Today’s Current Affairs 25th – July- 2018 – MyProgressCard

Books/Authors

1. Ramachandra Guha pens “Gandhi: The years that changed the world (1914-1948)” book

Image Credit: NewIndianExpress

• A book titled “Gandhi: The years that changed the world (1914-1948)” has been written Ramachandra Guha. This book will be released in September 2018.
• This book will be will be published by Penguin Random House India. Ramachandra Guha is a popular historian and author. He is 60 years old.
• He has written several bestselling books like “India after Gandhi” and “Gandhi before India”.
• “Gandhi: The years that changed the world (1914-1948)” is said to be the most definitive new biography of Gandhi.

National News

2. MoUs signed between India and Uganda during visit of Prime Minister

Image Credit: Narendra Modi

• India and Uganda signed 4 MOUs namely

1. MoU on Defence Cooperation.
2. MoU on Visa exemption for Diplomatic and official passport holders.
3. MoU on Cultural Exchange Programme.
4. MoU on Material Testing Laboratory.

Static/Current Implications:

• Capital of Uganda – Kampala
• Currency – Ugandan shilling

3. Indian Air Force participates for the First Time in Exercise Pitch Black – 18

Image Credit: NDTV.com

• An Indian Air Force contingent comprising of four Su-30 MKI, 01 X C-130 and 01 X C-17 aircraft, landed at Darwin Air Force Base, Australia for the Exercise Pitch Black – 18.
• This is the first time that an IAF contingent is participating in a multinational air exercise in Australia with Royal Australian Air Force.
• This exercise involves over 100 aircraft from around the globe and will provide a unique opportunity to the air-warriors to operate in a dynamic warlike environment.

4. ‘Mukhyanmantri Kisan Aaye Badhotri Solar Yojna’: scheme launched by Delhi CM to increase the income of farmers by three to five times

Image Credit: The Financial Express

• Chief Minister of Delhi Mr. Arvind Kejriwal launched the ‘Mukhyanmantri Kisan Aaye Badhotri Solar Yojna’.
• Without affecting the agricultural activity maximum one-third of the land would be used for installation of solar panels.
• The minimum height for installing solar panels will be 3.5 metres.
• Electricity from the solar panel installed by the private companies will be bought by the government at Rs.4 per unit which will save Rs. 400 to Rs.500 crore.

5. Odisha CM launches ‘Green Mahanadi Mission’

Image Credit: Odisha News Insight

• Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched a plantation drive named – ‘Green Mahanadi Mission’.
• Under this scheme, 2 crore saplings would be planted along the Mahanadi, Ib and Tel rivers.
• The government has targeted to spend Rs.500 crore for the drive in the next 5 years.
• The drive will be carried out in 1303 villages spread across 15 districts.
• It covers an area of 16500 hectare and 500 km and eventually will cover 41000 hectares in 5 years.
• Static/Current Implications:
• Capital of Odisha – Bhubaneshwar
• Governor – Prof. Ganeshi Lal

6. 2nd meeting of National Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges under POSHAN Abhiyaan held in New Delhi

• The 2nd meeting of National Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges under POSHAN Abhiyaan was held in New Dehli. It has said that September will be celebrated a National Nutrition month.
• The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD). It was held under the Chairmanship of Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog.
• The POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) was formed by Indian Government. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8th March 2018 from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
• The programme uses technology to reduce the level of Stunting, Under-nutrition, Anemia and Low Birth Weight in Children.
• It also focuses on Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers.
  

7. Thaawarchand Gehlot Attended Global Disability Summit 2018 in London, UK

Image Credit: YThisNews

• Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment attended the Global Disability Summit 2018 held in London, United Kingdom.
• The motto of Global Disability Summit 2018 was to firm up the commitments of the country leaders towards the cause of persons with disabilities.
• Global leaders assured their commitments for elimination stigma and discrimination, promoting inclusive education, economic empowerment, technology and innovation in assistive devices, data desegregation etc.
• Leaders from over 40 countries participated in the summit. The leaders have committed to work towards economic empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Static/Current Implications:

• Constituency of Thaawarchand Gehlot – Madhya Pradesh (Rajya Sabha)

8. SEBI approves Bharti Infratel, Indus Tower merger deal

Image Credit: Deccan Chronicle

• SEBI has given approval to the merger of Bharti Airtel and Indus Towers.
• The merger of Bharti Airtel will Indus Towers would create the largest mobile tower operator in the world outside China with over 163,000 towers across 22 telecom service areas in India.
• After the deal, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone will jointly control the combined company.

Static/Current Implications:

• Headquarters of SEBI – Mumbai

• Chairman – Ajay Tyagi

Meetings/Conferences

9. BRICS Summit 2018 begins in Johannesburg

Image Credit: India TV

• The 10th edition of BRICS Summit takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa from July 25 to July 27.
• The BRICS leaders are likely to discuss issues related to global hotspot, international peace and security, global governance and trade during the summit.

Static/Current Implications:

• Capital of South Africa – Cape Town

• Currency – South African Rand

International News

1 0. Myanmar to host ASEAN education meet

Image Credit: Newsz

• Myanmar will host the next ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting (ASED)
• The meeting aims at boosting the education sector by cooperating with India, China and the US among others.
• The first ASED was held in Singapore in 2006, while the last was held in Malaysia.

Static/Current Implications:

• Member countries of ASEAN – 10 (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam).
• ASEAN – Association of South East Asian Nations

Banking News

11. Oxigen signs MOU with Fincare Small Finance Bank for partnership in branchless banking

Image Credit: THE HANS INDIA

• Oxigen and Fincare Small Finance Bank signed an agreement to start Branchless Banking services, using Oxigen’s flagship Point of Sale device called the Oxigen Micro ATM Super PoS.

• Fincare Small Finance Bank offers bill payment services through internet and mobile banking. Also, it would expand other services like POS, network, micro-ATMs, pre-paid cards, BBPS, UPI and Bharat QR and Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS).
• Oxigen would take Fincare’s banking solution to the unbanked/underbanked segments.

Expected Questions from the above Current Affairs

1. Chief Minister of Delhi Mr. Arvind Kejriwal launched which scheme aimed to increase the income of farmers by three to five times in the national capital?

A. Mukhyanmantri Kisan Aaye Badhotri Solar Yojna
B. Mukhyanmantri Kisan Aaye Badhotri Wind Power Yojna
C. Mukhyanmantri Kisan Aaye Badhotri Bijili Yojna
D. Mukhyanmantri Kisan Aaye Badhotri Jal Yojna

2. The 2nd meeting of National Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges under POSHAN Abhiyaan was held in New Delhi. It was said that, which month will be celebrated as the National Nutrition Month?

A. August                                                                                 C. September
B. October                                                                                D. November

3. The Chief Minister of which state launched a plantation drive named ‘Green Mahanadi Mission’ as per which 2 crore saplings would be planted along the Mahanadi, Ib and Tel rivers?

A. Gujarat                                                                                 C. Assam
B. Bihar                                                                                     D. Odisha

4. Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment attended the Global Disability Summit 2018. Where is it held?

A. London, United Kingdom                                             C. New York, United States
B. New Delhi, India                                                               D. Chennai, India

5. An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent consisting of four Su-30 MKI, one C-130 and one C-17 aircraft, landed at Darwin Air Force Base, Australia, to participate in which exercise?

A. Pitch Black 2018                                                           C. RIMPAC 2018
B. Gold Wings 2018                                                            D. United Colours 2018

6. SEBI has given approval to the merger of which entity and Indus Towers?

A. Vodafone India                                                                C. Idea
B. Bharti Airtel                                                                    D. Reliance Jio

7. Oxigen and which small finance bank has signed an agreement to start Branchless Banking services, using Oxigen’s flagship Point of Sale device called the Oxigen Micro ATM Super PoS?

A. Fincare Small Finance Bank                                       C. Fino Small Finance Bank
B. Jana Small Finance Bank                                              D. Equitas Small Finance Bank

8. Who has written the book titled “Gandhi: The years that changed the world (1914-1948)” that will be released in September 2018?

A. Hansraj Sinha                                                                  C. Ravi Burman
B. Adhiraj Malavya                                                               D. Ramachandra Guha

9. Where does the BRICS Summit 2018 begin?

A. Beijing                                                                              C. Brasilia
B. Johannesburg                                                               D. New Delhi

10. Which country hosts the ASEAN education meet?

A. Indonesia                                                                       C. Singapore
B. Myanmar                                                                       D. Vietnam

11. India signed how many MOUs with Uganda?

A. 5                                                                                       C. 6
B. 4                                                                                       D. 7