtang Pass area due
to plying of diesel taxis. With this initiative, the state has become the first in the world to ply electric buses at
an altitude of 13 thousand feet.
Jammu & Kashmir
State – Jammu & Kashmir; Capital – Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter); CM – Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed
Governor – NarinderNathVohra
Jammu and Kashmir government to set up Eco-Park in Rajouri district
Monthly GK and Current Affairs Capsule–September 2017
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• The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to set up an Eco-Park on over 34 acres of land retrieve
from encroachers in the state’s Rajouri district.The park is a first-of-its-kind project in the region. It will have a
botanical garden, a cactus garden, a cafeteria and other amenities.
Jammu and Kashmir governor N NVohra inaugurated the second International Yoga Festival
• Jammu and Kashmir governor N NVohra inaugurated the second International Yoga Festival and
International Yoga Sports Championship 2017 in which about 300 people from across the world are
participating.The festival is being organized by the Yoga Society of Kashmir at the Sher-i-Kashmir International
Conference Centre. About 300 participants from various parts of India, Vietnam, Taiwan, Canada, Bulgaria, USA,
and Nepal are participating in the festival.
Useful Info
The first International Yoga Festival was held in Uttarakhand
Bilal Dar from Srinagar becomes an ambassador for Swachhata Hi Seva
• Bilal Dar, a young boy from Srinagar has become the brand ambassador for Srinagar Municipal
Corporation. Dar has been contributing to the ‘SwachhtaAbhiyan’ since the age of 12.'Swachhta Hi Sewa’
campaign has turned out to be monetarily beneficial for residents and scrap buyers/dealers, besides helping in
enhancing preventive measures against vector-borne diseases.
Karnataka
State – Karnataka; Capital – Bengaluru; CM – Siddaramaiah; Governor – VajubhaiRudabhaiVala
Karnataka to give free education to all girls till graduation
• Karnataka government has decided to make education free for all girls from Class 1 to graduation level in all
public and aided private schools and colleges, barring only professional institutions, from the next academic year.
“We expect around 18 lakh students whose parents' income would be less than Rs 10 lakh to opt for this scheme
and are planning to earmark Rs 110 crore," higher education minister BasavarajRayareddi said, hoping only the
poor would avail of the scheme.
Karnataka, 1st Indian State to Approve e-vehicle Policy
• Karnataka is the first state to roll out an Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy that looks not only at
boosting sales of Electrical Vehicles, but also setting up charging infrastructure and special manufacturing
zones.Karnataka is looking to attract investments to the tune of Rs 31,000 crore from companies looking at R&D
and manufacturing of electric vehicles in the state.
Karnataka Government has launched 'Vision-2025' project across the state
• Karnataka Government Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has launched 'Vision-2025' project across the state.
It aimed at evolving a draft policy for development of the state in next seven years by seeking the opinion of the
public.Under the project, the government would seek public opinion on how they want their dream state to be in
the next seven years. The CM has also launched the website 'www.navakarnataka2025.in'.
Kerala
State – Kerala; Capital – Tiruvanandapuram; CM – Vijay Rupani; Governor - PSathasivam
Kochi to Host Coastal Shipping and Inland Water Transportation Summit
• Kochi will host the fifth edition of the ‘Coastal Shipping and Inland Water Transportation Business Summit
2017’. The summit will be an initiative to explore the immense potential of coastal shipping and waterways as well
as an effort to build a shared commitment and decipher the role that each stakeholder will have to play in
Monthly GK and Current Affairs Capsule–September 2017
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integrating the coastal and waterways transport infrastructure.Kerala Governor P Sathasivam will present the
India Seatrade Award for Excellence in Coastal Shipping & Inland Water Transportation.
Madhya Pradesh
State – Madhya Pradesh; Capital – Bhopal; CM – Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Governor - Om PrakashKohli
Madhya Pradesh has won the ‘Best Tourism State’ national award for the third consecutive year
• Madhya Pradesh has won the ‘Best Tourism State’ national award for the third consecutive year. President
Ram NathKovind handed over the award, named as ‘Hall of Fame Award’, to Minister of State for Tourism
SurendraPatwa at a ceremony held at VigyanBhawan in New Delhi.The state bagged total 10 awards in this
programme, organised on the occasion of World Tourism Day (27 September). Madhya Pradesh also received a
national award for Film Promotion Policy in the category of Best Film Promotion Friendly State/Union Territory.
Maharashtra
Capital – Mumbai; CM – Devendra Fadnavis; Governor – Vidyasagar Rao
Sachin Tendulkar Launches Mission 24
• Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar launched -Mission 24 for Mumbai's M east ward which is known
to have one of highest slum population's in the city. The project by NGO Apnalaya and Mumbai first plans to
work along with the BMC -as the principal stakeholder over the next 24 months to improve the quality of lives of
people living in M east ward of Mumbai.
Manipur
Capital – Imphal; CM – Nongthombam Biren Singh; Governor - Najma A. Heptulla
Nungthaang Tampak becomes North East’s first 100 % computer literate village
• Manipur’s Nungthaang Tampak village has emerged as the ‘100% computer literate’ in the entire North
East. The villagers were taught how to surf, compose text, save them, photoshop, send e-mail, store data
and get print outs, etc. The village, about 65 kms south of Imphal, is located in Saikot Assembly constituency of
Churachandur district.
Useful Info
Nungthang Tampak has become India’s second 100% computer literate village in India.
Kerala’s Chamravattom village is the country’s first 100% computer literate village.
Nagaland
State – Nagaland; Capital – Kohima; CM – T. R. Zeliang; Governor – Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya
Nagaland to implement DBT under MGNREGA
• Nagaland will start implementing Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under MGNREGA beginning from the current
financial year.Secretary of Rural Development KeleiZeliang said, to ensure transparency and check corruption at
all levels, wages of the MGNREGA workers will be directly credited to the individual accounts of the
jobcardholders through National Electronic Fund Management System or Public Financial Management System.
Odisha
State – Odisha; Capital – Bhubaneshwar; CM – Naveen Patnaik; Governor – Senayangba Chubatoshi Jamir
Odisha CM inaugurates fourth Govt medical college in koraput
Monthly GK and Current Affairs Capsule–September 2017
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• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated the SaheedLaxmanNayak Medical College and
Hospital (SLNMCH) in the tribal-dominated district of southern Odisha. The admission process in SLNMCH is
already completed. A total number of 100 students have been admitted to the first year MBBS course and the
classes for the commencement of its first academic session began from the day of inauguration.
Rajasthan
State – Rajasthan; Capital – Jaipur; CM – VasundharaRaje; Governor – Kalyan Singh
Union Textiles Minister SmritiIrani Inaugurates 'VASTRA' Fair in Jaipur
• Union Textiles Minister SmritiIrani and Rajasthan Chief Minister VasundharaRajeinaugurated the 6th edition
of the four-day international textile and apparel fair, 'VASTRA' in Jaipur.FDI in textiles industry has tripled in
2016-17. Mudra Yojna has benefited the weavers community and their incomes have shown a tremendous
increase within 60 days from the date of loan availed. Skill development has also enhanced the quality of
placements in the textile industry.
Useful Info
Union Textile Minister - SmritiIrani
Constituency – Gujarat, RajyaSabha
Telangana
State – Telangana; Capital – Hyderabad; CM – K. Chandrashekar Rao; Governor – Ekkadu Srinivasan Lakshmi
Narasimhan
Amazon opened its largest fulfillment centre in Hyderabad
• Amazon opened its largest fulfilmentcentre in India on the outskirts of Hyderabad, near the Rajiv Gandhi
International Airport, Shamshabad. The 400,000 sq feet centre with close of 2.1 million cubic feet of storage space
is the 5th such centre in Telangana. With this, the US major has ramped up its storage capacity to 3.2 million
cubic feet in the State alone.The centre will enable sellers to use local infrastructure, save capital and help them
grow their businesses. The centre will work closely with local communities, create numerous skilling and
employment opportunities for thousands of youth. With more than 10,000 sellers in Telangana, the selection
offered by sellers in the State for immediate delivery has grown more than 120 per cent this year as compared to
last year.
First water ATM has been inaugurated in Hyderabad
• The First water ATM has been inaugurated by Telangana State Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy at
Nalgonda X Roads. A total of 200 ATMs will be set up to reach a targeted 150,000 people. In the first phase, 50
water ATMs will be operationalized by 2018.Safe Water Network, an international NGO has partnered with
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to launch water ATMs. It will provide affordable, 24×7 safe
water access in Hyderabad.These water ATMs use a seven step treatment process to purify water that adheres to
national norms.They are connected via cloud-based technology for real-time monitoring and analyses operational
parameters, thereby minimising downtime. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board
(HMWSSB) is supplying raw water for these ATMs.
India's First Centre for Animal Law Set up at NALSAR
• India's first Centre for Animal Law has been established at the city-based NALSAR University of Law in
Hyderabad, Telangana. Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi inaugurated the
centre.HSI-India Managing Director N G Jayasimha has been appointed as the honorary director of the Centre.
The Centre will create curriculum on animal welfare laws, including developing topics for research.
Monthly GK and Current Affairs Capsule–September 2017
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Useful Info
Union Minister for Women and Child Development -Maneka Gandhi
Constituency – Pilibhit (uttarpradesh)
Tripura
State – Tripura; Capital – Agartala; CM – ManikSarkar; Governor - Tathagata Roy
A new underground water treatment plant has been commissioned at Sadhutilla, Agartala
• In Tripura, a new underground water treatment plant has been commissioned at Sadhutilla in the southern
part of Agartala. The plant has fulfilled the need for drinking water free from iron and other contamination.The
plant has started functioning with supply of quality treated water initially to 565 households through pipeline. It
has treatment capacity of 4 point 8 million litre per day. It has two Over Head Storage Reservoirs with
capacities of 1,130 Kilo Liter and 450 Kilo Liter.The specialty of the plant is that it would be treating water at
higher standards with minimizing turbidity and iron in water.The built-up cost of this water treatment plant was
Rs. 4 crore 99 lakh.It has been funded jointly by the Asian Development Bank with 70% share of assistance and
the Union Government with 30 % share of assistance.
Tripura has become the first state in the country to set up family welfare district committees
• Tripura has become the first state in the country to set up family welfare district committees to examine
the complaints of women against their husbands and in-laws and find an amicable solution. Tripura High Court is
the first high court among 24 high courts of the country that has constituted the family welfare district
committees. The new system would be valid for the next six months and after that National Legal Services
Authority (NLSA) would submit a report of its performance to the apex court, on the basis of which a new course
of action would be decided.
Uttar Pradesh
State – Uttar Pradesh; Capital – Lucknow; CM – Yogi Adityanath; Governor – Ram Naik
Rajnath Singh, Yogi Adityanath to flagged off Lucknow Metro
• In Uttar Pradesh, The first commercial run of Lucknow metro rail starts. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh,
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and governer Ram Naik will flag off the maiden run of first phase of
Lucknow Metro.The 8.5-km-long 'Priority Corridor' from Transport Nagar to Charbagh, which is part of the Phase 1
of the project, and has 8 stations in between will be operational for the public from 6 am to 10 pm everyday. Cost
of this phase is around 2600 crores and it took almost 3 years to complete. People of the city are so excited to
travel in metro that after sell of smart cards started by LMRC last Friday more than 3000 had already purchased
them.
Government aims to provide Housing to all by 2022: PM Modi
• Prime Minister NarendraModi said the government has decided to give a house to each and every homeless
family by 2022. He was addressing a public meeting at Shahanshahpur in Varanasi district. MrModi distributed
allotment letters to the beneficiaries of PradhanMantriAwasYojana both for rural and urban areas.About 10
thousand beneficiaries were given allotment letters during the function.
West Bengal
State – West Bengal; Capital – Kolkata; CM – Mamata Banerjee; Governor – KeshariNathTripathi
Gobindobhog Rice from Burdwan district of West Bengal Gets Geographical Indication Status
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• Gobindobhog rice, a speciality from Burdwan district of West Bengal, has got the geographical indication
(GI) status.The state government had applied for GI status for Gobindobhog rice on August 24, 2015. The region
of Burdwan (now divided into the districts of east and west Burdwan) is known as the rice bowl of Bengal.
India’s First Advanced Homoeopathy Virology Lab in Kolkata
• India’s first State of art virology laboratory at Dr Anjali Chatterjee Regional Research Institute for
Homoeopathy in Kolkata was inaugurated by ShripadYessoNaik, Union Minister of State for AYUSH.This
laboratory has been established to develop new drugs and technologies in Homoeopathy to combat emerging
challenges of viral diseases. The laboratory, established at a cost of Rs. 8 crore is the only one in India for
conducting basic and fundamental research in Homoeopathy for viral diseases like influenza, Japanese
encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya and swine flu.
MINISTRY AFFAIRS
Cabinet Reshuffle: Kalraj Mishra resignes from Modi's Cabinet
• Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Kalraj Mishra has resigned ahead of the Cabinet
Reshuffle tomorrow. Earlier Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Labour
Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Minister of State for Water Resources Sanjeev Balyan, Minister of State for Human
Resources Development Mahendra Nath Pandey and Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste had
resigned from their posts. There are reports that some more ministers will resign before tomorrow's reshuffle.
Nine new Ministers of state were inducted into the Union Council of Ministers
• Nine new Ministers of state were inducted into the Union Council of Ministers. Four Ministers of state were
elevated to the cabinet rank. They are Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Nirmala Sitharaman,
Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State For Power, Coal, New
and Renewable Energy and Mines, Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office and secrecy to them at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The
portfolios of the Ministers will be announced later.
Here is the 9 New Ministers, who take oath-
1. Former IFS officer Hardeep Puri
2. Former Mumbai Police chief Satyapal Singh
3. Former IAS officer Alphons Kannanthanam
4. Lok Sabha MP's from Madhya Pradesh Virendra Kumar
5. From Karnataka Anant Kumar Hegde
6. From Rajasthan Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
7. From Bihar Ashwini Kumar Choubey
8. From Bihar Raj Kumar Singh and
9. Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh Shiv Pratap Shukla
Here is the Full list of Portfolios of changed Ministers
Minister Portfolio Previously held portfolio
Dharmendra Pradhan Cabinet Minister Skill Development and
Petroleum Minister
MoS (independent charge) Oil Natural
Gas and Petroleum Ministry
Piyush Goyal Cabinet Minister Railway Ministry MoS (independent charge) Power
Monthly GK and Current Affairs Capsule–September 2017
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Ministry
Nirmala Sitharaman Cabinet Minister Defence Ministry MoS (independent charge) Commerce
and Industry Ministry
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Cabinet Minister Minority Affairs Ministry MoS (independent charge) Minority
Affirs
Suresh Prabhu Cabinet Minister Commerce and Industry
Ministry Railway Ministry
Uma Bharti Drinking Water and Sanitation Water Resources, River Development
Ganga Rejuvenation.
Ashwini Kumar Choubey MoS Health & Family Welfare -
Virendra Kumar MoS Women and Child Development and
Minority Affairs -
Anantkumar Hegde MoS Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship. -
Raj Kumar Singh MoS (independent charge) Power -
Hardeep Singh Puri MoS (independent charge) Urban
Development -
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat MoS Agriculture and Farmers Welfare -
Satya Pal Singh
MoS Human Resource Development and
MoS Water Resources, River Development
and Ganga Rejuvenation.
-
Alphons Kannanthanam MoS (independent charge) Tourism and
MoS Ministry of Electronics & IT -
Shiv Pratap Shukla MoS Finance Ministry -
Santosh Kumar Gangwar MoS (independent charge) Labour and
Employment MoS Finance Ministry
Government has issued an alert on the spread of new malware 'Locky Ransomware'
• The government has issued an alert on the spread of new malware 'Locky Ransomware' that can lock
computers and demand ransom for unlocking them. Electronics and IT Additional Secretary Ajay Kumar tweeted
that an alert regarding spam spreading Locky Ransomware was issued by Indian Computer Emergency
Response Team. Ransomware is a malicious software and the Locky Ransomware is learnt to be demanding the
ransom of half Bitcoin, which at present rate is equivalent to over Rs 1.5 lakh.
Useful Info
Union Minister for Electronics and IT – Ravi Shankar Prasad
Constituency – Bihar, Rajya Sabha
Malware – software which is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain authorized access to a computer
system
• Bitcoin – a type of digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units
of currency and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank.
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‘Prakriti Khoj’- An Environment Quiz on Teachers’ Day
• The Union Environment Ministry launched an environment awareness initiative on the occasion of Teachers’
Day. Under the initiative, an online environmental quiz competition named Prakriti Khoj will be conducted at the
national level.
Useful Info
Union Minister for Environment – Harsh Vardhan
Constituency – Chandni Chowk (Delhi)
NITI Aayog sets up task force on employment, export
• NITI Aayog has constituted an Expert Task Force to provide a major thrust to job creation by enhancing
India’s exports. It will be headed by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr. Rajiv Kumar. Members of the Task force
include CEO, NITI Aayog, Secretaries of Departments of Commerce, Industrial Policy and Promotion, Economic
Affairs and Textiles. Leading economists and industry experts are also members of the Task Force, which will
submit its report by November 2017. The government stated that the steps outlined by the task force to create
well-paid jobs in the formal sector include preparing a comprehensive plan of action to generate
employment and alleviate under-employment in both goods and services sector and low wages by boosting
exports in labour intensive industries.
Useful Info
NITI Aayog Chairman – PM Modi
Vice Chairman – Rajiv Kumar
On 1 January 2015, a Cabinet resolution was passed to replace the Planning Commission with the newly formed
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India).
Govt to start School Chalo Abhiyan from next year for students not going to schools: Javadekar
• International Literacy Day is observed every year on 8th September to emphasize the importance of literacy to
individuals, society and communities. The theme of this year's International Literacy Day, is ‘Literacy in a Digital
World’. The 2017 UNESCO International Literacy Prizes awards ceremony will also take place to recognize and
reward excellent literacy practices from around the world in connection with this year’s theme.
Useful Info
Union HRD Minister – Prakash Javadekar
Constituency – Rajya Sabha, Madhya Pradesh
Kiren Rijiju attended the first National Canine Seminar organized by National Security Guard (NSG)
• The Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju attended the first National Canine Seminar
organized by National Security Guard (NSG), in NSG Campus, Manesar (Gurugram), Haryana. The theme of the
two days National Canine Seminar is ''Canine as Tactical Weapon in Fight against Terrorism'' with an objective
to discuss and deliberate on the techniques of dog training and strategies of deploying the dogs in Counter
Terrorism/Counter Insurgency scenario. Shri Kiren Rijiju also flagged off "the NSG's Motorcycle Expedition, 2017"
from NSG Campus, Manesar. It commemorate the NSG’s 33 years service to the nation. The Expedition team will
traverse major cities of the country including NSG's regional hubs at
Gandhinagar/Mumbai/Chennai/Hyderabad/Kolkata to cover a distance of 7000 kms with an objective of
spreading a message of collective responsibility towards the fight against terrorism.
Useful Info
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Minister of State for Home Affairs - Shri Kiren Rijiju
Constituency – Arunachal West
State – Haryana
Capital – Chandigarh
CM – Manohar Lal Khattar
Governor – Kaptan Singh Solanki
The NSG is popularly known as "The Black Cats" of the country.
Vice President lays foundation Stone of Greenfield Smart City at Ranchi, Jarkhand
• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone of Greenfield Smart City at Ranchi in Jharkhand.
The Vice President laid the foundation stones for its three buildings- Urban Civic Center, Convention Center and
Jharkhand Urban Planning Management Institute. Chief Minister and other important dignitaries were present at
the occasion. The proposed smart city will be spread over 656 acres in HEC area. The Greenfield Smart City will
cost ten thousands crore rupees and will also have 16 thousand residential flats for 70 thousands residents. The
smart city will have modern transport system, world class education hub, 24 hours water and electricity, wi-fi,
public toilets at every 200 meters and will be carbon free zone.
Useful Info
State – Jharkhand
Capital – Ranchi
CM – Raghubar Das
Governor - Droupadi Murmu
SIM Cards not Linked to Aadhaar to be Deactivated after February 2018
• The government is moving ahead with linking Aadhaar with mobile SIM cards and all unlinked phones will be
deactivated after February 2018. Aadhaar mobile linkage is being done as per the orders of Supreme Court
passed in February 2017 in Lokniti foundation case and all SIM cards have to be verified with Aadhaar within a
year from the date of judgement, with all unlinked phones to be deactivated after February next year. So criminals,
fraudsters and terrorists cannot use the issued SIMs.
Remove all unmanned rail crossings within a year, orders Piyush Goyal
• Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has asked the railways to remove all unmanned level crossings within a year,
instead of the initial goal of doing it in three years. Addressing a function at IIM in Kolkata, he said around 5,000
unmanned level crossings, which account for nearly 30-35 per cent of total rail accidents, need to be removed in
the next one year. Mr Goyal also advocated the use of technology to reduce manual maintenance of rail tracks, as
it entails huge manpower. The minister said that the RailTel corporation has already prepared the optic fibre
network for improving communication.
Useful Info
Union Railway Minister – Piyush Goyal
Constituency – Maharashtra, Rajya Sabha
National Pension Scheme Upper Age Limit Raised to 65
• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) announced that the upper age limit for
joining the National Pension Scheme (NPS) had been raised to 65 years, from the current 60. NPS is currently
open for people between 18 and 60, and the Board has approved raising the age limit for joining to 65.
Useful Info
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PFRDA – Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
Chairman – Hemant G. Contractor
DD & All India Radio to spread information about rights of Divyangs: I&B Minister Smriti Irani
• Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani said Doordarshan and All India Radio will give
information to Divyangs regarding their rights and several schemes which are being run by the Centre. Addressing
a function in New Delhi, Mrs Irani said people should be sensitive towards the rights of Divyangs. The Minister
said, the education standards for Divyangs should be raised and they must be informed about their career
prospects.
Useful info
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister - Smriti Irani
Constituency – Gujarat, Rajya Sabha
Government Launches Wood is Good Campaign
• Environmental Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated a two-day conference on “Sustainable landscapes
and forest ecosystems: Theory to Practice”. Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched the “Wood is Good” campaign on the
occasion. Wood is a climate-friendly material, as it is a renewable resource, having zero carbon footprint.
Useful Info
Union Minister for Environment - Dr. Harsh Vardhan
Constituency – Chandni Chowk (Delhi)
Cabinet Approves Revamped Khelo India Program at a cost of Rs.1,756crore
• The Union Cabinet has approved the revamped Khelo India program at a cost of Rs.1,756crore for the period
2017-18 to 2019-20. This marks a watershed moment in the history of Indian sports, as the Programme aims at
mainstreaming sport as a tool for individual development, community development, economic development and
national development.This is the first time ever that a long-term athlete development pathway would be made
available to gifted and talented youngsters to excel in competitive sports.
Useful Info
Sports Minister of India –Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore
Constituency –Jaipur, Rajasthan
President Ram Nath Kovind’s First Foreign Trip will be to Ethiopia and Djibouti
• President Ram Nath Kovind will make his first foreign trip as head of state to the strategically-significant
African continent in the first week of October. The President will visit to Ethiopia and Djibouti. Addis Ababa, the
capital of Ethiopia is the seat of African Union, had hosted the first India-Africa summit outside India in 2012.
There are more than 540 Indian firms in Ethiopia.
Useful Info
Country – Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopian birr
Country – Djibouti, Djibouti, Djiboutian franc
TRIFED Organised National Workshop on Minimum Support Price for Minor Forest Produce
• Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram inaugurated the National Workshop organized by TRIFED on
“Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produces (MFP) scheme – Taking it to the next level for a
Fair and Equitable Deal to the Tribals”. This scheme is already implemented in 9 States and now it is expanded
nationwide. TRIFED has also signed MoU with Amazon for the marketing of tribal handicrafts scaled-up for the
empowerment of tribals.
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Useful Info
Minister of Tribal Affairs - Jual Oram
Constituency – Sundargarh, Odisha
Minister of Communication Shri Manoj Sinha Launched First Ever India Mobile Congress 2017
• The Minister of Communication Shri Manoj Sinha launched DoT’s first ever Mobile, Internet and
Technology event in India – India Mobile Congress 2017 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Led by Department of
Telecom as the nodal ministry, the India Mobile Congress is being organised by Cellular Operators Association of
India (COAI). The largest and first ever event also has the support of the other ministries like the Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Skill Development and Entrepreneurship amongst others.
Useful info
Minister of Communication - Manoj Sinha
Constituency – Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh
BANKING & ECONOMY
RBI
RBI to Introduce Rs 100 Coin to Mark MG Ramachandran’s Birth Centenary
• As per the notification of Finance Ministry, the Reserve Bank of India will introduce 100 rupees coin to mark
the birth centenary (hundredth anniversary) of AIADMK founder Late Dr. M G Ramachandran. On the
obverse, the face of the coin will bear Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the center with Satyamev Jayate inscribed
below on it in Devanagari script. It will also bear the rupee symbol and denominational value of 100. On the
reverse side, the portrait of Dr. MG Ramachandran will be in the center. The standard weight of the coin will be
35 grams.
Useful Info
Dr. MG Ramachandran – Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
RBI – Reserve Bank of India
HQ – Mumbai
Present Governor – Urjit Patel
India’s Forex Reserves Top $400 billion for the First Time
• According to the RBI Data, India’s foreign-exchange reserves rose past $400 billion for the first time ever,
strengthening policy makers’ buffers ahead of an expected reduction in US stimulus. The stockpile stood at $400.7
billion. With the Federal Reserve set to shrink its balance sheet—details of which could be announced recently,
the holdings may help the rupee withstand any volatility even if global funds turn away from India’s slowing
economy.
RBI announced that Masala bonds will be treated as External Commercial Borrowings (ECB)
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that Masala bonds will be treated as External Commercial
Borrowings (ECB) from 3rd October 2017 thereby freeing up more investments by FPIs. Masala bonds are rupee-
denominated overseas bonds. Currently, the limit for investment by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in
corporate bonds is Rs 2,44,323 crore. This includes masala bonds of Rs.44,001 crore.
Useful Info
Present & 24th governor of RBI - Urjit Patel
Almost 99% of demonetised notes back in system: RBI report
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• The Reserve Bank of India today in its annual report confirmed that almost 99 per cent of banned Rs 500 and
Rs 1000 notes that were demonetised last November have returned to the system. In the report for 2016-17, the
RBI said that out of 632.6 crore pieces of Rs 1,000 currency notes in circulation, 8.9 crore have not been returned
post the note ban last November.
RBI included HDFC Bank in the list of 'too big to fail' lenders
• RBI included HDFC Bank in the list of 'too big to fail' lenders, referred to as D-SIB or domestic systemically
important bank. India's largest lender SBI and private sector major ICICI Bank were classified as D-SIBs in
2015. With the inclusion of HDFC Bank in the list, there will now be three 'too big to fail' financial entities in the
country.
Useful Info
HDFC Bank Headquarters – Mumbai
CEO – Aditya Puri
Tagline – We Understand your World
SBI
SBI Life Insurance Gets SEBI approval for Rs 8,400 crore IPO
• SBI Life Insurance has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India for an IPO
(Initial Public Offering) of up to Rs 8,400 crore ($1.3 billion). The IPO will involve 120 million secondary shares or
12 per cent of the insurer's equity capital. State Bank of India which currently owns 70.1 per cent of the insurer,
will sell 80 million shares and BNP Paribas Cardif, holder of a 26 per cent stake, will sell 40 million.
Useful Info
SEBI – Securities and Exchange Board of India
Headquarters of SEBI – Mumbai
Chairman of SEBI – Ajay Tyagi
MD & CEO of SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd - Arijit Basu
SBI Card to offer pre-approved cards to SBI customers
• SBI card is all set to offer pre-approved cards to customers of its parent State Bank of India. It has
entered into a tripartite agreement with SBI and India’s first credit bureau TransUnion CIBIL to offer pre-approved
cards to eligible customers.
The agreement will allow the credit bureau to check the credentials of SBI customers and SBI Card to
leverage the data.
SBI launches Indian bond index series in London
• State Bank of India (SBI) has launched the FTSE SBI Bond Index series in partnership with global index
provider FTSE 100, which will give tools to investors from India, the UK and globally to analyse India’s
government bond market, and drive growth in this market. This index, launched in collaboration with the
London Stock Exchange, will ensure that international investors have an international benchmark that is
transparent, that is well governed and that is something they can easily rely on.
State Bank of India (SBI) is India’s most trusted and most popular bank
• State Bank of India (SBI) is India’s most trusted and most popular bank according to a survey conducted
by Brand Finance, a business valuation and strategic consultancy headquartered in London. On the trust charts,
SBI is followed by HDFC Bank and Central Bank of India whereas on the popularity charts, ICICI Bank and HDFC
Bank take the second and third spots respectively.
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SBI Launches Chatbot to Help Customers in Banking Activities
• Artificial intelligence banking platform Payjo has launched an AI-powered chat assistant for State Bank of
India to addresses customer enquiries. The chat assistant, known as SBI Intelligent Assistant, or SIA, will help
customers with everyday banking tasks just like a bank representative.
Asian Development Bank
ADB Lowers India Growth Forecast for this Fiscal
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) has downgraded India’s growth projection to 7 percent for the current
fiscal while lowering its forecast for the next financial year as well. India’s GDP growth is downgraded to 7 percent
in the financial year 2017-18, a 0.4 percentage point drop from the April forecast. In the financial year 2018-19, the
forecast is adjusted down to 7.4 percent, from 7.6 percent, according to the Asian Development Outlook 2017
update.
Useful Info
ADB - Asian Development Bank
Headquarters - Manila, Philippines
President - Takehiko Nakao
ADB 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.
$80-Million ADB loan to Himachal Pradesh
• Multilateral lending agency Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of $80 million (about Rs
524 crore) for the modernization of Himachal Pradesh’s technical and vocational education and training
(TVET) institutions. The total cost of the project is $100 million, with the Centre contributing $20 million. The
project is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) to Provide $152 Million Fund to Nepal
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a USD 152 million to Nepal for the implementation and
enhancement of its power transmission and distribution. ADB and Nepal’s Ministry of Finance signed the loan
agreement in Kathmandu. The aid will be granted to the Power Transmission and Distribution Efficiency
Enhancement Project (PTDEEP) which supports the expansion of the transmission lines in various areas of
Nepal.
West Bengal Gets $300 Million Asian Development Bank (ADB) Loan
• Multilateral funding agency ADB has sanctioned a USD 300 million loan facility for carrying forward fiscal
reforms in West Bengal. The board of Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a loan of USD 300 million to
continue a comprehensive series of fiscal reforms in West Bengal. West Bengal, for the first time in 2012 had
received a USD 400 million from ADB, its first policy based lending with an aim to create a fiscal space
necessary to sustain higher public investment in the eastern India.
DBS Bank
DBS Bank Gets RBI Nod for Subsidiary in India
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• DBS Bank India, part of Singapore-based financial services group DBS Group Holdings, has received in-
principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to convert its existing India franchise to a locally
incorporated wholly-owned subsidiary (WOS) in India. In its guidelines, the RBI had pointed out that the WOS
model for foreign banks in India would involve local incorporation, a local board of directors, and a ring-fenced
capital and assets profile that would not be affected by the impact of global events on its parent. Piyush Gupta
said that the WOS model was important for the bank to grow its domestic franchise and maintain a deep presence
here. He said this would go towards supporting its small and medium enterprise (SME) strategy, which was
constrained by the lack of presence so far.
Useful Info
Headquarters of DBS Bank - Wognum, Netherlands
MD & CEO of DBS Group - Piyush Gupta
ICICI Bank
ICICI Bank Launches ‘Cashback’ Home Loans
• India’s largest private sector lender, ICICI Bank announced a new home loan scheme that offers borrowers
the benefit of 1% cashback on every EMI, for the entire tenure of the loan. The offer will be valid for home loans
with a minimum tenure of 15 years and maximum tenure of 30 years. Customers can choose to adjust the
cashback against principal outstanding of their home loan. The cashback will start to accrue from the first EMI
itself. It will first get credited to the customer after completion of the 36th EMI.
Useful Info
ICICI Bank Headquarters – Mumbai
MD & CEO of ICICI Bank - Chanda Kochhar
ICICI Lombard Gets SEBI Nod for IPO
• ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company has got capital markets regulator SEBI's go-ahead for its
estimated Rs 6,000 crore initial public offer (IPO). ICICI Lombard is a joint venture between ICICI Bank and
Canada-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.
IDBI Bank
IDBI Bank Launches ‘Project Nishchay’ for Turnaround
• IDBI Bank has launched ‘Project Nishchay’ in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to
accelerate its turnaround program and improve financial performance. The project will be led by senior
management at IDBI Bank along with BCG. BCG will assist the bank to identify areas for cost containment and
revenue maximization leading to sustainable growth and profitability of the Bank.
Useful Info
Headquarters of IDBI Bank – Mumbai
Managing Director and CEO of IDBI Bank - Mahesh Kumar Jain
Syndicate Bank
Syndicate Bank Cuts Savings Account Interest Rate by 0.5%
• Public sector Syndicate Bank has cut savings account interest rate by 0.50 percent to 3.50 percent for
deposits up to Rs 25 lakh. The bank has revised rate of interest on savings bank deposits with effect from
October 10 to 3.50 percent from 4 percent existing rate. For the deposits above Rs 25 lakh, the interest rate is
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unchanged at 4 percent. With this, Syndicate Bank has joined over two-dozen banks, both from the public and
private sector, who have cut the interest rate on deposits in various quantum.
Useful Info
Syndicate Bank HQ – Manipal, Karnataka
MD & CEO of Syndicate Bank - Melwyn Rego
Tagline – Your faithful and friendly financial partner
IndusInd Bank
Private sector lender IndusInd Bank and Bharat Financial Inclusion Sign Exclusivity Agreement for Merger
• Private sector lender IndusInd Bank and India's second largest Microfinance company Bharat Financial
Inclusion have signed a confidentiality agreement for the proposed merger between them. The Hinduja Group
controlled bank has informed the exchanges about an ‘exclusivity agreement’ with the micro lender to explore
merger or expansion plans. The deal between the two companies may formalise after due diligence, definitive
documentation and their shareholders, regulatory, NCLT and other third-party approvals, as applicable.
Useful Info
Chairman of IndusInd Bank - R. Seshasayee
Headquarters – Mumbai
HDFC Bank
HDFC Bank Becomes 2nd Most Valuable Company on BSE
• HDFC Bank surpassed Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to become the country’s second most valued firm
in terms of market valuation. Shares of HDFC Bank gained 0.93 per cent to Rs. 1,840 (its 52-week high) on the
BSE. Reliance Industries Ltd is the country’s most valued firm with a market cap of Rs. 5,33,818.72 crore
followed by HDFC Bank and TCS in top three list.
Useful Info
HDFC Headquarters – Mumbai
CEO of HDFC Bank - Aditya Puri
HDFC Bank is India’s Top Brand: BrandZ Top 50 Report
• India’s second largest private sector bank HDFC Bank topped the list of the country’s top 50 brands
according to a report released by marketing and advertising conglomerate WPP Plc and Kantar Millward
Brown. The bank has retained the top slot for the fourth year in a row. Banks and telcos dominate the listing,
WPP’s BrandZ Top 50. Airtel is at 2nd spot and State Bank of India is at 3rd. According to the report,
consumption of packaged consumer goods fell 4.2% and 2.4% year on year in November and December 2016
respectively, but recovered 0.6% in March this year and 3.9% in April.
Useful Info
Top three rank Holders
1st – HDFC Bank
2nd – Airtel
3rd – State Bank of India
Other Banking News
Five banks of the BRICS Bank Cooperation Mechanism have agreed to establish credit lines
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• Five banks of the BRICS Bank Cooperation Mechanism have agreed to establish credit lines in the national
currencies and cooperate on credit ratings. The agreement to this effect was signed ahead of the BRICS Summit
in China’s Xiamen city. Brazilian Development Bank, Vnesheconombank, Export-Import Bank of India, China
Development Bank and Development Bank of South Africa signed the agreement in Beijing. Ahead of the BRICS
summit, the New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS countries has approved 1.4 billion US dollar loans for
sustainable development projects in India, Russia and China.
Useful Info
BRICS Countries
Brazil – Brasília, Brazilian real
Russia – Moscow, Russian Ruble
India – New Delhi, Indian Rupee
China – Beijing, Renminbi (Yuan)
South Africa – Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Currency - South African Rand
China is hosting the 9th BRICS Summit.
The theme of the 9th BRICS Summit is "Stronger Partnership for a better future".
IBBI Registered National E-Governance Services Ltd as Information Utility
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) registered National E-Governance Services Limited
(NeSL) as an Information Utility (IU) under the IBBI (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017. With this NeSL
has become the first IU registered by the IBBI and the registration is valid for five years from the date of
registration. Information Utility stores financial information that helps to establish defaults as well as verify claims
expeditiously and facilitates completion of transactions under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code in a time-
bound manner.
Useful Info
IBBI - Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India
Chairperson of IBBI - M. S. Sahoo
Stock markets falls across globe, Sensex slumps 240 points
• Stock markets have fallen across the globe, today. At home, after a weak opening, the Sensex at the Bombay
Stock Exchange lost considerably more ground, and had slumped 240 points, or 0.8 percent, to 31,653 a short
while ago. The Nifty at the National Stock Exchange had dropped 83 points, to 9,891.
Useful Info
Indian Stock Exchanges
BSE – Bombay Stock Exchange
NSE – National Stock Exchange
Other Important Stock Exchanges in the world
New York Stock Exchange
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
Tokyo Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
Shanghai Stock Exchange
US banking regulators ordered Pakistan’s Habib Bank to shutter its New York office
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• US banking regulators ordered Pakistan’s Habib Bank to shutter its New York office after nearly 40 years,
for repeatedly failing to heed concerns over possible terrorist financing and money laundering. The state’s
Department of Financial Services, which regulates foreign banks, also slapped a 225 million Dollars fine on the
bank. In 2006, it was ordered to tighten Habib Bank's oversight of potentially illegal transactions but failed to
comply.
Useful Info
Country – Pakistan
Capital – Islamabad
Currency – Pakistani Rupee
Fiscal deficit touches 92.4% of budget estimates at July-end
• India’s fiscal deficit at July- end touched 92.4 % of the budget mainly because of front loading of
expenditure by various government departments. In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit- difference between
expenditure and revenue - was Rs 5.04 lakh crore during April- July 2017-18, according to the data of Controller
General of Accounts (CGA). During the same period of last financial year, 2016-17, it was 73.7 % of the target.
For 2017-18, the government aims to bring down the fiscal deficit to 3.2 % of the GDP. Last fiscal, it had met the
deficit target of 3.5 % of the GDP.
21st GST Council meeting underway in Hyderabad
• The 21st meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has begun under the chairmanship of Union
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Hyderabad. The day-long meeting will discuss several aspects relating to the
implementation of the GST including the IT systems of the Goods and Services Tax Network, the problems being
encountered during the tax return filing process and the difficulties faced by industry in filing GST returns. GST
council will also take a final call over the demands raised by several states like Telangana to further reduce the
GST on public interest projects like irrigation and road development.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Constitutes GoM to Monitor IT Challenge in GST
• Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Bihar Deputy Chief
Minister Sushil Kumar Modi to monitor and resolve the IT challenges faced in the implementation of GST. The
GoM will be assisted by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN).
Besides, a Committee on Exports has also been constituted under the convenorship of the Revenue Secretary
Dr.Hasmukh Adhia to look at the issues of export sector and to recommend the GST Council suitable strategy for
helping the export sector in the post-GST scenario.
Useful Info
Union minster for Finance – Arun jaitley
Constituency – Gujarat, Rajya Sabha
Tech giant Google is announced to unveil a digital payment service in India
• Tech giant Google is announced to unveil a digital payment service in India that has been developed for the
local market. In July, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) had stated that Google had completed the
testing of its UPI payment service and was awaiting Reserve Bank of India’s approval to launch its service in the
country. Google is looking at launching a payment service ‘Google Tez’, which will include support for Unified
Payments Interface (UPI) as well as mobile wallets like Paytm and MobiKwik.
Useful Info
Google HQ – Mountain View, California, United States
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Google CEO – Sundar Pitchai
Peer-to-peer Lending Platforms to be Treated as NBFCs
• After a year or more of due-diligence, the RBI has notified that peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms need to
be regulated and treated on par with non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).The final regulatory framework
for P2P lenders is still awaited. Few important P2P lending platforms in India are LenDen Club, Faircent, Qbera,
Lendbox, Rupaiya Exchange and Monexo.
Useful Info
NBFC - Non-banking financial companies
Fino Payments Bank Launches Mobile Banking App
• Fino Payments Bank has launched its mobile banking app called BPay. Fino aims to make banking easy for
millions of underbanked people in India. The upgraded BPay app is available on Android at present. The mobile
banking app enables simple, paperless and convenient banking that allows customers to make bill payments,
recharges, fund transfers and buy insurance. An interesting feature of the mobile app is that it allows customers
to seamlessly access wallet as well as savings account, with a single login and interface.
Useful Info
Headquarters of FINO PayTech- Mumbai
MD & CEO - Rishi Gupta
World Trade to Grow at Higher 3.6% in 2017: WTO
• World trade in goods is estimated to grow at a higher 3.6 percent in 2017 compared to 1.6 percent increase
in 2016, according to revised estimates circulated by the World Trade Organisation. Growth in global trade was
earlier projected at 2.4 percent in 2017 by the WTO, which attributed the improved outlook to a resurgence of
Asian trade flows. This was mainly due to intra-regional shipments picking up and a recovery in import demand in
North America.
Useful Info
WTO – World Trade Organisation
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Director-General of the WTO - Roberto Azevêdo
India growing pretty robustly: World Bank President
• World Bank President Jim Kim has said India has been growing pretty robustly. Speaking at the Bloomberg
Global Business Forum meeting in New York , Kim said Japan, Europe and the US along with India were growing
and there was a levelling-out in developing countries. He called for more cooperation among the multilateral
system, private sector and the governments to take advantage of the current win-win situation.
Useful Info
World Bank HQ – Washington D.C
President of World Bank – Jim Kim
Government Keeps Interest Rates Unchanged on Small Savings Schemes
• Ahead of monetary policy review, the government has kept unchanged the interest rates on small savings
schemes like PPF, Kisan Vikas Patra and Sukanya Samriddhi for October-December quarter. Investments in
the Public Provident Fund (PPF) scheme will fetch annual rate of 7.8 percent while Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP)
investments will yield 7.5 percent and mature in 115 months. The one for girl child savings, Sukanya Samriddhi
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Account Scheme will offer 8.3 percent annually. Similarly, the investment on 5-year Senior Citizens Savings
Scheme will yield 8.3 percent. The interest rate on the senior citizens scheme is paid quarterly.
Useful Info
❖ Sukanya Samriddhi Account can be opened up to age of 10 years only from the date of birth.
❖ The normal Premature closure will be allowed after completion of 18 years provided that girl is married under
the Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme.
❖ Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) Account- An individual of the Age of 60 years or more may open the
account.
❖ National Savings Certificates (NSC) Scheme specially designed for Government employees, Businessmen
and other salaried classes who are Income Tax assesses.
Govt to exempt small exporters from furnishing bank guarantee for shipping goods & services
• Government has decided to exempt small exporters from furnishing bank guarantee for shipping goods and
services. In a statement, Finance Ministry said that to facilitate exports under GST, it has been decided that the
facility of furnishing Letter of Undertaking, in place of a bond, for exporting goods and services shall be allowed to
exporters and no bank guarantee will be required. The decision comes a day after exporters met Finance Minister
Arun Jaitley for resolution of GST-related problems to boost overseas shipments.
Useful Info
Union Minister for Finance - Arun Jaitley
Constituency – Gujarat, Rajya Sabha
World's Biggest Wealth Fund Hits $1 Trillion Value For First Time
• Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the largest in the world, reached the value of $1 trillion for the first time.
This amount equals nearly $189,000 (157,000 euros) for each of the 5.3 million people living in Norway. The fund
mainly invests in stocks (accounting for 65.1 per cent of the portfolio at the end of the second quarter), but also in
bonds and real estate. With stakes in nearly 9,000 companies, it owns 1.3 per cent of the world's market
capitalization, and 2.3 per cent in Europe.
Useful Info
Country – Norway
Capital – Oslo
Currency - Norwegian krone
SEBI
Markets regulator SEBI barred Orion Capital as well as Orion Broking from Markets for 10 years
• Markets regulator SEBI barred Orion Capital as well as Orion Broking and their partners from the securities
markets for 10 years for failing to redress several investor grievances pertaining to non- settlement of funds due
to the clients. The nature of investor complaints received against both the firms are predominantly on non-
settlement of the funds and securities and balances due to their clients. The claim amount is more than Rs 6 crore
against Orion Capital and over Rs 4 crore against Orion Broking.
Useful Info
SEBI – Securities and Exchange Board of India
Headquarters – Mumbai
Chairperson – Ajay Tyagi
SEBI Advisory Committee to Discuss Trading Hours Extension
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• An advisory committee of the Securities and Exchange Board of India is likely to discuss a proposal for
extending stock market trading hours. The stock market in India currently opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 3.30
p.m., but there is a view, including among stock exchanges, that the trade hours could be extended till up to 7.30
p.m. to better align domestic trading with global markets. The 19-member committee is led by Jayanth R Varma,
professor, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The move to extend trading timings will only serve to push
up costs and will hurt small and medium brokers the most.
SEBI Allows Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to Issue
Bonds
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) allowed Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) and
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to raise capital by issuing debt securities. The move will help attract
investors to the capital-starved property sector. In addition to allowing bond issuances, SEBI also introduced the
concept of strategic investor for REITs, similar to InvITs.
INTERNATIONAL
Sushma Swaraj meets Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo to discuss bilateral issues
• External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today met Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo and
discussed bilateral issues. Foreign Secretary Dr. S. Jaishankar along with a delegation of other senior officials
were present in the meeting. The minister, on a two -day official visit to Sri Lanka to participate in the second
Indian Ocean Conference-IOC 2017, also met her Sri Lankan counterpart Tilak Marapana before leaving back
home.
Useful Info
Union External Affairs Minister – Sushma Swaraj
Constituency – Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh
Country – Sri Lanka
Capital – Colombo,
Currency – Sri Lankan Rupee
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been ranked 9th in the world
• India's largest autonomous public organisation Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has
been ranked ninth in the world. The institute has been ranked ninth amongst a total of 1,207 government
institutions, according to the Scimago Institutions ranking World Report 2017. It is the only Indian organisation
which has found place amongst the Top 100 Global Institutions. The ranking (Government Institutions) was
topped by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Useful Info
CSIR - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
Director General of CSIR - Girish Sahni
World's Highest Sandcastle Built in German City
• The world's highest sandcastle is now standing 16.68 meters tall in the German city of Duisburg. A
German travel operator organized the construction of the mammoth sandcastle, bringing in 3,500 tons of sand over
the past three and a half weeks to the site at a former steelworks in the inland city. It takes the title from a 14.84-
metre sandcastle built early this year in India by sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik.
Useful Info
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Country – Germany
Capital – Berlin
Currency – Euro
Chancellor - Angela Merkel
Indian Sand Artist - Sudarsan Pattnaik
Death toll in Mexico from tropical storm Lidia rises to 7
• The death toll from Tropical Storm Lidia that swept across Mexico's Baja California peninsula has risen to
seven. Officials said five of the deaths occurred at the resort town of Cabo San Lucas. According to the United
States' National Hurricane Center, Lidia is advancing over the peninsula, home to a swank strip of beach resorts,
with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometres per hour.
Useful Info
Country – Mexico
Capital – Mexico City
Currency - Mexican peso
9th BRICS Summit has started in Xiamen, China
• The 9th BRICS Summit has started in Xiamen, China with a group photograph of leaders of the five
countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and was preceded by a warm handshake between Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinping.
Useful Info
Country – China
President – Xi Jinping
BRICS Countries
Brazil – Brasília, Brazilian real
Russia – Moscow, Russian Ruble
India – New Delhi, Indian Rupee
China – Beijing, Renminbi (Yuan)
South Africa – Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Currency - South African Rand
The theme of the 9th BRICS Summit is "Stronger Partnership for a better future".
Arun Jaitley will attend key security dialouge with Japan today
• Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will attend a key security dialouge with Japan today. Mr Jaitley said he will hold a
bilateral dialogue with his Japanese counterpart, ahead of a visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to India
later this month. He added, that it is a very important security dialogue between the two countries.
Useful Info
Country – Japan
Capital – Tokyo
Currency – Japanese Yen
Union Finance Minister – Arun Jaitley
Constituency – Gujarat, Rajya Sabha
State of emergency declared in Los Angeles
• A state of emergency has been declared in Los Angeles as the city battles the worst wildfires in its history.
Hundreds of homes have been evacuated around the Glendale and Burbank suburbs. The fires, covering about
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5,000 acres, started in La Tuna Canyon on Friday and have sent plumes of smoke over the city. At least three
homes have already been destroyed and a major road, the 210 Freeway, closed.
China Announced $80 Million Funding Plan for BRICS
• China will give 500 million yuan ($76.4 million) for a BRICS economic and technology cooperation plan, and
another $4 million for projects at the BRICS countries' New Development Bank stated Chinese President Xi
Jinping. The announcement came amid questions over the relevance of BRICS and China's commitment to its New
Development Bank (NDB) in light of the Belt and Road initiative and the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank.
Useful Info
Country – China
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Renminbi (Yuan)
President – Xi Jinping
Astronaut Peggy Whitson returned to Earth
• Astronaut Peggy Whitson returned to Earth. Finishing a 288-day mission that put her over the top as the
American who has spent the most cumulative amount of time in space. Peggy Whitson, 57, is also the oldest
female astronaut in the history of space exploration, was the first female International Space Station
commander, and holds the record for number of spacewalks by a woman.
China Bans Raising Funds Through Cryptocurrencies
• China has banned individuals and organizations from raising funds through Initial Coin Offerings (ICO), or
launches of digital currencies, saying the practice constituted illegal fund-raising. ICOs have become a bonanza
for digital currency entrepreneurs, globally and in China, allowing them to raise large sums quickly by creating
and selling digital “tokens” with little or no regulatory oversight. The popularity of coin offerings has surged in
China this year. In July, the state news agency Xinhua said there had been 65 ICOs so far during the year raising a
combined 2.62 billion yuan ($394.6 million) from 105,000 individuals in the country.
Useful Info
Country – China
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Renminbi (Yuan)
President – Xi Jinping
Sushma Swaraj arrives in Russia on three-day visit
• External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Russian port city of Vladivostok on a three-day visit to
attend the third Eastern Economic Forum which will deliberate on pressing issues relating to global trade. She
will also hold bilateral talks with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. The Eastern Economic Forum is
considered as the biggest international communication platform for cooperation between businesses leaders and
senior government representatives from Russia, the Pacific Region and the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN). Delegates from at least 24 countries including the US, Japan, China, Australia, Canada, Britain
and Germany are attending the gathering, as per Russian media reports.
Useful Info
Country – Russia
Capital – Moscow
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Currency – Russian Ruble
Union Minister for External Affairs – Sushma Swaraj
Constituency – Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh
UJALA Scheme Launched in Melaka, Malaysia
• Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under Ministry of Power, Government of India has launched
UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable Lighting for All) Scheme in the State of Melaka, Malaysia. The Scheme was
launched by Chief Minister of Melaka Datuk Seri Utama Ir. Hj. Idris Bin Hj. Haron. Under this scheme, each
household in Melaka will get 10 high-quality 9-watt LED bulbs.
Useful Info
Country – Malaysia
Capital – Kuala Lumpur
Currency – Malaysian ringgit
PM Modi on January 5, 2015, had launched the world's largest, and most extensive LED distribution program,
UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable Lighting for All).
Hurricane Irma set to hit Florida keys, Tampa in US; 6.3 million people evacuated
• Hurricane Irma is expected to hit the coast of Florida, in the US, but the outer bands are already affecting the
south of the state and central Miami is being lashed by heavy rain. National Hurrican Centre reports that with
sustained winds at 200 kilometres per hour, Irma has slowly began turning from Cuba's northern coast up into the
Florida Strait. The storm is expected to strengthen again and remain a powerful hurricane when it reaches Florida.
Useful Info
Country – United States of America
Capital – Washington D.C
Currency – US Dollar
President – Donald Trump
Second Indian Workers’ Resource Centre Inaugurated in UAE
• Indian Ambassador in UAE Navdeep Singh Suri inaugurated the second Indian Workers’ Resource Centre
(IWRC) in UAE to provide support and counseling to Indians in distress. IWRC provides counseling and support to
the overseas Indian Community on legal, personal and financial matters, free of cost. IWRC will provide support
and guidance to any member of the Indian community in any such distress situation. Members of the Indian
Community can call this centre from anywhere in UAE through a toll free number 800 INDIA or 80046342. The
helpline will work 24×7 and will have multi lingual facility to help the Indian diaspora staying in UAE.
Useful Info
UAE – United Arab Emirates
Capital – Abu Dhabi
Currency – United Arab Emirates dirham
Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Indian Ambassador to UAE - Navdeep Singh Suri
Prince Charles Becomes Longest-Serving Prince of Wales
• Prince Charles, the heir to Britain’s throne, became the longest-serving Prince of Wales in history. The 68-
year-old broke the record of Queen Victoria’s oldest son Albert, who went on to become King Edward VII after
holding the title of Prince of Wales for more than 59 years before becoming monarch. Prince Charles is the 21st
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Prince of Wales in the current line. Prince Charles was created Prince of Wales when he was nine years old on
July 26, 1958. He has now held the title for more than 59 years.
British Parliament Passed EU Withdrawal Bill
• The Government’s bid to extract the UK from EU law in time for Brexit has passed its first Parliamentary
test. The EU Withdrawal Bill was backed by MPs by 326 to 290. The bill, which will end the supremacy of EU law
in the UK, now moves onto its next Parliamentary stage. Previously referred to as the Great Repeal Bill, the EU
Withdrawal Bill overturns the 1972 European Communities Act which took the UK into the then European
Economic Community. It will also convert all existing EU laws into UK law, to ensure there are no gaps in
legislation on Brexit day.
Useful Info
Country – United Kingdom
Capital – London
Currency – Pound Sterling
Facebook fined €1.2 mn by Spain data watchdog
• Spain’s data protection watchdog has slapped a fine of €1.2 million euros (9 crore rupees) on Facebook for
failing to prevent its users’ data being accessed by advertisers. Facebook collected personal data from its users in
Spain without obtaining their “unequivocal consent”, the Spanish Data Protection Agency said.
Useful Info
Facebook headquarters – Menlo Park, California, United States
Country – Spain
Capital – Madrid
Currency - Euro
London- World's Top Financial Center
• London retained its crown as the world’s top financial center in a ranking that surveys industry
professionals, extending its lead over New York and Hong Kong despite ongoing uncertainty about the
implications of Brexit. The U.K. capital fell only two points in the latest Global Financial Centres Index published
by Z/Yen and the China Development Institute, the smallest decline among the top 10 centers. New York held on
to second place. In Asia, Hong Kong leapfrogged Singapore into third place.
Useful Info
Country – United Kingdom
Capital – London
Currency – Pound Sterling
Global Human Capital Index: India at 103, Norway Tops
• India has been placed at a low 103 rank, the lowest among BRICS economies, on the World Economic
Forum's Global Human Capital Index. The list has been topped by Norway. The list takes into account "the
knowledge and skills people possess that enable them to create value in the global economic system" to measure
the 'human capital' rank of a country. India is ranked lower than its BRICS peers, with Russian Federation placed
as high as 16th place, followed by China at 34th, Brazil at 77th and South Africa at 87th place. The report
measures total 130 countries.
Useful Info
Top 5 countries in the list are-
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1. Norway (Oslo, Norwegian krone)
2. Finland (Helsinki, Euro)
3. Switzerland (Bern, Swiss Franc)
4. United States (Washington D.C, US Dollar)
5. Denmark (Copenhagen, Danish krone)
India ranked - 103rd
India has started 'Operation Insaniyat' to provided assistance to Bangladesh
• India has started 'Operation Insaniyat' to provided assistance to Bangladesh in response to the humanitarian
crisis being faced on account of the large influx of Rohingya refugees into that country from Myanmar. The first
tranche of India’s relief aid for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh arrived and was handed over by the Indian
envoy Harsh Vardhan Sringla to the General Secretary of ruling Awami League, Obaidul Quader.
Useful Info
Country – Bangladesh
Capital – Dhaka
Currency - Bangladeshi taka
Three Indians Among World's '100 Greatest Living Business Minds'
• Three Indian entrepreneurial legends, Ratan Tata, Lakshmi Mittal and Vinod Khosla have been included in
Forbes’s special list of the world’s ‘100 Greatest Living Business Minds. Some of the notable honorees
alongside Blank are- Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Ted Turner, Rupert Murdoch, Donald
Trump and more
India to Conduct the First ‘BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017’
• The First ‘BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017’ (BIMSTEC DMEx-2017) will be conducted by the
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as the lead agency from October 10-13, 2017 in Delhi and the National
Capital Region (NCR). This Exercise will be a platform for sharing Best Practices on all aspects of Disaster Risk
Reduction (DRR), strengthening regional response and coordination for Disaster Management among the
BIMSTEC member countries.
Useful Info
BIMSTEC - Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
BIMSTEC Nations - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand
First ever National Conference on 'Mission Mode to address Under-Nutrition' held in New Delhi
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development holds the first ever National Conference in New Delhi on
Mission Mode to address Under-Nutrition in the country. This conference is being organized keeping in mind
the goal of “Malnutrition Free India-2022”. The National Conference, first of its kind, aims at bringing
convergence at District/Block levels of the three key Departments (Health & Family Welfare, ICDS/Social
Welfare and Drinking Water and Sanitation) wherein a roadmap would be drawn to evolve an appropriate
strategy in tackling the problem of stunting, under-nutrition and wasting comprehensively and conclusively.
Useful Info
CM of New Delhi - Arvind Kejriwal
Governor of New Delhi – Anil Baijal
Minister of Women and Child Development – Menaka Sanjay Gandhi
Constituency – Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh)
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Government to launch mobile app for retiring government staff
• Government will launch a mobile application for central government employees to help them to monitor the
progress of their pension settlement cases. Retired employees will also be able to assess their superannuation
funds and record complaints through the pension calculator. Minister of State for Public grievances and Pensions
Dr Jitendra Singh will launch the app in New Delhi.
Useful Info
Minister of State for Public grievances and Pensions - Dr Jitendra Singh
Constituency – Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir
Three Indians Among World's '100 Greatest Living Business Minds'
• Three Indian entrepreneurial legends, Ratan Tata, Lakshmi Mittal and Vinod Khosla have been included in
Forbes’s special list of the world’s ‘100 Greatest Living Business Minds. Some of the notable honorees
alongside Blank are- Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Ted Turner, Rupert Murdoch, Donald
Trump and more
India to Conduct the First ‘BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017’
• The First ‘BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise- 2017’ (BIMSTEC DMEx-2017) will be conducted by the
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as the lead agency from October 10-13, 2017 in Delhi and the National
Capital Region (NCR). This Exercise will be a platform for sharing Best Practices on all aspects of Disaster Risk
Reduction (DRR), strengthening regional response and coordination for Disaster Management among the
BIMSTEC member countries.
Useful Info
BIMSTEC - Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
BIMSTEC Nations - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand
First ever National Conference on 'Mission Mode to address Under-Nutrition' held in New Delhi
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development holds the first ever National Conference in New Delhi on
Mission Mode to address Under-Nutrition in the country. This conference is being organized keeping in mind
the goal of “Malnutrition Free India-2022”. The National Conference, first of its kind, aims at bringing
convergence at District/Block levels of the three key Departments (Health & Family Welfare, ICDS/Social
Welfare and Drinking Water and Sanitation) wherein a roadmap would be drawn to evolve an appropriate
strategy in tackling the problem of stunting, under-nutrition and wasting comprehensively and conclusively.
Useful Info
CM of New Delhi - Arvind Kejriwal
Governor of New Delhi – Anil Baijal
Minister of Women and Child Development – Menaka Gandhi
Constituency – Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh)
Government to launch mobile app for retiring government staff
• Government will launch a mobile application for central government employees to help them to monitor the
progress of their pension settlement cases. Retired employees will also be able to assess their superannuation
funds and record complaints through the pension calculator. Minister of State for Public grievances and Pensions
Dr Jitendra Singh will launch the app in New Delhi.
Useful Info
Minister of State for Public grievances and Pensions - Dr Jitendra Singh
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Constituency – Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir
13th Inter-Governmental Commission Meeting in Kazakhstan
• Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra
Pradhan is in Astana, Kazakhstan to co-chair the 13th Meeting of Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) with
Kazakhstan. Mr Kanat Bozumbayev, Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan will co-chair the meeting from Kazakhstan
side. The IGC meeting aims to follow up on the agenda set between India and Kazakhstan during the two visits of
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Kazakhstan.
Useful Info
Country – Kazakhstan
Capital – Astana
Currency – Kazakhstani tenge
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship - Shri Dharmendra
Pradhan
Constituency – Rajya Sabha, Bihar
40 million people trapped in modern slavery: UN report
• United Nations said, an estimated 40 million people, mostly women and girls, are trapped in modern slavery
and 152 million children are subject to child labour. According to a UN report published during the UN General
Assembly among 40 million people trapped in modern slavery, 29 million are women and girls. The report said one
in four victims of modern slavery are children and about 52 million children are subject to child labour, accounting
for almost one in ten children around the world. The largest part of them are living in Africa followed by Asia and
the Pacific. Over 70 per cent of the child labourers remain in agriculture, while 17 per cent work in the services
sector and almost 12 per cent in industry, the report said. The data was developed jointly by the International
Labour Organisation (ILO), the Walk Free Foundation and the International Organisation foAr Migration (IOM).
Useful Info
ILO - International Labour Organisation
Headquarters of ILO - Geneva, Switzerland
IOM - International Organisation for Migration
Headquarters of IOM - Geneva, Switzerland
India has replaced China as the top retail destination in 2017
• India has replaced China as the top retail destination in 2017 as part of the global retail development index.
The change in ranking was an outcome of four factors including increased consumer spending beyond
essentials, rising mobile and internet penetration, favorable foreign investment climate and bold action on
cashless transaction and GST.In addition to the bigger retailers and brands, the mid-size brands from across the
world are also looking to cash on the relaxed retail policy in India.
Useful Info
Country – China
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Renminbi (Yuan)
President – Xi Jinping
Union Minister of Finance –ArunJaitley
Constituency –Gujarat, RajyaSabha
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WHO Grants $175,000 for 'Vulnerable Population' of Bangladesh
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first tranche of emergency funding of $175,000 to
provide life-saving healthcare to the "vulnerable population" in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar.The WHO South-
East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) grant will support 20 mobile medical teams to provide
essential services for at least two months. The grant is also being used to procure essential medicines and
medical supplies to be distributed to pre-existing health facilities in Cox's Bazar area.
Useful Info
WHO – World Health Organization
Headquarters of WHO – Geneva, Switzerland
Director General of WHO–TedrosAdhanomGhebreyesus
Country – Bangladesh
Capital – Dhaka
Currency –Bangladeshi Taka
Fifty countries have signed a treaty to ban nuclear weapons
• Fifty countries have signed a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, a pact that the world’s nuclear powers
spurned but supporters hailed as a historic agreement nonetheless.More than 120 countries approved the new
nuclear weapons ban treaty in July 2017 over opposition from nuclear-armed countries and their allies, who
boycotted negotiations. Among 50, Brazil was the first country to sign onto the ban, followed by nations from
Algeria to Venezuela.
Useful Info
UN – United Nation
Headquarters - New York, United States
World’s Fastest Commercial Bullet Train in China
• China restored the maximum speed of bullet trains on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway line to 350
kilometres per hour, making it the fastest commercially run train, six years after it reduced the speed due to a
fatal accident. The speed was reduced to 300 kilometres per hour following the deadly accident in July 2011 that
killed 40 people.
Useful Info
Country – China
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Renminbi (Yuan)
President – Xi Jinping
Uber Stripped of its Licence to Operate in London
• London's transport regulator stripped Uber of its licence to operate, affecting over 40,000 drivers in a huge
blow to the taxi app. The final day of Uber's licence will be on September 30. In London, Uber has faced criticism
from unions, lawmakers and traditional black cab drivers over working conditions.
Useful Info
Country – United Kingdom
Capital – London
Currency – Pound Sterling
CEO of UBER - Dara Khosrowshahi
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India Gets its First High Horsepower Locomotive from France
• India has received its first High Horsepower Locomotive with the bodyshell of 12000 HP loco from Alstom
France at Kolkata port. This first-of-its-kind high-power electric locomotive will be used to haul freight trains at
twice the existing speed by 2018. This is the first major FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) project in the rail sector.
The first such locomotive is estimated to cost about Rs 30 crore. The Indian Railways is currently using 6,000HP
locomotives for freight services. The locomotive will run at a speed of up to 120 km/h.
Useful Info
Union Railway Minister - Piyush Goyal
Constituency – Rajya Sabha, Maharashtra
Country – France
Capital – Paris
Currency - Euro
China's Hui Ka Yan Becomes Asia's Richest Man according to the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List
• Hui Ka Yan, the chairman of big China real estate developer China Evergrande Group, has become Asia’s
richest man according to the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List. Among mainland Chinese, Hui’s estimated
fortune of $42.2 billion puts him ahead of Tencent Holdings Chairman Ma Huateng ($39.1 billion), Alibaba
Group Chairman Jack Ma ($38.9 billion), and Wanda Group Chairman Wang Jianlin ($30.4 billion). Ma
Huateng currently ranks second in Asia and Jack Ma third.
Useful Info
Forbes – Forbes is an American business magazine
Country – China
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Renminbi (Yuan)
President – Xi Jinping
MC Mary Kom, First Indian to be AIBA Representative at IOC Athletes’ Forum
• Five-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom has become the first Indian to be
picked as the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) representative for the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Forum. The event, however, overlaps with the Asian Championship in Vietnam, which is
scheduled from November 2 to 12. If Mary Kom is selected for the tournament after trials, her participation at the
IOC event would become uncertain.
Useful Info
AIBA - International Boxing Association’s
Headquarters - Lausanne, Switzerland
Angela Merkel Wins 4th Term as Chancellor of Germany
• Angela Merkel won a fourth term as chancellor in Germany elections that lifted the far-right party
Alternative for Germany into parliament for the first time since the immediate aftermath World War II. Merkel’s
Christian Democrat-led bloc took 32.5% to defeat Martin Schulz’s Social Democrats, whose 20% is its worst result
since the war, the exit polls for national broadcasters ARD and ZDF showed.
Useful Info
Country – Germany
Capital – Berlin
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Currency - Euro
WEF’s Global Competitiveness Rankings: India Ranks 40th, Switzerland Tops
• India remains the most competitive country in South Asia, appearing at No. 40 in the global
competitiveness ranking of 137 countries by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The ranking is one lower than
last year. According to WEF, India’s score is its highest ever according to the current methodology, which ranked
Switzerland as the world’s most competitive economy.
Useful Info
World’s top three competitive economic countries
1st – Switzerland (Bern, Swiss franc)
2nd – United States of America (Washington D.C, US Dollar)
3rd – Singapore (Singapore, Singapore Dollar)
40th - India
India ranks 3rd among BRICS nations
China (27th) and Russia (38th) outshine India among the BRICS group of large emerging markets.
’Incredible India’ Campaign Launched in Cairo, Egypt
• India launched a campaign to woo Egyptian travellers and make them aware of magnificent holiday options in
the country. The month-long "Incredible India!" campaign has been organised by the Embassy of India in Cairo.
As a part of the campaign, 12 buses of transport authority will showcase various tourist destinations in India,
including culture, festivals, monuments, landscape, wildlife, people and food.
Useful Info
Country – Egypt
Capital – Cairo
Currency – Egyptian pound
Two Indians on Fortune's List of 'Most Powerful Women in International Business'
• Two Indian women have featured on Fortune's list of Most Powerful Women in business outside the US.
Managing Director and CEO of ICICI Bank Chanda Kochhar was ranked fifth and Managing Director and CEO of
Axis Bank Shikha Sharma was ranked at 21. Group Executive Chairman of Spain's Banco Santander Ana Botín
topped the list. The 50 global businesswomen represent 17 countries and many industries.
Useful Info
Top three Most Powerful Women in business in the List are-
1st Ana Botin (Spain)
2nd Emma Walmsley (UK)
3rd Isabelle Kocher (France).
5th Chanda Kochhar (ICICI Bank CEO)
21st Shikha Sharma (Axis Bank CEO)
Two US Lawmakers Introduce Legislation in House of Representative to Support India’s Permanent
Membership to UNSC
• In the United States, two influential Democratic lawmakers have introduced a legislation in the House of
Representative to support India’s permanent membership to the UN Security Council. Introduced by
Congressman Ami Bera and Congressman Frank Pallone, the resolution would put the House officially on
record in support of India’s bid. Ami Bera, Vice Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and
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longest serving Indian-American in Congress stated that securing a permanent spot for India on the UN Security
Council would strengthen democracy around the world.
Useful Info
UN – United Nation
Headquarters of UN – New York
Twitter Announces Test Project Allowing Tweets to be Expanded From 140 to 280 Characters
• Twitter has announced a test project allowing tweets to be expanded to 280 characters, double the existing
limit in the latest effort to boost flagging growth at the social network. It aims to address a major cause of
frustration for many users. Twitter, which became a public company in 2013, has never reported a profit even
though it has built a loyal base of celebrities, journalists and political figures.
Useful Info
Twitter HQ - San Francisco
CEO of Twitter - Jack Dorsey
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has issued a decree allowing women to drive for the first time
• Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has issued a decree allowing women to drive for the first time. The order will
be implemented by June 2018. The royal decree will implement the provisions of traffic regulations, including the
issuance of driving licences for men and women alike. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world to forbid
women from driving. Saudi women remain largely under the whim of male relatives due to guardianship laws.
Useful Info
Country – Saudi Arabia
Capital – Riyadh
Currency - Saudi riyal
Appointments (National& International) in September 2017:
National Appointments in September 2017:
New Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)
Rajiv Mehrishi
Useful Info:
New CAG – Rajiv Mehrishi
Preceded by – Shashi Kant Sharma
New Home Secretary – Rajiv Gauba
Preceded by – Rajiv Mehrishi
New Election Commissioner of India
Sunil Arora
Useful Info:
Chief Election Commissioner of India – Achal Kumar Joti
first brand ambassador of tyre maker Bridgestone
India
PV Sindhu
Registered Office of Bridgestone India Private Limited
is in Pune, Maharashtra
Useful Info:
State – Maharashtra
Capital – Mumbai
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CM – Devendra Fadnavis
Governor – Vidyasagar Rao
new Chairperson of Central Board of Secondary
Education, (CBSE)
IAS officer Anita Karwal
Preceded by – Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi Director
General of the National Skill Development Agency.
MD & CEO of Vijaya Bank
Sankara Narayanan (He has taken over the reigns of
the bank from Kishore Sansi, who reached
superannuation on August 31. He joined Bank of India
as a direct recruit officer in 1983 and has headed
various branches.)
Useful Info:
Vijaya Bank HQ – Bengaluru
MD & CEO - R A Sankara Narayanan
Tagline Line – A Friend you can bank on.
Chairman of Press Trust of India
Viveck Goenka (Chairman and Managing Director of
the Express Group) he succeeds Riyad Mathew.
N. Ravi, former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu has been
elected as the Vice Chairman of PTI. Mr. Ravi succeeds
Mr. Goenka as Vice Chairman.
New Coach of Indian Men's Hockey Team Sjoerd Marijne (He has replaced Roelant Oltmans.)
interim chairman of the Goods and Services Tax
Network (GSTN)
A.B. Pandey (CEO of UIDAI) Pandey was given
additional charge days after GSTN’s first chairman
Navin Kumar completed his term on 29 August.
new president of the automobile industry body
Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM)
Abhay Firodia (Force Motors Chief)
Useful Info:
SIAM - Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers
SIAM is headquartered in New Delhi
New President of SIAM - Abhay Firodia
New CMD of United India Insurance Co. Ltd (UIIC)
M. Nagaraja Sarma (Sarma is at present the general
manager, Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd.)
Useful Info
Head Office of United India Insurance Co. Ltd. is in
Chennai
Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Railway
Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Ltd
Mahendra Pratap Mall
Useful Info:
Corporate Office of IRCTC is situated at New Delhi
chief of the National Investigation Agency (NIA)
Y.C Modi (Senior IPS officer) He will take over from
Sharad Kumar after he completes his tenure on October
30.
Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Rajni Kant Misra (Mr. Misra is at present the
Additional Director General in the Border Security Force
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(BSF).)
India’s New High Commissioner to Pakistan
Ajay Bisaria
Useful Info:
Country – Pakistan
Capital – Islamabad
Currency – Pakistani Rupee
New Chairman of NHPC
Balraj Joshi
Useful Info:
NHPC Headquarters – Faridabad, India
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of ONGC Shashi Shankar (He will replace Dinesh K Sarraf)
New CEO of Tata Capital
Rajiv Sabharwal (He will be joining Tata Capital in
January 2018 and would be taking over from the
company's current Managing Director & CEO Praveen P
Kadle.)
Useful Info:
N Chandrasekaran is the Chairman of Tata Sons
Resignation
Infosys Senior Vice President Sanjay Rajagopalan has resigned from his post.
List of New Governor of Indian States:
State New Governor Preceded
Tamilnadu Banwarilal Purohit Vidyasagar Rao
Assam Prof Jagdish Mukhi Banwarilal Purohit
Bihar Satya Pal Malik Keshari Nath Tripathi
Meghalaya Ganga Prasad Banwarilal Purohit
Andaman and Nicobar Devendra Kumar Joshi Jagdish Mukhi
Important International Appointments:
New High Commissioner of India to Cyprus R.K. Raghavan
Useful Info:
Country – Cyprus
Capital – Nicosia
Currency – Euro, Cypriot pound
New head the US space agency NASA James Bridenstine
Useful Info:
Country – United States of America
Capital – Washington D.C
Currency – US Dollar
President – Donald Trump
U.S Ambassador to India Kenneth I. Juster
the first Indian woman ambassador in 'Friends of Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra
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Australia' (FOA) advocacy panel by Tourism
Australia.
Useful Info:
Country – Australia
Capital – Canberra
Currency – Australian Dollar
8th President of Singapore Halimah Yacob (She became the country’s first female
President and the first in five decades to come from the
Malay ethnicity.)
Useful Info:
Country – Singapore
Capital – Singapore City
Currency – Singapore Dollar
Newly elected as Chair of Ethics Commission of the
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Ban Ki-moon (Former United Nations (UN) Secretary-
General)
Useful Info:
IOC - International Olympic Committee
Headquarters of IOC – Lausanne, Switzerland
President of IOC - Thomas Bach
new Prime Minister of Peru Mercedes Araoz Fernandez (He replaced Fernando
Zavala, who lost the vote of confidence by lawmakers
on 15 September 2017.)
Useful Info:
Country – Peru
Capital – Lima
Currency – Sol
New Prime Minister - Mercedes Araoz Fernandez
Uttarakhand Swachh Bharat Mission Brand
Ambassador
Akshay Kumar (Bollywood actor) Akshay was also
appointed as the brand ambassador for the cleanliness
campaign in Uttar Pradesh in August 2017 and his film
"Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" was made tax-free in the state.
Useful Info:
State – Uttarakhand
Capital – Dehradun
CM - Trivendra Singh Rawat
Governor - Krishan Kant Paul
New President of Angola Joao Lourenco (He is first new President of the country
in 38 years)
Useful Info:
Country – Angola
Capital – Luanda
Currency - Angolan kwanza
Resignation
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Prime Minister of Iceland Mr. Bjarni Benediktsson has resigned from the post
Useful Info:
Country – Iceland
Capital – Reykjavik
Currency – Icelandic króna
Awards and Honours- September 2017
Awards Winners
Prestigious Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Award
The Reliance Foundation (Kendriya Vidyalaya
Sangathan (KVS) also received the Rashtriya Khel
Protsahana Purushkar for its ‘Identification and
Nurturing of Budding and Young Talent’ (IDCO)
program.)
Useful Info:
Nita Ambani is the chairperson and founder of Reliance
Foundation and a non-executive director of Reliance
Industries
National Award for ‘Excellence’ in Energy Management
Hyderabad International Airport Ltd
Useful Info:
State – Telangana
Capital – Hyderabad
CM – K. Chandrashekar Rao
Governor – Ekkadu Srinivasan Lakshmi Narasimhan
Winner of ‘best bank’ award among small banks
Karnataka Bank (for the use of technology for financial
inclusion at the 13th IDRBT Banking Technology
Excellence Awards 2016-17.)
Useful Info:
Karnataka Bank Headquarters in Mangaluru
MD & CEO - Mahabaleshwara M.S
PLuS Alliance Prize N R Narayana Murthy (Infosys co-founder) and Veena
Sahajwalla (Mumbai-born scientist)
First life time award by Badminton Association of
India (BAI)
Prakash Padukone (The renowned Indian Badminton
legend, he won the 1980 All England, besides bagging a
bronze at the 1983 World Championship in
Copenhagen.)
Useful info:
Mr. Himantha Biswa Sarma is the President
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of Badminton Association of India.
Prestigious N R Madhava Menon Best Law Teacher
Award 2017
Tahir Mahmood (He is a Eminent jurist awarded for his
distinguished services to legal education and the legal
profession on the occasion of Law Teachers' Day
celebrations)
National level Rajbhasha Keerti Award
The Marine Products Export Development Authority
(MPEDA) (This award has been given to MPEDA for
the best Implementation of Official language in
the organization.)
Useful Info:
MPEDA Chairman- A Jayathilak
Vijaya Bank has bagged the first prize under
the Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar (Region C) for the year
2016-17
Prestigious ANR National Award
S S Rajamouli (film-maker)
Useful Info:
Vice President - M Venkaiah Naidu
S S Rajamouli – Film Maker
Recent Movie of S S Rajamouli – Bahubali
UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) 2017
Nansen Refugees Award
Zannah Mustapha (He is the Director of Future
Prowess Islamic Foundation School. Mr. Mustapha is
the first Nigerian recipient of the award.)
Useful Info:
The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950.
In 1954, UNHCR won the Nobel Peace Prize for its
groundbreaking work in Europe.
FilippoGrandi is the 11th United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees.
Prestigious Von Hippel Award
Professor C.N.R Rao (Eminent scientist) (The award
is the US-based Materials Research Society’s (MRS)
highest honour. Mr Rao is the Bharat Ratna awardee.)
Gentlemen’s Quarterly Actor of the Year Award
Rajkummar Rao (GQ (Gentlemen’s Quarterly)
magazine conducted the GQ Men of the Year Awards
for 2017, in Mumbai. Woman of the Year award was
won by Anushka Sharma.)
69th Emmy Awards: Complete List of Winners
SNo Award Winner
1. Outstanding Comedy Series Veep
2. Outstanding Drama Series The Handmaid's Tale
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3. Outstanding Variety Talk Series Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
4. Outstanding Variety Sketch Series Saturday Night Live
5. Outstanding Limited Series Big Little Lies
6. Outstanding Television Movie Black Mirror: "San Junipero"
7. Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy
Series Donald Glover as Earnest "Earn" Marks on Atlanta
8. Outstanding Lead Actress in a
Comedy Series Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer on Veep
9. Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama
Series Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson on This Is Us
10. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama
Series Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne / Offred on The Handmaid's Tale
11. Outstanding Directing for a Comedy
Series Atlanta (Episode: "B.A.N."), Directed by Donald Glover
12. Outstanding Directing for a Drama
Series
The Handmaid's Tale (Episode: "Offred"), Directed by Reed
Morano
13. Outstanding Writing for a Comedy
Series
Master of None (Episode: "Thanksgiving"), Written by Aziz Ansari
and Lena Waithe
74th Venice Film Festival Awards 2017
Golden Lion - Best Movie The Shape of Water, directed by Guillermo del Toro
Grand Jury Prize Foxtrot, directed by Samuel Maoz
Silver Lion - Best Director Xavier Legrand (for Jusqu’à la Garde)
Volpi Cup - Best Actress Charlotte Rampling (for Hannah)
Volpi Cup - Best Actor Kamel El Basha (for The Insult)
UNESCO Announced Winners of Literacy Prizes
The UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy (3 Awards) AdulTICoProgram (Columbia),
FunDza Literacy Trust (South Africa) and The Citizens
Foundation (Pakistan)
The King Sejong Literacy Prize The Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance
(Canada) and the We Love Reading programme
(Jordan).
BUSINESS NEWS
Bharti Airtel, has launched Airtel GST Advantage
• Airtel Business, the B2B arm of telecom major Bharti Airtel, has launched Airtel GST Advantage - a solution
designed to enable small businesses and start-ups to file their GST returns “accurately, securely and seamlessly.”
Launched in partnership with ClearTax, Airtel GST Advantage is being offered free to all existing Airtel Business
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customers. Airtel GST Advantage offers a three-pronged solution to customers, they can get free and secure
access to the GST Network via Clear Tax.
Useful Info
Director & CEO of Airtel Business - Ashok Ganapathy
Samsung’s Bixby Voice now works in India
• Bixby takes some initial setting up, requiring users to input their voice, reading commands and sentences
and trying out a few tasks. Bixby is meant to do additional and on-phone tasks which Samsung hopes will make
getting things done faster and easier. Bixby Voice can be triggered by saying “Hi Bixby” to a sleeping device also.
Useful Info
Samsung HQ – Seoul, South Korea
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is the world’s third-biggest energy company
• Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is the world’s third-biggest energy company behind Russian gas firm Gazprom
and German utility E.ON, according to Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings. State-owned Indian
Oil Corp (IOC) climbed to 7th position in the 2017 ranking, up from 14th rank in 2016. Oil and Natural Gas Corp
(ONGC) was placed at 11th position in 2017 as against 20th in 2016. Coal India Ltd, the world’s largest coal
producer, was the only Indian firm to have slipped in the ranking - 45 in 2017.
Useful Info
Russia’s Gazprom snagged the number 1 spot, ending US oil and gas giant ExxonMobil’s 12-year reign at the top
of the list.
MoU and AGREEMENT
India and Switzerland signed two MoUs in the field of Railways
• India and Switzerland signed two MoUs in the field of Railways. The two MoUs were signed between Ministry
of Railways and Swiss Confederation after high-level talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
Doris Leuthard, President of Swiss Confederation during her visit to New Delhi.
First MoU
• The MoU was signed between Ministry of Railways and Federal Department of the Environment, Transport,
and Communications of the Swiss Confederation for technical cooperation in Rail Sector. The MoU aims at
cooperation in the following areas:
1. Traction Rolling stock
2. EMU and Train sets
3. Traction Propulsion Equipment
4. Tilting Trains
Second MoU
• The second MoU was signed between Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich. The MoU aims to help the Konkan Railway in establishing the George
Fernandes Institute of Tunnel Technology (GFITT) at Goa, especially for assimilation and dissemination of
knowledge in the field of tunneling.
Useful Info
Union Minister for Railways – Piyush Goyal
Constituency – Maharashtra, Rajya Sabha
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Country – Switzerland
Capital – Bern
Currency – Swiss Franc
Swedish defence major SAAB announced its tie-up with Adani Group
• Swedish defence major SAAB announced its tie-up with Adani Group to manufacture the Gripen E fighter
jets in India under the Defence Ministry’s $10 billion single-engine fighter jet procurement programme. The
announcement comes within months of US’ Lockheed Martin announcing its joint venture with Tata Advanced
Systems for producing the latest version of F-16 in India.
Useful Info
Chairman and Founder of the Adani Group – Gautam Adani
Country – Sweden
Capital – Stockholm
Currency - Swedish krona
Nepal has signed a USD 635 million UN assistance package for 2018-2022
• Nepal has signed a USD 635 million UN assistance package for 2018-2022 to lay out the
country’s development strategy for the next five years. The package involves 26 individual UN agencies. The
National Planning Commission, apex advisory body of the Government of Nepal, and the United Nations Country
Team (UNCT) in Nepal signed the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).
Useful Info
Country – Nepal
Capital – Kathmandu
Currency – Nepalese Rupee
United Nations Secretary-General - Antonio Guterres
India, Myanmar sign eleven MoUs in a range of sectors
• India and Myanmar have signed 11 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) agreements in a range of sectors,
including one on maritime security cooperation. The MoUs were signed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held
wide-ranging talks with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Nay Pyi Taw.
• Besides the MoU to strengthen maritime security cooperation, the countries also signed an agreement for
sharing white shipping information to improve data sharing on non-classified merchant navy ships or cargo ships.
• The 11 MoUs also include one between the Election Commission of India and Union Election of Myanmar, the
national level electoral commission of Myanmar. An MoU was also signed to organise cultural exchange
programme for the period 2017-2020, according to a statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs.
• The two countries also signed agreements on cooperation between Myanmar Press Council and Press Council
of India, extension of agreement on the establishment of India-Myanmar Centre for Enhancement of IT skill.
• They also signed agreements to cooperate in 'Medical Products Regulation' and in the field of health and
medicine. They also signed an MoU on enhancing the cooperation on upgradation of the women's police training
centre at Yamethin in Myanmar.
Useful Info
Country – Myanmar (Burma)
Capital – Naypyidaw
Currency - Burmese kyat
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Agreement between State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) US-based networking solutions
provider Coriant to chart the path to 5G
• State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) entered into an agreement with US-based networking
solutions provider Coriant to chart the path to 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) in India. The MoU was signed
between BSNL and Coriant for laying the foundation for innovation in network architectures and services
leveraging 5G, IoT, Software Defined Networking/Network Functions Virtualisation (SDN/NFV), and mobile
edge computing technologies.
Useful Info
Chairman & Managing Director of BSNL is Shri Anupam Shrivastava
Internet of Things – the interconnection via the Internet of computing devices embedded in everyday objects,
enabling them to send and receive data.
Ashok Leyland Inks Pact with Rosoboronexport, ELCOM
• The defence entity of Hinduja Group flagship company Ashok Leyland had signed an MoU with
Rosoboronexport, Russia, to supply tracked vehicle solutions to the armed forces. Rosoboronexport (ROE) is the
only State organisation in Russia for export of the entire range of military products and technologies. Ashok
Leyland signed another MoU with ELCOM Group which is also emerging as a significant player in strategic
electronics, avionics and tactical communication globally.
Useful Info
Country – Russia
Capital – Moscow
Currency – Russian Ruble
Rosoboronexport represents Russian companies engaged in the manufacturing of main battle tanks, infantry
fighting vehicles and is currently working with the Indian Army.
Exide Life Insurance has announced a partnership with Punjab & Maharashtra Co-operative Bank (PMC
Bank)
• Exide Life Insurance has announced a partnership with Punjab & Maharashtra Co-operative Bank (PMC
Bank) to offer its protection and savings products to the latter’s customers. PMC Bank is a multi-State scheduled
urban cooperative bank with 127 branches spread across Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat, Andhra
Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Exide Life Insurance works with around 50 banks.
Useful Info
Exide Life Insurance Company Limited
Headquarter – Bengaluru
MD and CO of Exide Life Insurance - Kshitij Jain
List of MoUs Signed During Visit of PM Modi to Myanmar
After attending the BRICS Summit in China, PM Modi left for his three-day visit to Myanmar. He was received by
the Myanmar President Htin Kyaw. Following set of agreements were signed between the two nation.
• MoU on Maritime Security Cooperation
• Cultural Exchange Programme for the year 2017-2020.
• MoU on Enhancing the Cooperation of the Upgradation of the Women's Police Training Centre at Yamethin,
Myanmar.
• MoU for Sharing White Shipping Information between the Indian Navy and Myanmar Navy
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• Technical Agreement for providing Coastal Surveillance System
• MoU between the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Ministry Of Health and Family
Welfare of the Republic of India and Food and Drugs (FDA), Ministry of Health and Sports of Myanmar on
Cooperation in Medical Products Regulation.
• Exchange of Letter for Extension of MoU on the establishment of MIIT
• Exchange of Letter for Extension of MoU on the establishment of India-Myanmar Center for Enhancement of
IT-Skill
• MoU in the field of elections between the Election Commission of India and The Union Election Commission of
Myanmar.
• MoU on Cooperation between Myanmar Press Council and the Press Council of India.
Useful Info
Country – Myanmar (Burma)
Capital – Naypyidaw
Currency - Burmese kyat
Andhra Pradesh government has signed an MoU with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT)
• The Andhra Pradesh government has signed an MoU with the US-based Hyperloop Transportation
Technologies (HTT)to build India's first Hyperloop system. The planned project is aimed at connecting cities
Amaravati and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, supposedly covering the distance of over 35 km in just five minutes.
The AP Economic Development Board (AP-EDB) and HTT signed the MoU in Amaravati. Under the MoU, a six-
month feasibility study would be conducted from October.
Useful Info
State – Andhra Pradesh
Capital – Amaravati
CM – N. Chandrababu Naidu
Governor - E. S. L. Narasimhan
BSNL and Punjab National Bank (PNB) Join Hands for Mobile Wallet Speedpay Rollout
• Punjab National Bank and state-run firm BSNL teamed up to roll out open mobile wallet Speedpay across 10
states in the country. PNB Speedway wallet will operate like any other mobile wallet for paying bills, recharging
phone besides its users will be able to deposit and withdraw money from authorized retail outlets. Under the
agreement, BSNL will expand Speedpay services in Punjab, Chandigarh(UT), Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand.
Useful Info
PNB – Punjab National Bank
Headquarters – New Delhi
Tagline – The name you can bank upon
MD & CEO of Punjab National Bank - Sunil Mehta
Chairman & Managing Director of BSNL - Shri Anupam Shrivastava
India and Afghanistan exchanged four pacts in areas of health, transport, space
• India and Afghanistan exchanged four pacts in areas of health, transport, space and new development
partnership. The agreements were exchanged after delegation level talks between External Affairs Minister
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Sushma Swaraj and Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani in New Delhi. Mr. Rabbani was on
the three-day visit to India. India will supply wheat to Afghanistan in coming weeks through Chahbahar port.
Useful Info
Country – Afghanistan
Capital – Kabul
Currency - Afghan afghani
Union Minister for External Affairs – Sushma Swaraj
Constituency – Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra Government and Mother Dairy have signed a lease agreement to set up a processing plant
• The Maharashtra Government and Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of National
Dairy Development Board (NDDB) have signed a lease agreement to set up a state-of-the-art milk and milk
products processing plant. As per the MoU, a dairy development initiative will begin in Vidarbha and Marathwada
regions to provide access to milk producers to markets in Nagpur and Mumbai.
Useful Info
State – Maharashtra
Capital – Mumbai
CM – Devendra Fadnavis
Governor – Vidyasagar Rao
Paytm Payments Bank (PPB) has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
• Paytm Payments Bank (PPB) has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to
launch a RuPay-powered digital debit card. With the PPB Digital debit card, customers will now be able to
transact at all merchants who accept credit and debit cards. Existing Paytm users need to complete a KYC
process to become an account holder with PPB. Following this, they will be issued a free digital RuPay card.
Useful Info
NPCI - National Payments Corporation of India
Paytm founder - Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Ten MoUs have been signed between India and Belarus
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Belarus President Aleksandr Grigoryevich Lukashenko in New Delhi and
discussed various issues of mutual interest of both countries. A number of agreements were signed in several
areas after the talks. Mr. Lukashenko’s visit was significant as it took place in a year when Belarus and India are
celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Following are the 10 Agreements/MoUs were signed:
• MoU between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Education
of the Republic of Belarus
• MoU between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of the Government of the Republic of
India and the Ministry of Education of the Government of the Republic of Belarus for Cooperation in the Field of
Vocational Education and Training
• Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the
National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
• MoU between Indian Council of Agricultural Research, India and Belarusian State Agricultural Academy, Gorki,
Belarus for Cooperation in Agricultural Research and Education
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• Protocol amending the Agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare of the Republic of
India and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus signed on April 16, 2007
• Programme of cooperation between the Government of Republic of India and the Government of Republic of
Belarus in the field of culture for 2018-2020
• MoU between M/o Petroleum & Natural Gas of the Republic of India and Belarusian State Concern of Oil and
Chemistry in the Oil and Gas Sector
• MoU between JSV "Belzarubezhstroy” and National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd.
• MoU between JSC Belarusian Potash Company (BPC) and Indian Potash Ltd (IPL)
• Agreement on the implementation of MoU signed between OJSC Minsk Tractor Works and Kirloskar Oil
Engines Ltd. India in Pune
Useful Info
Country – Belarus
Capital – Minsk
Currency – Belarusian Ruble
Payment gateway provider PayU has announced its collaborations with the IRCTC
• Payment gateway provider PayU has announced its collaborations with the IRCTC to provide users a safe
and secure option to pay for rail tickets booked via the IRCTC website. PayU will now be available as a payment
option under the Multiple Payment Services (MPS) option on the IRCTC website at the payment stage of
booking an e- ticket. Clicking on this option will enable users to make a safe and secure transaction via various
payment options like internet banking, debit/credit card and e-wallet.
Useful Info
Union Minister for Railways – Piyush Goyal
Constituency – Rajya Sabha, Maharashtra
Bharti Airtel and SK Telecom of Korea have announced a strategic partnership
• Telecom services provider, Bharti Airtel and SK Telecom of Korea have announced a strategic partnership
under which Airtel will leverage the latter's expertise to build advanced telecom network in India. SK Telecom is
Korea’s largest telecommunications company with more than 29 million mobile subscribers, which accounts for
around 50 percent of the total market. The two companies will also collaborate on an ongoing basis to evolve
standards for 5G and Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV).
Useful Info
Bharti Airtel is Headquartered in New Delhi.
Gopal Vittal is the MD & CEO (India and South Asia) of Bharti Airtel
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC)Ties-up With Sa-Dhan
• Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has entered into an agreement with microfinance
industry association Sa-Dhan to develop digital ecosystem for India's unbanked segment. The bank will provide
technical expertise to train and educate microfinance consumers at the grassroots level and introduce digital
banking to promote easier and time-efficient financial transaction among the so-called bottom-of-the-pyramid
customer.
Useful Info
HSBC - Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Headquarters of HSBC – London
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Corporate Affairs Ministry and Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has signed an MoU
• Corporate Affairs Ministry and Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has signed an MoU for automatic
and regular exchange of information to curb the menace of shell companies, money laundering and black money
in the country. The MoU will enable sharing of specific information such as PAN number data in respect of
corporates, Income Tax returns of corporates, financial statements filed with the Registrar by corporates, audit
reports, and statements of financial transactions received from banks relating to corporates.
Useful Info
Union Minister for corporate affairs – Arun Jaitley
Constituency – Gujarat, Rajya Sabha
Sushil Chandra is the Chairman of CBDT
Force Motors, Rolls-Royce Power Tie up
• Pune-based auto firm Force Motors Ltd has entered into a non-binding joint venture agreement with
Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG to produce engines for power generation and rail application and complete
power generation systems, including spare parts, for Indian and global markets. The joint venture with Rolls-Royce
will be the company’s first step towards diversifying into the non-auto segment. In the joint venture, Force Motors
will hold a 51% stake and Rolls-Royce the rest.
Useful Info
Rolls-Royce is a luxury car and aero engine manufacturing company that headquarters in United Kingdom.
Country – United Kingdom
Capital – London
Currency – Pound Sterling
India signed a loan deal worth $76 million with Japan
• The Government of India signed a loan deal worth $76 million with Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) for a project to upgrade the environment management plan at Alang-Sosiya ship recycling yards.
The total cost of the project will be $ 111 million, out of which $76 million will be provided as a soft loan from
JICA. Out of the remaining amount, $25 million as taxes and fees will be borne by Government of Gujarat and the
balance $10 million will be shared by Ministry of Shipping & Government of Gujarat. The project will be executed
by Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) and is likely to be completed by 2022.
Useful Info
Country – Japan
Capital – Tokyo
Currency – Japanese Yen
India and Japan signed an Open Sky agreement to operate unlimited number of flights between the two
countries
• India and Japan signed an agreement that will allow their airlines to operate unlimited number of flights
between the two countries. It opens skies between India and Japan ie. Indian and Japanese carriers can mount
now unlimited number of flights to the selected cities of each other's countries. The National Civil Aviation Policy,
2016, allows the government to enter into an 'open sky' air services agreement on a reciprocal basis with SAARC
nations as well as countries beyond a 5,000 kilometre radius from New Delhi.
Useful Info
Country – Japan
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Capital – Tokyo
Currency – Japanese Yen
Amazon Ties up With Bank of Baroda To Offer Micro-Loans To Sellers
• Amazon has tied up with Bank of Baroda for the loans, which can go up to Rs. 25 lakh. The Indian arm of the
US e-commerce giant, Amazon plans to provide unsecured micro-loans, as low as 1 lakh, at interest rates as low
as 10.45-11 per cent at a short span of 3-5 days. With the Bank of Baroda tie-up, the company wants to cater to
every strata of sellers.
Useful Info
Amazon HQ – Seattle, Washington, United States
Bank of Baroda HQ – Vadodara
Tagline of Bank of Baroda – India’s International Bank
Ola Ties Up With Karnataka Tourism Dept
• In line with United Nations’ theme for this year’s World Tourism Day, cab aggregator Ola kicked off a tourism
campaign in the state. The campaign is being carried out in association with Karnataka State Tourism
Development Corporation to promote and raise awareness about responsible tourism named
“GhoomoResponsibly”. Tourism and IT-BT Minister Priyank M. Kharge flagged off this campaign in Bangalore.
Useful Info
State – Karnataka
Capital – Bengaluru
CM – Siddaramaiah
Governor – Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala
CEO of Ola - Bhavish Aggarwal
Tata Steel, Thyssenkrupp Sign MoU for European Steel JV
• Tata Steel and Thyssenkrupp of Germany have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a deal
that is poised to create one of Europe's largest steel companies. The two partners have been in merger talks for
more than a year.They will form a 50:50 joint venture to create a powerful No. 2 in the European steel market. The
merger will lead to substantial cost savings for both steel players.
Useful Info
NatarajanChandrasekaran is the Chairman of Tata Steel.
Dr. Heinrich Hiesinger is the CEO of Thyssenkrupp.
Britain and Saudi Arabia Sign Military Cooperation Deal
• Saudi Arabia and Britain signed a framework deal for military cooperation. The agreement came after Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed security ties with visiting British Defence Secretary Michael
Fallon in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. The agreement comes as Britain seeks to explore lucrative trade deals
outside Europe, including energy-rich Gulf monarchies, after voting to leave the European Union.
Useful Info
Country – Saudi Arabia
Capital – Riyadh
Currency – Saudi riyal
Dabur India Ties Up with Amazon for Ayurveda Marketplace
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• Dabur India has tied up with e-commerce major Amazon for an online ayurveda marketplace which will
house all ayurvedic brands and products of the country. The company will also offer consumers an insight into
various ayurvedic medicines for treating a variety of ailments. The exclusive ayurveda e-marketplace has been
hosted by Amazon India and the content is developed by Dabur India.
Useful Info
Amazon HQ – Seattle, Washington, United States
Founder of Amazon - Jeff Bezos
Maharashtra government has signed a MoU with South Korea
• The Maharashtra government has signed a MoU with South Korea for increased co-operation in
infrastructure projects like development of smart cities, roads, airports and metros on the first day of Chief
Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ visit to that country. This MoU is to help with implementation strategy, legal systems,
policies, technologies and information in infrastructure development. Fadnavis embarked on a three-day tour to
South Korea and Singapore.
Useful Info
Country – South Korea
Capital – Seoul
Currency – South Korean Won
Russia, US Partner to Build 1st Ever Space Station Near Moon
• Russian and US space agencies, Roscosmos and NASA, have agreed to jointly build a "deep space
gateway", the first-ever astronaut-tended space station around the Moon. The gateway 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). Following in the footsteps of the
International Space Station, the moon ship would be open to astronauts and cosmonauts from around the world.
Useful Info
Roscosmos – Russian Space Agency
NASA – American Space Agency
Country – Russia
Capital – Moscow
Currency – Russian Ruble
Country – United States of America
Capital – Washington D.C
Currency – US Dollar
Air India has tied up with public sector lender PNB and private lender IndusInd Bank
• Air India has tied up with public sector lender PNB and private lender IndusInd Bank to secure loans to
the tune of over Rs 3,000 crore for meeting working capital requirements. Recently, the disinvestment-bound Air
India had floated tenders for availing Govt. guarantee backed INR short-term loans totalling up to Rs 3,250 crore in
the first phase to meet its urgent working capital.
Useful Info
PNB – Punjab National Bank
Headquarters of PNB – New Delhi
Chairman and Managing Director of Air India Ltd - Rajiv Bansal
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India and Norway have extended bilateral cooperation in the health sector
• 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. A letter of Intent was signed to this effect in New
Delhi between the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The
Partnership Initiative now extends to Jammu and Kashmir and four other States- Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh
and Rajasthan are already covered under it.
Useful Info
Country – Norway
Capital – Oslo
Currency – Norwegian krone
Telecom equipment and solutions provider VNL has signed an MoU with BSNL
• Telecom equipment and solutions provider VNL has signed an MoU with BSNL to provide solutions for
disaster management. The 'Relief 123' service will restore connectivity at disaster sites, help locate the affected
and integrate information across platforms to enable informed decision-making for quick relief. The service is an
integrated disaster response solution for first responders and public safety agencies. The solution is designed and
manufactured by VNL and the backhaul connectivity will be provided by BSNL.
Useful Info
Chairman & Managing Director of BSNL - Anupam Shrivastava
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has signed an MoU with Chinese gear maker ZTE
• Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese
gear maker ZTE. Both the parties will work together and prove key technologies like Pre5G and 5G wireless
systems to make virtual network architecture of a 5G ecosystem for research and commercialization in India.
Useful Info
Country – China
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Renminbi (Yuan)
President – Xi Jinping
Aeris Communications partners BSNL for IOT solutions
• Aeris Communications has entered into a partnership with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to
provide packaged Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services to small, medium businesses and public sector
undertakings (PSUs) in India. The company will leverage BSNL's wide network coverage, to provide a
comprehensive, end-to-end IoT services platform for enterprises, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and
service providers.
Useful Info
Chairman & Managing Director of BSNL - Anupam Shrivastava
President of Aeris Communications India - Rishi Bhatnagar
India, US, Afghanistan Join Hands for 1st Trade Show in Delhi
• For the first time, India, US and Afghanistan will hold a joint trade and investment show in Delhi, as New
Delhi steps up to its role of being a bigger development partner to Afghanistan. The trade event, sponsored by the
US and hosted by India, will be inaugurated by Afghan CEO Dr Abdullah. Abdullah's visit will follow the first visit
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to India by US defence secretary James Mattis who will be holding high level talks with India on the Trump
Administration's new South Asia policy.
Useful Info
Country – Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghan afghani
Country – United States of America, Washington D.C, US Dollar
Union Minister of External Affairs – Sushma Swaraj
Constituency – Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh
SCHEMES, PROGRAMS AND CONFERENCE
Modi inaugurated the two-day annual conference, Rajaswa Gyan Sangam, 2017 at Vigyan Bhawan, New
Delhi
• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day annual conference, Rajaswa Gyan Sangam, 2017 at Vigyan
Bhawan, New Delhi. The conference, jointly organized by the Central Board of Direct Taxes and the Central Board
of Excise and Customs. The main objective of the conference is to enable a two-way communication between the
policy-makers and senior officers in the field offices with a view to increase revenue collection and facilitate
effective implementation of law and policies in key result areas.
Useful Info
New Delhi CM – Arvind Kejriwal
Governor – Anil Baijal
Nestle Sets up First Food Safety Institute in India
• The new FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal inaugurated the Nestle Food Safety Institute in Manesar,
Gurugram. It will provide guidance and training on food safety. The FSSAI has been working with Nestle India for
setting up the institute at Manesar. While this is the first such institute in India, Nestle already runs a similar
Institute each in China and Lausanne, Switzerland.
Useful Info
FSSAI – Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
CEO of FSSAI - Pawan Kumar Agarwal
President Kovind launched nationwide campaign: "Swachhata Hi Sewa"
• President Ram Nath Kovind launched a nation-wide campaign Swachhata Hi Sewa from Kanpur, Uttar
Pradesh. He will administer nation-wide Swachhta Hi Seva pledge initiating parallel action in all the two lakh 50
thousand plus Gram Panchayats and cities in India. The fortnight long campaign will conclude on 2nd of
October, Gandhi Jayanti. Eminent personalities, community organizations and private sector organizations will
undertake shramdaan activities. The objective of the campaign is to mobilise people and reinforce the Jan
Aandolan for sanitation to contribute to Mahatma Gandhi's dream of a Clean India.
Useful Info
State – Uttar Pradesh
Capital – Lucknow
CM – Yogi adityanath
Governor – Ram Naik
Present President of India – Ram Nath Kovind
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Dr. Harshvardhan Launches Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana
• Dr. Harshvardhan launched “Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana” which will
experiment and endeavour to formulate and implement appropriate S&T Interventions for Sustainable
Development through cluster approach in Uttarakhand. Department of Science and Technology is implementing
several initiatives for upliftment and economic development of rural areas in the country.
Useful Info
Union Minister for Science & Technology – Dr Harshvardhan
Constituency – Chandni Chowk (Delhi)
Govt Launches Campaign to Sensitise Women About Cancer
• Minister of State Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel launched a nationwide health campaign to
sensitise women about the early screening and the preventive care for cancer. Themed 'Nurturing the Nurturer',
the campaign was launched by FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) in partnership with the Apollo Hospitals group.
Useful Info
Minister of State Health and Family Welfare - Anupriya Patel
Constituency – Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh
Narendra Modi launched - Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana ‘Saubhagya’
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched - Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana ‘Saubhagya’ to
provide electricity connections to over 4 crore families in rural and urban areas by December 2018. In India, four
crore out of 25 crore families do not have power connection even after 70 years of independence. Power Minister
R K Singh stated that India will achieve the target of power for all by December 2018, while all villages will be
electrified by the end of 2017.
• The Saubhagya scheme basically means Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana,
• It aims to provide access to electricity to all families in India,
• The Saubhagya scheme will provide free electricity connection to poor families of India,
• The total outlay for Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana is pegged at Rs 16,320 crore,
• The Centre will provide largely funds for the scheme to all States/UTs,
Saubhagya Yojana will give access to electricity to all ‘willing’ households in India
WEB PORTAL AND MOBILE APP
Google Tez UPI-Based Digital Payments App Launched in India
• Google Tez has become the latest UPI-based payments app in the country. The new Google Tez app can be
used to pay for movie tickets, utility bills, and make other transactions online. Tez means fast in Hindi, which the
company stated was one of the selling points of its new app. Google Tez is a standalone payments app, available
on Android and iOS, and is powered by UPI, a payments protocol built by government-backed organization NPCI.
The company has partnered with HDFC Bank, ICICI, and State Bank of India for backend processing.
Useful Info
Google HQ – Mountain View, California, United States
Google CEO – Sundar Pitchai
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Rajnath Singh has launched first Intelligence Wing of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Welfare &
Rehabilitation Board (WARB) App
• Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has launched first Intelligence Wing of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and
Welfare & Rehabilitation Board (WARB) App in New Delhi authorized to Protect the shared borders of India with
Nepal and Bhutan. The intelligence wing will gather actionable information in a bid to enhance operational
efficiency. WARB app comprises features to facilitate retired CAPFs and Assam Rifles personnel to get their
grievances redressed, seek skill development and other relevant and important information.
Useful Info
Union Minister of Home Affairs – Rajnath Singh
Constituency – Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
Rajni Kant Misra is the Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
Government Launches Hackathon to Promote App Ideas
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched a nationwide Hackathon
‘OpenGovDataHack’ to support and showcase potential ideas/talent from inner India. As part of the start-up eco-
system development program, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the Internet and Mobile Association of
India (IAMAI) have collaborated to conduct the Hackathon at Jaipur, Chennai, Noida, Bhubaneswar, Patna,
Hyderabad and Surat.
Useful Info
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology – Ravi Shankar Prasad
Constituency – Rajya Sabha, Bihar
Ram Vilas Paswan Launched “Electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWR) System”
• Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution launched the Web
Portal of Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) & “Electronic Negotiable Warehouse
Receipt (e-NWR) System” in New Delhi. e-NWRs have no chances of any tempering, mutilation, fudging, loss or
damage and with no possibility of any multiple financing. These initiatives would revolutionise the marketing of
agricultural commodities and help farmers realize better price for their produce which will be a step towards
doubling the farmers’ income by 2022 as well as Digital India mission.
Useful Info
Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution - Ram Vilas Paswan
Constituency – Hajipur (Bihar)
Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour (PENCIL) Portal Launched
• The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched the Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child
Labour (PENCIL) Portal at the National Conference on Child Labour organised by the Ministry of Labour and
Employment. The PENCIL is an electronic platform that aims at involving Centre, State, District, Governments, civil
society and the general public in achieving the target of child labour free society. Shri Rajnath Singh also
launched the Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the enforcement of legal framework against child
labour.
Useful Info
Union Minister for Home Affairs – Rajnath Singh
Constituency – Lucknow, Rajya Sabha
Minister of State for Labour and Employment (I/C) - Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar
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Constituency – Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
DEFENCE NEWS
12th edition of India-Nepal joint military exercise- Surya Kiran XII was held at Nepal
• The 12th edition of India-Nepal joint military exercise- Surya Kiran XII was held at Nepal Army Battle School
(NABS) in Saljhandi, Nepal. The 14 day exercise focused on skills required counter-terrorism and counter-terror,
forest fighting and natural disaster management operations. The Surya Kiran series of bilateral military exercises
are conducted bi-annually, alternatively in India and Nepal. It is largest exercise in terms of troop’s participation in
series of military training exercises undertaken by India with various countries.
Useful Info
Country – Nepal
Capital – Kathmandu
Currency – Nepalese Rupee
President - Bidhya Devi Bhandari
13th Edition of joint military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2017 between India & US
• A joint military training, Exercise Yudh Abhyas-2017 will be conducted at Joint Base Lewis McChord,
Washington, USA from 14 to 27 September 2017 between India and the USA. Exercise Yudh Abhyas is one of the
largest joint running military training and defence corporation endeavors between India and USA. This will be the
13th edition of the joint exercise hosted alternately between the two countries.
Useful Info
Country – United States of America
Capital – Washington D.C
Currency – US Dollar
President – Donald Trump
India and Japan have agreed to collaborate closely in defence production
• India and Japan have agreed to collaborate closely in defence production, including on dual-use technologies.
The two countries resolved to ramp up overall military engagement under the bilateral special strategic
framework. Union Defence Minister and his Japanese counterpart Itsunori Onodera signed the agreement during
India-Japan annual defence ministerial dialogue in Tokyo. The two sides also agreed to ramp up counter-terror
cooperation, besides deepening engagement among navies, air forces and ground forces of the two countries.
Useful Info
Union Defence Minister – Nirmala Sitharaman
Constiturncy – Rajya Sabha, Karnataka
Country – Japan
Capital – Tokyo
Currency – Japanese Yen
India and Sri Lanka Begin Joint Naval Exercise SLINEX 2017
• Indian Navy and Sri Lankan Navy has begun the 2017 Sri Lanka-India Exercise (SLINEX) at
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The exercise will conclude on till 14 September 2017. SLINEX 17 aims at
reinforcing strong neighbourly ties between both countries underscored by extensive maritime interaction and
improved understanding. The exercise will commence with a Harbour Phase, during which, the participants will
engage in professional, cultural and social interactions.
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Useful Info
Country – Sri Lanka
Capital – Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Currency – Sri Lankan Rupee
DRDO Carries Out Successful Tests of Nag Missile
• India's indigenously developed third generation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) Nag has been successfully
flight tested by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in deserts of Rajasthan, marking
the completion of development trials. According to the defence ministry, Nag has been successfully flight tested
twice by the DRDO against two different targets in Rajasthan. The missile can hit a target up to seven km.
Useful Info
DRDO - Defence Research and Development Organisation
Headquarters – New Delhi
Present Chairman - S Christopher
Shaheen VI: China-Pakistan Air Forces Joint Exercise
• The air forces of China and Pakistan began a joint training exercise named "Shaheen VI" and deployed their
latest fighter jets and AWACS aircraft. China has dispatched J-11 fighters, JH-7 fighter-bombers, KJ-200 AWACS
aircraft and ground forces including surface-to-air missile and radar troops. The exercise will run in China. AWACS
is Airborne Warning And Control System, a mobile, long-range radar surveillance and control centre for air
defence.
Useful Info
Country – China
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Renminbi (yuan)
Country – Pakistan
Capital – Islamabad
Currency – Pakistani Rupee
Turkey Signs Deal to Buy Russian S-400 Missile Systems
• Turkey has signed a deal with Russia to buy S-400 missile defence systems in its first major weapons
purchase from Moscow, according to the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The accord for the surface-
to-air missile defence batteries is Ankara's most significant pact with a non-NATO supplier.
Useful Info
Country – Turkey
Capital – Ankara
Currency – Turkish Lira
IAF Completes Development Trials of Astra air-to-air Missile
• Final development trials of indigenous beyond visual range air-to-air missile Astra were successfully
concluded into the Indian Air Force. The trials were conducted over the Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast at
Chandipur, with the missile being test-fired from a Su-30 fighter aircraft. The missile has been designed to be
capable of engaging high-speed targets at short range, up to 20 km in tail-chase mode and long range, up to 80
km in head-on chase mode.
Useful Info
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DRDO – Defence Research and Development Organisation
Headquarters of DRDO – New Delhi
Chairman of DRDO - S. Christopher
Indigenous Artillery Gun Sets New World Record in Range
• An indigenous artillery gun, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), being developed by the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has set a new world record in range by hitting
targets at a distance of 48 km. During trial firings at Pokhran ranges, ATAGS registered the longest ever distance
of 48.074 km, surpassing the maximum range of 35-40 km fired by any artillery gun system in this category.
US Army and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) inaugurated a permanent base In Israel
• The US Army and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) inaugurated a permanent base In Israel. This is the first
time that a permanent American base has been opened in the Middle Eastern country. The base represents the
long-standing partnership, the strategic commitment between the armies and the militaries of the United States of
America and Israel. Several dozen American soldiers will be stationed at the base in Israel’s south.
Useful Info
Country – United States of America
Capital – Washington D. C
Currency – US Dollar
Country – Israel
Capital – Jerusalem
Currency – Israeli new shekel
US and UAE Joint Military Exercise named Iron Union 5
• The US and UAE's ground forces had begun a joint military exercise in Abu Dhabi, as part of efforts to
consolidate their bilateral relations and exchange training and military expertise. Code-named Iron Union 5, the
drill is an extension of a series of Iron Claw exercises. The exercise aims to upgrade and boost the readiness of
the UAE's armed forces and to allow both armies to promote their international co-operation in joint military
operations.
Useful Info
Country – United Arab Emirates
Capital – Abu Dhabi
Currency - United Arab Emirates dirham
First Scorpene Submarine INS Kalvari Delivered to Navy
• The first of the Scorpene class submarines, INS Kalvari, was delivered to the Indian Navy by Mazagon
Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). The submarine will soon be commissioned into the Indian Navy. Similarly,
other Scorpene class submarines Khanderi and Karanj are undergoing trials and development. The delivery of a
submarine means that its trials are over and the navy has accepted the boat. Commissioning is a ceremony that
officially makes it part of the navy’s fleet.
Useful Info
Union Defence Minister – Nirmala Sitharaman
Constituency – Rajya Sabha, Karnataka
Chief of Naval Staff of Indian Navy – Sunil Lanba
Indian Army organized Operation Sadbhavana for National Integration
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• The Indian Army has organized Operation Sadbhavana for National Integration. These operations
are carried out by Indian Army in Jammu & Kashmir and North East states respectively. Under this, army
undertakes various civic action programmes which aimed at winning hearts of the people and integration of the
people with the nation. The Sadbhavana tour was organised by the 109 Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army.
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) Signs Contract for Supply of MRSAM to Indian Army
• Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has signed a contract with Research Centre Imarat (RCI) for the supply of
Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM) to Indian Army. The contract was signed to facilitate
production, deliveries and product support of MRSAM system for the Indian Army.
Useful Info
BDL – Bharat Dynamics Limited
Headquarters of BDL - Hyderabad
CMD of BDL - V. Udaya Bhaskar
INS Tarasa Commissioned into Indian Navy
• INS Tarasa, a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft intended for extended coastal and offshore surveillance and
patrolling, was commissioned into the Indian Navy. Western Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Girish Luthra
has commissioned the vessel. The vessel has been built in Kolkata. It is the fourth and last of the Water Jet FACs
built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata. The first two, INS Tarmugli and INS Tihayu were
commissioned in 2016 and are based in Vishakhapatnam. The third, INS Tillanchang, was commissioned in March
2017 and is based in Karwar.
Useful Info
Union Defence Minister – Nirmala Sitharaman
Constituency – Rajya Sabha, Karnataka
Present Chief of Naval Staff of Indian Navy – Sunil Lanba
Defence minister flags off women's circumnavigation expedition
• Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman flagged off Navika Sagar Parikrama in Goa, a circumnavigation
programme by women naval officers. This is the the first Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women
crew. The project will be a milestone in promoting ocean sailing activities by the Indian Navy. The expedition is
aimed at promoting women empowerment in the country. Under the project, a team of six women officers of the
Indian Navy would circumnavigate the globe on India-built sail boat INSV Tarini.
Useful Info
Union Defence Minister – Nirmala Sitharaman
Constituency – Karnataka, Rajya Sabha
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to visit Siachen base camp
• Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, will today visit the
Ladakh region where she will take stock of the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The defence
minister will also visit Siachen base camp. Interacting with the troops on the first day of her visit, the Defence
minister appreciated the effectiveness of the intelligence and operational grids and commended the troops for the
excellent operational successes which had contributed significantly towards a secure environment in the state. Ms
Sitharaman also complimented the army commanders for the high level of synergy achieved with the state police
and Central Armed Police Forces. Defence Minister accompanied by Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat visited the
Chinar Corps in Badami Bagh Srinagar.
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Useful Info
Union Minister for Defence – Nirmala Sitharaman
Constituency – Karnataka, Rajya Sabha
Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat
VIP’S VISIT TO INDIA:
President of Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard is on the three-day visit to India
• President of Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard is on the three-day visit to India. A number of agreements
are expected to be signed in several areas after the talks. India and Switzerland enjoy robust economic ties, with
Switzerland being seventh largest trading partner and eleventh largest foreign investor for India.
Useful Info
Country – Switzerland
Capital – Bern
Currency - Swiss franc
Belarus President Aleksandr Grigoryevich Lukashenko met PM Modi in New Delhi
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Belarus President Aleksandr Grigoryevich Lukashenko in New Delhi to
discuss various issues of mutual interest of both countries. A number of agreements are expected to be signed in
several areas after the talks. Mr. Lukashenko’s visit is significant as it taking place in a year when Belarus and
India are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Useful Info
Country – Belarus
Capital – Minsk
Currency – Belarusian Ruble
RANKING AND INDEXES
India Jumps to 14th Rank as Best Country for Expats: HSBC Survey
• India leapt up the global rankings by 12 places to take the 14th spot in terms of best country for expats to
live and work in, according to the HSBC survey. The list has been topped by Singapore. 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. According to the survey, about 71 percent expats in India reported high levels of confidence in the local
economy, while 58 percent exuded optimism on political stability.
Useful Info
1st in the List – Singapore
14th – India
HSBC Headquarters - London, United Kingdom
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission Completes 3 Years in Orbit
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) stated that its Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) which has
completed three years in its Martian orbit is in good health and continues to work as expected. On the occasion
of completion of three years in its Martian orbit released MOM second-year science data from September 24,
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2014, to September 23, 2016. The 450-crore rupees MOM mission aims at studying the Martian surface and
mineral composition. It will also scan its atmosphere for methane which is an indicator of life on Mars.
Useful Info
ISRO - Indian Space Research Organisation
Headquarters of ISRO – Bengaluru
Chairperson - AS Kiran Kumar
SPORTS NEWS
Hockey
Hockey India has sacked national coach Roelant Oltmans
• Hockey India has sacked national coach Roelant Oltmans after a string of unimpressive outings at the
international level. High-Performance Director David John will be in charge till a suitable replacement is found for
a smooth transition of the men’s team. The decision was taken during the three-day meeting of the Hockey India
High Performance and Development Committee, which concluded.
Useful Info
Major Dhyan Chand is the legendary Indian Hockey Player.
The National Sports Day in India is celebrated on 29 august every year. This day marks the birthday of Dhyan
Chand.
Tennis
US Open Tennis Tournament 2017 Complete List of Winners
• The 2017 US Open was the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year. It was held on outdoor hard
courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, USA. The tournament is an event run
by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Rafael Nadal was the winner of Men's Singles. With this win,
Nadal captured his third US Open title and his 16th Grand Slam title overall. Sloane Stephens was the winner of
Women's Singles. The 83rd-ranked Stephens is only the second unseeded woman to win the tournament in the
Open era.
Here is the complete list of winners/runner-ups of the Tournament:-
S. No. Event Winner Runner-Up
1. Men's Singles Rafael Nadal Kevin Anderson
2. Women's Singles Sloane Stephens Madison Keys
3. Men's Doubles Jean-Julien Rojer / Horia Tecau Feliciano Lopez / Marc Lopez
4. Women's Doubles Chan Yung-jan / Martina Hingis Lucie Hradecka / Katerina Siniakova
5. Mixed Doubles Martina Hingis / Jamie Murray Chan Hao-ching / Michael Venus
Here is the name of players and the country from which they belong to:-
S. No. Name of Player Winner/Runner-Up Country
1. Rafael Nadal Spain
2. Kevin Anderson South Africa
3. Sloane Stephens USA
4. Madison Keys USA
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5. Jean-Julien Rojer Netherlands
6. Horia Tecau Romania
7. Feliciano Lopez Spain
8. Marc Lopez Spain
9. Chan Yung-jan Taiwan
10. Martina Hingis Switzerland
11. Lucie Hradecka Czech Republic
12. Katerina Siniakova Czech Republic
13. Jamie Murray United Kingdom
14. Chan Hao-ching Taiwan
15. Michael Venus New Zealand
Sloane Stephens wins US open Women's Singles Title
• Unseeded American Sloane Stephens lifted the US Open women's singles title. Sloane ranked 83rd
completed a spectacular return from injury to beat 15th seed Keys 6-3, 6-0 in the finals. The 24-year-old was
ranked as low as 957th six weeks ago went on to become only the fifth unseeded woman to win a major title in
the Open era. Sloane stunned Venus Williams in the semifinal.
Useful Info
US open Women’s Single Winner - Sloane Stephens
Country – United States of America
Capital – Washington D.C
Currency – US Dollar;President – Donald Trump
Cricket
BCCI Nominates MS Dhoni for Padma Bhushan Award
• The Indian cricket board, BCCI has nominated Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the country's third highest civilian
award - the Padma Bhushan, for his contribution to the game.A senior BCCI official confirmed that the Board has
only sent one name for the Padma awards this year and it was a unanimous decision to nominate India's most
successful captain.
ICC Launches Anti-Corruption Probe into Sri Lanka Cricket
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched an anti-corruption investigation in Sri Lanka. The
ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) officers had recently visited the country as part of the probe. The ICC Anti-
Corruption Unit works to uphold integrity in cricket and this includes conducting investigations where there are
reasonable grounds to do so.
Useful Info
ICC – International Cricket Council
Headquarters of ICC – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
ICC Announces Major Changes in Cricket Rules
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced several changes to the existing template of how the
sport of cricket is played. All the new rules will be implemented from September 28. The new rules incorporate
bat thickness, player conduct, DRS, run outs and catches.
Here are the major excerpts from the release:
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1. To maintain the balance between bat and ball, the playing conditions now restrict the size of the edges of the
bats as well as their thickness. The restriction on the length and width of bats remain unchanged but the
thickness of the edges can’t be more than 40mm and the overall depth can be 67 mm at the most.
2. In a new playing condition pertaining to players’ conduct, a player can now be sent off the field for the rest of
the match for any serious misconduct, meaning it will apply to Level 4 offences while the Level 1 to 3 offences will
continue to be dealt with under the ICC Code of Conduct. Threatening to assault an umpire, making inappropriate
and deliberate physical contact with an umpire, physically assaulting a player or any other person and committing
any other act of violence all constitute Level 4 offences.
3. The above changes will be applicable across all formats, as will be a change in the DRS rules by which a review
will now not be lost in case of a decision that remains unchanged, solely as the result of an ‘umpire’s call’. As for
DRS in Test matches, there will be no more top-up reviews after 80 overs of an innings, meaning that there can
only be two unsuccessful reviews in each innings, while the DRS will now also be allowed to be used in T20Is.
4. An important change with respect to run outs is that if a batsman is running or diving towards the crease with
forward momentum, and has grounded his/her bat behind the popping crease but subsequently has lost contact
with the ground at the time of the wickets being put down, the batsman will not be run out.
5. For boundary catches, airborne fielders making their first contact with the ball will need to have taken off from
within the boundary, otherwise, a boundary will be scored. Also, a batsman can now be out caught, stumped or run
out even if the ball bounces off the helmet worn by a fielder or wicket-keeper.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 1st Wicketkeeper to Effect 100 Stumpings
• Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the first wicketkeeper in world cricket to effect 100
stumpings in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Dhoni achieved the feat in his 301st ODI in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
36-year-old Dhoni has also taken 281 catches apart from scoring 9,657 runs so far. In 90 Tests, Dhoni has taken
256 catches and effected 38 stumpings. In T20 Internationals, Dhoni has taken 43 catches and affected 23
stumpings.
Useful Info
Former Sri Lankan Skipper Kumar Sangakkara is on second position with 99 Stumpings on his name.
Sri Lanka qualify for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019
• Sri Lanka has qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 after West Indies lost the first ODI against England
at Old Trafford. The 1996 world champions have become the eighth and last team to qualify directly, joining
Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.
Useful Info
Country – Sri Lanka
Capital – Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Currency – Sri Lankan Rupee
Star India secure the Indian Premier League's media rights
• Star India edged out Sony Pictures to secure the Indian Premier League's media rights with a bid of Rs
16,347.50 crore. The bidding for various media rights of the cash-rich league was held in Mumbai for a five-year
period from 2018-2022. The winning bid will allow Star India to air content on their properties for a period of five
years (2018-2022). The second highest bid was made by Sony, who bid Rs. 11,050 crores, for the rights. However,
Sony’s bid was for the Indian region only as compared to Star’s bid which is global.
Useful Info
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In 2008, Sony Pictures Network won the IPL media rights for a period of 10 years with a bid of Rs 8200 crore.
Boxing
Indian women's boxing's first foreign coach, Stephane Cottalorda, has resigned
• Indian women's boxing's first foreign coach, Stephane Cottalorda, has resigned after just one month of
appointment, alleging delay in salary and other payments. Cottalorda has claimed in his resignation letter that he
hasn't been paid his salary for the first month in full and has also cited 'lack of professionalism' on part of Boxing
Federation of India (BFI) as his reasons for not coming back to India.
India to host South Asian boxing Championship in Guwahati
• India will host the South Asian Boxing Championship for the first time in Guwahati from December 6 to 10.
Boxing Federation of India (BFI) after its executive committee meeting, stated that the country will also host the
‘India International Open tournament’ in New Delhi in the third week of January. RK Sacheti has been
unanimously elected as the new Executive Director of the federation. For the first time, it will initiate a grading
system as well on the lines of AIBA’s star rating qualifications for coaches, referee judges.
Useful Info
State – Assam
Capital – Dispur
CM – Sarbananda Sonowal
Governor – Banwarilal Purohit
Badminton
PV Sindhu becomes the first Indian to win the Korea Open
• PV Sindhu becomes the first Indian to win the Korea Open Superseries with an outstanding 22-20, 11-21,
21-18 win over Nozomi Okuhara in the much-talked-about women's singles final in Seoul. Olympic silver medallist
shuttler P V Sindhu beat world champion Nozomi Okuhara in a thrilling final to clinch the women's singles title at
the Korea Open Super Series.
Useful Info
Country – South Korea
Capital – Seoul
Currency – South Korean Won
PV Sindhu - Olympic silver medallist shuttler (India)
Sports Ministry Recommends P.V. Sindhu for Padma Bhushan
• Olympic silver medallist shuttler P.V. Sindhu has been recommended for the prestigious Padma Bhushan,
country’s third highest civilian award, by the Sports Ministry. She is two-time bronze medallist at World
Championship. In March 2015, Sindhu was awarded India’s fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri.
For the First Time, Five Indian Shuttlers in Top-20 of BWF Men’s Rankings
• For the first time, Five Indians are in the top-20 of the BWF men’s singles rankings with H S Prannoy being
the biggest gainer after his quarterfinal showing at the Japan Open. Prannoy has jumped four places to be world
no.15.
The 5 Indian Shuttlers in the top 20 BWF men’s singles rankings are-
1. Kidambi Srikanth (8th)
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2. HS Prannoy (15th)
3. B Sai Praneeth (17th)
4. Sameer Verma (19th)
5. Ajay Jayaram (20th)
Foot Ball
Official Slogan and Emblem of FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 launched
• The official emblem and slogan for FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 were unveiled in Paris, France.
The emblem features the competition trophy wrapped in blue and white, with eight shards of light around football
at the top of the trophy symbolizing the eighth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup.The slogan of the
tournament "Dare To Shine" reflects the development of football, especially women's football. FIFA President
Gianni Infantino and French Football Federation (FFF) President Noel le Graet attended the unveiling event.
Useful Info
Gianni Infantino is the President of FIFA
Eighth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 – France
Slogan of the tournament "Dare To Shine"
First Indian team for FIFA U-17 World Cup announced
• The first ever Indian squad to participate in the a FIFA World Cup, U-17 World Cup Squad has been
announced. The 21 players who will participate in the World Cup Squad include Dheeraj Singh, Prabhsukhan Gill,
Sunny Dhaliwal Boris Singh, Jitendra Singh, Anwar Ali, Sanjeev Stalin and Hendry Antonay. FIFA U-17 World Cup
is scheduled to start in Panaji from 6 October. India will take on USA on 6 October, followed by Colombia and
Ghana on 9 and 12 October respectively at New Delhi.
Basketball
Amritpal Singh, First Indian to be Signed by Australian Basketball Team
• Captain of Indian basketball team Amritpal Singh created history by becoming the first Indian player to be
signed by an Australian Basketball team. He will be a part of the Sydney Kings during their pre-season tour
where they will also take on the game against Utah Jazz side. Born in a village of Punjab, Singh initially played for
the Pune Peshwas in the Indian Basketball League.
Useful Info
Country – Australia
Capital – Canberra
Currency – Australian Dollar
India Win 2nd South Asian Basketball (SABA) U-16 Championship
• India has won 2nd South Asian Basketball, SABA, Under - 16 Championship. India defeated Bhutan by
131-50 in its last league match at Kathmandu in Nepal. India remained unbeaten in its all four matches and
accumulated 8 points. Bangladesh finished second and host Nepal third. The championship was played in a
round robin league format. India has now qualified for 2017 International Basketball Federation, FIBA, Under-16
Asian Championship to be played in Malaysia later this year.
Useful Info
1st Place – India (New Delhi, Indian Rupee)
2nd Place – Bangladesh (Dhaka, Taka)
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3rd Place – Nepal (Kathmandu, Nepalese Rupee)
Shooting
India Finishes 5th at Moscow Shotgun World Championships
• India has finished fifth in the medals tally with one gold and two silver medals at the Moscow Shotgun
World Championships. Only 16 of the 76 participating nations got amongst the medals and Italy topped the tally
with nine gold medals for a total of 17 medals in all. Both their Olympic skeet champions Gabrielle Rossetti
and Diana Bacosi were also crowned world champions in the process. The USA stood second with five gold
medals for a total of 12. Hosts Russia were third in the overall tally with two golds for a total of eight.
Useful Info
Country – Russia
Capital – Moscow
Currency – Russian Ruble
1st in the list – Italy(Rome, Euro)
5th in the list – India
Wrestling
India Wrestler Sonam Malik won a gold medal in Cadet World Wrestling Championship
• India Wrestler Sonam Malik won a gold medal by defeating Japanese Wrestler Sena Nagamoto by 3-1 points
on the fourth-day of Cadet World Wrestling Championship in Athens. The other female Wrestler Neelam also
bagged Bronze Medal in 43-kilogram weight category. Wrestler Anshu will fight for Gold Medal with Japanese
Wrestler Naomi Ruike in 60-kilogram weight category.
Useful Info
World Wrestling Championship 2017 – Athens
Country – Greece
Capital – Athens
Currency – Euro
Gold Medal - Sonam Malik
India to Host Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in 2019
• India will host the 2019 edition of the Commonwealth (Youth, Junior and Senior) Weightlifting
Championships. The Executive Board of Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation met at Gold Coast, Australia
and decided to allot the 2019 edition of the competitions to India. The current edition of the tournament is being
held at the Gold Coast, Australia.
Athletic
Asian Indoor Games: Purnima Wins Gold in Pentathlon
• India won its first athletics gold, through Purnima Hembram in women’s pentathlon, in the fifth Asian
Indoor and Martial Arts Games at Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. India also got two silvers, through Sanjivani Jadhav
in women’s 3000m and Tejinder Singh Toor in men’s shot put, and a bronze through Kerala’s V. Neena in women’s
long jump.
Useful Info
Country – Turkmenistan
Capital – Ashgabat
Currency – Turkmenistan manat
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G. Lakshmananand P. U. Chitra won gold medals in the athletics events
• Asian champions G. Lakshmanan and P. U. Chitra won gold medals in the athletics events of the fifth
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.Tamil Nadu’s Lakshmanan won the men’s
3000m while Kerala’s Chitra, who was not cleared by the national body Athletics Federation of India for the recent
World Championships in London despite making the cut, took the women’s 1500m title.
Useful Info
Fifth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Country –Turkmenistan
Capital –Ashgabat
Currency –Turkmenistan manat
Lakshmanan Wins 5,000m gold in Athletics Nationals
• Reigning Asian champion Govindan Lakshmanan of Services cruised to victory in the men’s 5000-metre
race on the opening day of the 57th National Open Athletics Championships at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai.
Lakshmanan has recently won gold in the 3,000m event at the Asian Indoor Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Olympic News
Paris Officially Awarded 2024 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles Gets 2028
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has formally announced that Paris has been awarded the
2024 summer Olympics and Los Angeles has been given the 2028 edition. There were no other candidates for
either of the Games and the two cities had worked out a deal in advance. Paris, which has hosted two previous
Olympics, will stage the event 100 years after its last Games in 1924 while Los Angeles will also organise its third
Games after 1932 and 1984.
Useful Info
2024 Olympics host – Paris
2028 Olympics host – Los Angeles
IOC - International Olympic Committee
Headquarters of IOC - Lausanne, Switzerland
President of IOC - Thomas Bach
IOA formally awarded to Goa the rights to host the 36th National Games
• The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formally awarded to Goa the rights to host the 36th National
Games. The announcement was made by the state sports minister Manohar Ajgaonkar. Ajgaonkar stated that IOA
Secretary General Rajeev Mehta, in a letter to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, had formally conferred the
rights to the state to host the sporting event in November 2017.
Useful Info
State – Goa
Capital – Panaji
CM – Manohar Parrikar
Governor - Mridula Sinha
Others
Lewis Hamilton Wins Singapore Grand Prix
• Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton won the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, in Singapore. Hamilton’s rival
Sebastian Vettel withdrew in the middle of the race due to his damaged Ferrari car.
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Useful Info
Lewis Hamilton is a Formula one Racer
He drives for Mercedes.
Cyclist Mark Beaumont has broken the world record
• Mark Beaumont has broken the world record for cycling around the world - by 44 days. The 34-year-old, from
Perthshire, arrived in Paris one day ahead of schedule having cycled the 18,000-mile route in 79 days. He set a
new world record of 194 days in 2008. Since then it has been broken by other riders, with the previous record set
at 123 days. He was on his bike for more than 16 hours a day and only slept for five hours each night.
India bags 4 more Medals at 5th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan
• In the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games at Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, India bagged four medals. Sajan
Prakash of India finished second with the silver medal in the Men's 100-metre butterfly event. Divya Gurling
Shilwant and Pratiksha Chandrakant Parhar bagged a bronze each in women's Alysh classic in 70 kg and 75 kg
categories in the Belt Wrestling Discipline. Wrestler Keduovilie Zumu from Nagaland won the bronze medal in
the 90 kg category of Kazakh Kuresh style belt wrestling. Meanwhile, Sourav Kothari assured himself of a medal
after winning his semifinal contest in men's billiards singles against Thailand's Thawat Sujaritthurakaran 3-0.
India is at 11th spot in the medals tally with 5 gold, 7 silver and 7 bronze.
Useful Info
Country – Turkmenistan
Capital – Ashgabat
Currency – Turkmenistan manat
OBITUARY
Pulitzer-Prize Winning Poet John Ashbery Passes Away
• Pulitzer-prize winning poet John Ashbery, a post-modern American trailblazer, has passed away at age of 90
in Hudson, New York. His 1975 collection "Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror" made history when he became the
lone writer to earn three major accolades the same year for the same work: the Pulitzer in addition to a National
Book Award and a National Book Critics Circle Award.
Useful Info
In 2012, Ashbery received the National Humanities Medal from then-president Barack Obama.
Frank Vincent, Veteran Actor Passes Away
• Frank Vincent, who played tough guys and mobsters in "The Sopranos" and a number of director Martin
Scorsese movies, died at age 80. In 2006, Vincent wrote the nonfiction book 'A Guy's Guide to Being a Man's
Man'. "The Death Collector," was his debut movie.
The sole Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Arjan Singh, passed away
• THE sole Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Arjan Singh, passed away at the Army’s Research and Referral
Hospital. He was 98 years old. Arjan Singh had the honour of leading the fly-past of more than a hundred IAF
aircraft over the Red Fort on India’s first Independence Day, August 15, 1947. In 2002, on the occasion of Republic
Day, he was granted the honorary rank of Marshal, the highest military rank attainable, which before him only two
Army chiefs, K M Carriappa and Sam Manekshaw, had achieved. For his meritorious services during the 1965
Indo-Pak War, Arjan Singh was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan. He became the first officer of the IAF to be
promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal, at par with a General. He also served as a member of the Minorities
Commission and as the Lt Governor of Delhi.
Monthly GK and Current Affairs Capsule–September 2017
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Useful Info
Present Defence Minister of India – Nirmala Sitharaman
Constituency – Rajya Sabha, karnataka
World's oldest person Violet Mosse-Brown from Jamaica has died at the age of 117
• The world's oldest person Violet Mosse-Brown from Jamaica has died at the age of 117. She was born on
March 10, 1900, in Jamaica. The prime minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, informed about Mosse-Brown's
death. Brown had been given the honor in April 2017 when Italy's Emma Morano died, also at the age of 117.
With the death of Brown, Japanese 117-year-old Nabi Tajima is now the known oldest human on the planet.
Useful Info
Country – Jamaica
Capital – Kingston
Currency - Jamaican dollar
Jake LaMotta, former boxing champion Passes Away
• Jake LaMotta, former boxing champion whose life of violence in and out of the ring was portrayed in the
movie "Raging Bull," passed away in Miami. He was in his 90s and died of complications of pneumonia. Fighting
mostly as a middleweight and known as the "Raging Bull" and "Bronx Bull," LaMotta finished his 13-year
career with 83 victories (30 by knockout), 19 losses and four draws. He was ranked 52nd in the list of 80 best
fighters in the year 2002.
Yesteryear actor Shakila Passes Away
• Yesteryear Bollywood actor Shakila, known for her work in films like Aar Paar and CID, died after a heart
attack. She was 82. She was famous after the song “Baabuji dheere chalna...”
World's Richest Woman Liliane Bettencourt Passes Away
• Liliane Bettencourt, heir to the French L’Oreal hairspray empire and the world’s wealthiest woman, has
died aged 94. She was from France. Bettencourt, whose net worth was estimated at about €33bn (£29bn) this
year, was the face of one of France’s biggest cosmetics conglomerates and had once captured the public’s
imagination as the nation’s poor little rich girl.
Playboy magazine Founder Hugh Hefner Passes Away
• Playboy magazine founder and sexual revolution symbol Hugh Hefner has passed away. He was 91. He died
at his home of natural causes. He founded the magazine in 1953. Hefner built a brand that defined the sexual
culture of the second half of the 20th century.
Veteran actor Tom Alter dies at 67
• Veteran film, television and theatre actor and Padma Shri Tom Alter has died at aged 67. The renowned actor
and one-time sports writer and author had been battling stage four skin cancer. Alter acted in over 300 movies
apart from numerous TV shows, most famously as the gangster Keshav Kalsi in the hit soap opera Junoon which
ran for a record five years during the 1990s. In addition to acting, Alter also ventured into direction and was a
sports journalist in the 80s and 90s. He was the first person to interview Sachin Tendulkar for TV when the
cricketer was yet to debut for India. Alter has written three books, one non-fiction and two fiction, and in 2008
was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri by the Indian government in recognition for his services to the field of
arts and cinema.