Today’s Current Affairs 14th & 15th – July- 2018 – MyProgressCard

New Appointments

1. Amitabh Malhotra appointed HSBC India Head – Investment Banking

Image Credit: Business Line

• Amitabh Malhotra has been appointed the head of the investment banking for Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd (HSBC) India.
• He will lead the Investment Banking and Equity Capital Markets (ECM) business. Previously, he has worked at Rothschild India.

2. Navin Agarwal re-elected as Whole Time Director of mining company Vedanta Ltd.

Image Credit: News Today

• Navin Agarwal has been re-appointed as a Whole time Director to Metals and Mining company Vedanta Ltd.
• This appointment is for another five-year period starting from August 1, 2018 and is subjected to stakeholders’ approval.
• The company also announced that he has been re-elected as chairman of the company as well with effect from August 1, 2018.

National News

3. Haryana Governor gets additional charge of Himachal

Image Credit: VISHESH NEWS

• Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki was given the additional charge of Himachal Pradesh by President Ram Nath Kovind.Solanki would discharge “the functions of the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, in addition to his own duties” during the absence of Himachal Governor Acharya Dev Vrat, who is on leave, an official communique said.

4. Hima Das to be named Assam’s Ambassador

Image Credit: NewIndianExpress

• Assam’s Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has stated that Indian Sprinter Hima Das will be named the state’s sports ambassador after her 400m gold medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships.
• The Chief Minister also announced that Hima will also be felicitated at a state-level function where she will be given a cash reward.

Static/Current Implications:

• Capital of Assam – Guwahati
• Governor – Jagdish Mukhi

5. Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation Launches the Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018

Image Credit: Banega Swachh India

• The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation launches the Swachh SurvekshanGrameen 2018 (SSG 2018) in the capital.
• An independent survey agency will conduct the survey in all districts from 1st to 31st August 2018, and the results will be announced in the form of a ranking of all districts and states on the basis of quantitative and qualitative sanitation (Swachhata) parameters.
• The top performing states and districts are expected to be awarded on 2nd October 2018.

6. 4th National Conclave on Mines & Minerals In Indore

• The Ministr of Mines organized the 4th National Conclave on Mines & Minerals on 13th July 2018 at Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• State Mining ministers, officials of central ministries including Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), officials of the state government, CEOs of mining industries, industry associations, academic institutions and others participated in the conclave.
• Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan was the chief guest of the conclave.

7. Ishwar Sharma: 8-year-old yoga champion named ‘British Indian of the Year’

Image Credit: Yahoo News India

• Ishwar Sharma has been named the “British Indian of the Year” for his achievements in Yoga in the Young Achiever category at the 6th annual awards ceremony held in Birmingham recently.
• Ishwar Sharma who is 8, is the under-11 UK national yoga champion.
• He has bagged various titles in individual and artistic yoga. He has won gold medal representing Great Britain at the World Student Games 2018 held in Winnipeg, Canada, in June 2018.
• He is studying at St Michaels Preparatory School in Kent.

8. World Customs Organization (WCO) selected India as the Vice Chair to head its Asia Pacific Region for 2 years

Image Credit: Zee News

• The Finance Ministry released India will head the Asia Pacific Region of World Customs Organisation (WCO) for two years as it Vice Chair from July, 2018 to June, 2020.
• This will enable India to take on leadership role.
• An event will be organized by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) due to this announcement.
• This event will be attended by the Customs delegations of 33 countries of the Asia-Pacific Region, Customs officers from different Ports in India and Partner Government Agencies.
• The Secretary General of WCO, Mr Kuniyo Mikuriya will deliver the Key Note Address on this event.

9. 2nd National Tourism Conclave in Rajasthan

Image Credit: DNA India

• The 2nd National Tourism Conclave was organised in Jaipur on 13th July 2018.
• The conclave was headed by Managing Director of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Haulianlal Guite.
• Steps such as improving intra-air connectivity to increase domestic and international tourist footfall in the state were discussed.
• Also, more projects such as “Night Tourism” were also encouraged.

10. World’s first and cheapest clean drinking water project launched in Darbhanga , Bihar

Image Credit: BTVI

• The first of world’s cheapest drinking water project was launched in Darbhanga district, Bihar by Sulabh International, an organisation that introduced the concept of ‘Sulabh Sauchalya’ in the country.
• The foundation of the project was laid by Sulabh International’s founder Dr.Bindeshwar Pathak.
• It would be managed by Self Help group of Darbhanga Nagar Nigam.

11. India and Pakistan to be part of an anti-terror drill in Russia organized by SCO from August

Image Credit: NDTV.com

• Militaries of India and Pakistan will be part of a mega anti-terror drill in Russia in August which is being organized by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
• It will be for the first time since Independence that India and Pakistan will both be part of a military exercise
• The name of the drill is: “Peace Mission”.
• The exercise is scheduled from August 20-29 at Chelyabinsk city in west-central Russia.
• From India 200 Army and Air Force personnel will participate.
• Other SCO member countries joining the exercise are: Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Static/Current Implications:

• Capital of Pakistan – Islamabad
• Currency – Pakistani Rupee

12. PM Modi on a two-day visit to UP

Image Credit: DNA India

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his two-day visit to eastern Uttar Pradesh.
• He will lay the foundation stone of a 304km long Poorvanchal Expressway in Azamgarh that will connect Lucknow, to Barabanki, Amethi, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur districts.
• He will also lay the foundation stone of International Convention Centre in Varanasi and Namami Ganga Programme.

Static/Current Implications:

• Capital of Uttar Pradesh – Lucknow
• Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath
• Governor – Ram Naik

13. India invited US President Donald Trump to be Republic Day chief guest in 2019

Image Credit: Deccan Chronicle

• US President Donald Trump has been invited to be the chief guest of 2019 Republic Day celebrations.
• If President Trump accepts the invitation, he will be second serving US President after Barack Obama to be invited as the chief guest of Republic Day Parade.
• It will indicate the importance of the Indo-U.S. relationship.

14. University of Houston & Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE) sign MOU for collaboration

• The University of Houston and Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE) signed an MOU on mutual collaboration on various fields.
• The agreement covers collaboration in the following ways: In areas such as faculty exchanges, especially in subsea engineering, offshore and onshore petroleum engineering, process control systems and process safety in all chemical engineering fields and non-conventional energy areas. Joint academic event and activities, including short courses, seminars, workshops and/or conferences.
• The two institutes may also explore research and projects involving distance and computer-based learning.

15. 69th Van Mahotsava inaugurated by Himachal Pradesh Governor

Image Credit: India News Calling

• Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Dev Vrat inaugurated 69th Van Mahotsava celebrations at Ganevag (Nehra) near Shimla.
• This campaign has been jointly organized by the forest department and State Red Cross Society, Shimla.                                                                                                                                                  
• Under this campaign, over 5000 saplings were planted. The Governor planted saplings of Deodar on the occasion.                                                                                                                                            
• It was announced that every citizen should plant saplings on special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.

Obituaries

16. Kannada poet M.N. Vyasa Rao passes away

Image Credit: The Hindu

• Kannada poet and film lyricist M.N. Vyasa Rao died following a cardiac arrest at his home in Bengaluru.
• His other poems are also known as ‘bhaavageetes’ (light music). He was also a novelist.
• He had written various detective and literary novels and short stories in Kannada.
• He had also received Karnataka Rajya Sahitya Academy award for his short story collection “Maleyalli Neneda Maragalu”.

17. Senior journalist Kalpesh Yagnik Dies

Image Credit: ABP News

• Senior journalist Kalpesh Yagnik, who was a group editor of popular Hindi daily ‘Dainik Bhaskar’, died after suffering a cardiac arrest at the age of 55.
• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan condoled the death of the senior journalist.

18. Former DGCA chief Kanu Gohain passed away

Image Credit: The Sen Times

• Former Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Kanu Gohain died after a brief illness at the age of 68 at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.
• He was the last technocrat to head the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), retired from services in 2008.
• After retirement, he became a director on the board of Indamer, an MRO company.

Expected questions from the above current affairs

1. Who has been appointed the head of investment banking for HSBC India?

A. Amitabh Malhotra                                                           C. John Flint
B. Pierre Goad                                                                       D. Antonio Simoes

2. Who has been re-elected as the whole time director of Metals and Mining Company Vedanta Ltd.?

A. Kuldip K Kaura                                                                   C. Navin Agarwal
B. Vikas Sharma                                                                     D. Anand Agarwal

3. Which state governor got additional charge as the governor of Himachal Pradesh?

A. Punjab                                                                               C. Chattisgarh
B. Haryana                                                                            D. Rajasthan

4. Hima Das, Indian sprinter who recently won the gold at IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships has been named as brand ambassador of which of the following states?

A. Meghalaya                                                                            C. Mizoram
B. Tripura                                                                                   D. Assam

5. The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation launches the “Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018” (SSG 2018) in the Delhi. Who is the present Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation?

A. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi                                                      C. Dharmendra Pradhan
B. Uma Bharati                                                                      D. Niti Gadkari

6. Where is the 4th National Conclave on Mines & Minerals organised recently?

A. Bhopal                                                                                C. Mumbai
B. Indore                                                                                 D. Kochi

7. Who is the 8-year old Yoga champion, who has been conferred with the title “British Indian of the Year”?

A. Ishwar Kumar                                                                      C. Ishwar Verma
B. Ishwar Patel                                                                         D. Ishwar Sharma

8. Which of the following countries has been selected as the vice chair of the Asia Pacific Region of World Customs Organisation (WCO) for two years from July, 2018 to June, 2020?

A. Bangladesh                                                                           C. Russia
B. China                                                                                      D. India

9. Which of the following states hosted the 2nd National Tourism Conclave recently?

A. Gujarat                                                                                  C. Rajasthan
B. Maharashtra                                                                         D. Tripura

10. In which of the following states the World’s first and cheapest clean drinking water project has been launched?

A. Jharkhand                                                                              C. Rajasthan
B. Manipur                                                                                   D. Bihar

11. India and Pakistan to be part of an anti-terror drill in Russia organized by SCO from August. What is the name of the drill?

A. Peace for all                                                                          C. Protection Mission
B. Peace Mission                                                                      D. Protection for all

12. The foundation stone for International Convention Centre has been laid in which of the following cities by PM Modi?

A. Ahmedabad                                                                           C. Varanasi
B. Lucknow                                                                                 D. New Delhi

13. Who has been invited as the Chief Guest for Republic Day Celebrations in 2019?

A. Sheik Hasina                                                                        C. Donald Trump
B. Shinzo Abe                                                                            D. Khadga Prasad Oli

14. On July 15, 2018, The University of Houston and which Indian university signed an MOU on mutual collaboration on various fields?

A. Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE)
B. Indian Institute of Metallurgy (IIME)
C. Indian Institute of Mines and Coal Engineering (IIMC)
D. Indian Institute of Ocean Sciences (IIOS)

15. The 69th Van Mahotsava is organised in which of the following states?

A. Madhya Pradesh                                                                 C. Himachal Pradesh
B. Arunachal Pradesh                                                             D. Andhra Pradesh

16. M.N. Vyasa Rao who hailed from Karnataka died recently due to cardiac arrest. What was he?

A. Politician                                                                                C. Actor
B. Poet                                                                                        D. Musician

17. Kalpesh Yagnik passed away recently due to cardiac arrest. What was he?

A. Journalist                                                                              C. Politician
B. Doctor                                                                                     D. Cricketer

18. On July 14, 2018, Kanu Gohain died after a brief illness at the age of 68 at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. What was he earlier?

A. Former Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
B. Former Finance Minister of Haryana
C. Former Director General of Intelligence Bureau
D. Former Finance Secretary