Current Affairs Quiz - 17th April, 2018

Solution: Yes Bank announced the launch of 'Yes GST', an OD (over draft) facility for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Through this, an MSME can avail OD up to Rs 1 crore, based on their annual turnover, backed by GST returns. Any additional assessment of balance sheet or bank statements will not be required. This OD facility can be availed by an MSME against mortgage of residential or commercial property. The sanctioned amount can be utilized by the MSME either fully or in tranches.

Solution: The 29th Arab League Summit 2018 has started in Dahran, Saudi Arabia on April 15 to promote Arab joint action to address challenges facing the nation. In the annual gathering of Arab leaders, Saudi Arabia hopes to push for a unified stand against Iran. The fate of Jerusalem, as US plans to move its Embassy after declaring it the capital of Israel is also expected to dominate the Summit. Although in a long diplomatic stand off for the past nearly 10 months, both Saudi Arabia and Qatar have voiced support for the US led air strike on Syria. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai is leading the UAE's delegation to the 29th Arab League Summit.

Solution: Rio Olympics bronze medalist Sakshi Malik won a bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, beating New Zealand's Tayla Ford in the women's freestyle 62 kg event in Gold Coast. This is Sakshi's second medal at the CWG, after winning a silver in the 2014 Games. India has won 11 medals in wrestling, including five golds.

Solution: Bengaluru has emerged as the highest paying city in India, with an average annual cost to company (CTC) for talents through all levels and functions at Rs 11 lakh, as per the report of Randstad Insights. Second position was secured by Pune with an average annual CTC at Rs 10 lakh. NCR occupies the 3rd position with an average annual CTC figure of a little under Rs 10 lakh. Mumbai has come fourth with an average annual CTC of Rs 9 lakh. Chennai (Rs 8 lakh), Hyderabad (a little under Rs 8 lakh) and Kolkata (around Rs 7 lakh) are the other three cities in the list of Indian cities paying the highest average salaries for professionals. Randstad Insights' report also states that professionals from pharma and healthcare industry are paid the highest in India with an average annual CTC of Rs 10 lakh across all levels and functions.

Solution: The Ministry of Electronics and IT in partnership with IIT-Delhi is working on a switch-based device in cars and buses to aid safety of women. The proposed panic switch system when invoked will generate a loud alarm in the vehicle which will attract public attention. The system will include features such as authenticating the driver of the vehicles and a camera interface.

Solution: Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited (GNFC) started its socio-economic Neem Project in Amethi District, Uttar Pradesh. GNFC intends to collect 8,000 to 10,000 MT Neem seeds from the State. Using Neem as a key ingredient, GNFC has started producing Neem oil-based products such as Neem soap, handwash, shampoo etc.

Solution: Bihar reports the highest rate of crimes against SC/ST population, while West Bengal reports the lowest, according to latest data released by National Crime Records Bureau. For crimes against SCs specifically, Madhya Pradesh is highest at 43.4%, and WB is lowest at 6%. For crimes against the ST population specifically, Rajasthan is the highest at 12.9%, with WB being the lowest at 1.6%.

Solution: Small Industries and Development Bank of India (SIDBI) announced a plan to promote micro-enterprises in 115 aspirational districts across the country. It has tied up with Common Service Centre (CSC). The 'Transformation of Aspirational Districts' program, which was launched by the prime minister in January, aims to bring about socio-developmental changes in these backward districts.

Solution: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first health centre under Ayushman Bharat Scheme in Bijapur. He also inaugurated the first phase of the Bastar Internet scheme under which a 40,000-km-long network of fibre optics cable would be spread across the seven districts of the tribal region. The districts are Bijapur, Narayanpur, Bastar, Kanker, Kondagaon, Sukma and Dantewada.

Solution: Every April 17 World Haemophilia Day is recognized worldwide to increase awareness of hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders. The theme of WHD 2018 is 'Sharing Knowledge Makes Us Stronger'. World Haemophilia Day was started in 1989 by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) which chose to bring the community together on April 17 in honor of WFH founder Frank Schnabel's birthday.

Solution: A Loan Agreement for IBRD loan of USD 48 million for the "Meghalaya Community - Led Landscapes Management Project (MCLLMP)" was signed with the World Bank. The main Objective of the Project is to strengthen community-led landscapes management in selected landscapes in the State of Meghalaya. The Project consists of three components: (i) Strengthening Knowledge and Capacity for Natural Resource Management; (ii) Community-led landscape planning and implementation and (iii) Project Management and Governance.

Solution: East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh is all set to become the country's first 'LED street light district'. The rural LED street lighting programme in the district entailing the installation of around 3.1 lakh LED street lights has been completed. The Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) is supporting the LED project which has been completed in five months.

Solution:

India clinched the silver in the squash mixed doubles event for the first time in the history of Commonwealth Games. Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Saurav Ghosal lost to Australia's Cameron Pilley and Donna Urquhart 0-2 in the final at Gold Coast. This was the fifth time Australia won the event at the Commonwealth Games.

Solution:

A Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) was signed between the Indian Army and the Axis Bank on the Defence Salary Package. The first MoU between Axis Bank and the Indian Army was signed in 2011 and was renewed on March 24, 2015. Recently, the Indian Army has also signed a MoU with the HDFC bank as well.

Solution:

Shares of private lender Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited beat India's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) for the first time to become the second most valued bank in the country. Data from BSE showed that Kotak Mahindra Bank has a market capitalization of Rs2,22,560.69 crore after its shares rose 1.7%. SBI market capitalization stood at Rs2,22,043.74 crore. Its shares were trading at Rs248.80 on BSE, down 1% from its previous close. HDFC Bank Limited remained country's most valuable bank with a capitalization action of Rs5.04 trillion.

Solution:

The biannual Army Commanders' Conference, Chaired by Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, has started in New Delhi on April 16, 2018. In it, the senior commanders will deliberate on specific issues to Army formations and Army as a whole at the conference. Important issues that are likely to be discussed are management of the extant security dynamics, mitigation of future security threats and enhancement of combat edge over potential adversaries. Other issues like infrastructure development for capacity enhancement along the Northern borders, review of strategic railway lines, issues related to Border Road Organization projects, etc., will be discussed in detail for planning and execution. Army Commanders' Conference is held biannually for formulating important policy decisions through collegiate deliberations. It is an important event for planning and execution process of the Indian Army.