Rupee Declines By 58 Paise, Hits New 2019 Low Against Dollar

Here are 10 things to know:

1. The rupee was last seen trading 57 paise - or 0.80 per cent - lower at 72.23 against the greenback. 
2. The rupee moved in a range of 71.91-72.24 against the US currency in the first half of the session.
3. Domestic equity markets gave up most of the day's gains, after rising more than 1 per cent following the announcement of measures by the government to shore up the economy. 
4. The onshore yuan fell to 7.1487 against the US dollar in Asian trading on Monday, its weakest point since early 2008, as concerns over the US trade war and the potential for global recession weighed on markets.
5. “In another round of escalation in US-China trade war, both sides increased tariffs further… This escalation has dampened risk sentiment globally,” forex advisory firm IFA Global said in a note. 
6. On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced an additional duty on some $550 billion of targeted Chinese goods, hours after China unveiled retaliatory tariffs on $75 billion worth of US goods.
7. IFA Global expects the rupee to move in a range of 71.70-72.20 in the near term with an upside bias.
8. Crude oil prices fell on worries the US-China tariff dispute would crimp world demand. Brent crude futures - the global benchmark for crude oil - slid 1.1 per cent to $58.66 a barrel.
9. The dollar index - which measures the greenback against six major peers - was last up 0.02 per cent at 97.6610.
10. The rupee had gained by 15 paise to close at 71.66 against the dollar last Friday.
    

Daily updates 12 August 2019

International News

1. South Korea will remove Japan from preferred trade list
i. South Korea has decided to remove Japan from its preferred trade list. South Korea has taken this decision because Japan has failed to uphold international principles while managing its export controls on sensitive materials. Preferred trade list is a list of nations receiving preferential treatment in trade.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC Mains:

• Capital of Japan: Tokyo; Currency: Japanese yen; PM: Shinzo Abe.
• Capital of South Korea: Seoul; Currency: South Korean won.

State News

2. Vice President launches 'Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana' in Jharkhand
i. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched the Jharkhand government's 'Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana'. 
ii. Under this scheme, money would be directly transferred into the bank accounts of farmers in the state. Features of the scheme are:

• Rs 5,000 will be given to those farmers having 1 acre or less agricultural land.
• Rs 10,000 will be given to those farmers having 2 acres of agricultural land.
• Rs 15,000 will be given to those farmers having 3 acres of agricultural land.
• Rs 20,000 will be given to those farmers having 4 acres of agricultural land.
• Rs 25,000 will be given to those farmers having 5 acres of agricultural land.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB PO Main 2019:

• Jharkhand Capital: Ranchi; CM: Raghubar Das; Governor: Draupadi Murmu.

3. 15-km long national flag unfurled in Raipur, Chattisgarh
i. In Chhattisgarh, thousands of students and members of several social organisations unfurled a 15-km long national flag by forming a human chain in Raipur ahead of the Independence day.
ii. This event was organised by Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam Foundation to entered the Champions Book of World Records (for the longest tricolour).

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

• CM of Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Baghel; Governor of Chhattisgarh: Anusuiya Uikey.

Banking

4. RBL Bank launches India's first health-focused credit card
i. Private sector bank, RBL Bank and digital healthcare platform Practo have partnered to launch an industry-first co-branded health credit card. This credit card is powered by Mastercard.
ii. RBL Bank's new credit card offers benefits like online consultations with doctors and a free health check-up.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB Main 2019:

• Managing Director & CEO of RBL Bank: Vishwavir Ahuja; Headquarter: Mumbai.

Agreements

5. Rel Jio & Microsoft partners to offer cloud infrastructure for businesses
i. Reliance Jio and Microsoft announced a partnership to accelerate the digital transformation in India. Under this deal, Microsoft will bring in the Azure Cloud on Jio Network and target the enterprise and business users seeking a technological shift.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB PO Mains:

• Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft: Satya Nadella.
• Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited: Mukesh Ambani.

Appointments

6. Chandrima Shaha to be the first woman president of INSA
i. Chandrima Shaha is set to be the 1st woman president of the Indian National Science Academy. Her tenure will begin from January 2020. Chandrima Shaha was formerly the Director of the National Institute of Immunology, Delhi.

Awards

7. Lionel Messi Wins UEFA Goal of the Season Award 2018-19
i. Barcelona's Lionel Messi has been awarded UEFA's Goal of the Season award 2018-19 for his free-kick against Liverpool. 
ii. Cristiano Ronaldo was runners-up in the UEFA award for the goal he scored for Juventus against his former team Manchester United.

Summits and Conferences

8. Environment minister Prakash Javadekar launches website for COP14
i. Union Environment minister launched a website 'unccdcop14india.gov.in, which contains all the information related to COP14 . 
ii. The 14th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP14), will take place on 2-13 September 2019 at Greater Noida, India.
iii. The aim of the conference includes Reversing land degradation and its outcomes while accelerating positive achievements for people and for ecosystems with a view to delivering on Sustainable Development Goals.

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

• Union Environment Minister: Prakash Javadekar.

Books and author

9. Vice President’s book titled “Listening, Learning & Leading” released
i. Home Minister Amit Shah released a Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu's book titled “Listening, Learning & Leading”. 
ii. The book captures the glimpses of the Vice President’s 330 public engagements across the country in the last 2 years. The book also showcases the Vice President’s feat as the Rajya Sabha Chairman in enhancing its effectiveness and promoting its efficiency.

Sports

10. Rafael Nadal wins Montreal Masters title
i. Rafael Nadal wins in Montreal to win 35th Masters crown. He defeated Russian Daniil Medvedev by 6-3, 6-0. With the win, he also extended his record haul of Masters 1000 titles. Nadal has successfully defended a hard court title for the first time in his career.

11. Chennai Lions beat Dabang Delhi to win UTT
i. Chennai Lions wins the Ultimate Table Tennis league. They defeated Dabang Delhi in the finals by 8-1. Chennai Lions collected the winner’s share of Rs. 75 lakh while Delhi settled for Rs. 50 lakh.
Petrissa Solja, Tiago Apolonia, Sharath Kamal and Petrissa starred for the Chennai Lions.

12. Bajrang Punia wins gold at Tbilisi Grand Prix
i. Bajrang Punia wins gold at Tbilisi Grand Prix held in Tbilisi, Georgia. He defeated Iran’s Peiman Bibyani by 2-0 in the 65 kg final of the men’s freestyle competition. It was the 4th gold of the season for the Asian Games champion.

13. Sourabh Verma wins Hyderabad Open
i. Indian Badminton star Sourabh Verma clinched the Men's Singles title in the Hyderabad Open.
ii. He beat Singapore's Loh Kean Yew in a 52-minute final clash. Sourabh Verma belongs to Madhya Pradesh.

Important Days

14. World Biofuel Day: 10th August
i. World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th of August to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas organized an event on World Biofuel Day in New Delhi.
ii. The theme for the year 2019: Production of Bio-diesel from Used Cooking Oil.
iii. In association with the Health Ministry, Food Safety and Standard Authority of India has started an initiative of "Repurpose Used Cooking Oil" and a mobile app in which the used oil will be collected from hotels and restaurants and sent to the biodiesel plants for blending.

15. International Youth Day: 12 August
i. The International Youth Day 2019 is observed across the world on 12 August with the theme“Transforming education”.
ii. International Youth Day 2019 will examine how Governments, young people and youth-led and youth-focused organizations, as well as other stakeholders, are transforming education so that it becomes a powerful tool to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Miscellaneous

16. Dr Vikram Sarabhai's 100th Birth Anniversary
i. The country is celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of scientist and innovator Dr Vikram A Sarabhai. He is considered as the father of India's space program.
ii. The lander of Chandrayaan-2, India's second mission to the moon, is named 'Vikram' to honour the late Dr Vikram Sarabhai.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB Main 2019:

• ISRO Director: K. Sivan; Headquarters: Bengaluru; Established: 1969.

Daily updates 10 August 2019

National News

1. President approves Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019
i. President has approved the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. The bill amends the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. 
ii. The act aims to make Indian roads safer, reduce corruption and use technology to overhaul the country's transportation system. Some main features of the act are:

• The Bill proposes a scheme to allow cashless treatment of victims in a road accident during the golden hour. The golden hour is defined as the time period of up to one hour following a traumatic injury, during which the likelihood of preventing death through prompt medical care is the highest.
• The Bill proposes to increase the minimum compensation for hit and run cases. In case of the death, the compensation has been raised from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 2,00,000, and in case of grievous injury it will be from Rs. 12500 to Rs. 50,000.
• The new law also allows the centre to ask manufacturers to recall vehicles in case of defects that cause harm to the environment.
• The law has proposed stiffer penalties for traffic rule violations such as over-speeding, dangerous driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and other offences such as not wearing a helmet or driving without licence.

2. 'One Nation, One Ration Card' to be rolled out in India by June 1, 2020
i. "One Nation One Ration Card" scheme to be rolled out in India from June 1, 2020. To implement the scheme successfully, the centre has kick started inter state portability of ration card pairing two states each.
ii. The pairs are made between Telangana-Andhra Pradesh as well as Maharashtra-Gujarat. This means that beneficiaries living in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh can buy their quota of ration from the Public Distribution System (PDS), also called ration shops, in either of the states.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB PO Mains:

• Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: Ram Vilas Paswan.

3. KVIC launches "Leather Mission" on World Tribal Day
i. The Khadi and Village Industry Commission has launched "Leather Mission" on World Tribal Day. Under this mission, the commission will give leather kits to the leather artisans across the nation.
ii. KVIC also distributed 50 leather kits and 350 bee-boxes in Rajasthan's Sirohi district on the World Tribal Day.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For EPFO/LIC ADO Mains:

• Chairman of KVIC: Vinai Kumar Saxena.

4. President hosts 'At Home' reception for Freedom Fighters
i. The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, hosted an ‘At Home’ reception for freedom fighters.
ii. The reception was hosted on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of Quit India Day (August 9) at Rashtrapati Bhavan. On the occasion, the President honoured and felicitated 78 freedom fighters from across the country.

Agreements

5. Indian Bank signs up Corporate Agency pact with Chola MS
i. Indian Bank has entered into a corporate agency agreement with Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Ltd. 
ii. Under the agreement, Indian Bank will distribute the latter's insurance products ranging from motor, home, health PA, and travel insurance, and SME and commercial line of business etc. 
iii. All these products will be distributed through traditional and digital platform to Indian Bank customers.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For EPFO/LIC ADO Mains:

• Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indian Bank: Padmaja Chunduru.

State News

6. UP's "Vriksharopan Mahakumbh" drive creates world record
i. Uttar Pradesh's "Vriksharopan Mahakumbh" drive has created world record after planting more than 22 crore saplings. The drive was launched on the occasion of 77th anniversary of Quit India Movement. More than 22 crore saplings were planted at 12.2 lakh locations under the drive in state. 
ii. Another record of "largest distribution of saplings in the world" was created when 76823 saplings were distributed free in just 6 hours in Prayagraj.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB PO Mains:

• Chief Minister of UP: Yogi Adityanath; Governor of UP: Anandiben Patel.

Summits and Conferences

7. 3rd International Electric Vehicle (EV) Conclave held in Manesar
i. The 3rd International Electric Vehicle Conclave was inaugurated at the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) in Manesar, Haryana. 
ii. The Conclave was held to create a knowledge sharing platform to ensure flow of information at all levels in the automotive sector.
iii. The conclave was organized by ICAT in association with India Energy Storage Alliance with a focus on new trends and challenges in the field of electric mobility.

Sports

8. BCCI has agreed to come under NADA ambit
i. The Board Of Control For Cricket In India has agreed to come under the ambit of the National Anti-Doping Agency. 
ii. This decision makes Indian Cricket's governing body a sports federation as per government norms. As a result, all cricketers will now be tested by NADA.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For EPFO/LIC ADO Mains:

• Director General of NADA: Navin Agarwal; CEO of BCCI: Rahul Johri.

Defence

9. INS Tarkash arrives in Norway for a 3-day visit
i. INS Tarkash has arrived in Norway for a 3 day visit as part of Western Fleet Overseas Deployment. The ship is part of the Indian Navy's Western Fleet and is under the operational command of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. 
ii. INS Tarkash is one of the most powerful frontline frigates of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB PO Mains:

• Chief of the Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.