ICICI launched Mera iMobile application for rural customers ICICI Bank Ltd.

ICICI launched Mera iMobile application for rural customers ICICI Bank Ltd., India’s largest private sector bank by consolidated assets, on 20 March 2017 announced the launch of Mera iMobile application. Mera iMobile, which is currently available only for retail customers, offers more than 130 services across categories. Following are the various services offered by the ICICI Mera iMobile application
• Retail Banking Services: Mera iMobile offers more than 100 regular financial and non-financial banking services like fund transfer, recharges, bill payment and general insurance.
• Agri Banking: These are specialised services available under Cards and Loans section where rural banking services like Gold Loan, Tractor Loan, Kisan Credit Card and SHG-Retail are offered.
• Agri Advisory Services: The prominent non-banking services section of Mera iMobile offers rural advisory services of current mandi prices and real-time weather information.
• SMS Banking (Non-Data): This segment offers almost 17 short message service (SMS) based banking and non-banking services like balance enquiry, last 3 transactions, credit card balance, send money, recharges and cheque book services.
• The services under this segment can be availed without internet and logging to the app also is not required. Following are the unique features of Mera iMobile.
• Mera iMobile can be used with or without internet.
• It’s an independent app and a customer can have both iMobile and Mera iMobile installed on his handset.
• It is available in 11 languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. CCEA approved North East Road Network Connectivity Project Phase I
• SMS based services available for rural customers such as balance enquiry, last 3 transactions, send money, credit card payment related services and recharges on Activate Now and Services screen.
• Various farmer and agri loan services like Kisan Credit Card, Gold Loan, Tractor Loans, and Self Help Group loan are offered through this app.
• In addition to the existing iMobile calculators, specialty calculators are available for Gold Loan and Kisan Credit Card in the application.

World Bank signs USD 100 million Health Care Deal for Uttarakhand

World Bank signs USD 100 million Health Care Deal for Uttarakhand The World Bank on 23 March 2017 signed a USD 100 million credit agreement with the Union Government and Uttarakhand to improve quality of healthcare services in all 13 districts of Uttarakhand. The agreement for the project was signed by Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary in Union Ministry of Finance; Neeraj Kharwal, Project Director for the Uttarakhand Health Systems and World Bank India Operations Manager and Acting Country Director Hisham Abdo Kahin. The project aims to reduce the financial risk for its citizens and make affordable and quality health care available to all. It will also strengthen the government’s ability to effectively engage with the private sector to pursue the innovations planned under this project. The loan will be from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank with a maturity of 25 years, including a 5-year grace period. Background Most public health facilities in the middle and upper mountainous areas of Uttarakhand are unable to function optimally because of large-scale vacancies of health staff. In 2013, 48 per cent of the posts of general duty medical officers and 75 per cent of the specialists posts were vacant in the state despite a liberal government policy to hire contractual doctors.

ISRO sends four teams to 36th Expedition to Antarctica

ISRO sends four teams to 36th Expedition to Antarctica The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in March 2017 announced that it has sent four teams to install stakes on ice for Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) to validate the glacier surface velocity. The teams will mount the stakes around Indian station known as Bharati and Maitri. Key highlights
• One team is from Space Application Center and the second team is from National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC). The third and fourth team belongs to IRS Dehradun and Space Physics Laboratory.
• The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences organizes the Indian Scientific Mission to Antarctica (ISEA) every year.
• Climate change is the thrust area of the 36th ISEA.
• The mission aims to install stakes on the ice for DGPS measurements. These teams will study and collect the data from the satellite.
• Based on the data collected, the teams will validate the glacier surface velocity in order to measure the thickness of snow over the land and sea using GPR’s.
• Further, the teams will also verify the situations of snow over the sea and land ice.
• In addition, these four teams will study snow melt and freeze dynamics on Antarctica. They will use space-based and ground-based facts and data to research on this. About Indian Antarctic Program
• The Indian Antarctic Program is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional program.
• It was initiated in 1981 with the first Indian expedition to Antarctica.
• It gained global acceptance with India's signing of the Antarctic Treaty and subsequent construction of the Dakshin Gangotri Antarctic research base in 1983. The base was superseded by the Maitri base from 1990.
• The newest Indian base at the continent, Bharati, was commissioned in 2015. It is constructed out of 134 shipping containers.

BJP legislator Michael Lobo elected as deputy speaker of Goa assembly

BJP legislator Michael Lobo elected as deputy speaker of Goa assembly Michael Lobo, a BJP legislator was elected as the Deputy speaker of the Goa Assembly on 24 March 2017. Lobo, who is a two-time MLA from Goa’s Calangute constituency, defeated the Congress nominee Izidore Fernandes by 21-15 during the final day of the state’s Budget session. Key Highlights
• While one Congress MLA Churchill Alemao refrained from voting, another Fransisco Silveira reached late to the House.
• Speaker Pramod Sawant also did not vote.
• The state has a 40 member house and one of the MLA’s resigned just days after the assembly poll results were announced.
• Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar after congratulating Lobo on his win escorted him to his chair.
• Chandrakant Kavlekar, the leader of opposition (INC) and a three-time assembly member also congratulated Lobo on his win. In his victory speech, Lobo showed staunch support for the Chief Minister and stated that he will always be with him due to Parrikar’s vision for Goa. ISRO sends four teams to 36th Expedition to Antarctica NCST approves proposal for 5 additional seats for tribals in Sikkim Assembly About Michael Lobo
• Born on 18 June 1976 in Mapusa, Goa, Lobo is an Indian businessperson and politician.
• He defeated incumbent Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calangute constituency, Agnelo Nicholas Fernandes in 2012 state assembly elections.
• He became a member of the Sixth Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa on 7 March 2012.
• Besides this, he is Chairman of the North Goa Planning and Development Authority and a member of different committees in the Government of Goa.

Current Affairs Quiz: 24 March 2017

These quizzes will help you in answering questions which can/may be asked in the next exam that will be faced by you. The day’s updated quizzes cover the topics like 2017 Abel Prize, 2017 World Tuberculosis Day and National Commission for Schedule Tribes among others.

1. Who won the 2017 Abel Prize? a) Yves Meyer
b) Andrew J. Wiles
c) Louis Nirenberg
d) John F. Nash

2. What is the theme of 2017 World Tuberculosis Day (WTD)?
a) End Tuberculosis
b) Unite to End TB
c) Gear up to end TB
d) Stop TB in my lifetime

3. The central sector scheme Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) will be launched from which state? a) Uttar Pradesh
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Andhra Pradesh
d) Tamil Nadu

4. The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members was observed recently. The day commemorates the anniversary of the abduction of which of the following UN staff members?
a) Alex Matthews
b) Charles Chad
c) Alec Collett
d) None of the above

5. The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare launched a Coffee Table Book titled “50 Years – The Great Indian Milk Revolution.”  Who of the following is handling ministry?
a) Najma A. Heptulla
b) Birender Singh
c) Radha Mohan Singh
d) Narendra Singh Tomar

6. Identify the naturalist on whose name a tiny shrimp-like fossil, which is thought to be around 430 million-years-old, is named.
a) E.O. Wilson
b) David Attenborough
c) Diane Ackerman
d) Jannise Ray

7. Identify the veteran photographer who was recently conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 6th National Photography Awards.
a) Raghu Rai
b) Pablo Bartholomew
c) Dilip Mehta
d) Altaf Qadri

8. The Union Cabinet gave its approval for the creation of National Commission for Socially and Educationally backward classes. Consider the following statements regarding the proposed commission.
I. It will replace the National Commission for Backward Classes, which is a constitutional body.
II. The Article 338B will be inserted in the Constitution in this regard. Which of these statements is/are true?
a) Only I
b) Only II
c) Both I and II
d) None of them

9. The Union Cabinet gave its approval for amendments to/repealment of which of the following Acts to facilitate implementation of GST regime.
I. The Customs Act, 1962
II. The Customs Tariff Act, 1975
III. The Central Excise Act, 1944 IV. The Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 a) I, II and III
b) II, III and IV
c) I, III and IV
d) All of them

10. Consider the following statements related to Phase I of the North East Road Network Connectivity Project.
I.  Under the project, 403 kilometers of National Highways (NHs) will be developed in Meghalaya and Assam.
II. The project will be executed with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Which of these statements is/are true?
a) Only I
b) Only II
c) Both I and II
d) None of them

11. Which State Government launched the Sustainable Action for Climate Resilient Development (SaCReD) for protection of the environment in Majuli.
a) Assam
b) Telangana
c) Karnataka
d) Bihar

12. Pawan Hans is going to start chopper rides for visitors in which Indian city?
a) Delhi
b) Mumbai
c) Lucknow
d) Agra

13. The National Commission for Schedule Tribes (NCST) has approved the proposal for five additional seats for tribals in which state’s assembly?
a) Manipur
b) Nagaland
c) Tripura
d) Sikkim

14. Which Indian state is soon going to have a football stadium with world-class facility as per FIFA norms?
a) Punjab
b) Jammu & Kashmir
c) Kerala
d) West Bengal

15. The United Nations Human Rights Council has granted which country a two-year extension to probe into the alleged war crimes committed during civil war?
a) Syria
b) Iraq
c) Sri Lanka
d) Sudan
ANSWERS
1. (a) Yves Meyer
2. (b) Unite to End TB
3. (c) Andhra Pradesh
4. (c) Alec Collett
5. (c) Radha Mohan Singh
6. (b) David Attenborough
7.(a) Raghu Rai
8. (b) Only II
9. (d) All of them
10. (b) Only II
11. (a) Assam
12. (a) Delhi
13. (d) Sikkim
14. (b) Jammu & Kashmir
15. (c) Sri Lanka

Current Affairs One liner of the day: 24 March 2017

The one liner of 24th March covers important current happenings that are relevant to competitive exams. The day’s one liner’s cover important the happenings like 2017 Abel Prize, 2017 World Tuberculosis Day and National Commission for Schedule Tribes among others.
• 2017 Abel Prize was awarded to  - Yves Meyer
• Theme of 2017 World Tuberculosis Day - Unite to End TB • Central sector scheme Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) will be launched from - Andhra Pradesh
• The Union Cabinet gave its approval to amend these acts to facilitate the implementation of the GST regime - The Customs Act, 1962, The Customs Tariff Act, 1975 and TheCentral Excise Act, 1944
• The CCEA gave its approval to the execution of the Phase I of the North East Road Network Connectivity Project at an estimated cost of – Rs 6,721 crore • This State Government launched the Sustainable Action for Climate Resilient Development (SaCReD) for protection of the environment in Majuli – Assam
• The Union Cabinet gave its approval for the creation of National Commission for Socially and Educationally backward classes by inserting this new Article in the Constitution – 338B
• The National Helicopter operator Pawan Hans is going to launch this new service from 1 April 2017 - Delhi Darshan rides
• The National Commission for Schedule Tribes (NCST) has approved the proposal for five additional seats for tribals in – Sikkim Assembly
• The Bakshi stadium in this state is all set to be developed into a world-class facility as per the FIFA norms – Jammu & Kashmir
• The United Nations Human Rights Council has granted this country a two-year extension to probe into the alleged war crimes committed during civil war – Sri Lanka
• The veteran photographer who was recently conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 6th National Photography Awards is - Raghu Rai
• The naturalist on whose name a tiny shrimp-like fossil, which is thought to be around 430 million-years-old, is named - David Attenborough
• The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare launched a Coffee Table Book titled “50 Years – The Great Indian Milk Revolution.”  The ministry is handled by - Radha Mohan Singh
• The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members is observed each year in March. The day commemorates the anniversary of the abduction of - Alec Collett

International day of Remembrance of the victims of Transatlantic Slave Trade observed globally

International day of Remembrance of the victims of Transatlantic Slave Trade observed globally 25 March: The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade was observed globally on 25 March 2017 with the theme "Remember Slavery: Recognising the Legacy and Contributions of People of African Descent". The theme aims to draw attention to the consequences of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, especially the ways in which the enslaved Africans and their descendants influenced and continue to shape societies across the world, including in the areas of technology and culture. The theme also highlights the persistent spirit and innovation of the enslaved people. Key Highlights
• The International Day aims to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice in today’s world.
• To honour of the Remember Slavery Programme’s 10-year anniversary, the Department of Public Information released a new logo and entered into new partnerships to help it meet its goals easily.
• In another token of remembrance, the video series ‘UN stories’ has produced a 90-second video, which is titled ‘the African Roots of Cuba's Music, on the transatlantic slave trade’s impact on the culture and music of Cuba.
• An exhibition titled ‘A Legacy of Black Achievement’ will also be opened for all in the visitor’s lobby at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York on 29 March 2017.
• The exhibition, produced by the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, will feature 21 notable personalities, belonging to different backgrounds who have paved the way for civil rights and the recognition and justice for Africans living in Africa, Europe, America and across the globe.
• It will be presented in partnership with the United Nations Department of Public Information’s Remember Slavery Programme. World Tuberculosis Day 2017 observed globally  Background
• The transatlantic slave trade was the largest forced migration in history.
• The greatest movement of the African captives was to America.
• Almost 96 per cent of the enslaved Africans arrived in cramped ships at ports in South America and the Caribbean Islands. • From 1501 to 1830, almost four African crossed the Atlantic for every one European.
• The result of this migration is visible even today with a large population of Africans still living in America.
• The transatlantic slave trade was one of the darkest chapters in history and more than 15 million men, women and children became victim to it.

Union Cabinet approved amendments

Union Cabinet approved amendments to existing Acts to facilitate implementation of GST The Union Cabinet gave its approval to amend three existing Acts to facilitate the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. The approval was given at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 March 2017 in New Delhi. Following are the three existing Acts which will be amended by the Parliament. i. The Customs Act, 1962 ii. The Customs Tariff Act, 1975 iii. The Central Excise Act, 1944 Besides, the Cabinet gave its approval to repeal the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985. The above proposals will result in the following benefits.
• Insertion of Sections 108A and 108B in the Customs Act, 1962 seeks to provide for furnishing of information relating to import or export of goods by specified persons.
• This amendment will enable analysis and detection of cases of under or over-valuation in imports and exports, misuse of export promotion schemes including the Drawback Scheme. Understanding GST & Its Implications
• It will also lead to detection of violations of the provisions of the Customs Act and various other laws under which customs officials have been authorized to effectively implement these laws
• Amendments or repeal of various provisions of other Acts will result in cleansing of the irrelevant portions from the statute book and reduce multiplicity of taxes.
About Goods and Services Tax
• Goods and Services Tax is one indirect tax for the whole nation, which will make India one unified common market.
• It is a single tax on the supply of goods and services, right from the manufacturer to the consumer.
• The benefits of GST are multifold. The new tax regime leads to uniformity of tax rates and structures, improved competitiveness in the industry and relief in overall tax burden to the consumer.
• The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is expected to be rolled out on 1 July 2017 after the passage of the necessary laws by the Parliament

International Day for Right to Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations

International Day for Right to Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations 2017 observed 24 March: International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims The International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims was observed globally on 24 March 2017.  In particular, the day recognizes the important work and values of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero of El Salvador, who was assasinated on 24 March 1980, after denouncing violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable populations and defending the principles of protecting lives. The Day aims to honour the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promotes the importance of the right to truth and justice. The day also pays tribute to those who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all. Background On 21 December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 March as the International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members observed

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members observed 25 March: International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members The 2017 International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members was observed on 25 March 2017. The day is observed each year on the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett. The day aims to mobilize action, demand justice and strengthen United Nations’ resolve to protect the UN staff and peacekeepers, as well as their colleagues in the non-governmental community and the press. As of 15 March 2015, 33 UN and associated personnel were detained by State authorities in 15 countries.  One staff member is missing and two contractors remain in the custody of abductors. Who was Alec Collett?
• Alec Collett was a former journalist.
• He was working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) when he was abducted by armed gunman in 1985.  
• His body was found in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in the year 2009.

ICAR, ICRISAT signed collaborative agreement for crop improvement

ICAR, ICRISAT signed collaborative agreement for crop improvement The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on 15 March 2017 signed a collaborative agreement for crop improvement. The agreement was signed by Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR) and  Dr David Bergvinson, Director General, ICRISAT in New Delhi. Highlights of the Agreement
• The agreement, which is called as the ICAR-ICRISAT collaborative work plan for the years 2016-18, facilitates the transfer of agricultural technologies between the two institutes.
• Climate smart crops, smart food and digitalization of breeding database are some of the core areas of research covered under the agreement.
• The partnership includes funding to research grain legumes and dryland cereals and support for the smart food initiative to deliver sustainable and nutritionally rich products to consumers. India-Russia Military Industrial Conference held in New Delhi
• On the crop improvement front, the agreement will also facilitate research activities on transgenic pigeonpea and chickpea for insect resistance.
• Other areas of focus over the next three years include the integration of  systems modelling tools to upscale climate resilient agriculture, development of genetic and genomic resources of finger millet and enhancement of genetic gains for priority traits.  About Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
• The ICAR is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE).
• It was established as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 by the British Government.
• The Council is the apex body for co-ordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture, including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country.
• With 101 Institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country, ICAR is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.
• Its headquarters is located in New Delhi. India and Brazil sign agreement to protect rights of detached workers About International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
• It is an international organisation, which conducts agricultural research for rural development.
• It is headquartered at Patancheru in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• It was established in 1972 by a consortium of organisations convened by the Ford and the Rockefeller foundations and its charter was signed by the FAO and the UNDP.

India-Russia Military Industrial Conference held in New Delhi

India-Russia Military Industrial Conference held in New Delhi The India-Russia Military Industrial Conference was on 17 March 2017 jointly inaugurated by the Union Minister of Defence, Finance and Corporate Affairs Arun Jaitley and Russia’s Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturovon in New Delhi. On the sidelines of the conference, two agreements were signed between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and United Aircraft Corporation and United Engine Corporation of Russia. The agreements are related to general terms and conditions governing long term supply of spares and rendering technical assistance over five years for the Su-30 MKI aircraft. Highlights of India-Russia Military Industrial Conference
• The primary objective of the conference is to address issues related to life-cycle support and maintenance of major Russian-origin equipments and platforms such as SU-30 MKI aircraft, Mi-17 Helicopters, MiG-29K aircraft, INS Vikramaditya and T-90 tanks.
• Apart from the deliberations on various policy issues, break-out sessions on aerospace, naval systems and land systems were also held.
• About 150 representatives from Russia participated in the conference, which included over 100 representatives from its defence industry.
• Representatives of major Russian companies including United Aircraft Corporation, United Engine Corporation, RAC MiG, Russian Helicopters and Ural Vagonzavod participated in the conference.
• From the Indian side, over 100 private companies including several small and medium enterprises (SMEs) participated in the conference.
• The conference was organised by the Department of Defence Production of the Union Ministry of Defence.

Solar Energy Scheme for Small Powerloom Units approved

Solar Energy Scheme for Small Powerloom Units approved .The Union Minister of State for Textiles Ajay Tamta on 16 March 2017 informed the Lok Sabha that the ministry approved the Solar Energy Scheme for Small Powerloom Units. The minister also announced that the scheme will come into force on 1 April 2017. Features of Solar Energy Scheme for Small Powerloom Units
• The scheme seeks to provide financial assistance in the form of capital subsidy to small powerloom units for installation of Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) plants.
• These SPV plants will alleviate the problem of power cuts and shortages faced by decentralized powerloom units in the country.
• Under the scheme, the plants have two options - (i) On-Grid Solar Power Plant in areas where power cuts and shortages are negligible and power tariff is high (ii) Off-Grid Solar Power Plant in areas where there is a power shortage and on-grid power is not continuously available Measures to boost powerloom sector Following are some of the initiatives of the Union Ministry of Textiles that seek to promote the powerloom sector across the country. Comprehensive Powerloom Cluster Development Scheme (CPCDS)
• It seeks to assist the entrepreneurs in establishing world-class units with modern infrastructure, latest technology and appropriate market linkages.
• In 2008-09, the scheme was launched in two clusters, namely, Bhiwandi (Maharashtra) and Erode (Tamil Nadu).
• In 2013-14, the Modified Comprehensive Powerloom Cluster Development Scheme (CPCDS) was launched in order to extend the original scheme to other parts of the country. Integrated Scheme for Power Sector Development
• The detailed guidelines of the scheme were issued in October 2013 by the Union Government.
• Its primary objective is to empower powerloom industry and build their capacity to meet the challenges of the market and global competition in a sustainable and self-reliant manner.
• It has five components, including market development programme, establishing common facility centres and organizing awareness programmes, seminars and workshops.
• A special purpose vehicle (SPV) was set up by the government to oversee the implementation of the scheme.

Weekly Current Affairs Quiz: 13 March to 19

Quizzes for the week 13 March to 19 March covers the most important happenings of the week. These quizzes will help you in revising the week at an ease, as it hosts the most important occurrences/happenings of the week that may be asked in the nearest competitive exam that will be faced by you. The quizzes covered in this weekly segment include Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017, Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme and All England Open.
1.    Union Minister Uma Bharti introduced the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Lok Sabha on 14 March 2017.
I.    The bill proposes the creation of a Single Standing Tribunal with multiple benches instead of the existing multiple tribunals.
II.    The bill proposes the appointment of Assessors to provide technical support to the tribunal.
III.    The bill proposes the introduction of a mechanism - Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) to resolve disputes cordially through negotiations before it is referred to the tribunal.
IV.    The bill proposes the setting up of a transparent data collection system at the national level for each river basin and the establishment of a centre authorised agency for the same. Which among the above statements is correct with respect to the proposals mentioned in the bill?
a)    Only I and II
b)    All of the above
c)    None of the above
d)    Only IV

2.    The National security advisers in the US aren’t subject to Senate confirmation but the appointment of Lieutenant General HR McMaster to the post required a senate vote because:
I.    He refused to retire from military service
II.    He chose to remain as an active military officer
III.    Generals need chamber’s approval when they’re promoted IV.    He doesn’t have prior experience in serving a political office Which among the above statements is correct?
a)    All of the above
b)    None of the above
c)    I, II and III
d)    I, II and IV

3.    The Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) on 15 March 2017. I.    The main objective of the scheme is to enhance export competitiveness by bridging the gap in export infrastructure.
II.    The scheme would help in ensuring smoother movement in export cargo and better quality standards and certification.
III.    Under this scheme, all central and state agencies including Commodities Boards, SEZ authorities and Export Promotion Councils will be eligible for financial support.
IV.    The funding would be in form of grant-in-aid and in normal cases it would not be more than the equity being funded by the implementing agency. Which among the above sentences is correct with respect to the scheme’s objectives?
a)    All of the above
b)    Only I and II
c)    I, II and III
d)    I, II and IV

4.    The Executive Committee of National Mission for Clean Ganga recently approved 20 projects worth nearly Rs 1900 crore. In this regard, consider the following statements.
I.    Out of 20 projects, 13 are in Uttarakhand.
II.    All the projects will be completely funded by the Union Government. Which is/are correct? a)    Only I
b)    Only II
c)    Both I and II
d)    Neither I nor II

5.    Tamil Nadu’s state budget for financial year 2017-18 was presented in the assembly on 16 March 2017. Consider the following statements in context to the 2017 Tamil Nadu Budget. Consider the following statements in context to the project
I.    It was presented by the Chief Minister E Palaniswami.
II.    The State Planning Commission has been replaced by the State Development Policy Council.
III.    Mookaiyur in Ramanathapuram district of the state will get new fishing harbor. Which is/are correct?
a)    Only I
b)    Only I and II
c)    Only II and III
d)    I, II and III

6.    Which country’s river has been granted same legal rights as that of a person?
a)    India
b)    New Zealand
c)    Brazil
d)    Greece

7.  Identify the former Chief of the Russian Athletics Federation's Medical Commission who was recently banned for lifetime by CAS in a doping case.
a)    Alexander Dyachenko
b)    Sergei Portugalov
c)    Anastasia Karabelshikova
d)    Ivan Podshivalov

8.    Who won the All England Open Men's Singles title?
a)    Lee Chong Wei
b)    Shi Yuqi
c)    Lin Dan
d)    Rashid Sidek

9.    Mission Fingerling was launched by which Ministry to achieve Blue Revolution?
a)    Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
b)    Ministry of Power
c)    Ministry of Food Processing Industries
d)    Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

10.    As per an announcement of the Railway Ministry, a museum will be built in this State in the honour of Swami Vivekananda.
a)    Uttarakhand
b)    West Bengal
c)    Tamil Nadu
d)    Gujarat

11.    Shashank Manohar resigned as the Chairman of which international sports body?
a)    International Olympic Committee (IOC)
b)    International Hockey Federation (FIH)
c)    International Cricket Council (ICC)
d)    International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)

12.    Which bloc’s highest court ruled in favour of allowing employers to ban their workers from wearing visible religious symbols including the Hijab?
a)    NATO
b)    EU
c)    SAARC
d)    ASEAN

13.    World’s first fluorescent frog was recently discovered in which of the following countries?
a)    France
b)    Argentina
c)    Australia
d)    New Zealand

14.    Double Olympic gold medallist Joanna Rowsell Shand announced her retirement from international cycling. She represented which country?
a)    Great Britain
b)    Australia
c)    United States of America
d)    New Zealand

15.    Who was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur recently? a)    Manohar Parrikar
b)    Laxmikant Parsekar
c)    M Venkaiah Naidu
d)    N Biren Singh  
ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATION 1. (b) All of the above The Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Uma Bharti introduced the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Lok Sabha on 14 March 2017. The minister called the bill as a revolutionary step towards the resolution of Inter- State River Water Disputes.

2. (c) I, II and III Though National security advisers aren’t subject to Senate confirmation, McMaster’s appointment to the position of Trump’s National security adviser had to be considered because he chose to remain as an active military officer rather than retire from the service and generals need the chamber’s approval when they’re promoted or given a different assignment.

3. (a) All of the above Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) on 15 March 2017. The main objective of the scheme is to enhance export competitiveness by bridging the gap in export infrastructure, which has not been addressed by any other scheme.

4. (c) Both I and II The Executive Committee (EC) of National Mission for Clean Ganga on 15 March 2017 approved 20 projects worth nearly Rs 1900 crore. Out of 20 projects, 13 are in Uttarakhand. All the above mentioned projects will be completely funded by the Union Government, including the expenditure on operation and maintenance of these projects.

5. (c) Only II and III The Budget was presented by D Jayakumar, the Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu.  State Development Policy Council that will be created as replacement of State Planning Commission will be responsible for advising the state government on policy coherence and formulation of porgrammes to guide development of State.

6. (b) New Zealand The Whanganui River in New Zealand has become the first landmark in the world to be granted the same legal rights as that of a human being, following a 140-year struggle. The river’s new legal identity comes with the passing of the Whanganui River Claims Settlement bill.

7. (b) Sergei Portugalov The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 13 March 2017 upheld a lifetime ban levied against Sergei Portugalov for his role in providing illicit substances to Russian athletes. He is former Chief of the Russian Athletics Federation's Medical Commission. The CAS upheld the ban as part of an arbitration involving the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and the Russian Athletics Federation.

8. (a) Lee Chong Wei Top-ranked Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia on 12 March 2017 won his fourth All England Open crown.  He defeated first-time finalist Shi Yuqi of China 21-12, 21-10, to grab the Men’s Singles title at the tournament.

9. (a) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare The main motive behind Mission Fingerling is to enhance the fisheries production from 10.79 mmt (2014-15) to 15 mmt by 2020-21.

10. (c) Tamil Nadu The Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on 12 March 2017 announced that a rail museum would be built at Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, where Swami Vivekananda delivered his elated speech.

11. (c) International Cricket Council (ICC) Shashank Manohar, the chairman of the International Cricket Council announced on 15 March 2017 that he will be resigning from his position due to personal reasons. His resignation would be effective immediately.

12. (b) EU The European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg, the highest court in the European Union recently passed a ruling, allowing companies to ban staff from wearing visible religious symbols including Islamic headscarves at work.

13. (b) Argentina A group of scientists discovered the world’s first fluorescent frog (Hypsiboas punctatus) near Santa Fe in Argentina. The frog sports a muted palette of greens, yellows and reds under normal light, but emits a bright blue and green glow in the dark. The scientists found that the South American polka dot tree frog uses fluorescent molecules totally unlike those found in other animals.

14. (a) Great Britain Double Olympic gold medallist Joanna Rowsell Shand on 14 March 2017 announced her retirement from international cycling. She had won the women's team pursuit at four editions of the World Championships (2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014). She grabbed the gold medal in the same discipline at the Olympic Games in London and Rio in 2012 and 2016. She represented the Great Britain Cycling Team.

15. (d) N Biren Singh After the declaration of the results of Manipur Elections 2017, Manipur Governor Najma Haptullah invited the BJP-led coalition to form the next government in the state after being assured of requisite support from regional parties and Independents.

Yogi Adityanath elected as Leader of UP

Yogi Adityanath elected as Leader of UP BJP State Legislature Party Gorakhpur Member of Parliament (MP) Yogi Adityanath was on 18 March 2017 elected as the Leader of UP BJP State Legislature Party. With this election, Yogi Adityanath is set to become the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He will sworn-in on 19 March 2017 at a ceremony in Lucknow, which is expected to be attended by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Who is Yogi Aditynath?
• He was born on 15 June 1972 in Panchur, Uttarakhand.
• He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Science from H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand.
• So far he was elected to the Lok Sabha for 5 times. He got elected for the first time in 1998 and his recent electoral victory was in the 2014 general elections.
• As a Member of the Parliament, he was part of various committees that include Committee on Food, Civil Supplies and Public Distribution, Committee on External Affairs and Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture.
• Adityanath became the Mahant of the Gorakhnath Mutt following the death of Mahant Avaidyanath in September 2014.
• Besides his political activities, he is known in Uttar Pradesh for his active involvement in social and cultural activities that include providing hostel for socially and economically weaker and backward children and working for mass-awakening against religious and social conventions.

Current Affairs Quiz: 18 March 2017

These quizzes will help you in answering questions which can/may be asked in the next exam that will be faced by you. The day’s updated quizzes cover the topics like New CM of Uttarakhand, WHO Regional Health Ministers’ Meeting on TB and Swachhta Pakhwada among others.
1. Who was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand?
a)    Trivendra Singh Rawat
b)    Harish Rawat
c)    Satpal Maharaj
d)    Prakash Pant

2. B P Kanungo was recently appointed as the Deputy Governor in Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for three years. He will replace ____? a)    V Acharya
b)    S S Mundra
c)    R Gandhi
d)    Harun R Khan

3. The Union Government in recent past revised the Mode of Moderation and Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Border Haats with this country.
a)    Myanmar
b)    Nepal
c)    Bangladesh
d)    Sri Lanka

4. G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting was hosted by
a)    Germany
b)    India
c)    Saudi Arabia
d)    Australia

5. This State Government launched the Adarsh Gram Yojana for Rural Poor recently.
a)    Assam
b)    Arunachal Pradesh
c)    Tripura
d)    Manipur

6. Amit Agarwal was appointed as the senior vice president of this multinational company.
a)    Amazon.com
b)    Dell
c)    Walmart
d)    IBM

7. This State government approved the Housing Guarantee Bill, 2017 to assure housing for each and every citizen in the State.
a)    Karnataka
b)    Rajasthan
c)    Bihar
d)    Madhya Pradesh

8. UN’s meeting on Strengthening Railway Transport Connectivity in South and South-West Asia concluded in
a)    Dhaka
b)    Karachi
c)    Colombo
d)    New Delhi

9. This Indian city hosted the WHO Regional Health Ministers’ Meeting on TB recently.
a)    Mumbai
b)    New Delhi
c)    Chennai
d)    Hyderabad

10. Which Union Ministry successfully celebrated Swachhta Pakhwada?
a)    Human Resources Development
b)    Women and Child Development
c)    Commerce and Industry
d)    Health and Family Welfare

11. Who among the following was designated as the leader of the Uttar Pradesh BJP State Legislature Party?
a)    Keshav Prasad Maurya
b)    Manoj Sinha
c)    Yogi Adityanath
d)    Om Mathur

12. The Union Government unveiled the revised Building Code 2017 to meet the vision of – “Housing For All” by
a)    2020
b)    2021
c)    2022
d)    2023

13. The 3-day long India’s largest Engineering Sourcing Show opened in
a)    Chennai
b)    Kolkata
c)    Mumbai
d)    Pune

14. Which party won the highest number of seats in the recently concluded elections to the House of Representatives of the Netherlands?
a)    Party for Freedom
b)    People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
c)    Christian Democratic Appeal d)    Democrats 66

15. The SRCC Global Millennium Summit 2017 was inaugurated in a)    Dubai
b)    London
c)    New York
d)    Berlin  
ANSWERS 1. (a) Trivendra Singh Rawat
2. (c) R Gandhi
3. (c) Bangladesh
4. (a) Germany
5. (b) Arunachal Pradesh
6. (a) Amazon
7. (d) Madhya Pradesh
8. (d) New Delhi
9. (b) New Delhi
10. (b) Women and Child Development
11. (c) Yogi Adityanath
12. (c) 2022
13. (a) Chennai
14. (b) People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
15. (a) Dubai

Current Affairs One liners of the Week: 12 March to 18 March 2017

The important happenings of the week covered in this segment include Union Cabient decisions, Bandhan Bank and BSNL among others.
• This state is hosting the three-day international Buddhist conference – Bihar
• The G20 meet of finance ministers and central bank governors is going to be held in this member economy – Germany
• India signed a social security agreement with this country- Brazil
• This river, which is viewed by the Maori Iwi tribe in New Zealand as their ancestor, has been legally granted the status of a person - Whanganui River
• Incumbent Chief Minister of Manipur who resigned from the post - Okram Ibobi Singh
• Union Commerce and Industry Minister who introduced the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) Bill, 2017 in the Lok Sabha - Nirmala Sitharaman
• State government that officially launched women safety application Ammavin Aran - Tamil Nadu
• Cricketer who was appointed as the Ambassador of Women's Cricket World Cup 2017 - Sachin Tendulkar
• B P Kanungo was recently appointed as the Deputy Governor in Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for three years. He will replace - R Gandhi
• The Indian-American teen who recently won the 2017 Regeneron Science Talent Search bagging the top award of USD 250000 is - Indrani Das
• The Indian badminton player who was recently included as a member of the governing body of the Sports Authority of India is - Jwala Gutta
• Scientists recently discovered a pair of 1.6 billion-year-old fossils that appear to contain red algae. These fossils were discovered at – Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh
• The Private-sector bank who recently signed a pact with Avenues India to enhance customer support is - Bandhan Bank
• The US state that has recognised 16 March as Indian-American Appreciation Day to honour an Indian techie, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was killed in a racially-motivated hate crime in February 2017 is - Kansas
• The temporary suspension of the premium processing of H-1B visas in US will end on – 3 April 2017
• The two state-run telecom firms for whose long-term survival, a Parliamentary panel in its report has suggested their merger are - Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)
• US Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate by - 0.25%
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval to permit Indian Oil to sale this much per cent of the equity in Lubrizol India to Lubrizol Corporation – 24 per cent
• The government of this State proposed to set up a Cashew Development Board for developing 10,000 hectares of good quality of cashew orchards over the next 5 years – Karnataka
• The Union Cabinet apprised of MoUs for cooperation in youth and sports matters with these two countries recently - Indonesia & Kyrgyzstan
• The Union Cabinet approved introduction of the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Public Private Partnership (IIIT PPP) Bill, 2017, which grants - statutory status to the fifteen Indian Institutes of Information Technology in Public Private Partnership and declares them as Institutions of National Importance • The Executive Committee of National Mission for Clean Ganga recently approved 20 projects worth - nearly Rs 1900 crore
• Snapdeal partnered with Japan External Trade Organisation to - sell Japanese products
• As per the Women in Politics Map 2017 launched by the UN, India stands at - 148
• This US state’s federal judge has issued a nationwide order banning President Donald Trump’s latest executive order on immigration ban from six Muslim-majority nations – Hawaii
• The US Senate in a recent vote confirmed the appointment of this former Republican Senator as Trump’s new Director of National Intelligence - Dan Coats
• This Lieutenant General required Senate approval for his appointment to the position as Trump’s National security adviser as he chose to remain as an active military officer - HR McMaster
• The Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched this scheme with the aim of bridging the gap in export infrastructure - Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES)
• Person sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur recently - N Biren Singh
• World Consumer Rights Day was observed on 15 March 2017 with theme - Building a Digital World Consumers can Trust
• Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Act of 2017 (HR 1449) was introduced in the US House of Representatives by - Ted Poe, the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism
• Double Olympic gold medallist Joanna Rowsell Shand announced her retirement from international cycling. She represented - the Great Britain Cycling Team
• World’s first fluorescent frog was recently discovered near - Santa Fe in Argentina
• Madhukar Gupta Committee recently submitted its report to Union Government. The committee was constituted to - strengthen border protection
• The governing body that recently roped in three scientific advisors to work with fitness aspects of its senior and junior national teams is - Hockey India
• This bloc’s highest court ruled in favour of allowing employers to ban their workers from wearing visible religious symbols including the hijab – European Union
• This former President of the BCCI resigned as the chairman of International Cricket Council - Shashank Manohar
• This Indian city is hosting the three-day international conference on Vision Zero and its relevance to Occupational Safety and Health - Delhi
• Volkswagen Group signed a MoU with this Indian automobile company for exploring joint development projects - Tata Motors
• It is in this city the Krishi Unnati Mela 2017 was inaugurated – New Delhi
• As per an announcement of the Railway Ministry, a museum will be built in this State in the honour of Swami Vivekananda – Tamil Nadu • This country inducted China’s Low to Medium Altitude Air Defence System (LOMADS) LY 80 in its air defence system recently – Pakistan • The theme of the 2017 Commonwealth Day - A peace-building Commonwealth
• Union government launched the Blue Revolution programme at a total expenditure of - Rs 52000 Lakh
• The bank that announced a one-time farm loan settlement scheme worth Rs 6000 crore primarily for tractors is - State Bank of India
• The 2017 IEEE Spectrum Technology in the Service of Society Award was won by – IIT-Madras
• NTPC installed India’s largest Floating Solar PV Plant at RGCCPP Kayamkulam in the State of – Kerala
• The State Government that announced KCR Kit Scheme to distribute 16 essential things needed for a new born baby is – Telangana
• He was appointed as the chairman of the Central Water Commission – Narendra Kumar
• This country is planning to send its largest warship on a 3-month tour through the South China Sea, in its biggest show of naval forces since World War II – Japan
• This country celebrates National Elephant Day on 13 March – Thailand
• This popular cab service has launched ‘realtime ID check’ in India to ensure rider safety – Uber
• This state will be hosting the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship to be held in July 2017 - Odisha
• Ministry that launched Mission Fingerling to achieve Blue Revolution - Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
• George A. Olah, the Nobel laureate who passed away, won the Nobel prize in - Chemistry
• Noted film director Diphan, who died recently, was well known for making films in - Malayalam
• The winner of the All England Open Men's Singles title is - Lee Chong Wei
• The former Chief of the Russian Athletics Federation's Medical Commission who was recently banned for lifetime by CAS in a doping case is - Sergei Portugalov
• N.K. Sinha, Secretary of Union Ministry of Culture, recently inaugurated an exhibition “Revolutionary Patriots (1905-1947)” on the occasion of - 127th Foundation Day of National Archives of India
• Radha Mohan Singh, Union Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare Minister, recently laid the foundation stone of the Banana Research Centre at - Vaishali, Bihar • Her name was confirmed by the US Senate as administrator of the 1 trillion dollars Centres for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with 55-43 votes - Seema Verma
• He was given the additional charge of the Defence Minister - Arun Jaitley
• He was elected leader of BJP legislature party in Manipur - Biren Singh
• In UK, the House of Lords has passed the Brexit bill, which will allow government to trigger an Article to pave its way to leave the European Union (EU) - Article 50
• India's aviation regulator DGCA has asked airlines to disallow oversized hand baggages on flights operating to - Performance Limited Airports
• According to a report of this organisation, the US President Donald Trump gave the CIA the green signal to conduct drone strikes against suspected terrorists - the Wall Street Journal
• This country has sought two more years from the UN Human Rights Council to probe the alleged war crimes committed during the conflict with the LTTE - Sri Lanka