Shape Your Vocabulary: 31st August 2019

Over the last couple of years, the English section of the Banking Examinations has given good surprises. You must have encountered one or more new type of question in almost every Banking exam you appear for. Many of these questions exclusively check your vocabulary skills. So, apart from enhancing your reading, writing and speaking skills, a sound grip on vocabulary helps you score better in examinations. 

Reading is one of the best ways to boost your vocabulary. As you read a piece of writing, you come across new words which you might not have come across before. So, we must always try to inculcate a habit of reading.

Keeping this vision in mind, we bring to you the series, ‘Shape up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist’. The articles in this series fulfil your daily intake of English words. The series tries to feature words from an article, with their meanings, contextual usage, pronunciation, synonyms, antonyms, proper use in sentences, etc. Given below is an important editorial from the newspaper ‘The Hindu’. Read it, understand the context and go through the meanings of words to boost up your learning.

Happy Reading!

Law and opinion: On SC taking up Kashmir special status issue

Important Words from the Article

1. Word: Sway (हिलना-डुलना)

Pronunciation: swey / स्वे

Part of Speech: Verb, Noun

Meaning:
a. move or cause to move slowly or rhythmically backwards and forwards or from side to side. [Verb]
b. rule; control. [Noun]

Synonyms: influence, control, oscillate, swing, dominion

Antonyms: stay, steady, dissuade

Usage in a sentence: The boat suddenly began to lurch and sway.

2. Word: Abrogation (निराकरण)

Pronunciation: ab-ruh-gey-shuh n / ऐब्रगेशन

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: the repeal or abolition of a law, right, or agreement.

Synonyms: repeal, abolition, annulment

Antonyms: collaboration, appointment, mandate

Usage in a sentence: Measures for the abrogation shall be stipulated by the State Council.

3. Word: Acquiescence (अनुमति)

Pronunciation: ak-wee-es-uh ns/ ऐक्वीएसन्स

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: the reluctant acceptance of something without protest. 

Synonyms: consent, agreement, acceptance, accession, concurrence, approval

Antonyms: refusal, disagreement, defiance, rejection

Usage in a Sentence: Good manners demanded our cheerful acquiescence to our host's plans for dinner

4. Word: Intervene (हस्तक्षेप करना)

Pronunciation: in-ter-veen/ इन्टर्वीन

Part of Speech: Verb

Meaning: 
a. take part in something so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events.
b. occur in the time between events.

Synonyms: interfere, interpose, intercede, meddle

Antonyms: ignore, disregard, leave, avoid

Usage in a Sentence: The prisoner asked me to intervene with the authorities on his behalf.

5. Word: Latitude (अक्षांश, स्वतंत्रता)

Pronunciation: lat-i-tood/ लैटिट्यूड

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: 
a. regions, especially with reference to their temperature and distance from the equator.
b. scope for freedom of action or thought.

Synonyms: freedom, leeway, scope, space

Antonyms: limitation, restriction, termination

Usage in a Sentence: We weren't given much latitude in deciding how to do the job.

6. Word: Integration (एकीकरण)

Pronunciation: in-ti-grey-shuhn/ इन्टग्रेशन 

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: the action or process of integrating.

Synonyms: inclusion, union, consolidation, incorporation, amalgamation

Antonyms: segregation, isolation, division, discrimination

Usage in a Sentence: Catron failed to clarify that this study focused on immediate social ties, rather than on more formal forms of integration into civic life and other social institutions.

7. Word: Detention (कारावास)

Pronunciation: dih-ten-shuh n/ डिटेन्शन

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: the action of detaining someone or the state of being detained in official custody.

Synonyms: custody, imprisonment, confinement, incarceration

Antonyms: redemption, release, liberation, discharge, freedom

Usage in a sentence: The detention raised two distinct but closely linked questions.

8. Word: Approbation (अनुमोदन)

Pronunciation: ap-ruh-bey-shuh n/ ऐप्रबेशन

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: approval or praise

Synonyms: approval, acceptance, assent, endorsement, encouragement

Antonyms: contempt, criticism, disapprobation, condemnation, shame

Usage in a Sentence: The company has even received the approbation of its former critics.

9. Word: Substitution (स्थानापन्नता)

Pronunciation: in-ti-grey-shuhn/ सब्स्टिटूशन

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: the action of replacing someone or something with another person or thing.

Synonyms: exchange, change, interchange; replacement

Usage in a Sentence: The coach made three substitutions in the second half of the game.

10. Word: Consent (सहमति)

Pronunciation: kuh n-sent/ कन्सेन्ट

Part of Speech: Noun, Verb

Meaning: 
a. permission for something to happen or agreement to do something. (Noun)
b. give permission for something to happen. (Verb)

Synonyms: agreement, assent, approval, accord, allow, sanction, accept

Antonyms: dissent, forbid, disagree, refuse, oppose

Usage in a Sentence: He was reluctant at first but finally consented.

11. Word: Loom (संकट मँडराना)

Pronunciation: loom/ लूम

Part of Speech: Verb

Meaning: appear as a vague form, especially one that is large or threatening

Synonyms: menace, emerge, stand out

Antonyms: disappear, diminish, remove

Use in a Sentence: We should flag those problems that could loom ahead.

12. Word: Precedent (उदाहरण/ अग्रगामी)

Pronunciation: pres-i-duh nt/ प्रेसिडन्ट

Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective

Meaning:
a. an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances. [Noun]
b. preceding in time, order, or importance. [Adjective]

Synonyms: model, example, preceding

Antonyms: after, following, later

Usage in a sentence: The judgment on pension rights has established a precedent.

Daily Vocabulary : 31th August

Daily Vocabulary : 30th August

Appointment

1. Pramod Agarwal appointed Chairman of Coal India

• Senior IAS officer (1991 batch: Madhya Pradesh cadre) Pramod Agarwal (53-year) has been selected as the next Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Coal India Limited.
• He will succeed incumbent Chairman Anil Kumar Jha (retire in January 2020).
• Currently, Mr Agrawal is working as principal secretary for urban development and housing department in Madhya Pradesh.

Note

• The Coal India Limited (CIL) is an Indian state-controlled coal mining company headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
• It is the largest coal-producing company in the world.

2. Govt. extends CBDT Chairman Mody's tenure by 1 year

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended the tenure of Pramod Chandra Mody (Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax cadre)- 1982-batch) as the Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for one year.
• He was to retire on 31^st August 2019.
• The Chairperson, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is ex-officio special secretary and is under the direct charge of the revenue secretary of India.
• It frames a policy for the Income-Tax Department.

3. Lakshmi Vilas Bank MD & CEO Parthasarathi Mukherjee resigns

• Managing Director (MD) and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Lakshmi Vilas Bank Parthasarathi Mukherjee has announced his resignation citing personal reasons.
• Earlier, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is considering a proposal of merger of Indiabulls Housing Finance with Lakshmi Vilas Bank.
• On 5 April 2019, the board of Lakshmi Vilas Bank approved a merger of the bank with the country's second-largest housing finance company, Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd.

Note:

• Lakshmi Vilas Bank Limited was founded in 1926 by a group of seven businessmen of Karur under the leadership of Shri V.S.N. Ramalinga Chettiar.
• Lakshmi Vilas Bank is headquartered at Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

4. Pavan Kapoor appointed as India's Ambassador to UAE

• Senior diplomat Pavan Kapoor (1990 cadre IFS officer) has been appointed as India's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Mr. Kapoor will replace Navdeep Suri, heading the Indian mission in UAE since October 2016.
• Earlier, Mr. Kapoor has served in different capacities in the Indian Missions in Moscow, Kyiv, London and Geneva.

Note:

• An ambassador is especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state.
• Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, an ambassador has the highest diplomatic rank.

Honour & Awards

5. Shri Prabhakar Singh chosen for ‘Eminent Engineer Award- 2019’

• Shri Prabhakar Singh (Director General, Central Public Works Department) has been chosen for the ‘Eminent Engineer Award for the Year 2019’ by the Institution of Engineers (India) for his distinguished and exemplary service in the field of Engineering and Technology.
• This Prestigious Award shall be conferred to him on the ‘Engineers Day’ (15^th September) New Delhi.
• Shri Prabhakar Singh is an IIT graduate and MBA from one of Premier Business Institute of India.
• His enormous contributions and dedicated service to the Nation as an Eminent Technocrat has been instrumental in transforming the Premier Engineering Organisation of the Central Government CPWD (Central Public Works Department).
• Institution of Engineers (India) is the national organization of engineers in India.

Source: PIB

6. Govt. announces major reforms in the banking sector

• According to Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, The Union government unveiled major reforms in the banking sector to strengthen the foundation of the banks.
• The government announced the merger of Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank and United Bank of India.
• Once these three banks are merged it will create a bank with a business of Rs 17.95 lakh crore and have 11,437 branches.
• After the Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank are merged into the Punjab National Bank, it will become India's second-largest bank (SBI remains India's largest bank).
• Once the Syndicate bank is merged into the Canara Bank, the resultant bank will become India's fourth-largest public sector bank with Rs 15.20 lakh crore business.
• Union Bank, Andhra Bank, Corporation Bank to merge to become India's fifth largest public sector bank with Rs 14.59 lakh crore business.
• The 12 public sector banks: State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab and Sind Bank, Indian Bank, UCO Bank and Bank of Maharashtra.

International Affairs

7. Mobile App ‘IndTokyo’ launched to help Paralympians in Tokyo 2020

• A mobile app ‘IndTokyo’ has been launched to help para-athletes to look up accessible places in Tokyo during their visit to the city for the 2020 Paralympics Games.
• The application ‘IndTokyo’ was launched by Arhan Bagati, Awareness and Impact Ambassador of Paralympic Committee of India, at the ‘Countdown to Tokyo 2020’.
• It has features like information on para-athletes and accessible places in Tokyo among others.

Source: Business- standard

8. Tokyo ranked top in the Safe Cities Index 2019

• As per Economics Intelligence Unit’s Safe Cities Index (SCI)-2019, Tokyo, Singapore, Osaka and Amsterdam occupied top spots in the Safe Cities Index 2019.
• Mumbai (45^th rank) and New Delhi (52nd) are the only two Indian cities that made an appearance on the list.
• The report is based on the third iteration of the index, which ranks 60 cities across 57 indicators covering digital security, health security, infrastructure security and personal security.

Note:

• The Safe Cities Index 2019 is a report from The Economist Intelligence Unit, sponsored by NEC Corporation.

Source: India Today

National Affairs

9. PM Narendra Modi launched ten AYUSH Centres in Haryana

• Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented Yoga Awards to the winners for Outstanding Contribution for Promotion and Development of Yoga in New Delhi.
• During the event, Prime Minister Modi has also launched ten AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres located in Haryana.
• Mr Modi also releases 12 commemorative postal stamps to honour eminent scholars, practitioners and Great Master Healers of AYUSH Systems.
• These commemorative postal stamps highlight the great work and acknowledge the achievements of the Great Master Healers of AYUSH Systems.
• The winners of the yoga award were announced during the International Day of Yoga, 2019 at Ranchi along with the two winners of the previous year.
• Japan Yoga Niketan and Bihar School of Yoga has been awarded in the institutional category while Antonietta Rozzi from Italy and Swami Rajarshi Muni of Life mission in Gujarat in the individual category.
• Each of them felicitated with a Cash Award of 25 lakh rupees, Trophy and a Certificate.

Source: AIR News

10. India’s 1st garbage cafe to be opened in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh

• The Ambikapur municipal corporation of Chhattisgarh will open India’s first 'Garbage Cafe' within a few days.
• Under this, the Municipal Corporation will provide food to the poor and homeless in lieu of plastic waste.
• In this unique Cafe' poor people and rag pickers will get free food in exchange for one kilogram of plastic, while breakfast will be provided if half a kilogram of plastic is brought to the cafe.
• According to the Mayor of Ambikapur Ajay Tirkey, the collected garbage will be sold at Solid-Liquid Resources Management Centre.

11. Centre releases over Rs 47,000 cr to increase green cover in states

• The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar has handed over forty-seven thousand crore rupees from Compensatory Afforestation Fund to various states.
• The funds will be utilized as per the provisions of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act and rules.
• According to Mr Javadekar, the fund will be utilized for the compensatory afforestation, catchment area treatment, wildlife management, natural regeneration, forest fire-prevention, soil and moisture conservation, improvement of wildlife habitat.
• Monitoring of the implementation of the efforts pertaining to afforestation will be done with the help of technology like geotagging and video shooting.

Source: AIR News

12. 12th India Security Summit held in New Delhi

• The 12th India Security Summit was held in New Delhi.
• The theme of the summit was “Towards New National Cyber Security Strategy”.
• During the summit, many issues were discussed such as protection of critical national infrastructure, emerging cyber threats: incidents, challenges and response.
• Union Home Ministry has launched a scheme ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)’ to combat cyber-crime in the country, in a coordinated and effective manner.

Note:

• ‘Security Summit’ was organized by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and is officially supported by Union Ministry of Communications & Information Technology.

Source: PIB

Sports

13. Ajantha Mendis announces retirement from Cricket

• Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis (34-years) has announced his retirement from all formats of the Cricket after not having played for his country in almost 4 years.
• He was known as the ‘mystery spinner’ due to the unusual bowling action.
• Mendis played 19 Tests (70 - wickets), 87 One-Day Internationals (152 ODI wickets) and 39 T20Is (66 T20I wickets) for Sri Lanka.
• He also played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• Mendis was renowned in the cricketing world for his ‘carrom ball’ and various other variations.

14. India bags gold in 10-meter air pistol event in Shooting World Cup

• Indian shooters Abhishek Verma has won the gold medal and Saurabh Chaudhary the bronze in the men's 10m air pistol event of the World Cup at Rio de Janeiro.
• Abhishek Verma shot 244.2 in the eight-man finals, while Saurabh Chaudhary's 221.9 was good enough to get him the bronze.
• The young Elavenil Valarivan opened India's account with a gold in the women's 10m air rifle event.
• Sanjeev Rajput claimed a silver in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions final to secure India's Olympic quota.
• India was placed at the top of the medals tally with two gold, one silver and a bronze.

Source: AIR News

15. Rahul Dravid replaced as India A, U-19 head coaches

• Former Saurashtra captain Sitanshu Kotak (46-years) and ex-India seamer Paras Mhambrey (47-years) have replaced Rahul Dravid as head coaches of India A and U-19 sides respectively.
• Recently, Rahul Dravid has been appointed as the National Cricket Academy (NCA)’s head of cricket operations.
• He will be preparing the roadmap for India A and U-19 teams along with up-gradation pan for the existing coaching module.
• Kotak played as many as 130 first-class games, worked as a batting coach of the India A team that recently toured West Indies.
• The former pacer Paras Mhambrey played two Tests and three ODIs, was a bowling coach for the past three years in the A and U-19 set-up.
• The fielding coach of the A team will be T Dilip, who was also shortlisted for the senior team’s fielding coach’s job.
• Hrishikesh Kanitkar will be the batting coach of the U-19 side having worked with this set-up during the U-19 tri-series win in England.

Source: Business Line

 >

Daily Vocabulary : 29th August

Important Dates

1. National Sports Day being observed today

• The National Sports Day is observed every year on 29th August to mark the birthday of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand (born on 29 August 1905).
• Padma Bhushan Dhyan chand Known as ‘The Magician’ of hockey for his superb ball control and extraordinary goal-scoring feats.
• He won three Olympic gold medals in Hockey field in the years 1928, 1932, and 1936.
• In his Sports career spanning over 22 years, he scored over 400 goals.
• On this occasion, President Ram Nath Kovind presented the National Sports Awards, National Adventure Awards and other awards including Arjuna, Khel Ratna to celebrate the exceptional achievements of Indian athletes.
• IPS Officer Aparna Kumar will be honoured with the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2018 in the ‘Land adventure’ category.
• Today, PM Narendra Modi has launched ‘Fit India Movement’ at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
• Fit India Movement is aimed at encouraging people to give priority to sports and fitness in their day-to-day lives.

Note:

• Dhyan Chand was born on 29th August 1905 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
• The Union Government proclaimed 29 August as the country’s National Sports Day in 2012 to commemorate Major Dhyan Chand and his achievements in the field of sports.

2. 29th August: International Day against Nuclear Tests

• The International Day against Nuclear Tests is being observed every year on 29th August to brings public awareness and education about the effects of global nuclear weapon tests.
• The day was established on 2nd December 2009 at the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly by the resolution 64/35, which was adopted unanimously.

Source: UN.Org

National Affairs

3. Rajnath Singh inaugurates 26th Kisan-Jawan - Vigyan Mela in Ladakh

• Defence minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated 26th Ladakhi Kisan Jawan Vigyan Mela in Leh.
• The event is being organised to share research-generated farming technology with locals of Ladakh to make their life easier.
• Ladakhi Kisan Jawan Vigyan Mela showcasing crops and grains suitable for growing in high altitude areas.
• The science fair is being organised at the Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (a research unit of DRDO in Ladakh).

Source: Out Look

4. Govt to set up 75 new medical colleges in the next three years

• The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of 75 new Medical Colleges by 2021-22.
• The move will add 15,700 more MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) seats in the country.
• These medical colleges will be established in under-served areas having no such colleges with at least 200 bedded district hospitals.
• Preference will be given to Aspirational districts and district hospitals having 300 beds.

Note:

• The NITI Aayog has recommended the replacement of the Medical Council of India (MCI) with National Medical Commission (NMC).
• The decision has been approved by most states and after its approval by the Prime Minister and NMC bill was passed by parliament and approved by President on 8th August 2019.

Source: AIR News

5. India first in the world to launch facial biometric data-based identity document

• India has become the first country in the world to issue Biometric Seafarer Identity Document (BSID) capturing the facial biometric data of seafarers.
• Mansukh Mandaviya (Minister of State for Shipping) has launched the project in New Delhi.
• The total number of Indian seafarers are employed on Indian or foreign flag vessels increased from over one and a half lakh in 2017 to over two lakhs this year.
• The new document will give a foolproof identification to our seafarers which will facilitate their movement, provide ease of getting jobs and help in identifying them from any location in the world.
• Nine data collection centres have been set up at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Noida, Goa, New Mangalore, Kochi, Vizag and Kandla for the issue of BSID.
• Every Indian seafarer who possesses a valid Continuous Discharge Certificate issued by the government will be eligible for issue of a BSID.
• The total number of existing Indian seafarers who will be required to be issued BSIDs is around 3,50,000.
• All the existing seafarers will be given BSID within the next two years.

Source: AIR News

6. HM Amit Shah flag off the first fleet of eco-friendly electric buses in Ahmedabad

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah flag off the first fleet of eco-friendly electric buses in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• Mr Shah also inaugurated the country's first automated battery charging and swapping station for e-buses in Ahmedabad.
• Mr. Amit Shah has also flagged off 18 electric buses with a facility of battery swap technology.
• Thirty-two more such state-of-the-art buses would also join this BRTS fleet taking the total number of such e- buses to 50.
• Normal electric buses can run up to 200 km per charge, buses with swap facility can run only up to 40 km.
• Mr. Shah also inaugurated the battery swap facilities with robotic arm- in the city on this occasion.

Note:

• Electric buses (store the electricity onboard) can be fed continuously from an external source.

Source: DNA news

7. Bollywood film 'Mission Mangal' gets GST exemption in Maharashtra

• Maharashtra government has decided to grant exemption from the state Goods and Services Tax (GST) to Bollywood film 'Mission Mangal', which is about the ISRO's successful Mangalyaan mission.
• The decision was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in Mumbai.
• The film conveys a positive message about science and to take the message further to common people.
• ‘Mission Mangal’ is loosely based on the life of scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) who contributed to the Mars Orbiter Mission, India's first interplanetary expedition.

Note:

• Mission Mangal is Indian Hindi-language film (released - 15 August 2019) directed by Jagan Shakti and jointly produced by Cape of Good Films, Hope Productions, Fox Star Studios, Aruna Bhatia, and Anil Naidu.
• GST rate on movie tickets: below Rs 100 - 12% & above Rs 100 - 18%.

Source: Deccan herald

Appointment

8. Wing Commander S Dhami becomes the first female officer to become Flight Commander

• Indian Air Force's Wing Commander S Dhami has become the first female officer in the country to become the Flight Commander of a flying unit.
• Recently, Dhami took over as Flight Commander of a Chetak helicopter unit at Hindon airbase
• She is a permanent commission officer of the flying branch in the Air Force and has been flying choppers.
• Flight Commander is the second in command of the unit meaning that she is the number two in the unit after the commanding officer.

Honour & Awards

9. Indian documentary ‘I’m Jeeja’ wins the top award at We Care Film Festival

• Indian documentary film 'I'm Jeeja' has won the top award in the 'Under 30 minute' category at the 14th edition of the ‘We Care Film Festival on Disability Issues’.
• The film tells the story of specially-abled activist Jeeja Ghosh who suffers from cerebral palsy.
• The documentary directed by Swati Chakraborty attempts to explore the lives and battles of people living with the disability.
• Another Indian film “Post Dark” received a jury mention in ‘Under 5 minutes’ category.
• A total of 36 films were selected for the finals out of which 10 films were awarded in different categories.

Note:

• The festival is co-founded by UNESCO, United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan, and a New Delhi-based NGO, Brotherhood.
• The awards were given in categories based on the duration of the film - under five minutes, 30 minutes, and 90 minutes.

Source: The week

10. The web portal of higher education teachers, academicians launched

• Maharashtra Higher & Technical Education Minister Vinod Tawde has launched the database portal 'academisthan.com' to serve as a resource centre for educational institutions to make better policy decisions.
• The portal will serve as a resource centre for educational institutions in government, semi-government and private sectors to develop their policies and other activities.
• This will open a new window of resources for educational institutes.
• The database will help in providing requisite information to government agencies, NGOs and others to aid in making policy decisions, perspective plans and allocation of resources related to higher education.
• The exhaustive database, aimed at aiding teachers' outreach and engagements beyond their institutional geographies,
• It is an initiative of chancellor's nominee in the University of Mumbai's management council Deepak Kumar Mukadam.

Source: Economics Times

11. Govt permits 100% FDI in coal mining, associated infrastructure

• The Union Cabinet has relaxed Foreign Direct Investment rule for foreign single-brand retailers and permitted foreign investment in contract manufacturing and coal mining.
• 26% FDI has also been allowed under government route for uploading and streaming of News and Current Affairs through Digital Media.
• Briefing reporters after the Union Cabinet meeting, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in coal mining and associated infrastructure has been approved.
• On FDI in single-brand retailing, the Cabinet has expanded the definition of a mandatory 30% domestic sourcing norm.
• It also allowed single-brand retailers to start on-line sales, waiving the previous condition of setting up a mandatory brick-and-mortar store.

Source: AIR News

Sports

12. West Indies fast bowler Cecil Wright retires at 85 years

• West Indies pacer Cecil Wright (85-years) has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
• Wright made his first-class debut for Jamaica against a Barbados side which had legends Wes Hall and Sir Garfield Sobers.
• He claims to have taken over 7,000 wickets in professional cricket.
• Wright’s longest purple patch span five seasons as he ended up taking as many as 538 wickets in five seasons.

Source: Indian Express

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Daily Vocabulary : 28th August

 National Affairs

1. Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium to be renamed after Arun Jaitley

• The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) has announced that the Feroz Shah Kotla cricket stadium will be renamed after Arun Jaitley.
• The decision was taken to honour Mr Jaitley who served as DDCA's president (from 1999 to 2013).
• The renaming of the stadium will be done on 12^th September 2019.
• In the same function, one of the stands in the ground will be named after current Indian skipper Virat Kohli.

Note:

• Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium is a cricket ground located at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in New Delhi.
• It is the second oldest international cricket stadium (established in 1883) still functional in India, after the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

2. 7th Community Radio Sammelan held in New Delhi

• The 7th Community Radio Sammelan was held at Dr BR Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi.
• The theme of this year’s sammelan was ‘Community Radio for SDGs’.
• The ‘Sammelan’ witnessed the representatives of community radio stations which discussed experiences and possibilities of programming.
• It was organized by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B).

Source: AIR News

3. Tamil Nadu Govt launches education TV channel for school students

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has launched its exclusive education TV channel named ‘Kalvi Tholaikkatchi’.
• The channel will telecast various programmes, including rhymes songs, video lessons and coaching classes.
• It is an initiative of the School Education Department aimed at benefiting students of classes I to XII.
• ‘Kalvi Tholaikkatchi’ will telecast programmes from 6 am to 9.30 pm every day.
• Soon, cable connections will be installed at primary and middle schools as well for its full coverage.

Source: Times of India

4. Gujarat retains the first position in the Composite Water Management Index

• Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Union Jal Shakti Minister) and Dr. Rajiv Kumar (Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog) have jointly released Composite Water Management Index report in New Delhi.
• Gujarat has retained its first position in the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) 2.0 announced by the NITI Aayog.
• This is the 3rd consecutive year that the state has retained its position in the water management sector.
• The Composite Water Management Index is an important tool to assess and improve the performance of States and Union Territories in the efficient management of water resources.
• NITI Aayog has conceptualized and launched the Composite Water Management Index as a tool to install the sense of cooperative and competitive federalism among the states.
• The index provides useful information for the States and for the concerned Central Ministries or Departments enabling them to formulate and implement suitable strategies for better management of water resources.
• It is an attempt to create a pan-India set of metrics that measure different dimensions of water management and use across the lifecycle of water.
• The report is widely acknowledged and provided actionable guidance to States on where they were doing well absolutely and relatively and what they needed to focus on to secure their water future.

Source: AIR News

5. IIP sets up a plant to turn plastic waste into diesel

• Dr. Harsh Vardhan (Union Minister for Science and Technology) and Trivendra Singh Rawat (Chief Minister of Uttarakhand) have jointly inaugurated a waste-plastics to diesel plant in Dehradun.
• The plant has been set up in Indian Institute of Petroleum whose scientists will process waste plastics into fuel.
• It has the capacity to produce 800-litre diesel from one tonne of plastic.
• It has been set up at a time various country are working towards a plastic-free world.

Source: The Hindu

6. Railways to offer up to 25 % discount in some Shatabdi, Tejas trains

• Indian Railways will offer up to 25% discount in trains like Shatabdi Express, Tejas and Gatiman Express which have low occupancy.
• The discount will be applicable in all trains with AC chair car and executive chair car, except the Chennai Central-Mysuru Shatabdi Express, Ahmedabad-Mumbai Shatabdi Express, and the New Jalpaiguri-Howrah Shatabdi Express in which existing discount schemes will be continued.
• The discount will be given on the base fare and charges like GST, reservation fee, superfast tariff and others will be levied separately.
• Trains with monthly occupancy of less than 50 per cent in the previous year are eligible for the discount.
• The discount can be offered yearly, half-yearly, seasonally or during weekends.

Source: The Hindu

7. Over 2 lakh bio-toilets installed in 60,906 train coaches of Indian Railways

• According to Railway ministry, over 2 lakh bio-toilets have been installed in 60,906 train coaches of Indian Railways.
• The 'Bio-Toilet project' of Indian Railways is an innovative and indigenous development of technology.
• The Bio-toilet project is aligned with Swachh Bharat Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The technology for Bio-toilets have been innovated, designed and is 'Made in India'.
• It has been developed jointly by Indian Railways' Engineers & DRDO's scientists.

Note:

• The bio-toilet system utilizes anaerobic bacteria which consume the waste material and convert it into water and gas.

Source: Business standard

8. Nepal, India launch Kathmandu-Siliguri bus service

• A bus service between Nepal's capital Kathmandu and India's Siliguri in West Bengal has started.
• Nepal's Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation Raghubir Mahaseth and Indian Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri flagged off the bus from Kathmandu.
• The 44-seater air-conditioned deluxe bus will complete 650 Kilometre-journey between Kathmandu and Siliguri in 18 hours.
• The bus will leave Kathmandu daily at 3 P.M. and reach Siliguri via Kakarvitta-Panitanki border next day at around 9 A.M.
• The bus fare is 2,000 Nepali Rupees and tickets would be available on-line.
• During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Nepal visit in 2014, a Motor Vehicle Agreement for Passenger Traffic was signed to facilitate the seamless and hassle-free movement of people of both countries and promote tourism.

Source: The Hindu

Honour & Awards

9. Ex-Manchester United forward Eric Cantona wins Uefa President's Award

• Former Manchester United forward Eric Cantona (53-year) will be awarded the Uefa President's Award for his commitment to helping improve the lives of others.
• He will receive the award in Monaco during the Champion’s League group stage draw.
• Cantona won four Premier League titles in five years with United in the 1990s and scored 64 goals for the Old Trafford club in 143 appearances.
• Cantona won the old First Division title with Leeds United in 1992 before joining Manchester United, where he won four Premier Leagues and two FA Cups.
• Former England captain David Beckham won the award in 2018.

Note:

• The UEFA President's Award recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities.
• The accolade is usually awarded annually to a football personality who is deemed to have advanced the game's development and success.

Source: BBC.com

Banking & Finance

10. SIDBI partnered with ‘Incuspaze’ to open coworking space for MSMEs

• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has partnered with Incuspaze Solutions Private Limited (Incuspaze) to open a first-of-its-kind co-working space.
• This coworking space exclusively designed for MSMEs and startups.
• This coworking space, named @Workspaze.
• This coworking space is fully furnished office equipped with training and conference room, fast-speed internet, reception, refreshment, recreational area, housekeeping facilities etc.

Source: Economic Times

Obituaries

11. Naval war hero Commander Noel Kelman passes away

• Goa Naval war hero and Kirti Chakra awardee, Commander Noel Kelman (92-years) passed away in Porvorim, Goa.
• Kelman was a founder member of the Goa branch of the All India Anglo Indian Association.
• He was involved in an operation to flush out the Portuguese from the Anjadip Island.
• Commander Kelman was honoured with the Kirti Chakra for his bravery during the Indian Navy's conquest of Anjadip Island of the coast of Goa in 1961.

Source: The Week

International Affairs

12. G7 to finance fire-fighting aircraft for Amazon

• G7 has agreed to spend 22 million US Dollars to tackle the huge forest fires engulfing the world's biggest Amazon rain forest.
• This was stated by Presidents of France and Chile at the G7 summit in the French town of Biarritz.
• The G7 group comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, has also agreed to support a medium-term reforestation plan which will be unveiled at the UN in September.
• The initiative was announced after G7 leaders held talks on the environment, which focused on the fires destroying chunks of the Amazon rain forests.
• Nearly 80,000 forest fires have been detected in Brazil since the beginning of the year a little over half in the Amazon region.

Source: AIR News

Sports

13. Sumit Nagal became the first Indian to win a set against Roger Federer

• Sumit Nagal achieved the feat during his first-round match against Federer in the ongoing US Open as he outclassed him in the first set.
• Nagal ended up losing the match 6-4, 1-6,2-6,4-6 against Federer.
• Sumit Nahal had become the youngest Indian in 25 years to qualify for the main draw of a Grand Slam as he had defeated Brazil's Jaao Menezes 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
• He had earlier won the Wimbledon Boys' doubles title in 2015.

14. Kiren Rijiju meets world champion PV Sindhu, rewards her with 10 lakh rupees

• Minister Kiren Rijiju presented 10 lakh rupees cheque to Badminton star P.V. Sindhu for her historic triumph at the World Championships in Basel, Switzerland.
• Sindhu had defeated Japan's Nozomi Okuhara in a lop-sided World Championships final on Sunday.
• The Minister also extended his congratulations to Sai Praneeth besides rewarding him with a cheque of four lakh rupees for winning a bronze medal at the Championships. 

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Daily Vocabulary : 27th August

Banking and Economy

1. RBI to transfer Rs 1.76 lakh crore from surplus reserve to government

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the transfer of record Rs 1.76 lakh crore dividend and surplus reserves to the government,
• This fund will comprise Rs 1,23,414 crore of surplus for the year 2018-19 and Rs 52,637 crore of excess provisions identified as per the revised Economic Capital Framework (ECF).
• The excess reserve transfer is in line with the recommendation of former RBI governor Bimal Jalan-led panel constituted to decide size of capital reserves that the central bank should hold.
• The Modi government and the RBI under its previous governor Urjit Patel had been at loggerheads over the optimum level of surplus capital with the central bank.
• As a result, the RBI in its crucial November 2018 board meeting decided to form a committee to review the economic capital framework (ECF) for the Reserve Bank.
• It will boost Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led regime's prospect to stimulate the slowing economy without widening fiscal deficit.
• It is the highest-ever surplus amount transferred by the RBI to govt
• Since 2013-14, the RBI has been paying 99 per cent of its disposable income to govt

Source: India Today

2. Government to prepare roadmap for distribution of fortified rice

• The central government has decided to prepare a detailed roadmap for the nationwide distribution of fortified rice through ration shops.
• The government, in February this year, had a approved centre-sponsored pilot scheme on “Fortification of Rice and its Distribution under Public Distribution System”.
• Under this scheme rice is fortified with Iron, Folic Acid and Vitamin B-12. The Pilot Scheme has been approved for a period of three year beginning 2019-20.
• Currently, the scheme focuses on 15 districts preferably 1 district per State during the initial phase of implementation.

Source: Economic Times

3. Indian Bank signed MoU with Tata AIG

• Public sector lender Indian Bank and Tata AIG General Insurance has entered into an agreement to offer a variety of general insurance products to bank’s customers.
• The agreement was signed in the presence of Ms Padmaja Chunduru MD and CEO of Indian Bank and Mr Saurabh Maini, Senior Vice President and Business Head-Key partnership Group, Tata AIG General Insurance.
• The partnership will see around 2,900 branches of the bank spread across India, offering a diverse range of insurance policies benefiting its customers by way of protection, wealth creation and savings.
• Tata AIG General Insurance will work with the bank for sales training, product support and ensuring smooth operational processes, all leading to seamless service to customers.

 Source: UNI

4. Amazon India launches Military Veterans Employment programme

• E-commerce giant Amazon India has launched a Military Veterans Employment programme in the country that will create employment opportunities for military veterans and their spouses across the company’s fulfilment centres, sort centres and delivery centres in India.
• Amazon India is partnering with the office of the Director General of Resettlement (DGR) and the Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO) to create continued work opportunities for military families across the country.
• Globally, Amazon has over 17,500 military veterans and spouses actively engaged in the programme.

Source : BusinessLine

5. Microsoft and ISB partner to advance AI skilling in India

• The Indian School of Business (ISB) and Microsoft India announced a new partnership to take forward their shared vision for an AI-empowered India at an event in Hyderabad.
• Through the creation of the AI Digital Lab, the two organizations will collaborate in research which will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to study issues that are relevant for business and public policy.
• The partnership will also jointly introduce a new executive program titled “Leading Business Transformation in the Age of AI" in October 2019 which will equip business leaders with tools and strategies to transform their respective organizations to AI-driven organizations.
• Professor Rajendra Srivastava, Dean, Indian School of Business and Anant Maheshwari is President Microsoft India.

Source: Livemint

National Affairs

6. HRD Ministry launches National Digital Library of India

• Human Resource Development Ministry under its National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) has launched the National Digital Library of India project.
• It is to develop a framework of virtual repository of learning resources with a single-window search facility.
• As of now, there are more than 3 crore digital resources available through the National Digital Library.
• More than 50 lakh students have registered themselves in the National Digital Library with about 20 lakh active users.
• National Digital Library has been integrated with UMANG App and users can register through www.ndl.gov.in or through the mobile app

Source: News on AIR

7. Intel launches first artificial intelligence chip Springhill

• Intel Corp has launched its latest processor, its first using artificial intelligence (AI), designed for large computing centres.
• The chip, developed at its development facility in Haifa, Israel, is known as Nervana NNP-I or Springhill
• It is based on a 10 nanometre Ice Lake processor that will allow it to cope with high workloads using minimal amounts of energy.
• Intel Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, in the Silicon Valley.

Source: The Hindu

International Affairs

8. PM Modi launches $4.2 mn redevelopment project of Hindu temple in Bahrain

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his two-day visit launched the $4.2 million redevelopment project of the 200-year-old Sri Krishna temple in the Bahraini capital, Manama.
• Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the key Gulf nation, offered prayers at the Shreenathji Temple in Manama.
• The heritage and the 200-year-old legacy of the temple will be highlighted in the redevelopment and the new iconic complex will house the sanctum sanctorum and prayer halls.

Source: The Hindu

9. Boeing delivers 11th C-17 Globemaster to India

• American aerospace major Boeing delivered the 11th C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force, boosting its strategic airlift capabilities.
• The C-17 Globemaster III is a premier transport aircraft. The massive, sturdy, long-haul aircraft can carry large combat equipment, troops and humanitarian aid across long distances in all weather conditions.
• The C-17 fleet has been a vital part of the IAF’s strategic and combat airlift capability.
• Boeing has been maintaining IAF’s C-17 fleet through techno-logistics support and training for aircrew that operate the platform.

Source: Businessline

10. India-France to jointly build, run space-based ship tracking system

• India and France will jointly built and operate The world’s first space-based automatic identification system (AIS) to track merchant ships on a real-time basis.
• French space agency National Centre for Space Studies — CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall and K Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), signed an agreement recently to start development and production of a constellation of satellites on which studies have been underway for more than a year.
• The pact between the two space agencies was signed during  Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France.
• The constellation carrying telecommunications (AIS), radar and optical remote-sensing instruments will be capable of monitoring ships in the Indian Ocean.
• India has installed a Long-Range Identification and Tracking system (LRIT) for ships as well as a terrestrial-based AIS, but their range and functionality is limited.

Source: Businessline

Conference and Summit

11. 7th 'Community Radio Sammelan' being held in New Delhi

• The seventh “Community Radio Sammelan” is being held at Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi from 27^th to 29^th August, 2019.
• It is being organized by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the theme of this year's Sammelan is 'Community Radio for SDGs'.
• The 'Sammelan' will witness participation of all operational community radio stations across the country.
• Representatives of the community radio stations will discuss experiences and possibilities of programming for spreading public awareness on the Sustainable Development Goals in a better way.
• Union minister Prakash Javadekar wil present National Community Radio Awards 2019 on this occasion.

Source: Business Standard

12. MoU signed between Health Ministry and Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

• National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) has signed a MoU
• This MoU is to enhance outreach on AIDS prevention, address the risk of HIV transmission among all substance users and empower the discriminated and vulnerable groups such as victims of HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and female sex workers
• The MOU will also catalyze in achieving the national goals and objectives of HIV prevention and impact mitigation. 
• AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) is under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE)

Source: PIB

Awards

13. Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2018 Announced

• Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2018 has been announced. The award is given in four categories namely, Land Adventure, Water Adventure, Air Adventure and Life Time Achievement.
• This award is given every year to recognize the achievements of persons in the fields of adventure, to encourage young people to develop the spirit of endurance, risk–taking, cooperative teamwork and quick, ready and effective reflexes in challenging situations.
• Based on the recommendations of the Selection Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has decided to confer awards upon the following:

Land Adventure: Aparna Kumar, Shri Dipankar Ghosh, Shri Manikandan K

Water Adventure: Prabhat Raju Koli

Air Adventure: RameshwerJangra

Life Time Achievement: Wangchuk Sherpa

• The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India along with other Sports Awardees at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 29th August, 2019.
• They will receive statuettes, certificates and award money of Rs. 5 lakh each.

Source: PIB

Obituaries

14. Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya, India’s first woman DGP, passes away

• Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya, India’s first woman Director General of Police (DGP), passed away following an illness in Mumbai.
• Bhattacharya, a 1973 batch officer, made history in 2004 when she was appointed as the DGP of Uttarakhand
• Thus she became the first woman in the country to hold such position.
• She was also the second woman IPS officer in the country, the first being Kiran Bedi.

Source: Indian Express

 

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