Test : July 2019 Weekly Current Affair - 7" - Current Affairs MCQ

On July 24, 2019, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal launched the 12th Edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII) for the year 2019 in New Delhi.The theme of the 2019 GII is “Creating Healthy Lives – The Future of Medical Innovation”. The index tracks innovation in government policies and industry practices.Switzerland topped the 12th Edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII) for the year 2019. India was ranked 52nd in 2019 with the score 36.58 out of 100 from 57th position in 2018. It was ranked 81st in 2015, 66th in 2016 and 60th in 2017.

The central government has urged all the states for rooftop solar systems installation by 2022 in order to achieve its 40,000 MW (40GW) target. In-charge for this grid-connected solar program will be the Solar Energy Corporation of India(SECI), The state distribution companies (discom) and the state nodal agencies.

On July 23, 2019, According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s latest update on World Economic Outlook (WEO) report 2019, India’s GDP (gross domestic product) growth expected to grow by 7% in 2019 (FY-Fiscal Year 2020) and 7.2% in 2020 (FY21). It cuts its forecast for FY20 to 7% from 7.3%, that had predicted in April 2019 & for FY21 to 7.2% from the previous estimate of 7.5%. It scales down its outlook for both the years due to a broad-based slowdown in consumption and investment demand in India.

On July 23, 2019, India’s central banking institution, Reserve Bank of India(RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das launched “Utkarsh 2022”, central bank’s medium-term strategy framework (2019-22), in line with evolving macroeconomic environment. RBI will also periodically monitor the implementation and progress via its sub-committee.In April 2015, a formal strategic management framework was launched. The framework contains the mission of the RBI, the central purpose, the values(public interest, integrity and independence, responsiveness and innovation, diversity and inclusiveness, and introspection and pursuit of excellence) and the declarations of the vision and the bank’s commitment to the nation.

Keshav Dutt, the two-time Olympic gold medallist in hockey and Prasun Banerjee, former Indian football captain, will be awarded the ‘Mohun Bagan Ratna’ for the year 2019 on Mohun Bagan Day on July 29, 2019. Keshav Dutt, aged 94, is one of the oldest surviving hockey Olympians of India. He represented India in the 1948 London Games, where India won the first gold post Independence. Other Awardees

On July 23, 2019, India’s Central Bank, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has assigned Deputy Governor BP Kanungo to run the monetary policy portfolio after the resignation of fellow Deputy Governor Viral V. Acharya. The monetary policy department, including forecasting and modeling unit, was earlier looked after by Acharya, who quit his role as Deputy Governor on June 2019.Kanungo will retain his currency management portfolio would become the 6th member of the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee, which will next meet on August 5-7,2019.

Current General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Army Command, Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane has been appointed as the next vice chief of the army staff in the Indian Army. He succeeds Lieutenant General D. Anbu who is retiring next month. Lt-Gen. R.P. Singh will take over as General officer commanding-in-chief, Western Army command, succeeding Lt-Gen. Surinder Singh.The current director-general of military operations (DGMO) Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan will replace Lt-Gen M.M. Naravane in the eastern command.The current director-general of military training Lt-Gen. A.S. Kler has been appointed as General Officer Commanding-in-chief of the South Western Command succeeding Lt-Gen. Cherish Matheson.Lt-Gen.I.S. Ghuman will take charge of Lucknow based General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command from Lt-Gen. Abhay Krishna.

On July 24, 2019, The Union Government has reconstituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to examine frameworks for dealing with matters of sexual harassment of women at the workplace with Home Minister Amit Shah, replacing his predecessor Rajnath Singh, as its head.The other members of the new panel include Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Human Resource Development Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.

On July 23, 2019, Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy and Power R K Singh informed that Gujarat was ranked first in the installation of rooftop solar projects in India with an installed capacity of 261.97 megawatts (MW), out of which 183.51 MW were subsidised installations and 78.45 MW was non-subsidised. It was followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu with 198.52 MW and 151.62 MW respectively.At present, the total rooftop solar installation in India is 1,700.54 MW.Under the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar programme, government provided total financial assistance and incentives of Rs 678.01 crore in 2016-17, Rs 169.73 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 446.77 crore in 2018-19.

As per the report titled ‘Status of Unaccounted Income/Wealth Both Inside and Outside the Country – A Critical Analysis’ of the Standing Committee on Finance headed by M Veerappa Moily, 3 separate studies which were conducted by 3 premier institutes National Institute of Public Policy and Finance (NIPFP), National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and the National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM).

Walmart (US) topped “Fortune Global 500 list 2019” followed by Sinopec Group of China. Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) has become the top-ranked Indian company to feature in the latest “Fortune Global 500 list 2019” with a jump of 42 places. It ranked 106th in the list. Reliance Industries (RIL) overtakes state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), which had been the top-ranked Indian company on the list and was first on the Fortune India 500 list which was started in 2010. Now IOC ranked 117 in the list with registering a jump of 20 spots.RIL’s revenue increased to $82.3 billion in 2019 from $62.3 billion in 2018 (32.1% increment).While IOC registered $77.6 billion from $65.9 billion, a 17.7 percent growth in revenue.

Atanu Chakraborty, a 1985-batch Gujarat cadre IAS officer, was appointed as new Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs. He will succeed Subhash Chandra Garg. Anil Kumar Khachi, a 1986-batch IAS from Himachal Pradesh cadre was appointed as the Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) under Ministry of Finance succeeding Atanu Chakraborty. Subhash Chandra Garg, a 1983 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre, was appointed as the Secretary of Ministry of Power. He will replace Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

A three-member research team led by Assam forest officer Jatindra Sarma has discovered Dracaena cambodiana, a dragon tree species in Dongka Sarpo area of West Karbi Anglong district in Assam. This is the first time that a dragon tree species, whose sap turns bright red after coming in contact with air has been reported from India.

Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-LVMY) was launched by the Union labour and Employment ministry for retailers and small traders. This scheme provides a minimum monthly pension of Rs 3000/month to small shopkeepers, retail traders, and the self-employed people after they attain 60years of age. It is an extension of Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM).Self-employed people, small shopkeepers and retail traders aged between 18-40 years and with Goods and Service Tax (GST) turnover below Rs 1.5 crore can avail the scheme.The above eligible persons should not be covered under the National Pension Scheme, Employees’ State Insurance Scheme, and Employees Provident Fund or be an Income Taxpayer (assessee).

The State Government of Uttar Pradesh(UP) has become number one in implementation of ambitious central government scheme Pradhanamntri Suraksha Beema Yojna. Totally 1.95 crores people have been given insurance cover under the scheme till 31 march 2019 in the state.The state implemented this scheme starting from January 2018. Under it, people between the age group of 18 to 70 with bank accounts get an accidental insurance cover of rupees 2 lakh by paying an annual premium of 12 rupees.The sate holds the second spot in the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana, another flagship scheme of the central Government.

The three armed forces of India (Army, Navy, and Air Force) conducted 1st ever simulated space warfare exercise called “IndSpaceEx” on July 25, 26, 2019. It was started in New Delhi. The 2-day exercise aims to assess requisite space and counter-space capabilities that are needed by India. It will also help India to better grasp strategic challenges in space that need to be handled. Participants from DRDO(Defence Research and Development Organisation), academia and think tanks took part in it. It helps to assess capabilities India needs to ensure that it can protect its space assets. It will also help to better understand possible challenges in space warfare and a major threat to India’s national security interest.

According to the study named “Moving Price Index 2019” conducted by relocation experts from Movinga (German online platform-based moving company) San Francisco was ranked as the most expensive city in the world to relocate to as an individual and as a Family.
Here’s the rank of cities for individual relocation:

Here’s the rank of cities for family relocation:

On July 25, 2019, The Union Minister for MSMEs(Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), Nitin Gadkari stated that a panel of RBI(Reserve Bank of India) has recommended an increase in the collateral-free lending limit to Rs 20 lakh for MSMEs and self-help groups(SHG). The panel also recommended revision of loan limit sanctioned under MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 10 lakh.

On 26th July 2019, Karnataka’s Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) state President Bookanakere Siddalingapp (BS) Yediyurappa was sworn in as the 19th Chief Minister of Karnataka. He succeeded H. D. Kumaraswamy of Janata Dal (Secular) party. He has the record of taking the oath of office as Chief Minister of Karnataka for the fourth time.Previously he served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka for 3 times viz, 12th to 19th November 2007, 30th May 2008 to 31st July 2011 & 17th to 19th May 2018.He is popularly known as “Raithara Bandhu” for his pro-farmer policies, initiatives like separate agriculture budget in Karnataka Government during his chief ministership.

On 25th July 2019, Federation Internationale de Football Association(FIFA) has released its ranking for the year 2019. Belgium leads the overall FIFA rankings, followed by Brazil, France, England, and Uruguay. Indian football team slipped two places to 103rd in the recent FIFA rankings with 1214 ranking points.Among Asian Countries, Iran topped the ranking. Iran ranked 23rd globally followed by Japan (33), Korea (37), Australia (46) and Qatar (62).

Western Railways (WR) opened its first printing press heritage gallery named Western Railway Mahalaxmi General Stores Depot (GSD) at Mahalaxmi in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was inaugurated by V P Pathak, Member (Materials Management) of the Railway Board. It became the first press in Indian Railways to portray a heritage gallery of the printing and allied machines used in the Western Railway Printing Press since 1948.

INS Tarkash which was constructed for the Indian Navy by Russia reached SaintPetersburg, Russia to take part in the Russian Navy Day parade celebrated on 28 July. The Indian delegation is led by Vice Admiral Ajith Kumar,Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command and INS Tarkash.More than 40 ships, 40 planes and helicopters, and a total of 4000 service men will take part in the Navy day celebration.

On July 26, 2019, The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) withdraws Commonwealth Games Federation(CGF) general assembly meeting to be held in Rwanda in September 2019.

On July 27, 2019, the 36th Goods & Service Tax (GST) Council Meeting was held in New Delhi Via Video Conference under the chairmanship of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. It was attended by Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs Shri Anurag Thakur, Revenue Secretary Shri Ajay Bhushan Pandey and other senior officials of the Ministry of Finance. The GST Council made the following changes in the GST rate on supply of goods and services which will be effective from August 1, 2019: The GST rate on all Electric Vehicles (EVs) was reduced from 12% to 5%. The GST rate on charger or charging stations for EVs was reduced from 18% to 5%. Hiring of electric buses (of carrying capacity of more than 12 passengers) by local authorities was exempted from GST.

Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) Dr Jitendra Singh chaired and briefed about the progress report of 100 Days Action Plan for Ministry of DoNER.It sanctioned 200 projects worth about Rs 3,000 crore.First Bamboo Industrial Park will be set up at Manderdisa in Dima Hasao district of Assam in an area of 75 hectares at a cost of Rs. 50 crores.49 projects worth Rs 1231.94 crore were achieved by the Ministry.8 new projects worth Rs. 586.3 crore were sanctioned under NERSDS and NESIDS schemes.