Monthly Current Affairs PDF and Quiz April 2019 - wifistudy
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Monthly Current Affairs PDF and Quiz
April 2019
• The theme for this year is Assistive
Technologies, Active Participation.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a
neurodevelopmental disorder which affects
communication and socialisation.
• They have difficulties with making eye
China successfully launches second generation
contact with people, using gestures and
data relay satellite
actions for communication.
• Currently, studies say one in 59 children have
autism.
Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to
resign before his mandate expires
Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will resign
before his mandate expires on 28 April.
• A statement issued by the President's office
China has successfully launched the first of its new- said the president will take steps to ensure
generation data relay satellites into orbit that will state institutions continue to function during
provide data relay, measurement and control services the transition period.
for its manned spacecraft. • Millions of Algerians have been holding
weekly protests nationwide calling for the 82-
• The Tianlian II-01 satellite was launched by year-old Bouteflika to step down after almost
a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the 20 years in office.
Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. • He has rarely been seen in public since he
• The Tianlian II network will be markedly suffered a stroke in 201
more advanced in mission planning, system
management and operations than the first- Points to Remember
generation network composed of Tianlian I
satellites. • Capital: Algiers
• The satellite is developed by the China • Currency: Algerian dinar
Academy of Space Technology under the
China Aerospace Science and Technology US approves sale of 24 MH 60 Romeo Seahawk
Corporation. helicopters to India
• China launched its first data relay satellite,
the Tianlian I-01, in April 200 The US has approved the sale of 24 multi-role MH-
60 Romeo Seahawk helicopters to India at an
World Autism Awareness Day: 2 April 2019 estimated cost of 4 billion US dollars.
• It is considered the world's most advanced
maritime helicopter.
• The choppers will provide the Indian defence
forces with the capability to perform anti-
surface and anti-submarine warfare missions.
South Korea to launch world's first national 5G
April 2 is celebrated all world over as World Autism networks
Awareness Day and April, the month for autism
awareness.
The UAE government has announced granting long-
term visas for the top 100 start-ups shaping the fourth
industrial revolution.
• The 100 Arab start-ups were selected at the
World Economic Forum on the Middle East
and North Africa, held in Jordan between 6-
7th April.
• According to the World Economic Forum's
South Korea launched the world's first nationwide latest report, 20% of the Arab world's 100
5G mobile networks. most promising startups are based in the
UAE.
• Three top telecom providers SK Telecom, • The initiative aims to further integrate the
KT, and LG Uplus began their 5G services at Arab world's most promising start-up
11 pm local time 3 April 2019 entrepreneurs into a national and regional
• Experts say 5G will bring smartphones near- dialogue on pressing challenges.
instantaneous connectivity will be 20 times
faster than 4G. Points to Remember
International Day for Mine Awareness and • UAE Capital: Abu Dhabi
Assistance: 04 April • Currency: United Arab Emirates Dirham
• It is formed by seven emirates: Ajman,
On 8 December 2005, the United Nations (UN) Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah
General Assembly declared that April 4 of each year and Umm Al Quwain.
would be officially proclaimed and observed as
International Day for Mine Awareness and Japan space probe drops explosive on an asteroid
Assistance in Mine Action. to make a crater
• This day aims to raise awareness about Japan's space agency JAXA,has said its Hayabusa2
landmines and progress toward their spacecraft released an explosive onto an asteroid.
eradication.
• It was first observed on April 4, 200 • The explosive was used to make a crater on
• Theme: Safe Ground - Safe Home its surface and collect underground samples
to find possible clues to the origin of the solar
Chicago makes history electing Lori Lightfoot as system.
the first black woman • Hayabusa2 successfully touched down on a
tiny flat surface on the boulder-rich asteroid
Chicago has created history by electing an African- in February 2019
American woman as its mayor for the first time.
Points to remember
• Lori Lightfoot, a 56-year-old former federal
prosecutor and practising lawyer who has • The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
never before held elected office, won the (JAXA) is a Japanese national aerospace and
city's mayoral race by a huge margin. space agency.
• Lightfoot will take over office from Mayor • Headquarters: Tokyo
Rahm Emanuel, who previously served as
chief of staff under former President Barack US declares Iran force as foreign terrorist
Obama. organisation
UAE announces long-term visas for best 100
Arab start-ups
• The image which has been captured by a
network of eight telescopes across the world
shows an intensely bright 'ring of fire'
surrounding a perfectly circular dark hole.
• According to some scientists, the black hole
is located 500 million trillion kilometres
away.
The US designated Iran's Revolutionary Guard Google Wing launches first home delivery drone
Corps a foreign terrorist organisation, an service
unprecedented declaration against a foreign
government that may prompt retaliation and make it
harder for American diplomats and military officers
to work with allies in the region.
• It is the first time that the US has designated
an entity of another government as a terrorist
organization.
• The IRGC is a paramilitary organization
formed in the wake of Iran's 1979 Islamic Wing, owned by Google's parent company Alphabet,
Revolution to defend the government. The will deliver takeaway food, coffee and medicines by
force answers only to Iran's supreme leader, drone to about 100 homes in Canberra.
operates independently of the regular military
and has vast economic interests across the • It has been testing its drones in Australia
country. since 2014 but many residents had
complained about the noise.
Israel: Voting begins to elect new parliament • Australia's aviation authority gave Wing
permission to launch a commercial service
Israelis began voting to elect a new parliament. after examining its safety record and
Fourteen main parties are competing for 120 seats in operational plans.
the Knesset or parliament.
London becomes the first city to implement 24x7
• Incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin pollution charge zone
Netanyahu is running for his fifth term in
office. London became the first city in the world to
• His main challenger is Benny Gantz, a former implement a special Ultra Low Emission Zone
chief of staff of the Israeli military. (ULEZ).
• Voters will cast their ballots for a party, not a
candidate. The more votes a party gets, the • The ULEZ would charge an entry fee for
more seats it obtains in the Knesset as the older vehicles if they do not meet the
government is based on a nationwide emission standards.
proportional representation system. • In an attempt to reduce air pollution and
• Political parties must pass an electoral protect public health, the ULEZ will be
threshold of 25 percent to gain a Knesset seat. operational for 24 hours and seven days a
week.
Astronomers take 1st ever image of a black hole • Motorists who drive into the zone in a vehicle
that does not meet the new emission standard
Astronomers have taken the first-ever image of a will have to pay a daily charge.
black hole, which is located in a distant galaxy.
SpaceX carries out first commercial launch with
Falcon Heavy rocket
SpaceX has carried out its first commercial launch UAE has announced that India will be the Guest of
with its Falcon Heavy rocket. Honour country at the Abu Dhabi International Book
Fair, ADIBF 2019
• It completed the task with placing a Saudi
satellite in orbit. • It will be held from 24th to 30th April 2019
• The rocket carried a Saudi Arabian satellite • The fair aims to highlight the UAE’s rich
operated by Arabsat, a year after sending heritage, showcasing its authenticity and
founder Elon Musk's red Tesla roadster into modernity, as well as its cultural and literary
orbit as a test. output.
• The Indian Pavilion will host Indian authors
Points to remember and literary scholars who will serve as
ambassadors for the literature and art of their
• CEO: Elon Musk country.
• Founded: 6 May 2002
• Headquarters: California, United States UAE to host world’s foremost Artificial
Intelligence Summit
Sudan's army ousts president Omar al-Bashir
UAE is set to host the world’s foremost Artificial
Intelligence, AI Summit to empower global dialogue
Sudan Defence Minister Awad Ibnouf announced on the future of government, business and society.
that the President has been removed from power and
detained by the army. • The inaugural 'AI Everything', AIE will take
place at the Dubai World Trade Centre,
• A three-month state of emergency is being between 30 April to 1st May.
put in place. • The two-day event will bring together world
• He said, Sudan's constitution is being leaders to define the underlying pillars of
suspended, border crossings are being closed governance, business and society.
until further notice and airspace is being
closed for 24 hours. Finland’s Social Democrats declare general
• Mr Bashir is the subject of an international election victory
arrest warrant issued by the International
Criminal Court (ICC), which accuses him of
organising war crimes and crimes against
humanity in Sudan's western Darfur region.
Points to Remember
• Capital: Khartoum
• Currency: Sudanese pound
The leader of Finland’s centre-left Social Democratic
India to be Guest of Honour country at ADIBF Party (SDP) Antti Rinne, has declared victory in the
2019 general election.
• The victory was declared after almost Idai in mid-March, providing rescue, medical
complete results showed his party winning by care and relief to around 3,500 people in
a razor-thin margin with 17%. Beira.
• The nationalist, Eurosceptic Finns party was
in second place with 15%, according to Points to Remember
nearly complete results published by the
justice ministry. • Capital: Maputo
• If final results confirm the outcome, Rinne • Currency: Mozambican metical
could become Finland’s first leftwing prime
minister since 200 World Heritage Day 2019: 18 April
Points to Remember
• Finland Capital: Helsinki
• Currency: Euro
China makes world’s 1st armored amphibious
drone boat
China has successfully tested the world’s first armed
amphibious drone boat. World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on April
1
• It is capable of forming a combat triad with
aerial drones and other drone ships. • The day is also known as the International
• Built by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Day for Monuments and Sites.
Group under China Shipbuilding Industry • The day is celebrated to raise awareness
Corporation, the drone ship is named about the diversity of cultural heritage,
asMarine Lizard. monuments and their relevance.
• Having a maximum operation range of 1,200 • The theme for 2019 is ‘Rural Landscapes’.
kms, the Marine Lizard can be remotely
controlled via satellites. Google opened its first Africa Artificial
Intelligence lab in Ghana
INS Magar loaded with relief material reaches
Mozambique Google has opened an Artificial Intelligence (AI)
research lab in Ghana’s capital Accra.
It is the first lab of its kind in Africa.
• The lab would develop solutions in areas
including agriculture, like helping in
diagnosing certain types of crop disease.
• Google opened new research centers across
the globe such as in Tokyo, Zurich, New
York, and Paris, to exhibit itself as AI first
Indian naval ship INS Magar reached Mozambique's
company in front of the world.
Beira city loaded with suitable relief material.
Points to Remember
• The ship handed over 250 tonne of rice and
500 kg of epidemic medicines for the
• Ghana's capital: Accra
population of Beira affected by Cyclone Idai.
• Currency: Ghanaian cedi
• Three Indian Naval ships were among the
first responders in the aftermath of Cyclone
Sri Lanka’s 1st satellite ‘Raavana-1’ launched
into space
Sri Lanka’s first satellite ‘Raavana-1’ was launched
into space from NASA’s Flight Facility on Virginia’s
east shore.
• ‘Raavana 1’ weights around 05 kg and the
lifespan of the satellite is around one and a
The 7th China International Technology Fair opened
half years.
in Shanghai.
• The launch marks Sri Lanka’s entry into the
global space age.
• It is a national-level professional fair focused
• The satellite was designed and built at the
on international technology trade.
Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan by
• With an exhibition space covering 35,000
two Sri Lankan research engineers.
square meters, the fair has five exhibition
areas including professional technologies,
Historic Mujibnagar day being observed in
technological innovation, and trade services.
Bangladesh
• Nearly 1,000 companies and organizations
are attending the fair.
• The CSITF has become an important
showcase for the latest technologies
worldwide since 2013 when the first
exhibition was held.
Saudi Arabia to host the G20 summit in 2020
Saudi Arabia announced it will host the G20 summit
The historic Mujibnagar day was observed on 17 in November 2020 in the capital Riyadh.
April in Bangladesh.
• It will be the first G20 meeting in the Arab
• The day marks the oath taking ceremony of world will be held in November 2020.
Bangladesh's first government in 1971 at • Japan will host this year's G20 summit in
Baidyanathtala in Meherpur. Osaka, which will be held June 28-29
• On this day in 1971, senior leaders of the • In 2018, the conference was held in Buenos
liberation movement of Bangladesh Aries, Argentina.
had assembled at Baidyanathtala to form the • The G20 is made up of 19 of the world's
provisional government of independent biggest economies, as well as the European
Bangladesh. Union. It was formed in 1999 to discuss
• Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was policy matters and financial stability.
declared the President in absentia as he was
arrested and flown to Pakistan after the India rebuilds Chhyoiphel Kundeling monastery
Pakistan military crackdown on the then in Nepal
‘East Pakistan’ on the night of March 25, 197
India has rebuilt Chhyoiphel Kundeling Monastery
7th China International Technology Fair kicks in Nepal.
start in Shanghai
• The Monastery has been reconstructed with
Government of India grant of 19 million
Nepalese rupees.
• The Chhyoiphel Kundeling Monastery was Mount Agung volcano in Bali erupts again
established in 1946 with the active initiation
and contribution of Lisankhu villagers.
Saudi Arabia increases India's Haj Quota to 2
lakh
Saudi Arabia has issued a formal order increasing the
Haj quota of India to two lakhs from one lakh seventy
five-thousand.
In Indonesia, Mount Agung volcano in Bali resort
• The decision will ensure that all the Haj Island erupted.
applicants from big states like Uttar Pradesh,
West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar can • Thousands of masks have been distributed to
embark pilgrimage this year as their waiting the communities amid the fears of the ashes
lists have been cleared due to the increase in impacting human respiratory.
quota. • Mount Agung is situated in Karangasem
• The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin district and about 70 km from tourist hub
Salman at a meeting with Prime Minister Kuta.
Narendra Modi had announced that Indian • In its last eruption in 1963, more than 1,100
Haj quota would be increased by 25 thousand people were killed.
to two lakhs.
• A record number of two lakh Indian Muslims Earth Day 2019: 22 April
will perform Haj this year without subsidy.
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 2
INS Kolkata and INS Shakti to arrive in China to
participate in IFR • Worldwide, various events are held to
demonstrate support for environmental
protection.
• It was first celebrated in 1970, now this event
includes events in more than 193 countries.
• Theme: 'Protect Our Species'
Comedian Zelensky wins the presidency by a
landslide victory
In Ukraine, comedian and political newcomer
Indian Naval Ships Kolkata and Shakti will arrive at Volodymyr Zelensky has apparently secured a
Qingdao in China to participate in the International landslide victory in the Presidential election.
Fleet Review IFR as part of 70th Anniversary
celebrations of People's Liberation Army (Navy). • Exit polls indicated that he is going to take 73
per cent of the votes while incumbent Petro
• International Fleet Review is a parade of Poroshenko securing 25 per cent.
naval ships, aircraft and submarines, and is • Zelensky's only previous political role has
organised by nations to promote goodwill, been playing the President on television.
strengthen cooperation and showcase their
organisational capabilities. Points to remember
• IFR also serves as an ideal platform for the
world’s navies to showcase their prowess and • Capital: Kyiv
indigenous ship designing and shipbuilding • Currency: Ukrainian hryvnia
capabilities in a global and international
arena.
UAE adopts National Artificial Intelligence • It is planned to reach Mars by 2021 to
Strategy 2031 coincide with the 50th anniversary of the
founding of the UAE.
The UAE Cabinet has adopted the National Artificial
Intelligence Strategy 203 NASA astronaut to set a record for the longest
spaceflight by a woman
• Its aims at positioning the UAE as a global
leader in artificial intelligence by 2031 and to
develop an integrated system that employs
artificial intelligence in vital areas in the
country.
• The strategy includes eight objectives and a
number of initiatives, aimed at employing
artificial intelligence in vital areas such as
education, government services and the
community wellbeing. NASA astronaut Christina Koch is going to have her
mission on the International Space Station (ISS)
Olive Ridley hatchlings begin a new journey from extended to 328 days.
Gahirmatha coast
• This would set a record for the longest single
Millions of baby Olive Ridley turtles have started spaceflight by a woman.
emerging from the pits at Gahirmatha beach in • Koch arrived at the space station on March 14
Kendrapara district. and now is scheduled to remain in orbit until
February 2020.
• This Sanctuary is known as the World’s • She will eclipse the record of 288 days set by
largest nesting ground for these endangered former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson in
species. 2016-1
• Around 50 lakh turtles had congregated at the • The longest single spaceflight by a NASA
beach for nesting in March. astronaut is 340 days, set by former NASA
• Every year, the female Olive Ridley turtles astronaut Scott Kelly during his one-year
come ashore, dig a nest and lay about 100 mission in 2015-1
eggs.
• After this, they conceal the nests before World Book Day 2019: 23 April
returning to the sea.
• The eggs incubate in the warm sand and after World Book Day is celebrated by UNESCO and
40 to 45 days, two-inch baby turtles hatch. other related organisations every year on the 23rd of
April.
UAE's Hope Probe project bound for Mars is
85% complete • Also called the World Book and Copyright
Day, it is an occasion to promote the joy of
The UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin Rashid books and the art of reading.
Space Centre (MBRSC) have announced that 85% of • 23rd April was selected by UNESCO to pay
the Hope Probe project has been completed. tribute to great literary figures including
William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes and
• Hope Probe is an ambitious dream project of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega who died on this
UAE to send a mission to Mars. day.
• Hope Probe is scheduled to be launched in • This date was finalised in the year 1995 in the
July 2020. UNESCO General Conference, held in Paris,
• With a successful launch, UAE hopes to to honour authors and books worldwide.
become the first Arabic and Islamic country
to make the Mars Mission dream a reality. Indonesia releases special stamp on the theme of
Ramayana
Indonesia has released a special commemorative Etihad becomes first major airline to operate
stamp on the theme of Ramayana to mark the 70th plastic-free
anniversary of the establishment of its diplomatic ties
with India.
• The stamp has been designed by renowned
Indonesian sculptor Padmashri Bapak
Nyoman Nuarta.
• It featured a scene from Ramayana in which
Jatayu valiantly fought to save Sita.
• India's Ambassador Pradeep Kumar Rawat
and Indonesia's Vice Foreign Minister
Abdurrahman Mohammad Fachir attended UAE's carrier Etihad Airways has become the first
the event. airline in the Gulf region to operate a flight without
any single-use plastics on board.,
Israel to name a new town in Golan after Trump
• This was concluded in a bid to raise
Israel would name a new place in the Golan Heights awareness about pollution on Earth Day
after U.S. President Donald Trump. (April 22).
• It is a part of Etihad's pledge to reduce single-
• It will be named as an expression of gratitude use plastic usage by 80 per cent not just in-
for his recognition of its claim of sovereignty flight, but across the entire organisation by
over the strategic plateau. the end of 202
• Israel captured the Golan from Syria in a
1967 war and annexed it, in a move not Kim Jong-un & Vladimir Putin to hold first
recognized internationally. summit talks in Vladivostok
• The United States broke with other world
powers last month when Trump signed a North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian
decree recognizing Israeli sovereignty there. President Vladimir Putin met for their first summit
talks in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok.
UN, EU sign joint framework to strengthen
partnership in counter-terrorism efforts • The two leaders talked about the Korean
peninsula's nuclear problem.
The United Nations and the European Union (EU) • Kim is believed to seek support after failing
have signed a joint framework aimed at to reach an agreement with US President
strengthening partnership in counter-terrorism Trump on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons
efforts. programme at Hanoi earlier this year.
• The framework was enacted on the occasion NASA's InSight detects first likely 'quake' on
of the second EU-UN high-level political Mars
dialogue on Counter-Terrorism that was held
in New York.
• The UN-EU initiative will focus on terrorism
and violent extremism prevention in Africa,
the Middle East, and Asia, as well as support
victims of terrorism offenders.
Points to Remember
• European Union Headquarters: Brussels, NASA's robotic Mars InSight lander has recorded a
Belgium likely marsquake for the first time ever.
• Member states: 28 states• The US space agency said the faint seismic • It displays the 100 volume series titled
signal, detected by the lander's Seismic Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, apart
instrument, was recorded on April from various publications on the freedom
• NASA said this is the first recorded trembling struggle.
that appears to have come from inside the
plane. ABU Media Summit on Climate Action and
• Scientists still are examining the data to Disaster Preparedness underway in Nepal
determine the exact cause of the signal.
5th Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Media
World Malaria Day: 25 April 2019 Summit on Climate Action and Disaster
Preparedness began in Kathmandu.
World Malaria Day (WMD) is an international
observance commemorated every year on 25 April. • The theme of the two-day summit is “Media
Solutions for Sustainable Future: Saving
• It is observed to spread awareness about Lives, Building Resilient Communities”.
malaria disease globally and to promote • The basic aim of the summit is to address the
efforts to prevent malaria around the world. issue of fully utilizing the media’s potential
• The theme of the World Malaria Day 2019 of accelerating climate action and disaster
was “Zero malaria starts with me”. preparedness.
• WMD is one of eight official global public • Over 200 participants including political
health campaigns currently marked by the leaders, representatives of UN agencies and
World Health Organization (WHO). NGOs scientists and media persons are
attending the evet.
World Intellectual Property Day: 26 April
Points to remember
World Intellectual Property Day observed across the
globe on 26 April. • Nepal Capital: Kathmandu
• Currency: Nepalese rupee
• Intellectual property refers to creations of the • President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari
mind, inventions, literary and artistic works,
and symbols, names and images used in 1. International Dance Day: 29 April 2019
commercial activities.
• The day is observed across the world to
spread awareness about the role that
intellectual property rights like patents,
trademarks, industrial designs and copyright
play in encouraging innovation and
creativity.
• The theme of World Intellectual Property
Day 2019 is ‘Reach for Gold: IP and Sports’.
India Pavilion inaugurated at Abu Dhabi
International Book Fair 2019 International Dance Day is a global celebration of
dance, created by the Dance Committee of the
The India Pavilion at the 29th Abu Dhabi International Theatre Institute (ITI), the main partner
International Book Fair has been inaugurated. for the performing arts of UNESCO.
• India has been designated as the Guest of • The event takes place every year on 29th
Honour for the Book Fair, which is being April, the anniversary of the birth of Jean-
held from 24th – 30th April 2019 Georges Noverre (1727–1810), the creator of
• The India Pavilion lays special focus on the modern ballet.
life and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.• Every year a message from an outstanding • It follows 21 April 2019, Easter attacks in
choreographer or dancer is circulated which more than 250 people were killed.
throughout the world. • Some Muslim organisations had also come
• This year message has been created by forward and suggested a ban on burqa to help
Karima MANSOUR of Egypt, who is a stabilize the security situation
Dancer, Choreographer & Educator
Points to remember
2. South Korea set to hold ASEAN maritime drills
• Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
A two-part maritime exercise by the 10-member • Currency: Sri Lankan rupee
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) • Prime minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe
and its partnering countries is slated to start in South • President: Maithripala Sirisena
Korea's port city of Busan.
• The exercise aims to counter maritime crime,
including illicit transactions of weapons and
other banned items.
• The drills are scheduled to take place from 29
April to 2 May in South Korea, following ISRO launches observation satellite EMISAT
which they will be held in Singapore from
May 9 to May 13. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
• The maritime exercise involves 18 countries successfully launched its latest observation satellite
of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting EMISAT.
plus six other countries are slated to send
military personnel. • The launch vehicle PSLV-C45 lifted off from
• Naval forces from India, Brunei, China, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the Sriharikota carrying EMISAT and 28 other
United States are scheduled to practice customer payloads.
rescuing ships hijacked by armed groups, • The main satellite EMISAT and the 28
amongst other maritime security operations. customer satellites will be ed into two
different orbits, and later, the fourth stage
3. Sri Lankan President bans all types of face engine of the rocket will be taken to a third
coverings orbit in space.
• The foreign satellites include 24 from the
United States, two from Lithuania and one
each from Switzerland and Spain.
EC clears revised MGNREGA wage rates from
April 1
Election Commission has approved a request of the
Rural Development Ministry to revise the wages
under the MGNREGA scheme from April
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has issued
an order for a ban on burqa, veil or covering of the • The wages paid under the Mahatma Gandhi
face in a manner which prevents anyone from being National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
identified. (MGNREGA) are linked with the Consumer
Price Index for agricultural labourers (CPI-
• Any garment or item which obstructs the AL).
identification of a persons face would be • The new wage rates are notified on April 1,
barred. the beginning of the new financial year.• Different states have different wage rates so India and Chile signed three MOUs
the increase in wages will also be different.
• The increase could be up to 5 per cent over India and Chile signed three MOU for cooperation in
and above the current wage. the fields of mining, culture and Empowerment of
• Points to Remember persons with disabilities.
• MNREGA was launched on Launched 2 Feb
200 • The agreements would further enhance
engagement in economic, social and cultural
Odisha celebrating 84th foundation day fields between the two countries.
• Chile is the sixth largest trading partner of
India in the Latin American region.
• They also agreed to work together to
strengthen the global response to defeat and
destroy terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations.
Points to Remember
Odisha is celebrating 84 years of its foundation. • Capital: Santiago
• Currency: Chilean peso
• The day is also known as ‘Utkal Divas.’
• To commemorate the sacrifices of people for Supply of ultra-clean Euro-VI grade fuels begins
the formation of Odisha province in 1936, in cities adjoining NCR
programmes are being organised at various
places across the State.
• Odisha was the first State to be formed on
linguistic basis in 193
• Earlier, Odisha was part of Bihar.
Points to Remember
• Governor: Ganeshi Lal
• Capital: Bhubaneswar
• Chief minister: Naveen Patnaik Supply of ultra-clean Euro-VI grade petrol and diesel
• Lok Sabha seats: 21 has begun in cities adjoining the national capital.
• Rajya Sabha seats: 10
• Delhi in April 2018 became the first city in
Kandhamal haldi gets GI tag the country to leapfrog from Euro-IV grade
petrol and diesel to Euro-VI fuels.
Kandhamal haldi (turmeric) produced by the tribal • Cities in the 12 contiguous districts of
farmers in Odisha's Kandhamal district received the Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, as well as the
Geographical Indication (GI) tag. city of Agra, switched over to the cleaner
fuel.
• Kandhamal turmeric, originally grown by • Rest of the country will follow suit from
tribal people in Kandhamal, is famous for its April 2020.
medicinal properties. • In 2015 India had decided to leapfrog to
• Kandhamal haldi is organic by default being Euro-VI emission norm compliant petrol and
cultivated by more than 60,000 families. diesel from April 2020, from the Euro-IV
grade at present.
The colour of Kandhamal haldi is golden yellow • Euro-VI grade fuel contains 10 ppm of
being well distinguished from other varieties. sulphur as against 50 ppm in Euro-IV fuels.India inks an agreement for setting up India- • It was constructed by the combat engineers
Africa Institute of Agriculture & Rural (Sahas aur Yogyata Regiment) of the Fire and
Development Fury Corps of the Indian Army in a record
time of 40 days, ferrying almost 500 tons of
equipment and construction material.
Telangana tops in eLearning training for field
staff
In eLearning training, Telangana state has ranked
number one by reaching 20,000 field staff during
2018-19
India signed an agreement with a development bank • This is the second year in succession that the
for setting up the India-Africa Institute of State got the distinction under the
Agriculture and Rural Development (IAIARD) in Department of Personnel and Training
Malawi. (DoPT).
• Dr MCR HRD Institute enrolled over 20, 000
• IAIARD will be a Pan-African Institute field staff in different districts of the State to
wherein trainees not only from Malawi but impart training on 12 soft skills modules and
also from other African countries, will three domain-specific modules.
receive training to develop their human
resources and build their capacity. Rajan Anandan logs out of Google India
• The travel, logistics and training course
expenses for students from other African Rajan Anandan, Google’s vice-president for
countries will be borne by the Government of Southeast Asia (SEA) and India, stepped down.
India for an initial period of three years.
• This institute will be the first of its kind • Anandan is also an investor in multiple
developed in an African country by India. startups and is slated to join venture fund
Sequoia Capital.
Points to Remember • Caesar Sengupta, who leads Google’s most
important project ‘Next Billion Users’, is
• Malawi Capital: Lilongwe likely to succeed Anandan.
• Vikas Agnihotri, country director-sales, at
Maitri Bridge over Indus in Leh opened to the Google, will be replacing Anandan in the
public interim, after he steps down by April-end.
WhatsApp launches ‘tipline’ to tackle rumours
ahead of elections
WhatsApp launched a new service named as 'tipline'.
• It allows users to submit for review messages
they think are misleading or carry
unsubstantiated information, in the latest of a
The 260-foot Maitri Bridge, the longest suspension series of steps to curb misinformation on the
bridge over the Indus River at Choglamsar village in messaging platform.
Leh was opened to the public. • Users can send suspicious messages to the
'tipline phone number' to validate the
• The bridge has been named 'Maitri Bridge', authenticity of claims in those messages,
symbolising the excellent civil-military which may be in the form of text, images or
relations existing in the Leh-Ladakh region. videos.• The service will respond by classifying the
said information as “true, false, misleading,
disputed or out of scope and (may) include
any other related information that is available
• Users can check the authenticity of the
information or rumours received on the
platform by reporting the forward to the
WhatsApp number +91-9643-000-88
Airlines flying through the Indian airspace will now
NuGen Mobility Summit 2019 be able to offer their passengers Wi-Fi connectivity
in the air.
The International Centre for Automotive Technology
(ICAT) will organise a NuGen Mobility Summit, • India has got a new “in-flight and maritime
2019, at Manesar, NCR, from 27th to 29th November connectivity” (IFMC) license.
2019 • India's state-run telecom operator, Bharat
Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) procured
• NuGen Mobility Summit is a biennial event the license from Inmarsat, a British
being organised by the International Centre telecommunications satellite company that
for Automotive Technology in collaboration offers global mobile services.
with SAE-NIS. • According to the rules, passengers can make
• More than 2500 participants and over 250 phone calls or use the Internet when a flight
exhibitors are expected to take part in the is at a minimum height of 3,000m in Indian
Summit. airspace to avoid interference with terrestrial
mobile networks.
India likely to grow at 2% in the current fiscal
year: ADB Bureau of Indian Standards inks an MoU with
IIT Delhi
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has inked a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi to collaborate
in the field of standardisation and conformity
assessment.
• The MoU was signed by IIT Delhi Director
Professor V Ramgopal Rao and Director
Asian Development Bank, ADB, says India's growth General of BIS Surina Rajan.
is set to pick up. • BIS and IIT Delhi have also agreed to set up
a Centre of Excellence in the field of
• ADB said India is expected to grow at 2 per standardization, testing and conformity
cent in the current fiscal on strengthening assessment.
consumption.
• It is expected to grow at 3 per cent in 2020 as Points to Remember
policy rates are cut and farmers receive
income support, bolstering domestic demand. • The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the
National Standards Body of India.
Indian flights will have WiFi soon • Formed: 23 December 1986
• Headquarters: Manak Bhawan, New Delhi
National Maritime Day: 5 April• The day marks the beginning of Chaitra
Navratri, that lead up to Ram Navami.
Indian Navy signs MoU with Council of Scientific
and Industrial Research (CSIR)
The Indian Navy and Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR) inked an MoU to
undertake joint research and development of
5 April marks the National Maritime Day of India.
advanced technologies for the Indian Navy.
• On this day in 1919, navigation history was
• This will be a collaborative arrangement
created when SS Loyalty, the first ship of The
between labs of CSIR, the Indian Navy and
Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd.
Indian industry.
journeyed to the United Kingdom.
• The MoU provides a formal framework for
• It was a crucial step for Indian shipping
interaction between the Indian Navy and
history when sea routes were controlled by
CSIR.
the British.
• It would facilitate joint R&D activities in
diverse fields of Mechanical, Electronics,
Vice President inaugurates 3-day National
Communication, Computer Science,
Cardiology Conference in Lucknow
Propulsion systems, Metallurgy and
Nanotechnology.
Vice President inaugurated the 3-day conference
organised by Dept of Cardiology in Lucknow.
World Health Day: 7 April 2019
• The conference leads national and
The World Health Day is a global health awareness
international experts from Europe, USA,
day celebrated every year on 7 April, under the
Japan, Singapore South Korea, Indonesia and
sponsorship of the World Health Organization
Australia deliberate on the latest topics of
(WHO).
Interventional and cutting edge technology.
• The conference being held for the first time
• This day dedicated to spreading awareness
in Uttar Pradesh offers an opportunity to
about equal healthcare facilities worldwide,
showcase newer innovations in Cardiology
the importance of health and wellness.
that can help deliver cost-effective
• Theme: ‘Universal Coverage: Everyone,
cardiology care to patients.
Everywhere.’
Traditional new year festivities being held in
Points to Remember
several parts of the country
• World Health Organisation Formation: 7
Traditional new year festivities are being celebrated
April 1948
in several parts of the country.
• Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland
• Head Director-General: Tedros Adhanom
• Festivals of Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Gudi
Padava, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu
Phayeng Village of Manipur becomes Indias first
Cheiraoba are being celebrated with
carbon-positive settlement
traditional fervour and gaiety.
• In Telangana, people are celebrating Ugaadi
Phayeng Village of Manipur has been tagged as
across two Telugu states, Telangana and
India's first carbon-positive settlement.
Andhra Pradesh to mark the beginning of the
Hindu Lunar calendar.
• A village is given the carbon-positive tag if it
• In Maharashtra, Gudi Padwa signifies the
sequesters more carbon than it emits, slowing
welcoming of spring.the accumulation of greenhouse gases and Dhanush gun has been inducted in the Indian
mitigating the effects of climate change. army.
• Phayeng is a scheduled caste village of the • This is expected to add more firepower to the
Chakpa community in Imphal West district. armed forces.
• As part of the carbon-positive village project, • Dhanush Gun system can be employed in all
Phayeng will receive a grant of Rs10 crore in types of terrain and is one of the new
phases to facilitate afforestation in the generations towed artillery gun system
catchment of river Maklang that flows along better-upgraded features over the existing
the village. Bofors.
NGT imposes Rs 100 crore penalty on Andhra Revolt Intellicorp announces India’s first AI-
Pradesh government enabled e-motorcycle]
Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma has announced
his new venture Revolt Intellicorp Pvt Ltd that will
be making smart electric two-wheelers and
connected devices.
• The e-motorcycle is supposed to be launched
The National Green Tribunal has slapped an interim in June this year.
penalty of Rs 100 crore on the Andhra Pradesh • For now, the company has only let out some
government for inaction to prevent illegal sand crucial specifications of the bike. As per it,
mining in the state. the bike will be able to cover over 150 km on
a single charge.
• A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice • The company is headquartered in Gurgram
Adarsh Kumar Goel, directed the chief with a manufacturing facility in Manesar,
secretary of Andhra Pradesh to forthwith Haryana.
prohibit all unregulated sand mining.
• The tribunal directed the state government to Government sells Rs 1,150 crore worth enemy
deposit Rs 100 crore 'environment shares in Wipro
compensation' with the Central Pollution
Control Board within a month. The government has sold enemy shares worth around
• The tribunal's direction came on a plea filed Rs 1,150 crore in information technology firm Wipro
by Andhra Pradesh resident Anumolu Ltd.
Gandhi, alleging illegal sand mining was
causing damage to Krishna, Godavari rivers • Apart from Life Insurance Corporation,
and their tributaries in the state. General Insurance Corporation and The New
India Assurance Corporation have bought the
Dhanush Artillery Gun inducted into Indian shares.
Army • The Custodian of Enemy Property for India is
an entity of the central government which
Dhanush, the first indigenous long-range artillery looks after enemy property and shares.
gun has been inducted into the Indian Army.
Points to Remember
• The 155 mm calibre artillery gun was
manufactured by the Jabalpur-based Gun • As per the Enemy Property Act, 1968,
Carriage Factory. ‘enemy property’ refers to any property that
• After the induction of M-777 ultra-light was belonging to a person who migrated from
howitzers in November 2018, the country's India to an enemy country when war broke
first indigenously designed and developed out.Justice Pradeep Nandrajog takes oath as new • AIIMS has been ranked first among medical
Chief Justice of Bombay High Court sciences institutes and National Law School,
Bangalore has topped law colleges.
Justice Pradeep Nandrajog took oath as the new
Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. International Convention on World
Homoeopathy Day
• He was d the oath by Maharashtra Governor
C Vidyasagar Rao at the Raj Bhavan.
• Justice Nandrajog was serving as the Chief
Justice of the Rajasthan High Court since
March 2017, following his transfer from the
Delhi High Court.
Points to Remember
• Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai A two day convention is being organised on 9-10th
• Governor: C. Vidyasagar Rao April 2019 by the Central Council for Research in
• Chief minister: Devendra Fadnavis Homoeopathy (CCRH) on the occasion of the World
Homoeopathy Day.
CRPF celebrated its 54th Valour Day
• It is an autonomous research organization
President Ram Nath Kovind paid homage to the under Ministry of AYUSH.
martyrs of police at National Police Memorial in • The World Homoeopathy Day is observed to
New Delhi on the occasion of 54th Valour Day of commemorate the birth anniversary of the
Central Reserve Police Force. founder of Homoeopathy, Dr. Christian
Fredrich Samuel Hahnemann.
• 9th April is celebrated as Valour Day in the
Force. RBI issued norms for banks to set up currency
• The President also launched the App - Veer chests
Parivar for assistance to next of kin of
Martyrs of CRPF personnel. The Reserve Bank of India came out with guidelines
• The Central Reserve Police Force is India's for banks to set up new currency chests, which
largest Central Armed Police Forces. It include minimum area of 1,500 square feet for strong
functions under the authority of the Ministry room.
of Home Affairs of the Government of India.
• Besides, the new chests should have a
IIT-Madras tops HRD's national ranking of processing capacity of 6 lakh pieces of
institutes banknotes per day.
• For those situated in the hilly/ inaccessible
President Ram Nath Kovind released the national places, the capacity of 1 lakh pieces of
ranking of higher institutes by the Ministry of Human banknotes per day.
Resources Development in New Delhi. • Earlier, a RBI appointed committee had
recommended that the apex bank should
• Indian Institute of Technology Madras encourage banks to open large currency
topped the rankings while the Indian Institute chests with modern facilities and Chest
of Science, Bangalore bagged the second Balance Limit (CBL) of at least Rs 1,000
rank followed by IIT Delhi. crore.
• Delhi University's Miranda House was
ranked the best among colleges across the IMF scales down India's growth projection for
country. current fiscal to 3%The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has
moderately scaled down India’s economic growth
projection to 3 per cent for the current financial year
from its earlier forecast of 4 per cent.
• Despite this, the country will remain the
fastest-growing large economy as the nearest
The River Periyar in Kerala is again witnessing the
competitor China's growth is pegged at 6 per
decolourisation. The decolourisation of River Periyar
cent, 3 per cent and 1 per cent for 2018, 2019
which provides drinking water to Kochi city.
and 2020, respectively.
• The pollution control Board (PCB) has
Online Harms White Paper
attributed the change in colour to the poor
quality of water as a result of eutrophication.
The UK Department of Digital, Culture, Media and • River Periyar flows in the state of Kerala. It
Sport in association with Home Office have released originates in the Western Ghats and flows
the Online Harms White Paper. north for a short distance to Periyar Lake.
• Periyar Lake is an artificial reservoir created
• The White paper sets out a programme of by Mullaperiyar Dam across the river. From
action to tackle content or activity that harms the Periyar Lake, tunnel carries water through
individual users, particularly children, or mountains to the Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu,
threatens our way of life in the UK, either by where it is used for irrigation.
undermining national security or by
undermining our shared rights, India builds a maternity hospital in Nepal
responsibilities and opportunities to foster
integration.
India has built a 25-bed maternity hospital in Nepal.
'Desi Bofors' Dhanush inducted in Army in bid
• The hospital has been built under the
to modernise artillery
Government of India's Small Development
Projects Scheme.
• Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh
Puri inaugurated the Chandra Narayan Yadav
Memorial Maternity Hospital in Siraha
district.
• The Hospital will provide quality maternity
and health care services to the people of 50
Village Development Committees in and
around Siraha district.
• It will also help in reducing maternal and
In an important step towards upgrading the combat
child mortality rate.
power of the artillery, the Ordnance Factory Board
(OFB) handed over the first six Dhanush 155
India's population grew at a 2 % average annual
millimetre (mm) artillery guns to the army.
rate between 2010 and 2019: UN report
• This is part of an order for 114 guns being
India's population grew at an average annual rate of
delivered by the OFB’s Gun Carriage
2 per cent between 2010 and 2019, according to a
Factory, Jabalpur.
report by the United Nations Population Fund.
• The Dhanush is also called the “Desi Bofors”,
having been developed from blueprints
• It is more than double the annual growth rate
supplied by Bofors in the 1980s, when India
of China
bought 400 Swedish FH-77B howitzers.
• India's population in 2019 stood at 36 billion.
Decolourisation of River Periyar• In comparison, China's population stood at 42 tech giant Google to build industry-specific cloud
billion in 2019 solutions.
• China's population grew at an average annual
rate of 0.5 per cent between 2010 and 2019 • These solutions will help organisations
accelerate their digital transformation and
Bold Kurukshetra 2019: Singapore, India joint leverage data-driven insights that power
military exercise kicks off superior customer experiences.
• TCS' solutions on the Google cloud platform
will help enterprises build secure, cloud-
native analytics platforms, and are cost-
effective, easy to maintain, and future ready.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu get the fifth
term
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party
Military forces of India and Singapore got together has won 36 seats and surpassed the main rival, the
to participate in a joint exercise in Babina Blue and White party in the 2019 Israel election.
Cantonment in Jhansi.
• The results were released by the committee
• The three-day exercise, ‘Bold Kurukshetra– after two days of counting ballots and delays
2019’, is being conducted to develop military caused by computer malfunctions.
technology, boost maritime security and • The results mean Netanyahu is heading for a
bolster the nations’ fight against terrorism. record fifth term in office and would become
• The two countries had signed a cooperation Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister.
agreement to strengthen the defence ties
between the Indian Military and Singapore Points to Remember
Armed Forces in November 201
• Capital: Jerusalem
Govt retains interest rate for General Provident • Currency: Israeli new shekel
Fund at 8%
PM Modi awarded with Russia’s highest state
The government has retained the interest rate for honour
General Provident Fund (GPF), Contributory
Provident Fund and other related schemes at 8 per
cent for the first quarter of the current financial year.
• The interest rate on these funds was at 8 per
cent in the January-March quarter of 2018-19
and government kept it unchanged for April
to June for 2019-20.
• The interest rate will be applicable on
provident funds of central government Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred
employees, railways and defence forces. on the Order of St Andrew the Apostle highest state
decoration of Russia.
TCS, Google partner to build industry-specific
cloud solutions • He was decorated with the award for his
exceptional services in promoting a special
India's largest software services firm Tata and privileged strategic partnership between
Consultancy Services (TCS) has collaborated with Russian and India.
• In 2017, Chinese president Xi Jinping was
awarded the Order of St Andrew the Apostle.• Recently, PM Modi has been awarded the Points to Remember
United Arab Emirates's top honour as well as
of countries including South Korea, Saudi • Bharti Airtel CEO: Gopal Vittal
Arabia, Palestine and Afghanistan. • Headquarters: New Delhi
India, Sweden ink pact to collaborate on Google launches a new cloud platform, Anthos
solutions for smart cities, clean tech
Google launched Anthos, a new open platform from
India and Sweden launched a joint programme that Google Cloud, that lets users run applications from
will work towards addressing a range of challenges anywhere.
around smart cities and clean technologies among
others. • Anthos allows users to run applications,
unmodified, on existing on-premise hardware
• The programme was co-founded by the or on the public cloud.
Indian Department of Science and • It is based on the Cloud Services Platform
Technology (DST) and Swedish agency that Google announced last year.
Vinnova. • Anthos is a completely software-based
• Vinnova will provide funding to Swedish solution. Users can set it up on existing
participants up to 2,500,000 Swedish Krona hardware, claimed Google.
(around Rs 87 crore) as a grant.
• On the Indian side, a conditional grant of up NGT forms the Central Monitoring Committee
to 50 per cent (with a limit of Rs 5 crore) per to prepare a national plan for polluted rivers
project will be provided to the Indian
partners. A bench headed by NGT (National Green Tribunal)
Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel has formed
DoT approved the merger of TTSL and Bharti a Central Monitoring Committee to enforce a
Airtel national plan to reduce the river pollution.
• It will make over 350 river stretches across
the country pollution free as it has caused a
serious threat to the safety of water and
environment.
• The Central Monitoring Committee will also
coordinate with the River Rejuvenation
Committees of the states and oversee the
execution of the action plans.
The Department of Telecom has given approval for Namami Gange gets approved with Global
the merger of Tata Teleservices (TTSL) with Bharti recognition at Global Water Summit
Airtel.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was
• The merger is subject to the condition that the awarded the distinction of “Public Water Agency of
Sunil Bharti Mittal-led firm furnishes Rs the Year” at the Global Water Summit in London.
7,200 crore worth bank guarantee.
• The merger will be taken on record after • The Global Water Awards are presented at
Airtel submits a bank guarantee of about Rs the Global Water Summit, the major business
6,000 crore for one-time spectrum charges conference for the water industry worldwide.
and another Rs 1,200 crore for the spectrum • The awards recognise excellence across the
that would be acquired from TTSL. international water industry and reward those
• As part of the proposed agreement, Airtel will initiatives in the water, wastewater, and
absorb Tata consumer mobile business desalination sectors, which bring remarkable
(CMB) operations in 19 telecom circles. improvements in the lives of people.Retail inflation inches up to 86% in March • Tata Trusts and Microsoft will leverage each
other's strengths to provide business and
communication skills, design education and
digital literacy to handloom weavers so that
they may build a sustainable future.
Points to Remember
• Google CEO: Sundar Pichai
Retail inflation saw a marginal rise of 86 per cent in Ambedkar Jayanti: 14 April
March this year on account of increase in prices of
food articles and fuel. Ambedkar Jayanti or Bhim Jayanti marks the birth
anniversary of Bhimrao Ambedkar or BR Ambedkar
• According to the data released by - the "Father of The Indian Constitution".
the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation, the inflation based on the • Celebrated on April 14, Ambedkar Jayanti
Consumer Price Index was 57 per cent in honours the Dalit icon who dedicated his life
February this year. working for the upliftment of untouchables,
• On a yearly basis, it was 28 per cent in March women and labourers.
201 • Dr BR Ambedkar not just gave India its
Constitution, but also played a key role in the
Navy gets virtual reality centre for designing formation of Reserve Bank of India - the
warships country's central banking institution.
• The government has declared a public
Admiral Sunil Lanba, the Chief of the Naval Staff, holiday on 14 April for all Central
inaugurated the maiden ‘state-of-the-art’ Virtual government offices, including industrial
Reality Centre (VRC) at the Directorate of Naval establishments, throughout India.
Design, New Delhi.
Giant six-engine aircraft lands its first flight in
• This centre would provide a major boost to California
the Indigenous warship design capabilities of
the Indian Navy.
• It will provide impetus to self-reliance and
greater fillip to warship construction under
“Make in India” initiative of the Indian
government.
• This project will facilitate collaborative
design reviews for continuous interaction
between the designers and the end users to
improve design and ergonomics onboard
warships.
The world's largest aeroplane designed by
Stratolaunch with two fuselages and six Boeing 747
Tata Trusts, Microsoft join hands to support
engines, made its first test flight in California, USA.
handloom weaving community
• The mega jet carried out its maiden voyage
Tata Trusts and Microsoft India inked a pact to
over the Mojave desert.
jointly rejuvenate handloom clusters in the eastern
• It is designed to carry into space and drop a
and north-eastern parts of the country.
rocket that would ignite to deploy satellites.
• Both the entities have signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) in this regard.You can also read
