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Monthly Digest
February 2017

Dear readers,
This Monthly GK Digest is a complete docket of important news and events that occurred in a month of February 2017. We
have compiled important & expected questions, which can be asked in upcoming SBI(PO), Banking interviews and all
upcoming Banking & Insurance exams.

Banking & Financial Awareness

1. The union Cabinet has approved the merger of five subsidiary banks with the bank which will make the bank among top
50 banks in the world_____ State Bank of India (SBI).
Note:
SBI will acquire State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ), State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH), State Bank of Mysore
(SBM), State Bank of Patiala (SBP) and State Bank of Travancore ( SBT )
2. Bank has launched of mobile wallet "Oriental Batuaa" on the occasion of its 75th Foundation Day____ Oriental Bank of
Commerce (OBC).
Note:
The bank has also launched two new cards RuPay based Platinum international debit card and Oriental Prepaid
Card a RuPay card for individuals and corporates.
3. The public-sector bank has signed MoU with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to start higher
education financing agency_____ Canara Bank.
Note:
HEFA has been formed as a special purpose vehicle.
The purpose of the HEFA is to create high quality infrastructure/capital assets in premier educational institutions.
4. The state to host 3rd edition of LIC-Gateway LitFest_____ Maharashtra.
Note:
The 3rd edition of the annual LIC Gateway LitFest will be held in Mumbai, Maharashtra on February 25 and 26,
2017.
5. India has sanctioned amount of soft loan to Nepal for infra projects____$340 million.
Note:
Under this programme, Mahalaki bridge and 15 roads will be constructed in various parts of Nepal.
6. The public-sector bank has won the National MSME Excellence Award 2017____Corporation Bank.
Note:
The award is instituted by the Federation of Industry Trade and Services (FITS), which is a national industry body
working in the form of a bridge between the industry and the state and central governments.
7. The Union Government has launched an app to enable digital payments without card swiping machines____Bharat QR
code.
Note:
Bharat QR code has been developed jointly by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), MasterCard Visa,
and American Express under instructions from Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
It works as a common interface for the MasterCard/Visa/ RuPay platforms and also facilitate acceptance of
Aadhaar-enabled payments and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
8. Who will acquire the business of Telenor India for an undisclosed sum in all seven circles in India____Bharti Airtel.
Note:
Airtel is Indias largest wireless operator with over 269 million subscribers and a revenue market share of over 33
per cent.
Telenor India (formerly known as Uninor) was an Indian mobile network operator based in Gurgaon, Haryana,
India.
9. The Direct-to-home operator Dish TV has joined hands with private lender for digital payments___ICICI bank.
Note:

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Now, customers to do recharge through unified payment interface (UPI) transactions.

This alliance with ICICI Bank through UPI will drive higher customer adoption and allow them to be a part of the
digital economy.
10. The bank has launched a railway ticket booking facility by having a direct tie-up with IRCTC____United Bank of India
(UBI).
11. The bank who tied up with IFFCO to provide co-branded debit cards with inbuilt overdraft facilities to the farmers___ Bank
of Baroda.
Note:
Two lakh cards will be issued to the farmers beginning with the state of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and
Madhya Pradesh.
These co-branded debit cards will be exclusively used for the purchase of IFFCO products only.
12. The Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund will be set up by the organization ___ NABARD.
Note:
The Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund will boost financing of milk processing capacities.
13. Budget 2017-18 contains 3 major reforms.
First, presentation of Budget advanced to 1st February to enable the Ministries to operationalize all activities
from the commencement of the financial year.
Second, merger of Railways Budget with General Budget to bring Railways to the centre stage of Governments
Fiscal Policy.
Third, removal of plan and nonplan classification of expenditure to facilitate a holistic view of allocations for
sectors and ministries.

The revised tax slabs and rates:

Tax -Slabs New Tax Rate

Up to Rs. 3 lakhs No Tax
Between Rs. 3 and 5 Lakhs 5%
Between Rs. 5 and 10 lakhs 20%
Above Rs. 10 lakhs 30%
Income above Rs. 50 Lacs 30% + 10% Surcharge
Income above Rs 1 crore 30% +15% Surcharge

Key highlights:

The Individuals tax rates Slashed on income from 2.5 lakh to 5 lakhs reduced to 5 % instead of 10%
0% tax liability on income up to 3 lacs
10% Surcharge on individuals with income between 50 lakh to1 Crore
15% surcharge on individuals with income of 1 cr and more
14. In the year 2017-18 budget agriculture is expected to grow at _____4.1%.
15. How many crore Rs. will be given as credit to the farmers with the 60-day interest waiver___ Rs. 10 lakh crore.
16. The chairman of the proposed the Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) ____ Governor of RBI.
Note:
The chairman of the board will be the Governor of RBI, along with a deputy governor in charge of payments and
settlements as member.
17. Women and child welfare allocation has been increased by ____Rs 184362 crore.
18. High speed broadband connectivity on optic fibres will be available in more than gram panchayats ___1,50,000.
19. A common application form for registration, opening of bank and demat accounts, and issue of PAN will be introduced for
_________Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs).
20. How many districts of Haryana have become kerosene free___Eight.

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21. The Government will launch how many new Schemes to promote the usage of BHIM App___ Two.
Note:
Two schemes are Referral Bonus Scheme for individuals and a Cashback Scheme for merchants.
125 lakh people have adopted the BHIM app so far.
22. A merchant version of Aadhar Enabled Payment System will be launched shortly____ Aadhar Pay.
23. Govt. has approved the extension of tenure of loans under Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana from 15 to____ 20 years.
24. People has won 97-crore rupee prizes under Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi dhan Vyapar Yojana till 30th January
2017___Over 6.26 lakh.
Note:
These two schemes are part of NITI Aayogs digital payment promotion schemes and covered cities from 21 States
and 4 Union Territories.
Over 100 Digi-Dhan Melas are planned across the country to inculcate digital payment among the people.
Lucky Grahak Yojana (Daily scheme): 5.55 lakh consumers have won the prize.
Lucky Grahak Yojana (Weekly scheme): over 26 thousand consumers.
Digi dhan Vyapar Yojana (weekly scheme): over 35 thousand merchants.
25. A new scheme will be launched by the Union Government to fund export infrastructure to create infrastructure for
exports. ____ Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES).
Note:
The scheme will help create modern infrastructure like last mile connectivity to ports, testing labs and
certification centres.
26. Who has reached an agreement with the Karnataka government to set up a manufacturing plant in Bengaluru___Apple.
Note:
Apple is reportedly expected to start production for the Indian market by June.
India will be only the third country globally to assemble iPhones.
Apple is an American multinational technology company, founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald
Wayne in April 1976 to develop and sell personal computers.
27. The fund allocated for the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) for fiscal year 2017-18____ Rs. 333 crore.
Note:
The NSCS works as an advisory group, consists of various experts on security-related matters and is headed by
deputy NSA Arvind Gupta.
28. People has won 97-crore rupee prizes under Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi dhan Vyapar Yojana till 30th January
2017___Over 6.26 lakh.
Note:
These two schemes are part of NITI Aayogs digital payment promotion schemes and covered cities from 21 States
and 4 Union Territories.
Over 100 Digi-Dhan Melas are planned across the country to inculcate digital payment among the people.
Lucky Grahak Yojana (Daily scheme): 5.55 lakh consumers have won the prize.
Lucky Grahak Yojana (Weekly scheme): over 26 thousand consumers.
Digi dhan Vyapar Yojana (weekly scheme): over 35 thousand merchants.
29. Indias GDP growth rate in FY 18, as per the latest report by the HSBC____7.1%.
Note:
Indias Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is expected to be 7.1% in the FY 18
The country may sufficiently remonetized and consumption moves back to pre-demonetization levels.
30. Indias bank has tied up with a cross-border payment network Earthport Plc. to enable faster outbound cross-border
payments for its customers ___Axis bank.
Note:
Earthport Plc has a state-of-the-art global payments network, which spans over 60 countries.

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Now, Axis bank has become the first bank in India, who connects with Earthport.
31. The technology giant will launch its mobile payment wallet Samsung Pay in India____Samsung.
Note:
The launch is expected to happen in the first half of 2017.
According to reports, Samsung will be partnering with American Express (Amex) to bring its mobile payment
solution to India.
The company is also exploring the possibility of pairing with the two global financial services companies, Visa and
MasterCard.
32. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced its Sixth Bi- monthly Monetary Policy Rates for 2016-17_____6.25%.
Note:
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to keep the policy repo rate under the Liquidity Adjustment
Facility unchanged at 6.25%.
It lowered GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal to 6.9% and the apex bank expects a rebound in GDP growth
to 7.4% next year.
33. The committee has been constituted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on cyber security___Meena Hemachandra
committee.
Note:
The committee will be headed by Meena Hemachandra and will suggest appropriate policy interventions to
strengthen cyber security and resilience.
The committee will review the threats inherent in the existing or emerging technology on an ongoing basis.
34. Indias rank in the USCC Intellectual Property Index (IPI)-2017_____43rd.
Note:
India has been ranked 43rd out of 45 global economies in the 5th edition of Intellectual Property Index (IPI)-2017.
35. Bank that partnered with Fin-tech startup India Lends to enable the first-time borrowers with no credit history to take
loans____ IDFC Bank.
36. The regulatory agency announced its plans to set up a separate department to develop a sound framework and process for
enforcement action _____Reserve Bank of India.
37. The regulatory agency decided to set up a Standing Committee on Cyber Security _____Reserve Bank of India.
38. The bank has awarded with ISO 27001: 2013 certification for its Information Security Management System (ISMS)____
South Indian Bank (SIB).
Note:
Earlier, SIB has received ISO 9001 Quality Management certification for its Credit Department, Personnel
Department and Data Centre.
39. The Reserve Bank has enhanced the cash withdrawal limit from Savings Bank Account to 50,000 rupees from the
existing____ 24,000 rupees.
40. Indias rank in the 2017 Economic Freedom Index (EFI)____ 143rd.
Note:
Annual index was released by a conservative US political think tank the Heritage Foundation.
It measures the degree of economic freedom in the countries of the world.
41. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased the gold loan limit for RRBs (Regional Rural Banks) from the current Rs. 1
lakh to help the farmers and artisans___ Rs. 2 lakh.
Note:
RBI has directed that the gold loans should not exceed 75% of the value of the gold pledged for taking the loan.
42. Who has launched Pragati a traditional life insurance plan that has been specifically designed to empower low income
families ____HDFC life.
Note:
Pragati makes life insurance easily accessible to every person who wishes to financially secure his family.
HDFC Life will offer the dual benefit of systematic savings (with guaranteed premium returns) and wholesome life
protection.

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43. The union Cabinet has approved the merger of five subsidiary banks with the bank which will make the bank among top
50 banks in the world_____ State Bank of India (SBI).
Note:
SBI will acquire State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ), State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH), State Bank of Mysore
(SBM), State Bank of Patiala (SBP) and State Bank of Travancore ( SBT )
44. Bank has launched of mobile wallet "Oriental Batuaa" on the occasion of its 75th Foundation Day____ Oriental Bank of
Commerce (OBC).
Note:
The bank has also launched two new cards RuPay based Platinum international debit card and Oriental Prepaid
Card a RuPay card for individuals and corporates.
45. The public-sector bank has signed MoU with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to start higher
education financing agency_____ Canara Bank.
Note:
HEFA has been formed as a special purpose vehicle.
The purpose of the HEFA is to create high quality infrastructure/capital assets in premier educational institutions.
46. The state to host 3rd edition of LIC-Gateway LitFest_____ Maharashtra.
Note:
The 3rd edition of the annual LIC Gateway LitFest will be held in Mumbai, Maharashtra on February 25 and 26,
2017.
47. India has sanctioned amount of soft loan to Nepal for infra projects____$340 million.
Note:
Under this programme, Mahalaki bridge and 15 roads will be constructed in various parts of Nepal.
48. The public-sector bank has won the National MSME Excellence Award 2017____Corporation Bank.
Note:
The award is instituted by the Federation of Industry Trade and Services (FITS), which is a national industry body
working in the form of a bridge between the industry and the state and central governments.
49. The Union Government has launched an app to enable digital payments without card swiping machines____Bharat QR
code.
Note:
Bharat QR code has been developed jointly by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), MasterCard Visa,
and American Express under instructions from Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
It works as a common interface for the MasterCard/Visa/ RuPay platforms and also facilitate acceptance of
Aadhaar-enabled payments and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
50. Who will acquire the business of Telenor India for an undisclosed sum in all seven circles in India____Bharti Airtel.
Note:
Airtel is Indias largest wireless operator with over 269 million subscribers and a revenue market share of over 33
per cent.
Telenor India (formerly known as Uninor) was an Indian mobile network operator based in Gurgaon, Haryana,
India.
51. The Direct-to-home operator Dish TV has joined hands with private lender for digital payments___ICICI bank.
Note:
Now, customers to do recharge through unified payment interface (UPI) transactions.
This alliance with ICICI Bank through UPI will drive higher customer adoption and allow them to be a part of the
digital economy.
52. The bank has launched a railway ticket booking facility by having a direct tie-up with IRCTC____United Bank of India
(UBI).
Note:
UBI customers can book railway tickets seamlessly through IRCTC website using the banks debit card.
53. Indias GDP forecast for FY 17, as per latest report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)___ 6.6%.
54. Indias GDP growth forecast for FY 17, as per latest survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD)____ 7%.

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Note:
The OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of
people around the world.
55. Inter-disciplinary standing committee has been constituted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to review cyber threats____
Meena Hemchandra.
Note:
The eleven- member committee headed by Executive Director of RBI Meena Hemchandra.
The committee study adoption of various security standards and protocols, interface with stakeholders and
suggest appropriate policy interventions to strengthen cyber security and resilience.
56. The bank has introduced Radio Frequency Identification Card, (RFID) enabled banking cards__Dena Bank
Note:
With the help of this card a branch/relationship manager can identify a valued client entering a branch with the
card.

New Appointments
1. Who has been appointed as the new Police chief of Karnataka____Rupak Kumar Dutta.
Note:
He succeeded Om Prakash, who retiring from service on superannuation.
Dutta will hold the post for a period of 9 months (October 2017).
2. The former chairman and chief executive of Exxon Mobil has been sworn in as Secretary of State of US President Donald
Trump___Rex Tillerson.
Note:
Tillerson was cleared for full Senate approval in a 56-43 vote.
The vote came after Senate Republicans changed the rules in order to approve Mr Trump's nominees for health
and treasury, despite a Democratic boycott.
3. Who has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of BAE Systems India____Nik Khanna.
Note:
BAE Systems is a British multinational defense, security, and aerospace company and its headquarters are located
in London in the United Kingdom.
4. Who has been selected as the new CEO (chief executive officer) & MD (Managing Director) of NSE National Stock
Exchange of India Limited ____Vikram Limaye.
Note:
The National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) is the leading stock exchange of India, located in Mumbai.
NSE was established in 1992 as the first demutualized electronic exchange in the country.
5. The Union Urban Development Ministry has appointed Bollywood actress as the new female ambassador of the Swachh
Bharat Campaign_____Anushka Sharma.
Note:
She will highlight the women-centric aspects of open defecation in the rural and semi-rural area.
Anushka will join the campaign with Amitabh Bachchan, who is also the brand ambassador of this campaign.
6. Who is the new Director (Commercial) of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)____Anand Kumar Gupta.
Note:
He will be responsible for the activities relating to Commercial, International and Domestic Business
development and Consultancy business of NTPC.
7. The chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)____ Stuti Narain Kacker.
Note:
NCPCR is an Indian governmental commission, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women &
Child Development.
8. Who has been sworn-in as the new United States Secretary of State____ Rex Tillerson.
Note:
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The post is principally concerned with foreign policy and is considered to be the U.S. governments equivalent of a
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
9. Who has appointed principal economic adviser in the department of economic affairs in the Union Finance Ministry_____
Sanjeev Sanyal.
10. Who has been sworn in as Haiti's new president in a ceremony in the capital, Port-au-Prince___ Jovenel Moise.
Note:
He has been declared the winner of Haiti's 20th November presidential election, ending a protracted electoral
process that has paralysed the Caribbean country's politics for more than a year.
According to the UN World Food Programme, two and half million Haitians live in poverty.
11. Somalia's Parliament has elected former Prime Minister as the country's new president____ Mohamed Abdullahi
Farmajo.
Note:
He beat incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
The Federal Republic of Somalia is a country located in the Horn of Africa and estimated population of around 3
million.
12. In United States (US) Senate has voted to confirm Republican Senator as the next Attorney General of the United States___
Jeff Sessions.
Note:
The Alabama senator is known for his tough stance on immigration enforcement and his early support of
President Donald Trump who nominated him for the job.
13. Who has been appointed as the non-official directors on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)___ Rajiv
Kumar, Ashok Gulati and Manish Sabharwal.
14. Who has been appointed the new chief of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)____ Ajay Tyagi.
Note:
He will succeed U.K. Sinha, who retires from the post on 1st March, 2017.
15. Who has been appointed the new President of Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (ASSOCHAM)____ Sandeep
Jajodia.
Note:
He succeeded Sunil Kanoria co-founder and Vice Chairman of Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited.
Currently, Jajodia is the chairman and managing director of Monnet Ispat and Energy.
16. Who has been appointed as the country's first woman Foreign Secretary___Tehmina Janjua.
Note:
She will replace incumbent Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.
Chaudhry will be taking charge as Pakistan's new ambassador to the US.
17. Who is the newly elected President of Institute of Chartered Accountant of India (ICAI)____ Nilesh Vikamsey.
Note:
Nilesh Shivji Vikamsey has become the new President of Institute of Chartered Accountant of India (ICAI).
ICAI is the national professional accounting body of India.
18. Former Prime Minister who won majority consensus in the race for Presidency in civil war stricken Somalia____
Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo
Note:
He beat incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in a surprise result.
Mohamed obtained 184 votes, compared with 97 for the outgoing president.
19. The Republican Senator has been confirmed as the next Attorney General of the United States ______ Jeff Sessions.
Note:
In United States (US) Senate has voted to confirm Jeff Sessions as the next Attorney General of the United States.
20. Who has been elected as president of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the year 2017-
18___Nilesh Shivji Vikamsey.
Note:

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Gupta has been a chartered accountant for more than 20 years.

21. Who has been appointed as the Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations for the period
of one year (from 1st April 2017) _____Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
Note:
He will replace Harve Ladsous.
Lacroix currently serves as the director for the United Nations at the French Foreign Ministry.
22. Who has been named as the Englands Test captain replacing Alastair Cook____Joe Root.
Note:
He will become Englands 80th Test skipper with his first game in charge set to be against South Africa at Lords
on 6th July 2017.
Rott has scored 4,594 Test runs since he made his debut in 2012 and has been vice-captain since May 2015.
23. Who has been appointed as new High Commissioner of India to Canada. ____ Vikas Swarup.
Note:
He will replace Arun Kumar Sahu who is currently working as acting Indian envoy in Canada.
24. Who has become the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu_______ Edappadi K Palaniswamy.
Note:
He is a senior leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
25. Who has been appointed as non-executive Chairman of Punjab National Bank (PNB)____ Sunil Mehta.
Note:
He has been appointed for a period of three years.
26. Former Supreme Court Judge Sen has taken charge of the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA)___ Justice
Vikramajit.
Note:
He officially took the charge from Justice Mukul Mudgal.
Former Ranji cricketer Siddharth Sahib Singh was named in-charge of all Cricket Operations (International,
Domestic and IPL).
27. Russia's ambassador to the United Nation who died after falling ill in his office in New York is ____ Vitaly Churkin.
28. Who has been appointed as new National Security Advisor ___ Lt Gen Herbert Raymond McMaster.
Note:
McMaster is known for his roles in the Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
National Security Advisor is a senior aide in the Executive Office of the President, based at the West Wing of the
White House, who serves as the chief in-house advisor to the President of the United States on national security
issues.
29. Nagaland People's Front president has been sworn-in as the 11th Chief Minister of Nagaland____Shurhozelie Liezitsu.
Note:
He succeeded TR Zeliang, who resigned as the Chief Minister following widespread protests over reservation to
women in local body elections.
30. Who has been appointed as the chairman of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal_____Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre.
Note:
The post was vacant since Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan resigned from the post.
Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal was established with an aim to speed up water sharing disputes among states.
31. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has appointed his wife as the First Vice President of the country___ Mehriban Aliyev.
Note:
The Vice President position was created after a constitutional referendum in September, 2016.
According to Azerbaijan's constitution, the First Vice President takes over the country's presidency if the
president is unable to perform the duties.
32. Who has been appointed as the new Vice Chairman of Asian Hockey Federation____ Abhijit Sarkar.
Note:
He was also appointed the Chairman of the AHF Commercial and TV Committee with immediate effect.

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Sarkar has been associated with the Sahara India Pariwar since 2004 and served as the Head of Corporate
Communications, Corporate Affairs and Relations, and the Sports Division.
33. Former Nagaland Chief Minister has been appointed as Finance Advisor to the state government____T R Zeliang.
Note:
He will receive the pay and allowances admissible to a cabinet minister.
34. Former aid worker and oil executive, has been appointed the new Prime Minister of Federal Republic of
Somalia___Hassan Ali Khayre.
35. Who has been appointed as the new spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)___ Gopal Baglay.

Important News India

1. Who has launched two-wheeler aggregation service UberMOTO in Hyderabad____ Uber.

Note:
UberMOTO can hire two-wheelers for short-distance commute at cheaper rates to provide the last-mile
connectivity from and to the upcoming Metro railway stations.
Fares at Rs. 25 for (first 3 km) and Rs. 5 per km thereafter.
The service will be available from 8 am to 10 pm in parts of Kondapur, Hitech City, Madhapur and Gachibowli.
2. The 19th edition Bharat Rang Mahotsav has begun with the special focus on the different genres of Indian theater ____New
Delhi.
Note:
Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) established in 1999.
It is the annual theater festival of India's premier theater training institute of Govt. of India National School of
Drama (NSD), New Delhi.
3. Who is planning to remeasure the height the worlds tallest peak Mount Everest____The Survey of India.
Note:
The Survey of India would be sending an expedition to Nepal in two months to conduct the exercise.
The Mount Everest currently stands at a height of 8,848 metres (29,028 feet) above the sea level.
The Survey of India is India's central engineering agency in charge of mapping and surveying set up in 1767 to
help consolidate the territories of the British East India Company.
4. Who has inaugurated the 9th edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival in Bengaluru (Karnataka)___Siddaramaiah
Note:
Form 55 countries,200 films will be screened in Bengaluru and Mysuru during this film festival.
5. Who will start three non-stop flights a week from New Delhi to Dulles International Airport in the suburb of Washington
DC (USA) this summer____Air India (AI).
Note:
The move will bring 30,000 people from India to America every year for economic, commercial and family
purposes.
The direct flights will attract students from India to come and study at universities in Virginia and other parts of
the United States.
6. The Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign has been launched in the state _____Karnataka.
Note:
The campaign against these two diseases will start from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa and
Lakshadweep and will cover nearly 3.6 crore children.
All children aged between 9 months and less than 15 years will be given a single shot of MR- vaccination.
The MR vaccine will be provided free- of- cost across the states.
7. The Union Human Resource Development Ministry will set up a department to conduct examinations for higher and
secondary education_____ National Testing Agency (NTA).
8. The Union Minister for Sports Vijay Goel laid the foundation stone of the country's first centre of excellence for differently
abled sportsmen at _____Gandhinagar(Gujarat).
Note:
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The center is proposed with an estimate of 50 crores rupees and will provide World class facilities such as indoor
halls, dedicated tracks, and 100 bedded hostel.
Para-athletes will also be trained for various international competitions including Paralympics.
9. The first North-eastern state government has implemented e-Cabinet solution for the state cabinet members____
Arunachal Pradesh.
Note:
The e-Cabinet system uses a web-based software by which ministers can prepare for cabinet meetings, conduct
them and review minutes, entirely without paper.
The e-Cabinet system is a multi-user secure solution that keeps information organized and updated in real time.
10. Indias first a-political three days National Womens Parliament (NWP) was held in ____Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh).
Note:
The 3-day conference has been organized by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly with the theme of
Empowering Women-Strengthening Democracy.
11. Indias first inter-disciplinary school on Quality and Reliability (Q&R) will be set up by the _____IIT Kharagpur.
Note:
The purpose for establishing the school is to improve the quality of life for the people of India as well as develop
quality conscious global citizens.
12. The worlds first Braille Atlas for visually impaired persons has been launched by _____Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
Note:
The special edition of the Atlas for Visually Impaired (India) in English Braille has been prepared by National
Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization (NATMO) under the Department of S&T.
13. The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) has constituted a sub-committee to boost girls education____ Kadiyam
Srihari committee.
Note:
He is the Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister of Telangana.
The committee will analyze girls participation at all levels of school education across socio-economic groups of
SC/ST, minorities and in rural-urban areas and reduce existing educational disparities among them.
14. Who has inaugurated a two-day seminar on Bonded Labour at Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, Teen Murti Bhawan,
New Delhi__Justice H L Dattu.
Note:
The NHRC is the National Human Rights Commission of India, responsible for the protection and promotion of
human rights, defined by the Act as "rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed
by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants".
15. The first floating elementary school of India has been inaugurated at Langolsabi Leikai of Champu Khangpok floating
village on Loktak Lake in Manipur___Loktak Elementary Floating School.
16. The Union Minister has launched the National Career Service (NCS) and JeevanPraman facility to the EPFO pensioners
through Post Offices in Hyderabad______Bandaru Dattatreya.
Note:
The post offices will work as employment registration centres for unemployed youth through the NCS portal as
India Post has a large network of more than one and half lakh post offices.
Over 14 lakh employers and about 4 crores job seekers enrolled so far registered with the National Career Service
portal.
17. This has become the first Indian airport to enter the list of top 15 airports in the World - Indira Gandhi International
Airport, New Delhi
18. The union Government has decided to open the Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK) at different locations in many
states for delivering passport related services to the public____56 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras.
19. Who has launched a record 104 satellites in a single flight in one go on board a single rocket PSLV-C37___ISRO.
Note:
All the satellites were successfully put into a 505-km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit.

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96 belong to USA and 5 from International customers of ISRO - Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Switzerland,
United Arab Emirates.
India now surpasses the record of Russian Space Agency which had earlier launched 37 satellites in one go.
20. Sachin Tendulkar is now set to adopt another village for transformation under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna____ Donja
in Osmanabad (Maharashtra).
Note:
The amount will be spent on development of a new school building, a water supply scheme that would provide
potable water to each household, concrete roads and a sewage line.
Earlier, he was transforming the lives of villagers in Puttamraju Kandriga in Andhra Pradesh.
21. The city is hosting the 2017 Indian Panorama Film Festival___ Port Blair.
Note:
The Film Festival is being organized after a gap of five years in the Island.
The film Bahubali (Telugu) directed by SS. Rajamauli has screened on the occasion.
22. The portal has been launched by the union government to ensure transparency in mining operations____ Tamra.
Note:
TAMRA stands for Transparency, Auction Monitoring and Resource Augmentation.
TAMRA is a step to speed up mining activity in the country and facilitate all the stakeholders to track the status of
the statutory clearances associated with mining blocks.
It will be an interactive platform for all the stakeholders to compress the timeline for statutory and other
clearances as it is expected to help minimize the gestation period for starting production.
23. The theme of the second edition of Hunar Haat-2017_____ Craft aur cuisine ka sangam.
Note:
It will remain open till 26th of this month at State Emporia Complex in Connaught Place, New Delhi.
Hunar Haat is to encourage, promote and provide national and international market to master artisans and
craftsmen belonging to minority communities.
24. Two-days mega event of Global investor summit "Momentum Jharkhand" has been augurated by the Union Finance
Minister Arun Jaitley at ____ Ranchi (Jharkhand).
Note:
The Global Investor Summit is being organised for the first time in Jharkhand since its creation and more than one
thousand delegates of Indian & other countries are taking part in this event.
Former Indian cricket captain M S Dhoni is Brand Ambassador for the Summit.
25. The state is hosting the 2017 South Asian Speakers summit____ Madhya Pradesh.
Note:
Two-day South Asian Speakers summit has been inaugurated by the Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan at
Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
26. The union Minister who has inaugurated the Indian Seed Congress-2017 in Kolkata____ Shri Radha Mohan Singh.
Note:
The theme of Seed Congress is Seed of Joy.
The theme is in line with vision to bring happiness and prosperity in the lives of farmers by doubling their farm
income by 2022.
27. Who has unveiled a new communication radio for the Indian armed forces (STARS-V Mk III) at the Aero India 2017
show____ Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL).
Note:
The radio is completely designed, developed and made in BEL.
It is a multi-brand, high data rate, software intensive IP radio with mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) functions
supporting up to 64 notes.
28. Who has signed pact with which technological giant for connected vehicle technology____ Tata Motors.
Note:
The purpose of the pact is to provide an enriched mobile experience for its consumers.

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29. The India Vetiver Network (INVN) has been launched in the state______ Tamil Nadu.
Note:
The INVN is a not-for-profit scientific network to promote vetiver in India.
30. In a notification who has asked hospitals to display revised price list of cardiac stents_____ National Pharmaceutical
Pricing Authority (NPPA).
Note:
NPPA has warned stent manufacturers and importers against shortage and said the companies were under legal
obligation to maintain smooth production and supply of coronary stents.
31. Indian scientists have discovered how many new miniature frog species which can comfortably sit even on a childs
thumbnail in the Western Ghats____ Seven.
Note:
These frogs were overlooked earlier because of their insect-like calls and secretive habitats.
Out of seven new species, five are facing considerable anthropogenic threats and require immediate conservation
prioritisation.
32. The Union Health Secretary K. Mishra has launched a scheme to provide information on adolescent-related issues such as
puberty and mental health____Saathiya Resource Kits.
Note:
The resource kit comprises of an Activity Book, Bhranti-Kranti Game, a Peer Educator Diary and a Question-
Answer Saathiya Kits Book.
33. The union ministry will launch the World Integrated Medicine Forum on Regulation of Homeopathic Medicine___ Ministry
of Ayush.
34. Two-day high-level workshop on advancing passenger mobility and transportation has been organized by the ____NITI
Aayog.
Note:
The workshop in association with an international non-profit organization Rocky Mountain Institute to explore
technologies and business models to help India leapfrog traditional approaches to passenger mobility and
transportation.
35. The latest report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the worlds largest arms importer country
during 2012-16______India.
Note:
As per the report, India accounted for 13% of the total global arms import between 201216 which is highest
among all the countries.
36. The city to host the first edition of Gramin Khel Mahotsav (GKM)____ New Delhi.
Note:
The first edition of Gramin Khel Mahotsav (GKM) will be held from 25th to 31st March 2017 in New Delhi.
37. The Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju has inaugurated the first ever dedicated heliport at ___Rohini(Delhi).
Note:
The heliport is built by state-owned Pawan Hans Ltd.
The heliport consists of a terminal building and capacity of 150 passengers.
This heliport is expected to reduce congestion at the Delhi Airport, which currently handles about 40-50
helicopter arrivals and departure.
38. The union Railways minister Suresh Prabhu has flagged off new 'Humsafar Express' between ____Sriganganagar and
Tiruchirapalli.
Note:
The new train is fully air-conditioned third AC service with an optional service for meals.
The minister also flagged off an Antyodaya Express between Ernakulam and Howrah.
Antyodaya Express is long-distance, fully unreserved, super-fast train service for the common man to be operated
on dense routes.
39. The International conference on Bharat Bodh was held in ____ New Delhi.

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Note:
Three- day conference is organized by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Bhartiya Shikshan
Mandal (BSM).

States News
1. The Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal has inaugurated the 31st Surajkund International Crafts Mela at ____Faridabad
(Haryana).
Note:
The Mela is located near the Surajkund village between the villages of Baharpur and Lakkarpur in Faridabad
district of Haryana.
Around 400 artistes will showcase the art, culture, heritage, handicrafts and cuisine of the state.
21 countries are participating in the fair, Egypt is the partner nation and Jharkhand is the theme state.
2. The state government has recently launched Indias first social innovation centre Kakatiya Hub for Social Innovation in
Nizamabad _____ Telangana.
Note:
The purpose of the hub is to create a model for promoting entrepreneurs in rural and semi-urban areas in the country.
3. The state government has introduced third gender category in school exams_____ Bihar.
Note:
Now, under the third-gender category the Board exams will be conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board
(BSEB).
4. The state government has launched Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana _____ Assam.
Note:
The purpose of the mission is to bring revolutionary changes by doubling the farm income in the State.
5. The first Indian State to establish cashless system for distribution of food grains___ Gujarat.
Note:
The beneficiaries under National Food Security Act (NFSA) will need to carry only Aadhaar cards for getting their
food grain in the state.
6. The state who has hosted the 17th International Seminar on Counter Terrorism-2017____ Haryana.
Note:
The Minister also unveiled the NSG annual magazine The Bombshell, which contains details of various IED
explosions that occurred in various parts of the world in 2016.
7. The 2017 UNESCO Natural Heritage festival was held in the state______ Himachal Pradesh.
Note:
The festival feature a media workshop on environmental journalism, discussions on natural and cultural heritage
of the Himalayan region and a heritage walk.
8. The cities to host the 11th International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition Aero India 2017___ Bengaluru.
9. The state is hosting the 2nd edition of International Spice Conference______ Kerala.
Note:
The event is hosted by the All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF), which represents about 80% of spices
exports, in association with the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The central theme of the conference is 21st century spice industry: Disrupt or be disrupted.
10. Andhra Pradesh government has allocated lands for the construction of nine thematic cities in the new capital__
Amaravathi.
Note:
Three Internal roads with 60-meter width would be constructed connecting the nine thematic cities and 97.5 km
six-lane Inner Ring Roads, 186 km 8 lanes Outer Ring Road would be constructed around the Capital city.
There is also the proposal to construct 134 km metro rail connecting Amaravati.

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The government has acquired 32,448 acres of land from 25,796 farmers under Land Pooling Scheme for the
construction of new capital Amaravati.
11. The state govt. has decided to constitute a sub-committee of Council of Ministers to prepare a blue print of Integrated
Dairy Complexes in all cities of the State ___Haryana Govt.
Note:
The committee consists of Agriculture Minister Om Parkash Dhankhar, Urban Local Bodies Minister, Kavita Jain
and Minister of State for Cooperation, Munish Kumar Grover.
The committee will submit its report within a month.
12. The state government has launched Aardram a public health initiative___ Kerala.
13. The world famous 43rd edition of Khajuraho Dance Festival begins at Khajuraho in ___Chhatrapur, Madhya Pradesh.
Note:
It is a cultural festival that highlights the richness of the various Indian classical dance styles.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Khajuraho Temple is a group of Hindu and Jain Temples in Madhya Pradesh
build by Chandela Dynasty between 950 and 1050 AD.
14. 'Mil Banche program was held in all the primary and middle government schools in ____Madhya Pradesh.
Note:
Under the program, public representatives, other dignitaries have gone to schools to motivate children and read
out a portion of Hindi book of their choice.
15. The Director General of Police Jammu and Kashmir SP Vaid has launched a website _____suvidhajkpolice.in
Note:
A mobile application to provide updates to the people about various policing related activities, advisories, and
National Highway status.
16. The state govt. has approved new service conduct rules for judicial officers and amended existing rules for state
government officials to ensure strict adherence to the provisions of total prohibition___ Bihar.
Note:
As per the new norms, no judicial officers or state government official is allowed to be under the influence of any
intoxicating drink or drugs wherever they are.
17. The state government has approved cloud seeding program to produce adequate rain___ Maharashtra.
Note:
The programme would be coordinated by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
18. The union minister has launched the Cyber Swachhta Kendra for Botnet cleaning and Malware analysis_____ Ravi
Shankar Prasad.
Note:
The Cyber Swachhta Kendra (CSK) is a part of Governments digital India initiative to create a secure cyber
space by detecting botnet infections.
19. The state govt. has given the Bhim awards to 42 sports persons of the state____Haryana govt.
Note:
Spotting them for their outstanding performance at the national and international fronts between the years 2013
and 2017.
A total prize money of Rs 2.10 crore was distributed among the 42 sports persons.
The awardees would be presented Bhim award that would get in cash, a memento, citation, blazer, tie and a scarf.
20. The state government has launched anti-corruption induction training mandatory for government officials____Kerala.
21. The state government has made mandatory for all private schools to install solar systems____ Haryana.
Note:
A special grant at the rate of Rs 20,000 per kilowatt will be given to the schools for installing solar power plants.
22. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan has inaugurated the Indias First Post Office Passport Seva
Kendra in ____Vidisha,Madhya Pradesh.
Note:
The Vidishas Post Office Passport Seva Kendra will work as Laghu Passport Seva Kandra.

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23. The first Indian state to have a public registry of sex offenders____ Kerala.
Note:
This has been stated by the Kerala Governor Justice (Retd) P Sathasivam in the budget session.
24. The Andhra Pradesh government has signed MoU with the payment network company to transform Vishakhapatnam into
Indias first less cash city____ Visa.
25. Indias first hill station bicycle path was inaugurated in ____Darjeeling (West Bengal).
Note:
The path was opened in response to growing interest from both national and foreign tourists.
26. The state government has launched RAHAT project for treatment of heart disease in remote and rural areas__
Rajasthan.
27. The state government has launched pilot project Sex Ratio Monitoring Dashboard for the state__ Haryana.

Important News World

1. Who has launched an appeal for 3 billion US Dollar to help 48 million children caught up in crises worldwide amid fears of
a funding cut from top donor the United States____ UNICEF.
Note:
This year's appeal represents a 18% increase from the initial request for funding in 2016.
The United States is the top donor to UNICEF, followed by Germany, Britain and the European.
2. The Two-day programming committee meeting of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was held
at____ Kathmandu (Nepal).
Note:
Indian delegation leads by Joint Secretary (SAARC) Shri Prashant Agarwal.
Issues including budget of SAARC secretariat and its 5 regional centers and regular activities of the association will
be discussed.
3. The country who host the 4th BIMSTEC Summit-2017____ Nepal.
Note:
Delegates of member countries will review the progress made by BIMSTEC and recommend future course of
action to strengthen regional cooperation among the group.
The BIMSTEC was founded in 1997 and is an international organization involving a group of countries in South
Asia and South East Asia.
4. The worlds first country to completely divest from fossil fuels ____ Ireland.
5. The country who has successfully test a new version of missile Dongfeng-5C missile_____ China.
Note:
The missile can carry up to 10 nuclear warheads from the Taiyuan Space Launch Centre in Shanxi province.

6. The country to host the Mobile World Congress 2017_____Spain.

Note:
The 2017 Mobile World Congress (MWC) will be held in Barcelona, Spain from 27th February to 2nd March.
The MWC is the worlds largest gathering for the mobile industry.
7. The Airways who has launched the world's longest scheduled commercial airline route with the arrival of its flight from
Doha to Auckland, New Zealand____Qatar Airways.
Note:
The airliner 777-200LR is 259-seat Boeing crossed 10 time zones before landing in Auckland after taking off from
Doha covering distance of 7848 nautical miles.
Emirates previously held the record for its route between Dubai and Auckland.
8. Japan's Scientists have announced the development of transmitter which can transmit digital data at a rate exceeding 100
gigabits per second over a single channel using the 300-gigahertz band___Terahertz (THz).
Note:

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It is a next generation system which can transmit digital data over 10 times faster than 5G mobile networks
expected to appear around 2020
9. The National Security Adviser of United states has resigned over his contacts with Russia____ Michael Flynn.
Note:
Mr. Flynn is alleged to have discussed US sanctions with the Russian Ambassador before President Donald Trump
took office.
Retired Lieutenant General Joseph Keith Kellogg has been appointed the acting National Security Advisor.
National Security Advisor is a senior aide in the Executive Office of the US President, based at the West Wing of the
White House.
10. Who has inaugurated the three-day International Conference on NexGen Technologies for Mining and Fuel Industries at
Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi____ Harsh Vardhan.
Note:
The conference has covered areas like Innovative mining technology for sustainable development and advances in
mine design mine planning recent advancement in drilling and blasting.
11. International organization has opened the South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) in
India____ International Monetary Fund(IMF).
Note:
The center is a collaborative venture between the IMF, the member countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) and development partners.
12. The city has hosted the 7th edition of 2017-Indian Seed Congress (ISC) ____ Kolkata.
Note:
The theme of Seed Congress is Seed of Joy which is very much in line with vision of this government to bring
happiness and prosperity in the lives of farmers by doubling their farm income by 2022.
13. The Minister of State for Communications (Independent Charge) Manoj Sinha has inaugurated the two-day ASEAN India
Digital connectivity summit in ___New Delhi.
Note:
Around 30 countries delegates explore areas of cooperation in the area of telecommunication and network
technology.
14. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully ground tested its indigenously developed Cryogenic
Upper Stage engine for _____GSLV Mark III.
Note:
The test was last in the series before going for an actual rocket launch and the engine will be put into use in April.
15. The Pakistan army has launched nationwide military operation to eliminate terrorists and consolidate gains of its counter-
terrorism operations______Radd-ul-Fasaad.
Note:
The operation aims include the elimination of the residual and latent threat of terrorism, consolidating gains of
operations made so far and ensuring the security of Pakistan's borders.
16. Astronomers have discovered for the first-time new Earth-sized exoplanets that may be able to sustain life____ seven.
Note:
The stunning discovery of seven Earth-like planets orbiting a small star in the galaxy open up the most promising
hunting ground so far for life beyond the Solar System.
17. The world's first robot table tennis tutor in Japan has set a new Guinness World Record for its uncanny ability of being
able to play the game better than most humans____FORPHEUS.
Note:
FORPHEUS (Future Omron Robotics Technology for Exploring Possibility of Harmonised Automation with Sinic
Theoretics) has officially been given the Guinness title for its unique technological intelligence and educational
capabilities.
18. The country to host the 9th edition of BRICS Summit-2017____ China.
Note:

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The theme of this years event is BRICS: Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future.
19. India has signed MoU with which neighboring country for development of Sylhet city___ Bangladesh.

Books & Authors

1. The author of the book A Great Reckoning A Chief Inspector Gamache Thriller ______ Louise Penny.
Note:
Its a compelling mystery and a rich human drama in which no character is either entirely good or evil, and each is
capable of inspiring empathy.
2. Who has released the annual year book India-2017 and Bharat-2017 at a function in Shastri Bhawan, New
Delhi_____Venkaiah Naidu.
Note:
These books give comprehensive information about the country and various States/Union Territories including
functioning of the Government and the economy, important for competitive exams.
It also provides detailed information on various schemes and projects of Government.
3. The book The Man Who Became Khali has been authored by ____Dalip Singh Rana.
Note:
This book defines the journey of a man named Dalip Singh Rana and how he became The Great Khali.
4. The book Contemporary West Asia Perspectives on Change and Continuity has been authored by ___ Sujata Ashwarya.
Note:
The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the complexities of change and continuity in West Asia, its society,
religion and politics.
5. The book The Sons of the Dragon has been authored by ____ George RR Martin.
Note:
The novel serves as a prequel to Martins 2014 novella The Rogue Prince.
6. Who is the author of the book Veerappan: Chasing the Brigand _____ K. Vijay Kumar.
Note:
The book is a source of valuable inspiration offering insight into the tactics that went into the wiping out of the
dreaded forest brigand on whom a prize money of Rs. 5 crores had been declared more than a decade back.
7. British-Indian Novelist and essayist new novel titled "The Golden House" will release in September 2017____Salman
Rushdie.
Note:
The book will be published in India by Penguin Random House.
The novel is a modern-day thriller, tells the story of a wealthy family from Mumbai desperately seeking to forget
the tragedy of 26/11 as they try to reinvent themselves in New York City.
8. The author of the book Welcome to Nowhere _______ Elizabeth Laird.
Note:
The book Welcome to Nowhere has been authored by acclaimed childrens writer Elizabeth Laird.
This is a book about war and its consequences.
9. The author of the book Army and Nation: The Military and Indian Democracy since Independence___ Steven Wilkinson.
Note:
It is about Indian Armys relationship with the civilian government after Independence.
10. The author of the book Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl_____ Ram Kamal Mukherjee.
Note:
Its about actress achievement as a politician apart from her sojourn as an actor, danseuse and filmmaker.
It will offer a new perspective on Bollywoods first female superstar.
11. Who is the author of the book Jobless Clueless Reckless ___ Revathi Suresh.
Note:
Its a novel about teenagers that gives an insight into what happens in the minds and lives of teenagers in an upper
middle class, urban society.
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12. The author of the book Every Time It Rains ____ Nikitha Singh.
13. The HarperCollins Publishers India has announced that a book will be released on the 69th birthday of the dream girl____
Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl.
Note:
The authorized biography is penned by a senior journalist and author Ram Kamal Mukherjee.
The book discusses Hema Malinis life and achievement, since she has been extremely active as a stage performer,
actor and a politician.
14. The author of the book Autoplay:Not-so Stories___ G Sampath.
Note:
The book Autoplay:Not-so Stories has been authored by G Sampath.
15. The author of the book Feroze: the Forgotten Gandhi___ Bertil Falk.
Note:
The book Feroze: the Forgotten Gandhi has been authored by Swedish journalist Bertil Falk. The author brings
together his 40-year old research in this biography of Feroze Gandhi.
16. The author of the book Kohinoor: The Story of the Worlds Most Infamous Diamond_____ William Dalrymple.

Important Day
1. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has celebrated its 40th raising day on ____1st February 2017.
Note:
The ICG came into existence on 1st February, 1977 with an enactment of Coast Guard Act 1978, as a full-fledged
independent Armed Force of the Union under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
2. The Basant Panchami festival is celebrated every year on the of the month of 'Magha' ____Fifth day.
Note:
The day marks the beginning of the spring season.
Basant means spring and Panchami means "the fifth day".
On this day, Hindus wearing yellow clothes visit temples and pray to Goddess Saraswati (the goddess of
knowledge) and celebrate the day as Saraswati Puja.
3. The World Cancer day (WCD) is observed every year on _____ 4th February.
Note:
The theme of 2017 World Cancer day We can I can.
4. The National Deworming Day (NDD) is celebrated on ______ 10th February.
Note:
India. The aim of the NDD is to reach every child, regardless of their socio-economic circumstance.
It is the worlds largest deworming programme that covers 340 million children under-19 years of age across 36
states/ UTs.
5. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is observed on ______ 11th February.
Note:
The International Day promote gender equality and encourage girls and women to get involved in science and
research.
6. The World Radio Day (WRD) is observed every year on ___ 13th February.
Note:
The day celebrate radio as the medium for entertainment, information and the mode for communication.
The 2017 theme is Radio is You! a call for greater participation of audiences and communities in the policy and
planning of radio broadcasting.
7. The state government has observed Parents Worship Day on _____14th February.
Note:
The Parents Worship Day is celebrated every year by the Chhattisgarh government on 14th Feb at all schools in
the state to teach Bharatiya sanskriti to students.
8. The National Productivity Week (NPW) is observed every year from ___ 12th-18th February.
Note:
The National Productivity Council (NPC) is an autonomous body under Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry
and was established on 12th February 1958.

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The 2017 theme is From Waste to Profits-through Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.
9. The United Nations' (UN) World Day of Social Justice is annually observed on ____20th February.
Note:
The day encourage people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication.
The theme for 2017 is "Preventing conflict and sustaining peace through decent work.
10. International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is a worldwide annual observance held on ____21st February.
Note:
The theme of 2017:"Towards Sustainable Futures through Multilingual Education".
11. The Central Excise Day (CED) is celebrated on which date in India____ 24th February.
Note:
The 32 Officers of Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) and its formations from all over India to receive
Commendation Certificate on the occasion.
12. The National Science Day (NSD) is celebrated every year in India on ____ 28th February.
Note:
India celebrates National Science Day on 28th February of every year to commemorate the discovery of the Raman
effect in 1928 by Indian physicist Sir C.V. Raman.
The basic objective of observation of National science day is to spread the message of the importance of science
and its application among the people.

Honours & Award

1. The states emerged Winners of Excellence under the state category ____Rajasthan and Telangana.
Note:
eGov awards instituted by the Computer Society of Indias (CSI) Special Interest Group with sponsorship from
Nihilent Technologies.
The award help to recognize the efforts of e Governance practitioner from across central and state departments,
projects and in district administrative units.
2. An IT risk assessment and digital security services provider startup company Lucideus has bagged the governments Best
IT Startup of India____Lucideus.
Note:
Lucideus is behind the security for BHIM app.
Lucideus has been co-founded by its CEO Saket Modi and was incubated out of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT),
Bombay.
3. The first Indian Versatile female singer to collaborate with United Nations for women empowerment___ Neeti Mohan.
4. Who has been selected for the prestigious Dr. B C Roy National award-2016 for outstanding service in the field of socio-
medical relief____ Dr. P Raghu Ram.
Note:
This is the highest award that is bestowed upon a Medical person practicing in India & would be conferred by
Honble President of India on 1st July, 2017 on Doctors Day.
5. The Indian-origin sculptor has awarded Israels Genesis prize_____ Anish Kapoor.
Note:
He honored with the prestigious $1 million Genesis Prize by Israel for his utmost contribution for Jewish
community.
He was chosen by the prize committee headed by Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky.
6. The NGO has bagged the IMC Ram Krishna Bajaj National Quota award in the NGO category______ Annamrita.
Note:
The allocation for the mid-day meal scheme in the Union Budget 2017 has been increased from Rs 9,700 crore to
Rs 10,000 crore by the government and this will support Annamrita to reach out to serve more and more children
from government-aided and municipal schools.
7. The Director Damien Chazelle's musical "La La Land" has taken trophies at the 70th British Academy Film Awards
(BAFTA) ceremony at Royal Albert Hall, London_____5.
List of winners:
Outstanding British film: I, Daniel Blake
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Best film: La La Land

Best director: Damien Chazelle -La La Land
Best actor: Casey Affleck - Manchester by the Sea
Best actress: Emma Stone -La La Land
8. Indian tabla player has won the Grammy in the World Music category that also included sitarist Anoushka Shankar's Land
of Gold____Sandeep Das.
Note:
He was part of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble "Sing Me Home".
Adele won in all the five categories that she was nominated for including Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop
Vocal Album, triumphing over Beyonce, who was the front-runner in the race.
9. Veteran agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan has received an honorary medallion from this country for his contribution
towards development of agricultural practices _____Canada.

10. Indian health institute has won first prize for sanitation & hygiene under the Kayakalp awards 2017____ All India Institute
of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
Note:
AIIMS has won the first prize and a cash reward of Rs. 5 crore for maintaining high standards of sanitation and
hygiene under the Government of India (GoI)s Kayakalp awards 2016-17.
11. Indian chess master has been honored with the title of Candidate Master (CM) by World Chess Federation _____ Kush
Bhagat.
Note:
A second-grade student from Hill Spring International School has been awarded the title of Candidate Master (CM)
by World Chess Federation body.
12. Indian-origin personality has been awarded the 2017 United Kingdoms (UK) Outstanding Bravery of the Year Award____
Shand Panesar.
Note:
Panesar and Craig Nicholson were jointly awarded after the public voted for them in the Total Excellence in
Policing Awards.

13. Who will be honoured with the 4th National Yash Chopra Memorial Award-2017_______ Shah Rukh Khan.
Note:
The award commemorates the director-producer by honouring excellence in various spheres of cinema like acting,
music etc.
14. Who has been honoured with the 2017 Brand Laureate Legendary Award___ Lata Mangeshkar.
Note:
The Brand Laureate Awards recognize world-class achievement in branding amongst individuals and companies.
15. Hindi litterateur and playwright has been selected for Vyas Samman-2016 ___ Surendra Verma.
Note:
Vyas Samman was instituted in 1991 by the KK Birla Foundation and carries a cash award of Rs 3.50 lakh, a
citation and a logo.
Surendra Verma has been selected for his novel Kaatna Shami Ka Vriksha Padma Pankhuri Ki Dhar Se.
16. Indian professional hockey player has been honored with an Honorary Doctorate Degree by Desh Bhagat University
_____Sandeep Singh.
17. Two Indian films have bagged tophonorss at the annual 67th Berlin International Film Festival___"Newton" and "Aaba"
(Short film).
Note:
Newton has won the CICAE Art Cinema Award and Short film Aaba has won Special Prize of Generation KPlus
International Jury for Best Short Film.
18. The city who is hosting the 2017 Mobile World Congress(MWC) ____ Barcelona (Spain).
Note:
The 2017 Mobile World Congress (MWC) has started in Barcelona, Spain from 27th February and will continue till
March.
The MWC is the worlds biggest and best mobile industry event comprising of a massive exhibition, an award-
winning conference, outstanding networking opportunities, partner programmes, the Glomo Awards and much
more.
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19. Indian institute has won the International Mercury Awards for the year 2016-17___ Entrepreneurship Development
Institute of India (EDII).
20. The new Brand Ambassador for Swachh Bharat Mission____ Shilpa Shetty.
Note:
She will feature in TV and radio campaigns aimed at discouraging people from littering on roads.
21. The movie who has won the Best Picture award at 89th Oscar Academy Awards____ Moonlight.
Note:
An American drama Moonlight directed by Barry Jenkins has won the Best Picture award at the 89th edition of
Oscar Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California.
22. Who has won the Best Foreign Language Film at 89th Oscar Academy Awards___The Salesman.
23. The movie who has won the Best Animation award at the 88th Academy Awards 2017_____ Zootopia.
24. The film actor Kabir Bedi has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador of "Sightsavers"___ Kabir Bedi.
Note
Kabir Bedi is known in the United Kingdom for his role as villainous henchman Gobinda in 1983 James Bond
movie Octopussy'.
Sightsavers is an international global organization that works with partners in developing countries to treat and
prevent avoidable blindness, and promote equality for people with visual impairments and other disabilities.

Obituaries
1. Former Union Minister has passed away in the wee hours of after suffering from heart attack_____ E Ahmad.
Note:
He took ill in the Central Hall of Parliament during the President's address.
Ahmad represented the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency of Kerala.
Earlier, he served as the Minister of State for External Affairs in the Manmohan Singh.
2. Eminent theater personality who closely associated with the art and culture scene of Odishahas passed away ____Asim
Basu.
Note:
He was closely associated with the art and culture scene of Odisha for over five decades and directed over 200
plays.
Basu has received the state Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1998.
3. Former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief has passed away _____Joginder Singh.
Note:
He is the 1961 batch IPS officer of Karnataka cadre was chosen to head the premier investigative agency CBI on
July 31, 1996.
He oversaw the investigation of several high-profile cases including Bofors scam, Bihar's fodder scam, the JMM
MPs bribery scandal, Urea scam, telecom deals by the then Union minister Sukh Ram and others.
4. The Renowned Pakistani Urdu novelist and playwright has passed away in Lahore____Bano Qudsia.
Note:
She born in November 1928 in Ferozepur(India) and migrated to Pakistan after partition.
She was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2003 and Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 2010.
5. Recently passed freedom fighter, Racharla Samrajyam from the state____ Andhra Pradesh.
Note:
Samrajyam was born on April 26, 1919 at Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. She was the younger sister of the social
reformer Gora.
She was inspired by the Quit India Movement at the time when she was undergoing Hindi Pracharak training at
Anantapur in 1942.
She received the Tarmra Patra from the Union Government in the year 1972.
6. The winner of the 2003 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine who passed away recently ____Sir Peter Mansfield.
Note:
He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2003, along with late US chemist Paul Lauterbur,
for discovering Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MIR), a technique used by medical specialists to generate images of
the human bodys anatomy.
7. A legendary comic manga artist of Japan, has recently passed away in Tokyo, Japan____Jiro Taniguchi.
Note:

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Taniguchi achieved an international following with works such as The Walking Man, The Summit of the Gods and
The Magic Mountain, hailed for exquisite line drawing and intricately-constructed landscapes.
8. Legendary American jazz singer nicknamed as crobat of Scat passed away in Los Angeles_____Al Jarreau.
Note:
He was best known for his 1981 album Breakin Away and singing the theme song to the popular 1980s TV show
Moonlighting.
He had released more than 20 albums and won seven Grammy Awards besides being nominated for over a dozen
more.
9. T V Parasuram, who passed away recently, was related to _____ Journalism.
Note:
He served as the correspondent for The Indian Express for two decades till his retirement at age 58.
10. Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) passed away after the prolonged illness in Kolkata, West Bengal___ Altamas Kabir.
Note:
Kabir served as the 39th Chief Justice of India from September 2012 to July 2013.
11. Former MP who known for his demands of a separate state for Vidarbha passed away _____ Jambuvantrao Dhote
Note:
Mr. Dhote won his first election to Lok Sabha in 1971 from Nagpur as a Forward Bloc nominee.
12. Jiro Taniguchi, who passed away recently, was the legendary comic manga artist of _____ Japan.
13. Hindi novelist has passed away in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh____ Ved Prakash Sharma
Note:
Sharma was famous for novels with unique titles like Dahej Mein Revolver, Dulhan Maange Dahej and Widhva Ka
Pati.
14. Hindi novelist famous for novels with unique titles like Dahej Mein Revolver has passed away___Ved Prakash Sharma
Note:
His novel "Vardi Wala Gunda" published in 1993, gave him the big break and sold more than eight crore copies.
15. Recently, Bengali singer has passed away in Kolkata due to illness____Banasree Sengupta.
Note:
She had recorded large number of romantic songs since 1966.
West Bengal government had bestowed Sangeet Samman (2012) and the Mahasangeet Samman (2013) for her
contribution to music.
16. Nobel-winning economist, mathematician has passed away in USA___ Kenneth J Arrow.
Note:
He received the Nobel memorial prize in economic science for their pioneering mathematical work on general
equilibrium theory in 1972.
17. The noted bureaucrat, columnist and director of the Institute of Economic Studies (IES), has recently passed away in
Hyderabad___ V. K. Srinivasan.
18. An Indian politician who served as the Minister of External Affairs (MEA), Law and Petroleum passed away in
Hyderabad___ Punjala Shiva Shankar.

Sports News

1. Who has won the 18th Asian Junior Team Squash Championship-2017____ India.
Note:
Indian team has won gold medal in the boys team event at the 18th Asian Junior Team Squash Championship-
2017 by defeating Malaysia by 2-0 in the final in Hong Kong.
2. Olympic and Paralympic medals for the Tokyo 2020 Games will be made from recycled ____mobile phones.
Note:
The Japanese public will be asked to donate old phones and small appliances to gather two tonnes of gold, silver,
and bronze for the 5,000 medals.
Earlier, Olympic host cities have traditionally obtained the metal from mining firms.
3. Indian shuttler has become the World No. 1 Junior Badminton player in the latest rankings of the Badminton World
Federation (BWF)____Lakshya Sen.
Note:
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He moved Chia-Hao Lee of Chinese Taipei to attain the top spot.

He is the first shuttler from Uttarakhand to attain the number one spot at the international level.
4. The former Football player of England and Chelsea has announced to retire _____Frank Lampard.
Note:
He scored 211 times for Chelsea and won every major club honour, netting the goals which in 2005 secured the
club's first championship title in 50 years.
5. Who has won the Indian National Snooker Championship ___Pankaj Advani.
Note:
He has become the only Indian men's cueist to be the holder of all national billiards and snooker titles at the same
time - Billiards, 6-red Snooker and 15-red Snooker.
6. Who has won the gold medal in the boy's team event at the Asian Junior Squash championship in Hong Kong___India.
Note:
Indian boys had won the title for the second time,
Earlier, in 2011 they defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in Colombo.
7. Who has completed an emphatic 4-1 victory over New Zealand in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie, in Pune____India.
Note:
India now play second round tie at home in April against Uzbekistan.
8. Who has won the Women's Singles title of the 81st Senior National Badminton Championships tournament played at
Patliputra Sports Complex Patna____Rituparna Das.
Note:
She defeated Reshma Karthik of Air India in straight sets 21-12, 21-14.
9. Who will miss this summer's World Athletics Championships after governing body IAAF voted to extend their suspension
from international competition in Monaco___Russia.
10. Who has resigned as test captain after a record 59 matches in the role ____Alastair Cook.
Note:
Cook is England's leading scorer in Tests with 11,057 runs.
Cook was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2012 and ICC World Test Captain in 2013.
11. The country will host 2017 FIBA womens Asia Cup basketball tournament _____ India.
Note:
This tournament will be the qualifying tournament for FIBA Asia at the 2018 FIBA World Championship for Women
in Spain.
12. The Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) has announced that India will host the World Billiards Championship
for the next _____four years.
Note:
This will be the only World Championship recognized by all as the earlier one being held by the World Billiards
Limited will not take place now.
The World Billiards Limited will only have ranking events.
13. Who has won the Mens singles title of the 81st senior national Badminton Championships tournament plyed at Patliputra
sports complex Patna____Sourabh Verma.
Note:
He defeated Lakshya Sen in straight sets 21-13, 21-12.
14. Who of the following have been selected for 2017 All-Star Basketball without Borders (BWB) Global Camp____Aashay
Verma and Priyanka Prabhakara.
15. The country to host the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championship _____United Kingdom.
Note:
The 16th edition of the IAAF World Championships will be held in August 2017 in London, United Kingdom (UK).
16. The first Indian cricketer to sign for a foreign T20 league ___ Yusuf Pathan.
17. The Official mascot of FIFA U-17 World Cup _____Kheleao.
Note:
The clouded leopard is an endangered wild cat whose habitat extends from the Himalayan foothills to mainland
Southeast Asia.
Kheleao will participate in numerous activities in the run-up to the first-ever FIFA tournament to be hosted by
India.
FIFA Under-17 World Cup India 2017will be played from 6th to 28th October 2017.
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18. The sports outreach programme has been launched by the Union Government to promote football among school
children____ Mission-XI-Million.
Note:
A Mission-Eleven-Million sports outreach programme to promote football among school children.
The main purpose of the Mission XI is to instill the passion for football in 11 million children from every part of the
country.
19. Who will host the World Billiards Championship for the next four years___India.
Note:
Earlier, the World Billiards Championship -2016 was held in Bengaluru.
This will be the only World Championship recognized by all as the earlier one being held by the World Billiards
Limited will not take place now.
20. India Under-19 team recently clinched One-Day International series against England. The captain of the Indian team is
_______ Abhishek Sharma.
21. Who has won the T20 Blind World Cup M Chinnaswamy Stadium at Bengaluru___ India.
Note:
The team had won the previous edition by defeating the same rivals in the final in 2012.
Indian Successfully defended their title in the T20 Blind World Cup.
22. Australian cricketer has decided to retire from all formats of international cricket ___Adam Voges.
Note:
He has played 20 Tests for Australia after debuting at the age of 35-year in 2015 and became the oldest debut
centurion when he scored not out 130 runs against West Indies in Dominica.
23. The city to host Indias first sport theme literary festival SporTale_____ Pune.
Note:
The 2-day event will feature approx 38 luminaries from the field of sports, media, cinema, books and photography.
24. Who has won the 2017 Laureus World Sports Awards for Sportswoman of the Year____ Simone Biles.
Note:
She is the first woman to win four gymnastics gold medals in a single Olympic Games.
25. The first Indian ever to be promoted by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as Technical Delegate (TD)____
Norman Isaac.
26. Who has won the 2017 Laureus World Sports Awards for Sportman of the Year____ Usain Bolt.
Note:
Bolt was conferred with the top honour for the fourth time (2009, 2010 and 2013) and equal the record set by
tennis legends Roger Federer and Serena Williams and surfer Kelly Slater, who are all four-time Laureus winners.
27. The Legendary Pakistan all-rounder has announced his retirement from international cricket_____ Shahid Afridi.
28. Who has claimed ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam____ Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Note:
He defeated third seeded David Goffin (26-year) of Belgium 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
29. The Indian Women's team has won a medal at the Asian womens Rugby Sevens Trophy tournament at Vientiane, Laos___
Silver medal.
30. Legendary cricketer has been removed from captaincy of IPL franchise Rising Pune Super giants____ Mahendra Singh
Dhoni.
Note:
The Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) are a cricket team based in Pune, Maharashtra, India that plays in the Indian
Premier League starting 2016.
31. Who has won the gruelling men's 50-kilometre event of the National Race Walking Championships in New Delhi____
Sandeep Kumar.
Note:
He smashed his own national record.
Sandeep clocked three hours 55 minutes and 59.05 seconds in a brilliant performance to win the race and qualify
for the London World Championships in August.
32. The country to host 2017 ICC Womens Cricket World Cup_____ England.
Note:
The 11th edition of ICC Womens Cricket World Cup 2017 will be hosted by England from 24 June to 23 July 2017.
33. National level swimmer-turned-model has completed an extremely high endurance event called Ultraman a 517.5 km
race on in Florida____Milind Soman.
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Note:
The challenge requires participants to complete a 10-kilometre open water swim, a 423-kilometre-long bike ride
and an 84-kilometre ultra-marathon run.
Earlier, he completed the toughest triathlon in the world to become Indias Iron Man.
34. Who has won the International Hockey Federation (FIH) female Player of the Year 2016____Naomi van.
35. Former Asian champion has won the bronze in the womens 10 metre air rifle event in the 2017 International Shooting
Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup____Pooja Ghatkar (India).
Note:
Ghatkar shot 228.8 score in the final to finish third.
Mengyao Shi (China) won the gold medal with 252.1 while setting a new world record in the event.
36. Who has won the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Male Player of the Year 2016_____John-John Dohmen.
37. The country to host the 2019 Combined World Cup for shooting____ India.
Note:
India will host the 2019 Combined World Cup for shooting, a qualifying event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
38. Rio Olympian has won the men's title in the second edition of the IDBI Federal Life Insurance New Delhi Marathon ____
Thanackal Gopi.
Note:
In Men's full marathon Gopi clocked 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 37 seconds to win the race in his first appearance in
the event.
39. Indian sportsperson will represent IOCs Athletes Commission in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) ____ Saina
Nehwal.
40. The hockey team has won the 5th edition of Coal India Hockey India League (HIL) 2017 tournament___ Kalinga
Lancers.
Note:
Kalinga Lancers have lifted the fifth edition Hockey India League Title in Chandigarh.
They beat Dabang Mumbai 41 in the final to win their first title.
41. Who has won silver in mens double trap at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup 2017___ Ankur
Mittal.

Best wishes for your exams!

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