Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I

February 2019

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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I
February 2019

Table of Contents
Awards & Honours.................................................................................................................................................. 3
Days & Events ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
International Affairs ............................................................................................................................................... 7
National Affairs ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
Personalities in News ........................................................................................................................................... 22
Books & Authors ................................................................................................................................................... 23
Government Policies & Schemes.......................................................................................................................... 23
Science & Technology ........................................................................................................................................... 29
Committees & Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 31
Business & Economy............................................................................................................................................. 31
Sport ..................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Defence................................................................................................................................................................. 36
Polity .................................................................................................................................................................... 40

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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I
February 2019

Awards &Honours  Raghul Rangasamy received the Upcoming Motorsport

Person of the Year award for the Raymond Gautam
Nuvoco won FICCI CSR Award 2017-18 Singhania Trophy.
 Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. (formerly Lafarge India Limited) Gandhi Peace Prize presented
bagged the FICCI CSR Award for 2017-18 in the Women
Empowerment category in New Delhi.  President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind presented the
 They were awarded for their project 'Aakriti'. Gandhi Peace Prize on 26 February 2019.
 The project has been implemented in the Nimbaheda  It was presented for the years 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 at
block of Chittorgarh, where, 400 women from Darbar Hall, Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi. The
neighbouring villages have been trained in tailoring and awardees were:
associated skills.  Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari - 2015
 Akshaya Patra Foundation and Sulabh International - 2016
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes conferred (Jointly)
 PM Narendra Modi attended the award ceremony for the  Ekal Abhiyan Trust - 2017
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology  Sh Yohei Sasakawa - 2018.
at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on 28 February 2019.
Mahesh to be honoured with META lifetime award
 He conferred the prizes for 2016, 2017 and 2018 to the
awardees.  Eminent Indian playwright, Mahesh Elkunchwar has been
 The prize, named after Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, is chosen for the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards
given each year to recognize outstanding Indian work in (META) Lifetime Achievement Award 2019.
various disciplines of Science and Technology.  The award will be given on 12 March 2019.
 He is a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
Alastair Cook recieved knighthood
and has over 30 plays and essays to his credit including
 Alastair Cook received the knighthood in the New Year’s works like 'Sultan', 'Holi', 'Garbo', 'Yatanaghar', and
Honours. 'Atmakatha'.
 He received the honour at a ceremony in the Buckingham
PM Modi to confer Youth Parliament Awards 2019
Palace and has become the 11th Englishman to be
knighted for services to cricket.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will confer the 'National
 Enid Bakewell, a legend of the women’s game received an Youth Parliament Festival 2019' awards to the winners on
MBE, while Alvin Kallicharran and Peter Wynne-Thomas 27 February 2019.
were both recognised with a British Empire Medal.  The National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 was launched
on 12th January 2019.
Indore and Bhopal won Saubhagya award
 The aim of the festival was to encourage the youth in the
 The Central Zone Power Distribution Company, Bhopal and age group of 18-25 years to engage with public issues and
West Zone Power Distribution Company, Indore were understand the common man’s point of view.
awarded the Saubhagya award on 26 February 2019.
‘Period. End of Sentence’ won Oscar
 It was presented under Pradhanmantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar
Yojana at the National Conference of Energy Ministers.  A film on menstruation, set in rural India, titled ‘Period.
 The award carries a cash prize of 100 crore rupees each. End of Sentence’, has won the Oscar in the Documentary
Short Subject category at the 91st Academy Awards.
IRCTC Rail Connect won National Award
 Rayka Zehtabchi directed the short film and Guneet
 Railway's ticket booking mobile application, IRCTC Rail Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment produced it.
Connect, has been chosen for National e-Governance  The film is a part of ‘The Pad Project’, started by students
Awards 2019. at the Oakwood School in Los Angeles and their teacher,
 The app was launched in January 2017 to facilitate the Melissa Berton.
booking of train tickets in a faster and easier way.
Oscars 2019: Part 2
 Chhattisgarh government's 'Khanij online' and 14 such IT
projects will also receive the award.  Best Supporting Actress - Regina King for If Beale Street
Could Talk.
Karthikeyan received Lifetime Achievement
 Best Original Song - Lady Gaga, Mike Ronson, Anthony
 G.R. Karthikeyan was honoured with the Lifetime Rossomondo and Andrew Wyatt for A Star Is Born.
Achievement award at the FMSCI annual awards function  Best Animated Feature - Spiderman: Into the Spider Verse.
on 25 February 2019.  Best Foreign Language - Roma.
 He is the father of India’s first Formula One driver Narain  Best Animated Short - Domee Shi and Becky Neiman-Cobb
Karthikeyan. for Bao.

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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I
February 2019

Oscars 2019: Part 1  The award was presented by Football Delhi President Shaji
Prabhakaran, a former player, and administrator at the All
 The 91st Academy Awards were presented at the Dolby
India Football Federation and FIFA.
Theatre, in Los Angeles, California.
 Football Delhi also honoured Shubham Sarangi, youth
 Best Picture - Green Book.
player from Delhi, currently the player of Delhi Dynamos
 Best Actor in a Leading Role - Rami Malek for Bohemian
squad for ISL.
Rhapsody.
 Best Actress in a Leading Role - Olivia Colman for The Abdul Aziz won major human rights award
Favourite.
 Abdul Aziz Muhamat, a Sudanese refugee won the
 Best Directing - Alfonso Cuarón for Roma. prestigious Martin Ennals human rights prize.
 Best Supporting Actor - Mahershala Ali for Green Book.  He has been held in Australia’s notorious offshore Manus
Divya Karnad won the Future For Nature Award Island processing centre for over 5 years.
 Muhamat, from the Zaghawa ethnic group of Darfur, in
 Dr Divya Karnad won the prestigious Global Future For
north-western Sudan, was granted refugee status in early
Nature Award 2019 for her work on marine conservation.
2015.
 She is the first woman and the second Indian to won the
award. President presented Tagore Award
 The first Indian who won the award is Dr Charudutt  The President of India presented the Tagore Award for
Mishra. Cultural Harmony on 18 Feb 2019 at Pravasi Bhartiya
 The Future For Nature Award is a an international award Kendra, New Delhi.
that celebrates tangible achievements in protecting wild  The award was presented to Shri Rajkumar Singhajit Singh;
animal and plant species. Chhayanaut, and Shri Ram Sutar Vanji for the years 2014,
PM Modi recieved Seoul Peace Prize 2018 2015 & 2016 respectively.
 The award was instituted from 2012.
 PM Narendra Modi received the prestigious Seoul Peace
 It is awarded annually and carries an amount of Rs.1 crore,
Prize for 2018 for his contribution to international
citation, and Plaque.
cooperation and fostering global economic growth.
 The award was presented to him by the Seoul Peace Prize Binish won the Entrepreneur of the Year award
Foundation at a grand ceremony.
 Binish Chudgar was awarded the prestigious Ernst & Young
 A short film on the life and achievements of Prime 'Entrepreneur of the Year 2018' Award in the Life Sciences
Minister Modi was also screened at the event. & Healthcare category.
 He is the 14th recipient of the award.  He is the Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Intas
Deshpande won Shiv Chhatrapati awards Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
 EY Entrepreneur of the Year award is the world's most
 Noted Mallakhamb coach, Uday Deshpande and aggressive prestigious business award for entrepreneurs.
opening batswoman Smriti Mandhana were
conferred with Shiv Chhatrapati awards on 17 February President of India to present Tagore Award
2019.  The President of India will present the Tagore Award for
 The awards were presented by Maharashtra Governor C Cultural Harmony on 18 February 2019.
Vidyasagar Rao.
 The award will be presented to Rajkumar Singhajit Singh;
 Among the other award recipients are Suraj Karkera, Sanil Chhayanaut (a cultural organisation of Bangladesh); and
Shetty, and Siddhant Thingaliya. Shri Ram Sutar Vanji for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016.
NGO Yuwa won Laureus Sport  The award was instituted by the Government of India in
2012.
 Yuwa, a Jharkhand-based NGO won the Laureus Sport for
 It is awarded annually and carries an amount of Rs. 1
Good award.
Crore.
 The NGO works for the girl empowerment.
 The NGO, founded by Americans Franz Gastler and Rose Swachhata Excellence Awards announced
Thomson Gastler in 2009, runs a football program in rural  Municipal Corporations of Raigarh, Ambikapur and
Jharkhand covering 450 girls. Kumbakonam won the first, second and third prizes
 4 girls out of the 450 will receive the award on behalf of respectively of 'Swachhata Excellence' Awards 2019.
Yuwa at The Laureus World Sports Awards.  A total of 40 awards were distributed to the Area Level
Sunil Chhetri got Football Ratna Federations (ALFs), City Livelihoods Federations (CLFs) and
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
 Sunil Chhetri was conferred the first ever Football Ratna  28 ALFs received Swachhata Excellence Awards for 2019.
honour by Football Delhi.
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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I
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Bradley Cooper won the best director from PETA Sanjay Subrahmanyam won Dan David Prize 2019
 Bradley Cooper was awarded the ‘Oscat’ by People for the  Noted Indian historian, Sanjay Subrahmanyam won Israel's
Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). prestigious Dan David Prize for 2019.
 The animal rights organisation awarded the best director  He was awarded for his work on inter-cultural encounters
award to Cooper for his enlightened decision to cast his between Asians, Europeans, and people of North and
own canine companion in ‘A Star Is Born’. South America during the early modern era.
 PETA is an American animal rights organisation based in  He won it under the category 'past time dimension' and
Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its shared his $1 million award with Prof Kenneth Pomeranz
international president. of the University of Chicago.
Siddhartha Lal: Entrepreneur of the Year Pat Cummins won Allan Border medal
 Siddhartha Lal, MD & CEO, Eicher Motors, was awarded  Pat Cummins won the coveted Allan Border Medal at the
the 'EY Entrepreneur of the Year' for 2018. Australian Cricket Awards on 11 Feb 2019.
 He will now represent India at the 'EY World Entrepreneur  Nathan Lyon became the first specialist finger spinner to
of the Year Award' in Monte Carlo from 6-8 June 2019. win the Test Player of the Year award.
 Azim Premji, Chairman of Wipro was honored with the  Glenn Maxwell took the T20I award and Matthew Wade
Lifetime Achievement Award. bagged the Domestic Player of the Year award.
 The WEOY award programme is celebrated across 60
Jimmy carter won Grammy award 2019
countries.
 Former US President Jimmy Carter won his second
BAFTA Awards 2019 held
Grammy Award for spoken word album for his biography
 The British Academy Film Awards 2019 were held on 10 "Faith A Journey For All".
Feb 2019 at Royal Albert Hall, London, UK.  The 39th president of the US won his first Grammy award
 'Roma' won the Best Film and Best Director was won in 2016 for one of his works, "A Full Life: Reflections at
by Alfonso Cuarón for Roma. 90".
 Best Leading Actor was won by Rami Malek for "Bohemian  He is not the only US President to win a Grammy, Bill
Rhapsody". Clinton and Barack Obama have also won Grammy's in
 Best Leading Actress was won by Olivia Colman for "The 2005 and 2008 respectively.
Favourite". John Morris Ajax Fire Engine won trophy
 John Morris Ajax Fire Engine, a proud possession of Indian
Railways was awarded the Statesmen Challenger Trophy
2019.
 It is preserved at the National Rail Museum, New Delhi and
regularly bags trophies every year in various categories.
 The fire engine was built by famous fire engineers M/s.
John Morris and Sons Ltd., of Salford, Manchester, in 1914.
Grammy Awards 2019 - II
 'Masseduction', by Jack Antonoff & Annie Clark won the
Best Rock Song at the 61st Grammy Awards 2019.
 Best Rock Album was won by 'From the Fires' of Greta Van
Fleet.
 Chris Cornell won Best Rock Performance for 'When Bad
Does Good'.
 Kacey Musgraves won album of the year and Cardi B
became the first woman to win best rap album as a solo
artist.
Grammy Awards 2019 - I
 The 61st Grammy Awards were held on 10th Feb 2019 at
Staples Centre in LA.
 The Song of the year was won by 'This is America'
by Donald Glover and Ludwig Göransson.

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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I
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 Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper won the Best Pop Duo for NFDC won award
'Shallow'.
 The National Film Development Corporation of India has
 Ariana Grande won the Best Pop Vocal Album for
been declared winner under the Mini ratna category by
'Sweetener', while Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album was
the Ministry of MSME.
won by Willie Nelson for 'My Way'.
 This was done as a part of the Ministry to felicitate CPSEs
Francois conferred with Légion d'Honneur to recognise their exemplary work towards promotion of
SC/ST entrepreneurs.
 Father Francois Laborde, a 92-year-old priest from West
 NFDC was incorporated in the year 1975 and was formed
Bengal, was conferred the Légion d'Honneur (Legion of
for the integrated development of the Indian Film
Honour).
Industry.
 The award was given to him for his work for specially-
abled children. Uniphore won Aegis Graham Bell Award 2019
 Father Laborde had set up Howrah South Point, an
 Uniphore was announced the winner of the Aegis Graham
organisation working for the development of specially-
Bell Award 2019 in 'Innovations and Data Science' category
abled children.
for innovating 'auMina'.
 Légion d'Honneur is the highest civilian award of France.
 It was the 9th edition of the award ceremony and was
PMAY (U) awards instituted for Implementation hosted in Panaji, Goa on 4th February, 2019.
 The Aegis Graham Bell Award has been promoting
 Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has instituted the
entrepreneurship and innovations since 2010 in
‘PMAY (U) awards for Implementation and Innovation’.
Information and Communication Technology field.
 The Awards will identify and reward the 'Top Performers'
in different categories and will encourage others to Aribam Shyam returns Padma award in protest
compete and attain the goal of ‘Housing for All’.
 Noted Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Shyam Sharma
 A few Special Category awards to give special recognition returned his Padma Shri Award on February 3, 2019.
to States / UTs have also been instituted.
 He received the award in 2006 and returned it to mark a
Yes Bank won Data Science Innovation Award protest against the Citizen (Amendment) Bill.
 Sharma is a recipient of several national awards for his
 Yes Bank was announced as the winner of the 9th edition
films Sangai, Ishanou, Imagi Ningthe, etc.
of Aegis Graham Bell Award 2018 for its ‘Yes Engage Enrich
Excel (EEE)’ project in data science. Tamil Nadu won the Swasth Bharat Yatra award
 Its EEE program is an industry-first analytics tool that aids
 Tamil Nadu won the 'Swasth Bharat Yatra' award under
the Bank’s relationship managers with top 3 talking points
‘The Best Performing State’ category on 29 January 2019.
to engage with their customers.
 Madurai and Sivakasi were also recognised as the ‘Best
 Aegis Graham Bell Award promotes innovations and
Performing Cities’.
entrepreneurship in the ICT domain.
 The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
Sanjiv Chadha awarded in UK organised the Swasth Bharat Yatra to commemorate the
150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi from October
 The State Bank of India’s UK Chief Mr. Sanjiv Chadha has
2018 to January 2019.
been honored with the ‘Freedom of the City Of London’.
 The award was given by the city of London Corporation in
recognition of his contribution to promoting bilateral Days & Events
relations.
28 February: National Science Day
 The previous Indian recipient of the honour is Jawaharlal
Nehru, the first PM of India. Other recipients include  National Science Day is celebrated across India on
author J K Rowling and actor Dame Judi Dench. February 28 every year.
CPSEs felicitated by Ministry of MSME  Famous Indian scientist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata
Raman or CV Raman discovered the Raman Effect on this
 Some Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) were day in 1928.
felicitated by the Minister of State (I/C) for MSME, Giriraj  The theme for this year is Science for people and people
Singh on 5th Feb 2019. for science.
 They were recognised for their exemplary work under the  Sir CV Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in
Public Procurement Policy for the promotion of SC/ST 1930 for his discovery.
entrepreneurs.
 14 CPSEs were felicitated under various categories and International Mother Language Day: 21 Feb
around 70 participated in the event.

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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I
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 The International Mother Language Day is observed every 4th February: World Cancer Day
year on 21 February.
 World Cancer Day is observed every year on 4th February
 The aim of the day to promote awareness of linguistic and
to raise awareness and encourage prevention and
cultural diversity and promote multilingualism.
treatment of cancer.
 The day is known as Bhasha Dibas or Shahid Dibas in West
 It was founded by UICC with an aim to significantly reduce
Bengal and Bangladesh.
deaths and illness caused by cancer.
 The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day
 Nearly 9.6 million people die every year because of cancer.
was an initiative of Bangladesh.
 Theme for 2019 - 'I Am and I Will'.
20 Feb: World Day of Social Justice
UN declares 2019 as Year of the Periodic Table
 20 February is observed annually as the World Day of
 The United Nations announced 2019 as the International
Social Justice to promote equal rights and opportunities
Year of the Periodic Table (IYPT) of the Chemical Elements.
among people within a country and between nations.
 IYPT commemorates the 150th anniversary of the
 The day was approved on 26 November 2007 by the UN
establishment of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements,
General Assembly.
 The periodic table was first published in 1869.
 The theme of 2019 World Day of Social Justice is ‘If You
 It was first designed by the Russian scientist Dmitri
Want Peace & Development, Work for Social Justice’.
Ivanovich Mendeleev.
Feb 13: World Radio Day
World Wetlands Day: 2 February
 World Radio Day is observed every year on the 13th of
 World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2
February to celebrate radio as a forum for information and
February.
entertainment.
 It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention
 The theme of this year is Dialogue, Tolerance, and Peace
on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar
Broadcasts.
Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.
 The day was proclaimed on 3rd November 2011 by
 The international theme for World Wetlands Day 2019 is
UNESCO's 36th General Conference.
'Wetlands and climate change'
Deworming day observed on February 8  World Wetlands Day was first celebrated in 1997.
 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conducted its eighth International Affairs
round of National Deworming Day (NDD) across the
country on 8 February 2019. Alastair Cook recieved knighthood
 The aim of the NDD was to reduce the prevalence of  Alastair Cook received the knighthood in the New Year’s
parasitic intestinal worms among children. Honours.
 During the programme, Albendazole tablets were orally  He received the honour at a ceremony in the Buckingham
administered to pre-school and school-going children in Palace and has become the 11th Englishman to be
the age group of 1 to 19 years. knighted for services to cricket.
Mega Silk Event held in New Delhi  Enid Bakewell, a legend of the women’s game received an
MBE, while Alvin Kallicharran and Peter Wynne-Thomas
 Ministry of Textiles in association with Central Silk Board, were both recognised with a British Empire Medal.
organised an event, 'Surging Silk - Accomplishment and
way forward', in New Delhi on 9 February 2019. Zimbabwe started trading new currency
 The event is being organised to highlight the growth of the  Zimbabwe began formal trading of a new currency as it
silk industry in India over the past 4 years. tries to ease a shortage of dollars that’s crushed the
 It focusses on the distribution of Buniyaad Tasar Silk economy.
Reeling Machines to women reelers from tribal areas.  The initial rate for the southern African nation’s currency,
National Road Safety Week launched known as RTGS dollars, will be 2.5 per US dollar.
 The official inflation rate has soared to 57% from less than
 The National Road Safety Week was launched on February 4% a year ago.
4, 2019 by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways. Princess Reema appointed as Ambassador to U.S
 The aim is to generate awareness and sensitize people  Saudi Arabia appointed Princess Reema bint Bandar bin
about safe road usage. Sultan as its new Ambassador to the United States on 23
 A motor car rally covering a distance of 7250 km will also February 2019.
be flagged off to commemorate 150th birth anniversary of  It is the first time that Saudi Arabia named a woman to
Mahatma Gandhi. such a post.

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 Princess Reema will replace Prince Khalid bin Salman who  The near 600-tonne underwater vessel is equipped with
took the post in 2017. torpedoes and naval mines in addition to cruise missiles.
 It can operate more than 200 metres below sea level for
Israel's first lunar lander launched
up to 35 days.
 Israel's first lunar lander, Beresheet, was launched by a
JP Morgan: first to create cryptocurrency
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida on 21 February 2019.
 If successful, Israel will be the fourth country to achieve a  US investment bank, JP Morgan Chase became the first US
controlled touchdown on the moon's surface. bank to offer its own cryptocurrency.
 Beresheet will reach its destination on the near-side of the  The cryptocurrency, called 'JPM Coin' will always have a
moon in mid-April following a two-month journey through value equivalent to one US dollar.
4 million miles (6.5 million km) of space.  It will be initially used internally between JPMorgan
Chase's wholesale business clients.
Year-long state of emergency decalred in Sudan
 The bank had also built an Ethereum-based blockchain
 On 23 February 2019, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir platform for business customers in 2018.
has declared a year-long state of emergency.
Japan to recognise indigenous Ainu people
 He also dissolved his cabinet and local governments
throughout the country.  Japan's government introduced a bill on 15 February 2019
 President Omar al-Bashir's term ends in 2020. to recognise the country's ethnic Ainu minority as an
 The capital of Sudan is Khartoum and its currency is 'indigenous' people for the first time.
Sudanese pound.  The Japanese government in the late 19th century banned
them from practising their customs and using their
Australian rat becomes extinct
language.
 The Australian government officially listed the Bramble  The government will also allow the Ainu to cut down trees
Cay melomys as extinct. in nationally-owned forests for use in traditional rituals.
 The small brown rat has not been seen since 2009.
'AMAN-19' kicks off
 It was thought to be the only mammal native to the Great
Barrier Reef.  Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN-19 formally
 It was found only on a small sand island near the coast of commenced on Feb 11, 2019, at Pakistan Navy Dockyard.
Papua New Guinea.  AMAN-19 is a multinational Naval Exercise conducted
biennially by Pakistan Navy since 2007.
China unveiled first female AI news anchor
 The current one is the 6th in the series having 45 nations
 China's state-run news agency, Xinhua, unveiled the as participants.
world's first female AI news anchor to read alongside its  Commander Pakistan Fleet, Vice Admiral Muhammad
male AI news presenters on Feb 21, 2019. Amjad Khan Niazi graced was the Chief Guest.
 It was developed jointly by Xinhua and search engine
Egypt's President: New Chairman-African Union
company Sogou and was shown off in a video on social
media.  Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has been elected as
 It is remarkably lifelike, complete with hand adjustments the chairman of the African Union at the continental
while on camera, and just enough on-cue blinking. body's summit in Ethiopia.
 African Union chairman sets agendas of issues to be
World's largest bee rediscovered in Indonesia
addressed during their one-year tenure.
 The world’s largest bee, Flying Bulldog, was rediscovered  It is a continental union consisting of 55 countries of the
in a remote part of Indonesia in its first sighting in nearly continent of Africa and was founded on 26 May 2001.
40 years on 21 February 2019.
Macedonia joined NATO
 It was discovered in the 19th century by British naturalist
Alfred Russel Wallace and nicknamed the 'flying bulldog'.  Macedonia signed an accord to join the North Atlantic
 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has listed the bee Treaty Organisation.
as vulnerable.  By this, it became the 30th member of NATO.
 The Macedonia-NATO accord followed a deal with Greece,
Iran launched a submarine
which ended a 27-year-old dispute over Macedonia’s
 Iran launched a new locally-made submarine capable of name.
firing cruise missiles on 17 Feb 2019.  NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance between
 Named the Fateh, the new submarine is Iran's first in the North American and European countries.
semi-heavy category.  Macedonia Capital: Skopje.
 Currency: Macedonian Denar.

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Pope and Grand Imam sign historic pledge  This special payment system will help save the Iran nuclear
deal by allowing Tehran to keep trading with EU
 Pope and Grand Imam of al-Azhar have signed a historic
companies.
declaration of fraternity, calling for peace between races,
 US had reimposed sanctions on Iran after US President
religions, and nations.
Donald Trump abruptly quit the nuclear accord in 2018.
 Sheikh Ahmed al Tayeb is the head of Sunni Muslim's most
prestigious seat of learning and Pope Francis is the leader National Affairs
of the world's Catholics.
 The document pledges that Vatican and al-Azhar will work 42 cancer drugs under price control
together to fight extremism.  The government brought 42 non-scheduled anti-cancer
Pope Francis visits UAE drugs under price control, capping trade margin at 30%, on
27 February 2019.
 Pope Francis made his historic visit to UAE on 4th February  The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has
2019. invoked extraordinary powers under Para 19 of the Drugs
 Francis attended an inter-religious meeting and held Mass (Prices Control) Order, 2013 to control prices.
at Zayed Sports City.  As NPPA, the MRP for 105 brands will be reduced up to
 Pope Francis becomes first pontiff to visit Arabian Gulf. 85%, entailing minimum savings of Rs. 105 crore.
 His visit to UAE has highlighted religious freedom.
Iran successfully tests a new cruise missile
 Iran has announced a successful test of a new cruise
missile having a range of 1,350 km.
 The Hoveizeh cruise missile was successfully tested at a
range of 1,200 km. It also accurately hit the set target.
 It flies at a very low altitude and can be ready in the
shortest possible time.
 The test coincided with the celebrations of the 1979
Islamic revolution of the country.
'Africa Centre for Climate' launched in Rome
 The 'Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable
Development' was launched in Rome on 29 January 2019.
 The centre has been set by the government of Italy and
the United Nations.
 The centre will develop innovative solutions for
sustainable development, implement the goals of the UN's
2030 Agenda.
 It is located near the headquarters of the Food &
Agriculture Organisation in Rome.
UNSC extends sanctions against CAR
 The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a
resolution to extend sanctions against the Central African
Republic (CAR) for another year.
 The resolution was adopted unanimously by the 15- Anthem on plastic-free India launched
member council on Jan 31, 2019.
 Union Minister Harsh Vardhan launched an anthem as a
 These sanctions include an arms embargo, a travel ban
part of a campaign to make India plastic-free by 2022 on
and an asset freeze till January 31, 2020.
28 February 2019.
Germany, France, UK set up INSTEX  'Plastic Waste-Free India' is prepared and produced by
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Smriti Manch (PDUSM).
 Germany, France and the UK have set up a payment
 It has been launched in seven languages -- Hindi, Marathi,
channel with Iran called INSTEX.
Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Malyalam and Kannada.
 This was done to help continue trade with Iran and
overcome US sanctions. India's 1st indigenous chip unveiled

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 India’s 1st Indigenous Semiconductor Chip was unveiled by India Smart Utility Week 2019 begins March 12
semiconductor company, “SIGNALCHIP” for 4G/LTE and 5G
 Upcoming Conference and Exhibition on Smart Energy,
NR MODEMs in New Delhi.
Smart Grid and Smart Cities India Smart Utility Week
 4 chips were unveiled at the event, which are- SCBM3412,
(ISUW 2019) will be held from 12-16 March 2019, New
SCBM3404, SCRF3402, and SCRF4502.
Delhi.
 The RF sections cover all LTE/5G-NR bands up to 6GHz and
 ISUW 2019 will be inaugurated by Shri AK Bhalla,
these chips also support positioning using India’s own
Secretary, Ministry of Power.
satellite navigation system, NAVIC.
 More than 40 International Organisations and experts
15,000 acres forest under fire in Bandipur from more than 55 countries and 300+ utility officials will
participate in the event.
 A fire has ravaged Bandipur, Karnataka, which burnt over
15,000 acres of forest. Bihar: 1st state to have special dog squad
 Bandipur National Park is a 874-sq.-km forested reserve in
 Bihar has become the first state in India to have a special
the Karnataka.
dog squad for detecting liquor consignment.
 It is known for its small population of tigers.
 The state also imposed a complete ban on liquor 2 years
 The 14th-century Himavad Gopalaswamy Temple offers ago.
views from the park's highest peak.
 20 trained dogs are a part of the squad at present and
10% quota for weaker sections in Bihar were provided 9 months of intense training in Hyderabad.
 The dog squads are handled by Crime Investigation
 Bihar government issued a notification to provide 10%
Department (CID).
quota for weaker sections in general category in jobs and
educational institutions. 6 bronze murals created by Ram Sutar
 The reservation is meant for individuals whose annual
 The 6 bronze murals located in the Veerta Chakra zone at
earning is below 8 lakh rupees and who possess less than 5
the National War Memorial, have been created by Ram
acres of agriculture land.
Sutar, credited with designing the Statue of Unity.
 Quota allocation for weaker sections in general category
 Its design draws inspiration from the ''Chakravyuh''
would help in providing more employment.
formation.
Bhagavad Gita at ISCKON unveiled  The Noida-based sculptor, a Padma Bhushan-recipient
also created the busts of 21 awardees of the Param Veer
 PM Narendra Modi unveiled the Bhagavad Gita prepared
Chakra (PVC).
by ISKCON Temple devotees in New Delhi on the occasion
of Gita Aradhana Mahotsav on 26 February 2019. Smriti Irani inaugurated Titanwala Museum
 It measures over 2.8 meters and weighs more than 800 kg.
 Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated the
 It is one of its kind in the world and has the original verses ‘Titanwala Museum’ in Bagru, Rajasthan on 25 February
of the Bhagavad Gita along with commentary. 2019.
Web Portal launched in Kolkata  The museum showcases the Chhipa community’s hand-
block printing.
 West Bengal Education Minister, Partha Chatterjee
 It will be open from Monday to Sunday between 9 a.m.
inaugurated a web portal, 'Banglar Shiksha'.
and 6 p.m.
 The portal will provide real-time data on state-run and
aided schools. NID inaugurated at Bhopal and Jorhat
 It will be up and running in two months and is probably
 National Institutes of Design (NID) at Bhopal in Madhya
the first-of-its-kind online initiative in the state as well as Pradesh and Jorhat in Assam was inaugurated.
in the country.
 Both institutes are autonomous under the Department for
Delhi Declaration on digital health adopted Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry
of Commerce and Industry.
 The Delhi Declaration on digital health was adopted at the
 NID Bhopal will begin its academic journey from July 2019
concluding session of the ‘4th Global Digital Health
with 60 students in 4-year undergraduate courses.
Partnership Summit'.
 The summit was hosted by the Ministry of Health and Rail Drishti Dashboard launched
Family Welfare and WHO.
 Minister of Railways and Coal, Piyush Goyal launched 'Rail
 The declaration will engage citizens in partnering with the Drishti Dashboard' on 25 February 2019.
government for planning and management of digital
 The url of the dashboard is 'raildrishti.cris.org.in'.
health interventions in health services delivery and
improving governance.

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 The Dashboard has been launched to keep people KP-BOT launched in Kerala
informed about the work going on in the Railways across
 Kerala police has become first police department in the
the country.
country to use a humanoid 'robocop' for police work.
 It can be accessed using a desktop/laptop or mobile
 The name of the robot is KP-BOT and it has been given a
devices.
Sub Inspector or SI ranking.
National War Memorial inaugurated  It was developed by Kerala Police Cyberdome.
 It will be stationed to perform front office duties at the
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National
police headquarters.
War Memorial in Delhi on 25 February 2019.
 It will thereafter become the place for wreath-laying of all OMCs to appoint women as 'Ujjwala Didis'
designated events such as Republic Day.
 Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) will appoint more than
 The National War Memorial will commemorate the
10,000 rural women as 'Ujjwala Didis' in Odisha.
soldiers who died in wars and operations, including
 'Ujjwala Didis' will act as grassroot energy ambassadors
counter-terrorism, since Independence.
across Odisha to ensure sustainability of LPG use.
MSME Ministry's conclave on Women Entrepreneur  They will act as a bridge between existing and prospective
LPG consumers and the distributors in the state of Odisha.
 The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
organised a conclave on 'Empowering Women Aero India 2019 celebrates Women’s Day
Entrepreneurs 2019, Financing and Enabling Women from
 Highlighting the achievements of Women in Aviation,
Marginalised Sections' in Mumbai on 25 February 2019.
‘Women’s Day’ was celebrated on 23 February 2019 at the
 It was organised under the National SC-ST initiative of the
biennial Aero India 2019 expo.
MSME Ministry.
 It was held at the Yelahanka base of the Indian Air Force
 Entrepreneurs and inspirational women achievers were
(IAF).
awarded with 'Enterprising Women of the Year 2018
 Women achievers in the aviation sector were felicitated on
Awards'.
the occasion and a book and film on 'Women in Aviation'
EVMs are 'information' under RTI Act was also released.
 The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled that  Aero India show will continue till 24 February 2019.
an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is 'information' under Suresh Prabhu inaugurates various projects
the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
 Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation,
 This implies the Election Commission has to respond to an
Suresh Prabhu inaugurated projects worth Rs. 1000 crore
RTI application seeking the EVM either by providing it or
on 22 February 2019.
refusing it under exemption clauses in the Act.
 He inaugurated skilling Common Facility Centre (CFC) in
 The CIC is the highest adjudicating authority in RTI
Udupi, Karnataka.
matters.
 Two spices parks at Kota in Rajasthan and Raebareli in
Government of India to host construction expo Uttar Pradesh were also inaugurated.
 The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry will hold a  He also inaugurated National Institute of Design campus in
two-day construction expo and conference - 'Construction Assam and Madhya Pradesh.
Technology India' (CTI) in New Delhi from 2 March 2019. Tamil Nadu gets 2 Coast Guard districts
 The expo will be organised under its Global Housing
Technology Challenge (GHTC) initiative.  Tamil Nadu became the first state in the country to get a
second Coast Guard district headquarters in Thoothukudi.
 Stakeholders across the world will showcase their best
technologies to build houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas  The first district headquarters are in Chennai.
Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U).  The Thoothukudi district headquarters were set up with an
aim to augment security mechanism on the eastern coast.
Rapid transit system approved  It will function under the administrative and operational
 On 19 February 2019, the government of India approved control of the Commander Coast Guard Region (East).
the construction of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Medical Fair India 2019 began in New Delhi
Rapid Transit system (RRTS).
 The corridor is expected to connect the cities to the centre  A 3-day medical trade show, Medical Fair India (MFI)
with a high-speed dedicated rail connector. 2019, kickstarted on 21 February 2019.
 The proposed RRTS will be implemented as a joint venture  It will see the participation of global medical device
by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation manufacturers, healthcare experts, industry bodies, think
(NCRTC) and the state governments. tanks and policymakers from over 25 countries.

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 The MFI is being organised by Messe Dusseldorf India, the  'Aero India 2019' was inaugurated by the Defence Minister
world's leading trade fair organiser and exhibitions service Nirmala Sitharaman at Yelahanka Air Force station in
provider. Bengaluru on 20 February 2019.
 It showcased India’s air defence prowess and
Home Ministry ordered pan-India survey
manufacturing capabilities.
 Ministry of Home Affairs commissioned the Bureau of  It is organised by the Ministry of Defence.
Police Research and Development to conduct a pan-India  This edition of Aero India, for the first time, combines the
survey called, All India Citizens Survey of Police Services. defence and civil aviation segments into a holistic event.
 The survey will be conducted through the National Council
of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi. 1st Mega Food Park of Tripura inaugurated
 The 9-month survey will cover a representative sample of  Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries
1.2 lakh households spread over 173 districts across the Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti inaugurated Sikaria Mega Food Park
country. Pvt Ltd in Agartala on 20 February 2019.
BEL unveiled its new product  This is the first Mega Food Park in the state of Tripura.
 The food park is having facilities of fully operational Dry
 Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) warehouse, Quality Control, Research and Development
unveiled its new product, the Atmospheric Water Centre etc.
Generator (AWG) at Aero India 2019 on 21 Feb 2019.  The food park is the 18th of its kind in the country.
 It was inaugurated by the Chief of the Army Staff General
Bipin Rawat. 3-day International Conference inaugurated
 The AWG can be used to generate water straight from the  An International Conference and Exhibition on Energy and
humidity present in the atmosphere. Environment - Challenges and Opportunities (ENCO-2019),
 It is configurable in static and mobile (vehicular) versions. is being held from 20th to 22nd February 2019 in New
Delhi.
'Waste to Wonder' Park inaugurated
 It aims to deliberate and identify the R&D needs to
 The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated innovate new techniques, technologies and applications.
the “Waste to Wonder” Park under the South Delhi  The conference was inaugurated by the President of India,
Municipal Corporation (SDMC) in New Delhi on 21 Feb,19. Shri Ram Nath Kovind.
 He also lauded SDMC for improving its rank from 202 to 32
in Swachh Sarvekshan, 2018 ranking. Dept of Fisheries: New posts approved
 Some of the main attractions of the “Seven Wonders Park”  The Union Cabinet approved one post of Secretary and
are the different sized tall replicas of Taj Mahal, the Great one post of Joint Secretary in the in the Department of
Pyramid of Giza, etc. Fisheries on a permanent basis.
Virtual Experiential Museum inaugurated  Newly created posts would enable the Department of
Fisheries to undertake/monitor number of
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Virtual projects/schemes for development of the sector.
Experiential Museum (VEM) in Man Mahal in Varanasi on  The department of fisheries was recently introduced in the
19 February 2019. interim budget of 2019.
 VEM will show a glimpse of various cultural aspects of
Varanasi. Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, inaugrated
 VEM was established by the National Council of Science  The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited BHU in
Museum (NCSM) working under the Ministry of Culture. Varanasi on 19 Feb 2019.
 Man Mahal is a Centrally Protected Monument under  He inaugurated Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer
Archeological Survey of India. Hospital and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, Lahartara.
Ranking on Startup initiatives launched  PM also dedicated first New Bhabhatron with precision
technology, to the nation.
 The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade (DPIIT) released second edition of 'Startup Ranking 4 projects launched by Textile Minister
for 2019' on 20 February 2019.  Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti Irani, launched 4 projects
 The Startup Ranking framework aims to rank the in North East for development of silk sector through video
States/UTs for establishing a robust ecosystem for conference in New Delhi on 19 February 2019.
supporting Startups.  She inaugurated Muga silk seed production centre in Tura,
 The Ranking Framework 2019 comprises of 7 pillars and 30 Meghalaya and silk printing and processing unit in
action points. Agartala.
12th edition of 'Aero India 2019' inaugurated
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 New office buildings of Weavers Service Centres (WSC) in  This unit will produce high-quality steel tubes and pipes.
Indore, MP and Kannur, Kerala were also inaugurated.  With an installed capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year, this
Unit will play an important role in the development of the
Eco Circuit project inaugurated
predominantly agriculture intensive area.
 K.J. Alphons, Union Minister for Tourism inaugurated the
International Vision Zero Conference held
project ‘Development of Eco Circuit: Pathanamthitta –
Gavi – Vagamon – Thekkady’ in Kerala.  A 3-day Conference on the VISION ZERO and its relevance
 This Eco Circuit project was sanctioned in December 2015. to Occupational Safety and Health is being held from 18-20
 Major works carried out under the project includes Eco- Feb,19 in Mumbai.
Adventure Tourism Park at Vagamon, Cultural Centre at  The Conference is been organised by Directorate General
Kadamanitta, and more. Factory Advice and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI).
 The Vision is based on principles of Controlling Risks,
Ensuring Safety and Health in Machines, Equipment and
Workplaces and Skill Upgradation of Workforce.
Conference on Pharma inaugurated
 The 4th edition of India’s biggest Global Conference on
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices was inaugurated in
Bengaluru on 18 Feb 2019.
 The theme of ‘India Pharma 2019’ is ‘Enabling Quality
Affordable Healthcare & that of ‘India Medical Device
2019’ is ‘Accelerating Growth to Achieve Universal
Healthcare’.
Cyber crime fighting facility inaugurated
 The event was organized by the Department of
 Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a state- Pharmaceuticals (DoP) and FICCI.
of-the-art national cyber forensic lab (NCFL) and the Delhi
Book dedicated to Swami Pragyanandji launched
Police's cybercrime unit 'CyPAD' on 18 Feb 2019.
 With this initiative, law enforcers will be able to  A book dedicated to Late eminent Vedanti
proactively address cyber threats. Swami Pragyanandji was launched by Governor of West
 Both the cybercrime fighting units are based in a complex Bengal H.E Keshari Nath Tripathi.
at Dwarka, Sector 16C.  The book is written by Famous Industrialist and
Philanthropist Mr. Dinesh Shahra.
Number 112 launched for women safety
 It is primarily aimed at offering saintly wisdom and
 Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched the Emergency guidance to lead a content and happy life.
Response Support System, ERSS, for women's safety in 16
Drainage-cleaning robot introduced in Chennai
states and Union territories.
 Persons in distress can dial a pan-India number: 112.  A drainage-cleaning robot has been introduced for the first
 The Home Minister also launched 2 portals - Investigation time in Chennai as part of efforts to get rid of manual
Tracking System for Sexual Offences and Safe City scavenging.
Implementation Monitoring Portal.  The robot named Bandicoot was introduced at a cost of 18
lakh rupees and was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Minister
3 initiatives on women safety launched
Kadambur Raju.
 The Ministry of Women and Child Development has  Drainage cleaning can be detected by viewing the
conceptualised 3 initiatives to promote the safety of blockages on the screen.
women in their living, working, and public spaces.
Tabreed to build cooling system
 These were launched jointly by the Home Minister, Shri
Rajnath Singh and WCD Minister, Smt Maneka Sanjay  A UAE-based international cooling provider entered into a
Gandhi in New Delhi on 18 Feb 2019. 30-year concession with Andhra Pradesh government to
 These 3 include Panic Button, SCIM portal, and DNA build India's first district cooling system in Amaravati.
Analysis Facilities in States.  The agreement was signed between the National Central
Cooling Company (Tabreed) and Andhra Pradesh Capital
Steel Minister dedicates SPU to nation
Region Development Authority (APCRDA).
 Union Minister of Steel, Chaudhary Birender Singh  This will be the company's first plant outside its GCC
dedicated SAIL’s Steel Processing Unit (SPU) at Bettiah in market.
West Champaran, Bihar to the nation on 18 Feb 2019.
Banned Punjabi poem will be published
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 A poem on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, 'Khooni  He also inaugurated the 1st phase of River Front
Vaisakhi', by Punjabi writer Nanak Singh has now been Development at Patna and laid foundation Stone for the
translated into English. Karmalichak Sewerage Network.
 It was banned by the British in 1920.
PM visited Hazaribagh
 Singh was present at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919,
and was 22 years old at the time.  PM Narendra Modi visited Hazaribagh in Jharkhand on 17
 It will be published by Harper Collins India in March to February 2019 to unveil several development projects.
mark the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.  He inaugurated the Medical Colleges at Hazaribagh,
Dumka, and Palamu.
Odisha CM inaugurated development projects
 He also inaugurated 4 Rural Water Supply Schemes in
 Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurated and laid Ramgarh and Hazaribagh districts.
foundation stones for development projects in Kalahandi  He e-inaugurated the Only Women Engineering College at
district on 16 Feb 2019. Ramgarh.
 He inaugurated the Red Medium Irrigation Project which
PM launched projects worth 20000 cr in Jhansi
will benefit 79 villages and provide irrigation facility for
8500 hectares of agricultural land.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched various
 Apart from this, he laid foundation stones for 38 development projects worth over Rs 20000 crore at Jhansi
development projects and launched 23 projects. in Uttar Pradesh on 15 January 2019.
 He laid the foundation stone of the Defence Corridor.
DEPWD organised conference on DDRS scheme
 Jhansi is one of the six nodal points of the UP defence
 A Regional Conference on Deendayal Disabled corridor.
Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) was held at Kolkata, West  He also inaugurated the Pahari dam modernisation
Bengal on 18 Feb 2019. project.
 It was organised by the Department of Empowerment of  Pahari dam is a water storage dam on the Dhasan river in
Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). Jhansi district.
 Under the scheme, every year more than 600 NGOs are
Income norm relaxed for judge posts
provided with financial assistance for running their
projects for the rehabilitation of persons with disability.  The Supreme Court Collegium removed the need for
lawyers to have a minimum income limit of Rs. 7 lakh in
IBBI organised 2-day workshop
order to be considered for appointment as High Court
 The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), judges.
organised a 2-day workshop on “Committee of Creditors:  The threshold has been relaxed for government lawyers
An Institution of Public Faith” on 15-16 Feb,19 in Mumbai. and judicial officers who belong to the Scheduled Castes,
 It was the first of its kind organised jointly with State Bank Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Communities.
of India (SBI) & Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA).  The collegium took the decision on 12 February 2019.
 Dr. MS Sahoo (Chairperson-IBBI) & Mr. Rajnish Kumar
PM inaugurated several projects in Maharashtra
(Chairman-SBI) were some of the faculty members.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Maharashtra on 16
PM visited Dhule in Maharashtra
February 2019.
 PM Modi visited Dhule in Maharashtra to unveil multiple  At Yavatmal in Vidarbha, he inaugurated the Eklavya
projects in the state. Model Residential School for tribal students.
 He inaugurated Lower Panazara medium Project under  He also inaugurated Ajni (Nagpur)-Pune Train service.
PMKSY, which will irrigate about 7585 hectares area of 21  In Dhule district, he inaugurated the Lower Panazara
villages of Dhule. medium project under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchan
 He also flagged off Bhusaval- Bandra Khandesh Express Yojana (PMKSY).
Train through a video link.
Government liberalised the e-Visa regime
 He laid the foundation stone of the Water Supply Scheme
and Underground Sewer Project under AMRUT.  The e-Tourist Visa which was introduced in September
2014 with 46 countries has now been made applicable to
PM unveiled development projects in Bihar
166 countries.
 PM Narendra Modi unveiled projects in Barauni on 17 Feb  E-Visa is valid for entry through two more designated
2019 to boost development in various sectors. Airports (Bhubaneswar and Port Blair) raising the total
 He laid the foundation stone of Patna Metro Rail Project number of such airports to 28.
and inaugurated the Phulpur to Patna stretch of the  Duration of stay in India of e-Visas is maximum up to 1
Jagdishpur-Varanasi Natural Gas pipeline. Year with multiple entries subject to the stay stipulations.

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IWAI launched a new portal- 'LADIS'  It was unveiled at the Indira Paryavaran Bhawan.
 The Inland Waterways Authority of India launched a new Tenure of NCSK extended
portal named 'Least Available Depth Information System'
 The Union Cabinet approved the proposal for extension of
(LADIS) on 15 February 2019.
the tenure of the National Commission for Safai
 LADIS will ensure that real-time data on least available
Karmacharis (NCSK) beyond 31-3-2019 for 3 years.
depths is disseminated for ship/barge and cargo owners.
 The NCSK was established in the year 1993 as per the
 This will help in better planning for the movement of ships.
provisions of the NCSK Act 1993.
 It will be available for NW-1, NW-2, Indo-Bangladesh
 The major beneficiaries would be the SafaiKaramcharis &
Protocol route, and NW-3.
persons engaged in manual scavenging.
Rajasthan forms committees to review textbooks
 The Rajasthan government has set up two committees of
experts and educationists to review the syllabus of school
textbooks from class 1 to 8 and from class 9 to 12.
 The committee to review the syllabus of class 1 to 8 will be
coordinated by I V Trivedi.
 The coordinator for the four-member committee for class
9-12 is the former Chairman of Rajasthan State Public
Service Commission BM Sharma.
CRPF men attacked in Pulwana, J&K
 At least 37 CRPF personnel were martyred on 14 February
2019, when a convoy in which they were traveling was
attacked by a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) suicide bomber.
 Bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into one of
the convoy’s buses in Pulwama district on the Srinagar-
Jammu highway.
 It was the deadliest attack in terms of casualties in the last
three decades of militancy in the State.
India's 1st Aqua Mega Food Park commissioned
 Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park was commissioned at
Tundurru Village in Andhra Pradesh.
 It is promoted by Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park Pvt. Ltd.
 It is the 1st Mega Aqua Food Park operationalised
exclusively for fish and marine products processing.
 It has been set up in 57.81 acres of land at a cost of Rs. UNICEF join hands with Goa WCD
122.60 crores.  The UNICEF in Maharashtra joined hands with Goa
NKAFC inaugurated at Dharwad Women and Child Development (WCD) to focus on and
support in the area of child protection in the State.
 "North Karnataka Agromet Forecasting and Research  A training programme on Integrated Child Protection
Centre (NKAFC)”, Dharwad was inaugurated on 14 Feb Scheme (ICPS), was organised by WCD on Feb 12, 2019.
2019.  The government of India and UNICEF have worked on a 5-
 It will act as a center of excellence having multi-functions year Action Plan.
like observations, forecast, and research in Agro-
Meteorological services in Karnataka. Conference on Unani Medicine concluded
 12 District Agro-meteorological Units (DAMUs) will be  The 2-day National Conference on Unani Medicine
established in Karnataka by March 2019. organized by the Central Council for Research in Unani
Environment Minister released publication Medicine (CCRUM) in New Delhi concluded on 12 Feb
2019.
 Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan released a  It witnessed the exchange of MoU for scientific
publication titled 'India - Spearheading Climate Solutions' collaboration in Unani Medicine between the CCRUM and
on 12 Feb 2019. Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.
 This coffee table book highlights actions taken by the
country to combat climate change.
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 AYUSH Awards for Unani Medicine were also conferred on  The opening session was chaired by Col. Rajyavardhan
the occasion. Rathore, Union Minister of State for Information &
Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports.
1st LAWASIA Human Rights Conference 2019 held
 The Conference aims to strengthen synergy between the
 LAWASIA, in association with the Bar Association of India, Media Units in order to ensure last mile delivery.
hosted its 1st LAWASIA Human Rights Conference in New
5th Dam Safety Conference being held
Delhi.
 The theme of the conference was “State Power, Business  The 5th International Dam Safety Conference–2019 is
and Human Rights: Contemporary Challenges”. being held from 13-14 February 2019 in Bhubaneswar.
 The President of LAWASIA is Mr. Christopher Leong, while  It is a joint initiative of the Government of India,
the President of Bar Association of India is Dr. Lalit Bhasin. Government of Odisha and the World Bank.
 India ranks 3rd after China and the USA globally in terms of
Government takes steps to revive Maithili
the number of large dams with 5264 large dams in
 The HRD Ministry asked to apply the recommendations of operation and 437 large dams under construction.
a committee constituted in 2018 for the promotion and
PM addressed CREDAI YouthCon-19
protection of Maithili language and its scripts.
 Establishment of a Script and Manuscript Centre at  PM Narendra Modi addressed CREDAI YouthCon-19 on
Darbhanga has been recommended. 13th Feb 2019 at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi.
 Mithilakshar or Tirhuta is the script of broader cultural  YouthCon is the annual Youth Conclave of CREDAI which is
Mithila. It is an ancient script and is one of the scripts of held to bring together the future of the real estate
the broader North Eastern India. Industry in India.
 CREDAI was established in 1999 and is the apex body
National Cancer Institute inaugurated
representing real-estate developers from over 200 cities in
 PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation India.
stones for 6 projects in Haryana on 12 Feb 2019.
Outreach Programme to be organised
 He inaugurated National Cancer Institute (NIC) at Badhsa
in Jhajjar district, Haryana.  Ministry of Textiles will organise an outreach programme
 He also laid foundation stones for National Institute of for Textiles Sector MSMEs on 13th February 2019 in New
Ayurveda, Sri Krishna Ayush University, Battles of Panipat Delhi.
Museum, and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay University of  Smriti Irani, Minister of Textiles, will preside over the
Health Sciences in Karnal. function and Dr. Thawar Chand Gehlot will be the Chief
Guest.
2-day EarlyEd Asia 2019 held in Jaipur
 The support and outreach 100 days programme for
 The two-day ‘EarlyEd Asia 2019’ conference began on 12 MSMEs was launched by PM Narendra Modi on 2nd
Feb 2019 at City Palace, Jaipur. November 2018.
 It is aimed at providing a platform for learning, networking
8 new medical devices notified as drugs
and sharing the best practices of early childhood
education in Asia.  The Centre notified eight new devices as “drugs”.
 This is Asia's biggest conference on early education being  They include - all implantable medical devices, CT scan
conducted in India. equipment, MRI equipment, defibrillators, dialysis
machine, PET equipment, X-ray machine, and bone
Special National Standard Conclave held
marrow cell separator.
 A Special National Standards Conclave was organised by  Their import, manufacture, and distribution are now
the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Industry, Government of India in Mumbai.  27 types of devices were notified as drugs until last year.
 It also saw the launch of voluntary certification and rating
IAV inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram
scheme for private security services developed by QCI.
 Separation of roles for the avoidance of conflict of interest  Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the
in regulatory framework was one of the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV) in
recommendations. Thiruvananthapuram.
 It is first of its kind research institute linked to the Global
I&B Ministry organised 1st Annual Conference
Virus Network (GVN) and will operate from the Bio 360
 Ministry of Information & Broadcasting organised the First Life Sciences Park at Thonnakkal in the capital city.
Annual Conference of Media Units on 13th Feb 2019 at  It can confirm the viruses causing infectious diseases and
Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. detect new ones without any delay.

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February 2019

Dera Baba Nanak land: Immigration check point  It is India’s flagship hydrocarbon conference, being
organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum &
 The Centre designated Dera Baba Nanak land post in
Natural Gas.
Gurdaspur district of Punjab as an immigration checkpost.
 It will showcase the recent market and investor-friendly
 It is now an authorised immigration checkpoint for entry
developments in India’s oil and gas sector.
and exit of Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan.
 Delegates from around 70 countries participated in the
 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation
event.
stone of the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib Corridor at
an event at Mann village in Gurdaspur district on 26 PM visits Hubli in Karnataka
November 2018.
 PM Narendra Modi visited Hubli, Karnataka on 10th Feb
Light House Projects challenge launched 2019 to unveil several development projects.
 He laid the foundation stone for IIT-Dharwad and IIIT –
 The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs instituted a
Dharwad.
challenge for constructing the Lighthouse projects under
GHTC-India on 11th Feb 2019.  City Gas Distribution Project 1.5 MMT Mangalore Strategic
Petroleum Reserve facility was dedicated to the nation.
 The challenge is for states/UTs and 6 sites which score the
highest will be selected from the challenge.  He also witnessed the E-Griha Pravesh of 2350 housed
constructed in Dharwad PMAY(U).
 The MoHUA also already launched Global Housing
Technology Challenge-India. PM visits Tiruppur
PM visited Kurukshetra  PM Narendra Modi visited Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu to
unveil several development projects on 10th Feb 2019.
 PM Narendra Modi visited Kurukshetra, Haryana on 12th
Feb 2019 to participate in Swachh Shakti 2019 and  He laid the foundation stone of Employees’ State
Insurance Corporation’s (ESIC) multi speciality Hospital at
distribute its awards.
Tiruppur.
 Swachh Shakti is a national event which aims to bring in to
focus the leadership role played by rural women in Swachh  He also laid the foundation stone for the new building of
Bharat Mission. Trichy airport and also inaugurated the new Crude Oil
Pipeline in Chennai.
 The Swachh Shakti program was first launched in 2017 in
Gandhinagar, 2nd in Lucknow, and 3rd edition in 1st Mega Food park of HP inaugurated
Kurukshetra.
 Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Smt
KJ Alphons lays foundation stone Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated Cremica Mega Food
Park through a video conference on 10 Feb 2019.
 Union Tourism Minister, KJ Alphons laid the foundation
stone for Sree Narayana Guru spiritual pilgrimage circuit in  This is the first Mega Food Park of Himachal Pradesh
Varkala, Kerala on Feb 10, 2019. located at Singhain village, Una district.
 The project covers all the places where the Guru spent  The park has been set up at a cost of Rs. 107.34 crores and
most of his life. will provide facilities such as frozen storage, dry
warehouse, deep freeze, QC lab, etc.
 The project, in Thiruvananthapuram district, was
sanctioned last month and will help improve the Ladakh became third administrative division
infrastructure and facilities at these centers.
 On 8 February 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir government
Great Indian Bustard chosen as mascot approved the creation of a separate Administrative
Revenue Division for Ladakh.
 The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has been announced as the
mascot for the 13th UN Convention on the Conservation of  This division will comprise Leh and Kargil districts with its
Migratory Species. headquarters at Leh.
 It will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 15-22 Feb  Two posts of Divisional Commissioner and Inspector
2020. General of Police (IGP) were created.
 Now J&K will have three divisions - Jammu, Ladakh, and
 The mascot was launched by Union Minister Harsh
Vardhan. Kashmir.
 The CMS COP-13 is a global platform for the conservation IITM establishes new AI & data science centre
and sustainable use of migratory animals and has 120
 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has
countries as participants.
inaugurated the Robert Bosch Center for Data Science and
PM inaugurates PETROTECH 2019 Artificial Intelligence.
 PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the PETROTECH-2019 on
11th Feb 2019 at Indian Expo Centre, Greater Noida, UP.
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February 2019

 The mission of the new centre is to create a societal  Chennai Police Commissioner launched 'DigiCop' mobile
impact on core challenges in data science (DS) and artificial app on 6 February 2019.
intelligence (AI).  The user can lodge mobile theft complaints using the app
 It will be done through multidisciplinary interactions with and can check if the user’s mobile is in the police list of
government, academic, research and industrial retrieved mobiles.
collaborators.  Through the app, the user can also know the traffic
condition in the city and also information about nearby
police stations.
Nitin Gadkari laid foundation of NH project
 Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin
Gadkari, laid the foundation for 5 National Highway
projects of length 632 km in Ayodhya on 8 Feb 2019.
 The estimated cost is Rs. 7195 crore and the project will
establish direct connectivity from Ayodhya to
Ambedkarnagar and Chitrakoot.
 He will also visit Prayagraj to inaugurate Phase 2 of River
Information System on National Waterway-1.
Suresh Prabhu addresses interactive session
 An interactive session on the Indo-Africa Strategic
Economic Co-operation was held in New Delhi on 6th Feb
2019.
 It was organised by the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry.
 The bilateral trade between Africa and India has increased
from $7 billion in 2001 to $78 billion in 2014 and then $60
billion in 2017.
 Suresh Prabhu is the Union Minister of Commerce &
Industry and Civil Aviation.
India's oldest elephant died at 88
 'Granny Dakshayani', India's oldest elephant in captivity
ECI launched VVIP for General Elections 2019 died at 88 in Kerala.
 The Election Commission of India has launched a Voter  She was awarded with the title 'Gaja Muthassi' and also
Verification and Information Programme (VVIP) on 8 took part in the temple processions and rituals for
February 2019. decades.
 The VVIP programme is for citizens for verifications of their  India has around 2,454 elephants in captivity as per a
names, new registrations, changes in the voter details and survey released last month.
corrections in the Voter Id Cards for the upcoming General Establishment of Circuit Bench approved
Elections 2019.
 ECI has also set up Contact centres in all districts across  The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra
India. Modi approved the establishment of Circuit Bench of
Calcutta High Court on 6th Feb 2019 at Jalpaiguri.
PM laid the foundation for NH Project  It will have jurisdiction over 4 courts, which are Cooch
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone Behar, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, and Darjeeling.
for the four laning of the Falakata-Salsalabari section of  The decision came against the backdrop of the decision of
NH-31 D in the northern part of West Bengal on 8 the Calcutta High Court Full Court Meeting in 1988.
February 2019. CCEA approves 12,000 MW power projects
 This 41.7 Km long section of the National Highway falls in
the Jalpaiguri district.  The CCEA chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved the
 It will have 3 railway over bridges, 3 underpasses, 2 proposal for setting up 12,000 MW Solar PV Power
flyovers, 17 minor bridges, and 8 bridges. Projects.

Chennai Police launches 'DigiCop' app

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February 2019

 The proposal was by the Ministry of New and Renewable  A lot of cases have been registered by the J&K police in
Energy for the implementation of the CPSU scheme Phase- which TuM has played a major role in the commission of
II for setting up these projects. terror acts.
 The power projects will be set up in 4 years at a cost of Rs.
Bullet train to pass through Sanctuary
48,000 crores.
 A committee chaired by Union Environment Minister
4th conference of AYUSH inaugurated
Harsh Vardhan has accorded wildlife clearance to the
 The 4th conference of UTs / AYUSH / Health Ministers of Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed train corridor.
States was inaugurated by Shripad Naik, Minister of State  The corridor encroaches upon the Sanjay Gandhi National
of AYUSH on 6th February 2019. Park and flamingo sanctuary, the home to leopards, in
 The conference was organised to provide an opportunity Mumbai.
to UT/States to interact with each other for the  The project for India's first bullet train was inaugurated in
development of AYUSH sector. September 2017 by PM Narendra Modi.
 It also reviewed progress made by States and UTs in the
Develop app to help the blind: Bombay HC
implementation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the
NAM.  The Bombay High Court asked the RBI to develop a mobile
app to help the blind identify the denomination of various
Amitabh Bachchan stars in national campaign
currency notes of India.
 The Swachh Bharat Mission launched the 'Darwaza Band-  Justice NM Jamdar and Justice Naresh patil also directed
Part 2' campaign on 6th Feb 2019 in Mumbai. RBI to develop a hardware-driven device to help the blind
 The campaign was produced by the Ministry of Drinking identify Indian currency denominations.
Water and Sanitation was launched in the presence of  RBI has been granted 4 weeks to look into the suggestions.
iconic actor Amitabh Bachchan.
Bhoomipoojan of 3 National Highway Projects
 The campaign focuses on sustaining the open defecation
free status of village across the country.  Nitin Gadkari did Bhoomipoojan of 3 National Highway
projects in Odisha.
Swine flu claimed 226 lives across the country
 132 km long Highways will be constructed with worth Rs.
 Swine flu has claimed 226 lives across the country, with 2345 crores.
the worst hit in Rajasthan claiming 85 deaths.  He also inaugurated port projects worth Rs. 431 crores.
 2,263 patients have been found positive with influenza as  The National Highway projects will ensure better
per the NCDC report. connectivity of the mineral-rich Angul and Dhenkanal
 A meeting was held on 6th February 2019 by the Ministry districts of Odisha.
of Health headed by Preeti Sudan to take action to deal
Kerala:1st state to set price monitoring unit
with it.
 Swine flu is caused by H1N1 virus and has symptoms  Kerala has become the first state to set up a Price
similar to the regular flu. Monitoring and Research Unit to track the violation of
prices of medical devices and essential drugs.
PM to flag off Vande Bharat Express
 The move came more than 5 years after NPPA proposed
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag-off Vande Bharat such a system for the states and UTs.
Express on 15th February, 2019 from the New Delhi  Pinarayi Vijayan is the CM of Kerala and Palaniswamy
Railway Station. Sathasivam is the Governor of Kerala.
 It is India's first engineless train.
New project approved by Union Government
 The train has been manufactured by the Integral Coach
Factory, Chennai and has become India's fastest train.  A new project to control pollution in the river Sal in Goa
 It hit the speed of over 180 kmph during a trial run at the was sanctioned by the Union government on 4th February
Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani route. 2019.
 Earlier, it was named Train 18.  The project will have a cost of Rs, 61.74 crores and will be
borne by the Centre and state on 60:40 basis.
Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen banned: MHA
 It will significantly reduce the pollution in the river and
 J&K-based Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen has been banned by improve its water quality.
the Home Ministry.
Women allowed to work in underground mines
 The group that came into existence in 1990 has been
fighting for the liberation of Kashmir, and was also  Women have been allowed to work in opencast and
involved in a series of terror acts. underground mines, as a part of the government's efforts
to create more employment opportunities for women.

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February 2019

 New rules have been issued by the labour ministry  Apart from these, he also laid the foundation stone for
allowing to work from 7 pm - 6 am in opencast mines. construction of 2 hydroelectric projects.
 The employment of women in underground mines was
Centre to install 1500 manual stations by 2024
restricted earlier under the Mines Act, 1952.
 The Centre has aimed to install 300 real time air quality
Meeting of IORA in Delhi
monitoring systems and 1500 manual stations by 2024
 A meeting of Indian Ocean Rim Association will be across the country.
organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and National  Around 731 manual and 150 real time stations are
Disaster Management Authority in New Delhi on 5-6 currently installed in 70 cities, of which 48 are in the
February 2019. national capital.
 The aim is to help strengthen cooperation in disaster  A few of these installations will also be a part of the
response. National Clean Air Programme recently launched to
 IORA is an inter governmental organisation which has 22 reduce 20-30% pollution by 2024.
disaster-prone countries as its members.
Dolphin declared as state aquatic animal
 Headquarters: Mauritius
 Founded: 1995  On 1 February 2019, the endangered Indus River dolphin
was declared as Punjab's State aquatic animal.
Air India's first Flight Simulator ready
 In Punjab, the Indus River Dolphins are found mainly in the
 Air India's first ever Flight Simulator, Boeing-747-200 is Sutlej and Beas rivers.
ready for public view at Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai.  The decision was taken in the Punjab State Wildlife Board
 It was extensively used by the pilots and was presided over by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
manufactured and designed by CAE, Canada. NAHEP launched by ICAR
 It was acquired by Air India in 1980 and was in service for
about 21 years.  The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
 A Memorandum of Agreement was also signed between launched the National Agricultural Higher Education
AAI and National Council of Science Museums for worth 2 Project (NAHEP) to attract talent and strengthen higher
crores. agricultural education in the country.
 This project will be funded by the World Bank and the
Development of MSMEs Indian Government on a 50:50 basis.
 Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for MSME said that MSMEs  The second Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)
have supported inclusive development and growth across was established in Barahi, Jharkhand.
the country. Two Railway projects launched in West Bengal
 It reduces the regional imbalance.
 He said that 117 aspirational districts have been identified  Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the
in the country by NITI Aayog and the Ministry has taken electrification project of 294 kilometres long 'Andal-
measures to accelerate MSME development efforts in Sainthia-Pakur-Malda' and 'Khana- Sainthia' railway
these districts. sections in West Bengal on 2 February 2019.
 Electrification of these sections will ease the
Foundation stone laid for new terminal in Leh transportation of coal, stone chips and ballast to North
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and North East India.
for construction of new terminal building of the KBR  He also inaugurated the Hijli-Narayangarh railway line.
airport in Leh.
'Road Safety Week' will be launched on 4 Feb
 The new terminal will have all the modern amenities and
will provide a seamless passenger movement.  The 30th 'National Road Safety Week 2019' will be
 Apart from this, he also inaugurated several other inaugurated in New Delhi on 4 February 2019.
development projects including the University of Ladakh  It will be attended by a host of school children, NGOs, and
and hydroelectric projects. stakeholders in road safety from Government and
industry.
Development projects unveiled by PM in J&K
 A Motorcar Rally will also be flagged off on the occasion to
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a series of commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma
development projects in Jammu and Kashmir in order to Gandhi.
give a boost to the infrastructure in the state. Interim Budget 2019-20: Allocation
 He also laid the foundation stone of AIIMS at Vijaypur in
Samba and announced that 500 seats in the state medical  The Railways has been allocated Rs.64,587 Cr in the
colleges will be added soon. Interim Budget 2019-20.

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February 2019

 Infrastructure allocation for north eastern areas was  All the facilities under Ayush such as Ayurvedic,
increased by 21% to Rs. 58,166 Cr in 2019-20. Homeopathic, Siddha, Unani and Yoga will be provided in
 Rs 1330 Cr was provided for the Mission for Protection and this hospital.
Empowerment for Women for 2019-20.
DAC Approves 6 Project 75(I) Submarines
 Defence budget was hiked to Rs 3,05,296 Cr
 The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved
Interim Budget 2019-20:Rural development
indigenous construction of six submarines for the Indian
 Government has allocated Rs 60000 crore for the Navy on 31st January, 2019.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee  This is the second project under MoD’s Strategic
Act (MGNREGA). Partnership (SP) model and will cost over Rs 40,000 crores.
 Rs 19000 crore has been allocated for Gram Sadak Yojana  The DAC also approved the acquisition of approximately
for construction of more rural roads. 5000 Milan Anti Tank Guided Missiles for the Army.
 Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and 2.5
crore rural households were electrified.
No Income Tax for incomes up to ₹5 lakh
 Govt. announced that individual taxpayers with annual
income up to ₹5 lakh will not have to pay any Income Tax.
 Those with gross income of up to ₹6.5 lakh also won't have
to pay any tax if they make investments in prescribed
methods.
 This will give ₹18,500 cr tax benefit to 3 cr middle class
people.
 He also said that Income Tax returns will be processed in Budget session of Parliament Begins
24 hours and refund initiated.
 The budget session of Parliament started on 31st January,
Bharat Parv concluded on Jan 31 in Delhi 2019 with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the
 The closing ceremony of ‘Bharat Parv’ took place in Delhi joint sitting of both the Houses.
on 31st Jan, 2019 in the presence of Union Tourism  The Budget will be presented on 1st February, 2019.
Minister K.J. Alphons.  The session will conclude on the 13th February, 2019.
 The Parv was organized by the Ministry of Tourism,
Government of India at the Red Fort, New Delhi from 26th Books & Authors
to 31st January, 2019.
 27 States participated in the event by setting up of Stalls, Bhagavad Gita at ISCKON unveiled
Showcasing their food, handicrafts and tourism products.  PM Narendra Modi unveiled the Bhagavad Gita prepared
PETROTECH-2019 from 10-12 Feb, 2019 by ISKCON Temple devotees in New Delhi on the occasion
of Gita Aradhana Mahotsav on 26 February 2019.
 13th International Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition  It measures over 2.8 meters and weighs more than 800 kg.
'PETROTECH-2019' will be organised from 10th to 12th  It is one of its kind in the world and has the original verses
February, 2019 in New Delhi. of the Bhagavad Gita along with commentary.
 It is being organised under the aegis of the Ministry of
Petroleum & Natural Gas, GoI. Book launched by Venkaiah Naidu
 The PETROTECH-2019 Exhibition will see participation of  Vice President Venkaiah Naidu launched a book titled
over 13 country pavilions and about 750 exhibitors from 'Quality, Accreditation and Ranking - A Silent Revolution in
over 40 countries the Offing in Indian Higher Education'.
OPD Wing of ESIC Hospital inaugurated  The book is edited by (Education Promotion Society for
India) EPSI's Alternate President, Dr. H Chaturvedi.
 Minister of State (I/C) for Labour & Employment S.K.  It consists of articles & essays authored by some of the
Gangwar, inaugurated OPD Wing of ESIC AYUSH Hospital, prominent educationists and policymakers on Indian
Narela in Delhi. Higher Education.
 This is the first dedicated Ayush Hospital of Employees'
State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and is being Book dedicated to Swami Pragyanandji launched
constructed with a cost of Rs. 30 crores.  A book dedicated to Late eminent Vedanti
Swami Pragyanandji was launched by Governor of West
Bengal H.E Keshari Nath Tripathi.

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February 2019

 The book is written by Famous Industrialist and  World amateur boxing champion M.C. Mary Kom signed a
Philanthropist Mr. Dinesh Shahra. 2-year deal with Puma to be their ambassador for
 It is primarily aimed at offering saintly wisdom and women’s training in India.
guidance to lead a content and happy life.  She is a bronze medallist at the 2012 Olympics and won
her record 6th gold medal at the World Amateur Boxing
Environment Minister released publication
Championships in November 2018.
 Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan released a  Puma India’s managing director is Abhishek Ganguly.
publication titled 'India - Spearheading Climate Solutions'
Saudi Prince in India
on 12 Feb 2019.
 This coffee table book highlights actions taken by the  Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin
country to combat climate change. Salman arrived in New Delhi on visit on 19 February 2019.
 It was unveiled at the Indira Paryavaran Bhawan.  He is being closely watched after his 2-day stint in
Pakistan, where he praised Islamabad's efforts for
'Law, Justice & Judicial Power' book launched
"regional peace and security" just days after Pulwama
 The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, received the first attack.
copy of the book 'Law, Justice and Judicial Power – Justice  He announced investments worth 20 billion dollars at the
PN Bhagwati’s Approach' on 8 February 2019. end of his two-day visit to Islamabad on 18 February 2019.
 The book is written by Mool Chand Sharma.
IAF gets its first woman flight engineer
 Justice Bhagwati has been called the father of Public
Interest Litigation in India.  Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal became the first woman
flight engineer.
Personalities in News  She was commissioned in January 2015 to the IAF's
Sanath Jayasuriya banned for 2 years engineering branch.
 She created history when she was chosen as the first
 Former Sri Lankan Cricket captain, Sanath Jayasuriya has woman candidate to pursue the elite course.
been banned from cricket for two years.  A flight engineer is a member of an aircraft’s flight crew
 He admitted breaching two counts of the ICC Anti- and requires special skills for constantly monitoring and
Corruption Code. operating its complex systems.
 Sri Lankan cricket has been under investigation by ICC for
last few years. Manfred Eigen passed away

Apurvi Chandela won gold in 10m rifle  Manfred Eigen, who was awarded a one-half share of the
1967 chemistry Nobel prize died.
 Apurvi Chandela has won the gold medal in the women's  He developed techniques to determine the rates of
10-meter air rifle event at the ISSF World Cup 2019 in New reactions and processes and also pioneered a process
Delhi. called relaxation.
 This is India's first medal of the ISSF World Cup 2019.  He founded the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical
 She set a new world record by registering a score of 252.9 Chemistry by merging the Max Planck Institute for Physical
points in the final match. Chemistry in 1971.
 Zhao Ruozhu and Xu Hong of China won the silver and
bronze medal respectively. Jamie Chadwick: First female to win MRF

Hindi author Namvar Singh died  Jamie Chadwick became the first female winner of the
MRF Challenge Series at the final event of the season.
 Celebrated Hindi author and literary critic, Namwar Singh  She won 3 of the 5 races in Chennai, India, to close an 18-
died on 19 February 2019. point margin on Belgium's Max Defourny and take the
 He received the Sahitya Akademi award for literary title.
criticism in the year 1971 for `Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman'.  She became the first woman to win a British F3 race in
 He was the first chairman of JNU’s Centre of Indian August 2018.
Languages.  The last woman to start Formula 1 Grand Prix was Lella
 He has authored over a dozen works including Kavita Ke Lombardi in 1976.
Naye Pratiman, Chhayavaad, and Dusari Parampara Ki
Khoj. Egypt's President: New Chairman-African Union

Mary Kom became women's training ambassador  Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has been elected as
the chairman of the African Union at the continental
body's summit in Ethiopia.

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February 2019

 African Union chairman sets agendas of issues to be  She earned the card in the Qualifying Tournament at the
addressed during their one-year tenure. Ballarat Golf Club.
 It is a continental union consisting of 55 countries of the  The top-20 from a field of 81 earned playing rights on the
continent of Africa and was founded on 26 May 2001. Australian LPGA.
 Other Indian girls in the Australian LPGA Qualifying were
Actor Mahesh Anand dies at 57
Diksha Dagar, Astha and Ridhima.
 Noted Bollywood actor Mahesh Anand passed away at 57
in Andheri, Mumbai.
 He is suspected to have died a few days ago and his Books and Authors
decomposed body was sent for autopsy to ascertain the Bhagavad Gita at ISCKON unveiled
time and cause of his death.
 He has been a part of major films like Majboor,  PM Narendra Modi unveiled the Bhagavad Gita prepared
Shahenshah, Thanedaar, Coolie No.1, Vijeta, Pyaar Kiya by ISKCON Temple devotees in New Delhi on the occasion
Nahin Jaata, and more. of Gita Aradhana Mahotsav on 26 February 2019.
 It measures over 2.8 meters and weighs more than 800 kg.
Sanjiv Chadha awarded in UK  It is one of its kind in the world and has the original verses
 The State Bank of India’s UK Chief Mr. Sanjiv Chadha has of the Bhagavad Gita along with commentary.
been honored with the ‘Freedom of the City Of London’. Book launched by Venkaiah Naidu
 The award was given by the city of London Corporation in
recognition of his contribution to promoting bilateral  Vice President Venkaiah Naidu launched a book titled
relations. 'Quality, Accreditation and Ranking - A Silent Revolution in
 The previous Indian recipient of the honour is Jawaharlal the Offing in Indian Higher Education'.
Nehru, the first PM of India. Other recipients include  The book is edited by (Education Promotion Society for
author J K Rowling and actor Dame Judi Dench. India) EPSI's Alternate President, Dr. H Chaturvedi.
 It consists of articles & essays authored by some of the
Parmanu Tech 2019 prominent educationists and policymakers on Indian
 Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of the DoNER, delivered a Higher Education.
keynote address at the 'Parmanu Tech 2019' conference Book dedicated to Swami Pragyanandji launched
on 6th February 2019.
 It was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and  A book dedicated to Late eminent Vedanti
Department of Atomic Energy in Delhi. Swami Pragyanandji was launched by Governor of West
 The conference also discussed issues related to Radiation Bengal H.E Keshari Nath Tripathi.
Technologies and Nuclear Energy.  The book is written by Famous Industrialist and
Philanthropist Mr. Dinesh Shahra.
Sana Mir: 1st woman cricketer to play 100 T20s  It is primarily aimed at offering saintly wisdom and
 Sana Mir from Pakistan became the first Asian woman guidance to lead a content and happy life.
cricketer to play 100 T20 international matches. Environment Minister released publication
 She achieved the milestone during the final T20 against
West Indies in Karachi.  Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan released a
 Overall, she is the 6th woman cricketer to complete a publication titled 'India - Spearheading Climate Solutions'
century of T20 internationals. Daendra Dottin from West on 12 Feb 2019.
Indies ranks first with a total of 109 T20Is to her name.  This coffee table book highlights actions taken by the
country to combat climate change.
Aribam Shyam returns Padma award in protest  It was unveiled at the Indira Paryavaran Bhawan.
 Noted Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Shyam Sharma 'Law, Justice & Judicial Power' book launched
returned his Padma Shri Award on February 3, 2019.
 He received the award in 2006 and returned it to mark a  The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, received the first
protest against the Citizen (Amendment) Bill. copy of the book 'Law, Justice and Judicial Power – Justice
 Sharma is a recipient of several national awards for his PN Bhagwati’s Approach' on 8 February 2019.
films Sangai, Ishanou, Imagi Ningthe, etc.  The book is written by Mool Chand Sharma.
 Justice Bhagwati has been called the father of Public
Vani becomes 1st Indian to get a LPGA card Interest Litigation in India.
 On 1 February 2019, golfer Vani Kapoor became the first Government Policies & Schemes
Indian to earn a card for the Australian Ladies PGA Tour
(LPGA). Schemes - II

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 Karnataka is set to launch a major water conservation  It is an effort to protect elderly parents of government
scheme titled ‘Jalamrutha’, which focusses on drought- employees in their times of need.
proofing measures, including protection and rejuvenation
Nua Odisha inaugurated
of water bodies.
 Haryana CM, Manohar Lal Khattar announced the  Nua Odisha - Dharmapada Samvaad-Skill Saathi Youth
"Mukhyamantri Parivar Samman Nidhi" scheme for Conclave was inaugurated at Rail Auditorium in
farmers of the state cultivating up to five acres of land and Bhubaneswar on 25 February 2019.
families having income less than R 15,000 per month.  The first-ever Skill Saathi Youth Conclave was aired live
across 427 locations in Odisha.
Schemes - I
 More than 2 lakh candidates were mobilized for career
 Tamil Nadu CM, Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched the counseling under Skill Saathi initiative.
'Athikadavu-Avinashi Groundwater Recharge Scheme' in
7-NH projects to come up in Kangra
Coimbatore, Tirupur, and Erode districts.
 Odisha CM, Naveen Patnaik sanctioned an additional  Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for seven National
amount of Rs 1,000 crore for drinking water supply Highway projects in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district on
projects under the Basudha scheme. 24 February 2019.
 The projects are likely to benefit the local people by way of
Jammu and Kashmir government launched portal
increased tourism, safe journey, reduced travel time etc.
 Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik launched an  The projects include four-laning of Punjab-Himachal
official portal, State Infrastructure Monitoring System Pradesh Border to Sihuni.
(SIMS).
Action plan for viral hepatitis launched
 It will provide a single platform for all the state
departments to upload the information of their respective  The government of India launched the 'National Action
languishing projects. Plan - Viral Hepatitis' in Mumbai on 24 February 2019.
 The portal will deal with the management, monitoring,  The aim of the programme is to combat hepatitis and
information and payment system of infrastructure achieve countrywide elimination of Hepatitis C by 2030.
projects.  The action plan takes forward the National Viral Hepatitis
Control Program launched by the Union Health Minister in
HRD ministry launched new scheme
July 2018.
 The Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship
PM-KISAN scheme launched from Gorakhpur
and Skills (SHREYAS) was launched on 27 February 2019.
 It has been launched for providing industry apprenticeship  Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan
opportunities to fresh graduates. Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) from Gorakhpur in Uttar
 The scheme is a programme basket comprising the Pradesh on 24 February 2019.
initiatives of 3 central ministries-HRD, Skill Development &  Under the Scheme, Rs 6,000 will be given per year to small
Entrepreneurship, and Labour & Employment. and marginal farmer families having a combined land
holding of up to 2 hectares.
MSP for minor forest produces launched
 The amount will be transferred directly to the bank
 The Minimum Support Price for Minor Forest Produces account of beneficiaries through Direct Benefits Transfer.
and the Value Addition component of Van Dhan was
Sweet Revolution scheme launched in Jharkhand
launched on 28 February 2019 in New Delhi.
 The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is now scaling up the 'Van  Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das launched the first
Dhan Scheme' and is ready to extend it to all tribal Districts phase of the Rs 100-crore ‘Meethi Kranti’ or Sweet
of the country. Revolution Scheme on 21 February 2019.
 Friends of Tribes Scheme for sourcing of CSR funds from  As per the scheme, 1,207 farmers will be given Rs 1 lakh
Public Sector Organisations (PSUs) was also launched. for bee keeping.
 Of the amount, Rs 80,000 grant will be given by the
Assam launched PRANAM Commission
government of Jharkhand, while the payment of Rs 20,000
 Assam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal launched the will be done by the beneficiary.
'Parents Responsibility and Norms for Accountability and
100-day job guarantee scheme launched in MP
Monitoring' (PRANAM) Commission in Guwahati on
February 26, 2019.  Madhya Pradesh government launched its flagship
 It is a panel set up to look after the issues concerning a Bill, ‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Swabhiman Yojana’ on 22 February
for protection of parents of state government employees. 2019.

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 The scheme guarantees 100 days of employment every  On 19 February 2019, the Union Cabinet gave its approval
year to urban youth from economically weaker sections. for the Phase-II of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar
 Under the new scheme, each youth will get Rs. 4,000 Programme.
stipend per month during 100 days of period.  Through this programme, a cumulative capacity of 40,000
MW from Rooftop Solar (RTS) Projects will be achieved by
Two silk projects launched in Assam
the year 2022.
 Union Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated two silk projects  The programme will be implemented with total central
under the Ministry of textiles at Udalguri district in Assam financial support of Rs.11,814 crore.
on 22 February 2019.
Cabinet approves new Electronics Policy
 The two projects are: Integrated 'Soil to Silk' Project and
Eri Spun Silk Mill.  The Union Cabinet approved the new National Electronics
 The projects are aimed at the economic uplift of the Policy 2019 on 19 February 2019.
people below the poverty line by Eri silk farming.  The aim of the policy is to achieve a turnover of $400
billion for the electronics system design and
Odisha govt approves 'Khushi' scheme
manufacturing (ESDM) sector by 2025.
 Odisha government approved a Rs 466 crore 'Khusi'  The new policy proposes to provide interest subsidy of 4%
scheme on 22 February 2019. on loans up to Rs. 1,000 crore for setting up plant and
 The aim of the scheme is to improve menstrual hygiene machinery.
among adolescent girl students in the state.
Government relaxes norms for startups
 Under the scheme, free sanitary napkins will be provided
to 17.25 lakh adolescent girl students of Class-VI to XII  The government of India raised the investment limit for
studying in government and non-government aided angel tax exemption to Rs 25 crore and extended the
schools of the state. period of availing benefits to 10 years for startups.
 Earlier, the investment limit for a startup to seek
Eri Farming project launched in Arunachal
exemption was Rs 10 crore.
 The Integrated Large Scale Eri Silk Farming project under  An entity will be considered as a startup up to a turnover
North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) of Rs 100 crore as against the earlier limit of Rs 25 crore.
was launched in Arunachal Pradesh on 22 February 2019.
MHRD launches Operation Digital Board
 The Project will cover five districts: Papumpare, East
Kameng, Siang, East Siang and West Siang.  On 20 February 2019, the Ministry of Human Resource
 The project is funded by the government of India. Development (MHRD) launched Operation Digital Board
 Eri silk is derived from a silk worm which feeds mainly on (ODB) to provide better digital education in schools.
castor plants.  The digital board will be introduced all over the country in
government and government aided schools from class 9th
Smart India Hackathon to be held in March
onwards as well as in higher education institutions.
 The Ministry of Human Resource Development will  ODB aims at converting a class room into a digital class
conduct the Grand Finale of third edition (Software) of room.
Smart India Hackathon (SIH) - 2019 on 2 and 3 March
‘SWAYATT’ launched on GeM
2019.
 SIH is an initiative to identify new and disruptive digital  Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation,
technology innovations for solving the challenges faced by Suresh Prabhu launched 'SWAYATT' on 19 February 2019.
our country.  SWAYATT is an initiative to promote Start-ups, Women
 It is the largest ever Hackathon in the world and the only and Youth Advantage through e-Transactions on
one to be held at the national level. Government e Marketplace (GeM).
 This will bring together the key stakeholders within the
Scheme for adolescent girls launched in UP
Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem to Government e-
 UP CM, Yogi Adityanath launched a scheme for adolescent
girls on 21 February 2019.
 It will focus on girls aged between 11 to 14 years who have
left studies and will take steps for proper nutrition and
special care for them.
 The state will also observe Adolescent girls day on 8th of
every month at Anganwadi centers across the state.
Grid Connected Solar Programme-II approved

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February 2019

Marketplace.  The scheme would comprise of 3 components A, B, and C,

which when combined aims to add a solar capacity of
25,750 MW by 2022.
 The total central financial support provided under the
scheme would be Rs. 34,422 crore.
Government launched NRETP project
 The Union Cabinet approved the Implementation of
National Rural Economic Transformation Project (NRETP).
 It is under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National
Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) through loan
assistance (IBRD Credit) from World Bank.
 DAY-NRLM lays special emphasis on targeting the poorest
of the poor and the most vulnerable communities and
their financial inclusion.
Government increased MSP of Sugar by 2 Rs/Kg
 The government of India increased the Minimum Selling
Price (MSP) of sugar by two rupees per kilogram to 31
rupees a kilogram.
 This move will help sugar mills, which will enable them to
pay the sugarcane farmers on time.
 MSP is the rate below which the mills cannot sell sugar in
the open market to wholesalers and bulk consumers like
beverage and biscuit makers.
Pension scheme announced by Bihar Government

Nyaya Bandhu mobile app launched  Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar announced a Universal
Old Age Pension scheme, named Mukhya Mantri Vriddha
 Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad launched Nyaya Bandhu mobile Pension Yojana.
application and dashboard.  It is available to all irrespective except for those who are
 It will enable the para legal volunteers (PLV)’s to perform retired from government organisations.
on field pre-registration of cases.  The scheme facilitates the amount of Rs. 400 monthly
 This is a pro bono app. pension for all in the state above the age of 60.
 It is integrated with a dashboard to enable online interface  He also launched Bihar Patrakar Samman Yojana for
between beneficiary and the panel lawyer through video journalists.
conferencing and telephone facility.
PMAY(U) Mobile App launched
Kalia scholarship for farmer's children
 Hardeep S Puri, Minister of State for Housing and Urban
 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled a Affairs launched the PMAY (U) Mobile App on 14 Feb 2019.
scholarship programme for the children of the  The app will allow beneficiaries to capture and upload
beneficiaries of the Kalia scheme on 19 February 2019. high-resolution photographs of completed houses along
 Kalia scholarship or 'Kalia Chhatra Brutti' will ensure that with their families.
not a single eligible child of Kalia beneficiaries be deprived  The PMAY (U) mission was launched on 25th June 2015
of his/her dream. with an aim to provide houses to every eligible urban
 The state government will bear all expenditure including household in India by the year 2022.
course fees, hostel fees, and mess fees.
PM-SYM scheme implemented
KUSUM approved for launch
 Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) Scheme
 The Cabinet approved the launch of Kisan Urja Suraksha was implemented by the Ministry of Labour and
evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM). Employment on 15 Feb 2019.
 Its objective is to provide financial and water security to  The features of the scheme are family pension and
farmers. minimum assured pension.

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February 2019

 The unorganised workers whose monthly income is Rs stretch between Burari Chowk and Bhalswa chowk in
15,000/per month or less and belong to the entry age Delhi.
group of 18-40 years are eligible for the scheme.  The initiative will be run in partnership with SaveLIFE
Foundation, a leading road safety NGO.
Cabinet approved the continuation of CLCS-TUS
 The stretch of road selected for the project is three
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the kilometers long and is considered one of the most
Credit Linked Capital Subsidy and Technology Up-gradation dangerous areas.
Scheme (CLCS-TUS).
PMAY (U) awards instituted for Implementation
 It will facilitate technology up-gradation to MSMEs.
 The scheme through 'Zero Defect & Zero Effect' will  Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has instituted the
promote the reduction in emission level of greenhouse ‘PMAY (U) awards for Implementation and Innovation’.
gases.  The Awards will identify and reward the 'Top Performers'
in different categories and will encourage others to
e-AUSHADHI portal launched
compete and attain the goal of ‘Housing for All’.
 Minister of State for AYUSH, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik  A few Special Category awards to give special recognition
launched the e-AUSHADHI portal, on 13 Feb 2019 at New to States / UTs have also been instituted.
Delhi.
Asiatic Lion Conservation Project launched
 It is launched for online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha,
Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and related matters.  A dedicated 'Asiatic Lion Conservation Project' was
 AUSHADHI is an acronym for Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and launched on 8 February 2019.
Homeopathy Automated Drug Help Initiative.  The Asiatic Lion, endemic to Gir landscape of Gujarat, is
one of the 21 critically endangered species identified by
'Sarthi Sandesh Vahini' vehicles flagged off
the Environment Ministry.
 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off  Asiatic Lion, being listed in Schedule-I of Wildlife
33 'Sarthi Sandesh Vahini' vehicles in Gorakhpur. (Protection) Act, 1972, has been accorded the highest
 It is a mission started by the State's Family Welfare degree of protection.
department with an aim to spread awareness regarding
PM-KISAN scheme speedy implementation
family planning in urban and rural areas.
 The campaign will have 3 phases, the 1st till 28 Feb, the  Union Minister of Agriculture, Radha Mohan Singh asked
2nd from 15 May-15June 2019, and the 3rd from 1-30 June all states to support the PM-KISAN scheme.
2019.  Under the scheme, all Small and Marginal farmers (SMF)
families having cultivable land up to 2 hectares will be
Suresh Prabhu launches 2 schemes in Mumbai
provided income support of Rs.6000 per year.
 Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhu  The amount will be provided in three equal instalments of
launched two schemes on 9 Feb 2019 in Mumbai. Rs 2000 to farmers.
 Under the Hirkani Maharashtrachi, 10 groups will be
Ujjwala Utsav observed by Oil industry
selected from each taluka and Rs. 50,000 will be given to
each to implement their idea.  Ujjwala Utsav was observed by the Oil industry in New
 Under the District Business Plan Competition, 5 ideas will Delhi on 7th Feb 2019.
be selected from different categories and Rs. 5 lakh will be  It was observed to celebrate the stellar role played by all
given to them. stakeholders in making PMUY scheme a success.
 PMUY anthem - 'Ujjwala Bharat Ujjwala' composed by
Assam government announces 'Arundhati' scheme
Kailash Kher was also launched on the occasion.
 Assam government has announced a scheme named  The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana aims to provide free
'Arundhati' scheme on 6 February 2019. cooking gas connections to 80 million families by 2020.
 Under the scheme, one 'tola' of gold will be presented to
Cabinet approved scheme for Prasar Bharti
brides from communities where it is customary to provide
gold at the time of the wedding.  The Cabinet gave its approval to the proposal to launch
 The scheme will benefit poor families of the state who Prasar Bharati's 'Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network
cannot afford to gift gold ornaments to their daughters at Development' scheme.
their wedding.  It will cost Rs 1,054.52 crore for 3 years from 2017-18 to
2019-20.
Delhi govt launched 'Zero Fatality Corridor'
 It will help in strengthening broadcast infrastructure and
 Delhi government launched the 'Zero Fatality Corridor' to network development.
examine the cause for accidents and crashes on the

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 The Cabinet also approved the launch of DD ArunPrabha  The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP)
Channel from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. was renamed as the Department for Promotion of Industry
and Internal Trade.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana app launched
 It will look into matters related to promotion of internal
 Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) App is trade, the welfare of traders and their employees,
launched on Google play store. facilitating ease of doing business and start-ups.
 Ayushman Bharat Yojana or PM-JAY is a centrally  The matters related to internal trade were earlier under
sponsored scheme launched in 2018. the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
 It was launched under the Ayushman Bharat Mission of
'Jiban Sampark' project launched in Odisha
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
 This scheme aims to provide health care facilities at  Odisha's Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the
primary, secondary and tertiary levels to address 'Jiban Sampark' project in partnership with UNICEF India
healthcare holistically. on 27 January 2019.
 The aim of the project is to generate awareness about the
Mobile app launched by NTA
development and welfare initiatives of state government
 The National Testing Agency has launched a mobile app among the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of the
with the help of which students can take or practice mock state.
tests on their smartphones.  The project's focus areas will include skill development
 A network of more than 4000 Test Practice Centres has and empowering communities.
been established to help aspirants, especially from rural
Interim Budget 2019-20: Allocation
areas, with computer-based tests.
 The students can register themselves online through the  The Railways has been allocated Rs.64,587 Cr in the
NTA website or app. Interim Budget 2019-20.
 Infrastructure allocation for north eastern areas was
New pharma policy approved by Haryana
increased by 21% to Rs. 58,166 Cr in 2019-20.
 Haryana government approved the Haryana  Rs 1330 Cr was provided for the Mission for Protection and
Pharmaceutical Policy 2019. Empowerment for Women for 2019-20.
 It envisages to establish a state-of-the-art pharma park at  Defence budget was hiked to Rs 3,05,296 Cr
Karnal.
Panel for Nomadic Communities
 It aims to develop Haryana into a hub of pharmaceutical
manufacturing.  A Committee under NITI Aayog will be set-up
 Haryana MSME policy 2019 has also been given a nod by to identify De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic
the cabinet with an aim to create globally competitive communities not yet formally classified.
MSMEs in Haryana.  The Govt will set up a Welfare Development Board under
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Programme on Agri Export Policy held in Pune
for implementing welfare programmes for these
 The first state-level awareness programme on agriculture communities.
export policy held in Pune on 2nd February 2019.  Govt also proposed increase in allocation for welfare of
 The Agriculture Export Policy was recently released by the the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
Government of India which aims to reinvigorate the entire
Interim Budget 2019-20: Initiatives
value chain.
 It is framed with a focus on export promotion and  Govt announced to set up the ‘Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog’
agriculture export-oriented production. for production and productivity of cows on Feb 1, 2019.
 Rs 750 crore was allocated for Rashtriya Gokul Mission in
Development projects unveiled by PM in J&K
the current year.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a series of  It also announced setting up a ‘Department of Fisheries’ to
development projects in Jammu and Kashmir in order to boost the fisheries sector.
give a boost to the infrastructure in the state.  The interim budget proposed to provide 2% interest
 He also laid the foundation stone of AIIMS at Vijaypur in subvention for farmers pursuing animal husbandry and
Samba and announced that 500 seats in the state medical fisheries.
colleges will be added soon.
Interim Budget 2019-20:Rural development
 Apart from these, he also laid the foundation stone for
construction of 2 hydroelectric projects.  Government has allocated Rs 60000 crore for the
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
DIPP renamed by Government of India
Act (MGNREGA).

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 Rs 19000 crore has been allocated for Gram Sadak Yojana  The app is available both in Hindi and English and can be
for construction of more rural roads. used in the offline mode.
 Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and 2.5
crore rural households were electrified.
No Income Tax for incomes up to ₹5 lakh
 Govt. announced that individual taxpayers with annual
income up to ₹5 lakh will not have to pay any Income Tax.
 Those with gross income of up to ₹6.5 lakh also won't have
to pay any tax if they make investments in prescribed
methods.
 This will give ₹18,500 cr tax benefit to 3 cr middle class
people.
 He also said that Income Tax returns will be processed in
24 hours and refund initiated.
Interim Budget 2019-20: Pension Scheme
 Center has announced its proposal to launch a pension
scheme for workers in the organised and unorganised
sectors who have a monthly income below ₹15,000.
 The scheme called Pradhan Mantri Shramyogi Maandhan
Yojana will assure a monthly pension of ₹3000 on
retirement.
 It is expected to benefit 10 crore workers in
the unorganized sector.
Interim Budget 2019-20: Agriculture
 Union Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal presented
the Interim Budget 2019-20 on Feb 1, 2019.
 Govt. has introduced the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman India's 1st indigenous chip unveiled
Nidhi (KISAN) scheme to provide assured income to small  India’s 1st Indigenous Semiconductor Chip was unveiled by
and marginal farmers. semiconductor company, “SIGNALCHIP” for 4G/LTE and 5G
 Under the scheme, vulnerable farmers with 2 hectares of NR MODEMs in New Delhi.
land will get direct income support of ₹6000 per year.  4 chips were unveiled at the event, which are- SCBM3412,
 It is expected to benefit 12 crore farmer families. SCBM3404, SCRF3402, and SCRF4502.
Science & Technology  The RF sections cover all LTE/5G-NR bands up to 6GHz and
these chips also support positioning using India’s own
New NASA mission selected satellite navigation system, NAVIC.
 NASA has selected a $42 million mission, Atmospheric Andhra coast: New energy source discovered
Waves Experiment, that will help scientists understand
and, ultimately, forecast the vast space weather system  Methane hydrate, a potential fuel of the future was
around our planet. discovered in the Krishna-Godavari basin off the coast of
 It will be launched in August 2022, attached to the exterior Andhra Pradesh in Bay of Bengal.
of the Earth-orbiting International Space Station (ISS).  The discovery was reported by scientists from the National
 AWE will focus on colourful bands of light in Earth's Institute of Oceanography in Goa and the National
atmosphere, called airglow. Geophysical Research Institute in Hyderabad.
 Methane hydrate is a solid crystal structure of water which
Khelo India app launched by PM traps a large amount of methane gas.
 PM Narendra Modi launched Sports Authority of India's China unveiled first female AI news anchor
(SAI) first-of-its-kind mobile application, 'Khelo India App'
on February 27, 2019.  China's state-run news agency, Xinhua, unveiled the
 The app will create awareness about sports and fitness in world's first female AI news anchor to read alongside its
the country. male AI news presenters on Feb 21, 2019.
 The app has 3 unique features that will make it convenient
for youngsters to take up a sport.
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 It was developed jointly by Xinhua and search engine  Infosys announced the launch of a digital platform, InfyTQ,
company Sogou and was shown off in a video on social offering learning and engagement experiences for
media. engineering students.
 It is remarkably lifelike, complete with hand adjustments  It is a free platform open to all engineering students in
while on camera, and just enough on-cue blinking. their third and fourth year and encourages holistic
development.
ATL Drone Module released
 It will be available on both mobile and desktop and is
 The ‘ATL Drone module: Get, Set, Go’ for Atal Tinkering equipped with a plethora of content, courses, and news.
Labs was launched at the ongoing Aero India 2019 in
NASA telescope to explore origins of universe
Bengaluru.
 It was launched by NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission  NASA will launch a new space telescope in 2023 that could
(AIM) and Drona Aviation, an IIT Bombay start-up. provide a glimpse of the first moments in the history of the
 With the ATL Drone Module, young students of India will universe.
learn how to create their own drones and use them for  'The Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe,
solving community problems in India. Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx)' mission
is a planned two-year mission.
1st fulldome 3D digital theatre inaugurated
 Astronomers will use the mission to gather data on more
 India's first fulldome 3D Digital Theatre was inaugurated at than 300 million galaxies.
the Science City on 18 Feb 2019 in Kolkata.
'Crying' snake discovered by zoologist
 It has a 23 meter titled dome to offer a fully immersive
experience to the visitors.  A new species of ‘crying’ snake was discovered in Lepa-
 It is capable of screening high resolution, full dome, and Rada district of Arunachal Pradesh.
digital 2D/3D content by utilising 6, high-end projectors.  The discovery of the non-venomous crying keelback with
zoological name Hebius lacrima, has been published in
Anupama: Astronomical Society President
Zootaxa, a New Zealand-based mega-journal for animal
 Dr.G C Anupama became the first woman of the country to taxonomy.
be elected President of the Astronomical Society of India  Globally there are 3,709 species of snakes.
(ASI).  The northeast is home to some 110 species, with
 She is presently the Dean and Senior Professor at the Arunachal Pradesh having 55.
Bengaluru based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).
New observatory in Tehri
 She is also a recipient of the Sir C V Raman award for
young scientists in 2000.  A Himalayan Cloud Observatory was set up in Tehri district
of Uttarakhand on 8th Feb 2019.
AntBot: The First Walking Robot
 It is set up to receive forecast and monitor cloud burst
 AntBot is the first walking robot to have navigational incidents in the Himalayan region.
capabilities without GPS or mapping.  It is established in the SRT campus Badshahithaul and is
 It has been designed by Centre for Scientific Research currently in the testing period.
(CNRS) and Aix-Marseille University researchers at ISM.  This is the 2nd observatory in the country to monitor cloud
 It is designed on lines similar to desert ants who use activities.
polarised lights and UV radiation to navigate.
NASA's first mini-spacecraft goes silent
 It consists of an optical compass which determines its
movements.  NASA has lost touch with the first mini-spacecraft named
MarCO CubeSats that ventured into deep space.
Nitin Gadkari launched a portal
 The MarCO CubeSats, nicknamed EVE and WALL-E, were
 Shri Nitin Gadkari launched PCS1x at the Regional launched in 2018 to test if such low-cost technology can
Maritime Safety Conference in Mumbai on 19 Feb 2019. operate in deep space.
 PCS1x is an upgraded version of the e-commerce portal  They served as communications relays during the InSight’s
Port Community System. Mars landing and have travelled well past Mars.
 It has been developed in record time by the Indian Ports
NASA: 2018 4th warmest year on record
Association.
 The platform allows improvement in payment cycle,  The global surface temperatures on the Earth in 2018 were
transparency of transaction cycles, detailed tracking of the 4th warmest since 1880.
vessels and berthing schedules.  This was found in an independent analysis by NASA and
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Infosys launches app for engineering students
(NOAA).

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February 2019

 The global temperatures in 2018 were 0.83 degree Celsius  The 'enemy property' refers to any property belonging to,
warmer than the 1951 to 1980 mean. held or managed on behalf of an enemy, an enemy subject
 2018’s temperatures rank behind those of 2016, 2017 and or an enemy firm.
2015.
Rajasthan forms committees to review textbooks
India successfully launched GSAT-31
 The Rajasthan government has set up two committees of
 India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-31 was experts and educationists to review the syllabus of school
successfully launched. textbooks from class 1 to 8 and from class 9 to 12.
 It was launched by European launch services provider -  The committee to review the syllabus of class 1 to 8 will be
Arianespace’s rocket from French Guiana. coordinated by I V Trivedi.
 The Ariane-5 vehicle injected GSAT-31 into the orbit.  The coordinator for the four-member committee for class
 It is a “high power” communication satellite with Ku-band. 9-12 is the former Chairman of Rajasthan State Public
 Its weight is about 2,536 kg. Service Commission BM Sharma.
NGT panel: AI and drones to monitor pollution Punjab govt sets committee to boost dairy

 A committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal  The Punjab government announced setting up a high-
has said that satellite imagery, AI, & drones can be used to powered committee to boost the dairy sector to
monitor pollution level of Yamuna caused because of supplement farmer's income in a result-oriented manner.
dumping debris.  The committee will consist of the Directors of Animal
 These can also keep a track of location and quantum of Husbandry and Dairy Development and Chairman of State
debris being dumped, as said by the committee. Farmers Commission.
 The committee was set up in July 2018 by NGT  It will suggest measures to promote diversification of
Chairperson Justice A.K. Goel to monitor the cleaning of agriculture.
river. Panel to explore prepaid payments by discoms
Arianespace to launch GSAT-31 on February 6
 The government of India has constituted a panel under the
 India will launch its communication satellite, GSAT-31, on 6 Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on 1 February 2019.
February 2019 from French Guiana.  The panel will look into problems of delayed payments
 The satellite will be launched by European launch services from distribution companies to power generators.
provider Arianespace's launch vehicle named Ariane-5.  The committee constitutes Chairmen of distribution
 GSAT-31 will be used for supporting VSAT networks, companies of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra,
Television uplinks, Digital Satellite News Gathering, DTH- representatives from Union Power Ministry and power
television services. associations.
 GSAT-31 is India’s 40th communication satellite.
Business & Economy
3 banks out of RBIs weak-bank watch
Committees & Recommendations
 The RBI lifted lending curbs from Allahabad Bank and
Committee to help bring down tax litigation Corporation Bank and removed them from its weak-bank
 The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has formed a watch list after the government infused capital in them.
four-member committee to address taxation-related pain  Private sector Dhanlaxmi Bank too has been taken out of
points and cut down the number of tax litigations. the Prompt Corrective Action Framework.
 It will be headed by Income Tax Commissioner Sanjeev  Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra and Oriental Bank of
Sharma. Commerce were also taken out of the PCA Framework,
 It will also focus on some of the major issues that may lead earlier on 31 January 2019.
to revenue generation. Zimbabwe started trading new currency
 It will submit its final report and recommendations by mid-
March 2019.  Zimbabwe began formal trading of a new currency as it
tries to ease a shortage of dollars that’s crushed the
Govt forms committee for sale of enemy shares economy.
 The government formed a committee for sale of 'enemy  The initial rate for the southern African nation’s currency,
shares' worth Rs 3,000 crore. known as RTGS dollars, will be 2.5 per US dollar.
 The move came two years after Parliament amended the  The official inflation rate has soared to 57% from less than
Enemy Property Act. 4% a year ago.
ICICI Lombard ties up with AnyTimeLoan.in

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February 2019

 ICICI Lombard entered into a strategic tie-up with  Corporation Bank will get the highest infusion of Rs 9,086
AnyTimeLoan.in (ATL), a peer-to-peer lending platform on crore while Bank of Maharashtra gets the lowest at Rs 205
25 February 2019. crore.
 The partnership aims to de-risk exposure of its lenders and
FDI during Apr-Dec 2018-19 falls 7%
borrowers arising from uncertainties such as accidents,
critical illness, death, disability, etc.  According to Ministry of Commerce and Industry's data,
 ATL facilitates loans as small as ₹ 1000 to ₹10 lakh for a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India contracted by
minimum period of 1 day to a maximum of 3 years. 7% to US$ 33.49 billion during April-December in the
current fiscal.
GST on under-construction homes slashed to 5%
 The key sectors that received the maximum foreign
 On 24 February 2019, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) investment were services, computer software and
Council slashed tax rates on under-construction housing hardware, and telecommunications.
properties to 5% from the existing 12%.  Singapore was the largest source of FDI during April-
 It also cut GST rates on affordable housing to 1% from 8%. December 2018-19.
 The new tax rates will come into effect from 1 April 2019.
 GST is not levied on real estate properties for which
completion certificate has been issued at the time of sale.
Merger with BoB to be effective from April 1
 Bank of Baroda's proposed merger with Dena and Vijaya
Bank will be affected from 1 April 2019.
 The scheme has been named as 'Amalgamation of Vijaya
Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda'.
 As per the Scheme, shareholders of Vijaya Bank will get
402 equity shares of BoB for every 1,000 shares held.
 Dena Bank will receive 110 equity shares of BoB for every 3% hike in DA approved
1,000 equity shares held.
 The Union Cabinet approved 3% hike in Dearness
RBI merges NBFCs into one category Allowance to central government employees and Dearness
 On 22 February 2019, the Reserve Bank of India created a Relief to pensioners with effect from January 1, 2019.
single category of Non Banking Financial Company (NBFC)  The combined impact of the hike in dearness allowance
by merging their present three-tier structure. and dearness relief will amount to Rs 9,168.12 crore per
 Asset finance, loan, and investment companies have been annum.
merged into a new category called NBFC- Investment and  Dearness allowance is provided as an adjustment to
Credit Companies. compensate for the increase in the cost of living due to
 This will provide greater operational flexibility to NBFCs. inflation.

EPFO hiked interest rate RBI to pay Rs 28,000 cr as interim dividend

 Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, EPFO decided to  The Reserve Bank will pay an interim dividend of Rs 28,000
provide 8.65% interest on Provident Fund deposits for crore to the government.
2018-19 against 8.55% in the last year.  This is the second successive year when the RBI will be
 Members of the Central Board of Trustees of EPFO agreed transferring an interim surplus.
to give a higher interest for subscribers for the current  RBI had given Rs 30,663 crore as dividend to the
fiscal. government in 2017-18.
 The proposal will now go to the Finance Ministry for  The central bank transfers its surplus amount to the
approval. government, under Section 47 of the RBI Act, 1934.

Govt to infuse Rs 48,239 crore in 12 PSU banks RBI to inject Rs 12,500 crores

 On 20 February 2019, the Ministry of Finance announced  The RBI would inject Rs 12,500 crore into the system
the final recapitalisation tranche amount of Rs 48,239 through purchase of government securities on Feb 21,
crore for 12 public sector banks. 2019, to increase liquidity.
 This will take the banks tout of Reserve Bank of India’s  The purchase will be made through open market
(RBI) prompt corrective action framework. operations (OMOs).

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February 2019

 The eligible participants should submit their offers in  A penalty of Rs 1.5 crore was imposed on Oriental Bank of
electronic format on the RBI core banking solution (E- Commerce (OBC) and Rs 1 crore each on Punjab National
Kuber) system on February 21. Bank (PNB) and Bank of India.
 The monetary penalty was imposed for non-compliance on
RBI released a warning
monitoring of end-use of funds and on the restructuring of
 RBI has released a warning regarding an app called accounts.
AnyDesk.
Retail inflation declined to 2.05% in January
 You should not download this app through social media or
any other channel, doing so might empty your bank  Retail inflation declined marginally to 2.05% in January
account within minutes. 2019 over the previous month on the continued decline in
 RBI alerted banks about potential fraudulent transactions food prices, including vegetables and eggs.
on the unified payments interface (UPI) platform.  The inflation was 5.07% in January 2018.
 The inflation in the 'fuel and light' category also fell to
JP Morgan: first to create cryptocurrency
2.2% in January 2019 from 4.54% in December 2018.
 US investment bank, JP Morgan Chase became the first US
Industrial growth remained subdued at 2.4%
bank to offer its own cryptocurrency.
 The cryptocurrency, called 'JPM Coin' will always have a  Industrial output growth remained subdued at 2.4% in
value equivalent to one US dollar. December 2018 on account of contraction in the mining
 It will be initially used internally between JPMorgan segment and poor show by the manufacturing sector.
Chase's wholesale business clients.  13 out of 23 industry groups in the manufacturing sector
 The bank had also built an Ethereum-based blockchain showed positive growth during December 2018.
platform for business customers in 2018.  The manufacturing sector constituting 77.63 % of the
index, recorded a low growth of 2.7 % in December 2018.
BI lifts cap on FPI investments
RBI changes threshold for bulk deposit
 The Reserve Bank of India withdrew the 20% limit on
investments by FPIs in corporate bonds of an entity.  RBI has decided to alter the definition of bulk deposits in
 It was stipulated in April 2018 that no FPI should have an the recent monetary policy review.
exposure of more than 20% of its corporate bond portfolio  It has been revised as single deposits of Rs 2 crore and
to a single corporate. above.
 This has been done with a view to encourage more foreign  Final guidelines regarding this will be issued by the end of
investments. Feb 2019. Banks have also been asked to maintain their
bulk deposit card rates.
Merchandise trade deficit widens
 This indicates that the interest rates are expected to go
 India’s merchandise trade deficit widened to $14.73 billion down.
in January 2019.
Mukesh Ambani tops Hurun India list
 The major commodity groups exhibiting growth in exports
were engineering goods, gems and jewellry, organic and  Mukesh Ambani topped the Hurun India Philanthropy List
inorganic chemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, and 2018 on Feb 9, 2019, with the highest contribution of Rs
ready-made garments of all textiles. 437 crore between October 2017 and September 2018.
 Silver imports grew by 104% in January 2019.  He was followed by Piramal Group Chairman Ajay Piramal
who made Rs 200 crore donations.
WPI inflation hits 10-month low
 The list ranked individuals from India who donated Rs 10
 Inflation based on wholesale prices fell to a 10-month low crore and above between October 1, 2017, and September
of 2.76 percent in January 2019. 30, 2018.
 The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation stood at
RBI raises collateral-free farm loan limit
3.8 percent in December 2018.
 Inflation in kitchen essentials like potato, onion, fruits, and  The Reserve Bank of India raised the limit for collateral-
milk softened in January over the previous month. free agriculture loans to ₹1.6 lakh from ₹1 lakh.
 The retail inflation released earlier this week too declined  The increased limit will enhance coverage of small and
marginally to 2.05 percent in January. marginal farmers in the formal credit system.
 Presently, the banks are mandated to extend collateral-
RBI imposed penalty on 3 PSU banks
free agriculture loans up to ₹1 lakh.
 The RBI imposed Rs 3.5 crore penalties on 3 public sector  This limit of ₹1 lakh was fixed in 2010.
banks, for violation of various banking norms.
IRDAI imposes fine on United India Insurance

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February 2019

 Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) Swiggy acquihires Kint

imposed a fine of Rs 9 lakh on state-owned United India
 Swiggy has acquihired a Bangalore-based AI startup Kint.io
Insurance Co (UIIC) Ltd for violating certain procedures.
for an undisclosed amount.
 3 violations were found during the inspection, of which 2
 The founding members of Kint.io Jagannathan and
attracted the fine.
Pavithra will join the Swiggy team as per the deal.
 UIIC is headquartered in Chennai, while IRDAI is in
 Kint.io was founded in 2014 and specializes in applying
Hyderabad.
deep learning and computer vision for object recognition
SBI fined by RBI in videos.
 RBI slapped Rs 1 crore penalty on SBI, country's largest Fitch Group projects fiscal deficit to slip
lender on 7th Feb 2019 for violating norms.
 Fitch Solutions, an arm of the Fitch group has projected
 RBI levied the penalty in the exercise of powers conferred
the government's fiscal deficit to slip to 3.6% of GDP in
under Section 47 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
2019-2020 fiscal.
 SBI was charged for not monitoring the end use of funds in
 It said that 2019-20 Budget will show a strong populist
respect of one of its borrowers.
bent in the run-up to the General election due by May
Indirect Tax Ombudsman abolished 2019.
 The central government is planning to spend a total of Rs
 The Union Cabinet approved the proposal for Abolition of
27.8 lakh crore in fiscal 2019-20.
Institution of Income-Tax Ombudsman and Indirect Tax
Ombudsman on 6 Feb 2019. Fino Bank partners with Suryoday Bank
 The Cabinet was chaired by PM Narendra Modi.
 Fino Payments Bank partnered with Suryoday Small
 The Institution of Income-Tax Ombudsman was created in Finance Bank on 4th February to launch a sweep account
the year 2003 in order to deal with the grievances of
facility.
public related to the settlement of complaints relating to
 The partnership will help FPB address the issue of deposit
Income Tax.
limit that the payment banks are facing at the moment.
RBI lowered repo rate to 6.25%  This would also allow customers to seamlessly transfer
excess amount from their account in FPB to SSFB.
 The Reserve Bank of India lowered the repo rate by 25
basis points to 6.25% on 7th February 2019. Increase in steel export by 16.7% in 2017-18
 This is the first time in 17 months that the central bank has
 The total steel export has seen an increase by 16.7% in
cut the rate.
2017-18.
 The reverse repo rate, too, was lowered to 6%, and the
 The export of the finished steel was 8.245 MT in 2016-17
bank rate to 6.25%.
and 9.620 MT in 2017-18.
 The repo rate is the interest rate at which RBI lends to
 The contribution of non-alloy steel segment was 8.727 MT.
commercial banks.
19% growth in India's tourism sector
CCEA approves creation of Agri-Market Fund
 India's tourism sector has registered growth over 19% in
 The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs chaired by PM
2018, as told by the Union Minister KJ Alphons.
Narendra Modi approved the creation of Agri-Market
 India has been ranked third in the tourism sector as per
Infrastructure Fund (AMIF) on 6th Feb 2019.
the World Travel and Tourism Council report 2018.
 It is being created for the up-gradation and development
 The tourism sector fetched 234 billion US $ from both
of agricultural marketing infrastructure in Regulated
domestic and foreign tourists.
Wholesale Markets and Gramin Agricultural Markets.
 A corpus of Rs. 2000 crore has been approved for the New FDI norms for E-commerce policy
creation of the fund.
 India’s new e-commerce policy came into effect From
Axis, Syndicate, UCO Banks penalised by RBI February 1, 2019.
 A new set of policy rules had been formed for the e-
 The RBI imposed monetary penalties on UCO, Axis, and
commerce companies.
Syndicate Banks over deficiencies in complying with
 It bars online retailers from selling products through
different regulatory norms.
vendors in which they have an equity interest.
 A penalty of Rs 2 crore each was imposed on Axis and UCO
 It also bars them from entering into exclusive deals with
bank and an additional penalty of Rs 20 lakh was imposed
brands for selling products only on their platforms.
on Axis Bank.
 A penalty of Rs 1 crore was imposed on the Syndicate Government revises FY18 GDP growth rate
Bank.

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February 2019

 According to the first revised estimates of GDP, the Indian  The top sources of FDI included Mauritius, Singapore,
economy grew at 7.2% in 2017-18, as compared to earlier Netherlands, the US and Japan.
estimates of 6.7%.
GST collections in Jan over ₹1 lakh cr
 The Nominal GDP or GDP at current prices for 2017-18 has
been revised to 11.3% from 10.0%.  The GST collections in January 2019 have crossed one lakh
 The real GDP growth rate has been revised to 8.2% from crore rupees mark.
7.1% for 2016-17।  In January 2018, the GST collection was 89 thousand crore
rupees.
BoM, BoI and OBC removed from PCA framework
 Finance Ministry said that this is a significant improvement
 The RBI removed Bank of India (BoI), Bank of Maharashtra in comparison to GST collection over 94 thousand crore
(BoM) and Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) from Prompt rupees during December 2018.
Corrective Action (PCA) Framework.
Sports
 BoI and BoM have met the regulatory norms including
Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB) and have Net NPAs Khelo India app launched by PM
(non-performing assets) of less than 6%.
 PM Narendra Modi launched Sports Authority of India's
 In case of OBC, the net NPA has come down to less than
(SAI) first-of-its-kind mobile application, 'Khelo India App'
6% after the government's capital infusion.
on February 27, 2019.
Manufacturing PMI rises to 53.9 in January  The app will create awareness about sports and fitness in
the country.
 The Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’
 The app has 3 unique features that will make it convenient
Index (PMI) increased from 53.2 in December 2018 to 53.9
for youngsters to take up a sport.
in January 2019.
 The app is available both in Hindi and English and can be
 This is the 18th consecutive month that the manufacturing
used in the offline mode.
PMI remained above the 50-point mark.
 A mark above 50 means expansion, while a mark below 50 Saurabh and Manu clinched Gold
denotes contraction.
 Saurabh Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker won the gold medal
No Income Tax for incomes up to ₹5 lakh in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team event of the ISSF
World Cup 2019.
 Govt. announced that individual taxpayers with annual
 The Chinese duo of Ranxin Jiang and Bowen Zhang won
income up to ₹5 lakh will not have to pay any Income Tax.
silver with, while the bronze went to the Korean pair of
 Those with gross income of up to ₹6.5 lakh also won't have
Minjung Kim and Daehun Park.
to pay any tax if they make investments in prescribed
methods.  Earlier, Saurabh Chaudhary won the gold medal in his first
senior World Cup in the same event.
 This will give ₹18,500 cr tax benefit to 3 cr middle class
people. First Indian player to score 8000 runs - Raina
 He also said that Income Tax returns will be processed in
 Suresh Raina became the first Indian player to score 8000
24 hours and refund initiated.
runs in T20.
Fiscal Deficit will be 3.4% of GDP in 2019  He achieved this feat when he scored 12 runs for UP
against Puducherry in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match
 Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said the fiscal deficit will be
in Delhi.
at 3.4 per cent of GDP in 2019 while presenting the interim
 He also became the 2nd Indian player to have played 300
budget on Feb 1, 2019.
T20s after MS Dhoni.
 He also said that current account deficit is likely to be 2.5
per cent of GDP this year.  Rohit Sharma is 3rd in the list with 299 matches.
 He added that capital expenditure is pegged at 3.36,292 Abhijeet Gupta won Cannes Trophy
lakh crore.
 Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta lifted the Cannes
FDI worth $ 239 bn in last 5 years International Open trophy on 25 February 2019 for chess.
 He won the tournament with 7.5 points over nearest rivals
 India has received foreign direct investment (FDI) worth $
Nikita Maiorov of Belarus, Nasuta Grzegorz of Poland and
239 billion in the last five years.
Yuri Solodovnichecko of Ukraine.
 The main sectors that received the maximum foreign
inflows were services, computer software and hardware,
telecommunications, trading, automobile, construction,
and power.

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February 2019

 He took an easy draw with Pier Luigi Basso of Italy in the  She set a new world record by registering a score of 252.9
ninth and final round. points in the final match.
 Zhao Ruozhu and Xu Hong of China won the silver and
bronze medal respectively.
Manpreet Singh: Player of the Year
 The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has honoured Indian
men's hockey team captain, Manpreet Singh with the
'2018 Player of the Year Award'.
 Women hockey team's striker, Lalremsiami bagged the
'2018 Rising Player of The Year' award.
 Manpreet led the Indian hockey team at the Asian
Champions Trophy in Muscat where the team was
declared joint winners with Pakistan.
Nikhat and Meena won gold medals
 Nikhat Zareen and Meena Kumari Devi became the first
Indian women boxers to win gold medals at the Strandja
Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.
 Zareen claimed a 5-0 win in the 51kg category finals
against Filipino Irish Magno.
 Meena defeated Filipino Aira Villegas 3-2, in the
bantamweight (54kg) summit clash.
 India won 11 medals including two gold at the 2018
edition.
ISSF Shooting World Cup held
 The ISSF (International Shooting Sports Federation) World
Karthikeyan received Lifetime Achievement Cup 2019 began in New Delhi on February 21, 2019.
 Various events in the World cup will start from February
 G.R. Karthikeyan was honoured with the Lifetime 23rd and end on 27th at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting
Achievement award at the FMSCI annual awards function Range.
on 25 February 2019.  Around 503 shooters from 58 countries will be competing
 He is the father of India’s first Formula One driver Narain for top honours with 8 of the 10 events offering Olympic
Karthikeyan. quota places.
 Raghul Rangasamy received the Upcoming Motorsport
Person of the Year award for the Raymond Gautam Mary Kom became women's training ambassador
Singhania Trophy.  World amateur boxing champion M.C. Mary Kom signed a
Prajnesh Gunneswaran: 94th in Tennis 2-year deal with Puma to be their ambassador for
women’s training in India.
 India's Prajnesh Gunneswaran achieved his career-best  She is a bronze medallist at the 2012 Olympics and won
ranking, rising three places to 94th in the latest list on 25 her record 6th gold medal at the World Amateur Boxing
February 2019. Championships in November 2018.
 Ramkumar Ramanathan dropped 9 spots to 137, while  Puma India’s managing director is Abhishek Ganguly.
Yuki Bhambri further slipped to 171.
 Ankita Raina continued to be the top-placed Indian at 164 Jitendra Singh won 50km event
in women's ranking, followed by Karman Thandi at 207  Jitendra Singh Rathore of Rajasthan won the 50 km event
and Pranjala Yadlapalli at 293. in the 6th Open National Race Walking Championship in
Apurvi Chandela won gold in 10m rifle Chennai on 17 Feb 2019.
 He completed the race in a time of 4:23:23.00, pushing
 Apurvi Chandela has won the gold medal in the women's Joshi Sagar of Gujarat (4:24:21.00) to second place.
10-meter air rifle event at the ISSF World Cup 2019 in New  Boys 10 km was won by Suraj Panwar, while Rogi Patel
Delhi. won the Girls 10 km.
 This is India's first medal of the ISSF World Cup 2019.
Sunil Chhetri got Football Ratna

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February 2019

 Sunil Chhetri was conferred the first ever Football Ratna  Glenn Maxwell took the T20I award and Matthew Wade
honour by Football Delhi. bagged the Domestic Player of the Year award.
 The award was presented by Football Delhi President Shaji
Jamie Chadwick: First female to win MRF
Prabhakaran, a former player, and administrator at the All
India Football Federation and FIFA.  Jamie Chadwick became the first female winner of the
 Football Delhi also honoured Shubham Sarangi, youth MRF Challenge Series at the final event of the season.
player from Delhi, currently the player of Delhi Dynamos  She won 3 of the 5 races in Chennai, India, to close an 18-
squad for ISL. point margin on Belgium's Max Defourny and take the
title.
Saina Nehwal beats PV Sindhu
 She became the first woman to win a British F3 race in
 Saina Nehwal beat P V Sindhu to retain her women's August 2018.
singles crown at the 83rd Yonex Sunrise Senior Badminton  The last woman to start Formula 1 Grand Prix was Lella
Nationals on 16 Feb 2019. Lombardi in 1976.
 She registered a 21-18 21-15 against P V Sindhu.
Railways won Senior Men's Hockey Championship
 Saina Nehwal won her fourth Senior Nationals title.
 It was held in Guwahati.  Railway Sports Promotion Board lifted the 9th Senior
National Men's Hockey Championship crown at Gwalior.
Vidarbha won Irani Cup
 They claimed the gold medal by defeating Punjab by 3-2.
 Vidarbha defended its Irani Cup title on 16 Feb 2019 at the  The bronze medal was clinched by Petroleum Sports
Jamtha Stadium in Nagpur. Promotion Board, beating Punjab and Sind Bank, 4-1.
 The Irani Cup tournament was conceived during the 1959-
Shane Warne: Brand ambassador of RR
60 season to mark the completion of 25 years of the Ranji
Trophy championship.  Shane Warne has been named as the brand ambassador of
 It is related to cricket. Rajasthan Royals for the upcoming IPL.
 He captained RR for 4 seasons of IPL till 2011, after which
Elise Mertens won Qatar open
he took retirement from all forms of cricket.
 Belgium's Elise Mertens claimed the Qatar Open by  Rajasthan Royals has also decided to change its jersey
beating top seed Simona Halep by 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, in tennis. color from blue to pink this year.
 This is her first-ever WTA Premier-level crown, and the
Corentin Moutet clinches Chennai Open
fifth title of her career overall.
 Mertens is world number 21.  France’s Corentin Moutet clinched the Chennai Open ATP
Challenger tournament title on 10th Feb 2019.
Prajnesh Gunneswaran: Ranks 97 in ATP
 He beat Andrew Harris of Australia 6-3, 6-3 in the singles
 Prajnesh Gunneswaran broke into men's singles top-100 final.
for the first time in his career.  This is the second Challenger title for Moutet, who
 A jump of six places took him to 97th position. received 80 ATP points, while Andrew got 48 ATP points.
 He is only third Indian player to break into the top-100 Jeremy Lalrinnunga won silver medal
barrier in the past decade after Somdev Devvarman and
Yuki Bhambri.  On 8 February 2019, Jeremy Lalrinnunga won the silver
medal in men's 67- kilogram category at the EGAT's Cup
Clouded Leopard: Mascot of National Games
International Weightlifting Championships in Chiang Mai,
 Clouded Leopard, the state animal of Meghalaya, will be Thailand.
the mascot of the National Games, 2022.  Ruben Katoatau of Kiribati took the bronze with a total lift
 This was finalised in a meeting chaired by Banteidor of 285 kilograms.
Lyndoh, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs on 11 Feb  Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won gold in the women's 48-
2019. kilogram category with a total lift of 192 kilograms.
 The stadium for the event will be constructed on 50 acres Mandhana scored India’s fastest T20I Fifty
of land at a cost of Rs 300 crore in Mawdiangdiang.
 Indian opener Smriti Mandhana made the fastest fifty for
Pat Cummins won Allan Border medal
India in Women’s T20Is.
 Pat Cummins won the coveted Allan Border Medal at the  The left-handed batswoman struck a half-century in just
Australian Cricket Awards on 11 Feb 2019. 24 balls.
 Nathan Lyon became the first specialist finger spinner to  She made the history in the 1st T20I against New Zealand
win the Test Player of the Year award. at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

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February 2019

 New Zealand’s Sophie Devine holds the record of the  Aleksander Khotsianivski of Ukraine put Haryana on the
quickest half-century in women’s T20Is. She set the record road of victory by winning the 125 kg super heavyweight
in 2005 against India in just 18-balls. bout against Korey Jarvis by 3-0.
World No. 1 ODI Batswoman: Smriti Mandhana
 Smriti Mandhana has attained number one ranking in the
ICC ODI batting rankings.
 She is now above the Australians Meg Lanning and Ellyse
Perry after scoring an unbeaten 90 in 3 match series and
her fourth ODI century.
 Among the bowlers, Poonam Yadav and Deepti Sharma
have secured 8th and 9th rankings respectively.
INS Dronacharya won the Regatta trophy
 The INS Dronacharya team won the Regatta trophy in the
'Kochi Area Pulling Regatta 2019' of the Southern Naval
Command (SNC) on 31 January 2019.
 The Boat Pulling Regatta is one of the most prestigious and
traditional naval sporting activities conducted by the Navy.
 Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) School got second position
& Diving School secured the third position.
Mithali is first woman to play 200 ODIs
 Indian captain Mithali Raj has become the first female
cricketer to play 200 ODIs on February 1, 2019.
 The 36-year-old achieved this feat against New Zealand at
Hamilton.
 Mithali made her ODI debut in 1999 and has also played
10 Tests and 85 T20s.

Ramit Tandon wins Seattle Open

Defence
 Ramit Tandon won the final of the Seattle Open, a Squash
event by defeating Egyptian Mohamed Al Sherbini on 2nd DAC approved aquisition of defence equipment
February, 2019.  The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) gave approval for
 This is his fourth overall title in his career and first PSA title the acquisition of defence equipment for about Rs 2700
in 2019. Crores on 27 February 2019.
 He was ranked 58th in the world but was seeded for the  The council was chaired by Defence Minister Smt Nirmala
Seattle Open. Sitharaman.
Sana Mir: 1st woman cricketer to play 100 T20s  Approval was granted for procurement of 3 Cadet Training
ships for the Indian Navy.
 Sana Mir from Pakistan became the first Asian woman  The ships would be capable of undertaking Hospital Ship
cricketer to play 100 T20 international matches. duties, providing Humanitarian Assistance etc.
 She achieved the milestone during the final T20 against
West Indies in Karachi. QRSAM missile successfully test fired
 Overall, she is the 6th woman cricketer to complete a  DRDO successfully test fired indigenously developed Quick
century of T20 internationals. Daendra Dottin from West Reach Surface-to-Air missiles (QRSAMs) from ITR
Indies ranks first with a total of 109 T20Is to her name. Chandipur, off the Odisha Coast on 26 February 2019.
Haryana Hammers won PWL  The two missiles were tested for different altitudes and
conditions.
 Haryana Hammers won the 4th edition of the Pro  The missile has a strike range of 25-30 km.
Wrestling League defeating Punjab Royals by 6-3 in the  QRSAM will significantly boost the defence capabilities of
summit clash. the armed forces.
 Padma Shri and Asian Games gold medalist Bajrang scored
11-0 win over Rajneesh. India-Bangladesh Joint Exercise to be held

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February 2019

 A joint military exercise, Sampriti-2019 will be conducted  Several indigenous aircraft weapons and types of
between India and Bangladesh at Tangail, Bangladesh from equipment were showed at the Exercise.
2 March to 15 March 2019.  Some of these are the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas,
 This will be the eighth edition of the exercise which is Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Akash missile etc.
hosted alternately by both countries.
PTT Operation performed by all women crew
 The exercise is aimed to strengthen and broaden the
aspects of interoperability and cooperation between both  The Indian Air Force's pilots, Sqn Ldr Kamaljeet Kaur and
the Armies. her co-pilot Sqn Ldr Rakhi Bhandari carried out successful
Parallel Taxi Track (PTT) landing and take-off operations at
IAF commissions aerial surveillance
Sirsa.
 The Indian Air Force (IAF) has commissioned the 'Hyper-  In a first, the 'OTTERS' squadron of Western Air Command
Spectral Imagery Programme' for the first time in the undertook the PTT Operations with a full women crew in
country. the Dornier 228 aircraft.
 The programme is an aerial surveillance system for  PTT Operations are carried out when the runway is not
monitoring suspicious moments under dense foliage cover available.
along the international border and some parts within the
Vice Admiral SN Ghormade: Takes over as COS
country.
 It is expected to be operational in the next two years.  Vice Admiral SN Ghormade assumed the charge as Chief of
Staff, Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam on 14 Feb
HAL hands over three ALH to Indian Army
2019.
 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over first  He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1984
three ALHs as part of the 22 ALH MK III contract to the and is a graduate of National Defence Academy (NDA).
Indian Army on 22 February 2019.  He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 Jan
 HAL had entered into a contract with the Indian Army for 2017 and Nau Sena Medal in 2007 by the President of
40 ALH in August 2017. India.
 The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) is a multi-role, new
Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand
generation helicopter in the 5.5-ton weight class,
indigenously designed and developed by HAL.  One of the Asia-Pacific region's largest multinational
military exercises, Cobra Gold began in Thailand with
Defence Ministry approves torpedo acquisition
around10,000 personnel and 29 countries as participants.
 On 22 February 2019, the Defence Ministry has approved  It is aimed at enhancing interoperability, strengthening
the acquisition of more than 100 heavyweight torpedoes. relationships among participating nations.
 The torpedoes will be equipped on Indian Navy's six  This year's exercise is the 38th of its kind.
Scorpene-class submarines being built at Mazagon
Rocket dispaly at Army's Exercise Topchi
Dockyards in Mumbai.
 Torpedo is a self-propelled weapon with an explosive  Indian Army demonstrated its artillery firepower at the
warhead, launched above or below the water surface and annual ''Exercise Topchi'' held near Nashik using ultralight
propelled underwater towards a target. Howitzers and Swathi weapon-locating radar.
 The event took place at the Deolali Camp.
Iran announced 3-day Navy Drill
 The aviation assets included the advanced light helicopter,
 Iran launched a 3-day annual navy drill, Velayat 97, in a light combat helicopter, Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.
vast area of the Gulf and the Indian Ocean on 22 Feb 2019.
India signed 700 crore deal to buy rifles
 The drill will be held in the waters of Strait of Hormuz,
Makran coast, Oman Sea and the north of the Indian  The Indian government signed a contract to equip the
Ocean. Indian Army with new assault rifles.
 It aims to evaluate the navy's equipment, practice  As per the deal, India will buy 72,400 rifles costing Rs 700
launching weapons and enable the troops to gain crore.
readiness for a real battle.  The rifles will be supplied by US arms maker Sig Sauer.
'Exercise Vayu Shakti' held in Rajasthan  They will be made in the US and will be supplied within a
year.
 Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted 'Exercise Vayu Shakti-  These will replace the Indian-made 5.56x45mm Insas rifles.
2019' at Pokhran in Rajasthan on 16 February 2019.
INS Trikand participated in Cutlass Express
 The aim of the Exercise is to demonstrate the IAF's combat
and fire capabilities.

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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I
February 2019

 A front-line warship of the Indian Navy, INS Trikand Home Ministry ordered pan-India survey
participated in Cutlass Express 2019, a multinational
 Ministry of Home Affairs commissioned the Bureau of
training exercise held from 27 Jan-6 Feb 2019.
Police Research and Development to conduct a pan-India
 The exercise was conducted in 2 phases - CPX and FTX.
survey called, All India Citizens Survey of Police Services.
 INS Trikand was commanded by Captain Srinivas Maddula.
 The survey will be conducted through the National Council
'AMAN-19' kicks off of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi.
 The 9-month survey will cover a representative sample of
 Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN-19 formally
1.2 lakh households spread over 173 districts across the
commenced on Feb 11, 2019, at Pakistan Navy Dockyard.
country.
 AMAN-19 is a multinational Naval Exercise conducted
biennially by Pakistan Navy since 2007. President promulgated 4 Ordinances
 The current one is the 6th in the series having 45 nations
 President Ram Nath Kovind promulgated 4 Ordinances on
as participants. 21 Feb 2019.
 Commander Pakistan Fleet, Vice Admiral Muhammad  The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage)
Amjad Khan Niazi graced was the Chief Guest. Second Ordinance is one of those, declares the practice of
Chief of the Air Staff visits Bangladesh instant triple talaq to be void and illegal.
 It will also make the offence punishable with
 Air Chief Marshal, Birendra Singh Dhanoa, Chief of the
imprisonment up to three years and fine.
Indian Air Force, went on a 4-day official visit to
Bangladesh from 11-14 Feb 2019. Bhopal to host History Congress
 He will visit operational and training units of Bangladesh  After Pune University backed out, the Congress
Air Force. This is a bilateral goodwill visit to a SAARC government in Madhya Pradesh has decided to host the
nation.
79th Indian History Congress (IHC) beginning on February
 He will also meet the PM and Chiefs of 3 defense services 26, 2019, in Bhopal.
in Bangladesh. The visit will increase defence cooperation.
 The 79th session was earlier supposed to be held at
Successful Flight Test of SFDR Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) from December 28.
 Over 1,000 delegates including prominent historians are
 Defence Research and Development Organisation
expected to participate in the IHC in Bhopal.
successfully flight tested the second indigenously
developed ‘Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR)’ propulsion Himachal Pradesh assembly passed Bill
based missile system from Chandipur, Odisha on 8
 The Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed a Bill to make
February 2019.
Sanskrit the second official language of the state.
 The missile accelerated to achieve ramjet Mach number
 The Himachal Pradesh Official Language Bill, 2019
successfully.
(Amendment) was introduced by Irrigation and Public
 DRDO is responsible for the development and production Health Minister Mahender Singh Thakur.
of defence systems for the Indian military.
 It was passed without any discussion.
NWM to be inaugurated on Feb 25
16th Lok Sabha session concluded
 The National War Museum will be inaugurated on 25th
 The last session of 16th Lok Sabha concluded on 14 Feb
February 2019 at India Gate by PM Narendra Modi.
2019.
 It is built in the memory of 26,000 war heroes of the Indian
 There were a total number of 331 sittings for Lok Sabha.
Forces and is built on the sprawling lawns of India Gate.
205 bills were passed and the productivity was 85%.
 The NWM was first proposed by the armed forces in 1960.
 For Rajya Sabha, 154 bills were passed and the
'Exercise Rahat' to be conducted soon productivity was 68%.
 The Interim Budget for 2019-20 was presented on 1 Feb
 Sapta Shakti Command will conduct 'Exercise Rahat' on 11-
2019.
12th February 2019 on behalf of the Indian Army.
 It is a Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief LS passed the unregulated deposit Scheme Bill
Exercise.
 The Lok Sabha passed the Unregulated Deposit Scheme Bill
 Its curtain raiser was organised on 4th February 2019 at 2018 on 13 Feb 2019.
the Jaipur Military Station.
 The Bill will protect the poor people who work in
 The exercise will be conducted in 3 places simultaneously, unorganised sector and invest small amounts of money in
Jaipur, Alwar, and Kota. different schemes.
Polity

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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I
February 2019

 It provides for a comprehensive mechanism to ban the  This was done to increase the financial and executive
unregulated deposit scheme and to protect the interests powers of the 10 Autonomous Councils in the Sixth
of depositors. Schedule areas of the northeastern region.
 It will impact one crore tribal people in Assam, Meghalaya,
Parliament passed Personal Laws Bill 2019
Tripura, and Mizoram.
 Parliament passed the Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill,
Cabinet approves unified regulator for IFSCs
2019 with Rajya Sabha's approval on 13 Feb 2019.
 The Lok Sabha had passed the bill in the last session.  The Cabinet has approved the setting up of a unified
 The Bill seeks to uphold the rights of people with leprosy, authority that would regulate all the financial services in
as the disease is curable. International Financial Services Centres (IFSC).
 The Rajya Sabha also passed the Constitution (Scheduled  Currently, the banking, capital markets and insurance
Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill 2019. sectors in IFSCs are regulated by multiple regulators, i.e.
RBI, SEBI and IRDAI.
Railway to release 1.3L vacancies in February
 This will be done through the International Financial
 February 2019 is a month of opportunities. Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019.
 The railway will be releasing 1.3L vacancies for NTPC &
NIFTEM Bill, 2019 approved by the Cabinet
other posts.
 The application starts from 28th February 2019.  The Cabinet has approved the introduction of National
 If you want a secured Govt Job then starting your Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and
preparation with the best faculties from Testbook.com is Management Bill, 2019.
crucial.  Its objective is to confer the status of institutions of
 Practice with 1000s of questions for free. national importance to the NIFTEM, Kundli, Haryana and
IIFPT, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
Registration of marriage of NRI Bill approved
 The Cabinet was chaired PM Narendra Modi and the bill
 The Union Cabinet approved the introduction of was approved on 6th February 2019.
Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019. Develop app to help the blind: Bombay HC
 It provides amendment of the legal framework to act as a
deterrent to the erring NRI spouses and offers protection  The Bombay High Court asked the RBI to develop a mobile
against exploitation of Indian Citizens married to NRIs. app to help the blind identify the denomination of various
 Once it is passed, marriages performed by NRIs would be currency notes of India.
registered in India or Indian Missions & Posts abroad.  Justice NM Jamdar and Justice Naresh patil also directed
RBI to develop a hardware-driven device to help the blind
Revision in the list of ST of Chhattisgarh identify Indian currency denominations.
 The Union Cabinet approved official amendments in the  RBI has been granted 4 weeks to look into the suggestions.
Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Women allowed to work in underground mines
Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
 It will modify the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) of  Women have been allowed to work in opencast and
Chhattisgarh. underground mines, as a part of the government's efforts
 Along with others, the following shall be inserted in the to create more employment opportunities for women.
new act - Bhuinya, Dhanwar, Nagesia, Sawar, Binjhia.  New rules have been issued by the labour ministry
allowing to work from 7 pm - 6 am in opencast mines.
Government introduced Bill in Rajya Sabha
 The employment of women in underground mines was
 The government introduced a bill in the Rajya Sabha on 12 restricted earlier under the Mines Act, 1952.
Feb 2019 to amend the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and New Andhra Pradesh High Court inaugurated
impose a strict penalty to combat the menace of film
piracy.  New building of the Andhra Pradesh High Court was
 The film piracy offense will have imprisonment of up to inaugurated by CJI Ranjan Gogoi at Amravathy on February
three years and a fine of ₹10 lakh. 3, 2019.
 The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was  The 2-storied building has a building cost of Rs. 150 crore,
introduced by Minister of State for Information and 16 court halls, and houses 2.70 lakh square feet office
Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore. space.
 Andhra Pradesh has finally got its own court after four and
Bill on North East introduced
a half years of state bifurcation.
 A Constitution Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha was
introduced.

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