Daily GK Update 21st October 2017

1. 21st October 2017: The National Police Commemoration Day

 

i. The National Police Commemoration Day is observed every year on 21st October remembering the brave policemen who sacrificed their lives while discharging their duties. Rich tributes are paid to the martyrs on this day.

ii. On October 21st, 1959, twenty Indian soldiers were attacked by the Chinese troops in Ladakh. This altercation between the troops led to the death of ten policemen. Seven of the others who were also imprisoned managed to escape from the Chinese troops.

2. Cleaning Ganga: Varanasi to get 2 new STPs by March Next Year

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency Varanasi will soon get two sewage treatment plants as part of the government's bid to curb Ganga water pollution.

ii. The sewage treatment plants, having a total 260 million litres daily capacity, will be commissioned at Varanasi's Dinapur and Goitha before March next year. The government had recently awarded the contract for constructing 50 MLD (million litres daily) capacity STP at Ramana in Varanasi. 

Must Do Takeaways from the Above News:

• Sewage treatment is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater, primarily from household sewage. STP stands for Sewage Treatment Plants.
• Varanasi is one of the ancient city along the banks of Ganges is one of the sacred Hindu cities in India.
• Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is situated in Varanasi and serves as an attractive study destination for students.
• Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is a public airport located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

3. Hirasar Greenfield Airport Project in Gujarat gets Green Clearance

i. The Centre has given green clearance for a greenfield airport project at Hirasar, about 28 km from Rajkot in Gujarat, at a cost of over Rs. 1,400 crores. 

ii. The state government has proposed a new airport in Rajkot district as the existing one is small and the earlier plan to extend the current runway could not materialise because of high land cost. The Environment Ministry has given the environment clearance to the Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure Company Ltd (GSAICL) for development of a greenfield airport at Rajkot.

4. 5-member Committee formed to Select Candidate for Post of Editor-in-Chief of RSTV

i. A five-member committee, headed by Prasar Bharati Chairman A Surya Prakash, has been formed to select the candidate for the post of editor-in-chief of Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV). Rajya Sabha Secretariat stated in an order that other members of the Search-cum-Selection Committee are Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta, Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati, Additional Secretary (Personnel) in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat PPK Ramacharyulu and journalist Rahul Srivastava. 

ii. Rajya Sabha TV is owned and operated by the Upper House of Parliament and the vice-president is its chairman.

5. GSTN Launches excel-based offline tool to file initial GSTR-3B Returns

i. Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has launched an Excel-based offline tool for businesses to file initial GSTR- 3B returns. GSTN, in a statement in New Delhi, stated that taxpayers can download the offline utility from the GSTN portal and after fill, in the data, the file can be uploaded on GST portal. 

ii. After uploading of the return to the GST Portal, the taxpayer has to preview the form, complete formalities like submit, offset the liability and file their GSTR-3B Return using the digital signature or electronic verification code. 

6. Most Pollution-linked Deaths Occur in India

i. With 2.51 million deaths in 2015, India has been ranked No. 1 in pollution-related deaths, according to a report by The Lancet Commission on pollution and health. China recorded the second highest number of such deaths (1.8 million). India accounted for about 28 percent of an estimated nine million pollution linked deaths worldwide in 2015.

ii. The Lancet Commission on pollution and health is a two-year project in which more than 40 international health and environmental authors led by environmental scientist Philip Landrigan were involved.

7. Solicitor-General Ranjit Kumar Resigns

i. Within months after the Centre gave him an extension, Solicitor-General of India Ranjit Kumar, the second highest ranking law officer of the government, resigned with immediate effect.

ii. Mr Kumar, a successful senior advocate who joined the government’s team of law officers in the Supreme Court in 2014, cited personal reasons and family commitments for his decision to opt out. His tenure of three years as Solicitor General had ended on June 6, 2017, but the government had extended the tenure on an ad hoc basis.

Daily GK Update 19th and 20th October 2017

1. 20th October: World Statistics Day

i. At its 41st Session in February 2010, the United Nations Statistical Commission proposed celebrating 20th October 2010 as World Statistics Day.

ii. Acknowledging that the production of reliable, timely statistics and indicators of countries’ progress is indispensable for informed policy decisions and monitoring implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, the General Assembly adopted on 03rd June 2010, which officially designated 20 October 2010 as the first-ever World Statistics Day.

2. India, Russia to Participate in first-ever Tri-services Military Exercise

i. The first-ever Tri-Services Joint Exercise between Indian and Russian Armed Forces, INDRA-2017 began near Vladivostok in Russia. Two indigenously built Indian Naval ships INS Satpura and INS Kadmatt reached Vladivostok Port and were given a traditional ceremonial welcome. 

ii. The Indian contingent for the Exercise is led by the Task Force Commander Major General ND Prasad. The Exercise INDRA in its previous nine editions has been conducted as a single service exercise alternately between the two countries.

3. Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates 1st phase of PNG Supply System in Bhubaneswar

i. Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated the first phase of Piped Natural Gas supply system in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In the first phase, 255 houses in Nalco Nagar in Chandrasekharpur of Bhubaneswar were supplied with environment-friendly PNG. 

ii. As part of the City Gas Distribution project, around 25 thousand households in twin-city Bhubaneswar and Cuttack would get PNG connection by end of next year. The overall capital expenditure for the Bhubaneswar and Cuttack gas distribution projects will cost around Rs. 1700 crore. 

4. Banks to Provide Funds at 7% to Women SHGs under DAY-NRLM: RBI

i. The RBI has issued guidelines to banks will provide funds to women self-help groups, SHGs, in rural areas at 7 percent under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) in the current fiscal (2017-18). 

ii. The central bank has revised guidelines on interest subvention scheme under DAY-NRLM, as received from the Ministry of Rural Development for implementation by 21 public sector banks and 19 private banks.

Must Do Takeaways from the Above News:

• National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) is a poverty alleviation project implemented by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. 
• NRLM is focused on promoting self-employment and organization of rural poor.
• Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana or DAY is a Government of India scheme for the helping the poor by providing skill training. 

5. Maharashtra Government releases Rs 4000 crore in phase 1 of Loan Waiver Scheme

i. Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis has released a sum of Rs 4,000 crore under the first phase of the over Rs 34,000 crore farm loan waiver scheme. In the first phase, will cover more than 8 lakh farmers, Fadnavis stated as he listed initiatives taken by his government towards increasing investment in the agriculture sector.

ii. The State Government has released Rs 4,000 crore of which Rs 3,200 crore will be for writing off the loans of 4.62 lakh farmers. The remaining Rs 800 crore will be in the form of incentive for 3.78 lakh farmers who are paying their loans on time.

Must Do Takeaways from the Above News:

• Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao is present Governor of Maharashtra.
• India’s Trade Mark Registry has assigned an image trademark to Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace hotel recently.
• Chandoli National Park is natural World Heritage Site and National Park located in Maharashtra.

6. Income Tax dept Launches ‘Online Chat’ to answer Taxpayers Queries

i. The Income Tax Department has launched an ‘online chat’ service for taxpayers so that they can seek answers to their basic queries and doubts relating to direct tax issues. A window has been hosted on the main page of the department’s website — www.incometaxindia.gov.in/ — with a prominent icon stating ‘Live Chat Online - ask your query.’

ii. A team of experts from the department and independent tax practitioners has been deputed to answer the general queries of a taxpayer. The first-time initiative is aimed to enhance taxpayer services in the country.

Must Do Takeaways from the Above News:

• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) provides inputs for policy and planning of direct taxes in India and is also responsible for the administration of direct tax laws through the IT Department.
• Sushil Chandra is the present chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).  

Daily GK Update 18th October 2017

1. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Launches 'Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana'

i. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the ambitious 'Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojna' for the farmers of the state.

ii. Madhya Pradesh is the first state to lend money to farmers at zero percent interest. The government has approved a web of irrigation projects across the Sagar District which will cover 96-hectare fields.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the CM of Madhya Pradesh.
• Om Prakash Kohli (Add. Charge) is the Governor of Madhya Pradesh.

2. Ministry WCD Launched Campaign on 'women for women'

i. In an attempt to end Gender bias in women against women, the Ministry of Women and Child Development is undertaking an online campaign #IamThatWoman.

ii. Through the campaign, the Ministry seeks to highlight the various aspects of women standing 'by' and 'for' women. Ministry of WCD has urged people to shun stereotypes associated with women harming other women. 

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Minister for Women and Child Development is Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi.

3. Google Viewed as Most Authentic Brand in India: Survey

i. Indian consumers regard Google as the most authentic brand, even though Amazon.com tops the list globally, reveal results of the 2017 "Authentic Brands Study" by the new survey of global communications agency Cohn & Wolfe.

ii. In India, Google is followed by Microsoft, Amazon.com, Maruti Suzuki and Apple. Globally, Apple takes the second spot after Amazon in the authenticity race.

4. India Signs Pact to Send Interns to Japan for Training

i. India has signed a Memorandum of Co-operation (MoC) with Japan to send youngsters there as technical interns for on-the-job training for a period of three to five years.

ii. The MoC on Technical Intern Training Programme was signed by Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Japanese Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare with Katsunobu Kato in Tokyo. India is the third country with which Japan has signed the MoC.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Tokyo is the Capital of Japan.
• Shinzo Abe is the PM of Japan.

5. US Author George Saunders Wins 2017 Man Booker Prize

i. US author George Saunders has won the 2017 Man Booker Prize. He became only the second American writer to win Britain’s renowned Prize, which was awarded for his first full-length novel “Lincoln in the Bardo”.

ii. The prize was announced at a ceremony in London. Judges for the prestigious English-language literary award praised the book as utterly original that chronicles the death of Abraham Lincoln’s 11-year-old son Willie using the accounts of hundreds of narrators.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• The 2016 Man Booker Prize went to 'The Sellout' by Paul Beatty.

6. India's Selena Clinches Triple Gold at Egypt Junior and Cadet TT

i. India's young paddler Selena Selvakumar completed a golden sweep in the Egypt Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Open, adding the junior girls' singles and doubles titles at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.

ii. The 17-year-old Chennai had claimed the Girls' Team gold earlier to make it three out of three. She remained unbeaten all through this elite 2017 ITTF World Junior Circuit event.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Cairo is the capital of Egypt.
• Egyptian pound is the currency of Egypt.

7. Veteran British Actor Roy Dotrice Passes Away

i. Roy Dotrice, a veteran British actor, died in London. He was 94. Dotrice was known for his role as Leopold Mozart in the Oscar-winning film Amadeus and his many theater and TV roles.

ii. He won many accolades throughout his lengthy career including a Tony Award in 2000 for his role in the Broadway revival of A Moon for the Misbegotten.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Dotrice is remembered for his role in the CBS TV series Beauty and the Beast and won a BAFTA best TV actor award in 1969 for his role in Misleading Cases.

Daily GK Update 18th October 2017

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

i. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) is observed globally on 17 October. The theme of this year's IDEP is ‘Answering the Call of October 17 to end poverty: A path toward peaceful and inclusive societies’.

ii. This year’s celebration also marks the 25th anniversary of the declaration of the day by the UN General Assembly, which had adopted the resolution on 22 December 1992.

2. 2nd Ayurveda Day: 17 October

i. This year's 2nd Ayurveda Day is celebrated on 17 October in New Delhi by the Ministry of AYUSH. PM Modi was the Chief Guest and had also inaugurated the country's first All India Institute of Ayurveda, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi.

ii. The All India Institute of Ayurveda, set up on a total area of 10.015 acres on a budget of Rs 157 crore, is the first medical institute under the AYUSH ministry to hold the coveted National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation.

Important Takeaways from the above News:

• Shripad Yasso Naik is the Minister of AYUSH.

3. Dharmendra Pradhan on a Three-Day Visit to Japan

i. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is on a three-day visit to Japan to participate in the 6th annual LNG Producers Consumer Conference.
ii. The visit is important to enhance the bilateral engagements in the Oil and Gas sectors within the overall framework of India-Japan Energy Dialogue.

iii. Energy Ministers from Qatar, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Japan and other leading hydrocarbon experts will participate in the Conference.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Tokyo is the Capital of Japan.
• Shinzo Abe is the PM of Japan.

4. PM Modi Inaugurates 1st ever All India Institute of Ayurveda

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first ever All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi, on the occasion of the 2nd Ayurveda Day.

ii. It is the first institute under the Ministry of AYUSH with a National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation. The institute will have separate Yoga, Panchakarma, and Kriya Kalpa units, among others.

Important Takeaways from the above News:

• Shripad Yasso Naik is the Minister of AYUSH.

5. Mahindra Launches 'Prerna' Project for Women Farmers

i. Mahindra & Mahindra has launched a program, Prerna, to empower women working in the agriculture sector by promoting efficient and ergonomic farm tools and equipment. The project will be initially launched in the state of Odisha, with the intention to positively impact the lives of over 1,500 families across 30-plus villages.

ii. The first project under Prerna is a collaboration between Mahindra & Mahindra, the Central Institution for Women in Agriculture (CIWA), a department of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

6. Myntra, Textile Ministry Tie-up to Promote Handloom Industry

i. E-commerce major Myntra launched its CSR initiative in association with the Union Textile Ministry, to work directly with weavers and elevate their economic stature.

ii. With an initiative to uplift the handloom products in India, the company (Myntra) is committing itself along with some of its partner brands to bring artisans and their products online, providing them access to new customers and opportunities.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani is the Minister of Textiles of India.
• Flipkart is the Parent Organization of Myntra.

7. Yes Bank Commits Rs 156 cr for Namami Gange Project

i. Private sector Yes Bank has committed Rs 156 crore to fund first Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to be constructed at Varanasi under Hybrid Annuity-PPP Model.
ii. The bank has signed a deal with Essel Infraprojects for the financial closure of Rs 156 crore that will fund the STP under Namami Gange Project.

Important Takeaways from the above News:

• Yes Bank Headquarters in Mumbai.
• CEO of Yes Bank is Rana Kapoor.

8. Moody’s Affirms Rating on SBI’s Bond Programs

i. Moody’s Investors Service has affirmed ratings on domestic as well as foreign currency bond programs of the country’s largest lender SBI.
ii. Moody’s has affirmed the Baa3 rating on the bank’s senior unsecured debt (issued via its London branch) and (P)Baa3 rating on its senior unsecured medium-term note (MTN) program. Baa3 denotes the lowest rating in investment grade on long-term corporate obligation, which carries moderate risks.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• SBI headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• It was established on 1 July 1955.
• Rajnish Kumar is the present Chairman of SBI.

9. NIIF Inks Pact Worth $1 billion with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority

i. The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) of India has signed an investment agreement worth $1 billion with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). The government has set up NIIF with the aim to attract investments from both domestic and international sources for infrastructure development in commercially viable projects.

ii. As part of the comprehensive partnership agreement, ADIA will become the first institutional investor in NIIF’s Master Fund and a shareholder in National Investment and Infrastructure Limited, the NIIF’s investment management company.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Sujoy Bose is the CEO of NIIF.

10. Footwear Design & Development Institute Act 2017 Comes into Force

i. Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) has been declared an ‘Institute of National Importance’ under Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. The FDDI bill was passed by the Parliament in July 2017.

ii. The Provisions of FDDI Act 2017 have come into force. Presently FDDI is imparting skill based graduate and postgraduate courses in the fields of footwear, leather goods, retail, and management to around 2,500 students across eight campuses spread over India.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• FDDI was established in 1986.
• The Headquarters of FDDI is located in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

11. Eminent Poet Prabha Varma Chosen for Padma Prabha Puraskaram

i. Eminent poet, lyricist and journalist Prabha Varma has been selected for the Padma Prabha Puraskaram for 2017. The announcement was made by the chairman-cum-managing director of ‘Mathrubhumi’ daily, M P Veerendra Kumar.

ii. A jury headed by ace novelist M Mukundan chose Varma for the prestigious award, considering his contribution to Malayalam literature. The award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 75,000, a plaque and a citation, was instituted by the Padma Prabha Memorial Trust.

12. Hema Malini's Biography 'Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl' Launched

i. Actress Deepika Padukone launched Hema Malini's biography 'Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl' on the occasion of Hema's 69th birthday.

ii. The biography has been penned by journalist turned writer Ram Kamal Mukherjee and also contains a short foreword written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

13. Legendary Brazilian Sailor Robert Scheidt Retires from Olympics

i. Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004 gold medal-winning sailor Robert Scheidt (44 years old) has announced his retirement from Olympic competition, ending a career that spanned a quarter of a century.

ii. He would continue to participate in non-Olympic events and support Brazil's elite sailors as they prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Games. Scheidt won Olympic gold in the laser class in 1996 and 2004.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Robert Scheidt claimed bronze in London in 2012 and finished fourth in Rio 2016.

14. Meet Kavita Devi, India’s First Woman Wrestler to Sign for WWE

i. Kavita Devi, a former competitive powerlifter, has become the first ever Indian woman to be signed by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

ii. Hailing from Haryana, Kavita underwent training to be a professional wrestler under the guidance of The Great Khali (Dalip Singh Rana) at his Punjab based wrestling promotion and training academy.  She also won a gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Kavita Devi also has the distinction of being the first Indian woman to compete in a WWE ring, as she was a featured participant in the Mae Young Classic women’s tournament.

15. Shamsher Khan, India's First Olympic Swimmer Passes Away

i. India's first Olympic swimmer Shamsher Khan passed away in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district. He was 87. Mr. Khan had represented India in 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He was the first swimmer to represent India in Olympics.

ii. He narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth in 200-meter butterfly and breaststroke events in Melbourne Games.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

•  Shamsher Khan took part in the 1962 war against China and the 1971 war against Pakistan.

Daily GK Update 16th October 2017

1. 16th October: World Food Day

i. FAO celebrates World Food Day each year on 16 October to commemorate the founding of the Organization in 1945. Events are organized in over 150 countries across the world, making it one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar. These events promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all. 

ii. The Theme for World Food Day 2017 is "Change the future of migration. Invest in food security and rural development". World Food Day is a chance to show our commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030. It’s also a day for us to celebrate the progress we have already made towards reaching #ZeroHunger.

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

• FAO stands for Food and Agriculture Organization.
• FAO is working with governments, UN agencies, the private sector, civil society and local communities, to generate evidence on migration patterns and is building countries’ capacities to address migration through rural development policies.
• The Headquarters of FAO is in Rome, Italy.

2. GoM on Composition Scheme holds First Meeting in New Delhi

i. Within a week of being set up, the group of ministers (GoM) on making the GST composition scheme more attractive held its first meeting in New Delhi. The 5-member GoM, led by Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has also been tasked to revisit Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates for restaurants.

ii. With only over 15.50 lakh businesses out of 98 lakh registered under the GST regime opting for the composition scheme, the GST Council decided to set up the GoM to examine ways of making it more attractive.

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

The GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and consisting of his state counterparts, had on October 7 constituted the GoM, which will submit its report by the end of November.
Currently, GST is levied at 12 percent on non-AC restaurants while it is 18 percent for air-conditioned ones.
The GST Council, in its last meeting, hiked the threshold for availing of the composition scheme to Rs 1 crore, from the Rs 75 lakh set earlier. 

3. GDP May Grow at 7% in Financial Year 2017-18: NITI Aayog

i. According to NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar, the economic slowdown that began in 2013-14 has bottomed out and the GDP is likely to grow at 6.9-7 % this fiscal (2017-18) and 7.5% in 2018-19. The economic growth slowed to 7.1% in 2016-17, the year in which 87% of the currency was demonetised, despite a very good show by the agricultural sector.

ii. On a quarterly basis also, the growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal had slipped to 5.7%. In the next fiscal year, the growth would be about 7.5%. 

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

• The National Institution for Transforming India, also called NITI Aayog, was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet on January 1, 2015.
• Dr Rajiv Kumar has recently appointed as the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog. Kumar replaced Arvind Panagariya.
• The Government of India, in keeping with its reform agenda, constituted the NITI Aayog to replace the Planning Commission instituted in 1950.

4. The Coalition Years 1996-2012: Pranab Mukherjee’s Political Autobiography

i. Former President Pranab Mukherjee has released the third part of his memoir ‘The Coalition Years: 1996-2012’, speaking candidly about believing he could have been the Congress choice for the Prime Minister’s post.

ii. Mukherjee’s memoir is the third in the series. The other two are -- The Dramatic Decade: The Indira Gandhi Years and The Turbulent Years: 1980-1996.

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

• Pranab Kumar Mukherjee is served as the 13th President of India from 2012 until 2017.
• Pranab Mukherjee's first stint as the Finance minister of India was during the Indira Gandhi government in 1982.

5. Government Appoints MK Gupta, DK Gayen as New Railway Board Members

i. The government of India has appointed Mahesh Kumar Gupta and D K Gayen as the two new members in the Railway Board. D.K. Gayen, presently posted as General Manager East Central Railway, has been appointed as new Member (Staff) Railway Board and ex officio Secretary to the Government of India.

ii. Meanwhile, M K Gupta, presently General Manager, Modern Coach Factory Raibareli has been appointed as new Member (Engineering) Railway Board and ex officio Secretary to the Government of India.

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

• The Railway Board is the apex body of the Indian Railways.
• The first railway on Indian sub-continent ran over a stretch of 21 miles from Bombay to Thane.
• Ashwani Lohani is present Chairman of Railway Board.

6. Defence Minister to commission INS Kiltan into Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam

i. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has commissioned an indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare stealth corvette INS Kiltan into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. 

ii. According to Defence Minister, INS Kiltan strengthens India's defence system and will be a shining armour in 'Make in India' programme as it is totally built indigenously.

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

• Kiltan is the latest indigenous warship after Shivalik class, Kolkata class and sister ships.
• Admiral Sunil Lanba is present Navy chief. 
• Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam, is situated in Andhra Pradesh.

7. Vanuatu Becomes First Nation to Accept Bitcoin in Exchange for Citizenship

i. The South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu has become host to the world’s first government to accept bitcoin in exchange for citizenship. Vanuatu’s citizenship program costs $200,000 USD, meaning that at current prices the residency program costs less than 41.5 bitcoins.

ii. The Chairman of the Vanuatu Information Center (VIC)– which oversees Vanuatu citizenship applications -  Geoffrey Bond, had sent an official request earlier this month seeking permission to accept bitcoin as a form of payment.

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

• Vanuatu is a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 80 islands that stretch 1,300 kilometres. 
• Port Vila is the capital city of Vanuatu.
• Tallis Obed Moses is the present President of Vanuatu.

8. Varun Dhawan Youngest Indian Actor to get Statue at Tussauds

i. Actor Varun Dhawan will get a wax statue at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, making him the youngest Indian actor to have his statue at the museum.

ii. Varun Dhawan had made his acting debut with 2012 romantic comedy Student of the Year and since then, his success rate is 100 percent with all the movies like Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya, Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya and the recent Judwaa 2 entering Rs 100 crore or Rs 200 crore clubs.

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

• Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, part of the renowned chain of wax museums founded by Marie Tussaud of France.

9. Union Bank launches bilingual Android App

i. Union Bank of India has launched an Android app, Union Sahyog, as part of its drive to digitise customer-facing banking services. The Union Sahyog app is bilingual — offering both English and Hindi language — and packs in all mobile-based banking applications, missed call/SMS-based services, Internet banking login and self-user creation, deposit and loan product information, online account opening, online loan application, online complaints and even RTI. 

ii. It also offers extras such as branch locator, EMI calculator, social media links and digital banking information. 

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

• Union Bank of India was established on 11th November 1919 with its headquarters in the city of Bombay now known as Mumbai.
• Rajkiran G Rai is present Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of Union Bank of India.
• The tagline of Union Bank of India is Good People to Grow with.

10. Yes Bank Partners with Abu Dhabi Global Markets for Collaboration on Fintech

i. Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the International Financial Centre in Abu Dhabi, and Yes Bank have signed a memorandum of understanding to further foster cross-border exchange between the fintech ecosystems of the United Arab Emirates and India. 

ii. The collaboration will enable fintech innovators from the Middle East region and India to apply into Yes FinTech programmes and the ADGM’s Regulatory Laboratory and will get the opportunity to expand into each other’s markets. 

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

• Abu Dhabi Global Market is an international financial centre located on Al Maryah Island in the heart of the UAE's capital city, Abu Dhabi.
• YES BANK was founded by Rana Kapoor in 2004.
• Rana Kapoor is the founder, Managing Director and CEO of Yes Bank.
• The Headquarter of Yes Bank is in Mumbai.

11. IBM Launches Blockchain Banking Network To Speed Cross-border Payments

i. International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has announced the launch of IBM Blockchain, a new blockchain banking solution, that will help financial institutions for cross-border payments.

ii. In the first international payments network of its kind, IBM has partnered with regional financial services company KlickEx Group and Stellar.org, a nonprofit organization that supports an open source blockchain network for financial services.

12. Shakib first from Bangladesh in MCC World Cricket Committee

i. Premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan became the first cricketer from Bangladesh to be inducted in the MCC World Cricket Committee under the chairmanship of Mike Gatting. Also added to the committee are Suzie Bates, Ian Bishop and Kumar Dharmasena. 

ii. Shakib Al Hasan is regarded as one of  Bangladesh's finest players since they were awarded the Test status in 2000, with the all-rounder having played 51 Test matches and 177 one-day internationals.

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

• Michael Gatting is an English former Cricketer.
• Suzie Bates is a New Zealand woman Cricketer.
• Kumar Dharmasena is a Sri Lankan cricket umpire and former international cricketer, who played Tests and ODIs for Sri Lanka.

13. Maria Sharapova Wins Tianjin Open, Claims First Title Since Drugs Ban

i. Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova was made to fight by 102nd-ranked teenager Aryna Sabalenka at the Tianjin Open before winning her first title since her 15-month doping ban.

ii. The former world number one, who returned to action in April, came from behind in both sets and needed four championship points in the tie-breaker before beating the 19-year-old 7-5, 7-6 (10/8).

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

• Maria Sharapova is a Russian professional tennis player.
• Aryna Sabalenka is a professional tennis player from Belarus. 

14. Mohun Bagan Lift Governor's Gold Cup for 10th Time

i. Maidan heavyweights Mohun Bagan has won the 37th All India Governor's Gold Cup football tournament for the 10th time by defeating Partha Chakra by a narrow 1-0 margin.

ii. In the final match played at Paljor Stadium (Gangtok),  Mohun Bagan's striker GA Kramah scored the lone goal in the seventh minute. Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling attended the final and gave away trophies and cash prize to winners and the runner-up. 

Must Do Takeaways from the above News:

• Paljor Stadium, also known as Palzor Stadium is an association football stadium located in Gangtok, Sikkim.
• Mohun Bagan is a football club based in Kolkata, West Bengal.