August 2017 PDF

Current Affairs August 2017
PDF Capsule
Current Affairs PDF: August 2017
Current Affairs for Competitive Exam

Contents
INDIAN AFFAIRS............................................................................................................................................................ 3
PLACES IN NEWS .........................................................................................................................................................41
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.......................................................................................................................................46
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES .....................................................................................................................................57
RANKINGS & REPORTS .............................................................................................................................................61
BANKING & FINANCE .................................................................................................................................................63
BUSINESS .......................................................................................................................................................................78
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS.....................................................................................................................................90
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS....................................................................................................................................99
ACQUISTIONS & MERGERS ................................................................................................................................... 112
MoUs ............................................................................................................................................................................ 115
SCHEMES ..................................................................................................................................................................... 118
COMMITTEE .............................................................................................................................................................. 119
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ...................................................................................................................................... 122
DEFENCE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 132
ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................................................................................................... 137
SPORTS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 141
OBITUARY .................................................................................................................................................................. 155
BOOKS & AUTHORS ................................................................................................................................................ 161
IMPORTANT DAYS ................................................................................................................................................... 162
Help:
If You Satisfied with our Capsule mean kindly donate some amount to BoscoBan.org
(Facebook.com/boscobengaluru ) or Kindly Suggest this site to your family members &
friends !!!
http://bit.ly/BOSCOBang
2|Page
Follow Us - FB.com/AffairsCloudOfficialPage copyrights 2017 @ AffairsCloud.com
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Constitution 123rd Amendment Bill passed with amendment in Rajya Sabha
On July 31, 2107, Constitution 123rd Amendment Bill, 2017 for setting up of a National Commission
for Backward Classes was passed by Rajya Sabha after dropping an important clause.
i. Rajya Sabha passed the bill by dropping Clause 3 which pertains to the insertion of a new
article 338B about the constitution and powers of the National Commission for Backward Classes.
ii. One amendment sought increase in the number of members of the proposed commission from
three to five with reservation for a member from a minority community and another for women.
Another amendment spoke about protecting the rights of states by making their recommendations
binding.
MMR vaccination campaign launched in Kangra

A campaign to protect children from major childhood diseases like measles, mumps and
rubella has been started in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh from August 1, 2017.
More Information about MMR Vaccination Campaign:
i. The campaign has been initiated by Dharamshala Municipal Corporation Mayor Rajni Vyas.
ii. Under the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccination programme, all children between the age
of nine months to 15 years shall be vaccinated.
iii. All government and private schools as well as aanganwaadis shall be covered under the
programme by well-trained health officials.
SC bans use of five metals in Firecrackers

The Supreme Court has imposed a ban on the use of five harmful heavy metals likelithium,
antimony, mercury, arsenic and lead in the manufacturing of firecrackers as they cause air and
noise pollution.
i. The Supreme Court maintained that it is the responsibility of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety
Organisation (PESO) to ensure compliance of ban particularly in Sivakasi in Tamil
Nadu where there are a large number of firecracker manufacturers.
ii. The court also asked CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) and PESO to make collaborative
efforts for setting up standards with regards to air pollution caused by the bursting of fire crackers.
iii. The Supreme Court order came on a 2015 petition filed by three Delhi children who had
3|Page
requested the court to involve regulating the use of crackers and fireworks during festivals like
Diwali.
PM Modi announces Rs.2,350 crore relief package for floods in North East region
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has announced a package of Rs 2350 crore for
relief, rehabilitation and building flood mitigation infrastructure in the flood-affectedNorth-
Eastern states including Assam on 1st August 2017.
i. The PM announced to set up a high-powered committee to find a long-term solution to
the flood and erosion problem in the North east region.
ii. Out of the Rs 2350 crore announced by the PM, Rs 1200 crore will be given by the Union.
iii. He said the committee would get in touch with even the flood-hit people in the ground.
iv. The Union Government will also provide Rs 100 crore for carrying out the study by the
high-powered committee to synergize efforts towards finding time-bound long term solutions
to recurrent floods in the region.
v. The funds will be utilized for repair, maintenance, and strengthening of roads, highways,
bridges, and other damaged infrastructure.
Lok Sabha passes two key bills for implementation of GST in J&K
On August 2, 2017, Lok Sabha passed two bills, CGST (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Bill,
2017 and IGST (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Bill, 2017, extending Central Goods and
Services Tax (GST) and Integrated Goods and Services Tax (GST) to Jammu and Kashmir
(J&K).
i. The two Bills passed by the House by a voice vote are aimed at giving effect to the formal
amendments required in Central GST (CGST) and Integrated GST (IGST) Acts by removing the
exemption that was carved out for Jammu &Kashmir.
ii. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has mentioned that GST is in the larger interest of traders and
consumers of Jammu and Kashmir and extending Central GST and Integrated GST to Jammu and
Kashmir will ensure greater economic integration of the state with rest of the country.
Aadi Perukku festival celebrated in Tamilnadu

Aadi Perukku is celebrated for the birth of the Tamil month of Aadi. This is the beginning of all
the festivals during the festival seasons.
i. During the month of Thai and Aadi the sun changes directions so it is celebrated in that
way.
ii. It is celebrated in a special way in temples like MangaduKamakshi Temple.
iii. In Aadi every friday is celebrated as Aadivelli.
4|Page
iv. The new moon day of this month is celebrated as AadiAmavasai which is to remember our
ancestors who have reached heavens.
Second AGRI UDAAN program launched in Delhi

In an attempt to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture, Government
launched AGRI UDAAN- Food and Agribusiness Accelerator 2.0 programme in New
Delhi on August 4, 2017. The program will be run by ICAR-NAARM Technology Business
Incubator (TBI), a-IDEA and Indian Institute of Management Ahmadabads Center for
Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE).
i. This is a 6 month program in which shortlisted agri startups with promising innovative business
models will be mentored & guided to scale up their operations.
ii. AGRI UDAAN will be reaching out to agri-startups across the country with a series of road shows
in Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata & Hyderabad.
Compulsory retirement for non-performing teachers and education officials above 50:
Bihar Govt
The Bihar Government has informed that it has decided to compulsory retirement to the
non-performing teachers, head masters and education department officials above the
age of 50 years announced on 3rd of August 2017.
i.The committee is headed by RK Mahajan. The main aim is to improve results in matriculation
and intermediate.
Ii.The action was taken after the poor show of students in matric and intermediate exams of the
state in 2017.
iii.The state government is in process of identifying non-performing institutions and all those
responsible for the poor show will be given compulsory retirement.
Iv.The decision was taken after the review of the education department by Chief Minister Nitish
Kumar.
Green Airports in Andhra Pradesh

On 3rd August 2017, Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Shri Jayant
Sinhainformed that the Indian Government is encouraging to develop green airports.
The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) became the first airport in the world, to
be completely powered by solar energy.
i. Now, Airports Authority of India ( AAI )has inaugurated installation of 1MWp solar power plant
at Tirupathi and Vijaywada Airports.
5|Page
ii. Based on the capacity permissible under Net-Metering policy of States, (AAI) has set up Solar
Power Plants at various airports for its captive power consumption
Assam Government all set to distribute 13 lakh Soil Health cards among farmers
The state government of Assam has decided to distribute 13 lakh Soil Health Cards among
farmers.
i. About 1 lakh 41 thousand cards have already been distributed between April 2016 and June
2017.
ii. Agriculture minister Atul Bora has mentioned that 214 soil test kits are operational for this
purpose and that the government would soon be announcing a State Agriculture policy.
iii. The emphasis has been given to successfully implement PradhanMantriKrishiSichaiYojna in the
state.
iv. Under crop insurance the state government has also released a sum of Rs 7.54 Cr as
subsidy to farmers.
Mughalsarai Railway station in Uttar Pradesh renamed after Deen Dayal Upadhyay
The Yogi Adityanath cabinet in Uttar Pradesh has approved a proposal to rename the
Mughalsarai railway station near Varanasi after the Jan Sangh leader who died in 1968.
i. The centre has approved a proposal to rename the Mughalsarai railway station in Uttar
Pradesh after RSS ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.
ii. The decision is a part of Adityanath governments celebrations to mark the centenary of
Upadhyay competitions at district and state level.Here is a list of some of the railway
stations that have been renamed recently by the government:
a) Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus: The name of the famous Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in
Mumbai was recently changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus this year by Central
Railways.
b) Elphinstone Road: The Western Railways this year has changed the name of Elphinstone Road
Station in Mumbai to Prabhadevi.
c) Bangalore city railway station: The Central government has approved the notice to
rename Bangalore City Railway station to Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna in honour of Karnatakas
19th century revolutionary freedom fighter in 2015.
d) Mhow railway station: The Central government in July 2016 gave its approval to rename
Mhow Railway station in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh after Dalit leader B R Ambedkar.
6|Page
Govt merges NCRB with BPRD

On August 4, 2017, Union Home Ministry passed an order to merge the three-decade
old National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) with Bureau of Police Research and
Development (BPRD).
Government has taken this decision with an aim to improve administrative efficiency and
optimal utilisation of resources.
The BPRD Director General (DG) will be the head of the merged new entity, where the
NCRB Director, an Additional DG rank post will report to the former.
GST council approves hike in luxury car cess

Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and luxury cars, which became cheaper after the rollout of the
goods and services tax (GST) from July 1, 2017, may now cost more as the GST Council, has
decided to raise cess on them from 15% now to up to 25%.
Government gives funds to States/UTs under NAM to develop AYUSH System of Medicine
On August 8, 2017, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Mr. Shripad Yesso
Naik, informed that during the year 2016-17, central Government released Rs. 41711.849
lakhs fund to State/UT Governments under National AYUSH Mission (NAM). Abbreviation
AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.
i. For special Category states (NE States and three hilly States of Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir), grant-in-aid component is 90% from Govt. of
India and remaining 10% is to be the State contribution towards all components under the
scheme. For other States/UTs the sharing pattern is 75% : 25%.
ii. Supporting the cultivation of medicinal plants is financed 100% by Central Government in North
Eastern State and hilly State of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir where
as in other states it is shared in the ratio of 90:10 between Centre and States.
Maharashtra Government to raise $270 mn from Green Climate Fund

The 2030 Water Resources Group (2030WRG) will help the Maharashtra Government to
raise $270 million from the Green Climate Fund, which will be invested in integrated
watershed programmes in the state
i. For raising money from the Green Climate Fund, Maharashtra State Level Climate Change
Committee will endorse the proposal next week, after which it would be referred to the Central
Government.
ii. The approvals will be in place in early 2018 and it could take a year to get the funding.Fund will
also be used in crop diversification and adding market linkages.
7|Page
Government launches second phase of Measles-rubella vaccination campaign

In a bid to eliminate measles and curb instances of rubella by 2020, Union Government has
rolled out the second phase of its measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the
country.
i. Union Health Ministrys campaign against these two diseases intends to cover approximately
41 crore children in a phased manner, making it the largest-ever worldwide.
ii. In the second phase, nearly 3.4 crore children across eight states and union territories
Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Dadra
and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu will be covered.
Centre declares entire Assam as disturbed area under AFSPA under another month
The Centre has declared the entire Assam as a disturbed area under the Armed Forces
(Special Powers) Act, the AFSPA for three more months.
i. The Home Ministry has said the entire Assam, besides bordering areas of Meghalaya, have been
declared disturbed under the AFSPA for three months with effect from 3rd of May.
ii. There were 75 incidents of violence in Assam in 2016 in which 33 people, including four
security personnel, were killed and 14 others were kidnapped.
iii. There were also nine violent incidents in the state in which four people, including two security
personnel, were killed in 2017.
Coconut regains tree status in Goa as Assembly Passes Bill

The Goa Legislative Assembly has passed a bill which regain coconut as a `tree, ensuring
legal protection for it on 8th of August 2017.
i. The Assembly, on the last day of Monsoon session has passed the Goa, Daman and Diu
(Preservation of) Trees Act, 1984 to regulate felling of coconut trees and reclassify it as tree.
ii. Goa Forward Party which is a partner in the Manohar Parrikar-led government, had promised to
reclassify coconut.
Dahi Handi festival: Children under 14 years of age not allowed to participate, says
Bombay HC
The Bombay High Court has accepted Maharashtra governments statement that it would not
allow children under the age of 14 years to participate in the Dahi Handi festival on 7th of
august 2017.
i. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that as per the Child Labour
(Prohibition and Regulation) Act, children below 14 years of age will not be allowed to
participate in the festival.
ii. Since the government had in August last year declared Dahi Handi as an adventure sport.
8|Page
iii. The court heard two petitions filed by city residents, raising concerns over the participation of
minors in the festival and lack of safety measures, due to which several unforeseen incidents occur.
Government to expand Logistics Data Bank project to South India

Government will soon expand operation of Logistics Data Bank (LDB) project to Indias
southern region. So far, it had covered only the western logistics corridor.
i. Logistics Data Bank (LDB) project was unveiled in July 2016 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port,
Mumbai with an aim to bring efficiency in the current Logistics & Supply Chain environment
through use of information technology that would be helpful for tracking and viewing the movement
of containers across the port.
ii. The LDB is being implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle called Delhi Mumbai
Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Logistics Data Services Ltd. (DLDSL) that
is jointly (50:50) owned by the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) Trust and Japanese
IT services major NEC Corporation.
NITI Aayog partners with 6 states to transform Health & Education sectors
On August 8, 2017, NITI Aayog announced partnership with six states (with three states for
health sector reforms and three states for education sector reforms) under its Sustainable Action
for Transforming Human Capital (SATH) initiative.
i. NITI Aayog has selected Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Karnataka to improve healthcare
delivery and key outcomes in these States.
ii. For Education sector, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand have been selectedfor
support to better learning outcomes.
Government constitute committee to make drugs more affordable

Government has constituted a committee of joint secretaries for ensuring enhanced
affordability, availability and accessibility of drugs for the citizens announced on the
parliament on 8th of August 2017.
i. The committee will suggest ways to make pricing policy in favour of poor patients.
ii. The committee would also review the scope of Drugs (Price Control) Order 2013 and suggest
ways for strengthening the regulatory provisions of the order.
Recent Approvals by Central government August 9 2017

On August 10, 2017, Union Government announced that it has set up institutional mechanisms
including a task force, an inter-ministerial synergy group and a steering committee to
realise the full potential of textile sector.
i. National Mission for Clean Ganga has approved ten projects in Bihar, West Bengal and
Uttar Pradesh to the tune of about Rs 2,033 crore.
9|Page
ii. The Medium-term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Statement was laid in Parliament.
iii. The MTEF is a vertical expansion of the aggregates of the expenditure projections in the fiscal
framework presented along with the Annual Financial Statement and Demands for Grants.
iv. Union Government and the State Government of Uttar Pradesh signed Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) for opening 1000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi
Pariyojana (PMBJP) Kendras in the State.
National Cyber Coordination Centre made operational: Government

On August 9, 2017, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology PP
Chaudhary said first phase of National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC), set up to scan the
countrys web traffic to detect cyber security threats, has been made operational now
About National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC):
i. NCCC, a multi-stakeholder body, will be implemented by Indian Computer Emergency
Response Team (CERT-In) at Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
ii. It derives necessary powers as per provisions of section 69B of the Information Technology
Act, 2000 and the Rules notified there under
iii. NCCC will scan internet traffic coming into the country at metadata level to detect real-time
cyber threat and alert various organisations as well as internet service providers for timely action.
NGT bans use of non-biodegradable plastic bags in Delhi

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a temporary ban on use of non-
biodegradable plastic bags which are less than 50 microns in Delhi.
i. A bench is headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar.
ii. He has also announced an environment compensation of Rs 5,000 on anyone found in
possession of such banned plastic.
iii. The tribunal has also directed the Delhi government to seize the entire stock of plastic within
one week.
iv. The AAP-ruled city government and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee has to file an affidavit
by a senior most officer.
v. They will also direct how waste management in the city were being implemented, particularly in
respect to plastics.
vi. It had also said an environment compensation of Rs 10,000 would be imposed on
vegetable vendors and slaughter houses for throwing garbage in public places.
UP Government launches Namami Gange Jagriti Yatra

The Uttar Pradesh Government has launched a new awareness drive called Namami Gange
Jagriti Yatra announced on 10th of August 2017.
i. The drive will mainly focus on cleanliness along the banks of Ganga river and maintain
10 | P a g e
hygiene.
ii. The campaign was flagged off in the state capital Lucknow by CM Adityanath.
iii. The main objective is to make the river and the banks much more cleaner in the future.
iv. It will pass through 108 blocks of 25 districts of UP from Bijnore to Ballia alongside the
Ganga river.
No renewal of Insurance for vehicles without PUC: SC

The Supreme Court has issued a set of directions including that insurance companies will
not renew insurance of a vehicle unless the owner provides pollution under control (PUC)
certificate. It has been announced on 10th of August 2017.
i. A bench is headed by Justice Madan B Loku.
ii. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will ensure that all fuel refilling centres in the
National Capital Region (NCR) have PUC centres.
iii. The apex court granted four weeks time to the Centre to ensure that there are functional PUC
centres in NCR to ensure that vehicles plying have PUC certificate.
Lok Sabha passes State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2017
On August 10, 2017, the Lok Sabha passed State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill 2017 to
repeal the SBI (Subsidiary Banks) Act 1959, State Bank of Hyderabad Act 1956 and to
further amend the State Bank of India Act, 1955, following the merger of five associates with
the parent State Bank of India.
i. From April 1, 2017, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ), State Bank of Hyderabad
(SBH), State Bank of Mysore (SBM), State Bank of Patiala (SBP), State Bank of
Travancore (SBT) and Bharatiya Mahila Bankwere merged into State Bank of India (SBI).
ii. On account of this merger, these subsidiary banks ceased to exist and, therefore, it became
necessary to repeal the SBI India (Subsidiary Banks) Act and the State Bank of Hyderabad
Act which established these subsidiaries.
Economic Survey Volume II admits achieving 7.5% growth target for this fiscal as tough
As per Economic Survey 2016-17 Volume II, tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley on August 11, 2017, meeting the upper end of the 6.75-7.5 per cent GDP growth forecast
for 2017-18 will be a challenge.
i. In context of farm loan waivers, the report mentioned that they could reduce aggregate
demand by as much as 0.7 per cent of GDP, imparting a significant deflationary shock to the
11 | P a g e
economy.
ii. The Economic Survey also highlighted the fact that there has been significant moderation in
Consumer Price Index (CPI) headline inflation during the last three years and that the
current inflation is running well below the 4 percent target, suggesting that inflation by March
2018 is likely to be below the RBIs medium term target of 4 per cent.
Telengana CM initiates 2000-crore SriramSagar modernisation Project

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Raohas initiated Rs2,000-crore project that seeks to
modernise and strengthen its network. It has been initiated to modernise the SriramSagar
project and increase the area served by this lifeline project.
i. The project on the Godavari River has the capacity to boost water supply to several
districts in the State.
ii. The State plans to keep the reservoir full throughout the year by filling it with water from the
Kaleshwaram project.
iii. The project aims to ensure that water will flow continuously in the canals of SRSP and
all lakes will get steady inflow of water.
Government fixes target of installing 60 Giga watt wind power capacity by 2022
Government has fixed an ambitious target of installing 60 giga watt (GW) wind power
capacity in the country by 2022.
i. Power Minister Piyush Goyal said, the current wind power installed capacity in the
country is over 32.5 GW.
ii. Till 2016-17 the wind power was being procured through Feed in Tariff determined by respective
State Electricity Regulators.
iii. Annual wind power capacity addition of around 5500 megawatt is required to meet wind
capacity target of 60 GW by 2022.
Delhi Assembly passes Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment Bill 2017, Netaji Subash
Varsity bill
The Delhi Assembly has passed the Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment Bill 2017and
the Delhi Netaji Subhash University of Technology Bill 2017.
i. The Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment Bill 2017 seeks to make the punishment to violators
of minimum wages norm stricter.
ii. The bills were reintroduced in the assembly on 9th of August 2017.
iii.The Delhi NetajiSubhash University of Technology Bill 2017 aims to grant the existing
NetajiSubhash Institute of Technology (NSIT) the status of a university.
12 | P a g e
iv. In the amended bill, the penalty for violation of law had been raised from the existing Rs
500 to Rs 50,000 and minimum imprisonment of 6 months increased to 3 years.
Bill to fix minimum wage for unorganized sector introduced in Lok Sabha
Code on Wages 2017 Bill that seeks to fix a national minimum wage was introduced in the Lok
Sabha on August 10, 2017. Introducing the Bill, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said, Code
on Wages Bill will consolidate and amend the laws relating to wages and bonus.
The Code offers for the government to determine the minimum wages every five
years using factors like skills required for the job, arduousness of work, geographical
location of work place and other aspects.
The Bill seeks to unite four laws the Payment of Wages Act 1936, the Minimum
Wages Act 1948, the Payment of Bonus Act 1965 and the Equal Remuneration Act
1976.
The Bill will help 40 crore unorganised sector workers to avail the universal
minimum wage.
Govt launches Indian National Anthem video in sign language

The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has launched a new video of the National
Anthem in sign language, featuring disabled and partially disabled children announced on
10th of August 2017.
i.It is directed by veteran filmmaker GovindNihalani. The 3-minute video features film star
Amitabh Bachchan along with physically challenged children performing the anthem in sign
language with the Red Fort in the background.
ii.Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the physically challenged divyang and not
viklang to ensure there was no distinction.
iii.The Minister also mentioned that we should create an environment where such persons are able
to earn a livelihood and live an independent life like any other citizen.
iv.The governments decision is to increase reservation in government vacancies from 3% to 4%
for persons with benchmark disability.
Telangana launches Smart Streets Lab

To improve road safety in Hyderabad with the use of technology, the Government of
Telangana, along with World Resources Institute (WRI) India Ross Center, has announced
the launch of Smart Streets Lab program.
i.The Lab will pilot innovative road-safety and women safety solutions and leverage new
developments in technology and IT to transform the streets of Hyderabad.
ii.As a part of the initiative, an online challenge seeking applications (till September 1, 2017) for
projects designed to make Hyderabads streets smart was announced.
13 | P a g e
9-yr-old Indian youngest to climb 6,153m mountain in Kashmir

The 9 year old Kaamya Karthikeyan became the youngest person to reach the summit of the
6,153 metres-high Mt Stok Kangri in Kashmir.
i.Kaamya reached the peak by climbing 30 Km over a course of 3 days, with an altitude gain of
2,750 metres.
ii.In May 2017, Kaamya had successfully reached the base camp of Mt. Everest at 5,464 metres.
About Jammu and Kashmir &Tourist places of J/K
Jharkhand Assembly passed two bills

Jharkhand Assembly passed the below two bills on August 12, 2017.
i.Jharkhand Assembly Passes Religious Freedom Bill
ii.Jharkhand Assembly passes land acquisition 2013 amendment bill
No Gandhi Jayanti holiday this year in Rajasthan varsities

All state-run universities in Rajasthan will not observe a holiday on October 2 on
the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti this year announced on 11th of August 2017.
i.Only 24 holidays have been listed for the academic year 2017-18, in the calendar issued by the
office of Rajasthan governor Kalyan Singh and by the Chancellor of all state universities.
ii.The changes in the new holiday calendar for the academic year 2017-18 have been issued in
which the amendment has been made.
iii.The list has been circulated to all the 12 state-run universities two months ago.
Indias first online course on Infusion Therapy launched

Infusion Nurses Society (INS) is a global authority in infusion therapy has launched
Indias first online course on Infusion Therapy for nurses on 13th of August 2017.
i.Under this programme it aims to train over 3,000 nurses in the vital medical procedure.
ii.Infusion therapy means the administration of a drug intravenously. It also refers to situations
where drugs are provided through other non-oral routes, such as intramuscular injections and
epidural routes.
iii.It will boost nurses even in rural parts of India. According to INS utilising the reach and ease
of the digital platform, the course will enable members to access the various infusion therapy
modules and presentations through its website.
GABRIEL CHUNDAN (SNAKE BOAT) is the winner OF 65TH NEHRU TROPHY BOAT RACE
2017
Gabriel Chundan, the snake boat powered by oarsmen of Thuruthippuram Boat Club
has won the 65th edition of the prestigious Nehru Trophy held at the Punnamda Lake.
i.The oarsmen of Gabriel Chundanlifted the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
14 | P a g e
ii.The members of the Ernakulam-based boat club dipped their oars in unison, leading the
majestic chundan (snake boat) to the finishing point, pushing fellow competitors behind.
iii.WhileMahadevikkad Kattilthekkethil came second, Payippad and Karichal, last years
winner, secured the third and fourth spots respectively as thousands of spectators gathered on
the banks to cheer them, organisers said.
iv.The Nehru trophy was instituted to commemorate the visit of the first Indian Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru to the area and his boat ride in the lake.
Fete de Puducherry Festival celebrated in Puducherry

A three-day annual cultural festival named Fete de Puducherry organized by the
Government of India begins in Puducherry.
i.The festival is held in association with the South Zone Cultural Centre (Tamil Nadu) every
year to bring to focus the multi-faceted cultural features of various states.
ii.Artistes from 11 states and the union territory of Puducherry will take part in Fete de
Puducherry.
iii.The festival holding started since 1985 as part of celebrating Independence Day and also
Liberation Day of Puducherry.
India deploying Israeli fence systems at Pakistan, Bangladesh borders

India is deploying along its volatile border with Pakistan a smart Israel-developed fencing
systemwhich is having a quick response team mechanism that strikes when the CCTV-powered
control room detects an infiltration attempt
i.The BSF is implementing a project called the comprehensive integrated border management
system (CIBMS).
ii.It is a part of the NarendraModi governmentsplan to completely seal the Indo-Pak and
India-Bangladesh borders in the next few years.
iii.The new equipment and technologies will be integrated and a feed, from CCTV cameras, will go
to the border out post where there is a monitor installed.
Ministry of Culture organizes Sankalp Se Siddhi Program in Coimbatore

Prime Minister Narendra modi has launched a New India movement from 2017-2022, a
Sankalp Se Siddhi (Attainment through Resolve) Program was organized at Coimbatore.
i.A Sankalp Se Siddhi (Attainment through Resolve) Programme was organized at Sri Ramalinga
Sowdambigai College of Science and Commerce, Onappalayam, Coimbatore on 12th of August,
2017.
15 | P a g e
ii.The New India Movement 2017-2022 organized an India free of Poverty, Corruption,
Terrorism, Communalism, Casteism, and Un-cleanliness.
iii.Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge), Dr. Mahesh Sharma graced the
occasion.
Govt slaps $264 mn penalty on RIL, BP

The government has imposed a penalty of USD 264 million (about Rs 1,700
crore)on Reliance Industries Ltd and its partners. The penalty has been imposed for producing
less than the targeted natural gas from eastern offshore KG-D6 fields in 2015-16.
i.Gas production from Dhirubhai-1 and 3 gas field in the eastern offshore KG-D6 block was
supposed to be 80 million standard cubic meters per day but actual production was only
(a) 35.33 mmscmd in 2011-12
(b) 20.88 mmscmd in 2012-13
(c) 9.77 mmscmd in 2013-14
ii.The output has continued to drop in the subsequent years and is now below 4 mmscmd.
iii.The Production Sharing Contract (PSC) allows RIL and its partners BP Plc of the UK and
CanadasNiko Resources to deduct all capital and operating expenses from the sale of gas before
sharing profit with the government.
iv.According to the oil ministry, the total penalty now, which is in the form of disallowing recovery
of cost incurred for missing the target during six years beginning 1st April 2010 stands at USD 3.02
billion.
v.RIL holds 60% interest in block KG-DWN-98/3 or KG-D6 in Bay of Bengal. BP has 30%
and Niko the remaining 10%.
Govt asks Google, Facebook, Microsoft, others to remove Blue Whale links
The government has directed internet majors Google, Facebook, Whats App, Instagram,
Microsoft and Yahoo to immediately remove links of the dangerous online game Blue Whale
Challenge. It leads to suicides of children in India and other countries.Budeikin was arrested in May
2017 and was sentenced to three years in prison.
i.The letter, dated 11th August was issued with following instructions from IT Minister Ravi
Shankar Prasad.
ii.The Blue Whale Challenge is a suicide game in which the player is given certaintasks to
complete for a period of 50 days and the final task leads to suicide.
6th session of India-Turkmenistan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) held in New

Delhi
The 6th session of India-Turkmenistan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic,
Scientific & Technological Cooperation was held in New Delhi on August 14, 2017.
16 | P a g e
i.Turkmenistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredovled high-level
delegation comprising senior officials of the Government of Turkmenistan participated in this
session.
ii.Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Mr. Meredov comprehensively reviewed
the entire gamut of bilateral relations and took stock of the progress achieved in the areas of
energy, trade and economic cooperation, transport and connectivity, security cooperation, civil
aviation, information technology, science and technology, cultural and educational matters.
GeM and CII sign MoU to establish GeMSamvad

On August 14, 2017, a MoU was signed between Government eMarketplace (GeM) special-
purpose vehicle SPV and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in the presence of Ms.
Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce & Industry Minister at Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi.
i.This MoU between GeM and CII is aimed at establishing GeM Samvaad a participative and
collaborative approach with the industry for promoting Indian industry and
entrepreneurship.
ii.The MoU also seeks to create a GeM-Industry Forum for collaboration with the Indian
Industry for, seeking inputs on the technical specifications of products and services to be procured
by the Government agencies, improving the quality of products/services procured especially from
the MSMEs, organize annual Public Procurement Convention of all stakeholders and set up GeM
Resource Centres at CII Regional Offices.
Karnataka Launches Indira Canteen in Bengaluru

Indira Canteen, aimed at serving food to poor at subsidized rates, was inaugurated
in Bengaluru on August 16, 2017, by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.
i.Rahul Gandhi who had the first breakfast at the canteen in Jayanagar, said Indira Canteens
would serve the migrants who came to Bengaluru with a dream to build something.
ii.Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the programme would be extended to all district
centres across the State.
Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launches live twitter wall on Bharat Ke Veer
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has launched a live Twitter wall for promoting Bharat
Ke Veer portal on the eve of the 71st Independence Day.
i.On this occasion, Ministers of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Kiren Rijiju
contributed their one month salary for the portal.
ii.The portal aims to facilitate online donation directly to the families of paramilitary
troopers who have sacrificed their lives for the country in line of duty from 1st January 2016.
iii.It is launched by Rajnath Singh and actor Akshay Kumar on 9th April.
17 | P a g e
Cabinet Approvals August 16 2017

On August 16, 2017, Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved following
bilateral agreements and initiatives:
Cabinet approves new Metro Rail Policy
Union Cabinet has approved a new Metro Rail Policy that seeks to enable realization of growing
metro rail aspirations of a large number of cities but in a responsible manner.
Key features of the approvals
i.Cabinet approves new Metro Rail Policy
ii.Cabinet approves creation of a single non-lapsable corpus fund for Secondary and Higher
education
iii.Cabinet approves MoU between India and Sweden on IPRs
iv.Cabinet approves completion of balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project in Jharkha
v.Cabinet approves closure of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Forest and Plantation vi. Development
Corporation Limited (ANIFPDCL), Port Blair
vii.Cabinet approves raising Rs.9020 cr for long term irrigation fund
CCEA approves procedure and mechanism for Strategic Disinvestment

On August 16, 2017, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, approved following two proposals of Department of Investment and public
Asset Management (DIPAM) for strategic disinvestment:
(i)Setting up an Alternative Mechanism:An Alternative Mechanism (AM) consisting of
the Finance Minister, Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Minister of
Administrative Department will be set up to decide on the matters relating to terms and
conditions of the sale from the stage of inviting of Express of Interests (Eols) till inviting of financial
bid.
(ii)Empowering the Core Group of Secretaries (CGD):
CCEA has also given its nod for empowering the core group of Secretaries to take policy
decisions with regard to procedural issues and to consider deviations as necessary from
time to time for effective implementation of decisions taken by the Cabinet.
GST relief for industrial units in Himalayan, NE region till 2027

On August 16, 2017, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Scheme of providing Budgetary
Support under Goods and Service Tax (GST) Regime for the eligible industrial units located
in State of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and North Eastern States
including Sikkim.
Main features
i.GST Relief Beneficiaries
18 | P a g e
ii.Rationale for Providing GST Relief

iii.Quick Facts about Goods and Services Tax (GST)
World Bank pledges $24.64 mn to enhance Indias forest ecosystem

The Finance Ministry and the World Bank has signed an agreement of $24.64 millionfrom
the Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the World Bank for ecosystem service
improvement project.
i.The projects duration is for five years.
ii.The project would be financed entirely by the World Bank out of its GEF Trust Fund.
iii.The objective of the Project is to strengthen the institutional capacity of the departments
of forestry.
iv.The organisationis to enhance forest ecosystem services and improve the livelihoods of
forest dependent communities in central Indian highlands.
v.Through Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education under the National Mission for Green
India the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will implement the project in the
states of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
vi.The agreement was signed by Department of Economic Affairs Joint Secretary Sameer Khare and
World Banks Acting Country Director for India, Hisham AbdoKahin.
vii.The project agreements were signed by officials from Indian Council of Forestry Research and
Education (ICFRE), government of Madhya Pradesh and government of Chhattisgarh with Kahin.
Petrol pumps to sell LED bulbs, tubelights, ceiling fans soon

The OMCs( Oil Marketing Companies) and EESL( Energy Efficiency Services Ltd) was to ink
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)on August 18,2017 for selling LED bulb for Rs 65, tube light
for Rs 230 and ceiling fan at Rs 1,150.But it was postponed due to the demise of Environment
Minister Anil Madhav Dave and the new date for signing the MoU would be finalised soon.
Champions of Change initiative organised by NITI Aayog

The Prime Minister has interacted with Young Entrepreneurs at the Champions of
Change initiative organised by NITI Aayog at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra.
i.The Prime Minister described the Champions of Changeinitiative as one effort to bring
together diverse strengths for the benefit of the nation and society.
ii.Six groups of Young Entrepreneurs made presentations before the PM on themes such as Soft
Power: Incredible India 2.0; Education and Skill Development; Health and Nutrition; Energizing a
sustainable tomorrow; and Digital India; New India by 2022.
iii.This initiative would be taken forward and institutionalized in the best possible way.
iv.The team of senior officers in Union Government is keen to explore new avenues and ways
for the betterment of people.
19 | P a g e
Environment Minister Launches Harit Diwali, Swasth Diwali Campaign

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan
has launched the Harit Diwali, Swasth Diwali campaign on 17th August 2017.
i.About 800 children from schools of Delhi and NCR have participated in the campaign.
ii.The Pledge will be widely circulated to the schools and colleges and other educational institutions
and the school administration will be requested to administer the said Pledge during their school
assembly up to Diwali.
iii.Children have taken on the leadership role in combating air and noise pollution caused by
burning of fire crackers during Diwali celebrations.
iv.Dr. Harsh Vardhan also administered a Pledge for a Green and Healthy Diwali to the
gathering of students.
v.Students presented Nukkad Nataks (street plays) and also sang PrakritiVandana on
the occasion.
vi.The message of celebrating Harit &Swasth Diwali will be taken across the country. The
children should buy earthen lamps and other such environment-friendly products.
Government bans Export of Gold Items Above 22-Carat Purity

The government has banned exports of gold jewellery, medallions and other articles
above 22- carat purity in a bid to check round stumbling of the precious metal.
i.India is the worlds second-biggest gold consumer after China. The imports mainly take
care of demand by the jewellery industry.
ii.The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has mentioned certain provisions of the foreign
trade policy (2015-20) are amended:
iii.To allow export of gold jewellery (plain or studded) and articles containing gold of 8 carats and
above up to a maximum limit of 22 carats only from domestic tariff area and export-oriented units,
electronics hardware technology parks, software technology parks and bio technology parks.
Navika Sagar Parikrama : Indian Navys all women team to circumnavigate globe
Under project Navika Sagar Parikrama which will commence in September 2017, a team of
women officers of the Indian Navy would circumnavigate the globe on an Indian-built sail boat
INSV Tarini. This is the first ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women
crew.
20 | P a g e
About Navika Sagar Parikrama:

Crew:
The all-women crew includes Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi, Lt Cdr Pratibha Jamwal, Lt Cdr
Swathi P, Lt Aishwarya Boddapati, Lt Sh Vijaya Devi and Lt Payal Gupta.
Crew have trained extensively for the forthcoming voyage. They have sailed
approximately 20,000 Nautical Miles (Nm) onboard INSV Mhadei and Tarini as part of
training, which includes two expeditions to Mauritius (in 2016 and 2017) and a
voyage from Goa to Cape Town in Dec 16
SDMC launches Mosquito Terminator Train

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC),in a joint initiative with the Northern
Railway, launched the mosquito terminator train at the New Delhi Railway station on
18th of Aug 2017.
i.The train will spray insecticide or bactericide on water bodies along the tracks across
the city.
ii.It is expected to cover a distance of 70 kilometres a day.
iii.The truck contains a mixture of 8,000 litres of water and 200kg larvicide.
iv.The train runs at a speed of 20 km/hour to ensure that water bodies are
sanitized effectively.
v.This is an annual exercise carried out to curb mosquito breeding in localities near railway tracks,
which are inaccessible by road.
SmritiI rani inaugurates handicraft manufacturing unit in Jharkhand

SmritiI rani has inaugurated Jharkhands first textiles manufacturing and export
unitOrient Craft Ltd.
i.Currently, Jharkhand produces an annual production of nearly 1,200 metric tonnes of tasar silk
alone and shares 62% share in the total market production of the entire country.
ii.The unit has come up in record time of 4 month with all the modern machines.
iii.Irani will also lay foundation stones of numerous companies under special make in Jharkhand
drive, called Momentum Jharkhand in Jamshedpur.
iv.The second phase of the Momentum Jharkhand will bring upon more employment and
development to the state.
GOIs Street Lighting National Programme illuminates 50,000 KM of Indian roads

Government of Indias Street Lighting National programme (SLNP) has
illuminated 50,000 KM of Indian roads with installation of 30 lakh LED street lights across
21 | P a g e
the country. With this milestone Energy Efficiency Services Limitedhas become the worlds
largest street light management company.
Street Light National Programme (SLNP) was launched by Government of India in
January 2015, with an aim to replace 3.5 crore conventional street lightswith
energy efficient LED lights.
This replacement drive will result in saving of 9,000 million units annually, which
translates into savings of Rs. 5500 crore.
Government to conduct worlds largest sample survey for students

On November 13, 2017, Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry will be
conducting National Assessment Survey (NAS) for the students of class 3, 5, and 8for
assessing various learning outcomes.
More details about National Assessment Survey (NAS) to be conducted by HRD Ministry:
i.So far, during several rounds of the survey, a total of 4.45 lakh students have been tested
for various learning outcomes.
ii.This time, approximately 30 lakh students will be assessed in the year 2017-18making it
the worlds largest sample survey of student learning achievement.
iii.On basis of this survey, for the first time, teachers will have a tool to understand what exactly
the child should be learning in various classes.
Government doubles child care allowance for women with disabilities

Government has doubled monthly child care allowance for women with disabilities. At
present, the allowance of Rs 1500 per month is given to differently-abled female employees for
taking care of their newborn child. This has been raised to Rs. 3000 per month.
More details about revised child care allowance for women with disabilities:
i.The allowance will be payable for a maximum of two eldest surviving children from the
time of the childs birth till the child is two years old.
ii.As per the order issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the limit would
be automatically raised by 25 per cent every time the Dearness Allowance on the revised
pay structure goes up by 50 per cent.
Assams country liquor gets branded, to be flavoured

To prevent adulteration and revenue leakage, the Assam government has decided that
country liquor would be grain-based, undergo chemical tests and be branded and make
it mandatory for the bottles to sport a hologram as in the case of IMFL.
i.Four companies have applied for production and bottling license of country liquor two at Kamrup
22 | P a g e
Metro district, one in Kamrup Rural district and one in Jorhat district.
ii.The factory at Jorhat has registered the Rhino brand for their product.
iii.The Rhino brand will initially have three products. Out of them, two will be orange and
pineapple flavouredwhile one will be unflavoured.
iv.Unlike earlier, the grain will be fermented to make extra neutral alcohol (ENA), which will be
used to make the spirit.
Delhi Metro opens plant to recycle construction waste

Delhi Metro has opened a facility to recycle the waste produced during its demolition and
construction work.
i.The construction waste generated by DMRC is generally dumped at pre-designated sites
identified and approved by the government.
ii.According to the Delhi Metro Rail Corp (DMRC) to utilize this waste, this new facility has been
constructed.
iii.A plant in Rohini in north Delhi will manufacture green products like aggregates, manufactured
sand, concrete bricks, tiles, paver-blocks and kerb stones.
iv.The facility, which will be managed by IL&FS Environment, will have the capacity to
process 150 tonnes of waste every day.
Maharashtra ryots to get funds, support

The Maharashtra platform is aimed at measures such as micro irrigation for cotton. It will
look at ways to use structured finance instruments for adopting micro irrigation for Maharashtra
farmers.
i.The 2030 Water Resources Group (2030WRG), a consortium of public and private sector entities
under the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will be raising up to $10 million to help
about four lakh cotton farmers in Maharashtra.
ii.The Maharashtra government will adopt sustainable water and agriculture practices.
iii.The global corporates and textile players such as H&M and Marks & Spencer will raise funds for
them.
40% reservation for girls at planned schools, higher edu inst.

Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has informed that the government has decided to offer 40
per cent reservation for girls at 100 Navodaya-type schools and five higher education institutes.
i.A panel formed by The Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), a government-funded
agency, had recommended a three-tier model to tackle educational backwardness among
minorities, particularly the Muslims.
23 | P a g e
ii.There are six notified minority communities in the country: Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Sikhs,
Parsis and Jains.
iii.The suggested model includes creating infrastructure to impart education at primary, secondary
and tertiary levels by opening 211 schools, 25 community colleges and the five institutes.The
proposed schools could work on the patterns of Kendriya Vidayala or Navodaya Vidyalaya.
Assam Plans To Introduce Compassionate Family Pension Scheme

On August 20,2017 Assam state government is introducing a new Scheme called, Scheme for
Compassionate Family Pension (CFP) at GAUHATI.The scheme plans to offer the
compassionate family pension instead of job offers to family members due to some practical
difficulties.
i.A new scheme called Scheme for Compassionate Family Pension in lieu of Compassionate
Appointment, which will be known as Compassionate Family Pension Scheme or CFP Scheme.
ii.Current Policy couldnt satisfy the objectives completely and legal heir fails to get an appointment
immediately due to lack of educational qualifications and sometimes non-availability of vacancies.
HRD Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar launches Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat
On August 21,2017 Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat Programme, was launched in Kochi.
i.A program is an initiative of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to prepare a physical Health and
Fitness Profile Card for more than 12 lakhs of Kendriya Vidyalaya students.
ii.Union Minister for Human Resource Development Shri. Prakash Javadekar unveil the
Profile Card in a function held at Kendriya Vidyalaya at KV NAD, Aluva (Kochi).
iii.District Collector Muhammed Y Safeerulla and Kendriya Vidyalaya Additional Commissioner U N
Khaware were also attended the programme.
iv.The programme aims to make students, teachers and parents aware of the importance of good
health and fitness and encourage 60 minutes of play every day.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh launches digital police portal

Union home minister Rajnath Singh has launched a digital policing portal on 21st of Aug 2017
making it possible to electronically apply and seek verification for tenants, domestic helps
and even passports.
i.The initiative is a follow up of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems Project (CCTNS)
or the crime and criminal tracking network system.
ii.CCTNS was visualized as a database for police to check antecedents of criminals; the
new system called digital policing also has citizen centric aspects.
iii.More citizen centric services like passport verification can be channeled through this. Citizen can
24 | P a g e
fill in details, verification can come online.

iv.A citizen needs to log in to www.digitalpolice.gov.in to complain about an accident,
incident etc.
Karnataka Government launches clouding seeding Project Varshadhari

Karnataka Government has launched clouding seeding Project Varshadhari in
Bengaluru under which an aircraft will spray chemicals to induce rainfall.
i.Cloud seeding (also known as weather modification technique) is an artificial way to induce
moisture in the clouds so as to cause a rainfall.
ii.It aims to condense small water particles by clouds (size less than 10 microns) to droplets
of 50 microns, which can constitute rains.
iii.The cloud seeding project is an experimental project that will cover Bengaluru, Gadag and Yadgir
districts of the state.
ICMR, Health Ministry ink MoU with IVI for vaccine R&D
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has signed a MoU with the International Vaccine
Institute (IVI) for collaborating on vaccine research and development.
i.India will accomplish $5,00,000 (Rs.3.20 crore) annually for a stake in IVI. An amount
approved during a Cabinet meeting in January.
ii.The MoU was signed between Soumya Swaminathan, the Director General of ICMR and
Secretary, Department of Health Research, Manoj Jhalani, Additional Secretary and managing
director, National Health Mission, and IVI Director General Jerome H. Kim.
iii.The vaccine was licensed in India in 2009 and WHO-prequalified in 2011.
iv.The MoU was a step towards providing affordable vaccines across the globe
Supreme Court declared Triple Talaq as unconstitutional, illegal and void

On August 22, 2017 the Supreme Court announced its judgement on the issue of instant triple
talaq with majority of 3:2 .They banned triple talaq, or instant divorce and termed as void or
invalid.
i.Triple talaq is a form of divorce in Islam . It allowed any Muslim man to legally divorce his wife by
stating the word talaq (the Arabic word for divorce). The pronouncement could be oral or
written, or, in recent times, delivered by electronic means such as telephone, SMS, email
or social media.
25 | P a g e
ii.Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice S Abdul Nazeer were in favour of putting a stay on
triple talaq for six months on practice, asking the government to prepare the required legislation.
Justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman and U U Lalit held it as violative of the Constitution.
iii.The government has mentioned the practice of instant divorce is already banned in 20 Muslim-
majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Afghanistan and Pakistan, that have banned
triple talaq.
NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant launch Mentor India Campaign

NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has launched the Mentor India Campaign. It is a strategic nation
building initiative to engage leaders who can guide and mentor students at more than 900
Atal Tinkering Labs.
i.It has established across the country as a part of the Atal Innovation Mission on 23rdof August
2017.
ii.The mission aims to set up over 900 such labs across India and have 2,000 such labs by the end
of 2017.
iii.The campaign, Mentor India is aimed at maximising the impact of Atal Tinkering
Labs where the idea is to engage leaders who will nurture and guide students in the Atal
Tinkering Labs.
iv.These labs are non-prescriptive by nature, and mentors are expected to be enablers rather than
instructors.
v.Atal Tinkering Labs are dedicated works spaces where students from Class 6 to Class 12
learn innovation skills and develop ideas that will go on to transform India.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports establish National Sports Museum in New Delhi
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is going to establish National Sports Museum at
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. It will be first of its kind sports museum in India.
i.The Museum will showcase the Indias achievements in sports and also focus on the traditional
sports within the country.
ii.The aim of the Museum is to popularise the sports as a way of life within the country.
iii.It will display achievements of the Indian greats in sports and also act as an educational
hub and offer opportunity for the young to delve into some sporting activity.
iv.It is proposed that the Museum will have audio-visual display of rules and legacy events
pertaining to various sports as part of education for the budding sportspersons.
Cabinet Approval on August 22nd 2017

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved below schemes.
26 | P a g e
i.Cabinet approves MoU between India and Nepal for construction of a new Bridge over
Mechi River
On 23rd August 2017 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed between India
and Nepal for new Mechi Bridge over Mechi River at Indo-Nepal border which is the ending
point of Highway 02 in India leading to Nepal.
The estimated cost of construction of the bridge is Rs. 158.65 crore.The new
bridge is part of up-gradation of the Kakarvitta (Nepal) to Panitanki Bypass (India) on NH
327B covering a length of 1500 meters including a 6 lane approach road of 825
meters.
ii.Cabinet approves New Central Sector Scheme Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada
Yojana
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the renaming of the new Central Sector
Scheme SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-
Processing Clusters) .Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) covers for the period of
2016-20 coterminous with the 14th Finance Commission cycle.
The objective of PMKSY is to supplement agriculture, modernize processing and decrease
Agri-Waste.
iii.Cabinet approves setting up of a Commission to examine the Sub-Categorization within
OBCs
The Cabinet has approved a proposal for setting up of a Commission to examine the issue of
sub-categorization of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) under article 340 of the
Constitution.
The Commission shall submit its report within 12 weeks from the date of appointment of
the Chairperson of the Commission.
The proposed terms of references of the Commission are as follows:
To examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the
castes or communities included in the broad category of OBCs, with reference to
the OBCs included in the Central list.
iv.Cabinet approves Closure of loss making Bharat Wagon and Engineering Company
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of Ministry of Railways to
close the Bharat Wagon and Engineering Company Limited (BWEL). It is a Central Public
Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under Ministry of Railways.
The BWELs 626 employees will be benefitted from the voluntary retirement
The Government will have to provide one time grant off 151.18 crore towards severance
package and for clearing the current liabilities of the company.
27 | P a g e
v.Cabinet gives in-principle approval for Public Sector Banks to amalgamate through an
Alternative Mechanism (AM)
The Union Cabinet has given in-principle approval for Public Sector Banks to amalgamate
through an Alternative Mechanism (AM). The decision regarding creating strong and
competitive banks would be solely based on commercial considerations.
The proposals to formulate schemes of amalgamation shall be placed before
theAlternative Mechanism (AM).
After in-principle approval, the Banks will take steps in accordance with law and
SEBIs requirements.The final scheme will be notified by Central Government in
consultation with the Reserve Bank of India
Supreme Court rules Right to Privacy as Fundamental Right

On August 24, 2017 The Supreme Court (SC) ruled that privacy is a fundamental right because
it is essential to the right to life.
i.A nine-judge Supreme Court bench declared privacy is a fundamental right that may impact
everything from the governments signature Aadhaar programme to civil liberty, rights to collection
and use of personal data by Internet and financial firms. The decision can also impact restrictions
on right to convert and choice of food.
ii.Chief Justice JS Khehar informed that ruled privacy was part of the fundamental right to life and
personal liberty guaranteed to all citizens under Article 21 of the Constitution.
iv.The judgment will have a crucial bearing on the governments Aadhaar scheme that collects
personal details, biometrics to identify beneficiaries for accessing social benefits and government
welfare scheme.
Karnataka MOU with Microsoft to develop Indias first Farm Price Forecasting Model
Karnataka Agriculture Department has signed a Memorandum of
Understandingwith Microsoft India to develop a first unique farm price forecasting
model.
i.It will be using latest IT tools to help farmers, administrators and other stakeholders
to understand the market behaviour in advance.
ii.It will examine related factors including weather, rainfall and external factors that impact
market behaviour.
iii.Karnataka Agriculture Prices Commission is supervising the project.
iv.It is the model that helps to provide real-time market data and helping to analyze its
implication on farm sector.
28 | P a g e
Rajasthan govt accords OBC status to Jats of Bharatpur and Dholpur

Jats of Dholpur and Bharatpur districts have been given reservation under the Other
Backward Class (OBC) category in Rajasthan on August 24,2017.
i.The state social justice and empowerment
department has issued a notificationafter approval from the cabinet.
ii.Jat community people demanded for a long time to residing in both the districts to include them
in the OBC list.
iii.Jats residing in districts except for Dholpur and Bharatpur were getting benefit of the OBC quota.
UIDAI launches door step Aadhar enrolment in Delhi

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched door step enrolment facility
with Common Services Centers (CSCs) in Delhi. It is the facility available for the elderly,
patients and others who cannot travel the Aadhar centers.
i.A mobile van in partnership with CSC India will go and enroll people who are unable to
travel to Aadhaar centers for enrollment like elders, patients, small children.
ii.The van was flagged off by Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Telangana government launches 181 helpline for distressed women

Department of Women Development and Child Welfare in collaboration with Hyderabad District
Collectorate launched a Women Helpline 181 to help and assist women in distress.
i.The helpline will support women affected by harassment, trauma and violence both in private and
public spaces such as family, community and workplace.
ii.The helpline will function 24/7 and provide service to women affected by violence, women
seeking emotional support and also provide information about women welfare schemes introduced
by the State and Central government.
Odisha launches grid connected roof top solar projects

Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated grid connected roof top
solar programme to encourage the public participation to harness renewable energy.
Under this programme, the consumers can introduce small solar plants on their rooftops and
consume the generated solar power during day time. Excess power can be exported to the grid
through their service cable.
i.These decentralized systems also have the ability to strengthen the grid. It will reduce power
loses .Grid connected roof top solar systems are best options for adding renewable solar capacity.
ii.A web platform www.rtsodisha.gov.in was also launched to help project stakeholders interact
29 | P a g e
with consumers and provide services.This website was made by Odisha Renewable Energy
Development Agency (OREDA).
OBC Creamy Layer Bar raised to Rs 8 Lakh P.A.

The government has raised the income limit defining creamy layer for OBC reservation
by Rs two lakh per annum. The Union cabinet has approved setting up of a panel for sub-
categorisation within the other backward classes for even distribution of reservation benefits.
i.According to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley the government has hiked the creamy layer
ceiling for the Other Backward Classes to Rs 8 lakh per annum from the existing Rs 6
lakh for central government jobs.
ii.Those in the OBC category earning upto Rs 8 lakh annually will now be included in
reservation benefits.
iii.As per the finance minister a proposal to extend the decision to public sector undertakings was
under active consideration of the government.
EPFO organizes Tiranga Yatra to Commemorate 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement
in Mumbai
Quit India Movement that began on 9th August 1942 which finally culminated into freedom of India.
The nation is observing the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement. The Tiranga Yatra is
an opportunity to achieve Sankalp to Siddhi towards a New India.
i. Employees Provident Fund Organisation, is participating in the celebrations of
75thanniversary of Quit India Movement by organizing Tiranga Yatra.
ii.All the workers from different industries, including EPFO participated in the Tiranga Yatra
organized in Mumbai on 23rd August 2017.
iii.The Tiranga Yatra was flagged off by the Minister of State(IC) for Labour and Employment, Shri
Bandaru Dattatreya, near Indian Oil Office, Bandra(E), Mumbai and culminated at EPFO Regional
Office at Bandra Mumbai.
M.J. Akbar inaugurated Namaskar Africa trade show in Ghana and signed bilateral
agreements in Equatorial Guinea
Minister of State Shri MJ Akbar made official visits to Ghana and Equatorial Guinea from August
14 to August 18, 2017 to launch the Freedom@70 celebrations and to inaugurate FICCIs
Namaskar Africa trade show.
30 | P a g e
Highlights of the visit

i.During the visit, MOS called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,and held talks with
Minister for Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration, Mrs. Shirley Botchway.
ii.MOS handed over a symbolic cheque of US$1 million as grant assistance towards rehabilitation of
the Presidential residence of Flagstaff House built earlier with a GOI concessional Line of Credit.
Foreign and Security Policy Consultations between India and the European Union were
held in New Delhi
The fifth round of Foreign and Security Policy Consultations between India and the
European Union were held in New Delhi on 25th of Aug 2017.
i.The two sides reviewed the entire scope of India-EU Strategic Partnership and discussed ways to
further deepen cooperation in political, economic and security areas.
ii.The Indian side was led by Ruchi Ghanashyam, Secretary while the E.U. side was led by
Jean-Christophe Belliard, Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs, European External
Action Service.
iii.The recent terror attacks in Barcelona, India and the EU called for enhancing cooperation to
combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
iv.The two sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and
restate their respective commitments to promoting and protecting a rules-based international
order.
Kerela Government has launchd E-waste disposal in state schools

Kerala government has begun e-waste disposal in its state schools. Under a programme
aimed at clearing the accumulated junk with about 12500 kg being disposed on a single
day. It has been announced on 26th Aug 2017.
i.The state government is using scientific methods to recycle and refurbish them as per the
central government norms.
ii.The programme is a joint initiative of Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for
Education (KITE), formerly IT@School project and Clean Kerala Company.
iii.The initiative mainly aims to dispose e-waste such as desktop computers, CRT monitors,
laptops, disk drives, printers, UPS, camera, speaker system, television, network components and
generators from 10,000 odd schools and educational offices in the state.
iv.The accumulated junk is reported to be over 1 Cr kg and the first vehicle carrying the e-waste
from a school was flagged off on 24 August.
31 | P a g e
Arun Jaitley launches BEMLs ultra modern metro manufacturing facility

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley has launched BEMLs third Line Ultra Modern Metro
Manufacturing Facility announced on 26th Aug 2017. It has been launched to enhance the
production of metro cars for the forthcoming metro projects in India.
i.Jaitley also inaugurated the indigenously designed and developed biggest ever diesel
excavator BE1800D and crawler dozer BD475-1 and T-72 hull.
ii.It has been designed for fitting into tanks, at Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) unit of Bharath
Earth Movers Limited.
iii.A number of organisations and local leaders including Kolar MP Muniyappa submitted memo
against disinvestment of BEML.
Assam forest dept deploys excavators to evict illegal encroachers from Amchang Wildlife
Sanctuary
Assam forest department deployed around 10000 security and State Disaster Response
Force (SDRF) personnel, 20 elephants and 20 excavators to evict 1400 families that have
been encroaching upon Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary on the northeastern fringe of Guwahati.
The sanctuary is spread over 78.64 sq km.
i.As a precautionary measure against possible protest by the encroachers, a huge contingent of
police, forest and security forces personnel have also deployed at Batahghuli area of the sanctuary
where the eviction process has started.
ii.The Guwahati High Court on 2nd August had given the state government a months time to clear
the encroachers.
iii.According to a survey by the forest department, about 1,400 families had illegally settled in
the protected areafollowing which the high court took up a PIL in 2013 over the encroachments
inside the sanctuary.
Supertech gets green nod for Rs1,130 crore Sports Village project in Greater Noida
Supertech has received green nod for developing a sports-centric housing project in
Greater Noida. It would have an investment cost of Rs1,130 crore.
i.The 62-acre project will be developed in Sector 27 of Greater Noida (west), known as
Noida Extension.
ii.The proposed residential project Sports Village will be launched during Diwali this year and
will be completedin four years.
iii.The Union Environment Ministry has given its clearance (EC) to the proposed Sports Village
project after taking into account the recommendations of its expert panel.
32 | P a g e
The first edition of Miss Transqueen India, a beauty pageant for transgenders takes place
in Gurugram
The first edition of Miss Transqueen India, a beauty pageant for transgenders, will take
place in Gurugram on 22nd Aug 2017.
i.Under this beauty peageant total 1500 participants fought it out to make it to the top 16.
ii.Auditions were held in Delhi, Mumbai and Manipur.
iii.At the final event, 16 contestants from Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Karnataka
and other states will compete to win the Miss Transqueen India title.
Karnataka tourism dept launches Dasara package on Golden Chariot

Karnatakas Department of Tourism has announced Dasara Special Tour
Packages announced on 28th of Aug 2017.
i.The department has planned to launch the Dasara Special Tour Package in the Golden
Chariot Luxury Train, to promote the state festival.
ii.The Golden Chariot is South Indias first and only luxury tourist train run by Karnataka
State Tourist Department Corporation (KSTDC).
iii.Dasara Special Trips include a two night and one day package at a subsided rate of Rs 25,000
per person (for Indians) and Rs 40, 000 for foreigners.
iv.The package includes of accommodation, meals, sightseeing and Mysuru Palace events.
v.The Golden Chariot has 44 luxury cabins that can accommodate 88 people.
vi.The first trip will run from September 23 to 25, and the second from 29th September to
1st October.
Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba on 5-day visit to India

Nepals PM Sher Bahadur Deuba made his maiden visit to India as prime minister. Eventhough
India and Nepal has some areas of concern in recent days his arrival confirmed Kathmandus
abiding interest in strong ties with India.
India and Nepal signed eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs)
1. Modalities for utilization of Indias housing grant component to support reconstruction of
50,000 houses:During former PM Sharma olis visit US$100Assistance package for
Post-earthquake reconstruction assistance was given by GOI to reconstruct
houses in Nepal.
2. Implementation of the grant component of Indias post-earthquake reconstruction
package in the education sector in Nepal.
package in the cultural heritage sector in Nepal.
33 | P a g e

package in the health sector in Nepal.
5. Implementation arrangement on cost sharing, schedules and safeguard issues for
construction of Mechi Bridge under ADBs SASEC Road Connectivity Programme (Tranche
2), funded by India:
6. Drug demand reduction and prevention of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic
substances and precursor chemical and related matters.
7. Agreement on cooperation in the field of standardisation and conformity assessment.
8. An MoU was signed between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and the
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal.
Arun Jaitley inaugurates manufacture of light combat helicopter at HAL

On August 26 2017 Defence minister Arun jaitley, inaugurates the 5.8-tonne category Light
Combat Helicopter(LCH) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL) design upgrade
program (Hawk i) to our nation at HAL(bengaluru)
Tirumala Tirupati temple deposits 2780 kg gold with SBI

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams which is the famous temple of Lord Venkateswara and of the
richest Hindu temple in India has deposited 2,780 kg of gold with State Bank of India under
long term deposit schemeannounced on 29th Aug 2017.
i.The gold deposits have been converted into the Long Term Deposit Scheme at a rate of 2.5%
per annum for a period of 12 years from the date of investment under the Gold
Monetisation Scheme.
ii.The temple receives offerings from devotees in cash, jewellery, gold, silver, property deeds, and
Demat share transfers.
Government to launch Deep Ocean Mission

The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is going to launch Deep Ocean Mission by
January 2018 to encourage research activities in ocean science.
i.The proposed inter-ministerial and interdisciplinary project aims to explore and harness
mineral resources beneath the ocean floor.
ii.India has 7,500 km of coastline and 2.4 million square km of exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The
oceans along Indian peninsula contain enormous opportunities in energy, food, medicine and a host
of other natural resources.
iii.India was ranked 15th in the number of research papers on ocean science.
34 | P a g e
Government to hold Pan India Handloom and Handicraft Camps underHastkala sahyog
Shivir
The Ministry of Textiles has organized Pan India camps in handlooms and handicrafts
groups under the initiative Hastkala Sahyog Shivir.
i.The camps will be organized during 7th October to 17th October 2017.
ii.This initiative is dedicated to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Garib Kalyan Varsh, the birth
centenary year of Pandit Deendayal Upadhayay.
Cabinet approves promulgation of GST (Compensation to States) Ordinance, 2017

Cabinet approves promulgation of the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States)
Ordinance, 2017. The approval would allow to increase the maximum rate at which the
Compensation Cess can be levied from 15% to 25% on
a) motor vehicles for transport of not more than thirteen persons, including the driver [falling under
sub-headings 870210, 8702 20, 8702 30 or 8702 90]; and
b) motor vehicles falling under headings 8703.
Cabinet apprised of jointly issue of postage stamps between India and Canada
Cabinet apprised of jointly issue of postage stamps between India and Canada. India and
Canada have mutually agreed to jointly issue a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps on
India-Canada, on the theme Diwali. The joint stamps will be released on 21st September,
2017.Diwali it is a cultural theme for both the countries and also considering the large presence
of Indian Diaspora in Canada
Cabinet approves equivalence of posts in PSUs, PSBs

Cabinet approves equivalence of posts in Central Public-Sector Undertakings (PSUs),
Banks, Insurance Institutions with Posts in Government so that the children of those
serving in lower categories in PSUs and other institutions can get the benefit of OBC
reservations. This will ensure that the children of those serving in lower categories in PSUs,
Banks, insurance and other institutions can get the benefit of OBC reservations, on par with
children of people serving in lower categories in Government.
Narendra Modis visit in Rajasthan August 2017

On 29th august,2017 Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rajasthan to inaugurate few highway
projects and to dedicate some to our nation along with road transport and highways minister
Nithin Gadkari. He informed that his government is setting in a culture of completion of projects
35 | P a g e
unlike previous governments. The assembly polls in Rajasthan is going to take place next year. PM
Modi will also visit Pratap Gaurav Kendrawhich exhibits the valour and achievements of
Maharana Pratap and pay his homage to the famous King of Mewar.
Highlights of his visit :
1. He laid foundation stone and inaugurated national highway projects worth Rs 15,000 crore.
2. He dedicated 11 national highways to the nation. These highways cover a total length of 873
kms and inaugurated a suspension bridge built across the Chambal river at Kota, making it
the first 6-lane cable suspended bridge in the Rajasthan. The bridge, 1.4 km in length, is
constructed at a cost of Rs 278 crore at Kota. PM added that he is happy that his government is
able to complete the dream project of Atal Bihari Vaipaiyee , Golden Quadrilateral.
3. The PM also performed bhoomi pujan for 6 NH projects of approximately 556 kms.
4. The list of completed projects include laning of Gomati Chauraha-Udaipur section of NH-8 at
total capital cost of around Rs 1,120 crore and laning of Rajsamand-Bhilwara section of NH-75 with
total capital cost of over Rs 1,350 crore.
5. PM Modi will perform bhoomi pujan of 6 laning of Chittorgarh to Udaipur section of NH-76 at a
total capital cost of around Rs 1,220 crore and 6 laning of the new Udaipur bypass on NH-8.
6. The completed projects include 11 districts of Rajasthan: Kota, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Bhilwara,
Pali, Nagaur, Barmer, Sikar, Churu, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer whereas, the awarded projects for which
the PM will perform bhoomi pujan are expected to benefit people in Jodhpur, Pali, Ajmer, Bhilwara,
Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Dungarpur.
Rajnath Singh inaugurates YUVA a skill development programme of Delhi Police

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the YUVA a skill
development programme. It is an initiative taken by Delhi Police under Pradhan Mantri
Kaushal Vikas Yojana on 29th of Aug 2017.
i.Delhi Police has tied up with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Confederation
of Indian Industry(CII) to provide the job-linked skilling for selected youths.
ii.A detailed exercise was conducted in all 13 districts of Delhi Police to select the youth in the age
of 17-25 years for this training belonging to categories such as School dropouts, Juvenile offenders,
Victims of crimes and mostly from the underprivileged colonies.
iii.A total of 32 police station buildings have been identified where Skill Development Centers would
be opened.
iv.The YUVA initiative by Delhi Police aims to connect with youth by upgrading their skill as
per their competencies.
36 | P a g e
UP govt decides to end interview in Government jobs

The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has decided to close the process of holding interview for
selection of candidates for the government jobs in all the non-gazetted posts of Group B, C
and D categories announced on 29th of Aug 2017.
i.The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
ii.It has been decided with an aim to bring transparency in recruitment in government jobs.
iii.The state government has decided to do away with the interview in the recruitment of non-
gazetted officers from Class II to IV but for recruitment of gazetted officers in Class II category,
Interview will be a must.
iv.The chief minister has also given an assurance that the government will provide jobs to 10 lakh
youths in Uttar Pradesh having skills.
Some of the other steps that have been decided in the meeting include:
i.It decided to fix the support price of a common variety of paddy at Rs 1550 per quintal and Rs
1590 per quintal for grade-A paddy.
ii.It approved the construction work of the Kailash Mansarovar Bhawan in Ghaziabad.
West Bengals Gobindobhog rice gets geographical indication status

On august 29,2017, The Geographical Indications Registry (GIR) has granted geographical
indication (GI) status to Gobindobhog rice, a speciality from Burdwan district of West Bengal.
The state has applied for GI status in the year 2015.
Ministry of Railways Signs two MoUs with Switzerland

The Ministry of Railways has signed two MoUs with Switzerland on 31st of Aug 2017. It has
been signed between Ministry of Railways and Swiss Confederation.
i.The first MoU is between Ministry of Railways and Federal Department of the
Environment, Transport and Communications of the Swiss Confederation for technical
cooperation in Rail Sector.
ii.This was signed in the presence of Honble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and President of
the Swiss Confederation, Mrs. Doris Leuthard by Shri Ashwani Lohani, Chairman Railway Board
and Dr. Andreas Baum, Swiss Ambassador to India.
iii.The MoU aims at cooperation in the areas of:
(a)Traction Rolling stock
(b)Freight and Passenger Cars
(c)EMU and Train sets
(d)Traction Propulsion Equipments
(e) Railway Electrification Equipments
37 | P a g e
(f) Railway Station modernization

(g)Tilting Trains
(h)Train scheduling and operation improvement
(i)Multimodal transport
(j)Tunneling technology
iv.The second MoU is between Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich.
Fourth Session of India-Tanzania Joint Trade Committee held in New Delhi

The Fourth Session of the India-Tanzania Joint Trade Committee meeting was held in New
Delhi on 29th Aug, 2017.
i.The Indian delegation was led by Commerce and Industry (Independent Charge) Ms. Nirmala
Sitharaman. TheTanzanian delegation was led by the Industry, Trade and Investment
Mr. Charles John Mwijage.
ii.With an investment of US $ 2.2 billion, Tanzania is among the top 5 investment
destinations for India.
iii.The potential areas for Tanzania in India include Light oils and petroleum or bituminous
minerals, motor cars and vehicles, medicaments etc Similarly, Metals and Minerals, dried cashew
nuts in shells from Tanzania are required in India.
iv.India and Tanzania agreed to enhance sectoral co-operation based on respective needs
and comparative advantage for mutual benefit.
Amazon to help implement Karnataka governments Ksheera Bhagya Scheme

Amazon has announced a partnership with the Akshaya Patra
Foundation to implement the Karnataka governments Ksheera Bhagya Scheme in
Bengaluru on 30th Aug 2017.
i.Under this scheme schoolchildren would be provided a glass of milk each five days a week.
ii.The partnership aims to reach out to 170,000 children across 1,300 government schools
in the state.
iii.The scheme is developed by Karnataka Milk Federation on Chief Ministers
(Siddaramaiah) to help poor children by providing them nutritious food essential for healthy
growth and all-round development of schoolchildren.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal launches Common Food Processing Incubation Center for Shallots
in Perambalur, Tamilnadu
Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has inaugurated a unit to process
small onions in Perambalur district in Tamil Nadu on 31st Aug 2017.
38 | P a g e
i.With this new unit it will help farmers of this region to earn extra income.
ii.The unit, set up at Chettikulam village at a cost of Rs 1 crore, will process small onions to
produce vacuum packed peeled onion, onion paste, onion flakes and onion powder.
Indian Government gives 20 Sri Lankan students scholarships

The Government of India has given scholarship for 20 Sri Lankan students to study Hindi
at the Kendriya Hindi Sansthan (Central Institute of Hindi) in Agra.
i.The Government of India has sponsored their visit, academic fees and local hospitality
for one year in Agra.
ii.Hindi is the most popular foreign language in Sri Lanka and is being taught in almost 80
institutions all over the island.
iii.High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka is Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
Government to release new industrial policy

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) under the commerce and industry
ministry will release a new industrial policy by October, it will focus on encouraging Indian
branded products with high value addition at a global level, and will review the existing Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI) policy regime to facilitate greater technology transfer. Recently on
august 29th, DIPP released consolidated FDI policy.
The new policy is expected to replace the United Progressive Alliance governments National
Manufacturing Policy (NMP) 2011, which sought to create 100 million jobs by 2022.
Highlights of new industrial policy:
DIPP has adopted an inclusive approach for formulating this policy by setting up six
thematic focus groups and an online survey on the departments website to obtain inputs.
The six thematic areas are
1)Manufacturing and MSME
2) Technology and Innovation
3) Ease of Doing Business
4) Infrastructure, Investment
5) Trade and Fiscal Policy
6) Skills and Employability for the Future
Inputs have also been obtained from a task force on artificial intelligence headed
byKamakoti, a professor in the department of computer science and engineering at the
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
The new policy will aim to attract $100 billion of FDI in a year, up from $60 billion in
2016-17, it will also aim at retaining investments and technology.
39 | P a g e
Arunachal Pradesh, J&K are fastest growing economies: Central Statistics Office
On 30th august ,2017, Central Statistics Office(CSO) published new series of gross State
Domestic Product (SDP) data with 2011-12 as the base year. According to it Jammu and
Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh were the fastest expanding State economies in 2015-16.
Comparison between states plays a healthy role in promoting competitive federalism thereby
promoting fair competition. On the whole, the national economy expanded by 8 per cent in
2015-16 at constant 2011-12 prices.
Highlights:
Arunachal Pradeshs gross State domestic product (GSDP) expanded 5 per cent and
that of Jammu and Kashmir 14.7 per cent at constant 2011-12 prices.
The economies of bigger States such as Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh expanded
about 8-8.5 per cent that year.
Per capita income:
Per capita income in Jammu and Kashmir and in Arunachal Pradesh rose by more than 14 per
cent, while the rise at the national level was only 6.8 per cent. The per capita income in these
States was just a fraction of that in richer States and territories such as Delhi.
The per capita income among the five largest State economies are as follows
1) Highest in Gujarat at 1,22,502.06,
2) Maharashtra (1,21,514.50),
3) Karnataka (1,13,506.12) and
4) Tamil Nadu (1,11,453.76).
The per capita income for Jammu and Kashmir was estimated at 60,171.36 compared with
2,67,328.90 for Goa and 2,26,583.11 for Delhi.
Top 5 States:
1) Maharashtra remains the largest State economy, with its size estimated at 16,59,776.05
crores (Rs.16.6 lakh crore) at constant 2011-12 prices.
2)The second-biggest State economy is Tamil Nadu, estimated at 9,48,673.85 crores.
3) Gujarats economy was estimated at 9,01,375.28 crores
4) Uttar Pradesh at 9,01,256.8 crores.
5) Karnataka was the fifth largest with an estimated size of 8,14,802.64 at constant 2011-12
prices.
40 | P a g e
PLACES IN NEWS
Indias First Heli-taxi service launched by MoS for Civil Aviation Jayanth Sinha in
Bengaluru
Thumby Aviation, a private helicopter service provider, and Bangalore International Airport Ltd.,
(BIAL) have partnered to launch Heli-Taxi service from Bengaluru Airport announced on 4th
August 2017.
i.Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is the first airport and Bengaluru is the first
city in the country with such a service.
ii.KIA is launched by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha .
iii.The helicopter service will initially be launched from Bengaluru Airport to Electronic City and
gradually expanded to other parts of the city.
iv.The travel time will be cut down to 15 minutes instead of the two hours taken by road.
Govt inks MoA to set up IRRIs regional centre in Varanasi

On August 2, 2017, Union Agriculture Ministry signed a memorandum of association (MoA) for
setting up a regional centre of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh to develop high- yielding rice varieties.
i. The MoA was signed between Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Patnaik and IRRI Director
General Matthew Morell.
ii. IRRIs South Asia Regional Centrewill be set up at the campus of National Seed Research and
Training Centre (NSRTC) in Varanasi.
Indias first private missile sub systems production facility inaugurated at Hyderabad
On August 3, 2017, Indias first private sector missile sub-systems manufacturing facility,
a joint venture between the $2.5 billion Kalyani Group and Israels Rafael Advanced Defence
Systems Ltd., was inaugurated near Hyderabad, Telangana.
i. KRAS is a 24,000-sq ft facility, located about 40 km from Hyderabad and is close to the new
international airport.
ii. The project has been set up in a record time, and is considered first such facility which makes
missile systems by a private player in India.
Dawn of cruise tourism in India inaugurated in Mumbai

The dawn of cruise tourism in India was inaugurated in Mumbai on 8th of August 2017.
i. There is the launch of three reports, Mumbai Port SoPs for cruise operations, Road
map for Sea cruise tourism and Cruise terminals in India.
41 | P a g e
ii.Mumbai Port and Ministry of shipping to host cruise vessels in the country is revealed to a
worldwide audience at the event.
iii .According to the reports, this initiative would gain potential revenue close to Rs. 35000 crore for
all stakeholders.
iv. With this new initiative, Promotion of cruise tourism is expected to create over 2, 50,000 jobs
and number of cruise ships visiting India could go up from 158 per year to 955 per year.
v. It includes greater transparency, lesser red tape-ism, result oriented time bound target
completion.
vi. Nitin Gadkari is the current Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping
Dhaka to open diplomatic station in Chennai

Bangladesh will open a new diplomatic station in Chennai. It is likely to focus on medical
tourism and educational centres that drew thousands of Bangladesh citizens to India every
year.
i. The main focus will be to address the needs of Bangladeshi citizens who visit India for medical
and educational purposes.
ii. Medical treatment will include super-specialty treatment of kidney, eye and neurological issues
available in southern India which draws Bangladeshi citizens to India in large numbers.
iii. The country is going to open 17 new diplomatic missions across the world, including the
new one in Chennai.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry gave approval of Industrial Parks in Andhra Pradesh
Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) under Ministry of Commerce and
Industry has approved two projects for development of industrial clusters at Hindupur and Bobbili
in the respective districts of Ananatapur and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh.
i.It comes under Modified Industrial Infrastructure Up gradation Scheme (MIIUS) .
ii.The objective of the above projects is to provide quality and reliable infrastructure to industrial
units located in these clusters.
iii.These projects are likely to be functional by 31st March, 2018.
Details of the project are given below:
SL. NO. Name of the Project Date Project Central Released
Approval Cost Grant central
Rs. In Rs. In grant
crore crore Rs. In
crore
1. Upgadation of Hindupur 01.03.2016 54.20 14.93 4.48
Growth centre& IP
Gollapuram,AnantpurDistict
42 | P a g e
2. Upgradation of industrial 01.03.2016 30.61 8.68 2.60

Growth centre, Bobbili,
Vizianagaram District
vi. These projects have employment potential of about 5500 persons (direct) and 8500
persons (indirect).
vii. The total cost for the up gradation of these projects is Rs. 84.81 crore.
Indias first railways disaster management centre in Bengaluru

Indias first railways disaster management village is expected to come up near Bengaluru
by December 2018, where situations like trains falling into rivers and coaches catching fire will be
replicated and mock rescue operations will be carried out in real time.
More Details about Indias first railways disaster management village in Bengaluru:
The Railways Ministry has earmarked the 3.32-sqkm village of Hejjala, with a
population of 3,483 people for this purpose.
This Disaster Management Institute and Safety Village will be set up at a cost of Rs
44.42 crore.
Vijaya Bank opens self-employment training institute in Indore

Vijaya Bank has disbursed loan sanction letters to beneficiaries who were trained at the Vijaya
Bank Self Employment Training Institute (VIBSETI) in Bhenslay Village, Indore, Madhya
Pradesh.
i. VIBSETI trains youth for starting their own enterprises.
ii. Kishore Sansi, Managing Director and CEO, Vijaya Bank, inaugurated the new premises
recently.
iii. The bank has sponsored three VIBSETIs at Mandya and Haveri in Karnataka and Indore
in Madhya Pradesh, where free residential training is provided to low-income groups/rural youth.
Indias first micro forest being built in Chhattisgarh

The land of 19 acres of land which housed around 70 government office buildings in Chattisgarhs
Raipur is being converted into Indias first micro forest to create an oxy-zone.
i. This move is mainly to create an oxyzone in the midst of packed houses in the heart of the city.
ii. Under this, they will plant trees and also creating their own microcosmic forest.
iii. The micro forest will provide fresh air to Raipur which is the 7th most polluted city in the world.
Melbourne named worlds most liveable city for seventh-straight year

Australian city Melbourne has topped the Global Liveability Rankings compiled by
the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for seventh-straight year.
43 | P a g e
About Global Live ability Rankings:

The ranking quantifies the challenges that might be presented to an individuals lifestyle
in any given location, and allows for direct comparison between locations.
First regional Centre of NDB opens in South Africa

The first regional centre of the New Development Bank was officially opened on 17thAugust
2017 by South African President Jacob Zuma and the banks Indian head K V Kamath. It was
set up by India and other BRICS nations.
i.The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank,
is a multilateral development bankestablished by the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India,
China and South Africa). It has anauthorized capital of the bank is USD 100 billion.
ii.The idea for setting up NDB was proposed by India at the 4th BRICS summit in 2012 held in New
Delhi.
iii.The Creation of a NDB was the main theme of the meeting.
iv.In 2017 it is expected to approve loans aggregating between USD 2.5 and USD 3 billion for
about ten projects.
v.In 2018 it is expected to present about 15 to 20 projects involving a total lending of about
USD 4 billion for the boards consideration.
vi.The main target is to end 2018 with a total loan book of about USD 8 billion dollars for
approximately 35 projects.
Netherlands opens worlds largest bike parking garage

Utrecht has opened the worlds largest bicycle parking garage. The parking lot is spread in an
area of over 17,100 sq m and three storeys.
i.In the Netherlands, where bicycles outnumber citizens, bike parking is serious business. The
country just opened the first phase of what will soon become the worlds largest bike parking
garagea 184,000-square-foot space beneath Utrechts central train station, capable of holding
12,500 parked bikes by the end of next year.
India opens first Partition museum at Amritsar

Indias first museum will open in Amritsar Punjab, as India and Pakistan celebrate 70 years as
independent nations.
i.The museum will include photographs, newspaper clippings, donated personal items, and screens
showing video interviews with survivors.ii.It will have The Gallery of Hope, where visitors can
scribble messages of love and peace.
iii.The exhibitions are housed in the red-brick Town Hall building in the north Indian border city of
Amritsar.
44 | P a g e
North Eastern Cultural and Information Centre to be set up in Delhi: Dr. Jitendra Singh
On August 16,2017 , Union minister Jitendra Singh confirmed about the initiation of north
eastern cultural and information centre will be set up in Delhi .
The centre will be a new gift to the people of the northeast and in line with the priority being given
to the region the central government.
i.Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had allotted a land of 5341.75 sqm.(1.32 acre) at Sector-
13, Dwarka, New Delhi, at a cost of approx Rs. 6 crore, to North Eastern Council (NEC) for the
purpose of construction of North Eastern Cultural and Information Centre.
ii.The centre will act as a cultural and convention, information hub of the north eastern region in
Delhi.
Indias first World Peace University inaugurated in MIT, Pune

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has inaugurated Dr.Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace
University (MITWPU).
i.At the inauguration function he emphasized on the importance of values in education.
ii.MIT World Peace University is an entirely new concept and a model for moulding global
citizens.
iii.The inauguration ceremony was held at the Swami Vivekananda Mandap at the MIT World
Peace Universitys Kothrud Campus.
iv.It is to be the first of its kind in India, was inaugurated by chief minister of Maharashtra
Devendra Fadnavis, on 12th August.
v.It is a two-day Global Summit Science and Spirituality for World Peace issues were
discussed on national and international importance and how a different outlook towards education
could solve many of them.
Sushma Swaraj to inaugurate first Videsh Bhavan in Mumbai

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will inaugurate the countrys first Videsh Bhavan,
incorporate all Regional Passport Offices under one roof, at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC).The
formal inauguration will be on August 27,2017
Regional Passport Officer Swati Kulkarni informed that as a first pilot project, four offices of
1.MEA Regional Passport Office (RPO),
2.Protector of Emigrants (PoE) office,
3.Branch Secretariat
4.Regional Office of ICCR
45 | P a g e
Jammu and Kashmir government to set up Eco-Park in Rajouri district

The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to set up an Eco-Park on over 34 acres of
land retrieve from encroachers in the states Rajouri district announced on 25th of Aug 2017.
i.The park is a first-of-its-kind project in the region. It will have a botanical garden, a cactus
garden, a cafeteria and other amenities.
ii.The project has been planned under the convergence of local resources and it is expected to be
completed by end of 2017.
iii.About, 34 acres of land has been included in the Eco- Park project will come up at the
Kandi belt of Rajouri.
iv.The Department of Rural Development has started fencing on the retrieved land.
Nungthaang Tampak becomes North Easts first 100 % computer literate village
Manipurs Nungthaang Tampak village has emerged as the 100% computer literate in the
entire North East announced on 24th August 2017.
i.Nungthang Tampak has become Indias second 100% computer literate village in India.
ii.Keralas Chamravattom village is the countrys first 100% computer literate village.
iii.The training program was organised by Mangaal Rural, an NGO working for rural development.
iv.The computer course, which is affiliated to All India Society for Electronic and Computer
Technology (AISECT), was organised by Mangal Rural as a part of the Digital India program.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
China opens its first overseas Military base in Djibouti
China has formally launched its first overseas naval facility in Djibouti, an East African
nation.
i. Five Chinese formations and Djiboutis Three Services HonorGuard took part in the launch
ceremony on 1st of August 2017.
ii. The event marked the 90th anniversary of the Chinese military.
iii. The base is set to enable China to better support its patrols in waters off Somalia and Yemen
and carry out international humanitarian operations as well as naval exercises.
iv. This year, the Chinese military industry commissioned Chinas first aircraft carrier, Liaoning,
with the second carrier of the same class on the way in coming years.
India permitted to construct Kishanganga and Rattle Projects World Bank

World Bank has said that India is allowed to construct hydroelectric power facilities on
tributaries of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers with certain restrictions under the 1960 Indus
46 | P a g e
Waters Treaty (IWT). World Banks comments came as officials from India and Pakistan concluded
the secretary-level talks over the IWT.
i. This week World Bank said the IWT designates Jhelum, Chenab and Indus as the Western
Rivers to which Pakistan has unrestricted use, however India is permitted to construct
hydroelectric power facilities on these rivers subject to constraints specified in annexure to the
treaty.
ii. World Bank added that India and Pakistan have agreed to continue discussions and reconvene in
September 2017 in Washington DC.
United States issues ban on tourist travel to North Korea

The United States has issued a ban prohibiting its citizens traveling to North Korea. The
ban which comes into effect from 1st of September.
i.It is introduced after officials said the serious risk of arrest by Pyongyang officials during tourist
travel presented an imminent danger to the physical safety of its citizens.
ii.The new ban will remain in effect for one year, unless it is revoked sooner by US Secretary
of State Rex Tillerson.
iii.Exemptions will be allowed in specific cases for humanitarian travel and journalists.
USISPFStrategic partnership forum set up to deepen Indo US ties

A new representative body US- India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is being set up to
enhance business relations between India and US.
i. According to USISPF the non-profit corporation aims to promote bilateral trade and work on
creating meaningful opportunities that have the power to change the lives of citizens.
ii. The body will work with businesses and government leaders to achieve its goalsof
driving economic growth, job creation, innovation, inclusion and entrepreneurship.
iii. Mukesh Aghi will serve as a USISPF President while GauravVerma will serve as Chief Operating
officer.
Qatar becomes first Arab country to offer permanent residency to non-citizens

Qatars Cabinet approved a draft law making permanent residency available to some non-citizens of
the country announced on 3rd of August 2017.
i.Under the new law, Residency permits will be granted to children of Qatari women
married to foreigners.
ii.The residency permit gives holders similar rights as Qataris in terms of property ownership and
access to generous education and health care services.
47 | P a g e
Adopts new resolution, UNSC moves to thwart terrorists access to weapons

On August 2nd 2017 ,The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a resolution to
preventing terrorists from acquired weapons, particularly small arms and light weapons.
i. The Council mentioned continue flow of weapons, military equipment, unmanned aircraft
systems (UASs) and their components,and improvised explosive device (IED) components to
and between the Islamic State, Al-Qaida, their affiliates, and associated groups, illegal armed
groups and criminals, Xinhua reported.
ii. The 15-member body strongly pointed out that the destabilize accumulation and misuse of
weapons threat to international peace and cause significant loss of life.
Chabbar Port will start operations by 2018: Nitin Gadkari

The Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari has said that
the government is keen on developing Chabahar Port in Iran and is hopeful of starting
operations by 2018.
i. The Indian Government has allocated Rs 6 billion for the development of the port.
ii. Out of this, tenders worth Rs 380 Crore for equipment have already been finalized.
iii. Shri Gadkari also informed that civil construction work has already started at the Chabahar Port.
iv. Chabahar Port will boost trade and business between the two countries and in the region.
India to MGC nations Expand areas of cooperation

On August 7, 2017, at Eighth Mekong Ganga Cooperation Ministerial Meeting in Manila,
Philippines, India called for expanding the areas of cooperation among the member countries of
the bloc to further deepen mutually beneficial partnership and cooperation. Minister of State for
External Affairs V K Singh represented India at this meeting.
i. India has proposed to add newer areas of cooperation to the traditional areas on tourism, culture,
education, transport and communication.
ii. Mr Singh said, after successfully organising the International Buddhist Conclave in Varanasi
in 2016, India wants to make this an annual activity.
India ratifies 2nd commitment period of Kyoto Protocol

India has ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol announced on 9th of
August 2017 that commits countries to contain the emission of greenhouse gases,
reaffirming its stand on climate action.
i. Indias Permanent Mission to the Unmentioned that India deposited its Instrument of
Acceptance of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol under the UN Convention on
Climate Change.
ii. India has submitted instrument of acceptance of Doha Amendment to Kyoto Protocol.
48 | P a g e
iii. India has become the 80th country to accept the amendment relating to the second
commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, the international emissions reduction treaty.
Citizens of 80 countries including India dont require visa to enter QATAR

The Qatari government has announced that citizens belonging to 80 countries including
India, Canada, US and UK can now enter Qatar without the need of applying for a visa.
i. It has been stated that the visitors from the selected countries would be issued a multi-entry
waiver, completely free-of-charge, at the point of entry upon presentation of a valid passport.
ii. The passport will have a minimum validity of six months and a confirmed onward or return
ticket.
iii. The waiver will either be valid for 180 days or for 30 days, depending upon the nationality of
the visitor.
Bank of England refuses to change animal-fat banknotes

The Bank of England has announced that it would not change the way its new plastic
banknotes are made. Some vegetarians and religious groups have concerned about trace
amounts of animal fat used in their production.
i. More than 130,000 people signed an online petition last year calling on the BoE to stop
using animal products in banknotes.
ii. It emerged that small amounts of tallow which comes from cows and sheep were used in its
first plastic five pound note.
Pakistans Mother Teresa Dr Ruth pfau dies

Dr Ruth Pfau, a German doctor popularly known as Pakistans Mother Teresa for dedicating
her life to eradicate leprosy in the country passed away on August 10, 2017 in Karachi.
Indian-American appointed to chair US energy commission

US President Donald Trump had appointed Indian-American Neil Chatterjeeas chair of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
i.Previously, Chatterjee had been an energy policy advisor to US Senate Majority Leader Mitch
McConnell.
ii. The Indian American Neil was last week confirmed as a member of the FERC.
Indian Armys T-90 Performance in Tank Biathlon Russia 2017

The Indian Army has been evicted from a multi-nation tank competition in Tank Biathlon Russia
2017 at Russia due to their T-90 main battle tanks had technical problems at the Alabino ranges
in the Moscow region.
49 | P a g e
i.Our Army sent two T-90s a main tank and a reserve one and a 21-man crew for the tank
biathlon at the 2017 International Army Games in Russia.India decided to field its Russian
designed T-90 Main Battle Tank instead of the Arjun tank which was widely expected to
participate at this games.
ii.China with its Type-96B tank and Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan with different T-72
raced to the last round of the competition.
iii.Other participants included Azerbaijan, Angola, Armenia, Belarus, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Iran
and Mongolia of totally 19 countries were participated.
Aishwarya becomes first woman to raise Indian flag at IFFM 2017

Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has become the first female actor ever to hoist the
Indian National Flag at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM),Australias annual
celebration of film from India and the subcontinent.
i.Aishwarya was also bestowed with Excellence in Global Cinema award at the film festival.
About IFFM
ii.It is presented by Film Victoria and the State Government of Victoria, and produced by Mind
Blowing Films, a Melbourne-based distributor of Indian cinema across Australia and New Zealand.It
Founded in 2010.
African country to release Lord Krishna coin on Janmashtami

African country, The Republic of Chad will release a limited edition Lord Krishna silver
coin on Janmashtami in commemoration of the 5,244th birth anniversary of the Hindu God.
Numismatist Alok K Goyal, the designer of the coin informed that this full-dimensional 3D
coins weighs 100 grams and is made of pure silver.
He added that there will be 251 pieces made available for sale in the Indian market out of
a total of 501.
The price has been kept at Rs 25,555 per coin with free shipping within India.
World Health Organisation declares Somalia free of polio

UN World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that in the last three years Somalia had
not recorded any case of polio disease and announcing the country polio free on 13th of August
2017.
i.The WHO announced the country recorded the last case of polio in 2014 in the central part
of the country but has since then remained free of the paralyzing disease.
ii.The head of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean, which covers Somalia, Mohamed Fiqiannounced
50 | P a g e
that massive vaccination campaigns and commitment from government and international actors
had ensured the polio virus did not recur in the Horn of Africa country.
Nepal, China sign three pacts to boost energy,economic ties

Nepal and China has signed three pacts to boost their ties in power and energy
sectors and undertake a feasibility study to excavate natural gas and petroleum in the Himalayan
country, including in the southern Terai plains.
i.The pacts were signed after visiting Chinese vice premier Wang Yang held discussions with Nepals
deputy prime ministers Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar and Krishna BahadurMahara.
ii.The main focus is to enhance cooperation in tourism, infrastructure development, energy,
cross-border connectivity and people-to-people relations.
Colombia declares FARC war over as last guns roll away

President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia put an end to Colombias 50-year conflict with FARC
guerrillas as the last truckloads of decommissioned weapons rolled away to be melted down finally
over on August 15 2017 at Bogota.
i.Santos had closed a padlock on the last lot of decommissioned rifles before it was taken out of a
remote demobilization camp to formally seal the UN-supervised disarmament by the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
ii.Colombia has been a republic for 198 years and had a long clash with FARC guerrillas. This was
the last part of this conflict.`
Emma Stone named as 2017s highest-paid female actor

Emma Stone has been named Hollywoods best-paid female actor in Forbes annual list of
top earners.
i.Emma Stone has been named as this years highest-paid actress, taking in $26m in the last
12 months.
ii.Jennifer Lawrence, who was named the highest-paid actress in 2015 and 2016, has fallen down
to third place taking in $24 million.
The United States named Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) as a Foreign Terrorist
Organisation
The United States has named Hizbul Mujahideen as a foreign terrorist Organisation.
i.The terror outfit has a strong presence in Jammu and Kashmir, where it has claimed responsibility
for a number of attacks.
ii.The Hizb is one of the two most active Pakistan-based terrorist groups operating in
Jammu and Kashmir.
51 | P a g e
US, Japan vow to boost defence cooperation with India, S Korea, Australia
The US and Japan have agreed to advance their multilateral security and defence cooperation with
countries like India, South Korea and Australia, amidst Chinas growing assertiveness in the
Asia Pacific region.
i.On August 17, 2017, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson,US Defence Secretary
James Mattis, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Japanese Defence Minister
Itsunori Onodera jointly addressed a news conference in Washington, US.
ii.US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson mentioned that US and Japan will cooperate to advance
trilateral and multilateral security and defence cooperation with other partners in the Asia-Pacific
region.
Saudi Arabia to open Salwa border point to Qatari pilgrims for Haj
Saudi Arabia is going to open up its border and airports for those attending the annual Haj
pilgrimage announced on 17th of August 2017.
i.Saudi Press Agency (SPA) announced that the Salwa border point would be open for Qataris
performing the Haj, which this year runs from late August to early September.
ii.About 120 Qatari pilgrims had entered Saudi territory through Salwa, which was opened for the
first time since the four-nation boycott of Qatar began.
iii.Qatari pilgrims can cross the frontier without the permits usually needed to be obtained in
advance for the haj.
Qatar launches new direct sea route to Pakistan

Qatar has launched a new direct route between the countrys Hamad Port and Pakistans
port of Karachi.
i.Thenew route was launched on 12th of August 2017. It will boost trade between the two
countries.
ii.It will also offer fast and secure corridor for importers and exporters, with transit time of six
days from Qatar to Karachi and eight days back.
iii.It will cover new important ports from around the world and will play an important role
in supporting trade between Qatar and its partners of the world.
Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai to study at Oxford

Pakistani Nobel Prize winner MalalaYousafzai will study at Oxford University.
i.The 20-year-old will study philosophy, politics and economics. In April, she became the
youngest-ever UN Messenger of Peace.
ii.Malala was nearly killed by the Taliban in Pakistan for campaigning for girls rights to education in
52 | P a g e
2012.
iii.She became internationally known after the incident and relocated with her family to
Birmingham for further rehabilitation.
China launches First Cyber Court in e-commerce Hub

On August 18, 2017, China launched its first cyber court specialising in handling internet-
related cases in the e-commerce hub of Hangzhou amid a spike in the number of online disputes.
i.The Hangzhou Internet Court in Hangzhou, capital of east Chinas Zhejiang Province will
handle cases such as online trade disputes and copyright lawsuits.
ii.The cases handled by the court will be tried online.
India, US establish TWO-BY-TWO Ministerial Dialogue

India and US have established TWO-BY-TWO Ministerial Dialogue with an aim to elevate
their strategic consultations.
The new format would include External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence
Minister Arun Jaitleyand their American counterparts Secretary of State Rex
Tillerson and Defence Secretary James Mattis.
Two-BY-TWO Ministerial Dialogue will replace India-US Strategic and Commercial
Dialogue, once described by the US State Department as the signature mechanism for
advancing the United States and Indias shared priorities.
Lost wreckage of warship USS Indianapolis found in pacific after 72 years

A team of civilian researchers led by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has discovered the
wreckage of World War II warship USS Indianapolis nearly after 72 years. It is 18000
feet (5.5 km) below the surface in the Pacific Ocean. It has been announced on 18th of August
2017.
i.The Indiana polis was destroyed returning from its secret mission to deliver parts for the atomic
bomb which was later used on Hiroshima.
ii.Of the 1,196 men on board, just 316 were rescued the largest loss of life at sea in the history
of the US Navy. Only of them, 22 are alive today.
Qatar to build Arabian cap-shaped stadium for FIFA World Cup

Qatar will build a stadium shaped like an Arabian cap for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
i.This symbolic design embodies everything that unites us as Arabs and Muslims, and is a fitting
tribute to the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East. Qatar is building at least eight air-conditioned
stadiums for the tournament.
53 | P a g e
ii.Dohas Al Thumama stadium, designed by a Qatari architect in the shape of a traditional knitted
gahfiya Arabian cap, will host 40,000 fans at a World Cup quarter final match, the countrys 2022
organising body.
Canada allows entry of Indian pomegranate, banana & okra

Indian bananas, pomegranate, custard apple and okra will soon be available in Canada as
the North American country has allowed their import for the first time.
i.Canada has allowed import of these fruits and vegetables from India subject to certain conditions:
The consignment should be free from soil, pests, leaves and other plant debris.
The origin of the material must be clearly identified on shipping documents
ii.In 2016-17, Indias agro food exports to Canada were $125.5 million, of which fresh mangoes,
grapes and other fruit were $2.2 million.
Mark Wahlberg named worlds highest-paid actor ,Shahruk khan Indias Highest : Forbes
Forbes has released its list of the worlds 20 highest paid actors of 2017. Mark
Wahlberg soared to the top of the worlds highest paid actors on an annual Forbes magazine
list.
i.Wahlberg earned an estimated $68 million in 2017.
ii.As per the Forbes list the 10 highest-paid leading men earned a combined $488.5 million before
tax in its June 2016-June 2017.
iii.It is nearly three times more than the $172.5 million earned by the top 10 scoring women.
iv.Three of Bollywoods biggest stars Shah Rukh Khan ($38 million), Salman Khan ($37
million) and Akshay Kumar ($35.5 million) took the 8th, 9th and 10th places on the
Forbes list, respectively.
v.Wahlberg replaced last years top-ranked star, Dwayne Johnson, who comes in at the
second spot with $65 million earnings.
Nepal launches worlds First Climate smart landscape management plan for snow leopard
conservation
Nepal has launched its climate-smart snow leopard landscape management plan on 23rd of
August 2017.
i.It has been launched to safeguard the Snow Leopard endangered species, also found in
India, and its habitat.
ii.This is the first climate-smart landscape management plan for snow leopard conservation in
the world.
54 | P a g e
Alibaba Founder Jack Ma becomes Asias richest person

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibabas Founder Jack Ma has become Asias richest person
with net worth of $38.3 billion.
i.Jack Ma is currently ranked as the worlds 18th richest man.
ii.Alibaba reported a total revenue growth of 56% for the quarter ended June 2017, driven by the
growth in online sales.
iii.In the latest rankings Tencent Chairman Ma Huateng has slipped to No. 2, with a fortune
worth $36.7 billion.
China to shut 6,000 non-coal mines by 2020 to improve safety

The State Administration of Work Safety announced in a five-year plan that China will shut 6,000
non-coal mines to reduce mining accidents and deaths by 2020.
i.Under the plan, China will improve safety legislation and intensify mine inspections.
ii.China has promised to accelerate closing small-scale coal mines with an annual production
capacity of 90,000 tonnes or less.
iii.Beijing will seek to reduce major accidents by 15% by 2020 from 2015 levels in the non-coal
mining sector.
Canada to allow Gender-neutral passport to promote equality

According to Canadian Government Canadians who do not identify as male or female will
be able to mark X on their passports, instead of M or F from 31st August 2017.
i.By introducing the x gender designation in our government-issued documents taking an
important step towards advancing equality for all Canadians regardless of gender identity.
ii.Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen also mentioned that the Canadian government was working
to implement an unspecified gender designation for Canadian passports and other documents
issued by Immigration.
US imposes financial sanctions on Venezuela

The US has imposedstrong financial sanctions on Venezuela, barring banks from any new
deals with the government announced on 25th AUG 2017.
i.US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing strong, new
financial sanctions on Venezuela.
55 | P a g e
ii.The sanctions restrict trading of Venezuelan bonds sold by the government in

the American financial markets to raise money.
Trump bans transgender recruits from US military

President Donald Trump has formally signed a presidential memo directing the Pentagon
to ban transgender people from joining the US military announced on 25th Aug 2017.
India, Germany sign pact to improve grid integration of renewable energy

India and Germany has signed an agreement on technical cooperation under the Indo-
German Energy Programme Green Energy Corridors (IGEN-GEC) on 28th Aug 2017.
i.The agreement was signed by Indias Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE) and Deutsche
Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH India on behalf of Germany.
ii.The main aim of this programme is to improve the sector framework and conditions for
grid integration of renewable energy.
iii.It will help in training manpower in India to ensure grid stability and ensure more and
more integration of renewables in the country.
France holds migrant summit seeking European unity

The main focus of a summit of Europes big four continental powers is getting Europes
migrant crisis under control. It is hosted on 28th of Aug 2017 by French President
Emmanuel Macron.
i.French president has also invited three African nations to the talks held in Paris.
ii.The meeting hosts the leaders Germany, Italy and Spain as well as the leaders of Chad,
Niger and Libya, aimed to assess the situation.
iii.European foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini will also attend the meeting and emphasise the
importance of an united European front on the matter.
Government imposes Anti-dumping duty on sodium nitrite imports from China for five
year
The Finance Ministry has imposed a five year anti-dumping duty on Sodium Nitrite imports
from China announced on 26th of Aug 2017.
i.It was imposed based on recommendations of Directorate General of Antidumping and
Allied Duties (DGAD).
ii.The revenue department has imposed definitive anti-dumping duty of $ 72.95 per tonne on
Sodium Nitrite imports from China.
56 | P a g e
International Atomic Energy Agency opens atomic fuel reserve in Kazakhstan to ensure
supply
On August 29, 2017 International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) decided to open a low
enriched Uranium bank in Kazakhstan. The objective is to ensure the supply of nuclear fuel in the
event of disruption due to political or market problems.
Kenya passes worlds toughest plastic bag law

Those who are producing, selling or even using the non-degradable bags now face four years in jail
or a $40,000 (USD) /(31,000) fine in Kenya.
i.Kenya has passed the worlds toughest law against plastic bags on pollution.
ii.Judy Wakhungu , Kenyas environment minister insisted the non-degradable bag manufacturers
would be predominantly targeted first.
Hurricane Harvey strikes USA,menaces Texas & Louisiana

Harvey is one of the most destructive storms in US history thrashed Texas for the consecutive fifth
day.
i. It has claimed 30 lives and left thousands homeless.
ii. Houstons mayor imposed an overnight time curfew to prevent looting and opportunistic crimes.
U.S. gives $225 million worth of conditional military assistance to Pakistan

The Trump administration has given $ 225 million worth of conditional military assistance to
Pakistan that the country can access only if it takes more action against terror
groups announced on 31st of Aug 2017.
i.The announcement comes over a week after President Donald Trump hit out at Pakistan
for providing safe havens to terror groups that kill Americans in Afghanistan.
ii.The US insists that it wants Pakistan to take action against terrorist groups.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES

RCEP trade negotiating Committee meeting held in Hyderabad
19th round of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Trade
Negotiating Committee (TNC) meetings and other related meetings were held from 17th to
28th July 2017 in Hyderabad, India.
i. The Meeting was inaugurated by Rita Teaotia, Secretary, Department of Commerce,
Government of India on 24 July 2017.
ii. During the 19th round, parallel meetings were held by the three main Working Groups on
57 | P a g e
Trade in Goods, Trade in Services and Investment, including their respective Sub-Working
Groups.
First meeting of JICF for Development of North-Eastern Region held in New Delhi
The first meeting of the Japan-India Coordination Forum (JICF) for Development of North-
Eastern Region was held in New Delhi on 4th of August 2017.
i.The Japanese delegation was led by the Japanese Ambassador to India,
Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu while Secretary, Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region
(DoNER), Shri Naveen Verma led the Indian side.
ii.The regular meetings of the Forum would enhance Assistance by JICA and also promote
B2B and people to people contacts.
iii.The priority areas of cooperation identified by Indian side including Connectivity and Road
Network Development, Disaster Management, Food Processing, Organic Farming and Tourism were
the main agenda of meeting.
BRICS trade ministers meeting held in Shanghai

On 1st and 2nd August 2017, Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended BRICS
Trade Ministers meeting in Shanghai, China. On the sidelines of this meeting she also held
meeting with Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan.
i.Measures to expand e-commerce cooperation among Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
(BRICS) were discussed at this meeting.
ii. Economic and technological cooperation was included in the agenda for the first
time in the trade ministers meetings history to improve the blocs capabilities in service trade, e-
commerce and other fields.
Southeast Asian diplomats open talks in Manila

Southeast Asias top diplomats have opened their annual meeting at a convention and theater
complex by Manila Bay.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers and their counterparts from the U.S., China, Russia, Japan, the
two Koreas and other have arrived to the 50th Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF) meeting in Manila on Aug 5, 2017.
i. Motorists were allowed through as joggers, cyclists and tennis players sweated under a cloudy
sky.
ii. Topping the agenda are the intercontinental ballistic missile tests by the Democratic Peoples
Republic of Korea, and a siege by pro-Islamic State group militants in the southern Philippine city of
Marawi, which has dragged on for more than two months.
58 | P a g e
Meeting of Regional Technical Group on Trade, Commerce and Investment CBM of the
Heart of Asia Istanbul Process held in New Delhi
The 8th meeting of the Regional Technical Group of Confidence Building Measure on Trade,
Commerce & Investment Opportunities under the Heart of Asia Istanbul Process was
hosted by India.
i. The India would be the Lead Country. The meeting was held in New Delhi on 7th of August 2017.
ii. The meeting was attended by representatives of 17 participating countries and supporting
international organisations.
iii. The participants shared the view that Afghanistan acted as a natural bridge in promoting
regional connectivity and economic integration.
iv. There was an agreement that economic development was an important factor in ensuring
peace and stability in Afghanistan and the Heart of Asia Region.
v. The participants had also discussed on various measures and plan to promote transit and trade
and realizing reliable and robust connectivity, with Afghanistan as the hub.
vi. It will provide quick and assured access to farmers of Afghanistan to the large markets
in South Asia.
15th meeting of the Foreign Ministers of BIMSTEC countries

15th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
(BIMSTEC) Ministerial Meeting was held in Kathmandu, Nepal on August 11, 2017.
i. The meeting was attended by foreign ministers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka and
the deputy foreign ministers from Myanmar and Thailand.Union Minister of External
Affairs, Ms. Sushma Swaraj also attended this meeting.
ii. Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Swaraj mentioned that India will host the first BIMSTEC
Disaster Management Exercise in October 2017, to build regional capacities.
iii. Progress and achievements in the 14 identified areas of cooperation was reviewed and ways
to accelerate the cooperation under the BIMSTEC processes were discussed at the meeting.
Finance Minister Sh Arun Jaitley chairs the 17th meeting of FSDC

On August 22,2017 the seventeenth Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development
Council (FSDC) was held in New Delhi under the Chairmanship of the Union Minister of
Finance, Shri Arun Jaitley.
The below activities has been discussed during the meeting of the counci :-
Discussion on Indian Economy:-
Financial Sector Assessment Program:-
FSDC Sub-Committee:-
Discussion on Central KYC Registry (CKYCR)
59 | P a g e
Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) is a high-level body constituted by the
government of India. FSDC was formed to bring greater coordination among financial market
regulators. To focus on attaining financial inclusion/ literacy goals and set up to sort out inter-
regulatory issues, will define the role of the finance ministry
9th meeting of Heads of Governments of SCO dealing with the prevention and elimination
of emergency situation
The 9th meeting of Heads of Governments of SCO dealing with the prevention and elimination of
emergency situation, made by the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh at Cholpon- Ata in
Kyrgyz Republic on 24th August 2017.
i. India has offered to host a joint urban earthquake search and rescue exercise with the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member nations, including China and Pakistan, in 2019 to better
respond to emergencies in case of natural disasters.
ii. Over the period 1996 to 2015, the SCO countries have lost 300,000 lives due to natural
disasters like earthquakes, floods, storms, landslides, epidemics etc.
First Synergy Conference on Defence Pension Organised by Defence Accounts

Department held in New Delhi
On 28th August,2017,the Defence Accounts Department (DAD)organized its first Synergy
Conference on Defence Pensions.The conference was attended by all Defence Pensioners
Associations and was open to all Defence Pensioners.
i.The objective of the conference was to obtain feedback from the pensioners that would help the
department to serve them better with constantly improving systems and procedures. Digitization of
pension data and implementation of a pensions app were also discussed in detail.
ii.Joint CGDA (Pension) Shri Kanwaldeep Singh, gave a brief presentation on current status on
important issues pertaining to pension.A panel was formed to interact with the pensioners it was
headed by Addl. CGDA Shri UpendraSah.
iii.The panel was headed by Addl. CGDA Shri UpendraSah.
Bilateral Meeting between India and Uzbekistan held in New Delhi

The bilateral meeting between India and Uzbekistan held in New Delhi on 23rd August
2017.The Commerce and Industries Minister, Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman ,Mr. Abdulaziz Kamilov,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Elyor Ganiev, Minister of Foreign Trade held detailed discussions
60 | P a g e
on deepening trade and economic ties between India and Uzbekistan.

i.It will include investments, trade in goods and services such as education and health in
Uzbekistan and India and also underlined the high importance of transport &
logistics infrastructure for strengthening bilateral trade ties.
ii.Commerce Minister also requested Uzbek Minister to become member of multilateral INSTC
Agreement which would facilitate increased international transit cargo traffic through Iran.
India-European Union Counter Terrorism Dialogue& India-EU Cyber Dialogue held in New
Delhi
The 10th India-European Union Counter Terrorism Dialogue was held at New Delhi on
30th Aug 2017.
i.The Indian delegation was led by Shri Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary for Counter
Terrorism at the Ministry of External Affairs of India, while the European Unions
delegation was led by Mr. Pawel Herczynski, Director for Security Policy, European External
Action Service.
ii.The next India-European Union Counter Terrorism Dialogue will take place in Brussels in
2018.
iii.Both sides had exchanged views and assessments on prevailing terrorist threats in their
respective regionsincluding state-sponsored, cross-border terrorism in the Af-Pak region.
iv.The discussions included regarding the current challenges posed by various terrorist entities,
radicalisation and violent extremism, Foreign Terrorist Fighters and combating financing of
terrorism.
RANKINGS & REPORTS

BRICS Innovative Competitiveness Report 2017
On 29th august ,2017, BRICS Innovative Competitive Report 2017 was released
by China Science and Technology Exchange Centre. The report says India is expected to
surpass China in innovation competitiveness between 2025-2030. At present, China is the leading
BRICS nation in innovation competitiveness. The report is a huge confidence booster for Indian
governments efforts at improving the innovation environment in the recent years.
Observations:
The report predicts that growth rate of Russia would also fall in coming years and India
would take over Russia in terms of its comprehensive STI (Science Technology and
Innovation) competitiveness by 2030.
BRICS countries have evolved as leading centres of Science and Technology development
among developing countries. These countries- Brazil, Russia, China, India and South
Africa have also become a globally important STI force
61 | P a g e
The report calls for an international collaboration among BRICS countries.
India, China home to 39% of young Internet users UN report

As per ICT Facts and Figures 2017, released by the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU), the United Nations specialised agency for Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs), India and China are home to 39% of the 830 million young people
worldwide who use the Internet.
i. As per the report, there has been a significant increase in broadband access and
subscriptions with China leading the way.
ii. Youths (15-24 years old) are at the forefront of Internet adoption. In Least Developed
Countries (LDCs), up to 35% of individuals using the Internet are aged 15-24, compared
with 13% in developed countries and 23% globally.
India ranks 43rd in Global Retirement Index

India ranked 43rd position in 2017 Global Retirement Index (GRI). It is published by
French asset management company Natixis Global.
i. The index ranks total 43 countries on the basis of four factors:
(a)The material means to live comfortably in retirement (Material Well-being)
(b) Access to quality health services (Health)
(c) Access to quality financial services to help preserve savings value and maximize income
(Finances)
(d) Clean and safe environment (Quality of Life)
ii. The top three countries in 2017 GRI are Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland.
iii. The 43 countries include members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD), International Monetary Fund (IMF) advanced economies and the BRIC
countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China).
Kerela, Haryana top sanitation survey

According to the survey, almost all rural households in Kerala and Haryana had access to a
toilet report published on 9th of August 2017.
i. The survey is released by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and was carried
out by the Quality Council of India (QCI).
ii. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh has least access to toilets compared to other states.
iii. Northeastern States of Sikkim, Manipur and Nagaland were top performers with 95% rural
households covered by toilets.
iv. The Himalayan States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand with over 90% toilet coverage of
the rural houses
62 | P a g e
Worst performers
i. In Bihar, only 30% of the rural households had access to toilets while Uttar Pradesh was
marginally better at 37%
ii. Jharkhand has also scored the same as Uttar Pradesh.
Delhi Indias largest; Asias fastest growing city

According to Asian Cities & Regions Outlook 2016 by Oxford Economics, Delhi will have the
fastest growth among all Asian cities with the economy growing almost 50 percent larger in
2021 than it was at the end of last year.
i. As per the study from Oxford Economics which ranked Asias 30 largest cities, Indian cities are
set to expand the most across the region, with growth speeding up from the past 5 years.
ii. The study outlined that there will be a slight slowdown across the region amid moderating import
demand from China, with growth expected to average 4.2 percent per year over the five
years to 2021, down from 4.5 percent in 2012-2016.
BANKING & FINANCE

Airtel Payment Bank ties up with HPCL for ATM services
Airtel Payments Bank; Indias first payments bank has announced a strategic
partnership with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) on 1st of August 2017.
i. Under which 14,000 HPCL fuel stations will act as banking points for Airtel Payments
Bank.
ii. It also offer facilities such as opening of account, cash deposit and cash withdrawal to
the payment banks customers.
iii. Airtel Payments Bank customers will also be able to make digital payments for fuel purchases
across 14,000 HPCL fuel stations by using their mobile phones.
iv. These cashless payments can be made via smartphones (MyAirtel App) as well as feature
phones (USSD).
v. There is no transaction fee for these digital payments
Reserve Bank announces its third bi-monthly policy review of current fiscal
On August 2, 2017, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced Third Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy
Statement for financial year 2017-18. This time, RBI has cut the policy repo rate by 25
basis points (bps) to 6 percent.
63 | P a g e
Post the Third Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement announcement, the policy rates and
reserve ratios are as follows:
Policy Repo Rate 6.00% Reduced by 25 basis points. Earlier it was 6.25%
Reverse Repo Rate 5.75% Reduced by 25 basis points. Earlier it was 6.00%
Marginal Standing Facility Rate 6.25% Reduced by 25 basis points. Earlier it was 6.50%
Bank Rate 6.25% Reduced by 25 basis points. Earlier it was 6.50%
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) 4.00% Unchanged since 9th February 2013
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) 20.00% Unchanged since 7th June 2017
India on track to meet 3.2% fiscal deficit target UBS Report
As per a report by global financial services major UBS, Indian government is on track to
achieving the fiscal deficit target of 3.2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the current
fiscal year.
i. Indian Governments fiscal deficit narrowed from a peak of 6.5 per cent of GDP in 2009-
10 (after the global financial meltdown) to 5 per cent of GDP in 2016-17 and is estimated to
fall further to 3.2 per cent of GDP in 2017-18.
ii. However, the states fiscal position remains stretched, with the fiscal deficit rising from a
low of 1.9 per cent of GDP in 2011-12 to 3 per cent of GDP in 2016-17.
SBI, Samsung collaborate to advance Digital India initiative

The State Bank of India (SBI) and Samsung India has announced the availability of Samsung
Pay for higher variants of SBI debit card to advance Digital India initiativeon 1st of August
2017.
i. The Bank aimed to be the Banker to Digital India and has been at the fore-front of all digital
initiatives in the banking space.
ii. Samsung Pay consumers holding eligible SBI Debit Cards can avail a flat Rs. 100 cashback on
minimum transaction amount of Rs. 500.
iii. The cardholder can avail maximum cashback of Rs. 500 per card, during the offer period
from 1st August to 31st August.
India, ASEAN-5 more fetching to FDI than other emerging markets

As per Japanese financial services firm Nomura, India along with ASEAN 5
countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam) is more attractive Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI) destination as compared to other emerging markets.
i. Nomura has dubbed India and ASEAN-5 (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and
Vietnam) as Asias tiger cubsand has said that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows to
these nations are expected to surge to around USD 240 billion by 2025.
ii. In India, FDI is expected to flow into sectors that need growth capital such as
64 | P a g e
infrastructure, banks, e-commerce and hospitals and those with strong long-term growth
prospects which include retail, automobiles, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.
SBI to raise 2000 crore via BASEL-III bonds

State Bank of India plans to raise Rs 2,000 crore by allotting Basel-III compliant bonds to
various investors.
i. The committee of directors for capital raising accorded its approval on 3rd of August 2017.
ii. It will allot 20,000 AT1 Basel-III compliant non-convertible, perpetual, subordinated
bonds in the nature of debentures.
iii. The bonds will carry a coupon rate of 8.15% per annum with a call option after 5 years or the
anniversary date thereafter.
India signs loan agreement with AIIB for Financing of US$ 329 million for Gujarat Rural
Roads Project
On August 4, 2017, Government of India/ Government of Gujarat signed US$ 329 million
Loan and Project Agreements with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for
or Gujarat Rural Roads Project. The loan agreement was signed in New Delhi.
i. The objective of Gujarat Rural Roads Project is to improve the rural road connectivity and
accessibility by providing all weather road connectivity to 1,060 villages in all the 33 districts in
Gujarat.
ii. This project will benefit nearly 8 million people in Gujarat.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announces new ETF-Bharat-22; Sectoral cap set at 20%
On August 4, 2017, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley launched a new Exchange Traded Fund
(ETF) under the name Bharat 22, comprising shares of 22 companies from 6 sectors of the
economy. This decision comes on the basis of past experiments with CPSE-ETF which proved to
be successful.
i. The ETF will feature four banking stocks SBI, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda and Indian
Bank other than CPSEs such as Nalco, ONGC, IOC, BPCL and Coal India.
ii. Besides, there will be nine other PSUs as well as REC and PFC.
Canara Bank hits overseas bond market with $400-mn issue

Canara Bank has hit the international debt market with a benchmark dollar bond issue that will
65 | P a g e
have a tenor of 5 years. Through this issue, Canara Bank will raise $400 million as part of
its $2 billion medium-term note programme. A medium-term note (MTN) is a debt note that
usually matures (is paid back) in 510 years.
i. Bond sale will be drawn through London branch of Canara Bank.The bonds will be listed on
the Singapore Stock Exchange.
ii. Foreign rating agency Moodys has assigned a Baa3 rating to the issue, which is on par with
the sovereign rating since majority stake in the bank is owned by the Indian government.
Kotak Banks new forex service Kotak Remit

Kotak Mahindra Bank has launched a new service called Kotak Remit.
i. This service is an Aadhaar-based integrated outward forex remittance solution for both customers
and non-customers.
ii .It offers a completely paperless process that will be helpful to users to register online using
Aadhaar and PAN numbers, and initiate remittances instantly.
Companies to disclose bank defaults within one day: SEBI

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has directed to companies which fail to
disclose any default on the payment of interest or repayment of principal to banks or financial
institutions within a day.
i. on 18 July, Sebi issued a circular with listed banks to disclose divergences in bad-loan
estimates to stock exchanges as soon as they receive a communication from the Reserve Bank
of India (RBI).
ii. SEBI has directed that, starting 1 October, listed companies will need to disclose defaults on
loan repayments within one working day.
Forex reserves surge to record $392.86 billion

During the week to July 28, the RBI showed data which refers the countrys foreign exchange
reserves surged by $1.536 billion to touch $392.867 billion, helped by rising in foreign
currency assets (FCAs).
i. In the previous week, it had increased by $2.27 billion to $391.33 billion.
ii. Foreign currency assets (FCAs) rose by $1.609 billion to USD 368.759 billion. FCAs include
effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US currencies such as the euro, the pound and the yen
held in the reserves.
MobiKwik partners Bajaj Finance for Larger financial service pie

In a bid to emerge as a top consumer finance brand in the digital space, mobile wallet
66 | P a g e
major MobiKwik has entered into a strategic partnership with Bajaj Finance to transform
itself into a financial services app from a payments app at present.
i. Under this partnership, Bajaj Finance has picked up 10.83 per cent equity stake in
MobiKwik for about Rs. 225 crore and will offer its lending (purchase finance, credit card,
mortgage loans and personal loans) and insurance products to be sold through the MobiKwik app.
ii. MobiKwik, which currently has a user base of 55 million, will, through this partnership, get
immediate access to about 100 million customers of Bajaj Finance.
iii. From a combined customer base of 155 million today, MobiKwik will aim to offer financial
services to 300 million users in the next couple of years.
Mastercard, PayPal expand partnership into Asia Pacific

Mastercard and PayPal have announced an extension of their partnership into Asia Pacific for
making MasterCard a clear payment option within PayPal.
i. PayPal will add Mastercard as a payment method to their e-wallet and consumers can make it
their default payment option.
ii. Card Company will provide tokenization services and will enable mobile payments using
PayPals digital wallet at more than 6.5 million contactless-enabled merchant
locations across the globe.
iii. The partnership will also add Master pass as a payment option for merchants that
process payments via Braintree.
PNB customers to pay higher charges for non-credit services

PNB customers will have to pay charges for depositing cash above Rs 5,000 in a non-base
branch even if it is located in the same city.
i. Currently, the customers of Punjab National Bank (PNB) are levied charges only for depositing
cash over Rs 25,000 at a non-base branch within the same city.
ii. A customer will have to pay Re 1 per Rs 1,000 for above Rs 5,000 cash deposit or part
thereof with a minimum of Rs 25 per transaction.
iii. It has been decided to revise the non-credit related charges exclusive of GST with effect from
1st of September 2017 for cash deposit above Rs 5,000 at other than base branch within the same
city.
iv. The bank has also revised upwards the cheque returning charges for a payment of ab ove Rs 1
crore to Rs 2,000 for first cheque and Rs 2,500 for subsequent bounces.
v. Currently, for cheque returns of above Rs 1 crore, the charges are Rs 1,000 for first cheque and
Rs 1,500 for subsequent instances.
VI .At an outstation branch, cash deposit up to Rs 5,000 will be free of cost from 1st of
September, which at present is limited for Rs 25,000.
vii. For above Rs 5,000 cash deposit at outstation branch, the bank will levy Rs 2 per Rs
67 | P a g e
1,000 or part thereof with a minimum of Rs 25 per transaction.

viii. The locker rent is being raised by 25% for small, medium, large and extra-large sizes
to Rs 1,500, Rs 3,500, Rs 5,500 and Rs 10,000 respectively, for metro branches
Finance Ministry panel to resolve bank pensioners issues

The Department of Financial Services under Ministry of Finance has set up a committee to
resolve the pending issues of bank pensioners and retirees. This is the outcome of a series
of meetings the All India Pensioners and Retirees Confederation had with the Union Finance
Minister Arun Jaitley; Minister of State Santosh Kumar Gangwar and department officials.
Demand of Pensioners/Retirees:
i. 100 per cent DA neutralisation for pre-2002 retirees
ii. Improvement in family pension, medical insurance and a medical benefit scheme
iii. Pension updation
iv. Second options to compulsorily retired officers and resignees who have put in a pensionable
service.
ICICI bank launches instant credit card with the limit upto 4 lakhs
ICICI Bank has announced the launch of Instant Credit Card Service that will enable its
savings account customers to get a credit card instantly, in a completely digital and
paperless manner.
i. Using the Instant Credit Card Service, pre-qualified customers can apply and get credit
card number and other important details online.
ii. Under which, he/she can immediately start shopping online, without having to wait for the
physical card to arrive.
iii .There is a credit limit of up to Rs 4 lakh based on pre-checked bureau scores.
iv. The application procedure also incorporates an additional level of authentication in order to
make the security of the offering robust.
v. Currently, this facility to apply for a credit card is available through the Banks internet banking
platform.
vi. It will also be available shortly on iMobile, the Banks mobile banking application soon.
IDFC Bank partners with ZETA for digital payments solution

IDFC Bank has partnered with digital payments company Zeta, to launch IDFC Bank
Benefits announced on 9th August 2017.
i. IDFC Bank Benefitsis a payment solution for corporates that digitizes employee spends
and claims, making the process simple, real-time and paperless.
ii. The end-to-end digital solution comprises an IDFC Bank Benefits Card and Zeta app which unite
the full suite of allowances and reimbursements offered by an employer into one preloaded card.
68 | P a g e
iii. Employees can also access the Benefits Card via the Zeta app on mobile or web.
iv. This enables them to track spends, entitlement limits and submit claims, digitally.
v. The Benefits Card and Zeta appenhances user experience as it provides convenience and
flexibility to the employee.
PNB introduces Biometric attendance register

Punjab National Bank (PNB) has introduced a biometric attendance register in the place of
the existing system of signing attendance in the attendance register.
i. The new system of marking attendance will be implemented in branches/offices with immediate
effect, the circular issued on 3rd August.
ii. The biometric attendance device will capture the attendance along with the time of
marking the attendance.
SEBI launches online registration for custodians of securities

Markets regulator SEBI has introduced an online registration mechanism for custodians of
securities to make it convenient for them to do business on 10th of August 2017.
i. The new system would help custodian of securities to complete registration and other
regulatory filings with SEBI much faster and in a cost-effective manner.
ii. Custodian of securities holds shares and other assets in electronic or physical form.
iii. The Securities and Exchange Board of India mentioned that the new system has been made
operational with immediate effect.
RBI to pay Rs. 30,659 crore dividend to government

This year, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will be transferring to the Government Rs 30,659 crore
as dividend. This amount is less than half the amount of Rs 65876 crore it transferred to
Government last year.
Probable Reasons for lower dividend this year:
i .The reduction in the transfer of surplus to the government could be due to a number of factors
including higher cost of printing new currency notes and cost of managing excess liquidity
generated from phasing out of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.
ii. During last year, foreign currency reserves of RBI were fetching less return because most
of the foreign countries were giving negative returns or very low returns.
Canara Bank launches two new digital services

On August 10, 2017; Canara Bank unveiled two new digital services for online payments. Bharat
QR (Quick Response) for payment settlement at merchant locations and Bharat Bill Payment
System (BBPS), an integrated bill payment system for net banking customers.
69 | P a g e
i.Bharat QR (Quick Response): It is a mobile application, which enables a merchant to accept

payments as settlement for sale of goods or services. The service product rides
on VISA/MasterCard/RuPay cards and holders need not divulge card information to merchants.
ii.Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS): It is an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and
is managed by the National Payments Corp of India (NPCI). It offers bill payment services to
the banks net banking customers with network of agents.
Indian Bank Brings 2-tier Interest Rate for Savings Accounts

Indian Bank has introduced two tier interest rate structures for saving bank accounts. It will
offer 4% per interest per annum for incremental balance over Rs 50 lakh and 3.50% per
annum for balance up to Rs 50 lakh.
i.The new interest rate will be effective from 16th August 2017.
ii.Recently SBI had bring down interest rate on savings account deposits by 50 basis points to 3.5
per on balance of Rs 1 crore and below.
iii.SBI continues to offer 4% interest on savings account balance of Rs 1 crore and above.
Flipkart has become the third most funded private company globally
Flipkart has taken over the rein of the market by becoming the third most funded private
company in the world.
i.Flipkarts total raised capital is now almost $7 billion which is higher than that raised by
global giants like online house rental aggregator Airbnb ($3.3 billion) and mobile phone maker
Xiaomi ($1.4 billion).
ii.In valuation, Flipkart stands at the 9th position with about $15 billion.
iii.Uber is the most valued company at $68 billion, followed by DidiChuxing at $50 billion, and
Xiaomi at $46 billion.
iv.The top two are both ridehailing platforms China-based Didi Chuxing and US-based Uber.
SBI gives leg-up to CSR initiatives, adopts 50 villages

On August 14, 2017, State Bank of India (SBI) launched a Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) initiative, SBI Gram Seva, which will work in the areas of health, education,
environment and rural infrastructure.
About SBI Gram Seva:
The SBI Foundation will identify and partner with NGOs to carry out CSR initiatives.
Under the initiative, SBI will adopt five villages each from 10 village panchayats
with each village getting around Rs 2.40 crore over the next three years.
70 | P a g e
SBI Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharyahas mentioned that 10 gram panchayats

comprising of 50 villages in six states have already been adopted, and the bank plans to
adopt 100 gram panchayats in the next three years.
City Union Bank offers instant credit cards

City Union Bank is going to offer instant credit cards and customers can generate a credit
card online.
i.The bank introduced the option of an instant credit card for free for its Net banking customers.
ii.According to the Bank sources about 80 customers had generated a credit card on Day 1.
iii.All that a customer has to do is log on to his/her net banking account and seek a credit
card.
iv.The customer will be allowed a credit limit of up to 80% of the deposit or a maximum of 3 lakh.
v.The physical delivery of the card will take a day or two. In the meantime, the card-holder can use
it for online purchases.CUB has tied-up with MasterCard for the instant credit card.
Aadhar must for subsidised farm loans: RBI

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made Aadhar linkage mandatory for farmers who wish to
avail short-term crop loans in 2017-18 on 16thAugust 2017.
i.Under Interest Subvention Scheme, the banks are advised to make Aadhar linkage mandatory for
availing short-term crop loans in 2017-18.
ii.The interest subvention of 2% will be calculated on the crop loan amount from the date of
its disbursement/drawal up to the date of actual repayment of the crop loan by the farmer or up to
the due date of the loan fixed by the banks whichever is earlier.
iii.It is for a maximum period of one year.
iv.RBI has defined that farmers can avail of short-term crop loans of up to Rs 3 lakh at
the subsidised interest rate of 7%that could go down to 4% on prompt repayment.
V.An additional interest subvention of 3% will be available for those who pay their pay dues
on time.
Vi.This also implies that the farmers paying promptly as above would get short term crop loans @
4% per annum during the year 2017-18.
SBI holds home loan utsav in Bengaluru

State Bank of India held two-day Home Loan Utsav at its local head office in Bengaluru.
(a)The loan Utsav saw title sponsor is GM Infinite.
(b)Subtitle sponsors- Brigade Group, Salarpuria Sattva and DSR Infra.
i.The bank is offering a 0.25% concession in interest rate from the fourth year of the home
loan if it is availed at the SBI Utsav.
71 | P a g e
ii.Those buying flats in real estate projects for which SBI has extended loans can avail home loans
in four days.
Karur Vysya Bank inaugurates AADHAAR enrolment centre in Chennai

Private sector Karur Vysya Bank hasunveiled the Aadhaar Enrolment Centre in Chennai.
i.The Unique Identification Authority of India had advised commercial banks to provide Aadhaar
enrolment and updation facility at various branches.
ii.KVB is the first private sector bank to provide Aadhaar Enrolment Centre service in the
country.
NSE to introduce seamless corporate announcement filing mechanism

NSE has decided to introduce seamless corporate announcement filing mechanism for information
related to change in auditors, change in directors, and declaration of audit reports with unmodified
opinion. This system will be in effect from 17th August 2017.
i.The listed companies would be required to file corporate announcements on reappointment
and statement of impact of audit qualifications through the mechanism.
ii.The announcements filed by listed companies under the mechanism are circulated directly on
the NSE website without the exchanges intervention.
iii.It would help in dissemination of corporate announcements to investors without loss of time.
Axis Bank to waive 12 EMIs on home loans under Shubh Aarambh scheme
Under the new scheme Shubh Aarambh Home Loans Axis Bank will waive 12 equated
monthly installments (EMIs) on regular repayments of loans of up to Rs 30 lakh.
i.The lender has introduced ShubhAarambh Home Loans, in which 12 EMIs are waived 4 EMIs each
after the fourth, eighth and 12th year from the date of the first disbursement.
ii.Customers also have the option to transfer existing home loans to Axis Bank without
additional cost.
RBI Introduces Rs. 50 banknote in Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will soon release Rs 50 denomination banknotes in the
Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, having signature of Governor Urjit R. Patel. RBI clarified
that all the Rs 50 banknotes in the earlier series will continue to be a legal tender. In December
2016, RBI had announced that it would soon issue new currency notes of Rs 50 and Rs 20.
About Rs 50 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series:
The base colour of the new note is fluorescent blue. It has a motif of Hampi with
Chariot on the reverse, depicting the countrys cultural heritage.
72 | P a g e
The note has geometric patterns aligning with the overall colour scheme, both at the
obverse and reverse. Dimension of the banknote will be 66 mm x 135 mm.
Design & Security Features Rs 50 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New)
Series:
i.Front Side of the Note ii.Back Side of the Note
SBI tops share of willful default to PSBs

Countrys largest lender SBI accounts for over 27% of the total amount owed to public
sector banks by wilful defaulters announced on 20th August 2017.
i.Total 1,762 wilful defaulters owed Rs 25,104 crore to State Bank of India as on 31 March.
ii.Punjab National Bank (PNB) is next on the list with 1,120 wilful defaulters having
outstanding non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans of Rs12,278 crore.
iv.According to the Finance Ministry data total outstanding loans due to public sector banks by
wilful defaulters amounted to Rs92,376 crore.
vii.Gross NPAs of the public sector banks rose to Rs6.41 lakh crore at the end of March
2017 as against Rs5.02 lakh crore a year ago.
SBI waives off up to 100% processing fee on car, gold, personal loans
State Bank of India (SBI) has announced waiver of up to 100% of processing fee on car
loans, personal gold loans and personal loans for the festive season.
i.SBI had previously waived off processing fee on the takeover of home loans.
ii.The bank has waived the entire processing fee on car loans till 31st December
2017 and half of the processing fee on personal gold loans till 31st October 2017.
iii.Customers can also avail 50% waiver on processing fee on Xpress Credit, a personal loan
offering by the bank, till 30th September 2017.
NABARD Approves Rs 1,350-cr Loan to Rajasthan Government

The National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned a loan
assistance of Rs 1,349.55 crore to the Rajasthan government announced on 20th Aug 2017.
i.The loan has been approved for creation of rural infrastructure in the state under the
Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).
ii.The sanction includes assistance for construction of two rural drinking water supply projects,
strengthening and rehabilitation of 1,614 rural roads and modernisation of three major irrigation
projects.
iii.An amount of Rs 599.84 crore has been sanctioned for rehabilitation of 1,614 roads.
73 | P a g e
Two regional rural banks record over Rs.150-cr profit in FY17

According to the Reserve Bank of Indias Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in
India, 45 of the 56 RRBs earned profits without carrying any accumulated losses during 2015-
16.
i.Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank and Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank recorded net
profit of more than Rs.150 crore during 2016-17.
ii.Out of the 56 regional rural banks (RRBs) in the country two RRBs have recorded net profit of
over Rs.150 crore each during 2016-17.
iii.These are among the 49 RRBs that recorded a profit in 2016-17. Seven RRBs suffered losses
during the period.
iv.As for 19 RRBs, data was taken from the figures compiled by All India Regional Rural Bank
Employees Association.
v.The three RRBs promoted by Syndicate Bank Prathama Bank, Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank,
and Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank have improved their net profit over 2015-16 and emerged in
the top league of profit-making RRBs during 2016-17.
vi.These RRBs covered 18 districts in three States with a network of 1,563 branches.
vii.At the end-March 2017, RRBs had 21,398 branches spread across 676 districts and 28 States.
Asia Index launches S&P BSE Bharat 22

Asia Index Private Ltd has announced the launch of S&P BSE Bharat 22 Index. It has
been launched to track the performance of state-run companies in which the central
government has divested its stake.
i.The index, as benchmark for Bharat 22 disinvestment program of the government.
ii.It comprises of 22 select bluechip companies of which:
16 are Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE).
3 are from Specified Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India (SUUTI)
3 are PSU Banks, and are listed on the BSE.
iii.S&P BSE Bharat 22 has been licensed to ICICI Prudential AMC for development of an exchange
traded fund (ETF) based on the index.
iv.It covers six sectors namely industrials, finance, utilities, energy, FMCG, basic
materials and telecom.
Dhanlaxmi Bank, DHFL Pramerica tie up for bancassurance

DHFL Pramerica Life Insurance Company has signed on Kerala-based Dhanlaxmi Bank as
its bancassurance partner announced on 24th of Aug 2017.
i.Under which the Kerala-based Dhanlaxmi Bank will distribute retail and group life insurance
74 | P a g e
products to its customers across 260 branches in India.

ii.The bank anticipates an annual incremental income of 20-30 crore from this
distribution business.
iii.With this tie-up, the company is in a strong position to consolidate its presence in Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
New Rs 200 banknote to be launched by RBI

i.The Reserve Bank of India has launched the Rs 200 notes from 25th August from select RBI
offices and some banks.
ii.The notes will be in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, bearing signature of Governor Urjit Patel.
Key Specifications of the Note, as detailed by the RBI:
See through register with denominational numeral 200.
Latent image with denominational numeral 200.
Denominational numeral 200 in Devnagari.
Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at the centre.
Micro letters RBI, Bharat (in Hindi), India and 200.
Windowed security thread with inscriptions Bharat in Hindi and RBI with colour shift.
Colour of the thread changes from green to blue when the note is tilted.
Denominational numeral with rupee symbol, Rs 200 in colour changing ink (green to blue)
on bottom right.
For visually impaired: Intaglio or raised printing of Mahatma Gandhi portrait, Ashoka Pillar
emblem, raised Identification mark H with micro-text Rs 200, four angular bleed lines with two
circles in between the lines both on the right and left sides.
On the reverse side
(a) Year of printing of the note on the left. (b) Swachh Bharat logo with slogan
(c) Language panel (d) Motif of Sanchi Stupa
(e)Denominational numeral 200 in Devnagari
Dimension: Dimension of the banknote will be 66 mm 146 mm.
HDFC Bank launches all-in-one PoS machine

HDFC Bank has launched an all-in-one offering, DigiPoS Machine that offers a complete
suite of digital payment solutions announced on 22nd of Aug 2017. With DigiPoS, a merchant
can use as many as 12 various digital payment options like UPI, Bharat QR, SMS Pay,
PayZapp, Tap & Pay, EMIs in addition to debit/credit card swiping.
i.The merchant has to do is to update his/her machine with a software at no cost.
ii.The new software will work only on HDFC Bank-issued PoS machines, but will accept any
75 | P a g e
card or app from any bank/service provider.

iii.DigiPoS integrates all popular digital payment methods in merchant payment machines offering
greater convenience to both customers and merchants.
iv.The software for DigiPoS has been developed in-house by the banks engineers.
v.The upgraded device will also allow merchants to offer equated monthly instalment
(EMI)-based payments using HDFC Bank credit and debit cards.
Banks to pay 3% IGST on gold imports

According to the government norms the Banks importing gold and precious metals will have
to pay 3% tax under the GST which can be claimed as input tax credit.
i.Under GST 3% Integrated-GST is payable on all imports of precious metals in addition to the basic
customs duty. IGST paid can be taken as input tax credit by the banks.
ii.The CBEC also clarified on levy of GST where the total value of a gold ornament is Rs
30,000, including Rs 2,000 as making charge.
iii.GST is payable at the rate of 3% of the total transaction value of jewellery, whether
the making charge is shown separately or not.
Govt. notifies changes in Banking Regulation Act

The government has find a way to initiate insolvency resolution process to recover bad loans by
giving authorize to RBI through Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act.
i.The banking sector is burdened with non-performing assets (NPAs) of over Rs 8 lakh crore, of
which Rs 6 lakh crore is with public sector banks (PSBs).
ii.The RBI had identified 12 accounts each having more than Rs 5,000 crore of outstanding loans
and accounting for 25 per cent of total NPAs of banks for immediate referral for resolution under
the bankruptcy law.
IRDAI launches central database of insurance sales persons

The Insuranace Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has launched a Central
Database of all Insurance Sales Persons in the country.
i.`Envoy :-The database make sure that all licensed insurance sales persons working for insurers
and intermediaries including entities such as insurance agents, broker qualified persons, specified
persons of corporate agents, authorized verifiers of web aggregators, point of sales persons (POS)
.They do not work with multiple insurers and intermediaries in the same business category.
ii.Envoy covers POS, specified persons of corporate agents, qualified persons of insurance brokers
and authorised verifiers of web aggregators.
76 | P a g e
Canara HSBC Oriental Life Insurance Company (CHOICE) launches PoS-Easy Bima Plan
Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance Company
(CHOICE) has launched with a Point-of-Sale Easy Bima Plan targeted at the mass-market
segment.
i.The product PoS Easy Bima Plan is the first PoS product for the company. It will provide life
cover and also returns all premiums paid during the payment term on survival till
maturity.
ii.It is specially designed to provide an affordable and hassle free protection, to take care of the
needs of your loved ones.
iii.The affordable premiums start from Rs.1,000 annually and there is inbuilt double life
cover in case of accidental death.
Ujjivan SFB receives scheduled bank status from RBI

Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ujjivan Financial Services
Ltd, has been included in the second scheduled to the RBI Act 1934 on 30th Aug 2017.
i.This grants the Scheduled Bank status to Ujjivan Small Finance Bank from the date of
notification.
ii.With this Ujjivan Small Finance Bank can issue certificate of deposits.
iii.Ujjivan SFB commenced its operations as a Small Finance Bank with effect from February 1,
2017.
Freyr Energy ties up with Axis Bank

Solar energy services company Freyr Energy has tied up with Axis Bank announced on
31st Aug 2017.
i.It will offer term loans ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for tenures up to five years,
for solar rooftop installations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
ii.This loan programme will help MSMEs significantly to reduce their electricity bills.
SEBI bans Orion Capital, Orion Broking from markets for 10 yrs
Markets regulator SEBI has barred Orion Capital as well as Orion Broking and their
partners from the securities markets for 10 years announced on 29th of Aug 2017.
i.They have been barred for failing to redress several investor grievances related to non-
settlement of funds due to the clients.
ii.The claim amount is more than Rs 6 crore against Orion Capital and over Rs 4 crore
against Orion Broking.
77 | P a g e
BUSINESS
India-Bhutan New Trade and Transit agreement come into force
The new bilateral Agreement on Trade Commerce and Transit between India and Bhutan
came into force on 29th July 2017.
i. The agreement was last renewed on 29th July 2006 for ten years.
ii. The validity of the same was extended (with effect from July 29, 2016) for one year or till the
new agreement comes into force, through the exchange of diplomatic notes.
It aims to further strengthen the bilateral trade relations between both countries.
iii. The agreement provides for a free trade regime between the territories of India and
Bhutan.
iv. The bilateral trade relations between India and Bhutan are governed by the Agreement on
Trade, Commerce, and Transit.
v. It also provides for a duty-free transit of Bhutanese merchandise for trade with third countries.
Patanjali to teams up with Facebook, Google for online advertisement push

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev-led Herbal products manufacturer Patanjali Ayurved plans to team
up with social media site Facebook and search engine Google in a push to increase its
digital presence for better online marketing.
i. Patanjali will be investing in the online advertising for the first time.
ii. The Indian fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) giant collected an enormous 15 crore views
on You Tube by June while searches for Patanjali products on Google scaled up 11 times in the past
four years and three fold over the past three years.
L&T signs first EPC contract with Indian Railways

On August 4, 2017, Indian Railways signed its first Engineering, Procurement and
Construction (EPC) contract with L&T for large electrification projects. Including this contract,
Railways Ministry has signed total nine EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) contracts for
electrification of railway lines at a cost of Rs. 2,800 crore.
i. The first EPC contract worth Rs. 1,050 crore was awarded to private sector engineering major
L&T for electrifying 781 route kilometres.
ii. This contract has been awarded for electrification of Delhi Sarai Rohilla Rewari and Alwr
Bandikui Jaipur Phulera Ajmer (353 km) section at a cost of Rs 594 crore and Roha
Verna (428 km) of Konkan Railway at a cost of Rs. 456 crore.
78 | P a g e
Essar arm to build coal terminal at Beira Port

Essar Ports has signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Government of
Mozambique to develop a 20 million tons per annum (MTPA) coal terminal at Beira Portas part
of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project.
i. The project will be executed through a subsidiary, New Coal Terminal Beira (NCTB), which is
a joint venture between Essar and Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moambique (CFM).
ii. The first phase of this project will be developed at a cost of close to $275 million and
will entail developing dedicated berths, along with state-of-the-art, mechanised and environment-
friendly systems.
L&T bags Rs. 3,375-crore Mauritius metro project

Mauritius government-led Metro Express Limited has given an order to Larsen & Toubro
(L&T) to design and build an Integrated Light Rail-based Urban Transit System in the African island
nation with an estimate cost of Rs. 3,375-crore.
i. S.N. Subrahmanyan, CEO & Managing Director, L&T has informed that the project that has
been won against competition and will be fully funded through a Government of India grant and
Line of Credit.
ii. The project describes by 26-km route will connect Curepipe to Immigration Square in Port
Louis and will feature 19 stations, two of which will be elevated stations.
Government revises the base year of All-India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) from 2004-
05 to 2011-12
On August 4, 2017, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister
of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs stated that Government has revised the base
year of All-India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) from 2004-05 to 2011-12.
i. In the revised series, WPI will continue to constitute three Major Groups
namely Primary Articles, Fuel & Power and Manufactured Products.
ii. The new series has 697 items as compared to 676 items in old series and is more
representative with increase in number of quotations from 5482 to 8331.
Government forms action plan for easy execution of trade facilitation agreement
Indian government has formulated National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (2017-20), a
detailed action plan with timelines for smooth implementation of WTOs Trade Facilitation
Agreement (TFA). Recommendations made by four working groups on legislative changes,
time release study, outreach programme and infrastructure augmentation have been
included in this plan.
i. Implementation of the plan, which also includes suggestions of the private sector, has been
79 | P a g e
divided into short term (0-6 months), medium term (6-18 months) and long term (18-36
months).
ii. The short term action plan includes augmentation of storage infrastructure for perishable goods
and clearance of such goods within 12 hours of landing for import and 8 hours for export
FMCG Britannia to set up largest plant in Maharashtra

Indias leading FMCG Britannia Industries would set up its largest plant in Maharashtra in a
food park at Ranjangaon announced on 7th August 2017.
i. The park would have the largest biscuits manufacturing plant with six lines, along with cake and
rusk (rpt) rusk.
ii. The proposed JV plant with Greek company Chipita would also be located there and it would on
stream from June 2018.
iii. The company was also planning to set up a diary project at the food park with a capacity of
seven lakh litres per day.
Bajaj Auto ties up with Triumph to make mid-capacity motorcycles

Bajaj Auto has announced a partnership with Triumph Motorcycles UK on 8th of August 2017.
i. The aim of this partnership is to deliver a range of outstanding mid-capacity motorcycles.
ii. Triumph will benefit from this partnership by expanding its global reach and entering new higher
volume markets while Bajaj will in return, gain access to Triumphs motorcycles and technology.
iii. It will enable to offer a wide range of motorcycles within its domestic market and other
international markets.
Flipkart to launch Budding Star Programme for staff

Flipkart is going to launch a programme under which the e-commerce major will provide
financial assistance to employees. It has been announced on 8th of August 2017.
i. The programme will cover all national and international sports and non-sports
competitors recognized by the govt. authorities.
ii. It will not support regional or state-level competitions and leisure or tourist activities.
iii. Flipsters who have completed six months with the company are eligible for the Budding
Star Programme.
ONGC plans to invest $150 million in Colombia,Kazakhstan & Bangladesh

ONGC Videsh, the overseas arm of the state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp has planned to invest
80 | P a g e
$150 million in exploration to drill more wells in Colombia, Kazakhstan and Bangladesh.
i. ONGC Videsh, which operates the CPO-5 block of Colombia, has made a commercial discovery
in its exploration well Mariposa-1.
ii. The company is also making up plans for the development of the Mariposa-1well that has begun
a test production of 4,500 barrels per day.
iii. ONGC has 70% participating interest in CPO-5 block in which the remaining 30% stake in held
by Amerisur Resources of UK.
Amazon launches Virtual Customer Service in India

Amazon has announced the launch of Virtual Customer Service (VCS) model on 9th of August
2017.It is an initiative launched to create cost efficient employment prospects for skilled
candidates seeking more flexible work opportunities.
i. VCS has currently been launched in Hyderabad, Pune, Coimbatore and Noida.
ii. It is opening up comfortable channels of employment to people and VCS is an opportunity for
those who are unable to come to office every day due to personal reasons but are passionate about
their work.
iii. Amazon also aims to provide and enhance a proficient support experience to
customers.
Gujarat first state to implement coal utilisation between power units

The Gujarat government has issued a tender for power developers to receive cheap coal.
It is marked for the state in return for selling coal-based power at less than Rs 2.82 a unit.
i. Through this auction, Gujarat will transfer the coal allocated to power generating stations.
ii. It is owned by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation (GSECL) to more fuel-efficient private
power plants.
iii. The aim is to reduce the cost of fuel for financially ailing distribution companiesand
ensure effective distribution of domestic coal.
iv. The successful power plant would be selling electricity to the state from 1st of October to
30th June 2018.
Google, NSDC launch programme to improve Mobile Developer Ecosystem

On August 8, 2017, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Google
India launched Android Skill Development Programme to impart mobile app development
training on the Android and Web platform and improve the quality of mobile app development
ecosystem in India.
i. Under the initiative, NSDC would introduce a specific course to create applications for the mobile
platform that can be used on smart phones and tablets running on the Android operating system.
81 | P a g e
ii. The 100-hour duration course is designed to be delivered by NSDCs partner agencies,
outside the formal education system.
SoftBank Vision makes big investment in Flipkart

Softbank fund invests in Flipkart, becomes one of its largest shareholders
Flipkart Group (Flipkart), Indias leading e-commerce marketplace, has announced an investment
a mix of primary and secondary capital from SoftBank Vision Fund (Vision Fund), the
worlds largest technology-focused investment fund.
i. SoftBank Vision Fund is the $100-billion technology-focused fund floated by Masayoshi Son.
ii. This is the biggest ever private investment in an Indian technology company,and
will make the Vision Fund one of the largest shareholders in Flipkart.
iii. Flipkart claims that with the investment from SoftBank Vision Fund, it will have $4 billion of cash
on balance sheet.
Commerce Ministry to wind up Directorate General of Supplies and Disposal

The commerce ministry has started the process of shutting down over 100-year-old
government procurement arm Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D)-
in this fiscal year.
i. The public procurement of goods and services is being managed by the ministrys e-market
platform (GeM) since last year.
ii. Currently, the directorate has four regional offices including Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
iii. DGS&D has its origin in the India Stores Department, which was established in 1860 in
London for purchase of imported stores.
iv. The GeM portal has eliminated human interface in vendor registration, order placement
and payment processing to a great extent.
Facebook launches Youtube competitor called Watch

Facebook has launched Youtube competitor called Watch on 10th of August 2017.
i. Shows are made up of episodes live or recorded and follow a theme or storyline.
ii. To help and keep up with the shows one follow, Watch has a Watchlist so the latest
episodes of the shows would be available.
iii. Facebook has also signed a deal with Major League Baseball to broadcast one live
game per week.
iv. The shows available include Nas Daily, Gabby Bernstein and Kitchen Little.
MCX gets SEBI approval for launching gold options

The Multi Commodity Exchange Ltd (MCX) has received markets regulator Securities and
82 | P a g e
Exchange Board of India (SEBI)s approval to launch countrys first gold options contract.
i. MCX has received the approval to launch options on futures in gold contract from SEBI.
ii. SEBI has mentioned that options could be launched on futures contract of only those
commodities that are among the top five in terms of total trading turnover value of
previous 12 months.
iii. For agricultural commodity and agri-processed commodities the average daily
turnover of underlying futures contracts in past one year should be at least Rs 200 crore.
iv. For other commodities the average daily turnover should be at least Rs 1,000 crore.
Facebook to monitor MSME growth in Odisha, launches SheMeansBusiness

Facebook will monitor the growth of the MSMEs in Odisha after imparting training to them in
next one year.
i. Facebook has partnered with the Odishas MSME department and Project Mission
Shakti to train 25,000 entrepreneurs by the end of 2018.
ii. The state government has plans to organize hands-on workshops for MSME
entrepreneurs and women SHGs on Digital Marketing Skills.
iii. The partnership aimed to reduce the digital divide and empower nearly 25,000 entrepreneurs
and SHGs over the next one year.
IOC becomes first Indian refiner to purchase Eagle ford shale oil
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) bought 1.9 million barrels of U.S. crude in its second import tender
making it the first Indian refiner to purchase Eagle Ford shale oil.
i. IOC bought 950,000 barrels of light sweet Eagle Ford shale oil and 950,000 barrels of heavy sour
Mars crude for end-October delivery from trading firm.
ii. Indian refiners have turned their sights to crude from the Americas as they are keen to diversify
their crude import sources owing to global oil supply cuts.
Hindustan Unilever, Asian Paints and BhartiAirtel Forbes list of the worlds 100 most
innovative companies
Three Indian firms namely Hindustan Unilever, Asian Paints and BhartiAirtel are among
Forbes list of the worlds 100 most innovative companies.
i.Salesforce.com has replaced Tesla Motors on the top position. BhartiAirtel has entered
the ranking at 78th position.
ii.HUL and Asian Paints have moved up in their ranks to 7thand 8threspectively (from 31st and 18th
last year).
iii.HUL recorded an innovation premium of 68.59%;Asian Paints (68.28%) and BhartiAirtel
(41.4%).
83 | P a g e
iv.Among others in the top 10 are Amazon.com (3rd position), Shanghai RAAS Blood
Products (4th), Netflix (5th), Incyte (6th), Naver (9th) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
(10th).
v.The annual Worlds Most Innovative Companies are the ones that investors expect to be
innovative now and in the future.
vi.To be included in the list, firms need seven years of public financial data and USD 10
billion in market cap.
vii.Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Sun Pharma and Larsen & Toubro were also on the 2016 list.
IIP output contracts 0.1% in June 2017

Indias Factory output fell to a four-year low and contracted by 0.1% in June 2017with poor
performance of manufacturing and mining sectors.
i.Since June 2013 this is the lowest growth when the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) contracted
by 1%. In June 2016, it had grown 8%.
ii.Manufacturing sector: It shows negative growth of 0.4% in June from previousMay 2017 as
1.2% .
iii.In Mining output: It signs positive by 0.4% in June.
iv.Electricity generation: It showed slow as 2.1% from May 2017 growth recorded 8.28 %.
v.Consumer durables output: It slow down by 2.1% in June 2017 from May 2017.
vi.Consumer non-durables production: It rose by 4.9%.
vii.Capital goods output: is a barometer of investment. It reduced by 6.8% in June 2017.
BSEs India INX to commence Indias first gold options at GIFT IFSC
Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)-promoted India International Exchange (India INX) has
got Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBIs) approval to launch Gold Options. India
INX will launch trading in gold options from August 30, 2017.
Availability of Gold Options will allow investors an opportunity to hedge their risk without
worrying about daily market volatility.
India INX has estimated that gold options, along with other gold contracts, would
clock a daily average turnover of USD 35 million on the exchanges platform.
India INX Gold Options Contract Specification:
Underlying asset India INX Gold Futures
Contract Size One India Inx Gold Futures contract
Minimum Tick Size $ 0.1
Options types European Call & Put
Expiry Months January, March, July, September and November
India, Mexico plan to set up CEO Forum to boost trade ties

India and Mexico are planning to set up a CEO Forum to boost the trade ties. It has been
84 | P a g e
announced on 15th of August 2017.

i.A meeting between Commerce & Industry Ministry officials and trade diplomats from the Mexican
Embassy is scheduled this week on promoting exchanges between the business
communities.
ii.Mexico is looking at intensifying its economic partnership with big markets such as China and
Indiabelieves that bilateral trade with India could touch $10 billion in the next five years from $6.41
billion at present.
Nestle India ties up with Amazon to launch new range of Maggi Noodles
Nestle India has tied up with Amazon India for the launch of its new Nutritious range of
Maggi Noodles.
Rajasthan govt signed JV agreement for refinery project with HPCL

On August 17, 2017, Rajasthan State Government and public sector oil firm Hindustan
Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) inked an agreement to form a joint venture company
for Barmer petroleum refinery and petrochemical complex.
i.Principal Secretary Mines and Petroleum, Aparna Arora and Director (Finance) of HPCL,
J. Ramaswami signed the JV agreement respectively on behalf of the Rajasthan State
Government and the HPCL.
ii.As per the proposed plan, the refinery project would be established in 4,813 acres of land
area
IOC to invest Rs 52,000 cr in Paradip refinery post pact with Odisha government
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will invest about Rs 52,000 crore in
expanding Paradip refinery in Odisha and setting up petrochemical complex after
the Odisha State Gvernment agreed to restore part of tax incentives.
Now, Odisha Government has agreed to restore part of tax incentives and has agreed to
give Rs 700 crore per annum of an interest-free loan for 15 years to make up for
the withdrawn incentive.
Anti-dumping duty imposed on tempered glass from China

The Finance Ministry has imposed an anti-dumping duty on certain textured toughened
tempered glass which imports from China.
i.Textured toughened tempered glass is used as a component in solar photovoltaic
85 | P a g e
panels and solar thermal applications.

ii.This product is also known as solar glass, low iron solar glass or high transmission
photovoltaic glass..
TRAI signs deal with Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission

On August 22,2017 The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has signed an
agreement with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to
strengthen the cooperation in the fields of broadcasting and telecommunications regulation.
i.The two telecom regulators signed a letter of intent (LoI) which helps to exchange information
and regulatory best practices.
ii.TRAI chairman RS Sharma and MCMC chairman Halim Shafie were signatories to the
agreement which will enhance cooperation and bilateral ties between the two entities
ISA extends Indias exclusive rights to explore Polymetallic Nodules

Indias exclusive rights to explore polymetallic nodules from seabed in Central Indian
Ocean Basin (CIOB) have been extended by five years by International Seabed Authority
(ISA)
i.India is the first country to have received the status of a pioneer investor in 1987.
ii.It was allocated an exclusive area in Central Indian Ocean Basin by United Nations (UN)
for exploration and utilization of nodules.
iii.These rights are over 75000 sq. km of area in international waters allocated by
International Seabed Authority for developmental activities for polymetallic nodules.
iv.The estimated polymetallic nodule resource potential is 380 million tonnes, containing 4.7 million
tonnes of nickel, 4.29 million tonnes of copper and 0.55 million tonnes of cobalt and 92.59 million
tonnes of manganese.
v.This has been approved in the 23rd session of International Seabed Authority (ISA)
concluded on 18th August 2017 at Kingston, Jamaica.
Qatar Airways has interline partnership with Vistara

Airline Vistara and Persian Gulf carrier Qatar Airways have entered into an interline
partnership. Under this partnership they will provide through check-in facility to
customers for seamless travel.
i.Qatar Airways currently operates to 13 cities in India from its Doha hub, while the Tata-SIA run
joint venture airline Vistara operates to 19 domestic destinations.
ii.The partnership is effective from 22nd of August 2017.
iii.Under the partnership, passengers of Qatar Airways can travel seamlessly on Vistaras
domestic flights to and from the Persian Gulf carriers global network.
86 | P a g e
India grants Pfizer patent on pneumonia vaccine Prevenar 13

India has granted US drug giant Pfizer a patent for its Prevenar 13. It is a vaccine that
helps prevent cases of pneumonia, one of the leading causes of deaths of children under five
years of age. The company said the patent is valid in India until 2026.
i.According to the World Health Organisation Pneumonia killed nearly a million children under the
age of five years in 2015 alone.
ii.Prevenar 13 helps prevent pneumococcalpneumonia and infections caused by 13
strains of streptococcus pneumonia bacteria.
iii.According to the 2016 Pneumonia and diarrhoea Progress Report by John Hopkins Bloomberg
School of Public Health India has seven pneumonia related deaths per 1,000 live births.
iv.This vaccine and GlaxoSmithKlines Synflorix are the only two pneumococcal conjugate
vaccines (PCV) available in the country.
Airports Authority of India ties up with Ola, Uber

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has tied up with cab aggregators Ola and Uber to allow for cab
bookings from airport kiosks.
i. It will provide option for passengers to hire these cabs at select aerodromes.
ii. According to this, both Ola and Uber will fulfil commute demand of passengers at the AAI-run
Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Lucknow and Bhubaneswar airports.
Andhra Pradesh first to implement Bharat QR digital payments to make Vizag less-cash
city
Andhra Pradeshs Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd (EPDCL) and the Southern Power
Distribution Corporation of AP Ltd (SPDCL) have become the first state-owned distribution
companies in India to accept payments through Bharat QR.
i.It is the worlds first interoperable quick response code acceptance solution launched by the
Reserve Bank of India.
ii.The Vizag Digital Dhan Sankalp project is an initiative lead by the Government of Andhra
Pradesh and Visa, to develop Visakhapatnam into Indias first lesscash city.
iii.The less cash Vizag initiative aims to transform Visakhapatnam into the FinTech Valley of
India, and to serve as a dynamic example of a digitized city, on a global scale.
Tata Power synchronises its 186 MW hydro project in Georgia

Tata Power announced its joint venture company Adjaristsqali Georgia LLC (AGL) has
synchronised 186 MW Shuakhevi Hydro Project in Georgia.
i.AGL is a Tata Power joint venture with Norways Clean Energy Invest AS Norway (Clean Energy)
87 | P a g e
and IFC InfraVentures (IFC), a member of the World Bank group.

ii. In the fall of 2013, plant has started and was synchronized on August 1-2, 2017, in a record
time of less than four years.
Airbnb announces its first airline partnership in India with Jet Airways
Jet Airways, one of Indias premier international airlines, has announced a partnership with
Airbnb on 24th of Aug 2017.
i.The partnership will allow Jet Airways to offer a wide spectrum of rapidly growing, global
hospitality choices to its guests from India.
ii.The focus on being innovative and offering differentiated travel experiences and enables to
anticipate the changing needs of guests and recognise trends.
iii.To announce this partnership, Jet Airways is running a contest on its website where 5
lucky winners have a chance to win free couple flight tickets from Jet Airways together
with a stay coupon worth Rs 35,000 from Airbnb*.
Government bans gold,silver imports from South Korea

The director general of foreign trade (DGFT) issued the notification withdrawing the facility
given under a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea signed in 2009 regarding gold,
silver and their articles announced on 26thAug 2017.
i.To curb surging gold and silver imports from South Korea, the government has decided to put
these items in the restricted category.
ii.Importers will need permission from the government before importing them.
iii.India has a free trade pact South Korea under which basic customs duty on gold has been
eliminated.
iv.Further, the 12.5% countervailing duty on gold imports has been included in the Goods
and Services Tax (GST). Hence, the imports now attract only 3% integrated GST.
v.This comes in the wake of more than a $1 billion worth gold imports from South Korea between
1st July to 21stAugust.
5% GST applicable on selling of space for advertisement in print media: Centre

The government has clarified that selling of space for advertisements in print media
would attract 5 and 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST). It depends on the terms of the
contract between the newspaper, advertisement agency and the client.
i.According to the Finance Ministry If the advertisement agency works on principal-to-
principal basis, that is buys space from the newspaper and sells such space for advertisement to
clients on its own account, that is, as a principal, it would be liable to pay GST at the rate of 5%
88 | P a g e
on the full amount charged by advertisement agency from the client.

ii.If the advertisement agency sells space for advertisement as an agent of the newspaper
on commission basis, it would be liable to pay GST at the rate of 18% on the sale
commission it receives from the newspaper.
DIPP releases consolidated FDI policy

On 28th august ,2017 the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) which is under
ministry of commerce and industry has released the consolidated Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) Policy on Monday subsuming all the changes in rules and procedures notified by the
government over the past year.
For the firsttime, the document included the start-upswhich can raise up to 100% of funds
from foreign Venture Capital Investors(FVCI).
Highlights of the policy:
1) On start-ups:
A start-up company engaged in a sector where foreign investment requires government approval
may issue convertible notes to a non-resident only with approval of the government.
Start-ups can issue equity or equity linked instruments or debt instruments to FVCI against receipt
of foreign remittance.A person resident outside India (other than citizens/ entities of Pakistan and
Bangladesh) will be permitted to purchase convertible notes issued by an Indian start-up company
for an amount of Rs25 lakh or more in a single tranche.
2)Sector specific conditions for FDI :-
Banking- Private Sector Automatic route up to 49%. Approval route beyond and up to 74%
ICEX launches worlds first diamond futures contracts

The Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX) has launched the worlds first diamond futures
contracts. It is going to be the first diamond exchange in the world announced on 28th of Aug
2017. It will provide exporters with a hedging tool.
i.The first diamond contract for delivery in November was traded at Rs 3,279/cent. One cent is the
one-hundredth of a carat (ct).
ii.ICEX has launched 1 ct diamond futures contract for delivery in November and followed
by contracts with monthly settlements.
iii.The 1-carat contract for expiry in November, December and January will have delivery
centre at Surat in the western state of Gujarat.
NTPC signs Rs. 3,000-cr term loan agreement with ICICI Bank
NTPC has signed a term loan agreement for Rs 3,000 crore with ICICI Bank for partially
89 | P a g e
funding its capital expenditure signed on 29th Aug 2017.

i.The loan has a tenure of 15 years and it will be utilised to part finance the capital expenditure of
NTPC.
ii.NTPC commissioned 3,845 mw capacity and added 2,190 mw to its commercial capacity during
2016-17.
Unicity launches worlds first ever Genomeceuticals range of products in India

Unicity International has launched worlds first ever Genomeceutical (gene controlling)
range of products to India.
i.Unicity International headquartered in Orem, Utah, United States.
ii.Unicity uses advanced Genomecutical technology in its products to support proper gene
expression.
iii.It helps in maintaining healthy body function at their most basic levels.
Centre clears 100% strategic sale of CEL

On 30th august ,2017, Department of Investment and Public Asset
Management(DIPAM) has approved a 100% disinvestment through strategic sale along with
transfer of management control of Central Electronics Ltd. (CEL).
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Mukesh Ambani becomes Asias 2nd richest person

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has become Asias 2nd richest personannounced
on 1st of August 2017.Ambani Net worth is $35.2 billion.
i .He has overtaken Hong Kong business magnate Li Ka-shing to become Asias second-
richest man.
ii. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Ambanis wealth has seen a rise of $12.1
billion with the oil-to telecom conglomerates shares.
Bharat Gaurav Award by East Bengal Football Club: Dhanraj Pillay

Former India hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay was honoured with the Bharat Gaurav by East
Bengal Football Club on its foundation day on 1st August 2017.
i. Bharat Gaurav is the highest award of the club.
90 | P a g e
ii. Gurwinder Singh bagged the Footballer of the Year award while Boddupalli Amitwas
awarded as the Cricketer of the Year.
JK Rowling: Worlds highest paid author by Forbes

JK Rowling, the creator of Harry Potter tops the ranking of the highest paid author by
Forbes with earnings of 72m ($95) this year announced on 4th of May 2017
i.It is the first time that Rowling has topped Forbes list of the 10 highest earners in the
global industry for the first time in almost 10 years.
Ii.JK Rowling has beaten the links of Dan Brown, Stephen King and John Grisham to be named the
worlds highest paid author.
iii.Other authors included in the list were Paula Hawkins and EL James.
Veteran Actress Sharada Selected For Prem Nazir Award

Veteran actress and national award winner Sharada has been selected for this years Prem Nazir
Award:
i. The award will be presented to Sharada by Kerala state Devaswom MinisterKadakampally
Surendran at a function at Chirayankeezhu on August 15, 2017.
ii. Sharada had won three national awards with the first being for her performance in 1968 tragedy
film Thulabharam, which was remade in Tamil also.
iii. She has acted in several Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil films.
iv. Actor T P Madhavan will also be presented Rs 50,000 cash award announced by
Chirayankeezhu Panchayat.
Indian Philanthropist Firoz Merchant honoured by UAE Govt.

Firoz Merchant, an Indian businessman in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who has spent over
USD 4 million to help free prisoners languishing in jails due to non-payment of debts, has
been honoured with UAEs prestigious Community Service Medal.
i. UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the UAE, Lt General HH Sheikh Saif bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, honoured Indian businessman and philanthropist Firoz Merchant with the
Community Service Medal on Augsut 7, 2017.
ii. The award, which is given in the form of a medal, was given to Merchant in recognition of his
efforts to serve the community in the country and beyond.
Dev Patel to be honoured with Asia Society Game Changers Award

Indian-origin actor Dev Patel is to be honoured by a leading educational organisation for
making a transformative and positive difference for the future of Asia and the world.
i. Patel was born in London who became popular with his debut film Slumdog Millionaire.
91 | P a g e
ii. He will be felicitated with the Asia Society 2017 Asia Game Changers Award at
a ceremony to be held at the United Nations, New York, in November.
GerishKhemani and Akshat Nigam awarded Hindu playwright Award 2017

The Hindu Playwright Award 2017 is awarded to GerishKhemani and Akshat Nigam for their
play In Search of DariyaSagar.
i.The playwriting awards was organized by the newspaper The Hindu in Chennai.
ii.The 2 lakh award was presented to the two playwrights at the 13th edition of The Hindu Theatre
festival.
Veteran journalist T J S George bags first-ever Kesari Media Award

Veteran journalist T J S George has bagged for the first Kesari Media Awardannounced on
i.It is instituted by the Kesari Memorial Journalist Trust.
ii.The award would be given away at a function to be held on 13th August.
iii.The award comprises a purse of Rs 50,000, citation and a statuette designed by
renowned artist Bhatathiri.
N.K. Jemisin Has Won the Hugo for Best Science Fiction Novel
African-American author Nora K. Jemisin, has won the Hugo Award for Best Novel 2017 for
her work The Obelisk Gate. The award was presented at the 75th World Science Fiction
Convention in Helsinki, Finland on August 11, 2017.
The Obelisk Gate is the second in the trilogy that started with The Fifth
Season, which was New York Times Notable Book of 2015 and won Jemisin the Hugo
Award for Best Novel in 2016
The novel is about the life on a planet where the inhabitants would undergo a Fifth
Season of catastrophic climate change every a few centuries.
President approves Gallantry Awards to Armed Forces Personnel, Members of

Paramilitary Forces
On August 14, 2017, President Ram Nath Kovind approved 112 Gallantry Awards to Armed
Forces Personnel and members of Paramilitary Forces which include 5 Kirti Chakras, 17
Shaurya Chakras, 85 Sena Medals (Gallantry), 3 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and two
Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
Kriti Chakra Award to 5 persons
CRPF commandants Chetan Kumar Cheetah and Pramod Kumar, along with Major David
Manlun, Havildar Giris Gurung and Major Preetam Singh Kunwar have been awarded
the Kirti Chakra, the second highest gallantry award in peace time.
92 | P a g e
NABARD Awards Corporation Bank for SHG, KVGB for Credit- Linking Joint Liability group
Corporation Bank has bagged the best performance awards for SHG-bank linkage
programme for Karnataka for 2015-16 and 2016-17 from National Bank for Agriculture and
Rural Development (NABARD).
i.The bank was given the award for its overall performance under SHG-bank linkage programme for
2015-16 and 2016-17 among commercial banks operating in Karnataka.
ii.The bank has formed more than 1.32 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) till date.
iii.The groups are provided with credit facilities for new ventures.
iv.D.M. Mujumdar, General Manager of the bank, received the awards from Karnataka Chief
Secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia at NABARD, Bengaluru.
Dr Nanda Kumar Jairam bags FICCIs Healthcare Personality award

Dr Nanda Kumar Jairam, CEO, Chairman and Group Medical Director, Columbia Asia
Hospitals, India, has been awarded the Healthcare Personality of the Year award.
i.The Healthcare Excellence Awards by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI) is an attempt to recognise the contributions of those who have set benchmarks
of excellence in the healthcare space.
ii.Dr Jairam was given the award at the ninth Healthcare Excellence Awards instituted by the
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The programme is supported by
the Quality Council of India.
5 Indian-origin persons in Fortunes annual 40 Under 40 list

Five Indian-origin persons, including Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, have featured
in Fortunes annual list of 40 young and influential people in the field of business inspiring
others with their work.
i.Fortunes 2017 40 Under 40 list is an annual ranking of the most influential young people
who are under 40 in business.
ii.The magazine calls these people as disruptors, innovators, rebels and artists.
iii.The list has been topped by French President Emmanuel Macron. He is 39 years old.
iv.The Indian-origin persons on the list including Leo Varadkar are 26-year-old Divya Nag,
Rishi Shah (31) and ShradhaAgarwal (32) and CEO and founder of non-profit Samasource
31-year-old Leila Janah.
v.The list also includes Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on the second spot.
Preethi Srinivasan receives Kalpana Chawla award

Preethi Srinivasan, the former State under-19 cricket captain, who braved a debilitate
93 | P a g e
accident to support those suffering from spinal cord injuries like her was presented with the
Kalpana Chawla Award for Courage and Daring Enterprise.
i.The award was presented by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami during the 71st
Independence Day celebrations at Fort St. George in Chennai.
ii.Preethi, confined to a wheel chair, started a trust called Soul Free to create a help group for
others like her.
Telangana CM chosen for agriculture leadership award

According to a statement from the Chief Ministers Office the Telangana Chief Minister K
Chandrashekhar Rao has been selected for the prestigious Agriculture Leadership Award-
2017.
i.A committee is headed by agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan has recommended the
CMs name.
ii.The award will be presented on 5th September at Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi.
iii.The Chief Minister has been selected for the award for his innovative services rendered to the
welfare of farmers and the farm sector.
Indian origin boy Rahul Doshi crowned Child Genius in UK

An Indian-origin boy, 12-year-old Rahul Doshi was crowned as the UKs Child Geniusin a
popular television quiz competition on 20 August 2017.
i.Rahul Doshi won the Channel 4 show Child Genius by defeating his opponent Ronan a 9
year old boy by 10-4 points in the programmes finale.
Ii.Rahul Doshi believed to be having an IQ higher than Albert Einstein and Stephen
Hawking.
iii.He has a vast knowledge of his chosen subject Edward Jenners medical innovation and
methodology in 18th Century England.
Government announced list of awardees of National Sports Awards 2017

On August 22, 2017 Our Government announced the list of awardees of National Sports Awards
2017. National Sports Awards are distributed every year to recognize excellence in sports.
Selection Committee for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards was headed by
Justice C.K. Thakkar. Selection Committee for Dronacharya Awards and Dhyan Chand
Awards was headed by Shri Pullela Gopichand.
Name of Awardees selected for National sports award 2017
(i) Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2017
Name of the Awardee Fields
Shri Devendra Para Athlete
94 | P a g e
Shri Sardar Singh Hockey

(ii) Dronacharya Awards 2017
Late Dr. R. Gandhi Athletics
Mr. Heera Nand Kataria Kabaddi
Mr. G.S.S.V. Prasad Badminton (Lifetime)
Mr. Brij Bhushan Mohanty Boxing (Lifetime)
Mr. P.A. Raphel Hockey (Lifetime)
Mr. Sanjoy Chakraverthy Shooting (Lifetime)
Mr. Roshan Lal Wrestling (Lifetime
(iii) Dhyan Chand Award
Mr. Bhupender Singh Athletics
Mr. Syed Shahid Hakim Football
Ms. Sumarai Tete Hockey
(iv) Arjuna Awards 2017
Name of the Awardees Fields
Ms. V.J. Surekha Archery
Ms. Khushbir Kaur Athletics
Mr. Arokia Rajiv Athletics
Ms. Prasanthi Singh Basketball
Sub. LaishramDebendro Singh Boxing
Mr. CheteshwarPujara Cricket
Ms. Harmanpreet Kaur Cricket
Ms. OinamBembem Devi Football
Mr. S.S.P. Chawrasia Golf
Mr. S.V. Sunil Hockey
Mr. Jasvir Singh Kabaddi
Mr. P. N. Prakash Shooting
Mr. A. Amalraj Table Tennis
Mr. SakethMyneni Tennis
Mr. SatyawartKadian Wrestling
Mr. Mariyappan Para-Athlete
Mr. Varun Singh Bhati Para-Athlete
Biju Patnaik Award for Scientific Excellence to Prof Digambar Behera

On 24 August 2017 odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik granted the Biju Patnaik Award for
Scientific Excellence for the year 2016 to Prof Digambar Behera.
i.Digambar Behera is senior professor and Head, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Postgraduate
Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.
ii.Prof Swapna Mahapatra, Prof Banshidhar Majhi and Prof Sukumar Mishra has received the
Samanta Chandra Sekhar Award for 2016.
Island of Tuvalu worlds least visited country in 2016

According to a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), The
island of Tuvalu was the least visited country in 2016.
i.The report said 2,000 people visited Tuvalu in 2016, while 1,000 people visited the country in
2014. Located in the South Pacific Ocean, Tuvalu is 4.6 metres above sea level and has a
population of 11,000 people.
95 | P a g e
ii.Polynesian atoll, only two hours north of Fiji, has not been able to attract many tourists to its
region.
NRDC wins two awards

NRDC, the technology transfer and commercialisation arm of the Ministry of Science &
Technology hasgrabbed two awards on 29th Aug 2017.
i.The award ceremony was held in Stockholm, Sweden.
ii.NRDC has won the Assocham Services Excellence Award 2017 and its Chairman and Managing
Director, H Purushotham an international recognition.
iii.NRDC also won the Assocham Services Excellence Awards 2017 in the area of Technology
Transfer Services.
iv.The International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM) Sweden honoured Purushotham with
the IAAM Medal 2017.
v.He has honoured for his outstanding R&D contributions in the Advanced Materials
Science & Technology.
vi.The award was presented during the three-day European Advanced Materials Congress
held from August 22-24.
Lieke Martens named UEFA Women Player of the Year

Lieke Martens has won the UEFA Womens Player of the Year award after her player-of-the-
tournament performance at UEFA Womens EURO 2017.
i.The 2017-18 UEFA Champions League held in Monaco.
ii.Lieke Martens is from the Netherlands. Lieke Martens was named UEFA Womens Player of the
Year after leading the Netherlands to the 2017 Womens Euro title.
iii.The UEFA Womens EURO 2017 winner, who recently signed for FC Barcelona from FC
Rosengard, claimed a total of 95 points.
iv.Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo was also awarded Mens Player of the
Year award.
v.He helped Real win the UEFA Champions League for a second successive time last season and
also won European Championships with Portugal last year.
vi.Best Goalkeeper of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League season: Gianluigi Buffon.
vii.Best Defender of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League season: Sergio Ramos.
96 | P a g e
viii.Best Midfielder of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League season: Luka Modric.
ix.Best Forward of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League season: Cristiano Ronaldo.
NITI Aayog announces 12 winners of the Women Transforming India Awards 2017
Union Minister of Textiles, Information, and Broadcasting Smriti Irani will present Women
Transforming India Awards 2017 a prestigious award to 12 incredible women winners at
an event in New Delhi on 29th of Aug 2017.
i.The award has been launched by NITI Aayog, in partnership with the UN in India and
MyGov.
ii.It has been awarded to recognize the transformational impact of work undertaken by women
across India.
iii.This years campaign to promote equal opportunity of women received around 3000
entries from across India.
TOP 6 CONTESTANTS
1.Laxmi Agarwal, Uttar Pradesh: Rising from the Ashes
In 2005 a 14-year-old Laxmi Agrawal was attacked by 32-year-old stalker and his friends. Laxmi
rejected his advances and turned down his proposal and the man and his friends threw acid on her
face. In 2014, she received the International Women of Courage Award by the then US First Lady
Michelle Obama. She was also chosen as the NDTV Indian of the year.
2 Subasini Mistry, Hasnapukur, West Bengal:
Subasini lost her husband at a young age due to lack of medical care but Subasini sacrified for two
decades to realize her dream of building a hospital for the needy. Today, the 45-bed hospital
spreads over three acres and has the best of doctors and medical equipment. Major surgeries for
the poor are done for less than Rs. 5000 and minor ailments are treated for under Rs. 10.
3 Safeena Husain, Mumbai, Maharashtra:
Safeena Husain is the founder and executive director of Educate Girls, a non- profit organization
working for girls education in some of the most educationally backward districts of India. She has
has been involved in development projects across South America, Africa and Asia for the past
decade. Safeena won the 2016 NDTV-LOreal Paris Women of Worth Award in the Education
Category.
4 Arunima Sinha, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh: Mind Over Matter: Transcending Adversity to Make
History
Arunima Sinha, 24-year-old national level volleyball and football player. She was on her way to
take the examinations, when she was thrown off a train by a group of gangsters for refusing to part
with her gold chain and lost her left leg. Arunima is the first female amputee to scale the highest
97 | P a g e
mountain in the world. In 2015 she was awarded the fourth highest civilian award of India, the
Padma Shri and was also honoured with the Tenzing Norgay Highest Mountaineering Award.
5 Kamal Kumbhar, Osmanabad, Maharashtra: The Social Entrepreneur with a Mission
Kamal an entrepreneur owns six different businesses and is a role model business leader. Kamal
was also a winner of the CII Foundation Women Exemplar Award 2017 in the field of micro-
enterprise. Kamal has actively mentored more than 5,000 women to set up micro-enterprises.
6 Jamuna Tudu, Maturkham, Jharkhand:
She has managed to conserve 50 hectares of forest land around her village in Jharkhand. The Van
Suraksha Samiti has about 60 active women members, who patrol the jungle in shifts thrice a day,
morning, noon and evening. The Forest Department has adopted her village, which has led to
Maturkham getting a water connection and a school. In 2013, Jamuna accepted the Godfrey Phillips
Bravery Award in the Acts of Social Courage category. Around 150 committees formed by Jamuna,
comprising more than 6,000 members, have joined her movement to save the forests.
RUNNERS-UP
7 Rajlakshmi Borthakur, Bengaluru: Lifesaver Device Designed by a Mom
Determined to save her childs life, Rajlakshmi Borthakur researched epilepsy for more than three
years and developed a simple wearable device, a smart glove, that can predict epileptic seizures
before they happen.
8 Kiran Kanoji, Faridabad: From Accident Survivor to Indias First Female Blade Runner
Survivor of a horrific accident, Kiran Kanojia, is a champion blade runner. In 2014, Kiran attempted
the Hyderabad Airtel Marathon and won her first medal. Kiran is a champion blade runner and is
invited to Delhi and Mumbai to run and flag off marathons.
9 Harshini Kanhekar, Nagpur, Maharashtra: Breaking the Ceiling: Indias First Woman
Firefighter
Harshini Kanhekar rewrote the history of National Fire Service College, Nagpur and the countrys
fire services to become Indias first woman firefighter.
10 Shima Modak, Meghalaya: A Beacon of Hope for the Underprivileged
Shima Modak has been working relentlessly towards the welfare of the deprived and distressed. . In
2010, Shima started small educational centres in community spaces to take education to the
doorstep of those kids who cannot make it to school. Starting with 73 underprivileged children, the
centres run by SPARK have as of date been able to cover more than 3,000.
11 Sunita Kamble, Mhasvad, Maharashtra: Mhasvads Doctor Madam
Sunita Kamble fought the odds to become the first woman goat veterinarian in her region, working
with her team to protect her communitys livestock and create alternative and sustainable livelihood
opportunities for women. Sunita and her team of seven barefoot veterinarians have performed
artificial insemination on over 2,000 goats in the area.
98 | P a g e
12 Kanika Tekriwal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: Ruling the Skies

Kanika Tekriwal started her journey in the aviation industry at the tender age of 17. Kanika has
won several awards chosen as one of the 100 most inspirational women in the world by BBC,
recognised by Forbes Asia as one of the 30 under 30 leading entrepreneurs in Asia, CNNs 20 under
40, and awarded the National Entrepreneurship award in E-commerce by Government of India.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS

Venkaiah Naidu elected as 13th Vice-President of India
BJP-led National Democratic Alliance nominee and former Union Minister, M Venkaiah
Naidu has been elected as the 13th Vice President of India. He will take oath as new Vice-
President of India on August 11, 2017 and will thereby become the ex-officio Chairman of
the Rajya Sabha.
i. Over 98% poll percentage was recorded in the Vice-Presidential election 2017.771 out of
785 MPs voted in the election, however 11 votes were found to be invalid.
ii. Mukul Pandey was the assistant returning officer for Vice-Presidential 2017.
Sameer Garde named Cisco president for India, Saarc region

Tech giant Cisco has named Sameer Garde as President for its India and Saarc
operations announced on 31st of July 2017.
i. Garde would join the company on 1st August 2017. He succeeds Dinesh Malkani.
ii. He will be responsible for Ciscos senior-level external engagement, including those with
government and industry associations
NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya resigns

Arvind Panagariya; the first vice-chairman of NITI Aayog announced his resignation from
office on 1st of August 2017.
i. Arvind was considered to be Prime Minister Narendra Modis personal pick for economic reforms.
ii. He said he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to relieve him of his duties
by 31st August as he was not getting an extension of leave from Columbia University.
Lt.Gen. Abhay Krishna new Eastern Command chief
Lt General Abhay Krishna has appointed as the Chief of the Indian Armys Eastern
Command on 1st of August 2017.
i. Krishna succeeds Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi who has retired from service.
ii. He was currently serving as the Head of the Armys Jaipur-based Southwestern Command.
99 | P a g e
SEBI approves appointment of Dhirendra Swarup as BSE chairman

SEBI has approved the appointment of Dhirendra Swarup as the chairman of the board of
directors of the BSE with effect from July 31, 2017
i. Swarup, who was a public interest director at the BSE, had replaced incumbent SudhakarRao.
ii. He was the chairman of the Cash and Debt Management Committee of the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) from 2000 to 2003.
US Senate confirms Christopher Wray to lead FBI

The US Senate has confirmed Christopher Wray to lead the FBI announced on 2nd of August
2017.
i. Christopher had replaced James Comey, who was fired by President Donald Trump.
ii. The Senate voted 92-5 with five Democrats voting against his nomination.
iii. Christopher Wray was also the former high-ranking official in President George W. Bushs Justice
Department who oversaw investigations into corporate fraud.
iv. Wray won complete support from the Senate Judiciary Committee last month.
Sanjay Baru appointed as Secretary General of FICCI

Sanjaya Baru has appointed as the Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers
of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on 2nd of August 2017.
i. Sanjay will assume the charge from 1stSeptember 2017.
ii. He succeeds A Didar Singh, who served as Secretary General for 5 years.
iii. Didar Singh will continue to serve as a strategic advisor to Pankaj Patel, President of the FICCI.
Peter ONeill: Re-Elected Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
Peter ONeill has been reappointed as Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea announced on
2nd of August 2017.
i. Peter ONeill won the parliamentary vote 60 to 46.
ii. The election has been widely criticised because thousands of voters were excluded and there
were blazing abuses of the electoral process.
Hassan Rouhani sworn in as Irans president for a second term

Hassan Rouhani was officially sworn in as the President of Iran for a second term.
i. Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei gave his official approval for Rouhanis
appointment.
100 | P a g e
ii. Rouhani will administer the oath at the Iranian parliament on 5thAugust 2017.
iii. Before that, he has to present his cabinet before the parliament for a vote of confidence.
InCred ropes in Rahul Dravid as brand ambassador

InCred, the Mumbai-based new age financial services group, has signed up Rahul Dravid, as
its Brand Ambassador the former Captain of Indian Cricket Team.
Harmanpreet Kaur appointed as DSP by Punjab Government

The Punjab state government has appointed Harmanpreet Kaur to the post of Deputy
Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the state police.
i. Harmanpreet, the all-rounder cricketer had made 171 runs from 115 balls against
Australia in the semi-finals and steered India into the ICC Womens World Cup 2017 final.
ii. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has directed the state Director General of Police
(DGP)Suresh Arora to complete the necessary formalities for her appointment.
AIFF names Banerjee as chairman of Transfers Dispute Committee

The AIFF has appointed senior advocate Ushanath Banerjee as the chairman of a special
committee. It will deal with the players transfer disputes.
i.The Committee assigned the Chairman to make a detailed and reasoned paperbased on the
review of the rules and regulations for consideration of the members for a decision thereafter.
ii.The AIFF Special Committee met at the AIFF Football House on 3rd August 2017 to deliberate on
the jurisdiction issues relating to the player transfer.
Air Marshal Hemant Narayan Bhagwat appointed as Air Officer-in-charge Administration

of IAF
Air Marshal Hemant Narayan Bhagwat has taken over as Air Officer-in-Charge
Administration of Indian Air Force at Air Headquarters , New Delhi on August 1, 2017.
About Air Marshal Hemant Narayan Bhagwat:
i. Air Marshal HN Bhagwat AVSM VM was commissioned in Administrative branch of the IAF
in June 1981.
ii. After serving for seven years as an Air Traffic control Officer in three different operational bases
of the IAF, he qualified as Parachute Jump Instructor and served in instructional capacity for
fifteen years.
101 | P a g e
Prabhat Kumar as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Kazakhstan

Shri Prabhat Kumar, (IFS 1991), presently Ambassador of India to Colombia has been
appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Kazakhstan announced on 3rd of
August 2017.
Mohammad Mustafa Appointed CMD Of SIDBI

Senior bureaucrat Mohammad Mustafa was appointed as Chairman and Managing Director
in Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) announced on 4th of August 2017.
i.Mustafa is a 1995 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, was working as a Joint Secretary
in Department of Financial Services.
ii.The Appointments Committee of the cabinet has approved his appointment to the post for 3
years.
iii.An order has been issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Donald Trump appoints three Indian-Americans to key govt posts

The Donald Trump has appointed three Indian-Americans to key posts in the government,
confirmed the US Senate.
The three Indian-Americans are Neil Chatterjee, Krishna R. Urs, and Vishal Amin.
i. Neil Chatterjee was confirmed as a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC). Chatterjee is the second Indian American to be appointed by Trump to a major regulatory
position with a controversial mission.
ii. Krishna R. Urs was confirmed as the Ambassador to Peru. Urs took over after James
Costos, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, resigned.
UP CM makes Akshay Kumar the new brand ambassador of Swachh Bharat Mission
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanathdeclared the Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar
become the brand ambassador of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
i. His upcoming film Toilet: Ek Prem Katha deals with building toilets in villages and putting an
end to open defecation in India.
ii. CM Adityanath has also made Akshay Kumars film tax-free in Uttar Pradesh.
Payback announces Gautam Kaushik as new CEO

Payback India has appointed Gautam Kaushik as the new Chief Executive Officer(CEO). He
will spearhead Paybacks India operations.
i. At Payback India, Gautam Kaushiks primary focus would be towards driving engagement through
new touch points and creating transformational customer experiences.
102 | P a g e
ii. He will lead all the critical business areas including Strategic Business Planning and
Development, Partner Management & Acquisitions and Customer Engagement.
President Paul Kagame wins the Rwanda Election by Landslide

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has won a third term in office with a landslide victory in
election held on August 4, 2017.
i. Mr Kagame won 98.66 percent votes while his two little-known rivals barely made a dent.
ii. Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party the only permitted critical opposition party
won 0.45 percent of votes and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana scored 0.72 percent
votes.
Darshan Lal, First Hindu in Pak govt in over two decades

Darshan Lal is the first Hindu escorted into the highest level of Pakistan government in more
than two decades in the predominantly Islamic country.
i. The Pakistan Supreme Court had disqualified former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. So Pakistans
new Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi formed his cabinet on August 4th 2017.
ii. Mr. Lal would head coordination between four Pakistani provinces.
Economist Rajiv Kumar to be the new Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog

Rajiv Kumar has been appointed the new Vice Chairman of the NITI Aayog on 5th of August
2017. He is an economist who has served in a wide variety of roles in government, think-tanks,
international organizations, industry associations and academia.
i. Vinod Paul has been appointed as a member of the NITI Aayog. He is a doctor by
profession. Paul is a paediatrician at AIIMS, and is known to have done substantial work in public
health.
ii. Kumar is a senior fellow at Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and also a chancellor of the
Gokhale Institute of Economics and Politics in Pune.
Aparna appointed as Executive Director of World Bank

Senior bureaucrat S Aparna, presently Principal Secretary to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay
Rupani, has been appointed as an Executive Director in the World Bank in the US.
i. As the Executive Director at World Bank, Ms. Aparna will represent the constituency of India,
Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
ii. Aparna has been appointed in place of S C Garg, who has recently taken over as Secretary,
Department
103 | P a g e
Justice Dipak Misra appointed as 45th Cheif Justice of India

On August 8, 2018, Union Government appointed Justice Dipak Misra as the 45th Chief Justice
of India (CJI) with effect from August 28, 2017. He will be replacing incumbent Justice J S
Khehar, who is set to retire on August 27, 2017
i. Justice Misra will have tenure of about 14 months till October 2, 2018.
ii. It is to be noted that Justice Misra will be the third person from Odisha to be appointed the
Chief Justice of India, after Justices Ranganath Misra and G B Pattanaik.
Indian-American appointed deputy comptroller for minority affairs of Nassau County

Indian-American Dilip Chauhan has been appointed Deputy Comptroller to the minority
affairs in Nassau County announced on 8th August 2017.
i. Chauhan had joined the Comptrollers office in 2015 as Director for Community Affairs,
South and East Asia.
ii. He has served as senior advisor to the Comptroller since early 2017.
Health and wellness startup cure.fi signed Hrithik Roshan as brand Ambassador
Hritik Roshan has been signed as a brand ambassador by a health and wellness
startup Cure.fit announced on 8th of August 2017.
i. The deal is worth Rs 100 crore. The actor will be associated with the brand for five years.
ii. Roshans deal with Cure.fit is the latest among startups signing on celebrities for brand
recall and positioning.
Reenat Sandhu accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of San Marino
ReenatSandhu, (lFS: 1989), presently Ambassador of lndia to ltaly. She has been
concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of lndia to the Republic of San Marino, with
residence in Rome.
Prasoon Joshi appointed as Chairperson of CBFC

Bollywood lyricist-screenwriter and ad guru Prasoon Joshihas replaced PahlajNihalani as
CBFC chairperson on 11th of August 2017.
i.He will be served for a period of 3 years or until further orders, whichever is earlier..
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta re-elected

Kenyas President President Uhuru Kenyatta has won a second and final five-yearterm as
president.
i.Kenyatta, who has been in office since 2013, took 54.3% of the vote, and opposition leader
RailaOdinga took 44.7%.
104 | P a g e
ii.According to election commission figures nearly 80% of the 19 million registered voters cast their
ballots.
Gaitri Issar Kumar accredited as the Ambassador of India to the Grand Duchy
Luxembourg
GaitriIssar Kumar an IFS: 1986 presently Ambassador of India to Belgium. She has been
concurrently accredited as the Ambassador of India to the Grand Duchy Luxembourg, with
residence in Brussels.She is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
Jet Airways appoints Vinay Dube as CEO

Vinay Dube has joined as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jet Airways. Jet Airways has been
without a full-time CEO since Cramer Ball quit in February 2016.
i.Since the exit of Ball last year, there have been two acting CEOs Gaurang Shetty and Amit
Agarwal.
ii.Vinay Dube is an Indian American. His appointment was approved by the Jet Airways board of
directors on May 30, 2017.
David Rasquinha appointed as Exim Bank MD

David Rasquinha has been appointed as Managing Director of Export-
Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) on August 11, 2017.
i.Rasquinha is at present Deputy Managing Director of the Exim Bank.
ii.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his appointment to the post for three
years.
Dilip Asbe appointed as the acting chief executive of NPCI, after A.P. Hota retires
National Payments Corporation of India has appointed Dilip Asbe, as its Chief Executive
Officer in the wake of the retirement of A. P. Hota, its founding Managing Director.
i.Mr. Hota, who had served as the MD of NPCI since its inception, retired on August 10, 2017.
ii.Asbe who currently serves as the organisations Chief Operating Officer will continue in the same
designation, but will also act as the Chief Executive Officer of NPCI.
Lalit Modi resigns from Rajasthan Cricket Association

Lalit Modi has resigned as the president of the Nagaur District Association on 12thof August
2017. He was severing his ties with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA).
105 | P a g e
i.BCCI had banned Rajasthan Cricket Association due to MrModis presence.

ii.The former IPL chief faces allegations of money laundering and in exile.
Milkha Singh Appointed WHO Goodwill Ambassador

Former Indian track and field sprinter Milkha Singh has been appointed as the World Health
Organisations goodwill ambassador for physical activity in South-East Asia Region
(SEAR).
VidyaBalan, Gautami in reconstituted CBFC board

National Award winning actressVidyaBalan and Gautamihas appointed as part of the
reconstituted Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on 11th of August 2017.The CBFC has
been reconstituted for a period of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Earthport appoints Sandeep Gupta as new India Head

Earthport has appointed Sandeep Gupta as its head of India on 10th of August 2017.
i.Earthport is a company which runs a network for cross-border payments.
ii.Gupta will be responsible for leading the expansion of the business in the primary
markets of India and Sri Lanka.
iii.He has an experience of 20 years in the payments and banking industry.
RajyaSabha TV CEO Gurdeep Singh Sappal resigns

Gurdeep Singh Sappal has resigned as Rajya Sabha TV CEO and Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi
Shekhar Vempati has been given the additional charge of the channel.
i.Rajya Sabha TV is owned and operated by the upper house of Parliament and the vice
president is its chairman.
ii.As Chairman of the RajyaSabha, the Vice-Presidents office also heads RSTV..
Santosh Sharma was appointed as Chairman and Managing Director of HindustanCopper

Limited (HCL)
i.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment to the post for
a period of five years, an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
ii.Emandi Sankara Rao has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive
Officer of IFCI Ltd.
Sankara Rao to be IFCI Chief Executive Officer

Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) Ltd, a government company has appointed a
new Managing Director & CEO in E Sankara Rao announced on 14thAugust 2017.
i.Raos appointment will be valid for three years.
106 | P a g e
ii.Rao is also currently a director and chief executive officer at IIFCL Asset Management
Company Ltd.
I.V. SubbaRao appointed as Secretary to Vice President

Retired IAS officer I V SubbaRao was appointed secretary to Vice President M Venkaiah
Naidu.
i.Rao, a 1979 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, retired from service as special chief
secretary last year.
ii.He held several important posts in Andhra Pradesh and later served the UNESCO.
P.B.Balaji appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Tata motors

Tata Motors has announced the appointment of P B Balaji as the new Chief Financial
Officer on 13th of August 2017.
i.Balaji is a global finance professional with over two decades of experience in the corporate sector.
ii.He has been appointed to drive financial performance and investment decisions across the
different entities.
Sohail Mahmood took charge as Pakistans new High Commissioner to India

Sohail Mahmood Pakistans High Commissioner to India took charge at the High Commission
on 16th of August 2017.
i.Sohail Mahmood, a career diplomat, joined Pakistans Foreign Service in 1985.
ii.He has served in various missions abroad, including Washington, New York and Ankara.
GM India appoints Sanjiv Gupta as president, MD

General Motors (GM) India has announced the appointment of Sanjiv Gupta as the
new President and Managing Director of the company.
i.The current President and Managing Director Kaher Kazem will hand over the reins of the
company to Sanjiv Gupta, who is Chief Financial Officer, effective September 1, 2017.
ii.Kazem has been appointed as the President and CEO of GM Korea.
Vishal Sikka resigns as MD & CEO of Infosys;U B PravinRao takes over as Interim
Vishal Sikka has resigned from his post as Managing Director and CEO of Infosys on 18th of August
2017.
i.His resignation was accepted during a board meeting on 18th August.
ii.U B PravinRao has been appointed as the interim MD and CEO of the company.
iii.U B Pravin Rao, is currently the chairperson of Infosys BPO and have an experience of 30 years.
107 | P a g e
Neymar named goodwill ambassador for Handicap International

Neymar,his first win with Paris St. Germain and his world-record signing for the club became a
goodwill ambassador for Handicap International on 15th of August 2017.
i.He pledged to work for millions who are less visible but deserve equality.
ii.NeymarJr from Brazil is the worlds most expensive footballer.
Dr. (Ms.) Mamta Suri takes charge as Executive Director, Insolvency and Bankruptcy
Board of India (IBBI)
On August 16, 2017 Dr. (Ms.) Mamta Suri took charge as Executive Director, Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) in New Delhi.
i.Dr. Suri was serving as Chief General Manager, Insurance Regulatory Development Authority
of India.
ii.Dr. Suri got Ph.D. in Finance from University of Delhi and M.Sc., Insurance Risk and Management
from City University, London.
Vladimir Putin appoints Nikolay Kudashev as Russias New Envoy to India

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed career diplomat Nikolay
Kudashev as Russias new ambassador to India announced on 19th August 2017.
i.Kudashev, a specialist in South East Asia, is currently the Deputy Director General Secretariat of
the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Russia.
ii.Kudashev was the Russian Ambassador to Micronesia and the Marshall Islands in 2014-2015.
Sri Lanka appoints Travis Sinniah, First Tamil Navy chief after four decades
Rear Admiral Travis Sinniah was appointed as the chief of Sri Lankas naval forces.Sinniah is
the first from the Tamil community to head the Navy since the outbreak of the civil war in the north
and east of the island in 1972.
i.Rear Admiral Travis Sinniah, who has served Sri Lanka Navy for many decades, took office
as the Navy Commander.
ii.His services will be effective from 22nd August and Sinniah succeeds Vice Admiral Ravi
Wijegunaratne who has retired.
KarurVysya Bank appoints P R Seshadri as MD and CEO

The Reserve Bank of India has accorded their approval for the appointment of Shri P R
Seshadri as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the Karur Vysya Bank (KVB).
i.He replaced K Venkataraman.
ii.He is appointed for the period of three years.
108 | P a g e
OPS sworn in as Tamil Nadu Deputy CM

On August 21,2017 Senior AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam was sworn in as the deputy chief
minister of Tamilnadu .
i.He has taken an oath by Governor Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan.
ii.The two factions of the AIADMK merged, six months after they split following the death of then
Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
Ashwani Lohani appointed new Chairman of Railway Board

Ashwani Lohani was appointed as the new Chairman of Railway Board after Ashok Mittal
tendered his resignation following recent train accidents on 23rd of Aug 2017.
i.Lohani who holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, currently is the Chairman & Managing
Director of Air India.
ii.Lohani belongs to the Indian Railways Service of Mechanical Engineers of the 1980 batch.
Nandan Nilekani appointed Chairman of Infosys board

Nandan Nilekani co-founder of Indias second-largest software services
exporterhas appointed as non-executive chairman of the board.
i.R. Seshasayee, chairman of the board, along with former CEO and managing director Vishal
Sikka, Jeffrey Lehman and John Etchemendy had stepped down from the board.
ii.Nandan Nilekani has done electrical engineer from IIT Bombay.
Rajiv Bansal appointed as Air India chief

The government has appointed senior IAS officer Rajiv Bansal as the Chairman and Managing
Director of Air India on 23rd of August 2017.
i.He will serve for three months. He is additional secretary and financial adviser of the petroleum
ministry.
ii.He will replace Ashwani Lohani who has been appointed as the Chairman of Railway Board.
Ajay Vipin Nanavati appointed chairman of Syndicate Bank

i.Ajay Vipin Nanavati was appointed as the chairman of Syndicate Bank on August 21, 2017.
ii.His appointment has approved as Non-Official Director/Non-Executive Chairman in Syndicate
Bank for three years according to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training.
Nachiket Mor re-appointed to RBIs central board for 4 years

On August 24 2017 Nachiket Madhusudan Mor, country director of Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation was re-appointed as a member of the Eastern local board of the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI).
i.According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), he was also
109 | P a g e
nominated for a director of the central board of directors of RBI.

ii.His appointment will be a period of four years and it is effective from 24 August, 2017.
Dharmendra Kumar appointed Director General of RPF

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Additional Director General (ADG) Dharmendra
Kumar who is a 1984 batch IPS officer of Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories
(AGMUT) cadre has been appointed as Director General of the Railway Protection Force(RPF).
i.In previous Dharmendra Kumar was serving as Special Commissioner (Special Unit) in the Delhi
Police.
Tata Sons appoints Banmali Agrawala as president, infrastructure, defence and

aerospace
Banmali Agrawala, an experienced in power and energy industry will be joining Tata Sons from
1st October as President, Infrastructure, Defence and Aerospace.
i.He served as a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director Strategy and
Business Development of Tata Power from 2008 to 2011.
ii.He was also nominated to the board of other Tata Group Companies and joint ventures.
Tata Sons names Roopa Purushothaman as Chief Economist & Head of Policy Advocacy
Tata Sons has appointed Roopa Purushothaman as Chief Economist and Head of Policy
Advocacy who will join the group with effect from 1st Sep 2017.
i.Purushothaman joins Tata Sons from Everstone Capital, where she was leading the research
function.
ii.In her role, Purushothaman will drive macro-economic research and all policy and advocacy
initiatives as relevant to the businesses of the Tata group.
Dipak Misra sworn in as 45th Chief Justice of India

Justice Dipak Misra has sworn 45th Chief Justice of India at a brief ceremony in the Darbar
Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan. He will succeed Chief Justice JS Khehar.
i.Chief Justice Misra will hold office for the next 13 months, till 2nd October 2018.
ii.His oath was administered by President Ram Nath Kovind on 28th of Aug 2017.
110 | P a g e
Mohammad Mustafa took charge as Chairman and Managing Director of SIDBI

Small Industries development Bank of India (Sidbi) has appointed Mohammad Mustafa as
the chairman and managing director announced on 28th of Aug 2017.
i.Mustafa, a 1995 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, is at present Joint Secretary in
Department of Financial Services.
ii.The Appointments Committee of the cabinet has approved his appointment to the post for three
years.
BSE board approves another 5-year term for Ashish Chauhan as CEO
BSE, a top stock exchanges board has approved another five-year term for its chief Ashish
Chauhan.
i.Ashish Chauhan was joined in BSE as deputy chief executive officer (CEO) in 2009.He became MD
and CEO for a period of five years with effect from November 2, 2012.
ii.The board approved re-appointment of Ashishkumar Chauhan as BSEs Managing Director and
CEO for an another period of five years from November 2, 2017, to November 1, 2022.
Dara Khosrowshahi is Ubers new CEO

Dara Khosrowshahi has accepted the position of Uber CEO after he was selected by the
companys board announced on 29th Aug 2017.
i.Uber Technologies has finally announced the appointment of Dara Khosrowshahi as its
new chief executive officer.
ii.He has selected after Travis Kalanick resigned from the position of chief executive.
Dr. R.K. Raghavan appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to Cyprus
Dr. R.K. Raghavan has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the
Republic of Cyprus announced on 30th Aug 2017.
i.He served as a former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director from January 4,
1999 to April 30, 2001.
ii.He is an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1963 batch.
PV Sindhu to be brand ambassador for Bridgestone India

Tyre major Bridgestone India has announced badminton player and Olympic silver
medallist P V Sindhu as itsfirst brand ambassador announced on 30th Aug 2017.
i.She will be a part of three year agreement. Sindhu will be included in Bridgestones activations
around its Worldwide Olympic Partnership.
111 | P a g e
ii.Bridgestone India is a subsidiary of the worlds largest tyre and Rubber Company and also a
Worldwide Olympic Partner.
Rajiv Gauba appointed as Union Home Secretary

Rajiv Gauba has appointed as Union Home Secretary for fixed two year tenure announced
on 31st Aug 2017.
i.Gauba replaced Rajiv Mehrishi. He is a 1982-batch IAS officer of the Jharkhand cadre.
ii.Gauba would be dealing with issues like internal security, militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and
the Northeast, Maoist problems in the central and east India besides other issues.
Indian Hotels appoints Puneet Chhatwal as MD and CEO

Tata group hospitality firm Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) has appointed Puneet
Chhatwal as its Managing Director and CEO announced on 29th Aug 2017.
i.Chhatwal is currently Chief Executive and Member of Executive Board of Duetsche
Hospitality/Steinberger Hotels AG.
ii.He will take over from Rakesh Sarna , who is stepping down on 30th Sep 2017.
ACQUISTIONS & MERGERS

Facebook acquires AI startup to make Messenger smarter
To build out a more elaborate personal assistant for the Messenger users, Facebook has acquired
an artificial intelligence (AI) startup Ozlo that specialises in understanding text-based
conversations. However, there are no details so far about the financial terms of the deal.
NCLT approves Airtel-Telenor merger

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved the proposed merger between Bharti
Airtel and Telenor India announced on 3rd of August 2017.
i. Airtel would take over its spectrum in all seven circles Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,
Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP (East), UP (West) and Assam.
ii. It would also acquire its licences and operations, including its employees and customer base of
44 million.
Infosys to buy Londons Brilliant Basics for Rs 63 crore

Software services firm Infosys would acquire London-based firm Brilliant Basics for Rs 62.76
crore (7.5 million).
i. The acquisition of the firm that specializes in customer experience and product design and it
would also help in expanding design-based technology services in Europe and West Asia.
112 | P a g e
ii. The acquisition cost included earn-out and employee retention amounts.
iii. The process is likely to be concluded by the end of the July-September quarter.
Netflix buys comic book publisher Millarworld in companys first ever acquistion
Online entertainment platform Netflix has announced that it has acquired Millarworld, a comic
book company.
i. The two companies will bring Millarworlds portfolio of character franchises to life through films,
series and childrens shows available exclusively to Netflix members.
ii. Netflix is the leading platform globally with 104 million members in over 190 countries.
iii. It offers over 125 million hours of TV shows and movies per day, including original
Hike messenger acquires Bengaluru-based tech start-up Creo

Indian messaging app Hike has acquired a Bangalore-based startup Creo. It is known
for releasing smartphones, media streaming dongles, and an operating system.
i.The Creo team will begin work on a developer platform to enable 3rd party developers to build
services on the Hike platform.
ii.Creo was founded by Sai Srinivas Kiran G, and Shubham Malhotra in 2013, former Hike
employees.
iii.Creo was earlier known as Mango Man Consumer Electronics.
RComs merger with Aircel gets NCLT nod

The National Company Law Tribunal has approved the merger of Reliance
Communications (RCom) and Aircel announced on 15th August 2017.
i.The merger will create a more competitive telecom company.
ii.RCom will merge into Aircel and a new entity will be created called Aircom, with both partners
having 50% equity stakes.
Microsoft acquires Cycle computing to accelerate users movement to cloud

Microsoft has announced the acquisition of Cycle Computing on 21st of August 2017. It
will help it easier for Azure customers to use High Performance Computing (HPC) and other
Big Computing capabilities in the cloud and help them accelerate their movement to the cloud.
i.Cycle Computing makes optimizing Hybrid HPC workloads easier and the process of
bursting or migrating HPC clusters to the cloud more productive.
ii.It offers tools that help companies orchestrate and manage large scale compute jobs across
hybrid environments.
113 | P a g e
ONGC board approves HPCL takeover of 51.11% stake

The Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) has given in-principle approval to acquire
governments 51.11% stake in Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd.
i.The board constituted a committee of directors to examine various aspects of the
acquisition and to provide its recommendations to the board of directors.
ii.HPCL is likely to take over Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) to bring all the
refining assets of ONGC under one unit.
Essar Oil completes sale of India assets to Rosneft-led consortium for $12.9 bn
i.The Ruias-run Essar Oil announced the completion of sale of its India assets to the Russian
government controlled Rosneft-led consortium for $12.9 billion.
ii.The deal comes more than 10 months after it was announced on October 15 last year on the
sidelines of the BRICS summit in Goa. The transaction got delayed after the lenders wanted their
debt worth over Rs. 45,000 crore to be cleared.
HCL Tech completes acquisition of UFS

HCL Technologies has completed the acquisition of Urban Fulfilment Services, LLC on
25th Aug 2017.
i.The acquisition has been completed with effect from August 24, 2017.
ii.It will be acquiring 100% stake in UFS, and that the total cash consideration for this transaction
is up to USD 30 million.
Airtel ties up with Symantec for cyber security solutions

Indias mobile operator Bharati Airtel tied up with US cyber security firm Symantec to provide cyber
security solutions in India.
Issue:
i. Recent wannacry and petraware ransom attacks poses a threat to Indias cyber security.
ii. It has been identified that the Petya ransomware targeted Indias largest container port, the
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.
iii. Ransomware WannaCry had crippled systems worldwide and affected around around 99
countries, including India.
How this ties will serve as quick fix ??
i. Through the partnership with Symantec, Airtel will help its enterprise customers to secure their
systems.
ii. As Indian enterprises handle cloud applications , they require security technologies built for this
new cloud-based environment.
114 | P a g e
MoUs
Recent Approvals by Central government August 3 2017
On August 2, 2017, Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved following
bilateral agreements and initiatives:
i. Cabinet apprised of MOU between India and Spain on India-Spain cooperation in renewable
energy
ii. Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
signed among India and various BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China & South Africa) for
establishment of the BRICS Agriculture Research Platform (BRICS-ARP).
India Somali signed an agreement on transfer of sentenced persons

India and Somalia has signed an agreement on1st of August 2017. The agreement has been
signed for transfer of sentenced persons.
i. The agreement was signed between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Foreign
Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia Yusuf Garaad Omar.
ii. It will deepen the humanitarian cooperation between the two nations.
iii. The Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia Yusuf-Garaad Omar arrived in
New Delhi on 31 July 2017 on a five-day visit.
Delhi police ties up with Uber to enhance women safety

The Delhi Police has tied up with Uber for enhancing the women safety. Commuters can now
access the Delhi Polices women safety mobile application Himmat via cab aggregator
Ubers application while travelling in taxis.
i. Through this technology it enables a robust surveillance network and Himmat app
provides quick assistance to women in distress.
ii. Since its launch in January 2015, according to the current data around 90,000 people have
downloaded the Himmat application and it currently has over 31,000 registered users.
MCX, Mahindra Agri sign MoU for agriculture related price information
Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX) and Mahindra Agri Solutions Ltdhave
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide agriculture related price
information.
i. This information would be available on their recently launched mobile application
115 | P a g e
MyAgriGuru which is available for free on Google play store.

ii. MahindraAgri Solutions Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra.
iii. This MoU would enhance the decision-making ability of the farmers.
iv .This partnership also strengthens the vision of the two leading organizations to empower
farmers by offering knowledge based solutions.
ISRO and CSIR-NPL sign MoU for time and frequency traceability services
On 4th August 2017,A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the ISRO
Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO),
Department of Space and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Physical
Laboratory (NPL), Ministry of Science and Technology, in New Delhi.
i. The MoU provides for time and frequency traceability services to ISRO by CSIR-NPL.
ii. V. V. Srinivasan, Director, ISTRAC on behalf of ISRO and Dr D K Aswal Director, NPL, on behalf
of CSIR was signed The MoU.
Tata Memorial ties up with IDA for prevention of oral cancer

On August 3rd 2017, Tata Memorial Centre has joined with the Indian Dental Association (IDA) to
initiate Indias first digital initiative for prevention and early detection of oral cancer.
Tata Memorial Centre and The Indian Dental Association (IDA) have launched a special course
on Oral Cancer on July 27 the World Head and Neck Cancer Day to create awareness and
early detection of oral cancer.
Amazon India and Telengana Handloom dept ink pact

Amazon India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)with the Telangana
Department of Handloom and Textiles on 8th of August 2017.
i. The MoU is signed to educate, train and enable weavers and artisans to directly sell their
products to Amazon customers across the country.
ii. This association will help to elevate popular handloom products from clusters such as are
Pochampally, Warangal, Gadwal, Narayanpet and Siddipet which have a tremendous potential and
demand in urban areas.
iii. Its aim is to transform the lives of weavers and artisans and raise their standard of living.
SEBI Ties Up With Iran Counterpart For Technical Assistance

Markets regulator SEBI has entered into a pact with its counterpart in Iran on 10th of August
2017.
i .The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Securities & Exchange
116 | P a g e
Organization (SEO) of Iran have entered into a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) for mutual cooperation and technical assistance.
ii. The MoU was signed by SEBI chief Ajay Tyagi & SEO Iran chairman Shapour
Mohammadi
iii. The pact will promote technical assistance and facilitate cross-border co-operation in
the area of securities regulations.
Cabinet approves MoU between India & Nepal on Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention
of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance
The Union Cabinet has approved for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between
India and Nepal on Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substancesand precursor chemicals and related matters.
i.It indicates the mechanism of information exchange and the competent authorities in the two
countries who are responsible for the implementation of the MoU and exchange of any information.
ii.Cooperation on drug matters is expected to curb the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs, psychotropic
substances and precursor chemicals in the two countries.
iii.It helps to cooperate in drug demand reduction through prevention, awareness, education and
community based programmes, treatment and rehabilitation.
MoU by the Election Commission of India with the Election Management Bodies of other
countries
Today cabinet approved the proposal of the Election Commission of India(ECI) to enter
into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of electoral management
and administration with the Election Management Bodies of other countries/International Agencies.
This includes countries like Ecuador, Albania, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Guinea, Myanmarand
The India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) and
the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
MoU with Myanmar for the Conservation of Earthquake-Damaged Pagodas at Bag

Cabinet approves MoU with Myanmar for the Conservation of Earthquake-Damaged Pagodas
at Bagan. Implementation of this project will strengthen Indias ties in culture and religion with
Myanmar. This project has religious significance as well as the touristic significance. It will
be an opportunity to showcase Indias expertise in the restoration and conservation of monuments
not only to the people of Myanmar but also to the tourists from other countries.
MoU on India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund

Cabinet approves MoU on India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation
117 | P a g e
Fund. India and Israel will make a contribution of four million US Dollars each for the Fund,
annually for five years. The Innovation Fund will be governed by a joint Board which will consist of
four members from each country. The MOU focuses on Industrial R&D and Innovation technologies
in the fields of water, agriculture, energy and digital technologies. It will promote
entrepreneurship and it will contribute directly to start up India programme.
MoU between India and Brazil for cooperation in the fields of Zebu Cattle Genomics
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Brazil for cooperation in the fields of Zebu Cattle
Genomics and Assisted Reproductive Technologies in cattle. An implementation committee
shall be created with an equal number of representatives of each party for determining the
activities and developing work plans and for their evaluation. It will broaden our existing knowledge
base on sustainable dairy development and institutional strengthening.
SCHEMES
Cabinet approves New Central Sector Scheme Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana
The Cabinet Committee has approved the renaming of the new Central Sector Scheme
SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing
Clusters) as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) for the period of 2016-20
coterminous with the 14th Finance Commission cycle.
The new Central Sector Scheme SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and
Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) has approved with same allocation and period in
May 2017.
Purpose of PMKSY
The Main purpose of PMKSY is to supplement agriculture, modernize processing and decrease Agri-
Waste.
Odisha launched special Programme to prevent spread of malaria

Odisha Government will soon launch Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran (DAMAN), a
special programme to prevent the spread of malaria in remote areas of Ganjam district.
The health officials have identified over 135 remote villages under the jurisdiction of five
community health centres as malaria prone areas.
The community health centres that have been identified are Patrapur, Adapada,
Badagada, Dharakote and Gallery.
Under this programme, camps will be held in these remote areas for mass test for
malaria. As many as 103 camps will be held in the next three months. Around 15,000
people would be covered under the programme
118 | P a g e
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launches Namo Yuva Rojgar Kendra
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis has launched Namo Yuva Rojgar
Kendra on 14 August 2017.
i.Namo Yuva Rojgar Kendra is an initiative on the part of the state government to provide
job opportunities to the unemployed youth in Mumbai.
ii.Under the programme, there will be various schemes including farmers weekly market, farmers
mobile market and mothers tiffin.
iii.Under this Yuva Rojgar Kendra, Mumbaikars can get fresh and healthy food, as well as
farm, produce procured directly from farmers.
COMMITTEE
Justice B.N Srikrishna headed committee to study issues related to data protection
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has appointed an
expert panel committee that would study various issues relating to data protection in the
country and will suggest a draft data protection Bill.
i. It is a 10 member panel and it is headed by Supreme court Judge (retired) Justice B N
Srikrishna.
ii. The panel includes the members from government, academia and industry will study and identify
key data protection issues and recommend methods to address them.
iii. The committee will design a broader framework which will cover all other kinds of data
and ensure that the deliberations on the issue start as soon as possible.
iv. The panel includes the following members:
(a)Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Raipur, is a key member in the panel.
(b)Ajay Bhushan Pandey is CEO of Unique Identification Authority of India, (UIDAI). UIDAI is the
nodal agency for implementing Aadhaar.
(c)Aruna Sundararajan is Secretary, Department of Telecom.
(d)Rama Vedashree is CEO of Data Security Council of India.
(e)Arghya Sengupta is Research Director of Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.
(f)Rajat Moona, Director of IIT Raipur.
(g)Ajay Kumar, Additional Secretary, IT Ministry.
(h)Gulshan Rai, National Cyber Security Coordinator.
119 | P a g e
Recommendations of Justice Srikrishna committee to review the Institutionalization of

Arbitration Mechanism
A high level committee headed by former Supreme Court Judge Justice B N Srikrishna set up to
review the Institutionalization of Arbitration Mechanism, has submitted its recommendations
to Union Law ministry.
i. The Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, on January 13, 2017
constituted a ten Member, High Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Retired Judge,
Supreme Court of India, Justice B. N. Srikrishna.
ii. Other members of the committee included Justice R.V.Raveendran Retired Judge of Supreme
Court of India, Justice S. Ravindra Bhat Judge at High Court of Delhi, K.K.Venugopal Sr.
Advocate and presently Attorney General for India, P.S.Narasimha Additional Solicitor General of
India, Ms. Indu Malhotra Senior Advocate at Supreme Court of India, Arghya Sengupta
Research Director at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, Arun Chawla Deputy Secretary General of
FICCI and Vikkas Mohan Senior Director of CII.
Parliamentary panel under Renuka Chowdhury suggested GM crops only after biosafety,
socio-economic evaluation
On 25th Aug 2017 according to the Parliamentary panel no Genetically Modified (GM)crop
should be introduced in India unless the bio safety and socio- economic appeal is evaluated in a
transparent process and an accountability regime is put in place. It was announced.
i.The report of the committee, chaired by Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury was presented to
the Rajya Sabha chairman.
ii.This observations come after Indias GM crop regulator Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
(GEAC) recently recommended the commercial use of genetically modified mustard in a submission
to the environment ministry.
iii.The committee has also recommended the environment ministry should examine the impact of
GM crops with all stakeholders to clear about all its probable effects before taking a call on the
matter.
RBI panel under Tarun Ramadorai seeks rights-based data privacy in household finance
As per RBI panel there is a need to adopt a rights- based privacy framework in household
finance announced on 25th Aug 2017.
i.The committee was headed by Tarun Ramadorai, a professor in financial economics at
Imperial College London, and had representatives from all financial regulators.
ii.RBI suggests adoption of a rights-based privacy framework in contrast with the more common
consent-based privacy framework.
120 | P a g e
iii.The panel was set up following discussions in a sub- committee of Financial Stability and
Development Council on 26th April 2016.
iv.The new privacy framework should view the creation of a Data Commissioner who will
be responsible for redress of grievances as well as for establishment of standards of
accountability and transparency.
Parliamentary panel headed by B C Khanduri recommends 100% pension to widow of

deceased soldiers
A Parliamentary Panel has suggested that 100 per cent pension should be given to the widow of the
deceased soldier. Standing Committee on Defence headed by Maj. General (Retired) B C Khanduri
tabled its report in Parliament. The report said after the death of a soldier, the pension of the
spouse comes down to 60 per cent of his pension.
i.The committee also recommended that liberalized and special family pensions to be exempted
from income tax for the widows of war like counter insurgency situations or on the line of control as
is being given to disabled soldiers.
Dr. V. Kamakoti, headed Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Indias Economic
Transformation
Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has constituted a Task Force on
Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Indias Economic Transformation.
i.The task force will have the Chairperson Dr. V. Kamakoti, IIT Madras.
ii.The panel will comprise of experts, academics, researchers and industry leadersand will
explore possibilities to leverage AI for development across various fields.
iv.As per the Nirmala Sitharaman driven by the power of big data, high computing capacity,
artificial intelligence and analytics Industry 4.0 aims is to digitise the manufacturing sector.
v.Official participation from the following organizations shall also be requested:
(a) NITI Aayog. (b) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. (c) Department of Science
& Technology. (d) UIDAI(e) DRDO
K Rajeswara Rao headed Panel on National Mineral Policy to submit report by Oct-end
The National Mineral Policy, 2008 should be reviewed is mandatory and the panel suggest a new
framework will submit its report by October-end.
i.The order from Supreme Court in its judgement dated August 2, 2017 directed Union of India to
revisit the National Mineral Policy 2008 and announce a fresh, more effective, meaningful and
implementable policy before December 31, 2017.
ii.It has been decided to set up a committee to review the National Mineral Policy, 2008, and for
121 | P a g e
submission of a report for a new National Mineral Policy.

iii.The 29-member panel has headed by Mines Additional Secretary K Rajeswara Rao. It
consisting of joint secretaries from ministries like coal, steel, shipping, road, transport and
highways and finance as its members.
SEBI forms committee headed by T K Viswanathan on fair market conduct

SEBI has set up a committee on fair market conduct on 2nd of August 2017. It will suggest
measures for improving surveillance of the markets and strengthen rules for algo trades,
among other norms.
i. The panel is headed by former law secretary T K Viswanathan.
ii. The committee will suggest short term and medium term measures for improved
surveillance of the markets.
iii. It would suggest measures for improvement in PIT (Prohibition of Insider Trading)
norms, PFTUP (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices) regulations
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Curcumin: Chemical from turmeric treats cancer in children
Scientists in the U.S. have found a method to use curcumin, the bioactive component of
turmeric, to treat cancer in children.
i. Researchers at Nemours Childrens Hospital and the University of Central Florida
(UCF) have found that nanoparticles loaded with curcumin can target and destroy neuroblastoma
tumour cells. Children aged five or less are most commonly affected.
ii. In their study, the researchers attached curcumin to cerium oxide nanoparticlesand
tested the nano-curcumin formulation in cell lines of a high-risk form of neuroblastoma.
Government launches e-RaKAM portal

The Union Government has launched a portal, e-Rashtriya Kisan Agri Mandi(e-RaKAM) on 1st of
August 2017.
i. e-RaKAM will provide a platform to sell agricultural produce and strengthen the agriculture-
oriented Indian economy.
ii. It is a digital initiative that aims to bring together the PSUs, civil supplies, farmers and
buyers on a single platform so that the selling and buying process of agricultural products
become smooth.
iii. The e-RaKAM is a first-of-its-kind initiativethat leverages technology to connect farmers
122 | P a g e
of the smallest villages to the biggest markets of the world through internet and e-
RaKAMcentres.
Humraaz app: Indian Army developed for soldiers to track their details
The Indian Army has developed a mobile application app Humraazthrough which
serving soldiers can track their details like postings and promotions.
i. Through the Humraaz app, soldiers can also view their monthly salary slips and the
Form 16 and also download them.
ii. For security reasons, the installation of the application has been linked to verification of
Aadhaar details.
Uber introduces two new features In-app chat and multi destination
Uber has announced a two new features namely In-app chat and multi-
destination option in India announced on 28th Aug 2017.
i.The in-app chat feature aims to help riders and driver partners get in touch with one
another to detect their exact location through chats inside the app.
ii.The chat feature will enable to coordinate faster pickup, since users dont have to switch
between apps to make calls.
iii.Both riders and driver partners will see if their chats are delivered and read.
iv.This feature also allows various language options for both riders and drivers.
Human embryos edited to stop disease

An international team of scientists have discovered a way to successfully freed embryos of a
piece of faulty DNA that causes deadly heart disease in families.
i. The discovery published online on 3rd of August 2017 in the journal Nature potentially opens the
door to prevent 10000 disorders that are passed down the generations.
ii. It includes the idea of wiping out genetic faults that cause diseases from cystic fibrosis to breast
cancer.
iii. The process CRISPR was completed without introducing any harmful mutations, which was a
problem in previous attempts.
iv. CRISPR is a gene-editing technique which allows scientists to insert, remove and
correct DNA within a cell with pinpoint precision.
IRCTC launches ePayLater: Enables book now and pay later option
Railways have launched to provide the buy tickets now and pay later service for any Express
trains announced on 3rd of August 2017.
123 | P a g e
i.IRCTC has collaborated with a Mumbai-based firm ePayLater for adding the new service
option.
ii.According to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Ltd soon passengers
would be able to buy tickets from the IRCTC website and pay later.
iii.Through this service a passenger can book a ticket five days prior to the journey with a
service charge of 3.5% and pay it in the next 14 days.
iv.Those who want to opt for this service have to give their name, email ID, mobile number,
their PAN card or Aadhaar details.
MahaDBT, MahaVASTU: Two online portals launched by Maharashtra Government

Maharashtra Government has launched two online portals MahaDBT and MahaVASTU to ease
the process of direct benefit transfer (DBT).
i.It is the first state in the country to launch such a system that will provide direct
benefits with Aadhaar authentication.
ii.MahaVASTU portal: It is an online building permission management system,through
which construction approvals will be sanctioned with full transparency.
iii.MahaDBT portal: It is an Aadhaar-authenticated electronic mechanism that will enable
direct transfer of benefits for over 40 schemes currently implemented.
Venus:Satellite launched by Israel to monitor climate change and vegetation

Two satellites have been launched by Israel that is one dedicated to monitoring the effects of
climate change on vegetation were successfully launched into orbit.
i.The satellites were launched from Korou, in French Guiana, at 10:56 PM (local time) on
3th of August 2017.
ii.The Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New Micro Satellite or Venus is a joint effort
between Israels space agency and Frances National Centre for Space Studies (CNES).
NASAs Curiosity rover marks 5 years of mars exploration

NASAs Curiosity rover which found evidence that ancient Mars had the fair conditions to
support microbial life has marked five years of exploring the red planet.
i. The rover that landed at the Gale Crater- an ancient lake is now examining clues on Mount
Sharp.
ii. The Mountain found in the middle of the crater about long ago lakes on Mars.
124 | P a g e
iii. On August 5th2012, the mission team at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in
Pasadena, California, elevated at radio confirmation and first images from Curiosity after the
rovers touchdown using a new sky crane landing method.
iv. The transmissions at the speed of light took nearly 14 minutes to travel from Mars to
Earth, which that day were about 248 million kilometres apart.
IIT Delhi team develops a new antibacterial drug-delivery system

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi have tested a new antibiotic
drug-delivery system that improves the efficacy of drugs thereby reducing the dosage used for
treating bacterial infections.
i. A peptide called sushi-peptide, which has not been approved for clinical use, bound to gold
nanoparticles was able to kill coli and Salmonella typhi more efficiently at lower dosages.
ii. The peptide in a free form may not be available as it gets degraded relatively fast.
IISc researchers developed low-cost sensitive carbon monoxide sensor

Indian Institute of Science (IISc)researchers from Bengaluru have developed a highly
sensitive, low cost nanometre-scale carbon monoxide (CO) sensor with possible applications
in environmental pollution monitoring.
i. The sensor was developed using novel fabrication technique. It also does not involve costly and
time consuming lithography technology.
ii. The nanometer-sized sensor was made using zinc-oxide (ZnO) nanostructure on a
silicon wafer substrate. Tiny polystyrene beads were also used on the wafer.
iii. These beads were first added on the oxidised silicon wafer arrange themselves into and called a
hexagonal close-packed structure.
NASAs Hubble detects Exoplanet with glowing water atmosphere

NASAs Hubble Space Telescope has discovered the strongest evidence for a stratosphere on
an enormous planet outside our solar system, WASP-121b.
i. The discovery shows that a common trait of most of the atmospheres in solar system, which is a
warm stratosphere, can also be found in the atmospheres of exoplanets WASP-121b with
NASAs Hubble Space Telescope.
ii. The program has been awarded 800 hours to study and compare 20 different exoplanets,
representing one of the largest time allocations for a single program in the entire 27 year history
of Hubble.
125 | P a g e
Google Launches Android 8.0 names Oreo

On August 21, 2017 Google has announced the final version of Android 8.0, now known to be called
Oreo.
Scientists discover new therapy to prevent sepsis in new born babies

A team of Scientists from USA has discovered an inexpensive prevention technique against
Sepsis in new born babies. The team was led by US-based Indian Doctor Pinaki Panigrahi.
i.Sepsis is a top killer of newborns worldwide. Each year more than 600,0000 babies die of the
blood infections, which can strike very quickly.
ii.In the developing world, sepsis accounts for 40% of all neonatal lives lost per year and more than
100000 women contract sepsis in the course of pregnancy and childbirth.
Microsoft introduces Project Brainwave deep learning platform for real-time AI

Microsoft has introduced Project Brainwave. It is a deep learning acceleration platform
that will enable faster system processes with ultra-low latency.
i.The Project Brainwave uses the massive field-programmable gate array (FPGA)
infrastructure.
ii.The system architecture reduces latency, since the CPU does not need to process incoming
requests, and allows very high throughput, with the FPGA processing requests as fast as the
network can stream them.
Maharashtra launches web portal to help with competitive tests

Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education(MSBSHSE)set up
portals to help students to prepare for competitive exams on their own.
i.An online question bank will be created for students attempting the competitive tests,
which can be accessed for free.
ii.To prepare the question bank, the board has asked teachers and subject experts across
Maharashtra to send questions by 30th September.
iii.The questions will be shortlisted and uploaded by board officials. Portals for physics, chemistry,
mathematics and biology for Class 11 and Class 12 are up and running.
Google expands its public Wi-Fi program for emerging markets to Indonesia
Google is launching its public Wi-Fi program at railway stations and other locations such
as universities in Indonesia on August 23 2017.
The Indonesia launch is the initial expansion of Google Station, since it debuted in India some 18
months ago as a module.
i.Google also added a data-friendly YouTube Go app to Indonesia.
126 | P a g e
ii.India has been a key marketplace for many tech companies in new years. According to a news
co-authored by Google final year, Southeast Asias internet economy is projected to grow 6.5-fold
to strech $197 billion by 2025.
NSE to enable bulk trades reporting on ENIT from September 8

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has decided to facilitate its electronic
platform ENIT(Electronic NSE Interface for Trading Members) for faster processing and online
reporting by brokers to the bourse related to bulk/ block trades. It is effective from September 8.
NPCI approves Spice Digitals operation under Bharat Bill Payment System
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has given an approval to Spice Digital
Ltd. for processing bill payments under the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) as
a Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU) announced on 26th Aug 2017.
i.The BBPS will allow the users to use a single website or outlet to pay all their monthly or
repetitive bills such as mobile phone and electricity.
ii.According to the Digital Payments 2020 report by Google and Boston Consulting Group, non-cash
contribution in the consumer payments segment will double to 40%.
NASA rockets to create glowing artificial clouds

NASA rocket mission is set to create white artificial clouds that will glow in the night sky.
It has been created tostudy disturbances in the upper atmosphere that interfere with
communication and technology systems.
i.The artificial clouds will be visible to residents of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands during two rocket flights to occur between 29th August and 9th September.
ii.The Waves and Instabilities from a Neutral Dynamo (WINDY) mission will study a phenomenon
that occurs in the ionosphere a layer of charged particles in the upper atmosphere.
iii.The WINDY mission consists of two NASA suborbital sounding rockets that will
be launched simultaneously in a window between 8 and 11 pm local time from
29th August through 9th September from the island of Roi-Namur.
CSIR-NIIST develop new technique to produce bio ethanol from cotton-stalks

Scientists from CSIRs National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology
(CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram have been able to turn waste into wealth and
have produced ethanol from discarded cotton-stalks by using a combination of chemical
and biological techniques.
i.The stalks were first treated with an acid, alkali and different enzymes to breakdown the complex
127 | P a g e
organic polymers of the stalk.

ii.India has produced about 9.4 million hectares under cotton cultivation and every hectare
generates 2 million tonnes of cotton stalk wastes. The results were published in Bioresource
Technology.
Vice President launches Sports Talent Search Portal

The Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu has launched the National Sports Talent Search
Portal at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. It is a government initiative to
bring sporting talent from every nook and corner of the country announced on 28th Aug 2017.
i.Under the initiative, a child or his parents, teachers or coaches can upload his bio data or video on
the portal.
ii.The portal will be available in English and other regional languages so that it is easier for
any boy or girl who is talented in a particular sport to upload his or her achievements from any part
of the country.
IIT Bombay and Indore researchers developed biosensor to detect kidney disorders
Researchers from Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), Bombay and Indore, have
jointly developed a biosensor to detect kidney disorders in less than eight minutes.
i.The biosensor can accurately measure both the pH and urea concentration with a single
drop of urine.
ii.It will help make a point-of-care test to determine whether the kidneys are functioning normally.
iii.The study was funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Department
of Science and Technology (DST). Its results have been published in the journal, Scientific
Reports.
iv.It is developed by three researchers-Rashmi Chaudhari, Abhijeet Joshi, and Rohit Srivastava.
About Biosensor
INCOIS inaugurated Ocean forecasting system for Madagascar and Mozambique

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) of the Ministry of Earth
Sciences hasinaugurated the Ocean Forecasting System for Comoros, Madagascar, and
Mozambique.
i.The system was inaugurated at the third Ministerial Meeting of Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard
Early Warning System for Asia and Africa (RIMES).
ii.The meeting was held at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
128 | P a g e
Athletes can identify prohibited medicines with Pharma Jan Samadhan app
Drug pricing regulator NPPA has tied up with National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). It
will help athletes tounderstand medicines that could contain prohibited substances in
sports through its app Pharma Jan Samadhan.
i.The two regulators signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 29th Aug 2017.
ii.Through NPPAs app every consumer can know ingredients in a medicine and it will make it easy
for athletes to keep away from medicines that have prohibited substances.
IIT Researchers develops bioartificial implantable pancreas

Researchers of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has successfully created an
implantable bioartificial pancreas model grown within a 3D silk scaffold.
i.The silk scaffold was found to be biocompatible (not toxic to living tissue) as it did not trigger
any immune reaction or cause any adverse reaction when implanted.
ii.The pancreas which encapsulates insulin-producing cells, is capable of naturally
producing insulin in a sustained manner.
Youtube changes its Logo for the First Time

YouTube has announced and introduced some major design changes in its iconic logo for its
desktop and mobile apps.
i.It has been changed for the first time in 12 years. In the new logo, YouTube is simply
brought about in black text with its iconic red play button.
ii.The red in YouTubes logo is now brighter so that it will be seen more easily and read more
clearly.
U.S. approves first gene therapy for cancer

United States has approved the first gene therapy in the nation on 30th of Aug 2017. It is
a treatment that uses a patients own immune cells to fight childhood leukaemia.
i.The treatment is made by Novartis and is called Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel).
ii.This type of immunotherapy, known as a CAR-T cell therapy, was known by the term
CTL019 until now.
iii.It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for children and young adult patients
up to the age of 25 with a form of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
US scientists develop micropropulsion system based on liquid water

Engineers at Purdue University in the US have designed and tested a micropropulsion
system. It is used liquid water as the propellant for orbital maneuvering of tiny satellites called
129 | P a g e
CubeSats.
i.CubeSats are miniature satellites that weigh about 2 kilograms.
ii.In future they are capable to carry out tasks like imaging and remote-sensing.
iii.Currentlythey are performed by heavier satellites which are expensive to build and launch.
New-found TRAPPIST-1 is older than our Solar System

As per new study published in The Astrophysical Journal, researchers have found that
the TRAPPIST-1 star is between 5.4 and 9.8 billion years. This is up to twice as old as our
own solar system, which formed some 4.5 billion years ago.
i.TRAPPIST-1 is a system of seven Earth-size planets orbiting an ultra-cool dwarf star
about 40 light-years away.
ii.Three of the TRAPPIST-1 planets reside in the stars habitable zone, the orbital distance where
a rocky planet with an atmosphere could have liquid water on its surface.
Norway has worlds fastest mobile Internet: Ookla

On August 15, 2017, According to the global leader in broadband testing Ookla declared that
Norway has the fastest mobile Internet in the world.
i.The Netherlands and Hungary are ranked number two and three on the list of the worlds
fastest mobile networks.
ii.In only 13 months, Norway has jumped from 11th to first place on the list of world best
providers of fast Internet connection.
US scientists develop first plant-based vaccine against Zika virus

Scientists have been successful in developing a plant-based Zika vaccine that could be more
effective and economical to produce than other Zika medicines.
i.According to the researchers, experiments of immunisation on mice have showed a 100%
success in triggering antibody and cellular immune response to protect against
multiple Zika virus strains.
ii.According to reports, currently, there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics available to combat
Zika.
iii.The vaccine developed by researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) in the U.S.
ISRO to develop full-fledged Hyperspectral Imaging Earth observation satellite

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch a full-fledged
130 | P a g e
niche Earth observation (EO) satellite called the Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite orHySIS using
a critical chip called optical imaging detector array it has developed.
i. Hyperspectral or hyspex imaging is considered to be an EO trend that is being experimented
globall An EO expert called it equivalent to CATSCAN of Earth from space.
ii. ISRO first tried it out in an 83-kg IMS-1 experimental satellite in May 2008. The same
year, a hyperspectral camera was put on Chandrayaan-1 and used to map lunar mineral
resources.
NCERT launches web portal to supply Textbooks online

Upendra Kushwaha, Minister of State, Ministry of Human Resource Development has launched
the NCERTs Web portal for supply of textbooks to schools and individuals in New
Delhi on 9th of Aug 2017.
i. The portal will ensure better distribution of textbooks across the country.
ii. It will also address the apprehensions, on the part of schools and parents, regarding
unavailability of National Council of Educational Research And Training (NCERT) textbooks.
Oxford launches Tamil, Gujarati online dictionaries

Oxford University Press (OUP) has launched online dictionaries in Tamil and Gujarati as
part of its special focus on Indian languages.
i. The Oxford Global Languages (OGL) initiative began in September 2015.
ii.Its main aim is to build dictionaries and lexicographical resources for around 100 of the
worlds languages and to make them available online.
iii. The programmes objective is to transform the experience of millions of people
worldwide.
BitBay launches trading platform for digital currency

BitBay is one of the top ten cryptocurrency trading platforms in the world. It has launched
a platform for trade and exchange of digital currencies such as bitcoin, litecoin, ether, Lisk,
monero, dash and gamecredits.
i. The company will also work towards creating awareness about digital currencies.
ii. It also helps in removing misconceptions related to these currencies in a market like India.
ISRO lines up 21 rockets, to launch 70 satellites in 5 years

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has lined up over 21 rocket launchesand will be
putting over 70 satellites in space over the next five years.
More Details about ISROs upcoming Rocket/Satellite Launches:
131 | P a g e
ISROs plan to launch 21 rockets in coming years is a part of the Rs 8,658.74

croresanctioned by the Indian Government to build and launch about 31 rockets,
including 15 PSLVs, 13 GSLVs and three GSLV MK-III.
Currently, ISROs launch vehicles are being used for launching national satellites towards
meeting the earth observation, communication, navigation and scientific needs of the
country and the excess capacity is being used to launch satellites of other countries.
India currently uses the Ariane 5 rocket, of Arianespace, the
European Space Agency to launch its heavier communication satellites into space.
DEFENCE
Indian Navy band joins historic Edinburgh Military Tattoo
A 66-member Indian Navy band has joined the historic Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in
the UK announced on 5th of August 2017.
i. Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will join for this years musical event where they will mark the
70thyear of Indias Independence.
ii. The Indian Band will appear with an arrangement of colourful dancers, comprises one officer and
65 musician-sailors.
iii. The Indian band invited to mark the 70th year of Indian independence and the India-UK
Year of Culture.
iv. They will be performing under the baton of Commander Vijay Charles DCruz, Director of
Music (Navy) and the principal conductor at the event.
v. The theme for this years week-long event, which runs until August 26, is titled Splash of
Tartan, celebrating Scotlands Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.
vi.. It will also include the participants from Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Malta, Monaco
and the US, and 20 bands from Britain.
Indian Navy Band to Participate in International Military Music Festival in Moscow

The International Military Music Festival Spasskaya Tower is the parade of the best
military music bands of Russia and other countries that takes place every year at Red Square
in Moscow. Spasskaya Tower is scheduled from 24 Aug to 03 Sep2017
i.This is considered as largest international events in Russia, where military musicians represent
the variety of national, artistic and military traditions of the world.
ii.A Tri-Services band from the Indian Armed Forces has also been invited to participate and
perform in the prestigious event.
132 | P a g e
Sri Lankan Navy commissions India-built AOPV

Sri Lankan Navy has commissioned an India-built state-of-the-art Advanced Offshore
Patrol Vessel (AOPV) announced on 5th of August 2017.
i. It is the first-ever purchase from a foreign ship builder, to boost its search and rescue
capabilities.
ii. It is the largest vessel built by an Indian ship builder for a foreign navy.
iii. Sri Lankan President and Armed Forces commander-in-chief Maithripala Sirisena commissioned
the new patrol vessel SLNS Sayurala at a ceremony at the Eastern Container Terminal of
the Port of Colombo.
iv. SLNS Sayurala is the first-ever brand new platform purchased from a foreign ship builder and
tailored for the specific requirements of the SriLanka Navy (SLN). It is built at the Goa Shipyard
Ltd (GSL) in India.
Indian Coast Guard ship Shaurya commissioned in Goa

On August 12, 2017, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra
Pradhan commissioned Indian Coast Guard ship Shaurya in Goa.
Features of Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Shaurya:
ICGS Shaurya is the fifth in the series of six 105-metre offshore patrol vessels
(OPVs).
It has been designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Ltd and is fitted with
state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machineries.
First tri-service Indra exercise to be conducted by India and Russia in Oct 2017
India and Russia will hold a major bilateral military exercise in October 2017 involving
their armies, navies and the air forces for the first time to further ramp up defense ties. The
exercise Indra, which will be held in Russia from 19th to 29th October 2017, will primarily
focus on achieving coordination between forces of the two countries in a tri- services integrated
theater command scenario.
IMMSAREX: India, China to join Indian Ocean exercise in November

Despite growing tensions with China, the Indian Navy would join the Chinese Navy in the
maiden International Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) to be chaired
by Bangladesh at the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in November 2017.
i.International Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) will be held in Bay of Bengal.
ii.In addition, Bangladesh is also scheduling an extraordinary conclave of Chiefs, a meeting of
chiefs of Navy before it hands over the Chair to Iran next year.
133 | P a g e
Army to Get 6 Apache Attack Helicopters in Deal worth Rs 4,168 Crore

On August 17, 2017, Indias Defence acquisition council (DAC) gave the green light to a
proposal to buy six Apache AH64E attack helicopters for the army from the United States.
The approval was given at a meeting of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence
Minister Arun Jaitley.
i.The six Apache AH64E attack helicopters along with weapons systems from American
giant Boeing at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore will be Indian Armys first fleet of attack choppers.
ii.It will be a follow on order to the deal India had signed with Boeing and the US government
for 22 Apache helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers in September 2015.
Central govt approves nearly Rs.32k crore plan for boosting Coast Guard capabilities
Central Government has approved a nearly Rs 32,000 crore definitive five-year action
programme for the Indian Coast Guard to enhance its capability in maintaining vigil on coastal
waters.
Ministry of Defence approves delegation of Powers to Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

On August 20 2017,The Ministry of Defence has decided to delegate administrative and financial
powers to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to overcome delays in the construction of
strategic roads along the India-China border.
According to the references between the Chief Engineer and HQ DGBR and also between HQ DGBR
and the Ministry, the defence ministry has assigned more administrative and financial powers to
the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for increase the speed to complete the projects.
Dr. Jagdish Mukhi commissioned IN LCU L52, Second Ship of Landing Craft Utility into the
Indian Navy at Port Blair
On August 21, 2017 Dr. Jagdish Mukhi, Lieutenant Governor, Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, commissioned IN LCU L52 into the Indian Navy at Port Blair. IN LCU L52 is the second
Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mk-IV class .
i.This ship has been designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata. LCU
MK-IV ship is used to transport and deploy Main Battle Tanks, Armoured Vehicles, troops and
equipment from ship to shore.
ii.This ship has multirole activities like beaching operations, search and rescue, disaster relief
operations, supply and replenishment and evacuation from distant islands.
iii.Commander Kaushik Chatterjee, will be commanded with 05 officers, 46 sailors and is
capable of carrying 160 troops
iv.The ship, displacing 830 Tons, is capable of transporting various kinds of combat equipment such
as Main Battle Tanks Arjun, T72 and other vehicles.
134 | P a g e
US-South Korea begin annual The Ulchi Freedom Guardian military drills
The Ulchi-Freedom Guardian is a military drill which sees the US and South Korea join forces
in a string of exercises.
i.The annual drill involves huge land, air and sea exercises, with tens of thousands of troops
involved from both countries.
ii.The exercises, designed to improve South Koreas defence, are carried out to recognise the treaty
between the Republic of Korea and the United States signed in 1953.
Indian student develops Nano Missile for Indian Army

A student of Chennais SRM University, Dacharla Panduranga Rohith developed a Nano
Missile on 21 August 2017 recognised by World Records of India.
i.The basic prototype of the missile was tested in the presence of Assistant Commissioner of
Police Ramapuram in Chennai.
ii.The video was submitted to World Records of India for recognition in July 2017.
Arun Jaitley hands over LRSAM to Indian Navy

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley handed over the Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile
(LRSAM) jointly developed by India and Israel, to the Indian Navy at Bharat Dynamics Ltd
(BDL) at Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad. The first batch of LRSAM, being inducted into the Navy, was
symbolically handed over to Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, the vice-chief of naval staff.
i. The Rocket Motor Static Test Facility was dedicated to the nation by Arun Jaitley at BDLs
Ibrahimpatnam Complex located near Hyderabad. An amount of 48 Crores spent on this facility.
ii. The Union Minister inaugurated ASTRA Manufacturing Facility. Astra weapon system is an
indigenously developed Air-to-Air Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile developed by DRDO. It
comprises of Astra Launcher and Astra Missile
Coast Guard ship Varuna decommissioned

Varuna Indian Coast Guard Ship which was part of the First Training Squadron of the
Navy was decommissioned.
After honourable service spanning about 30 years, in a traditional military ceremony the ship was
decommissioned with full armed forces at a ceremony held at the south jetty of the Southern Naval
Command On August 23 2017.
i.The ceremony was presided over by Inspector General K R Nautiyal, Commander, Coast Guard
Region (West). When a ship is decommissioned, the Decommissioning Pennant which is equal to
the length of the ship, was lowered.
i.ICGS Varuna was fourth of its series, known as Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) and built by
135 | P a g e
Mazagaon Dock, Mumbai.

ii.The ship had various historic operational achievements to its credit including numerous records of
smugglers with gold worth crores during late 80s.
iii.ICGS Varuna has now been replaced by ICGS Sarathi in the First Training Squadron of the
Indian Navy.
American Ship USS Pearl Harbor arrived India as part of Defense cooperation
American Navys amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor arrived in Goa on 24th Aug
2017 as part of defense cooperation between the two countries. It is the American Ship USS
Pearl Harbor first visit to India.
i.USS Pearl Harbor is a Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship with a crew of
over 700 sailors and marines.
ii.The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which is one of seven marine expeditionary units of
the US Marine Corps, has also come to Goa as part of the trip.
Government approves first phase of Army reforms

On 30th august ,2017, The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved implementation of
the first phase of recommendations of Shekatkar Committee. This committee was formed to
recommend measures to enhance combat capability and rebalancing Defence Expenditure
of the Armed Forces with an aim to increase teeth to tail ratio, It had given 99
recommendations to the government on December 2016, out of which the Ministry of Defence has
decided to implement 65 suggestions in phased manner.
1) Redeployment and restructuring of approximately 57,000 posts of officers. It will be
implemented in a gradual manner.
2) The government will do away 39 military farms and several Army postal departments in peace
locations.
3) There will be optimisation of signal establishments to include Radio Monitoring Companies, Corps
Air Support Signal Regiments, Air Formation Signal Regiments, Composite Signal Regiments and
merger of Corps Operating and Engineering Signal Regiments.
4) Restructuring of repair echelons in the Army to include base workshops, advance base
workshops and station workshops in the field Army.
5) Redeployment of ordnance echelons to include vehicle depots, ordnance depots and central
ordnance depots apart from streamlining inventory control mechanisms.
6) Better utilisation of supply and transport echelons and animal transport units.
7) To enhance the quality of clerical staff and drivers engaged with the Army and improve the
efficiency of National Cadet Corps. It will improve operational efficiency of the Army by pushing
soldiers from non-operational duties to operational tasks.
136 | P a g e
ENVIRONMENT
Severe Typhoon Hato hits Hong Kong

Typhoon Hato smashed into Hong Kong on 23rd of Aug 2017 with hurricane force winds and
heavy rains in the worst storm the city has seen for five years. Due to this cancellation of
hundreds of flights and shutting down the stock market.
i.The storm passed as close as 60 kilometres to Hong Kong and made landfall at noon (0930 IST)
in the southern mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai.
ii.Gusts of up to 207 kilometres per hour brought flying debris, tearing down trees and
scaffolding and breaking construction cranes.
Earth to warm 2 degrees Celsius by end of this century says Study

As per two different studies, using entirely different methods published in the journal Nature
Climate Change, the global temperature is likely to rise more than 2 degrees Celsius by
the end of this century.
i. One study used statistical analysis to show that there is a 95% chance that Earth will warm
more than 2 degrees at centurys end, and a 1% chance that its below 1.5 Celsius.
ii. As per this study, the likely range of global temperature increase is 2.0-4.9degrees Celsius
and the median forecast is 3.2 C.
Suns Core rotates four times faster than its surface

An international team of astronomers has found that the Suns core rotates nearly four times
faster than its surface.
i. The discovery was possible with European Space Agency (ESA) and NASAs Solar and
Heliospheric Observatory, or SOHO, which helped the solar scientists find evidence of a type of
seismic wave in Sun.
ii. These low-frequency waves, called g-modes, revealed that the solar core is rotating some four
times faster than the solar surface.
ASI protected monuments to be declared as Polythene Free Zones

The Archaeological Survey of India has declared all ASI protected Monuments and
Archaeological Sites as Polythene Free Zone announced on 4th of August 2017.
i.The national body has directed all of its field offices to take necessary steps to comply with the
same order.
ii.The move follows a recommendation by the Ministry of Culture that suggested prohibition
on the use of polythene.
137 | P a g e
Two new species of Cycas discovered

Research conducted on a tree found in the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic
Garden in West Bengal has revealed two new species of Cycas to the world.
i. Cycas are one of the most ancient plants whose fossils date to the Jurassic periodand are
often referred to as living fossils.
ii. Research based on morphological and anatomical characters of this tree led to the discovery of
new species of Cycas pschannae and, later, Cycas dharmrajii in the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.
iii. This discovery takes the number of Cycas species found in India to 14.
New Species of Grass Snake Identified in Europe

Scientists have identified a new type of barred snakes, now the total number of European
grass snakes species to four.
i .The grass snake is among the most common and widespread snakes in Europe and these
non-toxic reptiles which can reach a length of up to one meter.
ii. The barred grass snake is widely distributed throughout Great Britain, Switzerland, Italy and
France, and also occurs in the western part of Germany.
Vizags Rayichapalu declared one of the rarest fish in world

Vizags Rayichapalu is declared one of the rarest fish in the world by researchers from the
Marine Living Resources Department of Andhra University.
i. The tiny, colourful fish, called Ranguchapulu or Rayichapalu by the fisherfolk, will have the
scientific name Pseudathias Vizagensis, after the city where it was first discovered.
ii. For four years, the researchers have been working to name the fish one of the rarest in the
world.
iii. Ranguchapulu is a colourful fish which is around 97mm in length and lives near the reefs.
iv. The fish can be found all along the east coast, at a depth of 80-120 metres, and can also be
seen at harbour fisheries catchments.
New invisible worm species discovered via fossils

Canada based researchers have discovered fossils of a new species of arrow-shaped
marine animals.
i.They has translucent bodies and it makes them difficult to spot.
ii.It is 508 million year old fossils and they are much bigger than their modern counterparts. It is
10 cm long.
iii.The species has around 25 pairs of hooks around its mouth.
138 | P a g e
13-mn-year-old ape skull confirms African origin of humans

Anthropologists in Kenya have discovered a 13 million year-old baby ape skull that reveals
what the common ancestor of all living humans and apes would have looked like.
i.According to the study published in Nature roughly the size of a lemon, the skull belongs to a
newly identified species of early ape named Nyanzapithecusalesi.
ii.Nyanzapithecusalesi was part of a group of primates that existed in Africa for over 10
million years.
Earths largest volcanic region discovered in Antarctica

The largest volcanic region on Earth, with nearly 100 volcanoes, has been discovered 2 km
below the surface of the vast ice sheet in west Antarctica.
i.These newly discovered volcanoes range in height from 100 to 3,850 metres, with the highest
almost as tall as Switzerlands 3,970 meters Eiger Mountain.
El Nino aided in massive carbon dioxide releas

On analysing data collected by National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASAs) Orbiting
Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) satellite, which measures level of carbon dioxide in
atmosphere, scientists have found that the monster El Nino of 2014-16 caused over 3 billion
tonnes of carbon to get released into the atmosphere, pushing carbon dioxide concentration
to record levels.
Aeroplanes may be affecting ozone layer by releasing black carbon
Aeroplanes may be ejecting significant amounts of black carbon (BC).Climate researchers

from multiple institutions in India including from the Indian Institute of Science and ISROs
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, made a study about BC a pollutant known to aggravate
breathing disorders, upset the monsoon and quicken glacier melt. Black Carbon may also be
depleting the ozone layer.
Researchers discover new tectonic plate, total count now 57

US-based Rice University researchers have found a new tectonic plate in the eastern
Pacific Ocean off Ecuadors coast.
i.It is named after a Colombian island, the Malpelo plate is the 57th plate to be discovered
and the first in nearly a decade.
ii.In this case, they carefully studied the movements of other plates and their evolving relationships
139 | P a g e
to one another as the plates move at a rate of millimeters to centimeters per year.
iii.The Pacific lithospheric plate that roughly defines the volcanic Ring of Fire is one of about 10
major rigid tectonic plates that float and move atop Earths mantle, which behaves like a fluid over
geologic time.
India has 27,312 elephants, Karnataka has highest: Census Estimation

According to preliminary results from the first-ever synchronised all-India Elephant
Population Estimation released by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate
Change on World Elephant Day (August 12, 2017), India is home to 27,312 Asian
elephant population.
i.Karnataka has the highest number of elephants (6,049), followed by Assam
(5,719) and Kerala (3,054).
ii.In Karnataka, the protected forests of Nagarhole, Bhadra and Bandipur have the maximum
elephant density
Climate change costs India $10 billion every year: Government

Union Agriculture Ministry in its recent report to a parliamentary committee has revealed
that extreme weather events are costing India $9-10 billion annually and climate change is
projected to impact agricultural productivity with increasing severity from 2020 to the end of the
century.
i.The agriculture ministry said productivity decrease of major crops would be marginal in the
next few years but could rise to as much as 10-40% by 2100unless farming adapts to
climate change-induced changes in weather.
ii.Wheat, rice, oilseeds, pulses, fruits and vegetables will see reduced yields over the
years, forcing farmers to either adapt to challenges of climate change or face the risk of getting
poorer. Adaptation will need different cropping patterns and suitable inputs to compensate yield
fluctuations.
Asteroid Florence to pass safely by Earth on September 1: NASA

As per National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a large near-Earth sized
asteroid named Asteroid Florence will pass safely by our planet on September 1, 2017 at a
distance of about seven million kilometres.
i.Asteroid Florence named in honour of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), the founder of
modern nursing is about 4 kilometres in size, according to measurements from NASAs
140 | P a g e
Spitzer Space Telescope and the asteroids and comets hunting NEOWISE mission.
ii.Asteroid Florence was discovered by Schelte Bobby Bus at Siding Spring Observatory in
Australia in March 1981.
Two new species of Earthworm discovered in Kerala

Scientists have discovered two new species of earthworm in the Western Ghats mountain
ranges in Kerala on 19th of August 2017.These new species belong to the ancient family
Moniligastridae.
i.The findings were published in the Journal Zoo Keys in August 2017.
ii.The discovery was made by scientists S Prasanth Narayanan, S Sathrumithra, G Christopher all
affiliated with Keralas Mahatma Gandhi University.
iii.The two new species are named as Drawida polydiverticulata and Drawidathomasi..
New frog species with pig face discovered in Western Ghats

Indian scientists have discovered Nasikabatrachus Bhupathi, a new species of frogthat has
a snout-shaped nose, just like a pig in Westen Ghats.
i.The discovery was published in Alytes, a scientific journal devoted to the study of frogs and
amphibians.
ii.The species was discovered by scientists from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
(CCMB) in Hyderabad.
iii.The frog has been named after the Indian herpetologist S. Bhupathy, who died in 2014.
Moss serves as a cheap pollution monitor

As per the latest research by scientists from Japan, delicate mosses found on rocks and trees
in cities around the world can be used to measure the impact of atmospheric change and could
prove a low-cost way to monitor urban pollution.
Researchers found that moss- the bioindicator responds to pollution or drought-stress by
changing shape, density or disappearing, allowing scientists to calculate atmospheric alterations.
Significance of these findings:
SPORTS
ICC Rankings: Ravindra Jadeja maintains Top Position, Virat stays 5th
According to the latest ICC Test Rankings Ravindra Jadeja maintained his top positionin
the bowlers list while India skipper Virat Kohli remained stayed at fifth place in the batting
charts released on 1st of August 2017.
i. In the batsmens rankings, Cheteshwar Pujara is the top-ranked Indian at
141 | P a g e
the 4thposition while opener Shikhar Dhawan climbed 21 places to be ranked 39th.
ii. The batting list is being topped by Australia captain Steve Smith followed by Englands Joe
Root and New Zealands Kane Williamson.
iii. In the bowlers chart, Ravichandran Ashwin replaced Sri Lanka captain Rangana Herath to
claim the second spot back.
iv. Herath is third in the rankings. Pacer Mohammed Shami gained a place to be 23rd.
v. In the all-rounders list Jadeja and Ashwin also maintained second and third
ranksrespectively.
vi. Bangladeshs Shakib Al Hasan is still maintained at the top of the table.South Africas Vernon
Philander to take fifth position in the list of all-rounders.
Summer Olympics Host: Paris gets 2024 , Los Angels 2028

Paris will host the 2024 Summer OlympicsGames. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer
Olympics after reaching a deal with Olympic organizers, the Los Angeles Times reported on 31st of
July 2017.
i. The IOC welcomes this decision of the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Candidature
Committee.
ii. The Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic bid committee in cooperation with the International
Olympic Committee (IOC).
ISL: FC Goa signs Moroccan International Ahmed Jahouh

Indian Super League Club FC Goa has confirmed the signing of Moroccan International
Ahmed Jahouh on a one year loan deal from FUS Rabat of Morocco.
i. Jahouh won the national championship with Moghreb Tetouan in the 2011-12 season.
ii. He has also previously worked with FC Goas head coach Sergio Lobera at Moghreb.
Neymer signs world record deal with PSG

Neymar has become the most expensive player in football history after completing his
blockbuster transfer to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona for 222 million euros ($262
million)
i.Neymar had signed a five-year contract to PSG until June 2022.
ii.This is the first time in history that a French club has broken the record, with Spanish,
Italian and English clubs.
Khel Ratna recommended for Paralympian Jhajharia, Sardar

Devendra Jhajharia has become the first paralympian to be recommended for Indias
142 | P a g e
highest sporting honour the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna along with celebrated former hockey
captain Sardar Singh.
i. Javelin thrower Jhajharia, the first Indian to win two Paralympic gold medals, was the first
choice of the awards selection committee headed by Justice (Retd) C K Thakkar.
Joshna and Dipika get bronze at World Doubles Squash Championship

Indian doubles pair of Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik bagged for a bronze medal
at the WSF World Doubles Squash Championship.
i. They have lost against English pair of Jenny Duncalf and Alison Waters in the semifinals.
ii. In mixed doubles, Indian pairs of Saurav Ghosal and Dipika and Vikram Malhotra and Joshna
Chinappa crashed out one after the other in the two quarterfinals held concurrently on side by side
courts.
Vijender Singh won WBO Oriental Super Middleweight title

On August 5, 2015, Boxer Vijender Singh of India defeated Chinas Zulpikar Maimaitialito win
the unified WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental Super Middleweight title in Mumbai.
i. This was Vijender Singhs ninth successive win in his professional career.
ii. Vijender dominated the fight, most of the time by using his height and greater reach to good
effect.
iii. This was the first defeat of Zulpikars professional career. Known for his ability to knockout
opponents, Zulpikar from China was undefeated in his previous nine professional bouts. He had
won eight of those several of them by knockouts while one bout was undecided.
Usain Bolt finishes 3rd in World Athletics Championship

Usain Bolt has finished third in his final individual event at the World Athletics
Championships on 6th of August 2017.
i. The 16th World Athletics Championship 2017 is going on at London from 4th of August to
13th of August.
ii. Justin Gatlin from USA has received gold and Bolt had to settle for Bronze in 100 m Final.
iii. Justin Gatlin has won with a time of 9.92 as Bolt came third in 9.95.
iv. American Christian Coleman took silver with 9.94 having beaten Bolt in the semi-finals.
Manju Kumari and Veer Dev Gulia wins bronze in Junior World Wrestling Championships
Indias Manju Kumari clinched the bronze medal in womens 59kg category of the Junior
World Wrestling Championship in Tampere, Finland.
i. Manju registered a 2-0 victory over Ilona Prokopevniuk of Ukraine in her bronze medal play-
143 | P a g e
off bout to finish on the podium.

ii. En route to her third-place finish, Manju had started off her campaign with a dominating 5-1
victory over Bulgarias Aleksandrina Nikolaeva Kashinova in the 1/8 stage, before she was
outclassed 0-10 by Japans Yuzuru Kumano in her quarterfinal round.
ONGC beats Bengaluru Hockey 4-2, wins MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has beaten Bengaluru Hockey Association (BHA)
by 4-2 in the final in 91st All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament on 6th of
August 2017.
i. ONGC has also defeated Indian Railways in the semi-finals.
ii. The Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament was scheduled from 27th July to 6th of August
2017.
iii. It was held at Mayor Radhakrishnan stadium , Egmore Chennai.
Ankur Mittal Wins Gold Medal in Asian Shotgun Championship

Indian shooter Ankur Mittal has won the individual as well as the team gold medal in Mens
double trap at the 7th Asian Shotgun Championship on 5th of August 2017.
i. The Asian Shotgun Championship is held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
ii. Mittal shot 71 in the six-man final to finish at the top of the podium.UAEs KhaledAlkaabi (70)
won the silver in mens double trap event, while SaifAlshamsy (53) has won the bronze.
iii. India managed to bag the top prize in the team event with scores of SangramDahiya (43)
and Mohammad Asab (34) added to Mittals final total.
iv. Mittal, a World Cup gold medallist, shot 137 in the qualification and was behind topper Dahiya
(140) as well as Asab (138).
v. In the individual event, Dahiya finished fourth, while Asab had to be managed with the fifth
position.
BCCI ordered to lift lifetime ban on cricketer Sreesanth by Kerela HC

On August 4, 2017, Kerala High Court ordered Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to lift the
life ban imposed on Cricketer Sreesanth in the wake of the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal.
i. In 2013, Sreesanth faced allegations on spot-fixing issues in the Indian Premier League and was
hence charged with the same alongside fellow cricketers Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan.
ii. He soon received a suspension form BCCI.
Ravindra Jadeja becomes No.1 test all- rounder in the ICC 2017 rankings
In the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings, Ravindra Jadeja has been
ranked as World No. 1 all-rounder after eclipsing Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh.
144 | P a g e
i. Following his Man-of-the-Match performance of 70 not out and seven wickets to help top-ranked
India beat Sri Lanka by an innings in Colombo on August 6, 2017, Jadeja has displaced
Bangladeshs Shakib Al Hasanto claim the top spot in the ICC Test rankings for all-rounder for
the first time in his career.
Kynan Chenai won Bronze at 7th Asian Shortgun Championship

Trap shooter and Olympian Kynan Chenai won the bronze medal in the Mens Trap, at the
ongoing 7th Asian Championship Shotgun, being held at Astana, Kazakhstan.
i. Kynan first shot 116 out of 125 to qualify for the six-man final round in third position and then
held on to it till the end of the finals.
ii. Abdulrahman Al Faihan of Kuwait won Gold medal and Talal AlRashidi also of Kuwait won
Silver Medal.
iii. Other Indian shooters, Zoravar Singh Sandhu ended in 17th place while Birendeep
Sodhi finished 36th.
iv. In the team section, India finished on seventh place. Kuwait won gold, Lebabnon won silver
while the UAE won bronze.
At 15, shooter Shapath Bhardwaj is youngest to figure in govts Olympic scheme

India shooter Shapath Bhardwaj, aged 15, has become the countrys youngest
athlete to figure in the governments Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme.
i. Shapath hails from Meerut and studying in class 10, is among 45 elite athletes, including Olympic
medallists P V Sandhu, Sakshi Malik and Saina Nehwal, to be selected for the ambitious scheme.
ii. TOP Scheme Elite Athletes Identification Committee in the Ministery of Youth Affairs and Sports
selected the athletes after evaluating their performance in relation to the international standard.
iii. The committee is chaired by ace shooter and Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra.
iv. The Sports Ministry has launched the TOPS with the aim of supporting medal prospects
for Olympics.
Real Madrid won the 2017 UEFA super cup football tournament
Real Madrid, a professional football club of Spain, has won the 2017 UEFA Super Cup
football tournament by defeating Manchester United in the final by 2-1.
i. UEFA(Union of European Football Associations)European Super Cup held at thePhilip II
Arena in Skopje, Macedonia on 8th of August 2017.
ii.It is their 4th UEFA Super Cup title.
145 | P a g e
Davinder singhkang, First Indian To Qualify for Javelin Throw World Championship Finals
Davinder Singh Kang has become the first Indian to qualify for the final round of the javelin
throw World Championships.
i.The IAAF World Athletics Championships is going on in London.
ii.Kang, who was competing in the qualification round of Group B qualified for the finals.
iii.Kangs best effort of 84.22m placed him in the 7th position among the other qualifiers for
the final round.
India drops one spot to 97th in latest FIFA rankings

According to the previous FIFA rankings, India dropped one step to be placed 97th in the latest
edition of the FIFA rankings issued on 10th of August 2017.
i.India still has 341 rating points with no changes from their last months tally.
Ii.Brazil has gained the top spot from Germany.
iii.Canada, meanwhile, jumped five spots to 95th following their performances in the
CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Iv.Among Asian countries, India is the 12th highest ranked team in the continentwhile Iran
leads the chart at 24th spot.
Here is the latest FIFA ranking as of August 10:
1.Brazil 2.Germany 3.Argentina 4. Switzerland 5. Poland
6. Portugal 7. Chile 8. Colombia 9. Belgium 10.France 97.India
Maheshwari wins Indias first solo medal in womens skeet

Maheshwari Chauhan has won an individual bronze medal at the 7th Asian Championship Shotgun
in Astana, Kazakhstan.
i.She becomes the first Indian to win a medal in womens skeet at the top international
level in Astana, Kazakhstan.
ii.Rashmmi Rathore and Saniya Sheikh have won the silver medal in the Team event.
iii.WeiMeng of China has won gold in the womens skeet title at the seventh Asian Shotgun
Championships.
iv.The trio shot a total of 190, finishing behind gold medalists China, who shot 195.
India beat SL Test Series 2017, Clinch Series 3-0/India claimed their first ever 3-0 series
win overseas
On August 14, 2017, India claimed their first ever 3-0 series win overseas, beating Sri
Lanka in the third and the final Test at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Sri
Lanka by an innings and 171 runs.In the third and the final test match, Indian openers Shikhar
146 | P a g e
Dhawan and KL Rahul set the tone with an aggressive 188-run partnership. In the lower
order Hardik Pandya came up with a brilliant knock of 108 off 96 balls.
Olympic Task Force recommends steps to improve sports in India

The eight-member Olympic Task Force, constituted to plan a roadmap to improve Indias
performance in Olympics submitted an extensive final report titled Preparation of 2020 Tokyo
Olympic and Paralympic Games to the Sports Secretary, Injeti Srinivas on August 11,
2017.
Mairaj-Rashmmi pair bags gold at Asian Shotgun Championship

India finished their campaign at the 7th Asian Shotgun Championship. The pair of Mairaj Ahmad
Khan and RashmmiRathore bagged a gold medal in the skeet mixed team event on the
concluding day on 13th of august 2017.
i.Mairaj and Rashmmi qualified for the semi-finals in fifth place out of 10 teams. They shot a
combined score of 93.
ii.They scored the same as the silver winning Chinese pair, but came second (4-3) in a shoot-off.
iii.The host combination of VladislavMukhamediyev and Olga Panarinahas bagged the bronze
medal.
Nadal to return to no. 1 rank for first time after 3 years

Tennis Player Rafael Nadal return to the number one spot in ATP ranking after 3 years.
i.He returned to No.1 spot after Roger Federer pulled out of the Cincinnati Masters due to an injury.
ii.The last time Nadal was World No. 1 was on 6th July 2014.
iii.Nadal has spent 141 weeks in the top spot in his career.
Indian mens hockey team beat the Netherlands 2-1 to win series
India Mens Hockey team has defeated world No. 4 Netherlands by 2-1 to win the series.
i.Led by Manpreet Singh, the team featured nine players from the junior team, but they still
managed to beat an experienced Netherlands squad through goals from Gurjant (4th minute) and
Mandeep (51).
ii.ArmaanQureshi made a great attempt to take Indias lead to 2-0 .
iii.Gurjant Singh and Mandeep Singh scored a goal apiece as a resolute Indian mens hockey team
overcome in an exciting way.
Alexander Zverev beats Roger Federer to win Rogers Cup final

Alexander Zverev beats Roger Federer by 6-3, 6-4 points in the Rogers Cup final on 13th of
August 2017.
i.He has posted his 10th consecutive victory and fifth tournament title this year.
147 | P a g e
ii.The Roger Cup tournament held in Washington USA and Zverev is the youngest Rogers Cup
finalist.
iii.In the doubles final, fifth-seeded Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut beat
seventh-seeded Rohan Bopanna of India and Ivan Dodig of Croatia by 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 points.
Indian boxers clinch 10 medals at Serbian tourney

India has won 10 medals, including two gold medals in the 6th Golden Glove womens Boxing
Tournament at Vojvodina, Serbia.
i.Jyoti has won Gold in 51 kgcategory, and Vanlal haritpuii bagged it in 60 kgcategory.
ii. India bagged two gold, four silver and four bronze medals in the tournament.
iii.The silver medals were bagged by Anjali in 48kg, Sakshi in 54kg, Ashtha in 69kg and
Anupama in 81kg categories.
iv.Mandeep in 57kg, Nisha in 64kg, Shruti in 75kg and Neha in 81+kg category has won bronze
medals after losing in the semi-finals.
IAAF World Championship 2017

2017 IAAF World Championships was the 16th edition of the IAAF World Championships, and
was held in London from 4th to 13th August 2017.
The championships were held in the London Stadiumin Stratford, London, which
hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The U.S. topped 2017 IAAF World Championships claiming 30 total
medals. Kenya finished a distant second with 11 total medals.
Real Madrid won 2017 Spanish Super Cup

Real Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup for the 10th time with a 2-0 win over Barcelona.
i.The Spanish Super Cup held at Santiago Bernabeu on 16th of August 2017 and Real Madrid
has won by 5-1 on aggregate points.
ii.MarcoAsensio and KarimBenzemascored for Real Madrid to secure a 2-0 win over
Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup.
Indian athletes bag record 37 medals at World Dwarf Games

On the 7th World Dwarf Gamesthe 21-member Indian contingenthold a record of 37
medals. It was held in Toronto, Canada.
Key Points
i.India had won 15 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals in the World Dwarf Games.
ii.Joby Matthew is one of the Indian athletes at the World Dwarf Games, where he won six medals,
including two golds three silvers and a bronze.
iii.ArunachalamNalini, who won five medals, including one gold.
148 | P a g e
iv.CVRajanna won the gold in the 200 metre sprint event.

v.Devappa More won the 100 metre race and becoming the fastest man at the event.
Indian Shuttler Lakhsyasen wins Bulgaria Open International Series

Young Indian shuttlerLakshyaSen has won the Bulgaria Open International Series title on
i.He has defeated Croatias ZvonimirDurkinjak in the Mens singles final in Sofia, Bulgaria.
ii.He has won over Zvonimir by 18-21 21-12 21-17 points in a 57-minute match.
iii.He had beaten Sri Lankas DinukaKarunaratna by 21-19 21-14 points in the semi-finals.
Virat Kohli continues to top ICC ODI rankings for batsmen

India captain Virat Kohli continues to top the ICC One-Day International rankings.It has
been announced on 18th of Aug 2017.
i.In the latest rankings released by the games governing body Kohli tops the list of batsmen
with 873 points.
ii.Kohli who has a 12-point lead over second placed Aussie opener David Warner, will look to
enhance their position.
iii. Former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (12th) place Shikhar Dhawan (13th) place and
vice- captain Rohit Sharma (14th) place.
iv.In the bowlers list, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (13th) is the only Indian in top 15.
Serena Williams named highest paid female athlete of 2017

American Tennis Player Serena Williams has topped the Forbes list of highest paid female
athletes of 2017 with $27 million in earnings between June 2016 and June 2017.
i.Her earnings, which include prize money and endorsements, is twice that of any other
female athlete.
ii.The new list of Forbess list of the worlds 100 highest paid athletes in 2017, released on 17th of
August 2017 includes 99 male athlete and Williams, are at the top of their sport.
iii.Williams ranked 51st on the list and made a $27 million in 2016.
Rinku Hooda bags silver at World U-20 Para Athletics Championships

Indias junior para-athlete Rinku Hooda won a silver medal in the Javelin Throw F46 at the first
World Para Athletics Junior Championships.
i.World Para Athletics Junior Championships held in Nottwil, Switzerland.
ii.Hethrew a distance of 54.92 to make the second place.
149 | P a g e
Western & Southern Open 2017

The Cincinnati Masters currently called the Western & Southern Open is an annual outdoor hard
court tennis event. The tournament was held annually at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in
Mason, a northern suburb of Ohio near Cincinnati, in the United States.
1. The 2017 Western & Southern Open was a mens and womens tennis tournament played
on outdoor hard courts from August 1420, 2017.
2. The tournament is the second largest summer tennis event in the U.S. after the U.S.
Open, as its mens portion is one of nine elite Masters 1000 tournaments on the ATP
World Tour and its womens event is one of five Premier 5 events on the WTA Tour.
3. The 2017 tournament was the 116th mens edition and the 89th womens edition of the
Cincinnati Masters.
Winners list
1 Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov won his first Mens singles Masters 1000 title
2 Garbine Muguruza of Spain won womens singles
3 Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut won Mens Cincinnati Doubles
4 Chan Yung-jan and Martina Hingis captured womens double
FIBA Asia Cup: Australia crowned champions of Asia on tournament debut in Lebanon
Australia, playing for the first time at the rebranded FIBA Asia Cup, became the firstOceanic
team to be crowned champions of Asia.
i.Australia has beaten Iran in final held on 20th August 2017.
ii.The Australian Boomers have won the FIBA Asia Cup in their first attempt with a commendable
victory over Iran in the gold medal game.
iii.Total 16 teams have participated and Australia has got 79 points and runner team Iran got 56
points.
International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup Shotgun 2017
A total of 220 athletes from 33 countries will take part in the International Shooting Sport
Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup Shotgun event at Porpetto in Italy. A 23-member Indian
squad will take part in the competition.
i.On August 20,2017 Shapath Bharadwaj from india won a bronze medal in the double trap
event while Lakshay Sheoran and Manisha Keer combined to win a bronze in the mixed team trap
competition at the ISSF Junior Shotgun World Cup.
ii.Lakshay Sheoran and Manisha Keer from India won the bronze medal in the mixed
150 | P a g e
team trap competition of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup for
shotgun.
iii.Indias Akash Saharan has completed sixth in the final round of the mens trapevent at
the ISSF Junior Shotgun World Cup.
24th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival 2017

Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Committee has conducted the 24th chess annual event, which consists of
numerous FIDE registered tournaments. It was conducting in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE
from 13th to 23rd of August, 2017.
GM Amin Bassem of Egypt is winner, Briton GM Nigel Short was runner-up and GM Aryan Chopra
from India finished third in Masters Tournament.Indias GM Harika Dronavalli finished a
disastrous 29th, even as 15-year-old GM Aryan Chopra finished a creditable third at the 24th Abu
Dhabi International Chess Festival on August 22nd,2017.
Former England captain Wayne Rooney retires from international football

i.Former England captain Wayne Rooneyannounced his retirement from international football on
Wednesday, ending a 14-year careerin which he became the countrys top goalscorer with 53
goals.
ii.Rooney earned his first cap against Australia in 2003 at the age of 17 to become the youngest
player, at that time, to represent the national side. The 31-year-old also leaves as Englands most-
capped outfield player with 119 appearances.
London to host 2018 table tennis team World Cup

According to the World Table Tennis governing body announced the 2018 ITTF Team World
Cup will be held in London from February 22 to 25 in 2018.
i.The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has awarded the hosting rights for the
event.
ii.It is the second most prestigious team tournament after the World Championships.
Ronaldo named UEFA player of season for 20162017

Cristiano Ronaldo was named UEFA Player of the Season for 20162017 on 25thAugust
2017. After a campaign which saw the Portuguese superstar help Real Madrid to the La Liga and
Champions League double.
i.It was the third time that Ronaldo had won the award which was presented on the sidelines
of the Champions League group stage draw.
ii. Ronaldo won the UEFA award in 20132014 and 20152016 and in the Champions League last
151 | P a g e
season.
iii. Lionel Messi has won the prize on two occasions and capture a fifth Ballon dOr title.
iv. Juventus goalkeeper and Captain Gianluigi Buffon was second in the voting ahead of Messi.
Sports Minister announces first edition of Gramin Khel Mahotsav

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Vijay Goel has announced that the first
edition of Rural Games or Gramin Khel Mahotsav will be started from Delhi announced on
26th Aug 2017.
i.It will take place between 28th August to 3rd September 2017.
ii.The Rural Games will aim at popularising the domestic games like wrestling, athletics etc.
iii.It will also include fun games like Matka Race, Tug of War for senior citizens to add the fun
element in the games.
iv.A Grameen Marathon marked the beginning of the Rural Games with participation of 16000
youth from rural Delhi.
v.In the first stage, the games will be held in Alipur, Mehrauli, Nangloi, Najafgarh and
Shahadara where 10000-12000 youngsters will participate.
vi.The second stage will be started from 31st August till 01 September 2017 which will
have inter-block games.
vii.Shri Goel mentioned that the plan of the sports talent search portal will be a started
on 28th August, 2017.
Lionel Messi becomes the first player to score 350 La Liga goals
Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi became the first player to pass 350 goals in La
Liga historyannounced on 27th of Aug 2017.
i.Leo went on to score one more goal in Barcelonas 2-0 win over Alaves, bringing his all-time
league tally up to 351.
ii.The Argentine scored twice against Alaves to take his total to a stunning 351.
India win SAFF under 15 Championship against Nepal

The Indian U-15 football team defeated Nepal to win the SAFF U-15 Championships in
Kathmandu on 27th of Aug 2017.
i.India beat Nepal by 2-1 in the final and the match took place at ANFA Complex, Lalitpur in
Nepal.
ii.The goals from Lalrokima and Vikram guided India to a deserving 2-1 victory.
iii.The motive behind the U-15 is to allow teams to be better prepared for the Asian Football
Confederation (AFC) Under-16 qualifiers to be held in 2017
152 | P a g e
23rd BWF World Championship-2017 at Glasgow (Scotland)

The 23rd BWF world championship was held in Glasgow, Scotland from 21 27 August 2017 at the
Emirates Arena, Glasgow.
The BWF World Championships is a badminton tournament sanctioned by Badminton World
Federation (BWF). The tournament offers the most ranking points, together with Summer Olympic
Games. The winners will be crowned as the World Champions and awarded gold medals.
However, it does not offer any prize money.
Games Conducted :mens singles, mens doubles, womens singles ,womens doubles, mixed
doubles.
Winners of 23rd BWF World Campionship-2017 :
1) Mens Singles viktor axelsen of Denmark . Viktor Axelsen claimed Denmarks first mens
singles gold in 20 years at the badminton World Championships after he beat Chinas Lin Dan .LIN
DAN is a two-time Olympic champion and five-time World champion.
2) Womens Singles Nozomi Okuhara of Japan. The final match was between Nozomi and P.V
Sindhu . It was toughest one and the score is 19-21, 22-20, 20-22 in final.Nozomi won bronze
medal in 2016 Olympic.
In this match
i.Gold- Nozomi [Japan]
ii.Silver- P.V Sindhu [ India]
iii.Bronze- Saina Nehwal [India]
3) Mens Doubles- Liu Cheng and Zhang Nanof China. The final match was between them
Andmohammad Ahsan and Rian Agung Saputro of Indonesia.
4) Womens doubles Winners are Chen AndJia from China .The final match was between Yuki
Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota of Japan and Chinas Chen Qingchen, Jia Yifan.
5) Mixed doubles-Indonesias Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir have won world badminton
championship in glasgow, scotland, after defeating their chinese counterparts Zheng Siwei and
Chen Quinchen.
Indians Who Participated In This BWF Championship Games :
Ajay Jayaram, Kidambari Srikanth And Sai Praneeth in mens singles.
P.V Sindhu And Saina Nehwal in womens singles.
Pranaav Jerry and N.Sikki in mixed doubles.
Lewis Hamilton wins Belgian Grand Prix in F1 title race

On August 27 2017 Lewis Hamilton wins Belgian Grand Prix in his 200th Formula One race.
i.Vettel remained within a second. Daniel Ricciardo was third, fourth-placed Kimi Raikkonen and
fifth-placed occupied by Valtteri Bottas.
153 | P a g e
ii.Hamilton clinched his fifth win of the season and 58th overall, having equaled Michael
Schumachers pole record Lewis
14th World Wrestling Championships 2017 at Paris, France

On August 29,2017, without winning any medal India ended its campaign in 14th World Wrestling
Championships (WWC) 2017 held at Paris, France. This is the second successive World
Championship that Indian wrestlers have returned empty-handed (previous one was at Budapest,
Hungary).
Indians who participated in WWC,2017:
a) Womens freestyle: Vinesh Phogat , Sakshi Malik ,Sheetal Tyagi, Lalita Sehrawat, Pooja
Danda, Shilpi Sheoran, Navjot and Pooja
b) Mens Greco Roman: Gyanender, Ravinder,Yogesh,Gurpreetsingh, Harpreetsingh, Naveen,
Ravinder Khatri.
c) Mens wrestling squad : Bajrang Punia , Praveen Rana , Deepak , Sumit , Amit Dhankar,
Kadiyan, and Satyawart Kadian.
Winners:
1)Mens freestyle:
a)57 kg Yuki Takahashi(Japan)
b)61 kg Haji Aliyev(Azerbaijan)
c)65 kg Zurabi Iakobishvili (Georgia)
d)70 kg Frank Chamizo( Italy)
e)74 kg Jordan Burroughs( United States)
f)86 kg -Hassan Yazdani(Iran)
g)97 kg Kyle Snyder(US)
h)125 kg -Geno Petriashvili (Georgia)
2) Mens Greco-Roman:
a)59 kg Kenichiro Fumita(Japan)
b)66 kg Ryu Han-su(South Korea)
c)71 kg Frank Stbler(Germany)
d)75 kg -Viktor Neme(Serbia)
e)80 kg Maksim Manukyan(Armenia)
f)85 kg Metehan Baar(Turkey)
g)98 kg Artur Aleksanyan(Armenia)
h)130 kg Rza Kayaalp(Turkey)
3) Womens freestyle
a)48 kg Yui Susaki(Japan)
154 | P a g e
b)53 kg Vanesa Kaladzinskaya (Belarus)

c)55 kg Haruna Okuno(Japan)
d)58 kg Helen Maroulis( United States)
e)60 kg Risako Kawai (Japan)
f)63 kg Prevdorjiin Orkhon (Mongolia)
g)69 kg Sara Dosho (Japan)
h)75 kg Yasemin Adar (Turkey)
Kerela CM launches FIFA U-17 World Cup Logo for Kochi Venue
Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan has launched the host city logo for Kochi. This
time Kochi is selected as one of the venues of FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 announced on
29th Aug 2017.
i.The logo represents and reflects Kochis identity and will be a valuable tool in linking the local
community in a global World Cup.
ii.The FIFA U-17 World Cup will have India official emblem, it will form a crucial link in the
promotions and communications regarding the host city.
iii.The tournament will be hosted in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium of the city. It will host
eight matches and will feature football powerhouses Brazil, Spain and Germany among others.
About 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup
OBITUARY
Eminent Dhrupad singer Ustad SayeeduddinDagar passes away at 78
Ustad Hussain Sayeeduddin Dagar, one of the foremost exponents of the Dhrupad tradition,
died on 30th of July 2017.He was 78.
i. Sayeeduddin Dagar was born in Rajasthan on 29th April 1939 and was part of the illustrious
Dagar family of musicians.
ii. He was the youngest of the famous seven Dagar Bandhus and had dedicated his life to keeping
the Dhrupad tradition alive.
iii. His first guru was his father Ustad Hussainuddin Khan Dagar.Dagarwas also President of
Dhrupad Society Jaipur and Pune.
Former union minister Santosh Mohan Dev passes away

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Santosh Mohan Dev has passed away in
155 | P a g e
Silchar, Assam on 2nd of August 2017. He was 83.

i. Santosh served as the Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises under the UPA-
1 government led by Manmohan Singh.
ii. He was the son of freedom fighter Satindra Mohan Dev.
iii. He was a seven-time parliamentarian and was believed to be one of the most trusted ministers
of Rajiv Gandhi.
Sam Shepard, Actor and Pulitzer-Winning Playwright, is Dead at 73

Sam Shepard, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Oscar-nominated actor passed
away on 27th July 2017. He was 73.
i. Shepard was from Fort Sheridan, Illinois U.S.
ii. He authored more than 40 plays and he also won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1979 for
his play Buried Child.
iii. The Broadway production of the drama was nominated for five Tony Awards in 1996 to Shepard.
Veteran Molecular biologist Pushpa Mittra Bhargava passed away at 89

Dr P M Bhargava, an eminent scientist and founder-director for Cellular and Molecular
Biology (CCMB) passed away on 1st of August 2017. He was 89.
i. Bhargava hold a position of the vice-chairman of the national knowledge commission
during 2005-07.
ii. He is a recipient of over 100 national and international honours and awards including the Padma
Bhushan in 1986.
iii. He was also honoured with the Legion dhonneur in 1998.
iv. He was an internationally recognised molecular biologist, thinker, and institution
builder.
v. Bhargava was chairman of the Drafting Committee for the Assisted Reproductive Technologies
(Regulation) Bill 2013.
Indian Woman hockey player Jyoti Gupta died at the age of 20

An India international hockey player, Jyoti Gupta a 20-year-old has committed suicide on
2nd of August 2017.
i.Jyoti hails from Sonepat and had represented India in the South Asian Games in 2016.
ii.She had also represented India in the Five-Nation international Junior hockey tournament
played in Valencia last year.
iii.She had played in the All India Universities team in the Senior National Hockey
Championships (A Division) at Rohtak in May.
156 | P a g e
Robert Hardy, Harry Potter actor, dies at 91

English actor, Robert Hardy, famous for his role as Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter, passed
away on August 3, 2017. He was 91.
Robert Hardys Acting Career:
i. Robert Hardy started his acting career at the age of 24 with the Shakespeare Memorial Company,
starring in a stage adaptation of Coriolanus.
ii. Robert Hardy enjoyed a distinguished acting career which spanned seven decades.
Ex-MP Vishvjit P Singh passed away

On August 8, 2017, Rajya Sabha mourned the death of its former member Vishvjit P Singh.
i. When the House met for the day, Chairman Hamid Ansari mentioned the passing away of
Vishvjit Singh on August 6, 2017 at the age of 71.
ii. He had represented Maharashtra for two consecutive terms from April 1982 to April
1988 and April 1988 to April 1994.
iii. Hamid Ansari mentioned that in the passing away of Shri Vishvjit P Singh, the country has lost a
distinguished Parliamentarian.
BJP MP from Ajmer and Former Union Minister Ajmer Sanwar Lal Jat passed away
Former Union minister and BJP MP from Ajmer Sanwar Lal Jat passed away on 9th of August
2017.He was 62.
i. Jat had served as Minister of State for Water Resources in the NarendraModi
government.
ii. The leader was appointed as the Chairman of the state Farmers Commission in October 2016.
iii. Jat had defeated the Sachin Pilot from Congress in Ajmer during the 2014 LokSabha polls.
Former West Bengal minister Gyan Singh Sohanpal passed away

Veteran Congress West Bengal MLA Gyan Singh Sohanpal has passed away on 8th of August
2017.He was 92 and a bachelor.
i. Gyan Singh was fondly called Chacha. He was elected to the state assembly 10 times.
ii. He was also a former minister in the Congress government in the state.He had contested
last years assembly election in the state but was defeated.
Acclaimed Bollywood actor Sitaram Panchal passed away

Bollywood actor Sitaram Panchal passed away on August 10, 2017, after a three-year long battle
with kidney and lung cancer. He was 54.
i. Sitaram, who made his Bollywood debut in 1994 with Bandit Queen, was best known for
his work in films like Peepli Live, Pan Singh Tomar, The Legend of Bhagat Singh and Slumdog
157 | P a g e
Millionaire.
ii. He was bed ridden for almost a year, and had recently taken to his Facebook account asking for
monetary help in order to afford proper treatment for kidney and lung cancer.
Poet, Writer Vijay Nambisan passed away

Poet and writer Vijay Nambisan passed away on 10th of August 2017.He became the first All
India Poetry Champion in 1988. He was 54 years old.
i.He co-authored Gemini, a poetry book,with Jeet Thayil and Dom Moraes.
ii.His poem Madras Central made him won the All India Poetry Competition organised by
the Poetry Society of India in association with the British Council.
Veteran sports journalist Ted Corbett passed away

Ted Corbett has passed awayon 9th of August in Huntingdon, the UK. He was 82.
i.He was born in Birmingham in 1935. Corbett retired from the travelling side of journalism in 2008.
ii.He also worked as the most envied job in newspapers as cricket correspondent of a national
paper.
South African Bodybuilder SifisoThabete passed away

South African body builder Sifiso Lungelo Thabete has passed away on 12th of August 2017.
i.Bodybuilderbreaks his neck and died in a freak accidentwhile doing back-flip to show off to
crowds during his warm-up.
ii.Sifiso Lungelo Thabete broke his neck after landing on his head in front of horrified crowd.
iii.His body failed to gain enough momentum to rotate.Thabethe landed on the back of his head.
iv.His body then rolled over and he was laid motionless on the mat.
v.According to Body Building South Africa, Sifiso had a signature backflip he liked to perform on
stage.
vi.He was a former IFBB junior world champion in the up to 75kg category.
Worlds oldest man Yisrael Kristal dies at 113

Israeli Holocaust survivor Yisrael Kristal died at the age of 113 on 11th of August of 2017.
Israel Kristal passed away in his hometown of Haifa.
i.He was certified in 2016 by Guinness World Records as the worlds oldest man.
ii.He was survived by two children, 9 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.
Actor-screenwriter Joe Bologna dead at 82

Joe Bolognais renowned for his comedy style; actor-screenwriter has passed away on August
14 2017 at the age of 82.He was suffering from pancreatic cancer.
158 | P a g e
i.Bologna was born on 30th December 1934 in Brooklyn, New York.

ii.He attended Brown University, where he graduated as an art history major.
iii.He also went on to serve the United States Marine Corps before heading to Hollywood in
the 1970s.
Actor Shanmuga sundaram passes away at 79

Actor Shanmuga sundaram, who has appeared in a number of Tamil movies in character and
supporting roles, died in the city on 15th August 2017. He was 79.
i.The actor made his debut in the movie Ratha Kanneer in 1963 and went on to act in Karnan in
1964. It was, however, his role in Karagattakaran, the 1989 movie directed by Gangai Amaran
as heroine Kanagas father that catapulted him to fame.
ii.He also acted in other blockbusters such as Kizhakku Vaasal and Nanban. His last major release
was Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan starring actor Simbhu, which released a couple of
months ago. While was been active in Tamil theatre in his early years, he had acted in television
serials too in recent times.
Former Advocate General of Kerala MK Damodaran passes away

Former Kerala advocate general M K Damodaran passed away in Kochi. He was 77.
i.Damodaran had worked as an Advocate General during the LDF regime headed by E K
Nayanar from 1996-2001.
ii.The present LDF government had last year initiated steps to appoint Damodaran as the legal
advisor to the Chief Minister.
iii.Damodaran was imprisoned during the Emergency in 1975-77.
Veteran photographer S Paul passed away

S Paul, a veteran Photographer has passed away in Patparganjon 16th of August 2017. He
was 88.
i.Hewas born in Jhang in Pakistan in 1929. He moved to India after partition and his family
shifted to Shimla.
ii.Paul was a self-taught photographer who discovered his passion as a teenager.
Comedian, civil rights activist Dick Gregory dies at 84

Dick Gregory was a comedian who played a prominent role in the 1960s civil rights movement
after becoming one of the first black comics to perform for white audiences. He died on
19th of August 2017 at age 84.
i.Gregory who lived in Washington died of heart failure in Sibley Memorial Hospital.
ii.He wrote several books, including Murder in Memphis, which analyzed the assassination of
Martin Luther King Jr.
159 | P a g e
US comedian Jerry Lewis passed away

Multi-talented US actor and comedian Jerry Lewis has died. He was 91.
i.Lewis was known for his slapstick humour and a lucrative decade-long partnership with Dean
Martin.
ii.He starred in more than 45 films in a career spanning five decades.
iii.He was hailed as le Roi du Crazy (the king of crazy) and inducted into the Legion of Honor,
Frances highest award, in 1984. He received a similar honour in 2006.
Former Manipur CM Rishang Keishing passes way

Rishang Keishing, the grand old man of Manipur, who had also served as an MLA for seven
terms and became chief minister of the state four times, passed away at Imphal, on
22nd of Aug 2017. He was 97.
i.He was a member of the first Lok Sabha in 1952.
ii.He was born to Rungdi Keishing and Mungshing Keishing of Bungpa Khunou village in Ukhrul
district of Manipur on 25th October 1920.
iii.He continued to win the next two Lok Sabha elections from Manipur Outer constituency in 1957
and 1962 as a Socialist Party candidate.
New Zealands oldest cricketer Tom Pritchard dies aged 100

Tom Pritchard the former fast bowler from New Zealand has died aged 100 on 22ndAugust
2017.
i.He hailed from New Zealand. Pritchard had played 200 first-class matches, picking 818
wickets.
ii.He was considered to be one of the finest fast bowlers, precisely known for his right-
arm outswingers.
iii.He played most of his first-class cricket in England.
Science fiction author Brian Aldiss dies aged 92

Brian Aldiss, the grand old man of science fiction has died at the age of 92. He was from
United Kingdom.
i.Aldiss served in India and Burma with the British Army during World War II.
ii.He later became a bookseller, publishing his first stories in a trade magazine
160 | P a g e
Indias oldest cinematographer Ramananda Sengupta dies at 101

Indias oldest cinematographer Ramanda Sengupta has passed away in Kolkata on 23rd of
August 2017. He worked with legends like Jean Renoir, Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen, Sengupta.
i.He died at the age 101. He was born on 8th May 1916 in Dhaka.
ii.His first film as a full-time cinematographer was in Purbaraag directed by Ardhendu
Mukherjee in 1946.
iii.Sengupta was also a founding member of the Technicians Studio in South Kolkatas
Tollygunge.
Jay Thomas, Murphy Brown and Cheers Actor, Dies at 69

i.Actor Jay Thomas, best known for his roles in the classic sitcoms Murphy Brown and Cheers,
has died at 69.
ii.He was battled with his cancer. Thomas is survived by his wife, Sally; and sons, Sam, Max and
J.T.
Tony de Brum, champion of Paris climate agreement, dies aged 72

i.Tony de Brum, the former Marshall Islands foreign minister who became a leading advocate for
the landmark Paris Agreementand an internationally recognized voice in the fight against
climate change
ii.He has died aged 72 on August 22 2017 in the capital Majuro. De Brum, who was also the
Pacific nations climate ambassador`
Legendary footballer and Olympian Ahmed Khan dead at 90

Ahmed Khan, a member of Indias gold winning football team at the first Asian Games in
1951, passed away. He was 91.
i.Khan represented India in two Olympic Games 1948 in London and 1952 in Helsinki
Finland apart from two Asian Games in Delhi and 1954 in Manila.
ii.Khan, who played as a striker represented India in 11 matches and made his debut against
France in the London Olympics.
BOOKS & AUTHORS

Worlds Shortest Woman Unveils 51-Feet High Book
The worlds shortest woman Jyoti Amge has presented a 51-feet high book at a programme on
6th of August 2017.
i. The book Kadve Vachan is written by Jain saint Acharya TarunSagar Maharaj. It was
161 | P a g e
unveiled by her in the presence of BJP state president Ashok Parnami.

ii. It is the ninth volume of the book written in Hindi.
I am HIV positive, so what? book from Manipur bodybuilder Pradipkumar Singhs

inspirational fight to overcome HIV
Mr. World bronze medal-winning bodybuilder, Pradipkumar Singh from Manipur has written a book
struggle against HIV AIDS with his condition and his triumphs.
I am HIV positive, so what? the book from Pradipkumar Singh, known for his personal struggle
against HIV AIDS.
i.He was released at the Press Club of India in New Delhi on August 18,2017.
ii.He was a brand ambassador of the Manipur State AIDS Control Society
Raghuram Rajan pens book I Do What I Do

Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has penned a book titled I Do What I Do: On
Reform, Rhetoric and Resolve.
i.The book will launch on 4th of September.
ii.According to publisher HarperCollins besides Rajans commentary, it will also include speeches
that convey what it was like to head the central bank during his time.
iii.About the book Rajan explains economic concepts in a readily accessible way.
IMPORTANT DAYS
August 1 2017
Remember Day: Non-cooperation movement Day
Purpose :The non-cooperation movement was a decisive step in the independence movement
Organization: GOI
August 1-7 2017

Remember Day: World breastfeeding week
Purpose : To promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life
Theme : Sustaining Breastfeeding Together.
Organization: United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO)
August 6 2017
Remember Day : Hiroshima Day
Purpose : The US dropped an atomic bomb called Little Boy on Hiroshima on this day
162 | P a g e
Theme : Sustaining Breastfeeding Together.

Organization: Japan Government
August 7 2017
Remember Day : National Handloom Day
Purpose : To encourage people to use hand-made loom in the country and Swadeshi
Movement was launched in 1905 on this day.
Organization : Indian Government
August 9 2017
Remember Day : International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
Purpose : To strengthen international cooperation for solving problems faced by indigenous peoples
Organization : UN
Remember Day : 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement

Theme : Sankalp se Siddhi- the attainment through resolve
Purpose : Quit India Movement was an important milestone in the Indian freedom struggle.
August 10-23 2017

Remember Day: National Deworming Day
Purpose :To tackle worm Infections, targeting more than 11 crore children
Organization :Health Ministry
August 10 2017
Remember Day: World Biofuel Day
Purpose : To create awareness about non fossil-fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol, biogas, etc.
August 12 2017
Remember Day : International Youth Day
Purpose : Aimed at celebrating young peoples contributions in preventing conflicts and to bring
about transformations along with incorporation, social justice and sustainable peace.
Theme : Youth Building Peace.
Organization : UNGA
Remember Day : World Elephant Day
Purpose : For the better care and management of captive and wild elephants.Environment Minister
launches Gaj Yatra to mark World Elephant Day.Actor and wildlife enthusiast, Ms. Dia Mirza,
participated in the walk and run event organised on the occasion along with the children.
163 | P a g e
August 13 2017
Remember Day : International Left-Handers Day
Purpose : To promote awareness of the inconveniences faced by left-handers in
predominantly right-handed world
Remember Day : World Organ donation day

Purpose : The aim of this day is to motivate people to donate organs after death
August 14 2017
Remember Day :Pakistans 70th Independence Day
Pakistan hoisted a 400-feet high national flag, the largest in its history at the Attari-Wagah border
to mark its 70th Independence Day.
Remember Day :Social Security Day

Purpose :To create awareness about the importance of social security system.
August 15 2017
Remember Day : 71st Independence Day of India
August 16 2017
Remember Day: World Humanitarian Day
Purpose : To pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service
Theme: #NotATarget
Organization : UNGA
August 19 2017
Remember Day: World Photography day
Purpose : It aims to inspire photographers across the planet to share a single photo with a simple
purpose and to share their world with the world
August 20 2017
Remember Day: Sadbhavana Diwas
Purpose : The birthday of Shri Rajiv Gandhi
August 23 2017
Remember Day : The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade
Purpose : The Day marks the anniversary of the 1791 revolt of enslaved men and women in the
western part of the island of Santo Domingo, which is now known as Haiti
Organization : UNESCO
164 | P a g e
August 29 2017
Remember Day : National Sports Day
Purpose : In order to honour Major Dhyan Chand this day is celebrated as National Sports Day.
Organization : GOI
Remember Day : International Day against Nuclear Tests

Purpose : Fosters ideas of a future free of nuclear weapons and testing.
Organization : UNGA
August 30 2017
Remember Day : International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances
Purpose : To raise awareness that enforced disappearance is a crime and should not be used as a
tool to deal with situations of conflict.
Organization : UN and Amnesty International
Remember Day : small industry day

Purpose : To promote small industries
Organization : MSME
165 | P a g e

August 2017 PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

August 2017 PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Current Affairs August 2017

Current Affairs for Competitive Exam

MMR vaccination campaign launched in Kangra

SC bans use of five metals in Firecrackers

Aadi Perukku festival celebrated in Tamilnadu

Second AGRI UDAAN program launched in Delhi

Green Airports in Andhra Pradesh

Govt merges NCRB with BPRD

GST council approves hike in luxury car cess

Maharashtra Government to raise $270 mn from Green Climate Fund

Government launches second phase of Measles-rubella vaccination campaign

Coconut regains tree status in Goa as Assembly Passes Bill

Government to expand Logistics Data Bank project to South India

Government constitute committee to make drugs more affordable

Recent Approvals by Central government August 9 2017

National Cyber Coordination Centre made operational: Government

NGT bans use of non-biodegradable plastic bags in Delhi

UP Government launches Namami Gange Jagriti Yatra

No renewal of Insurance for vehicles without PUC: SC

Telengana CM initiates 2000-crore SriramSagar modernisation Project

Govt launches Indian National Anthem video in sign language

Telangana launches Smart Streets Lab

9-yr-old Indian youngest to climb 6,153m mountain in Kashmir

Jharkhand Assembly passed two bills

No Gandhi Jayanti holiday this year in Rajasthan varsities

Indias first online course on Infusion Therapy launched

Fete de Puducherry Festival celebrated in Puducherry

India deploying Israeli fence systems at Pakistan, Bangladesh borders

Ministry of Culture organizes Sankalp Se Siddhi Program in Coimbatore

Govt slaps $264 mn penalty on RIL, BP

6th session of India-Turkmenistan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) held in New

GeM and CII sign MoU to establish GeMSamvad

Karnataka Launches Indira Canteen in Bengaluru

Cabinet Approvals August 16 2017

CCEA approves procedure and mechanism for Strategic Disinvestment

GST relief for industrial units in Himalayan, NE region till 2027

ii.Rationale for Providing GST Relief

World Bank pledges $24.64 mn to enhance Indias forest ecosystem

Petrol pumps to sell LED bulbs, tubelights, ceiling fans soon

Champions of Change initiative organised by NITI Aayog

Environment Minister Launches Harit Diwali, Swasth Diwali Campaign

Government bans Export of Gold Items Above 22-Carat Purity

About Navika Sagar Parikrama:

SDMC launches Mosquito Terminator Train

SmritiI rani inaugurates handicraft manufacturing unit in Jharkhand

GOIs Street Lighting National Programme illuminates 50,000 KM of Indian roads

Government to conduct worlds largest sample survey for students

Government doubles child care allowance for women with disabilities

Assams country liquor gets branded, to be flavoured

Delhi Metro opens plant to recycle construction waste

Maharashtra ryots to get funds, support

40% reservation for girls at planned schools, higher edu inst.

Assam Plans To Introduce Compassionate Family Pension Scheme

Home Minister Rajnath Singh launches digital police portal

fill in details, verification can come online.

Karnataka Government launches clouding seeding Project Varshadhari

Supreme Court declared Triple Talaq as unconstitutional, illegal and void

NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant launch Mentor India Campaign

Cabinet Approval on August 22nd 2017

Supreme Court rules Right to Privacy as Fundamental Right

Rajasthan govt accords OBC status to Jats of Bharatpur and Dholpur

UIDAI launches door step Aadhar enrolment in Delhi

Telangana government launches 181 helpline for distressed women