Daily updates 17 October 2019

National

1. J&K's Chenani-Nashri Tunnel to be renamed after Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee

• India's longest Tunnel Chenani- Nashri on NH 44, in Jammu and Kashmir will be named after Bhartiya Jansangh Founder Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017 had dedicated to the nation this 9.2 km long tunnel that reduces the distance between Jammu and Srinagar by 31 km.

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

• Jammu and Kashmir governor: Satya Pal Malik.

2. Railways Minister Piyush Goyal flagged off 9 ‘Sewa Service’ trains

• Railways Minister Piyush Goyal flagged off 9 ‘Sewa Service’ trains. These trains are connecting small towns to major cities and one of those, the Vadnagar-Mehsana train, was the railways’ gift to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who sold tea at the Vadnagar station during his younger days.
• The 9 “Sewa Service” trains were launched without any additional investment by the railways and it was an example of how to use existing resources to the maximum.
• The trains are - Delhi to Shamli, Bhubaneswar to Nayagarh town, Murkongselek to Dibrugarh, Coimbatore to Palani, Coimbatore to Pollachi, Vadnagar to Mehsana, Asarya to Himmatnagar, Karur to Salem, Yesvantpur to Tumkur.

International

3. UAE announces establishment of world's 1st AI university

• UAE announced the establishment of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence( MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi.
• This is the first graduate-level, research-based AI university in the world. MBZUAI will enable graduate students, businesses and governments to advance the artificial intelligence field.
• MBZUAI will introduce a new model of academia and research to the field of AI, providing students and faculty access to some of the world’s most advanced AI systems to unleash its potential for economic and societal development.
• The University is named after Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who has long advocated for the UAE’s development of human capital through knowledge and scientific thinking to take the nation into the future.

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

• Currency of UAE: Dirham, Capital: Abu Dhabi.

4. India hands over 2nd pair of Mi-24V helicopters to Afghan Air forces

• India handed over the second pair of Mi-24V helicopters to war-torn Afghanistan, boosting the capability of the Afghan Air forces.
• The helicopters were officially handed over by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar to Afghanistan's acting Defence Minister Asadullah Khalid at a ceremony held in the military airport, Kabul.
• These helicopters are a replacement for the four attack helicopters previously gifted by India to Afghanistan in 2015 and 2016.
• The combat performance and offensive firepower that the helicopters provide will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the Afghan Air Force (AAF) in ensuring that the ANDSF maintain an agile and robust Counter-Terrorism capability.

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

• Air Force Chief of India: Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.

State News

5. Shirui Lily Festival inaugurated in Manipur

• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism and Culture Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated Shirui Lily Festival, 2019 at Shirui Vangayan Ground of Ukhrul in Manipur.
• Mr Patel along with State Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also inaugurated the Strength of Unity Statue as a mark of opening the third edition of the four-day state festival.
• This joint efforts of the State Government and Central Government can only promote tourism and culture of a region to the level of people’s expectation.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• Governor of Manipur: Padmanabha Balkrishna Acharya; Capital of Manipur: Imphal.

Awards

6. Lionel Messi wins 3rd straight Golden Shoe as top scorer in European Leagues

• Barcelona captain Leo Messi received his 6th Golden Shoe as the top scorer in the European leagues.
• Messi won the trophy for a 3rd straight year after scoring 36 goals, 3 more than his closest challenger, Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain.
• Messi now has two more Golden Shoes than his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The award was created in 1967 when it was won by Eusebio.

Agreement

7. Mastercard and MS Dhoni partner to build ‘Team Cashless India’

• Mastercard, along with cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, launched a nationwide initiative  ‘Team Cashless India’ to accelerate the acceptance and adoption of digital payments.
• The initiative ‘Team Cashless India’ brings consumers and merchants to the forefront of the digital payments dialogue. The campaign encourages all Indians to nominate one or more merchants who currently do not accept digital payments.
• Mastercard will work together with Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), acquirer banks and fintech companies to support nominated merchants to deploy digital payments acceptance infrastructure.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

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

Banking

8. India Post launches mobile banking facility for savings accounts

• The Department of Post announced that it has launched mobile banking for its savings account customers.
• The facility will be available all the post office savings account holders of the CBS (core banking solutions) post offices.
• The launch of the mobile banking facility comes almost a year after the Department of Post launched Internet banking facility for its savings account holders.

Ranks and Reports

9. India ranked 82 in the 2019 World Giving Index

• India ranked 82 spots among the 128 countries surveyed in the World Giving Index (WGI).
• The average figures for India over the past decade show that 34 per cent people helped a stranger, 24 per cent donated money and 19 per cent volunteered or donated their time.
• According to the WGI, the USA stood at the top followed Myanmar, New Zealand and Australia.

Important Days

10. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty : 17 October

• The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed on October 17 each year since 1993.
• It promotes people’s awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution worldwide, particularly in developing countries.
• 2019 Theme: Acting Together to Empower Children, their Families and Communities to End Poverty.

Sports

11. Mumbai's Yashasvi Jaiswal becomes youngest cricketer to score double hundred in One Day cricket

• The 17-year-old Mumbai teenager Yashasvi Jaiswal make history as he became the youngest cricketer in the world to score a double century in One Day cricket.
• He playing in his debut Vijay Hazare season. He scored 203 off 154 balls against Jharkhand at Alur, Karnataka. His score comprised 12 sixes and 17 fours.

12. Indian Women football Team wins 3rd SAFF U-15 Women's Championship 2019

• The Indian football team won the 3rd Edition of the SAFF U-15 Women's Championships 2019 by beating Bangladesh by 5-3 in the penalty shoot-out.
• The tournament was organized by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) and was held at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimpu, Bhutan.
• Indian captain Shilky Devi slotted home from the final spot-kick to hand her side 5-3 win.

Miscellaneous

13. Kiran Uniyal, w/o a serving Colonel of Indian Army sets Guinness World Records

• Kiran Uniyal, w/o a serving Colonel of Indian Army has created Individual Guinness World Records for “The most full contact knee strikes in three minutes (one leg) (female), 263 strikes” & “The most full contact knee strikes alternate legs in one minute(female),120 strikes”.
• The earlier records were of 177 strikes and 102 in female category respectively.
• The objective of both her records were to promote martial arts for girls and women safety and self-defence.
• While creating the record for the most full contact knee strikes for three minutes, she surpassed the existing male category record of 226 knee strikes. She has so far achieved 15 World Records, including 10 Guinness World Records in Martial Arts, Fitness and Social Work.

14. Textiles Secretary Inaugurates IHGF-Delhi Fair 2019

• Textiles Secretary, Ravi Capoor, inaugurated the 48th edition of the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF) at the India Expo Centre & Mart at Greater Noida.
• More than 3,200 Indian exhibitors are participating in the fair. Around 110 overseas buyers from 110 countries are participating in the event as well.
• They are here to source furniture, fashion, lifestyle and textiles products of the exhibitors.
• Handicrafts are important in terms of economic development. The sector provides a number of opportunities for unemployed with minimal investment.
• The sector earns around Rs 43,000 crores (2015) of rupees annually. Out of this, it earns an export of Rs 10,000 crores annually.
• The theme of IHGF-Delhi Fair 2019: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

15. Death Anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shah observed in Bangladesh

• The 129th death anniversary of the mystic bard Fakir Lalon Shah is being observed in Bangladesh. He is believed to be born in 1774 though no written records exist.
• He died in 1890. He was born Hindu but he was raised by a Muslim family after he was abandoned by his own family.
• Fakir Lalon Shah songs talk about humanism, love and equality going beyond the limitations imposed by religion, caste and creed.
• He created and composed more than 2000 songs which were popularised by Bauls who sang his songs while wandering in the countryside of Bengal and parts of Assam of those days.
• His contemporary Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore got some of his songs transcribed and published.

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

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

Daily updates 7 October 2019

National

1. AIM NITI Aayog & UNDP India launches Youth Co:Lab

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India jointly launched Youth Co:Lab.
• The lab aims at accelerating social entrepreneurship and innovation in young India and to recognize young people as critical drivers of sustainable development. During the launch, a Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed between AIM, NITI Aayog and UNDP India.
• Through Youth Co:Lab, young entrepreneurs and innovators will get a chance to connect with governments, mentors, incubators and investors. They will also get the opportunity to pitch their ideas at UNDP’s regional centre in 2020.

2. 5th World Parliament of Science, Religion and Philosophy begins

• The three-day event 5th World Parliament of Science, Religion and Philosophy will be held at the MIT World Peace University in Pune, Maharashtra.
• The theme of the programme this year is ‘role of science, religion and philosophy for world peace and well-being of mankind’.
• The primary objective of the event was to create and promote interfaith and inter-religious movement for World Peace.

State News

3. India’s first e-waste clinic to be set up in Bhopal

• The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have joined hands to set up the country’s first e-waste clinic in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• This clinic would enable segregation, processing and disposal of waste from both household and commercial units.
• The electronic waste will be collected door-to-door or can be deposited directly at the clinic in exchange for a fee.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• Chief Minister of MP: Kamal Nath; Governor of MP: Lal Ji Tandon.

Appointments

4. Justice Vinod Kumar Sharma is new Punjab lokpal

• The Punjab government has appointed Justice Vinod Kumar Sharma (retired) as the new Lokpal. The post was lying vacant since April 23, 2018, after Justice Satish Kumar Mittal (retd) had resigned.
• The Lokpal holds the office for a term of 6 years.
• Justice Sharma had served as Punjab and Haryana high court judge from March 22, 2006, to October 26, 2010. Thereafter, he was transferred to the Madras high court from where he retired on May 24, 2013.

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

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

5. Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

• The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has named Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Indigenous Peoples.
• Yalitza Aparicio is committed to the fight against racism and for the rights of women and indigenous peoples. She was chosen to play in Alfonso Cuarón’s film Roma while studying to be a teacher.
• She is the first indigenous Mexican woman to be so recognized by the US Academy Awards.
• TIME magazine (USA) listed her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019.

Agreements

6. NHA ties with Google to strengthen the implementation of PMJAY

• National Health Authority signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with Google to collaborate and strengthen the implementation of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).
• The two organizations will now work together to increase process efficiencies in day-to-day applications. Google will support NHA in improving digital presence of PMJAY and showcasing relevant content to the 50 crore entitled beneficiaries.
• Google will also help provide training and support to NHA personnel to build on digital skills. NHA is the nodal agency for implementing Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

Defence

7. Indo-Mongolian Joint Exercise Nomadic Elephant 2019

• 14th edition of Indo – Mongolian joint military training, Exercise Nomadic Elephant-XIV started.
• The Mongolian Army is being represented by officers and troops of the elite 084 Air Borne Special Task Battalion, while the Indian Army is being represented by a contingent of a battalion of RAJPUTANA RIFLES.
• Nomadic Elephant-XIV is aimed at training troops in counter-insurgency & counter-terrorism operations under United Nations mandate.
• The Joint Exercise will enhance defence co-operation and military relations between the two nations. It is an ideal platform for the armies of both nations to share their experiences & best practices and gain mutually during the joint training.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• Mongolia Capital: Ulaanbaatar; Currency: Mongolian togrog.

Obituaries

8. American actress, singer, and model, Diahann Carroll passes away

• US actress Diahann Carroll, who won Golden Globe and Tony awards and was nominated for an Oscar passed away.
• She was also the first black woman to win the Tony Award for best actress for her role in the Broadway musical No Strings.

Sports

9. Naomi Osaka beats Ashleigh Barty to win China Open

• Japan's Naomi Osaka has won the China Open held in Beijing, China.
• She defeated world number one Ashleigh Barty with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. This was a third title of 2019 for Osaka and fifth in her short career.

10. Christine Wolf wins Hero Women’s Indian Open

• Austria’s Christine Wolf has won the Hero Women’s Indian Open at Gurugram, Haryana.
• It was Christine's first title after six years on the Ladies European Tour. Norway’s Mariaane Skarpnord finished as runner-up while England’s Meghan MacLaren finished third in the competition.
• Among the Indian players, Anika Varma finished at 5th position while Tvesa Malik was at 6th position.

11. Novak Djokovic wins Japan Open title

• Novak Djokovic defeated Australia's John Millman in the finals to win the Japan Open title. He defeated Millman with a score of 6-3, 6-2 and secured a 76th career singles tournament win.

12. Harmanpreet Kaur becomes first Indian to play 100 T20Is

• Harmanpreet Kaur has become the 1st Indian to play 100 T20 International matches. She has joined the club of 10 female players who have reached the three figure mark in terms of appearances.
• New Zealand's Suzie Bates and Australia''s Ellyse Perry are on top of the list with 111 appearances.
• Harmanpreet Kaur has 2 more appearances in T20Is than MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, who have played the highest number of matches for India in men''s cricket.

Books and Authors

13. A new book titled "150 Years of Celebrating the Mahatma the South African Legacy", by Fakir Hassen launched

• A new book titled "150 Years of Celebrating the Mahatma the South African Legacy", by Fakir Hassen launched in Johannesburg, South Africa. This book released on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary.
• The book chronicles commemorations of Gandhi’s activities, including his birth and death anniversaries & his visit in South Africa, which was stifled by the apartheid-era minority white government and revived after former president Nelson Mandela.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• Capitals of South Africa: Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein.
• The rand is the official currency of South Africa.

Miscellaneous

14. GoI launches eco-friendly crackers to fight air pollution

• Union Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan has launched eco-friendly green firecrackers which have been manufactured in India.
• Environment-friendly fireworks have been developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) labs and manufactured by licensee-manufacturers.
• A green logo as well as a Quick Response (QR) coding system has been developed for differentiation of green crackers from conventional crackers.
• The crackers have been launched in a bid to "resolve the crisis of air pollution".

15. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan launches trans-fat free logo

• Health Minister Harsh Vardhan launched the 'trans-fat-free' logo, which can be voluntarily used by food business operators in their outlets and also on food products.
• The logo was launched to boost the ‘Eat Right Movement’ of FSSAI. He also released a slogan ‘Chefs 4 Trans Fat-Free’ at the event.

Daily updates 5 October 2019

National

1. Goa Maritime Conclave 2019 inaugurated

• The Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC)-2019 was inaugurated by the National Security Advisor, Shri Ajit Kumar Doval, at Goa.
• This conclave was conducted by the Naval War College. The subjects of the conclave are Opportunities and Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region, Forging Common Maritime Priorities, Regional Constructs and Strategies in the region.
• The theme for the conclave is “Common Maritime Priorities in IOR and need for Regional Maritime Strategy”.

State News

2. HP Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched the Pragati Rath of the HDFC bank

• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched the Pragati Rath of the HDFC bank.
• Pragati Rath will provide financial and digital literacy to the people during a month-long initiative by moving to different parts of Himachal Pradesh.
• During the launching occasion, the bank provided a cheque Rs.1 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The bank has also announced that it is to launch the Sustainable Livelihood Initiative in the State.

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

• Governor of Himanchal Pradesh: Bandaru Dattatraya.

3. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh launches ‘YSR Vahana Mitra’

• Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will launch the "YSR Vahana Mitra scheme" in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh.
• Under which the government will provide financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per annum to owner-driver of an auto-rickshaw, or taxicab with the aim to meet their insurance premium, licence fee and other recurring expenses.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

• Andhra Pradesh Governor: Biswa Bhusan Harichandan.

Appointments

4. President Kovind appoints Chief Justices to 7 high courts

• President Ramnath Kovind appoints Chief Justices to seven high courts.
• Those chief justices have been appointed to Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, Gauhati, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim High Courts.

Name	High court
Lingappa Narayana Swamy	Himachal Pradesh High Court
Ravi ShankerJha	Punjab and Haryana High Court
Indrajit Mohanty	Rajasthan High Court
J.K. Maheshwari	Andhra Pradesh High Court
S. Manikumar	Kerala High Court
Arup K. Goswami	Sikkim High Court
Ajai Lamba	Gauhati High Court

• Four of the new Chief Justices would fill the vacancies left by Justices V. Ramasubramanian, Krishna Murari, S. Ravindra Bhat and Hrishikesh Roy, who were elevated to the Supreme Court recently from the Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, Rajasthan, and Kerala High Courts, respectively.

5. Vijay Patil elected President of Mumbai Cricket Association

• Vijay Patil has been elected the president of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), while Sanjay Naik and Amol Kale were elected as secretary and vice-president respectively.
• Vijay Patil is the son of former Governor of Bihar Dr DY Patil.

Banking

6. UCO Bank launches UCash, Digilocker and an App

• UCO Bank has launched three new digital products called, UCash, Digilocker and an app in Kolkata, West Bengal. A new current account facility has also been launched by the bank.
• UCash enables customers to withdraw money from ATMs through mobile banking without using a debit card. Digilocker aims to eliminate the use of physical documents and enables sharing of verified electronic documents.
• The third product, the new mobile app, integrates four existing apps of the bank - UCO Mbanking, UCO UPI, UCO Mpassbook and UCO Secure- in a single interface.

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

• MD & CEO of UCO Bank: Atul Kumar Goel; Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal.

Obituaries

7. Centenarian philatelist Krishna Kadekodi passes away

• Centenarian philatelist and coin collector Krishna Gopalkrishna Kadekodi passed away. He was 102.
• He started his career as a revenue inspector and retired as a special deputy commissioner at the Regional Commissioner’s Office in Belagavi.
• He was the first tahsildar of Panaji after the liberation of Goa from Portuguese occupation.
• He was popular not only in India but also aborad for his hobby of collecting stamps, coins and antiques. His collection includes a coloured stamp of Queen Victoria issued in 1854.

8. Farook Khan, an Indian-origin journalist in South Africa passes away

• Farook Khan, an Indian-origin journalist in South Africa passed away. He hailed from Maharashtra. He had started the Miss India South Africa Pageant as part of the Miss India Worldwide Pageant.

9. Bangladesh, Buddhist leader Satyapriya Mohathero passes away

• The second highest Buddhist leader of Bangladesh and head of Sima Bihar of Ramu, Satyapriya Mohathero passed away in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• He was awarded the second-highest civilian award of Bangladesh Ekushey Padak in 2015 for social work.
• The Ramu monastery had provided shelter to a large number of people during the Liberation War of Bangladesh 1971 in the face of Pakistani atrocities.

Important Days

10. World Teachers’ Day: 5 October

• World Teachers' Day or International Teachers' Days is celebrated on October 5.
• The aim of World Teacher'ss Day is to acknowledge the significant role of educators across the world.
• It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of UNESCO's 1966 recommendation concerning the status of teachers.
• This year's theme: 'Young Teachers: The future of the Profession'.
• The UNESCO adopted the recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel in 1997 to complement the 1966 recommendation by covering teaching and research personnel in higher education.
• UNESCO's recommendation sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions.

Miscellaneous

11. India’s first floating basketball court opens in Arabian Sea, Mumbai

• The National Basketball Association (NBA) brought to India the first-ever Floating Basketball Court in the Arabian Sea in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• NBA India on December 20, 2018, had announced that the first-ever NBA game in the country would be organized on October 4 and 5 in Mumbai.
• The NBA India Games 2019 will feature the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers, who will play two pre-season games on October 4 and 5.