1. 2 Democratic lawmakers, Ami Bera and Frank Pallone introduced a legislation in House of Representative to support India’s permanent membership to UN Security Council ?
2. 9 metre (30ft) statue of Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of AK-47 assault rifle unveiled in ______________ capital Moscow ?
3. A tomb belonging to a royal goldsmith who lived more than 3500 years ago has been discovered in Luxor (_____________) ?
4. According to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List, Hui Ka Yan (chairman of ______________ real estate giant Evergrande Group) is now Asia’s richest man with net worth of $41.1 billion. Asia’s second and third richest persons are Tencent Holdings Chairman Ma Huateng ($39.1 billion), Alibaba Group Chairman Jack Ma ($38.9 billion) ?
5. According to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)’s Trade and Development Report (TDR) 2017, India and China at their current levels of growth will not serve as “growth polls” for global economy in near future.
- Global Growth will reach __________ this year, well below pre 2008 financial crisis average of 3.2%.
- India’s Growth will slow down to 6.7% in 2017 from 7% in 2016.
- China’s Growth has been retained at 6.7%, same as in 2016. China’s estimated debt-to-GDP ratio is 249%, so it needs to introduce measures to contain its rising debt as domestic demand could be squeezed, with adverse consequences.
6. Air India launched its direct flight from New Delhi to Copenhagen (_____________________), as 11th destination for Air India in Europe (described as connecting Maharaja with the Mermaid’ ?
7. Airbus Perlan 2 Engineless aircraft has set a new altitude world record for a glider, climbing to 52,172 feet in El Calafate (______________) ?
8. _____________ and Google respectively took 2 top spots in list of world’s 100 most valuable brands, as per report by consultancy group Interbrand. This is the fifth consecutive year with Apple and Google at top of the list ?
9. Arab Nation ______________, that is 90% desert, has launched Sahara Forest Project near Aqaba City to turn desert land into farming land to produce food using sun and sea water. It is funded by Norway and European Union ?
10. As per Data by Forbes, based on a recent research by Transparency International (TI) -
- India beats Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan and Myanmar inn terms of corruption, making India most corrupt asian nation with _______ bribery rate.
11. As per HSBC, India ranks ____________ in terms of best country for expats to live and work in. The list is topped by Singapore ?
12. Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide USD 152 million to ___________ for implementation and enhancement of its power transmission and distribution ?
13. _________ and East Timor (Known as Timor - Leste) agreed on a maritime boundary and revenue sharing agrement from a natural gas field beneath seabed between them ?
14. ______________ PM Sheikh Hasina floated a five-point peace proposal at United Nations to find a permanent solution to Rohingya crisis (Over 430,000 refugees fleeing violence in Rakhine State from Myanmar since August 2017). These Points Include UN Intervention to ensure safe return of all displaced Rohingyas to their homes in Myanmar and implementing Kofi Annan Commission Recommendations immediately ?
15. Bengaluru based IT Firm Mindtree inaugurated its first international Digital Pumpkin innovation hub in New Jersey (__________) ?
16. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) signed agreement with __________'s networking solutions provider Coriant to study possibilities of bringing and expanding 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) in India ?
17. ____________ launched a new plastic 10-pound note featuring Jane Austen (renowned Author), To tackle counterfeiting. Apart from Queen, Austen is 3rd woman (after Florence Nightingale and Elizabeth Fry) to feature on a modern-day British banknote ?
18. Cabinet Approvals -
- Internatrional
- MoU with Morocco on cooperation in the field of health.
- MoU with Armenia on Cooperation in field of Disaster Management.
- MoU with Japan for collaborative research in field of silkworm and silk industries.
- MOU with Ethiopia in field of Information, Communication and Media.
- MoU with Belarus in the oil and gas sector
- MoU with Afghanistan on Technical Cooperation on Police Training and Development
- Letter of Intent (LoI) with Norway to extend cooperation within health sector through Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) for 3 years starting from 2018.
- National -
- Approval for hiving off mobile tower assets of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) into a separate company, fully owned by BSNL.
- Approved enhancement of age of superannuation of doctors other than Central Health Service (CHS) doctors to ________ years
19. China and _____________ joint military training exercise Panda-Kangaroo 2017 concluded in Kunming (China) ?
20. China and __________ Joint Air Exercise Shaheen VI has been organized ?
21. ________ commissioned its first radar-evading J-20 stealth fighter jets into military service ?
22. ___________ displayed its first unmanned combat helicopter AV500W for foreign buyers. The aircraft’s length is 7.2 meters ?
23. _____________ launched world’s fastest bullet train Fuxing between Beijing and Shanghai at 350 kms per hour, covering 1,250-km in 4 hours and 30 minutes. ?
24. ___________ authorities blocked Anti-Islam terms used by internet users to stigmatise Muslims, to prevent worsening online hatred towards Islam ?
25. ____________ began a five-month political transition expected to end with Raul Castro’s departure from Presidency, due to his family’s dominance in country’s political system for 60 years ?
26. ________________ launched USA based global alliance to manage Climate change in Copenhagen. It is called Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G).
- P4G is supported by China, Indonesia and C40(group of more than 90 large cities of world that represent 25% of global economy).
27. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) of India launched UJALA (Unnati Jyoti by Affordable Lighting for All) Scheme in Melaka State of ___________, making it 2nd country after United Kingdom (UK) where EESL launched UJALA scheme. Under this, each household in Melaka will get 10 high quality 9-watt LED bulbs at a cost of only RM 10 ?
28. Fiji, Niger, Tuvalu and Seychelles ratified ISA Framework Agreement and became members of ISA framework agreement.
- ISA will need the ratification of just 4 more countries to become a recognized inter-governmental body (Total _______ needed). After which, ISA can embark on its task to channelise $300 billion in 10 years to promote renewable energy globallly.
29. First project funded BRICS New Development Bank has started operations in Shanghai (______________), that was set up using $76 million loan granted to Shanghai Lingang Distributed Solar Power Project from NDB ?
30. Forbes Highest Paid TV Actresses 2017 -
- Modern Family’ star Sofia Vergara earned USD 41.5 million (Rs 271 crore), topping the list for the sixth consecutive year.
- India's __________ ranked 8th, as she made USD 10 million ( INR 65 crore).
31. Force Motors signed agreement with Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG (____________) to produce engines for power generation and rail application and complete power generation systems ?
32. Foreign ministers of India, US and Japan held a trilateral meeting in New York on sidelines of 72nd annual session of UN General Assembly. It was attended by Sushma Swaraj on India's Behalf.
- Miroslav Lajcak (___________) is president of 72nd UN General Assembly ?
33. Fortune Most Powerful Women in Business List -
- USA - Indian Origin PepsiCo chairman Indra Nooyi ranked at 2nd, led by General Motors chairman and CEO Mary Barra.
- Outside USA - Chanda Kochhar (___________ CEO) ranked 5th and Axis Bank CEO Shikha Sharma ranked 21st. List is topped by Banco Santander group executive chairman Ana Botin.
34.____________ anti-doping laboratory of Chatenay-Malabry provisionally suspended by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), upon self-reported analytical issues to WADA by laboratory ?
35. Global Financial Centres Index 2017 by Z/Yen Partners and the China Development Institute (CDI). It is released twice a year, in March and September, and ranks 92 financial centres. Top 10 -
- ____________
- New York
- Hong Kong
- Singapore
- Tokyo
- Shanghai
- Toronto
- Sydney
- Zurich
- Beijing
- Note that Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City)’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) has been named at 10th spot in Top 15 Locations that are likely to become more significant in next few years.
36. Global Human Capital Report 2017 by World Economic Forum (130 Nations) -
- Top 5 - Norway (1), Finland (2), Switzerland (3), United States (4), Denmark (5)
- Bottom 5 - Mali (126), Ethiopia (127), Senegal (128), Mauritania (129), Yemen (130)
- Neighbours - Bangladesh (111), Pakistan (125), Nepal (98), Sri Lanka (70)
- BRICS - Brazil (77), Russia (16), India (_______________), China (34), South Africa (87)
37. Global ranking for least and most stressful cities, by Zipjet (150 Cities) -
- Top 5 - Stuttgart (_________________), Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Hannover (Germany), Bern (Switzerland), Munich (Germany)
- Bottom 5 - Cairo (Egypt), Dakar (Senegal), Lagos (Nigeria), Kabul (Afghanistan), Baghdad (Iraq) (150th)
- India - New Delhi (142), Mumbai (138), Kolkata (131), Bangalore (130)
38. ___________ acquired a part of electronics company HTC Corporation’s engineering and design teams for $1.1 billion. Bought team of approx 2000 engineers are the ones that worked on Pixel smartphones ?
39. ________ launched its new all-in-one point-of-sale (POS) system ElitePOS at India Retail Forum 2017 in Mumbai, priced at Rs.59,999 ?
40. Henley & Partners – Kochenov Quality of Nationality Index (QNI) Report -
- Top 3 - ___________ (1st), France and Denmark (Joint 2nd), Iceland (3rd)
- Afghanistan is ranked at bottom of index
- India is ranked 101 among 159 countries
41. Hinduja Group's Ashok Leyland signed MoU _________ Firm Rosoboronexport for supplying tracked vehicle solutions to armed forces ?
42. Hindustan Shipyard Ltd partnered with Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd of __________ for construction of fleet support ships (FSS) for Navy in both countries ?
43. India will upgrade Thondaman Vocational Training Centre in _________, providing LKR 199 million help ?
44. India announced collaboration with __________ to build a nuclear plant in Bangladesh, as first initiative under Joint deal to undertake atomic energy projects in third-world nations. It is also India’s first atomic energy venture abroad.
- Rooppur Nuclear project (capacity of 2*1200 MWs) is Bangladesh’s first atomic energy project.
45. India handed over Varuna off-shore patrol vessel to ______________ as a part of stepping up co-operation between coast guards of 2 nations ?
46. India will launch major connectivity initiative, connecting Chennai with ___________________ port Vladivostok via sea route with an aim to harness natural resources from Northeast Asia and Western Pacific region. It will enable to transfer cargo between Chennai and Vladivostok in 24 days in comparison to over 40 days currently taken to transport goods from India to Far East Russia via Europe ?
47. India opened 2nd second Indian Workers’ Resource Centre (IWRC) in Sharjah (_______________), To provide support and counseling to Indians in distress. It will help overseas Indian community in any matter. Indians may call 80046342 from anywhere in __________ to get help ?
48. India received its first High Horsepower Locomotive with bodyshell of 12000 HP loco from Alstom (_________) at Kolkata port,to be used to haul freight trains at twice the existing speed by 2018 (120 KM/H). It is first major FDI project in rail sector and each such locomotive costs approx INR 30 crores.
49. India refused to be a part of Bali Declaration adopted at conclusion of World Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable Development held in Bali (_______________), to show solidarity with Myanmar. It was not adopted because it carried inappropriate reference to violence in Rakhine State from where 1,25,000 Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh ?
50. India replaced __________ as the top retail destination in 2017 as part of global retail development index. Change in ranking was an outcome of four factors increased consumer spending beyond essentials, rising mobile and internet penetration, favorable foreign investment climate and bold action on cashless transaction and GST ?
51. India's Numaligarh Refinery that supplyies High Speed Diesel to ______________ , despatched first diesel consignment of 30 MT to Myanmar through NH 37. It is to enhance hydrocarbon synergy with neighbouring countries as well as promoting India’s Act East Policy ?
52. India's TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) raked _____________ in Fortune’s annual list of Top 50 companies that are changing the world. TCS’s mKRISHI® App is one of important reasons that got TCS into list, that lets farmers to access customised expert advice, market information and weather data. Top 3 - JP Morgan Chase, DSM, Apple ?
53. Indian Firm _________ entered into strategic alliance with US car major Ford Motor Company to explore cooperation in products, technologies, and distribution ?
54. Indian IT Major _________ acquired automation driven data management platform Datawave (UK) to accelerate data integration and migration for clients ?
55. Indian startup Kheyti won prestigious award in _____________ for developing an affordable modular greenhouse that aims to give farmers steady & dependable income. It was chosen in MassChallenge contest that saw participation from over 500 companies ?
56. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe Visited India, arriving in Ahmedabad (Gujarat).
- He participated in 12th India - Japan Annual Meeting.
- 15 MOUs signed during Mr. Abe's Visit to India, Including -
- India Japan Act East Forum will be established to enhance connectivity and promote developmental projects in northeastern region of India.
- Arrangement between Postal departments for implementation of cool EMS service, through which fresh food can be sent from Japan to India in cool boxes for Japanese expatriates in India.
- MoC between Japense Trade Ministry and Gujarat State on Japan-India special programme for Make In India in Mandal Bechraj-Khoraj.
- Civil Aviation, Science and technology, Life sciences and biotechnology, Sports, Disaster Risk Management, Japanese Language Skills Development
- India and Japan signed open sky arrangement to allow airlines from both countries to operate unlimited number of flights.
- Foundation stone of India’s first high-speed rail project (bullet train) project has been laid. This 508km-long __________ High Speed Rail Project will be built at cost of Rs 1.10 lakh crore. It is expected to be completed by 2022. (It was recently advanced by year from earlier deadline of 2023). An INR 600 Crores high-speed rail training centre for first bullet train project will be set up in Vadodara (Gujarat), to become operational by December 2020.
57. ___________ postal department released postage stamps on Indian Yoga Expert Mr.Bishnu Charan Ghosh and his family members ?
58. Joint Army Exercise of ________ and Russia, DRUZBA 2017 held in Russia. ?
59. ___________ approved country’s first animal welfare bill into law, to ensure that domestic and wild animals will be legally protected from abuse ?
60. __________ Administration cancelled License of Cab Aggregator Major Uber. Affecting 40,000 drivers using Uber ?
61. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. signed MOU with _____________’s Armagan family for acquiring 100% of Tractor Maker Erkunt Traktor Sanay for approx $70 Million ?
62. Middle asean Nation ___________ banned women from wearing veils and asked women to stick to traditional national clothes and culture ?
63. Ministry of External Affairs started Operation Insaniyat to provided assistance to Bangladesh in response to humanitarian crisis being faced by it due to large influx of Rohingya refugees from _________ ?
64. National Highway Authority of India awarded its first international project in ____________ to a joint venture of Punj Lloyd-Varaha, for upgradation of Yagyi-Kalewa section ?
65. National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog and International Road Federation (____________________) signed Statement of Intent (SoI) to cooperate in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).
ITS Policy will be covering Traffic Management, Parking Management, Electronic Enforcement of Traffic Rules and Regulations, Fleet Management and Monitoring, Innovation in field of ITS ?
66. __________ began its first-ever survey to remeasure Mount Everest to check if Its height was altered by 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck in 2015. Official Height of Mt. Everest is 8,848 metres (29,029 feet), first recorded by an Indian survey in 1954.
67. ____________ signed USD 635 million UN assistance package for 2018-2022 to lay out country’s development strategy for next 5 years. The package involves 26 individual UN agencies ?
68. New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) imposed fine of USD 225 million on _____________'s Habib Bank Limited (HBL) for failure to comply with New York laws and regulations designed illicit financial transactions ?
69. North African country ___________ abolished decades-old ban on Muslim women marrying non-Muslims ?
70. ______________ successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, placable on an intercontinental ballistic missile. It triggered a 6.3 magnitude earhquake in area, marking it biggest test so far. In Response, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed new sanctions against tha nation over its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
71. _____________'s sovereign wealth fund (Largest in world) just reached value of $1 trillion for the first time. It means $189,000 for everyone of 5.3 million Citizens. With stakes in over 9,000 companies, it owns 1.3 % of world's market capitalization and 2.3 % in Europe?
72. ___________ inaugurated It’s 5th nuclear power plant (C-4 plant) in Mianwali (Punjab). This 340 MW Chasma – IV (C – 4) nuclear power plant is developed in collaboration with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) ?
73. People’s Bank of ___________ banned raising funds through initial coin offerings (ICO), where unregulated means of crowd funding for project are used via use of cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin etc.
Ownership or royalties of project is offered to investors in form of digital coins. It allows entrepreneurs create their own digital currencies and selling “coins” on web under ICO route, allowing them to raise millions of dollars quickly ?
74. President Ram Nath Kovind will make his first foreign trip to _________ Nations Ethiopia and Djibouti in October 2017. ?
75. __________ Airways became first in world to launch double beds in business class sections of Flights from London to Doha , called Qsuites ?
76. __________ is world’s 3rd biggest energy company behind Russian gas firm Gazprom and German utility E.ON, according to Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings.
- Indian Oil Corp (IOC) climbed to 7th position, Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) placed 11th and Coal India Ltd ranked 45.
77. ________ and Iraq restored commercial airline services for first time since 2004, that were suspended after 2003 when US-led invasion pushed Iraq into war ?
78. Russia and USA space agencies (________ and NASA) will jointly build a deep space gateway as first astronaut-tended space station around Moon. It would help prepare for manned missions to deep space destinations including Mars ?
79. ______________ launched world’s largest and most powerful icebreaker ship, Sibir. It is designed to transport cargo via Northern Sea Route in Arctic Ocean ?
80. ________ liquidated last arsenals of its chemical weapons, 3 years ahead of schedule (2020) ?
81. ____________ and Britain signed framework deal for military cooperation, as Britain seeks to explore lucrative trade deals outside Europe after leaving European Union ?
82. _______ issued a decree that allows women to drive cars. Women are now also allowed to enter national stadiums in national sports events. Also, It also lifted ban on voice and video calling apps such as WhatsApp and Skype to improve business confidence and reduce dependence on oil revenues.?
83. ___________ hosted large scale war exercise named Aurora, with NATO. ?
84. Tata Steel and Thyssenkrupp of ___________ signed MoU for creating 50:50 Joint Venture as one of Europe's largest steel companies ?
85. Telecom services provider Bharti Airtel and SK Telecom of ___________ partnered for leveraging the SK Telecom's expertise to build advanced telecom network in India ?
86. Three Indian entrepreneurs - Ratan Tata, Lakshmi Mittal and __________ have been included in Forbes’s special list of world’s ‘100 Greatest Living Business Minds ?
87. Times World University Rankings 2018 -
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc) ______________ retained top position among Indian Universities, although its global position fell to IISc 251-300 band. IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur are in 501-600 band, IIT Bombay in 351-400 club and IIT Kharagpur and IIT Roorkee retained their positions in 501-600 bracket.
- Top 10 - Oxford University (UK), Cambridge University (UK), California institute of Technology (USA), Stanford University (USA), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), Harvard University (USA), Princeton University (USA), Imperial College London (UK), University of Chicago (USA), ETH-Zurich (Switzerland).
88. To expedite skill development in North East region of India, _________ will set up a Skill Development Centre in the region ?
89. ______ signed a deal with Russia to buy Advanced S-400 missile defence systems. ?
90. _____________'s Trade and Development Agency signed MOU with Airports Authority of India, to support a 20-year master plan aimed at expansion of operational capacities of Kolkata and Lucknow international airports ?
91. ________ and UAE Armies begun joint military exercise in Abu Dhabi, with name Iron Union 5 ?
92. USA Army Opened Its First permanent base in Middle Eastern Nation ________ ?
93. USA central bank fined global banking giant ________ $175 million for failing to oversee foreign exchange traders who misused confidential client information and colluded with traders at competing banks. This action comes 2 months after Fed also fined BNP Paribas USD 246 million over similar violations ?
94. WHO released first tranche of emergency funding of $175,000 to provide lifesaving healthcare to vulnerable Rohingya muslims population in _________ ?
95. World Bank allocated _________ for infrastructure projects under China’s Silk Road initiative.
- Purpose of Silk Road initiative is to create an economic corridor connecting China with Asia, Europe and the rest of world.
- Silk Road project has two components - Silk Road Economic Belt (land-based connectivity) and Maritime Silk Road (ocean based connectivity).
96. World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) 2017-18 (137 Nations) -
- Top 5 - Switzerland (1st), United States (2nd), Singapore (3rd), Netherlands (4th) and Germany (5th)
- Bottom 5 - Mauritania (133), Liberia (134), Chad (135), Mozambique (136) Yemen (137)
- BRICS - China (27th), Russia (38th), India (_______________), South Africa (61st) and Brazil (80th).
- Neighbours - Bangladesh (99), Nepal (88), Pakistan (115), Sri Lanka (85)
97. World Health Organisation (WHO) released report Non-communicable Disease Progress Monitor 2017, as a measure of status of implementation of 19 indicators of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in WHO’s 194 Member States.
- Costa Rica and __________ are best performing countries, with each achieving 15 of 19 indicators. They are followed by Brazil, Bulgaria, Turkey and UK.
98. World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2017 -
- India is third in world in number of nuclear reactors being installed with _________ reactors. China is leading at 20. Total operational units across the world are 53 currently.
99. World trade in goods is estimated to grow at a higher ____________ in 2017, compared to earlier estimate of 2.4 %. This change was mainly due to intra-regional shipments picking up and a recovery in import demand in North America ?
100. World’s highest sandcastle (16.68 meters tall) built in ___________ city of Duisburg, getting 14.84-metre sandcastle built in early 2017 by Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik ?
101. World’s largest airplane (by wingspan) Stratolaunch successfully completed its initial engine tests in _______________, designed for launching for sending satellite-carrying rockets into low-Earth orbit. Its wingspan measures 118 m betwen ends. It weighs about 227,000 kg and can carry nearly 250,000 kg between two fuselages. It has operational range of approximately 2,000 nautical miles ?