Daily updates 12 October 2019

National

1. India to extend over $60 mn line of credit to Comoros

• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has signed an MoU with the island nation Comoros. As per MoU, India will extend over $60 mn line of credit to Comoros for Energy and Maritime Defence Cooperation.
• The Line of Credit consists of over USD 41.6 million for setting up of 18 MW Power Plant in Moroni and another USD 20 million for the procurement of High-Speed Interceptor Boats.
• The Vice President was also conferred 'The Order of the Green Crescent', the highest Civilian Honour of Comoros, by Azali Assoumani, President of Comoros in Moroni.

Ranks and Reports

2. Forbes India Rich List 2019

• The business magazine Forbes has released "The Forbes India Rich List 2019" which has been topped by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani with net worth of $51.4 billion.
• Mukesh Ambani remained the richest Indian for the 12th year in a row.
• Industrialist Gautam Adani jumped 8 spots on the list to become the 2nd richest Indian with net worth of $15.7 billion.
• The magazine stated that it was 'a challenging year' for the Indian economy.
• 5 of the Richest Indians in Forbes India Rich List 2019 are:

1. Mukesh Ambani with net worth of $51.4 billion
2. Gautam Adani with net worth of $15.7 billion
3. Hinduja Brothers with net worth of $15.6 billion
4. Pallonji Mistry with net worth of $15 billion
5. Uday Kotak with net worth of $14.8 billion

Awards

3. Ramesh Pandey selected for Asia Environmental Enforcement Award

• Indian Forest Service officer Ramesh Pandey has been selected for the prestigious Asia Environmental Enforcement Award by the United Nations Environment Programme.
• He is known for his investigation and intelligence gathering on poachers. He will receive the award at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. The selection panel has recognised his excellent work in combating trans-boundary environmental crime.
• Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards aims to publicly recognise outstanding achievements by public organisations and individuals in Asia to combat transboundary environmental crime.

4. Ashleigh Barty wins 'The Don' Award

• Ashleigh Barty has been awarded Australian sport’s highest individual honour ‘The Don’ Award at the annual Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
• With the award, she has joined legends like Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe in lifting the prestigious prize.
• Barty was the first Australian to win the French Open in 46 years and is now aiming to become the first Australian woman to end the season with the No.1 ranking since Margaret Court in 1973.

Defence

5. 2nd edition of India-Bangladesh CORPAT begins

• The 2nd edition of Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) of the navies of India and Bangladesh has begun in Northern Bay of Bengal.
• Guided-missile destroyer INS Ranvijay and ingeniously built missile Corvette INS Kuthar are participating in the exercise along with BNS Ali Haider and BNS Shadinota from Bangladesh.
• The exercise aims at development of mutual communication and sharing of best practices between the two navies.
• The India Bangladesh CORPAT commenced in 2018.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Clerk Mains:

• Bangladesh Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka; PM: Sheikh Hasina.

Important Days

6. World Migratory Bird Day: 12 October

• World Migratory Bird Day is observed on 12 October every year. It is an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.
• It has a global outreach and is an effective tool to help raise global awareness of the threats faced by migratory birds.
• Theme for 2019: Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Clerk Mains:

• Headquarters of United Nations: New York, USA; Founded: 24 October 1945.
• Secretary General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.

Summits and Conferences

7. 1st India Sports Summit held in New Delhi

• Minister of State for Youth and Sports Kiren Rijiju inagurated 1st India Sports Summit 2019 in New Delhi.
• He also underlined the need to induce a national sporting culture with the aim to make India a sporting powerhouse at the event.
• He also announced that a 'Fit India' mission office would be set up, with the help of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), to promote the aforementioned goals.

8. India-China 2nd Informal Summit begins in Tamil Nadu

• The 2nd “India-China Informal Summit” between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s President Xi Jinping begins at Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu.
• The 1st summit took place in Wuhan in the wake of the Doklam crisis in April, 2018.

Miscellaneous

9. "India International Cooperatives Trade Fair" inaugurated

• The 1st ever 'India International Cooperatives Trade Fair' has been inaugurated in New Delhi.
• The 3 day Fair is a major platform to promote export of products of cooperatives which will lead to enhanced rural and farm prosperity.
• Organisations from 35 countries and more than 150 Indian cooperatives are participating in the Fair.
• Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar also launched 'Yuva Sahakar' Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme 2019.

Daily updates 13 October 2019

International News

1. Typhoon Hagibis strikes northern Japan

• Typhoon Hagibis strikes Tokyo, capital of Japan after fierce rain and wind paralysed the capital.
• The cyclone Hagibis which caused floods, landslides and emergency disaster warnings, could be the strongest to hit Tokyo since 1958.
• Authorities issued evacuation advisories and orders for more than 6 million people across the country as the storm unleashed the heaviest rain and winds in years. Train operators has suspended bullet train services extensively.
• "Hagibis" means “speed” in the Philippine language Tagalog.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Clerk Mains:

• Japan Capital:Tokyo; Currency: Japanese yen; PM: Shinzo Abe.

Agreements

2. ADB & India signs $190 million loan for projects in Rajasthan

• The Asian Development Bank and the Government of India has signed a $190 Million loan.
• The amount will be used to upgrade 754 km of state highways and major district roads (MDRs) to benefit about 26 million people in 14 districts of Rajasthan.
• For the benefit of commuters and pedestrians, particularly women and children, the project provides for constructing more than 200 bus stops, 70 km of hard shoulder, and 2 km of raised sidewalk on project roads

Important Days

3. International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction: 13 October

• The United Nations observes International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on 13 October every year.
• The day celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.
• The day also promotes a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction.
• Theme for 2019: Reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services.
• The 2019 edition continues as part of the "Sendai Seven" campaign (launched in 2016), centred on the 7 targets of the Sendai Framework.
• This year will focus on Target (d) of the Sendai Framework: “Substantially reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services, among them health and education facilities, including through developing their resilience by 2030.”

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Clerk Mains:

• Headquarters of United Nations: New York, USA; Founded: 24 October 1945.
• Secretary General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.

Summits and Conferences

4. PM Modi chairs meeting on 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme in Delhi. Under the initiative, the government plans to hold people-to-people exchange between states to enhance knowledge about each others culture.
• 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat' highlights India's diversity and furthers national unity. The goal of the initiative is to develop a holistic national perspective on important issues and encourage the celebration of India's vibrant regional cultures.

Sports

5. Eliud Kipchoge becomes 1st athlete to run sub 2-hour marathon

• Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge has become the 1st athlete to run sub 2-hour marathon. He busted the mythical 2-hour barrier for the marathon on a specially prepared course in a huge Vienna park.
• He finished the marathon with an unofficial time of 1 hr 59 min 40.2 sec and became the first ever to run a marathon in under 2 hours.
• Eliud Kipchoge already holds the men's world record for the distance with a time of 2 hr 01 min 39 sec, which he set in the flat Berlin marathon on September 16, 2018.

6. M C Mary Kom wins bronze in World Women's Boxing Championships

• M C Mary Kom has won the bronze medal in the 51kg event of World Women's Boxing Championships held in Ulan-Ude, Russia.
• She lost in an intense semifinal bout to Turkey's Busenaz Cakiroglu. This bronze is her first world medal in the 51kg category.

Daily updates 14 October 2019

National

1. 10th National Cultural Festival begins in Madhya Pradesh

• 10th edition of the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav-National Cultural Festival is being organized by the Union Ministry of Culture from 14th to 21st of October under the 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' campaign in Madhya Pradesh.
• The National Cultural festival will display diverse forms of folk, art and culture of 22 states. The concept of National Cultural Festival was conceived in the year 2015.

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

• Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism: Prahlad Singh Patel.

Ranks and Reports

2. PM Modi becomes most followed leader on Instagram

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the most-followed elected world leader on photo-sharing app Instagram.
• He is ahead of US President Donald Trump, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and former president Barack Obama.
• With 30 million followers, PM Modi leads the list of world leaders on Instagram, with Joko Widodo coming in a close second with 25.6 million followers on the popular app.
• Barack Obama comes in third with 24.8 million followers while, Donald Trump, trails behind with 14.9 million followers.

Awards

3. The Nobel Prize in Economics 2019

• The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Economics 2019.
• The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2019 was awarded jointly to Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer "for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty."
• Indian-born Abhijit Banerjee is an American citizen while Esther Duflo is French-American.
• Michael Kremer is also from the US. Abhijit Banerjee, 58, was born in India and has a PhD from Harvard University.
• He is a Professor of Economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.

4. Chandi Prasad Bhatt to get Indira Gandhi award for national integration

• The 31st Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the years 2017 and 2018 will be awarded to the pioneer of the Chipko Movement Chandi Prasad Bhatt for his services in promoting and preserving the national integration.
• He is a Ramon Magsaysay award recipient for the year 1982. He was also awarded Padma Shri in 1986, the Padma Bhushan in 2005 and the Gandhi Peace prize in 2013.
• The award consists of a citation and cash of Rs 10 lakh to be given to the awardee by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on October 31, the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Banking

5. Life Insurance Council plan to launch life insurance industry’s first joint mass media campaign ‘Sabse Pehle Life Insurance’

• Life Insurance Council has decided to launch the Indian life insurance industry’s first joint mass media campaign with the slogan ‘Sabse Pehle Life Insurance’.
• The slogan will encourage Indian households to opt for adequate life insurance cover as the fundamental necessity in their lives.
• The life insurance council’s campaign represents joint efforts of all 24 Indian life insurance companies who are working towards creating a common narrative aimed at increasing life insurance awareness in the country.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• Chairman of Life Insurance Council: M.R. Kumar; Headquarters: Mumbai.

Appointments

6. K Satish Reddy appointed Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance president

• K Satish Reddy, Chairman of Dr Reddy’s has been appointed as President of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) for 2019-2021.
• Rajesh Jain, Managing Director of Panacea Biotec Limited, will continue as the Vice President.
• K Satish Reddy, the past president of IPA (2013-2015), played a major role in shaping policies concerning the pharmaceutical sector and the economy.

7. Mastercard India elevates Vikas Varma to COO

• Mastercard India, payment technology major, elevated Vikas Varma as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the firm. He will lead initiatives related to new partnerships and the development of digital payments solutions in the country.
• Recently, Mastercard announced an investment of USD 1 billion (around Rs 7,100 crore) over the next five years in India.

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

• Mastercard Founded: 1966;  Headquarters: New York, US.

Defence

8. 2nd edition of Indo-Japan joint military exercise “Dharma Guardian 2019” to be held in Mizoram

• The 2nd joint military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian-2019’ to promote military cooperation between India and Japan will be held in Mizoram from 19 Oct to 02 Nov 2019.
• Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF) comprising 25 soldiers each will participate in the exercise with an aim to share experience gained during various Counter-Terrorism Operations in respective Countries.
• The joint military exercise will enhance the level of defence co-operation between the Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF) which in turn will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.

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

• Chief of the Army Staff: General Bipin Rawat.

9. 10th edition of Indo-US joint military exercise ‘Vajra Prahar 2019‘ begins in Seattle, US

• The 10th edition of the joint military exercise 'Vajra Prahar 2019' between India and the US will be held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Seattle, US.
• 'Vajra Prahar' is a Special Forces joint training exercise conducted alternately in India and the US. Last year, the exercise had taken place in Jaipur.
• These exercises will enable the sharing of best practices and experience in areas such as joint mission planning capabilities and operational tactics.
• Bilateral military exercises and defence exchanges are an important aspect of deepening bilateral defence cooperation between India and the US.

Important Days

10. World Standards Day: 14 October

• World Standards Day (or International Standards Day) is celebrated internationally each year on 14 October.
• The aim of World Standards Day is to raise awareness among regulators, industry and consumers as to the importance of standardization to the global economy.
• 2019 theme: Video standards create a global stage

Sports

11. Manju Rani wins silver medal in World Women's Boxing C'ships

• Manju Rani settled for silver medal in World Women's Boxing Championships at Ulan-Ude in Russia. Russian Ekaterina Paltceva defeated Rani 4 -1 in the 48-kilogram category in the final match of the tournament.

12. Lakshya Sen wins maiden BWF World Tour title

• Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen clinched his maiden BWF World Tour title by winning the Dutch Open men's singles at Almere in the Netherlands.
• He rallied from a game deficit to defeat Yusuke Onodera of Japan 15-21, 21-14, 21-15 in a final.

Obituaries

13. Alexei Leonov, the first human to walk in space passes away

• Alexei Leonov, the first human to walk in space passed away. He was the legendary Soviet cosmonaut who became the first human to walk in space 54 years ago.
• During this mission, on 18 March 1965, Leonov exited the spacecraft and walked for 12 minutes and 9 seconds.

14. First female head of Nobel's Literature Award Body, Sara Danius passes away

• First female head of Nobel's Literature Award Body, Sara Danius passed away.
• She was a literature critic, professor and writer, served as the first female permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy between 2015 and 2018.

Books and Authors

15. Bill Gates book on climate change to be released in 2020

• The founder of Microsoft Corporation and American philanthropist Bill Gates’ new book titled “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need” will be released on June 2020.
• It will be published by UK-based Allen Lane publishers. The book is about climate change and the possible solutions to prevent an environmental crisis.

Miscellaneous

16. PM Modi launches commemorative stamp to honour Marshal of IAF Arjan Singh

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative stamp in honour of Marshal of the Indian Air Force late Arjan Singh.
• He served as the Chief of Air Staff from August 1964 to July 1969. Government of India designated him as the Marshal of the Air Force in January 2002. He remains the only officer of the IAF to be given a Five-Star rank.
• Arjan Singh is an icon of Indian military history and the best remembered for providing excellent leadership to a young IAF during the 1965 war.
• Even after retirement, he continued to serve in various positions including India's Ambassador to several countries.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• IAF Founded: 8 October 1932; IAF Headquarters: New Delhi.
• IAF Motto: Touch the sky with glory.

17. Pope Francis elevates Indian nun Mariam Thresia to sainthood

• Indian nun Mariam Thresia from Kerala and four other nuns were declared Saints by Pope Francis at a grand ceremony at the Vatican City.
• The other four nuns are English Cardinal John Henry Newman, Swiss laywoman Marguerite Bays, Brazilian Sister Dulce Lopes and Italian Sister Giuseppina Vannini.
• Mariam Thresia, who founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family in Thrissur in May 1914, was raised to the highest position within the centuries-old institution during the ceremony at the St Peter's Square.