Daily updates 7 December 2019

National News

1. GoI launched National Clean Air Programme

• The Central Government launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a long-term, time-bound, national-level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner.
• The government is targeting to achieve 20 per cent to 30 per cent reduction in Particulate Matter PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 2024 keeping 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration.
• Under NCAP, 102 non-attainment cities have been identified based on ambient air quality data for the period 2011 - 2015 and WHO report 2014 - 2018.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: Prakash Javadekar.

State News

2. Telangana CM releases book on Kaleswaram project

• Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao has released a book in Telugu on ‘Kaleswaram Project — Telangana’s chariot of Progress’ authored by Officer on Special Duty, Irrigation to the Chief Minister, Sridhar Rao Deshpande.
• The author explained in detail the efforts of Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao right from the conception of project and research done by using Google earth software and data of water flow from Central Water Commission in his book.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• K Chandrashekhar Rao is the first and present CM of Telangana.
• Hyderabadis the capital of Telangana.

3. Assam govt sets up Anti-Depredation squads

• The Assam government has set up 15 Anti-Depredation Squads of the Forest department to deal with human-wildlife conflicts in the state.
• The anti-depredation squads will be stationed in 15 major human-wildlife conflict districts of the state to deal with the problem and ensure the safety of both humans and animals.
• The Forest Department has engaged specially trained 50 front line staff to handle conflict situations with 100 more staff to be trained in the coming days.
• The anti-depredation squads will be equipped with all logistics required for mitigating the conflict.
• The squads will have 12 bore pump action guns and rubber bullet ammunition.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Assam Capital: Dispur, CM: Sarbananda Sonowal, Governor: Jagdish Mukhi.

Agreements

4. IEPFA signs MOU with Bank of Baroda for Investor Awareness

• Investor Education & Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) works under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bank of Baroda (BoB) to spread customer awareness and investor education and reaching out to investors and stakeholders.
• As per the agreement, 9,456 BoB branches will exhibit IEPFA posters on investor protection & 3,115 ATMs (Automated Teller Machine) and Cash Recyclers supported by self-service channels will feature digital banners on IEPFA.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Bank of Baroda (BoB) Headquarters: Vadodara, Gujarat.
• Bank of Baroda (BoB) Non-Executive Chairman: Hasmukh Adhia.
• Bank of Baroda (BoB): India’s International Bank.

5. India-Bangladesh ties transcend strategic partnership

• The ties between India and Bangladesh for transcend strategic partnership.
• The multidimensional relationship between the two countries covers not only traditional areas like trade, commerce, security and border management but also new areas such as IT, space and nuclear science among others.
• India is a committed development partner of Bangladesh with a credit line worth 8 billion US dollars of which 80% is earmarked for infrastructure and connectivity sector.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh: Riva Ganguly Das.

Awards

6. National Florence Nightingale awards 2019

• President of India conferred 36 awardees with the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2019 at an event in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
• The award was given to Late Lini Sajeesh from Kozhikode, Kerala, who died while on duty caring for a Nipah (NiV) virus-infected patient in Kerala. The award was received by her spouse Sajeesh.
• Other 35 awardees were Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Lady Health Visitors (LHVs), and nurses from different states and Union Territories (UT).
• The Nurses were awarded for their enthusiasm and compassion towards their work in community health centres and hospitals and also their involvement in national health programmes like eradication of polio, malaria and HIV/AIDS.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the year 2020 as the Year of Nurse and Midwife.
• The year 2020 also marks the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, after whom the awards have been named. Florence Nightingale was the founder of modern nursing and has done exemplary work in the nursing field.
• The Florence Nightingale award was established in the year 1973 by the Government of India to commemorate the exemplary work done by nurses.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• May 12 is observed as the International Day of Nurses.

Appointments

7. K Vijay Kumar appointed senior security advisor in MHA

• K Vijay Kumar has been appointed as a senior security advisor in the Union Home Ministry headed by Amit Shah.
• The 1975 batch officer of Indian Police Service will "advise the ministry on security-related matters of Union Territory of J&K and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected States.
• He will be in the position for a period of 1-year from the date of his taking charge.
• He has served as Director-General of CRPF, Director of National Police Academy in Hyderabad and his most talked-about stint was as the chief of the Tamil Nadu police special task force that killed forest brigand Veerappan in 2004.
• After his retirement from service and as DG, CRPF in 2012, Kumar was appointed as senior security advisor LWE in the Home Ministry then headed by Rajnath Singh.

Banking

8. NEFT transactions to be made 24x7 from December 16

• The Reserve Bank of India announced round-the-clock transactions will be allowed 24x7 facility under the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system on all days including weekends and holidays from December 16.
• These transactions after the usual banking hours are set to be automated initiated using 'Straight Through Processing (STP)' modes by the banks.
• The existing discipline for crediting the beneficiary's account or returning the transaction within 2 hours of settlement to the originating bank will also continue.
• Member banks are also advised to initiate necessary action and ensure availability of all necessary infrastructural requirements at their end for providing seamless NEFT 24x7 facility to their customers.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das, Headquarters: Mumbai, Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

Rank and Report

9. Aberdeen in A&N Islands declare best police station in country

• Aberdeen Police station in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands ranks 1st in the list of the best-performing police stations in the country while dealing with a property offence, a crime against women and weaker sections.
• Home Ministry released the list of ten best-performing Police stations in the country.
• Balasinor police station in Gujarat secured the 2nd rank while and Ajk Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh got the 3rd position.
• The ranking of police stations came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the DGPs conference in 2015 in Kutch of Gujarat, had directed that parameters should be laid down for grading police stations and assessing their performance based on feedback.
• The ranking of top ten Police Stations out of over 15 thousand 500 Police Stations in the country was done through data analysis, direct observation and public feedback.

Obituaries

10. Bob Willis Former England cricket captain passes away

• Former England captain Bob Willis passed away.
• He captained England in 18 Tests and 29 one-day internationals before his retirement from all forms of cricket in 1984.
• The fast bowler took 325 wickets in 90 Tests from 1971 to 1984, claiming a career-best 8-43 to help England to a famous win over Australia at Headingley in the 1981 Ashes.

Important Days

11. Armed Forces Flag Day: 7 December

• Armed Forces Flag Day is observed on 7th of December every year across the country to honour the martyrs and Armed Forces personnel, who safeguard the motherland.
• The day provides an opportunity to express gratitude to the nation towards forces guarding the borders and their families.
• The fund collected on this day is used for the welfare of the serving personnel and ex-servicemen.
• The day reminds that the welfare of the soldiers and their families is the responsibility of the entire nation.

12. International Civil Aviation Day: 7 December

• The United Nations General Assembly officially recognized 7 December as International Civil Aviation Day globally.
• International Civil Aviation Day was established in 1994 as part of ICAO’s.
• In 1996, pursuant to an ICAO initiative and with the assistance of the Canadian Government.
• The theme of this year Civil Aviation Day is "75 Years of Connecting the World".
• The purpose of International Civil Aviation Day is to help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of States, and of the unique role of ICAO in helping States to cooperate and realize a truly global rapid transit network at the service of all mankind.

Miscellaneous

13. J&K govt approves Leave Travel Concession in favour of its employees

• Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) in favour of its employees.
• The move is to benefit more than 3.5 lakh, regular government employees.
• The rules as per the notification shall be deemed to have come into force from the date of 31st of October 2019 and had been entitled as Jammu & Kashmir Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 2019.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Lieutenant (Lt) Governors of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K): Girish Chandra Murmu.

14. Ripu Daman Bevli as "Plogging Ambassador of India" on 50th Fit India Plogging Run

• Ripu Daman Bevli was appointed as Plogging Ambassador of India by Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) on the 50th Fit India Plogging Run held in Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
• The minister also launched the Plogging Ambassador Mission to nominate Indians who have been running and cleaning their cities, towns or districts as Plogging Ambassadors of their region.
• Plog run is a unique way of picking up garbage while jogging, it was added to the Fit India Movement as an initiative to combine fitness with cleanliness like combining the Fit India Movement and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Daily updates 6 December 2019

State News

1. India's 1st HAM project in "Sewerage Sector" inaugurated in Haridwar

• Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat inaugurated the 14 MLD sewage treatment plant (STP) in Sarai village near Haridwar in the presence of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.
• The Sarai STP is “the first-ever project in the country on a hybrid annuity PPP model (HAM)".
• 34 STPs are being built in Uttarakhand at a cost of Rs 1,144 crore, besides crematoria and ghats on the Ganga. Of these, 23 have been completed.
• Once all the STPs become operational, there will be “considerable improvement in the water quality of Ganga,”.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Capital of Uttarakhand: Dehradun; Governor: Baby Rani Maurya.

2. Avantee mega Food Park inaugurated in MP’s Dewas

• The Union Minister for food processing inaugurated Avantee mega Food Park in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh.
• This first food park of central India is spread over 51 acres and has been constructed at a cost of about 150 crore rupees.
• About 5 thousand local people will get employment from this Mega Food Park. Processing of soybean, gram, wheat and other grains and vegetables will be done in the park.
• Warehouses will also be opened in Indore, Ujjain, Dhar and Agar in the next phases.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Union Minister for food processing: Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

Agreements

3. CPPIB to invest $600 mn via National Investment and Infrastructure Fund

• The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) of India and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) have agreed for CPPIB to invest up to $600 million through the NIIF Master Fund.
• The agreement includes a commitment of $150 million in the NIIF Master Fund and co-investment rights of up to $450 million in future opportunities to invest alongside the NIIF Master Fund.
• The NIIF Master Fund invests equity capital in core infrastructure sectors in India, with a focus on transportation, energy and urban infrastructure.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• National Investment and Infrastructure Fund of India MD and CEO: Sujoy Bose.

4. BlackBuck partners with IDFC Bank, Yes Bank to offer free FASTags to truckers

• The Online trucking platform BlackBuck has partnered with private lenders IDFC Bank and Yes Bank to provide FASTags to truck owners free of cost.
• Truck owners can order FASTags on BlackBuck's Boss App, a digital services platform exclusively for truck fleet owners, and it will be delivered at their doorstep free of cost until December 31, 2019.
• The initiative is expected to help over 3 million trucks in India become FASTag compliant.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• IDFC Bank MD & CEO: V. Vaidyanathan; IDFC Tagline: Always You First.
• Yes Bank MD & CEO: Ravneet Gill; Yes Bank Tagline: Experience our Expertise.

Awards

5. "Shilpa Shetty App" wins in 2019 Google Play Awards

• Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty's fitness app "Shilpa Shetty App" has been awarded Google Play’s Best Apps of 2019.
• The app was awarded in the category of ‘Personal Growth’.

Defence

6. Exercise INDRA 2019

• Exercise INDRA 2019 a joint, tri-services exercise between India and Russia will be conducted in India from 10-19 December 2019 simultaneously at Babina (near Jhansi), Pune, and Goa.
• The contingents of both countries will share expertise and their professional experience.
• The esprit-de-corps and goodwill shall be the key areas during the exercise which will facilitate the further strengthening of bonds between the defence forces of India and Russia.
• The INDRA series of exercise began in 2003 and the First joint Tri-Services Exercise was conducted in 2017, It will be a historic occasion for two of the world's greatest Armed Forces to join hands and successfully conduct an exercise of this magnitude with professionalism, to imbibe the best practices from each other, jointly evolve and drills to defeat the scourge of terror under the United Nation mandate.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Vladimir Putin is President of Russia.
• Moscow is the capital city of Russia.
• The Russian ruble is the currency Russia.

Summit and Conferences

7. NATO Summit 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom

• The United Kingdom(UK) hosted two days organised 2019 NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Summit in London.
• The year 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the summit. It was attended by NATO leaders and chaired by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
• The purpose of the summit was to make the heads of state and heads of government of NATO member countries to evaluate and provide strategic direction for Alliance activities.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Member countries of NATO: 29; Founded:  4 April 1949.
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.

8. Piyush Goyal inaugurates 3rd edition of National Public Procurement Conclave

• Commerce and Industry Minister inaugurated the 3rd edition of National Public Procurement Conclave in New Delhi.
• The conclave has been organized by Government e-Marketplace, GeM in association with Confederation of Indian Industry.
• GeM epitomizes the speed, skill and scale which is essential in an e-marketplace platform.
• GeM rests on the three pillars of openness, fairness and inclusiveness and is a symbol of a truly transparent e-marketplace.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Union Commerce and Industry Minister: Piyush Goyal.

Banking

9. RBI releases “Guidelines for ‘on tap’ Licensing of SFB in the Private Sector”

• The Reserve Bank of India released guidelines for ‘on tap’ Licensing of Small Finance Banks in the Private Sector.
• Now payments banks willing to convert themselves into small finance banks (SFBs) can apply for such a licence only after 5 years of operations.
• Existing payments banks (PBs), which are controlled by residents and have completed five years of operations, are also eligible for conversion into small finance banks after complying with all legal and regulatory requirements of various authorities and if they conform to these guidelines.
• The licensing window will be open on-tap. The minimum capital for setting up an SFB has been mandated at ₹200 crores, adding for primary (urban) co-operative banks (UCBs), which wish to become SFBs, the initial requirement of net worth will be ₹100 crores, which will have to be increased to ₹200 crores within five years from the date of commencement of business.
• SFBs will be given scheduled bank status immediately upon commencement of operations.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

Economy

10. 1st time India’s forex reserves cross $450 billion

• The country’s foreign exchange reserves crossed the $450-billion mark for the first time ever on the back of strong inflows which enabled the central bank to buy dollars from the market, thus checking any sharp appreciation of the rupee.
• India’s foreign exchange reserves were at $451.7 billion on December 3, 2019, an increase of $38.8 billion over end-March 2019.
• The Reserve Bank has always maintained that it intervenes in the foreign exchange market to curb volatility and does not target a particular level of the exchange rate.

Business

11. HDFC ERGO launches my:health Woman Suraksha policy

• HDFC ERGO general insurance company, India’s third-largest non-life insurance provider in the private sector, has launched “my: health Woman Suraksha policy”, a comprehensive medical insurance scheme specially designed for women.
• The my:health Woman Suraksha policy is specially designed to cover women against numerous illnesses and contingencies they may face during their lifetime, thereby providing financial aid in case of medical contingencies.
• The benefits include fitness discount at renewals, specially designed preventive health check-ups after every renewal and wellness services like health coaching, nutrition and weight management services, discounts at pharmacies, etc.
• It also provides counselling on stress management, pregnancy care, work-life balance, etc which is much needed by today's new age women.
• This policy is offered to women between 18-65 years of age and offers a sum insured ranging from Rs. 1 lakh to 1 crore.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• HDFC ERGO MD & CEO: Ritesh Kumar; Founded: 2002.
• HDFC ERGOHeadquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Books and author

12. IIT researchers to create ‘Gandhipedia’

• The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) and IIT (Indian Institutes of Technology) Gandhinagar and Kharagpur, have joined hands to develop Gandhipedia, an online repository of books, letters and speeches written by Mahatma Gandhi, to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary.
• The entire project will be done with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• In the first phase, over 40 books written by Mahatma Gandhi will be digitised and indexed and their portions which are to be completed by March 2020, and the remaining four phases will be worked on till March 2024.
• The books will be used to reconstruct the social network of the Mahatma, including those who had influenced him and people whom he had inspired.
• The aim of Gandhipedia is to reconstruct and remember the inspiring works of Mahatma Gandhi.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• National Council of Science Museums Director-General: A. D. Choudhury.
• Founded: 4 April 1978; Headquarters: Kolkata, India.
• Parent Organization: Ministry of Culture.

13. ‘Borderman’ yearly magazine released by Nityanand Rai

• The yearly magazine called ‘Borderman’ was released by Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs on the occasion of 55th raising day of BSF (Border Security Force) organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• The 55th raising day of BSF (Border Security Force) was celebrated on the 1st of December 2019.

Miscellaneous

14. Roger Federer’s face to go on Swiss coin

• Tennis legend Roger Federer will become the first living person in Switzerland to have a coin minted in his honour.
• The Federal Mint, Swissmint, has created a 20-franc silver coin bearing Federer’s image.
• It’s the first time in its history that Swissmint has created a commemorative coin to honour a living person.

15. Nation pays homage to Dr BR Ambedkar on his 64th Mahaparinirvan Diwas

• The nation is paying homage to Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar on his 64th Mahaparinirvan Diwas (death anniversary) on 6 December.
• He was popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar and everyone knows that he was one of the architects of the Indian Constitution.
• He was a very well-known political leader, eminent jurist, Buddhist activist, philosopher, anthropologist, historian, orator, writer, economist, scholar and editor, too.
• He is a leader who dedicated his life to eradicating social inequality in India.

Daily updates 5 December 2019

National News

1. RBI keeps the repo rate unchanged at 5.15% in 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy

• In its 5th Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee meeting, the Reserve Bank of India has decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged to 5.15%.
• The MPC has also decided to maintain the accommodative stance of monetary policy to revive growth, while ensuring that inflation remains within the target.
• The main decisions taken in the 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Committee meeting are:
• The repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) left unchanged to 5.15%.
• The reverse repo rate under the LAF stands same i.e. 4.90%.
• The marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate also remains same i.e. 5.40%.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For LIC Assistant Mains:

• Governor of RBI: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

2. Fit India School Rating System launched as part of Fit India Campaign

• Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Kiren Rijiju has jointly launched the Fit India School Rating System.
• The "Fit India School Rating System" has been launched as part of the Fit India Campaign.
• The Fit India school rating system as per certain parameters is expected to enhance the image of the schools.
• Fit India program is an innovative initiative launched by the Prime Minister to increase the awareness among the masses and to encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyle.

State News

3. Odisha launches 'Madhu' app to help school students

• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched 'Madhu' app. It is an e-learning mobile phone application which will help school students to understand their subjects in a better and most efficient way.
• The app is named after 'Utkal Gourab' Madhusudan Das. The app is developed by Ganjam district administration for school students.
• Through this app, the students will be able access the video explanation of the topics they were taught in their classroom.

Awards

4. Mumbai Central gets first 'Eat Right Station' certification from FSSAI

• The Mumbai Central station of Railways was conferred with the 'Eat Right Station' certification with four stars rating by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), as a part of 'Eat Right India' movement launched last year.
• The Mumbai Central Railway Station is the country's first "Eat Right Station."
• Mumbai Central station has been judged on the basis of compliance of food safety and hygiene, availability of healthy diet, food handling at preparation, transhipment and retail/serving point, food waste management, promotion of local and seasonal food and creating awareness on food safety and healthy diet.
• The focus of the movement is on improving the health and well-being of people by ensuring they eat healthily.
• 'Eat Right India' movement is built on two broad pillars of 'Eat Healthy' and 'Eat Safe'.
• It aims to engage, excite and enable citizens to improve their health and well-being.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• FSSAI founded: August 2011.
• FSSAI Act: Food and Standards Act, 2006.
• FSSAI Headquarters: New Delhi.
• FSSAI Chairperson: Rita Teaotia.
• FSSAI Chief Executive Officer: Shri Pawan Kumar Agarwal.

5. ET Lifetime of Public Service Award for Former FM (Late) Arun Jaitley

• Arun Jaitley former Finance Minister of India was bestowed with the Economic Times (ET) Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service 2019.
• The award was received by Arun Jaitley’s spouse Sangeeta Jaitley.
• Arun Jaitley was the former Finance Minister of India, he was also the Minister of Corporate Affairs from May 2014 to May 2019, Minister of Defence from March 2017 to September 2017, Minister of Information and Broadcasting from November 2014 to July 2016, Minister of Law and Justice from July 2003 to May 2004 and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting from October 1999 to September 2000.

6. 'Joker' fame Joaquin Phoenix named 2019 ‘Person of the Year’ by PETA

• 'Joker' fame Joaquin Rafael Phoenix, American actor from California, United States (US) has been bestowed with the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) ‘Person of the Year’ Award 2019.
• Joaquin Phoenix has been a vegan since the age of three and has been a supporter of PETA for a long time.
• He has recently appeared in an advertisement of PETA titled “We are all animals”, which was displayed in the Times Square and Sunset billboards to promote the prohibition of travelling wild-animal circuses.

7. New Zealand wins MCC’s Spirit of Cricket award

• The New Zealand cricket team has been awarded the Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket award.
• The team has been awarded for its exemplary show of sportsmanship during the final match of the ICC World Cup at Lord’s in July 2019, which it lost under controversial circumstances.
• Martin-Jenkins was the former MCC president and BBC Test Match Special commentator.

Defence

8. Exercise Hand-in-Hand 2019

• The 8th India-China joint training exercise 'HAND-IN-HAND 2019' with the theme counter-terrorism under United Nations mandate is scheduled to be conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya from 07 to 20 December 2019.
• The Chinese contingent from the Tibet Military command comprising of 130 personal and the Indian Contingent of similar strength will participate in the 14-day long training exercise.
• The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and conduct of counter-terrorist operations in semi-urban terrain.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• China Capital: Beijing; Currency: Renminbi.

Schemes and Committees

9. Chief of the air Staff participates in Pacific Air Chiefs’ Symposium 2019

• Chief of the Air Staff of India is participating in the Pacific Air Chiefs’ Symposium 2019 (PACS 2019) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
• The theme for this year’s symposium is ‘A Collaborative Approach to Regional Security’.
• The conference will bring together Air Chiefs from across the Indo-Pacific region who will provide perspectives on common challenges faced and on shared mutual interests while focusing on relevant topics like ‘Regional Security’, ‘Domain Awareness’, ‘Multi-Domain Awareness’, Ínteroperability’ and ‘HADR’. The symposium will also entail discourse and discussions on the combined effort required to maintain peace and security within the region.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Chief of the Air Staff: Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.

Banking

10. Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank signs MoU for bancassurance

• Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) and Canara, HSBC, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Life Insurance Company Ltd. signed an MoU for bancassurance (for selling life insurance products through the branches of KVGB).
• As per the pact, KVGB will market wide range insurance products of the Canara HSBC through its 636 branches in 9 districts of Karnataka.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank founded: September 12, 2005.
• Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank Headquarters: Dharwad, Karnataka.
• Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank Chairman: Puttaganti Gopi Krishna.
• Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank Sponsored by: Syndicate Bank.

Important Days

11. International Volunteer Day: 5 December

• The International Volunteer Day (IVD) is observed across the world on 5 December every year.
• This year theme is " Volunteer for an inclusive future".
• This year’s theme highlighting Sustainable Development Goal 10 (SDG 10) and the pursuit of equality including inclusion through volunteerism.

12. World Soil Day: 5 December

• World Soil Day is celebrated annually on the 5th of December at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy.
• This year, by addressing the increasing challenges of soil management, the FAO campaign "Stop soil erosion, Save our future" aims to raise awareness of the importance of sustaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being.
• By encouraging people around the world to engage in proactively improving soil health, the campaign also aims to raise the profile of healthy soil.
• The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), in 2002, adopted a resolution proposing the 5th of December as World Soil Day to celebrate the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to human well-being.

Miscellaneous

13. VP Naidu launches new Rotavirus vaccine: ROTAVAC-5D

• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched the new Rotavirus vaccine: ROTAVAC-5D designed and developed by Bharat Biotech in New Delhi.
• ROTAVAC is an example of a true social innovation that was realized through a partnership between scientists from India and the USA.
• India is firmly committed to ending morbidity and mortality in children caused due to diarrhoea by 2022.
• The first generation, Rotavirus vaccine, ROTAVAC developed under a Public-Private Partnership with the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India, has put India on the global map for setting new standards in pharmaceutical Research and Development.

14. India’s first maritime museum coming up at Lothal in Gujarat

• Government of India (GoI) & Portugal has decided to cooperate in the setting up of an India’s 1st National Maritime Heritage Museum at the ancient Indian site of Lothal in Gujarat with the aim to boost the underwater or marine archaeology.
• The Museum will showcase salvaged material from shipwreck sites in the Indian Ocean waters.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS SO 2019:

• Gujarat CM: Vijay Rupani; Governor: Acharya Dev Vrat; Capital: Gandhinagar.