Dear Aspirants,
The General Awareness Section of Banking Exams covers numerous sections in it like Banking Awareness, Static GK, and Current Affairs. But the most important thing that you might have noticed is that both the Banking Awareness and Static Awareness questions asked in the General Awareness Section are based on Current Affairs only. The questions on Static and Banking Awareness are related to the countries, events or anything that has been in news for a while. Here is the Daily GK Update to get you acquainted with the top events that made the headlines today!!
National News
1. Important Cabinet Approvals- 16th May 2018
i. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the following set of approvals. The important Cabinet Approvals are given as follows-
ii. The Cabinet has approved-
ii. The Cabinet has approved-
1. MoU between India and France on Technical Cooperation in the field of railways.
2. MoU between India and Morocco in the legal field.
Find The Complete List Here
2. MoU between India and Morocco in the legal field.
Find The Complete List Here
2. Smriti Irani Chairs Meeting of Stakeholders on ‘Samarth’- Scheme In Delhi
i. A meeting of stakeholders on ‘Samarth’ – Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector under the Skill India Mission was held in New Delhi to familiarize the stakeholders about the scheme and its guidelines. The meeting was chaired by Union Minister of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani.
ii. The broad objective of the new scheme is to skill the youth for gainful and sustainable employment in the textile sector covering the entire value chain of textiles, excluding spinning and weaving.
iii. The scheme targets to train 10 lakh persons (9 lakh in organised and 1 lakh in traditional sector) over a period of 3 years (2017-20), with an outlay of Rs. 1300 crore.
ii. The broad objective of the new scheme is to skill the youth for gainful and sustainable employment in the textile sector covering the entire value chain of textiles, excluding spinning and weaving.
iii. The scheme targets to train 10 lakh persons (9 lakh in organised and 1 lakh in traditional sector) over a period of 3 years (2017-20), with an outlay of Rs. 1300 crore.
3. India Unveils National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy
i. In yet another effort to boost clean energy generation, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) unveiled a National Wind-solar Hybrid Policy which seeks to promote new projects as well as hybridisation of the existing ones.
ii. Under the scheme, the government would bid out wind-solar hybrid projects on tariff-based competitive bidding and these projects can be set up anywhere across the country depending on feasibility and land availability with bidders.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- Raj Kumar Singh is the Minister of State (I/C) of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
4. CIPAM-DIPP Organizes a Conference on National IPR Policy
i. The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM), a professional body under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, had organized a conference on successful completion of two years of the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy adopted by the Government of India in May 2016 in New Delhi.
ii. Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation, launched the IP Mascot at the event. In this context, an anti-piracy video featuring Mr Amitabh Bachchan was also launched at the event.
ii. Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation, launched the IP Mascot at the event. In this context, an anti-piracy video featuring Mr Amitabh Bachchan was also launched at the event.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- The National IPR Policy is a vision document that aims to create and exploit synergies between all forms of intellectual property (IP), concerned statutes and agencies.
5. India Released Grant of NRs 18.07 crore to Nepal For River Training
i. India has released grant of Nepalese Rupees (NRs) 18.07 crore for river training and construction of embankments along Lalbakeya, Bagmati and Kamla rivers in Nepal. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri handed over a cheque of the grant to Dr Sanjay Sharma, Secretary Ministry of Energy, Irrigation & Water Resources, Nepal in Kathmandu.
ii. The river training and embankment work in the Lalbakeya, Bagmati and Kamla rivers in Nepal aimed at flood control and water resources management, which benefit several million people inhabiting in the watershed of these rivers in India and Nepal.
ii. The river training and embankment work in the Lalbakeya, Bagmati and Kamla rivers in Nepal aimed at flood control and water resources management, which benefit several million people inhabiting in the watershed of these rivers in India and Nepal.
6. NTPC Inks Pact to Acquire 3 Projects in Bihar
i. NTPC inked a pact with Bihar and its power utilities to acquire their entire stake in two joint ventures at Nabinagar and Kanti and to buy Barauni thermal plant.
ii. The transactions would enable NTPC to have 100% stake in Nabinagar and Kanti JV projects, which is part the company’s broad objective of acquiring state-owned generation units across the country.
ii. The transactions would enable NTPC to have 100% stake in Nabinagar and Kanti JV projects, which is part the company’s broad objective of acquiring state-owned generation units across the country.
7. NALCO Inks MoU With Government of India for FY 2018-19
i. Aluminium major & Navratna CPSE National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has signed MoU with the Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India, setting highest ever target of Rs 9350 crore revenue from operations for FY 2018-19 which is 15% higher than 2017.
ii. The MoU has been formulated as per Department of Public Enterprise guidelines and finalized after discussions with both Inter-Ministerial Committee as well as Ministry of Mines. The MoU has also set a target of 2.1 million tons for production of Alumina with 100% capacity utilisation & an optimum Aluminium production target of 4.15 lakh tonnes.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- Tapan Kumar Chand is the CMD of NALCO.
8. 2-Day Regional Conference on “Physical and Social Infrastructure for Regional Development” Held in Guwahati
i. The Governor of Assam, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi inaugurated the two-day Seminar being organized by the Ministry of Finance on the theme of “Physical and Social Infrastructure for Regional Development” in Guwahati, Assam.
ii. The Seminar is organized in collaboration with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI).
ii. The Seminar is organized in collaboration with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI).
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- Assam CM- Sarbanand Sonowal, Governor- Jagdish Mukhi.
- Kaziranga National Park is situated in Assam.
9. 1st All-Woman Post Office Passport Seva Kendra Starts Operations
i. In a first, a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) run by an all-woman team has started operations in Phagwara, Punjab. The seva kendra was inaugurated by Union Minister Vijay Sampla in the local head Post Office.
ii. It was 192nd POPSK in the country, but the first one to be operated by an all-woman team. According to Jalandhar regional Passport Officer Harmanbir Singh Gill, the Phagwara Kendra will be headed by department’s Verification Officer Madhuri Bhavi.
ii. It was 192nd POPSK in the country, but the first one to be operated by an all-woman team. According to Jalandhar regional Passport Officer Harmanbir Singh Gill, the Phagwara Kendra will be headed by department’s Verification Officer Madhuri Bhavi.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- Punjab CM– Captain Amarinder Singh, Governor- VP Singh Badnore.
International News
10. PM Modi to Visit Russia For Informal Summit With Vladimir Putin
i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia on for an informal Summit with President Vladimir Putin in Sochi city. As per the External Affairs Ministry, this informal Summit is in keeping with the tradition of regular consultations between India and Russia at the highest level.
ii. This visit will be an important occasion for the two leaders to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective.
ii. This visit will be an important occasion for the two leaders to exchange views on international matters in a broad and long-term perspective.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- Russia Capital- Moscow, Currency- Russian ruble.
11. WHO Publishes Its 1st Essential Diagnostics List
i. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published its first ‘essential diagnostics list’, a catalogue of tests needed to diagnose the most common conditions as well as a number of global priority diseases.
ii. An estimated 46% of adults with Type 2 diabetes worldwide were undiagnosed, risking serious health complications and higher health costs.
ii. An estimated 46% of adults with Type 2 diabetes worldwide were undiagnosed, risking serious health complications and higher health costs.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the present Director General of WHO.
- WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Ranks and Reports
12. India 3rd Largest Solar Market in World: Mercom Report
i. India emerged as the third largest solar market in the world in 2017 behind China and the US, according to the report of Mercom Communications India. India has grown at a CAGR of approximately 170% since 2010.
ii. As per the report, India set a new record with 9.6 GW of solar installations in 2017, which was more than double the 4.3 GW installed in 2016. The robust growth boosted the country’s total solar installed capacity to 19.6 GW as of December 2017.
ii. As per the report, India set a new record with 9.6 GW of solar installations in 2017, which was more than double the 4.3 GW installed in 2016. The robust growth boosted the country’s total solar installed capacity to 19.6 GW as of December 2017.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- Mercom Communications India is an arm of global clean energy consulting firm Mercom Capital Group.
- Raj Prabhu is the Group CEO of Mercom Capital.
Banking News
13. YES Bank Launches Agenda 25×25
i. YES Bank and YES Global Institute have launched Agenda 25×25, which pledges to create a synergetic startup environment for budding women entrepreneurs in India. The effort would ensure that by 2025 at least 25% of all entrepreneurs in India are women.
ii. The bank made the announcement at the YES Bank – YES Global Institute Annual Startup Conclave hosted in partnership with NITI Aayog, Invest India, Startup India and Atal Innovation Mission.
ii. The bank made the announcement at the YES Bank – YES Global Institute Annual Startup Conclave hosted in partnership with NITI Aayog, Invest India, Startup India and Atal Innovation Mission.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- Yes Bank MD and CEO- Rana Kapoor.
- Head office of Yes Bank- Mumbai.
- YES BANK is India’s fifth largest Private Sector Bank (PSB).
Appointments
14. Shashank Manohar to serve 2nd term as ICC chairman
i. Former BCCI President Shashank Manohar will serve a second two-year term as the independent chairman of the International Cricket Council after he was elected unopposed by the governing body’s Board.
ii. Mr Manohar became the first independent ICC Chairman in 2016. According to the election process, ICC Directors were each allowed to nominate one candidate, who had to be either a present or a past ICC Director.
ii. Mr Manohar became the first independent ICC Chairman in 2016. According to the election process, ICC Directors were each allowed to nominate one candidate, who had to be either a present or a past ICC Director.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for Dena Bank PO Exam 2018-
- The ICC is the international governing body of cricket.
- Headquarters of ICC is in Dubai, UAE.
- Dave Richardson is CEO of the ICC.
Sci-Tech News
15. Fastest Growing Blackhole of Universe Discovered
i. Scientists have discovered the fastest-growing black hole known in the universe, describing it as a monster that devours (eats) a mass equivalent to our Sun every two days.
ii. This black hole is growing so rapidly that it’s shining thousands of times more brightly than an entire galaxy, due to all of the gases it sucks in daily that cause lots of friction and heat. The energy emitted from this newly discovered supermassive black hole, also known as a quasar, was mostly ultraviolet light but also radiated x-rays.
iii. The discovery of the new supermassive black hole was confirmed using the spectrograph on the Australian National University (ANU) 2.3-metre telescope to split colours into spectral lines.
ii. This black hole is growing so rapidly that it’s shining thousands of times more brightly than an entire galaxy, due to all of the gases it sucks in daily that cause lots of friction and heat. The energy emitted from this newly discovered supermassive black hole, also known as a quasar, was mostly ultraviolet light but also radiated x-rays.
iii. The discovery of the new supermassive black hole was confirmed using the spectrograph on the Australian National University (ANU) 2.3-metre telescope to split colours into spectral lines.
Awards
16. Neymar Named France’s Player of The Year
i. Neymar was named as France’s player of the year at an awards ceremony in Paris, France despite the Paris Saint-Germain superstar missing the last three months of the season due to injury.
ii. The Brazilian, the world’s most expensive player, scored 19 goals in just 20 league games for PSG before suffering a foot injury in February that required surgery.
ii. The Brazilian, the world’s most expensive player, scored 19 goals in just 20 league games for PSG before suffering a foot injury in February that required surgery.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- Neymar plays as a forward for French club Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team.
17. Mark Tully To Get Red Ink Award
i. Senior journalist Mark Tully will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Red Ink Awards in Mumbai. Tully worked with the BBC for three decades and was the broadcaster’s Chief of Bureau for Delhi for 20 years.
ii. Tully was a front-running reporter for all major news breaks in South Asia like the Indo-Pakistan wars, the Bhopal gas tragedy, Operation Blue Star, assassination of Indira Gandhi and anti-Sikh riots. Faye D’Souza, the Executive Editor of Mirror Now, will also be given the Journalist of the Year Award at the function.
ii. Tully was a front-running reporter for all major news breaks in South Asia like the Indo-Pakistan wars, the Bhopal gas tragedy, Operation Blue Star, assassination of Indira Gandhi and anti-Sikh riots. Faye D’Souza, the Executive Editor of Mirror Now, will also be given the Journalist of the Year Award at the function.
18. Anindita Honoured With Jayadev Rashtriya Yuva Puraskar Award
i. US-based Kathak dancer Anindita Anaam was honoured with the prestigious ‘Shri Jayadev Rastriya Yuva Pratibha Puraskar 2018’ for outstanding contribution to the field of art.
ii. The award was presented to the Kathak exponent during the ‘Jayadev International Dance Festival’ in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
ii. The award was presented to the Kathak exponent during the ‘Jayadev International Dance Festival’ in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
19. DRDO Awards 2016 & 2017 Presented by Defence Minister
i. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave away the DRDO Awards- 2016 & 2017 to various DRDO scientists for their outstanding contributions while commemorating the National Technology Day (11 May).
ii. Former Secretary Department of Defence R&D, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri and Director General, DRDO Dr VK Saraswat was given DRDO Lifetime Achievement Award – 2017.
iii. Former Secretary Department of Defence R&D, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri and Director General, DRDO Dr Vasudev Kalkunte Aatre was awarded for DRDO Lifetime Achievement Award – 2016.
iv. The Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri, Distinguished Scientist & Director General (Missiles & Strategic Systems) Dr G Satheesh Reddy was awarded for Technology Leadership Award – 2016. The Chairman DRDO and Secretary Department of Defence R&D, Dr S Christopher also addressed the function and e-launched the ‘Navrachna’ implementation programme during the event.
ii. Former Secretary Department of Defence R&D, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri and Director General, DRDO Dr VK Saraswat was given DRDO Lifetime Achievement Award – 2017.
iii. Former Secretary Department of Defence R&D, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri and Director General, DRDO Dr Vasudev Kalkunte Aatre was awarded for DRDO Lifetime Achievement Award – 2016.
iv. The Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri, Distinguished Scientist & Director General (Missiles & Strategic Systems) Dr G Satheesh Reddy was awarded for Technology Leadership Award – 2016. The Chairman DRDO and Secretary Department of Defence R&D, Dr S Christopher also addressed the function and e-launched the ‘Navrachna’ implementation programme during the event.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- DRDO Chairman- S Christopher, Headquarters- New Delhi.
Sports
20. India Wins U-16 Four-Nation Football Tournament in Serbia
i. Indian Under-16 National Team was crowned champions of the Four-Nation Tournament held in Serbia after the Indian Colts defeated Tajikistan.
ii. In what was a stellar start for the Indian U-16s against Tajikistan, the young colts took the lead as early as the 5th minute when Gibson lobbed the ball over the opposing custodian.
ii. In what was a stellar start for the Indian U-16s against Tajikistan, the young colts took the lead as early as the 5th minute when Gibson lobbed the ball over the opposing custodian.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- Capital- Belgrade, Currency- Serbian dinar.
21. International Shooting Competitions of Hannover: Heena Sidhu Bags Gold
i. Indian shooter Heena Sidhu clinched the gold medal while compatriot P Shri Nivetha settled for bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol at the International Shooting Competitions of Hannover (ISCH), in Germany.
ii. She won the tie to win the gold ahead of France’s Mathilde Lamolle. The ISSF Munich World Cup will be held from May 22 to 29 and will be Heena’s second major competition.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
- Heena Sidhu had won a gold in the women’s 25m pistol event in Gold Coast and a silver in 10-metre air pistol.
22. Lewis Hamilton Wins Spanish Grand Prix
i. Lewis Hamilton (of Mercedes) won for the second race in succession by dominating an eventful Spanish Grand Prix 2018.
ii. Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes stood second in the race. Sebastian Vettel finished fourth in the event.
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