Daily updates 18 October 2019

National

1. NITI Aayog launches India Innovation Index 2019

• NITI Aayog with Institute for Competitiveness as the knowledge partner released the India Innovation Index (III) 2019. Karnataka is the most innovative major state in India.
• Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana, Haryana, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh form the remaining top ten major states respectively.
• Sikkim and Delhi take the top spots among the northeastern & hill states, and union territories/city-states/small states respectively.
• Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh are the most efficient states in translating inputs into output.
• The study examines the innovation ecosystem of Indian states and union territories.
• The aim is to create a holistic tool which can be used by policymakers across the country to identify the challenges to be addressed and strengths to build on when designing the economic growth policies for their regions.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB (Clerk) Mains:

• Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog: Rajiv Kumar; CEO, NITI Aayog: Amitabh Kant.

2. Commemorative stamp on centenary of NIN released

• Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan released a postal stamp to commemorate the centenary celebrations of the city-based ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) at a function held at Indian Council of Medical Research in New Delhi.
• The postal stamp has been brought out under the ‘Corporate My Stamp’ scheme of India Posts.
• About 5,000 stamps with a face value of ₹5 each have been printed and the India Posts would print an additional 1,000 sheets for sale online at the e-post office and for display and sale at national and global philately exhibitions by the Department.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB (Clerk) Main 2019:

• ICMR Director: Balram Bhragava; NIN Director: R. Hemaltha.

3. NH No. 703AA in Punjab named as Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg

• Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced the naming of new National Highway No. 703AA as "Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg."
• The road starting from Kapurthala connecting Goindwal Sahib and terminating near Taran Taran in Punjab. The naming would be effective from next month.
• The decision has been taken to mark the 550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB (Clerk) Main 2019:

• CM of Punjab: Amarinder Singh; Governor: VP Singh Badnore.

International

4. Italy set to introduce web tax on digital giants from 2020

• Italy approved a new tax on digital companies, including U.S. tech giants, as part of its 2020 draft budget on October 16.
• The levy, due to be introduced from next year, will oblige companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon, to pay a 3% levy on internet transactions, according to a text of the draft budget.
• The Italian scheme is expected to yield about 600 million euros ($662 million) a year.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• President: Sergio Mattarella; Prime Minister: Giuseppe Conte.
• Capital: Rome; Currency: Euro.

State News

5. Odisha's first Robot Restaurant opens in Bhubaneswar

• Odisha's smart city Bhubaneswar gets it 1st Robo Chef Restaurant in Odisha.
• The Robot Restaurant opened at the Infocity DLF tower of Bhubaneswar claims to be the first restaurant in Eastern India where two indigenously developed robots, 'Champa' and 'Chameli' are engaged.
• The robots are developed at a Jaipur-based startup using SLAM technology, and It automatically navigates like humans, follows the routes and instructions.
• Not only this, after serving the food, the robots will also ask you for feedback in Odia that 'Are you happy'.
• Earlier Chennai and Bengaluru had introduced smart restaurants with robots machines imported from China.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB (Clerk) Main 2019:

• Utkal Divas or Odisha Day falls every year on 01st April.

6. CM Kamal Nath inaugurates "Magnificent Madhya Pradesh Conference"

• Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath formally inaugurated the 2-day Magnificent Madhya Pradesh Conference started.
• Many well-known industrialists are attending this conference held in Indore.
• The event showcasing various opportunities that exist in the state in variegated sectors, including food processing, pharmaceuticals, textile and garment, warehousing and logistics, IT &ESDM, urban development and renewable energy.
• Chief Minister Kamal Nath also inaugurated the Global Trade Exhibition at the Brilliant Convention Centre, Indore.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB (Clerk) Mains:

• Governor of Madhya Pradesh: Lal Ji Tandon.

7. Tamil Nadu constitutes two panels over water disputes with Kerala

• The Tamil Nadu government constituted two committees to deal over water disputes with Kerala relating to the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) and the Pandiyar-Punnampuzha project.
• Secretary of Tamil Nadu’s Public Works Department (PWD) K. Manivasan would lead both the committees constituted by the State government.
• Cauvery Technical Committee chairperson R. Subramanian is also part of both the panels.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB (Clerk) Mains:

• Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
• Governor of Tamil Nadu: Banwarilal Purohit.
• Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai.

8. Satya Pal Malik inaugurates J&K Bazar

• Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has inaugurated J&K Bazar.
• J&K Bazar is a retail showroom of authentic Jammu Kashmir Handicrafts, Handlooms, Silk, Agro-based products and Restaurant serving Authentic Kashmiri Cuisine at J&K House in New Delhi.
• The newly constructed state-of-the-art showroom is for promoting J&K specific products of handicrafts and authentic cuisine.
• The newly inaugurated showroom shall cater to the people who cherish the Kashmiri handicraft and relish the traditional Kashmiri food which is now available in the heart of Delhi.
• Other handicraft products in the showroom which are on display include-Paper Mache items, carved walnut-wood items, Pashmina shawls and Kashmiri embroidery sarees.

Appointments

9. World Steel Association elected Sajjan Jindal as vice Chairman

• The World Steel Association (Worldsteel) has elected Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director, JSW Steel, as Vice-Chairman of the association for one year.
• The association has also appointed Tata Steel CEO and MD T V Narendran and Arcelor Mittal Chief L N Mittal as its members.
• The board also elected a 14-member Executive Committee.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

• Chairman of World Steel Association: Andre Johannpeter; Formed: 10 July 1967.
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.

Agreement

10. Home Credit India join hand with Karur Vysya Bank for joint lending

• Home Credit India (HCIN), a local arm of the international consumer finance provider, has tied-up with Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) for joint lending using end-to-end automated processing which will help the customer get real-time approval and disbursement.
• Under the agreement, HCIN and KVB will disburse loans in a single amount to customers.
• With this partnership and by leveraging the lower cost of funds of KVB, Home Credit India will be able to reach out to a new segment of customer.
• Home Credit India has operations spread over 179 cities across 20 States in India.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

• Managing Director and CEO: PR Seshadri; founded: 1916.
• Headquarters: Karur, Tamil Nadu.
• Tagline: Smart Way to Bank.

Awards

11. Hong Kong's orchestra wins "Orchestra of the year award 2019" at Gramophone Awards

• Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra has been named orchestra of the year at the 2019 Gramophone Awards.
• The group is the first Asian orchestra to win the award, a fact noted by its Dutch-born conductor Van Zweden, who has been its Music Director since 2012.
• The category is the only one of the classical music magazine’s awards open to the public vote. This award is often likened to the Oscars for the classical music world.

Defence

12. India, Japan joint Air Force exercise 'Shinyuu Maitri' 2019 began in West Bengal

• Indian Air Force and Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) carrying out a joint military air force exercise named 'Shinyuu Maitri' began from October 17 to 23, at the air force station, Arjan Singh in Panagarh town in West Bengal.
• C-130 J aircraft of the Special Operations Squadron of IAF and C-130 H of Tactical Airlift Squadron of JASDF will participate in the exercise.
• The focus of the exercise will be to undertake Joint Mobility and Tactical interoperability among the two forces.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

• Motto of the Indian Air Force: Nabha Sprsham Deeptam (The Glory that touches the sky).
• Air Chief Marshal: Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.

13. India-Oman begin joint training exercise 'EX EASTERN BRIDGE-V'

• Indian Air Force (IAF) kickstarted its bilateral joint exercise with Royal Air Force Oman (RAFO), named 'EX EASTERN BRIDGE-V' at Air Force Base Masirah, Oman.
• The exercise will be held till October 26. The IAF contingent comprises of MiG-29 and C-17 aircraft.
• MiG-29 will be exercising with Royal Air Force Oman’s Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16 and Hawk.
• For the first time, MiG-29 fighter aircraft will be participating in an international exercise outside India.
• The exercise will enhance inter-operability during mutual operations between the two Air Forces and will provide an opportunity to learn from each other's best practices. Last time, the bilateral exercise was held in 2017 at Jamnagar, Gujarat.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• Oman Capital: Muscat, Currency: Omani rial.

Books and Authors

14. A new book titled "India in a Warming world: Integrating Climate Change and Development" set to release

• A new book titled "India in a Warming World: Integrating Climate Change and Development" is set to release on November 2019.
• This book is featuring a collection of articles by climate experts including Sunita Narain, Anil Agarwal, Dr Friederike Otto & Shibani Ghosh, edited by Navroz K Dubash.
•  It is published by Oxford University Press(OUP).
• This book aims to bring together the many and growing, voices that seek to find the language and ideas with which to engage climate change and to do so from a perspective that resonates with broader Indian development policy discourses.

Sports

15. England all-rounder Jennifer Louise Gunn announces retirement from international cricket

• England all-rounder Jennifer Louise Gunn has announced her retirement from international cricket.
• Gunn, who is England’s most capped player in T20Is, made 259 appearances for her country, winning 3 World Cups and five Ashes series.
• She was a member of the England side that won the inaugural Women’s World T20 in 2009, and also featured in her country’s Women’s World Cup-winning campaign that same year.

Miscellaneous

16. NCERT to revise 14-year-old curriculum framework

• The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is planning to review the 14-year-old National Curriculum Framework (NCF) in accordance with new national education policy (NEP) and set up a committee for the purpose.
• The NCF has been revised four times so far - in 1975, 1988, 2000 and 2005. A panel led by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K Kasturirangan had submitted the draft of the new national education policy to Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.
• The new proposed revision will be a 5th of the framework. The council is also undertaking a survey in six blocks to analyse the quality of primary education available and the areas that need change.
• The revision of NCERT textbooks has also been recommended in the new education policy draft.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB (Clerk) Mains:

• Director of NCERT (ex-officio) Chairperson: Prof. Hrushikesh Senapaty.
• Headquarters of NCERT: New Delhi.