Daily updates 4 September 2019

National News

1. GoI announces contribution of 22 mn USD to GFTAM
i. The Government of India has announced a contribution of 22 million US Dollars to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFTAM) for the 6th replenishment cycle (2020-22), an increase of 10% over the amount contributed in the 5th cycle.
ii. India stands firm to its long-standing partnership with the Global Fund and its commitment to eliminate AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. India’s pledge for the Global Fund strongly demonstrates its strong political leadership to achieve the universal health for all and its equally strong commitment to work across borders to join hands in fighting the epidemics of these three diseases.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB Main 2019:

• Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare: Harsh Vardhan.

International News

2. 1st ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise (AUMX) begins
i. The first ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise (AUMX) between the regional bloc and Washington, starting at the Sattahip Naval Base in Thailand and ending in Singapore.
ii. This drill is Co-led by the US and Royal Thai navies, the exercises will stretch into "international waters in Southeast Asia, including the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea". 
iii. The drills come at a time of stepped-up US engagement in the region and tensions between Beijing and Southeast Asian nations over the South China Sea.

State News

3. UDAN regional connectivity scheme launched in Haryana from Hisar
i. Hisar, Haryana has entered into the civil aviation map after the launch of the air shuttle service between Hisar and Chandigarh. 
ii. SpiceJet has started the air shuttle service between Hisar and Chandigarh under the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik (UDAN) Regional Connectivity Service scheme. SpiceJet would provide the service of two flights between Hisar and Chandigarh daily.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB PO Mains:

• Haryana Capital: Chandigarh; Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar; Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya.

Agreement

4. ESIC Signs an Agreement with SBI
i. Employees' State Insurance Corporation(ESIC) signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with State Bank of India for direct transfer of benefits electronically into bank accounts of all stakeholders.
ii. As per an agreement signed between the two, SBI will provide e-payment services directly to bank accounts of all ESIC beneficiaries and payees without any manual intervention as an integrated and automated process through its cash management product e-payment technology platform.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB Main 2019:

• Director-General of ESIC: Rajkumar; Chairman of SBI: Rajnish Kumar.

Appointment

5. CEC Sunil Arora assumes charge as Chairman of AWEB
i. Chief election commissioner Sunil Arora took charge as chairman of Association of World Election Bodies (AWEB). The CEC will serve a two-year term till 2021.
ii. AWEB is a multilateral platform for election management bodies with 115 EMBs from 109 countries as its members, and 20 international organisations as Associate Members across the world to share best electoral practices.

Award

6. Vaishno Devi Shrine tops the list of ‘Swachh Iconic Places’
i. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu and Kashmir has been adjudged as the "Best Swachh Iconic place" in the country in the ‘Swachh Iconic Places’. The Shrine has been adjudged on the basis of the overall improvement in sanitation.
ii. This list released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation. President Ram Nath Kovind will confer the award to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) during the ‘Swachh Mahotsav’ to be organised by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation on 6 September 2019.

Defence

7. Army to commission 1st batch of women soldiers in 2021
i. The Indian Army has announced that the first batch of 100 women soldiers in the Army is likely to be commissioned by March 2021.
ii. The women soldiers will be commissioned into the Corps of Military Police of the Indian Army. In the Corps of Military Police, women soldiers will take up duties of policing cantonments and other Army establishments.
iii. They will also work in co-operation with civil police of various state governments as well as the Centre and will also investigate cases of crime.
iv. At present, women in the Army work only in engineering, medical, legal, signals and educational wings.

8. India, US to carry out joint Military Exercise "Yudh Abhyas 2019"
i. Indo-US defence cooperation, a joint military training, Exercise "Yudh Abhyas 2019". This exercise is being conducted at Joint Base Lewis Mc Chord, Washington, the USA from 05-18 September 2019.
ii. Exercise Yudh Abhyas is one of the largest joint running military training and defence corporation endeavours between India and USA. This will be the 15th edition of the joint exercise hosted alternately between the two countries. 
iii. The exercise is also an ideal platform to learn from each other's expertise and experiences of planning and execution of operations.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• Chief of the Army Staff of India: General Bipin Rawat.
• Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army: Mark A Milley.

Summit and Conference

9. Joint India-New Development Bank Workshop held in New Delhi
i. A joint India- New Development Bank workshop was held in New Delhi. The workshop was organized to enhance the NDB’s engagement with the India's private and public sector. 
ii. The NDB is aiming to support the Indian public and private sector for infrastructure development through innovative means such as loans in a local currency, guarantees, credit enhancement and equity investments.
iii. The NDB is the first Multilateral Development Bank established by developing countries and emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB PO Mains:

• President of NDB: K V Kamath; Headquarters: Shanghai, China.

Banking

10. Cabinet approves Rs 4,557 crore capital infusion into IDBI Bank
i. The Cabinet has approved a capital infusion of Rs 4,557 crore into IDBI Bank. The capital infusion process will be done through recapitalisation bonds under which the government will infuse the capital into the bank and the bank will buy the recapitalisation bonds from the government on the same day.
ii. The capital infusion aims to help the bank in its return to profitability. The capital infusion is also expected to help IDBI to come out of the Prompt Corrective Action framework of the Reserve Bank of India.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB PO Mains:

• IDBI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, MD and CEO: Rakesh Sharma.

11. ECL Finance and Central bank of India ink pact to co-lend to MSMEs
i. ECL Finance Ltd, a subsidiary of Edelweiss Financial Services, and Central Bank of India have signed an agreement for priority sector lending to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME's) customers.
ii. The partnership aims to facilitate speedy disbursal of credit across a bouquet of products, including machinery and business loans. Through this partnership, MSMEs will be offered a blended lower rate of interest, translating into a lower cost of funds, helping them deploy capital more effectively in their business.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB Main 2019:

• Chairman of Central Bank of India: Rajeev Rishi.
• MD & CEO of Central Bank of India: Pallav Mohapatra.

Sports

12. Hamilton Masakadza announces retirement from International Cricket
i. Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza has announced to retire from international cricket after conclusion of Bangladesh & Afghanistan T20I Tri-series.
ii. He has represented Zimbabwe in 38 Tests, 209 ODIs and 62 T20Is since making his international debut against West Indies in 2001.
ii. In his overall international career, he scored 9,410 international runs including 10 international tons and 42 half-centuries.

13. Mithali Raj retires from T20 International Cricket
i. Senior India batswoman Mithali Raj has announced retirement from International T-20 Cricket. In 89 T20 Internationals matches, she scored 2364 runs including 17 fifties with a career-best 97 not out. Mithali is also the first Indian cricketer to reach the landmark of 2000 T20I runs.

Miscellaneous

14. NYKS to prepare Disaster Response Teams in collaboration with NDRF
i. In collaboration with National Disaster Response Force, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan under the Department of Youth Affairs of MoYAS will prepare Block Level Disaster Response Teams. 
ii. The team has been constituted for Disaster Risk Reduction. The trained NYKS Youth Volunteers will work as DRTs and will be called as ‘NDRF- friends’.
iii. NYKS Youth Volunteers for Disaster Risk Reduction will act as first responders in NDRF selected hazard prone districts. The volunteer groups will provide initial rescue and relief services. 
iv. They will also act as a link between the affected community and institutions like National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, police, fire services etc arriving at the scene.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Clerk Mains:

• Minister of State of Youth Affairs and Sports: Kiren Rijiju.

15. Aadhaar for ITR filing, PAN will be auto-generated
i. The Income Tax Department announced that it will automatically issue PAN to all taxpayers who do not have a Permanent Account Number and are using Aadhaar for filing income tax returns (ITR).
ii. Under this new Aadhaar-PAN rule, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) will obtain demographic information from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and issue a new Permanent Account Number (PAN).

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

• UIDAI Chief Executive Officer(CEO): Ajay Bhushan Pandey; Headquarters: New Delhi.

16. Indian Army Team summit MT Leo Pargyil (6773m)
i. Indian Army team from 18th battalion, the Mahar Regiment successfully summited Mount Leo Pargyil (6773M). After an extremely challenging climb in harsh weather, hoisting the National Flag atop Mt Leo Pargyil.
ii. Leo Pargyil is the third highest peak of Himachal Pradesh and is considered to be among the most challenging and technically difficult peak to scale. It lies in the Zanskar range.